During and after the construction of LILW disposal facilities, the decrease of groundwater head potential has been monitored. In addition, an increase of the electrical conductivity (EC) has been observed in several monitoring wells installed along the coastal coastline. Monitoring activity for groundwater head potential and hydrogeochemical properties is important to reduce the uncertainty in the evaluation of groundwater flow characteristics. However, the data observed in the monitoring wells are spatial point data, so there is a limit to the dimension. Several researchers evaluated groundwater head potential changes and seawater intrusion (SWI) potential for disposal sites using groundwater flow modeling. In case of groundwater flow modeling results for SWI, there is a spatial limit in directly comparing the EC observed in the monitoring wells with the modeling results. In a recent study, it was confirmed that the response of the long-range ground penetraiing radar (GPR) system was severely attenuated in the presence of saline groundwater. In order to reduce the spatial constraint of the groundwater monitoring wells for SWI, the characteristics of SWI within the disposal facility site by using the the results of a recent study of the long-range GPR system were investigated and evaluated in this study.

This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of black sesame oil on hair growth in a shaving animal model of C57BL/6 mice. Five-week-old male mice were acclimated for one week under 22±1 µl room temperature, 50±5% relative humidity, and 12 hours of a light/dark cycle before beginning the experiment. The animals were divided into three groups, including the normal group (saline, N), positive control group (3% MXD, PC), and experimental group (black sesame oil, E) and received topical application of 100 µl once per day, six days per week, for a period of three weeks. Hair regrowth was evaluated by gross and histological examination. In addition, immunohistochemical observation for SCF, the activities of enzymes, including ALP and γ-GT, and the expression quantity of growth factors, including IGF-1 in the skin of mice was performed or evaluated. Topical treatment with black sesame oil and 3% minoxidil for three weeks to dorsal skin resulted in more rapid acceleration of hair regrowth in the E and PC groups than in the N group. Development and elongation of hair follicles were promoted in the E and PC groups, compared with the N group. Serum ALP activity was significantly higher in the E group, compared with the N group within three weeks (p<0.05). Skin ALP activity was significantly higher in the PC group, compared with the N group within two weeks (p<0.05), and higher in the E and PC groups than in the N group within three weeks with no significant differences. Serum γ-GT activity was significantly higher in the PC group, compared with the N group within two weeks (p<0.01), and significantly higher in the E group, compared with the N group within three weeks (p<0.05). Skin γ-GT activity was significantly higher in the PC group, compared with the N group within two weeks (p<0.05), and significantly higher in the PC (p<0.01) and E (p<0.001) groups, compared with the N group within three weeks. IGF-1 expression in the skin was significantly higher in the PC and E groups, compared with the N group (p<0.01). SCF antigens were heavily stained in bulge, stem cells, and dermal papilla and middle stained in inner root sheath, outer root sheath, and epidermis in the E and PC groups. These results indicate that black sesame oil effectively stimulated hair growth in an animal model via several mechanisms and that it can be used practically for hair growth or prevention of hair loss in human beings.

Biofilters are widely used for treating various types of wastewater and also recently in controlling non-point source (NPS) pollution including piggery stormwater. Gravels are common substrates employed in this type of biofilters. In this study, three parallel woodchip based biofilters with different thickness of woodchip layer were constructed and operated for about 300 days in 2013. Sampling was conducted every 2 days. The water temperature, pH, electric conductivity (EC), turbidity and DO were measured in situ. Other water quality parameters were analyzed in accordance with the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (APHA et al. 1995). On one hand, with less woodchip media packed in the biofilter, better removal of TN, TP, NH4-N, TCOD was achieved. On the other hand, almost all NO3-N were removed regardless of the thickness of woodchip. In addition, with deeper thickness of woodchip media in the biofilter, more increased alkalinity and released organic matters were observed at the effluent. Alkalinity is important in biological nitrogen processes, especially in the reactions of ammonia transformation into nitrate (nitrification). Organic matters released from woodchip served as the carbon source to derive denitrification. It seems that only small amount of the woodchip were sufficient to achieve nice removal of nitrogen and phosphorus. Therefore, the amount of the woodchip could be a key in designing a woodchip biofilter.