• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.328-333
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• 2011

Melatonin has been known as an animal hormone. However, melatonin exists in diverse organisms including higher plants. The biosynthesis and physiological roles for melatonin in plants is still largely unknown, although both dicot and monocot plants have melatonin and some medicinal plants even contain large amounts of melatonin. In this study we detected melatonin in diverse Viola plants, in which melatonin had not been examined so far, by reverse phase HPLC analysis, demonstrating the wide existence of melatonin in the genus of Viola. We then fed tryptophan (Trp) and tryptamine (TAM) to the incubation medium for Viola leaf sections to test their effects on melatonin formation. Trp is also the hypothesized starting material of melatonin in plants, and TAM is the following intermediate produced by the decarboxylation of Trp. Trp feeding did not affect the contents of melatonin. In contrast, TAM feeding clearly increased the level of melatonin in Viola leaves. Because TAM is derived from Trp, we concluded that the Trp-TAM pathway exists in Viola plants as well. Ineffectiveness of Trp feeding to the change of melatonin contents supports the hypothesis that the decarboxylation step from Trp to TAM is the rate-limiting step in plant melatonin biosynthesis.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.187-201
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• 2017

This study was conducted to elucidate the effect of mulching materials on growth characteristics, saponin contents and antioxidant activity of Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix roots for organic farming. Plastic film, sawdust and rice bran were treated by mulching with several different methods after transplanting P. grandiflorum Radix. In root length, when plastic film plot, sawdust plot and rice bran plot were treated, root length was recorded the highest scores (24.0~27.5 cm) in plastic film plot and sawdust plot. Root width was recorded the highest score (30.0 mm) in plastic film plot. Also, the number of fine-roots was the highest in plastic film plot (36.0). Fresh weight, which affects directly yield, was the highest in plastic film plot (130 g/plant). The contents of platycodin D3 and deapioplatycodin D were shown to 111.2 and 48.1 mg/100 g, the highest values were observed in sawdust plot. The total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were recorded the highest scores (11.0 and 8.6 mg/g, respectively) in plastic film plot. In this study we confirmed that there were differences among mulching materials in growth characteristics, saponin contents and antioxident activity of P. grandiflorum roots.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2004

To investigate the effect of charcoal on the physico-chemical characteristics in the growing media and the growth of oriental melon, six treatment, 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% charcoal, were added into the growing media, Baroker. The value of pH in the charcoal contained growing media (CGM) was recorded higher and further increased by raising the charcoal ratio and by growing period. In 20% CGM, the range of pH was adequate to grow crop as 5.2${\sim}$5.8. Contents of Ca and K in CGM increased by raising the ratio of charcoal, while contents of Mg and Na decreased. The growth of oriental melon seedlings in 20% and 30% CGM was better than in other treatments, in terms of fresh and dry weight of shoot, plant height, leaf area, lear width and relative growth rate. Both the physico-chemical properties of growing media and the growth of oriental melon seedlings were changed by the addition of charcoal. These results suggest that charcoal can be used as mixing material with other potting media for producing the seedling of good quality.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.173-179
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• 2016

Coals and coal ashes, raw materials and by-products, in coal-fired power plants contain naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). They may give rise to internal exposure to workers due to inhalation of airborne particulates containing radioactive materials. It is necessary to characterize radioactivity concentrations of the materials for assessment of radiation dose to the workers. The objective of the present study was to analyze radioactivity concentrations of coals and by-products at four coal-fired plants in Korea. High purity germanium detector was employed for analysis of uranium series, thorium series, and potassium 40 in the materials. Radioactivity concentrations of $^{226}Ra$, $^{228}Ra$, and $^{40}K$ were $2{\sim}53Bq\;kg^{-1}$, $3{\sim}64Bq\;kg^{-1}$, and $14{\sim}431Bq\;kg^{-1}$ respectively in coal samples. For coal ashes, the radioactivity concentrations were $77{\sim}133Bq\;kg^{-1}$, $77{\sim}105Bq\;kg^{-1}$, and $252{\sim}372Bq\;kg^{-1}$ in fly ash samples and $54{\sim}91Bq\;kg^{-1}$, $46{\sim}83Bq\;kg^{-1}$, and $205{\sim}462Bq\;kg^{-1}$ in bottom ash samples. For flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum, the radioactivity concentrations were $3{\sim}5Bq\;kg^{-1}$, $2{\sim}3Bq\;kg^{-1}$, and $22{\sim}47Bq\;kg^{-1}$. Radioactivity was enhanced in coal ash compared with coal due to combustion of organic matters in the coal. Radioactivity enhancement factors for $^{226}Ra$, $^{228}Ra$, and $^{40}K$ were 2.1~11.3, 2.0~13.1, and 1.4~7.4 for fly ash and 2.0~9.2, 2.0~10.0, 1.9~7.7 for bottom ash. The database established in this study can be used as basic data for internal dose assessment of workers at coal-fired power plants. In addition, the findings can be used as a basic data for development of safety standard and guide of Natural Radiation Safety Management Act.

• Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
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• v.144
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• pp.339-369
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• 2017

Mengzi's biological analogies of man's moral tendency need to be analyzed in order to understand his ethical perspective because he uses lots of analogies to advocate his own moral naturalism. The biological analogies he uses are composed of human body, plant's seeds and sprouts. First, Mengzi thinks that human beings have inborn moral nature as if our bodies are given and plants can be grown from their seeds. His ethical approach to define morality in terms of natural properties such as the Four Sprouts(四端) causes a philosophical debate with Gaozi who thinks that morality cannot be described by natural property. Second, we have a moral preference as if we have a physical desire. This kind of moral sentimentalism emphasizing the preference is continued to Jeong Yakyong's ethical theory that nature is a preference(性嗜好說). Third, if we examine our preference and desire, then we can find that the moral preference is more valuable than the physical desire. Fourth, the biological analogies accepts monism that mind and body are composed of material force(氣). For this reason, the innate moral tendency is manifested on body such as a facial expression, a visceral reaction, and affect. Finally, Mengzi's theory of Four Sprouts causes two different interpretation. One is Zhuxi's interpretation that Duan端 is the visible end(緖) of a thread out of pack, the other is Jeong Yakyong's interpretation that Duan端 is a starting point(始) to cultivate virtues. While Zhuxi considers the Four Sprouts as a clue to find virtues in one's mind, Jeong Yakyong believes that we can cultivate our virtues by preserving the Four Sprouts.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2019

A major stress determining the remaining life of the tube in feedwater heater of fossil fuel power plant is hoop stress by the internal pressure. However, thermal stress due to temperature difference across the wall thickness also contributed to reduce the remaining life of the tube. Therefore, thermal loading must be considered even though the contribution of internal pressure loading to the stresses of the tube was known to be much higher than that of the thermal loading. In this study, thermal stress of the tubes in the de-superheating zone was estimated, which was generated due to the temperature difference across the tube thickness. Analytic equations were shown for determining the hoop stress and the radial stress of the tube with uniform thinning and for the temperature across the tube thickness. Accuracy and effectiveness of the analytic equations for the stresses were verified by comparing the results obtained by the analytic equations with those obtained from finite element analysis. Using finite element analysis, the stresses for eccentric thinning were also determined. The effect of heat transfer coefficient on thermal stress was investigated using series of finite element analyses with various values of heat transfer coefficient for both inner and outer surface of the tube. It was shown that the effect of heat transfer coefficient at outer surface was larger than that of heat transfer coefficient at inner surface on the thermal stress of the tube. Also, the hoop stress was larger than the radial stress for both cases of uniformly and eccentrically thinned tubes when the thermal loading was only considered without internal pressure loading.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.9 no.12
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• pp.294-301
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• 2019

This study evaluated the antioxidant activity and the anti-inflammatory activity of ethanol extracted Pyracantha angustifolia (PE) or hot water extracted P. angustifolia (PW) using natural plant sources. In the DPPH and ABTS assay, the PE extracts showed the highest activity with an IC₅₀ of 3.78 ㎍/mL, IC₅₀ of 510.57 ㎍/mL, respectively. The total polyphenol content of PE extracts was 37.11±0.01 mgGAE/mL and PW extracts was 11.46±0.01 mgGAE/mL in a 1 mg/mL. The MTT assay showed no cytotoxicity at all concentration of two extracts in mouse macrophage cell line, RAW264.7. In addition, PE extracts strongly inhibited the production of NO, TNF-α cytokine secretion, and iNOS/TNF-α mRNA expression stimulated by LPS in RAW264.7 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that P. angustifolia, especially the ethanol extracts (PE), can be used as a cosmetic material containing natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.183-193
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• 2016

This study attempted to investigate the possibility of the use of Morinda citrifolia (MC) as a cosmetic ingredient from its physiological activities such as antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity and anti-aging effect. MC is a tropical plant that has been used as traditional polynesian foods and medicines for over two thousand years. It has been reported that this shrub can improve antimicrobial, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects and strengthen an immune system. The in vitro antioxidant activity of MC was performed to see the DPPH scavenging activity by measuring total polyphenol content and total flavonoid content. As a result, a lack of any cytotoxicity was confirmed in human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) cell. When MC extract at a concentration of over $50{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL$ was added, MMP-1 expression considerably diminished. In an in vivo test, in addition, cream containing MC extract was prepared and applied to a total of 22 women in their 30 ~ 50s in ages in the morning and in the evening for four weeks. Changes in keratin, melanin index, pore, skin color and wrinkles under the naked eyes were then comparatively measured. Keratin levels slightly increased in the control group but decreased in the experimental group. In addition, wrinkles diminished in the experimental group. This study found that MC extract controls many MMP-1 related mechanisms with great potential for use as a natural ingredient of anti-aging cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1252-1257
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• 2011

Number of crop residues generated at large amount in agriculture can be utilized as substrate in methane production by anaerobic digestion. Greenhouse vegetable crop cultivation that adopting intensive agricultural system require the heating energy during winter season, meanwhile produce waste biomass source for the methane production. The purpose of this study was to investigate the methane production potential of greenhouse vegetable crop residues and to estimate material and energy yield in greenhouse system. Cucumber, tomato, and paprika as greenhouse vegetable crop were used in this study. Fallen fruit, leaf, and stem residues were collected at harvesting period from the farmhouses (Anseong, Gyeonggi, Korea) adopting an intensive greenhouse cultivation system. Also the amount of fallen vegetables and plant residues, and planting density of each vegetable crop were investigated. Chemical properties of vegetable waste biomass were determined, and theoretical methane potentials were calculated using Buswell's formula from the element analysis data. Also, BMP (Biochemical methane potential) assay was carried out for each vegetable waste biomass in mesophilic temperature ($38^{\circ}C$). Theoretical methane potential ($B_{th}$) and Ultimate methane potential ($B_u$) off stem, leaf, and fallen fruit in vegetable residues showed the range of $0.352{\sim}0.485Nm^3\;kg^{-1}VS_{added}$ and $0.136{\sim}0.354Nm^3\;kg^{-1}VS_{added}$ respectively. The biomass yields of residues of tomato, cucumber, and paprika were 28.3, 30.5, and $21.5Mg\;ha^{-1}$ respectively. The methane yields of tomato, cucumber, and paprika residues showed 645.0, 782.5, and $686.8Nm^3\;ha^{-1}$. Methane yield ($Nm^3\;ha^{-1}$) of crop residue may be highly influenced by biomass yield which is mainly affected by planting density.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.903-915
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• 2011

Recently, anaerobic methane production of agricultural waste biomass has received increasing attention. Until now domestic BMP (Biochemical methane potential) studies concerned with agricultural waste biomass have concentrated on the several waste biomass such as livestock manure, food waste, and sewage sludge from WWTP (Waste water treatment plant). Especially, the lack of standardization study of BMP assay method has caused the confused comprehension and interpretation in the comparison of BMP results from various researchers. Germany and USA had established the standard methods, VDI 4630 and ASTM E2170-01, for the analysis of BMP and anaerobic organic degradation, respectively. In this review, BMP was defined in the aspect of organic material represented as COD (Chemical oxygen demand) and VS (Volatile solid), and the influence of several parameters on the methane potential of the feedstock was presented. In the investigation of domestic BMP case studies, BMP results of 18 biomass species generating from agriculture and agro-industry were presented. And BMP results of crop species reported from foreign case studies were presented according to the classification system of crops such as food crop, vegetables, oil seed and specialty crop, orchards, and fodder and energy crop. This review emphasizes the urgent need for characterizing the innumerable kind of biomass by their capability on methane production.