• Title/Summary/Keyword: Harmful Factor

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Phytoremediation of diesel-contaminated soils using alfalfa (Alfalfa를 이용한 디젤오염토양의 phytoremediation)

  • 심지현;이준규;심상규;황경엽;장윤영
    • Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.127-136
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    • 1999
  • In the past several years phytoremediation, defined as the use of plants for removing contaminants from media such as soils or water, has attracted a great deal of interest as a potentially useful remediation technology We attempted to assess the effectiveness of phytoremediation of diesel-contaminated soils in a green house. Screening test for selecting an appropriate plant was performed by observing the harmful effects of diesel dosage on the growth of 4 plants. Alfalfa was selected as a potentially useful plant among corn and barnyard grasses due to its high tolerance to the toxicity of diesel in growth. Bioremediation of the artificial diesel-contaminated soil packed in the PVC columns(0.3m in diameter $\times$ 1m in length) with air supplied, alfalfa planted, and alfalfa and air supplied was investigated for 100 days. The results of the column test showed plant effects on enhancing the biodegradation of diesel in the contaminated soils compared to the control column which had no plant. Injecting air to the columns during phytoremediation also showed additional effects on the removal rate of diesel. Comparison of microbial activity in each test column showed a beneficial effect of plants in the soil remediation processes. This results can be explained microbial activity in rhizosphere is a crucial factor for removing diesel.

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Oroxylin A Induces BDNF Expression on Cortical Neurons through Adenosine A2A Receptor Stimulation: A Possible Role in Neuroprotection

  • Jeon, Se-Jin;Bak, Hae-Rang;Seo, Jung-Eun;Han, So-Min;Lee, Sung-Hoon;Han, Seol-Heui;Kwon, Kyoung-Ja;Ryu, Jong-Hoon;Cheong, Jae-Hoon;Ko, Kwang-Ho;Yang, Sung-Il;Choi, Ji-Woong;Park, Seung-Hwa;Shin, Chan-Young
    • Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.27-35
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    • 2012
  • Oroxylin A is a flavone isolated from a medicinal herb reported to be effective in reducing the inflammatory and oxidative stresses. It also modulates the production of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in cortical neurons by the transactivation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). As a neurotrophin, BDNF plays roles in neuronal development, differentiation, synaptogenesis, and neural protection from the harmful stimuli. Adenosine $A2_A$ receptor colocalized with BDNF in brain and the functional interaction between $A2_A$ receptor stimulation and BDNF action has been suggested. In this study, we investigated the possibility that oroxylin A modulates BDNF production in cortical neuron through the regulation of $A2_A$ receptor system. As expected, CGS21680 ($A2_A$ receptor agonist) induced BDNF expression and release, however, an antagonist, ZM241385, prevented oroxylin A-induced increase in BDNF production. Oroxylin A activated the PI3K-Akt-GSK-$3{\beta}$ signaling pathway, which is inhibited by ZM241385 and the blockade of the signaling pathway abolished the increase in BDNF production. The physiological roles of oroxylin A-induced BDNF production were demonstrated by the increased neurite extension as well as synapse formation from neurons. Overall, oroxylin A might regulate BDNF production in cortical neuron through $A2_A$ receptor stimulation, which promotes cellular survival, synapse formation and neurite extension.

Study on the methods of risk assessment of human exposure by using of PVC flooring (PVC 바닥재 인체 노출에 따른 위해성 평가 연구)

  • Kim, Woo Il;Cho, Yoon A;Kim, Min Sun;Lee, Ji Youmg;Kang, Young Yeul;Shin, Sun Kyoung;Jeong, Seong Kyoung;Yeon, Jin Mo
    • Analytical Science and Technology
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    • v.27 no.5
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    • pp.261-268
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    • 2014
  • In advanced countries, a variety of consumer exposure assessment models including CONSEXPO, are developed to manage risks of consumer products containing hazardous materials. The models are used to assess the risks of exposure to hazardous chemicals in consumer products, which serves as a foundation for regulation standards. In this study, exposure assessment models applicable for various scenarios were reviewed and a proper model was applied for the selected products and risk assessment was conducted at each stage to establish a risk assessment procedure for different types of products. Based on the exposure scenario, exposure factor was selected and according to the algorithm produced based on CONSEXPO exposure model, some level of phthalates were detected from some types of PVC flooring. However, a correlation between phthalate content and migration rate showed r-square 0.0065, little correlation, which is inadequate for estimating standard value. For this reason, it seems valid that the current standard be in place. Additionally, any new standard was not suggested as VOCs were not found harmful to human health, allowing the existing standard to be continuously applied. No migration rate was found for heavy metals and risk assessment was not performed accordingly. In this aspect, it is presumed that hazards to health through dermal exposure would be very little.

Equilibrium, Kinetic and Thermodynamic Parameter Studies on Adsorption of Allura Red from Aqueous Solution by Granular Activated Carbon (입상활성탄에 의한 수용액으로부터 오로라 레드의 흡착에 대한 평형, 동력학 및 열역학 파라미터에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Jong-Jib
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.430-436
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    • 2014
  • Allura Red (AR) is a water-soluble harmful tar-based food colorant (FD & C Red 40). Batch adsorption studies were performed for the removal of AR using bituminous coal based granular activated carbon as adsorbent by varying the operation parameters such as adsorbent dosage, initial concentration, contact time and temperature. Experimental equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed by Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms. The equilibrium process was described well by Freundlich isotherm. From determined separation factor ($R_L$), adsorption of AR by granular activated carbon could be employed as effective treatment method. Temkin parameter, B was determined to 1.62~3.288 J/mol indicating a physical adsorption process. By estimation of adsorption rate experimental data, the value of intraparticle diffusion rate constant ($k_m$) increased with the increasing adsorption temperature. The adsorption process were found to confirm to the pseudo second order model with good correlation. Thermodynamic parameters like change of free energy, enthalpy, and entropy were also calculated to predict the nature adsorption in the temperature range of 298~318 K. The negative Gibbs free energy change (${\Delta}G$ = -2.16~-6.55 kJ/mol) and the positive enthalpy change (${\Delta}H$ = + 23.29 kJ/mol) indicated the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption process, respectively.

Effect of Cigarette Warning Sign Attached to Cigarettes on Smoking Cessation Effects (담배에 부착된 담뱃갑 경고 그림이 금연효과에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Tae-Hoon
    • Journal of Industrial Convergence
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.45-52
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    • 2020
  • This study is a descriptive study conducted to investigate the effect of smoking cigarette sign sold in Korea on the smoking cessation effects and to use it as a basis for future smoking cessation and health related health data. To this end, we surveyed 500 men and women over 20 years of age on the Internet Naver web using Naver form questionnaire for 10 days from October 1, 2018 using blogs and cafes. The analyzed data were analyzed by factor analysis, T-test and correlation using SPSS WIN20.0. The main findings were as follows: First, the cigarette warning picture harmful to human body had the biggest influence on the smoking cessation effect. Second, the smoking cessation effect had the highest correlation with the pre-question consciousness about the cigarette warning picture. This indicates that the cigarette pack warning is considered the most sensitive part of smokers. Based on the results of this paper, diversification of cigarette warning picture and regular replacement of warning picture are expected to provide useful basic data for suggesting practical measures to prevent smoking. do. Therefore, the smoking warning picture is widely promoted through the media and the media, which has a positive effect on the practice of quitting smoking to the public, and is also used as a basic data for the health policy for the health promotion of the public.

The ecological analysis of asthmatic occurrence in patients : Using the national health insurance data (천식환자 발생의 생태학적 요인 분석 -국민건강보험공단 자료를 중심으로-)

  • Kim, Mun Nyeon;Lee, Won Kee;Park, Jae Yong
    • Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.679-688
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    • 2013
  • This study figured out the influential factors of region-based characteristic factors in our country upon asthmatic occurrence. Research subjects were 2,266,451 people who were confirmed the diagnosis of asthma (J45~J46) among patients in national health insurance for the year in 2010. The influence in each of factors upon the asthmatic occurrence was analyzed through hierarchical regression after comparing difference in asthmatic occurrence by basic local government. As a result of hierarchical regression, the whole asthmatic occurrence had significant difference in infants ratio, $SO_2$,Temperature, basin and dam area. The asthmatic occurrence had significant difference in subjective awareness of health level, $SO_2$, basin and dam area. A case of asthmatic occurrence had significant difference in infants ratio, temperature, $NO_2$ and coastal area. Diverse characteristic factors by region were indicated to have influence upon the asthmatic occurrence by causing or weakening asthma through mutually complex action. Accordingly, a region-based customized environmental health measure will need to be arranged that infants and elderly people, who are vulnerable classes, can be protected and prevented from harmful environment of asthma.

Eupatorium chinensis var. simplicifolium Root Extract Inhibits the Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Response in Raw 264.7 Macrophages by Inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 Expression (Raw 264.7 대식세포에서 등골나물 뿌리 추출물의 염증반응 조절 분자 iNOS와 COX-2 발현 억제 효과)

  • Lee, Jin-Ho;Kim, Dae-Hyun;Shin, Ji-Won;Park, Sae-Jin;Kim, Yoon-Suk;Shin, Yu-Su;Yu, Ji-Yeon;Kim, Tack-Joong
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.22 no.9
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    • pp.1137-1144
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    • 2012
  • Inflammation is a host defense mechanism that is activated in response to harmful substances or pathogens. However, an excessive inflammatory response is a problem in itself. Macrophages secrete inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) or cytokines through various pathways such as the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$)-activated pathway after recognizing pathogen-like lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). In this study, anti-inflammatory effects of Eupatorium chinensis var. simplicifolium (EUC) extracts were investigated using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The EUC root extract significantly reduced NO production, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the EUC root extract reduced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and protein kinase B, which is upstream of NF-${\kappa}B$. The EUC root extract also reduced the degradation of inhibitory kappa B. These results indicate that EUC root extract exerts anti-inflammatory effects, which are mediated by inhibition of iNOS expression and the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway.

A Study on the Wearing Condition and Satisfaction of Pesticide Protective Clothing (농약방제복 착용실태 및 만족도에 관한 연구)

  • Oh, Young-Soon;Lee, Kyung-Suk;Chae, Hye-Seon;Kim, Kyung-Ran;Kim, Sung-Woo
    • Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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    • v.16 no.4
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    • pp.217-228
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    • 2014
  • The purpose of this study is to grasp inconveniences and improvements by examining wearing condition and satisfaction of protective clothing targeting 114 Korean farmers and to suggest basic data for enhancement of pattern and wearing satisfaction of protective clothing by understanding problems of pesticide-proof clothing through comparative analysis on the size of its commercial products. Most of male subjects were in charge of spraying pesticide, whereas female were most likely to play an assistant role to hold the hose of pesticide applicator. Both of female and male subjects were very aware of the harmful effect of pesticide on human body and tried to take off the clothes immediately after spraying it to reduce possible damage caused by pesticide. As a result of examining wearing condition, the farmers avoided wearing protective clothing because that it feels hot, stuffy, and uncomfortable to move. This hesitant response of wearing the clothing was not shown significantly in case of female subjects who play an assistant role for spraying. Although the farmers wore protective equipments such as mask or gloves in a proper way as compared to protective clothing, they seemed to choose alternative way rather than best way to block pesticide completely. The satisfaction regarding to the fitting of protective clothing which the subjects showed low in all items of upper-lower clothes except waistline. It is necessary to improve the functionality such as relief from heat stress and convenience for movement rather than design or economic in protective clothing development. As a result of comparing the size of five kinds of commercial protective clothing, the farmers got confused to choose the product since designation method of size across companies showed a significant difference in an identical clothing size. In addition, the sizing system developed on a basis of a well-built man has become a hindering factor in wearing satisfaction of female farmers.

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Finite Element Analysis for the Contact Stress of Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene in Total Knee Arthroplasty (전 슬관절 치환 성형술에 사용되는 초고분자량 폴리에틸렌 삽입물의 접촉응력에 관한 유한요소해석)

  • Jo, Cheol-Hyeong;Choe, Jae-Bong;Choe, Gwi-Won;Yun, Gang-Seop;Gang, Seung-Baek
    • Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.37-44
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    • 1999
  • Because of bone resorption, wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE) in total knee arthroplasty has been recognized as a major factor in long-term failure of knee implant. The surface damage and the following harmful wear debris of UHMWPE is largely related to contact stress. Most of the previous studies focused on the contact condition only at the articulating surface of UHMWPE. Recently, contact stress at the metal-backing interface has been implicated as one of major factors in UHMWPE wear. Therefore, the purpose of the is study is to investigate the effect of the contact stress for different thickness, conformity friction coefficient, and flexion degree of the UHMWPE component in total knee system, considering the contact conditions at both interfaces. In this study, a two-dimensional non-linear plane strain finite element model was developed. The results showed that the maximum value of von-Mises stress occurred below the articulating surface and the contact stress was lower for the more conforming models. All-polyethylene component showed lower stress distribution than the metal-backed component. With increased friction coefficient on the tibiofemoral contact surface, the maximum shear stress increased about twofold.

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Flux of Volatile Organic Compounds from Wastewater Treatment Plant (하수처리장에서 휘발성유기화합물의 FLUX)

  • Kim, Jong O;Chang, Daniel P.Y.;Lee, Woo Bum
    • Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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    • v.22 no.1
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    • pp.91-101
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    • 2000
  • The emission sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are wastewater treatment plants. sanitary landfills, automobile industries, and so on. The VOCs are harmful to human beings because of their toxicity and carcinogenicity, and cause the serious air pollution problem producing ozone ($O_3$) as a result of photochemical reaction. To investigate the emission of VOCs from wastewater treatment plant, aeration basins at the City of Los Angeles' Hyperion Treatment Plant were selected and measured flux was compared with calculated flux. For compounds commonly associated with wastewater (DCM, TCM, PCE, UM, DCB, UND) and not expected in vehicle exhaust or ambient air coming off the ocean, concentrations immediately downwind of the aeration basins were a factor of ten or higher than those measured in the upwind air. The airborne flux of less degradable or non-biodegradable compounds, e.g., DCE, DCM, TCA, DCA, TCM, PCE, DCB, through an imaginary plane at the downwind side of the aeration basins was in agreement with the estimated flux from measured liquid phase concentrations. Henry's constant. aeration rate, and an assumption of bubble saturation. For several compounds (PCE, DCE, TCA), the ratio (measured flux/calculated flux) is almost unity.

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