• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.209-212
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• 2022

We recently reported that Gastrodia elata extracts (GEE) had an effects to protect against lipopolysaccharide-induced cognitive impairment in vivo model. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects and the mechanism of action of GEE in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced cell death of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell. The SH-SY5Y cells were divided into five groups, including control(non-treated group), 100 μM H₂O₂, 100, 200, 500 ㎍/㎖ GEE+ 100 μM H₂O₂ groups. Pre- and co-treatment with GEE prevented cell death induced by 100 μM H₂O₂ for 24 h in SH-SY5Y cells. Our findings also showed that anti-oxidants enzymes (Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, Mn superoxide dismutase, catalase) were up-regulated by 100 μM H₂O₂. But GEE suppressed H₂O₂-induced anti-oxidants enzymes decrease in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with GEE also inhibited phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor-2α (eIF-2α) and p38 by H₂O₂. Taken together, the neuroprotective effects of GEE in terms of recovery of antioxidant enzymes expression, down-regulation of eIF-2α and p38 phosphorylation, and inhibition of cell death are associated with reduced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.468-468
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• 2023

최근 급격한 기후변화에 의한 이상가뭄 발생 등을 대비하기 위한 비상용수 또는 대체 수자원으로서의 지하수 개발수요가 증가함에 따라 기저유량 확보 및 수질개선 방안을 수립하는 것은 지속가능한 수자원 이용 관리 측면에 있어서 매우 중요하다. 국내 지하수 사용에 따른 하천유량의 변동에 관한 연구는 활발히 진행되었으나, 실질적으로 적용가능한 지하수 저감 방안 및 지하 수질개선방안에 대한 연구는 미비한 실정이다. 이에 본 연구에서는 바이오차를 이용하여 시험포를 설계 및 시공하였으며, 실내 인공강우 실험을 통해 지하 침투수 확보 능력 및 수질개선 효과를 평가하였다. 대조구는 폭 1 m × 길이 1 m × 깊이 0.60 m로 시공하였으며, 바이오차 시험포는 폭 1 m × 길이 1 m, 시험포 상단과 하단 각 0.10 m씩 대조구와 동일한 흙으로 채웠으며, 그 사이 0.40 m만큼은 바이오차를 채워서 시공하였다. 시험의 정밀도를 높이기 위해 동일한 조건으로 대조구와 바이오차 시험포 각 2개씩, 총 4개의 시험포를 시공하여 실내 인공강우 실험을 진행하였으며, 시험포에서 발생한 직접유출수와 기저유출수를 이용하여 바이오차의 지하 침투량 확보 및 수질개선효과를 분석하였다. 시험포 완공 후 총 2번의 실내인공강우 실험 결과 대조구에서 발생한 직접유출량은 총 0.214 m³, 바이오차 시험포에서는 총 0.194 m³로 대조구 대비 총 직접유출량 저감효과는 9.4%로 나타났다. 기저유출의 경우 바이오차 시험포(0.036 m³)에서 대조구(0.003 m³) 대비 약13배 많은 양의 기저유출수가 발생한 것으로 나타났다. 각 시험포에서 발생한 유출수의 오염부하를 산정해 대조구 시험포 대비 바이오차 시험포에서 발생한 직접유출수의 오염부하 저감효과를 분석한 결과 BOD₅ 항목과 COD_Mn 항목, 그리고 TOC 항목의 경우 26.3%과 22.0%, 그리고 27.6%로 저감 된 것으로 나타났으나, SS 항목과 T-N 항목, 그리고 T-P 항목의 경우 저감효과가 없는 것으로 나타났다. 이와 같이 바이오차는 지하 침투수 확보 능력은 효과적인 것으로 나타났으나, 직접유출수의 수질개선 효과는 미비한 것으로 나타났다. 그러나 바이오차의 지하 침투량 및 수질개선 효과는 바이오차 생산 시 사용된 열분해 방식, 사용된 바이오차의 양 등에 따라 편차가 클것으로 판단되며, 바이오차의 생산 방법, 토양 흡착 기간, 바이오차의 양 등 다양한 조건에서의 모니터링을 통해 정량화 되어야 할 것으로 판단된다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.95-95
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• 2022

Maize is one of the world's three largest crops and has a long cultivation history, and is an important crop used for various purposes such as food, feed, and industrial raw materials. Recently, the agricultural environment is changing, in which the limit of cultivation of crops is shifted to the north due to the rise in temperature due to climate change. This study was conducted in experimental field of Suwon in 2022 by setting a seeding period earlier than the sowing time to establish the North Korean agricultural climatic zone and meteorological conditions. The test cultivars were silage cultivars, Kwangpyeongok and Dacheongok. As a priming test method, it was used to directly plant seeds in the field through immersion using 4mM zinc (Zn) and 2.5mM manganese (Mn), which are trace elements for seeds. The planting season was early on March 15th, April 1st, and April 15th. The number of days from sowing to silk stage of the two cultivars sown on March 15, April 1, and April 15 was 107, 93, and 85 days for Kwangpyeongok and 109, 95, and 87 days for Dacheongok, respectively. The seed priming test did not show any difference from the control group in the growth survey up to the middle stage of growth. In another test, low-temperature recovery was confirmed through nitrogen (2-5%) foliar fertilization after 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days in refrigeration (0 degrees), a selective low temperature treatment for com in the third leaf stage. As a result of this study, it was confirmed that the low-temperature damaged com treated at 0℃ showed the same growth as that of the untreated com through nitrogen foliar fertilization. These results suggest that urea foliar fertilization for low-temperature damage reduction of corn for silage in high-latitude climates will be helpful. In addition, through the results of the study, additional studies are needed on the recovery mechanism and field application through urea foliar fertilization.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.10
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• pp.3913-3923
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• 2023

Todays, medium energy resolution detectors are preferably used in radioisotope identification devices(RID) in nuclear and radioactive material categorization. However, there is still a need to develop or enhance « automated identifiers » for the useful RID algorithms. To decide whether any material is SNM or NORM, a key parameter is the better energy resolution of the detector. Although masking, shielding and gain shift/stabilization and other affecting parameters on site are also important for successful operations, the suitability of the RID algorithm is also a critical point to enhance the identification reliability while extracting the features from the spectral analysis. In this study, a RID algorithm based on Bayesian statistical method has been modified for medium energy resolution detectors and applied to the uranium gamma-ray spectra taken by a LaBr3:Ce detector. The present Bayesian RID algorithm covers up to 2000 keV energy range. It uses the peak centroids, the peak areas from the measured gamma-ray spectra. The extraction features are derived from the peak-based Bayesian classifiers to estimate a posterior probability for each isotope in the ANSI library. The program operations were tested under a MATLAB platform. The present peak based Bayesian RID algorithm was validated by using single isotopes(²⁴¹Am, ⁵⁷Co, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁶⁰Co), and then applied to five standard nuclear materials(0.32-4.51% at.²³⁵U), as well as natural U- and Th-ores. The ID performance of the RID algorithm was quantified in terms of F-score for each isotope. The posterior probability is calculated to be 54.5-74.4% for ²³⁸U and 4.7-10.5% for ²³⁵U in EC-NRM171 uranium materials. For the case of the more complex gamma-ray spectra from CRMs, the total scoring (ST) method was preferred for its ID performance evaluation. It was shown that the present peak based Bayesian RID algorithm can be applied to identify ²³⁵U and ²³⁸U isotopes in LEU or natural U-Th samples if a medium energy resolution detector is was in the measurements.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.251-261
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• 2023

Background: This paper deals with the study of natural radioactivity in rocks from Ogun State in Southwestern Nigeria. The aim is to determine radiation emissions from rocks in order to estimate radiation hazard indices. Objectives: The following objectives were targeted: 1. To determine radiation emissions from each type of rocks; 2. To estimate radiation hazard indices based on the rocks; 3. To correlate the activity concentrations of radionuclides with major oxides. Methods: The samples were analyzed using a NaI (Tl) gamma ray spectrometric detector and PerkinElmer AAnalyst 400 AAS spectrometer. Results: The activity of ⁴⁰K, ²²⁶Ra, and ²³²Th were found in order of decreasing magnitude from pegmatite>granite>migmatite. In contrast, lower concentrations were found in shale, phosphate, clay stone, sandstone and limestone. The mean absorbed doses were 125±23 nGyh^-1 (migmatite), 74±13 nGy/h (granite), 72±13 nGyh^-1 (pegmatite), 64±09 nGyh^-1 (quartzite), 45±16 nGyh^-1 (shale), 41±09 nGyh^-1 (limestone), 41±11 nGyh^-1 (clay stone), 24±03 nGyh^-1 (phosphate), and 21±10 nGyh^-1 (sandstone). The outdoor effective dose rates in all rock samples were slightly higher than the world average dose value of 0.34 mSvy^-1. The percentage composition of SiO₂ in the rock samples was above 50 wt% except for in the limestone, shale and phosphate. Al₂O₃ ranged from 4.10~21.24 wt%, Fe₂O₃ from 0.39~7.5 wt%, and CaO from 0.09-46.6 wt%. In addition, Na₂O and K₂O were present in at least 5 wt%. Other major oxides, including TiO₂, P₂O₅, K₂O, MnO, MgO and Na₂O were depleted. Conclusions: The findings suggest that Ogun State may be described as a region with elevated background radiation. It is recommended that houses should be constructed with good cross ventilation and residences should use home radiation monitoring instruments to monitor radon emanating from walls.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.799-816
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• 2023

Mineralogical and geochemical studies of shales within the Lower Anambra Basin was conducted to unravel the depositional environment, provenance, maturity, paleo-weathering conditions, and tectonic settings. Mineralogical studies conducted using X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the samples were composed of kaolinite, montmorillonite, chlorite, and illite. KaolinIite is the dominant mineral, constituting approximately 41.5% of the bulk composition, whereas the non-clay minerals are quartz, ilmenite, and sillimanite. Geochemical analysis showed a predominance of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and Fe₂O₃ contents of the shale samples with mean values of 52.29%, 14.09%, and 6.15% for Imo Shale (IS); 52.31%, 16.70%, and 7.39% for Mamu Shale (MS); 43.21%, 21.33%, and 10.36% for Enugu Shale (ES); 53.35%, 15.64%, and 7.17% for Nkporo Shale (NS); and 51.24%, 17.25%, and 7.78% for Agwu Shale (AS). However, the shales were depleted in Na₂O, MgO, K₂O, MnO, TiO₂, CaO, and P₂O₅. The trace element ratios of Ni/Co and Cu/Zn of the shale suggest an oxic depositional environment. The average SiO₂ vs. Al₂O₃ ratio of the shales indicated textural maturity. Compared to the PAAS standard, the shales plot below the PAAS value of 0.85, suggesting a high degree of maturity and intensive chemical weathering, further confirmed on a CIA vs. PIA plot. On log (K₂O/Na₂O) against SiO₂ and tectonic setting discriminant function diagrams, the shales plot mostly in the field of passive continental margin tectonic setting. The discriminant function diagrams as well as Al₂O₃/TiO₂ ratio of the shales showed that they were derived from a mixed source (mafic and intermediate igneous rocks).

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.545-557
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• 2023

Sphingomyelinase (SMase) catalyzes ceramide production from sphingomyelin. Ceramides are critical in cellular responses such as apoptosis. They enhance mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) through self-assembly in the mitochondrial outer membrane to form channels that release cytochrome c from intermembrane space (IMS) into the cytosol, triggering caspase-9 activation. However, the SMase involved in MOMP is yet to be identified. Here, we identified a mitochondrial Mg²⁺-independent SMase (mt-iSMase) from rat brain, which was purified 6,130-fold using a Percoll gradient, pulled down with biotinylated sphingomyelin, and subjected to Mono Q anion exchange. A single peak of mt-iSMase activity was eluted at a molecular mass of approximately 65 kDa using Superose 6 gel filtration. The purified enzyme showed optimal activity at pH of 6.5 and was inhibited by dithiothreitol and Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Fe³⁺ ions. It was also inhibited by GW4869, which is a non-competitive inhibitor of Mg²⁺-dependent neutral SMase 2 (encoded by SMPD3), that protects against cytochrome c release-mediated cell death. Subfractionation experiments showed that mt-iSMase localizes in the IMS of the mitochondria, implying that mt-iSMase may play a critical role in generating ceramides for MOMP, cytochrome c release, and apoptosis. These data suggest that the purified enzyme in this study is a novel SMase.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.127-133
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• 2009

In order to determine organic carbon oxidation by manganese and iron oxides, six core sediments were obtained in slope and basin sediments of Ulleung Basin in East Sea. The basin sediments show high organic carbon contents (>2%) at the water depths deeper than 2,000 m; this is rare for deep-sea sediments, except for those of the Black Sea and Chilean upwelling regions. In the Ullleung Basin, the surface sediments were extremely enriched by Manganese oxides with more than 2%. Maximum contents of Fe oxides were found at the depth of $1{\sim}4cm$ in basin sediments. However, the high level of Mn and Fe oxides was not observed in slope sediment. Surface manganese enrichments (>2%) in Ulleung Basin may be explained by two possible mechanisms: high organic carbon contents and optimum sedimentation rates and sufficient supply of dissolved Manganese from slope to the deep basin. Reduction rates of iron and manganese oxides ranged from 0.10 to $0.24\;mmol\;m^{-2}day^{-1}$ and from 0.30 to $0.57\;mmol\;m^{-2}day^{-1}$, respectively. In Ulleung Basin sediments, $13{\sim}26%$ of organic carbon oxidation may be linked to the reduction of iron and manganese oxides. Reduction rates of metal oxides were comparable to those of Chilean upwelling regions, and lower than those of Danish coastal sediments.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.67-91
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• 1983

In order to examine the alcohol production from softwoods (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc., Pinus rigida Miller, Larix leptolepis Gordon) and hardwoods (Alnus japonica Steud., Castanea crenata Sieb. et Zucc. Populus euramericana CV 214), chemical compositions were analyzed and conditions of acid hydrolysis with wood meals were established. Also strains which could remarkably decompose the cellulose were identified, and conditions of cellulase production of strains, characteristics of cellulase, and alcohol fermentation were examined. The results were summarized as follows. 1) In acid hydrolysis of wood, the high yield of reducing sugars was shown from 1.0% to 2.0% of hydrochloric acid and 2.0% of sulfuric acid. The highest yield was produced 23.4% at wood meals of Alnus japonica treated with 1.0% of hydrochloric acid. 2) The effect of raising the hydrolysis was good at $1.5kg/cm^2$, 30 times (acid/wood meal), and 45 min in treating hydrochloric acid and 30 min in treating sulfuric acid. 3) The pretreatments with concentrated sulfuric acid were more effective concentration ranged from 50% to 60% than that with hydrochloric acid and its concentration ranged from 50% to 60%. 4) The quantative analysis of sugar composition of acid hydrolysates revealed that glucose and arabinose were assayed 137.78mg and 68.24mg with Pinus densiflora, and 102.22mg and 65.89mg with Alnus janonica, respectively. Also xylose and galactose were derived. 5) The two strains of yeast which showed remarkably high alcohol productivity were Saccharomyces cerevisiae JAFM 101 and Sacch. cerevisiae var. ellipsoldeus JAFM 125. 6) The production of alcohol and the growth of yeasts were effective with the neutralization of acid hydrolysates by $CaCO_3$ and NaOH. Production of alcohol was excellent in being fermented between pH 4.5-5.5 at $30^{\circ}C$ and growth of yeasts between pH 5.0-6.0 at $24^{\circ}C$. 7) The production of alcohol was effective with the addition of 0.02% $(NH_2)_2CO$ and $(NH_4)_2SO_4$, 0.1% $KH_2PO_4$, 0.05% $MgSO_4$, 0.025% $CaCl_2$, 0.02% $MnCl_2$. Growth of yeasts was effective with 0.04-0.06% $(NH_2)_2CO$ and $(NH_4)_2SO_4$, 0.2% $K_2HPO_4$ and $K_3PO_4$, 0.05% $MgSO_4$, 0.025% $CaCl_2$, and 0.002% NaCl. 8) Among various vitamins, the production of alcohol was effective with the addition to pyridoxine and riboflavin, and the growth of yeasts with the addition to thiamin, Ca-pantothenate, and biotin. The production of aocohol was increased in 0.1% concentration of tannin and furfural, but mas decreased in above concentration. 9) In 100ml of fermented solution, alcohol and yeast were produced 2.201-2.275ml and 84-114mg for wood meals of Pinus densiflora, and 2.075-2.125ml and 104-128mg for that of Alnus japonica. Residual sugars were 0.55-0.60g and 0.60-0.65g for wood meals of Pinus densiflora and Alnus japonica, respectively, and pH varied from 3.3 to 3.6. 10) A strain of Trichoderma viride JJK. 107 was selected and identified as its having the highest activity of decomposing cellulose. 11) The highest cellulase production was good when CMCase incubated for 5 days at pH 6.0, $30^{\circ}C$ and xylanase at pH 5.0, $35^{\circ}C$. The optimum conditions of cellulase activity were proper in case of CMCase at pH 4.5, $50^{\circ}C$ and xylanase at pH 4.5, $40^{\circ}C$. 12) In fermentation with enzymatic hydrolysates, the peracetic acid treatment for delignification showed the best yields of alcohol and its ratio was effective with the addition of about 10 times. 13) The production of alcohol was excellent when wood meals and Koji of wheat bran was mixed with 10 to 8 and the 10g of wood meals of Pinus densiflora produced 2.01-2.14ml of alcohol and Alnus japonica 2.11-2.20ml.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2006

Objective: Our purpose was to investigate the relationship between the levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in the peritoneal fluid of women with and without endometriosis and infertile women. Methods: This study is prospective and case-control study in University hospital, enrolled thirty-four women with laparoscopic findings of minimal to severe endometriosis, and thirty-seven women with no visual evidence of pelvic endometriosis and with benign gynecologic disease. IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ levels in peritoneal fluid were determined using commercial ELISA. IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ concentrations were compared among women with and without endometriosis, and with infertile and fertile women, and then also compared according the revised American Fertility Society classification. Results: IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ concentrations were higher than in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis than in matched normal controls. Cyclic variations in IL-6 concentrations were seen in peritoneal fluid from patients with endometriosis: the concentrations in the secretory phase were significantly higher than those in the proliferative phase. The concentrations were higher than among of infertile women than in fertile women. A significant correlation between IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ concentrations and endometriosis stage III and IV was noted. Conclusion: Increased levels of IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in patients with endometriosis in the peritoneal fluid may be relate to the pathogenesis of endometriosis suggesting that partially contribute to the disturbed immune regulation observed in patients with endometriosis.