• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.343-349
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• 2010

This investigation was conducted to assess the influence of Cirsium japonicum consumption on the plasma glucose and lipid profiles in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 230 g by injection of STZ into the tail vein at 45 mg/kg body weight. The rats were randomly assigned into four groups: a normal and STZ-control fed an AIN-93 diet group, and diabetic groups whose diets were supplemented with 10% Cirsium japonicum powder containing leaf or root for four weeks. To observe the effects of Cirsium japonicum in the animal model, the levels of glucose, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and free fatty acid in the plasma and the levels of glycogen in the tissue were determined after four weeks. Treatment of STZ-induced diabetic rats with leaf consumption significantly lowered the diet intake when compared with STZ-control rats. The relative weights of the liver and kidney differed significantly between the normal and diabetic groups. The weights of the kidneys in the leaf group were significantly lower than those in the STZ-control group. The level of hematocrit was also significantly lower in diabetic rats whose diets were supplemented with leaves when compared to those of STZ-control rats. The plasma glucose level was found to be significantly lower in the leaf group than the STZ-control group. The effect was significant after 2 weeks. The HDL-cholesterol levels increased in all of the diabetic experimental groups when compared to the STZ-control group. These results suggest that supplementation with Circicum japonicum leaves induced considerable hypoglycemic effect in STZ-induced diabetic rats and that these leaves may be useful for the management of diabetes mellitus.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.82-92
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• 2007

In 2003, we evaluated biological water quality at twelve sites of Youngsan River using community analysis, fish compositions, and the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI). Of the twelve, four sites were the controls, which have no point sources in the upstream and the remaining eight sites were the impacted sites, which are influenced by wastewater treatment plant (WTP) and agro-industrial complex. Model values of the IBI, based on 12 sites data, averaged 28 (n=12, range: $18{\sim}44$), indicating fair poor condition according to the criteria of US EP A (1993). In the mean time, mean IBI in the control sites (S3, S5, S6, S11) was 42 (n=4, range: $38{\sim}44$), indicating a good condition, whereas mean IBI in the impacted sites was 21, indicating a poor condition. Mean IBI value in the control, thus, was greater by 2 fold than that in the WTP sites. The spatial pattern of IBI values was similar to the patterns of species diversity index and species richness index, except for Site 11, which was 1st order stream. Similarity analysis indicated that three groups were divided at the similarity level of 80%. One group was the streams influenced by wastewater and the other two groups were the pristine streams as the control, indicating that the stream health conditions are directly influenced by presence or absence of the point sources. Also, Pearson's correlation analysis showed that IBI values had negative correlation (r=0.899, p<0.001) with relative abundance of tolerance species, and had positive relation (r=0.890, p<0.001) with sensitive species. Overall, outcomes suggest that the point sources of the WTP might impact the species composition and ecological health, resulting in degradation of biological water quality.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1750-1757
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• 2010

This study was designed to evaluate the anti-diabetic effects of Buan mulberries by using an insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus animal model. Several studies have shown that mulberries have metabolism-improving, antioxidant, and lipid-lowering properties in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. In this study, Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly assigned to 1 normal control group and 5 STZ-induced diabetes groups: rats that had STZ-induced diabetes and did not receive any agents (diabetic group; negative control), rats that had STZ-induced diabetes and received insulin (insulin group; positive control), rats that had STZ-induced diabetes and received 0.5% mulberry extract (0.5% mulberry group), rats that had STZ-induced diabetes and received 1.0% mulberry extract (1.0% mulberry group), and rats that had STZ-induced diabetes and received 2.0% mulberry extract (2.0% mulberry group). Mulberry extracts were administered to the diabetic animals for 4 weeks. The rats that received mulberry extracts showed lower body weights and insulin levels, as well as higher kidney weights, blood glucose levels, urine quantities, and water intake in comparison with the normal controls. Further, the insulin concentrations in the mulberry-fed animals were higher than those in the diabetic group, and the kidney weights, blood glucose levels, urine quantities, and water intake in the mulberry-fed animals were lower than the corresponding values in the diabetic controls. These results suggest that mulberry may be an effective functional food to prevent diabetes-related complications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.12
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• pp.1761-1768
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• 2010

Hypoglycemic effect through activity inhibition of $\alpha$-glucosidase and $\alpha$-amylase was evaluated using leaves of Eleutherococcus senticosu, Eleutherococcus gracilistylus, Eleutherococcus sieboldianus and Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus which belong to Acanthopanax sessiliflorus genus. As a result of measuring $\alpha$-glucosidase activity inhibition, extract of Eleutherococcus gracilistylus showed around 43.38% of activity inhibition compared with acarbose and extract of Eleutherococcus senticosu showed 41.24% inhibitory effect. As a result of measuring $\alpha$-amylase activity inhibition, acarbose showed 73.25% of activity inhibition in 10 mg/mL concentration, and the extract of Eleutherococcus senticosu leaves showed 91.90% higher activity inhibition compared with acarbose. Also, after subjects in a model were induced diabetes with streptozotocin (STZ) intake plant extract from Acanthopanax sessiliflorus for 2 weeks, effect of improving blood glucose level and fat was examined. In all groups with specimen, Eleutherococcus senticosu (T1), Eleutherococcus gracilistylus (T2), Eleutherococcus sieboldianus (T3) and Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus (T4), blood glucose level was significantly decreased compared with that in control group (C). In an experiment of examining changes in fat concentration in blood, total cholesterol content increased in a control group compared with a normal, while in T1, T3 and T4, it decreased significantly compared with the control group. As for HDL-cholesterol, it significantly increased in all diabetes induced groups compared with the normal group, and in T3, it increased the most significantly by 55.61% compared with the control group. In case of LDL-cholesterol, specific difference between the normal group and the control group was not found; however, significant increase was detected in T2 and T3, whereas in T1 and T4, it decreased significantly compared with the control group. As for triglyceride, its concentration increased in the control group like total cholesterol. It decreased 60.16% in T3, 60.80% in T4 and 50.16% in T1 compared with the control group. As a result of measuring the concentration of triglyceride in extracted liver, the control group showed significant increase compared with the normal group, whereas T1 and T2 showed significant decrease compared with the normal group. The above results show that extracts from Acanthopanax sessiliflorus genus are effective for hypoglycemic and improving fat metabolism due to diabetes.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.87-97
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• 2018

The cesium (Cs) removal from the contaminated water system has been considered to be difficult because the cesium likes to exist as soluble phases such as ion and complexes than the solid in water system. Many researches have focused on developing the breakthrough adsorbent to increase the cesium removal efficiency in water. In this study, the laboratory scale experiments were performed to investigate the feasibility of the adsorption process using the bamboo charcoal for the Cs contaminated water system. The Cs removal efficiency of the bamboo charcoal were measured and the optimal adsorption conditions were determined by the adsorption batch experiments. Total 5 types of commercialized bamboo charcoals in Korea were used to identify their surface properties from SEM-EDS and XRD analyses and 3 types of bamboo charcoals having large specific surface areas were used for the adsorption batch experiment. The batch experiments to calculate the Cs removal efficiency were performed at conditions of various Cs concentration (0.01 - 10 mg/L), pH (3 - 11), temperature ($5-30^{\circ}C$), and adsorption time (10 - 120 min.). Experimental results were fitted to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm curve and their adsorption constants were determined to understand the adsorption properties of bamboo charcoal for Cs contaminated water system. From results of SEM-EDS analyses, the surfaces of bamboo charcoal particles were composed of typical fiber structures having various pores and dense lamella structures in supporting major adsorption spaces for Cs. From results of adsorption batch experiments, the Cs-133 removal efficiency of C type bamboo charcoal was the highest among those of 3 bamboo charcoal types and it was higher than 75 % (maximum of 82 %) even when the initial Cs concentration in water was lower than 1.0 mg/L, suggesting that the adsorption process using the bamboo charcoal has a great potential to remove Cs from the genuine Cs contaminated water, of which Cs concentration is low (< 1.0 mg/L) in general. The high Cs removal efficiency of bamboo charcoal was maintained in a relatively wide range of temperatures and pHs, supporting that the usage of the bamboo charcoal is feasible for various types of water. Experimental results were similar to the Langmuir adsorption model and the maximum amount of Cs adsorption (qm:mg/g) was 63.4 mg/g, which was higher than those of commercialized adsorbents used in previous studies. The surface coverage (${\theta}$) of bamboo charcoal was also maintained in low when the Cs concentration in water was < 1.0 mg/L, investigating that the Cs contaminated water can be remediated up with a small amount of bamboo charcoal.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.319-327
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• 2010

A nuclear plant ESF ACS simulator was designed, built, and verified to perform experiment related to ESF ACS of nuclear power plants. The dimension of 3D CAD model was based on drawings of the main control room(MCR) of Yonggwang units 5 and 6. The CFD analysis was performed based on the measurement of the actual flow rate of ESF ACS. The air flowing in ACS was assumed to have $30^{\circ}C$ and uniform flow. The flow rate across the HEPA filter was estimated to be 1.83 m/s based on the MCR ACS flow rate of 12,986 CFM and HEPA filter area of 9 filters having effective area of $610{\times}610mm^2$ each. When MCR ACS was modeled, air flow blocking filter frames were considered for better simulation of the real ACS. In CFD analysis, the air flow rate in the lower part of the active carbon adsorber was simulated separately at higher than 7 m/s to reflect the measured value of 8 m/s. Through the CFD analyses of the ACSes of fuel building emergency ventilation system, emergency core cooling system equipment room ventilation cleanup system, it was confirmed that all three EFS ACSes can be simulated by controlling the flow rate of the simulator. After the CFD analysis, the simulator was built in nuclear grade and its reliability was verified through air flow distribution tests before it was used in main tests. The verification result showed that distribution of the internal flow was uniform except near the filter frames when medium filter was installed. The simulator was used in the tests to confirm the revised contents in Reg. Guide 1.52 (Rev. 3).

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 2010

U. S. NRC Regulation Guide 1.52 regulating ESF ACS in nuclear power plants has been revised to revision 3. To apply reduction of operability test time, allowance of alternative challenge agents for in-place leak test of HEPA filters, and upgrade of Methyl Iodide penetration acceptance criterion in activated carbon performance test suggested in Reg. Guide 1.52(Rev.3) on Yonggwang units 5 and 6 ESF ACSes, technical feasibility study was carried out with on-site experiments as well as experiments with a lab-scale model. It was confirmed that the moisture in the system returned to the level before the test in 1 or 4 days even though the moisture was removed during the operability test lasting more than 10 hours. Therefore, it is appropriate to perform monthly operability test in 15 minutes just long enough to check the operability of equipment. To change challenge material for in-place HEPA filter leak test, size of aerosol, production rate, and leak detection capability were compared for DOP and PAO. It was concluded that PAO can be substituted for DOP in nuclear power plants. The upgrade of Methyl Iodide penetration acceptance criterion from 0.175 % to 0.5 % in active carbon filter bed deeper than 4 inches was to conform to the change of activated carbon performance test method to ASTM D3803(1989). It was confirmed that Methyl Iodide penetration acceptance criterion of 0.5 % under $30^{\circ}C$, relative humidity 95 % condition was conservatively good enough for testing performance of active carbon insitu. The licence change of Yonggwang units 5 and 6 has been completed based on this study.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.749-759
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• 2012

A field experiment was conducted to selection of ground-based remote sensor and reflectance indices to estimate rice production, estimation of suitable season for ground-based remote sensor and N top dressing fertilizer application rate in 2010. Fertilizer application was determined by "Fertilizer management standard for crops" (National Academy of Agricultural Science, 2006). Four levels of N-fertilizer were applied as 0%, 70%, 100% and 130% by base N-fertilizer application and were fertilized as 70% of basal dressing and 30% as top dressing. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) of Chucheong and Joonam (Korean cultivar) were planted on May 22, 2010 in sandy loam soil and harvested on October 6, 2010. Reflectance indices were measured 7 times from July 5 to August 23 by Crop circle-amber and red version and GreenSeeker-green and red version. Remote sensing angle from the sensor head to the canopy of rice was adjusted to $45^{\circ}$, $70^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ degree because of difference in the density of plant and the sensing angle. The reflectance indices obtained ground-based remote sensor were correlated with the biomass of rice at the early growth stage and at the harvest with $70^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$ degree of sensor angle. The reflectance indices at the 52th Day After Transplanting (DAT) and the 59th DAT, critical season, were positively correlated with dry weight and nitrogen uptake. Specially NDVI at the 59th was significantly correlated with the mentioned parameters. Based on the result of this study, rNDVI by GreenSeeker on $70^{\circ}$ degree of angle at the 59th DAT in Chucheong and rNDVI by Crop Circle on $70^{\circ}$ degree of angle and gNDVI by GreenSeeker on $70^{\circ}$ degree of angle at the 59th DAT in Joonam can be useful for estimation of dry weight and nitrogen uptake. Moreover, sufficiency index estimated by reflectance index at the 59th DAT can be useful for the estimation of N-fertilizer level application and can be used as a model for N-top dressing fertilizer management.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.221-233
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• 2000

Evaluation method of soil fertility by application of geographic information system (GIS) which includes landscape characteristics and soil map data was investigated from productivities of red pepper and tobacco grown on the fields with no fertilization. Total 131 fields experiments, 64 fields of red pepper and 67 fields of tobacco were conducted from 22 and 23 fields for red pepper and tobacco, respectively, located at Cheangweon and Eumseong counties in 1996, from 20 and 25 fields at Boeun and Goesan counties in 1997, and 22 and 19 fields at Jincheon and Chungju counties in 1998. All the experimental sites were selected on the basis of wide range of distribution in landscape and soil attributes. Dry weights and nutrients (N, P and K) uptakes by red pepper plant and tobacco leaves were considered as basic fertility of the soil (BFS). The BFS was estimated by twenty-five independent variables including 13 chemical properties and 12 GIS data. Twenty-five independent variables were classified by two groups, 15 quantitative variables and 10 qualitative variables, and were analyzed by multiple linear regression (MLR) of REG and GLM models of SAS. Dry weight of red pepper (DWRP) and dry weight of tobacco leaves (DWTL) every year showed high variations by five times in difference plots with minimum yield and maximum yield indicating the diverse soil fertility among the experimental fields. Evaluation for the BFS by the MLR including independent variables was better than that by simple regression showing gradual improvement by adding chemical properties, quantitative variables, and qualitative variables of the GIS. However the evaluation for the BFS by the MLR showed the better result for tobacco than red pepper. For example the variability in the DWTL by MLR was explained 34.2% by only chemical properties, 35.0% by adding quantitative variables, and 72.5% by adding both the quantitative and qualitative variables of the GIS compared with 21.7% by simple regression with $NO_3-N$ content in soil. Consequently, it is assumed that this approach by the MLR including both the quantitative and qualitative variables was available as an evaluation model of soil fertility for upland field.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.328-336
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• 1999

A green microalga, Chlorella vulgaris UTX 259, was cultivated in a bench-scale raceway pond. During the culture, 15%(v/v) $CO_2$ was supplied and industrial wastewater discharged from a steel-making plant was used as a culture medium. In a small scale culture bottle, the microalga grew up to 1.8 g $dm^{-3}$ of cell concentration and ammonia was completely removed from the wastewater with an yield coefficient of 25.7 g dry cell weight $g^{-1}\;NH_3-N$. During the bottle-culture, microalga was dominant over heterotrophic microorganisms in the culture medium. Therefore, the amount of carbon dioxide fixation could be estimated from the change of dry cell weight. In a semi-continuous operation of raceway pond with intermittent lighting (12 h light and 12 h dark), increase of dilution rate resulted in increase of the ammonia removal rate as well as the $CO_2$ fixation rate but the ammonia removal efficiency decreased. Ammonia was not completely removed from the medium (wastewater) of raceway pond which was operated in a batch mode under a light intensity up to 20 klux. The incomplete removal of ammonia was believed due to insufficient light supply. A mathematical model, capable of predicting experimental data, was developed in order to simulate the performance of the raceway pond under the light intensity of sun during a bright daytime. Simulation results showed that the rates of $CO_2$ fixation and ammonia removal could be enhanced by increasing light intensity. According to the simulation, 80 mg $dm^{-3}$ of ammonia in the medium could be completely removed if the light intensity was over 60 klux with a continuous lighting. Under the optimal operating condition determined by the simulation, the rates of carbon dioxide fixation and ammonia removal in the outdoor operation of raceway pond were estimated as high as $24.7 g m^{-2} day^{-1}$ and $0.52 g NH_3-N m^{-2} day^{-1}$, respectively.