• Journal of The Korean Association of Information Education
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.101-113
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• 2013

The rapid spread of smart devices initiated by the launch of iPhone and the development of state-of-the-art communication technology have opened up a new chapter for today's age, accelerating a paradigm shift. It is defined as 'the smart era' that is characterized by a DNA of mobile. The meaning of the term 'smart' depends on in which field it is used and who uses it, but the term is basically based on 'human being,' namely people. Accordingly, people should take the initiative in this smart era, and what only people can do will become more important for that reason. In addition, there will be a drastic progress in today's technology, which is expected to make human life more convenient and to even make it possible to read human sentiment and emotion. Such social changes have affected education as well, and the education sector is making preparations for the introduction of 'smart education,' as there is a consensus that an absolutely new paradigm shift is mandatory. Smart education is not merely to introduce smart devices, ICT technology and SNS in education. New competent people are required in globalization age, and smart education is to attempt a new education to nurture new competent people. In this study, 4C (that were creativity, collaboration, contents and curation) were suggested as the key factors of smart education, and in which direction smart education should be led in our country was discussed.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.231-238
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: Biochar (BC) has a great potential for enhancing soil fertility and carbon sequestration while facilitating beneficial waste disposition. Therefore, it is essential to assess and mitigate any inadvertent consequences associated with soil biochar amendment. Earthworm activity is very vital in the soil system, yet there are a limited number of studies that have examined their impact resulting from biochar application to soil. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, the survival, growth, reproductive tests, and oxidative DNA damage tests (measured by 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and catalase (CAT) activities) to assess the potential toxicity to earthworm Eisenia fetida in artificial soil amended with BCs were investigated. The BCs derived from perilla meal, sesame meal, and pumpkin seed were pyrolyzed at 300 and $550^{\circ}C$, and then amended with soil at a rate of 5%. All the earthworms survived, but lost weight compared to control soil after 28 day incubation period. Moreover, the BC-amended soils did not significantly affect the cocoon numbers of earthworms. Slightly higher concentrations of 8-OHdG and CAT were observed in earthworms present in BC-treated soil than those in control soil. Furthermore, the 8-OHdG concentrations in the soil amended with BC produced at $550^{\circ}C$ were greater than those at $300^{\circ}C$, and it slightly decreased as the incubation time increased. CONCLUSION: These observations could be due to higher contents of toxic metal(loid)s and also higher pH in BCs pyrolyzed at $550^{\circ}C$ than $300^{\circ}C$. While BC is efficiently being used in agricultural fields, this study suggests that it is required to assess the unintended negative impacts of BC on soil ecosystems.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 2008

Improving eating quality is one of the most important objectives in japonica rice breeding programs in Yunnan Province of China. Eating quality and its relevant traits of nine Korean and 11 Yunnan rice cultivars were comparatively analyzed in this study. The grain shape of most Yunnan japonica rice cultivars have a relatively slender shape and are slightly larger than Korean rice cultivars. Palatability value of cooked rice of Yunnan rice cultivars was significantly lower, while the protein content of Yunnan rice cultivars was significantly higher than that of Korean cultivars. Peak viscosity and breakdown viscosity of the Yunnan rice cultivars were significantly lower, while setback viscosity of the Yunnan rice cultivars was significantly higher than in Korean rice cultivars. Palatability value of cooked rice was negatively correlated with protein content and setback viscosity but positively correlated with peak viscosity, breakdown viscosity, and cool paste viscosity. Through multiple linear regression analysis, an equation for estimating palatability value(PV) of cooked rice based on quality traits was generated as dependent only upon protein content(PC), PV=139.024-(10.865$\times$PC) with an $R^2$ value of 0.822. The results suggest that reducing protein contents should be the major target in improving eating quality of Yunnan japonica rice cultivars through integrated approaches of both cultivar development and appropriate cultural practices. Genetic similarities among cultivars based on DNA markers which had been identified as associated with grain quality seemed not to be directly related to PV.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.88-92
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• 2015

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a useful root crop for food, animal feed and various industrial materials including biofuel. Despite of its importance as an industrial crop, the genetic engineering approaches to manipulate transgenic plant development in cassava are limited. In this study, to develop new cultivar with high level of carotenoids and enhanced tolerance to environmental stresses, sweetpotato IbOr gene involved in accumulation of carotenoids was introduced into an Indonesian IDB high-yielding cassava cultivar under the control of oxidative stress-inducible SWPA2 promoter through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of friable embryogenic calli. The 19 transgenic lines were successfully generated on the basis of gDNA-PCR and IbOr transcript levels for further characterization in terms of carotenoid contents and environmental stresses. Therefore, IbOr transgenic cassava plants may be developed for enhanced biomass production with high levels of carotenoids on marginal lands.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1131-1142
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• 2016

This study was conducted to compare the antioxidant, anticytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory properties of Euphorbia maculata ethanol extract with those of E. supina ethanol extract. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and superoxide scavenging activities of E. maculata at $50{\mu}g/mL$ were $38.3{\pm}3.7$ and $21.5{\pm}1.2%$, respectively, whereas those of E. supina at the same concentration were $109.4{\pm}0.9$ and $59.5{\pm}4.8%$, respectively. Oxygen radical absorbance capacities of E. maculata and E. supina at $10{\mu}g/mL$ were $14.70{\pm}0.63$ and $26.17{\pm}1.36nmol/mL$ Trolox, respectively. Cupric reducing antioxidant capacities of E. maculata and E. supina at $10{\mu}g/mL$ were $10.22{\pm}0.97$ and $62.99{\pm}5.28nmol/mL$ Trolox, respectively. Total phenolic contents of E. maculata and E. supina at $50{\mu}g/mL$ were $29.03{\pm}0.14$ and $87.89{\pm}0.20nmol/mL$ gallic acid, respectively. E. maculata and E. supina were reported to prevent supercoiled DNA breakage induced by peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals in a concentration-dependent manner, where protection against the supercoiled DNA breakage provided by E. supina was greater than that provided by E. maculata. E. maculata and E. supina at $100{\mu}g/mL$ inhibited tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells by $49.4{\pm}4.3$ and $87.3{\pm}4.5%$, respectively. E. maculata and E. supina at $500{\mu}g/mL$ inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells by $63.1{\pm}7.0$ and $85.2{\pm}1.6%$, respectively. The antioxidant capacities including DPPH radical scavenging, superoxide scavenging, oxygen radical absorbance, and cupric reducing antioxidant activity were found to be highly correlated with total phenolic content (0.896 < r < 0.983, p < 0.01) and anticytotoxic activities (0.915 < r < 0.960, p < 0.01). However, the superoxide scavenging activity was not significantly correlated (r = 0.604, p > 0.05) with the anti-inflammatory activity. Thus, these findings demonstrated that the radical scavenging, anticytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory capacities of E. supina were more potent than those of E. maculata. Further studies are needed to elucidate the properties of polyphenolic constituents in E. supina responsible for these effects and the underlying mechanisms.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2010

The roots and leaves of Angelica keiskei (AK) have been used for the treatment of various diseases including coronary heartdisease, hypertension, and cancer in the Korean folk medicine. However, the mechanism by which methylenechloride fraction (MF) from AK exerts anti-tumorigenic activity in human prostate cancer cells has not been fully understood. In the present study, we report the MF exerted the highest cytotoxicity against prostate cancer DU145 cells compared with other fractions. Especially, MF caused the accumulation of sub-G1 DNA contents of cell cycle and increased annexin V-positive apoptotic bodies and DNA fragmentation. MF down-regulated several proliferative (Cyclin D1) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-xl, Bcl-2, IAP-1/2, and survivin)gene products in these cells. Hence, MF induced apoptosis through the caspase-3 activation in DU145 cells. We further confirmed that caspase-3 plays an importance role in MF-induced apoptosis in DU145 cells by using caspase-3 inhibitor. Additionally, we observed that MF potentiated Dox-induced apoptosis in DU145 cells. Taken together, our data demonstrate the evidence that MF induces apoptosis depend on caspase-3 activation of and overcomes resistance to chemotherapy in human prostate cancer cells.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2005

The possible role of nitric oxide (NO)-induced cell division was investigated to explain the physiologycal effects of a NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on the growth of primary leaves in chinese cabbage seedling plants. Exogenous treatment of SNP to chinese cabbage plants for 8 days at different concentrations (0, 200, 500 and 1000 ${\mu}M$) affected the leaf growth in a concentration-dependent manner, showing a maximum growth at $200\;{\mu}M$. In accordance with leaf growth responses, the chlorophyll and soluble protein contents increased strongly to 142% and 134% of control at $200\;{\mu}M$ SNP, respectively. However, a very little decrease in chlorophyll and a 13%> decrease in protein were observed at $1000\;{\mu}M$ SNP. In addition, the content of DNA and RNA also increased maximumly to 142% and 139% of the control at $200\;{\mu}M$ SNP, respectively, whereas they decreased to 80% and 84% of the control at $1000\;{\mu}M$ SNP. With respect to the development of enzymes related to cell wall synthesis, $200\;{\mu}M$ SNP led to the maximum activities in both phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (212% of the control) and guaiacol peroxidase (134% of the control). However, the activities of both enzymes were not modified significantly at $1000\;{\mu}M$ SNP. In conclusion, these results suggest that the enhancement of leaf growth in chinese cabbage plants by SNP at the effective concentration was probably due to the NO ability in the induction of cell division.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.512-519
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of a novel tissue engineering approach to regenerate intervertebral disc. In this study, thermosensitive scaffold (chitosan-Pluronic hydrogel) and nanofiber were used to replace the nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus of a degenerated intervertebral disc, leading to an eventual regeneration of the disc using the minimally invasive surgical procedure and organ culture. In preliminary study, disc cells were seeded into the scaffolds and cellular responses were assessed by MTT assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Based on these results, we could know that tissue engineered scaffolds might provide favorable environments for the regeneration of tissues. Organ culture was performed in fresh porcine spinal motion segments with endplates on both sides. These spinal motion segments were classified into three groups: control (Intact), injured NP (Defect), and inserting tissue engineered scaffolds (Insert). The specimens were cultivated for 7 days, subsequently structural stability, cell proliferation and morphological changes were evaluated by the relaxation time, quantity of DNA, GAG and histological examination. In these results, inserting group showed higher relaxation time, reduced decrement of DNA contents, and accumulated GAG amount. Consequently, the tissue engineered scaffolds used in this study seen to be a promising base scaffolds for regenerative intervertebral disc due to its capacity to absorb external dynamic loading and the possible ideal environment provided for disc cell growing.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Acer tegmentosum Maxim (ATM) is known as traditional medicine for treatment of hepatic disorders such as hepatitis, related-inflammatory disease, and hepatic cancer. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of ATM extracted with $80^{\circ}C$ water or 95% ethanol. Antioxidant activities of ATM extracts were measured based on DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, total polyphenolic compound contents, and ferric reducing antioxidant power. The anti-inflammatory effects of ATM extract were assayed on release of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, and interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$ from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages. In these experiments, 95% ethanol extract of ATM showed stronger antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects than water extract. Therefore, we determined the effects of ATM ethanol extract on an animal model of sepsis. Seven days oral gavage of ATM ethanol extract followed by LPS stimulation reduced the protein levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IFN-{\gamma}$ in serum as well as mRNA levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and interleukin-6 in intestinal epithelial cells. In addition, ATM ethanol extract reduced DNA damage in mouse lymphocytes. These results indicate that ATM extract has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in vitro and in vivo effects and may be developed as a potential food material for prevention of inflammatory diseases.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2009

In order to develop a new starter for fermented milk, 2082 bacteria were isolated from raw milk. The strain that showed excellent acid forming and ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production ($711.40{\mu}g/g$ D.W) characteristics after incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ for 18 hr was selected and identified as Lactobacillus acidophilus by the result of API carbohydrate fermentation pattern and 16S rDNA sequence. L. acidophilus RMK567 was investigated for its physiological characteristics. RMK67 strain showed good GABA production compared with commercial lactic acid bacteria. The optimum growth temperature of L. acidophilus RMK567 was $40^{\circ}C$ and cultures took 15 hr to reach pH 4.3. L. acidophilus RMK567 showed higher sensitivity to penicillin-G, novobiocin, as compared to other 14 different antibiotics. However, it showed more resistance to kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin. It showed higher leucine arylamidase and ${\beta}$-galactosidase activities compared to 16 other enzymes. It was comparatively tolerant to bile juice and able to survive at pH 2 for 3 hr. It showed resistence to Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus with rates of 29.2%, 39.1% and 51.4%, respectively. Based on these and previous results, L. acidophilus RMK567 could be an excellent starter culture for fermented milk with excellent GABA contents.