• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.173-179
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• 2015

We report the facile synthesis of graphene-$CdLa_2S_4$ composite through a facile solvothermal method at low temperature. The as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and BET analysis, revealing the uniform covering of the graphene nanosheet with $CdLa_2S_4$ nanocrystals. The as-prepared samples show a higher efficiency for the photocatalytic degradation of typical MB dye compared with P25 and $CdLa_2S_4$ bulk nanoparticles. The enhancement of visible-light-responsive photocatalytic properties by decolorization of Rh.B dye may be attributed to the following causes. Firstly, graphene nanosheet is capable of accepting, transporting and storing electrons, and thus retarding or hindering the recombination of the electrons with the holes remaining on the excited $CdLa_2S_4$ nanoparticles. Secondly, graphene nanosheet can increase the adsorption of pollutants. The final cause is that their extended light absorption range. This work not only offers a simple way to synthesize graphene-based composites via a one-step process at low temperature but also a path to obtain efficient functional materials for environmental purification and other applications.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2022

Sparassis crispa is an edible mushroom that has been widely utilized in Japan and Korea. It has various biological activities, such as anti-hypertensive, anti-allergic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and anti-cancer effects. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity and underlying molecular mechanism of chloroform fraction of methanol extract of S. crispa (CESP) against cervical cancer stem cells (CSCs), which contribute to tumor initiation, recurrence, and resistance to therapy of human cervical cancer. CESP effectively inhibited the proliferation, tumorsphere formation, and migration of HeLa-derived cervical CSCs by promoting apoptosis. In addition, CESP significantly downregulated the expression of key cancer stemness markers, including integrin α6, CD133, CD44, ALDH1A1, Nanog, Oct-4, and Sox-2, in HeLa-derived cervical CSCs. Furthermore, CESP remarkably suppressed in vivo tumor growth of HeLa-derived cervical CSCs in a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. Therefore, our findings suggest that CESP has potential as a natural medicine for the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer by targeting CSCs.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2016

Background: It is not clear whether ginseng affects cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced desirable immunosuppressive action. In this study, we evaluated the immunological influence of combined treatment of ginseng with CsA. Methods: Using CD4+ T cells from mouse spleens stimulated with the T cell receptor (TCR) or allogeneic antigen-presenting cells (APCs), we examined the differentiation of naïve T cells into T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cells (Tregs), and their cytokine production during treatment by Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRGE) and/or CsA. The influence of KRGE on the allogeneic T cell response was evaluated by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). We also evaluated whether signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and STAT5 are implicated in this regulation. Results: Under TCR stimulation, KRGE treatment did not affect the population of CD4+interferon gamma ($IFN{\gamma}$)+ and CD4+interleukin (IL)-4+ cells and their cytokine production compared with CsA alone. Under the Th17-polarizing condition, KRGE significantly reduced the number of CD4+IL-17+ cells and CD4+/phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3)+ cells, but increased the number of CD4+CD25+forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)+ cells and CD4+/p-STAT5+ cells compared with CsA alone. In allogeneic APCs-stimulated CD4+ T cells, KRGE significantly decreased total allogeneic T cell proliferation. Consistent with the effects of TCR stimulation, KRGE reduced the number of CD4+IL-17+ cells and increased the number of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells under the Th17-polarizing condition. Conclusion: KRGE has immunological benefits through the reciprocal regulation of Th17 and Treg cells during CsA-induced immunosuppression.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.390-395
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• 2004

In order to characterize ion channels present in tomato roots, microsomes were incorporated into an artificial lipid bilayer arranged for electrophysiological analysis. Of the five different ion channels that could be found, a channel of 450 pS conductance was found most frequently. This channel displayed subconductance states of 450, 257 and 105 pS. All subconductance states showed linear current-voltage relationships. At positive holding potentials, high frequency of transient channel openings was observed; however, at negative potentials, the open times were long and open probability high. Po was 0.83 at -40 mV. When an additional 50 mM $K^+\;or\;Na^+$ was added to the cis side of bilayer, the reversal potentials shifted in the negative direction to near -10 mV. Thus, the 450 pS cation channel selects poorly between $K^+\;and\;Na^+$. In the presence of $100\;{\mu}M$ metal ions, the channel activity was severely inhibited by $La^{3+},\;Ba^{2+},\;and\;Zn^{2+}$, and Po was decreased to 0.2 or even less. However, $Al^{3+}\;and\;Cd^{2+}$ decreased the activity by only 20%. Interestingly, each metal ion showed different kinetics of channel inhibition. While $500\;{\mu}M\;La^{3+}$ inhibited the activities of all subconductance state, 1 mM $Zn^{2+}$ inhibited all except the 105 pS state. $Cd^{2+}$ changed the gating of the channel from a long-opening state to brief transient openings even at negative holding potentials. These data represent that the metal ions may have different binding sites on the channel protein and could be useful modulators and probes to investigate structural characteristics as well as the functional roles of the 450 pS channel on the root physiology.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.229-244
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• 1991

A bioassay technique and organ bath study were performed to analyze the effects of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ and $Ca^{2+}$-antagonists on endothelium-derived relaxing factor[s][EDRF] released from the endothelial cells of rabbit aorta. Transverse strips with intact endothelium or damaged endothelium were used for the mechanical contraction experiment using organ bath. Long segment including thoracic and abdominal aorta with endothelium [EDRF donor aorta] was perfused with Tyrode solution which was aerated with 95% $O_2-5%$ $CO_2$ mixed gas and kept at 35oC. The perfusate was bioassayed with a transverse strip of thoracic aorta with damaged endothelium. The test strip was contracted with nor-epinephrine and acetylcholine was used to stimulate the release of EDRF from endothelial cells. The results obtained were as follows; 1] The endothelium-dependent relaxation[EDR] induced by acetylcholine was biphasic; an initial rapid relaxation followed by a slow relaxation. 2] EDR induced by acetylcholine was reduced gradually with the decrease in the concentration of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$. The effect of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ on EDR was more prominent in the late slow relaxation phase. 3] EDR to acetylcholine was not altered by acute exposure to organic $Ca^{2+}$-antagonists. Pretreatment with verapamil to the EDRF donor aortic segment did not alter the magnitude of EDR. 4] Among the inorganic $Ca^{2+}$-antagonists $Mn^{2+}$ and $Cd^{2+}$ did not inhibit EDR, whereas $Co^{2+}$ and $La^{3+}$ inhibited EDR. 5] The inhibitory response of $Co^{2+}$ to EDR developed when infused directly on the test strip. That of $La^{3+}$, however, was evoked when added to solution perfusing the donor aortic segment. The above results suggest that $Ca^{2+}$-antagonists do not affect EDR and the inhibitory effect of $Ca^{2+}$ results from influencing the action of EDRF on vascular smooth muscle, whereas that of $La^{3+}$ results from its action on the release of EDRF from endothelial cells.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.611-631
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• 1999

Enviromental geochemisty and heary metal contamination at the Kongjueil mine creek were underaken on the basis of physicohemical properties and mineralogy for various kinds of water (surface, mine and ground water),soil, precipitate and sediment collected of April and December in 1998. Hydrgeochemical composition of the water samples are characterized by relatively significant enricant of Ca+Na, alkiali ions $NO_3$ and Cl inground and surfore water, wheras the mine waters are relatively eneripheral water of the mining creek have the characteristics of the (Ca+Mg)-$(HCO_3+SO_4)$type. The pH of the mine water is high acidity (3.24)and high EC (613$\mu$S/cm)compared with those of surface and ground water. The range of $\delta$D and $\delta^{18}O$ values (relative to SMOW) in the waters are shpwn in -50.2 to -61.6% and -7.0 to -8.6$\textperthousand$(d value=5.8 to 8.7). Using computer program, saturation index of albite, calcite, dolomite in mine water are nearly saturated. The gibbiste, kaolinite and smectite are superaturated in the surface and ground water, respectively. Calculated water-mineral reaction and stabilities suggest that weathing of silicate minerals may be stable kaolinite owing to the continuous water-rock reaction. Geochemical modeling showed that mostly toxic heavy metals may exist larfely in the from of metal-sulfate $(MSO_4\;^2)$and free metal $(M^{2+})$ in nmine water. These metals in the ground and surface water could be formed of $CO_3$ and OH complex ions. The average enrichment indices of water samples are 2.72 of the groundwater, 2.26 of the surface water and 14.15 of the acid mine water, normalizing by surface water composition at the non-mining creek, repectively. Characteristics of some major, minor and rate earth elements (Al/Na, K/Na, V/Ni, Cr/V, Ni/Co, La/Ce, Th/Yb, $La_N/Yb_N$, Co/Th, La/Sc and Sc/Th) in soil and sediment are revealed a narrow range and homogeneous compositions may be explained by acidic to intermediate igneous rocks. And these suggested that sediment source of host granitic gneiss colud be due to rocks of high grade metamorphism originated by sedimentary rocks. Maximum concentrations of environmentally toxic elements in sediment and soil are Fe=53.80 wt.% As=660, Cd=4, Cr=175, Cu=158, Mn=1010, Pb=2933, Sb=4 and Zn=3740 ppm, and extremely high concentrations are found are found in the subsurface soil near the ore dump and precipitates. Normalizing by composition of host granitic gneiss, the average enerichment indices are 3.72 of the sediments, 3.48 of the soils, 10.40 of the precipitates of acid mine drainage and 6.25 of the soils near the main adit. The level of enerichment was very severe in mining drainage sediments, while it was not so great in the soils. mineral composition of soil and sediment near the mining area were partly variable being composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, chlorite, vermiculite, bethierin and clay minerals. reddish variable being composed of quartz, mica, feldspar, chlorite, vermiculite, bethierin and clay minerals. Reddish brown precipitation mineral in the acid mine drainage identifies by schwertmanite. From the separated mineralgy, soil and sediment are composed of some pyrite, arsenopyite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena, malachite, goethite and various kinds of hydroxied minerals.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.765-770
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• 2005

In this study, we investigated antimicrobial and cytotoxicity effects of Undaria pinnatifida Sporophyll, which using methanol, dichloromethane and ethanol were extracted and fractionated into four different types: methanol (UPMM), hexane (UPMH), butanol (UPMB) and aqueous (UPMA). The antimicrobial activity was increased in proportion to its concentration by the paper disc method. Among the solvent fractions, UPMM and UPMB showed relatively strong antimicrobial activities in the order. Among various partition layers, the methanol partition layer (UPMM) was showed the strongest cytotoxic effects on all cancer cell lines. We also observed quinone reductase (QR) induced effects in all fraction layers of UP on HepG2 cells. The QR induced effects of UPMH on HepG2 cells at $320\mu g/mL$ concentration indicated 2.36 with a control value of 1.0.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2023

Vertebral left atrial size (VLAS) is an important indicator to predict myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD) in dogs. When the caudal margin of cardiac silhouette and the dorsal margin of caudal vena cava (CdVC) could not be seen exactly, another way to evaluate VLAS is needed. The objective of this study was to assess whether a new modified VLAS (m-VLAS) could be used as an indicator to predict MMVD in 57 small breed dogs with MMVD. The m-VLAS was also used to classify American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine staging groups and left heart enlargement confirmed with echocardiograph (EchoLHE) groups. The m-VLAS was measured as the distance from the ventral aspect of the carina to the dorsal aspect of the intersection of the cardiac silhouette and the farthest LA caudal margin, not the CdVC, followed by drawing the same line beginning at the cranial edge of T4. Based on VLAS values and m-VLAS values measured for dogs with MMVD, correlations between these values and left heart enlargement groups were then evaluated. There were significant differences in both the VLAS and the m-VLAS between EchoLHE groups. The AUC of the ROC curve of the m-VLAS to detect EchoLHE was higher than that of the VLAS. The optimal cutoff value for the m-VLAS was >2.7, which had a higher specificity (86.84%) than the VLAS specificity (71.05%). This study reveals that a new m-VLAS is a more specific indicator than the VLAS for predicting left side heart enlargement in small breed dogs. Therefore, the m-VLAS can be used as a clinically useful radiographic measurement alternative to or better than the VLAS.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.21-43
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• 2000

Not only the infomatmn seeking bellavmr or acadenuc sources by social scientists was analyzed bnt its eiieclive usmg method was also presented in this paper. For thc purpose, the questionnaires were prepared md admmislered lo social sacnilsin who are the profcsso~s oi a large unlverslty m Taegu, Korea. and the survey for tiler academic environment and its sateiaclion, characterislics, inforn~ahon seeking behavior of academic sources, etc. was conducted. Also, iheir research mlercsts and period, informauon s e e h g behav~or and its dfficulties, reineval melhods, and uslng rrequcncies of current issues elc. were analyzed in lliis paper. The major hdings ol the quanm.live pa on the development 01 academic sources for soaal sciencc study and t11e11 uses for education md study m !hi7 study are: (1) Socid sclenhsts preferred acquiring matenal ihrougli internet. CD-ROM, and PC, etc, lo the traditional methods; (2) They spend approxinmtciy 41 days for collecihg matend they wanl. and each of them has petty various period la collect n~atenal and acquiring methods. (standard deviation : about 35 days); (3) The cilalion kequencies of fore~gu material was hi&r than domeslic one; (4) They, social sc~entists, have a pretty hard time to access and use the theses, journal, magazinc. mmol~ches and m s r o f i , CD-ROM malerid etc. technicdly; (5) The group that has morc sat~sIaclion to thesa aud more fiequenl participant ol seminar seek [or more recen issues of a journal lhrough ihc research modcl of melag. (6) The group thal has higher positioned and 1on.a tenure o: office can access lo shorter time at period lhau the one that bas lhe lowcr and the shortcr group. Also, tutule research topic and recommcndations [or a ~ocial saentlst are proposed and suggested when using a social science material

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 1990

The water environmental characters of the Nakdong River, Geumho River and Sin Stream, both before-flood (Aug. 24) and after-flood (Sept. 8), have been compared, and their effects on the growth of Spirodela polyrhiza Shleiden have been examined. Before the flood, the concentrations of most of the chemical components of the Geumho River were similar to those of the Sin Stream; (COD, 19.6~21.4; alkalinity, 177~183; $NH_4\;^+$, 20.7~24.4; $NO_3\;^-$, 3.9~4.3; $PO_\;4^{3-}$, 3.4~3.7; $Mg^{2+}$, 42; $Ca^{2+}$, 68.5~69.7; $Cl^-$, 90~92; $SiO_2$, 10.4~11.2; , 11~32; LAS, 3.0~3.8; , 0.007~0.010ppm) but much higher than those of the Nakdong River (30~40 fold for $NH_4\;^+$, , $PO_\;4^{3-}$ and LAS, and 2~5 fold for COD, alkalinity, $NO_3\;^-$, $Mg^{2+}$, Cl- and ). Especially in the Geumho River, Secchi disk transparency was very low (17cm) and DO was not detected. The flood caused significant increases in some chemical components: $NH_4\;^+$, 1.0;$NO_3\;^-$, 9.6; , 12.8 and , 5.4 ppm in the Nakdong River; DO, 1.0; $NO_2\;^-$, 0.92; $NO_3\;^-$, 22.2 and $SiO_2$, 17.6ppm in the Geumho River; DO, 3.0; $NO_2\;^-$, 1.4; $NO_3\;^-$, 22.2; SiO2$SiO_2$, 19.2 and , 25.0ppm in the Sin Stream. General species diversity index (H) of phytoplankton community in the Nakdong River, Geumho River and Sin Stream before flood was 3.1, 2.7 and 1.6, respectively. After the flood, the phytoplankton growth was highly sparse in each river water, hence indices have no significance. The growth of S. polyrhiza was enhanced in Geumho River water (max. RGR=26%/day), while it ceased within 7days in Nakdong River water.