• Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.43-49
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• 2007

The metals we are familiar with(Al, Ag, Au, Cu, Cd, Co, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn, etc) are common elements and conservative pollutants. Although metals are often vital constituents of the metabolism of living organisms(trace elements}, a number of them are toxic if their concentration exceeds a certain threshold. It has long been recognized that measurements of trace metals in natural waters are often subject to large errors in terms of precision and accuracy. Since 1975 in US and European countries, seawater concentration of many trace metals have been shown to be factors of 10-1,000 lower than those previously accepted. Vertical profiles have been found to be consistent with known biological, physical and/or geochemical processes. These are resulted from major advances in analytical instrumentation and methodology for trace elements, and greater attention has been given to assuring the elimination of contamination during sampling, storage, and analysis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.35-43
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• 2009

Objectives: Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HRHDT), a prescription composed of four herbs, has been wi dely used in Oriental Medicine for the treatment of cerebral infarction. However, the mechanisms by which the herbal formula affects on the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in cerebral infarction patients remain unknown yet. Methods: The levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, interleukin (IL)-1b, and IL-6, IL-10, and TGF-${\beta}1$ were determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cerebral infarction patients under our experimental conditions. Results: The secretory levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, interleukin (IL)-1b, and IL-6, and IL-10 were significantly increased in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from cerebral infarction patients. However, pretreatment with HRHDT significantly inhibited the secretion of pro- and anti-inflammatory in PBMCs. Also, HRHDT induced a significant increase of transforming growth factor (TGF)-b1 in PBMCs. Conclusions: These data indicate that HRHDT may be beneficial in the suppression of inflammatory processes of cerebral infarct through suppression of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-10 and induction of TGF-${\beta}1$.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.228-235
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• 2015

In order to clarify the thermal and hygroscopic properties of indoor particulate matter (PM) in a semiclosed subway space, which is critically important for understanding of the distinctive particle formation processes as well as the assessment of their health effects, the size-resolved PMs (i.e., $PM_{2.5}$ and $PM_{10-2.5}$) were intensively collected on the platform of Miasageori station on the Seoul Subway Line-4. The elemental concentrations in soluble and insoluble fractions were determined by PIXE from the bulkily pretreated $PM_{2.5}$. The thermal and hygroscopic characteristics of individual particles were investigated via a combination of the unique pretreatment techniques (i.e., the high-temperature rapid thermal process and the water dialysis) and SEM-EDX analysis. Iron and calcium were unequaled in insoluble and soluble $PM_{2.5}$ fractions, respectively, with overwhelming concentration. The SEM-EDX's elemental net-counts for the pre- and post-pyrolyzed PMs newly suggest that magnesium and several elements (i.e., silica, aluminum, and calcium) may be readily involved in the newly generated subway fine PM by a high-temperature thermal processing when trains are breaking and starting. Through the water dialysis technique, it turned out that calcium has meaningful amount of water soluble fraction. Furthermore, the concentrations of the counter-ions associated with the calcium in subway $PM_{10-2.5}$ were theoretically estimated.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.225-229
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• 1995

Soy oligosaccharide, a low calorie sugar, which is known to improve the intestinal microbial flora, was recovered from the waste of soymilk process by Steffen process. To remove protein contaminants, prior to the Steffen process, pH of the sample was adjusted to $3.5{\sim}4.0$ or calcium chloride was added 8%(w/w) per sugar. Both pretreatment processes were found to remove about $25{\sim}30%$ of the protein initially present in the sample. Using the Steffen process, as much as 85% of soy oligosaccharide could be recovered as a saccharate form. The amounts of calcium chloride and lime used were 20%(w/w) and $100{\sim}120%$(w/w) per total sugar, respectively. After the sugar was desorbed by $CO_{2}$, the final yield of oligosaccharide was 80% while 80% of protein were removed from the original solution. The composition of sugar was similar to that of soybean cooking water.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.305-316
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• 2013

Non-protein amino acid, ${\beta}$-amino-n-butyric acid (BABA), has been involved in diverse physiological processes including seedling growth, stress tolerance and disease resistance of many plant species. In the current study, treatment of kimchi cabbage seedlings with BABA significantly reduced primary root elongation and cotyledon development in a dose-dependent manner, which adverse effects were similar to the plant response to exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) application. BABA was synergistically contributing ABA-induced growth arrest during the early seedling development. Kimchi cabbage leaves were highly damaged and seedling growth was delayed by foliar spraying with high concentrations of BABA (10 to 20 mM). BABA played roles differentially in in vitro fungal conidial germination, mycelial growth and conidation of necrotroph Alternaria brassicicola causing black spot disease and hemibiotroph Colletotrichum higginsianum causing anthracnose. Pretreatment with BABA conferred induced resistance of the kimchi cabbage against challenges by the two different classes of fungal pathogens in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that BABA is involved in plant development, fungal development as well as induced fungal disease resistance of kimchi cabbage plant.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.101-112
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• 2013

Integrated process with coagulation and microfiltration as an advanced water treatment has been expanded its application in recent years due to its superb removal of particles and natural organic matter. In usual, effectiveness of coagulation sometimes determines performance of the whole system. Several new polymeric coagulants introduced to water utilities for better efficiency were studied in this paper. Three polymeric coagulants (i.e., PACl, PACs, and PAHCs) along with alum were evaluated for removal of natural organic matter, especially for reduction of trihalomethane formation potential, for which regulation has become stringent. Turbidity removal was closely related to pH variation showing the reduced turbidity removal by PACs due to the decreases in the pH of supernants at high doses. The four coagulants showed different organic matter removal during coagulation and affected the removal in microfiltration. For instance, DOC concentration was not reduced by microfiltration when PAHCs were used however 10 % of DOC removal was observed by microfiltration with alum coagulation. Coagulation pretreatment also impacted the THM removals, i.e., approximately 30 % of THMs and 13 % of DOC was removed by microfiltration only, but 40 to 67 % of THMs and 30 % of DOC was removed by the integrated process. Strategies on selection of coagulants are needed depending on characteristics of target pollutants in raw waters.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.292-300
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• 2014

Chlorine-resistant sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) random copolymer (SPAES)-thin film composite (TFC) membranes for desalination are prepared using monoglyme as a selective solvent, which dissolves SPAES, but should be inert to porous polysulfone layer (e.g., Udel$^{(R)}$). Different from formic acid and diethylene glycol used as other selective solvents, monoglyme is environmentally friendly and has much lower boiling temperature. After a pretreatment of Udel$^{(R)}$ support film in isopropyl alcohol-glycerine mixture to minimize pore penetration leading to fairly reduced water flux, coating of SPAES solution in monoglyme onto the support and stepwise drying processes are conducted for defect-free TFC formation. The transport behavior through SPAES-TFC membranes is observed, correlating with the effects of sulfonation level, protonation, and physical and chemical crosslinking of SPAES selective layers.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.182-191
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• 2002

Polyamide reverse osmosis (RO) membrane with thin film composite structure was commercialized for seawater desalination process. Recently, it has been reported that some RO processes for high pressure and recovery leads to reducing in energy cost and pretreatment scale compared with earlier process. The development of energy recovery, pumping device and RO elements with high pressure and rejection made high pressure and recovery process possible. In this study, permeation properties of commercialized seawater RO membrane were investigated under the condition of high pressure and recovery. In the RO sheet membrane test 3.5% NaCl of synthetic seawater was used. The synthetic seawater contained only sodium chloride. In the RO module test, natural seawater was used at Happo Bay, Masan city. As the results, RO membrane with high durability of pressure was better than that with high rejection of seawater for high pressure and recovery process. Seawater rejection of high concentrate tends to be improved by high pressure operation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.14-28
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• 2008

Objective : This study was carried out to understand effects of ginseng(hearinafter ; GS, Panax Ginseng) extract on regeneration responses on injured sciatic nerves in rats. Methods :Using white mouse, we damaged sciatic nerve & central nerve, and then applied GS to the lesion. Then we observed regeneration of axon and non-neuron. Results : 1. NF-200 protein immunostaining for the visualization of axons showed more distal elongation of sciatic nerve axons in GS-treated group than saline-treated control 3 and 7 days after crush injury. 2. GAP-43 protein was increased in the injured sciatic nerve and further increased by GS treatment. Enhanced GAP-43 protein signals were also observed in DRG prepared from the rats given nerve injury and GS treatment. 3. GS treatment in vivo induced enhanced neurite outgrowth in preconditioned DRG sensory neurons. In vitro treatment of GS on sensory neurons from intact DRG also caused increased neurite outgrowth. 4. Phospho-Erk1/2 protein levels were higher in the injured nerve treated with GS than saline. Phospho-Erk1/2 protein signals were mostly found in the axons in the injured nerve. 5. NGF and Cdc2 protein levels showed slight increases in the injured nerves of GS-treated group compared to saline-treated group. 6. The number of Schwann cell population was significantly increased by GS treatment in the injured sciatic nerve. GS treatment with cultured Schwann cells increased proliferation and Cdc2 protein signals. 7. GS pretreatment into the injured spinal cord generated increased astrocyte proliferation and oligodendrocytes in culture. In vitro treatment of GS resulted in more differentiated pericytoplasmic processes compared with saline treatment. 8. More arborization around the injury cavity and the occurrence at the caudal region of CST axons were observed in GS-treated group than in saline-treated group. Conclusion :GS extract may have the growth-promoting activity on regenerating axons in both peripheral and central nervous systems.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.316-323
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• 2020

The degradation of aqueous oxytetracycline (OTC) from an aqueous solution antibiotic using H₂O₂/Fe²⁺ process was studied in one 1 L batch chemical reactor. The extent of OTC degradation (20 mg/L) was investigated from a known initial pH solution, temperature and the type of catalyst (Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺) and for various initial concentrations of OTC, H₂O₂ and Fe²⁺. The degradation efficiency achieved was found to be very important (90.82% and 90.63%) at initial pH solution of 3 and 4, respectively. However, the type of catalyst and the reaction temperature had a slight impact on the final degradation of OTC. The results showed that the OTC removal increased with increasing initial H₂O₂ concentration in the range of 70 to 150 mg/L and initial Fe²⁺ concentrations in the range of 2 to 5 mg/L. The highest degradation efficiency obtained at ambient temperature was 90.95% with initial concentration of OTC of 10 mg/L, H₂O₂ = 150 mg/L and Fe²⁺ = 5 mg/L. Moreover, biodegradability improved from 0.04 to 0.36 and chemical oxygen demand degradation was 78.35% after 60 min of treatment. This study proved that Fenton process can be used for pretreatment of wastewater contaminated by OTC before a biological treatment.