• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.79-92
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• 2006

Environmental capacity assessment of Busan city was conducted to provide basis for planning on sustainable development and growth of the city. Using Onish model, assessment was carried out on amenities and service facilities for the citizens of Busan city. Ecological Footprint model was used to judge if the city exceeds the its environmental capacity and to estimate the extent of the excess if it exists. The analysis using Onish model revealed that the citizens of Busan city are generally well supported by the infrastructure and service facilities of the city. Water treatment and supply facilities have enough capabilities to support the city, whereas the relatively low rate of sanitary sewer supply (78%) suggests the need for further improvement in the wastewater area. The capacities of sanitary landfills are found sufficient enough to support the city for the next 10 years. The high value for the line length served per capita in the subway sector hints on certain inconvenience of commuters. All the air quality indicators meet the Korean and WHO standards except for $NO_2$. The ecological footprint model analysis produced EF indicators for Busan city of 3.04 ha/person and 2.54 ha/person for the years of 1993 and 2003, respectively. The decrease of the indicator from 1993 to 2003 is mainly due to the incorporation of Gijang area by Busan city in 1995, suggesting the importance of the ecologically productive area in the evaluation using this model. The analysis on the ecological deficit that is based on ecologically productive land shows that the consumption by Busan city exceeds its ecologically available production by 19,600% as of 2003. The area needed to support the consumption of Busan city in 2003 is 123 times as large as the present area of Busan city, which is substantially lower than the multiplier (742) obtained for Seoul city in 1997 but is higher than those observed for Chongju city (71 in 1999) and Ulsan city (39 in 2001).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.966-973
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• 2013

Using a newly constructed de novo assembly pipeline, finished genome level assembly had been conducted for the probiotic candidate strain E. faecalis KACC 91532 isolated from a stool samples of Korean neonates. Our gene prediction identified 3,061 genes in the assembled genome of the strain. Among these, nine genes were specific only for the E. faecalis KACC 91532, compared with all of the four known reference genomes (EF62, D32, V583, OG1RF). We identified genes related to phenotypic characters and detected E. faecalis KACC 91532-specific evolutionarily accelerated genes using dN/dS analysis. From these results, we found the potential risk of KACC 91532 as a useful probiotic strain and identified some candidate genetic variations that could affect the function of enzymes.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.787-799
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the accumulation of metallic elements and the control effect of marine pollution caused by ocean dumping in the sediments at a waste disposal area in the Yellow Sea. In July 2009, concentrations of organic matter and metallic elements (Al, Fe, As, Cd, Cr, Co, Hg, Ni, Mn, Pb, and Zn) were measured in surface sediments at the site. The ignition loss (IL) in the surface sediments showed a mean value of 15.4%, about 1.5 times higher than the mean value of the sediments in the coastal areas of Korea. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) at some disposal sites exceeded 20 mg $O_2/g{\cdot}dry$, which signifies the initial concentration of marine sediment pollutants in Japan. The disposal sites contain higher concentrations of Cr, Cu and Zn than the sediments of bays and estuaries that might be contaminated. The magnitude of both metal enrichment factors (EF) and adverse biological effects suggest that pollution with Cr and Ni occurred due to the dumping of waste in the study area. In addition, the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) showed that the surface sediments were moderately contaminated. By the mid-2000s, when the amount of waste dumped at this site was the highest, the concentration of metallic elements was higher than ever recorded. On the other hand, in 2008-09, the need for environmental management was relatively low compare with the peak. As a result, the quality of marine sediment has been enhanced, considering the effect of waste reduction and natural dilution in the disposal area.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.165-173
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• 2005

Field observations have been conducted to investigate the physical environment around oyster farms in Gamak Bay. Tidal waves near the two channels at the northeast and south of the bay had almost the same amplitudes and phases. Water temperature responded sensibly to the tides, rising at high water and falling at low water, except for the northwest region. The currents more regularly varied in accordance with a tidal period as long as they are at the faster-flowing region. A considerable flow has been found near the seabed of the northwest of the bay, normally known to be a stagnant area, and also the flow was opposite to the surface flow. Average moving speeds and directions of the flow at each station coincided well with patterns of the residual currents computed by Lee ef al. [2004], except for the northwest region. The discrepancy for the northwest region is not clear but it may have resulted from the facts that the computed flow pattern represents only the case of spring tide and in addition, a northwesterly wind prevailed all the observation time.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.423-428
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• 2009

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) constitute the first line of cellular defense against oxidative stress in plants. SODs generally occur in three different forms with Cu/Zn, Fe, or Mn as prosthetic metals. We cloned the full-length cDNA of the Thellungiella halophila Cu/Zn-SOD gene ThCSD using degenerate RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Sequence analysis indicated that the ThCSD gene (GenBank accession number EF405867) had an open reading frame of 456 bp. The deduced 152-amino acid polypeptide had a predicted molecular weight of 15.1 kDa, an estimated pI of 5.4, and a putative Cu/Zn-binding site. Recombinant ThCSD protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and assayed for SOD enzymatic activity in a native polyacrylamide gel. The SOD activity of ThCSD was inactivated by potassium cyanide and hydrogen peroxide but not by sodium azide, confirming that ThCSD is a Cu/Zn-SOD. Northern blotting demonstrated that ThCSD is expressed in roots, stems, and leaves. ThCSD mRNA levels increased by about 30-fold when plants were treated with sodium chloride (NaCl), abscisic acid (ABA), and indole-acetic acid (IAA) and by about 50-fold when treated with UVB light. These results indicate that ThCSD is involved in physiological pathways activated by a variety of environmental conditions.

• Journal of Environmental Analysis, Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.292-303
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• 2018

The particle sizes and heavy metal concentrations (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, Ni, Li, Al) of surface sediments of the Yeongsan River were analyzed to assess the distribution and pollution level of heavy metals. The distribution of particle sizes was dominated by sand in the upstream sites (MS1-MS7) and by silt loam in the downstream sites (MS8-ML3), but MS3 and MS6, located slightly upstream of the two weirs, were found to be loamy sand and silt loam, respectively. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd and Hg were higher at the upstream sites, while As, Cr, Ni and Li were higher at the downstream sites. The heavy metals of crustal origin (As, Cr, Ni and Li) were strongly correlated with particle size, while the other heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd and Hg) were weakly correlated with particle size. Considering their concentrations, most of heavy metals were evaluated as having almost no toxic effects on benthic organisms, at all sites. In addition, anthropogenic contamination by the $I_{geo}$, EF and CF were found to have no impact at most sites, with only low levels of pollution at the others. Using the PLI method, the MS2 and MS3 sites, located upstream, were assessed to be affected by anthropogenic contamination. Most importantly, Zn, Cu and Hg were found to be the elements responsible for most pollution, and they were highest at the upstream sites, implying pollution by domestic sewage and urban discharge.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2022

Since the pandemic of COVID-19, active investigation to develop immunity to infectious disease by delivering nucleic acids has been proceeded. Particularly, many studies have been conducted on non-viral vector as several vital side-effects which were found on nucleic acid delivery system using viral vectors. In this study, we have developed plasmid DNA (pDNA) loaded-hyaluronic acid derivative (HA) coated-polyethyleneimine (PEI) based polyplex for enhanced nucleic acid delivery efficiency. We have optimized the ratio of pDNA : PEI : HA by measuring size and protein transcription efficiency. The final product, polyplex-HA, was characterized through measuring size, zeta-potential and TEM image. Intracellular uptake and protein transcription efficiency were compared to commercially available transfection reagent, lipofectamine, through fluorescence image and flow cytometry. In conclusion, polyplex-HA presents a novel gene delivery system for efficient and stable protein transcription since it is available for delivering various genetic materials and has less immunoreactivity.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.207-215
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• 2003

Purpose: Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), which is part of the mitogen-activated protin kinase cascade, opposes initiation of the apoptotic cell death which is programmed by diverse cytotoxic stimuli. In this regard, the inhibition of ERK may be useful in improving the therapeutic efficacy of established anticancer agents. Materials and Methods: Murine hepatocarcinoma, HCa-I is known to be highly radioresistant with a TCD50 (radiation dose yield in $50\%$ cure) of more than 80 Gy. Various anticancer drugs have been found to enhance the radioresponse of this particular tumor but none were successful. The objective of this study was to explore whether the selective inhibition of MEK could potentiate the antitumor efficacy of radiation in vivo, particularly in the case on radioresistant tumor. C3H/HeJ mice hearing $7.5\~8\;mm$ HCa-I, were treated with PD98059(intratumoral injection of $0.16\;\mug/50\;\mul$). Results: Downregulation on ERK by PD98059 was most prominent 1h after the treatment. In the tumor growth delay assay, the drug was found to Increase the effect of the tumor radioresponse with an enhancement factor (EF) of 1.6 and 1.87. Combined treatment of 25 Gy radiation with PD98059 significantly increased radiation induced apoptosis. The peak apoptotic index (number on apoptotic nuclei in 1000 nuclei X100) was $1.2\%$ in the case of radiation treatment alone, $0.9\%$ in the case of drug treatment alone and $4.9\%,\;5.3\%$ in the combination treatment group. An analysis of apoptosis regulating molecules with Western blotting showed upregulation of p53, p$p21^{WAF1/CIP1}\;and\;Bcl-X_s$ in the combination treatment group as compared to their levels in either the radiation alone or drug alone treatment groups. The level of other molecules such as $Bcl-X_L4, Bax and Bcl-2 were changed to a lesser extent. Conclusion: The selective inhibition of MEK in combination with radiation therapy may have potential benefit in cancer treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.383-389
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• 1997

From March, 1992 to March, 1996, a total of 279 patients underwent coronary bypass surgery at the Sejong General Hospital, Puchon. We selected 22 patients with severe left ventricular(LV) dysfunction from them. The criteria were the presence of global or segmental abnormalities of left ventricular contraction and LV ejection fraction(EF) less than 35% based on biplane LV angiography by planimetry method. The mean age of 17 male and 5 female patients was 60$\pm$5.6years(range:47~73 years). All had the anginas, which were Canadian class II in 6, class 111 in 12 and class IV in 4. All patients except one had the history of previous myocardial infarction more than once. Seven of them had the symptoms and signs of congestive heart failure, such as dyspnea on excertion and increased pulmonary vascular markings. Their mean LVEF was 29.4$\pm$4 5%(range : 18~35%) and mean LV end-diastolic pressure was 18.7 $\pm$8. 2mmHg(range:10~42mmHg). 21 patients had 3 vessel-disease and 1 had 2 vessel-disease. Complete revascularization was tried with the use of 16 internal mammary arteries and 60 sapheuous veins and 3 radial arteries grafts. The mean number of distal anastomosis was 3.5$\pm$ 1.1. Concomitantly, one mitral valvuloplasty and annuloplasty was performed in the patient with moderate mitral regurtigation. The hospital mortality was 4.5%. During the follow-up, there were 3 late deaths. Of 18 survivors, 2 patients were lost in follow-up 24 and 27 month respectively after operation and the remaining 16 patients have bcen followed up with an average of 30.4 $\pm$ 13.4 months.15 patients had improvement with respect to angina but 8 patients still have the continuing or progressing heart failure. The 1-year, 2-year and 3-year actuarial survival rate was 85.2, 69.1, 46.1%, respectively. This study indicates that coronary artery bypass sur ery can be performed in the patients with severe LV dysfunction at acceptable risk but does not greatly contribute to the improvement of congestive heart failure.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.12
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• pp.89-97
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• 1969

These studies were made on coating of fresh fruits and vegetables with PVC under view on preservation of fresh fruits and vegetables due to restrain water evaporation of them and control gas metabolisms. The results obtained, as selection of PVC materials availble for preservation of them, procedure of the coating, useful organic solvents, concentration of PVC solution and the time of dipping, and effects of the preservation of them, were summarized as follows: 1) PVC powder 222 and PVC powder 443 were surveyed as suitable materials for coating apple, and later was excellent in lustrous aspect. 2) The coating procedure which dipt into PVC solution was suitable to treat much within a short space of time, and using of ventillator accelerate rather evaporation of the organic solvent. 3) Aceton and methyethylketon as solvent of the PVC were, in purpose of storage only, avaible, while aceton was, in view ef taste, better. 4) 10% of the PVC solutions were better to preserve the freshness of apple and 5, 4, 1 and 0.5% of them in order were gradually decreased in preservability, and 15% of them as high concentration were looked like fermentation in one week after the coating. 5) The dipping time was also better n minute than 10 seconds in a preservation but 1-2 minutes could be applied owing to be not affected of the taste due to coating. 6) The freshness of treatment groups were extend about 48 days after coating in room temperature but control lost market value with 12 days. 7) Weight of control was decreased to 10-13% but treatment which was dipped into 10% of coating solution for one minute was decreased to 3.5-4.6% and treatment for four minutes was did to 2.9-3.0%. 8) Change in respiration was less is treatment groups than control in exhaustion of $CO_2$, and water soluble sugar, reduced sugar and pH were not changed almost due to coating. 9) Pannel discussion of the taste was indicated that control was better than treatments soon after coating, but treatments were rather than control last period of storage and treatment with aceton solvent specially was better than others.