• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.591-599
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• 2009

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play important roles in nervous system functions and are involved in a variety of diseases. We previously demonstrated that ginsenosides, the active ingredients of Panax ginseng, inhibit subsets of nAChR channel currents, but not ${\alpha}7$, expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Mutation of the highly conserved Leu247 to Thr247 in the transmembrane domain 2 (TM2) channel pore region of ${\alpha}7$ nAChR induces alterations in channel gating properties and converts ${\alpha}7$ nAChR antagonists into agonists. In the present study, we assessed how point mutations in the Leu247 residue leading to various amino acids affect 20(S)-ginsenoside $Rg_3$ ($Rg_3$) activity against the ${\alpha}7$ nAChR. Mutation of L247 to L247A, L247D, L247E, L247I, L247S, and L247T, but not L247K, rendered mutant receptors sensitive to $Rg_3$. We further characterized $Rg_3$ regulation of L247T receptors. We found that $Rg_3$ inhibition of mutant ${\alpha}7$ nAChR channel currents was reversible and concentration-dependent. $Rg_3$ inhibition was strongly voltage-dependent and noncompetitive manner. These results indicate that the interaction between $Rg_3$ and mutant receptors might differ from its interaction with the wild-type receptor. To identify differences in $Rg_3$ interactions between wild-type and L247T receptors, we utilized docked modeling. This modeling revealed that $Rg_3$ forms hydrogen bonds with amino acids, such as Ser240 of subunit I and Thr244 of subunit II and V at the channel pore, whereas $Rg_3$ localizes at the interface of the two wild-type receptor subunits. These results indicate that mutation of Leu247 to Thr247 induces conformational changes in the wild-type receptor and provides a binding pocket for $Rg_3$ at the channel pore.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.307-319
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• 2009

Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technology has been regarded as one of the most possible and practical option to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) and consequently to mitigate the climate change. Korean government also have started a 10-year R&D project on $CO_2$ storage in sea-bed geological structure including gas field and deep saline aquifer since 2005. Various relevant researches are carried out to cover the initial survey of suitable geological structure storage site, monitoring of the stored $CO_2$ behavior, basic design of $CO_2$ transport and storage process and the risk assessment and management related to $CO_2$ leakage from engineered and geological processes. Leakage of $CO_2$ to the marine environment can change the chemistry of seawater including the pH and carbonate composition and also influence adversely on the diverse living organisms in ecosystems. Recently, IMO (International Maritime Organization) have developed the risk assessment and management framework for the $CO_2$ sequestration in sub-seabed geological structures (CS-SSGS) and considered the sequestration as a waste management option to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. This framework for CS-SSGS aims to provide generic guidance to the Contracting Parties to the London Convention and Protocol, in order to characterize the risks to the marine environment from CS-SSGS on a site-specific basis and also to collect the necessary information to develop a management strategy to address uncertainties and any residual risks. The environmental risk assessment (ERA) plan for $CO_2$ storage work should include site selection and characterization, exposure assessment with probable leak scenario, risk assessment from direct and in-direct impact to the living organisms and risk management strategy. Domestic trial of the $CO_2$ capture and sequestration in to the marine geologic formation also should be accomplished through risk management with specified ERA approaches based on the IMO framework. The risk assessment procedure for $CO_2$ marine storage should contain the following components; 1) prediction of leakage probabilities with the reliable leakage scenarios from both engineered and geological part, 2) understanding on physio-chemical fate of $CO_2$ in marine environment especially for the candidate sites, 3) exposure assessment methods for various receptors in marine environments, 4) database production on the toxic effect of $CO_2$ to the ecologically and economically important species, and finally 5) development of surveillance procedures on the environmental changes with adequate monitoring techniques.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.823-829
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• 2016

Eight Holstein steers ($216{\pm}48kg$ body weight) fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used to evaluate effects of wheat straw processing (ground vs pelleted) at two straw inclusion rates (7% and 14%; dry matter basis) in dry rolled or steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets on characteristics of digestion. The experimental design was a split plot consisting of two simultaneous $4{\times}4$ Latin squares. Increasing straw level reduced ruminal (p<0.01) and total tract (p = 0.03) organic matter (OM) digestion. As expected, increasing wheat straw level from 7% to 14% decreased (p<0.05) ruminal and total tract digestion of OM. Digestion of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and starch, per se, were not affected (p>0.10) by wheat straw level. Likewise, straw level did not influence ruminal acetate and propionate molar proportions or estimated methane production (p>0.10). Pelleting straw did not affect ($p{\geq}0.48$) ruminal digestion of OM, NDF, and starch, or microbial efficiency. Ruminal feed N digestion was greater (7.4%; p = 0.02) for ground than for pelleted wheat straw diets. Although ruminal starch digestion was not affected by straw processing, post-ruminal (p<0.01), and total-tract starch (p = 0.05) digestion were greater for ground than for pelleted wheat straw diets, resulting in a tendency for increased post-ruminal (p = 0.06) and total tract (p = 0.07) OM digestion. Pelleting wheat straw decreased (p<0.01) ruminal pH, although ruminal volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration and estimated methane were not affected ($p{\geq}0.27$). Ruminal digestion of OM and starch, and post-ruminal and total tract digestion of OM, starch and N were greater (p<0.01) for steam-flaked than for dry rolled corn-based diets. Ruminal NDF digestion was greater (p = 0.02) for dry rolled than for steam-flaked corn, although total tract NDF digestion was unaffected (p = 0.94). Ruminal microbial efficiency and ruminal degradation of feed N were not affected (p>0.14) by corn processing. However, microbial N flow to the small intestine and ruminal N efficiency (non-ammonia N flow to the small intestine/N intake) were greater (p<0.01) for steam-flaked than for dry rolled corn-based diets. Ruminal pH and total VFA concentration were not affected ($p{\geq}0.16$) by corn processing method. Compared with dry rolled corn, steam-flaked corn-based diets resulted in decreased acetate:propionate molar ratio (p = 0.02). It is concluded that at 7% or 14% straw inclusion rate, changes in physical characteristics of wheat straw brought about by pelleting negatively impact OM digestion of both steam-flaked and dry-rolled corn-based finishing diets. This effect is due to decreased post-ruminal starch digestion. Replacement of ground straw with pelleted straw also may decrease ruminal pH.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.588-597
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• 2016

In this study, we attempted to improve the biogas production efficiency by varying the mixing ratio of the mixed sludge of organic wastes in the improved single-phase anaerobic digestion process. The types of organic waste used in this study were raw sewage sludge, food wastewater leachate and livestock excretions. The biomethane potential was determined through the BMP test. The results showed that the biomethane potential of the livestock excretions was the highest at $1.55m^3CN4/kgVS$, and that the highest value of the composite sample, containing primary sludge, food waste leachate and livestock excretions at proportions of 50%, 30% and 20% respectively) was $0.43m^3CN4/kgVS$. On the other hand, the optimal mixture ratio of composite sludge in the demonstration plant was 68.5 (raw sludge) : 18.0 (food waste leachate) : 13.5 (livestock excretions), which was a somewhat different result from that obtained in the BMP test. This difference was attributed to the changes in the composite sludge properties and digester operating conditions, such as the retention time. The amount of biogas produced in the single-phase anaerobic digestion process was $2,514m^3/d$ with a methane content of 62.8%. Considering the value of $2,319m^3/d$ of biogas produced as its design capacity, it was considered that this process demonstrated the maximum capacity. Also, through this study, it was shown that, in the case of the anaerobic digestion process, the two-phase digestion process is better in terms of its stable tank operation and high efficiency, whereas the existing single-phase digestion process allows for the improvement of the digestion efficiency and performance.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.169-179
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to develop the system which convert the optical difference of teeth texture between intact enamel and incipient caries lesion into shade difference by laser fluorescence and to develop new and simple caries activity test using laser fluorescence. The experimental design of this study consists of three parts. In first part, a new method for the in vitro assessment of changes in initial enamel caries lesion of Bovine teeth using laser fluorescence is tested. In second part, in vivo assessment undertaken. Number of teeth which showed incipient carious lesion on buccal surface examined by laser fluorescence was compared with the caries activity test of $Cariescreen^{(R)}$ test and other oral environmental test of dDfFtT. In third part, new caries activity test measured by laser fluorescence was developed on the basis of above results and evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic power. Optical density measured by laser fluorescence was increased as increasing the depth of incipient carious lesion and showed high correlation$(\gamma=0.7015)$ with lesion depth. Optical density showed direct proportion to lesion depth. Linear equation was obtained between the optical density and the lesion depth by regression analysis. The result of caries activity test with laser fluorescence showed high correlation with those of $Cariescreen^{(R)}$ test and dDfFtT examination. Caries activity test with laser fluorescence showed 48% of sensitivity, 52% of specificity, and 45% of diagnostic power on the basis of dDfFtT examination, and also showed 48% of sensitivity, 51% of specificity, and 36% of diagnostic power on the basis of $Cariescreen^{(R)}$ test. In regard above result, caries activity test with laser fluorescence considered to be reliable for caries activity test compared with other oral environmental test. and it was also considered to be practical because it would be simple, inexpensive, and time saving method.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.119-135
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• 2007

Objectives: The efficacy, feasibility, and safety of bench-step aerobics (BSA) program in overweight or obese Korean adult women have been implied. However, there has been almost no evidence for its psychological benefits. As such, the purpose of this study was to investigate the psychological benefits of BSA program in overweight or obese (body mass index ${\geq}\;23\;kg/m^2$) Korean adult women. Method: Anger, exercise self-efficacy, exercise-related affect, and body image of overweight or obese women who participated in a 12-week BSA program (n=15) were compared with those of their counterparts in the control group (n=13). Subjects were selected among public health center visitors and those recruited by putting an advertisement in local newspapers and the public health center homepage. Data from the exercise and control groups were collected before and after the 12-week BSA program (from August to November in 2006) at the public health centers. The exercise program consisted of 45 to 60 min moderate-intensity (40/50 to 50/60% of their hear rate reserve) BSA performed for 3 days a week. Results: After the BSA program, body image of the subjects in the exercise group was significantly improved and there was a significant difference between the exercise and control groups. Anger, exercise self-efficacy, and exercise-related affect were improved after the BSA program but the changes did not reach the level of statistical significance and there were no significant differences between the exercise and control groups. Conclusions: In conclusion, BSA appears to significantly enhance body image in overweight or obese Korean adult women but its effects on anger, exercise self-efficacy, and exercise-related affect do not appear to be statistically significant. Further studies involving different subjects, particularly whose levels of anger are high or whose levels of exercise-related affect are low to exclude the influence of the ceiling or floor effect, are warranted in a randomized controlled design.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.222-239
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of alcohol on the psychomotor performance and subjective assessment in healthy Korean adults with acetaldehyde dehydrogenase I(ALDH-I) isozyme variance. A total of 20 male subjects, half with active ALDH-I and the other half with inactive ALDH-I, were selected through both a self-reporting questionnaire examining alcohol sensitivity and the Higuchi's ethanol patch test detecting ALDH-I deficiency. In a doule-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design, each subject consumed four doses of alcohol(0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0g/kg) and placebo on five separate occasions at weekly intervals, Treatment order was fully balanced using a $5{\times}5$ Latin square, Psychomotor performance tests[coritical flicker fusion threshold(CFF) and choice reaction time(CRT)] and self-estimate questionnaires were conducted at baseline and at time points of 20, 40, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 minutes after consuming the test drug for 20 minutes, Blood alcohol concentrations(BACs) using breath analyzer were measured at baseline and at time points of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 150, 180 minutes after drinking, The BACs and the mean changes in the psychomotor performances and subjective assessments from pre-alcohol baseline, were compared between the two groups. The findings were summarized as follows : 1) BACs were tended to be higher in the inactive group than the active in all of the four alcohol doses. However significant group differences were only after the 0.5g/kg dose of alcohol. 2) The inactive group showed significant impairment in CFFT at most time points alter 0.75 and 1.0g/kg doses of alcohol. 3) In CRT, total reaction time(TRT) significantly prolonged in the inactive group than the active group at 20 minutes after 0.25 and 1.0g/kg doses of alcohol and at 40, 60, 90 minutes alter 0.75g/kg dose of alcohol. In the inactive group, recognition time component significantly increased at 20, 60, 90 minutes after 1.0g/kg dose of alcohol, while movement time component significantly increased at 40, 60 minutes after 0.75g/kg dose of alcohol. 4) Subjective evaluation of the effect of alcohol revealed that physical and mental conditions as well as a self-estimate of the effects of alcohol on performance were significantly worse in the inactive group than the active at some time points alter all of the lour alcohol doses, wihch were more pronounced after 0.75 and 1.0g/kg doses of alcohol. 5) Most of the group differences mentioned above, still remained statistically significant after BAC was entered as a covariate, These findings demonstrated that the alcohol sensitivity is higher in individuals with inactive ALDH-I than those with active ALDH-I both on the subjective assessments and the objective psychomotor performances. Furthermore, these results suggest thai the alcohol sensitivity may be determined by acetaldehyde concentration rather than BAC per se. In future studies, after more accurate genotyping for ALDH-I, the relationships between BAC, acetaldehyde concentration and alcohol sensitivities should be clearly defined.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1455-1463
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of various exercise intensity on Excess post exercise energy expenditure (EPEE), Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR),thyroid hormonal changes and biochemical variables in obese and NIDDM patients. The subject of the present study were divided into four groups and four periods: trained (T; n=10), control (C; n=10), obese (O; n=10) and NIDDM (N; n=10) group. And the periods were divided as follows; Resting (RE), Maximal (MA), High intensity (HI), and Low intensity (LI). There was significant difference in RMR among different intensity of exercise. in the T (p<0.05) not in the C, O, and N groups. however, there was no significant different percent body fat among all groups. In the energy expenditure, there was significant different among C, O, N groups compare to T in HIEE (high intensity exercise energy expenditure), LIEE (low intensity exercise energy expenditure), HIEEPE (high intensity exercise energy expenditure post exercise) and LIEEPE (low intensity exercise expenditure post exercise). In the hormonal level, there was significant different in T4 level in the T group at LI period and there was also significant difference in T4, Free T3, & Free T4 levels in T group at LI period, however there was no significant different in the O and N groups except LI period. In the fatigue variables, there was significant different in lactate and ammonia levels in the N group in the period of HI compare to C. The present cross-sectional study was design to investigate the relationship between exercise intensity and RMR in four groups. The focus of this investigation was to compare RMR in aerobically trained (T), control (C), obese (O) and NIDDM (N) group. The relationship among RMR, exercise intensity and percent body fat would best be investigated using Meta Lyzer 3B, MMX3B and body composition analyzer. Each subject completed measurement of percent body fat, RMR, hormone in the period of maximal oxygen uptake exercise (MA), high intensity exercise (HI), and low intensity exercise (LI). From the results, High and Low intensity of exercise, there was a trend for an increased RMR (kcal/day) in the trained groups and control group (in case of LI) not for the obese and N groups. This is best explained not by the reduced percent body fat but by the highly induced energy expenditure (during exercise and post exercise energy expenditure) and increased T4, Free T3, and Free T4 hormonal levels in the low intensity exercise for the T group and sometimes C group.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2010

A study was conducted to determine the effects the of cattle manure application on forage yield, quality and soil in orchard grass pasture at the experimental field of Subtropical Animal Experiment Station, National Institute of Animal Science from 2008 to 2009. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatment consisted of chemical fertilizer (CF N-200 kg/ha), cattle manure 50% (basis N, CM50%), CM100% (basis N), CM200% (basis N). The dry matter (DM) yield of CM200% was the highest among the other treatments. CF showed the highest average crude protein (CP) content by 12.4% and CM50% showed the lowest content by 11.0%. Average acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content were 30.4 and 69.7% respectively. All treatments have narrow range of total digestibility nutrient (TDN) from 64.0% to 69.1%. But there were big difference between treatment in forage nitrate content. Changes of physical and chemical properties of soils for applications of CF 200% and CM 200% was clearly in cattle manure application. Especially, CM application in pasture increased CF application with respect to soil pH, organic matter (OM), and avaliable phosphorous ($P_2O_5$) contents of soils.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.24
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• pp.147-170
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• 2010

This study is to present a improvement directions for the protection of industrial key technology. For the purpose of the study, the survey was carried out on the administrative security activity of 68 enterprises including Large companies, small-midium companies and public corporations. survey result on the 10 items of security policy, 10 items of personal management and 7 items of the assets management are as follows; First, stable foundation for the efficient implement of security policy is needed. Carrying a security policy into practice and continuous upgrade should be fulfilled with drawing-up of the policy. Also for the vitalization of security activity, arrangement of security organization and security manager are needed with mutual assistance in the company. Periodic security inspection should be practiced for the improvement of security level and security understanding. Second, the increase of investment for security job is needed for security invigoration. Securing cooperation channel with professional security facility such as National Intelligence Service, Korea internet & security agency, Information security consulting company, security research institute is needed, also security outsourcing could be considered as the method of above investment. Especially small-midium company is very vulnerable compared with Large company and public corporation in security management, so increase of government's budget for security support system is necessary. Third, human resource management is important, because the main cause of leak of confidential information is person. Regular education rate for new employee and staff members is relatively high, but the vitalization of security oath for staff members and the third party who access to key technology is necessary. Also access right to key information should be changed whenever access right changes. Reinforcement of management of resigned person such as security oath, the elimination of access right to key information and the deletion of account. is needed. Forth, the control and management of important asset including patent and design should be tightened. Classification of importance of asset and periodic inspection are necessary with the effects evaluation of leak of asset.