• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.862-872
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• 2020

This study explores the effects of facemasks on respiratory, thermoregulatory, cardiovascular responses during exercise on a treadmill and at rest. Five male subjects (25.8 ± 0.8 y, 171.8 ± 9.2 cm in height, 79.8 ± 28.1 kg in weight) participated in the following five experimental conditions: no mask, KF80, KF94, KF99, and N95. Inhalation resistance was ranked as KF80 < KF94 < N95 < KF99 and dead space inside a mask was ranked as KF80 = KF94 < N95 < KF99. The surface area covered by a mask was on average 1.1% of the total body surface area. The results showed no significant differences in body core temperature, oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), heart rate or subjective perception among the five experimental conditions; however, cheek temperature, respiratory ventilation and blood pressure were greater for KF80 or KF94 conditions when compared to KF99 or N95 conditions (p<0.05). The differences among mask conditions are attributed to the dead space or specific designs (cup type vs pleats type) rather than the filtration level. In addition, the results suggest that improving mask design can help mitigate respiratory resistance from increased filtration.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.69 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2024

High soil salinity is the most severe threat to global rice production as it causes a significant decline in rice yield. Here, we investigated the effects of various plant extracts on rice plant stress associated with high salinity. Additionally, we examined various physiological and biochemical parameters such as growth, photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll content, and lipid peroxidation - in rice plants after treatment with selected plant extracts under salt stress conditions. Of the 11 extracts tested, four - soybean leaf, soybean stem, moringa (Moringa oleifera), and Undaria pinnatifida extracts - were found to effectively reduce salt stress. A reduction of only 3-23% in shoot fresh weight was observed in rice plants under salt stress that were treated with these extracts, compared to the 43% reduction observed in plants that were exposed to stress but not given plant extract treatments (control plants). The effectiveness varied with the concentration of the plant extracts. Water content was higher in rice plants treated with the extracts than in the control plants after 6 d of salt stress, but not after 4 d of salt stress. Although photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm), electron transport rate (ETR), and the content of pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoid) varied based on the types and levels of stress and the extracts that the rice plants were treated with, generally, photosynthetic efficiency and pigment content were higher in the treated rice compared to control plants. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide radicals, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and malondialdehyde (MDA), increased as the duration of stress increased. ROS and MDA levels were lower in the treated rice than in the control plants. Proline and soluble sugar accumulation also increased with the duration of the stress period. However, proline and soluble sugar accumulation were lower in the treated rice than in the control plants. Generally, the values of all the parameters investigated in this study were similar, regardless of the plant extract used to treat the rice plants. Thus, the extracts found to be effective can be used to alleviate the adverse effects of stress on rice crops associated with high-salinity soils.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.254-260
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• 2024

This study is to manufacture a titanium dioxide (TiO₂) photocatalyst by recycling sludge generated using titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄) as a coagulant. Compared to general sewage, a TiCl₄ coagulant was applied to dyeing wastewater containing a large amount of non-degradable organic compounds to evaluate its performance. Then the generated sludge was dried and fired to prepare a photocatalyst (TFS). Scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and nitrogen oxide reduction experiments were conducted to analyze the surface properties and evaluate the photoactive ability of the prepared TFS. After using titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄) as a coagulant in the dyeing wastewater, the water quality characteristics were measured at 84 mg/L of chemical oxygen demand (COD), 10 mg/L of T-N, and 0.9 mg/L of T-P to satisfy the discharge water quality standards. The surface properties of the TFS were investigated and the anatase crystal structure was observed. It was confirmed that the ratio of Ti and O, the main components of TiO₂, accounted for more than 90 %. As a result of the nitric oxide (NO) reduction experiment, 1.56 uMol of NO was reduced to confirm a removal rate of 20.60 %. This is judged to be a photocatalytic performance similar to that of the existing P-25. Therefore, by applying TiCl₄ to the dyeing wastewater, it is possible to solve the problems of the existing coagulant and to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide generated, using an eco-friendly sludge treatment method. In addition, it is believed that environmental and economic advantages can be obtained by manufacturing TiO₂ at an eco-friendly and lower cost than before.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2019

Portulaca oleracea L. (PL) has been used in traditional medicine herb for treatment of various diseases, such as diarrhea, dysentery, and skin inflammation. Previous studies have shown that the PL regulates the inflammation by inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Although PL might have improvement effects of intestinal function and bioactive effects, there are not enough studies to demonstrate. This study investigated the effects of KDC16-2 on the improvement of intestinal function and anti-inflammatory effects in vivo and in vitro. The improvement effect of intestinal function was measured fecal amount, water content and intestinal transit rate in KDC16-2 treated ICR mice. As results, compared with the control group, the KDC16-2 group showed a significant increase in wet fecal weight, dry fecal weight and fecal water content. The intestinal transit rate of KDC16-2 group was significantly increased. Based on the results, KDC16-2 is considered to have effects on improving intestinal function. The effect of anti-inflammatory demonstrated by using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice. The mice were administered 3% DSS along with KDC16-2 (100, 300 mg/kg) for 14 days. DSS-induced colitis mice were significantly ameliorated in KDC16-2 treated group, including body weight loss, colon length shortening, tight junction protein of colon and histological colon injury. The levels of inflammatory mediators (IgG2a, IgA, C-reactive protein and Myeloperoxidase) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, Interleukin (IL)-6) which are involved in inflammatory responses were increased in the DSS-treated group as compared to those in the control group, and the levels were significantly decreased in the KDC16-2 groups. In addition, we investigated the impact of KDC16-2 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in J774A.1 cells. KDC16-2 inhibited production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results suggested that the KDC16-2 could effectively alleviate the dysfunction of intestinal and inflammatory mediators. Thus, these KDC16-2 can be potentially used as health functional food of intestinal.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1052-1057
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• 2005

Recently, the ozone treatment of wasting activated sludge has become one of the effective and feasible process for the sludge reduction. The objective of this study is to investigate the availability of ozonized wasting sludge on external carbon sources 13r phosphorus release. Experiment results showed that the ozone treatment of activated sludge could produce a large amount of VFA such as acetic acid and isobutyric acid. For example, 50.24 mg/L acetic acid was produced with the ozone dose of 0.05 g $O_3/g$ SS, and 123.56 mg/L acetic acid with 0.5 g $O_3/g$ SS. The higher ozone dose was applied, the more VFA was produced from sludge reduction into a limited point. Finally, using ozonated sludge as only carbon source, the batch experiment, to measure phosphorus release rate in anaerobic condition were performed. The specific phosphorus release rates were investigated as 0.94, 1.37, 1.48, 1.68 mg P/g VSS/hr with ozone dose of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 g $O_3/g$ SS, respectively. Considering the degree of mineralization, VFA production, phosphorus release rate, and economical aspect, the optimal ozone dose for sludge reduction and using carbon sources ranged from 0.05 to 0.1 g $O_3/g$ SS.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.296-301
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• 1992

A Pseudomonas fluorescens was selected from mushrooms and studied in both batch and fed-batch cultures in order to get maximal biomass concentration. P. fluorescens is an aerobic bacterium and antagonistic to Pseudomonas tolaasii which causes blotch disease on the mushroom cap. P fluarescens and P. tolaasii were identified by Gram staining, gelatin liquefaction, oxidase test, etc. and were characterized by pigment production, temperature sensitivity, salt tolerance and rapid pitting test, etc., Celts of P. fluorescens well in medium containing 30g/L of glucose, whereas the growth was inhibited at the glucose levels at higher than 30g/L. The highest values of specific growth rate and productivity were obtained when using 10g/1 of yeast extract. Optimum concentrations of $NH_4Cl$ and ${(NH_4Cl)}_2SO_4$ for culture were found to be 1.0g/L and 0.1g/L respectively. Optimum concentration of $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$ used as a sulfursource was 1.0g/L. It was also found that the cell concentrations reached the maximum level when grown on the medium containing 1.0g/L of $KH_2PO_4$ and 0.1g/L of $CaCl_2$. Also, the optimum culture conditions were $30^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.0. Cultivation of P. fluarescens at high dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration led to a decrease of bacterial productivity in batch culture. Maximum productivity was achieved at 40% DO concentration.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 2017

Objectives: Radiation is one of the most important sources of free radical (such as reactive oxygen species) production, which plays an essential role in the etiology of over hundred diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate some immune parameters and hematological indices in healthy workers of the Radiology Department, University Hospital of Mashhad, Iran. Methods: The study was performed on 50 healthy workers: 30 radiology staff as the case group and 20 laboratory workers as the control group. The radiation dose received by the radiology staff participating in the study was less than the annual maximum permissible level, 50 millisievert. Hematological parameters, lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production were studied in both groups. Results: Among healthy radiology workers, the hematological indices did not differ statistically; however, their proliferation indices and $IFN-{\gamma}$ levels showed significant increases in parallel with decreases in the IL-4 levels as compared to controls. The immune system of workers exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation was found to be shifted from a Type 2 to a Type 1 response to promote cellular immunity. Conclusion: Based on our data, exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation may decrease the prevalence, frequency, and recurrence of various cancers and infectious diseases because of an increase in Th1-cell-based response, thus leading to more protection of the human body against tumor cells and foreign agents and possibly increased longevity. However, due to high rate of fluoroscopy use for interventional radiology, we suggest continuing research projects on radiation protection and hazards to prevent irreversible damage. As a recommendation, in future studies, radiology staff with a weakened immunity due to high radiation exposure should be considered as good choices to be treated using acupuncture techniques because acupuncture has been demonstrated to enhance the function and the number of immune cells.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1113-1122
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• 2009

In order to find the way to solve the problem of sewage sludge discharge into the ocean, the sludge solubilization by ultrasonic and the improvement methods of wastewater treatment process were studied. In the membrane bioreactor the sludge retention time was stepwise increased from 5.1 day to 442 days where the biomass average concentration has been increased from $c_B$=3.4 $gTSSL^{-1}$ to $c_B$=14.5 $gTSSL^{-1}$ respectively. At the same time, the biomass yield coefficients were reduced from 0.5-0.7 at SRT=5.1 day to 0.005-0.007 at SRT=442 days which means the reduction of sludge production. Oxygen mass transfer coefficients and ${\alpha}$-factor were investigated with changing stirrer speed to find the relation between the high biomass concentration and aeration efficiency in the propeller loop reactor. As a result of sludge solubilization, the solubilization of sludge by ultrasound was increased with increasing energy input and it led to improved anaerobic digestion rate with more biogas production than that of nonsolubilized sewage sludge.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.115-123
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• 1998

Vinyl chloride monomer exists as gas phase at normal temperature and reacts with oxygen and strong oxidant in the air to form oxidized materials. Because of being easily synthesized, it is used as a main source at the synthetic reaction process of PVC synthesis factories. Ministry of Labor regulates its usage as a carcinogen and its exposure level as 1 ppm. But the amount of VCM production in PVC and VCM production process hasn't been exactly estimated. In addition, facilities of this factory are located in outdoor. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate effects of temperature on breakthrough of charcoal tube at a fixed concentration and temperature during VCM sampling based on NIOSH and OSHA methods which were used as methods of occupational environment measuring and analysis. During the sampling of VCM, methods of OSHA and NIOSH require flow rate of 0.05 lpm and sampling volume of $3{\ell}$, $5{\ell}$ respectively, at this time carbon molecular sieve tube and coconut shell charcoal tube are used to observe the breakthrough along with concentration and temperature. As a result, significant difference between average adsorbed amounts of OSHA methods but that of NIOSH methods cannot be found. NIOSH method is likely to be effected by high temperature and normal temperature in high concentration. Breakthrough is not found in the method of OSHA at different conditions of temperature and concentration. As the result of this study we could verify that breakthrough occurred in the process of sampling VCM with NIOSH methods. Therefor in summer time, breakthrough should be considered and research on the breakthrough volume should be done. It is considered the research about the specificity of the coconut shell charcoal and carbon molecular sieve sorbent should be done when sampling VCM in comming days.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.759-770
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• 2022

Background: Aerobic cellular respiration provides chemical energy, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), to maintain multiple cellular functions. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) can deacetylate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α) to promote mitochondrial biosynthesis. Targeting energy metabolism is a potential strategy for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, such as cardiac and neurological disorders. Ginsenosides, one of the major bioactive constituents of Panax ginseng, have been extensively used due to their diverse beneficial effects on healthy subjects and patients with different diseases. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of total ginsenosides (GS) on energy metabolism remain unclear. Methods: In this study, oxygen consumption rate, ATP production, mitochondrial biosynthesis, glucose metabolism, and SIRT1-PGC-1α pathways in untreated and GS-treated different cells, fly, and mouse models were investigated. Results: GS pretreatment enhanced mitochondrial respiration capacity and ATP production in aerobic respiration-dominated cardiomyocytes and neurons, and promoted tricarboxylic acid metabolism in cardiomyocytes. Moreover, GS clearly enhanced NAD⁺-dependent SIRT1 activation to increase mitochondrial biosynthesis in cardiomyocytes and neurons, which was completely abrogated by nicotinamide. Importantly, ginsenoside monomers, such as Rg1, Re, Rf, Rb1, Rc, Rh1, Rb2, and Rb3, were found to activate SIRT1 and promote energy metabolism. Conclusion: This study may provide new insights into the extensive application of ginseng for cardiac and neurological protection in healthy subjects and patients.