• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.463-475
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• 2018

Salinity and extreme temperature stresses affect growth and productivity of crops negatively. Beneficial bacteria, including plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) induce growth promotion and tolerance of plants under abiotic stress conditions. In the present study, 20 strains were selected from 1944 isolated bacteria based on three plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity, phosphate solubilization, indole-3-acetic acid production, and growth ability under salinity and extreme temperature stress conditions. Seven among the 20 strains were selected based on growth-promoting effects on plants under saline or temperature stresses in tomato plants. It was expected that the seven strains could induce tolerance of tomato plants under salinity or extreme temperature stresses, which implies that these seven strains can act as potential inducers of multiple stresses tolerance in tomato plants.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.279-288
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• 2016

To observe the potential hepatoprotective effects of Gongjin-dan on the acute ethanol (EtOH)-induced liver damages in C57BL/6 mice with its possible action mechanisms. EtOH-mediated acute hepatic damages were induced by oral administration of EtOH total 3 doses. The changes on the body weight, liver weight, albumin, TG, AST, ALP, ALT, hepatic TG contents, hepatic antioxidant defense system, TNF-α, CYP 2E1 activity and mRNA expressions of hepatic lipogenic genes - SREBP-1c, SCD1, ACC1, FAS, PPARγ and DGAT2 or genes involved in fatty acid oxidation - PPARα, ACO and CPT1 were observed with final liver histopathological inspections after 15 days of continuous administration of silymarin 200 mg/kg, Gongjin-dan (GJD) 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg. The results were compared with silymarin 200 mg/kg treated mice. Marked decreases of body and liver weights, increases of serum AST, ALT, Albumin and TG levels, hepatic TG contents, TNF-α level, CYP 2E1 activity and mRNA expressions of hepatic lipogenic genes or decreases mRNA expressions of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation were observed with histopathological changes related hepatosteatosis increases of immunolabelled hepatocytes, as the results of a binge drinking of EtOH in the present study. Also destroys of hepatic antioxidant defense systems were demonstrated in EtOH control mice as compared with intact vehicle control mice, respectively. The results suggest that oral administration of 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg of GJD favorably protected the liver damages from acute mouse EtOH intoxications.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.224-229
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• 2008

Eucommia ulmoides (Duchung) is commonly used for treatment of diabetes in Korean traditional medicine. However, the exact mechanism of its anti-diabetic effect has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, the effect of E. ulmoides extract on glucose uptake was investigated in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells. E. ulmoides extract stimulated the activity of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase that is a major regulatory molecule in glucose uptake pathway. Protein kinase B (PKB) and protein kinase C-${\xi}$ (PKC-${\xi}$), downstream mediators of PI 3-kinase, were also activated by E. ulmoides extract. We assessed the activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), another regulatory molecule in glucose uptake pathway. Phosphorylation level of AMPK did not change with treatment of E. ulmoides extract. Phosphorylations of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), downstream mediators of AMPK, were not significantly different. Taken together, our results suggest that E. ulmoides may stimulate glucose uptake through PI 3-kinase but not AMPK in L6 skeletal muscle cells.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to develop molecular identification method for medical mushrooms and their preparations based on the nucleotide sequences of nuclear large subunit (LSD) rDNA. Four specimens were collected of each of the three representative medicinal mushrooms used in Korea: Ganoderma Incidum, Coriolus versicolor, and Fomes fomentarius. Fungal material used in these experiments included two different mycelial cultures and two different fruiting bodies from wild or cultivated mushrooms. The genomic DNA of mushrooms were extracted and 3 nuclear LSU rDNA fragments were amplified: set 1 for the 1.1-kb DNA fragment in the upstream region, set 2 for the 1.2-kb fragment in the middle, and set 3 for the 1.3-kb fragment downstream. The amplified gene products of nuclear large subunit rDNA from 3 different mushrooms were cloned into E. coli vector and subjected to nucleotide sequence determination. The sequence thus determined revealed that the gene sequences of the same medicinal mushroom species were more than $99.48\%$ homologous, and the consensus sequences of 3 different medicinal mushrooms were more than $97.80\%$ homologous. Restriction analysis revealed no useful restriction sites for 6-bp recognition enzymes for distinguishing the 3 sequences from one another, but some distinctive restriction patterns were recognized by the 4-bp recognition enzymes AccII and HhaI. This analysis was also confirmed by PCR-RFLP experiments on medicinal mushrooms.

• Journal of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.1323-1336
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• 2015

Let S be a semigroup with 0 and R be a ring with 1. We extend the definition of the zero-divisor graphs of commutative semigroups to not necessarily commutative semigroups. We define an annihilating-ideal graph of a ring as a special type of zero-divisor graph of a semigroup. We introduce two ways to define the zero-divisor graphs of semigroups. The first definition gives a directed graph ${\Gamma}$(S), and the other definition yields an undirected graph ${\overline{\Gamma}}$(S). It is shown that ${\Gamma}$(S) is not necessarily connected, but ${\overline{\Gamma}}$(S) is always connected and diam$({\overline{\Gamma}}(S)){\leq}3$. For a ring R define a directed graph ${\mathbb{APOG}}(R)$ to be equal to ${\Gamma}({\mathbb{IPO}}(R))$, where ${\mathbb{IPO}}(R)$ is a semigroup consisting of all products of two one-sided ideals of R, and define an undirected graph ${\overline{\mathbb{APOG}}}(R)$ to be equal to ${\overline{\Gamma}}({\mathbb{IPO}}(R))$. We show that R is an Artinian (resp., Noetherian) ring if and only if ${\mathbb{APOG}}(R)$ has DCC (resp., ACC) on some special subset of its vertices. Also, it is shown that ${\overline{\mathbb{APOG}}}(R)$ is a complete graph if and only if either $(D(R))^2=0,R$ is a direct product of two division rings, or R is a local ring with maximal ideal m such that ${\mathbb{IPO}}(R)=\{0,m,m^2,R\}$. Finally, we investigate the diameter and the girth of square matrix rings over commutative rings $M_{n{\times}n}(R)$ where $n{\geq} 2$.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2015

BACKGROUD/OBEJECTIVES: The mechanism of how black garlic effects lipid metabolism remains unsolved. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the effects of black garlic on lipid profiles and the expression of related genes in rats fed a high fat diet. MATERIALS/METHODS: Thirty-two male Sqrague-Dawley rats aged 4 weeks were randomly divided into four groups (n=8) and fed the following diets for 5 weeks: normal food diet, (NF); a high-fat diet (HF); and a high-fat diet + 0.5% or 1.5% black garlic extract (HFBG0.5 or HFBG1.5). Body weights and blood biochemical parameters, including lipid profiles, and expressions of genes related to lipid metabolism were determined. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed in the final weights between the HFBG1.5 and HF groups. All blood biochemical parameters measured in the HFBG1.5 group showed significantly lower values than those in the HF group. Significant improvements of the plasama lipid profiles as well as fecal excretions of total lipids and triglyceride (TG) were also observed in the HFBG1.5 group, when compared to the HF diet group. There were significant differences in the levels of mRNA of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) in the HFBG1.5 group compared to the HF group. In addition, the hepatic expression of (HMG-CoA) reductase and Acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) mRNA was also significantly lower than the HF group. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of black garlic extract lowers SREBP-1C mRNA expression, which causes downregulation of lipid and cholestrol metahbolism. As a result, the blood levels of total lipids, TG, and cholesterol were decreased.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.62-76
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• 2016

Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the anti-lipogenic effects of Samhwangsasim-tang(SHT), Daehwanghwangryunsasim-tang(DHT) aqueous extract on HepG2 cells with palmitate. Materials and Methods: HepG2 cells treated with palmitate were used in this study as hepatic steatosis model. Cells were treated with different concentrations of SHT, DHT aqueous extract for 24 hours. Cell viability and cytotoxicity were analyzed by MTT assay. Expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, Survivin, P21, TGF-${\beta}1$, LXR-${\alpha}$, ChREBP, ACC1, SCD1 mRNA were determined by Real-time PCR. Apoptosis of cells was detected by ELISA and FACS. Expression level of caspase-3 was studied by Western blot. Lipid accumulation was indicated by Oil Red O staining. Results: SHT, DHT aqueous extract had no cytotoxicity, but decreased palmitate-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. SHT aqueous extract suppressed fatty acid synthesis by inhibiting LXR-${\alpha}$, ChREBP, SCD1 activation and increasing TGF-${\beta}1$ expression level. DHT aqueous extract also suppressed fatty acid synthesis by decreasing ChREBP expression and increasing TGF-${\beta}1$ expression. Apoptosis of lipid accumulated cells was increased by enhanced activities of P21, caspase-3 and inhibited expressions of Bcl-2, Survivin. Conclusions: These results suggest that SHT and DHT have an anti-lipogenic effects on lipid accumulation of hepatic cell. Also SHT and DHT have an efficacy to increase apoptosis of adipocyte without cytotoxicity. Therefore, SHT and DHT might have potential clinical applications for treatment of hepatic steatosis.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.473-482
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• 2015

Recent development in science and technology has enabled vehicles to be equipped with advanced autonomous functions. ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) are examples of such advanced autonomous systems added. Advanced systems have several operational modes and it has been observed that drivers could be unaware of the mode they are in during vehicle operation, which can be a contributing factor of traffic accidents. In this study, possible mode confusions in a simulated environment when vehicles are equipped with an adaptive cruise control system were investigated. The mental model of the system was designed and verified using the formal analysis method. Then, the user interface was designed on the basis of those of the current cruise control systems. A set of human-in-loop experiments was conducted to observe possible mode confusions and redesign the user interface to reduce them. In conclusion, the clarity and transparency of the user interface was proved to be as important as the correctness and compactness of the mental model when reducing mode confusions.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.228-234
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• 1994

Genomic RNA was extracted from Cy strain of odontoglossum ringspot tobamovirus (ORSV-Cy) isolated from infected leaves of tobacco cv. Samsun. Size of the genomic RNA was about 6.6 kb in length. The genomic RNA was fractionated using Sephadex G-50 column chromatography into 2 fractions. They were polyadenylated at their 3'-end using E. coli poly(A) polymerase. Polyadenylated viral RNA was recovered by oligo (dT) primer adapter containing NotI restriction site and Moloney murine leukemia virus SuperScript reverse transcriptase (RNase H-). Second-strand cDNA was synthesized by using E. coli DNA ligase, E. coli DNA polymerase I and E. coli RNase H. Recombinant plasmids containing cDNAs for ORSV-Cy RNA ranged from about 800 bp to 3,000 bp. Among the selected 238 recombinants, pORCY-124 clone was the largest one covering 3'-terminal half of the viral RNA. This clone contained two restriction sites for EcoRI and XbaI and one site for AccI, AvaI, BglII, BstXI, HindIII, PstI, and TthIII 1. respectively. The clone contained partial viral replicase, a full-length movement protein and a complete coat protein genes followed by a 3' untranslated region of 414 nucleotides based on restriction mapping and nucleotide sequencing analyses. Clones pORCY-028, -068, -072, -187 and -224 were overlapped with the pORCY-124. Clones pORCY-014 and -095 covered 5' half upstream from the middle region of the viral RNA, which was estimated based on restriction mapping and partial sequence analysis. Constructed cDNA library covered more than 90% of the viral genome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.453-463
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• 1995

During 42 month period 91 consecutive patient underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. The mean age of these patient was 57 years [range from 28 to 78 years . There were 57 men and 34 women. The preoperative risk factors that include beyond the 50 % of total patients were male sex, obesity, hypo-high-density lipoproteinemia, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, hyper-low-density lipoproteinemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension. Preoperatively 27 patients had stable angina pectoris and 39 patients of unstable angina pectoris. Twenty five patients had previous myocardial infarction history. The patterns of disease were 8 patients of single vessel involvement, 18 patients of double vessel involvement, 54 patients of triple vessel involvement and 11 patients of left main coronary artery disease. Fifty five patients were in Canadian Cardiovascular Society functional class III. Myocardial revascularization was performed under emergency conditions in 5 patients. Nine percent of patients had previous PTCA history. We performed 16 cases of sequential anastomosis, internal mammary artery harvest in 86 percent of total patients and total 284 distal anastomoses[mean 3.1 anastomosis per patient . The mean ACC time was 60.5 minutes and ECC time was mean 110 minutes. The combined surgeries were 16 cases of endarterectomy, 2 cases of LV aneurysmectomy, 1 case of Bentall operation, 1 case of repair of sinus of Valsalva, 1 case of ligation of coronary AV fistula and 1 case of excision of breast mass. The most common complication was wound infection[12 cases, 13 % . There was one hospital death due to postoperative respiratory failure and low output syndrome in patient with postinfarction VSD, LV aneurysm. Postoperative 88 patients were in Functional class I or II. The 99mTc-MIBI myocardial perfusion scan that used as evaluation of postoperative state was well correlated with patient`s symptoms instead of some disadvantages.