• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.155-165
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• 2015

Well-feathered (over 10 feathers) 'Fuji'/M.9 apple trees were planted at $3.0{\times}1.0m$ and trained to slender spindle with 2.5 m height or to tall spindle with 3.5 m height, and the vegetative growth, productivity, and fruit quality of two training systems were compared for 8 years. The canopy volume of the tall spindle trees surpassed that of the slender spindle trees 4 years after planting and was 25% larger than that of the slender spindle trees 5 years after planting. The accumulated yield over 8 years for the tall spindle system was 14% higher than that of the slender spindle system. Alternate bearing and incidence of marssonina blotch were observed in both treatments after 5 years of planting. There was often vegetative imbalance in the trees however, the degree of yield loss and vegetative imbalance of the tall spindle trees was lower than those of the slender spindle trees. Soluble solid content and fruit red color of the tall spindle trees were higher than that of the slender spindle trees in 5 year after planting, resulting from increased light penetration in the canopy due to even distribution of lateral branches and from fruit bearing in different height locations of the trees. In conclusion, increasing the tree height to about 3.5 m using slender spindle 'Fuji'/M.9 apple trees planted with over 333 trees per 10a led to better light penetration, yield and fruit quality compared to a conventional wide training system with the slender spindle.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.342-349
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• 2018

In this study, the physicochemical properties, emulsifying capacity, moisture content and cytotoxicity of the composite material produced by transesterification reactions of the olive oil (olive oil esters) were investigated for cosmetic applications. Olive oil esters with short (S) and long (L) reaction times were studied. From the TLC-image analysis, composition ratios of the olive oil esters S were found to be 5.2, 24.1, 46.4, and 21.9% for mono-, di-, tri-glyceride, and fatty acid ethyl ester, respectively. Those of the olive oil esters L were 4.1, 24.7, 40.6, and 28.8% for mono-, di-, tri-glyceride, and fatty acid ethyl ester, respectively. The iodine value, acid value, saponification value, unsaponified matter, refractive index, and specific gravity were determined and purity tests were also carried out and normalized to establish standards and testing methods for using olive oil esters in cosmetics. To evaluate their emulsifying capacities, the O/W emulsion was prepared without surfactants and the formation of the emulsified particles were confirmed. After 5 days of applying the olive oil esters to human skin, the skin moisture retention was improved by 13.1% from the initial state. For the evaluation of toxicity on human skin cells, the olive oil esters showed 90% or more of the cell viability at $0.2-200{\mu}g/mL$. These results suggested that olive oil esters can be applied as natural/non-toxic ingredients to cosmetics industries.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.961-969
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• 2015

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the main catechin in green tea, has been shown to have some beneficial effects against various human diseases, including diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disease and obesity. To investigate the mechanism of the suppressive effects of EGCG on inflammatory response in macrophages, alterations on the levels of nitric oxide (NO) regulatory factors and inflammatory cytokines were measured in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. No significant toxicity was detected in RAW264.7 cells treated with 100–400 μM EGCG. Moreover, the optimal concentration of LPS was determined to be 1 μg/ml based on the results of cell viability assay, NO assay and IL-6 enzyme-linked immunsorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, NO levels decreased significantly by 68.2% in the 400 μM EGCG/LPS treated group, while the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression decreased by 12-17% in the 200 and 400 μM EGCG/LPS treated group. A significant decrease in transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF- α and IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) was also detected in the EGCG/LPS treated group. However, IL-6 transcript and protein was maintained at a constant level when in the LPS treated group relative to the EGCG/LPS treated group. Overall, these results suggest that the differential regulation of inflammatory cytokines is an important factor influencing the suppressive effects of EGCG against LPS-activated inflammatory response in RAW264.7 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.302-308
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Oenanthe javanica and Allium tuberosum powder on lipid metabolism in rats fed high fat·high cholesterol diet. Experimental rats were divided into five groups which were composed of normal diet group (N), high fat·high cholesterol diet group (HF), high fat·high cholesterol diet with 5% Oenanthe javanica powder diet group (OP), high fat·high cholesterol diet with 5% Allium tuberosum powder diet group (AP) and high fat·high cholesterol diet with 2.5% Oenanthe javanica and Allium tuberosum powder diet group (OAP). The serum TG content of the HF group was significantly increased compared to the N group, but that of the OAP group was significantly decreased. Serum HDL-cholesterol contents of the OAP group was significantly increased compared to the HF group. The serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and AI of the HF group were increased compared to the N group and especially the LDL-cholesterol of OP and OAP groups were significantly decreased compared to the HF group. The liver TG and total cholesterol contents of the HF group were significantly increased compared to the N group, while TG contents of the OAP group was significantly decreased compared to the HF group. Fecal total lipid and total cholesterol of OP, AP and OAP groups were significantly increased compared to the HF group. These results suggest that supplementation of Oenanthe javanica and Allium tuberosum may have a pronounced impact on markers of lipid metabolism in serum and liver of rats fed high fat·high cholesterol diets.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.509-518
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• 2016

Asparagus cochinchinensis is a medical plant that has long been used to treat fever, cough, kidney disease, breast cancer, inflammatory disease and brain disease in northeast Asian countries. Although several studies have been conducted on the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of A. cochinchinensis, the correlation between these effects and nerve growth factor (NGF) has not yet been examined. In this study, we investigated the effects of an aqueous extract of A. cochinchinensis (AEAC) on the secretion and action mechanism of NGF in neuronal cells. The concentration of the NGF protein in the supernatant collected from cultured cells increased significantly in B35 cells treated with AEAC in comparison with the vehicle-treated group without any specific cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of NGF showed a very similar pattern to its protein concentration. To examine the bioactivity of NGF secreted from B35 cells, undifferentiated PC12 cells were cultured in an AEAC-conditioned medium and neuritic outgrowth was observed. The dendrite length of PC12 cells in the AEAC-treated group was significantly higher than that in the vehicle-treated group. Moreover, the level of the downstream effectors p-TrkA and p-ERK of the high-affinity NGF receptor was significantly higher in the AEAC-treated group, while the expression of the downstream effectors of the low-affinity NGF receptor was significantly lower in the same group. These results suggest that AEAC may contribute to the regulation of NGF expression and secretion in neuronal cells; it is therefore an excellent candidate for further investigation as a therapeutic drug for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.837-843
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the morphological and physiological characteristics of six new cultivars of Hypsizygus marmoreus (Hm) and measure endo-, exo-cellular enzyme-specific activity. The domestic wild stain (Hm3-10) and commercial strain in Japan (Hm1-1) were mated by crossing monokaryon mycelia. We gained 58 strains from one of 400 crosses through the $1^{st}$ cultivation experiment, and selected six strains from one of 58 strains through the $2^{nd}$ cultivation experiment. When six of the selected new strains were grown during several spawn culture periods (60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 days), a spawn culture period of more 80 days was considered to be excellent as being shorter than 19~20 days. Therefore, we determined the period of spawn culture as 80 days. Three strains such as Hm15-3, Hm15-4, and Hm17-5 showed an excellent result. When endo-cellular enzyme activity measured eight strains, we obtained a result of that specific activity of ${\alpha}$-amylase at the highest as 73.9~102.2 unit/mg protein, and chitinase is lower than ${\alpha}$-amylase at 8.1~13.1 unit/mg protein. When exo-cellular enzyme activity measured eight strains, we determined the result of that specific activity of ${\alpha}$-amylase is the highest at 5,292~1,184 unit/mg protein, and CMCase and xylanase were 1,140~245 unit/mg protein, 94~575 unit/mg protein, compared to each other. However, the enzyme activity of ${\beta}$-glucosidase and chitinase is low.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.289-298
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• 2009

Effects of Nattokinase fibrinol (NKF), defined as a fibrinolytic product, on fibrinolytic and atherogenetic markers were studied for healthy adults (20-31 years old), who is smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day. Subjects were divided into 29 for NKF group and 10 for placebo group in a short term study. They were given 2 tablets of NKF (4,000 unit) or placebo tablet and thereafter blood samples were collected at 0, 2, 4 hr prerid. For a 4-week long term study, 15 subjects for NFK group and 10 subjects for placebo group were supplemented one tablet of each NKF (2,000 unit) and placebo per day, respectively. Blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 4 weeks later. The short-term experimental trial showed that NKF remarkably increased fibrinolytic activity at 2hr after consumption, which was maintained up to 4 hr, relative to that of placebo, while NKF reduced the euglobulin clot lysis time (ECLT) and retarded the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), as compared to placebo group. NKF supplementation for 4 weeks elevated fibrinolytic activity, shortened ECLT and retarded aPTT. Furthermore, NKF supplementation increased anti-atherogenic index by decreasing triglyceride (TG) and elevating high-density lipiprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. These results indicate that NKF supplementation for short term or long term might have beneficial effects on preventing and treating cardiovascular disease by increasing fibrinolytic activity and improving atherogenic markers such as hyperlipidemia.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.467-475
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• 2014

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is a well-known and rich source of biologically active compounds, such as flavonoids, carotenoids, steroids, vitamins, tannins, and oleic acid. The effects of sea buckthorn fruit extract (SBFE) on ultraviolet (UV)-induced cell death was investigated in SK-MEL-2 cells cotreated with UV and a low concentration (LoC), medium concentration (MeC), or high concentration (HiC) of SBFE. Cell viability gradually decreased in accordance with an increase in the UV dose. The cell viability of the UV+SBFE cotreated cells increased significantly compared to that of UV+vehicle-treated cells during the application of an appropriate UV radiation dose (400 mJ). In addition, the number of 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), propidium iodine (PI)-, and annexin V-stained apoptotic cells was higher in the UV+vehicle-treated cells than in the UV untreated cells. The decrease of apoptotic cell numbers varied in each treated group, but it was most significant in the SBFE-treated group. The number of PI-stained cells dramatically decreased in accordance with the concentration of SBFE, and the maximum decrease was detected in the UV+HiC-treated group. In addition, Bax expression increased and Bcl-2 expression decreased in the SBFE-treated group compared with the UV-only treated group. The level of caspase-3 remained constant in all the groups. These results suggest that SBFE may contribute to a recovery from UV-induced cell death through the regulation of apoptotic protein expression and that it may have potential therapeutic utility in ameliorating UV-induced skin ageing.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.937-944
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• 2017

To investigate the beneficial effects of fiber derived from agar on the lipid and glucose metabolism of obese model mice, changes in the fat accumulation, lipid content, and insulin concentration were measured in C57BL/6N mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and treated with a beverage containing agar (BCA) for 9 weeks. The feed efficiency ratio was significantly decreased in the HFD+BCA treatment group, although the body weight and food intake were maintained a constant level. Also, the fat accumulation in the fatty tissue and liver were lower in the HFD+BCA treatment group than in the HFD+Vehicle treatment group. Furthermore, a significant decrease was detected in the levels of total cholesterol (TC) and LDL after the BCA treatment, while a constant HDL level was maintained in the same group. Moreover, the serum insulin concentration was significantly decreased in the HFD+BCALo (Low concentration) and HFD+BCAMi (Middle concentration) groups compared to the HFD+Vehicle group. Therefore, the results suggest that the long-term administration of dietary fiber from agar can improve fat accumulation in the fatty tissue and liver, the serum lipid profile, and the insulin concentration in the blood. Also, the results provide evidence that the inclusion of agar fiber in beverages results in significant hypolipidemic and hypoinsulinemic effects.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.469-478
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• 2004

Pig slurry, urine and fermented liquid manure were evaluated measuring electrical conductivity (EC), dry matter (DM) contents and other components. Samples were collected during a period from February to April, 2001: slurry samples from 70 storage tanks, urine samples from 19 and 20 fermented liquid manure samples from 109 pig farms in Jeju. Samples were analyzed for pH, EC, DM, $NH_4$-N, K, P, Ca, Mg, Na, BOD, S-S, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and OM. Relationships between EC or DM and various mineral and $NH_4$-N contents were examined using linear regression. EC, DM, all mineral contents and $NH_4$-N were higher in slurry samples than in urine or fermented liquid manure. EC, $NH_4$-N, Ca, Mg and Na concentration was similar in urine and fermented liquid manure, but K and DM values in liquid manure were twice as much as in urine. P concentration was higher in urine than in liquid manure. $NH_4$-N and Na in slurry, $NH_4$-N in urine and $NH_4$-N, P and Ca in fermented liquid manure were highly correlated with EC, while $NH_4$-N, P, Ca and Mg in slurry, $NH_4$-N and Ca in urine, and K, P, Ca, Mg, and Na in fermented liquid manure with DM (P<0.05). BOO in slurry (22,520 mg/mL) was higher than that in urine (4,763) and fermented liquid manure (2,701). Results indicated that slurry is a better fertilizer source than urine or fermented liquid manure. However, slurry may pollute soil more than urine or fermented liquid manure when applied to land, although the levels are not above the permit.