Earticle

Although NCX-3 is highly expressed in the brain, the distribution of NCX-3 in the epileptic hippocampus is still controversial. Therefore, to assess the distribution and pattern of NCX-3 expression in epileptic hippocampus, we performed a comparative analysis of NCX-3 immunoreactivities in the hippocampus of seizure-resistant (SR) and seizure-sensitive (SS) gerbils. In SR gerbils, NCX-3 immunoreactivity was higher than pre-seizure SS gerbils, particularly in the pavalbumin (PV)-positive interneurons. Three h post-ictal, NCX-3 immunoreactivity in the SS gerbil hippocampus was markedly elevated to the level of SR gerbils. Six h post-ictal, the expression of NCX-3 was reduced to the level of pre-seizure SS gerbils. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that down-regulation of NCX-3 expression in the SS gerbil hippo-campus may be involved in the hyperexcitability of SS gerbils due to an imbalance of intracellular $Na^+/Ca^{2+}$ homeostasis and $Ca^{2+}$ concentration.

The prototype biofilter was constructed in Suwon campus of Seoul National University and monitored for temperature and treatment efficiencies during a two-year programme. During the winter, daily influent wastewater temperature averages $7.7C^{\circ}$; without heating in 2000 experiment, the treatment efficiencies for BOD and SS droped down to 88.7% and 68.4%, respectively. However, as increased the influent wastewater by installting a heater tank before the biofilter tank in 2001 at the same period ($Feb.\;9{\sim}Mrach\;30$) of 2000 experiment, average daily influent temperature which was $7.2C^{\circ}$ increased to over $18.2C^{\circ}$. As a result, effluent quality remains excellent through the winter and even the post winter with BOD and SS values close to less than 10 mg/L. Nitrification follows temperature patterns. However, there was no improvement of treatment efficiency in total nitrogen (T-N) was observed by increasing temperature.

This study was performed to evaluate the need for heating wastewater to enhance treatment efficiency of organic matter (BOD, SS) during cold winter in newly developed Absorbent Biofilter System (ABS) which was established in the Suwon Campus of the Seoul National University. Treatments consisted of non-heating (2000 year) and heating(2001, 2002 year), and sampled data were analyzed during cold winter period as well as post winter period to investigate the influence of heating after winter season. Even the average air temperature showed only $0.4^{\circ}C$ difference between two experimental years, the difference in the average effluent temperature during cold winter period between heating and non-heating experiment was approximately $11^{\circ}C$. The average effluent concentration of organic matter in non-heating treatment exceeded the Korean standards for water quality of discharged effluent in riparian area (BOD and SS 10 mg/L); however, the standards were met in case of heating treatment during both winter and post winter period. Therefore, the need fur heating wastewater during cold winter season in ABS was justified. On the other hand, there was no improvement of treatment efficiency in T-N and T-p, but we observed the more activated nitrification as increasing the wastewater temperature. Because the average underground temperature was $5^{\circ}C$ higher than the average air temperature during cold winter period, we recommend that the ABS can be established in the underground rather than on-ground for saving the heating cost.

The presence of airborne particles in the earth atmosphere expert important controls on the global climate because of their effects on the radiative balance. However, there are major uncertainties associated with the direct and indirect radiative effects of aerosols. In addition, their physicochemical properties cannot only the decline of air quality but also damage human health. Airborne particles were collected by two different commercial air samples, high volume sampler(for TSP) and low volume sampler(for P $M_{10}$ ) at the campus of Kunsan National University during February to September, 2000. In most cases, TSP and P $M_{10}$ were sampled once a week for the duration of 24 hours from 9:00 a.m. In addition samples were collected more intenisve, when the yellow dust was expected. Each sample was analyzed for pH and major ions concentration (C $l^{[-10]}$ , S $O_4$$^{2-}$, N $O_3$$^{[-10]}$ , N $a^{+}$, N $H_4$$^{+}$, $K^{+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$) by ion chromatography and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Acidity (pH) of TSP and P $M_{10}$ ranged from 5.09 to 8.51 and from 6.22 to 7.54, respectively. The concentrations of airborne particles were found to satisfy both the short and long-term air quality standards during the sampling period. If the ratio of ionic concentrations originating from None sea salt(Nss) to sea salt(ss) in aerosol samples was concerned, it was found that the ionic concentrations from marine environment contributed dominantly in total mass concentration in the airborne particles. When seasonal trends were examined, the TSP concentrations in spring were higher than those of other seasons. It may result form frequent occurrences of yellow dust and during the spring season. The concentration ratio of P $M_{10}$ to TSP ranged from 0.78 to 1 during the sampling period. pH in the airborne particle was highest during spring, but the other seasons maintained almost same level. These results suggest that alkaline species in yellow dust can directly neutralize aerosol acidity. During spring season, yellow dust could be a positive factor that can defer the acidification of surface soil and water by neutralizing acidic aerosols in the atmosphere.osphere.