• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.5 no.8
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• pp.988-996
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• 1995

CuInSe$_2$this films as a light absorber layer were fabricated by vacuum evaporation using In$_2$Se$_3$and Cu$_2$Se precursors and their properties were analyzed. Indium selenide films of 0.5${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ thickness were first deposited by vacuum evaporation of In$_2$Se$_3$ on a Corning 7059 glass substrate. The films deposited at suscepor temperature of 40$0^{\circ}C$ showed a flat surface morphology with densely Packed grain structure. CuInSe$_2$films directly formed by evaporating Cu$_2$Se on the predeposited In$_2$Se$_2$films also showed a very flat surface when the susceptor temperature was $700^{\circ}C$. Cu$_2$Se, a second phase in the CuInSe$_2$film, was removed by evaporating additional In$_2$Se$_3$on the CuInSe$_2$film at $700^{\circ}C$. The grain size of 1.2${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ thick CuInSe$_2$, film was about 2${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ and the film had a (112) preferred orientation. As the amount of deposited In$_2$Se$_3$increased, the electrical resistivity of CuInSe$_2$films increased because of the decrease of hole concentration. But the optical band gap was almost constant at the value of 1.04eV, The CuInSe$_2$film grown on a Mo/glass substrate had a similar smooth microstructure compared to that on a glass substrate. A solar cell with ZnO/CdS/CuInSe$_2$/Mo structure may be realized based on the above CuInSe$_2$films.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2006

The present study was conducted to confirm that a bivalve Ruditapes philippinarum can be used as a biomarker for the monitoring of the heavy metal pollution in the silt of the marine environment. The clams were collected from the silt of Cheonsu-bay, Buheung-ri, and Tan-island of the West Sea, Korea. To observe the normal structures of the target organs (hepatopancreas and gill), they were dissected out for the immunohistochemical study and the electron microscopy with TEM, SEM, and SEM-EDS. The immunohistochemical study showed that the interdiverticular connective tissues of the hepatopancreas, and the outer epithelium of the gill lamellae was strongly reacted to anti-metallothionein (MT), indicating the presence of MT, a metal-binding protein, involved in metal detoxifying process. According to the examinations under the TEM, the epithelial cells of the hepatopancreas of the clams collected from polluted area (Tan-island) showed certain changes such as swollen rER, swollen nuclear envelope and inclusion bodies in the nulcei. In the SEM-EDS analysis, tissue of the hepatopancreas showed relatively higher concentration of S, Zn, and Cd. These elements are supposed to be concerning with the MT-reaction in the hepatopancreas. Considering that the coastal bivalve R. philippinarum showed immediate subcellular responses to heavy metal pollution in the overall experiments conducted, this species might act as one of efficient biomarkers for the heavy metal contamination in the marine environment.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.163-170
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• 2006

Nardostachyos Rhizoma (N. Rhizoma) belonging to the family Valerianaceae has been anti-arrhythmic effect, and sedation to the central nerve and a smooth muscle. We reported that the water extract of N. Rhizoma induced apoptotic cell death and differentiation in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. Cytotoxicity of N. Rhizoma was detected only in HL-60 cells (IC50 is about 200 ${\mu}g/ml$). The cytotoxic activity of N. Rhizoma in HL-60 cells was increased in a dose-dependent manner. We used several measures of apoptosis to determine whether these processes were involved in N. Rhizoma-induced apoptotic cell death. The high-dose (200 ${\mu}g/ml$) treatment of N. Rhizoma to HL-60 cells showed cell shrinkage, cell membrane blobbing, apoptotic bodies, and the fragmentation of DNA, suggesting that these cells underwent apoptosis. Treatment of HL-60 cells with N. Rhizoma time-dependently induced activation of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 and proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Also, we investigated the effect of N. Rhizoma on cellular differentiation and proliferation in HL-60 cells. Differentiation and proliferation of HL-60 cells was determined through expression of CD11b and CD14 surface antigens using flow cytometry and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) assay, and through analysis of cell cycle using propidium iodide assay, respectively. N. Rhizoma induced the differentiation of HL-60 at the low-dose (100 ${\mu}g/ml$) treatment, as shown by increased expression of differentiation surface antigen CD11b, but not CDl4 and increased reducing activity of NBT. When HL-60 cells were treated with N. Rhizoma at concentration of $50{\mu}g/ml\;and\;100{\mu}g/ml$, NBT-reducing activities induced approximately 1.5-fold and 20.0-fold as compared with the control. In contrast, HL-60 cells treated with the N. Rhizoma-ATRA combination showed markedly elevated levels of 26.3-fold at $50{\mu}g/ml$ N. Rhizoma-0.1 ${\mu}M$ ATRA combination and 27.5-fold at 50 ${\mu}g/ml$ N. Rhizoma-0.2 ${\mu}M$ ATRA combination than when treated with N. Rhizoma alone or ATRA alone. It may be that N. Rhizoma plays important roles in synergy with ATRA during differentiation of HL-60 cells. DNA flow-cytometry indicated that N. Rhizoma markedly induced a G1 phase arrest of HL-60 cells. N. Rhizoma-treated HL-60 cells increased the cell population in G1 phase from 32.71% to 42.26%, whereas cell population in G2/M and S phases decreased from 23.61% to 10.33% and from 37.78% to 33.98%, respectively. We examined the change in the $p21^{WAF1/Cip1}\;and\;p27^{Kip1}$ proteins, which are the CKIs related with the G1 phase arrest. The expression of the CDK inhibitor $p27^{Kip1},\;but\;not\;p21^{WAF1/Cip1}$ were markedly increased by N. Rhizoma. Taken together, these results demonstrated that N. Rhizoma induces apoptotic cell death through activation of caspase-3, and potently inhibits the proliferation of HL-60 cells via the G1 phase cell cycle arrest in association with $p27^{Kip1}$ and granulocytic differentiation induction .

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.504-513
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• 2009

In this study, the safety of commercial herbal medicines was evaluated by determining concentration of hazardous heavy metals. 3,152 samples (244 types) purchased by individual packing unit from market in Seoul, were analyzed using ICP-MS and mercury analyzer. As a result, the content (mg $kg^{-1}$) of Pb was higher in the above-ground part (0.92) than underground part (0.43). But in case of As and Cd contents, there is slightly higher in the underground-parts (0.26, 0.13) than the above-ground parts (0.18, 0.08). There were many herbal medicines exceeding regulatory limits of Cd comparing with other metals. The levels of Hg seemed to be different between above-ground part(0.009) and underground part (0.008) but there was no sample exceeding tolerance limits. In the comparison of imported samples with domestic herbal medicines, it was shown that Pb, As, and Hg were measured highly in the imported ones, Cd was not significantly different (t-test, p<0.05). The significant correlation was observed between Pb and As (r=0.386, p<0.01) but there was no difference in other parts. The heavy metal contamination of herbal medicines measured in total amount of respective heavy metals (mg $kg^{-1}$) was high in Flos (6.241) and Caulis (2.238), and decreased in the order of Cortex (1.634), Herba (1.154), Perithecium (0.861), Rhizoma (0.828), Radix (0.825), Fructus (0.475), and was low in Semen (0.422) (ANOVA-test, p<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.252-257
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• 2001

To get the basic information for the water quality improvement and control of water resource at Mankyeong river stream, the water quality in four site of main stream and three site of branch stream at the upper stream were investigated mainly from February to August in 2000. The water temperature was affected by depth, flow rate of the water, and air temperature, and ranged 6.4 to $30.8^{\circ}C$. The pH, DO and BOD values of the water was $5.9{\sim}9.7$, $4.6{\sim}14.50\;mg/L$, and $0.1{\sim}11.8\;mg/L$ range, respectively. The content of total nitrogen, $NO_3-N$ and $NH_4-N$ was $1.19{\sim}10.61\;mg/L$, $1.00{\sim}5.93\;mg/L$, and ND $(non\;detected){\sim}2.79$ mg/L, respectively. The concentration of total phosphorus was ND to 1.14 mg/L. The concentration of Cl ion was $3.5{\sim}196.4\;mg/L$. The content of Fe and Mn was $0.002{\sim}0.100\;mg/L$ and $ND{\sim}0.04\;mg/L$, respectively. The contents of heavy metal Cd, Cu, and Zn were $ND{\sim}0.03\;mg/L$, $ND{\sim}0.05\;mg/L$, and $0.001{\sim}0.17\;mg/L$, respectively. Pb was not detected in all the samples. The pH, total nitrogen contents, and total phosphorus content were frequently exceeded the water quality standard for agriculture. The degree of water pollution was very varied by the sampling place. The water quality was generally polluted in the dry season more than in rainy season. The highest level of water pollution observed in the area of Samyea Bridge among the 7 sites.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.260-266
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• 1981

Some properties of cellulase and xylanase produced from Pleurotus ostreatus 301 and Lentinus edodes 3-1 during its growth in rice straw medium were investigated. The cellulase activities of P. ostreatus 301 and L. edodes 3-1 were increased in proportion to substrate concentration within 0.6% and 0.8%, respectively, and xylanase activities of two strains were increased within 1%. The reducing sugar production of cellulase and xylanase in two strains were proportionaly increased until 30 min. and 60 min. respectively. The opium pH for cellulase activities of P. ostreatus 301 and L. edodes 3-1 were pH 4.0 and pH 4.5, respectively, and xylanase activities of two strains were pH 5.0. The stable pH range for cellulase activities of P. ostreatus 301 was within 4.0 to 6.0 and L. edodes 3-1 was within 3.0 to 5.0, Xylanase activities of P. ostreatus 301 was within 4.5 to 6.0 and L. edodes 3-1 was within 3.5 to 6.0. The optium temperature for cellulase activities of P. ostraeatus 301 and L. edodes 3-1 were $40^{\circ}C$ and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively, but xylanase activities of P. ostreatus 301 and L. edodes 3-1 were $50^{\circ}C$ and $45^{\circ}C$, respectively. Thermal stability of enzymes were below of optimum temperature and these were mostly inactivate at $70^{\circ}C$ for 10 min of the metalic ions tested, cellulase activities of L. edodes 3-1 was increased by $Co^{++},\; Mg^{++}$ at the concentration of $10^{-2}M$, but were greatly inhibited by $Hg^{++},\;Cu^{++}$ in two strains. Xylanase activities were increased by $Ca^{++},\;Co^{++},\;Mg^{++}$ and $Cd^{++}$ but was greatly inhibited by $Hg^{++}$.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.285-294
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• 2000

In order to determine the horizontal and vertical distributions of metals and prospect the recent metal pollution history in Nakdong Estuary, we took surface and core sediments. Maximum value of organic matter occurs at the upstream site located 4 km from Nakdong barrage, and the concentration of trace metals (Zn, Cu, and Pb etc.) decrease seaward in the estuary. The sedimentation rates, based on $^{210}$Pb$_{ex}$ and $^{137}$Cs activities, were 0.34 cm/yr in inside of barrage (core 1) and 0.25 cm/yr in Changrim (core 4). Sediment mixing layer does not exist in core 1, where anoxic condition is known to be prevail. The topmost sediment layer of core 4 (<3.5 cm) is severely mixed. At sites 1 and 4, concentrations of Cu slowly increased during the period of 1920-1970, rapidly increased during 1970-1990, and followed by slight decrease after 1990. Zn contents increased in early 1960s and peaked in 1993, and followed by decrease after 1990s. Pb has increased continuously since early 1970s. At the downstream of the barrage, Cu and Zn have increased in the topmost layer. The trend of increase of Cu is evident after 1950 (11 cm in sediment depth). Overall trend of heavy metal concentration clearly indicates the pollution has been increasing after the construction of the barrage.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.224-232
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• 2000

Inorganic nutrient concentrations in relation to springtime physical parameters of the Yellow Sea were investigated during April 1996. Three major water masses, i.e., the Yellow Sea Warm Current Water (YSWC), Coastal Current Water (CCW) and Changjiang River Diluted Water (CRDW), prevailed in the study area. Water masses were vertically wel1 mixed throughout the study area, and nutrients were supplied adequately from bottom to surface layer. As result of ample nutrients supplied by vertical mixing together with progressed daylight condition, springtime phytoplankton blooms were observed, which was responsible for the depletion of inorganic nutrients in surface water column. Low nutrients concentration in bottom water of the central Yellow Sea (Stn. D9; nitrate: <2 ${\mu}$M, phosphate: <0.3 ${\mu}$) was associated with the entrance of YSWC which is characterized by high temperature and salinity. Influenced by runoff and vertical tidal mixing, CCW with high nutrient concentrations probably associated with China and Korea coastal waters with high nutrients concentration. For the local scale of inorganic nutrient distribution, nutrient transfers from coast to central areas were limited due to restriction imposed by tidal fronts (Stn. D6) and thus affected the horizontal nutrient profiles. Relatively high phytoplankton biomass was observed in the tidal front (Chl-${\alpha}$=12.38 ${\mu}$gL$^{-1}$) during the study period. Overall, the springtime nutrient distribution patterns in the Yellow Sea appeared to be affected by: (1) Large-scale influx of YSWC with low nutrient concentrations and CCW with high nutrient concentrations influenced by Korea and China coastal waters; (2) vertical mixing of water mass and phytoplankton distribution; and (3) local-scale tidal front as well as phytoplankton blooms alongthe tidal front.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.114-125
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• 2016

In this study, 165 wastewater discharge facilities in 10 business types were investigated with regard to 24 specific hazardous substances that included heavy metals, VOCs, CN, and phenol in the Gwangju city. Cu in the range from from 0.008 to 35.420 mg/L was detected in all business types and the detection rate was 46.8 %. Other heavy metals, such as Cd, As, Hg, Pb, and Cr⁺⁶ were detected as well. However, their detection rates ranged between 0.6 and 1.8 %. CN and phenol were detected in one and five facilities, respectively. 12 species of VOCs were detected: chloroform 80.6 % (0.42 to 81.60 μg/L), benzene 16.4 % (1.49 to 3.31 μg/L), trichloroethylene 11.5 % (1.78 to 6.02 μg/L), 1,1-dichloroethylene 10.3 % (1.23 to 5.89 μg/L), and dichloromethane 8.5 % (0.28 to 968.86 μg/L) in the detection rate order. The concentration of VOCs was detected in trace amounts, except for dichloromethane that exceeded the effluent quality standard in three business types, namely, metal manufacturing, food industry, and car washing facility. Chloroform was detected in all business types, where 24.88 μg/L were detected in the laundry business and 53.41 μg/L in the water supply business; the mean concentration of chloroform in these two business types was higher than elsewhere. Therefore, for the disposal of non-degradable specific hazardous substances in industrial wastewater, it is necessary to introduce physical and chemical processes, such as activated carbon adsorption, fenton oxidation, ozone treatment, as well as photocatalyst and the UV radiation.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.232-237
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• 2010

This study was carried out to evaluate the safety of circulated oriental medicines and their related preparations in Gyeonggi-do. Total 366 samples (165 species) were analyzed about heavy metals, residual contents of sulfur dioxide ($SO_2$), and 68 samples were analyzed about preservatives. 17 samples (13 species, 4.6%) were exceeded the legal limit of heavy metal. The concentrations over the legal limit for Pb, Cd, As and Hg were 6.1~19.2 mg/kg, 0.4~0.7 mg/kg, 6.9 mg/kg and 0.7 mg/kg, respectively. In particular, the exceeding ratio (5.9%) of the legal limit of heavy metals in foreign products was 3.3 times more than domestic products (1.8%). 13 samples (10 species, 3.6%) exceeded the limit of residual sulfur dioxide and the concentration ranges were 105 to 428 mg/kg in domestic products, on the other hand foreign products were from 114 to 2,468 mg/kg. The mean concentration over the limit of residual sulfur dioxide of foreign products (804 mg/kg) was 2.4 times more than domestic products (338 mg/kg). In studying of the preservatives in oriental preparation, the contents of dehydroacetic acid (48.9~64.1%) in 3 samples of labeled solutions were under the labeled preservative contents and the contents of benzoic acid (139.9%) in 1 sample of labeled pill product was exceeded the labeled preservative contents. The numbers of the detected preservatives in unlabeled solutions, pills and granules were 4, 11 and 7, respectively.