• Title/Summary/Keyword: environmental controls

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Characterization of Protein Expression in the Head of Oryzias latipes in Response to Acute and Chronic Exposure to Benzo(a)pyrene

  • Oh, Jeong-Hwan;Moon, Hyo-Bang;Choe, Eun-Sang
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.220-225
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    • 2008
  • In this study, alterations in whole proteome expression patterns in the head of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) was investigated following acute or chronic exposure to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) (25 ${\mu}g$ L$^{-1}$) for 48 hrs and 15 days, respectively. The results showed that 9 and 6 protein spots were statistically different, relative to controls, in response to acute and chronic BaP exposure, respectively. In the acute exposure group, 5 spots were up regulated and 4 spots were downregulated, while in the chronic exposure group, 4 spots were upregulated and 2 spots were downregulated. Three of these spots were common to both the acute and chronic BaP exposure groups and were identified using LC-MS/MS followed by database searching. These 3 spots were found to be associated with structural proteins belonging to the actin and keratin families. These data suggest that acute and chronic exposures to BaP may affect tissue morphology in the head of Japanese medaka.

Study on the Analysis and the Application of State-of-the-Art Daylighting Design Cases - Based on the Case Studies of LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Multi-Family housing - (최신 자연채광 디자인 사례들 분석 및 그 적용에 관한 연구 - 미국 LEED 인증 공동주택 사례분석을 바탕으로 -)

  • Yoon, Hea-Kyung
    • Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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    • v.22 no.1
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    • pp.265-273
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    • 2013
  • The purpose of this study is to analyze the state-of-the-art daylighting design among LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) multi-family housing cases and to explore the feasibilities for their applications in domestic housing design. Occupants in multi-family houses are reported to consume more electricity power than those in single houses. That may imply the problems of daylighting design in domestic housing design for multi-family houses have better insulation system and less windows and outside walls than single houses. Therefore two systems, daylight delivery system and daylight control system, are scrutinized for daylighting design with LEED cases. The findings show when windows as a daylight delivery system are combined with overhangs, fins, louvers, fenestration materials, speciality fenestration, or interior controls as a daylight control system, the outcome goes with more energy savings and better facade design. Beside those, lightshelves as a daylight delivery system seem to have potentials in domestic multi-family houses with deep plans and less outside walls. Daylighting designs in domestic multi-family houses need to pursue available options more to achieve the integration of energy and aesthetics values.

Modulation of the Metal(loid) Specificity of Whole-Cell Bioreporters by Genetic Engineering of ZntR Metal-Binding Loops

  • Kim, Hyojin;Jang, Geupil;Kim, Bong-Gyu;Yoon, Youngdae
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.30 no.5
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    • pp.681-688
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    • 2020
  • Bacterial cell-based biosensors, or whole-cell bioreporters (WCBs), are an alternative tool for the quantification of hazardous materials. Most WCBs share similar working mechanisms. In brief, the recognition of a target by sensing domains induces a biological event, such as changes in protein conformation or gene expression, providing a basis for quantification. WCBs targeting heavy metal(loid)s employ metalloregulators as sensing domains and control the expression of genes in the presence of target metal(loid) ions, but the diversity of targets, specificity, and sensitivity of these WCBs are limited. In this study, we genetically engineered the metal-binding loop (MBL) of ZntR, which controls the znt-operon in Escherichia coli. In the MBL of ZntR, three Cys sites interact with metal ions. Based on the crystal structure of ZntR, MBL sequences were modified by site-directed mutagenesis. As a result, the metal-sensing properties of WCBs differed depending on amino acid sequences and the new selectivity to Cr or Pb was observed. Although there is room for improvement, our results support the use of currently available WCBs as a platform to generate new WCBs to target other environmental pollutants including metal(loid)s.

Metal Effects of Urban Air Particulates on Cytokine Production and DNA Damage

  • Lee, Kwan-Hee;Hong, Yun-Chul
    • Toxicological Research
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.255-265
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    • 2001
  • Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated an association between short-term exposure to particulate air pollutants and increased mortality. However the biological mechanism underlying these associations have not been fully established and also the chemical and physical characteristics of the pollutant particles are not well understood. The metal constituents of air pollutant particles and their bioavailability are considered to Play an important role as possible mediators of Particle-induced airway injury and inflammation. Sprague-Dawley rat alveolar macrophage cells (NR8383) were exposed to airborne and acid-leached particulate matter (PM). Titanium oxide and nickel subsulfide were used as negative and positive controls. Particle-induced reactive oxygen species formation in cells was detected using the fluorescent probe 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. Expression of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and PM-induced DNA double-strand breaks were determined with $\lambda$DNA/Hind III marker. Metals associated with air pollutant particles mediated intracellular oxidant production in alveolar macrophages, and the cytotoxicity and proinflammatory cytokine production induced by PM were associated with oxidative stress. The oxidants produced by air pollutant particles also are likely to induce DNA double-strand breaks. Our findings in alveolar macrophage cells exposed to PM and acid-leached PM support the hypothesis that metal components in urban air pollutants and their bioavailabilities might play an Important role in the induction of the adverse health effects.

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The Stress-Activated Signaling (SAS) Pathways of a Human Fungal Pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans

  • Jung, Kwang-Woo;Bahn, Yong-Sun
    • Mycobiology
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    • v.37 no.3
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    • pp.161-170
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    • 2009
  • Cryptococcus neoformans is a basidiomycete human fungal pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. The ability to sense and respond to diverse extracellular signals is essential for the pathogen to infect and cause disease in the host. Four major stress-activated signaling (SAS) pathways have been characterized in C. neoformans, including the HOG (high osmolarity glycerol response), PKC/Mpk1 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), calcium-dependent calcineurin, and RAS signaling pathways. The HOG pathway in C. neoformans not only controls responses to diverse environmental stresses, including osmotic shock, UV irradiation, oxidative stress, heavy metal stress, antifungal drugs, toxic metabolites, and high temperature, but also regulates ergosterol biosynthesis. The PKC(protein kinase C)/Mpk1 pathway in C. neoformans is involved in a variety of stress responses, including osmotic, oxidative, and nitrosative stresses and breaches of cell wall integrity. The $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin- and Ras-signaling pathways also play critical roles in adaptation to certain environmental stresses, such as high temperature and sexual differentiation. Perturbation of the SAS pathways not only impairs the ability of C. neoformans to resist a variety of environmental stresses during host infection, but also affects production of virulence factors, such as capsule and melanin. A drug(s) capable of targeting signaling components of the SAS pathway will be effective for treatment of cryptococcosis.

A Survey on the Laboratory Animals in Korea (우리나라 실험동물 실태에 관한 조사)

  • Kim, Jae-Yeon
    • Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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    • v.4 no.2 s.7
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    • pp.33-45
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    • 1989
  • The survey was conducted on the actual conditions of species, the facilities, a establishment of regulation concerning laboratory animals and the related problems on users and suppliers of laboratory animals in Korea. The questionnaires were sent to 430 and received from 107$(24.9\%)$ places. The results obtained were as follows : 1. Experimental animals used at the 107 places were 21 species: mouse(90\;places,\;84.1\%)$, rat $(61,\;57.0\%)$, rabbit$(76,\;71.0\%)$, guineapig$(42,\; 39.3\%)$ etc. 2. The main organizations using laboratory animals were university $46(43.0\%)$, institute $32(29.9\%)$ and pharmaceutical company $27(25.2\%)$ etc. 3. Most the laboratory animal facilities in Korea have been conventional system without environmental controls, but a few places have been recently established barrier system. 4. To get a good experimental result, a regular genetic and microbiological monitoring of laboratory animals should be done. 5. It was required that a educational facilities and a quality test agency for laboratory animals should be established. 6. It was also required that a regulation for breeding and using of laboratory animals should 'be enacted.

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Strength in Numbers and Voice: An Assessment of the Networking Capacity of Chinese ENGOs

  • Shapiro, Matthew A.;Brunner, Elizabeth;Li, Hui
    • Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.147-175
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    • 2018
  • Under authoritarian regimes, citizen-led NGOs such as environmental NGOs (ENGOs) often operate under close scrutiny of the government. While this presents a challenge to a single ENGO, we propose here - in line with existing research on network effects - that there are opportunities for multiple ENGOs to coordinate and thus work in ways that supersede government controls, affect public opinion, and contribute to policy revision and/or creation. In this paper, we specifically examine the possibility that the gamut of citizen-based ENGOs in China are coordinating. Based on network analysis of ENGOs web pages as well as interviews with more than a dozen ENGO leaders between 2014 and 2016, we find that ENGOs have few direct and public connections to each other, but social media sites and personal connections offline provide a crucial function in creating bridges. A closer examination of these bridges reveals, however, that they can be substantive to the environmental discussion or functional to the dissemination of web page information but typically not both. In short, ENGOs in China are not directly connected but rather are connected in a way that responds to the available social media and the government's censorship practices.

Good modeling practice of water treatment processes

  • Suvalija, Suvada;Milisic, Hata;Hadzic, Emina
    • Coupled systems mechanics
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.79-91
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    • 2022
  • Models for water treatment processes include simulation, i.e., modelling of water quality, flow hydraulics, process controls and design. Water treatment processes are inherently dynamic because of the large variations in the influent water flow rate, concentration and composition. Moreover, these variations are to a large extent not possible to control. Mathematical models and computer simulations are essential to describe, predict and control the complicated interactions of the water treatment processes. An accurate description of such systems can therefore result in highly complex models, which may not be very useful from a practical, operational point of view. The main objective is to combine knowledge of the process dynamics with mathematical methods for processes estimation and identification. Good modelling practice is way to obtain this objective and to improve water treatment processes(its understanding, design, control and performance- efficiency). By synthesize of existing knowledge and experience on good modelling practices and principles the aim is to help address the critical strategic gaps and weaknessesin water treatment models application.

Treatment of pigs with enrofloxacin via different oral dosage forms - environmental contaminations and resistance development of Escherichia coli

  • Janssen, Paula;Barton, Gesine;Kietzmann, Manfred;Meissner, Jessica
    • Journal of Veterinary Science
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    • v.23 no.2
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    • pp.23.1-23.15
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    • 2022
  • Background: Antibacterial agents play important roles in the treatment of bacterial infections. However, the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and carry-over of substances into the environment are several problems arising during oral treatment of bacterial infections. We assessed AMR development in commensal Escherichia coli (E. coli) in enrofloxacin treated and untreated animals. In addition, we examined fluoroquinolone in the plasma and urine of treated and untreated animals, and in sedimentation dust and aerosol. Methods: In each trial, six pigs were treated with enrofloxacin via powder, granulate or pellet forms in two time periods (days 1-5 and 22-26). Four pigs served as untreated controls. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined to evaluate AMR development. Analysis of enro- and ciprofloxacin was performed with high performance liquid chromatography. Results: Non-wildtype E. coli (MIC > 0.125 ㎍/mL) was detected in the pellet treated group after the first treatment period, whereas in the other groups, non-wildtype isolates were found after the second treatment period. E. coli with MIC > 4 ㎍/mL was found in only the pellet trial. Untreated animals showed similar susceptibility shifts several days later. Bioavailability differed among the treatment forms (granulate > pellet > powder). Enro- and ciprofloxacin were detected in aerosols and sedimentation dust (granulate, powder > pellet). Conclusions: This study indicates that the kind of the oral dosage form of antibiotics affects environmental contamination and AMR development in commensal E. coli in treated and untreated pigs.

Metal Concentrations in Lungs of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Patients (탄광부 진폐증자의 폐조직내 금속농도)

  • Choi, Ho Chun;Chung, Ho Keun;Kim, Hae Jeong;Chun, Hyang Sook;Yi, Gwan Hyeong
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.89-99
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    • 1991
  • The metal concentrations in lungs from 12 coal workers' pneumoconiosis(CWP) patients and 6 controls, who were not exposed occupationally to coal mine dust and metals during their life time, were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. 1. Copper, lead, nickel, magnesium, manganese, zinc and iron concentrations in lungs of CWP patients were $1.10{\pm}0.088$, $1.12{\pm}0.068$, $0.22{\pm}0.020$, $113.7{\pm}1.31$, $0.19{\pm}0.012$, $10.2{\pm}1.54$, $426.7{\pm}2.63{\mu}g/g$ wet weight. 2. Copper, lead, nickel, magnesium, manganese, zinc and iron concentrations in lungs of controls were $1.10{\pm}0.013$, $0.85{\pm}0.007$, $0.10{\pm}0.008$, $87.6{\pm}1.29$, $0.18{\pm}0.005$, $10.6{\pm}1.44$, $164.9{\pm}3.29{\mu}g/g$ wet weight. 3. The ratios of concentrations for copper, lead, nickel, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and iron in lungs for CWP patients and controls were 1 : 1, 1.32 : 1, 2.20 : 1, 1.30 : 1, 1.06 : 1, 0.92 : 1, 2.58 : 1, respectively. There were significant differences in concentrations of lead, nickel, magnesium, iron by group(p<0.05). 4. There was no significant difference in metal concentrations of right upper lobe, right lower lobe, left upper lobe and left lower lobe for both CWP patients and controls (p>0.05, p>0.05). 5. In CWP patients lead was well correlated with nickel showing a rank correlation coefficient of 0.533, and zinc was correlated with copper showing a rank correlation coefficient of 0.476. 6. The concentrations of copper, nickel, maganese, and zinc in Korean CWP patients were lower than those in foreign CWP patients.

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