• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.288-294
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Methylmercury is analyzed by HPLC-ICP/MS because of the simplicity for sample preparation and interference. However, most of the pre-treatment methods for methylmercury need a further pH adjustment of the extracted solution and removal of organic matter for HPLC. The purpose of this study was to establish a rapid and accurate analytical method for determination of methylmercury in fish by using HPLC-ICP/MS. METHOD AND RESULTS: We conducted an experiment for pre-treatment and instrument conditions and analytical method verification. Pre-treatment condition was established with aqueous 1% L-cysteine HCl and heated at $60^{\circ}C$ in microwave for 20 min. Methylmercury in $50{\mu}L$ of filtered extract was separated by a C18 column and aqueous 0.1% L-cysteine HCl + 0.1% L-cysteine mobile phase at $25^{\circ}C$. The presence of cysteine in mobile phase and sample solution was essential to eliminate adsorption, peak tailing and memory effect problems. Correlation coefficient($r^2$) for the linearity was 0.9998. The limits of detection and quantitation for this method were 0.15 and $0.45{\mu}g/kg$ respectively. CONCLUSION: Result for analytical method verification, accuracy and repeatability of the analytes were in good agreement with the certified reference materials values of methylmercury at a 95% confidence level. The advantage of the established method is that the extracted solution can be directly injected into the HPLC column without additional processes and the memory effect of mercury in the ICP-MS can be eliminated.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.351-368
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• 2004

Following the previous experiments, a starvation experiment was conducted to determine the influence of feeding and starvation on the histological and biochemical changes, the morphormetric changes in the sectioned body and the morphometric changes in Rhynchocypris oxycephalus (Sauvage and Dabry). The influence of starvation on nutritional conditions of the histological changes of hepatocyte and intestinal epithelium as hepatosmatic index (HSI), protein, RNA and DNA concentrations of liver in R. oxycephalus was tested. Although the starved group showed higher concentrations of protein, DNA and RNA than the fed group, food deprivation resulted in a decrease in the HSI, hepatocyte nucleus size and nuclear height of the intestinal epithelium. The RNA - DNA ratio appears to be a useful index of nutritional status in R. oxycephalus and may be useful for determining if R. oxycephalus is in a period of rapid or slow growth at the time of sampling. Additionally, the data have been interpreted in detail and some biologically important relationships discussed. The effects of starvation on the morphometrical changes in sectioned body traits, condition factor, viscera index and dressing percentage were determined for evaluating nutritional conditions of R. oxycephalus. Starvation for nine weeks resulted in a decrease in most sectioned traits as well as in condition factor and viscera index (P<0.05). These findings suggest that nutritional parameters used in this study appear to be a useful index for nutritional status in this species. The data has been interpreted in detail and some important body sectioned values of interest to commercial growers discussed. A 75-day study was conducted to determine the effect of starvation on classical and truss parameters in R. oxycephalus. Truss dimensions of almost the entire head and trunk region as well as the abdomen were increased significantly through feeding or starvation (P<0.05). Truss dimensions of the caudal region generally decreased through feeding or starvation, particularly those dimensions at the hind part of the trunk. There were some significant decreases in classical dimensions of the head region during feeding, in relation to body depth characteristics in the trunk and caudal region during starvation, whereas there was only one decreasing classical dimension in the caudal region during feeding. The results of this study indicate that application of the truss network as a character set enforces classical coverage across the body form, discrimination among experimental groups thus being enhanced. Considering that the dimension of the lower part of the head and some truss and classical dimensions were least affected by feeding and starvation, these dimensions may then be useful as a taxonomical indicator to discriminate the species of Rhynchocypris sp. The value of trunk region dimensions with a large component of body depth in R. oxycephalus is most likely to be compromised by variability related to differences in feeding regimes of fish in different habitats.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.168-177
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• 2007

By using DEM and digital actual vegetation map with MGE GIS software program, topographic features (altitude, slope, latitude, etc.) quantitatively were analysed and their data integrated as the index of climatic conditions (WI, CI, air temperature, etc.) in South Korea. Warmth Index (WI) decreases $5.27^{\circ}C{\cdot}month$ with latitudinal $1^{\circ} degree, and $3.41^{\circ}C{\cdot}month$ with attitudinal 100 m increase. The relationship between CI and WI values is expressed as a linear regression, $WI=116.01+0.96{\times}CI,\;R^2=0.996$. The distributional peaks of different plant communities along Warmth Index gradient showed the sequence of Abies nephrolepis, Taxus cuspidata, Abies koreana, Quercus mongolica, Carpinus laxiflora, Q. dentata, C. tschonoskii, Q. serrate, Pinus densiflora, Q. aliena, Q. variabilis, Q. acutissima, P. thunbergii, Q. acute, Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii, Camellia japonica, Machilus thunbergii community from lower to higher values. The Quercus mongolica forest occurred frequently on E-NW and SE slope aspect within WI $70{\sim}80^{\circ}C{\cdot}month$ optimal range at mesic sites, NW and SE slope than xeric sites S and SW slope. The Q. serrata forest showed the most distributional frequency in NW and W slope aspect within WI $90{\sim}100^{\circ}C{\cdot}month$ range, Q. variabilis and Q. acutissima forest showed the high frequency of distribution in SE slope in WI $95{\sim}100^{\circ}C{\cdot}month$ range. By the slope gradient analysis, five groups were found: 1. Abies nephrolepis, Machilus thunbergii, 2. Taxus cuspidata, Abies koreana, Quercus mongolica, Q. dentata, Q. serrata, Q. variabilis, Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii 3. Pinus densiflora, Q. aliena, Q. acutissima, P. thunbergii, Q. acuta 4. Carpinus laxiflora, Camellia japonica 5. C. tschonoskii from steep slope to gentle slope sequence.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.393-401
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• 2013

The objectives of this study were to analyze structures of fish community and the ecological health using a multi-metric fish model, the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) in the Backje Weir of Geum River during two periods namely before-the-fishkill ($B_f$) and after-the-fishkill ($A_f$). The total number of fish species observed were 32 and among them 10 species (35%) were Korean endemic species. The exotic species observed were 3 which decreased by 0.4% after-the-fishkill ($A_f$). The dominant species were Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis (13%) at the Bf period and Squalidus japonicus coreanus (17%) at the Af period in the Backje Weir. At after the fishkill ($A_{f-I}$) total biomass was about 10 times lower than the biomass before-the-fishkill ($B_f$). The biomass of Carassius auratus decreased 98% after-the-fishkill and as time passed by the biomass recovered to nearly 100%. Similar decrease in the biomass occurred in the population of Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis, while Rhinogobius brunneus population increased. According to the structure analysis of fish community, species richness index, evenness index and species diversity index were high but after-the fishkill, the values of indices decreased. Tolerant species (64%) dominated the fish community, and the sensitive species (2%) were rare, indicating the degradation of the ecosystem. According to analysis of the multi-metric model (IBI), the mean model value of the fish community in Backje Weir was estimated as 17.5 indicating a "fair condition".

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.170-178
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• 2016

Accuracy and precision of ID methods for different spike isotopes of ⁷⁶Se, ⁷⁷Se, and ⁷⁸Se were compared for the analysis of Selenium using quadrupole ICP/MS equipped with Octopole reaction cell. From the analysis of Se inorganic standard solution, all of three spikes showed less than 1 % error and 1 % RSD for both short-term (a day) and long-term (several months) periods. They showed similar results with each other and ⁷⁸Se showed was a bit better than ⁷⁶Se and ⁷⁷Se. However, different spikes showed different results when NIST SRM 1568a and SRM 2967 were analyzed because of the several interferences on the m/z measured and calculated. Interferences due to the generation of SeH from ORC was considered as well as As and Br in matrix. The results showed similar accuracy and precisions against SRM 1568a, which has a simple background matrix, for all three spikes and the recovery rate was about 80% with steadiness. The %RSD was a bit higher than inorganic standard (1.8 %, 8.6 %, and 6.3 % for ⁷⁸Se, ⁷⁶Se and ⁷⁷Se, respectively) but low enough to conclude that this experiment is reliable. However, mussel tissue has a complex matrix showed inaccurate results in case of ⁷⁸Se isotope spike (over 100 % RSD). ⁷⁶Se and ⁷⁷Se showd relatively good results of around 98.6 % and 104.2 % recovery rate. The errors were less than 5 % but the precision was a bit higher value of 15 % RSD. This clearly shows that Br interferences are so large that a simple mathematical calibration is not enough for a complex-matrixed sample. In conclusion, all three spikes show similar results when matrix is simple. However, ⁷⁸Se should be avoided when large amount of Br exists in matrix. Either ⁷⁶Se or ⁷⁷Se would provide accurate results.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.279-288
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• 2006

Three different experiments were undertaken to investigate the runoff and erosion loss of diazinon and metolachlor from sloped-field by rainfall. The mobility of two pesticides and which phase they were transported by were examined in adsorption study, the influence of rainfall pattern and slope degree on the pesticide losses were evaluated in simulated rainfall study, and the pesticide losses from soybean field comparing with bare soil were measured in field lysimeter study. Freundlich adsorption parameter (K) ranged $1.6{\sim}2.0$ for metolachlor and $4.0{\sim}5.5$ for diazinon. The K values of pesticides by the desorption method were higher than those ones by the adsorption method. Another parameter (1/n) in Freundlich equation for the pesticides tested ranged $0.96{\sim}1.02$ by desorption method and $0.87{\sim}1.02$ by adsorption method. By the SSLRC's classification for pesticide mobility of diazinon and metolachlor were classified as moderately mobile ($75{\leq}Koc$ <500). Runoff and erosion losses of pesticides by three rainfall scenarios were $0.5{\sim}1.0%$ and $0.1{\sim}0.7%$ for metolachlor and $0.1{\sim}0.6%$ and $0.1{\sim}0.2%$ for diazinon. Distribution of pesticides in soil polite were investigated after the simulated rainfall events. Metolachlor was leached to $10{\sim}15$ cm soil layer and diazinon was leached to $5{\sim}10$ cm soil layer. Losses of each pesticide in the 30% of sloping degree treatment were $0.2{\sim}1.9$ times higher than those ones in the 10% of sloping degree treatment. Pesticide losses from a series of lysimeter plots in sloped land by rainfall ranged $1.0{\sim}3.1%$ for metolachlor and $0.23{\sim}0.50%$ for diazinon, and were $1/3{\sim}2.5$ times to the ones in the simulated rainfall study. The erosion rates of pesticides from soybean-plots were $21{\sim}75%$ lower than the ones from bare soil plots. The peak runoff concentration in soybean-plots and bare soil plots were $1{\sim}9{\mu}gL^{-1}$ and $3{\sim}16{\mu}gL^{-1}$ for diazinon, $7{\sim}31{\mu}gL^{-1}$ and $5{\sim}40{\mu}gL^{-1}$ for metolachlor, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.40-46
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• 2000

To select the effective fungicides for the control of leaf spot disease of jujube tree (Zizyphus jujuba) caused by Phoma sp., inhibitory effects of 26 fungicides for mycelial growth were investigated at $250{\mu}g\;a.i./m{\ell}$. In the test, eight fungicides were selected and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for mycelial growth and an inhibitory effect for spore germination were investigated. Among the fungicides, myclobutanil, hexaconazole, and triflumizole were excluded in control effect tests because of their relatively high MICs. MICs were ranged $10-50{\mu}g\;a.i./m{\ell}$ for benomyl, carbendazim + kasugamycin (CK), and thiophanate-methyl. triflumizole (TT), and $50-250{\mu}g\;a.i./m{\ell}$ for iprodione + propineb (IT) and iminoctadine-triacelate (IT). However, benomyl and IP showed very low inhibitory effect on conidial germination. When the fungicides were sprayed on the seedlings before the leaves were inoculated with conidial suspension of Phoma sp., the protective values of CK and TT were around 70% at 1,000 ppm and around 90% at 2,000 ppm. The protective values were around 70% at 2,000 ppm (benomyl), 4,000 ppm (IP), and 8,000 ppm (IT). When the fungicides were sprayed after inoculation, benomyl showed the highest curative values of over 90% at 1,000 ppm and the values of CK and TT ranged $70{\sim}80%$ at 1,000 ppm. However, IP and IT had little or no effect on therapy of the disease. IT caused necrotic phytotoxicity on the leaves of jujube seedlings. As results, the best fungicides for the protection of jujube trees from leaf spot disease were CK (2,000 ppm) and TT (2,000 ppm) and for the remedy of the tree, benomyl (1,000 ppm) was the best. Therefore, alternate application of benomyl and CK or TT will be effective in the disease control.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.68-74
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• 2000

Penicillium oxalicum (PENOX) has shown the potential as a biocontrol agent(5CA) for control of a weed, clover(Trifolium repens L.) in grass plots. The bioherbicidal activity may be due to germinative and growth capacities and substrate availability of the agent over a range of environmental factors. The influences of different water activities($0.94{\sim}0.995\;a_w$) and temperatures($18{\sim}30^{\circ}C$) on mycelial growth, conidial germination, sporulation oil 2% MEA(malt extract agar) adjusted to different water activities with glycerol, and carbon source utilization using BIOLOG GN MicroPlate were determined in vitro. Decreases in $a_w$ on MEA caused a reduction in mycelial growth and conidial germination depending on temperature. The mycelial growth of PENOX was greatest at $30^{\circ}C/0.995\;a_w$. At some lowered water activity($0.97\;a_w$), the growth was similar between 25 and $30^{\circ}C$, and considerably decreased at lowered temperature($20^{\circ}C$). The germination rate was also greatest at $30^{\circ}C/0.995\;a_w$. Lag phase times for PENOX at $18^{\circ}C$ on MEA were >6hrs at tile whole $a_w$ level tested, and at 18 and $25^{\circ}C$ they were >18hrs and >12hrs at $0.94\;a_w$, respectively. However, its sporulation was some better at $0.97\;a_w$ than $0.995\;a_w$ or $0.94\;a_w$, and better at $20^{\circ}C$ than $30^{\circ}C$. In contrast, the number of carbon sources(niche size) utilized by PENOX varied with $a_w$ and temperature. Under some water stress condition($0.95\;a_w$), the agent utilized smaller number of carbon sources than $0.995\;a_w$ depending on temperature. The niche size at 0.995 and $0.95\;a_w$ were highest at $25^{\circ}C$, and showed 86 and 65, respectively. At $30^{\circ}C$, the niche size at 0.995 and $0.95\;a_w$ showed 84 and 50, respectively. There was no carbon source utilized by PENOX at $0.90\;a_w$ regardless of temperature. These information of tile fungal ecophysiology will be useful for the effective development of BCA.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare volumetric modulated arc therapy(VMAT) with fixed-field intensity modulated radiation therapy(IMRT) using non-coplanar beam when the shape of target is irregular and the location is adjacent to organ at risk(OAR). Materials and Methods: The subjects of this study were a total of 6 patients who had radiation therapy for whole scalp(2 patients), partial scalp(2 patients), and whole ventricle(2 patients) by True Beam STX(Varian Medical Systems, USA). VMAT plans consisted of coplanar or non-coplanar arcs which can minimize the volume of OAR included in beamlets. All fixed-field IMRT plans consisted of non-coplanar beams using more than 2 angles of Couch. Results: The VMAT and IMRT plans were compared with regard to the maximum dose of both lens, both optic nerves, optic chiasm, and brain stem and the mean dose of both eyeballs and hippocampus. VMAT plans showed higher dose than ncIMRT plans at more than 6 of all OARs in every patient, and the ratio was from 1.1 times to 8.2 times. In case of total scalp and partial scalp, the volume of brain which received more than 20 Gy in the VMAT plans was 2 times larger than the volume in the ncIMRT plans. In case of whole ventricle, there was no significant difference. Target coverage was satisfied in both plans($PTV_{100%}=95%$). The maximum dose in target volume and required monitor unit(MU) of ncIMRT were higher than them of VMAT plans. Conclusion: Even though ncIMRT is less efficient than VMAT with regard to required MU and treatment time, the dose to OARs is much lower than VMAT and PTV Coverage is similar with VMAT. If the shape of target is irregular and location is adjacent to OAR, comparison VMAT plan with ncIMRT plan deserves to be considered.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.483-493
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine trends in dietary vitamin E intakes and contributing food groups among Korean adults. Methods: This study included 66,695 subjects aged ${\geq}19years$ who completed a nutrition survey as part of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1998, 2001, 2005, 2007~2009, 2010~2012, 2013~2015). We estimated individual daily intakes of ${\alpha}-$, ${\beta}-$, ${\gamma}-$, ${\delta}-tocopherol$, and total vitamin E by linking food consumption data with a vitamin E database of commonly consumed foods. Results: Daily vitamin E intake significantly increased from $6.4mg\;{\alpha}-TE/d$ in 1998 to $7.7mg\;{\alpha}-TE/d$ in 2013~2015 (p for trend < 0.0001) among men as well as from $5.4mg\;{\alpha}-TE/d$ in 1998 to $6.5mg\;{\alpha}-TE/d$ in 2013~2015 among women (p for trend < 0.0001). However, the intake of vitamin E was lower than the adequate intake (AI) of Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans 2015 (2015 KDRI). In 2013~2015, men consumed 6.5 mg/d of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$, 0.5 mg/d of ${\beta}-tocopherol$, 6.0 mg/d of ${\gamma}-tocopherol$, and 3.9 mg/d of ${\delta}-tocopherol$, whereas women consumed 5.7 mg/d of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$, 0.4 mg/d of ${\beta}-tocopherol$, 4.8 mg/d of ${\gamma}-tocopherol$, and 2.8 mg/d of ${\delta}-tocopherol$. The major food groups contributing to vitamin E intake were vegetables (men: 23.3%, women: 22.7%), grains (men: 14.5%, women: 13.9%), and eggs (men: 13.0%, women: 12.5%). Conclusion: This study provides scientific evidence for vitamin E intake in Korean adults. Since the current intake of vitamin E was lower than the reference intakes set by 2015 KDRI, dietary vitamin E intake should be monitored regularly among Korean adults.