• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2016

This study investigated the removal of a radioactive cesium ($Cs^+$) in the water at the water treatment processes. Since cesium is mostly present as the $Cs^+$ ion state in water, it is not removed by sand filtration, and coagulation with polyaluminum chloride (PACl), powdered activated carbon (PAC) and mixture of PACl and PAC. However, it is known that the removal rate of cesium increases as the turbidity increases in raw water. As the turbidity was adjusted by 74 NTU and 103 NTU using the surrounding solids near G-water intake and yellow soils, removal rate of cesium was about 56% and 51%, respectively. In case of a GAC filtration with supernatants after jar-mixing/setting was conducted, 80% of cesium is approximately eliminated. The experimental results show that it is efficient to get rid of cesium when the turbidity of the raw water is more than 80 NTU. In case of a GAC filtration, about 60% of cesium is removed and it is considered by the effect of adsorption. Cesium is not eliminated by microfiltration membrane while about 75% of cesium is removed by reverse osmosis.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.218-221
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• 2008

The levels of sulfites in wooden chopsticks were analyzed using two different methods, distillation-alkali titration and ion chromatography. According to the two methods, Sulfur dioxide($SO_2$) was validated by 0.6 and 0.2 ${\mu}ml$ of limit of detection(LOD), 1.8 and 0.5 ${\mu}ml$ of limit of quantification, (LOQ) and a $R^2>0.998$ for linearity, respectively. The recoveries of $SO_2$ from food simulants spiked ar levels of 100 ppm were 70.2-100.2%. 158 samples of wooden chopsticks were monitored the migrated amounts of sulfites. Sulfites were detected in 30 samples in ranged of 0.6 to 15.5 ppm. Maximum migration level, 15.5 ppm of sulfites was considered giving no harmful effect to human since it was reached 5.5% of estimated SML.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.220-225
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• 1998

The spinel structured $LiMn_2O_4$ was prepared from $Li_2CO_3$ and $MnO_2$ by calcination at various temperatures in the range of $750{\sim}900^{\circ}C$. It was found that the most suitable cubic structure of $LiMn_2O_4$ was obtained by heating at $850^{\circ}C$ for 12 hrs. However, in the calcination at $900^{\circ}C$, $Mn^{4+}$ of 0.06M was changed to $Mn^{+3}$ by the oxygen loss, so that it has been shown that the formula has changed to $LiMn_2O_{3.97}$. This phenomena were in agreement with the Jahn-Teller distortion by the increment of $Mn^{+3}$ ion on the octahedral sites of the spinel structured $LiMn_2O_4$. The results showed that after 15 charge/discharge cycles in the voltage range from 3.5V to 4.3V versus Li/$Li^+$ with a current density of $0.25mA/cm^2$, the spinel structured $LiMn_2O_4$ that was prepared at $900^{\circ}C$ showed a lower discharge capacity, 82~50 mAh/g, while the $LiMn_2O_4$, prepared at $850^{\circ}C$, showed the discharge capacity of 102~64 mAh/g.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.239-246
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• 2012

This study was performed to investigate the removal characteristics and mechanism of heavy metals using pellet-type ceramics(ZS ceramics), in which natural zeolite was mixed and calcined with converter slag. The optimal calcination temperature range was measured to be $600{\sim}800^{\circ}C$. The calcination time had little effect on the removal of heavy metal in acid wastewater. The adequate dose of ceramics was shown to be 2~5% for removal of heavy metals in acid wastewater. The maximum removal capacity of ZS ceramics for heavy metals were observed to be Al 84.7 mg/g, Cd 37.3 mg/g, Cr 81.7 mg/g, Cu 55.6 mg/g, Fe 57.2 mg/g, Mn 32.1 mg/g, Ni 38.0 mg/g, Pb 71.6 mg/g, Zn 46.3 mg/g. The pH played a pivotal role in the removal of heavy metals by ZS ceramics. The analysis results of mechanism exhibited that the ZS ceramics could act as a multi-functional ceramics for removal of heavy metals in acid wastewater by adsorption, ion-exchange, or precipitation.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 1998

A carotenoprotein from the muscle of Ascidian (Halocynthia roretzi) was purified by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography, and analyzed molecular weight, stability of pH and heat, effect of denaturing agents, amino acids and fatty acids composition. The purified carotenoprotein had absorption maxima of 463 nm and 439 nm. The carotenoprotein had an approxmimate molecular weight of 64.4 kDa in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The amino acid compositions of carotenoprotein were mainly Gly (15.39%), Asn (11.31%), Gln (10.62%) and Ser (13.35%). The major fatty acids composition of carotenoprotein were $C_{16:1(n-7)}\;(15.4%)$, $C_{22:1(n-9)}\;(14.5%)$ and $C_{20:1(n-11)}\;(11.4%)$. The monounsaturated fatty acids (45.2%) contained abundant content compared to other saturated (38.1%) and polyunsaturated (11.7%) fatty acids.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.119-125
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• 2010

We investigated the effects of a hot-water extract of Artemisia iwayomogi, a plant belonging to family Compositae, on cardiac ventricular delayed rectifier $K^+$ current ($I_K$) using the patch clamp technique. The carbohydrate fraction AIP1 dose-dependently increased the heart rate with an apparent $EC_{50}$ value of $56.1{\pm}5.5\;{\mu}g/ml$. Application of AIP1 reduced the action potential duration (APD) in concentration-dependent fashion by activating $I_K$ without significantly altering the resting membrane potential ($IC_{50}$ value of $APD_{50}$: $54.80{\pm}2.24$, $IC_{50}$ value of $APD_{90}$: $57.45{\pm}3.47\;{\mu}g/ml$). Based on the results, all experiments were performed with $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ of AIP1. Pre-treatment with the rapidly activating delayed rectifier $K^+$ current ($I_{Kr}$) inhibitor, E-4031 prolonged APD. However, additional application of AIP1 did not reduce APD. The inhibition of slowly activating delayed rectifier $K^+$ current ($I_{Ks}$) by chromanol 293B did not change the effect of AIP1. AIP1 did not significantly affect coronary arterial tone or ion channels, even at the highest concentration of AIP1. In summary, AIP1 reduces APD by activating $I_{Kr}$ but not $I_{Ks}$. These results suggest that the natural product AIP1 may provide an adjunctive therapy of long QT syndrome.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: Groundwater is believed to possess many beneficial effects due to its natural source of various minerals. In this study, we examined the effects of natural Jeju groundwater S1 (Samdasoo$^{TM}$), S2 and S3 pumped up from different locations of Jeju Island, Korea, along with local tap water, on body weight gain, serum lipids and lipoproteins, and liver histopathology in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Rats were randomly and equally divided into 6 groups. Different water samples were supplied to the hyperlipidemic rats as their daily drinking water and the widely-used anti-hyperlipidemic drug simvastatin was used as a positive control. Body weight, serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured weekly. Liver weight, liver index and liver histopathology were examined after the execution of the rats. RESULTS: After drinking Jeju groundwaters for two months, S2 but not S3 significantly reduced weight growth and serum triglycerides levels and increased high density lipoprotein-C (HDL-C) without affecting total cholesterol or LDL-C. S1 and particularly S2 significantly reduced the severity of liver hypertrophy and steatosis. All Groundwaters had much higher contents of vanadium (S3>S2>S1>>tap water) whereas S1 and S2 but not S3 markedly blocked autoxidation of ferrous ions. CONCLUSION: Jeju Groundwater S1 and particularly S2 exhibit protective effects against hyperlipidemia and fatty liver and hypothesize that the beneficial effect of Jeju Groundwaters may be contributed from blockade of autoxidation of ferrous ions rather than their high contents of vanadium.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.231-236
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• 2011

The effects of magnesium and calcium ions on phosphorus removal by aluminium coagulation were investigated with various jar tests using settled raw sewage. Maximum TP (total phosphate) removal occurred at pH around 5~6 with aluminium coagulation, and it decreased above pH 6. TP and $H_nPO_4^{n-3}$ removal efficiencies, however, were kept above 95% at pH above 6 by adding the divalent metallic ions like magnesium or calcium ions on aluminium coagulation process. At molar ratio of Al/P ($Al^{3+}/H_nPO_4^{n-3}$) above 3, TP removal efficiency was as high as 80%, and residual TP less than 0.2 mg/L occurred at Al/P ratio above 6. TP removal efficiency was improved by adding magnesium or calcium ions and the optimum $Al^{3+}/Mg^{2+}$ and $Al^{3+}/Ca^{2+}$ ratios were about 2. The required dose of aluminium coagulant was reduced for equivalent amount of TP removal by adding magnesium or calcium ions, as a result sludge generation was also reduced.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2013

Ginsenosides, one of the active ingredients of Panax ginseng, show various pharmacological and physiological effects, and they are converted into compound K (CK) or protopanaxatriol (M4) by intestinal microorganisms. CK is a metabolite derived from protopanaxadiol (PD) ginsenosides, whereas M4 is a metabolite derived from protopanaxatriol (PT) ginsenosides. The ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid $receptor_C$ ($GABA_C$) is primarily expressed in retinal bipolar cells and several regions of the brain. However, little is known of the effects of ginsenoside metabolites on $GABA_C$ receptor channel activity. In the present study, we examined the effects of CK and M4 on the activity of human recombinant $GABA_C$ receptor (${\rho}$ 1) channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes by using a 2-electrode voltage clamp technique. In oocytes expressing $GABA_C$ receptor cRNA, we found that CK or M4 alone had no effect in oocytes. However, co-application of either CK or M4 with GABA inhibited the GABA-induced inward peak current ($I_{GABA}$). Interestingly, pre-application of M4 inhibited $I_{GABA}$ more potently than CK in a dose- dependent and reversible manner. The half-inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) values of CK and M4 were $52.1{\pm}2.3$ and $45.7{\pm}3.9{\mu}M$, respectively. Inhibition of $I_{GABA}$ by CK and M4 was voltage-independent and non-competitive. This study implies that ginsenoside metabolites may regulate $GABA_C$ receptor channel activity in the brain, including in the eyes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.99-109
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to determine whether fimasartan, a newly developed $AT_1$ receptor blocker, can affect the CA release in the isolated perfused model of the adrenal medulla of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Fimasartan (5~50 ${\mu}M$) perfused into an adrenal vein for 90 min produced dose- and time-dependently inhibited the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32 mM), high $K^+$ (56 mM, a direct membrane depolarizer), DMPP (100 ${\mu}M$) and McN-A-343 (100 ${\mu}M$). Fimasartan failed to affect basal CA output. Furthermore, in adrenal glands loaded with fimasartan (15 ${\mu}M$), the CA secretory responses evoked by Bay-K-8644 (10 ${\mu}M$, an activator of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels), cyclopiazonic acid (10 ${\mu}M$, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase), and veratridine (100 ${\mu}M$, an activator of $Na^+$ channels) as well as by angiotensin II (Ang II, 100 nM), were markedly inhibited. In simultaneous presence of fimasartan (15 ${\mu}M$) and L-NAME (30 ${\mu}M$, an inhibitor of NO synthase), the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, Ang II, Bay-K-8644, and veratridine was not affected in comparison of data obtained from treatment with fimasartan (15 ${\mu}M$) alone. Also there was no difference in NO release between before and after treatment with fimasartan (15 ${\mu}M$). Collectively, these experimental results suggest that fimasartan inhibits the CA secretion evoked by Ang II, and cholinergic stimulation (both nicotininc and muscarinic receptors) as well as by membrane depolarization from the rat adrenal medulla. It seems that this inhibitory effect of fimasartan may be mediated by blocking the influx of both $Na^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ through their ion channels into the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells as well as by inhibiting the $Ca^{2+}$ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store, which is relevant to $AT_1$ receptor blockade without NO release.