• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.200-208
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• 2023

Objective: Muscle acetylcholine receptors have five alpha subunits (α, β, δ, ε, or γ), and cholinergic receptor nicotinic gamma subunit (CHRNG) is the γ subunit. It may also play an essential role in biological processes, including cell differentiation, growth, and survival, while the role of CHRNG has not been studied in the literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of CHRNG on the proliferation and differentiation of bovine preadipocytes. Methods: We constructed a CHRNG overexpression adenovirus vector and successfully overexpressed it on bovine preadipocytes. The effects of CHRNG on bovine preadipocyte proliferation were detected by Edu assay, cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot and other techniques. We also performed oil red O, RT-qPCR, Western blot to explore its effect on the differentiation of preadipocytes. Results: The results of Edu proliferation experiments showed that the number of EDU-positive cells in the overexpression group was significantly less. CCK-8 experiments found that the optical density values of the cells in the overexpression group were lower than those of the control group, the mRNA levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin A2 (CCNA2), cyclin B1 (CCNB1), cyclin D2 (CCND2) decreased significantly after CHRNG gene overexpression, the mRNA levels of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A) increased significantly, and the protein levels of PCNA, CCNB1, CCND2 decreased significantly. Overexpression of CHRNG inhibited the differentiation of bovine preadipocytes. The results of oil red O and triglyceride determination showed that the size and speed of lipid droplets accumulation in the overexpression group were significantly lower. The mRNA and protein levels of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR class="checkNonKBPoint">γ), CCAAT enhancer binding protein alpha (CEBPα), fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), fatty acid synthase (FASN) decreased significantly. Conclusion: Overexpression of CHRNG in bovine preadipocytes inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of bovine preadipocytes.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.235-240
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• 2022

This study aimed to replace the imported Chinese complete medium for Lentinula edodes with a newly-developed complete medium that is suitable for export as well. Three media compositions that supported fast mycelium growth and higher density, compared to that in the control, were chosen. Culture in the T13 medium reduced the incubation period for 'Nongjingo' by 12 days and for 'Cham-aram' by 10 days, compared to that required for the control; in addition, the number of days required for browning was greatly reduced for both varieties. The quantity of each mixed medium was increased according to the composition from the 1^st to the 5^th cycle by 5.9% for 'Nongjingo' and 12.6% for 'Cham-aram' in T13, compared to that in the control. A mixed medium comprising oak sawdust + Douglas fir sawdust + corn flour (40:40:20, v/v) was selected as the most suitable complete medium.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.352-359
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• 2022

Recently, with the development of genetic technology, interest in environmental DNA (eDNA) to study biodiversity according to molecular biological approaches is increasing. Environmental DNA has many advantages over traditional research methods for biological communities distributed in the environment but highly depends on the established base sequence database. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the habitat status and classification at the genus level, which is mainly used in eDNA (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, COI, and CYTB), focusing on Korean registration taxon groups (phytoplankton, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, and fish). As a result, phytoplankton and zooplankton showed the highest taxa proportion in 18S rRNA, and macroinvertebrates observed the highest ratio in the nucleotide sequence database in COI. In fish, all genes except 18S rRNA showed a high taxon ratio. Based on the Korean registration taxon group, the gene construction of the top 20 genera according to bio density observed that most of the phytoplankton were registered in 18S rRNA, and the most significant number of COI nucleotide sequences were established in macroinvertebrates. In addition, it was confirmed that there is a nucleotide sequence for the top 20 genera in 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and CYTB in fish. These results provided comprehensive information on the genes suitable for eDNA research for each taxon group.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.175-183
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• 2022

In this study, 46 reservoirs in South Korea were characterized based on heavy metal concentration in sediments. We analyzed the relationship between heavy metal concentrations, physicochemical water quality and hydromorphological factors in each reservoir. Study reservoirs were classified into five groups of reservoirs, by hierarchical cluster analysis based on the similarities of heavy metal concentration. Group 1 had the most severe sediment heavy metal contamination among the groups, whereas Groups 2 and 3 showed low levels of heavy metal contamination. Group 4 displayed high value of Ni, and Group 5 showed high contamination of Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Hg. Groups 1 and 5, which had high concentration of heavy metals in sediments, showed a high density of mines in the catchment of reservoirs. Heavy metal concentration was high in reservoirs with large capacity or the ones located at higher elevation, and also highly related with number of mines in the catchment of reservoir. This study can contribute to the systematic management of sediment heavy metals in reservoirs.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.181-190
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• 2023

Wastewater purification is one of the most important techniques for controlling environmental pollution and fulfilling the demand for freshwater supply. Various technologies, such as different types of distillations and reverse osmosis processes, need higher energy input. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an alternative method in which power consumption is deficient and works on the supercapacitor principle. Research is going on to improve the electrode materials to improve the efficiency of the process. A reverse electrodialysis (RED) is the most commonly used desalination technology and osmotic power generator. Among many studies conducted to enhance the efficiency of RED, MXene, as an ion exchange membrane (IEM) and 2D nanofluidic channels in IEM, is rising as a promising way to improve the physical and electrochemical properties of RED. It is used alone and other polymeric materials are mixed with MXene to enhance the performance of the membrane further. The maximum desalination performances of MXene with preconditioning, Ti₃C₂T_x, Nafion, and hetero-structures were respectively measured, proving the potential of MXene for a promising material in the desalination industry. In terms of osmotic power generating via RED, adopting MXene as asymmetric nanofluidic ion channels in IEM significantly improved the maximum osmotic output power density, most of them surpassing the commercialization benchmark, 5 Wm^-2. By connecting the number of unit cells, the output voltage reaches the point where it can directly power the electronic devices without any intermediate aid. The studies around MXene have significantly increased in recent years, yet there is more to be revealed about the application of MXene in the membrane and osmotic power-generating industry. This review discusses the electrodialysis process based on MXene composite membrane.

• Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.29-41
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• 2010

Due to the recent technological advance, new types of AS/RS which can handle containers are being developed, and it is expected that they will be applied to related industries before long. Some companies and institutes in our country have constructed pilot systems for high-density-high-stacking systems and tested them to develop AS/RS-typed warehouses for containers. Along with this kind of construction efforts, development of rules to operate such systems efficiently and safely is also important. When outward-bound shipment is scheduled in container port, re-marshalling which rearranges containers in the yard to make shipment easy is conducted. In this paper, operating rules for the re-marshalling as well as simulation experiments to evaluate the performance of the rules are presented. We suggested two kinds of alternative sets of operating rules for re-marshalling and described the relevant logics corresponding to all possible cases for each alternative of operating rules. Through various simulation experiments, we found that each alternative has the merits and demerits at the same time and we could not say the one is always superior to the other. As a useful strategy, changing the applying operating rule is recommended from moment to moment depending on the expected number of operations at the landside input/output position.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.9-19
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• 2023

Objectives : Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by reduced bone mineral density and increased risk of fractures. Bisphosphonates and selective estrogen receptors, which are bone resorption inhibitors that are currently widely used as osteoporosis treatments, show serious side effects when administered for a long time. Research on bone resorption inhibitors that complement the problems of existing treatments is needed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and activity on the tuberous root of Ampelopsis japonica (Thunb.) Makino (AM). Methods : After extracting AM using distilled water and ethanol, the inhibitory effects of the two solvents on osteoclast differentiation were compared using the RANKL-induced in vitro experimental model and the TRAP assay kit. The impact of AM on bone resorption was investigated through the pit formation assay, and its effect on F-actin formation was assessed through fluorescent staining. Additionally, protein and mRNA expression levels of osteoclast differentiation markers (NFATc1, c-Fos, TRAP and ATP6v0d2) and resorption markers (MMP-9, CTK, and CA2) were analyzed via western blot and RT-PCR. Results : AM treatment significantly decreased the number of TRAP-positive cells and pit formation area. Furthermore, AM suppressed both the protein and mRNA expression of NFATc1 and c-Fos, key transcription factors involved in osteoclast differentiation and it downregulated the expression of osteoclast-associated genes such as TRAP, CTK, MMP-9, CA2, and ATP6v0d2. Conclusions : These results suggest that AM can inhibit bone resorption and osteoclast differentiation, indicating its potential for use in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.63-73
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• 2010

Monopiles, used as one foundation option for offshore wind turbines, are usually subjected to great cyclic lateral loads due to wind and wave. In this study, model pile load tests were performed using calibration chamber and three model piles with different pile lengths in order to investigate the behavior of laterally cyclic loaded piles driven into sand. Model test results show that the first loading cycle generates a bigger displacement than the following ones, and the permanent displacement of piles by one loading cycle decreases with increasing the number of cycles. 1-way cyclic loading causes the permanent displacement in the same direction as cyclic loading, whereas 2-way cyclic loading causes the permanent displacement in the reverse direction of initial loading. It is also observed that the permanent displacement of piles due to cyclic lateral loads increases with decreasing relative density of soil and with increasing the magnitude of cyclic loads. However, it is insensitive to the earth pressure ratio of soil and embedded pile length. In addition, based on the model pile load test results, equations for estimation of the permanent lateral displacement and rotation angle of piles due to 1-way cyclic lateral loads are proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2019

Purpose: To evaluate the characteristics and the risk factors of early onset subsequent vertebral compression fractures after percutaneous vertebroplasty. Materials and Methods: A total of 44 patients, who had a new subsequent vertebral fracture after percutaneous vertebroplasty for an osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture between January 2013 and December 2015, were recruited. The patients were divided into two groups according to the onset period of subsequent fracture. The number of patients who had a fracture within 3 months following vertebroplasty were 22 cases (Group A); after 3 months were 22 cases (Group B). Variables, including age, sex, bone mineral density (BMD), body mass index (BMI), preexisting vertebral compression fracture, location of the initial fracture, intradiscal cement leakage, injected cement volume, restoration of vertebral body height, and correction of kyphosis, in the two groups were analyzed and compared retrospectively. Results: The age, sex, BMD, BMI, preexisting vertebral compression fracture, location of the initial fracture, intradiscal cement leakage, and correction of kyphosis were similar in the two groups. Both a greater volume of bone cement injected and a greater degree of vertebral height restoration contributed significantly to the risk of fracture within 3 months. Conclusion: The cement volume and degree of height restoration are risk factors for early onset fracture at the adjacent vertebrae after percutaneous vertebroplasty and close attention is needed during the follow-up period.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.2D
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• pp.127-134
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• 2010

Tunnel sections on the highway are different from rest of sections on the highway in terms of velocity, the number of passing cars, and vehicle density which, in particular, affect drivers' behavior before and after drivers pass through the tunnel. However, literature review reveals that former studies are too focused on quantitative indicator to consider qualitative aspects. Therefore, this paper conducts survey questionnaire and IPA (Importance Performance Analysis) to find out qualitative improvements on velocity drop on the tunnel sections. The results show as follows: First, drivers require improvements of tunnel form (length and curved form inside tunnel) which is derived from long distance tunnel. Second, experts primarily ask for amendment of geometric characteristics. With comparison of requirements of both drivers and experts, there are many differences in length of tunnel and form of curved tunnel. This also presents that drivers don't satisfy with both length of tunnel and form of curved tunnel that are provided as a part of highway design factors.