• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.804-812
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• 2020

The giant mealworm beetle, Zophobas atratus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) has been used as a protein source for small pets and mammals. Recently, it was temporarily registered in the list of the Food Code. We previously performed an in silico analysis of the Zophobas atratus transcriptome to identify putative antimicrobial peptides and identified several antimicrobial peptide candidates. Among them, we assessed the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of zophobacin 1 that was selected bio-informatically based on its physicochemical properties against microorganisms and mouse macrophage Raw264.7 cells. Zophobacin 1 showed antimicrobial activities against microorganisms without inducing hemolysis and decreased the nitric oxide production of the lipopolysaccharide-induced Raw264.7 cells. Moreover, ELISA and Western blot analysis revealed that zophobacin 1 reduced expression levels of pro-inflammatory enzymes such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). We also investigated expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 and interleukin-1β) production through quantitative real time-PCR and ELISA. Zophobacin 1 markedly reduced the expression level of cytokines through the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. We confirmed that zophobacin 1 bound to bacterial cell membranes via a specific interaction with lipopolysaccharides. These data suggest that zophobacin 1 could be promising molecules for development as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory therapeutic agents.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.363-375
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• 2016

Potentilla kleiniana is a perennial herb beloning to Rosaceae family. Herein we investigated the effect of light intensity, light quality and chemical elicitor on plant growth and the accumulation of bioactive compounds in P. kleiniana. After 60 days of cultivation under different shading level [0% (200 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹), 35% (95 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹), 55% (65 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹), 75% (40 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹)] in the greenhouse, chlorophyll and carotenoid content were the highest under 35% treatment, however, plant height, leaf number and biomass were the highest under non-shading. As a result of cultivation among strong light condition as a control, florescence and three mixture light sources [red:white:blue (RWB) = 8:1:1, red:blue (RB) = 8:2, red:green:blue (RGB) = 8:1:1] as treatments in plant growth chamber (25 ± 2℃, 185 ± 3 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹), growth, biomass, chlorophyll content low difference between total phenolic compouds and flavonoid content were higher under RWB treatment. DPPH radical elimination ability was the highest under all treatments especially florescence and RGB treatment except control. As a result of treating chemical elicitor [salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA)] concentration (0, 50, 100, 200 μM) respectively, plant height, petiole diameter and biomass were higher under non-treatment, MeJA 50 μM. It was investigated that fresh weight and dry weight under MeJA 50 μM treatment were especially a little high. Total phenolic compounds and flavonoid content of SA 50 μM treatment was the highest but DPPH radical elimination ability was significantly the highest under MeJA 200 μM (88.65%) and MeJA 50 μM (87.84%) treatment. Thus, this study suggested that we determined optimal shading and light quality in the greenhouse and plant growth chamber also confirmed bioactive compound content, antioxidant ratio increase according to different chemical elicitation concentration.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.151-158
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• 2020

Alcohol, which can easily be obtained in the same way as ordinary beverages, is harmful enough to cause death due to excessive drinking and chronic alcohol intake, so it is important to maintain a proper amount of drinking and healthy drinking habits. In addition, the incidence of behavioral disturbances and impaired judgments that can be caused by chronic alcohol drinking of more than adequate amounts of alcohol is also significant. Accordingly it is very useful for forensic science to check whether the person involved is drunken or is alcoholism state in various accidents. Currently, in Korea, alcohol consumption is determined by detecting the level of alcohol or alcohol metabolism 'ethyl glucuronide (EtG)' in blood or urine samples. However, analysis of alcohol or EtG in blood or urine can only provide information about the current state of alcohol consumption because of a narrow window of detection time. Therefore, it is important to analyze the EtG as a long-term direct alcohol metabolite bio-marker in human hair and to investigate relationship between alcohol consumption and EtG concentration for the evaluation of chronic ethanol consumption. In this study, we established an analytical method for the detection of EtG in Korean hair efficiently and validated selectivity, linearity, limits of detection (LOD), limits of quantification (LOQ), matrix effect, recovery, process efficiency, accuracy and precision using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In addition, the assay performance was evaluated in Korean social drinker's hair and the postmortem hair of a chronic alcoholism. The results of this study can be useful in monitoring the alcohol abuse of Korean in clinical cases and legal procedures related to custody and provide a useful tool to evaluate postmortem diagnosis of alcoholic ketoacidosis in forensics.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.359-366
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• 2016

Exosome, a small vesicle secreted from cells, has diverse functions depending on cell origins and tissue types and plays a important role in cell viability and intercellular communication. Recently, many researchers have demonstrated the use of exosomes for the treatment of cancers and immune diseases, and the development of diagnostic biomarker. However, the secretion mechanism of exosome from skin cell and its physiological functions in skin remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to explore whether keratinocyte-derived exosome affects proliferation and migration in HaCaTs. Exosomes were isolated from HaCaTs by ExoQuick-TC and then boiled or unbolied. Boiled and unboiled exosome induced proliferation in HaCaTs in a dose-dependant manner ($0.1{\sim}20{\mu}g/mL$), respectively. Boiled and unboiled exosome at concentration of $20{\mu}g/mL$ increased proliferation level in HaCaTs by $186.96{\pm}3.87%$ and $193.48{\pm}10.48%$ compared with control group. Unboiled exosome stimulated migration in HaCaTs in a dose-dependent manner ($0.1{\sim}20{\mu}g/mL$), which reached a maxium at concentration of $20{\mu}g/mL$ ($179.39{\pm}4.89%$ of control), but boiled exosome did not affect HaCaT migration. In addition, unboiled exosome ($0.1{\sim}20{\mu}g/mL$) dose-dependently stimulated sprout outgrowth in HaCats. These results demonstrate that in exosome from HaCaTs, heat-stable components such as lipid may induce HaCaT proliferation and heat-unstable components such as protein may stimulate migration and sprout outgrowth in HaCaTs, thereby leading to reepithelialization and skin-wound healing activities. It is concluded that exosomes from HaCaTs may be used as cosmetic materials.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.105 no.1
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• pp.149-156
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• 2016

Forest museums can be defined as facilities for the collection, exhibition, and education of the forest or forest related artifacts or data. This study was performed to measure the educational value of Gyeongnam state forest museum's forest and its environment. The tool used was the Contingent Valuation Methods (CVM) which is well known as a value estimation tool of environmental goods. The study for the value estimation is performed from April, 2014 to October of the same year through selection of the subject, decision of proposed price, and orientation of the survey staffs and total of 386 surveys were used in analysis. The value estimation tool used the DBDC logit model and the input parameters were number of visit (time), degree of environmental education (contri), the environment conservation effort of the respondent (execu), the education level of the respondent (edu), and income of the respondent (inc) and trimmed mean (WTPtruncated) was used. The estimated value of flora and environment education per each person per visit is 23,338 won. When applied to the average annual visitors deducted from 2010 to 2014, which is 430,000 per year, the environmental value that Gyeongnam state forest museum is providing to visitors each year is about 10 billion won. The result of this study is significant to propose the value of forest education and environment that the forest museum is offering to the visitors in the current currency. This is an evidence to directly determine the value of the forest museum and therefore proposing an opportunity change the recognition toward the forest and environment education.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.265-271
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• 2004

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the influence of feeding Lactobacillus reuteri culture (LR) on productive performance, intestinal microflora and availability in laying hens. Four hundred and eighty, Isa-Brown layers, 49 weeks of age, were fed diets supplemented with LR at the level of 0 (control), 0.1, 0.2, and $0.4\%$ of the diets for eight weeks. Egg production and egg weight were measured daily. Feed intake was weighed every two weeks. Egg quality was measured three times at the start, mid-term, and end of the experiment. Intestinal microflora were examined for Lactobacillus spp., E. coli and Salmonella at the end of the experiment. Overall egg production was the highest in $0.2\%$ LR (P<0.05), but that of $0.1\%$ or $0.4\%$ LR treatments did not significantly differ from that of control. Egg weight was significantly higher in LR feeding group than the control (P<0.05). Daily egg mass was significantly higher in $0.2\%$ and $0.4\%$ LR treatments compared to the control and $0.1\%$ LR (P<0.05). The number of jumbo and extra large eggs were increased in LR supplemented groups, especially in $0.1\%$ LR. Feed intake of layers fed LR supplemented diets tended to be lower than the control. However, feed conversion ratio significantly improved in LR supplemented groups (P<0.05). Availability of dry matter and crude protein improved significantly in $0.4\%$ LR treatment (P<0.05). But, those of ether extract and crude ash were not significantly different among treatments. Eggshell breaking strength and eggshell thickness were not significantly influenced by LR supplementation, and Haugh unit and yolk index were also similar to the control. Total number of Lactobacillus spp. in ileum and cecum fed LR supplemented diets were significantly higher than those of the control (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in intestinal E. coli and Salmonella in all treatments. Therefore, it is concluded that dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus reuteri culture can improve the laying performance, feed efficiency and intestinal Lactobacillus.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.29
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• pp.83-89
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• 2011

Various functional and useful components in Portulaca oleracea were extracted with ethanol and the optimum solvent conditions were set by monitoring of response surface methodology(RSM). A central composite design for optimization was applied to investigate the effects of the three independent variables of extraction temperature, ethanol concentration, and extraction time, on dependent variables including total phenolics, electron-donating ability, brown clolor and total flavonoids of Portulaca oleracea. The content of total phenol was essentially unaffected by extraction time or extraction temperature, but it was highly influenced by ethanol concentration. The maximum total phenol content was 31.70mg/mL obtained at 45.84% of ethanol concentration, $79.66^{\circ}C$, and after 2.67hr of extraction. Electron-donating ability (EDA) was affected by ethanol concentration and the maximum EDA was 74.67mg/mL at 52.95% ethanol concentration, $52.33^{\circ}C$ and 4.84hr of extration time. The browning color was rarely affected by extraction time but, it was highly influenced by ethanol concentration and extraction temperature. The maximum extent of browning color was obtained at 97.75% of ethanol concentraion, $65.88^{\circ}C$ and 2.93hr of extraction time. The content of total flavonoid was significantly influenced by extraction time, and the maximum total flavonoid level was 58.28mg/mL obtained at 96.62% ethanol concentration, $61.87^{\circ}C$ after 3.70hr of extraction. As a result, The optimal conditions for effective extraction were predicted as follows, 70.3% of ethanol concentration, $62.1^{\circ}C$ of extraction temperature and 3.3hr of extraction time.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2018

Soybean sprouts have good digestibility, high isoflavone content compared with soybean seeds, and large amounts of aspartic acid, which is effective in eliminating hangovers. However, the region between the cotyledon and hypocotyl in soybean sprouts appears purple, the product value of soybean sprouts reduces. To date, the scientific correlation among factors such as growth temperature, spray water temperature, and cultivation periods for soybean varieties related to purple color expression between the cotyledon and hypocotyl of soybean sprouts are unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors regulating the expression of purple color between the cotyledon and hypocotyl of soybean sprouts. Of 15 Korean soybean varieties with purple color in the hypocotyls and flowers, 9 varieties, including Sowonkong, Wonhwang, Sinhwa, Eunhakong, Pungsannamulkong, Paldonamulkong, Kwangankong, Shingang, and Jangki showed purple color between the cotyledon and hypocotyl of sprouts. However, the remaining six cultivars, including Dachae, Myeongjunamulkong, Sobaeknamulkong, Sojinnamulkong, Anpyeong, and Jonam, did not show purple color. The proportion of soybean sprouts with purple hypocotyls was the lowest at $26^{\circ}C$ and there was no significant difference at the other three cultivation temperature conditions ($17^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, and $23^{\circ}C$). Similar to the results of the cultivation temperature experiment at five different spray water temperatures ($10^{\circ}C$, $17^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, $23^{\circ}C$, and $26^{\circ}C$), the proportion of soybean sprouts with purple hypocotyls was the highest at the lowest spray water temperature ($10^{\circ}C$), and lowest at the highest temperature. Additionally, there was no purple color expression in soybean sprout hypocotyls on the $3^{rd}$ day after soybean sprouting. However, the highest expression level was observed on the $4^{th}$ day. Then, on the $5^{th}$ day, the proportion of soybean sprouts with purple hypocotyls reduced significantly, compared with that on the $4^{th}$ day. The results showed that interaction among these factors under cultivation conditions was remarkably effective for the expression of purple color in hypocotyls under the dark condition. These results suggested that cultivation temperature and spray water temperature for purple color expression in soybean sprout hypocotyls are the most important factors in the sprout cultivation environment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.662-669
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• 2011

This study was conducted to biologically convert methane into methanol. Methane contained in biogas was bio-catalytically oxidized by methane monooxygenase (MMO) of methanotrophs, while methanol conversion was observed by inhibiting methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) using MDH activity inhibitors such as phosphate, NaCl, $NH_4Cl$, and EDTA. The degree of methane oxidation by methanotrophs was the most highly accomplished as 0.56 mmol for the condition at $35^{\circ}C$ and pH 7 under 0.4 (v/v%) of biogas ($CH_4$ 50%, $CO_2$ 50%) / Air ratio. By the inhibition of 40 mM of phosphate, 50 mM of NaCl, 40 mM of $NH_4Cl$ and $150{\mu}m$ of EDTA, methane oxidation rate could achieve more than 80% regardless of type of inhibitors. In the meantime, addition of 40 mM of phosphate, 100 mM of NaCl, 40 mM of $NH_4Cl$ and $50{\mu}m$ of EDTA each led to generating the highest amount of methanol, i.e, 0.71, 0.60, 0.66, and 0.66 mmol when 1.3, 0.67, 0.74, and 1.3 mmol of methane was each concurrently consumed. At that time, methanol conversion rate was 54.7, 89.9, 89.6, and 47.8% respectively, and maximum methanol production rate was $7.4{\mu}mol/mg{\cdot}h$. From this, it was decided that the methanol production could be maximized as 89.9% when MDH activity was specifically inhibited into the typical level of 35% for the inhibitor of concern.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.226-234
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• 2010

Foliage residue toxicity experiment was performed against honeybee (Apis mellifera) with bifenthrin, a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide with strong acute contact toxicity and imidacloprid, a neo-nicotinoid insecticide with strong acute oral toxicity to know the honeybee toxicity at the residue level on the leaves of alfalfa and apple. Also, the formulation differences to honeybee toxicity were investigated with WP (2%) and EC (1%) of bifenthrin and WP (10%) and SL (4%) of imidacloprid. Generally, foliage residual toxicity of honeybee and residual amounts of tested insecticides was higher in alfalfa leaves with large leaf area per unit weight than in apple leaves. While on the other hand, the only bifenthrin WP treatment showed higher honeybee toxicity on apple leaves than alfalfa. Although imidacloprid showed higher residue amounts ranged $4.9{\sim}25.4\;mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ than bifenthrin ranged $0.6{\sim}12.7\;mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ on the leaves, the residual toxicity to honeybee was lower than bifenthrin because of its strong penetration character. In conclusion, the residual toxicity of insecticide to honeybee could be affected by the contact and vaporized toxicity of chemical, the residual amounts on the surface of leaves, and the leaf area per unit weight and formulation differences.