• Title/Summary/Keyword: NATURAL FOREST

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Investigation of Original Landscaping in the Vicinity of Yongyun and Hwahongmun in Suwon Hwaseong (수원 화성 용연(龍淵)과 화홍문 일곽의 원형경관 탐색)

  • Rho, Jae-Hyun;Choi, Jong-Hee;Shin, Sang-Sup
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.38 no.2
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    • pp.94-108
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    • 2010
  • The purpose of this study is to provide data for the restoration of 'Yongyun(龍淵)' and 'Hwahongmun(華虹門)' through an investigation of the vicinity of their original landscapes at the time of construction of Hwaseong in Suwon and through tracing the transformative process of the environments of this vicinity. The results are as follows; As identified by 'Yongyunjung(龍淵亭)' and 'Yongdugak(龍頭閣)', other names of Yongyun, 'Banghwasuryujung(訪花隨柳亭)', which was built on 'Yongduam', is a facility whose place identity is highlighted with a sense of unity with Yongyun. The south lakefront of Yongyun, bordering Banghwasuryujung, has boundaries that make the best use of the natural geographical features of Yongduam while the current circumference of Yongyun is comparatively shorter than its original state. The size of 'Joongdo(中島)', however, seems to be an example of apparent over-design complement and reorganize 'Joongdo', which had been restored larger than its original state at the time of restoration in the 1970s. The depth of 'Yongyun' was created to be lower than the actual depth, without consideration for its initial depth, as soil was accumulated through continuous flooding after it was created. It is assumed that the original drains which were installed about 10m inside the lake were created facing the stream. As regards the planting environment, a circular planting of willows was made in the outskirts of 'Yongyun', except the 'Yongduam' which is a pure forest, and a mix of 'Pinus densiflora', shrubbery and deciduous broad leaf trees was planted in 'Joongdo'. Of the plants growing in the area of this study, plant species introduced to Korea after Hwaseong was constructed are found, most of which provide interest and attraction. The old pine trees growing in a group once grew in the castle areas of the vicinity even in the 1920s, the period of Japanese occupation, but they disappeared from the area in the aftermath of subsequent urban development and the Korean War. Although restored to the site, the number and space taken up by these trees are insignificant compared to those of the original environment. On the basis of these results, the following is considered necessary for the true restoration of the vicinity of 'Yongyun' and 'Hwahongmun': First, the grounds of 'Yongyun' should be dredged deeply enough to expose the bedrock and should be recreated in the rough outline of a half moon by extension to the southwest toward 'Yongduam' and 'Hwahongmun', and the size of 'Joongdo' should be significantly reduced. Secondly, considering that most plant species, except the pine trees and wild trees in 'Yongduam', are non-native plants introduced in order to provide such attractions such as the appreciation of scenic areas, they should be replaced with native species, mainly with the pine trees which were utilized during the construction of Hwaseong. The weeping willows planted in the 'middle-island' should be relocated to the outskirts of 'Yongyun', and replaced with pine trees as the major trees and maple trees or deciduous broadleaf trees to fill in the gaps. Thirdly, exotic species such as the 'Pinus rigida' planted in a group around 'Banghwasuryujung' and 'Bugammun' and 'Pinus strobus' planted in the vicinity of Hwahongmun' should be removed.

Study of Oil Palm Biomass Resources (Part 5) - Torrefaction of Pellets Made from Oil Palm Biomass - (오일팜 바이오매스의 자원화 연구 V - 오일팜 바이오매스 펠릿의 반탄화 연구 -)

  • Lee, Ji-Young;Kim, Chul-Hwan;Sung, Yong Joo;Nam, Hye-Gyeong;Park, Hyeong-Hun;Kwon, Sol;Park, Dong-Hun;Joo, Su-Yeon;Yim, Hyun-Tek;Lee, Min-Seok;Kim, Se-Bin
    • Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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    • v.48 no.2
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    • pp.34-45
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    • 2016
  • Global warming and climate change have been caused by combustion of fossil fuels. The greenhouse gases contributed to the rise of temperature between $0.6^{\circ}C$ and $0.9^{\circ}C$ over the past century. Presently, fossil fuels account for about 88% of the commercial energy sources used. In developing countries, fossil fuels are a very attractive energy source because they are available and relatively inexpensive. The environmental problems with fossil fuels have been aggravating stress from already existing factors including acid deposition, urban air pollution, and climate change. In order to control greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO2, fossil fuels must be replaced by eco-friendly fuels such as biomass. The use of renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly necessary. The biomass resources are the most common form of renewable energy. The conversion of biomass into energy can be achieved in a number of ways. The most common form of converted biomass is pellet fuels as biofuels made from compressed organic matter or biomass. Pellets from lignocellulosic biomass has compared to conventional fuels with a relatively low bulk and energy density and a low degree of homogeneity. Thermal pretreatment technology like torrefaction is applied to improve fuel efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass, i.e., less moisture and oxygen in the product, preferrable grinding properties, storage properties, etc.. During torrefacton, lignocelluosic biomass such as palm kernell shell (PKS) and empty fruit bunch (EFB) was roasted under an oxygen-depleted enviroment at temperature between 200 and $300^{\circ}C$. Low degree of thermal treatment led to the removal of moisture and low molecular volatile matters with low O/C and H/C elemental ratios. The mechanical characteristics of torrefied biomass have also been altered to a brittle and partly hydrophobic materials. Unfortunately, it was much harder to form pellets from torrefied PKS and EFB due to thermal degradation of lignin as a natural binder during torrefaction compared to non-torrefied ones. For easy pelletization of biomass with torrefaction, pellets from PKS and EFB were manufactured before torrefaction, and thereafter they were torrefied at different temperature. Even after torrefaction of pellets from PKS and EFB, their appearance was well preserved with better fuel efficiency than non-torrefied ones. The physical properties of the torrefied pellets largely depended on the torrefaction condition such as reaction time and reaction temperature. Temperature over $250^{\circ}C$ during torrefaction gave a significant impact on the fuel properties of the pellets. In particular, torrefied EFB pellets displayed much faster development of the fuel properties than did torrefied PKS pellets. During torrefaction, extensive carbonization with the increase of fixed carbons, the behavior of thermal degradation of torrefied biomass became significantly different according to the increase of torrefaction temperature. In conclusion, pelletization of PKS and EFB before torrefaction made it much easier to proceed with torrefaction of pellets from PKS and EFB, leading to excellent eco-friendly fuels.

Protective effects of Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus extract against hyperglycemic-induced neurotoxicity (포도당 처리로 유도된 뇌신경세포 독성에 대한 눈개승마 추출물의 보호효과)

  • Park, Su Bin;Lee, Uk;Kang, Jin Yong;Kim, Jong Min;Park, Seon Kyeong;Park, Sang Hyun;Choi, Sung-Gil;Heo, Ho Jin
    • Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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    • v.49 no.6
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    • pp.668-675
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    • 2017
  • To assess the physiological effects of Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus extract on cytoxicity of a neuronal cell line, antioxidant activity, and neuroprotection against intensive glucose-induced oxidative stress were quantitated. Compared to the other fractions, the ethyl acetate fraction of Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus (EFAD) showed the highest total phenolics and flavonoids. The 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay and malondialdehyde inhibitory effect test confirmed the superior antioxidant activity of EFAD. Moreover, EFAD also decreased the intracellular ROS level and suppressed neuronal cell death against intensive glucose- or $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress. Additionally, assessment of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities revealed that EFAD was an effective inhibitor of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase. Finally, high-performance liquid chromatography analysis identified caffeic acid as the main ingredient of EFAD. Overall, these results suggest that the EFAD is a good natural source of biological compounds that counteract hyperglycemic neuronal defects.

Inhibitory Effect of Sambucus sieboldiana var. pendula (Nakai) Extract on the mRNA and Protein Expression of iNOS and COX-2 in Raw 264.7 Cells (RAW 264.7 세포에서 말오줌나무 추출물의 iNOS, COX-2 단백질 및 mRNA 발현 억제 효과)

  • Lee, Jin-Young;Yoo, Dan-Hee;Chae, Jung-Woo
    • Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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    • v.45 no.2
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    • pp.178-183
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    • 2017
  • This study examined a new functional cosmetic material possessing application possibility of Sambucus sieboldiana var. pendula (Nakai) (SS) extract. For this, we analyzed the toxic effect of the SS extract on macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells) by performing MTT assay. Results of the MTT assay showed ${\geq}100%$ cell viability after treatment with $500{\mu}g/ml$ SS extract. To determine the anti-inflammatory activity of the SS extract, we examined its inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells by performing Griess assay. Result of the Griess assay showed that the SS extract inhibited LPS-induced NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. Next, we examined the effect of the SS extract on the production of proinflammatory factors inducible NOS (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. First, we determined the inhibitory effect of 50, 100, and $500{\mu}g/ml$ SS extract on iNOS and COX-2 protein expression by performing western blot analysis, with ${\beta}$-actin as a positive control. Results of western blotting showed that treatment with $500{\mu}g/ml$ SS extract decreased iNOS and COX-2 protein expression by 31.2% and 54.7%, respectively. Next, we determined the inhibitory effect of 50, 100, and $500{\mu}g/ml$ SS extract on iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression by performing reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with GAPDH as a positive control. Results of reverse transcription-PCR showed that treatment with $500{\mu}g/ml$ SS extract decreased the mRNA expression of iNOS and COX-2 by 72.2% and 89%, respectively. These results suggest that the SS extract is a highly valuable natural compound because of its functional components and anti-inflammatory activity.

A Study on an Estimated Location of Seongjae Ryu, Junggyo's Okgye Gugok in GaPyeong-Gun (성재 유중교의 가평 옥계구곡 위치추정 연구)

  • Kang, Kee-Rae;Lee, Hae-Ju;Lee, Hyun-Chae;Kim, Hee-Chae;Kim, Dong-Phil;Ha, Seung Kun
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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    • v.35 no.3
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    • pp.32-40
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    • 2017
  • The introduction of neo-Confucianism as the ideological foundation of Joseon, and its root Confucianism have become the origin of the life, scholarship and ideology of the Korean people. Additionally, it was considered the best to follow the teachings of the discipline's advocates including Confucius (孔子), Mencius (孟子), Zisi (子思), ZhuXi (朱子). Among these teachers, ZhuXi was the one who overtly presented the way of self-discipline, of which goal lies in attaining the character by the manifestation of vitality (氣 ki) and rationality (理 i) and contemplating on them. As he regarded natural places with mountains and waters as stages and tools for practicing toward the enlightenment, Confucian scholars in Joseon also followed his example in the spirit of honoring and studying ZhuXi (尊朱子, 學朱子), which became the basic thoughts and practical philosophy among them. Ryu, Junggyo, the neo-Confucian dogmatist, was no exception to applaud the nature, as he designated and ruled Okgye Gugok. On the basis of these backgrounds, this study aims to estimate the geographic places of Okgye Gugok, which was set by Ryu, Junggyo, a Confucian scholar in late-Joseon period, by collecting and analyzing the basic data, starting from Gareung-gun Okgye Sansugi(嘉陵郡玉溪山水記) which is the primary text authored by Seongjae Ryu, Junggyo. The literature study is followed by ten field trips to the estimated locations of Okgye Gugok, and verification of the estimations by three locals who were born and raised in Okgye Gugok. Coordinates and photographs were obtained as spatial data for each location of nine Gok(曲) estimated through this study. They will serve as a primary and critical data for story-telling and tourism resource in Okgye Gugok. The significance of this study is that it provides the primary data for designating the locations of Gok(曲) in Okgyeo Gugok.

A Study on the Nature-friendly Management Regarding the User Pattern of Yangjae Stream (양재천의 이용특성을 고려한 환경친화적 관리방안에 관한 연구)

  • Kim Sun-Hee;Hong Suk-Hwan;Bae Jung-Nam
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.18 no.3
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    • pp.306-315
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    • 2004
  • Yangjae stream, stretching through Seocho-gu and Gangnam-gu, is a representative city stream with its environmentally friendly stream makeover project model, launched in 1995. The district of Gangnam-gu, the subject of this study, is under high pressure from the residents for its use as a huge residential areas close to the stream. The study has two main purposes. The first is to identify the condition and characteristic of utilization of Yangjae stream which is currently being increased in use by the stream restoration. Secondly, the study aims to suggest the environment-friendly management to accomplish arrangement of the naturally friendly stream based on the identification survey, The result from the user survey with 303 valid answer sheets show that the people from neighboring residential areas use this stream a lot doing exercising(51.8%) and taking a walk(24.4%) in their free time. Also regular use rate is high, and people are likely to use it alone(30.4%) or as a family(28.4%). With regard to the need of facility increase, even though the respondents required resting places in the shade(80.8%) most, overall, additional introduction of facilities was analyzed as unnecessary(78.8%). safety issue(22.0%) and a lack of convenience facilities(17.6%) and resting places in the shade(16.6%) are pointed as main problems while the users are generally satisfied(59.5%) with the stream. Improving walk-way and planting trees for shade on the slope were designed as a solution for these problems. For securing safety through improvement of walk-way, the scattering of pressure of current walk with building new walk using berms was presented. In order to increase safety on the walk-way(see above figure), the study proposes to build a new walk-way with berms to disperse excessive pressure. It also suggests the tree planting to provide shade in the stream and to make a provision for the planting of forest trees in the current law.

A Study on the Soil Respiration in Cutting and Uncutting Areas of Larix leptolepis Plantation (잎갈나무조림지의 벌목지와 비벌목지의 토양호흡에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Kyu-Jin;Mun, Hyeong-Tae
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.20 no.9
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    • pp.1353-1357
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    • 2010
  • Quantification of the ecosystem respiration is essential in understanding the carbon cycling of natural and disturbed landscapes. Soil respiration and some environmental factors which affect soil respiration were investigated in a Larix leptolepis plantation inKongju, Korea. Soil respiration was measured at midday of the $15^{th}$ and $30^{th}$ day of every month from May to December in a non-cutting area (Control) and a cutting area (Treatment) with IRGA Soil Respiration Analyzer. Throughout the study period, average soil temperature and water content were $23.3{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$ and $27.76{\pm}7.12%$ for control, and $25.9{\pm}3.1^{\circ}C$ and $24.55{\pm}5.12%$ for treatment, respectively. There was a positive correlation ($R^2$=0.8905) between soil respiration and soil temperature in the study area. However, there was no significant correlation between soil respiration and soil moisture ($R^2$=0.4437). The seasonal soil respiration increased in the summer and decreased in the winter. In August, maximum soil respirations in the control and treatment areas were $0.82{\pm}0.13$ and $1.32{\pm}0.10$ $gCO_2{\cdot}^{-2}{\cdot}r^{-1}$, respectively. Total amounts of $CO_2$ evolution in the control and treatment areas from May to December in 2008 were 2,419.2 and 3,610.8 $CO_2g{\cdot}m^{-2}$, respectively. The amount of soil respiration in the treatment area was 49.3% greater than in the control. Increased soil respiration in the treatment area may be due to increased soil temperature, which drives increased microbial decomposition. According to our present investigation, forest cutting will increase the atmospheric $CO_2$ by increasing soil respiration.

History of the Korean Society of Applied Entomology for its First Fifty Years (한국응용곤충학회의 첫 50년 역사)

  • Boo, Kyung-Saeng
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.51 no.2
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    • pp.171-190
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    • 2012
  • The Korean Society of Applied Entomology (KSAE) celebrates its First 50 years history this year, 2011. It began in the year 1962, as the Korean Society of Plant Protection (KSPP) to discuss all aspects of plant protection including entomology and plant pathology. At that time it was one of the earliest scientific ones among agricultural societies in Korea. Before liberation from the Japanese colonial rule there were a few scientific societies for Japanese scientists only in the Korean Peninsula. It seemed that there was a single exception, in medical field, formed by and operated for Korean ethnics. Right after the liberation, Korean scientists rushed to form new scientific societies in the fields of mechanical engineering, architecture, textile, internal medicine, biology, etc. in 1945, mathematics, chemistry, metallurgy, etc. in 1946, and so on. But agricultural scientists had to wait for more time before setting up their own scientific society, Korean Agricultural Society(韓國農學會), comprising all agricultural subfields, in 1954. They had annual meetings and published their own journal every year until 1962. Then those working in the plant protection field established their own KSPP, right after their section meeting in 1962. At that time the total number of participants for KSPP were only around 50. KSPP scientists were interested in plant pathology, agricultural chemicals, weed science, or bioclimate, besides entomology. They had annual meetings once or twice a year until 1987 and published their own journal, Korean Journal of Plant Protection (KJPP), once a year at the earlier years but soon gradually increasing the frequency to four times a year later. Articles on entomology and plant pathology occupied about 40% each, but the number of oral or posters were a little bit higher on plant pathology than entomology, with the rest on nematology, agricultural chemicals, or soil microarthropods. There also had a number of symposia and special lectures. The presidentship lasted for two years and most of president served only one term, except for the first two. The current president should be $28^{th}$. In the year 1988, KSPP had to be transformed into the applied entomology society, Korean Society of Applied Entomology (KSAE), because most of plant pathologists participating left the society to set up their own one, Korean Society of Plant Pathology in 1984. Since that time the Society concentrates on entomology, basic and applied, with some notes on nematology, acarology, soil microarthropods, agricultural chemicals, etc. The Society has been hosting annual meetings at least twice a year with special lectures and symposia, from time to time, on various topics. It also hosted international symposia including binational scientific meetings twice with two different Japanese (applied entomology in 2003 and acarology in 2009) societies and the Asia-Pacific Congress of Entomology in 2005. The regular society meeting of this year, 2011, turns out to be the 43rd and this autumn non-regular meeting would be the 42nd. It has been publishing two different scientific journals, Korean Journal of Applied Entomology (KJAE) since 1988 and the Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology (JAPE) since 1998. Both journals are published 4 times a year, with articles written in Korean or English in the first, but those in English only in the latter with cooperation from the Taiwan Entomological Society and the Malaysian Plant Protection Society since 2008. It is now enlisted as one of those SCI(science citation index) extended. The highest number of topics discussed at their annual meetings was on ecology, behavior, and host resistance. But at the annual meetings jointly with the Korean Society of Entomology, members were more interested in basic aspects, instead of applied aspects, such as physiology and molecular biology fields. Among those societies related to entomology and plant protection, plant pathology, pesticide, and applied entomology societies are almost similar in membership, but entomology and plant pathology societies are publishing more number of articles than any others. The Society is running beautifully, but there are a few points to be made for further improvement. First, the articles or posters should be correctly categorized on the journals or proceedings. It may be a good idea to ask members to give their own version of correct category for their submissions, either oral or poster or written publication. The category should be classified detailed as much as possible (one kind of example would be systematics, morphology, evolution, ecology, behavior, host preference or resistance, physiology, anatomy, chemical ecology, molecular biology, pathology, chemical control, insecticides, insecticide resistance, biocontrol, biorational control, natural enemies, agricultural pest, forest pest, medical pest, etc.) and such scheme should be given to members beforehand. The members should give one or two, first and second, choices when submitting, if they want. Then the categories might be combined or grouped during editing for optimal arrangement for journals or proceedings. Secondly the journals should carry complete content of the particular year and author index at the last issue of that year. I would also like to have other information, such as awards and awardees in handy way. I could not find any document for listing awards. Such information or article categorization may be assigned to one of the vice presidents. I would rather strongly recommend that the society should give more time and energy on archive management to keep better and more correct history records.

An International Collaborative Program To Discover New Drugs from Tropical Biodiversity of Vietnam and Laos

  • Soejarto, Djaja D.;Pezzuto, John M.;Fong, Harry H.S.;Tan, Ghee Teng;Zhang, Hong Jie;Tamez, Pamela;Aydogmus, Zeynep;Chien, Nguyen Quyet;Franzblau, Scott G.;Gyllenhaal, Charlotte;Regalado, Jacinto C.;Hung, Nguyen Van;Hoang, Vu Dinh;Hiep, Nguyen Tien;Xuan, Le Thi;Hai, Nong Van;Cuong, Nguyen Manh;Bich, Truong Quang;Loc, Phan Ke;Vu, Bui Minh;Southavong, Boun Hoong
    • Natural Product Sciences
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.1-15
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    • 2002
  • An International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) program based at the University of Illinois at Chicago initiated its activities in 1998, with the following specific objectives: (a) inventory and conservation of of plants of Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam and of medicinal plants of Laos; (b) drug discovery (and development) based on plants of Vietnam and Laos; and (c) economic development of communities participating in the ICBG project both in Vietnam and Laos. Member-institutions and an industrial partner of this ICBG are bound by a Memorandum of Agreement that recognizes property and intellectual property rights, prior informed consent for access to genetic resources and to indigenous knowledge, the sharing of benefits that may arise from the drug discovery effort, and the provision of short-term and long-term benefits to host country institutions and communities. The drug discovery effort is targeted to the search for agents for therapies against malaria (antimalarial assay of plant extracts, using Plasmodium falciparum clones), AIDS (anti-HIV-l activity using HOG.R5 reporter cell line (through transactivation of the green fluorescent protein/GFP gene), cancer (screening of plant extracts in 6 human tumor cell lines - KB, Col-2, LU-l, LNCaP, HUVEC, hTert-RPEl), tuberculosis (screening of extracts in the microplate Alamar Blue assay against Mycobacterium tuberculosis $H_{37}Ra\;and\;H_{37}Rv),$ all performed at UIC, and CNS-related diseases (with special focus on Alzheimer's disease, pain and rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma), peformed at Glaxo Smith Kline (UK). Source plants were selected based on two approaches: biodiversity-based (plants of Cuc Phuong National Park) and ethnobotany-based (medicinal plants of Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam and medicinal plants of Laos). At mc, as of July, 2001, active leads had been identified in the anti-HIV, anticancer, antimalarial, and anti- TB assay, after the screening of more than 800 extracts. At least 25 biologically active compounds have been isolated, 13 of which are new with anti-HIV activity, and 3 also new with antimalarial activity. At GSK of 21 plant samples with a history of use to treat CNS-related diseases tested to date, a number showed activity against one or more of the CNS assay targets used, but no new compounds have been isolated. The results of the drug discovery effort to date indicate that tropical plant diversity of Vietnam and Laos unquestionably harbors biologically active chemical entities, which, through further research, may eventually yield candidates for drug development. Although the substantial monetary benefit of the drug discovery process (royalties) is a long way off, the UIC ICBG program provides direct and real-term benefits to host country institutions and communities.

Response of the Growth and Root Development of Shade Landscape Plants by Slit Ventilation Treatment into Indoor Container (실내용기 내 슬릿(Slit)처리가 내음성 조경식물의 생육과 뿌리발달에 미치는 영향)

  • Ju, Jin-Hee;Han, Jung-Hwa
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.37 no.3
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    • pp.105-112
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    • 2009
  • This study has attempted to facilitate various new technologies related to indoor containers and develop a desirable planting environment after investigating the growth (including root growth) of shade-tolerant landscape plants under slit processing, a natural indoor ventilation system. The following results were found: In terms of the shoot growth of Fatsia japonica in a slit container, no distinctive difference was observed in comparison with the control group. However, growth was good when the container 250mm tall or taller. Therefore, it was verified that optical soil depth is more important than slit processing in shoot growth of Fatsia japonica. In Fatsia japonica root length was observed as follows: Control 2(250mm) > Slit 2(250mm) > Control 1(195mm) > Slit 3(360mm) > Control 3(360mm) > Slit 1(195mm). The largest growth was observed in Control 2(250mm), which had no slit processing. In term of root width, this was lower than the initial value in all groups, which means that the root grew vertically, not horizontally. In terms of plant height of Ophiopogon japonicus, a gradual increase was observed in the control group that had no slit processing. No significant growth was detected in the slit system, however. In terms of shoot number, slit containers were generally higher than the control group. In terms of fresh and dry weights, on the contrary, slit containers were mostly lower than the control group. In Ophiopogon japonicus, root length was observed as follows: Slit 2(250mm) > Slit 1(195mm) > Control 2(250mm) > Control 3(360mm) > Slit 3(360mm) > Control 1(195mm). In Ardisia japonica, slit containers were mostly greater than control group in terms of plant height. The greatest plant height was observed at Slit 2(250mm) instead of Slit 1(195mm) and Slit 3(360mm). Except for plant height and shoot number, however, no significant shoot and root growth was observed. Root length was observed as follows: Slit 2(250mm) > Slit 3(360mm) > Control 3(360mm) > Slit 1(195mm) > Control 2(250mm) > Control 1(195mm). Therefore, root length in slit containers was mostly greater than in the control group. The width of root, however, declined in general.