• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.557-565
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• 2018

We examined the nutrient dynamics during the leaf litter decomposition rate and process of Pinus rigida and Pinus koraiensis in Gongju for 21 months from December 2014 to September 2016 as a part of National Long-Term Ecological Research Program in Korea. The remaining weight rate of P. rigida and P. koraiensis leaf litter was $58.27{\pm}4.13$ and $54.08{\pm}4.32%$, respectively, indicating that the P. koraiensis leaf litter decomposed faster than P. rigida leaf litter. The decay constant (k) of P. rigida leaf litter and P.koraiensis leaf litter after 21 months was 0.95 and 1.08, respectively, indicating that P. koraiensis leaf litter decayed faster than P. rigida leaf litter probably due to the difference of nitrogen concentration between the two. The C/N ratio of P. rigida and P. koraiensis leaf litter was 64.4 and 40.6, respectively, initially, and then decreased to 41.0 and 18.9, respectively, after 21 months. The C/P ratio of P. rigida and P. koraiensis leaf litter was 529.8 and 236.5, respectively, and then decreased to 384.1, 205.2, respectively, after 21 months. The contents of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg were 6.78, 0.83, 2.84, 0.99, and 2.59 mg/g, respectively, in the P. rigida leaf litter and 10.90, 1.87, 5.82, 4.79, and 2.00 mg/g, respectively, in the P. koraiensis leaf litter, indicating that the elements except the magnesium showed higher contents in P. koraiensis. After 21 months elapsed, remaining N, P, K, Ca, and Mg was 88.4, 77.6, 26.7, 50.5 and 44.5%, respectively, in decomposing P. rigida, and 114.4, 61.3, 7.6, 115.2 and 72.0%, respectively, decomposing P. koraiensis leaf litter.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.295-302
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• 2019

Liquiritigenin (LG) is a chiral flavonoid isolated from the roots of licorice. It exhibits multiple biological activities including anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. In particular though, the anti-cancer activity of LG in oral squamous cell carcinoma has yet to be elucidated, and LG-induced apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma remains poorly understood. In the present study, we tested the role of LG in inducing apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. LG treatment of HN22 cells resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell viability as detected by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The induction of apoptosis in terms of Annexin V/7-Aminoactinomycin D staining, sub-G1 population, and multi-caspase activity were assessed with a $Muse^{TM}$ Cell Analyzer. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that LG treatment resulted in G2/M arrest in cell cycle progression and downregulation of cyclin B1 and CDC2 expression in a concentration-dependent manner. It also resulted in significant upregulation of p27. In addition, LG was seen to trigger the generation of reactive oxygen species and induce CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein and 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein in concentration-dependent upregulation. The LG treatment of HN22 cells led to a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}m$); it also reduced the levels of anti-apoptotic protein and increased the expression of apoptotic protease activating factor-1, cleaved poly (ADP-ribose)polymerase and Bax. Overall, our results indicate that the pro-apoptotic effects of LG in HN22 cells depend on the activation of both intrinsic and extrinsic signaling pathways. Thus, our results suggest that LG constitutes a natural compound with a potential role as an anti-tumor agent in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

• 한국노년학
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.1037-1058
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• 2016

This study aims to investigate the female caregivers'experiences of aggression by nursing home residents, and to identify the policy strategies for violence prevention referred by the female caregivers. A total of 121 female caregivers with more than 6 months of working experiences had participated in this study. Of these, 56.2% had experienced verbal aggression, 51.2% physical aggression, and 27.3% sexual aggression, which reveals that client violence toward caregivers in nursing homes was at an alarming level. Although, physical and verbal violences were mostly caused unintentionally, about a half of the sexual aggression were caused deliberately. Aggression occurred the most when caregivers were providing the following services: changing the diapers or clothes, giving a bath, and serving meals. It was found that 'hitting' was the most common form of physical aggression and it was 'swearing' and 'touching or physical contacting' in the case of verbal and sexual aggression, respectively. Though there was a difference depending on the type of aggression, the most frequent reactions against client violence were to start a conversation or calm down the nursing home residents, and to leave the scene or ignore the incident. This means that the caregivers are coping very passively through resolving the aggressions by themselves, or overlooking the situation. The most frequently recommended strategy to prevent resident aggression was to provide educational programs on violence prevention to nursing home residents and caregivers(42.7%). Compared to the previous studies, this study indicates some differentiated strategies to prevent violence in nursing homes, which include hiring male caregivers, assuring directors to pay closer attention toward caregivers, using refined language between caregivers and residents, and keeping caregivers to wear appropriate clothes. Based on the study results, some policy recommendations on the prevention of client violence in nursing homes were suggested.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.89-105
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• 2017

This study utilized 32,312 records of 17 linear type and 10 conformation traits(including final scores) of Hanwoo cows in the KAIA(Korea Animal Improvement Association) ('09~'10), with 60,556 animals in the pedigree file. Traits included stature, body length, strength, body depth, angularity, shank thickness, rump angle, rump length, pin bone width, thigh thickness, udder volume, teat length, teat placement, foot angle, hock angle, rear leg back view, body balance, breed characteristic, head development, forequarter quality, back line, rump, thigh development, udder development, leg line, and final score. Genetic and residual(co) variances were estimated using bi-trait pairwise analyses with EM-REML algorithm. Herd-year-classifier, year at classification, and calving stage were considered as fixed effects with classification months as a covariate. The heritability estimates ranged from 0.03(teat placement) to 0.42(body length). Rump length had the highest positive genetic correlation with pin bone width(0.96). Moreover, stature, body length, strength, and body depth had the highest positive genetic correlations with rump length, pin bone width, and thigh thickness(0.81-0.94). Stature, body length, strength, body depth, rump length, pin bone width, and thigh thickness traits also had high positive genetic correlations.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.56-66
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• 2020

Objectives: In this study, the clinical characteristics of OSA patients and the quality of life before and after CPAP use were compared to determine the degree of improvement in quality of life according to CPAP use. Methods: Age, sex, height, weight, body mass index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Modified Mallampatti Score, Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Korean, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were compared between men and women through medical records. To understand the degree of improvement in quality of life resulting from use of CPAP, a personal telephone call was made to compare the VAS scores for quality of life before and after CPAP use. Results: In height (HT) (Z = -4.525, p < 0.001), weight (BW) (Z = -2.844, p < 0.05), sleep quality (PSQI) (Z = -2.671, p < 0.05), and arousal index (AI) (Z = -2.105, p < 0.05), there was a difference between men and women (p < 0.05). There was no difference in the remaining variables. Cross-analysis (Chi-square test) confirmed a difference between severity and sex of OSA. It has been found that there is no statistically significant order in size according to level-specific severity of OSA for PreCPAP QOL, PostCPAP QOL, CPAPUse Months, and CPAP4Hr/d (%) (p > 0.05). The difference between AHI before and after CPAP was 36.48 ± 21.54 (t = 11.609, p < 0.001) and the difference between QOL before and after CPAP was -25.43 ± 22.06 (t = -7.901, p < 0.001), both of which were significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Among OSA patients, there were differences in height (HT), weight (BW), sleep quality (PSQI), arousal index (AI), and severity of OSA between men and women, but the quality of life before and after CPAP was different. However, there was no difference between men and women in quality of life before and after CPAP. In addition, quality of life in OSA patients improved after using CPAP.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.38 no.6_2
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• pp.1607-1622
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to determine the actual performance of cool roof in preventing absorbed solar radiation. The spatial correlation between surface temperature and absorbed solar radiation is the method by which the performance of a cool roof can be understood and evaluated. The research area of this study is the vicinity of Jangyu Mugye-dong, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, where an actual cool roof is applied. FLIR Vue Pro R thermal infrared sensor, Micasense Red-Edge multi-spectral sensor and DJI H20T visible spectral sensor was used for aerial photography, with attached to the drone DJI Matrice 300 RTK. To perform the spatial correlation analysis, thermal infrared orthomosaics, absorbed solar radiation distribution maps were constructed, and land cover features of roof were extracted based on the drone aerial photographs. The temporal scope of this research ranged over 9 points of time at intervals of about 1 hour and 30 minutes from 7:15 to 19:15 on July 27, 2021. The correlation coefficient values of 0.550 for the normal roof and 0.387 for the cool roof were obtained on a daily average basis. However, at 11:30 and 13:00, when the Solar altitude was high on the date of analysis, the difference in correlation coefficient values between the normal roof and the cool roof was 0.022, 0.024, showing similar correlations. In other time series, the values of the correlation coefficient of the normal roof are about 0.1 higher than that of the cool roof. This study assessed and evaluated the potential of an actual cool roof to prevent solar radiation heating a rooftop through correlation comparison with a normal roof, which serves as a control group, by using high-resolution drone images. The results of this research can be used as reference data when local governments or communities seek to adopt strategies to eliminate the phenomenon of urban heat islands.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.528-536
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• 2021

The purpose of the study was to investigate the content of sinigrin, an index component, in Brassica juncea extract and to evaluate the differentiation of lipocytes, inhibition of production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduction of protein production by lipogenic factors (PPARγ, C/EBPα, aP2) in the processing of Brassica juncea extract and sinigrin in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes which induces Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disrupting environmental hormone. From the investigation, the content of sinigrin in Brassica juncea extract, measured by HPLC, is found to be 21.27±0.2 mg/g. The XTT assay result on BPA-derived 3T3-L1 adipocytes shows there is no cytotoxicity found from 180 µM of sinigrin and 300 ㎍/mL of Brassica juncea extract. Moreover, both intracellular lipid accumulation and ROS production during differentiation of lipocyte are significantly reduced in cells processed with Brassica juncea extract and sinigrin. Lastly, it was also found that the production of transcription factors of lipocyte differentiation, PPARγ, C/EBPα and aP2, were found to be suppressed by the application of Brassica juncea extract and sinigrin. Such results reveals that Brassica juncea is effective in not only suppressing lipid accumulation in the environmental hormone bisphenol A-derived lipocyte, but also in reducing the ROS. The sinigrin-containing Brassica juncea is highly expected to be used in natural functional supplements that prevents the lipid metabolism disorders caused by BPA. There are necessities for additional clinical research and follow-up studies on the in vivo model to verify the relevant mechanisms.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.115-122
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• 2012

Objectives : This study evaluated activities and ingredient contents concerning extracts according to extraction solvents of Insampaedok-san (IS, Renshen bai du-san). Methods : The herbal constituents of IS were extracted with water and 70% ethanol at $100^{\circ}C$ for 2 hr. Using the HPLC system, the six ingredient contents of different solvent extracts of IS were analyzed. The nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production and proinflammatory cytokines were measured in RAW264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) and regulated on activation normal T-cell expression and secreted (RANTES/CCL5) production were measured in HaCaT and BEAS-2B cells stimulated tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) and interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$). The activities of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) and leptin level were measured in 3T3-L1 cells. Results : The calibration curves showed good linearity ($r^2$=1.0000) for different concentration ranges. The contents of liquiritin, naringin, hesperidin, neohesperirin and glycyrrizin in 70% ethanol extracts of IS were relatively higher than that of water extract, however the content of ferulic acid in 70% ethanol and water extract of IS were similar. The extraction solvents of water and 70% ethanol were evaluated inhibitory effect on the production of NO, $PGE_2$, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 in RAW 264.7 cells. Their extractions were inhibitory effect on production of MDC/CCL22 and RANTES/CCL5 in HaCaT cell and BEAS-2B cell, respectively. In addition, evaluated reduced on GPDH activity and leptin level in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell. Conclusions : Our results suggest that IS extracts were inhibitory effects of disease such as inflammation, allergies and obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.987-994
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• 2021

The Yellow sea, as described in article 123 of UNCLOS, is semi-enclosed sea surrounded by the Republic of Korea, the People's Republic of China and North Korea. In addition, the Yellow Sea is one of the 66 large marine ecosystems as it contains large amounts of marine resources. According to article 194 of UNCLOS, states should be aware of rights and duties with respect to the protection and preservation of the marine environment to be engaged with countries directly as regional entity or indirectly. Therefore, the legal blank is urgent in terms of trans-boundary environmental pollutant issues. The UNDP has conducted a project called Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (YSLME) which has reached the 2^nd phase. The project has some notable achievements, namely performing joint activities on analysis of diagnostic trans-boundary issues in collaboration with China and South Korea, developing a strategic action plan based on TDA, and establishing regional strategic action plan. However, on the other hand, the project could not reflect the full participation of North Korea as a state party. As a result, the project has a limitation on effective implementation of RSAP. Therefore, this study focuses on the suggestion of a legally-binding trilateral treaty as a blue print for the next, 3^rd phase of the project. By analyzing the best practice of the Wadden Sea Trilateral Treaty case, the study verifies the validity of legislative measures on establishing and managing a legally-binding trilateral YSLME Commission. By suggesting a three phase treaty, incorporating a joint declaration by establishing the commission, the signing of the treaty, and formulating an umbrella convention and implementation arrangement, the study expects to guarantee the consistency and sustainability of the trilateral treaty regardless of political issues pertaining to North Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.455-463
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• 2022

To understand functional changes of forest ecosystems due to climate change, correlation between decomposition rate of leaf litter, an important function of forest ecosystems, and microclimatic factors was analyzed. After 48 months elapsed, percent remaining weight of Quercus mongolica leaf litter was 27.1% in the east aspect and 37.0% in the west aspects. Decay constant of Q. mongolica leaf litter was 0.33 in the east aspect and 0.25 in the west aspect after 48 months elapsed. Initial C/N ratio of Q. mongolica leaf litter was 38.5. After 48 months elapsed, C/N ratio of decomposing Q. mongolica leaf litter decreased to 13.43 in the east aspect and 16.72 in the west aspect. Average air temperature and soil temperature during the investigation period of the research site were 8.2±9.0 and 9.1±9.3 in the east and 8.5±7.4 and 9.3±7.3℃ in the west aspect, respectively, with the west aspect showing higher air and soil temperatures. Soil moisture showed no significant difference between east and west aspects (average soil moisture: 19.4±11.0% vs. 20.5±5.7%). However, as a result of analyzing the correlation between decomposition rate and microclimatic factors, it was found that the decomposition rate and soil moisture has a positive correlation(r=0.426) in the east aspect but not in the west aspect. Our study shows that the correlation between decomposition rate and microclimatic factors can be significantly different depending on the direction of the aspect.