• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.299-307
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• 2007

Background: High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a novel, late mediator of inflammation. This study compared the pro-inflammatory effects of LPS and HMGB1. The transcriptional factors that play an important role in mediating the HMGB1-induced stimulation of IL-8 were also evaluated. Methods: RAW264.7 cells were stimulated with either LPS (100 ng/ml) or HMGB1 (500 ng/ml). The $TNF-{\alpha}$, MIP-2 and $IL-1{\beta}$ levels in the supernatant were evaluated by ELISA at 0, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24h after stimulation. An acute lung injury was induced by an injection of LPS (5 mg/kg) or HMGB1 (2.5 mg/kg) into the peritoneum of the Balb/c mice. The lung cytokines and MPO activity were measured at 4h (for LPS) or 24h (for HMGB1) after the injection. The transcriptional factor binding sites for NF-IL6, $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AP-1 in the IL-8 promoter region were artificially mutated. Each mutant was ligated with pIL-6luc and transfected into the RAW264.7 cells. One hour after stimulation with HMGB1 (500 ng/ml), the cell lysate was analyzed for the luciferase activity. Results: The expression of MIP-2, which peaked at 8h with LPS stimulation, increased sequentially until 24h after HMGB1 stimulation. An intraperitoneal injection of HMGB1, which induced a minimal increased in $IL-1{\beta}$ expression, provoked the accumulation of neutrophils the lung. A mutation of AP-1 as well as $NF-{\kappa}B$ in the IL-8 promoter region resulted in a lower luciferase activity after HMGB1 stimulation. Conclusion: The proinflammatory effects of HMGB1, particularly on IL-8, are mediated by both $NF-{\kappa}B$ and AP-1.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1218-1225
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• 2009

Difractose anhydrides (DFAs) is studied as a sweetener for diabetics because of its structural property. DFAs have four types: DFA I, III, IV (degradation of levan) and V (degradation of inulin). Especially, DFA IV has been shown to enhance the absorption of calcium in experiments using rats. Levan fructotransferase is an enzyme for producing di-d-fructose-2,6':6,2-dianhydride (DFA IV). To identify structural characterization, we purified wild-type and mutants (D63A, D195N and N85S) of levan fructotransferase (LFTase) from Microbacterium sp. AL-210. These proteins were purified to apparent homogeneity by Ni-NTA affinity column, Q-sepharose ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography and detected by SDS-PAGE. They were also analyzed by circular dichroism (CD) measurements, JNET secondary structure prediction, activity measurements at various temperatures, and pH analysis. The optimum pH for the enzyme-catalyzed reaction was pH 7.5 and optimum temperature was observed at $55^{\circ}C$. Along with wild-type LFTase, mutants were analyzed by CD measurement, fluorescence analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). N85S showed less $\alpha$-helix and more $\beta$ strand than others. Also, N85S showed almost the same curve as wild-type in their steady-state fluorescence spectra, whereas mutant D63A and D195N showed higher intensity than wild-type. The amino acid sequence of wild-type LFTase was compared to the sequences of exo-inulinase from Aspergillus awamori, a plant fructan 1-exohydrolase from Cichorium intybus, and Thermotogo maritime (Tm) invertase and showed a high identity with Exo-inulinase from Aspergillus awamori.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.101-105
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• 2010

This study was aimed to understand conidial disperse of the pepper anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum acutatum, elapse time for the disease development, and inoculum potentials on infected fruits. Most (99.2%) conidia of the fungus disseminated from inoculum source on the rainy day, while only 0.8% conidia dispersed on the sunny day. Among the conidia 93.3% were caught under 60 cm height at 30 cm distance; however, conidia were detected at 120 cm height at the distance. Relatively susceptible pepper fruits to anthracnose showed first visible symptoms at 4 days after infection under a mimic field condition. However, it seemed that over 10 days are required for the disease to develop on moderately resistant pepper fruits under unfavorable conditions. The number of conidia formed on a lesion was positively correlated with the lesion size ($R^{2}=0.88$). Over 10 millions of conidia were formed at a normal lesion size 1.5 cm in length. In some large coalesced lesions ca. 4cm in length produced over 100 millions of the fungal conidia. Results further confirmed that the rainfall is the key factor for the inoculum disperse of the pepper anthracnose pathogen, Colletotrichum acutatum, and a long distance dissemination is plausible according to rain and wind intensity. Consequently, rain-proof structures are ideal to avoid the disease, and removal of infected fruits and timely chemical spray are indispensible to reduce the inoculum potential in the field.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

As part of a research dedicated to the field evaluation of the durability of concrete subjected to freezing-thawing, this study analyzes the relationship between the surface roughness and the relative dynamic elastic modulus through image analysis. Four mix compositions with water-to-binder ratios (W/B) of 40%, 50%, 60% and 70% and without AE agent were considered to provoke early freezing. The basic physical properties of the mixes including the relative dynamic elastic modulus and the compressive strength were first evaluated experimentally according to W/B. Then, tests were performed to measure the surface roughness followed by photographs and SEM image analysis. The measured surface roughness tended to increase with larger number of freezing-thawing cycles regardless of W/B. The relative dynamic elastic modulus appeared to increase gradually with the number of cycles for the relatively denser mixes with W/B of 40% and 50%. Besides, the surface roughness increased only at rupture for the mixes with W/B of 60% and 70%. Moreover, the analysis of the photographs of the surface of the mixes with W/B of 40% and 50% revealed that the degradation progressed gradually from the surface with the freezing-thawing cycles. However, for the mixes with W/B of 60% and 70%, apparent change of the surface remained very insignificant until rupture at which damage like cracking could be observed. Consequently, the analysis of surface photograph or the measurement of the surface roughness presented some limitation in assessing the degree of freezing-thawing-induced degradation in case of relatively porous specimens. On the other hand, the photograph and surface roughness appeared to be sufficient for assessing such degradation for the mixes with W/B of 40% and 50%. Accordingly, the image of the surface and the surface roughness are potentially applicable on site for the assessment of freezing-thawing damages in relatively dense mixes.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.122-130
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• 2009

Anti-angiogenic mechanism was examined for anti-obesity agents with the extract of P.radix, P.semen, S.hebra and C.furctus through anti-cell adhesion effect and western blot. Cell adhesion molecules, VCAM-1 was supressed with the order of P.radix (0.2 ppm, 125%) > P.semen (0.5 ppm, 100%) > S.hebra (5.0 ppm, 114%) > C. furctus (5.0 ppm, 111.8%), ICAM-1 was inhibited by P.radix (0.25 ppm, 130%) > P.semen (0.5 ppm, 100%) > S.hebra (5.0 ppm, 138%) > C. furctus (5.0 ppm, 66.7%), E-Selectin was also supressed P.radix (0.25 ppm, 100%) > P.semen (1.0 ppm, 128%) > S.hebra (5.0 ppm, 120%) > C. furctus (5.0 ppm, 100.7%). And signal molecules, VE-cadherin was supressed by P.radix and S.hebra, ${\beta}$-catenin was inhibited by P.radix, and Akt was supressed all these 4 kinds of natural products. These P.radix, P.semen, S.hebra and C.furctus were showed the possibility of anti-obesity agents based on anti-angiogenesis.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.105-115
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• 2012

The detailed proximate, fatty/amino acid, mineral composition, texture, color, chemical and taste compounds of six oysters (four kinds of cultured oysters and two kinds of wild oysters) in Korea were investigated. Length and weight of the shell removed cultured and wild oysters were 4.7~5.1 and 3.0~4.2 cm, and 5.9~9.1 and 2.6~5.5 g, respectively. The proximate compositions were not significantly different between cultured and wild oysters. Amino nitrogen and volatile basic nitrogen content of these ones were 232.8~258.2 and 160.5~213.9 mg/100 g, 9.5~12.0 and 7.8~9.5 mg/100 g, respectively. As a texture characteristic of muscle, shearing force were 95~114 and 105~132 g. Amounts of total amino acids of cultured and wild oysters were 9,004~10,198 and 8,165~8,942 mg/100 g, respectively. Major amino acids and inorganic ions were aspartic acid, glutamic acid, proline, alanine, leucine, phenylalanine, lysine, arginine and K, Na, Ca, Fe, S, P, Zn. Major fatty acids of these ones were 16:0, 18:0, 16:1n-9, 18:1n-9, 22:1n-9, 16:4n-3, 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, and there was little difference between the two groups. Amounts of free amino acids of cultured and wild oysters extracts were 1,444~1,620 and 1,017~1,277 mg/100 g, respectively, and major ones were taurine, glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, tryptophan, ornithine and lysine. There is a little difference in glycine, tryptophan, ornithine and arginine contents, but TMAO and TMA contents were low in amount, and were not significantly different between the two groups.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.872-879
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• 2010

Layered copper hydroxides [LCHs, $Cu_2(OH)_3{\cdot}NO_3$] has the agricultural potentials as a fungicide because of its high crystallinity, excellent anion exchange capacity, and its regular layered particle size. The study, for the first time, has synthesized LCHs in highly concentrated solution and evaluated its physicochemical properties including the crystallinity and suspension stability. Optimal synthetic condition of LCHs was determined by crystallinity and stability of suspension as follow; 1) concentrations of $Cu(NO_3)_2$ and NaOH solutions were 3.0 M respectively, 2) reaction temperature and solution pH were $25^{\circ}C$ and 6.0, respectively, and 3) aging time after reaction was 2hr. Crystallinity of LCHs enhanced with increase in pH up to 9.0. Whereas, stability of suspension was decrease by increase in crystal size. Especially, increase in reaction temperature decreased stability of suspension. XRD patterns and SEM images exhibited that LCHs had regular layered particle size with 0.2~0.8 ${\mu}m$ and high crystallinity in optimal synthetic condition. The particle size was increased with increase in reaction temperature and pH. These results showed that LCHs synthesized in highly concentrated solution exhibited high stability of suspension as well as high crystallinity suitable to their potential as a fungicide.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.126-133
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• 2019

In recent years, the deterioration of fruit quality caused by poor coloration and sunburn disorder has become serious problems in apple market, which is a result of the increase of surface temperature due to the abnormal temperature increase during summer season. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of wind net shading and fine water spray using sprinkler on fruit coloration, sunburn damage and overall fruit quality of 'Fuji' and 'Hongro' apples. Fifteen sprinklers (7L/hr) were installed at the orchard of the Chungcheongnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, located in Sinam-myeon Chungcheongnam-do Korea, at a height of 3m above the apple tree of $1.5m{\times}3.5m$ north-south direction. Fine water spraying treatment was divided into day time spray (10:00 am to 6:00 pm) and all day spray (10:00 am to 10:00 pm) from early July to 10 days before harvest in 2017 and 2018 season, respectively. Temperature of the surface of apple fruit, characteristic of fruit, and degree of sunburn damage were investigated. In 'Fuji', the fruit surface temperature checked at 2 pm on August 10 was decreased considerably in the day time spray ($35.6^{\circ}C$) and wind net ($39.0^{\circ}C$) when compared with the untreated control ($44.4^{\circ}C$). Similarly, the fruit surface temperature also decreased considerably in the all day spray ($35.1^{\circ}C$) and wind net ($36.9^{\circ}C$) treatments when compared with the untreated control ($46.5^{\circ}C$) in 'Hongro' apples. The incidence of sunburn disorder was significantly decreased with day time spray (5.0%), all day spray (5.8%) and wind net (7.0%) when compared with untreated control (23.4%) in 'Fuji' apples. As a results, the treatment of fine water spray and wind net consequently showed 26% and 34% increase of redness ($a^*$) value in the skin color difference, respectively, in 'Fuji' apples.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.22-44
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• 2023

The subsistence economics of the early Bronze Age has focused on explaining the intensity of agricultural practices without sufficiently taking into account the diversity of production methods that may arise from cultural types or environmental factors. The problem appears to stem from paying insufficient attention to the question whether we should understand the transition from the Neolithic Age to the Bronze Age as continuous or discrete. This has hitherto blocked an avenue to investigate the gradual changes in subsistence resource production methods. Taking as its premise that changes in the production methods of subsistence resources in the Bronze Age have been continuous and gradual, this paper seeks to restore the production patterns of subsistence resources according to the variety of factors that may have influenced the early Bronze Age production method. With diverse cultural patterns and ecological spaces of the early Bronze Age being confirmed, the work of restoring the production methods of subsistence resources in a specific period is difficult to achieve with one or two stand-alone analyses. A more appropriate method would involve separating a number of different aspects related to the production of subsistence resources, analyzing and interpreting each, and in the final stage, synthesizing the analyses. The specific research method employed in this paper checked for compositional differences in stone production tools, functionally categorized according to a variety of factors that have a close relationship with the production of subsistence resources: cultural-environmental factors and cultural patterns, geographical and topographical factors, soil productivity, and size of settlement. The results of the analysis are as follows: for the early Bronze Age production pattern of subsistence resources in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions, while no substantive differences were observed with respect to cultural type, geographical and topographical location, the results show statistically significant differences in the composition of production tools according to settlement size and soil productivity. Also, with an increasing ratio of settlement size and total production soil, increases in hunting and armoring tools, woodworking tools, and harvesting tools were observed; on the other hand, when it came to the ratio of fishing tools, the opposite relationship was observed. While a correlation between settlement size or crop cultivation productivity and dependence on hunting or farming was expected, the results of the regression analysis show that settlement size and soil productivity ratios do not have mutually significant relationships. The results thus illustrate that patterns of production differ according to a variety of factors, and no single factor is decisive in the adoption of subsistence resource production methods by a specific settlement. Therefore, the paper emphasizes the need to investigate the production patterns of subsistence resources according to the variety of cultural and environmental factors that make up settlements in early Bronze Age society.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.83-95
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• 2024

This study aimed to assess the performance of laying hens across twelve crossbreed strains (i.e., CFCK, CFYC, CFYD, CKCF, CKYC, CKYD, YCYD, YCCF, YCCK, YDCF, YDCK, and YDYC) of Korean native chicken (KNC) and compare them with Hy-Line Brown layers. A total of 287 18-week-old laying hens were placed in battery cages by strains (2-5 birds per pen). Results indicated that the YCYD and YDYC strains exhibited numerically heavier body weights than Hy-Line Brown at week 18-64. CKYC and YDYC strains demonstrated more than 94% viability by week 64. The CFYC strain had an age of first egg laying of 127 days, and the YDCF strain reached an age of 50% egg production at 140 days, both earlier than their parent stock. The YDCF strain showed over 70% egg production for up to 60 weeks. Regarding egg quality, the CKCF and YCCF strains had numerically higher egg weights among the KNC groups at week 24-64, with the YDYC strain showing a darker (P<0.05) eggshell color compared to CKCF at week 40. Moreover, KNC crossbreeds showed a higher (P<0.05) egg yolk ratio than Hy-Line Brown. In conclusion, the YDCF and YCCF crossbreeds exhibited the most desirable new synthetic Korean native commercial layer based on egg production and quality parameters. Therefore, these strains could be a viable substitute for Hy-Line Brown layers.