• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1357-1368
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-obesity and anti-inflammation effect of the cheonggukjang (a soybean paste fermented for only a few days) in diet induced obesity mice. Weight gain was significantly decreased in the mice fed cheonggukjang compared High Fat Diets (HFD). The HFD plus cheonggukjang (CGJ) were also effective in improving the lipid metabolism. The levels of plasma triglyceride, cholesterol, ALT, AST, leptin, glucose, and insulin were significantly lower in CGJ than HFD group (p<0.05). The adiponectin level of CGJ group was significantly increased compared to the HFD group (p<0.05). In the CGJ group, the mRNA expression of adipogenic genes in the liver and adipose tissues, which are transcription factors crucial for adipogenesis, were significantly suppressed (p<0.05). The number of $CD11b^+F4/80^+$ T cells, $Gr-1^{int}CD11b^{high}$ cells, and $Gr-1^{int}CD11b^{high}$ cells were significantly higher in HFD group than CGJ group (p<0.05). The size of adipocyte was significantly reduced in CGJ group compared to HFD group. In addition, the contents of liver lipid droplets were significantly downregulated in the CGJ mice than HFD mice (p<0.05). Collectively, these data suggest the novel function of cheonggukjang in modulating adipogenesis through an immune function-alteration involving downregulation of adipogenic transcription factors and macrophage activation.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2005

The stoichiometric mixture of evaporating materials for the $CuInSe_2$ single crystal thin film was prepared from horizontal furnace. Using extrapolation method of X-ray diffraction patterns for the polycrystal $CuInSe_2$, it was found tetragonal structure whose lattice constant $a_0$ and $c_0$ were $5.783\;{\AA}$ and $11.621\;{\AA}$, respectively. To obtain the $CuInSe_2$ single crystal thin film, $CuInSe_2$ mixed crystal was deposited on throughly etched GaAs(100) by the HWE(Hot Wall Epitaxy) system. The source and substrate temperature were $620^{\circ}C$ and $410^{\circ}C$ respectively. The crystalline structure of $CuInSe_2$ single crystal thin film was investigated by the double crystal X-ray diffraction(DCXD). Hall effect on this sample was measured by the method of Van der Pauw and studied on carrier density and mobility depending on temperature. From Hall data, the mobility was likely to be decreased by impurity scattering in the temperature range 30 K to 100 K and by lattice scattering in the temperature range 100 K to 293 K. The temperature dependence of the energy band gap of the $CuInSe_2$ obtained from the absorption spectra was well described by the Varshni's relation, $E_g(T)=1.1851\;eV-(8.99{\times}10^{-4}\;eV/K)T^2/(T+153\;K)$. The open-circuit voltage, short current density, fill factor, and conversion efficiency of $n-CdS/p-CuGaSe_2$ heterojunction solar cells under $80\;mW/cm^2$ illumination were found to be 0.51V, $29.3\;mA/cm^2$, 0.76 and 14.3 %, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.472-481
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• 2017

Agricultural field near at the abandoned metal mine and industrial area has a high possibility to be polluted by heavy metals. However, concern about chemical properties including heavy metal concentration has been increased and biological properties such as soil respiration has been minimal in heavy metal polluted field. Therefore, main objective of this research was to evaluate soil respiration as an indicator of heavy metal pollution in agricultural field. Total of 60 sampling sites including each 30 sites of abandoned metal mine and industrial area were selected and heavy metal concentration, soil respiration, and chemical properties were measured. Results showed that heavy metal concentration in metal mine area was ranged Cu: $6.21~85.23mg\;kg^{-1}$, Pb: $23.84{\sim}1,044.72mg\;kg^{-1}$, As: $1.88{\sim}691.44mg\;kg^{-1}$, Zn: $18.72{\sim}527.55mg\;kg^{-1}$, Cd: $0.58{\sim}4.27mg\;kg^{-1}$, and Cu: $0.29{\sim}30.62mg\;kg^{-1}$, Pb: $4.41{\sim}19.77mg\;kg^{-1}$, As: $2.23{\sim}11.76mg\;kg^{-1}$, Zn $39.98{\sim}109.59mg\;kg^{-1}$, Cd $0.29{\sim}0.57mg\;kg^{-1}$ for industrial area respectively. While no sampling site was exceed the threshold value of each heavy metals in industrial field, metal mine area was highly polluted with Pb, As, Zn, and Cd. Soil respiration in the metal mine and industrial area was ranged $12.05{\sim}299.80mg\;O_2\;kg^{-1}$ and $27.68{\sim}330.94mg\;O_2\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Correlation analysis between heavy metal concentration in soil and soil respiration showed that negative correlation was observed in metal mine area while no correlation was observed in industrial area. This result might indicate that as heavy metal concentration was increased, microbial activity in soil was decreased resulting decrease of soil respiration rate. Overall, soil respiration can be used as indicator of heavy metal pollution in soil and more biological properties need to be evaluated to better understand heavy metal pollution in soil.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.111-125
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• 1998

Dispersion, migration and enrichment of environmental toxic elements from the Samkwang Au-Ag mine area were investigated based upon major, minor and rare earth element geochemistry. The Samkwang mine area composed mainly of Precambrian granitic gneiss. The mine had been mined for gold and silver, but closed in 1996. According to the X-ray powder diffraction, mineral composition of stream sediments and soils were partly variable mineralogy, which are composed of quartz, orthoclase, plagioclase, amphibole, muscovite, biotite and chlorite, respectively. Major element variations of the host granitic gneiss, stream sediments and soils of mining and non-mining drainage, indicate that those compositions are decrese $Al_2O_3$, $Fe_2O_3$, MgO, $TiO_2$, $P_2O_5$ and LOI with increasing $SiO_2$ respectively. Average compositional ranges (ppm) of minor and/or environmental toxic elements within those samples are revealed as As=<2-4500, Cd=<1-24, Cu=6-117, Sb=1-29, Pb=17-1377 and Zn=32-938, which are extremely high concentrations of sediments from the mining drainage (As=2006, Cd=l1, Cu=71, Pb=587 and Zn=481 ppm, respectively) than concentrations of the other samples and host granitic gneiss. Major elements (average enrichment index=6.53) in all samples are mostly enriched, excepting $SiO_2$, $Na_2O$ and $K_2O$, normalized by composition of host granitic gneiss. Rare earth element (average enrichment index=2.34) are enriched with the sediments from the mining drainage. Minor and/or environmental toxic elements within all samples on the basis of host rock were strongly enriched of all elements (especially As, Br, Cu, Pb and Zn), excepting Ba, Cr, Rb and Sr. Average enrichment index of trace elements in all samples is 15.55 (sediments of mining drainage=37.33). Potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) of the samples revealed that average enrichment index is 46.10 (sediments of mining drainage=80.20, sediments of nonmining drainage=5.35, sediments of confluent drainage=20.22, subsurface soils of mining drainage=7.97 and subsurface soils of non-mining drainage=4.15). Sediments and soils of highly concentrated toxic elements are contained some pyrite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, galena and goethite.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.359-364
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• 2023

KAI1/CD82, a membrane tetraspanin protein, can prevent various cancers and retinal disorders through its anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic capacity. However, little is known about its anti-inflammatory effect and molecular mechanism. Therefore, the present study aimed to inLPSvestigate effect of a recombinant protein of the large extracellular domain of human KAI1 (Gly 111-Leu 228, rhKAI1) on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage-like cells and mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) and to identify its underlying mechanism. Our data showed that rhKAI1 suppressed expression levels of classically macrophages (M1) phenotype-related surface markers F4/80+CD86+ in LPS-stimulated BMDM and RAW264.7 cells. In addition, LPS markedly increased mRNA expression and release levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, cyclooxygenase-2, nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2, whereas these increases were substantially down-regulated by rhKAI1. Furthermore, LPS strongly increased expression of NF-κB p65 in the nuclei and phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK. However, nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 and phosphorylation of JNK were greatly reversed in the presence of rhKAI1. Especially, rhKAI1 markedly suppressed expression of toll-like receptor (TLR4) and prevented binding of LPS with TLR4 through molecular docking predict analysis. Importantly, Glu 214 of rhKAI1 residue strongly interacted with Lys 360 of TLR4 residue, with a binding distance of 2.9 Å. Taken together, these findings suggest that rhKAI1 has an anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-polarized macrophages by interacting with TLR4 and down-regulating the JNK/NF-κB signaling pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.289-295
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• 2018

Most diagnostic devices in the medical field use X-ray sources, which emit energy spectra. In radiological diagnosis, the quantitative and qualitative analyses of X-rays are essential for maintaining the image quality and minimizing the radiation dose to patients. This work aims to obtain the X-ray energy spectra used in diagnostic imaging by Monte Carlo simulation. Various X-ray spectra are simulated using a Monte Carlo simulation tool. These spectra are then compared to the reference data obtained with a tungsten anode spectral model using the interpolating polynomial (TASMIP) code. The X-ray tube voltages used are 50, 60, 80, 100, and 110 kV, respectively. CdTe and a-Se detector are used as the detectors for obtaining the X-ray spectra. Simulation results demonstrate that the various X-ray spectra are well matched with the reference data. Based on the simulation results, an appropriate X-ray spectrum, in accordance with the tube voltage, can be selected when generating an image for diagnostic imaging. The dose to be delivered to the patient can be predicted prior to examination in the diagnostic field.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.809-822
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• 1998

Retarding effects of the dietary fibers from persimmon peels (PTDF ; total dietary fibers, PIDF ; insoluble dietary fibers, PSDF ; soluble dietary fibers) and dried jujubes (JTDF ; total dietary fibers, JIDF ; insoluble dietary fibers, JSDF ; soluble dietary fibers) on glucose, bile acid and cadmium transport were evaluated by in vitro dialysis sack method. These effects were compared with those of commerical citrus pectin, CM-cellulose (CMC) and $\alpha$-cellulose. Yields of PTDF, PIDF and PSDF on wet weight basis were 14.04% , 11.61%, 1.76%, respectively, and those from dried jujubes were 14.80%, 9.98% and 2.80%, respectively. The amount of soluble fibers in JTDF was higher than PTDF. Soluble fibers had the retarding effects on glucose transport but insoluble fibers did not have. CM-cellulose showed the greatest retarding effect, which was followed by citrus pectin and JSDF. Among the soluble fibers, PSDF had the lowest retardig effect. Retarding effect of TDF was dependent upon the amount of SDF in TDF. Regarding bile acid dialysis , insoluble dietary fibers as well as soluble dietary fibers showed the retarding effects, among which JSDF had the greatest retarding effects, among which JSDF had the greatest retarding effect, followed by citrus pectin. Among the extracted fibers, dietary fibers from dried jujubes were more effective than these from persimmon peels, and SDF seemed to show higher retarding effects than IDF and TDF. On cadmium transport retardation , all dietary fibers except $\alpha$-cellulose had the retarding effects and PSDF showed the greatest effect which was followed by PIDF and CMC, The extracted fibers showed higher retarding effect on Cd transport than glucose and bile acid transport, and dietary fibers from persimmon peels showed higher retarding effects than those from dried jujubes.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.456-462
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• 2009

Adlay, barley and rice bran were extracted using various concentrations of methanol(10% and 80%) and chloroform : methanol(2 : 1) to examine the biological activities of these raw grains. Extraction with 80% methanol resulted in high Vitamin C Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity(VCEAC), in the order of barley > rice bran > adlay, as determined by DPPH and ABTS assays. In addition, the extracts of adlay and rice bran showed high cellular antioxidant activity in HepG2 cells possibly due to the presence of polyphenol glycosides in these grains. We examined the expression of glucose/fatty acid metabolizing genes in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells. Glut1 was downregulated after treatment with rice bran and no changes in the expression of Glut4 was observed. In contrast, genes involved in fatty acid metabolism, CD36 and aP2, were upregulated. Since these physiological changes were matched with peroxisome proliferator activating receptor $\gamma$(PPAR $\gamma$) agonism, we suggest that the extracts from adlay, barley and rice bran may play preventive roles against aging and diabetes via antioxidant activity and increased uptake of fatty acids by adipocytes.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.39-51
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• 2012

Aerosol slurry samples were collected in 60-min interval using Korean Semi-continuous Elements in Aerosol Sampler (KSEAS) between May 19 and June 6, 2010 at an urban site of Gwangju. The $PM_{2.5}$ samples were collected with a flow rate of 16.7 L/min and particles are grown by condensation of water vapor in a condenser maintained at ${\sim}5^{\circ}C$ after saturation by direct injection of steam. The resulting droplets are collected in a liquid slurry with a airdroplet separator. Concentrations of 16 elements (Al, Fe, Mn, Ca, K, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ti, V, Ni, Co, As, Se) in the collected slurry samples were determined off-line by ICP-MS. KSEAS sample analysis encompassed the sampling periods for which 24-hr average elemental species concentrations were calculated for comparison with those derived from 24-hr integrated filter samples. Relationship between elemental species measured by two methods indicated high correlation coefficients (r), mostly greater than r of 0.80. However, we note that concentrations of Al, K, Ca, Mn, and Fe, which are often associated with crustal elemental particles, in the KSEAS samples, were substantially lower (1.4~11 times) than those found in the typical filter-based samples. This discrepancy is probably due to difficulties in transferring insoluble dust particles to the collection vials in the KSEAS. Temporal profiles of elemental concentrations indicate that some transient events in their concentrations are observed over the sampling periods. For the elemental species studied, atmospheric concentrations during the transient events increased by factors of 4 in Mn~80 in Zn, compared to their background levels. Principle component analyses were applied to the hourly KSEAS data sets to identify sources affecting the concentrations of the metal constituents observed. In this study, we conclude that hourly measurements for particle-bound elemental constituents were extremely useful for revealing the short-term variability in their concentrations and developing insights into their sources.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.98-103
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• 2007

This study compares menthol migration from fillers to filters and mainstream smoke in a type of leaf tobacco and according to the moisture content differences at the range of $11{\sim}15\;%$. The leaf tobacco used in this study consisted of Korea flue cured upper leaves B1O (KFUB1), A40R (KFUA4), lower leaves C1L (KFLC1), CD4L (KFLCD4), burley upper leaves A3T (KBUA3), lower leaves D3W (KBLD3), Orient Basma I/III (OB), Orient Izmir BIG (OI), expanded tobacco (KET), and reconstituted sheet (KRC). Menthol migration to the filter and mainstream was measured under constant conditions for 80 days with intervals of 20 days. In the comparison between flue cured types, there were significant differences in the filter parts, as follows. KFUB1(34.4 %) KFUA4(37.4 %), KFLC1(43 %) and KFLCD4 were 55.7 %. In the comparision between other types of leaf tobaccos, KFUB1 was 34.4 % and KET was 52.6 % at filter parts. In the methol transfer to mainstream smoke was $16.5{\sim}24.2\;%$. The menthol migration to filters was measured based on the moisture content of $11{\sim}15\;%$ for the KFUB1 after storing it for 80 days. The menthol migrations were $36{\sim}40\;%$ at the moisture content of $11{\sim}15\;%$, respectively. The transfers to mainstream smoke were $12.8{\sim}15.8\;%$.