• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.886-895
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• 2020

The development of novel peptide antibiotics with potent antimicrobial activity and anti-inflammatory activity is urgently needed. In a previous work, we performed an in-silico analysis of the Papilio xuthus transcriptome to identify putative antimicrobial peptides and identified several candidates. In this study, we investigated the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of papiliocin 3, which was selected bioinformatically based on its physicochemical properties against bacteria and mouse macrophage Raw264.7 cells. Papiliocin 3 showed antibacterial activities against E. coli and S. aureus without inducing hemolysis and decreased the nitric oxide production of the lipopolysaccharide-induced Raw264.7 cells. Moreover, ELISA and Western blot analysis revealed that papiliocin 3 reduced the expression levels of pro-inflammatory enzymes, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂). In addition, we examined whether papiliocin 3 could inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β) in LPS-induced Raw264.7 cells. We found that papiliocin 3 markedly reduced the expression level of cytokines through the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. We also confirmed that papiliocin 3 binds to bacterial cell membranes via a specific interaction with lipopolysaccharides. Collectively, these findings suggest that papiliocin 3 could be a promising molecule for development as a novel peptide antibiotic.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 1981

To clarify the mode of uptake of butachlor (2-chloro-2', 6'-diethyl-N-(butoxymethyl) acetanilide) by rice seedlings, its phytotoxic action to growth and physiological activities, studies were conducted with rice seedlings, at the 6th or 7th leaf-stage, which were treated with nutrient solution containing butachlor 0, 1.8, 3.6, 7.2, 10.8 or 14.4 ppm for 1, 2 or 4 days, in other case, the solutions were thereafter renewed with the untreated nutrient solution for further growth. Uptake of butachlor by rice seedlings increased linearly with increase of its concentration and duration of uptake. Butachlor inhibited root growth more than shoot growth, furthermore, the inhibitory effect on the shoot growth was greater in height than in weight or leafing rate. After 4 day-treatment, the rates of shoot growth in weight were delayed for 4 days. Butachlor inhibited water uptake rapidly and linearly with increase of its external concentration. The reduced uptake of water was followed by slow increase in the stomatal resistance of leaves. Upon completion of butachlor treatment, rate of water uptake was recovered rapidly, but the stomatal resistance with lag in time. Butachlor did not affect the uptake of cation such as ammonium, potassium and calcium, but inhibited substantially uptake of nitrate in proportion to its concentration. Especially, butachlor did not affect synthesis and degradation of nitrate reductase. In addition, butachlor has shown much greater binding to the lipidic substances from rice roots than the proteinous material. The primary mechanism of phytotoxic action of butachlor does not seem to be its effect on the protein synthesis, but great affinity to membranes. The inhibition of water uptake, and its subsequent closure of stomates is thought very important for reduced growth under mild phytotoxicity.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2007

To assess pollutant loads in Nakdong river from highland agriculture in Kyungbuk province we. analyzed water qualities such as BOD, COD, T-N, T-P and SS in year 2005. BOD values in rainy period (June and July) were relatively higher than those in dry period, and those in 4 sites among 17 sites ranged from 10.71-19.25 mg/L which exceeded water criteria (8 mg/L) for agricultural use. COD values showed similar trends like BOD values. These trends might be caused by outflow of nutrients applied in agricultural lands. T-N content ranged from 0.1 to 14 mg/L. Those in lower reaches of stream were greater in those in upper stream. Compared to T-N contents during non-farming season, T-N content in farming season were higher. These phenomenon could be due to continuous input of nutrients from small watercourses. Averaged T-P content in lower stream during farming season was 0.4 mg/L, which was eight times higher than the limiting level for algae occurrence (0.05 mg/L). BOD, T-P, T-N loads from alpine agricultural practices were 12.25 $kg/km^2{\cdot}day$, 0.55 $kg/km^2{\cdot}day$ and 32.35 $kg/km^2{\cdot}day$, respectively. These values were greater than those from forestry. Therefore, Best management Practices (BMP) for alpine agricultural field are needed to reduce pollutant loads in Nakdong river.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.906-913
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• 2019

To evaluate the removal performance of PO₄-P and NH₃-N, laboratory experiments were conducted by filling a container with oyster shells, pyrolyzed at 100℃ (POS100), 600℃ (POS600) and 800℃ (POS800), and passing artificial wastewaters through the container. The pH in the ef luent was found to increase due to CaO eluted from oyster shell. Removal amounts of PO₄-P of ~23.1 mg/kg, 16.1 mg/kg, and 15.9 mg/kg were obtained when POS100, POS600, and POS800, respectively, were used; therefore, the highest PO₄-P removal amount was obtained when POS100 was used. It is considered that Ca and dolomite in the oyster shells adsorbed and precipitated PO₄-P. Removal amounts of NH₃-N were of ~3.56 mg/kg, 5.72 mg/kg, and 3.97 mg/kg were obtained when POS100, POS600, and POS800, respectively, were used The low removal rate for NH₃-N is probably due to unstable nitrification, use of sealed containers, and the effect of NH₃-N being converted to NH₄⁺ upon increasing pH. Based on these results, pyrolyzed oyster shell is expected to promote changes in PO₄-P and NH₃-N concentrations through chemical reactions. These results can also be used for basic research in the development of wastewater treatment.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.85-96
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• 2023

The study involved the categorization of domestic lakes located in South Korea into three groups based on their salinity levels: upstream reservoirs with salinity less than 0.3 psu, estuarine reservoirs with salinity ranging from 0.3 to 2 psu, and brackish lagoons with salinity exceeding 2 psu. Subsequently, the research assessed variations in the concentrations of total nitrogen (T-N) and total phosphorus (T-P) in the sediment of these lakes using statistical analysis, specifically one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Additionally, a laboratory core incubation test was conducted to investigate the benthic nutrient fluxes in Songji lagoon (salinity: 11.80 psu), Ganwol reservoir (salinity: 0.73 psu), and Janggun reservoir (salinity: 0.08 psu) under both aerobic and anoxic conditions. The findings revealed statistically significant differences in the concentrations of T-N and T-P among sediments in the lakes with varying salinity levels (p<0.05). Further post-hoc analysis confirmed significant distinctions in T-N between upstream reservoirs and estuarine reservoirs (p<0.001), as well as between upstream reservoirs and brackish lagoons (p<0.01). For T-P, a significant difference was observed between upstream reservoirs and brackish lagoons (p<0.01). Regarding benthic nutrient fluxes, Ganwol Lake exhibited the highest diffusive flux of NH₄⁺-N, primarily due to its physical characteristics and the inhibition of nitrification resulting from its relatively high salinity. The flux of NO₃^--N was lower at higher salinity levels under aerobic conditions but increased under anoxic conditions, attributed to the impact of salinity on nitrification and denitrification. Additionally, the flux of PO₄^3--P was highest in Songji Lake, followed by Ganwol Lake and Janggun Reservoir, indicating that salinity promotes the diffusive flux of phosphate through anion adsorption competition. It's important to consider the influence of salinity on microbial communities, growth rates, oxidation-reduction processes, and nutrient binding forms when studying benthic diffusive nutrient fluxes from lake sediments.