• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.31-45
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• 1981

The purpose of this study aimed to study effects of fire on vegetation and soil properties after the first growing season in Mt. Chiak. 1. With the basis of importance value of species in each stand, status of species was assessed for three categories; Increaser species, Decreaser species, and Neutral species. 2. Biomass was 2.2 times higher on burned area than unburned. This indicates that biomass was remarkably increased after fire. 3. To evaluate similarity, coefficients of similarity among communities were obtained, and correlation coefficients were also estimated. These indices showed that burned and unburned community were markedly different.. $B_1$-stand and $B_1$-stand appeared most similar to each other among stands. 4. Species diversity was greater in burned than unburned stands. 5. Soil pH value and organic matter content in burned area were significantly higher than those in unburned area. However, soil water content was lower in burned area. There was no effect of burning on soil pH value and water content at 15~20 cm depth of soil. 6. All chemical compositions except sodium were much higher in soil surface. The decreases in sodium levels at surface were probably resulted from the rapid leaching due to the increased solubility and decreased capacity for adsorption of sodium in comparison with potassium or calcium. Among chemical compositions of soil amount of nitrogen showed least difference between the burneb and unburned surfaces soil.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was undertaken to verify the effects of Wolbigachul-tang1(WBCEx1) on obesity using high fat diet-induced male mice and to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved. Methods : 8-week old C57BL/6 mice were divided into 5 groups; lean control, obese control, WBCEx1, 2, 3. After mice were treated with WBCEx1(water extract), 2(30% ethanol extract), 3(water extract; Ephedra sinica Stapf., Gypsum fibrosum) for 12 weeks, body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio, plasma lipid and glucose metabolism, the messenger RNA(mRNA) expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor(PPAR)$\alpha$ target genes were measured. In addition, $PPAR{\alpha}$ target gene expression was examined in liver, white adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Results : 1. WBCEx1-treated mice had significantly lower body weight gain and feeding efficiency ratio. 2. Consistent with the effects on body weight gain, WBCEx1 decreased the weights of epididymal and retroperitoneal white adipose tissue, inguinal subcutaneous adipose tissue, and brown adipose tissue. 3. WBCEx1 significantly decreased plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels. 4. The size of adipocytes were significantly decreased by WBCEx1, whereas the adipocyte number per unit area was increased. Hepatic lipid accumulation was decreased by WBCEx1. 5. WBCEx1 did not affect the mRNA expression of $PPAR{\alpha}$ target genes in liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle. 6. Plasma asparate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), blood urea nitrogen(BUN) and creatine concentrations were in the physiological range. Liver and kidney weights were significantly lower following WBCEx treatment compared with obese controls, indicating that WBCEx does not show any toxic effects on liver and kidney. Conclusions : These results suggest that WBCEx1-induced body weight reduction is associated with appetite control and mediated by a mechanism other than the activation of $PPAR{\alpha}$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.943-948
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• 2009

Physical and chemical analyses of water discharged from 4 crowded farms (Sungsan, Pyosun, Wimi and Daejung) in Jeju island were performed from July, 2006 to Dec, 2006, and the result of the analyses showed that hydrogen ion concentrations (pH) for water discharged from Sungsan farm was 7.74, Pyosun was 7.68, Wimi was 7.68 and Daejung was 7.7. Salinity levels for Sungsan, Pyosun and Wimi had an average of 31$\sim$33 $^\circ$/$_\circ$$_\circ$ indicating characteristics of far distance areas, whereas that of Daejung was 28.81 %, which was far lower compared to regular sea water salinity. As the result of measuring dissolved oxygen (DO) for each area, each area showed first graded DO for each discharged water based on water quality level for each sea district. The result of measuring the temperature for discharged water showed that water temperatures for summer were 23$\sim$25$^\circ$C, and those for winter were 16$\sim$ 18$^\circ$C. Nitrogen concentrations for discharged water exceeded each sea area's water quality level in all farms. In the case of phosphate, its average value was 0.48 mg/l for Sungsan, 0.55 mg/I for Pyosun, 0.66 mg/I for Wimi, and 0.44 mg/l for Daejung, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) was shown to be 1.5 mg/l 1.8 mg/I, 1.6 mg/I and 2.3 mg/I for Sungsan, Pyosun, Wimi and Daejung respectively. For suspended solids (SS), the average concentration was 19.3 mg/I, 21.2 mg/I, 21.3 mg/I and 18.5 mg/I for Sungsan, Pyosun, Wimi and Daejung respectively. The results of physical and chemical analyses for discharged water in farms based on time showed that almost all items were shown to increase in the forenoon and decrease, overall, in the afternoon.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.471-477
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• 2013

Biochar amendment to agricultural soil is regarded as a promising option to mitigate climate change and enhance soil quality. It could sequester more carbon within the soil system and increase plant yield by changing soil physicochemical characteristics. However, sustainable use of biochar requires comprehensive environmental assessment. In this sense, it is important to measure additional greenhouse gas emission from soils after biochar addition. We investigated emissions of $CO_2$, $N_2O$, and $CH_4$ from incubated soils collected from rice paddy and cultivated grassland after amendment of 3% biochar (wt.) produced from rice chaff. During incubation, soils were exposed to three wet-dry cycles ranging from 5~85% soil gravimetric water content (WC) to investigate the changes in effect of biochar when influenced by different water levels. The $CO_2$ emission was reduced in biochar treatment compared to the control at WC of 30~70% both in rice paddy and grassland soils. This indicates that biochar could function as a stabilizer for soil organic carbon and it can be effective in carbon sequestration. The $N_2O$ emission was also reduced from the grassland soil treated with biochar when WC was greater than 30% because the biochar treated soils had lower denitrification due to better aeration. In the rice paddy soil, biochar addition resulted in decrease in $N_2O$ emission when WC was greater than 70%, while an increase was noted when WC was between 30~70%. This increase might be related to the fact that available nutrients on biochar surface stimulated existing nitrifying bacterial community, resulting in higher $N_2O$ emission. Overall results imply that biochar amendment to agricultural soil can stabilize soil carbon from fast decomposition although attention should be paid to additional $N_2O$ emission when biochar addition is combined with the application of nitrogen fertilizer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.445-451
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was carried out to examine the effects of onion kimchi extract supplementation on blood glucose level and serum lipid components in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats for 4 weeks. STZ was administered as a single dose (50 mg/kg BW) to induce diabetes, and the diabetic rats were divided into eight groups (normal, diabetic control, and six treatment groups). The dose of onion kimchi extract 100 (OK-100), 200 (OK-200), and 400 (OK-400) mg/kg/day or quercetin as a main compound of onion 5 (Q-5), 10 (Q-10), and 20 (Q-20) mg/kg/day were orally administered daily to STZ-induced diabetic rats for 4 weeks after STZ injection. The diabetic control rats (465.6 mg/dL) showed significantly higher blood glucose level than the normal rats (76.3 mg/dL) after 4 weeks, but was significantly reduced with onion kimchi extract and quercetin supplementation (p<0.001). Changes in body weight, kidney weight and urine volume were not significantly different in diabetic control rats, and in onion kimchi extract and quercetin treated rats. The serum total cholesterol levels of control were significantly decreased in onion kimchi extract and quercetin supplementation groups, respectively (p<0.001). The blood urea nitrogen level and urinary protein excretion in diabetic rats were not significant different among the groups. These results suggest that onion kimchi extract supplementation in STZ-induced diabetic rats may be a very important factor for the reduction of blood glucose and serum cholesterol profiles.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.356-359
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• 2018

This case report attempts to present a case of acute toxic hepatitis in fire extinguisher manufacturing workers exposed to 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoro-ethane (HCFC-123) in August 2017 in Korea. Twenty-two-year-old male workers were exposed to HCFC-123 for 1.5 hours one day and for 2.5 hours the other day, after which one worker died, and the other recovered after treatment. The workers were diagnosed with acute toxicity of hepatitis. However, exposure levels of HCFC-123 were not known with no work environment measurement done. Therefore, this study was conducted to estimate the exposure concentration of HCFC-123 via a job simulation experiment. In the simulation, the HCFC-123 exposure concentration was measured with the same working practice and working time as with the workers aforementioned. As a result, the workers who infused HCFC-123 into storage tanks were estimated to be exposed to HCFC-123 at a concentration of $20.65{\pm}10.81ppm$, and a mean concentration of area samples within a working radius were estimated as $70.30{\pm}18.10ppm$. Valve assembly workers working on valves of a fire extinguisher filled with HCFC-123 were exposed to HCFC-123 at concentrations of $91.65{\pm}4.03ppm$ and $115.55{\pm}7.28ppm$, respectively, in the simulation, and area samples simulated within the working radius were also found to be high with concentrations of $122.75{\pm}91.15ppm$ and $126.80{\pm}60.25ppm$, respectively. Nitrogen gas packing workers, who did not handle HCFC-123 directly, were exposed to the agent at a concentration of $71.80{\pm}8.49ppm$. These results suggest that exposure to HCFC-123 at high concentrations for 1.5-2.5 hours caused acute toxic hepatitis in two workers.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2000

Antioxidant activity and related components including tocopherols, phenolic compounds and carotenoids in the corn(Zea mays L.) kernels were measured to understand effects of fertilizer application. Hybrids used were Chalok 2, a waxy corn, and Suwon 19, a dent corn. The standard fertilizer level of N-P-K was 14.5-3-6 for Chalok 2 and 17.4-3-6.9 for Suwon 19. The treatments of the fertilizer levels were the standard level, half and two fold amounts of N, P, and K, and no fertilizer. The antioxidant activity was determined by measuring electron donating ability. The antioxidant activity of Chalok 2 was higher than Suwon 19. The antioxidant activity was the highest at the standard fertilizer treatment for Chalok 2, but was statistically not significant. The antioxidant activity and the related compounds content in Suwon 19, however, were the highest in the two fold nitrogen treatment, and the differences were significant. The contents of tocopherols, phenolic compounds and carotenoids were 30.0~38.1, 104.7~118.8, $0.1{\mu}gml^{-1}$, respectively for Chalok 2 and 16.7~20.1, 59.9~72.7, $35.5{\sim}50.0{\mu}gml^{-1}$, respectively for Suwon 19. The antioxidant activity was positively correlated with the grain yield in both cultivars. The shorter the ASI the higher the yield of the plant. The difference in genetic factors would affect greater influence than fertilizer effect on the antioxidant activity of corn.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.595-604
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• 2015

Soil chemical properties in paddy fields were found to be varied depending upon different cultivation methods such as environmentally-friendly, conventional, and two-crop farming systems and different topographical regions, namely plain, middle mountainous, and reclaimed land regions. Overall soil pH was found to be in optimal range (pH 5.5~6.5) for rice cultivation, except with conventional cultivation fields of the reclaimed lands in Jeonnam province. Electrical conductivity (EC) was relatively higher in the two-crop cultivation fields than in others. However, the concentrations of available phosphate as $P_2O_5$ were exceptionally higher in the two-crop farming fields, thus in submerged paddy condition the phosphate could be released into streams and rivers. Soil organic matter (SOM) contents were mostly in optimal range ($25{\sim}30g\;kg^{-1}$) for paddy field in Jeonbuk province, but in Jeonnam province they were slightly higher values of the range. The concentrations of available silicate ($SiO_2$) were mostly depended on the cultivation methods and the region, but some of paddy fields contained extremely high $SiO_2$ concentration. Statistical relationships among the soil chemical properties showed as follows: Correlations between EC values and exchangeable cation concentrations, between SOM contents and CEC values, and between available $SiO_2$ concentrations and pH, EC, exchangeable cations, and CEC values were positively significant, whereas total nitrogen concentrations were significantly negatively correlated with the concentrations of exchangeable K and Mg. These results might be very useful to establish benchmark paddy fields contained with certain levels of soil fertility.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 1972

This experiment was conducted to investigate the combined effects of radiation and antiseptics on the keeping qualities of pork sausage, which was treated with potassium sorbate and AF-2(2-(-2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-acrylamide), and then followed by gamma radiation of 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 Mrad. Amounts of treated antiseptics were a quarter, half, and full levels of their maximum permissible concentration. Irradiated and unirradiated sausages were stored for 50 days at $5^{\circ}C\;and\;25^{\circ}C$, and their changes in rancidity, volatile basic nitrogen, bacterial counts, pH, and sensory analysis were examined during the storage period. The results obtained are as follows: 1) Preservative effects of antiseptics were manifested at cold storage; antiseptics treatment of a quarter-level and unirradiation following low-temperature storage showed the same good keeping qualities as the combined treatment of full-level antiseptics and radiation of 0.25 Mrad following high-temperature storage. 2) There did not appear to recognize irradiation-odor, while color and odor were deteriorated intensively by storage temperature. Sausage irradiated with 0.75 Mrad has shown slightly noticeable off-odor at the end of storage at $25^{\circ}C$. 3) The most suitable radiation dose was considered to be 0.5 Mrad, which could extend the storage life about $2{\sim}3$ times longer than untreated.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2010

Gulbi, made of fresh yellow corvenia (Psendosciaena manchurica) that has been salted and dried, is one of the most popular traditional marine foods in Korea. The objective of this study was to develop a method to safely manufacture Gulbi with low levels of oxidation and contamination, by a hot air drying method. Changes in total acidity, pH, salt concentration, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) and volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) were measured during drying at 30, 35 and $40^{\circ}C$ for 15 days in a hot air-dryer using a semi-dried method. Acidity increased with increasing drying time at all drying temperatures. The pH decreased gradually with increasing drying time. Salt concentration was increased as drying time increased at all drying temperatures due to moisture loss. The VBN increased as drying time increased for all drying temperatures. Data indicate that the drying at $35^{\circ}C$ appears to have a significant sensory and physicochemical advantage in Gulbi products.