• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.48-51
• /
• 2004

The light element candidates such as S, O, Si, and K are discussed for the reasonable compositions in the earth's core since the available data show density difference from pure iron core. These candidates are favored by the some evidences such as depletion in the crust and mantle, and lower eutectic temperature of Fe-FeS melt for sulfur. FeO phase for oxygen, lighter mass than sulfur and solubility in metallic phases for silicon, and partitioning in Fe-FeS melt for potassium. However, other problems such as short experimental data, initial compositions of these elements, and oxidation state during the formation of the earth should be solved simultaneously to confirm these light elements.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.1638-1649
• /
• 2019

Top soil samples across the state of Kuwait numering ninety were collected and analysed using gamma-ray spectrometry, to evaluate the elemental concentration of $^{238}U$, $^{232}Th$ and $^{40}K$ and their depletion/enrichment. Results of elemental concentration ranges from 0.48 to 2.61 mg/kg, 0.87-5.23 mg/kg, and 0.24-2.23%, with a mean values of 1.39 mg/kg, 3.47 mg/kg, and 1.18%, for the $^{238}U$, $^{232}Th$ and $^{40}K$, respectively. Further analysis was conducted amongst the five identified soil types, i.e. Aquisalids (S1), Calcigypsids (S2), Petrocalcids (S3), Petrogypsids (S4), and torripsamment (S5). The highest radioactivity concentrations from both uranium and thorium were recorded in the S2 (Calcigypsids) soil, with a value of 1.71 (mg/kg) and 4.45 (mg/kg), respectively. Minimum and maximum values of $^{40}K$ are 1.1(%) and 1.27(%) and is prevalent in Aquisalids (S1) and Petrocalcids (S3) soil types, respectively. Ratios of elemental concentration for $^{232}Th/^{238}U$, $^{40}K/^{238}U$, $^{40}K/^{232}Th$ across the soil types are 2.53, 0.09 and 0.03, with a correlation coefficient of 0.92, 0.34, and 0.38, respectively. A progressively higher $^{232}Th/^{238}U$ ratio is observed moving south-wards, indicating lower $^{238}U$ content in soils from the south relative to the northern part. Overall results indicate Kuwait to be relatively an area with low level of natural radioactivity.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.37-44
• /
• 1977

In the previous study of the release, excretion, and plasma concentration of aldosterone in normal Koreans, the author found that urinary aldosterone excretion and aldosterone secretion rate of the Korean who usually take high amount of salt are significantly lower, in compared to Americans, although the plasma concentration is only tended to be low. The control of plasma aldosterone level depends on the secretion rate and the metabolic clearance of the hormone. In this experiments, the metabolic clearance rate of aldosterone was determined in normotensive korean and the effects of adrenal stimulations on the rates were also studied in the same subjects. The metabolic clearance rate of the normal Korean was not significantly different from those of the American, and shown a little increase in response to sodium restriction. These results indicate that the decrease in secretion rate rather than the increase in metabolic clearance Tate is the major factor maintaining lower plasma aldosterone level. After furosemide diuresis, on the contrary, the removal of aldosterone showed significant the decrease despite slight increase of secretion rate. This suggest that the reduction in metabolic clearance rate of the hormone during volume depletion found to be major cause of high plasma concentration. Additional potassium supply produced detectable decrease of metabolic clearance rate, but the changes were smaller than that of secretion rate, which suggested that the higher secretion rate could account for elevated plasma concentration of aldosterone rather than metabolic clearance. Above results also support author's previous evidences that the normal Korean who already adapted to a high sodium diet have ability to produce adequate aldosterone activity without producing detectable changes on the metabolic clearance rate under the condition of sodium restriction with approp riate potassium intake.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 1982

Force development of smooth muscle cells is directly regulated by the concentration of free calcium ions in the sarcoplasm, and the sarcoplasmic concentration of calcium ion can be modulated by electrogenic Na-K pump. The role of Na-K pump on vascular tone was studied in isolated rabbit renal artery. Helical strips of arterial muscle were prepared from left renal arteries. All experiments were performed in $HCO_3^--buffered$ Tyrode solution which was aerated with $3%CO_2-97%\;O_2$ mixed gas and kept at $35^{\circ}C$. In some experiments, rabbit was injected intraperitoneally $18{\sim}24$ hours prior to the experiments, with a large dose(5 mg/kg body wt) of reserpine, in order to eliminate the catecholamines present in intrinsic adrenergic nerve terminate. Treatment used in this experiment that inhibits Na-K pump was the exposure of strips to K-free Tyrode solution. Contractile response to K free Tyrode solution developed slowly and the time required for maximum contracture was $20{\sim}30$ minutes. This K-free contracture was rapidly relaxed by the addition of potassium to the bathing solution. No K-free contracture occurred in a Ca-free Tyrode solution. But contraction developed rapidly when calcium ion was added to the bathing solution after 30 minute exposure of the strip to Ca-free Tyrode solution. This contracture was completely inhibited by Ca-antagonist, verapamil. The K-free contracture was abolished by ${\alpha}-adrenergic$ blocker, phentolamine, as well as by the catecholamine depletion from adrenergic nerve terminals. Even in reserpinized strip, the exogenous norepinephrine-induced contraction in K-free Tyrode solution was rapidly suppressed by the addition of potassium ion. The results of this experiment suggest that K free contracture develops by norepinephrine release from adrenergic nerve terminals, while the relaxation of K-free contracture is induced by the activation of electrogenic Na-K pump.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.71 no.4
• /
• pp.525-536
• /
• 2020

Transcellular calcium transport is an essential activity in mineralized tissue formation, including that in nervous systems. Dysregulation of Ca²⁺ homeostasis can induce excitotoxicity and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system. Nckx3, a potassium-dependent Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger, is most abundant in the brain and has a critical role in the transport of intracellular calcium across the cell membrane. However, the roles of Nckx3 in neuron development and function remain unreported. Herein, we examined the behaviors of Nckx3-knock-out mice at the age of six weeks. Detailed behavioral analyses showed Nckx3^-/- mice exhibited an increase in moving distances in the open field test. Additionally, the rotarod test revealed motor learning defects in Nckx3^-/- mice. Both Nckx3^+/- and Nckx3^-/- mice also exhibited deficits in sociability and social novelty preference. Furthermore, Nckx3^-/- mice displayed increased depression-related behavior. However, there was no significant change in cognition function detected in Nckx3^-/- mice. This study demonstrates that NCKX3 is involved in behavior and neuronal function

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.127-135
• /
• 2000

Purpose: Cyclosporine(CsA) is a potent immunosuppressant but the use of CsA is associated with various side effects, especially nephrotoxicity. In tile kidney, salt depletion activates tile renin-angiotensin-aldosteron(RAS) system and accentuates chronic CsA nephropathy. We postulate that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors(ACEI) can prevent chronic CsA nephropathy, since ACEI may inhibit this cascades. This study was aimed to assess the effect of ACEI on chronic cyclosporin nephropathy in salt depleted rats. Methods: 36 Fischer-344 rats were divided into 6 goups. Group I received normal salt diet(NSD). Group II received a low salt diet(LSD). Group III received CsA with a NSD. Group IV received CsA with a LSD. Group V received NSD+CsA with ACEI. Group VI received LSD+CsA with ACEI. Rats were sacrificed after six weeks and the glomerular filtration rate(GFR), serum sodium, potassium and whole blood cyclosporine levels were measured. Renal tissues me sampled for the observation of histological changes. Results: No differences in blood CsA level & serum sodium were found between groups during the course of this experiment. Serum potassium in group VI was significantly increased compared with group IV and V (P<0.05). In groups treated with CsA only and in those where CsA was combined with ACEI, GFR was found to be significantly more decreased in LSD than NSD, and GFR in group V was significantly decreased in comparison with group III (P<0.05). Renal histologic lesions associated with CsA which consisted of cortical interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy and hyalinization of arterioles were more severe in tile LSD group. But, no differences were observed between tile groups treated with CsA and ACEI, and the groups treated with only CsA. Conclusion: Salt depletion associated with the activation of the RAS system accentuated chronic CsA nephrotoxicity, but, ACEI could not reduce the functional and morphological changes of salt depleted kidneys, in which nephropathy can be exacerbated in spite of the blocking of the angiotensin II pathway. further studies are required to elucidate whether Am ameliorated the effect of salt-depleted CsA nephrotoxicity upon the effective renal blood flow.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.197-202
• /
• 2003

Phosphorus is one of the major plant growth limiting nutrients, despite being abundant in soils in both inorganic and organic forms. Phosphobioinoculants in the form of microorganisms can help in increasing the availability of accumulated phosphates for plant growth by solubilization. Penicillium oxalicum CBPSTsa, isolated from paddy rhizosphere, was studied for its phosphate solubilization. The influence of various carbon sources like glucose, sucrose, mannitol and sorbitol and nitrogen sources like arginine, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, ammonium chloride and ammonium sulphate were evaluated using liquid media with tricalcium phosphate (Ca-P), ferric phosphate (Fe-P) and aluminium phosphate (Al-P). Maximum soluble phosphate of 824 mg/L was found in the amendment of sucrose-sodium nitrate from 5 g/L of Ca-P. Mannitol, sorbitol, and ariginine were poor in phosphate solubilization. While sucrose was better carbon source in solubilization of Ca-P and Al-P, glucose fared better in solubilization of Fe-P. Though all the nitrogen sources enhanced P solubilization, nitrates were better than ammonium In the amendments of ammonium chloride and ammonium sulphate, higher uptake of available phosphates by the fungus was found, and this resulted in depletion of available P in Fe-P amendment Phosphate solubilization was accompanied by acidification of the media, and the highest pH decrease was observed in glucose amendment Among the nitrogen sources, ammonium chloride favored greater pH decrease.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.289-309
• /
• 1993

Milyang pyrophyllite deposit which was formed by hydrothermal alteration occurs in Late Cretaceous andesitic tuff in the Milyang area, Gyeongsangnamdo. The wall rock alteration and genesis of the Milyang pyrophyllite deposit were studied. The ore minerals are composed dominantly of pyrophyllite accompanied by small amounts of quartz, kaolinite, pyrite, dumortierite and diaspore. The alteration halo of this deposit can be divided into three zones on the basis of mineral assemblage; pyrophyllite, sericite and chlorite zone. The common mineral assemblages of each alteration zone are as follows: (1) pyrophyllite zone; pyrophyllite-quartz-kaolinite-pyrite-dumortierite-diaspore, (2) sericite zone; sericite-quartz-pyrite-kaolinite, and (3) chlorite zone; chlorite-plagioclase-quartz. Major element chemistry shows that characteristic depletion in MgO, CaO, and $Na_2O$ and relative increase in FeO from less altered chlorite zone to extensively altered pyrophyllite zone corresponding to variation in mineral assemblages. The paragenesis of ore minerals, oxygen isotope data, chlorite and illite geothermometry suggest that ore deposit was formed at about $250{\sim}330^{\circ}C$. Both hydrogen and silica activities are high in pyrophyllite zone. Potassium activity increases in sericite zone while hydrogen activity becomes low in chlorite zone. The pyrophyllite zone was formed relatively higher temperature than those of sericite and chlorite zones. The ore fluid was considered to be magmatic water in origin derived from the residual granitic magma which interacted with meteoric water.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.10
• /
• pp.1488-1494
• /
• 2020

Rho guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor 1 (RhoGDI1) plays important roles in numerous cellular processes, including cell motility, adhesion, and proliferation, by regulating the activity of Rho GTPases. Its expression is altered in various human cancers and is associated with malignant progression. Here, we show that RhoGDI1 interacts with Cullin 3 (CUL3), a scaffold protein for E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes. Ectopic expression of CUL3 increases the ubiquitination of RhoGDI1. Furthermore, potassium channel tetramerization domain containing 5 (KCTD5) also binds to RhoGDI1 and increases its interaction with CUL3. Ectopic expression of KCTD5 increases the ubiquitination of RhoGDI1, whereas its knockdown by RNA interference has the opposite effect. Depletion of KCTD5 or expression of dominant-negative CUL3 (DN-CUL3) enhances the stability of RhoGDI1. Our findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism for controlling RhoGDI1 degradation that involves a CUL3/KCTD5 ubiquitin ligase complex.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.67-78
• /
• 1989

Since the atrial receptor was suggested to be involved in the control of extracellular fluid volume, it has been shown that the granularity of atrial cardiocytes can be changed by water and salt depletion, and that an extract of atrial tissue, when injected intravenously into anesthetized rats, causes a large and rapid increase in renal excretions of sodium and water. The immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) has been found in the plasma of patients suffering from various cardiovascular diseases. A high level of ANP in the plasma has been reported in essential hypertension. Several studies on the effects of ANP on renal function and arterial blood pressure have presented contradictory results showing attenuated or accentuated responses. Thus, involvement of the ANP in the development of hypertension remains unresolved. Present study was undertaken to investigate whether the ANP is involved in the development of hypertension in two-kidney one-clip Goldblatt hypertensive rats. The plasma concentration of immunoreactive ANP appeared to be significantly elevated in hypertensive rats as compared with normotensive Goldblatt operated and sham-operated rats. Plasma renin concentration was higher in hypertensive rats than in normotensive rats, as observed in earlier experiments. Intravenous infusions of ANP resulted in increases of urine flow and urinary excretions of sodium and potassium in both hypertensive and normotensive rats. The renal response to ANP was markedly accentuated in Goldblatt hypertensive rats. The plasma concentration of ANP showed a linear relationship with the arterial blood pressure. Infusions of ANP reduced blood pressure both in hypertensive and normotensive rats. These results suggest that in Goldblatt hypertensive rats an elevation of ANP level in the plasma may not be a cause, but instead a consequence of hypertension, and that the renal responsiveness to the ANP is accentuated by some unknown mechanisms.