• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2019

As the elderly population is increasing, Alzheimer's disease (AD) has become a global issue and many clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate treatments for AD. As these clinical trials have been conducted and have failed, the development of new theraphies for AD with fewer adverse effects remains a challenge. In this study, we examined the effects of Theracurmin on cognitive decline using 5XFAD mice, an AD mouse model. Theracurmin is more bioavailable form of curcumin, generated with submicron colloidal dispersion. Mice were treated with Theracurmin (100, 300 and 1,000 mg/kg) for 12 weeks and were subjected to the novel object recognition test and the Barnes maze test. Theracurmin-treated mice showed significant amelioration in recognition and spatial memories compared those of the vehicle-treated controls. In addition, the antioxidant activities of Theracurmin were investigated by measuring the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels. The increased MDA level and decreased SOD and GSH levels in the vehicle-treated 5XFAD mice were significantly reversed by the administration of Theracurmin. Moreover, we observed that Theracurmin administration elevated the expression levels of synaptic components, including synaptophysin and post synaptic density protein 95, and decreased the expression levels of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1), a marker of activated microglia. These results suggest that Theracurmin ameliorates cognitive function by increasing the expression of synaptic components and by preventing neuronal cell damage from oxidative stress or from the activation of microglia. Thus, Theracurmin would be useful for treating the cognitive dysfunctions observed in AD.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2019

This study has its aim to judge both applicability and suitability of recycling of waste soil for the use of farmland amelioration and low-lying farmland reclamation through growth and development experiment and component analysis. As results of physical characteristic evaluation on recycling of waste soil, the classification based on unified soil classification system has investigated as SW and SP affiliation and soil classification has appeared to be a loamy sand. As results of chemical component analysis, pH has appeared to be 7.0~8.4 which is relatively higher than general soil, however, heavy metal has investigated within the 1 region's standard value of soil pollution standards. As results of germination experiment, when using it by mixing recycling soil less than 75%, there is no significant influence on germination, and in the growth and development experiment, when using horticultural bed soil which is mixed with less than 40% of recycling of waste soil, it has confirmed that there is no significance difference with general soil. In case of farmland, the growth disorder of recycling of waste soil rate no more than 40% has shown that it has relatively small influences, and in case of using it by mixing with agricultural soil, it has evaluated to require concrete review of factors which may restrict growth condition including nutrition and pH.

• BMB Reports
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.318-323
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• 2019

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent adult stem cells that present immunosuppressive effects in experimental and clinical trials targeting various rare diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In addition, recent studies have reported tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (WRS) possesses uncanonical roles such as angiostatic and anti-inflammatory effects. However, little is known about the function of WRS in MSC-based therapy. In this study, we investigated if a novel factor, WRS, secreted from MSCs has a role in amelioration of IBD symptoms and determined a specific mechanism underlying MSC therapy. Experimental colitis was induced by administration of 3% DSS solution to 8-week-old mice and human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUCB-MSCs) were injected intraperitoneally. Secretion of WRS from hUCB-MSCs and direct effect of WRS on isolated $CD4^+$ T cells was determined via in vitro experiments and hUCB-MSCs showed significant therapeutic rescue against experimental colitis. Importantly, WRS level in serum of colitis induced mice decreased and recovered by administration of MSCs. Through in vitro examination, WRS expression of hUCB-MSCs increased when cells were treated with interferon-${\gamma}$ ($IFN-{\gamma}$). WRS was evaluated and revealed to have a role in inhibiting activated T cells by inducing apoptosis. In summary, $IFN-{\gamma}$-mediated secretion of WRS from MSCs has a role in suppressive effect on excessive inflammation and disease progression of IBD and brings new highlights in the immunomodulatory potency of hUCB-MSCs.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.55-63
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• 2021

Interest in smart parks has been increasing due to the recent rapid rise of smart cities, but concerns are growing over the development of technology-oriented smart parks. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relative importance of park services through Focus Group Interviews and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to develop user-oriented smart parks in the future. To this end, literature on park functions and services was reviewed, and interviews with experts in the field of landscape architecture and IT were conducted to derive service items. The AHP model consisted of four values, and 15 park services were established and used to survey 38 landscape experts. As a result, services for improving the park's essential functions, such as contact with nature, relaxation, and exercise-walking, were deemed important. Services related to the environment and safety in response to climate change, such as the amelioration of pollution and heatwaves were also high. The importance of social integration services was relatively low, but it was considered an important service to when enhancing community participation. Future smart parks should enhance the health benefits of contact with nature rather than implementing excessive artificial facilities and technology. Additionally, smart technology will need to be applied based on users' needs while reflecting local characteristics. Efforts should be made to enhance user intimacy and improve the understanding of smart parks by strengthening public relations education.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.135-146
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• 2022

Obesity is closely associated with profound dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease. Recent reports have suggested that alterations in gut microbiota can be linked to diet-induced obesity. In this study, the anti-obesity effects of Weissella confusa WIKIM51 isolated from kimchi were investigated, as evidenced by: i) reduced lipid accumulation and downregulated adipogenesis-related genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes; ii) suppressed gains in body weight and epididymal fat mass; iii) reduced serum lipid levels, for example, triglyceride and total cholesterol; iv) increased serum adiponectin levels and reduced serum leptin levels; v) downregulated lipogenesis and upregulated β-oxidation-related genes in the epididymal fat; and vi) altered microbial communities. The collective evidence indicate the potential value of W. confusa WIKIM51 as a functional food supplement for the prevention and amelioration of obesity.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.18-33
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• 2022

Beef contains functional fatty acids such as conjugated linoleic acid and longchain fatty acids. This review summarizes results from studies comparing the fatty acid composition of beef from cattle fed either grass or grain-based feed. Since functional lipid components are contributed through dietary consumption of beef, the fatty acid composition is reported on mg/100 g of meat basis rather than on a percentage of total fat basis. Beef from grass-fed contains lesser total fat than that from grain-fed in all breeds of cattle. Reduced total fat content also influences the fatty acid composition of beef. A 100 g beef meat from grass-fed cattle contained 2,773 mg less total saturated fatty acids (SFA) than that from the same amount of grain-fed. Grass-fed also showed a more favorable SFA lipid profile containing less cholesterol-raising fatty acids (C12:0 to C16:0) but contained a lesser amount of cholesterol-lowering C18:0 than grain-fed beef. In terms of essential fatty acids, grass-fed beef showed greater levels of trans-vaccenic acid and long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA; EPA, DPA, DHA) than grain-fed beef. Grass-fed beef also contains an increased level of total n-3 PUFA which reduced the n-6 to n-3 ratio thus can offer more health benefits than grain-fed. The findings signify that grass-fed beef could exert protective effects against a number of diseases ranging from cancer to cardiovascular disease (CVD) as evidenced by the increased functional omega-3 PUFA and decreased undesirable SFA. Although grain-fed beef showed lesser EPA, DPA, and DHA, consumers should be aware that greater portions of grain-fed beef could also achieve a similar dietary intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Noteworthy, grain-fed beef contained higher total monounsaturated fatty acid that have beneficial roles in the amelioration of CVD risks than grass-fed beef. In Hanwoo beef, grain-fed showed higher EPA and DHA than grass-fed beef.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.197-202
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• 2022

Gender neutral draft is the system that the level of manpower which military demands right now can be kept and the concept of gender equality can enlarge itself. This thesis draws implications on the necessity of optional review of draft and the amelioration of military organizational culture for the military through the example of Norway that has adopted gender neutral draft initially in Europe. The Military that is characterized by traditionally male led domain accelerates itself the openness to female by the aggrandizement of social participation and the improvement of human right for female. The various concerns about a necessary facilities, the period ofmilitary service, the level of salary, the keeping of combat power, etc just should be overcome in order to enlarge conscription to female in Korea. Situations such as the environment of national security, the level of social participation to female, the treatment to minority are different, so it is difficult for us to draw any conclusion whether the adoption of sex neutral conscription is right or not. Nonetheless, the national strategy that prepares for future may not be concluded easily and we can not stop it even though it is discomfortable truth. In Conclusion, we anticipate that the sound discourse on measures of including female in draft will be continued from the start with this thesis.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.83-92
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• 2022

The 2020 summer extreme flood severely disturbed the riparian ecosystem of the Seomjin River. Some trees were killed by the flood impact, whereas others have recovered through epicormic regeneration after the disturbance. At the same time, several tree individuals newly germinated. This research aimed to explain the recovery of the riparian ecosystem by spatial proximity between each tree individual of different characteristics, such as "dead", "recovered", and "newly germinated". A spatial point pattern analysis based on K and g-functions revealed that the newly germinated trees and the existing trees were distributed in the spatially clumping patterns. However, further detailed analysis revealed that the new trees were statistically less attracted to the recovered trees than the dead trees, implying competitive interactions hidden in the facilitative interactions. Habitat amelioration by the existing trees positively affected the growth of the new trees, while "living" existing trees were competing with the new trees for resources. This research is expected to provide new knowledge in this era of rapid climate change, which likely induces stronger and more frequent natural disturbance than before. Environmental factors have been widely used for ecosystem modeling, but species interactions, represented by the relative spatial distribution of plant individuals, are also valuable factors explaining ecosystem dynamics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.35-50
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• 2022

As the water shortage has become a noticeable issue due to climate change, forests play an importance role as the provider of water supply service. There is, however, little information about the relationships between the factors used in the estimation of water supply service and coarse pore fraction of forest soil which determines the potential of water supply. To find out whether there would be an amelioration in the scoring system of water supply service estimation, we examined all factors except meteorological one and additionally, analyzed 4 extra factors that might be related with coarse pore fraction of soil. A total of 2,214 soil samples were collected throughout South Korea to measure coarse pore fractions from 2015 to 2020. First, the result of average coarse pore fraction of all samples showed 32.98±6.59% which was consistent with previous studies. And the results of non-parametric analysis of variance indicated that only two of eleven factors that was used in the scoring system matched the results of coarse pore fraction of forest soils. Tree canopy coverage showed no difference among categories, and slope also showed no significance at level of 0.05 in the linear regression analysis. Additionally, the applicability of 4 extra factors were confirmed, as the result of coarse pore fractions of soil samples were different for various categories of each factor. Therefore, the scoring system of water supply service of forest should be revised to improve accuracy.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.52.1-52.13
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• 2023

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been investigated as therapeutic agents for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Stimulation of MSCs with pro-inflammatory cytokines is an approach to enhance their immunomodulatory effects. However, further investigation is required to support their application in immune-mediated disorders and companion animals. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the therapeutic effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated feline adipose tissue-derived MSCs (fAT-MSCs) in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. Methods: Colitis mice was made by drinking water with 3% DSS and fAT-MSCs were injected intraperitoneally. Colons were collected on day 10. The severity of the disease was evaluated and compared. Raw 264.7 cells were cultured with the conditioned medium to determine the mechanism, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: TNF-α-stimulated fAT-MSCs more improved severity of DSS-induced colitis in disease activity, colon length, histologic score, and inflammatory cytokine. In sectionized colon tissues, the group comprising TNF-α-stimulated fAT-MSCs had higher proportion of CD11b⁺CD206⁺ macrophages than in the other groups. In vitro, TNF-α-stimulation increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) secretion from fAT-MSCs. The conditioned medium from TNF-α-stimulated fAT-MSCs enhanced the expression of interleukin-10 and arginase-1 in LPS-activated Raw 264.7 cells. Conclusions: These results represent that TNF-α-stimulated fat-mscs ameliorate the inflamed colon more effectively. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the effectiveness was interlinked with the COX-2/PGE₂ pathway.