• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1130-1136
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• 2011

This study was carried out to determine the effects of pig slurry on growth of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Dejima), soil chemistry properties and infiltration water quality in volcanic ash soil and non-volcanic ash soil of Jeju. Fertilization of liquid pig manure was based on nitrogen. In volcanic ash soil and non-volcanic ash soil, there was no difference in the height and diameter of stems in chemical fertilizer and liquid pig manure application treatments. Also yields of potatoes were no significantly difference in chemical fertilizer and liquid pig manure application treatments. pH in all soil was increased by application of liquid pig manure compared to the chemical fertilizer plot. Contents of exchangeable K in all soil were accumulated excessively by fertilization of pig manure 100% compared to the chemical fertilizer 100%. But there was no difference between the chemical fertilizer 50%+liquid pig manure 50% and chemical fertilizer 100%. No difference between the chemical fertilizer and liquid pig manure was observed in available phosphate, exchangeable Ca and Mg. $NO_3$-N concentration of infiltration water sample collected at 70cm of soil depth was lower non-fertilizer than chemical fertilizer and liquid pig manure application treatments. In volcanic ash soil, the $NO_3$-N concentration of infiltration water was decreased from early, except liquid manure 100%. In non volcanic ash soil, the $NO_3$-N concentration of infiltration water increased until October 8, but then was reduced. In all soils, $NO_3$-N concentration of infiltration water was higher in the liquid manure 100% than those in the chemical fertilizer 100% and chemical fertilizer 50%+liquid pig manure 50%, but there were no differences. In conclusion, the growth of potato, fertilization of soil and $NO_3$-N content of infiltration water were not different between chemical 50%+liquid pig manure 50% and chemical 100% plot. So, liquid pig manure could be substituted for some amount of chemical fertilizer.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.85-94
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• 2007

To determine the influence of food waste compost (FWC) application on paddy soil, FWC was applied to the paddy soil and then compared with farmer's practice as to the effects on rice and soil environment. Initially, pig manure compost (PMC) had high content of phosphorus ($15g\;kg^{-1}$) and potassium ($23g\;kg^{-1}$), while FWC had high content of total nitrogen ($13g\;kg^{-1}$) and salinity ($18.5g\;kg^{-1}$). Comparison was also made between chemical fertilizer and FWC use as a trial in the paddy field under the clay loam and sandy loam soil. In the panicle formation stage, chemical fertilizer application was proper in clay loam while PMC application was proper in sandy loam. However, chemical fertilizer produced higher yield compared to compost treatment, both on clay loam and sandy loam with 20~25% and 17~19%, respectively. The lower yield in sandy loam maybe due to slow mineralization of compost such that the crop did not effectively use it. Organic matter content in paddy soil after experiment was higher in FWC and PMC plots compared to that in chemical fertilizer plots. But the other soil properties were comparable. Therefore, the FWC compost had little effect on soil when it use as a trial in paddy field. Likewise, after the application of FWC as a trial, analysis of nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen in the surface water and 60 cm depth of paddy soil water nine days after planting was done. Results revealed that concentration of ammonium nitrogen was similar to irrigation water while nitrate nitrogen concentration was not detected, and hence did not contribute to water pollution. It is concluded that the application of FWC in the paddy field had not affected on environmental pollution in the paddy field. But its use as compost during rice culture reduced yield quantity. Such study should include selection of compost material, amount and method of compost application.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.402-409
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• 2019

Korean red ginseng made from steaming and drying fresh ginseng has long been used as a traditional herbal medicine due to its effects on the immune, endocrine, and central nerve systems and its anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of a formulated Korean red ginseng extract (RGE) in response to lipoteichoic acid (LTA), a cell wall component of gram-positive bacteria. RGE inhibited LTA-induced nitric oxide (NO) secretion and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in BV-2 microglial cells, without affecting cell viability. RGE also inhibited nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) p65 and degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$. In addition, RGE increased the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in a dose-dependent manner, and the inhibitory effect of RGE on iNOS expression was abrogated by small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of HO-1. Moreover, RGE induced nuclear translocation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor that regulates HO-1 expression. Furthermore, the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI-3K) inhibitor and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors suppressed RGE-mediated expression of HO-1, and RGE enhanced the phosphorylation of Akt, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), p38, and c-JUN N-terminal kinases (JNKs). These results suggested that RGE suppressed the production of NO, a proinflammatory mediator, by inducing HO-1 expression via PI-3K/Akt- and MAPK-dependent signaling in LTA-stimulated microglia. The findings indicate that RGE could be used for the treatment of neuroinflammation induced by grampositive bacteria and that it may have therapeutic potential for various neuroinflammation-associated disorders.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.325-331
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• 2019

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the most popular green leafy vegetables, and it contains various beneficial components including polyphenolic compounds and has been known to possess various biological functions such as anti-microbial, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. In the present study, we prepared ethanol extract of dried lettuce (DLE) and investigated its anti-inflammatory activity. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of DLE, nitric oxide (NO) production was measured in LPS-activated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. DLE significantly suppressed NO production in these cells without affecting cell viabilities while resveratrol was used as a positive control. DLE dramatically decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory genes such as iNOS and COX-2 at the mRNA and protein levels and reduced the expression of several cytokines including $IL-1{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-1F6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, CSF2 and CXCL10. In addition, DLE suppressed phosphorylation of MAPKs and the nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 indicating DLE shows its anti-inflammatory activity via regulating MAPKs pathway and $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathways. And also, DLE reduced the production of reactive oxygen species in a dose-dependent manner. DLE increased HO-1 protein expression, and also increased the nuclear translocation of Nrf2. Overall, our results suggest that lettuce down-regulate various pro-inflammatory genes and have its anti-inflammatory activity via regulating MAPKs, $NF-{\kappa}B$, and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to suggest a suitable amount of fertilizer using the changes in growth performances and soil properties for improving survival and quality of Zelkova serrata trees in a harvested Pinus rigida plantation. One-year-old containerized seedlings of Z. serrata were planted with the density of 3000 seedlings $ha^{-1}$ in end of March 2011 at Gwangneung experimental forest, Pocheon. Solid compound fertilizer (N:P:K=3:4:1) were applied yearly in three amounts (control: no fertilization, F1: $180kg\;ha^{-1}$, and F2: $360kg\;ha^{-1}$) every May from 2011 to 2013. We analyzed soil properties before (2011) and after (2012 and 2017) fertilization. And we measured the root collar diameter and height of Z. serrata trees from 2011 to 2016, and then calculated H/D ratio and stem volume. Soil properties at Z. serrata plantation did not show difference according to fertilization level in every investigation year. As time passed after planting, however, concentrations of total nitrogen and available phosphorus were increased from decreased. The growth of root collar diameter, height and stem volume of Z. serrata trees at F2 plot were significantly higher those at the other plots after only 2 years of fertilization. Because Z. serrata tree demand to more nutrient during the early growing period. The survival rate of Z. serrata trees at control plot was significantly lower than that at the other plots. This might be due to Z. serrata trees at control plot had not the upper hand from competition with vegetation at the early in planting. However, the growth of height and stem volume of Z. serrata trees between F1 and F2 plots did not show difference over 6 years after planting. Consequently, we could suggest that Z. serrata trees need to F1 fertilization level for considering improving survival and quality of Z. serrata trees and economical efficiency of plantation managements after harvesting P. rigida plantation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.60-68
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• 2019

Limonium tetragonum, an edible halophyte that grows on salt marshes in Korea, is thought to possess various health benefits (e.g., antioxidant, antitumor, and hepatoprotective). In the present study, different solvent partitioned subfractions, water ($H_2O$), buthanol (n-BuOH), 85% aqueous methanol (85% aq. MeOH), and hexane (n-hexane), from crude extract of L. tetragonum were tested for their ability to prevent adipogenesis in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The treatment of differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with L. tetragonum subfractions (LTFs) resulted in suppressed adipogenesis and reduced expression of adipogenesis-related transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$), CCAATT/enhancer-binding protein alpha ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) at both mRNA and protein levels. In addition, the LTF treatment notably decreased the levels of phosphorylated p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in association with $PPAR{\gamma}$-linked adipogenesis. Among all the tested LTFs, $H_2O$ and n-hexane were the most effective in lowering lipid accumulation and regulating the adipocyte differentiation via $PPAR{\gamma}$ pathway. Taken together, the results indicated that the $H_2O$ and n-hexane LTFs contain bioactive compounds that may exhibit significant antiadipogenesis activity by downregulation of the $PPAR{\gamma}$ pathway and inactivation of the MAPK signal pathway in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.699-709
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• 2021

Muscle mass improvement through lifestyle modification has been shown to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome. This study examined the capacity of ethanol extracts of Scytosiphon lomentaria (SLE) to suppress the bioactivity of myostatin, a potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass, as well as the effect of SLE treatment on metabolic homeostasis in obese zebrafish induced by high feeding. A total of 10 ㎍/ml SLE completely blocked myostatin (1 nM/ml) signaling in the pGL3-(CAGA)₁₂ luciferase assay and suppressed myostatin-induced Smad2 phosphorylation in the Western blot analysis. In the zebrafish larvae analysis, the whole body glucose concentration of the high feeding control (HFC) group was significantly higher than that of the normal feeding control (NFC) group. However, the glucose levels of the high feeding group treated with 12.5 ug SLE and of the high feeding group treated with 18.75 ug SLE were similar to those of the NFC group. The mRNA expression level of the GLUT2 gene of the HFC group was significantly lower than that of the NFC group. SLE treatment restored the expression of the GLUT2 gene to a level that was close to that of the NFC group, indicating that SLE is capable of regulating glucose levels in zebrafish larvae. The current results highlight the potential of SLE as a natural MSTN inhibitor and supplement that can be used to facilitate the treatment of metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.109-122
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• 2022

Currently, most of the pig manure generated from pig farms in Korea is in the form of a slurry with a moisture content of about 97%. Pig manure slurry is a mixture of pig manure and cleaning water in the pig house. In this study, changes in properties of pig manure liquid fertilizer according to whether air was supplied or not and with the passage of storage period were analyzed for 120 days. During the experimental period, the degree of maturity of the pig manure liquid fertilizer was higher in the experimental closed batch reactors supplied with air than in the same type reactors not supplied with air. As the liquid fertilizer storage period elapsed, there was a tendency that liquid fertilizer was converted to a state of complete maturity. In the batch reactor in which air was supplied, the moisture content of pig manure slurry, which had a moisture content of 97.90%, was reduced to 96.82% at the end of the experiment. On the other hand, the moisture content in the reactor without air was reduced to 97.33%. The pH of the liquid fertilizer, which was 8.82 at the start of the experiment, changed to 7.57 in the reactor with air supplied and 8.75 in the reactor without air at the completion of the experiment. The nitrogen content in the liquid fertilizer was 0.198 mg/L on average at the start of the experiment and it was lowered to 0.076 mg/L in the air supplied reactor at the end of the experiment. On the other hand, the nitrogen content of the liquid fertilizer was lowered to 0.121 mg/L in the reactor to which air was not supplied. The phosphoric acid (P₂O₅) concentration in the liquid decreased higher in the liquid fertilizer filled in the reactor without air than the liquid fertilizer filled in the reactor with air supplied as the storage period elapsed. Considering the experimental results, it is considered that the quality of pig manure liquid fertilizer is improved when air is supplied to pig manure slurry and the storage period of pig manure slurry is longer.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.110-123
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• 2021

We investigated geochemical constituents of pore-water and sediment, rates of organic carbon (C_org) oxidation and sulfate reduction (SR), and benthic nutrient flux (BNF) to elucidate characteristic of C_org oxidation and its control in the coastal area near Lake Shihwa. The study sites were selected in the vicinity of Soraepogu (E0), Songdo tidalflat (E1) and Oido dock (E3) and in front of floodgate Shihwa tidal plant (E5). The C_org contents in the sediments and concentrations of ammonium and phosphate in pore water exhibited the highest value at EO, and gradually decreased toward the outer sea (E1, E3, E5). Rates of anaerobic C_org oxidation (260.6 mmol C m^-2 d^-1) and SR (91.4 mmol S m^-2 d^-1) at E0 were 4-9 and 6-54 times higher than at the site of outer sea (E1, E3, E5). Rates of SR at E3 and E5 accounted for 11-23% of anaerobic C_org oxidation, whereas it comprised 47-70% of anaerobic C_org oxidation at E0 and E1. Rates of C_org oxidation and SR showed a highly positive correlation with the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (r² = 0.795 and 0.777, respectively). The BNF at E0, E1, and E3 accounted for 120-510% and 26-178%, respectively, of the N and P required for primary production in the water column. Overall results suggest that the C_org oxidation in the sediment controlled by concentration of dissolved organic carbon in the pore water and the excessive C_org oxidation stimulates the benthic nutrient flux, which may cause a phytoplankton bloom in the water column.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.987-994
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• 2021

Our previous studies have reported that antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) derived from the larvae of white-spotted flower chafer (Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis) exert anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities. This study explored the anti-inflammatory effects of protaetiamycine 9 (CVLKKAYFLTNLKLRG-NH₂), a novel AMP, derived from P. b. seulensis against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammatory response in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Protaetiamycine 9 (25, 50, 75, and 100 ㎍/ml) did not cause cytotoxic effects against RAW264.7 cells. The RAW264.7 cells were pre-treated with various concentrations of protaetiamycine 9 (25-100 ㎍/ml) for 1 hr and then exposed to LPS (100 ng/ml) for 24 hr. Protaetiamycine 9 treatments decreased the LPS-induced secretion of inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO), in a dose-dependent manner. Protaetiamycine 9 (25-100 ㎍/ml) effectively downregulated the LPS-induced increase in mRNA and the protein expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which are involved in the production of inflammatory mediators. Protaetiamycine 9 also suppressed the production and gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β, compared to the presence of LPS alone. Furthermore, protaetiamycine 9 inhibited the degradation of inhibitory kappa B alpha (IκB-α) and the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. In conclusion, these results suggest that protaetiamycine 9 exhibits LPS-mediated inflammatory responses by blocking IκB-α degradation and MAPK phosphorylation.