• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.162-174
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• 1997

Background : Metabolic cooperation via gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) is an important mechanism of the bystander effect in gene therapy using the Herpes Simplex Virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir (HSVtk) "prodrug" system. Since retinoids have been reported to increase GJIC by induction of connexin 43 expression, we hyporthesized that treatment of tumor cells with retinoic acid could augment the bystander effect of the HSVtk/GCV system and result in improved tumor cell killing by enhancing GJIC. Methods : We transferred HSVtk gene to SKHep-J cell line that does not express connexin43, and also transferred the gene to human and murine mesothelioma cell lines that express connexin43. We verified that retinoic acid enhanced GJIC utilizing a functional double-dye transfer study and evaluated the effects of retinoic acid on the growth rate of tumor cells. We then tested the effects of retinoic acid on bystander-mediated cell killing. Results : Addition of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) increased GJIC in cell lines expressing connexin 43 and was asspciated with more efficient in vitro bystander killing in cells transduced with HSVtk via adenoviral and retroviral vectors. In contrast, there was no increase in the efficiency of the bystander effect after exposure to RA in a cell line which had no delectable connexin 43. Conclusion : These results provide evidence that retinoids can augment the efficiency of cell killing with the HSVtk/GCV system by enhancing bystander effect and may thus be a promising new approach to improve responses in gene therapy utilizing the HSVtk system to treat tumors.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.273-284
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• 1994

The primary objective of this study was to examine the toxic effects of PCP on activated sludge and to analyze its metabolic responses while treating wastewater containing pentachlorophenol (PCP) in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system operating under different control strategies. This study was conducted in two phases 1 and 2 (8-hr and 12-hr cycles). Each phase was operated with two control strategies I and II. Strategy I (reactor 1) involved rapid addition (5 minutes to complete) of substrate to the reactor with continuous mixing but no aeration for 2 hours. Strategy ll (reactor 2) involved adding the feed continuously during the first 2 hours of the cycle when the system was mixed but not aerated. During both phases each reactor was operated at a sludge age of 15 days. The synthetic wastewater was used as a feed. The COD of the feed solution was about 380 mg/l. After the reference response for both reactors was established, the steady state response of each system was established for PCP feed concentrations of 0.1 mg/l, 1.0 mg/l, and 5.0 mg/l in SBR systems operating on both 8-hr and 12-hr cycles. Soluble COD removal was not inhibited at any feed PCP concentrations used. At 5.0 mg/l fined PCP concentration and in SBR systems operating on phase 2, the concentrations of MLVSS were decreased; selective pressure on the mixed biomass might be increased, narrowing the range of possible ecological responses; the settleability of activated sludge was poor; the SOURS were increased, showing that the systems were shocked. Nitrification was made to some extent at all concentrations of feed PCP in SBR systems operating on phase 2 whereas in SBR systems operating on phase 1 little nitrification was observed. Then, nitrification will be delayed as much as soluble COD removal is retarded due to PCP inhibition effects. Enhanced biological phosphorus removal occurring in the system operating with control strategy I during phase 1 of this work and in the presence of low concentrations of PCP was unreliable and might cease at anytime, whereas enhanced biological phosphorus removal occurring in the system operating with either control strategy I or II during phase 2 of this work and in the Presence of feed PCP concentrations up to 1.0 mg/l was reliable. When, however, such processes were exposed to 5.0 mg/l PCP dose, enhanced phosphorus removal ceased and never returned.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.569-576
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• 2016

This study researched the effects of cooking methods on phytochemical-enriched thin rice porridge (RP) of three colors (red, yellow, and green). Each of the RPs was prepared by three cooking methods and retorted through two-steps (step 1, at $80^{\circ}C$ for 15 min; step 2, at $82^{\circ}C$ for 25 min) for pasteurization. Cooking method (CM) 1 involved heating a mixture of all ingredients while CM 2 involved addition of apple/beet (AB, red), sweet-pumpkin/cabbage (PC, yellow) or vitamin/pear (green) while heating rice flour and glutinous rice flour. CM 3 involved mixing pre-cooked fruits and vegetables with cooked thin RP. The viscosity of RP prepared by CM 1 was lower than those of other RPs (P<0.05). The result of colorimetric a value show that red and green color of AB and VP prepared by CM 2 and CM 3 were most vivid. Contents of phytochemicals and antioxidants were higher when RP was prepared by CM 2 and CM 3 compared to CM 1. ${\Delta}E$ values of PC showed no significant difference before and after pasteurization, whereas AB and VP were significantly different (P<0.05). Antioxidant activity after retorting was not significantly different from those of un-retorted RPs. The results of color, phytochemical content, and antioxidant activity show that CM 2 or CM 3 were considerably better than CM 1, whereas cooking method had no effect after two-step retorting. Therefore, uncomplicated cooking method such as CM 1 or CM 2 are suited for commercial production of RPs.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2008

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of concentrated pig slurry using membrane filter on growth of tomato in nutriculture. Pig slurry was filtered by ultra filtration and concentrated by reverse osmosis process. Filtration of pig slurry was necessary to prevent the hose clogging in nutriculture. The concentrated pig slurry (CS) and nutrient solution (NS) were mixed by six different mixing ratios of 0:100, 20:80, 40:60, 60:40%, 80: 20 and 100%:0% based on nitrogen content. The chemical nutrient solution was the solution of National Horticulture Research Station for the growth of tomato. The concentration of nutrient solution was adjusted a range of $1.6{\sim}2.0mS/cm$ in EC. The plant height of tomato treated with CS 20+NS 80% was similar with NS 100% control plot. Plant height was highest in the plot of CS 20+NS 80%. The treatment of 100% concentrated pig slurry was lowest in the gowth characteristics of tomato. Number of cluster was very lower in 100% concentrated pig slurry compared with plot of chemical nutrient solution. In the beginning of growth stage, SPAD reading value was reduced in plot treated with CS 100%, but CS 20+NS 80% plot was higher compared to 100% concentrated pig slurry. SPAD value of tomato leaves was decreased as the amount of CS was increased. The SPAD value also in treatment of concentrated pig slurry was lower in the middle growth stage compared to control plot. The dry weight of stem and leaf were 107.4, 104.2g in plot of NS 100% and CS 20%+NS 80%, respectively. The fruit number and weight were decreased at high application plots of concentrated pig slurry, The fruit setting of tomato showed lowest in the plot treated with 100% concentrated pig slurry, and the growth of tomato severely decreased after application of 100% CS treatment. In conclusion, the growth characteristics such as plant height and fruit weight of tomato were not significantly different between the plots treated with mixture of 20% CS +80%NS and 100% nutrient solution treatment. In conclusion, the mixture solution of 20% of concentrated pig slurry and 80% of nutrient solution could be used as a nutrition solution of tomato nuticulture.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2012

In this study, we investigated the chemical characteristics of soils collected from the several deserts and loess in China known as the typical source areas of Asian dust (the Taklamakan desert, the Alashan desert, the Ordos desert and the Loess Plateau). Based on our analysis, we examined the possibility of adverse effects on environments and human health. In each desert and loess, major elemental compositions of soils did not show large variations, implying that the long-periodic mixing of soils in each area made their chemical compositions homogeneous. Minor elements of soils in each desert and loess showed more complicated patterns with strong correlations each other (e.g., Cr, Cu, As, Co, Ni, V, Y, Sc, Sn, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cs, Li, Th, U). These results thus enable us to discriminate the soil of the Loess Plateau from those of the other deserts in China. The results of sequential extraction experiments for soils showed that the chemical speciation of Fe was dominant in residual fraction (>85%) in all deserts and loess, but the fractions of Mn and Ca chemical speciations were very different in each area. In the case of Mn, the fraction of amorphous Fe-Mn hydroxides (55.4%) in the Central Loess Plateau and the carbonate fraction (33.8%) in Taklamakan desert were higher as much as 2 to 5 times than other deserts. The chemical speciations of Ca are dominant in carbonate fraction in Taklamakan (75.9%) and Alashan (50.5%) deserts, but carbonate fractions of Ca in the Loess Plateau and Ordos deserts were low (6.6% and 2.1%, respectively). According to the mobility of trace elements inferred from the results of sequential extraction procedure, we could classify them into five groups, and the mobility of Cd, Pb and Cu are more than 87%, 33% and 30%, respectively. Therefore, Cd, Pb and Cu in soils of deserts and loess could be easily dissolved when interacted with surface water. As such, they could give adverse effects on surficial environments and human health.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.286-294
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of applying density current generator (hereafter referred to as DCG to large lakes on the operating conditions of DCG, de-stratification, water quality improvement and inhibition of algae occurrence. As a result of a survey conducted to derive the optimum operating parameters of DCG in a condition to minimize eco-toxicity, the following conclusions were obtained. During the survey period, a marked stratification appeared in September to October 2011 and May 2012. At this time, the average depth of water to form thermocline was found to be $5{\pm}2$ m, so the location of discharge port for the operation of DCG was determined to be about 5 m below from the surface. To minimize the adverse effects of benthos and obtain the effect of water mixture at the time of water circulation, the mixing ratio of surface water and deep water was designed to be 3:1 by means of ecotoxicological assessment on the DCG operating characteristics. To select the appropriate operating hours for DCG, DCG was operated by 12 hr, 24 hr, 36 hr and 48 hr. As its result, the formation of thermocline did not occur during the operation of 36 hr. Also, It was effected that start reoperating from 3rd day after stop 2days under the condition of operated during 36 hr with calculated power consumption. Under the above conditions, the results of DO and water temperature analysis during the operation of DCG showed that the stratification, which was distinct previously, appeared to be weak, and relatively lower levels than those before operation were found as a result of water quality analysis on COD and chlorophyll-a, which leads to the conclusion that the water body is maintained at a stable condition due to the circulation of water by the occurrence of density current resulting from the operation of DCG.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2008

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of probiotics as a feed additive for juvenile Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegeli. Four experimental diets supplemented with no probiotic(Control), Bacillus polyfermenticus(BP), Bacillus licheniformis(BL) or Bacillus polyfermenticus plus Saccharomyces cerevisiae(BP+SC) at $1.0{\times}10^7$ CFU/kg diet as a dry-mater(DM) basis were prepared by mixing with a basal diet. After 12 weeks of the feeding trial, fish fed BP+SC diet showed significantly higher weight gain(WG), feed efficiency(FE), specific growth rate(SGR) and protein efficiency ratio(PER) than those of fish fed control diet(P<0.05), however there were no significant differences in WG, FE, SGR and PER among fish fed the BP, BL and BP+SC diets. Fish fed BP and BP+SC diets showed significantly higher condition factor(CF) than that of fish fed control and BL diets. Fish fed BP, BL, BP+SC diets showed significantly higher hepatosomatic index(HSI) than that of fish fed control diet, however there was no significant difference in HSI among fish fed BP, BL and BP+SC diets. Fish fed BP+SC diet showed significantly lower serum glucose than that of fish fed control diet, however there was no significant difference in serum glucose among fish fed BP, BL and BP+SC diets. Fish fed BP+SC diet showed significantly higher respiratory burst activity(NBT assay) than that of the fish fed control and BL diets, however there was no significant difference in NBT assay between fish fed BP and BP+SC diets. Fish fed BP and BL diets showed significantly higher lysozyme activity than that of the fish fed control diet, however there was no significant difference in lysozyme activity among fish fed BP, BL and BP+SC diets. Fish fed BP and BP+SC diets showed significantly lower cumulative mortality than that of the fish fed control diet, however there was no significant difference in cumulative mortality among fish fed BP, BL and BP+SC diets after the challenge test. From these results, dietary B. polyfermenticus, B. licheniformis and B. polyfermenticus plus S. cerevisiae supplementation in juvenile Korean rockfish diet could enhance growth performances, non-speicific immunities and a higher resistance against the specific pathogen.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.557-566
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• 2005

In preparation of steamed foam-cakes, effects of whipping time, amount of wheat flour, and amounts of emulsifier on physical properties of the steamed foam cakes were investigated using RSM (response surface methodology). The three independent variables selected for the RSM experiment were whipping time $(X_1)$, amount of wheat flour $(X_2)$, and amounts of wheat flour $(X_2)$, and concentration of emulsifier $(X_3)$ were set for single-stage mixing, respectively. A rotatable central composite design was used for treatment arrangement. The responses from the product for loaf volume, color values and textural properties were analysed. In the analysis of variance for the foam cakes prepared by single-stage method, significant interactions were observed between independent variables (experimental factors) and physical property like loaf volume (p<0.05); textural properties like hardness, gumminess, and chewiness (p<0.05). Among independent variables, concentration of emulsifier had the most effects on physical properties while whipping time. The ordinary points in surface response showed maximal points with physical property like colorimetric b value while other properties revealed saddle points. The 3-dimensional response surface graphs of the predicted regression models displayed decreasing loaf volumes with increasing whipping times and emulsifier concentrations beyond optimum levels. The optimum conditions for best loaf volume and textural property (hardness, gummimess and chewiness) of the products selected by extracting intersectional areas of the contour maps that commonly overlapped all characteristics were; $11\~13$ min whipping time, $470\~486\;g$ amount of wheat flour, and $19\~20\;g$ emulsifier concentration, in case of single-stage method. The median values extracted from the RSM experimental results for optimum manufacturing conditions for single-stage method, i.e., 12 min whipping time, 478 g amount of wheat flour, and 20 g emulsifier concentration were empirically proven to fit the predicted levels of physical properties from the final foam cakes.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.12-16
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• 2015

This study was carried out to evaluate accurately physical characteristics of total mixed rations (TMR) by investigating the effects of physically effective neutral detergent fiber content on the growth performance and carcass characteristics in fattening steers. Twelve Hanwoo (Bos Taurus coreanae) steers aged 26 months were used in this trial. Steers were offered one of two total mixed ration (TMR) diets - High or Low physically effective neutral detergent fiber (peNDF) content groups-that were differentiated by mixing time. The carcass traits of the experimental animals were evaluated by Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation (KAPE) after slaughter. Body weight gain during the experimental period was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the High group ($30.00{\pm}10.27kg$) compared with the Low group ($17.20{\pm}6.34kg$), and daily weight gain was also high in the former. Although there was no significant difference, the carcass weight was higher in the High group ($414.60{\pm}34.28kg$) compared with the Low group ($377.80{\pm}11.97kg$). However, the beef quality grade of the Low group ($1^{++}$) was higher than that of the High group ($1^+$). Increases in body weight gain, daily gain, and carcass weight for the High group were mainly influenced by a high level of dry matter (DM) intake and digestibility; consequently, back-fat thickness increased and the beef quality grade was lowered. Because growth performance and carcass characteristics were affected by the physical traits of the diet, we suggested that proper peNDF content is also needed for fattening steers.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.220-228
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• 2009

This study was conducted to determine the preblending effect of curing agents on the characteristics of mechanically deboned chicken meat (MDCM), including the pH, water-holding capacity (WHC), and stability under refrigeration conditions. MDCM was preblended with different curing agents [NaCl, 0.75 or 1.5%; sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), 0.25 or 0.5%; ascorbic acid, 250 or 500 ppm; sodium nitrite, 75 or 150 ppm] and were stored at $4^{\circ}C$ overnight. The preblending of NaCl was found to have improved the WHC and emulsion stability; STPP was found to have improved the pH, WHC, and emulsion stability; and ascorbic acid or sodium nitrite did not affect the pH, WHC, and emulsion stability. The addition of ascorbic acid or sodium nitrite, however, decreased the 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) values of the preblended MDCM through the antioxidizing properties. The mixing effects of different curing agents on MDCM were also evaluated with nine different conditions. Among the treatments, the mixture of NaCl and STPP improved the WHC and emulsion stability due to the increased solubility of salt-soluble protein in the preblended MDCM. The mixture of NaCl, STPP, and ascorbic acid increased the pH, WHC, and emulsion stability, but the mixture of NaCl, STPP, ascorbic acid, and sodium nitrite improved the WHC, emulsion stability, and redness of the surface color with improved storage stability due to the decreased VBN and TBA values. As a result, the mixture of 1.5% NaCl, 0.5% STPP, 500 ppm ascorbic acid, and 75 ppm sodium nitrite showed the best properties as curing agents for MDCM preblending.