• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.491-501
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• 2022

Bentonite has been proposed as a buffer and backfill material for high-level radioactive waste repository. Under such repository environment conditions, bentonite is subjected to combined thermal, hydrological, mechanical, and chemical processes. This study evaluates the feasibility of applying X-ray CT technology on the characterization of bentonite under hydration conditions using a newly developed testing cell. The cylindrical cell is made of platic material, with a removable cap to place the sample, enabling to apply vertical pressure on the sample and to measure swelling pressure. The hydration test was carried out with a sample made of Gyeonju bentonite, with a dry density of 1.4 g/cm³, and a water content of 20%. The sample had a diameter of 27.5 mm and a height of 34 mm. During the test, water was injected at a constant pressure of 0.207 MPa, and lasted for 7 days. After one day of hydration, bentonite swelled and filled out the space inside the cell. Moreover, CT histograms showed how the hydration process induced an initial increase and later progressive decrease on the density of the sample. Detailed profiles of the mean CT value, CT standard deviation, and CT gradient provided more details on the hydration process of the sample and showed how the bottom and top regions exhibited a decrease on density while the middle region showed an increase, especially during the first two days of hydration. Later, the differences in CT values with respect to the initial state decreased, and were small at the end of testing. The formation and later reduction of cracks was also characterized through CT scanning.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.190-200
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• 2019

It is reported that the absence of lipoxygenase-3 (LOX-3) may contribute to a reduction in stale flavor after the storage of rice. To improve the quality of stored rice of the Korean japonica rice cultivar, we conducted a breeding program to develop near-isogenic rice without LOX-3 in the genetic background of Saenuri, a mega variety of Korea. In the first step of the breeding program, we used a donor parent of LOX-3 null, Daw Dam, and a recurrent japonica parent, Sindongjin, to develop HR27873-AC12 by backcross (BC₁), color test for introgression of lox-3, and anther culture for rapid fixation. In the second step, we used the donor parent, HR27873-AC12, and the recurrent parent, Saenuri, to develop HR28896-31-3-1-1 by backcross (BC₁), marker-assisted selection (MAS) for lox-3, and phenotypic selection (PS) for agronomic traits. Finally, in the third step, we developed HR30960-186-2-1-2-1 (Jeonju624), derived from a cross between Saenuri and HR28896-31-3-1-1, by MAS for lox-3 and PS with high selection pressure for agronomic characteristics. Jeonju624 was confirmed with the introgression of lox-3 by molecular marker. Jeonju624 was a mid-late maturing rice with similar agronomic characteristics to Saenuri, lodging tolerance with short culm, erect plant architecture, and resistance to bacterial blight and rice stripe virus. The yield components of Jeonju624 were mostly similar to Saenuri, except for the 1,000-grain weight of brown rice. The appearance of the grain of Jeonju624 was better than that of Saenuri, and the characteristics of cooked rice were similar to those of Saenuri. In the genetic background analysis using 406 KASP (Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR) markers, Jeonju624 was confirmed to be the near-isogenic line (NIL) of Saenuri with a 95.8% recovery rate. Jeonju624 is the NIL of Saenuri without LOX-3, and overcomes the linkage drag of Daw Dam with similar agronomic characteristics and genetic background to Saenuri. Jeonju624 can be utilized as a practical cultivar to improve the quality of stored rice, breeding material for the introgression of lox-3, and genetic material to elucidate the effect of introgressed genes.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.68 no.3
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• pp.134-146
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• 2023

Phytophthora root rot (PRR) is a major soybean disease caused by an oomycete, Phytophthora sojae. PRR can be severe in poorly drained fields or wet soils. The disease management primarily relies on resistance genes called Rps (resistance to P. sojae). This study aimed to identify resistance loci associated with resistance to P. sojae isolate 40468 in Daepung × CheonAl recombinant inbred line (RIL) population. CheonAl is resistant to the isolate, while Daepung is generally susceptible. We genotyped the parents and RIL population via high-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping and constructed a set of genetic maps. The presence or absence of resistance to P. sojae was evaluated via hypocotyl inoculation technique, and phenotypic distribution fit to a ratio of 1:1 (R:S) (χ² = 0.57, p = 0.75), indicating single gene mediated inheritance. Single-marker association and the linkage analysis identified a highly significant genomic region of 55.9~56.4 megabase pairs on chromosome 18 that explained ~98% of phenotypic variance. Many previous studies have reported several Rps genes in this region, and also it contains nine genes that are annotated to code leucine-rich repeat or serine/threonine kinase within the approximate 500 kilobase pairs interval based on the reference genome database. CheonAl is the first domestic soybean genotype characterized for resistance against P. sojae isolate 40468. Therefore, CheonAl could be a valuable genetic source for breeding resistance to P. sojae.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2024

Purpose: This aim of this study was to demonstrate growth factors that differentiate human mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes and to evaluate cell proliferation enhancement by needle size differences. Materials and Methods: Human mesenchymal stem cells were cultured in chondrogenic medium supplemented with BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-6, BMP-7, BMP-13, FGF-2, FGF-18, IGF-1, TGF-β1, TGF-β2, TGF-β3 and without growth factors for 14, 21, and 28 days. Then, the expression levels of SOX-5, SOX-6, SOX-9 and FOXO1A were comparatively analyzed. Human mesenchymal stem cells were inoculated into culture dishes using 18, 21, and 26 gauge (G) needles, and cell proliferation was measured after 24, 48, and 72 hours, respectively. Results: In addition to the previously known FGF, IGF-1, and TGFβ1,the BMP family growth factors such as BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-6, and BMP-7 increased the expression of chondrocyte differentiation genes SOX-5, SOX-6, SOX-9, and FOXO1A. At 48 hours, the 26G group, the smallest needle, showed significant cell proliferation improvement compared to the control group and the 18G group. At 72 hours, the 26G group, the smallest needle, showed significant increase in cell proliferation compared to the control group. Conclusion: Through this study, growth factors with the ability to induce chondrocyte differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells were investigated, and cell proliferation changes by needle size differences were determined.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.71-81
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• 2009

Food waste has been actively used as a composting material in order to reduce the environmental pollution load and to enhance the recycling of resources. In this study, the longterm effects of continuous application of food waste compost to soils on both the crop production and the soil properties were examined to ensure the safety of food waste compost in agricultural use. In addition, we collected the preliminary data for establishing standard application rate of food waste compost for agricultural utilization. Based on conventional nitrogen application rate of chemical fertilizer for crop cultivation, pig manure compost $(24g\;N\;kg^{-1}$, $8g\;P_2O_5\;kg^{-1}$, and $10.4g\;K_2O\;kg^{-1})$ and food waste compost ($20g\;N\;kg^{-1}$, $20.1g\;P_2O_5\;kg^{-1}$, and $6.5g\;K_2O\;kg^{-1}$) were applied to the upland soil in $2{\times}2{\times}2m$ lysimeter in which lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa), Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris subsp. napus var. pekinensis), red pepper (Capsicum annuum), and potato (Solanum tuberosum) were grown continuously. The crops grown in soils to which food waste compost applied showed better growth responses than the control, whereas some variations were observed in the crops grown in chemical fertilizer treated soils. Continuous application of food waste compost increased the contents of organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus, which resulted in improving soil aeration.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.475-483
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• 2023

This study was conducted to determine the optimal irrigation starting point by analyzing tree growth, physiological responses, fruit quality, and productivity in peach orchards. Seven-year-old 'Kawanakajima Hakuto' peach trees were used in an experimental field (35°49'30.4"N, 127°01'33.2"E) located within the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science located in Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do. The irrigation starting point was set with four levels of -20, -40, -60, and -80 kPa from June to September 2022. While there were no significant differences in increase of trunk cross-section area and leaf area among treatments, shoot length and diameter decreased in the -80 kPa and -20 kPa treatments. The photosynthetic rate measured in August was highest for -60 kPa (17.7 μmol·m^-2·s^-1), followed by -40 kPa (15.6 μmol·m^-2·s^-1), -20 kPa (14.5 μmol·m^-2·s^-1) and -80 kPa (14.0 μmol·m^-2·s^-1). SPAD value measured in May and August was lower in the -80 kPa and -20 kPa treatments than in the -60 kPa and -40 kPa treatments. The harvest date reached three days earlier in the -20 kPa treatment compared to other treatments. The fruit weight was highest in the -60 kPa (379.1 g), followed by -40 kPa (344.0 g), -80 kPa (321.0 g) and -20 kPa (274.9 g). Firmness was the lowest in the -20 kPa treatment. The soluble solid content was highest in the -60 kPa treatment (13.3°Bx).The ratio of marketable fruits was highest in the -60 kPa treatment (50.7%) and lowest in the -80 kPa treatment (23.4%). In conclusion, we suggest that setting the irrigation starting point at -60 kPa could improve the fruit quality and yield in peach orchards.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.382-392
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• 2003

Purpose: Uptakes of Tc-99m MIBI (MIBI) and Tc-99m tetrofosmin (tetrofosmin) in human non-small cell lung cancer A549, multidrug-resistance associated protein (MRP) expressing cell, were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Materials and Methods: Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were used for detection of MRP in A549 cells with anti-MRPr1 antibody. Cellular uptakes of two tracers were evaluated at $100{\mu}M$ of verapamil (Vrp), $50{\mu}M$ of cyclosporin A (CsA) and $25{\mu}M$ of butoxysulfoximide (BSO) after incubation with MIBI and tetrofosmin for 30 and 50 min at $37^{\circ}C$, using single cell suspensions at $1{\times}10^6cells/ml$. Radioactivities in supernatants and pellets were measured with gamma well counter. A549 cells were inoculated in each flanks of 24 nude mice. Group 1 (Gr1) and Gr3 mice were treated with only MIBI or tetrofosmin, and Gr2 and Gr4 mice were treated with 70mg/kg of CsA i.p. for 1 hour before injection of 370KBq of MIBI or tetrofosmin. Mice were sacrificed at 10, 60 and 240 min. Radioactivities of organs and tumors were expressed as percentage injected dose per gram of tissue (%ID/gm). Results: Western blot analysis of the A549 cells detected expression of MRPr1 (190 kDa) and immunohistochemical staining of tumor tissue for MRPr1 revealed brownish staining in cell membrane but not P-gp. Upon incubating A549 cells for 60 min with MIBI and tetrofosmin, cellular uptake of MIBI was higher than that of tetrofosmin. Coincubation with modulators resulted in an increase in cellular uptakes of MIBI and tetrofosmin. Percentage increase of MIBI was higher than that of tetrofosmin with Vrp by 623% and 427%, CsA by 753% and 629% and BSO by 219% and 140%, respectively. There was no significant difference in tumoral uptakes of MIBI and tetrofosmin between Gr1 and Gr3. Percentage increases in MIBI (114% at 10 min, 257% at 60 min, 396% at 240 min) and tetrofosmin uptake (110% at 10 min, 205% at 60 min, 410% at 240 min) were progressively higher by the time up to 240 min with CsA. Conclusion: These results indicate that MIBI and tetrofosmin are suitable tracers for imaging MRP-mediated drug resistance in A549 tumors. MIBI may be a better tracer than tetrofosmin for evaluating MRP reversal effect of modulators.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.323-327
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• 2002

Purpose : To evaluate the outcome of early stage non-small cell lung cancer patients who were treated with radiation therapy alone and define the optimal radiotherapeutic regimen for these patients. Materials and Methods : A retrospective review was peformed on patients with sage I or II non-small cell carcinoma of the lung that were treated at our institution between June, 1987 and May, 2000. A total of 21 patients treated definitively with radiation therapy alone were included in this study. The age of the patients ranged from 53 to 81 years with a median of 66 years. All the patients were male. The medical reasons for inoperability were lack of pulmonary reserve, cardiovascular disease, poor performance status, old age, and patient refusal in the decreasing order. Pathological evidence was not adequate to characterize the non-small cell subtype in two patients. Of the remaining 19 patients, 16 had squamous cell carcinoma and 3 had adenocarcinoma. Treatment was given with conventional fractionation, once a day, five times a week. The doses to the primary site ranged from 56 Gy to 59 Gy. No patients were lost to follow-up. Results : The overall survival rates for the entire group at 2, 3 and 5 years were 41, 30 and $21\%$, respectively. The cause specific survivals at 2, 3 and 5 years were 55, 36 and $25\%$, respectively. An intercurrent disease was the cause of death in two patients. The cumulative local failure rate at 5 years was $43\%$. Nine of the 21 patients had treatment failures after the curative radiotherapy was attempted. Local recurrences as the first site of failure were documented in 7 patients. Therefore, local failure alone represented $78\%$ of the total failures. Those patients whose tumor sizes were less than 4 cm had a significantly better 5 year disease free survival than those with tumors greater than 4 cm $(0\%\;vs\;36\%)$. Those patients with a Karnofsky performance status less than 70 did not differ significantly with respect to actuarial survival when compared to those with a status greater than 70 $(25\%\;vs\;26\%,\;p>0.05)$. Conclusion : Radiation therapy 리one is an effective and safe treatment for early stage non-small ceil lung cancer patients who are medically inoperable or refuse surgery. Also we believe that a higher radiation dose to the primary site could improve the local control rate, and ultimately the overall survival rate.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.34-43
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• 2005

Purpose: $^{99m}Tc$-sestamibi(MIBI) and $^{99m}Tc$-tetrofosmin have been used as substrates for P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and multidrug resistance associated protein (MRP), which are closely associated with multidrug resistance of the tumors. To understand different handling of radiotracers in cancer cell lines expressing Pgp and MRP, we compared cellular uptakes of $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI and $^{99m}Tc$-tetrofosmin. The effects of cyclosporin A (CsA), well-known multidrug resistant reversing agent, on the uptake of both tracers were also compared. Materials and Methods: HCT15/CL02 human colorectal cancer cells for Pgp expressing cells, and human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells for MRP expressing cells, were used for in vitro and in vivo studies. RT-PCR, western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry were used for detection of Pgp and MRP. MDR-reversal effect with CsA was evaluated at different drug concentrations after incubation with MIBI or tetrofosmin. Radioactivities of supernatant and pellet were measured with gamma well counter. Tumoral uptake of the tracers were measured from tumor bearing nude mice treated with or without CsA. Results: RT-PCR, western blot analysis of the cells and irnrnunochemical staining revealed selective expression of Pgp and MRP for HCY15/CL02 and A549 cells, respectively. There were no significant difference in cellular uptakes of both tracers in HCT15/CL02 cells, but MIBI uptake was slightly higher than that of tetrofosmin in A549 cells. Co-incubation with CsA resulted in a increase in cellular uptakes of MIBI and tetrofosmin. Uptake of MIBI or tetrofosmin in HCT15/CL02 cells was increased by 10- and 2.4-fold, and by 7.5 and 6.3-fold in A549 cells, respectively. Percentage increase of MIBI was higher than that of tetrofosmin with CsA for both cells (p<0.05). In vivo biodistribution study showed that MIBI (114% at 10 min, 257% at 60 min, 396% at 240 min) and tetrofosmin uptake (110% at 10 min, 205% at 60 min, 410% at 240 min) were progressively increased by the time, up to 240 min with CsA. But increases in tumoral uptake were not significantly different between MIBI and tetrofosmin for both tumors. Conclusion: MIBI seems to be a better tracer than tetrofosmin for evaluating MDR reversal effect of the modulators in vitro, but these differences were not evident in vivo tumoral uptake. Both MIBI and tetrofosmin seem to be suitable tracers for imaging Pgp- and MRP-mediated drug resistance in tumors.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.51-66
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• 2004

Objectives : The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that participate in the extracellular matrix metabolism play a important role in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. The effects of the MMPs are regulated by several factors including Th-1 cytokines, $interferon-{\gamma}$ ($IFN-{\gamma}$). Up to now, $IFN-{\gamma}$ is known to inhibit pulmonary fibrosis, but little is known regarding the exact effect of $IFN-{\gamma}$ on the regulation of the MMPs. This study investigated the effects of $interferon-{\gamma}$ on the pulmonary fibrosis and the expression of the lung MMP-2,-9, TIMP-1,-2, and Th-2 cytokines in aa rat model of bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis. Materials and methods : Male, specific pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to an intratracheal bleomycin instillation. The rats were randomized to a saline control, a bleomycin treated, and a bleomycin+$IFN-{\gamma}$ treated group. The bleomycin+$IFN-{\gamma}$ treated group was subjected to an intramuscular injection of $IFN-{\gamma}$ for 14 days. At 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after the bleomycin instillation, the rats were sacrificed and the lungs were harvested. In order to evaluate the effects of the $IFN-{\gamma}$ on lung fibrosis and inflammation, the lung hydroxyproline content, inflammation and fibrosis score were measured. Western blotting, zymography and reverse zymography were performed at 3, 7, 14, 28 days after bleomycin instillation in order to evaluate the MMP-2,-9, and TIMP-1,-2 expression level. ELISA was performed to determine the IL-4 and IL-13 level in a lung homogenate. Results : 1. 7 days after bleomycin instillation, inflammatory changes were more severe in the bleomycin+$IFN-{\gamma}$ group than the bleomycin group (bleomycin group : bleomycin+$IFN-{\gamma}$ group=$2.08{\pm}0.15:2.74{\pm}0.29$, P<0.05), but 28 days after bleomycin instillation, lung fibrosis was significantly reduced as a result of the $IFN-{\gamma}$ treatment (bleomycin group : bleomycin+$IFN-{\gamma}$ group=$3.94{\pm}0.43:2.64{\pm}0.13$, P<0.05). 2. 28 days after bleomycin instillation, the lung hydroxyproline content was significantly reduced as a result of $IFN-{\gamma}$ treatment (bleomycin group : bleomycin+$IFN-{\gamma}$ group=$294.04{\pm}31.73{\mu}g/g:194.92{\pm}15.51{\mu}g/g$, P<0.05). 3. Western blotting showed that the MMP-2 level was increased as a result of the bleomycin instillation and highest in the 14 days after bleomycin instillation. 4. In zymography, the active forms of MMP-2 were significantly increased as a result of the $IFN-{\gamma}$ treatment 3 days after the bleomycin instillation, bleomycin+$IFN-{\gamma}$ group (bleomycin group : bleomycin+$IFN-{\gamma}$ group=$209.63{\pm}7.60%:407.66{\pm}85.34%$, P<0.05), but 14 days after the bleomycin instillation, the active forms of MMP-2 were significantly reduced as a result of the $IFN-{\gamma}$ treatment (bleomycin group : bleomycin+$IFN-{\gamma}$ group=$159.36{\pm}20.93%:97.23{\pm}12.50%$, P<0.05). 5. The IL-4 levels were lower in the bleomycin and bleomycin+$IFN-{\gamma}$ groups but this was not significant, and the IL-13 levels showed no difference between the experiment groups. Conclusion : The author found that lung inflammation was increased in the early period but the pulmonary fibrosis was inhibited in the late stage as a result of $IFN-{\gamma}$. The inhibition of pulmonary fibrosis by $IFN-{\gamma}$ appeared to be associated with the inhibition of MMP-2 activation by $IFN-{\gamma}$. Further studies on the mechanism of the regulation of MMP-2 activation and the effects of MMP-2 activation on pulmonary fibrosis is warranted in the future.