• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.56-62
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• 2003

The liver progenitor cells could form a potential target cell population fore both tumor-initiating and -promoting chemicals. Induction of drug-metabolizing and antioxidant enzymes, including AhR-dependent CYP1A1, NQO-1 and AKR1C9, was detected in the rat liver epithelial WB-F344 "stem-like" cells. Additionally, WB-F344 cells express a functional, wild-type form of p53 protein, a biomarker of genotoxic events, and connexin 43, a basic structural unit of gap junctions forming an important type of intercellular communication. In this cellular model, two complementary assays have been established for detection of the modes of action associated with tumor promotion: inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and proliferative activity in confluent cells. We found that the PAHs and PCBs, which are AhR agonists, released WB-F344 cells from contact inhibition, increasing both DNA synthesis and cell numbers. Genotoxic effects of some PAHs that lead to apoptosis and cell cycle delay might interfere with the proliferative activity of PAHs. Contrary to that, the nongenotoxic low-molecular-weight PAHs and non-dioxin-like PCB congeners, abundant in the environment, did not significantly affect cell cycle and cell proliferation; however both groups of compounds inhibited GJIC in WB-F344 cells. The release from contact inhibiton by a mechanism that possibly involves the AhR activation, inhibition of GJIC and genotoxic events induced by environmental contaminants are three important modes of action that could play an important role in carcinogenic effects of toxic compounds. The relative potencies to inhibit GJIC, to induce AhR-mediated activity, and to release cells from contact inhibition were determined for a large series of PAHs and PCBs and their metabolites. In vitro bioassays based on detection of events on cellular level (deregulation of GJIC and/or proliferation) or determination of receptor-mediated activities in both ?$stem-like^{\circ}{\times}$ and hepatocyte-like liver cellular models are valuable tools for detection of modes of action of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. They may serve, together with concentration data, as a first step in their risk assessment.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.13-26
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• 2018

Currently, local regulations, such as KS Code, do not clearly specify how to calculate the range of hazardous area, so the dispersion modeling program should be used to select dispersion. The purpose of this study is to present a methodology of determining the range of hazardous area which is simpler and more reasonable than modelling by using representative materials and process conditions. Based on domestic and overseas regulations that are currently in effect, variables affecting distance to LFL(Lower Flammable Limit) were selected. A total of 16 flammable substances were modelled for substance variables, process conditions variables, and weather conditions variables, and the statistical analysis selected the variables that affect them. Using the selected variables, a three-step classification method was prepared to select the range of locations subject to explosion hazard.

• Carbon letters
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• v.25
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• pp.95-102
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• 2018

We examined the pressure effects on petroleum pitch synthesis by using open and closed reaction systems. The pressure effects that occur during the pitch synthesis were investigated in three pressure systems: a closed system of high pressure and two open systems under either an atmosphere or vacuum. A thermal reaction in the closed system led to the high product yield of a pitch by suppressing the release of light components in pyrolysis fuel oil. Atmospheric treatment mainly enhanced the polymerization degree of the pitch via condensation and a polymerization reaction. Vacuum treatment results in a softening point increase due to the removal of components with low molecular weights. To utilize such characteristic effects of system pressure during pitch preparations, we proposed a method for synthesizing cost-competitive pitch precursors for carbon materials. The first step is to increase product yield by using a closed system; the second step is to increase the degree of polymerization toward the desired molecular distribution, followed by the use of vacuum treatment to adjust softening points. Thus, we obtained an experimental quinoline insolubles-free pitch of product yield over 45% with softening points of approximately $130^{\circ}C$. The proposed method shows the possibility to prepare cost-competitive pitch precursors for carbon materials by enhancing product yield and other properties.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.719-726
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• 2001

Transdermal drug delivery offers various advantages over conventional drug delivery systems, such as avoidance gastrointestinal degradation and hepatic first-pass effect. encourages patient compliance. and possible sustained release of drugs. However, transdermal transport of drugs is low permeability of the stratum corneum, the superficial layer of the skin. Many physicochemical and biological factors influencing transdermal transport is described together with the corresponding experimental and clinical results. Phonophoresis is medical treatment with drugs introduced into the skin by ultrasound energy. Enhanced drug penetration is through to result from the biophysical alterations of skin structure by ultrasound waves. The frequency used for phonophoresis is usually from 20 kHz to 15MHz. Phonophoresis can be categorized in to three ranges: low-frequency range(below 1 MHz). therapeutic frequency range(1 to 3MHz), and high-frequency range(above 3 MHz). The depth of penetration of ultrasound into skin is inversely proportional to the frequency. Cavitation may cause mechanical stress. temperature elevation, or enhanced chemical reactivity causing drug transport. One theory is that ultrasound affects the permeation of the stratum corneum lipid structure as the limiting step in permeating through the skin. The range of indications for phonophoresis is wide. Aspecific classification of the range of indications is obtained by classification of pathological conditions. The continuous research is needed for many interesting issucs of phonophoretic transdermal delivory in new future.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.435-440
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• 2002

A pilot scale SBR (effective volume, $20m^3$) for the treatment of piggery wastewater treatment was performed with three different kinds of wastewater; fermenter effluent, scraper type and slurry type. The react phase in SBR was performed by sub-cycle operation consisting of repeated short cycle of anoxic-aerobic step. The fermenter effluent was characterized by the rapid nitrification and $NO_X-N$ accumulation due to depletion of organic matter in wastewater. The scraper type wastewater showed appropriate nitrogen removal efficiency, however, a poor response capacity for high loading rate often resulted in increased nitrogen concentration in effluent. Moreover, severe P release was the most serious problem in scraper type wastewater. SBR treated slurry type wastewater with high nitrogen removal efficiency to satisfy effluent quality requirement. It was thought that high concentration of organic matter in slurry made it possible to uptake P during SBR operation, where P concentration of 140mgP/l was decreased to 8mgP/l. As results, SBR was suitable to treat slurry type wastewater which has been discharged to the ocean till now.

• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.323-332
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• 1993

An implicit finite difference formulation with three methods of latent heat treatment, such as equivalent specific heat method, temperature recovery method and enthalpy method, was applied to solidification analysis. The Neumann problem was solved to compare the numerical results with the exact solution. The implicit solutions with the equivalent specific heat method and the temperature recovery method were comparatively consistent with the Neumann exact solution for smaller time steps, but its error increased with increasing time step, especially in predicting the solidification beginning time. Although the computing time to solve energy equation using temperature recovery method was shorter than using enthalpy method, the method of releasing latent heat is not realistic and causes error. The implicit formulation of phase change problem requires enthalpy method to treat the release of latent heat reasonably. We have modified the enthalpy formulation in such a way that the enthalpy gradient term is not needed, and as a result of this modification, the computation stability and the computing time were improved.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.75-90
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• 2019

Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are rising rapidly despite efforts to curb release of such gases. One long term potential solution to offset these destructive emissions is the capture and storage of carbon dioxide. Partially depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs are attractive targets for permanent carbon dioxide disposal due to proven storage capacity and seal integrity, existing infrastructure. Optimum well completion design in depleted reservoirs requires understanding of prominent geomechanics issues with regard to rock-fluid interaction effects. Geomechanics plays a crucial role in the selection, design and operation of a storage facility and can improve the engineering performance, maintain safety and minimize environmental impact. In this paper, an integrated geomechanics workflow to evaluate reservoir caprock integrity is presented. This method integrates a reservoir simulation that typically computes variation in the reservoir pressure and temperature with geomechanical simulation which calculates variation in stresses. Coupling between these simulation modules is performed iteratively which in each simulation cycle, time dependent reservoir pressure and temperature obtained from three dimensional compositional reservoir models in ECLIPSE were transferred into finite element reservoir geomechanical models in ABAQUS and new porosity and permeability are obtained using volumetric strains for the next analysis step. Finally, efficiency of this approach is demonstrated through a case study of oil production and subsequent carbon storage in an oil reservoir. The methodology and overall workflow presented in this paper are expected to assist engineers with geomechanical assessments for reservoir optimum production and gas injection design for both natural gas and carbon dioxide storage in depleted reservoirs.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.253-266
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• 2021

The sufficient early strength of primary support is crucial for stabilizing the surroundings, especially for the tunnels constructed in soil. This paper introduces the Steel-Concrete Composite Support System (SCCS), a new support with high bearing capacity and flexible, rapid construction. The bearing characteristics and construction performance of SCCS were systematically studied using a three-dimensional numerical model. A sensitivity analysis was also performed. It was found that the stress of a π-shaped steel arch decreased with an increase in the thickness of the wall, and increased linearly with an increase in the rate of stress release. In the horizontal direction of the arch section, the nodal stresses of the crown and the shoulder gradually increased in longitudinally, and in the vertical direction, the nodal stresses gradually decreased from top to bottom. The stress distribution at the waist, however, was opposite to that at the crown and the shoulder. By analyzing the stress of the arch section under different installation gaps, the sectional stress evolution was found to have a step-growth trend at the crown and shoulder. The stress evolution at the waist is more likely to have a two-stage growth trend: a slow growth stage and a fast growth stage. The maximum tensile and compressive stresses of the secondary lining supported by SCCS were reduced on average by 38.0% and 49.0%, respectively, compared with the traditional support. The findings can provide a reference for the supporting technology in tunnels driven in loess.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.703-712
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• 1995

Background: Peripheral blood monocytes are important immune effector cells that play a fundamental role in cellular immunity. In addition to their antigen-presenting and phagocytic activities, monocytes/macrophage produce a vast array of regulatory and chemotactic cytokines. Interleukin-8(IL-8), a potent neutrophil-activating and chemotactic peptide, is produced in large quantities by mononuclear phagocytes and may be an important mediator of local and systemic inflammation. Overexpression by IL-8 of such inflammation may be an important step of tissue injury frequently seen in inflammatory reaction. So it could be hypothesized that the agents which block the production of IL-8 can decrease the inflammatory reaction and tissue injury. To evaluate this, we described the effect of Dexamethasone, $PGE_2$, Indomethacin and Interferon-$\gamma$(IFN-$\gamma$) on IL-8 mRNA and protein expression from LPS-stimulated human peripheral blood monocytes(PBMC). Method: PBMC was isolated from healthy volunteers. To evaluate the effect of Dexamethasone, $PGE_2$ & Indomethacin, these drug were treated for 1 hour before and after LPS stimulation and IFN-$\gamma$ was only treated I hour before the LPS stimulation. Northern blot analysis for IL-8 mRNA and ELISA for immunoreactive IL-8 protein in culture supernatant were performed. We repeated above experiment three times for Northern blot analysis and two times for ELISA and got the same result. Results: 1) Pre- and post-treatment of Dexamethasone suppressed both the LPS stimulated IL-8 mRNA expression and IL-8 protein release in PBMC. 2) IFN-$\gamma$ pre-treatment suppressed the IL-8 mRNA expression and IL-8 protein release in unstimulated cells. 3) In LPS stimulated cells, IFN-$\gamma$ suppressed the IL-8 mRNA expression but IL-8 protein release suppression was not observed. 4) $PGE_2$ and Indomethacin exert no effect on the LPS-stimulated IL-8 mRNA and protein expression in concentration used in this experiment ($PGE_2;10^{-6}M$, Indomethacin; $10{\mu}M$). Conclusion: One of the mechanism of antiinflammatory action of Dexamethasone can be explained by the suppressing effect of IL-8 production in some extent and by this antiinflammatory effect, dexamethasone can be used to suppress local and systemic inflammation mediated by IL-8.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.99-105
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• 2005

A model for evaluating radioactive contamination in the urban environment, named METRO-K, was developed as a basic step for accident consequence analysis in case of an accidental release. The three kind of radionuclides $(^{137}Cs,\;^{106}Ru,\;^{131}I)$ and the different chemical forms of iodine (particulate, organic and elemental forms) are considered in the model. The radioactive concentrations are evaluated for the five types of surface (roof, paved road, wall, lawn/soil, tree) as a function of time. Using the model, the contaminative impacts of the surfaces were intensively investigated with respect to with and without precipitation during the measurement periods of radionuclides in air. In addition, a practical application study was conducted using $^{137}Cs$ concentration in air and precipitation measured in an European country at the Chernobyl accident. As a result precipitation was an influential factor in surface contamination. The degree of contamination was strongly dependent on the types of radionuclide and surface. Precipitation was more influential in contamination of $^{137}Cs$ than that of $^{131}I$ (elemental form).