• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2016

BACKGROUND: This study was carried out to survey the levels of heavy metals in perennial root vegetables and to assess dietary exposure and risk to the Korean population health.METHODS AND RESULTS: Perennial root vegetables (n=214) including Panax ginseng C.A mayer, Woodcultivated ginseng, Codonopsis lanceolata, and Platycodon granditloum were collected from markets or harvested from farmhouse in Korea. Lead(Pb), cadmium(Cd) and arsenic (As) analysis were performed with microwave device and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Limit of detection for heavy metals were 0.010~0.050 μg/kg, while limit of quantitation were 0.035~0.175 μg/kg. The recovery results were in the range of 76~102%. The average contents of heavy metals in perennial root vegetables were in the range of Pb 0.013(Panax ginseng C.A Mayer)~0.070 (Wood-cultivated ginseng) mg/kg, Cd 0.009(Panax ginseng C.A Mayer)~0.034(Codonopsis lanceolata) mg/kg, and As 0.002(Panax ginseng C.A Mayer)~0.004(Plafycodon grandiflorum) mg/kg, respectively. For risk assessment, daily intakes of heave metals were estimated and risk indices were calculated in comparison with reference dose. The dietary exposures of heavy metals through usual intake were Pb 0.070 μg/day, Cd 0.041 μg/day and As 0.008 μg/day, taking 0.03%, 0.08% and 0.0003% as risk indices, respectively.CONCLUSION: The risk level for Korean population exposed to heavy metals through intake of perennial root vegetables was far low, indicating of little possibility of concern.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.247-253
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• 2006

Our previous research has identified granulin (grn) and p130 genes as sex steroid-inducible genes in the rat hypothalamus, which might be involved in sexual differentiation of the brain. Phthalate esters that are used as plasticizers and also found at low levels in foods such as dairy products are often mentioned as suspected endocrine disrupters. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate whether perinatal exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), diisononyl phthalate (DINP) and di-2-ethylhexyl adipate (DEHA) affects hypothalamic sex steroid-inducible genes. The present study assessed the effects of perinatal exposure to DBP, DINP and DEHA on sex steroid hormones levels and hypothalamic gm and p130 mRNA expressions at postnatal day (PND) 3 and 7. Pregnant rats were fed a soy-free diet containing 20, 200, 2,000 and 10,000 ppm of DBP, 40, 400, 4,000 and 20,000 ppm of DINP, or 480, 2,400 and 12,000 ppm of DEHA from gestational day (GD) 15 to GD 3 or 7. At PND 3 and 7, perinatal exposure to these chemicals did not substantially affect serum concentrations of testosterone and estradiol. At PND 3, the expression of grn mRNA levels in males was decreased by DEHA, and that of p130 was decreased by DBP, DINP and DEHA, though the effects were not dose-dependent. At PND 7, the expression of gm gene in female pups was increased by higher doses of DBP and all the doses, except for 4,000 ppm, of DINP, while that in male pups decreased by 480 and 12,000 ppm of DEHA. Hypothalamic expression of p130 mRNA in males was increased by lower doses of DBP and all the doses of DINP, whereas that of females was decreased by 480 and 2,400 ppm of DEHA. These results suggest that these chemicals may affect the expression of gm and p130 genes by directly acting on the hypothalamus, thus leading to inappropriate expression of these genes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.413-423
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• 1997

The importance of the kidney in the development of hypertension was first demonstrated by Goldblatt and his colleagues more than fifty years ago. Many hormones and other regulatory factors have been proposed to play a major role in the development of hypertension. Among these factors angiotensia II (ANG II) is closely involved in renal hypertension development since it directly regulates $Na^+$ reabsorption in the renal proximal tubule. Thus the aim of the present study was to examine signaling pathways of low dose of ANC II on the $Na^+$ uptake of primary cultured rabbit renal proximal tubule cells (PTCs) in hormonally defined seum-free medium. The results were as follows: 1) $10^{-11}$ M ANG II has a significant stimulatory effect on growth as compared with control. Alkaline phosphatase exhibited significantly increased activity. However, leucine aminopeptidase and ${\gamma}-glutamyl$ transpeptidase activity were not significant as compared with control. In contrast to $10^{-11}$ M ANG II stimulated $Na^+$ uptake $(108.03{\pm}2.16% of that of control)$, $10^{-9}$ M ANG II inhibited ($92.42{\mu}2.23%$ of that of control). The stimulatory effect of ANG II on $Na^+$ uptake was amiloride-sensitive and inhibited by losartan (ANG II receptor subtype 1 antagonist) and not by PD123319 (ANG II receptor subtype 2 antagonist). 2) Pertussis toxin (PTX) alone inhibited $Na^+$ uptake by $85.52{\pm}3.52%$ of that of control. In addition, PTX pretreatment prevented the AMG II-induced stimulation of $Na^+$ uptake. 8-Bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP), forskolin, and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) alone inhibited $Na^+$ uptake by $88.79{\pm}2.56,\;80.63{\pm}4.38,\;and\;84.47{\pm}4.74%$ of that of control, respectively, and prevented the ANG II-induced stimulation of $Na^+$ uptake. However, $10^{-11}$ M ANG II did not stimulate cAMP production. 3) The addition of 12-O-te-tradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA, 0.01 ng/ml) to the PTCs produced significant increase in $Na^+$ uptake ($114.43{\pm}4.05%$ of that of control). When ANG II and TPA were added together to the PTCs, there was no additive effect on $Na^+$ uptake. Staurosporine alone had no effect on $Na^+$ uptake, but led to a complete inhibition of ANG II- or TPA-induced stimulation of Na'uptake. ANG II treatment resulted in a $111.83{\mu}4.51%$ increase in total protein kinase C (PKC) activity. In conclusion, the PTX-sensitive PKC pathway is the main signaling cascade involved in the stimulatory effects of ANG II on $Na^+$ uptake in the PTCs.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.325-331
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• 2004

The studies were undertaken to establish optimum formulation recipes of acetamipid 4% SL(soluble concentrate) using different adjuvants and to evaluate enhanced control effect on target insect pests by adjuvants. Adjuvants for the studies used were SS(Sodium alkylcarboxylate) and PE(Polyoxyethylene alkyl ether). After the fundamental recipe for SL being established by using co-solvent for stability at low temperature, four types of SL were formulated. The physical properties and insecticidal efficacies of the tested SL formulations were investigated. Surface tension of SL1 without adjuvant was highly decreased from 44 dyne/cm to 34 dyne/cm by addition of adjuvants. SL4 using mixed adjuvant showed the lowest contact angle. Efficacies of SL1 without adjuvant against the palm thrips (Thrips palmi) and the cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) on cucumber were increased by adding adjuvants. SL4 using mixed adjuvant showed higher efficacy than SL2 and SL3 using single adjuvant. These results have demonstrated that the selected adjuvants could be used to enhance insecticide efficacy and reduce spray dose of insecticide.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.185-191
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• 2014

The width of depletion region in a varactor diode can be modulated by varying a reverse bias voltage. Thus, the preferred characteristics of depletion capacitance can obtained by the change in the width of depletion region so that it can select only the desirable frequencies. In this paper, the TV tuner varactor diode fabricated by hyper-abrupt profile control technique is presented. This diode can be operated within 3.3 V of driving voltage with capability of UHF band tuning. To form the hyperabrupt profile, firstly, p+ high concentration shallow junction with $0.2{\mu}m$ of junction depth and $1E+20ions/cm^3$ of surface concentration was formed using $BF_2$ implantation source. Simulation results optimized important factors such as epitaxial thickness and dose quality, diffusion time of n+ layer. To form steep hyper-abrupt profile, Formed n+ profile implanted the $PH_3$ source at Si(100) n-type epitaxial layer that has resistivity of $1.4{\Omega}cm$ and thickness of $2.4{\mu}m$ using p+ high concentration Shallow junction. Aluminum containing to 1% of Si was used as a electrode metal. Area of electrode was $30,200{\mu}m^2$. The C-V and Q-V electric characteristics were investigated by using impedance Analyzer (HP4291B). By controlling of concentration profile by n+ dosage at p+ high concentration shallow junction, the device with maximum $L_F$ at -1.5 V and 21.5~3.47 pF at 0.3~3.3 V was fabricated. We got the appropriate device in driving voltage 3.3 V having hyper-abrupt junction that profile order (m factor) is about -3/2. The deviation of capacitance by hyper-abrupt junction with C0.3 V of initial capacitance is due to the deviation of thermal process, ion implantation and diffusion. The deviation of initial capacitance at 0.3 V can be reduced by control of thermal process tolerance using RTP on wafer.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.443-451
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• 2017

Mammography is commonly used for screening early breast cancer. However, mammographic images, which depend on the physical properties of breast components, are limited to provide information about whether a lesion is malignant or benign. Although a dual-energy subtraction technique decomposes a certain material from a mixture, it increases radiation dose and degrades the accuracy of material decomposition. In this study, we simulated a breast phantom using attenuation characteristics, and we proposed a technique to enable the accurate material decomposition by applying weighting factors for the dual-energy mammography based on a photon-counting detector using a Monte Carlo simulation tool. We also evaluated the contrast and noise of simulated breast images for validating the proposed technique. As a result, the contrast for a malignant tumor in the dual-energy weighted subtraction technique was 0.98 and 1.06 times similar than those in the general mammography and dual-energy subtraction techniques, respectively. However the contrast between malignant and benign tumors dramatically increased 13.54 times due to the low contrast of a benign tumor. Therefore, the proposed technique can increase the material decomposition accuracy for malignant tumor and improve the diagnostic accuracy of mammography.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.12-27
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• 2004

The contamination pattern of indoor air was simulated when groundwater dissolving benzene was used for household activities. Indoor exposure scenario consisted of inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was used to analyze how benzene exposed to human body was distributed in internal organs. Main exposure pathways contributing total internal dose were inhalation and ingestion while the contribution of dermal absorption was very small. Man showed higher exposure rate than woman due to his higher breath rate. For a short-term exposure, benzene concentration in venous blood of SPT, RPT and liver changed rapidly while slowly did in venous blood of adipose tissue at a low concentration. For a long-term exposure, woman accumulated about 2.1 times higher than man. Most of benzene exposed to human body was removed by exhalation and metabolism at lung and liver, respectively. For inhalation and ingestion, the benzene removals by exhalation were 69.8 and 48.4%, respectively. Relative importance of removal mechanism was different according to the inflow displacement of benzene. The results obtained from this study would help understand exposure, distribution, and removal phenomena and make plans for the reduction of the health risk associated with the contaminated groundwater by various organic compounds.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.744-750
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• 2009

A bacterial strain producing highly viscous extracellular polysaccharide was isolated from soil. Through morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomical studies, it was identified as a Bacillus sp. and named Bacillus sp. PS-12. The extracellular polysaccharide, named PS-12 was purified by ethanol precipitation, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) precipitation and gel permeation chromatography. The purified polysaccharide was found to consist of glucose, mannose, galactose, and fucose, with a molar ratio of approximately 7:3.2:2:1, respectively. PS-12 was investigated for its immunostimulating activity on murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells using an ELISA assay. PS-12 stimulated the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ to a level 50 times greater than the control and also induced 1L-6 secretion in a dose-dependent manner. The cytotoxicity on RAW264.7 cells by PS-12 was relatively low with 10% cytotoxicity at 2 ${\mu}g$/ml. These results indicate that PS-12 is less cytotoxic to immune cells and possess immunomodulating activity in which it can produce cytokines including TNF-${\alpha}$ and 1L-6 from macrophages.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1415-1421
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• 2016

This study was worked to investigate the antioxidant activity and the blood circulation improvement effect of two Hibiscus syriacus extracts divided into fermented H. syriacus extract and non-fermented H. syriacus extract. As the results of in vitro experiment, both of fermented H. syriacus extract and non-fermented H. syriacus extract had the DPPH free radical scavenging effect and the high contents of polyphenol and flavonoid known as antioxidant components in dose-dependent manner. Six weeks female C57BL/6 mice were divide into four groups and fed high diets for 28 days. Also fermented H. syriacus extract and non-fermented H. syriacus extract was daily intraperitoneal administration for 28 days at 2 mg/kg of body weight of mice. In vivo C57BL/6 mice experiment of normal diet group (NOR), high-fat diet group (CON), high-fat diet plus fermented H. syriacus extract group (FHS) and high-fat diet plus non-fermented H. syriacus extract group (NFHS), each of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein (LDL) was decreased in both of FHS and NFHS groups, meanwhile high density lipoprotein (HDL) was increased (p<0.01). Conclusion, the results confirmed that H. syriacus containing the high contents of the antioxidant activity components had the significant effects of blood circulation improvement.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.606-611
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• 1999

To identify irradiated foods, studies have been carried out with electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy on bone containing foods, such as chicken, pork, and beef. Bones cleaned, pieced and dried were irradiated with doses of 0, 1, 3, 5 kGys using a $Co^{60}$ irradiator. The bones were placed in a resonant quartz tube with an internal diameter of about 4.0 mm within the Bruker Win-ESR spectrometer, and the intensity of the ESR signal could be quantified by double integration of the first derivative spectrum. The irradiated bone presented an asymmetric absorption in shape, different from that of an unirradiated one. It could be possible to detect at doses lower than 1 kGy below the dose employed commercially (3 kGy) in the case of irradiated chicken bone. The signal intensity was greatest in the beef bone, intermediate in the pork bone and lowest in the chicken bone; it was normally lower for smaller animals than for larger species, and small variations were observed between samples of the same species. The intensity of the signal induced in bones increased linearly with irradiation doses in the range of 1.0 kGy to 5.0 kGy, and it was possible to distinguish between samples given low and high doses of irradiation. The signal stability for 6 weeks made them ideal for the quick and easy identification of irradiated meats.