• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.643-650
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• 2015

The use of conditioned medium from mesenchymal stem cells may be a feasible approach for regeneration of bone defects through secretion of various components of mesenchymal stem cells such as cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. Mesenchymal stem cells secrete and accumulate multiple factors in conditioned medium under specific physiological conditions. In this study, we investigated whether the conditioned medium collected under hypoxic condition could effectively influence bone regeneration through enhanced migration and adhesion of endogenous mesenchymal stem cells. Cell migration and adhesion abilities were increased through overexpression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in hypoxic conditioned medium treated group. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was upregulated by microRNA-221 in mesenchymal stem cells because microRNAs are key regulators of various biological functions via gene expression. To investigate the effects in vivo, evaluation of bone regeneration by computed tomography and histological assays revealed that osteogenesis was enhanced in the hypoxic conditioned medium group relative to the other groups. These results suggest that behavioral changes of endogenous mesenchymal stem cells through microRNA-221 targeted-intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression under hypoxic conditions may be a potential treatment for patients with bone defects.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.3 s.95
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• pp.141-152
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• 2001

Abundance of autotrophic picoplankton (APP) and their contribution to phytoplankton biomass were assessed in seven brackish lagoons and five freshwater reservoirs in the summer season. Phycocyanin-rich picocyanobacteria dominated APP in lagoons, while phycoerythrin-rich picocyanobacteria dominated APP in freshwater reservoirs. The cell density of APP ranged from $3.6{\times}10^3$ to $5.0{\times}10^6\;cells/ml$ (median $2.5{\times}10^5$) in brackish lagoons and from $3.8{\times}10^4$ to $3.6{\times}10^5\;cells/ml$ (mdian $1.3{\times}10^5$) in reservoirs. Carbon biomass ranged from 1.0 to $1,385.0\;{\mu}gC/L$ in lagoons and from 15.3 to $128.2\;{\mu}gC/L$ in reservoirs. APP cell density in Lake Kyungpo was over $10^6\;cells/ml$in all three surveys, which is one of the highest values recorded in all over the world. During the thermal stratification in Lake Soyang, the maximum abundance of APP and their maximum contribution to phytoplankton biomass were observed near the thermocline. This study showed that APP sometimes can contribute significantly to phytoplankton biomass both in lagoons and reservoirs with the range from 0.1 to 85.0%. APP which have been overlooked in the past studies appears to be important primary producers in Korean lake ecosystem.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.613-619
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• 2018

In this study, various influent sludge pre-treatment methods and the internal recirculation of thickened sludge from effluents using a liquid/solid separation unit were adopted to investigate their effects on the sludge digestion and methane production in a combined mesophilic anaerobic and thermophilic aerobic sludge digestion process. A lab-scale combined sludge digestion process was operated during 5 phases using different feed sludge pre-treatment strategies. In phase 1, the feed sludge was pre-treated with a thermal-alkaline method. In contrast, in phases 2, 3 and 4, the internal recirculation of thickened sludge from the effluent and thermal-alkaline, thermal, and alkaline pre-treatment (7 days) were applied to the combined process. In phase 5, the raw sludge without any pre-treatment was used to the combined process. With the feed sludge pre-treatment and internal recirculation, the experimental results indicated that the volatile suspended solid (VSS) removal was drastically increased from phases 1 to 4. Also, the methane production rate with the thermal-alkaline pre-treatment and internal recirculation was significantly improved, showing an increment to 285 mL/L/day in phase 2. Meanwhile, the VSS removal and methane production in phase 5 were greatly decreased when the raw sludge without any pre-treatment was applied to the combined process. Considering all together, it was concluded that the combined process with the thickened sludge recirculation and thermal-alkaline pre-treatment can be successfully employed for the highly efficient sewage sludge reduction and methane gas production.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.40-46
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• 2011

This paper proposes a real-time face detection and tracking system that uses neural oscillators which can be applied to access regulation system or control systems of user authentication as well as a new algorithm. We study a way to track faces using the neural oscillatory network which imitates the artificial neural net of information handing ability of human and animals, and biological movement characteristic of a singular neuron. The system that is suggested in this paper can broadly be broken into two stages of process. The first stage is the process of face extraction, which involves the acquisition of real-time RGB24bit color video delivering with the use of a cheap webcam. LEGION(Locally Excitatory Globally Inhibitory)algorithm is suggested as the face extraction method to be preceded for face tracking. The second stage is a method for face tracking by discovering the leader neuron that has the greatest connection strength amongst neighbor neuron of extracted face area. Along with the suggested method, the necessary element of face track such as stability as well as scale problem can be resolved.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2009

In this study, we investigated the antioxidative activity and inhibitory effects on elastase and tyrosinase of Persicaria hydropiper L. extracts. The free radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) scavenging activities ($FSC_{50}$) of ethyl acetate fractions of Persicaria hydropiper L. was $5.23\;{\mu}g/mL$. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of some Persicaria hydropiper L. extracts on ROS generated in $Fe^{3+}$-EDTA/$H_2O_2$ system were investigated using the luminol - dependent chemiluminescence assay. The ROS scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of ethyl acetate fractions of Persicaria hydropiper L. was $0.40\;{\mu}g/mL$. The protective effects of extract / fractions of Persicaria hydropiper L. on the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were investigated. The Persicaria hydropiper L. extracts suppressed photohemolysis in a concentration dependent manner ($1\;{\sim}\;10\;{\mu}g/mL$). Inhibitory effects ($IC_{50}$) on tyrosinase of aglycone fraction of Persicaria hydropiper L. extracts was $8.90\;{\mu}g/mL$. Inhibitory effects ($IC_{50}$) on elastase of aglycone fraction of Persicaria hydropiper L. extracts was $2.37\;{\mu}g/mL$. These results indicate that extract / fractions of Persicaria hydropiper L. can function as antioxidants in biological systems, particularly skin exposed to UV radiation by anti-oxidative activity and protect cellular membranes against ROS. Persicaria hydropiper L. extract / fractions could be used as a new cosmeceutical for whitening and anti-wrinkle products.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.282-289
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• 2011

Objectives: We sought to establish a novel method to generate nano-sized carbon black particles (nano-CBPs) with an average size smaller than 100 nm for examining the inhalation exposure risks of experimental rats. We also tested the effect of nano-CBPs on the pulmonary and circulatory systems. Methods: We used chemical vapor deposition (CVD) without the addition of any additives to generate nano-CBPs with a particle size (electrical mobility diameter) of less than 100nm to examine the effects of inhalation exposure. Nano-CBPs were applied to a nose-only inhalation chamber system for studying the inhalation toxicity in rats. The effect on the lungs and circulatory system was determined according to the degree of inflammation as quantified by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The functional alteration of the hemostatic and vasomotor activities was measured by plasma coagulation, platelet activity, contraction and relaxation of blood vessels. Results: Nano-CBPs were generated in the range of 83.3-87.9 nm. Rats were exposed for 4 hour/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks to $4.2{\times}10^6$, $6.2{\times}10^5$, and $1.3{\times}10^5$ particles/$cm^3$. Exposure of nano-CBPs by inhalation resulted in minimal pulmonary inflammation and did not appear to damage the lung tissue. In addition, there was no significant effect on blood functions, such as plasma coagulation and platelet aggregation, or on vasomotor function. Conclusion: We successfully generated nano-CBPs in the range of 83.3-87.9 nm at a maximum concentration of $4.2{\times}10^6$ particles/$cm^3$ in a nose-only inhalation chamber system. This reliable method can be useful to investigate the biological and toxicological effects of inhalation exposure to nano-CBPs on experimental rats.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.356-356
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• 2017

A field experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of tillage systems and fertilizer management on yield and nutrient uptake in Soybean. The plant height, fresh weight and dry weight of conventional tillage were much higher those observed for no-tillage. Significant differences in plant height were observed under tillage practices combined with fertilizer treatment. However, the greatest plant height (128.47 cm) was observed in conventional tillage with chemical fertilizer, and the lowest (45.4 cm) was observed in the no-tillage with green manure treatment. The highest fresh weight (172.4 g) and dry weight (44.1 g) were observed from the no-tillage chemical treatment in the late flowering stage of soybean. The plant concentration of nitrate was higher (2.29%) in no-tillage with green manure than it was with chemical fertilization. However, nitrogen increased steadily in all treatments, and the highest quantity of total nitrogen (476.7 Kg/ha) was observed in no-tillage with green manure. The N content in the soil decreased gradually just after the vegetative stage. Tillage practices and additional fertilizer application had an adverse effect on the uptake of N, P and K in soybean seeds. The nitrogen concentration in seeds was found to be increased in the no-tillage with green manure treatment. The uptake of more nitrogen induced a better yield. Thus, the no-tillage with green manure treatment had the greatest yield, although no significant difference was observed among foliar-applications and additional fertilization. Additionally, the phosphorus and potassium concentrations in seeds remained the same between the conventional tillage and no-tillage treatments. The results obtained in this study indicate that no-tillage strategies with fertilizers may influence the growth characteristics and mineral uptake in soybean.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.4 s.96
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• pp.310-318
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• 2001

In the large regulated Nakdong River, the Predation effect of juvenile fish on the zooplankton community was evaluated by gut and stomach analyses of fish in 1999. Juvenile fish of five species showed high density from May to early June when river discharge was low and water body became stagnant. During this period, large rotifers, Asplanchna spp. and Brachionus spp. declined and the decrease of cladoceran (Moina micrura and Bosminopsis deitersi) density was also obeserved. At this time, small rotifers including Polyarthra spp. reached maximum density. Gut analysis of fish demonstrated that small-sized juvenile fish (< 15 mm in total length)preferred large rotifers as well as cladocerans, while large sized fish (> 15 mm)selected only cladocerans. On the other hand, juvenile Micropterus salmoides of which size was larger than other juvenile fish consumed not only zooplankton but also other small juvenile fish. Based on these results, the decline of large rotifers and cladocerans during early summer in the river seems to be result of predation by juvenile fish. However, the period when juvenile fish maintained their high density was as short as one month and the decreased density of cladocera rapidly recovered as soon as juvenile fish became scarce. Such a short period of juvenile fish devel-opment in the river can be attributed to the consumption of juvenile fish by the young-of-the-year cohorts as well as adults of M. salmoides. The high trophic state of the river might permit the rapid recovery of the cladoceran community. The predation impact of juvenile fish in the Nakdong River seems to be affected by the existence of piscivore as well as high trophic status.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.4 s.96
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• pp.277-284
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• 2001

Since a substantial part of the total planktonic primary production is due to the activity of the picoplankton, seasonal change of chlorophyll a in the picoplankton, nanoplankton and microplankton was determined at four locations in Daechung Reservoir from September in 1998 to September in 1999. Chlorophyll a concentration (<$200\;{\mu}m$) was $0.7{\sim}36.9\;{\mu}g/l$ In TAE (Taejeon site), $0.5{\sim}23.5\;{\mu}g/l$ in MAN (Man site), $1.9{\sim}20.1\;{\mu}g/l$ in HOE (Hoenam site), and $0.5{\sim}17.4\;{\mu}g/l$ in DAM (Dam site). Generally it was observed the highest concentration of chlorophyll a was in September and the lowest in April to June. The relative contribution of chlorophyll a of each fraction was changed dramatically through the year. Relative contribution of chlorophyll a of microplankton was high from June to October, and low in March in all locations except HOE. However chlorophlyll a concentration of picoplankton fraction was $2.0{\sim}24.3%$ of total chlorophyll a (<$200\;{\mu}m$) through the year and did not show any dramatic changes at all locations.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.159-167
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• 2014

In eukaryotes, proteins that are secreted into ER are post-translationally modified by N-glycosylation, the patterns of which are significantly different between plant and animal cells. Biotechnology industry has already produced a number of therapeutic glycoproteins in plant cells. However, the aberrant glycosylation of therapeutic recombinant proteins in plant systems can cause immune problems in humans. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies for producing non-glycosylated forms to preserve biological activity and native conformation by a peptide: N-glycanase (PNGase). In this study, we try to isolate PNGase T gene from tomato, which can use as a platform plant for biotechnology industry. We isolated a cDNA (GenBank Accession number KM401550) from tomato leaves with 1,767 bp, which encoded a polypeptide of 588 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 65.8 kDa. We also investigated the expression patterns of PNGase T during fruit ripening of tomato. The transcripts of PNGase T, which were constitutively induced in tomato fruit from green stage, were significantly increased and reached a peak at orange stage. After which, those transcripts were continuously reduced. The expression pattern of PNGase T was coincided well with transcripts profiles of metacaspase gene, LeMCA, and senescence-related gene members of ACC synthase, LeACS2, LeACS4, and LeACS6, for ethylene biosynthesis during fruit ripening. These results suggest that PNGase T is involved in a de-glycosylation process associated with senescence and fruit ripening.