• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1115-1122
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of rope-jumping to music with weight loading on middle school girls' blood lipid and growth hormone. Toward this end, the study targeted 24 middle school girls at Y Girls' Middle School in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, who have no health problems or exercise experience, after sufficiently explaining to them the study's purpose. The selected students were categorized into a music rope-jumping group (8), a music rope-jumping group with weight loading (8), and a control group (8). In a comparison of blood lipid within the exercise groups showed that the music rope-jumping groups' measures changed significantly by demonstrating increases or decreases in RBC, T-C, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C (p<0.05). The music rope-jumping group with weight loading showed significant differences in WBC, RBC, glucose, T-C, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C by demonstrating increases of decreases (p<0.05). A comparison between the exercise groups revealed that the music rope-jumping group showed significant increases in growth hormone (p<0.05). The music rope-jumping group with weight loading also showed significant increases in growth hormone (p<0.05). The study's results identified music jump-roping with weight loading to effect students' blood lipids and growth hormone.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2016

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), at appropriate concentrations, mediate various normal cellular functions, including defense against pathogens, signal transduction, cellular growth, and gene expression. A recent study demonstrated that ROS and ROS-generating NADPH oxidase (Nox) are important in self-renewal and neuronal differentiation of subventricular zone (SVZ) neural stem cells in adult mouse brains. In this study, we found that endogenous ROS were detected in SVZ neural stem cells cultured from postnatal mouse brains. Nox4 was predominantly expressed in cultured cells, while the levels of the Nox1 and Nox2 transcripts were very low. In addition, the Nox4 gene was highly upregulated (by up to 10-fold) during neuronal differentiation. Immunocytochemical analysis detected the Nox4 protein mainly in neurons positive for the neuronal specific tubulin Tuj1. After differentiation, endogenous ROS were detected exclusively in neuron-like cells with processes. In addition, perturbation of the cellular redox state with N-acetyl cysteine, a ROS scavenger, during neuronal differentiation greatly inhibited neurogenesis. Lastly, knockdown of Nox4 using short hairpin RNA decreased neurogenesis. These findings suggest that Nox4 may be a major ROS-generating enzyme in postnatal SVZ neural stem cells, and Nox4-mediated ROS generation may be important in their neuronal differentiation.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2008

Specific protocols to increase the differentiation of neuronal cells from embryonic stem (ES) cells have been well established, such as retinoic acid induction and lineage selection of neuronal cells. For the neuropathological studies, ES-derived neurons (ES neurons) must show normal physiological characteristics related to cell death and survival and should be maintained in vitro for a sufficient time to show insults-specific cell death without spontaneous death. When mouse ES cells were plated onto astrocytes monolayer after retinoic acid induction, most ES cells differentiated into neuronal cells, which were confirmed by the presence of specific neuronal markers, and the cultures were viable for at least four weeks. When these cultures were examined for vulnerability to glutamate excitotoxicity, ES neurons were vulnerable to excitotoxic insults mediated by agonist-specific receptors. The vulnerability to excitotoxic death increased with developmental age of ES neurons in vitro. Specific receptors for Neurotrophin and GDNF family ligands were present in ES neurons. GDNF and NT-3 could modulate the survival and excitotoxic vulnerability of ES neurons. The vulnerability and resistance to toxic insults, which are essential requirements of model culture systems for neuropathological studies, make ES neurons to a useful model culture system. Especially ES cell are highly amenable to genetic modification unlikely to primary neuronal cells, which will give us a chance to answer more complicated neurophysiological questions. Recently there was an outstanding attempt to explore the cellular toxicity using human ES cells (Schrattenholz & Klemm, 2007) and it suggested that ES cells could be a new model system for neurophysiological studies soon and go further a large-scale screening system for pharmacological compounds in the future.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.183-193
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• 2011

Migration and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells are crucial for tissue regeneration in response to injury. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid that regulates a variety of biological processes, including proliferation, survival, differentiation and motility. In the present study, we determined the role of S1P in migration and differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). S1P stimulated migration of BMSCs in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and pre-incubation of the cells with pertussis toxin completely abrogated S1P-induced migration, suggesting involvement of Gi-coupled receptors in S1P-induced cell migration. S1P elicited elevation of intracellular concentration of $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) and pretreatment with VPC23019, an antagonist of $S1P_1/S1P_3$, blocked S1P-induced migration and increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of endogenous $S1P_1$ attenuated S1P-induced migration of BMSCs. Furthermore, S1P treatment induced expression of $\alpha$-smooth muscle actin ($\alpha$-SMA), a smooth muscle marker, and pretreatment with VPC23019 abrogated S1P-induced $\alpha$-SMA expression. S1P induced phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and pretreatment of cells with SB202190, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, or adenoviral overexpression of a dominant-negative mutant of the p38 MAPK blocked S1P-induced cell migration and $\alpha$-SMA expression. Taken together, these results suggest that S1P stimulates migration and smooth muscle differentiation of BMSCs through an $S1P_1$-p38 MAPK-dependent mechanism.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.8-8
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• 2010

자원식물을 소재로 이용하는 생물산업은 21세기 경제성장을 주도할 핵심기간산업이며, 미래형 고부가가치산업이다. 현재 지구상에는 약 55만종의 식물이 존재하는 것으로 알려져 있으나, 인간의 손길이 닿지 않은 천연 강우림 등의 미개척지가 상당수 존재하고 있어 더욱 많은 종들이 존재할 것으로 추정된다. 자원식물들 중에는 작물로의 개발이 가능하거나, 개발할 필요성이 높은 식물들이 많이 있다. 자원식물들은 예로부터 식용, 약용, 관상용, 유지용, 기호용, 밀원용, 섬유용, 향신료용, 향료용, 당료용, 호료용, 염색용, 수지용, 탄닌용 등으로 구분되어 이용되어 왔다. 자원식물은 종에 따라 꽃, 줄기, 잎, 뿌리 및 종자 등 부위별로 다양하게 산업적 소재로 활용되어 왔다. 최근에는 건강에 관한 관심이 급증하면서 다양한 건강 기능성 상품이 개발되고 있으며, 관련 시장이 급속하게 성장하고 있다. 특히 자원식물 등 천연물을 소재로 한 건강 기능성 상품은 안전성이 보장되며 우수한 생리활성이 있는 것으로 밝혀지면서, 자원식물을 소재로 한 건강 기능성 상품의 개발에 대한 수요가 증가하고 있는 실정이다. 따라서 다양한 자원식물을 대상으로 이들의 활용가치를 분석하여 상품화할 수 있는 방법의 개발이 절실히 필요하다. 또한 주 5일제 실시 및 여가활용에 관한 관심이 급증하면서 농촌 경관산업에 대한 수요가 증가하고 있다. 농촌 경관산업은 국민의 여가선용 및 복지향상에 효과적일 뿐 아니라 지역주민과 관광객이 함께 즐길 수 있는 관광산업으로써 지역 이미지 강화를 통한 지역 홍보, 지역 내 일자리 창출 및 경관산업에 사용된 생물소재를 이용한 바이오산업의 활성화 등의 장점을 지니고 있다. 또한 농촌 경관산업은 자연과 농촌을 활용한 자연 친화형 관광단지를 조성하여 친환경, 고부가가치형 종합산업을 추구하는 추세이다. 그러므로 경관산업 및 이를 활용한 바이오산업의 소재로써 자원식물의 역할은 매우 클 것으로 생각된다. 특히 각 지역에 자생하는 고유의 자원식물을 활용하면 지역 특화 경관산업 및 바이오산업의 발전에 크게 이바지 할 수 있으며, 이로 인하여 지역 경제 활성화 및 친환경 건강 기능성 상품에 대한 수요를 충족시킬 수 있을 것으로 기대된다. 따라서 친환경 건강 기능성 소재 개발과 농촌 경관산업을 활용한 생물산업에 적용할 수 있는 산업적 가치가 우수한 자원식물의 다양한 기능을 분석하고, 각 자원식물별로 특성에 맞는 개발 방안을 구축하여 다양한 산업화의 소재로 활용하여야 할 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.848-854
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• 2016

Cymbidium is one of perennial herbs belonging to the Orchidaceae and is known as a medicinal plant. However, its scientific data are insufficient. The purpose of this study is to extract from root and stem of Cymbidium, to investigate the biological effects of them. Cymbidium antibacterial effects of the extracts were performed by antibacterial test against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Staphylococcus saphrophyticus (S. saprophyticus), Proteus vulgaris (P. vulgaris) and Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumonia). Antioxidant effects of the extracts were carried out by DPPH radical scavenging. Total phenolic contents were also determined. Moreover, Cell viability of extracts against MTT assay was cell viability against HepG2 cell and also measures Cholesterol adsorptivity of extracts. In this study, the extracts inhibited the growth of bacteria. Particularly Cymbidium root extracts by only ethanol extraction showed highest antimicrobial effect against S. aureus. The Cymbidium stem extracts by both ethanol extraction and sonication for 1 hour had higher antioxidant activites as well as total phenolic contents. Cell cytotoxicity showed higher than $50{\mu}g/mL$. Cholesterol adsorptivity showed lower than 20%. These results suggest that the Cymbidium might be a source of anti-bacterials and anti-oxidants.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 2014

In the course of study for a use for non-edible parts of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L), and the development of processed food utilizing these parts, edible floret and non-edible stalk were extracted with ethanol and different organic solvent fractions were prepared. With 10 different extracts and fractions, their useful components and various biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-proliferation activity, were investigated. The stalk has more abundant water soluble carbohydrate when compared with the floret, and floret has higher hexane-soluble pigments. Analysis of total flavonoid and total polyphenol contents showed that the floret has 1.5~1.99 times higher concentrations than the stalk. Among the fractions, ethylacetate (EA) fractions have the highest amount of total flavonoid and total polyphenol. The stalk and floret possessed 9.45 and 42.01 mg-total flavonoid/g, respectively. In the antioxidation activity assay, the EA fraction of floret showed strong radical scavenging activity and reducing power, while the n-hexane fraction of the stalk exhibited nitrite scavenging activity. In the antimicrobial activity assay, the EA fraction of floret showed a strong and broad-range of antibacterial activity, irrespective of gram positive or gram negative bacteria. In a while, the hexane and EA fractions revealed anti-proliferative effects against the human colorectal cancer cell HCT-116. Strong anti-proliferative activities were found in the hexane fraction of stalk (18.4% of cell viability), and the n-butanol fraction of floret (6.9% of cell viability). Our results suggest that the further study of the characterization of active fractions and the identification of active components from different parts of broccoli are needed to develop functional foods or novel plant-derived medicines.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.315-320
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• 2002

Phytoremediation of soil contaminated with cadmium was studied using Indian mallow (Abutilon avicennae) in columns packed with 80 mg Cd/kg soil. At 90 days after transplat, root biomass of the exposed plants was 4 times more inhibited compared to the control. Also, shoot length of the exposed plants was 3 times more inhibited than that of control plants. Accumulation of cadmium into tissues was in the order roots> stems> leaves during the 50 days, but the order was roots> stems> seeds> leaves during the 90 days after transplant. Regardless of cadmium contaminations, microbial activities were significantly greater in soil with plants than without plants. In soil column, cadmium was not transferred toward the lower part. Uptake of Cd by plant tissues was about 3.5% of the initial bioavailable cadmium for leaves, stems, and roots during the 90 days after transplant.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.350-357
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: Deicers such as calcium chloride ($CaCl_2$) and sodium chloride (NaCl) in Korea have been commonly used to reduce traffic accidents as well as injuries. However there have been adverse effects of deciders such as pollution of water and soil, and reduced productivity of agriculture as well as forest. This study aimed to investigate biological effects of the deicers against wheat, barley, and spinach. METHODS AND RESULTS: The germination of tested crop seeds exposed to chloride-deicers, $CaCl_2$ and NaCl was significantly reduced at over 3% concentration of chloride-deicers compared to the control. In spraying deicers to the seedlings of the crops, there was no symptom such as inhibition of growth rate or leaf elongation. However the germination of tested crop seeds was affected at 2% concentration of deicers when they were exposed continuously to deicers in soils. The growth of the shoot against $CaCl_2$ and NaCl treatments was very similar in wheat and barley whereas the shoot of spinach was the most susceptible. Based on these results, the sensitivity of the crops to the tested deicers was as follows: NaCl > $CaCl_2$ > mixture ($CaCl_2$ + NaCl). The length of shoots and roots of the seedlings grown in 1% treated soil was decreased. The biomass of all the seedlings decreased 1.5 to 4 times at 1%. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the effects of salt deicers by inputting into soil against growing tested crops are more severe in germination and growth inhibition as well as biomass decrease.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.577-583
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• 2002

The growth kinetics and the production of $\beta$-glucuronidase from transgenic tobacco's suspension culture was investigated in the flask culture and a 2.5 L bubble column reactor. The growth of bubble column reactor was similar to that of flask culture. However, in the bubble column reactor, the production of $\beta$ -glucuronidase reached 2850 U/mg (85-fold higher than that of flask culture). In both case, the production level of $\beta$ -glucuronidase was fluctuated, which was resulted from periodical degradation of the protein. Sucrose is important component in plant culture medium. Twice addition of sucrose in bubble column reactor could not improve cell growth, since other components in a medium were already depleted. However, the addition of sugar decreased cell size, which facilitated the operation of bioreactor. The production of $\beta$ -glucuronidase was continuously increased, however final concentration of $\beta$ -glucuronidase was similar to that without sucrose addition.