• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.317-325
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• 2016

Increased access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has made the management of drug toxicities an increasingly crucial component of HIV. This study investigated the effects of adjuvant use of coconut oil and HAART on testicular morphology and seminal parameters in Sprague-Dawley rats. Twelve adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 153~169 g were distributed into four groups (A-D) and treated as follows: A served as control (distilled water); B (HAART cocktail-Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine); C (HAART + Virgin coconut oil 10 mL/kg) and D (Virgin coconut oil 10 mL/kg). After 56 days of treatment, animals were killed and laparotomy to exercise the epididymis for seminal fluid analyses done whilst testicular tissues were processed for histo-morphometric studies. Result showed a significant decline in sperm motility (P < 0.05) and count (P < 0.0001) in HAART-treated animals while there was insignificant changes in other parameters in groups C and D except count that was reduced (P < 0.0001) when compared with controls. Histomorphological studies showed HAART caused disorders in seminiferous tubular architecture with significant (P < 0.01) decline in epithelial height closely mirrored by extensive reticulin framework and positive PAS cells. Adjuvant Virgin coconut oil + HAART resulted in significant decrease in seminiferous tubular diameter (P < 0.05), but other morphometric and histological parameters were similar to control or Virgin coconut oil alone (which showed normal histoarchitecture levels). While derangements in testicular and seminal fluid parameters occurred following HAART, adjuvant treatment with Virgin coconut oil restored the distortions emanating thereof.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.38 no.3 s.152
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• pp.223-233
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• 2005

In this study, a two-dimensional model for identifying areas of erosion and deposition over a basin was developed based on the mass balance principle in a distributed model. The program consists of three steps: (a) estimation of soil erosion; (b) determination of flow amount and direction; and (c) estimation of mass balance. Soil erosion was estimated with USLE. A single-direction (SF) and a multi-direction flow algorithm (MF) were applied to estimate slope length (L). The Maximum Downhill Slope Method (MDS) and the Neighborhood Method (NBH) were used to estimate the slope degree (S). Sediment transport resulting from eroded soil was estimated using Ferro's (1998) and Swift's (2000) sediment delivery ratio (DR). The model was validated by comparing the predicted sediment yields for three basins with measured data. The developed algorithm showed that Ferro's DR method combined with the MDS and MF produced the best agreement with the dredging records of three agricultural reservoir basins in Korea.

• Clean Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.62-67
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• 2024

In this study, an alkali metal Na was introduced into iron-based catalysts used in the carbon dioxide-based Fischer-Tropsch process by wet impregnation and physical mixing methods to compare their performance. The as-prepared catalysts were evaluated for reactivity at 3.5 MPa, 330 ℃, feed ratio of H₂/CO₂ = 3 with a space velocity of 4,000 mL h^-1 g_cat^-1. Comparing the two catalysts, it was found that Na was uniformly distributed throughout the catalyst when wet-impregnated, but Na for physically mixed catalyst was relatively located on the surface of the catalyst. In addition, the wet-impregnated catalyst showed higher liquid hydrocarbon (C₅₊) yield and lower CO selectivity. In conclusion, the effect of Na distribution in the catalyst on the reaction was identified and can be controlled by the introduction method.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.888-895
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• 2017

Salsola collina (S. collina) is an annual plant widely distributed in drought and semi-drought areas, which has been used for a long time as a kind of folk remedy in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of hypertension. Previously, the anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities of S. collina were elucidated in our research group. In this study, the anti-obesity activities of S. collina ethanol extract (SCEE) were evaluated using a pancreatic lipase enzyme inhibition assay and cell culture model. The results showed that SCEE effectively suppressed pancreatic lipase enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, SCEE significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, and triglyceride (TG) content, and triggered lipolysis on insulin, dexamethasone, and 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine-treated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Its anti-obesity effect was modulated by cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) gene, as well as protein expressions. Taken together, these results offer the important new insight that S. collina possesses anti-obesity properties, such as pancreatic lipase inhibition and anti-adipogenic and lipolysis effects through the modulation of their upstream signaling pathway. It could become a promising source in the field of nutraceuticals, and the identification of active compounds that confer the biological activities of SCEE may be needed.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.145-156
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• 2003

The atmospheric aerosols collected at the 1100 site located in Mt. Halla have been analyzed to investigate their compositions and chemical characteristics . The average concentrations of water-soluble cations were in the order of N $H_{4}$$^{+}$ > $Ca^{2+}$ > N $a^{+}$ > $K^{+}$ > $Mg^{2+}$ during the spring, showing high increase of $Ca^{2+}$ concentration with the value of 0.60 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ $m^3$, and N $H_{4}$$^{+}$> N $a^{+}$> $K^{+}$> $Ca^{2+}$ > $Mg^{2+}$ during the other seasons. The average concentrations of anions have shown in the order of S $O_{4}$$^{2-}$ > N $O_{3}$$^{[-10]}$ >C $l^{[-10]}$ for all seasons, and S $O_{4}$$^{2-}$ and N $O_{3}$$^{[-10]}$ had higher concentrations in spring with the values of 4.84 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ $m^3$ and 1.08 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ $m^3$, respectively. From the analytical data of size-segregated particles by cascade impactor sampling, the components of N $H_{4}$$^{+}$, S $O_{4}$$^{2-}$, N $O_{3}$$^{[-10]}$ and $K^{+}$ were distributed mainly in fine particles, but $Ca^{2+}$, N $a^{+}$, $Mg^{2+}$ and C $l^{[-10]}$ were included mostly in coarse particles. The correlation coefficients of nss-S $O_{4}$$^{2-}$/N $H_{4}$$^{+}$, nss-S $O_{4}$$^{2-}$/ $K^{+}$ and N $O_{3}$$^{[-10]}$ /nss-C $a^{2+}$ showed quite high values with 0.871, 0.857 and 0.654, respectively Based on the study of enrichment factors, it is considered that N $a^{+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, C $l^{[-10]}$ and $Ca^{2+}$ components were delivered from oceanic and soil sources, but S $O_{4}$$^{2-}$, N $O_{3}$$^{[-10]}$ and N $H_{4}$$^{+}$ might have other source origins. The factor analysis study showed the aerosol at the 1100 site was influenced mainly by anthropogenic factors, followed by oceanic and soil factors. followed by oceanic and soil factors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.169-178
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• 2000

Perovskite oxide catalysts doped on porous alumina beads are prepared in a citric acid solution. To investigate the applicability of the catalysts to the hot gas cleanup, a series of experiments on the reduction characteristics of $NO_x$ by CO as a reducing agent are carried out in a packed bed reactor containing the catalysts. Parameters tested are the operating temperature and $CO/NO_x$ molar ratio. It is found that mixed complex oxides of $La_{0.5}Sr_{0.5}CoO_3$, $SrAl_{12}O_{19}$ and $LaAl_{11}O_{18}$ are uniformly distributed on the alumina beads. The conversion efficiency of $NO_x$ by CO sharply increases with the operating temperature up to $700^{\circ}C$ and then approaches 100% when $CO/NO_x$ molar ratio is greater than 1.0. The conversion efficiency of $NO_x$ is maintained by over 98% during a continuous operation for 23 hours at $800^{\circ}C$ and space velocity of $10700hr^{-1}$.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.276-286
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• 2020

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease associated with multiple metabolic disorders. The medicinal plant Curcuma longa L. is widely distributed in Asia and has been used to treat a spectrum diseases in clinical practice. To date, there are inadequate reports of the effects of C. longa 50% EtOH extract (CE) on NAFLD. Therefore, in this study, we evaluate the CE on an NAFLD animal and elucidate the mechanism of action. Methods and Results: C57BL/6J mice fed a methionine-choline deficient diet (MCD) were treated with CE or milk thistle, and changes in inflammation and stetosis were assessed. Experimental animals were divided into six group (n = 10); Normal, MCD, MCD + CE 50 mg/kg/day (CE 50), MCD + CE 100 mg/kg/day (CE 100), MCD + CE 150 mg/kg/day (CE 150), and the Control, MCD + Milk thistle 150 mg/kg/day (MT 150). Body weight, liver weight, liver function, and histological changes were assessed in experimental animals. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses were performed on samples collected after 4 weeks of treatment. We observed that CE administration improved MCD-diet-induced lipid accumulation, and triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels in serum. Treatment with CE also decreased hepatic lipogenesis through modulation of the sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), CCAAT-enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) expresion. In addition, the use of CE increased adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and inhibited the up-regulation of toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 and TLR-4 signaling and the production of inflammatory mediators. Conclusions: In this report, we observed that CE regulated lipid accumulation in an MCD dietinduced NAFLD model by decreasing lipogenesis. These data suggeste that CE could effectively protect mice against MCD-induced NAFLD, by inhibiting the TLR-2 and TLR-4 signaling cascades.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 2011

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary moisture content on the growth and gastrointestinal evacuation of sub-adult olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) in the summer and winter seasons. In the first experiment, three experimental diets containing different moisture levels (7%, 15%) and additives were prepared by adding water and commercial additives (1% nutrients, 1% digestives) to commercial extruded pellets. Fish (initial weight: $332{\pm}9.2$ g) were distributed randomly into six 3000 L tanks (25 fish/tank) in a flow-through tank system. Two replicate groups of fish were fed the experimental diets to satiation for 14 weeks during the summer season ($21.4{\pm}2.5^{\circ}C$). Survival, weight gain, feed efficiency, and daily feed intake did not differ significantly among groups. In the second experiment, two experimental diets containing different moisture levels (8%, 23%) were prepared by adding water to commercial extruded pellets. Fish (initial weight: $646{\pm}6.7$ g) were randomly distributed into six 3000 L tanks (20 fish/tank) in a flow-through tank system. Three replicate groups of fish were fed the experimental diets to satiation for 19 weeks during the winter season ($12.2{\pm}1.2^{\circ}C$). Weight gain, feed efficiency, and daily feed intake did not differ significantly among groups. Gastrointestinal evacuation rates were determined after the end of the winter feeding trials. The stomach contents of fish fed diets containing different moisture levels peaked within 3 h after feeding and then decreased gradually over 40 h to approach pre-feeding levels. Intestinal contents began to accumulate 3 h after feeding and reached a maximum at 32 h, then declined until nearly complete evacuation around 56 h. The stomach contents reached moisture levels of approximately 70% within 3 h after feeding and then increased gradually. No considerable difference in moisture levels was observed in the stomach contents of fish fed diets with different moisture contents. The results of this study suggest that the gastric evacuation of sub-adult olive flounder was not affected by dietary moisture level and the addition of water to the diet had no beneficial effect on the growth of sub-adult olive flounder in the summer and winter seasons.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 1996

A scanning electron microscopic study was performed to observe the surface ultrastructures of the third-stage larvae of Gnathostoma hispidun. The early third-stage larvae (EL3) were collected from the viscera of Chinese loaches by the artificial digestion method . The advanced third-stage larvae (AdL3) were recovered from mice experimentally infected with EL3. Both larval worms were fixed with 2.5% glutaraldehyde, dehydrated in graded alcohol. dryad in critical point dryer, and coated with gold. The specimens were observed with a SEM (DS- l30C). On the head bulb of both larval stage, the mouth had a pair of lateral lips of equal size and of half moon shape. Each lip had a couple of labial papillae and a small amphid located between the two papillae. The hooklets on the head bulb had single-pointed tips and curved posteriorly. The cuticular spines of EL3 were larger and more densely distributed in the anterior area (about 1.8 Mm in length) and gradually decreased in size and number posteriorly. The cuticular spines in the anterior area of AdL3 were sharp-pointed and about 4.5 Mm in length, and those in the middle area were about 1.75 Mm. The velvety cuticular folds and dot-like cuticular spines were distributed in the posterior area. A cervical papilla was located between the 7th and 8th transverse striations. A dome-like body papilla was located at the posterior 1/4 of body. An ellipsoidal excretory pore was located between the 17th and 18th striations. From the above results, it is suggested that the characteristic SEM findings obtained from this study may be helpful on the species identification of larval Gncthostomn.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2017

We evaluated the fruit quality and the incidence of physiological disorders in Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) cultivar 'Jinhwang' treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP, $1.0{\mu}L{\cdot}L^{-1}$) under different temperature conditions to determine appropriate shelf-life period. The postharvest application of 1-MCP in 'Jinhwang' pears showed positive effects at all storage temperature (18, 25 or $30^{\circ}C$) with regard to flesh firmness, marketable fruits (>20N) only attainted with 1-MCP treated fruit after 21 days of shelf-life. A high incidences of physiological disorders and of fruit decay rates were obvious in the fruits distributed at $30^{\circ}C$ and low incidence of physiological disorders including core browning and mealiness were attained at the fruits treated with 1-MCP when we compared with untreated control. The production of ethylene and respiration rates increase coincide with elevated distribution temperature. High respiration rates were obvious in the control fruits, it reached approximately two times higher than the that of 1-MCP treated one regardless of market temperature. These results demonstrated that the application of 1-MCP, especially at high temperature market condition, represented as an effective postharvest technique for newly developed Asian pear 'Jinhwang'.