• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.347-360
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• 2007

In order to evaluate the degree and extent of heavy metal pollution and the environmental impacts of abandoned Cu mines in Goseong-gun, soils and paddies were collected from the mine area and have been analysed for heavy metal contents. The heavy metal contents were much higher in mountain soils than in paddy soils. Total content of heavy metals decreased in order of Cu>Zn>Pb>As>Cr>Cd in mountain soils whereas Zn>Pb>Cu>Cr>As>Cd in paddy soils. The extractable amount of heavy metals by 0.1/1N HCl decreased in order of Cu>Pb>Zn>As>Cd>Cr in mountain soils whereas Pb>Cu>Zn>As>Cd>Cr in paddy soils. Although the extraction ratios were highly various depending on the sampling site, their average values were in order of Cd(16%)>Pb(10%)>Cu(9%)>As(4.5%)>Zn-Cr(${\le}2.5%$). The soils investigated were enriched in heavy metals relative to the averages of earth crust as In order of $As{\ge}Cd$>Pb>Zn>Cu>Cr. Pollution index calculated from total or extractable heavy metals of soils indicated that the heavy metal pollution was restricted to mountain soils around abandoned Cu mines, especially the Samsan I mine. The metal contents of brown rice showed no significantly contaminated level as follows; As $nd{\sim}0.87mg/kg,\;Cd\;0.02{\sim}0.34mg/kg,\;Cu\;1.01{\sim}6.25mg/kg,\;Mn\;13.4{\sim}43.2mg/kg,\;Pb\;0.09{\sim}2.83mg/kg,\;and\;Zn\;16.5{\sim}79.1mg/kg$. From the extraction and dispersion properties of heavy metal with the soil pH ($4.5{\sim}7.8$), it can be deduced the conclusion that the heavy metal pollution is spreading in the study area mainly by the detrital migration of waste ore and gangue minerals rather than the dissolution and circulation of heavy metal.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.137-147
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• 2014

Cortex ulmi pumilae, the cortex of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica, has been used in traditional folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory effect. Although its various bioactivities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer, have been reported, the anti-adipogenic activity of cortex ulmi pumilae remains unclarified. In the present study, we investigated the effect of cortex ulmi pumilae extract on adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with cortex ulmi pumilae extract significantly reduced the formation of lipid droplets and triglyceride content in a dose-dependent manner; this is associated with an inhibition of the adipogenic transcription factors, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$). In addition, cortex ulmi pumilae extract treatment during the early stage of adipogenesis showed more efficient anti-adipogenic activity than treatment during other stages of adipogenesis. Cortex ulmi pumilae extract also inhibited cell proliferation and induced G1 arrest of 3T3-L1 cells in the early stage of adipogenesis. This was associated with upregulated expression of Cdk inhibitor p21 and downregulated expression of cyclin E and phospho-Rb, indicating that cortex ulmi pumilae extract blocks mitotic clonal expansion by cell cycle regulation. Taken together, these results suggest that cortex ulmi pumilae extract possesses anti-adipogenic activity through the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation by blocking mitotic clonal expansion.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.190-196
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was undertaken to investigate the feasibility of using automated liquid-handling systems equipped with reusable fixed tips in Radioimmunoassays and to demonstrate that the use of an automated pipetting instrument can decrease in the typical daily workload. Materials and Methods: The precisions of the automated pipettor and the manual pipettor were determined gravimetrically (n=30). A total of 30 specimens for HBs Ag were repeatedly pipetted (three replicates) with the automated pipettor and then retested. PSA samples were simultaneously pipetted with either the automated pipettor or the manual pipettor and then analyzed (n=40). Sample carryover test assessed for CA19-9, AFP and HCG when the automated pipettor was used. Pipetting speed of the automated pipettor and the manual pipettor were compared by evaluation of each workload. Results: The precisions coefficients of variation (CV) were 2.1% for the automated pipettor and 1.6% for manual pipettor. The mean cpm and CV for each group of replicates were 41,203 cpm and 3.7% for HBs Ag positive specimens, and 99 cpm and 7.9% for HBs Ag negative specimens, respectively. PSA results showed no significant differences between automated pipettor and manual pipettor (p=0.15, r=0.999). Carryover for CA19-9, AFP and HCG analytes was <0.1 ppm or below the assay limit of detection. Pipetting speed was significantly improved by using the automated instrument. Conclusion: There was no evidence that the use of an automated pipettor adversely affected any of the performance characteristics of the assay. Indeed, routine use of the Tecan automated pipettor has resulted in a decrease in the typical daily workload.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.659-665
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• 2003

The aim of this study was to evaluate the early and midterm results of off-pump total arterial revascularization using the skeletonized right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) as a third arterial conduit. Material and Method: We prospectively analyzed 103 patients who underwent off-pump total arterial revascularization using bilateral internal thoracic arteries (ITAS) and RGEA. The RGEA was used as in situ graft in 88 patients, composite graft in 10 patients, and free graft in 5 patients. Postoperative coronary angiographies were performed before discharge in 100 patients, and at postoperative one year in 88 patients. Result: The RGEA showed a significantly higher free flow (130$\pm$95 ml/min) than that of right ITA(113$\pm$57 ml/min) or left ITA (107$\pm$55 ml/min), which was measured before anastomosis (p < 0.05). The total number of distal anastomoses was 3.8$\pm$0.7. The number of distal anastomoses per bilateral ITAs was 2.8$\pm$0.7 and the number of distal anastomosis per RGEA was 1.0. There were two morialities including one operative mortality. The late mortality was not related to cardiac events. Early postoperative morbidities were atrial fibrillation in 15 patients, bleeding reoperation in 4 patients, mediastinitis in 1 patients, perioperative myocardial infarction in 2 patient, and transient ARF in 3 patients. Postoperative coronary angiographies showed the early patency rate of 98.6％ (272/276) for ITAs and 97.0％ (97/100) for RGEA, respectively (p=ns), and the one-year patency rate of 95.9％ (234/244) for ITAs and 88.6％ (78/88) for RGEA, respectively (p=0.07). Flow competition between the RGEA and NCA (native coronary artery) was seen in 5 of the 100 patients (5.0％) immediate postoperatively and 7 of the 88 patients (8.0％) 1 year after surgery. Since July, 2000, we measured transit time flow intraoperatively and could reduce flow competition significantly Conclusion: The skeletonized RGEA demonstrated excellent early and midterm patency rates and could be used as a third arterial graft following the bilateral ITAs.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2002

Biological control against mushroom fly, Lycoriella mali, was performed by using Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis Bti-D and Bti-U, isolated from dead mushroom fly in oyster mushroom houses. Control values of the bacterial strains Bti-D and Bti-U against L. mali in bottle culture of oyster mushroom were 74.4% and 64.2%, respectively, and the value in small tray culture were 75.8% and 56.8%, respectively. In the experiment to develop the mass, cheap media for Bti-D and Bti-U isolates, the Biji broth (bean curd residue, called Biji in Korean language) was selected as a culture medium for an inexpensive and mass cultivation by the measurement of optical density of the two bacteria grown in the different media tested. Insecticidal effect of the formulation contained different ingredients that were prepared by using the Bti-D strain cultured in the Biji broth was tested in tray and bottle culture of oyster mushroom. The WCS formulation that contained corn starch as bio-gel (86.4%) was more effective to control the mushroom fly than living cells (69.1%) in bottle culture of oyster mushroom. Moreover, insecticidal effect of the WCS formulation was improved when water of pH 8 was used for dilution of the formulation. Effect of the WCS formulation using water of pH 8 and chemicals, Zuron (dimillin) W.P. on the control of mushroom fly and the productivity of oyster mushroom was investigated in tray culture of oyster mushroom. The Zuron W.P. was more effective to control the mushroom fly than the WCS formulation. However, compared with no treatment, the productivity of the mushroom treated with the WCS formulation was improved than that of the mushroom with Zuron W.P.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.57-75
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to find ways of evaluating the suitability of sites being considered for development of different types of parks in the vicinity of yangmock-myun kyoung buk, where a large project(as large as about14.0$km^2$) has been planned. The results are as follows. Three surveys for selecting the assessment indicators were performed. ${\cdot}$ The first survey analyzed the importance of 23 selected assessment indicators based on a review of existing literature review and an on-the-spot research. ${\cdot}$ The second survey selected assessment indicators for each park type. ${\cdot}$ The third survey computed additive values of selected assessment indicators by the park types. It used a method of standardizing the average importance of indicators by making their sum equal to 10. These additive values were then multiplied by each grade of indicators to make a final evaluation. An evaluation of the site-suitability of park types was performed twice. The purpose of the first evaluation was to figure out how much each type met the minimum requirements targeted for all landscape types. The minimum requirements were derived by using a relative comparison between the standard of value rating of the assessment indicators, which was over the medium magnitude on the importance analysis, and the result of field research. A second evaluation estimated the targeted sites that met the minimum requirements. Value ratings of second assessment indicators were quantitatively divided as 1 to 3 grade and the evaluation scores were added, giving an additive value for each assessment indicator. The evaluation score on each park type was rated on a scale of 1 to 3 according to their averages, (from lowest to highest). Since this evaluation model of the site suitability on park types only focused on the 'face' of space in this study, additional analysis is necessary for setting the evaluation model and incorporating the overall impact of space, network connection and other factors, considering 'spot', 'line' and 'face' aspects of space.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.539-544
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• 2006

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine whether N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) may be used to differentiate acute Kawasaki disease(KD) from other clinically similar diseases. Methods : Using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, NT-proBNP concentrations were measured in the acute phase within 10 days after the onset of KD(n=58) and in the convalescent phase, 60 to 81 days after the onset(n=51), and also in patients with acute febrile disease as a control(n=34). Echocardiography was performed to detect pericardial effusion(PE) and coronary artery lesions(CAL), and to measure the left ventricular dimension at diastole(LVIDd) and ejection fraction(LVEF). The cutoff value of NT-proBNP for separating KD from other diseases was determined. Results : NT-proBNP concentration in the acute phases of KD was significantly higher than that in the control group($1,501.6{\pm}2,132.6$ vs. $139.0{\pm}88.8pg/mL$, P<0.0001). In KD patients, NT-proBNP was elevated in the acute phase and was lowered in the convalescent phase($1,466.0{\pm}2,173.2$ vs. $117.5{\pm}95.5pg/mL$, P<0.0001). The cutoff value of 260 pg/mL discriminated KD patients from other patients, with a sensitivity of 93 percent and a specificity of 88 percent. The NT-proBNP was higher in patients with PE(n=17) compared with those without PE(n=41)($1,784.2{\pm}1,903.1$ vs. $1,384.4{\pm}2,232.6pg/mL$, P=0.52). Comparison of NT-proBNP could not be done between patients with CAL and those without, owing to a small number of patients with CAL(n=3). There was no correlation between NT-proBNP and LVEF index(r=0.104, P=0.46) or LVIDd index(r=0.171, P=0.22). Conclusion : NT-proBNP increases in the acute phase of KD and decreases to within normal range in the convalescent phase. NT-proBNP >260 pg/mL may be highly suggestive of acute KD. NT-proBNP may be used as a diagnostic tool for KD.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.713-721
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• 2008

Purpose : This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics of severe meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) which required mechanical ventilation over 48 h and to delineate the progress of respiratory failure and radiographic findings in severe MAS. Methods : Twelve infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital diagnosed with severe MAS from January 2004 to July 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. Results : The presence of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is the only independently significant risk factor for a longer hospital stay and longer duration of mechanical ventilation. Surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) was not randomized but only performed in infants with radiographic findings for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). In the presence of radiographic findings for RDS, the duration of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation was significantly longer. PPHN developed in 8 infants (75%). The PPHN group had a significantly longer duration of mechanical ventilation. All infants who received SRT showed radiographic improvement within 12 h, but there was no significant change in the severity score during the same period. Infants without the PPHN complications showed significant decrease in the severity score within 12 h after SRT, whereas infants with PPHN complications did not. Conclusion : The clinical course of severe MAS differed significantly depending on the development of PPHN. SRT conferred radiographic improvement in infants who showed radiographic findings for RDS, but did not influence the clinical course of MAS significantly.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate pest control efficacy of environment-friendly agricultural materials (EFAMs) according to their spray time and frequency against alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica Gyllenhal, at Chinese milk vetch field in Miryang, Korea. Larva, pupa and adult of H. postica occurred more in year 2010 than those in 2011, and the larval population peaked 5 days faster in year 2010 than on $10^{th}$ May in 2011. Control efficacies of EFAMS sprayed on various time and in several frequencies to H. postica during April in 2010 were 73.6%, 71.9% and 66.2% at single spray in early, middle and late April, respectively and ranged from 77.1% to 78.9% when sprayed twice. With three times spray the control efficacy averaged 87.2%. Control efficacies of EFAMs with a single application in early, middle and late April in 2011 were 57.9%, 66.8% and 65.2%, respectively and ranged from 73.7% to 76.8% when sprayed twice. Control efficacy averaged with 82.7% when EFAMs were sprayed for three times. Accordingly, control efficacy of EFAMs against was increased with increasing spray frequency. Among the tested, Ungsamee(R), Wangjoongwangeco(R) and Muchungjidae(R) with a single application showed relatively higher control efficacy with a 4 to 16% lower control rate than a chemical insecticide, etofenprox 20EC. Therefore, Ungsamee(R), Wangjoongwangeco(R) and Muchungjidae(R) can be effectively used for management of H. postica when sprayed at early April for high occurring population and middle April for low occurring population with a single spray.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.371-379
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• 2012

This study was designed to explore new nutraceutical and cosmetic resources possessing biological activities from the plant kingdom. To fulfill this purpose, we analyzed the anti-oxidative, anti-melanogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities of Zanthoxylum schinifolium extract (ZSE) and its solvent fractions using in vitro assays and cell culture model systems. Three kinds of ZSE treated with methanol, ethanol, and water exhibited potent anti-oxidative activities through DPPH radical scavenging capacity, and inhibited in vitro DOPA oxidation. Furthermore, Z. schinifolium methanol extract (ZSME) inhibited the ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone, which induces melanin contents in B16F10 cells. Its anti-melanogenic activity originates from the inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme activity and melanogenesis related protein expression. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide induced nitric oxide production in the RAW 264.7 cell line was also ameliorated by ZSME treatment in a dose dependent manner. Among the four solvent fractions of ZSME treated with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water, three fractions, except water, showed significant anti-melanogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. Taken together, these results provide important new insights into Z. schinifolium, indicating that it possesses numerous biological activities such as anti-oxidative, anti-melanogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, it may well serve as a promising material in the field of nutraceuticals and cosmetics.