• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.206-211
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• 2020

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are a unique cell type that has unusual plasticity controlled by environmental stimuli. As an abnormal increase of VSMC proliferation is associated with various vascular diseases, tight regulation of VSMC phenotypes is essential for maintaining vascular homeostasis. Hypoxia is one environmental stress that stimulates VSMC proliferation. Emerging evidence has indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are critical regulators in the hypoxic responses of VSMCs. Therefore, we previously investigated miRNAs modulated by hypoxia in VSMCs and found that miR-1260b is one of the most upregulated miRNAs under hypoxia. However, the mechanism that underlies the regulation of VSMCs via miR-1260b in response to hypoxia has not been explored. Here we demonstrated that hypoxia-induced miR-1260b promotes VSMC proliferation. We also identified growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11), a member of the TGF-β superfamily, as a novel target of miR-1260b. miR-1260b directly targets the 3'UTR of GDF11. Downregulation of GDF11 inhibited Smad signaling and consequently enhanced the proliferation of VSMCs. Our findings suggest that miR-1260b-mediated GDF11-Smad-dependent signaling is an essential regulatory mechanism in the proliferation of VSMCs, and this axis is modulated by hypoxia to promote abnormal VSMC proliferation. Therefore, our study unveils a novel function of miR-1260b in the pathological proliferation of VSMCs under hypoxia.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 1997

This study was carried out in the laboratory to clarify effects of different temperature of Protopulvinaria mangiferae(Green) on development, survivorship and reproduction. Developmental period of the mango shieldscale from crawlers to preoviposition adult decreased as temperature increased. The threshold temperature andthermal constants for the development of one generation were 11.7"C and 1000.0 day-degrees, respectively. At25$^{\circ}$C and 30$^{\circ}$C, survival rate from egg to preoviposition adult were 82% and 6096, respectively. Hatchability ofeggs was more than 99% at both condition. The reproductive period overaged 50 days(2SnC) and 33 days(30$^{\circ}$C). After mature adult began to reporduce, and more than 50% of the crawlers emerged during the firsthalf of their life time. The net reproduction rate per generation(R), mean length of a generation0 and intrinsicrate of natural increase(r, ) were higher at 25$^{\circ}$C than at 30"C, and the values measured at 25$^{\circ}$C were 132.6, 76.2 and 0.064/female/day, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.177-178
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• 2012

Stem rot of perilla (Perilla frutescens var. japonica Hara) occurred sporadically in the exhibition field at Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services in Korea. The infected stems are water-soaked, rotted, wilted and finally leads to the death of the whole plants. The sclerotia, 1-3 mm, white to brown, spherical, were formed on lesions and the surface of soil line. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth and sclerotia formation was $30^{\circ}C$ on potato dextrose agar and the hyphal width was 4-9 ${\mu}m$. The typical clamp connections were observed in the hyphae of the fungus. On the basis of mycological characteristics and pathogenicity to host plants, this fungus was identified as Sclerotium rolfsii Saccardo. This is the first report of stem rot on perilla caused by S. rolfsii in Korea.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2013

Fog deposition onto the cool-temperate deciduous forest around Lake Mashu in northern Japan was estimated by the inferential method using the parameterizations of deposition velocity and liquid water content of fog (LWC). Two parameterizations of fog deposition velocity derived from field experiments in Europe and numerical simulations using a detailed multi-layer atmosphere-vegetation-soil model were tested. The empirical function between horizontal visibility (VIS) and LWC was applied to produce hourly LWC as an input data for the inferential method. Weekly mean LWC computed from VIS had a good correlation with LWC sampled by an active string-fog collector. By considering the enhancement of fog deposition due to the edge effect, fog deposition calculated by the inferential method using two parameterizations of deposition velocity agreed with that computed from throughfall data. The results indicated that the inferential method using the current parameterizations of deposition velocity and LWC can provide a rough estimation of water input due to fog deposition onto cool-temperature deciduous forests. Limitations of current parameterizations of deposition velocity related to wind speed, evaporation loss of rain and fog droplets intercepted by tree canopies, and leaf area index were discussed.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2013

The fog water chemistry and deposition in northern Japan were investigated by fog water and throughfall measurements in 2010. Fog water was sampled weekly by an active-string fog sampler at Lake Mashu from May to November. Throughfall measurements were conducted using rain gauges under three deciduous trees along the somma of the lake from August to October. The mean fog deposition rate (flux) was calculated using throughfall data to estimate the total fog water deposition amount for the entire sampling period. $NH_4{^+}$ and $SO{_4}^{2-}$ were the most abundant cation and anion, respectively, in the fog water samples. A mean pH of 5.08 in the fog water, which is higher than those in rural areas in Japan, was observed. The [$NH_4{^+}$]/[$SO{_4}^{2-}$] equivalent ratio in fog water was larger than 1.0 throughout the study period, indicating that $NH_3$ gas was the primary neutralizing agent for fog water acidity. The mean rate and total amount of fog water deposition were estimated as 0.15 mm $h^{-1}$ and 164 mm, respectively. The amounts of nitrogen and sulfate deposition via fog water deposition were corresponded to those reported values of the annual deposition amounts via rainfall.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.85 no.2
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• pp.238-243
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• 1996

Three half-sib families of Betula platyphylla var. japonica had been introduced from Japan and tested for their growth potentiality by comparing with control trees originating from previously introduced and cultivated stands of unknown seed origin. Two of the three introduced family groups from Japan showed superior tree growth in both diameter and height to control one up to the age of four. But only one family group remained superior to the control trees at age six. It appeared from the results that Betula platyphylla var. japonica families, introduced from Japan, can be directly used for the production of planting stocks for commercial planting and/or as parental trees for the production of intra- and interspecific hybrids.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2008

The leaves of Perilla frutescens Britt. var. japonica Hara (Labiatae) are often used in gourmet food in several Asian countries. Two kinds of perilla cultivars, Namcheon (NC) and Bora (BR), have been respectively developed in Korea by the pure line of 'deulkkae' from the local variety and by the cross of 'deulkkae' and 'chajogi'. The present study evaluated and compared antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of the fractions prepared from the leaves of the two cultivars using cell-free bioassay systems and primary cultured rat cortical cells. We found that the spirit, chloroform, hexane and butanol fractions from NC and BR leaves inhibited lipid peroxidation initiated in rat brain homogenates by $Fe^{2+}$ and L-ascorbic acid. In contrast, only the spirit and butanol fractions from both cultivars exhibited 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity. Among the fractions tested, the butanol fractions from NC and BR leaves exhibited the most potent antioxidant properties, and the butanol fraction from BR was more potent than the NC fraction. In consistence with these findings, the butanol fractions from both cultivars protected primary cultured cortical cells from the oxidative damage induced by $H_2O_2$ or xanthine and xanthine oxidase, with the BR butanol fraction being more active. The butanol fractions from NC and BR did not produce cytotoxicity in our cultures treated for 24 h at the concentrations of up to $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. Taken together, these results indicate that the leaves of the two cultivars of Perilla frutescens exert antioxidant and neuroprotective effects, and that the butanol fraction from BR leaves exhibits the most potent antioxidative neuroprotection among the fractions tested in this study.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2002

The mirid bug damages on grapevine were observed not only on young shoot and leaves (decoloration, deforming, and perforation) but also on fruits (black spot, corky scar, and young fruit shattering). Among 159 fields surveyed throughout the country, 113 fields (71%) were damaged, and the damages were relatively severer in the chief producing districts of grape vine, such as Gimpo, Anseong, Naju, Gimcheon, Buyeo, Daejeon, Yesan than other districts where grapevine yards were not concentrated. The severest shoot damages were observed in two grape vine yards of Naju (85%) and Gimpo (65%) in 1999. Three species of virid bugs were recognized on grape vine tree, Apoygus spinolae (Meyer-Dur), Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dur), and Orthotylus (Melanotrichus) flavosparsus(Sahlberg). Among them, A. spinolae was dominant species in the number of specimens collected. A. spinolae were collected on 10 host plants including Vitis vinifera L., Prunus armeniaca var. ansu Max., and prunus serrulata var. spontanea(Max.) Wils. and etc., and A. lucorum were collected on 10 species of plants, including Artemisia iwayomogi Kitamura, Artemisia princeps var. orientalis(Pampan) Hara and etc. Both A. spinolae and A. lucorum distributed widely in Korean grapevine yards.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1755-1759
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• 2009

Surface structure and molecular orientation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed by the spontaneous adsorption of tetrahydrothiophene (THT) and thiophene (TP) on Au(111) were investigated by means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and carbon K-edge near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. STM imaging revealed that THT SAMs have a commensurate (3 ${\times}\;2\sqrt[]{3}$) structure containing structural defects in ordered domains, whereas TP SAMs are composed of randomly adsorbed domains and paired molecular row domains that can be described as an incommensurate packing structure. The NEXAFS spectroscopy study showed that the average tilt angle of the aliphatic THT ring and $\pi$-conjugated TP ring in the SAMs were calculated to be about $30^o\;and\;40^o$, respectively, from the surface normal. It was also observed that the $\pi$* transition peak in the NEXAFS spectrum of the TP SAMs is very weak, suggesting that a strong interaction between $\pi$-electrons and the Au surface arises during the self-assembly of TP molecules. In this study, we have clearly demonstrated that the surface structure and adsorption orientation of organic SAMs on Au(111) are strongly influenced by whether the cyclic ring is saturated or unsaturated.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.78-83
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• 2007

In this study, we investigated the biological activity of antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Indigenous Plants, Jeju-Island., which, using methanol were extracted. The reducing activity on the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and $O^{2-}$ and OH radical scavenging potential, in search for antioxidation activities of Indigenous Plants, were sequentially screened. Among the ten plant parts, Prunella vulgaris var. aleutica Fernald. flower had the highest antioxidative activity. 80% Methanol extracts of ten indigenous plants were screened for antibacterial activity 13 fish pathogenic bacteria by agar diffusion method. Among the various 80% Methanol extracts, the Prunella vulgaris var. aleutica Fernald, Gleichenia japonica Spreng, Microlepia marginata (panzer) Christ., Perilla frutescens var. japonica Hara. showed relatively strong antibacterial activities in the order.