• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.8-20
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• 2003

Natural gas has been supplied through underground pipelines and valve stations as a new city gas in Seoul. In contrast to its handiness the natural gas has very substantial hazards due to fires and explosions occurring from careless treatments or malfunctions of the transporting system. The main objectives of this study are to identify major hazards and to perform risk assessments after assessing reliabilities of the composing units in dealing with typical pipeline networks. there-fore two method, fault tree analysis ;1nd event tree analysis, are used here. Random valve stations are selected and considered its situation in location. The value of small leakage, large rupture, and no supply of liquefied natural gas is estimated as that of top event. By this calculation the values of small leakage are 3.29 in I)C valve station, 1.41 in DS valve station, those of large rup-lure are $1.90Times10_{-2}$ in DC valve station, $2.32$\times$10^{-2}$ in DS valve station, and those of no supply of LNG to civil gas company are $2.33$\times$10 ^{-2}$ , $2.89$\times$10^{-2}$ in each valve station. And through minimal cut set we can find the parts that is important and should be more important in overall system. In DC valve station one line must be added between basic event 26,27 because the potential hazard of these parts is the highest value. If it is added the failure rate of no supply of LNG is reduced to one fourth. In DS valve station the failure rate of basic event 4 is 92eye of no supply of LNG. Therefore if the portion of this part is reduced (one line added) the total failure rate can be decreased to one tenth. This analytical study on the risk assessment is very useful to prepare emergency actions or procedures in case of gas accidents around underground pipeline networks and to establish a resolute gas safety management system for loss prevention in Seoul metropolitan area.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.949-955
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• 2009

Mucosal epithelia sense external stress signals and transmit them to the intracellular cascade responses. Ribotoxic stress-producing chemicals such as deoxynivalenol (DON) or other trichothecene mycotoxins have been linked with gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases by Fusarium-contamination. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that DON evokes the epithelial sentinel signals of RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) and early growth response gene 1 (EGR-1), which together contribute to the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 8 (IL-8) in human intestinal epithelial cells. PKR suppression by the dominant negative PKR expression attenuated DON-stimulated interleukin-8 production. Moreover, 1L-8 transcriptional activation by DON was also reduced by PKR inhibition in the human intestinal epithelial cells. Treatment with the PKR inhibitor also suppressed EGR-1 promoter activity, mRNA and protein induction, although mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases such as extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK) 1/2, p38, c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (INK) were little affected or even enhanced in presence of a PKR inhibitor. These patterns were also compared in the EGR-1-suppressed cells, which showed much more suppressed production of 1L-8. All things taken into consideration, DON-activated sentinel signals of EGR-1 via PKR mediated interleukin-8 production in human intestinal epithelial cells, which provide insight into the possible general mechanism associated with mucosal inflammation as an intestinal toxic insult by ribotoxic trichothecene mycotoxins.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.3 s.108
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• pp.332-343
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• 2004

This study was conducted to test a possibility of water quality improvement using a filter-feeding bivalve (Corbicula leana). In mesocosm scale (width ${\times}$ length ${\times}$ depth: 3 m ${\times}$ 3 m ${\times}$ 0.5 m), we investigated the changes of dissolved nutrient and particulate matter including both abiotic and biotic seston. Short term (16 days) mesocosm experiment was conducted in two stages: the first stage for 8 days and consecutive 8 days of the second stage. Both treatment and control mesocosm were switched over by translocating mussels from the treatment mesocosm to the control, at 8th days since the start of the experiment. This design made it possible to compare mussel effect on the water quality change more clearly. The high mortality of mussel was observed in the treatment of the first stage, but it decreased rapidly and stabilized on the 8th day to less than< 4 ind $day^{-1}$. Chl. a concentration in the treatment mesocosm of the first and second stage decreased to 71 and 88% of initial concentration, respectively, and suspended solids decreased to 70 and 77%. At those times, average filtering rate were 0.46 and 0.61 mL AFDW $mg^{-1}$ $hr^{-1}$, respectively. Both $NH_3-N$ and dissolved total phosphorus (DTP) concentrations increased with the mussel mortality. $NH_3-N$ concentration was positively correlated with the mussel mortality, while DTP concentration showed negative correlation with it. After translocating mussel from the treatment to the control, $NH_3-N$ concentration significantly increased compared with that of initial control. Although DTP concentration also increased, there was no significant difference relative to that of initial control. These results suggest that application of this filter-feeding bivalve in a eutrophic reservoir could be a potential tool to improve water quality if mussels could acclimatize successfully in early stage of the introduction.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.366-371
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• 2006

This study was done to assess the physical and chemical properties after anaerobic fermentation treatment which use rice bran or wheat bran in plastic film house soil. The results which investigates the change of soil physical property after treatment 150 days showed a dramatic difference. The physical properties of control soil were the bulk density $1.46Mg\;m^{-3}$, hardness $2.30Kg\;cm^{-3}$, hydraulic conductivity $4.8cm\;hr^{-1}$, water stable aggregate(>0.5mm) 6.7%. Of the soil which treatment the rice bran in comparison to control soil, bulk density and hardness was diminished 12% and 58%, respectively. hydraulic conductivity and water stable aggregate(>0.5mm) were increased 4.5 and 5.2 fold, respectively. And, in the soil which treatment the wheat bran, bulk density and hardness was diminished 14% and 67%, respectively. Hydraulic conductivity and water stable aggregate(>0.5mm) were increased 6.3 and 6.5 fold, respectively. $NO_3-N$ contents of the soil which treated the rice bran or wheat bran after treatment 20 days were diminished 98% in comparison to control soil. The decrease of $NO_3-N$ contents in the soil was investigated with the fact that it is caused by with increase of the soil-microbial biomass. EC of the soil which treated the rice bran were $1.48dS\;m^{-1}$ which was diminished 58% in comparison to control soil. That of soil which treated the wheat bran was increased $3.65dS\;m^{-1}$ in the early stage because of acetic and butyric acid. But it was reduced as under $2.0dS\;m^{-1}$ after treatment 30 days. As the conclusion the anaerobic fermentation treatment with rice or wheat bran was effective to the improvement of soil physical and salt accumulation of the plastic film house soil.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.648-652
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• 2010

Catalytic activities of the partial oxidation of methane (POM) to hydrogen were investigated over Pd(5)/Ti-SPK and Pd(5)/Zr-SPK in a fixed bed flow reactor (FBFR) under atmosphere, and the catalysts were characterized by BET, XPS, XRD. The BET surface areas, pore volume and pore width of Horvath-Kawaze, micro pore area and volume of t-plot of Pd(5)/Ti-SPK and Pd(5)/Zr-SPK were $284m^2/g$, $0.233cm^3/g$, 3.9 nm, $30m^2/g$, $0.015cm^3/g$ and $396m^2/g$, $0.324cm^3/g$, 3.7nm, $119m^2/g$, $0.055cm^3/g$, repectively. The nitrogen adsorption isotherms were type IV with hysteresis. XPS showed that Si 2p and O 1s core electronlevels of Ti-SPK and Zr-SPK substituted Ti and Zr shifted to slightly lower binding energies than SPK. The oxidation states of Pd on the surface of catalysts were $Pd^0$ and $Pd^{+2}$. XRD patterns showed that crystal structures of fresh catalyst changed amorphous into crystal phase after reaction. The conversion and selectivity of POM to hydrogen over Pd(5)/Ti-SPK and Pd(5)/Zr-SPK were 77, 84% and 78, 72%, respectively, at 973 K, $CH_4/O_2$ = 2, GHSV = $8.4{\times}10^4mL/g_{cat}{\cdot}h$ and were kept constant even after 3 days in stream. These results confirm superior activity, thermal stability, and physicochemical properties of catalyst in POM to hydrogen.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2014

This study was conducted to elucidate the relationship between light and coloring and to obtain basic results for promoting redness expression in 'Kalle' (Pyrus communis L.) pear skin. It was investigated in location of anthocyanin layer by microscopic observation and differences in skin color expression of 'Kalle' bagged with paper bag which has different light transmittance rate and inside temperature. However, there was no anthocyanin layer in the brown skin and golden yellow color, anthocyanin layer was distributed in epidermins or hyperdermis of red skin pear and apple. Dark red colored 'Kalle' had more anthocyanin content, $29.8mg{\cdot}100g^{-1}$ FW than light red colored apple 'Hongro'. Light transmittance rate of physical characteristics used paper bags was the highest in white paper bag, 42.2% and it also had more light quantity, $8.9{\mu}mol$ than any other tested paper bags in specific wave length 650-655 nm. The maximum temperature of inner bag was higher about $3^{\circ}C$ in yellow paper bag. The red coloration and anthocyanin contents in no bagged fruits were higher than in any other bagged fruit. However, red color expression among the bagged fruits was higher in white paper bag than in double layered black paper bag and yellow paper bag. Also, chromaticity value seemd to be a good index to explain variation of fruit skin color, because anthocyanin content and chromaticity value were higher. Based on these results, it is desirable to cultivate 'Kalle' without bag for stable redness expression but bagging is essential for decreasing damage by insect in Korea. Further examination to find suitable time of removing paperbag for redness expression and decreasing insect damage. In addition, it is required to develop paperbag whose transmittance rate is high in specific light wavelength or temperature of inner bags is low. Additional key words: anthocyanin, bagging, chromaticity value, light transmittance, Pyrus communis L.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.9
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• pp.1325-1332
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• 2015

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is an important dietary leafy vegetable that is primarily consumed as a fresh or salad material. It has a number of cultural varieties with green and/or red color. Carotenoids and anthocyanins are known to be responsible for these two colors, respectively. In this study, carotenoid and anthocyanin contents were determined to evaluate the stability of these functional pigments during storage at home. Analyses were carried out at the beginning, 3, 6, 9, and 12 days after harvest. In the course of storage at room temperature, total carotenoid levels rapidly decreased, and the decrease was found to be greatest during the first 3 days. Meanwhile, carotenoid level slightly changed within the first 9 days at $4^{\circ}C$ after harvest. This result suggests that carotenoids in green lettuce are more stable when refrigerated than at room temperature. Meanwhile, total anthocyanin content in red lettuce did not significantly decrease during storage at room temperature and $4^{\circ}C$, which indicates that anthocyanins have higher stability during storage compared with carotenoids in green lettuce. Anthocyanin extract exhibited higher antioxidant activity than carotenoid extract based on 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assay. Antioxidant activity of anthocyanin extract may also be estimated directly by the presence of another potent hydrophilic antioxidant compound, which is ascorbic acid in this extract. In addition, anthocyanin extract showed about a 5-fold higher amount of anthocyanins than carotenoids in the carotenoid extract. The high correlation between carotenoid content with ABTS radical scavenging activity indicates that ABTS assay is more suitable than 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay for detecting antioxidant capacity of carotenoid extract from lettuce.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.118-124
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• 2009

Esterase EM2L8 gene isolated from deep sea sediment was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and the esterase activity of the cell-free extract was assayed using p-nitrophenyl butyrate-spectrophotometric method. Its optimum temperature was $40-45^{\circ}C$ and 45% activity of the maximum activity was retained at $15^{\circ}C$. The activation energy at $15-45^{\circ}C$ was calculated to be 4.9 kcal/mol showing that esterase EM2L8 was a typical cold-adapted enzyme. Enzyme activity was maintained for 6 h and 4 weeks at $30^{\circ}C$ and $4^{\circ}C$, respectively. When each ethanol, methanol, and acetone was added to the reaction mixture to 15% concentration, enzyme activity was maintained. In the case of DMSO, enzyme activity was kept up to 40% concentration. (S)-4-Chloro-3-hydroxy butyric acid is a chiral intermediate for the synthesis of Atorvastatin, a hyperlipemia drug. When esterase EM2L8 (40 U) was added to buffer solution (1.2 mL, pH 9.0) containing ethyl-(R,S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate (38 mM), it was hydrolyzed into 4-chloro-3-hydroxy butyric acid with a rate of $6.8\;{\mu}mole/h$. The enzyme hydrolyzed (S)-substrate more rapidly than (R)-substrate. When conversion yield was 80%, e.e.s value was 40%. When DMSO was added, hydrolysis rate increased to $10.4\;{\mu}mole/h$. The plots of conversion yield vs e.e.s in the presence or absence of DMSO were almost same, implying that the reaction enantioselectivity was not changed by the addition of DMSO. Taken together, esterase EM2L8 had high activity and stability at low temperatures as well as in various organic solvents/aqueous solutions. These properties suggested that it could be used as a biocatalyst in the synthesis of useful pharmaceuticals.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.33-49
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• 2016

The study area, located in Sinam-ri, Ulsan, in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula, is mainly composed of hornblende granite (ca. 65 Ma). Fracturing and reactivation of a fault striking ENE-WSW was strongly controlled by the intrusion of a mafic dyke (ca. 44 Ma), which behaves as a discontinuity in the mechanically homogeneous pluton, increasing the instability of the basement in this area. A geometric and kinematic study undertaken to interpret the faults and fractures was performed in a trench excavated almost perpendicular to the orientation of the dyke. The analysis of structural elements, such as dykes, veins, and faults, is used to infer the deformation history and to determine the paleostress orientations at the time of formation of the structures. The deformation history established based on this analysis is as follows: (1) NNE-SSW, E-W, ENE-WSW, and NE-SW trending fractures had already developed in the pluton before dyke intrusion; (2) felsic dykes intruded under conditions of σ_Hmax oriented N-S and σ_Hmin oriented E-W; (3) mafic dykes intruded under conditions of σ_Hmax oriented E-W and σ_Hmin oriented N-S; (4) dextral reactivation of the main fault associated with the development of hydrothermal quartz veins under conditions of σ_Hmax oriented E-W and σ_Hmin oriented N-S; (5) sinistral reactivation of the main fault and high-angle normal faults under conditions of σ_Hmax oriented NE-SW and σ_Hmin oriented NW-SE; and (6) dextral reactivation of the main fault and NE-SW low-angle reverse faults under conditions of σ_Hmax oriented NW-SE and σ_Hmin oriented NE-SW. These results are consistent with the tectonic history of the Pohang-Ulsan block in the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula, and indicates the tectonic deformation of the southern area of the Ulsan fault bounded by Yangsan fault was analogous to that of the Pohang-Ulsan area from the Cenozoic. This work greatly aids the selection of sites for critical facilities to prevent potential earthquake hazards in this area.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.147-154
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• 2012

This study was designed to determine whether low-density lipoproteins (LDL) from egg yolk and taurine, hypotaurine and trehalose as antioxidant in extender improve the freezability and fertility of Korean Jeju Black Bull semen. The semen was cryopreserved with tris egg yolk extenders containing 7% glycerol and treated 4% LDL, 20 mM taurine, hypotaurine and trehalose. Frozen-thawed sperm were evaluated motility, viability, membrane, and acrosome integrity and sperm penetration ability. The results were compared to semen cryopreserved in tris egg yolk extender only as control. Frozen-thawed semen evaluation cleary indicated that the addition of LDL and LDL-antioxidants (taurine, hypotaurine and trehalose) combination were significantly improved (p<0.05) the viability (%; with staining test using eosin-Y) compared to control spermatozoa. Also, in membrane integrity (%; with supravital hypo-osmotic swelling test), not only LDL-antioxiants combination but also LDL were significantly increased (p<0.05) the swelled sperm using HOST compared to control. Sperm acrosome integrity state was classified by CTC (chlortetracycline) staining test. F pattern was significantly increased in LDL-antioxidant combination than control (p<0.05) and B pattern was not significantly differences among all treatments and control. However, AR pattern was significantly decreased in LDL-antioxidants combination than control (p<0.05). Pronucleus formation and sperm penetration index (SFI) were significantly increased in LDL and LDL-antioxidants combination than control (p<0.05). Especially, LDL-taurine significantly improved pronucleus fomation and SFI than LDL (p<0.05). It was concluded that LDL and LDL-antioxidants in extender improved the freezability and fertility of Korean Jeju Black bull spermatozoa.