• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.1278-1285
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• 2017

Accumulation of excess low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood can initiate and accelerate atherosclerosis. Statins mediate the transactivation of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), which in turn limits their cholesterol-lowering effects via LDL receptor (LDLR) degradation. The objective of this study was to investigate whether or not Allium tuberosum (AT) regulates LDLR and PCSK9. Mice were fed a low fat control diet (LD) or Western diet (WD) supplemented with AT (1%, w/w). AT significantly attenuated total and LDL cholesterol levels in mice fed WD (P<0.05). AT also significantly inhibited hepatic PCSK9 gene expression (P<0.05) while AT maintained hepatic LDLR gene expression. To further investigate AT-mediated PCSK9 regulation, HepG2 cells were treated with 10% delipidated serum (DLPS) in the presence or absence of AT. Non-toxic level of AT dose-dependently increased the LDLR protein level, and AT at $400{\mu}g/mL$ markedly inhibited PCSK9 protein expression. Similarly, AT significantly increased LDLR gene expression, whereas it significantly down-regulated PCSK9 gene expression. AT-mediated reduction of PCSK9 gene expression is likely due to decreased hepatic nuclear factor $1{\alpha}$ ($HNF1{\alpha}$) expression, but not SREBP2 in HepG2 cells under lipid-depleted conditions. AT-mediated PCSK9 inhibition contributed to LDLR protein stabilization via protection against LDLR lysosomal degradation in HepG2 cells under lipid-depleted conditions. Further investigation is warranted to determine the active components of AT and whether or not these components are effective in reducing hypercholesterolemia.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicities of permeable cryoprotectants and finally to establish the cryopreservation method of surplus embryos obtained during assisted reproductive technology (ART). Toxicities of permeable cryoprotectants, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol (EG), Glycerol, and 1,2-PROH were investigated using a murine embryo model. Female $F-{_1}$ mice were stimulated with gonadotropin, induced ovulation with hCG and mated. Two cell embryos were collected and cultured after exposure to among DMSO, EG, Glycerol, and 1,2-PROH. Embryo development was evaluated up to the blastocyst stage. The total cell count of blastocysts that were treated with DMSO and Glycerol at the 2-cell stage was significantly lower than that were treated with EG ($81.1{\pm}15.1$), 1,2-PROH ($88.0{\pm}21.1$) or the control ($99.9{\pm}21.3$) (p<0.001). On comparison of four cryoprotectant treated groups, the DMSO and Glycerol treated group showed a decreased cell count compared with the EG and 1,2-PROH treated group (p<0.05). Both DMSO ($14.7{\pm}1.3$), EG ($12.1{\pm}1.1$), Glycerol ($15.2{\pm}1.8$), and 1,2-PROH ($11.5{\pm}1.3$) treated groups showed higher apoptosis rates of cells in the blastocyst compared with the control ($6.5{\pm}0.7$, p<0.0001). In addition, the DMSO or Glycerol treated group showed more apoptotic cells than the EG or 1,2-PROH treated group (p<0.001). The potential toxicity of cryoprotectants was uncovered by prolonged exposure of murine embryos to among DMSO, EG, Glycerol, and 1,2-PROH at room temperature. When comparing four permeable cryoprotective agents, EG and 1,2-PROH appeared to be less toxic than DMSO and Glycerol at least in a murine embryo model.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.577-583
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• 2007

To overcome certain disadvantages of past typical control techniques for toxic contaminants emitted from various industrial processes, the current study was conducted to establish a thermal catalytic system using mesh-type transition-metal platinum(Pt)/stainless steel(SS) catalyst and to evaluate catalytic thermal destruction of five chlorinated hydrocarbons[chlorobenzene(CHB), chloroform(CHF), perchloroethylene (PCE), 1,1,1-trichloroethane(TCEthane), trichloroethylene(TCE)]. In addition, this study evaluated the catalyst poison effect on the catalytic thermal destruction. Three operating parameters tested for the thermal catalyst system included the inlet concentrations, the incineration temperature, and the residence time in the catalyst system. The thermal decomposition efficiency decreased from the highest value of 100% to the lowest value of almost 0%(CHB) as the input concentration increased, depending upon the type of chlorinated compounds. The destruction efficiencies of the four target compounds, except for TCEthane, increased upto almost 100% as the reaction temperature increased, whereas the destruction efficiency for TCEthane did not significantly vary. For the target compounds except for TCEthane, the catalytic destruction efficiencies increased up to 30% to 97% as the residence time increased from 10 sec to 60 sec, but the increase of destruction efficiency for TCEthane stopped at the residence time of 30 sec, suggesting that long residence times are not always proper for thermal destruction of VOCs, when considering the destruction efficiency and operation costs of thermal catalytic system together. Conclusively, the current findings suggest that when applying the transition-metal catalyst for the better destruction of chlorinated hydrocarbons, VOC type should be considered, along with their inlet concentrations, and reaction temperature and residence time in catalytic system. Meanwhile, the addition of high methyl sulfide(1.8 ppm) caused a drop of 0 to 50% in the removal efficiencies of the target compounds, whereas the addition of low methyl sulfide (0.1 ppm), which is lower than the concentrations of sulfur compounds measured in typical industrial emissions, did not cause.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.413-426
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• 2009

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of indigenous bacteria on geochemical behavior of toxic heavy metals in contaminated paddy soil near an abandoned mine. The effects of sulfate amendment to stimulate microbial sulfate reduction on heavy metal behaviors were also investigated. Batch-type experiments were performed with lactate or glucose as a carbon source to activate indigenous bacteria in the soil under anaerobic condition for 100 days. Sulfate (250 mg/L) was artificially injected at 60 days after the onset of the experiments. In the case of glucose supply, solution pH increased from 4.8 to 7.6 while pH was maintained at 7~8 in the lactate solution. The initial low pH in the case of glucose supply likely resulted in the enhanced extraction of Fe and most heavy metals at the initial experimental period. Lactate supply exerted no significant difference on the amounts of dissolved Zn, Pb, Ni and Cu between microbial and abiotic control slurries; however, lower Zn, Pb and Ni and higher Cu concentrations were observed in the microbial slurries than in the controls when glucose supplied. Sulfate amendment led to dramatic decrease in dissolved Cr and maintenance of dissolved As, both of which had gradually increased over time till the sulfate injection. Black precipitates formed in solution after sulfate amendment, and violarite($Fe^{+2}{Ni^{+3}}_2S_4$) was found with XRD analysis in the microbial precipitates. Conceivably the mineral might be formed after Fe(III) reduction and microbial sulfate reduction with coprecipitation of heavy metal. The results suggested that heavy metals which can be readily extracted from contaminated paddy soils may be stabilized in soil formation by microbial sulfate reduction.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 2017

Arsenic (As) is known to be the most toxic element and frequently detected in groundwater environment. Inorganic As exists as arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)] in reduced and oxidized environments, respectively. It has been reported that the toxicity of arsenite is much higher than that of arsenate and furthermore arsenite shows relatively higher mobility in aqueous environments. For this reason, there have been numerous researches on the process for oxidation of arsenite to arsenate to reduce the toxicity of arsenic. In particular, photooxidation has been considered to be simple, economical, and efficient to attain such goal. This study was conducted to evaluate the applicability of naturally-occurring goethite as a photocatalyst to substitute for $TiO_2$ which has been mostly used in the photooxidation processes so far. In addition, the effects of several factors on the overall performance of arsenite photocatalytic oxidation process were evaluated. The results show that the efficiency of the process was affected by total concentration of dissolved cations rather than by the kind of those cations and also the relatively higher pH conditions seemed to be more favorable to the process. In the case of coexistence of arsenite and arsenate, the removal tendency by adsorption onto goethite appeared to be different between arsenite and arsenate due to their different affinities with goethite, but any effect on the photocatalytic oxidation of arsenite was not observed. In terms of effect of humic acid on the process, it is likely that the higher concentration of humic acid reduced the overall performance of the arsenite photocatalytic oxidation as a result of competing interaction of activated oxygen species, such as hydroxyl and superoxide radicals, with arsenite and humic acid. In addition, it is revealed that the injection of oxygen gas improved the process because oxygen contributes to arsenite oxidation as an electron acceptor. Based on the results of the study, consequently, the photocatalytic oxidation of aqueous arsenite using goethite seems to be greatly feasible with the optimization of process.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.77-92
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• 2014

Fermented foods have often been implicated as causative agents in poisoning due to toxic levels of biogenic amines. Cheese, a milk-based fermented food, is the product most likely to contain potentially harmful levels of biogenic amines, such as tyramine, histamine, putrescine, and so on. Recently, the risk awareness of a dietary uptake of high loads of biogenic amines has increased. Hence, we here review the published literature on several factors known to affect the biosynthesis of biogenic amines and their accumulation in milk-based foods. Furthermore, with regard to risk analysis, we discuss the control of factors related to the synthesis and accumulation of biogenic amines as a means to reduce their incidence in milk-based products, and thus to increase food safety.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.310-315
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Heavy-metal pollution represents an important environmental problem due to the toxic effects of metals, and their accumulation throughout the food chain leads to serious ecological and health problems. METHODS AND RESULTS: Optimum conditions in continuous-flow stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and packedbed column contactor (PBCC) using brown seaweed biosorbent were investigated. Under optimum conditions from both lab-scale biosorbent systems, removal efficiency of copper (Cu) in a large-scale PBCC system was investigated. Removal capacity of Cu using brown seaweed biosorbent in a lab-scale CSTR system was higher than that in a lab-scale PBCC system. On the other hand, over 48 L/day of flow rate in Cu solution, removal efficiency of Cu in a lab-scale PBCC system was higher than that in a lab-scale CSTR system. Optimum flow rate of Cu was 24 L/day, optimum Cu solution concentration was 100 mg/L. Removal capacity of Cu at different stages was higher in the order of double column biosorption system > single column biosorption system. Under different heavy metals, removal capacities of heavy metal were higher in the order of Pb > Cr > Ni > Mn ${\geq}$ Cu ${\geq}$ Cd ${\fallingdotseq}$ Zn ${\geq}$ Co. Removal capacity of Cu was 138 L in a large-scale PBCC system. Removal capacity of Cu a large-scale PBCC system was similar with in a lab-scale PBCC system. CONCLUSION(s): Therefore, PBCC system using brown seaweed biosorbent was suitable for treating heavy metal wastewater.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.316-322
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Pesticides concentration was monitored in 50 agricultural lakes, and ecological risk for aquatic organism was assessed using risk quotient (RQ) and probabilistic methods. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pesticides concentrations detected in 50 agricultural lakes during peak season (June and September) were in the range of $0.17{\sim}0.99{\mu}g/L$. The RQ for algae and the other species was estimated to be 0.25 and below 0.01, indicating medium risk and no risk. Oxadiazon predominantly contributed to RQ value of 99% for algae, fishes, and amphibians. In terms of hazardous concentration at 5% of species ($HC_5$), ecological risk quotients (ERQ) for oxadiazon ranged from 0.18~0.33, showing a medium risk level. Overall, the concentrations of pesticides were much lower than $HC_5$), value. Probability of combined ecological risk for pesticides ranged from 1.82% to 2.41%. CONCLUSION(s): Combined ecological risk probability did not exceed the acceptable level of 5%, indicating no ecological risk for selected aquatic species. This study suggests that regular ecological risk assessment (ERA) will be required to protect and manage an agricultural lake. Not only ERA at screening level by comparing exposure with toxic effects for aquatic species also advanced ERA technique considering species in indigenous to Korea, chronic toxicity, pulse dose, fate, and environmental factors should be required.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2008

Current soil remediation principles for toxic metals have some limitations even though they vary with different technologies. An alternative technology that transforms hazardous substances into nonhazardous ones would be environmentally beneficial. Objective of this research was to assess optimum conditions for Cr(VI) reduction in soils as influenced by ZVI(Zero-Valent Iron), organic matter and moisture content. The reduction ratio of Cr(VI) was increased from 37 to 40% as organic matter content increased from 1.07 to 1.75%. In addition, Cr(VI) concentration was reduced as soil moisture content increased, but the direct effect of soil moisture content on Cr(VI) reduction was less than 5% of the Cr(VI) reduction ratio. However, combined treatment of ZVI(5%), organic matter(1.75%) and soil moisture(30%) effectively reduced the initial Cr(VI) to over 95% within 5 days and nearly 100% after 30 days by increasing oxidation of ZVI and concurrent reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The overall results demonstrated that ZVI was effective in remediating Cr(VI) contaminated soils, and the efficiency was synergistic with the combined treatments of soil moisture and organic matter.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.799-810
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• 2004

This study was conducted to determine effects of spent composts of Se-enriched mushrooms (Se-SMC) as the dietary selenium source on carcass characteristics, plasma glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) activity and Se deposition in finishing Hanwoo steers. In combination with both Se-SMC and normal SMC, experimental treatment diets were formulated to contain 0.1, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 ppm of Se on a dry matter basis. A total of 20 finishing Hanwoo steers (average BW = 613 kg, average age = 20 to 24 mo) were allotted to treatments in four groups of five steers per pen for 12 wk preceding slaughter. While the experiment is employed, blood samples were taken to analyze Se concentration and GSH-Px activity, and muscle and liver samples were collected for analyses of Se contents in their tissues after slaughter. DMl and BW gain were not affected by dietary Se level and any toxic symptoms in treatments with a higher level of Se were not observed. No differences were noted for carcass characteristics. Se concentration in whole blood and plasma GSH-Px activity were linearly increased with the increasing level of dietary Se (P < 0.01). Se content in the hind leg for Se-SMC supplemented groups significantly increased (P < 0.05) upon dietary Se level, with 0.27, 0.37, 0.40 and 0.46 !1g1g dry, respectively. However, Se content in the loin was not affected by dietary Se levels. Se content in the liver was significantly increased(P < 0.05) as dietary Se increased, with 0.79, 1.40, 2.39 and 3.10 !1g1g dry, respectively. These results suggested that Se in the Se-SMC was highly bioavailable, and Se-SMC might be used not only as an inexpensive way of providing Se for ruminants but also as another way of producing Se-fortified beef.