• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.180-192
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• 2010

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of the waist circumference-to-height ratio (WHTR) in screening for obesity in Korean children and adolescents. Methods: Data, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and height, were obtained from the national growth surveys for children and adolescents in 2005. The WHTR was calculated dividing WC by height in subjects 2~18 years of age. Overweight and obese were defined by BMI percentiles for age and gender. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to find out the optimal cutoff values of WHTR that matched BMI-determined overweight and obesity using the STATA program. The area under the curve (AUC), a measure of diagnostic power, of WHTR was compared to WC. The influence of age on WHTR was analyzed by the SAS program. Results: The WHTR significantly decreased with age, and had less correlation with age in the 6~18-year-old age group than the 2~5-year-old age group. Furthermore, the WHTR also had less correlation with age than WC in the 6~18-year-old age group. The AUC of WHTR in identifying overweight and obesity was significantly higher than the AUC of WC in the 6~18-year-old age group. The optimal cutoff values were 0.51 in boys and 0.49 in girls for obesity, and 0.48 in boys and 0.47 in girls for overweight, with all having the AUC>0.9. The optimal cutoff values of WHTR had a higher sensitivity for diagnosing obesity than WC${\geq}$90th percentiles. Conclusion: The WHTR is an easy, accurate, and less age-dependent index with high applicability in screening for obesity in children and adolescents.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2005

Purpose : Recently the merits of 6 weeks of initial prednisolone treatment for pediatric primary nephrotic syndrome have been reported, and the use of the 6 week regimen is increasing. We compared our experiences with the 6 week treatment versus the 4 week treatment for Korean patients. Methods : We conducted a retrospective analysis of 69 children who had primary nephrotic syndrome and who were followed up for at least 12 months in the 4 major medical centers in Daegu. The remission rate, the relapse rate, the frequency of relapse and complication of steroid treatment were compared between the 4 weeks and 6 weeks treatment group. Results : Of the 69 children, 42 were in the 4 week treatment group and 27 were in the 6 week group. The median age, blood pressure, serum total protein, serum albumin, cholesterol, creatinine, estimated creatinine clearance, 24 hour urine protein and 12 month cumulative dose did not differ between the two groups. Among the children who relapsed after steroid treatment, the relapse time was significantly later for the 6 week treatment group. The relapse rate after 1 year of treatment was 62$\%$ in the 4 week treatment group and 52$\%$ in the 6 week treatment group; however, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The frequency of relapse at 12 months was $1.5{\pm}1.2$ times in the 4 week treatment group and $1.1{\pm}1.2$ times in the 6 week treatment group, and there was not different between the two groups. The most common side effects of steroid treatment were an increase of appetite and a cushingoid appearance, and there was no statistical difference between the two groups. Among the 27 children who had kidney biopsies performed, 21 suffered from minimal change nephrotic syndrome. Conclusion : The first relapse time after steroid treatment was significantly later in the 6 week steroid treatment group. The frequency of relapse and the 12 month cumulative dose of steroid were lower in the 6 week treatment group, but there was no statistical significance between the two groups. The side effects of steroid treatment did not differ between the two groups. We need to study the long term side effects and the advanced regimens of steroid treatment in the future.(J Korea Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2005;9:159-166)

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 1974

Many of studies on the transovarial transmission of occult virus and their activation due to various stresses such as cold or heat treatment, chemical feeding, and nutritional deficiency, etc., in the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. have been made, but any attempts have been not made to control virus diseases by detection of the occult virus-carried moths in the production of silkworm egg of hybrids, because of difficulty to detect occult virus in any stage. Therefore, it may be worth while to disclose whether a sublethal infection of the moths from which active virus are detectable, has the same level of induction rate as that of occult virus activation, thus to apply its results for the reduction of the occurence of virus diseases in silkworm rearing. For these purposes, the following experiment was conducted as one of preliminary steps. In this study, investigations on the generation-to-generation transmission of occult virus and a sublethal infection, and the role of chromosomal gene of the host, Jam 103 and Jam 104 in the Previous generation, and Jam 103 x Jam 103 and Jam 104 f Jam 104 in the next generation were made for the induction of virus diseases due to the transmitted virus. The frequency of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis due to the induction in the F$_1$ generation was markedly higher in the cross-batches, male$\times$female and male$\times$female in which inoculated individuals were used as fem ale parents than in the cross-batches, male$\times$female and male$\times$female in which virus has been not inoculated or inoculated only to male in the previous generation. The tendency of increasing rate was observed in any treatments; such as the inoculations of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (10$\^$5/, 10$\^$6/ 10$\^$7, and 10$\^$8//ml ill different concentration of inocula) , cold-treatment (5$^{\circ}C$, 12hrs or 24hrs), and formalin-feeding treatment (2％ or 3％). The shape of polyhedra (tetragonal in outline) examined in the F, larvae was identified as that of the inoculated polyhedra with partial application of immunofluorescent techniques. These results suggests that the cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus in B. meri L. are transmitted to the next generation through the egg, apparently in the occult state. And the experimental results of various cross-batches revealed the egg cytoplasm plays an important part i the transmission of the occult virus of the cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus,

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.649-656
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• 2012

To obtain the basic information for agricultural utilization of germanium (Ge), the growth characteristics and Ge absorption in rice plant were investigated under different Ge concentrations by foliar spray application. The Ge concentrations were treated with 0 (control), 10, 20, 40 and $80mg\;L^{-1}$ in pot (1 5000$^{-1}$ a), respectively. The Ge absorption rate in rice by foliar spray application with $80mg\;L^{-1}$ in pot was higher in the order of leaf (5.75%) > stem (4.52%) > root (<0.01%). By foliar spray application, the Ge content in rice was higher in the order of $80mg\;L^{-1}$ > $40mg\;L^{-1}$ > $20mg\;L^{-1}$ > $10mg\;L^{-1}$. When rice was treated with $80mg\;L^{-1}$ of Ge, the Ge content in rice grain was higher in the order of rice bran ($0.21mg\;pot^{-1}$) $\gg$ brown rice ($0.04mg\;pot^{-1}$) ${\geq}$ polished rice ($0.03mg\;pot^{-1}$). By foliar spray application, the Ge uptake in rice bran was higher than that in other parts. Therefore, optimum Ge concentration by foliar spray application was $80mg\;L^{-1}$ in pot based on the results from the Ge treatments.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.904-909
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• 2012

Acid sulfate soil (ASS) and potential acid sulfate soil (PASS) are distribution in worldwide and originate from sedimentary process, volcanic activity, or metamorphism and are problematic in agriculture and environmental due to their present and potential acidity developed by the oxidation. The PASS was defined as soil materials that had sulfidic layer more than 20 cm thick within 4 m of the soil profile and contained more than 0.15% of total-sulfur (T-S). A tentative interpretative soil classification system was proposed weak potential acid sulfate (T-S, 0.15-0.5%), moderate potential acid sulfate (T-S, 0.5-0.75%) and strong potential acid sulfate (T-S, more than 0.75%). PASS due to excess of pyrite over soil neutralizing capacity are formed. It provides no information on the kinetic rates of acid generation or neutralization; therefore, the test procedures used in acid base account (ABA) are referred to as static procedures. The net acid generation (NAG) test is a direct method to measure the ability of the sample to produce acid through sulfide oxidation and also provides and indication. The NAG test can evaluated easily whether the soils is PASS. The samples are mixed sandy loam and the PAS from the hydrothermal altered andesite (1:3, 1:8, 1:16, 1:20, 1:40, 1:80 and 1:200 ratios) in this study. We could find out that the NAG pH of the soil containing 0.75% of T-S was 2.5, and that of the soil has 0.15% of T-S was 3.8. NAG pH test can be proposed as soil classification criteria for the potential acid sulfate soils. The strong type has NAG pH of 2.5, the moderate one has NAG pH of 3.0, and the weak one has NAG pH of 3.5.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.65-74
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• 2010

Placenta has been shown to be a site of expression of several of the monoamine membrane uptake transporters. However, the correlation between the expressions of norepinephrine transporter (NET) and placental development including gynecological diseases is still unknown. To investigate the expression and functions of NET in placenta, we conducted to compare NET expression in normal and preeclamptic placenta and analyzed the function of NET in HTR8-SV/neo trophoblast cells after NET gene transfection. The expression of NET was analyzed in placental tissues from the following groups of patients (none underwent labor): 1) term normal placenta (n=15); 2) term with preeclamptic placeneta (n=15); and 3) pre-term with preeclamptic placenta (n=11) using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. In order to evaluate the function of NET, NET gene plasmid and NET gene-specific siRNA were trnasfected into HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells for 24 hours. NET had low expression in the pre-eclamptic placenta compare with normal placenta but no difference in western blot data. NET was expressed in the trophoblasts, and the up-regulation of NET gene stimulated the invasion of HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells by 2.5 fold (p<0.05), whereas the NET-siRNA treatment reduced invasion rates. Also, we observed that the expression of NET induces to expression and activity of MMP-9 in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast cells in zymography. The results suggest that the expression of NET were reduced in pre-eclampsia and should be inhibited invasion activity of trophoblasts. Therefore, these findings provide useful guidelines for the mechanisms of trophoblast invasion as well as for the basic understanding of gynecological diseases including pre-eclampsia.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.575-589
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• 2009

Groundwater has been extracted for irrigation in Sacheon-Hadong area, which is close to the South Sea. We analyzed chemical components of groundwater to examine the effects of seawater intrusion and agricultural activities in the study area. Most groundwater samples displayed the Na/Cl concentration ratios similar to that of seawater (0.55) with an increasing tendency of electrical conductivity ($227-7,910\;{\mu}S/cm$) towards the coast. In addition, statistical interpretation of the cumulative frequency curves of Cl and $HCO_3$ showed that 30.1% of the groundwater samples were highly affected by seawater intrusion. Groundwaters in the study area mostly belonged to the Ca-Cl and Na-Cl type, demonstrating that they were highly influenced by seawater intrusion and cation exchange. The result of oxygen-hydrogen isotope analysis demonstrated slightly higher $\delta^{18}O$ ((-8.53)-(-6.13)‰) and ${\delta}D$ ((-58.7)-(-43.7)‰) comparing to mean oxygen-hydrogen isotope ratios in Korea. As a result of nitrogen isotope analysis, the $\delta^{15}N-NO_3$ values ((-0.5)-(19.1)‰) indicate two major sources of nitrate pollution (organic nitrogen in soil and animal and human wastes) and mixed source of the two. However, denitrification may partly contribute as a source of nitrogen. According to factor analysis, four factors were identified among which factor 1 with an eigenvalue of 6.21 reflected the influence of seawater intrusion. Cluster analysis indicated the classification of groundwater into fresh, saline, and mixed ones.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2000

Screening of Biologically Active Essential Oils from Ligusticum tenuissimum. Kim, Min-Hae, Young-Gil Kim, Jin-Ha Lee, Keo-Pyo Hong, Jung-Ki Hong, Young-Joon Kong, and Hyeon-Yong Lee*. Division of Food and Biotechnology, Kangwon National University, Chunchon 200-701, Korea, 1 Regional Crop Development Station, Kangwon Agricultural Research & Extension Services, Chunchon 200-150, Korea-The biological activities of the crude essential oils from Ligusticum tenuissimum and the control(phthalic anhydride) were compared. About 60% of the growth of MCF7, A549, and Rep3B cells were inhibited by adding 1.0 mg/ml of the crude essential oils and below 40% was observed by the control. Cytotoxicity on human normal lung cell(IMR90) was scored as 34.4% for the crude oil and 26.4% for control, respectively. It was found that the crude essential oils were more effective than the control in anti mutagenecity tested by both Rec-assay and CRG V79 cells. The growth of human T-cell(Jurkat) was enhanced up to 1.21 times by adding the crude essential oil compared with the control. 50% of a-glucosidase activity was inhibited by both the crude essential oil and the control. ACE activities were inhibited 80.1 % and 65.3% by adding 1.0 mg/ml of the crude oil and the control, respectively. The higher enhancement of glutathione-S-transferase activity was observed in the crude oil than those in the control: 301 % v.s 234% at 1.0 mg/ml of the treatment. Thrombolytic activity was measured as 42.9% and 28.6% for the crude oil and the standard, respectively. The effect of the oil on the nerve cells PCI2, was observed as follows: the neurite of PCl2 cells was lengthened up to 255 /-lm longer than 205 /-lm of control. The number of neurite-bearing cells were about two times higher than control. The survival ratio of the crude essential oil was also increased up to 56.4% which was about two fold higher than in control.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2017

Cobalt ferrocyanide (CoFC) or nickel ferrocyanide (NiFC) magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were fabricated for efficient removal of radioactive cesium, followed by rapid magnetic separation of the absorbent from contaminated water. The $Fe_3O_4$ nanoparticles, synthesized using a co-precipitation method, were coated with succinic acid (SA) to immobilize the Co or Ni ions through metal coordination to carboxyl groups in the SA. CoFC or NiFC was subsequently formed on the surfaces of the MNPs as Co or Ni ions coordinated with the hexacyanoferrate ions. The CoFC-MNPs and NiFC-MNPs possess good saturation magnetization values ($43.2emu{\cdot}g^{-1}$ for the CoFC-MNPs, and $47.7emu{\cdot}g^{-1}$ for the NiFC-MNPs). The fabricated CoFC-MNPs and NiFC-MNPs were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TEM, and DLS. The adsorption capability of the CoFC-MNPs and NiFC-MNPs in removing cesium ions from water was also investigated. Batch experiments revealed that the maximum adsorption capacity values were $15.63mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$ (CoFC-MNPs) and $12.11mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$ (NiFC-MNPs). Langmuir/Freundlich adsorption isotherm equations were used to fit the experimental data and evaluate the adsorption process. The CoFC-MNPs and NiFC-MNPs exhibited a removal efficiency exceeding 99.09% for radioactive cesium from $^{137}Cs$ solution ($18-21Bq{\cdot}g^{-1}$). The adsorbent selectively adsorbed $^{137}Cs$, even in the presence of competing cations.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.649-658
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• 2003

Early introducing the ducks into the paddy field involves a variety of environmental changes such as new surroundings and contact with water, so that some free-ranged ducks show behavioral and physiological changes indicative of stress or die from not adapted for new circumstances. Moreover, the free-ranged ducks was tread on the rice plant, and required a great deal of labor and time for captured the ducks after finishing the introducing. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of accustoming and imprinting of duckling on behavior patterns, body weight gain and yield of the rice plant in paddy fields. Three paddy plots were used as control (no imprinting and no contact with people), taming (imprinting and regular handling) and roughness (handling roughly and strike terror to ducks) plots. Right after introducing the ducks into the paddy field, eating and moving behaviour of taming plot ducks tended to be longer time spend than that of other treatments. However, eating and moving time tended to be longer in the control than that of other two treatments on the 2 weeks after. Flighting distance was not showed in the free-ranging period taming plot, but the control plot was significantly (P<0.05) longer than the roughness plot. The captured time of free-ranged ducks tended to be shorter in the order of taming, control and roughness plots. Body weight gains was not significant. The number of rice plants damaged by free-ranging ducks in the taming plot were significantly (P<0.05) less than that in the control plot, but the yield and yield components of the rice plant were not differ among 3 treatments. These results indicated that the imprinting or regular handling and related treatments of duckling was reducing badly damage of rice plants, captured time and labor of free-ranged ducks in paddy field, although the working behavior of ducks and yield ability of the rice plants were not affected.