• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.355-367
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• 2016

Soil salinization refers to the buildup of salts in soil to a level toxic to plants. The major factors that contribute to soil salinity are the quality, the amount and the type of irrigation water used. The presented review discusses the different sources and causes of soil salinity. The effect of soil salinity on biological processes of plants is also discussed in detail. This is followed by a debate on the influence of salt on the nutrient uptake and growth of plants. Salinity decreases the soil osmotic potential and hinders water uptake by the plants. Soil salinity affects the plants K uptake, which plays a critical role in plant metabolism due to the high concentration of soluble sodium ($Na^+$) ions. Visual symptoms that appear in the plants as a result of salinity include stunted plant growth, marginal leaf necrosis and fruit distortions. Different strategies to ameliorate salt stress globally include breeding of salt tolerant cultivars, irrigation to leach excessive salt to improve soil physical and chemical properties. As part of an ecofriendly means to alleviate salt stress and an increasing considerable attention on this area, the review then focuses on the different plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) mediated mechanisms with a special emphasis on ACC deaminase producing bacteria. The various strategies adopted by PGPB to alleviate various stresses in plants include the production of different osmolytes, stress related phytohormones and production of molecules related to stress signaling such as bacterial 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) derivatives. The use of PGPB with ACC deaminase producing trait could be effective in promoting plant growth in agricultural areas affected by different stresses including salt stress. Finally, the review ends with a discussion on the various PGPB activities and the potentiality of facultative halophilic/halotolerant PGPB in alleviating salt stress.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.175-195
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• 2005

Objective: This experimental study was performed to examine the in vitro and in viva anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of Mori Cortex. Methods: Water extract of Mori Cortex was studied to its ability to stimulate or inhibit macrophage 264.7 cells to produce inflammatory and allergic mediators. Cytokines such as $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-10 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were measured by immunochemical assay. In vitro, the macrophages 264.7 were classified into four groups. One group was a normal group. The other group was a (-) control group stimulated with LPS. And the third group was a (+) control group pretreated for 1 hour with hydrocortisone. And the fourth group was a sample group pretreated for 1 hour with Mori Cortex. After pretreatment, macrophage were incubated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) $100\;ng/m{\ell}$ for 12 hour and media collected and $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-10 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ concentrations in supernatants were measured each by Enzyme linked immuno-soubent assay. Mori Cortex were used $50\;{\mu}g/m{\ell},\;100\;{\mu}g/m{\ell},\;250\;{\mu}g/m{\ell},\;500\;{\mu}g/m{\ell},\;and\;1,000\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Hydrocortisones were used $10^{-8}M,\;10^{-7}M,\;10^{-6}M,\;10^{-5}M\;and\;10^{-4}M$. In vivo, the SD rats were classified into three groups. One group was a normal group injected with normal saline into the abdominal cavity. The other was a control group prescribed to compound 48/80 after normal saline injection. And the third was a sample group prescribed to compound 40/80 after Mori Cortex injection. Then, the release of histamine, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were measured. Results : In vitro, Man Cortex significantly increased the release of $IL-1{\beta}\;and\;TNF-{\alpha}$ by LPS-stimulated macrophage 264.7 cells. And it significantly decreased the release of IL-10. In IL-6, Mori Cortex of low concentration significantly decreased the release of IL-6, but that of high concentration acted in reverse. In vivo, Man Cortex didn't show significant inhibitory effects on the release of histamine and IL-6 in comparison with that of the control group. But it significantly increased the release of $TNF-{\alpha}$ in comparison with that of the control group.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.356-362
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• 2010

When pine (Pinus densiflora) needles were fractionated into cold water (PD-CW), hot water (PD-HW) and methanol extract (PD-M), PD-M showed potent simulating activity (1.19-fold of the saline control) for proliferation of bone marrow cells mediated by Peyer's patch cells in vitro. MeOH extracts were prepared by homogenization, stirring or reflux to identify the method of methanol extraction, and MeOH extract by reflux method showed significantly highest intestinal immune system modulating activity (1.30-fold) in vitro. The intestinal immune system modulating effect of orally administered PD-M fractionated from pine needles also were studied in mice. Analyzing intestinal immune system modulating activity mediated Peyer's patch cells from C3H/He mice which had been fed with PD-M at different doses for 7 days, 1.0 g/kg of BW/day indicated that the bone marrow cells had proliferated (3.65-fold of 3% EtOH administered group). In addition, the amounts of IL-6 in the culture supernatant of Peyer's patch cells at 1.0 g/kg of BW/day were increased (1.13-fold) whereas the production of GM-CSF was not dose dependent. These results indicate that oral administration of PD-M enhances the secretion of hematopoietic growth factors such as GM-CSF and IL-6 from Peyer's patch cells, and these cytokines also act on modulator of bone marrow cell proliferation.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.243-251
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• 1997

In this paper, we have reported two interesting flow effects arising in the TRFGE sequence using water flow phantom. First, we have shown that the TRFGE sequence is indeed not affected by "in-flow" effect from the unsaturated spins flowing into the imaging slice. Second, the enhancement of "in-plane flow" signal in the readout gradient direction was observed when the TRFGE sequence was used without flow compensation. These two results have many interesting applications in MR imaging other than fMRI. Results obtained were also compared with the results obtained by the conventional gradient echo(CGE) imaging. Experiments were performed at 4.7T MRI/S animal system (Biospec, BRUKER, Switzerland). A cylindrical phantom was made using acryl and a vinyl tube was inserted at the center(Fig. 1). The whole cylinder was filled with water doped with $MnCl_2$ and the center tube was filled with saline which flows in parallel to the main magnetic field along the tube. Tailored RF pulse was designed to have quadratic ($z^2$) phase distribution in slice direction(z). Imaging parameters were TR/TE = 55~85/10msec, flip angle = $30^{\circ}$, slice thickness = 2mm, matrix size = 256${\times}$256, and FOV= 10cm. In-flow effect : Axial images were obtained with and without flow using the CGE and TRFGE sequences, respectively. The flow direction was perpendicular to the image slice. In-plane flow : Sagittal images were obtained with and without flow using the TRGE sequence. The readout gradient was applied in parallel to the flow direction. We have observed that the "in-flow" effect did not affect the TRFGE image, while "in-plane flow" running along the readout gradient direction enhanced the signal in the TRFGE sequence when flow compensation gradient scheme was not used.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.63-70
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• 2018

Objective : Previous studies showed that water extract of Plantago asiatica (Plantaginis asiaticae Folium, PAF) significantly controlled in body weights, adipose tissue weights and blood lipid profiles in obese C57BL/6 mice. To investigate the mechanism of anti-obesity action of PAF, expressions of obesity-related proteins were identified such as p-AMPK and p-ACC in hypothalamus, UCP-1 in brown adipose tissue, p-AMPK, p-ACC, SREBP-1c, $PPAR{\gamma}$, HMGCR and CPT-1 in liver. Method : Five-weeks old male C57BL/6 mice were divided into 5 groups; ND (normal diet + 0.9% saline), HFD (high-fat diet + 0.9% saline), PC (high-fat diet+Garcinia cambogia 500 mg/kg), PAF 100 and 300 (high-fat diet + PAF 100 or 300 mg/kg). PAF was treated orally for 6 weeks. The protein expression of AMPK, p-AMPK, ACC, p-ACC, $PPAR{\gamma}$, SREBP-1c, HMGCR, CPT-1 and UCP-1 were identified by expression levels of proteins through western blot analysis. Result : The results showed that protein expressions on hypothalamic p-AMPK and p-ACC did not differ between the HFD and PAF groups. In addition, PAF did not affect the increase of UCP-1 in brown adipose tissue. The protein expression levels of hepatic p-AMPK, p-ACC and CPT-1 increased in PAF groups compared to HFD group. And those of $PPAR{\gamma}$, SREBP-1c and HMG-CoA decreased in PAF groups compared to HFD group. Conclusion : These results suggest that the PAF administration induce weight loss via inhibition of lipid metabolism-related protein expressions in hepatic tissues. Therefore, PAF could be used as a potent material of anti-obesity products for prevention and treatment of obesity.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.59-67
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• 2018

Objective : Plantago asiatica L. has been used for many years in Korea, China, and Japan for the treatment of many diseases such as anti-inflammatory, anti-asthma and diuretic. But the anti-obesity effect of Plantaginis asiaticae Folium has not been studied yet. Thus, this study aimed to demonstrate the anti-obesity efficacy of Plantaginis asiaticae Folium water extract (PAF) in high fat diet-induced obesity animal model. Method : Male, five-weeks old C57BL/6 mice were divided into 5 groups; ND (normal diet + 0.9% saline), HFD (high-fat diet + 0.9% saline), PC (high-fat diet + Garcinia cambogia 500 mg/kg), PAF 100, 300 (high-fat diet + PAF 100, 300 mg/kg. Treatments were performed daily for 6 weeks per os. We evaluated the changes of body weight, white adipose tissues weight, hepatic and fecal lipids level, pancreatic lipase activity and lipid profiles in plasma. Result : Body weights, adipose tissue weights and FER were significantly lower in mice fed the high-fat diet with PAF treatment than in mice fed the high-fat diet alone. In plasma, TG, TC, LDL-C, ATS and ALT levels significantly decreased in PAF groups compared with HFD group. Also, hepatic triglyceride (TG) levels decreased and fecal TG increased in PAF groups compared to HFD group. In addition, the activity of pancreatic lipase was decreased in the PAF groups compared to that of HFD group. Conclusion: These results suggest PAF extract is effective in preventing and improvement obesity, so it might be a potential and safe material for anti-obesity agent of weight control or functional supplements.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.371-379
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• 2010

Fresh water injection test in a fractured bedrock aquifer was applied as an efficient approach to lower saline concentrations in the saltwater-freshwater transition zone formed by seawater intrusion in a coastal area. The methodology and effectiveness of fresh water injection for hydraulically controlling seawater intrusion is overwhelmingly site dependent, and there is an urgent need to characterize the permeable fractures or unconsolidated porous formations which can allow for seawater flow and transport. Considering aquifer characteristics, injection and monitoring boreholes were optimally designed and completed to inject fresh water through sand layer and fractured bedrock, respectively. We devised and used the injection system using double packer for easy field operation and maintenance. Overall fracture distribution was systematically identified from borehole image logs, and the section of fresh water injection was decided from injection test and monitoring. With fresh water injection, the fluid electrical conductivity of the monitoring well started to be lowered by the inflow of fresh water at the specific depth. And this inflow leaded to the replacement of the fluid in the upper parts of the borehole with fresh water. Furthermore, the injection effect lasted more than several months, which means that fresh water injection may contribute to the mitigation of seawater intrusion in a coastal area.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.283-299
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• 2017

The leakage of tunnel causes the long-term durability of the structures such as concrete lining to deteriorate. The cause of durability degradation can be various substances contained in groundwater such as chloride, sulphate, water, and gas. In this study, a series of test were carried out to determine the watertightness performance and the resistance to salt water of the spray-applied membrane used as non-structural rock support or as a waterproof material for tunnels. As a result, it was found that the penetration of water could occur in a specimen, and the reason was that the internal pores generated by the mixing of the liquid polymer and the powder material and the internal pores were connected by the water pressure. The tensile strength of the test specimens immersed in distilled water and saline water was found to be reduced to less than half of the tensile strength in normal condition. In addition, The elongation was measured to be higher in distilled water than in salt water. However, this result will require further investigation.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.161-171
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• 2009

The present study was performed to describe the influence of water temperature and salinity on filtration rates of the venus clam, Gomphina veneriformis, a suspension-feeding (filter-feeding) bivalve species. The calmswere collected from the eastern coastal area of Sokcho, Gangneung and Jumunjin at Kangwon-do, Korea, during December 2006 and May 2007. Isochrysis galbana (KMCC H-002) cells as food organisms were indoor-cultured by f/2 medium, and were used to measure the filtration rate of clam. Filtration rates of clam were measured by indirect method. Cell concentration of food organisms were determined by direct counting cells used the hemacytometer under the light microscope. The filtration rates of clams by water temperature sharply increased with temperatures up to $15^{\circ}C$ as optimum temperature and above this temperature, the filtration rates decreased exponentially. Venus clams showed very low filtration rates at low salinity (10-15 psu) and maximum values at high salinity (30-35 psu). Regardless of water temperature and salt change, 2-year class clams showed high filtration rates, but low in 4-year-class. Polynomial regression curves with water temperature were shifted to the left in low temperature region. Thermal coefficient $Q_{10}$ values showed much higher values at low temperature range than at high temperature range, too. These results indicate that the venus clam is more sensitive in cold water. Polynomial regression curves with salinity were shifted to the right in high saline region. According to this study, the venus clam Gomphina veneriformis, subtidal filter-feeding bivalve, was the stenothermal organism, inhabited mainly in low temperature and the stenohaline, in high saline waters.

• Proceedings of the Membrane Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.07a
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• pp.1-12
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• 2002

Desalination by reverse osmosis (RO), which first entered commercial use in the 1970s, was initially mainly used for treating brackish water. Technological progress led to the development of an RO membrane enabling single-pass seawater desalination. Toyobo succeeded in developing a single-pass seawater desalination RO module composed of hollow fiber type membranes made of cellulose triacetate in 1978, and then in 1979 began production of the first commercially available double-element module. This double-element module has many advantages suitable for seawater desalination. It has high chlorine tolerance and high salt rejection, derived from the properties of the membrane material, and it is highly resistant to fouling and scaling matters due to the unique flow pattern and fiber bundle configuration. These advantages help to explain why the Toyobo double-element module has been used so successfully at the many seawater desalination plants around the world. Since the 1980s, large plants capable of desalinating several tens of thousands of cubic meters a day have sprung up around the Mediterranean and In the Middle East. The Jeddah RO Phase I Plant, which has a capacity of 56, 800m$^3$/day, went into operation in 1989. In 1994, the same sized Phase II Plant came on stream, giving the plant a huge total capacity of 113, 600m$^3$/day. The plant constructor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), and the RO membrane manufacturer Toyobo Co., Ltd. In 1998, the world's largest RO seawater desalination plant in operation, which has a capacity of 128, 000m$^3$/day and is run by Saudi Arabia's Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), went into operation at Yanbu. RO seawater desalination technology has thus already reached the stage of full-scale commercial use. In order to encourage its wider use, however, RO desalination needs to be made more economical by lowering construction and water treatment costs. Toyobo has therefore developed a new economical RO desalination system by a recovery ratio of 60% using a high-pressure module with a high product flow rate. In 2000, Toyobo high recovery membrane module was selected for the largest seawater desalination plant in Japan, which has a capacity of 50, 000m$^3$/day.