• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.199-207
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Fermented Laminaria japonica (FL), a type sea tangle used as a functional food ingredient, has been reported to possess cognitive improving properties that may aid in the treatment of common neurodegenerative disorders, such as dementia. MATERIALS/METHODS: We examined the effects of FL on scopolamine (Sco)- and ethanol (EtOH)-induced hippocampus-dependent memory impairment, using the Passive avoidance (PA) and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. To examine the underlying mechanisms associated with neuroprotective effects, we analyzed acetylcholine (ACh) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, brain tissue expression of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR), cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), and immunohistochemical analysis, in the hippocampus of mice, compared to current drug therapy intervention. Biochemical blood analysis was carried out to determine the effects of FL on alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels. 7 groups (n = 10) consisted of a control (CON), 3 Sco-induced dementia and 3 EtOH-induced dementia groups, with both dementia group types containing an untreated group (Sco and EtOH); a positive control, orally administered donepezil (Dpz) (4mg/kg) (Sco + Dpz and EtOH + Dpz); and an FL (50 mg/kg) treatment group (Sco + FL50 and EtOH + FL50), orally administered over the 4-week experimental period. RESULTS: FL50 significantly reduced EtOH-induced increase in AST and ALT levels. FL50 treatment reduced EtOH-impaired step-through latency time in the PA test, and Sco- and EtOH-induced dementia escape latency times in the MWM test. Moreover, anticholinergic effects of Sco and EtOH on the brain were reversed by FL50, through the attenuation of AChE activity and elevation of ACh concentration. FL50 elevated ERK1/2 protein expression and increased p-CREB (ser133) in hippocampus brain tissue, according to Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis, respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, these results suggest that FL may be considered an efficacious intervention for Sco- and EtOH-induced dementia, in terms of reversing cognitive impairment and neuroplastic dysfunction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.513-517
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• 2010

Background: Diaphragmatic plication through a thoracoscopic approach has been an effective modality to treat diaphragmatic enventration. However, the conventional technique for thoracoscopic plication has some disadvantages. We have developed an improved and simplified technique with utilizing the head up position, $CO_2$ insufflation and figure-of-eight sutures. Material and Method: Between October 2005 and September 2009, 9 patients with diaphragmatic paralysis underwent repair using our modified technique. The mean patient age was $38.5{\pm}53.0$ years (range: 2~76 years). Result: The mean operation time was $46.7{\pm}15.9$ min (range: 30~85 min). None of the patients died due to this procedure, but there was one case of prolonged air leakage, and a case of re-expansion pulmonary edema, which required 3 days of ventilator support after the procedure. The mean hospital stay was $6.22{\pm}2.04$ days (range: 4~11 days). The mean follow-up duration was $27.2{\pm}11.6$ months (range: 2~43 months). All the patients had their symptoms relieved and there was no recurrence of eventration except for one patient who developed more than 2 cm elevation of the diaphragm compared to the immediate post-operation status. Conclusion: With our technique, thoracoscopic diaphragmatic plication was feasible via using only three 5 mm ports and without a working window and the midterm results were favorable. Therefore, we advocate thoracoscopic diaphragmatic plication as a preferred technique to the conventional open plication technique.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.39-43
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• 2016

In this study, we observed differences in the fruit body genesis in with seasonal changes. The mushrooms generated different spines even when under same environmental conditions in equivalent growth chambers during different seasons. The growth chamber conditions were set at $18^{\circ}$, 1000 ppm CO and 95% humidity for uniform primordium formation. Following this, the humidity was reduced to 85% during growth and development. The characteristics of the fruit body were measured: yield (weight), length (size), hardness, and chromaticity. Each measure was relatively compared owing standard data for. We investigated the environmental factors to assess the cause of variation in fruit body. Change in temperature and humidity were especially focused on, apart from climate that can affect mushroom growth. It was observed that temperature and humidity both influence fruit body growth. Not the absolute value of the elevation, there was a change of climate which the temperature is lowered and lowered the humidity can be assumed that the changes in the environmental conditions inside the growth chamber the mushroom growth.

• Water for future
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.245-252
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• 1983

Recently river water pollution in Korea is given rise to serious problem in aspect of crop production, drinking well, water contamination and etc. Under these urgent situations, it is prime importance to protect water resources from pollutants. An environmental isotope survey of the groundwater form the shallow alluvial and the underlying crystalline rock aquifer of the Han River Basin has been undertaken, Analysis of the data has I) confirmed the hypothesis that the groundwater from the metropolitan area is recharged from the river whereas that form the non-urbanized region of the Basin is replenished by the infiltrating precipitation; ii) shown that crystalline rock aquifers are recharged by the ground water form the overlying alluvium. Old groundwater is a group of wells with tritium values in the range of 0 to 2 TU. These low values indicate that the water sampled was recharged much ealier, at least a few decades, than the other groundwater samples of higher tritium content. The low values in this region may, in fact, reflect the effect of the impermeable clay layers which impede infilteration from the surface. Stable isotope evidence confirmed that a recharge in the karst area occurs at a significantly greater elevation than that to the alluvial aquifer. An analysis of the tritium level collected over an annual cycle suggests that the residence time of groundwater is probably not more than a few months. There does not appear to be any correlation between the trace level of Zn, Mn and Pb in the groundwater and the mechanism of the recharge.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.164-174
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• 2008

In this study we try to identify the three-dimensional mixing characteristics of Seomjin River discharges in Seomjin River Estuary and Gwangyang Bay using a seasonal field observation (CTD) during spring tide and a three-dimensional numerical model with EFDC (Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code). The tidal elevation conditions of the four main tidal harmonic constituents on the open boundary and river discharges and thermal effluents at the specific boundary are considered. The calculated harmonic constants of tide and tidal current agreed well with those of observations at two stations for tide and two stations for tidal current. The model successfully reproduced well known the estuarine circulation in Seomjin River Estuary where tide and river discharges are dominant forcings. In the winter mean discharges case, tidal currents move Seomjin River discharges in Seomjin River mouth and in the summer mean discharges case, river flows move Seomjin River discharges near ae Seomjin River Estuary. A three-dimensional mixing characteristics of Seomjin River Estuary show well a three-dimensional estuarine circulation and thermal effluents effect to the seasonal variation of river discharges.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.135-148
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• 2021

Ground subsidence risk ratings obtained from the site investigation during pre-excavation stages could be changed depending on the parameters revealed during construction activities. A method of correcting the pre-excavation ground subsidence risk ratings based on the site conditions observed in the field is suggested in this study. The elevation of groundwater table during the excavation may be different from the predicted value depending on the application of waterproofing methods and construction conditions. The drastic drawdown of groundwater table during the excavation could cause ground subsidence due to soil volume decrease related to consolidation or compression of the ground, whereas the rising of groundwater table caused by the intense rainfall may result in a high potential for ground subsidence due to heaving or boiling of the excavation bottom. Excessive displacements of retaining walls or ground settlements may cause ground subsidence, which also results in a high risk of ground subsidence caused by the destruction of buried pipelines. Reevaluation of ground subsidence risk ratings is suggested considering the fluctuation of groundwater table, condition of groundwater leakage, measured ground displacements, and soil types. Finally, the ground subsidence risk rating system is improved for better evaluation by using 12 factors in 5 categories.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2009

We previously reported that $IFN-{\gamma}$ producing T cell responses induced by the combined therapy of DNA vaccine and lamivudine for one year are important for the induction of sustained virological response (SVR). However, $IFN-{\gamma}$ production is not sufficient to predict sustained viremia control in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) carriers treated. Methods: Twelve CHB carriers were intramuscularly immunized 12 times at a 4-week interval with 8mg of HBV DNA vaccine during the standard lamivudine treatment (100mg/daily/1 year). The level of cytokines during and after the combined therapy in plasma of all 12 CHB carriers treated was determined by each ELISA kit. Six out of 12 CHB carriers revisited the clinic, and their HBV DNA levels were examined. Results: The combined therapy increased plasma IL-12 and IL-12/p40 ratio during the treatment (baseline vs. peak level: $41.8{\pm}8.3$ vs. $163.1{\pm}29.2\;pg/ml$; p<0.01 and $0.96{\pm}0.25$ vs. $3.58{\pm}0.86$; p<0.01, respectively), and the peak level of plasma IL-12 and IL-12/p40 ratio was evoked at 6 to 10 months during the combined therapy. In particular, CHB carriers with SVR had two and three-fold higher level of the peak plasma IL-12 and plasma IL-12/p40 ratio than non-virological responders (NVRs), respectively ($218.0{\pm}41.4$ vs. $108.1{\pm}28.6\;pg/ml$; p=0.09 and $5.35{\pm}1.38$ vs. $1.80{\pm}0.29$; p<0.05, respectively), while p40 level was consistent during the combined therapy. In addition, there was no significant temporal correlation between the peak IL-12/p40 ratio and the elevation of serum alanine amino-transferase (ALT) in this study, contrast to $IFN-{\alpha}$ therapy which induced peak IL-12 level following ALT flares. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the combined therapy induces the increase of plasma IL-12 and IL-12/p40 ratio, which are associated with long-term SVR in CHB carriers.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2011

In the face of growing concern about global warming, increasing attention has been focused on the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. One method to mitigating the release of carbon dioxide is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). CCS includes separation of carbon dioxide from industrial emission in plants, transport to a storage site, and long-term isolation in underground. It is necessary to conduct analyses on optimal site selection, surface monitoring, and additional effects by the construction of CCS facility in Gyeongsang basin, Korea. For the optimal site selection, necessary data; geological map, landcover map, digital elevation model, and slope map, were prepared, and a weighted overlay analysis was performed. Then, surface monitoring was performed using high resolution satellite image. As a result, the candidate region was selected inside Gyeongnam for carbon storage. Finally, the related regulations about CCS facility were collected and analyzed for legal question of selected site.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.185-190
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• 2011

Background: Spinal nerve ligation (SNL) injury in rats produces a pain syndrome that includes mechanical and thermal allodynia. Previous studies have indicated that proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) play an important role in peripheral mediation of neuropathic pain, and that altered dorsal root ganglion (DRG) function and degree of DRG neuronal apoptosis are associated with spinal nerve injury. The present study was conducted to evaluate the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ and the extent of apoptosis in the dorsal root ganglion after SNL in rats. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to SNL of the left L5 and L6 spinal nerves distal to the DRG and proximal to the formation of the sciatic nerve. At postoperative day 8, TNF-${\alpha}$ protein levels in the L5.6 DRG were compared between SNL and naive groups using ELISA. In addition, we compared the percentage of neurons injured in the DRG using immunostaining for apoptosis and localization of activated caspase-3. Results: SNL injury produced significant mechanical and cold allodynia throughout the 7-day experimental period. TNF-${\alpha}$ protein levels were increased in the DRG in rats that had undergone SNL ($12.7{\pm}3.2$ pg/100 ${\mu}g$, P < 0.001) when compared with naive rats ($4.1{\pm}1.4$ pg/100 ${\mu}g$). The percentage of neurons or satellite cells co-localized with activated caspase-3 were also significantly higher in rats with SNL than in naive rats (P < 0.001, P < 0.05, respectively). Conclusions: SNL injury produces mechanical and cold allodynia, as well as TNF-${\alpha}$ elevation and apoptosis in the DRG.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1116-1122
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• 2008

The existing technology which is for recycling aggregate using dried swage sludge have been limited for practical application, because the properties of aggregate are not regular and don't meet the recycling aggregate standard. In this research, an innovative slag-producing technology is developed by addition of oyster shell, waste cast-sand and iron-rust as inorganic waste additives. The mixed slag with the additives was evaluated at the various ratio of CaO/SiO$_2$, SiO$_2$/Al$_2$O$_3$ and Fe$_2$O$_3$/SiO$_2$. When the waste sludge was melted at 1,400$^{\circ}C$ during 20 minutes, the optimal ratio of CaO/SiO$_2$ for the slag added the oyster shell, SiO$_2$/Al$_2$O$_3$ for added the waste cast-sand and Fe$_2$O$_3$/SiO$_2$ for added the iron-rust were 1.00, 3.00 and 0.60, respectively. At the optimal condition, the bulk density of the slag was 2.24 g/cm$^3$, 2.45 g/cm$^3$ and 2.73 g/cm$^3$, And the 24 h water adsorption was 4.72%, 1.44% and 0.37%, respectively. Therefore it is proved that adding the waste additives to the process of the slag production contributed for elevation of recycling aggregate properties. And also it is expected that production cost can be reduced by decreased melting temperature.