• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.11
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• pp.617-622
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• 2016

Oxidative stress is closely associated with various diseases and is considered to be a major factor in ischemia. NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) protein is a known antioxidant protein that plays a protective role in various cells against oxidative stress. We therefore investigated the effects of cell permeable Tat-NQO1 protein on hippocampal HT-22 cells, and in an animal ischemia model. The Tat-NQO1 protein transduced into HT-22 cells, and significantly inhibited against hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced cell death and cellular toxicities. Tat-NQO1 protein inhibited the Akt and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) activation as well as caspase-3 expression levels, in $H_2O_2$ exposed HT-22 cells. Moreover, Tat-NQO1 protein transduced into the CA1 region of the hippocampus of the animal brain and drastically protected against ischemic injury. Our results indicate that Tat-NQO1 protein exerts protection against neuronal cell death induced by oxidative stress, suggesting that Tat-NQO1 protein may potentially provide a therapeutic agent for neuronal diseases.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.188-195
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• 1999

The fMRI signals are composed of many various signals. It is very difficult to find the accurate parameter for the model of fMRI signal containing only neural activity, though we may estimating the signal patterns by the modeling of several signal components. Besides the nose by the physiologic motion, the motion of object and noise of MR instruments make it more difficult to analyze signals of fMRI. Therefore, it is not easy to select an accurate reference data that can accurately reflect neural activity, and the method of an analysis of various signal patterns containing the information of neural activity is an issue of the post-processing methods for fMRI. In the present study, fMRI data was analyzed with the Independent Component Analysis(ICA) method that doesn't need a priori-knowledge or reference data. ICA can be more effective over the analytic method using cross-correlation analysis and can separate the signal patterns of the signals with delayed response or motion related components. The Principal component Analysis (PCA) threshold, wavelet spatial filtering and analysis of a part of whole images can be used for the reduction of the freedom of data before ICA analysis, and these preceding analyses may be useful for a more effective analysis. As a result, ICA method will be effective for the degree of freedom of the data.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.543-553
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• 2010

Almost five million citizens a day are using subways as a means of traffic communication in the Seoul metropolitan. As the subway system is typically a closed environment, indoor air pollution problems frequently occurs and passengers complain of mal-health impact. Especially $PM_{10}$ is well known as one of the major pollutants in subway indoor environments. The purpose of this study was to compare the indoor air quality in terms of $PM_{10}$ and to quantitatively compare its source contributions in a Seoul subway platform before and after installing platform screen doors (PSD). $PM_{10}$ samples were collected on the J station platform of Subway Line 7 in Seoul metropolitan area from Jun. 12, 2008 to Jan. 12, 2009. The samples collected on membrane filters using $PM_{10}$ mini-volume portable samplers were then analyzed for trace metals and soluble ions. A total of 18 chemical species (Ba, Mn, Cr, Cd, Si, Fe, Ni, Al, Cu, Pb, Ti, $Na^+$, $NH_4^+$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cl^-$, and ${SO_4}^{2-}$) were analyzed by using an ICP-AES and an IC after performing proper pre-treatments of each sample filter. Based on the chemical information, positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was applied to identify the source of particulate matters. $PM_{10}$ for the station was characterized by three sources such as ferrous related source, soil and road dust related source, and fine secondary aerosol source. After installing PSD, the average $PM_{10}$ concentration was decreased by 20.5% during the study periods. Especially the contribution of the ferrous related source emitted during train service in a tunnel route was decreased from 59.1% to 43.8% since both platform and tunnel areas were completely blocked by screen doors. However, the contribution of the fine secondary aerosol source emitted from various outside combustion activities was increased from 14.8% to 29.9% presumably due to ill-managed ventilation system and confined platform space.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.483-497
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• 2017

Background : Behavioral stress has been suggested as one of the significant factors that is able to disrupt physiological systems and cause depression as well as changes in various body systems. The stressful events can alter cognition, learning, memory and emotional responses, resulting in mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Results : We used a restraint stress model to evaluate the alteration of behavior and stress-related blood parameter. The animals were randomly divided into two groups of five animals each group. Furthermore, we assessed the change of body weight to evaluate the locomotor activity as well as status of emotional and anxiety in mice. After 7 days of restraint stress, the body weight had significantly decreased in the restraint stress group compared with the control group. We also observed stress-associated behavioral alterations, as there was a significant decrease in open field and forced swim test, whereas the immobilization time was significantly increased in the stress group compared to the control group. We observed the morphological changes of neuronal death and microglia by immunohistochemistry and western blot. In our study restraint stress did not cause change in neuronal cell density in the frontal cortex and CA1 hippocampus region, but there was a trend for an increased COX-2 and iNOS protein expression and microglia (CD11b) in brain, which is restraint stress. Conclusion : Our study, there were significant alterations observed in the behavioral studies. We found that mice undergoing restraint stress changed behavior, confirming the increased expression of inflammatory factors in the brain.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.221-237
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• 2005

For developing the site-specific fertilizer management strategies of crop, it is essential to know the spatial variability of soil factors and to assess their influence on the variability of crop growth and yield. In 2002 and 2003 cropping seasons within-field spatial variability of rice growth and yield was examined in relation to spatial variation of soil properties in the· two paddy fields having each area of ca. $6,600m^2$ in Suwon, Korea. The fields were managed without fertilizer or with uniform application of N, P, and K fertilizer under direct-seeded and transplanted rice. Stable soil properties such as content of clay (Clay), total nitrogen (TN), organic mater (OM), silica (Si), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and rice growth and yield were measured in each grid of $10\times10m$. The two fields showed quite similar spatial variation in soil properties, showing the smallest coefficient of variation (CV) in Clay $(7.6\%)$ and the largest in Si $(21.4\%)$. The CV of plant growth parameters measured at panicle initiation (PIS) and heading stage (HD) ranged from 6 to $38\%$, and that of rice yield ranged from 11 to $21\%$. CEC, OM, TN, and available Si showed significant correlations with rice growth and yield. Multiple linear regression model with stepwise procedure selected independent variables of N fertilizer level, climate condition and soil properties, explaining as much as $76\%$ of yield variability, of which $21.6\%$ is ascribed to soil properties. Among the soil properties, the most important soil factors causing yield spatial variability was OM, followed by Si, TN, and CEC. Boundary line response of rice yield to soil properties was represented well by Mitcherich equation (negative exponential equation) that was used to quantify the influence of soil properties on rice yield, and then the Law of the Minimum was used to identify the soil limiting factor for each grid. This boundary line approach using five stable soil properties as limiting factor explained an average of about $50\%$ of the spatial yield variability. Although the determination coefficient was not very high, an advantage of the method was that it identified clearly which soil parameter was yield limiting factor and where it was distributed in the field.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.313-319
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• 1995

The involvement of the cell-wall degrading enzymes in Rhizobium has long been an unsolved question about the infection process in the formation of root nodule. To assess the contribution of the cellulase to the nodulation of rhzobia, here we report the production of cellulase from R. meliloti TAL1372 which degrade carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) model substrate with CMC-plate method. We constructed a genomic library by cloning Sau3A-digested genomic DNA from R. meliloti TAL1372 into the BamHI site of the cosmid vector pLAFR3. Out of more than one thousand transductants of E. coli, one clone (pRC8-71) had CM-cellulase activity and contained pLAFR3 cosmid with 30 kb insert of R. meliloti DNA The product of CM-cellulase gene was analyzed by native PAGE. About 45 kD protein was considered to be a product of the gene. Tn5 mutagenesis reveals that the structural gene located in a ca. 3 kb KpnI fragment. The cellulase-minus mutants of R. meliloti TAL1372 were obtained by Tn5 mutagenesis of pRC8-71 and marker exchange techniques. Analyses of the nodulation ability of these Tn5 mutants showed that the CM-cellulase gene of R. meliloti TAL1372 may be involved in early nodulation development on alfalfa (Medicago satiua).

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.439-454
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to extensively identify $PM_{10}$ sources and to estimate their contributions to the study area, based on the analysis of the $PM_{10}$ mass concentration and the associated inorganic elements, ions, and total carbon. The contribution of $PM_{10}$ sources was estimated by applying a receptor method because identifying air emission sources were effective way to control the ambient air quality. $PM_{10}$ particles were collected from May to November 2007 in the Yongin-Suwon bordering area. $PM_{10}$ samples were collected on quartz filters by a $PM_{10}$ high-volume air sampler. The inorganic elements (Al, Mn, V, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Si, Ba, Ti and Ag) were analyzed by an ICP-AES after proper pre-treatments of each sample. The ionic components of these $PM_{10}$ samples ($Cl^_$, $NO_3^-$, $SO_4^{2-}$, $Na^+$, $NH_4^+$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, and $Mg^{2+}$) were analyzed by an IC. The carbon components (OC1, OC2, OC3, OC4, OP, EC1, EC2 and EC3) were also analyzed by DRI/OGC analyzer. Source apportionment of $PM_{10}$ was performed using a positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. After performing PMF modeling, a total of 8 sources were identified and their contribution were estimated. Contributions from each emission source were as follows: 13.8% from oil combustion and industrial related source, 25.4% from soil source, 22.1% from secondary sulfate, 12.3% from secondary nitrate, 17.7% from auto emission including diesel (12.1%) and gasoline (5.6%), 3.1% from waste incineration and 5.6% from Na-rich source. This study provides information on the major sources affecting air quality in the receptor site, and therefore it will help us maintain and manage the ambient air quality in the Yongin-Suwon bordering area by establishing reliable control strategies for the related sources.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.695-699
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to set the optimal extraction condition of flavonoids from onion peels as a by-product generated from the onion industry without suitable processing. Four independent variables, affecting extraction conditions, which are solvent concentration ($X_1$), extraction temperature ($X_2$), pH of the solvent ($X_3$), and solvent ratio to onion peel ($X_4$) were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). A model equation obtained from RSM is 0.772 of R-square and 0.278 of lack of fit (p>0.05) for the optimal extraction conditions. From the ridge analysis, the conditions flavoring the highest extraction were solvent concentration (v/v) of 70%, extraction temperature of $40^{\circ}C$, extraction solvent pH of 5.3, and a solvent ratio to onion peel ratio of 1:63 (w/v). The flavonoid content obtained under optimal conditions showed 302.63 mg/g, which is 1.12 times higher than the prediction value.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.561-566
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• 2013

We examined the ways in which fenobam could promote not only the transduction of PEP-1-FK506BP into cells and tissues but also the neuroprotective effect of PEP-1-FK506BP against ischemic damage. Fenobam strongly enhanced the protective effect of PEP-1-FK506BP against $H_2O_2$-induced toxicity and DNA fragmentation in C6 cells. In addition, combinational treatment of fenobam with PEP-1-FK506BP significantly inhibited the activation of Akt and MAPK induced by $H_2O_2$, compared to treatment with PEP-1-FK506BP alone. Interestingly, our results showed that fenobam significantly increased the transduction of PEP-1-FK506BP into both C6 cells and the hippocampus of gerbil brains. Subsequently, a transient ischemic gerbil model study demonstrated that fenobam pretreatment led to the increased neuroprotection of PEP-1-FK506BP in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Therefore, these results suggest that fenobam can be a useful agent to enhance the transduction of therapeutic PEP-1-fusion proteins into cells and tissues, thereby promoting their neuroprotective effects.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.261-266
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• 2010

In the workplace, the arsenic is used in the semiconductor production and the manufacturing of pigments, glass, pesticides and fungicides. Therefore, workers may be exposed to airborne arsenic during its use in manufacturing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential toxicity of particulate matters (PMs) doped with arsenic (PMs-Arsenic) using a rodent model and to compare the genotoxicity in various concentrations and to examine the role of PMs-Arsenic in the induction of signaling pathway in the lung. Mice were exposed to PMs $124.4{\pm}24.5\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (low concentration), $220.2{\pm}34.5\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (middle concentration), $426.4{\pm}40.3\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (high concentration) doped with arsenic $1.4\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (Low concentration), $2.5\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (middle concentration), $5.7\;{\mu}g/m^3$ (high concentration) for 4 wks (6 h/d, 5 d/wk), respectively in the whole-body inhalation exposure chambers. To determine the level of genotoxicity, Chromosomal aberration (CA) assay in splenic lymphocytes and Supravital micronucleus (SMN) assay were performed. Then, signal pathway in the lung was analyzed. In the genotoxicity experiments, the increases of aberrant cells were concentration-dependent. Also, PMs-arsenic caused peripheral blood micronucleus frequency at high concentration. The inhalation of PMs-Arsenic increased an expression of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt: protein kinase B) and phpsphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) at high concentration group. Taken together, inhaled PMs-Arsenic caused genotoxicity and altered Akt signaling pathway in the lung. Therefore, the inhalation of PMs-Arsenic needs for a careful risk assessment in the workplace.