• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1027-1033
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• 2019

Recently, Korea has seen a rapid increase in the elderly population. As a result, osteoporosis, a geriatric disease, has become a social problem. To investigate the novel and natural materials for promoting osteoblastogenesis, we investigated the osteoblastogenic activity of Tenebrio molitor larvae oil (TMO) on the MG-63 preosteoblast cells. The cytotoxicity and proliferation effects of TMO on MG-63 cells were measured by MTS assay. There was no cytotoxicity up to $80{\mu}g/ml$. At 40 and $80{\mu}g/ml$ of TMO (treated for 48 hr), cell proliferation was elevated about 120% compared to the control. The osteoblastogenic activity of TMO was measured with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity at 5 days. Doses of 5 to $80{\mu}g/ml$ of TMO increased ALP activities significantly compared with the control. In addition, expression of ALP and Runx2 (osteoblastogenic markers) were markedly increased after treatment of TMO for 5 days. These results provide evidence that TMO promotes osteoblastogenesis by increasing the gene and protein expression of ALP and Runx2, and they suggest that TMO may be a potential agent for bone formation and preventing osteoporosis.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to propose a sustainable village-unit urban regeneration plan for the Ewha Mural Village, where mural artists recovered concrete fences to be followed by some residents damaging the mural paintings. Through a review of the existing literature and a preliminary survey, we derived the urban regeneration factors (environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, and social sustainability) applicable at the village level. After an empirical survey on the residents, we tried to identify various problems of the Ewha Mural Village. Residents selected the factors of accessibility, parking management, diversity of industries, creation of new jobs, community participation of residents for the mural village's activation, and stable living spaces. In the case of Ewha Mural Village, physical environment factors for the residents at the time of construction were not considered and the village was mainly planned using budget-based murals. Since then, the inequality of economic benefits intensified the conflicts among the residents. In addition, public benefits, such as establishing new industries and employing outsiders, were not provided, and these facts appear to have led to an unsustainable murals village, in which the murals that are the protagonists of the village revitalization are being destroyed. Therefore, the urban regeneration of Ewha Mural Village should be designed considering a region where some residential areas can be transformed into tourist areas. In addition, it is essential to employ a win-win method to improve the living environment, such as road maintenance, not only partial economic benefits, such as increased land-value, and to increase resident's value as a common asset within the village itself.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 2019

It is difficult to analyze pymetrozine in citrus fruits using the hydromatrix method because of its low efficiency of purification and overlap of matrix and pymetrozine peaks. Liquid-liquid extraction can analyze pymetrozine in citrus fruits using dichloromethane. Since low pH interferes with the extraction of pymetrozine, the extracts of citrus fruits were maintained over pH 7.0 by adding borax buffer and 1 N NaOH in the improved method. According to the improved method, citrus fruits (such as lemon, lime, orange, tangerine, and grapefruit) were extracted and purified for HPLC-photo diode array analysis. The results of validation were as follows: $4.360{\mu}g/kg$ of limit of detection, $14.533{\mu}g/kg$ of limit of quantitation, and 0.007 mg/kg of method quantitative limit. Citrus fruits spiked with pymetrozine showed a recovery range from 71.8 to 83.7% and a coefficient of variation below 6%. Thus, the improved method can efficiently analyze pymetrozine in citrus fruits.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.31-38
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• 2019

This study quantified, through a direct harvesting method, storage and annual uptake of carbon from open-grown trees for three landscape tree species frequently planted in the southern region of Korea, and developed quantitative models to easily estimate the carbon reduction by tree growth for each species. The tree species for the study included Camellia japonica, Lagerstroemia indica, and Quercus myrsinaefolia, for which no information on carbon storage and uptake was available. Ten tree individuals for each species (a total of 30 individuals) were sampled considering various stem diameter sizes at given intervals. The study measured biomass for each part of the sample trees to quantify the total carbon storage per tree. Annual carbon uptake per tree was computed by analyzing the radial growth rates of the stem samples at breast height or ground level. Quantitative models were developed using stem diameter as an independent variable to easily calculate storage and annual uptake of carbon per tree for study species. All the quantitative models showed high fitness with $r^2$ values of 0.94-0.98. The storage and annual uptake of carbon from a Q. myrsinaefolia tree with dbh of 10 cm were 24.0 kg and 4.5 kg/yr, respectively. A C. japonica tree and L. indica tree with dg of 10 cm stored 11.2 kg and 8.1 kg of carbon and annually sequestered 2.6 kg and 1.2 kg, respectively. The above-mentioned carbon storage equaled the amount of carbon emitted from the gasoline consumption of about 42 L for Q. myrsinaefolia, 20 L for C. japonica, and 14 L for L. indica. A tree with the diameter size of 10 cm annually offset carbon emissions from gasoline use of approximately 8 L for Q. myrsinaefolia, 5 L for C. japonica, and 2 L for L. indica. The study pioneers in quantifying biomass and carbon reduction for the landscape tree species in the southern region despite difficulties in direct cutting and root digging of the planted trees.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.289-292
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• 2019

Lachnospiraceae bacterium KGMB03038 (=KCTC 15821) belonging to the class Clostridia in phylum Firmicutes, was isolated from a stool sample of a healthy Korean. Herein, we report the complete genome sequence of strain KGMB03038 analyzed using the PacBio Sequel platform. The genome comprises of 3,334,474 bp with G + C content of 47.8%, which includes 3,099 predicted protein-coding genes, 12 ribosomal RNAs, 54 transfer RNAs, and 4 ncRNAs. Genome analysis revealed that strain KGMB03038 possesses a number of genes involved in hydrolysis of carbohydrates, including mono-, di-, and oligo-saccharides, and biosynthesis of various amino acids.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.274-277
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• 2019

Ruminococcus sp. KGMB03662 was isolated from fecal samples obtained from a healthy Korean. The whole-genome sequence of Ruminococcus sp. KGMB03662 was analyzed using the PacBio Sequel platform. The genome comprises a 2,707,502 bp chromosome with a G + C content of 43.09%, 2,484 total genes, 2,367 protein-coding gene, 14 rRNA genes, and 53 tRNA genes. In the draft genome, genes involved in the hydrolysis enzyme, fatty acid biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolite, antibiotic biosynthesis, and antibiotic resistance have been identified. Those genes of KGMB03662 may be related to the regulation of human health and disease.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 2019

In total, 654,362 adult mosquitoes were captured using black light traps in Gangwon-do Province of the Republic of Korea from 2012 to 2017. The collected mosquitoes were identified to the species level, placed in pools of up to 50 mosquitoes each, by species and date of collection, and screened for flaviviruses using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. A total of 276,224 adult mosquitoes were grouped in 7,721 pools for virus testing, and 68 flavivirus positive pools (0.9%) were detected. Flavivirus-positive products were confirmed by DNA sequencing. Japanese encephalitis viruses were detected in single pools collected from Chuncheon (2012, 2017: Culex pipiens, 2,728 and 1,111 mosquitoes, respectively), Hoengseong (2013: Culex orientalis, 19), and Gangneung (2017: C. pipiens, 724). All the Japanese encephalitis viruses detected were revealed as genotype V. Chaoyang viruses were detected in 63 pools of 5,055 Aedes vexans nipponii and a single pool of 585 C. pipiens collected in Gangwon-do Province from 2012 to 2017. Chuncheon was the region with the highest minimum infection rates (MIR, 0.32) and maximum likehood estimate (MLE, 0.33; confidence interval (CI) 95%, 0.23-0.46) of A. vexans nipponii for Chaoyang virus, followed by Hoengseong (MIR 0.30, MLE 0.30, CI 0.16-0.52) and Gangneung (MIR 0.21, MLE 0.21, CI 0.13-0.31). Monthly MIR and MLE values of A. vexans nipponii for Chaoyang virus were the highest in October (MIR 0.38, MLE 0.38, CI 0.07-1.25).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1002-1009
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• 2019

Early life stress (ELS) increases the risk of depression. ELS may be involved in the susceptibility to subsequent stress exposure during adulthood. We investigated whether epigenetic mechanisms of p11 promoter affect the vulnerability to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) induced by the maternal separation (MS). Mice pups were separated from their dams (3 hr/day from P1-P21). When the pups reached adulthood, we applied CUS (daily for 3 weeks). The levels of hippocampal p11 expression were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. The levels of acetylated and methylated histone H3 at p11 promoter were measured by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Depression-like behavior was measured by the forced swimming test (FST). The MS and CUS group exhibited significant decreases in p11 mRNA level and the MS plus CUS group had a greater reduction in this level than the CUS group. The MS plus CUS group also resulted in greater reduction in H3 acetylation than the CUS group. This reduction was associated with an upregulation of histone deacetylase 5. Additionally, the MS plus CUS group showed a greater decrease in H3K4met3 level and a greater increase in H3K27 met3 level than the CUS group. Consistent with the reduction of p11 expression, the MS plus CUS group displayed longer immobility times in the FST compared to the control group. Mice exposed to MS followed by CUS had much greater epigenetic alterations in the hippocampus compared to adult mice that only experienced CUS. ELS can exacerbate the effect of stress exposure during adulthood through histone modification of p11 gene.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2019

Purpose: Early detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae is important for appropriate antimicrobial therapy in children with pneumonia. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of a rapid antigen test kit in detecting M. pneumoniae from respiratory specimens in children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). Methods: A total of 215 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) were selected from a pool of NPAs that had been obtained from children admitted for LRTI from August 2010 to August 2018. The specimens had been tested for M. pneumoniae by culture and stored at $-70^{\circ}C$ until use. Tests with Ribotest $Mycoplasma^{(R)}$ were performed and interpreted independently by two investigators who were blinded to the culture results. Results: Among the 215 NPAs, 119 were culture positive for M. pneumoniae and 96 were culture negative. Of the culture-positive specimens, 74 (62.2%) were positive for M. pneumoniae by Ribotest $Mycoplasma^{(R)}$, and 92 of the 96 (95.8%) culture-negative specimens were negative for M. pneumoniae by Ribotest $Mycoplasma^{(R)}$. When culture was used as the standard test, the sensitivity and specificity of Ribotest $Mycoplasma^{(R)}$ were 62.2% and 95.8%, respectively. Additionally, the positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall agreement rates with Ribotest $Mycoplasma^{(R)}$ were 94.9%, 67.2%, and 77.2%, respectively. Conclusions: A positive test result of Ribotest $Mycoplasma^{(R)}$ suggests a high likelihood of culture-positive M. pneumoniae infection. However, a negative test result should be interpreted with caution because nearly one-third of negative test results reveal culture-positive M. pneumoniae infections.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1096-1103
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• 2019

Neuroinflammation is mediated by the activation of microglia and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Therefore, the inhibition of neuroinflammation may be an effective solution to treat these brain disorders. Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis is an insect belonging to the order Coleoptera and inhabits Korea, China, Japan and Siberia. P. brevitarsis seulensis is an edible insect that can be consumed as a protein source for humans. It has been reported that P. brevitarsis seulensis contains useful bioactive substances for hepatoprotection and improving blood circulation, such as indole alkaloids. Microglia cells are the main source of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) in the central nervous system, which Perform neuroimmune, inflammatory, and other neurobilogical functions. In this study, we investigated the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of P. brevitarsis seulensis ethanol extract (PBE) in activated microglia cells treated with lipopolysaccgarude (LPS, 100 ng/ml). As a result, PBE significantly inhibited NO production without cytotoxicity and decreased the expression levels of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. In addition, the production of inflammatory cytokine secreted by LPS was also reduced by PBE. These results suggest that PBE could be a good source of functional substances to prevent neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.