• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.196-210
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• 2024

Purpose: This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of a combination of Syzygium aromaticum L. and Sorbus commixta Hedl. (SS) in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The extracts of Syzygium aromaticum extract (SA) and Sorbus commixta extract (SC) were prepared individually using distilled water. They were mixed in a 1:2 ratio for use in the experiment. To assess the anti-obesity potential of SS in vitro, we examined cell proliferation, cellular triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) levels, as well as lipogenesis and β-oxidation in 3T3-L1 cells. To confirm its anti-obesity potential in vivo, C57BL/6J mice were fed a 60% high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity. SA alone, SC alone, and their combination compound, SS (at a dosage of 200 mg/kg) were orally administered for 6 weeks. Thereafter, to conduct a comparative evaluation, serum analysis, western blotting of liver tissues, and histopathological analysis were performed. Results: Both SS200 and SS400 significantly inhibited the cellular TG and TC contents in the 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, treatment of the cells with SS (at a dose 200 and 400 ㎍/mL) also led to a noticeable regulation of key lipogenic and β-oxidation factors. Treatment of obese mice with SS resulted in a greater reduction in serum leptin and TG levels compared to treatment with the individual compounds (SA and SC). Furthermore, activation of AMP-activated protein kinase α by SS treatment resulted in the suppression of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBP)-1, leading to the inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) expression. Conclusion: Our results suggest that SS may have the potential to prevent obesity through a reduction in the TG and TC levels and regulation of lipogenesis and β-oxidation.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.608-617
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• 2020

The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a key virulence determinant in the infection process of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000). Pathogen constructs a type III apparatus to translocate effector proteins into host cells, which have various roles in pathogenesis. 4-Hydroxybenozic acid and vanillic acid were identified from root extract of Sedum middendorffianum to have inhibitory effect on promoter activity of hrpA gene encoding the structural protein of the T3SS apparatus. The phenolic acids at 2.5 mM significantly suppressed the expression of hopP1, hrpA, and hrpL in the hrp/hrc gene cluster without growth retardation of Pst DC3000. Auto-agglutination of Pst DC3000 cells, which is induced by T3SS, was impaired by the treatment of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and vanillic acid. Additionally, 2.5 mM of each two phenolic acids attenuated disease symptoms including chlorosis surrounding bacterial specks on tomato leaves. Our results suggest that 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and vanillic acid are potential anti-virulence agents suppressing T3SS of Pst DC3000 for the control of bacterial diseases.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.285-295
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• 2014

In this study, we analyzed probability distribution of EMCs (Event Mean Concentration) of COD, TOC, T-N, T-P and SS from rice paddy fields and compared the mean values of observed EMCs and the median values of estimated EMCs ($EMC_{50}$) through probability distribution. The field monitoring was conducted during a period of four crop-years (from May 1, 2008, to September 30. 2011) in a rice cultivation area located in Emda-myun, Hampyeong gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea. Four probability distributions such as Normal, Log-normal, Gamma, and Weibull distribution were used to fit values of EMCs from rice paddy fields. Our results showed that the applicable probability distributions were Normal, Log-normal, and Gamma distribution for COD, and Normal, Log- Normal, Gamma and Weibull distribution for T-N, and Log-normal, Gamma and Weibull distribution for T-P and TOC, and Log-normal and Gamma distribution for SS. Log-normal and Gamma distributions were acceptable for EMCs of all water quality constituents(COD, TOC, T-N, T-P and SS). Meanwhile, mean value of observed COD was similar to median value estimated by the gamma distribution, and TOC, T-N, T-P, and SS were similar to median value estimated by log-normal distribution, respectively.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.1081-1095
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• 2020

This study is to evaluate stream flow and water quality changes of Yeongsan river basin (3,371.4 km2) by inter-basin water transfer (IBWT) from Juam dam of Seomjin river basin using SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool). The SWAT was established using inlet function for IBWT between donor and receiving basins. The SWAT was calibrated and validated with 14 years (2005 ~ 2018) data of 1 stream (MR) and 2 multi-functional weir (SCW, JSW) water level gauging stations, and 3 water quality stations (GJ2, NJ, and HP) including data of IBWT and effluent from wastewater treatment plants of Yeongsan river basin. For streamflow and weir inflows (MR, SCW, and JSW), the coefficient of determination (R2), Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), root mean square error (RMSE), and percent bias (PBIAS) were 0.69 ~ 0.81, 0.61 ~ 0.70, 1.34 ~ 2.60 mm/day, and -8.3% ~ +7.6% respectively. In case of water quality, the R2 of SS, T-N, and T-P were 0.69 ~ 0.81, 0.61 ~ 0.70, and 0.54 ~ 0.63 respectively. The Yeongsan river basin average streamflow was 12.0 m3/sec and the average SS, T-N, and T-P were 110.5 mg/L, 4.4 mg/L, 0.18 mg/L respectively. Under the 130% scenario of IBWT amount, the streamflow, SS increased to 12.94 m3/sec (+7.8%), 111.26 mg/L (+0.7%) and the T-N, T-P decreased to 4.17 mg/L (-5.2%), 0.165 mg/L (-8.3%) respectively. Under the 70% scenario of IBWT amount, the streamflow, SS decreased to 11.07 m3/sec (-7.8%), 109.74 mg/L (-0.7%) and the T-N, T-P increased to 4.68 mg/L (+6.4%), 0.199 mg/L (+10.6%) respectively.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.83-92
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• 2005

Natural environment of the Wolgokri stream watershed, located in Chuncheon, Gangwon province, Korea, has been well preserved as a traditional agricultural watershed. To analyze characteristics of NPS pollution generated from an mountainous agricultural watershed, the flow and water qualities of the study watershed were monitored and were analyzed to estimate pollution loads. Annual runoff volume ratio was $70.4\%$. Concentrations of T-N, T-p, COD, and TOC were higher when monthly rainfall was between $0\~30mm$ than those when monthly rainfall was between $30\~70mm$. However, the concentrations varied considerably when monthly rainfall was higher than 100mm. The flow weighted mean concentrations(mg/L) of BOD, COD, TOC, $NO_3-N$, T-N, T-P and SS were 1.96, 2.72, 3.32, 1.41, 4.70, 0.187 and 13.36, respectively. The BOD, SS, T-N and T-P loads of July, 2004 were $48\%,\;17\%,\;51\%\;and\;32\%$ of annual load, respectively. The BOD, COD, TOC, $NO_3-N$, T-N, T-p, and SS loads (kg/ha) from Mar. 2004 to Apr. 2005 were 19.09, 26.55, 32.39, 13.85, 45.92, 1.887 and 130.18, respectively. The highest concentrations of BOD, NO3-N, T-N, T-p, SS, COD and TOC were found before the flow reached the peak runoff, possibly due to the first flushing effect. Generally, pollution loads of the Wolgokri watershed were not that significant. Phosphorus load, however, was higher enough to cause eutrophication in the receiving water body It was recommended that best management practices need to be implemented to reduce phosphorus sources.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.41-50
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• 2017

The purpose of this study were to evaluate the effect of best management practices (BMPs) of Haean highland agricultural catchment ($62.8km^2$) under future climate change using SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool). Before future evaluation, the SWAT was setup using 3 years (2009~2011) of observed daily streamflow, suspended solid (SS), total nitrogen (T-N), and total phosphorus (T-P) data at three locations of the catchment. The SWAT was calibrated with average 0.74 Nash and Sutcliffe model efficiency for streamflow, and 0.78, 0.63, and 0.79 determination coefficient ($R^2$) for SS, T-N, and T-P respectively. Under the HadGEM-RA RCP (Representative Concentration Pathway) 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios, the future precipitation and maximum temperature showed maximum increases of 8.3 % and $4.2^{\circ}C$ respectively based on the baseline (1981~2005). The future 2040s and 2080s hydrological components of evapotranspiration, soil moisture, and streamflow showed changes of +3.2~+17.2 %, -0.1~-0.7 %, and -9.1~+8.1 % respectively. The future stream water quality of suspended solid (SS), total nitrogen (T-N), and total phosphorus (T-P) showed changes of -5.8~+29.0 %, -4.5~+2.3 %, and +3.7~+17.4 % respectively. The future SS showed wide range according to streamflow from minus to plus range. We can infer that this was from the increase of long-term rainfall variability in 2040s less rainfalls and 2080s much rainfalls. However, the results showed that the T-P was the future target to manage stream water quality even in 2040s period.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.304-310
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• 2007

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of the co-treatment of municipal wastewater with microwave-irradiated excess sludge on the treatment efficiency and excess sludge production of the activated sludge process. When 250 mL of excess sludge with a MLSS concentration of approximately 2,000 mg/L was microwave-irradiated at $20^{\circ}C$ for $40\sim300$ sec by a microwave oven (2,450 MHz, 700 W), the temperature of the sludge increased at a rate of approximately $20^{\circ}C/min$ and the SCOD, TKN and T-P concentrations of the sludge showed the highest increase in the irradiation time of $40\sim130$ sec. And, the oxygen uptake rate measurement of the sludge microorganism suggested most of the microorganisms in the sludge were destroyed at an irradiation time above 130 sec(above $65^{\circ}C$). When the municipal wastewater and microwave-irradiated excess sludge was co-treated by the activated sludge process, almost no effect was observed in the pH and alkalinity of both the influent and effluent, but the influent concentrations of SS, COD, T-N and T-P increased. Even though the effluent SS, BOD and T-P concentrations showed almost no effect, the COD and TKN concentrations increased. The microbial yield coefficient decreased at a rate of 0.91 g SS/g COD removed as the irradiation ratio increased at a rate of 1 g SS/g SS-day.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.92-100
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• 1996

In order to control the water quality in rivers or lakes, it is needed to evaluate accurate amount of pollutant loadings from watersheds. The daily pollutant loadings were simulated using the pollutant loading calculation model which was composed of mathematical equations superimposed on the TANK model. The calibration of runoff and pollutant loading parameters were carried out with observed data, using a trial-and-error method. In addition, the proposed model was applied to evaluate its applicability for the representative watershed, the Bokha river watershed, Icheon city, Korea. The parameters of SS and T-P showed large values in the first tank while T-N showed large in the second tank. As a result of simulating the daily pollutant loadings by the pollutant loading calculation model, all of SS, T-N and T-P loadings were increased or decreased according to the amount of runoff discharge. Especially, it was apparent that SS and T-P loadings were significantly influenced by the runoff variation when it was rain. These results could partly explain that SS and T-P would occur mainly from the surface runoff while T-N would occur from both surface and subsurface flow.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1116-1122
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate the effect of sunflower seeds, either as whole or as oil, on rumen fermentation, milk production, milk composition and fatty acids profile in dairy goats. Fifteen lactating Damascus goats were divided randomly into three groups (n = 5) fed a basal diet of concentrate feed mixture and fresh Trifolium alexandrinum at 50:50 on dry matter basis (Control) in addition to 50 g/head/d sunflower seeds whole (SS) or 20 mL/head/d sunflower seeds oil (SO) in a complete randomized design. Milk was sampled every two weeks during 90 days of experimental period for chemical analysis and rumen was sampled at 30, 60, and 90 days of the experiment for ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids (tVFA), and ammonia-N determination. Addition of SO decreased (p = 0.017) ruminal pH, whereas SO and SS increased tVFA (p<0.001) and acetate (p = 0.034) concentrations. Serum glucose increased (p = 0.013) in SO and SS goats vs Control. The SO and SS treated goats had improved milk yield (p = 0.007) and milk fat content (p = 0.002). Moreover, SO increased milk lactose content (p = 0.048) and feed efficiency (p = 0.046) compared to Control. Both of SS and SO increased (p<0.05) milk unsaturated fatty acids content specially conjugated linolenic acid (CLA) vs Control. Addition of SS and SO increased (p = 0. 021) C18:3N3 fatty acid compared to Control diet. Data suggested that addition of either SS or SO to lactating goats ration had beneficial effects on milk yield and milk composition with enhancing milk content of healthy fatty acids (CLA and omega 3), without detrimental effects on animal performance.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to develop water-purification vegetation mats consisting of the eco-friendly materials and to validate their water purification capabilities with the objective of reducing nonpoint pollution into streams. The developed vegetation mats are made of coconut fiber shell and filling consisted of zeolite, diatomaceous earth or a mixture of calcinated foam media. The bench scale assessment of the water purification capability of the three filling materials showed that the removal efficiencies of suspended solid (SS), total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P) were higher in the foam media than in zeolite or diatomaceous earth. From the results of the field experiment, the removal efficiencies of the vegetation mats filled with the foam media were 60.1% in SS, 32.2% in T-N and 20.2% in T-P. Therefore the vegetation mats filled with the foam media calcinated from zeolite and diatomaceous earth should have higher efficiencies in controlling the nonpoint source pollutions in streams.