• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 2016

The activity concentrations of $^{210}Po$ and $^{210}Pb$ within phytoplankton-zooplankton-anchovy-mackerel in the coastal water of the Jeju Island were determined to understand their distribution and bio-accumulation along the trophic level. In the surface water, the total activity concentrations of $^{210}Po$ and $^{210}Pb$ were $0.83{\pm}0.004mBq\;kg^{-1}$ and $1.27{\pm}0.03mBq\;kg^{-1}$. And the dissolved activity concentration of $^{210}Po$ and $^{210}Pb$ were $0.75{\pm}0.06mBq\;kg^{-1}$ and $1.22{\pm}0.09mBq\;kg^{-1}$ respectively. In the phytoplankton, the concentration factor (CF) of $^{210}Po$ and $^{210}Pb$ were $1.5{\times}10^5$ and $2.6{\times}10^4$ shows $^{210}Po$ is 5 times higher compared to $^{210}Pb$. The similar CF factor in the zooplankton of $^{210}Po$ was derived as $1.4{\times}10^5$. The CF of $^{210}Po$ in anchovy was increased twice compared to that in plankton. This is the evidence that there is $^{210}Po$ bio-magnification in the trophic level of plankton-anchovy. However the $^{210}Po$ activity concentration in the muscle tissue of mackerel was one-hundred times lower than that in anchovy. This reflects that in the trophic level of anchovy-mackerel, the bio-accumulation of $^{210}Po$ is decreased. The activity concentrations of $^{210}Po$ in the internal organs of anchovy and mackerel were 8 to 38 times higher than those in muscle tissues. In phytoplankton-zooplankton-anchovy, the CF of $^{210}Pb$ was decreased five times along the trophic level in order. In anchovy-mackerel it was decreased by 30-70%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.159-159
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• 2017

Drought, a common environmental constraint, induces a range of physiological, biochemical and molecular changes in plants, and can cause severe reductions in crop yield. Consequently, understanding the molecular mechanisms of drought tolerance is an important step towards crop biotechnology. Here, we report that the rice (Oryza sativa) homeodomain-leucine zipper class IV transcription factor gene, ${\underline{R}ice}$ ${\underline{o}utermost}$ ${\underline{c}ell-specific}$ gene 10 (Roc10), enhances drought tolerance and grain yield by increasing lignin accumulation in ground tissues. Overexpression of Roc10 in rice significantly increased drought tolerance at the vegetative stages of growth and promoted both more effective photosynthesis and a reduction in water loss rate, compared with non-transgenic controls or RNAi transgenic plants. Importantly, Roc10 overexpressing plants had a higher drought tolerance at the reproductive stage of growth and a higher grain yield compared with the controls under field-drought conditions. Roc10 is mainly expressed in outer cell layers including the epidermis and the vasculature of the shoots, which coincides with areas of cell wall lignification. Roc10 overexpression elevated the expression levels of lignin biosynthetic genes in shoots, with a concomitant increase in the accumulation of lignin, while the overexpression and RNAi lines showed opposite patterns of lignin accumulation. We identified downstream target genes of Roc10 by performing RNA-seq and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-seq analyses of shoot tissues. Roc10 was found to directly bind to the promoter of PEROXIDASEN/PEROXIDASE38, a key gene in lignin biosynthesis. Together, our findings suggest that Roc10 confers drought stress tolerance by promoting lignin biosynthesis in ground tissues.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.10a
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• pp.70-70
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• 2019

Hepatic fibrosis is a common chronic liver diseases, characterized by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM). Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) is proliferative and fibrogenic and accumulating ECM. Transforming growth factor $(TGF)-{\beta}1$ is a critical mediator of HSC activation and ECM accumulation leading to fibrosis. Tenebrio molitor (TM), known as yellow mealworms, is reported in many countries as the nutritional value of foods. Our study has aims of finding liver function improvement effect of S. cerevisiae fermented Tenebrio molitor (SCTM) in vitro model. SCTM regulates $TGF-{\beta}1$ induced hepatic fibrosis via regulation of the $TGF-{\beta}1/Smad$ signaling. Also, we compared the components increased by yeast fermentation. It is possible to make a useful insect-derived alternative food in the improvement of hepatic liver disease.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.627-636
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• 2020

Background: Cultivation of medicinal crops, which synthesize hundreds of substances for curative functions, was focused on the synthesis of secondary metabolites rather than biomass accumulation. Nutrition is an important restrict factor for plant growth and secondary metabolites, but little attention has been given to the plasticity of nutrient uptake and secondary metabolites synthesis response to soil nitrogen (N) change. Methods: Two year-field experiments of Sanqi (Panax notoginseng), which can synthesize a high level of saponin in cells, were conducted to study the effects of N application on the temporal dynamics of biomass, nutrient absorption, root architecture and the relationships between these parameters and saponin synthesis. Results: Increasing N fertilizer rates could improve the dry matter yields and nutrient absorption ability through increasing the maximum daily growth (or nutrient uptake) rate. Under suitable N level (225 kg/ha N), Sanqi restricted the root length and surface and enhanced the root diameter and N uptake rate per root length (NURI) to promote nutrient absorption, but the opposite status of Sanqi root architecture and NURI was found when soil N was deficient. Furthermore, increasing N rates could promote the accumulation of saponin in roots through improving the NURI, which showed a significant positive relationship with the content of saponin in the taproots. Conclusion: Appropriate N fertilizer rates could optimize both root architecture and nutrient uptake efficiency, then promote both the accumulation of dry matter and the synthesis of saponins.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.463-470
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• 2023

This study confirmed the change in functional composition and alcohol-induced acute liver injury in Aloe arborescens after fermentation. An acute liver injury was induced by administration of ethanol (3 g/kg/day) to C57BL/6J mice for 5 days. A fermented A. arborescens Miller leaf (FAAL) extract was orally administered 30 minutes before ethanol treatment. After fermentation, the emodin content was approximately 13 times higher than that of the raw material. FAAL extract significantly attenuated ethanol-induced aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and triglyceride increases in serum and liver tissue. Histological analysis revealed that FAAL extract inhibits inflammatory cell infiltration and fat accumulation in liver tissues. The cytochrome P450 2E1, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione (GSH), which involved in alcohol-induced oxidative stress, were effectively regulated by FAAL extract in serum and liver tissues, except for GSH. FAAL also maintained the antioxidant defense system by upregulating heme oxygenase 1 and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 protein expression. In addition, FAAL extract inhibited the decrease in alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, which promoted alcohol metabolism and prevented the activation of inflammatory response. Our results suggest that FAAL could be used as a potential therapeutic agent for ethanol-induced acute liver injury.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.90-97
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• 2015

Water chestnut (Trapa japonica Flerov.) is an annual aquatic plant. In the present study, we showed that the treatment of water chestnut extracted with boiling water resulted in a significant increase 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity and decrease the intracellular $H_2O_2$-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species. In addition, water chestnut extract (WCE) inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production and suppressed mRNA and protein expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene. The cytokine array results showed that WCE inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion. Also, WCE reduced tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$- and interleukin-6-induced nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ activity. Furthermore, during sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-induced irritation of human skin, WCE reduced SLS-induced skin erythema and improved barrier regeneration. These results indicate that WCE may be a promising topical anti-inflammatory agent.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.437-440
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• 2003

In a mediator-aided microbial fuel cell, the choice of a proper mediator is one of the most important factors for the development of a better fuel cell system as it transfers electrons from bacteria to the electrode. The electrochemical behaviors within the lipid layer of two representative mediators, thionin and safranine O both of which exhibit reversible electron transfer reactions, were compared with the fuel cell efficiency. Thionin was found to be much more effective than safranine O though it has lower negative formal potential. Cyclic voltammetric and fluorescence spectroscopic analyses indicated that both mediators easily penetrated the lipid layer to pick up the electrons produced inside bacteria. While thionin could pass through the lipid layer, the gradual accumulation of safranine O was observed within the layer. This restricted dynamic behavior of safranine O led to the poor fuel cell operation despite its good negative formal potential.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2005

Electro-osmotic flow (EOF) instability in a microchannel has been experimentally investigated using a micro-PIV system. The micro-PIV system consisting of a two-head Nd:Yag laser and cooled CCD camera was used to measure instantaneous velocity fields and vorticity contours of the EOF instability in a T-shape glass microchannel. The electrokinetic flow instability occurs in the presence of electric conductivity gradients. Charge accumulation at the interface of conductivity gradients leads to electric body forces, driving the coupled flow and electric field into an unstable dynamics. The threshold electric field above which the flow becomes unstable and rapid mixing occurs is about 1000V/cm. As the electric field increases, the flow pattern becomes unstable and vortical motion is enhanced. This kind of instability is a key factor limiting the robust performance of complex electrokinetic bio-analytical devices, but can also be used for rapid mixing and effective flow control fer micro-scale bio-chips.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.27-42
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• 2018

It is important to identify the contaminant sources and to evaluate the fate and transport of heavy metals to crops in agricultural lands. This study was conducted to evaluate metal sources and its transfer and accumulation to crop in agricultural soils. Pollution indices were calculated and multivariate analysis was performed to identify metal sources. To evaluate transfer and accumulation of metals to crops, the contents of phytoavailable metals were evaluated by using single extraction method and the correlation between metal content and soil properties was analyzed. Also the BCF was quantitatively evaluated for investigating the metal transition to each crop grown in the research area. As a result, Cr, Ni, and Co were expected to be mainly derived from geologic factors due to weathering of certain parent rocks. The content of nickel in soils of the research area was slightly higher than that of the concern level criteria based on total concentration, but the amount transferred and accumulated in the crops was actually low. Understanding the contamination characteristics by investigating the pollution sources of heavy metals and its transfer and accumulation to crops through various evaluation techniques could provide important information for proper management of the agricultural land.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.447-454
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• 2019

Fat accumulation in adipocytes occurs through the process of adipogenesis in which preadipocytes differentiate into adipocytes. Obesity is a metabolic disorder caused by excessive accumulation of fat in the body, which increases the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and various cancers. Recently, inhibition of adipocyte differentiation was shown to be a potential antiobesity strategy. In this study, the inhibitory effect of dichloromethane fractions from Illicium verum Hooker fil. water extract on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to adipocytes was investigated. Dichloromethane fractions from I. verum Hooker fil. significantly inhibited adipocyte differentiation when applied during the adipocyte differentiation process, as assessed by measuring fat accumulation using Oil-red O staining. In addition, dichloromethane fractions from I. verum Hooker fil. reduced important adipogenic transcription factors, such as CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$). The expression of FAS and LPL, which are terminal differentiation markers of mature adipocytes, was also reduced in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with dichloromethane fractions from I. verum Hooker fil. In addition, the treatment significantly inhibited mitotic clonal expansion, which is essential for adipocyte differentiation, by arresting the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Taken together, these results suggest that dichloromethane fractions from I. verum Hooker fil. may be a natural material with antiobesity effects.