• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.725-733
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• 2012

Effects of postharvest 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment, controlled atmosphere (CA) storage, and shelf temperature on quality of 'Gamhong' apples were analyzed during export simulation. Fruits were harvested at the optimum maturity for long-term storage, treated with $1{\mu}L{\cdot}L^{-1}$ 1-MCP for 16 hours, and then stored for 6 months under air and CA conditions at $0^{\circ}C$. Poststorage export procedure was performed by applying additional 2-week refrigerated storage and 7-day shelf-life test at 7 and $20^{\circ}C$, which simulated container shipment and local distribution, respectively. After storage and during export simulation, rates of respiration and ethylene evolution were significantly lower in 1-MCP treated and CA-stored apples. For the reduction of respiration, CA storage was more effective than 1-MCP treatment. Soluble solids content was maintained higher in 1-MCP treated apples, while titratable acidity was maintained better both in the 1-MCP treated and CA-stored apples. Effects of 1-MCP treatment and CA storage were highly significant in maintaining flesh firmness and sensory texture ratings. Additive effects from combined application of 1-MCP treatment and CA storage were occasionally observed. Shelf temperature during the local distribution simulation seemed not to significantly influence quality changes only showing limited effects on flesh firmness. Overall results suggest that storage potential of 'Gamhong' apples is shorter than 4 months in control fruit under refrigerated air conditions, whereas the potential can be extended to longer than 6 months by 1-MCP treatment and CA storage. Postharvest program should be provided considering the time of export, i.e. period of storage, and duration of local distribution.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2008

Sodium is known to reduce a plant growth and yields. However, the relationships between physiological response of seedling and salinity stress caused by growing media are not well understood yet. We conducted experiments to investigate change of some parameters including Na, EC, moisture content in media under different air temperature ($15^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$), and the response of fruit-vegetables such as cucumber, oriental melon on saline conditions originated from horticultural substrate. Volumetric moisture content of media at $15^{\circ}C$ was 70%, but at $25^{\circ}C$ was decreased by 45% within 22 hrs, showing below optimal matric potential, approximately. During reaction time, the increase of Na concentration was significantly greater in saline substrate than in control. The decrease rate of Na concentration according to supplying irrigation water was higher in saline substrate than in control. $CO_2$ assimilation rate and transpiration rate of Korea melon grown in low temperature were decreased with a Na/cation ratio in hydroponic solution. Water saturation deficit was also increased significantly at $15^{\circ}C$ as compare to $25^{\circ}C$. Saline stress during nursery stage induced a reduction of seedling quality, growth and cucumber yield. The results suggest that the relationship between uncontrolled Na uptake of seedling from saline substrate and meteological condition is responsible for saline stress.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.114-121
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• 2020

Objective: Despite extensive research on implantation failure, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between the embryo and the maternal endometrium, which is critical for successful pregnancy. Profilin 1 (PFN1), which is expressed both in the embryo and in the endometrial epithelium, acts as a potent regulator of actin polymerization and the cytoskeletal network. In this study, we identified the specific role of endometrial PFN1 during embryo implantation. Methods: Morphological alterations depending on the status of PFN1 expression were assessed in PFN1-depleted or control cells grown on Matrigel-coated cover glass. Day-5 mouse embryos were cocultured with Ishikawa cells. Comparisons of the rates of F-actin formation and embryo attachment were performed by measuring the stability of the attached embryo onto PFN1-depleted or control cells. Results: Depletion of PFN1 in endometrial epithelial cells induced a significant reduction in cell-cell adhesion displaying less formation of colonies and a more circular cell shape. Mouse embryos co-cultured with PFN1-depleted cells failed to form actin cytoskeletal networks, whereas more F-actin formation in the direction of surrounding PFN1-intact endometrial epithelial cells was detected. Furthermore, significantly lower embryo attachment stability was observed in PFN1-depleted cells than in control cells. This may have been due to reduced endometrial receptivity caused by impaired actin cytoskeletal networks associated with PFN1 deficiency. Conclusion: These observations definitively demonstrate an important role of PFN1 in mediating cell-cell adhesion during the initial stage of embryo implantation and suggest a potential therapeutic target or novel biomarker for patients suffering from implantation failure.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.288-295
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• 2018

Purpose: The paper aims to compare the effectiveness of the two types of transport demand management measures, namely pull measures and push measures. Method: Case studies of two metropolitan areas in the developing world assess the extent to which increases in fuel prices can contribute to reducing automobile use and increasing the public transport use and the potential of urban rail transit to cause mode shift from automobiles. Within the case studies, a stated response survey of current car users has been conducted for Cairo and an on-line survey of rail transit users in Algiers. Results: There was a major proportion of car drivers who intend to switch to public transport, depending on the range of fuel prices in Cairo and a considerable proportion of rail users who have switched from automobiles resulting in a measurable reduction in CO2 emissions in Algiers. Conclusion: Investments in urban rail can be highly effective where there are demands for better public transport, but this type of pull measures can be much more effective if combined with push measures which significantly raise driving costs.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.10
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• pp.718-728
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• 2022

Splicing factor B subunit 4 (SF3B4), a component of the U2-pre-mRNA spliceosomal complex, contributes to tumorigenesis in several types of tumors. However, the oncogenic potential of SF3B4 in lung cancer has not yet been determined. The in vivo expression profiles of SF3B4 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from publicly available data revealed a significant increase in SF3B4 expression in tumor tissues compared to that in normal tissues. The impact of SF3B4 deletion on the growth of NSCLC cells was determined using a siRNA strategy in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. SF3B4 silencing resulted in marked retardation of the A549 cell proliferation, accompanied by the accumulation of cells at the G0/G1 phase and increased expression of p27, p21, and p53. Double knockdown of SF3B4 and p53 resulted in the restoration of p21 expression and partial recovery of cell proliferation, indicating that the p53/p21 axis is involved, at least in part, in the SF3B4-mediated regulation of A549 cell proliferation. We also provided ubiquitination factor E4B (UBE4B) is essential for p53 accumulation after SF3B4 depletion based on followings. First, co-immunoprecipitation showed that SF3B4 interacts with UBE4B. Furthermore, UBE4B levels were decreased by SF3B4 depletion. UBE4B depletion, in turn, reproduced the outcome of SF3B4 depletion, including reduction of polyubiquitinated p53 levels, subsequent induction of p53/p21 and p27, and proliferation retardation. Collectively, our findings indicate the important role of SF3B4 in the regulation of A549 cell proliferation through the UBE4B/p53/p21 axis and p27, implicating the therapeutic strategies for NSCLC targeting SF3B4 and UBE4B.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.67-76
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• 2022

The furniture industry has a high possibility to create value-added and a high potential to create new occupations due to the characteristics of the industry, which mainly consists of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, the used furniture, which has sufficient reuse value, is also crushed and used as solid refuse fuel (SRF) recently. Besides, the number of waste treatment companies continues to decrease, and it occurs congestion of wood waste. As a way to solve the issue, a business model development of remanufacturing used furniture can be suggested as an alternative due to its high circular economic efficiency. Remanufacturing business including furniture industry creates positive effects in various aspects such as economic, environmental and job creation. In other words, remanufacturing is an effective recycling way to reduce input resources and energy in the production process. The results of economic analysis show that the expected annual revenue from the single worker furniture remanufacturing site was 104 million won which is 3.11 times more than the average income of a single-worker household in Korea and its B/C ratio was estimated about 30 which means high business feasibility. Revenue through furniture remanufacturing also showed 320 times higher than that of SRF production from the perspective of weight. In addition, it is shown that the GHGs reduction from the furniture remanufacturing is 2.2 ton CO₂-eq. per year, which is similar to the amount of GHGs absorption effect of 937 pine trees or 622 Korean oak trees annually. Thus the results of this study demonstrate that it is important to adopt an appropriate recycling method considering the economic and environmental effects at the end-of-life stage.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.33-44
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• 2009

Water curtain of an underground LPG storage cavern is a facility to prevent leakage of high pressure gases, for which groundwater should flow freely towards the cavern and groundwater level also must be stably maintained. In this study, in order to evaluate qualities of seepage water and surrounding groundwater of an underground LPG storage cavern in Yeosu, 4 rounds of samplings, field measurements and laboratory analyses (February, May, August, October of 2007) were conducted. According to field measurements, pH was weak acidic to neutral but it gradually increased with time. Electrical conductivity (EC) of groundwater near a salt stack showed very high values between 10.47 and 38.50 mS/cm. Dissolved oxygen (DO) showed a very wide range of 0.20~8.74 mg/L and a mean of oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) was 159 mV, which indicated an oxidized condition. Levels of $Fe^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$ were mostly less than 3 mg/L. All of seepage waters showed a Na-Cl type while only groundwater near the salt stack showed a Na-Cl type with a high total dissolved solid. The other groundwaters exhibited typical $Ca-HCO_3$ types. Levels of aerobic bacteria were mostly very high (573-39,520 CFU/mL). Based on the analyses of these hydrochemistry and biological characteristics, it is concluded that there are no particular problems in groundwater and seepage water, which not causing a trouble in the cavern operation. However, both for control of bio-clogging and for sustainable operation of the water curtain system, a regular hydrochemical and microbiological monitoring is required for the seepage water and surrounding groundwater.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

We investigated the effect of silicate coating of rice seeds on bakanae disease incidence and the quality of seedlings raised in seedling boxes and transplanted into pots. The silicate-coated rice seed (SCS) was prepared as follows. Naturally infested rice seeds not previously subjected to any fungicidal treatment were dressed with a mixture of 25% silicic acid at pH 11 and 300-mesh zeolite powder at a ratio of 50 g dry seed - 9 mL silicic acid - 25 g zeolite powder. The following nursery conditions were provided : Early sowing, dense seeding in a glass house with mulching overnight and no artificial heating, which were the ideal conditions for determining the effect on the seed. The nursery plants were evaluated for Gibberella. fujikuroi infection or to determine the recovery to normal growth of infected nursery plants in the Wagner pot. Seedlings emerged 2-3 days earlier for the SCS than they did for the non-SCS control, while damping-off and bakanae disease incidence were remarkably reduced. Specifically, bakanae disease incidence in the SCS was limited to only 7.8% for 80 days after sowing, as compared to 91.6% of the non-SCS control. For the 45-days-old SCS nursery seedlings, the fresh weight was increased by 11% and was two times heavier, with only mild damage compared to that observed for non-SCS. Even after transplanting, SCS treatment contributed to a lower incidence of further infections and possibly to recovery of the seedlings to normal growth as compared to that observed in symptomatic plants in the pot. The active pathogenic macro-conidia and micro-conidia were considerably lower in the soil, root, and seedling sheath base of the SCS. In particular, the underdeveloped macro-conidia with straight oblong shape without intact septum were isolated in the SCS ; this phenotype is likely to be at a comparative etiological disadvantage when compared to that of typical active macro-conidia, which are slightly sickle-shaped with 3-7 intact septa. A active intact conidia with high inoculum potential were rarely observed in the tissue of the seedlings treated only in the SCS. We propose that promising result was likely achieved via inhibition of the development of intact pathogenic conidia, in concert with the aerobic, acidic conditions induced by the physiochemical characteristics associated with the air porosity of zeolite, alkalinity of silicate and the seed husk as a carbon source. In addition, the resistance of the healthy plants to pathogenic conidia was also important factor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.1248-1256
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of behind $SO_2$ formation and elevated cause of reducing power in purple bamboo salt (PBS) along with an analysis of physicochemical properties, content of sulfur compounds, oxidation reduction potential (ORP), mineral contents of salt type (MSS, mudflat solar salt; BS, bamboo salt), and addition of raw bamboo (RB). $SO_2$ content of 630 ppm was detected in PBS. $SO_2$ was not detected in MSS, BS, or RB, whereas $SO_2$ (782 ppm) from $K_2SO_4$ was detected after heating a NaCl, KCl, $MgCl_2$, $MgSO_4$, MgO, $CaCl_2$, $K_2SO_4$, and $FeSO_4$ with RB. $SO_2$ content of BS increased with baking time, and it originated from BSRB1 (13.88 ppm) to BSRB4 (109.13 ppm). $SO_3{^{2-}}$ originated only from MSSRB4 and BSRB2~BSRB4. Sulfate ion content decreased along with increasing $SO_2$ and sulfite ion contents. ORP increased with baking time of MSS and BS, and it was present at higher levels in BSRB4 (-211.40 mV) of BS than MSS. Insoluble content was higher in BS than MSS. Further, Ca, K, and Mg ion contents decreased in MSS and increased in BS with baking time. BSRB4 had 1.4 fold higher levels of Ca, 1.5 fold higher levels of Mg, and 1.8 fold higher levels of K than BS. Li, Al, Mn, Fe, and Sr in MSS as well as Al, Fe, and Ni in BS increased with baking time. Anions (Cl, $NO_3$, and Br) and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, and As) between MSS and BS were not significantly different. These results suggest that the reducing power of BS was due to $SO_2$ and sulfite ion. To increase the amounts of these compounds and reducing power, higher melting temperature and longer baking time are necessary along with BS, which is created by the addition of RB to roasted salt.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.128-137
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• 2019

A lithium is the lightest metal on the earth. It has some attractive characteristics as a negative electrode material such as a low reduction potential (-3.04 V vs. SHE) and a high theoretical capacity ($3,860mAh\;g^{-1}$). Therefore, it has been studied as a next generation anode material for high energy lithium batteries. The thin lithium electrode is required to maximize the efficiency and energy density of the battery, but the physical roll-press method has a limitation in manufacturing thin lithium. In this study, thin lithium electrode was fabricated by electrodeposition under various conditions such as compositions of electrolytes and the current density. Deposited lithium showed strong relationship between process condition and its characteristics. The concentration of electrolyte affects to the shape of deposited lithium particle. As the concentration increases, the shape of particle changes from a sharp edged long one to a rounded lump. The former shape is favorable for suppressing dendrite formation and the elec-trode shows good stripping efficiency of 92.68% (3M LiFSI in DME, $0.4mA\;cm^{-2}$). The shape of deposited particle also affected by the applied current density. When the amount of current applied gets larger the shape changes to the sharp edged long one like the case of the low concentration electrolyte. The combination of salts and solvents, 1.5M LiFSI + 1.5M LiTFSI in DME : DOL [1 : 1 vol%] (Du-Co), was applied to the electrolyte for the lithium deposition. The lithium electrode obtained from this electrolyte composition shows the best stripping efficiency (97.26%) and the stable reversibility. This is presumed to be due to the stability of the surface film induced by the Li-F component and the DOL effect of providing film flexibility.