• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.74-82
• /
• 2014

The government is planning to expand the bio-gas supply as a method for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions to deal with climate change. By means of a policy instrument, the government is considering an introduction of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) whose targets include bio-gas. This paper attempts to look into the economic effects of expanding the bio-gas supply by applying an input-output (I-O) analysis using a 2011 I-O table. The bio-gas supply sector consists of liquefied petroleum gas supply sector and city gas supply sector, based on the tenets of introducing the RFS. The production-inducing effect, value-added creation effect, and employment-inducing effect of the bio-gas sector are analyzed. The supply shortage effect and the price pervasive effect are also investigated. The results show that the production or investment of 1.0 won in the bio-gas supply sector induces the production of 1.0539 won and the value-added of 0.1998 won in the national economy. Moreover, the production or investment of 1.0 billion won, supply shortage of 1.0 won, and a price increase of 10.0% in the bio-gas supply sector touch off the employment of 0.5279 person, 1.6229 won, and an increase in overall price level by 0.0183%, respectively.

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.13 no.12
• /
• pp.85-94
• /
• 2015

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to provide a political registration point for analyzing the economic impacts on the national economy from the REITs distribution industry in our country. The REITs distribution industry was introduced in 2001 to accelerate the corporate restructuring process and advance the real estate market. During its establishment, the REITs distribution industry faced difficulties; however, the industry grew rapidly through interest from institutional investors, thus mitigating the establishment problems by 2006. In Korea, more than 108 REITs were operating as of the end of June 2015. REITs contribute significantly to the national economy. The economic impacts on the national economy of the REITs distribution industry was analyzed using input-output (I-O) analysis with respect to production, imports, value-added, and employment. Research design, data, and methodology - The research used an I-O analysis of the activities of the REITs distribution industry in the national economy. The I-O analysis methodology analyzes the economic effects that influence other industries with respect to one unit of external investment. The data for this analysis were the I-O table of 2013 as published by the Bank of Korea in 2014. Results - The findings of this study are as follows. First, if an external input to the REITs distribution industry is 1 won, the overall impact of the product is 1.3869 won, the import induction is 0.0002 won, and the value-added induction is 0.7656 won. A new investment of 659.9 billion won into the REITs industry was estimated to produce a gross effect of 915.2 billion won. Second, if an external input to the REITs distribution industry is 1 billion won, the employment-inducing effects are estimated at 19.6394 individuals. The employment-inducing coefficient of 19.6394 for the REITs distribution industry indicates that the industry created significant employment-more than other industries-because the coefficient was 2.2 times the 2013 industry average employment-inducing coefficient of 8.8. Third, the investment effects of the REITs distribution industry on production induction, value-added induction, and employment induction are assumed to be large in business support services, financing, communications and broadcasting, and professional, scientific, and technical services. Conclusions - The REITs distribution industry was analyzed as having a strong employment inducing, high value added effect. The REITs distribution industry is an excellent alternative for the government authority to create multilateral jobs. Because the REITs distribution industry has a significant positive impact on the national economy, it should be developed. However, the I-O methodology has restrictions with respect to the fixation and timing of the input coefficient. Follow-up research is expected to supplement the analysis method at a specific point in time.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.59-71
• /
• 2015

This study attempts to examine the economic impacts of electricity industry in Korea and Japan using an inter-industry analysis. Specifically, the study analyzes and compares electricity industry between Japan and Korea through production-inducing effect and value added inducing effect of electricity industry based on demand-driven model. Moreover, this study deals with supply shortage effect and sectoral price effect by using supply-driven model and Leontief price model, respectively. This study analyses the electricity industry through exogenous approach. The results show that electricity industry induces prodution-inducing effect of 0.5946 won in other industries in Korea and 0.5446 yen in other industries in Japan. Value-added-inducing effects are 0.1716 won in other in other industries in Korea and 0.2929 yen in other industries in Japan. Supply shortage effects of electricity industry are 1.5932 won in other industries in Korea and 1.2801 yen in other industries in Japan. And sectoral price effects are 0.2113% in Korea and 0.2196% in Japan due to the price increase of 10% of electricity industry.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.553-562
• /
• 2007

Osteoblasts regulate osteoclastogenesis by production of various cytokines. Aggregatibacter(A) ac-tinomycetemcomitans is one of periodontopathogens which invades gingival tissue. Therefore, clarifying the effect of alive A. actinomycetemcomitans on osteoblasts is important to understand the mechanism of alveolar bone resorption in periodontitis. We investigated induction of osteoclastogenesis-inducing cytokines, adherence, and invasion by A. actinomycetemcomitans in osteoblasts. Osteoblasts were isolated from mouse calvaria and expression of cytokines was determined by RT-PCR. When the ratio of the number of A. actinomycetemcomtians to the number of osteoblasts was 10:1, 50:1 and 100:1, RANKL mRNA expression was increased. A. actinomycetemcomitans also increased expression of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP) -1${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-1${\beta}$, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$. A. actinomycetemcomitans attached to and invaded osteoblasts at ratio of 1000:1. These results suggest that A. actinomycetemcomitans increases osteoclastogenesis-inducing ability of osteoblasts by stimulating the expression of RANKL, MIP-1${\alpha}$,IL-1${\beta}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$ and that invasion of A. actinomycetemcomitans provides a means by which the bacteria escape from immune system and antibiotic therapy.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.55 no.12
• /
• pp.639-644
• /
• 2022

Serine-arginine-rich splicing factors (SRSFs) are members of RNA processing proteins in the serine-arginine-rich (SR) family that could regulate the alternative splicing of the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). Whether SRSF9 has any effect on HIV-1 regulation requires elucidation. Here, we report for the first time the effects and mechanisms of SRSF9 on HIV-1 regulation. The overexpression of SRSF9 inhibits viral production and infectivity in both HEK293T and MT-4 cells. Deletion analysis of SRSF9 determined that the RNA regulation motif domain of SRSF9 is important for anti-HIV-1 effects. Furthermore, overexpression of SRSF9 increases multiple spliced forms of viral mRNA, such as Vpr mRNA. These data suggest that SRSF9 overexpression inhibits HIV-1 production by inducing the imbalanced HIV-1 mRNA splicing that could be exploited further for a novel HIV-1 therapeutic molecule.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.490-496
• /
• 2006

This study aimed to evaluate in vitro effects of Rheum undulatum L. root on the development of dental caries, especially its effects on viability, dental plaque formation, and glycolytic acid production of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. Methanol extract of Rheum undulatum L. root and its fractions were prepared and tested. Among the test extract and fractions, dichloromethane fraction (DF) showed the most active antibacterial activity (inhibition zone: 13-17 mm) against S. mutans and S. sobrinus in a disc diffusion method. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of DF against these bacteria ranged from 0.25 to 0.5 mg/mL. Furthermore, DF significantly inhibited the caries-inducing factors of these bacteria. At sub-MIC levels, DF inhibited in vitro dental plaque formation by S. mutans and S. sobrinus ($IC_{50}$= 0.079 and 0.142 mg/mL, respectively), which was caused, in part, by the inhibitory effect on the activity of glucosyltransferases. A significant reduction of glycolytic acid production was found at the concentration as low as 0.032 mg/mL for S. mutans and 0.063 mg/mL for S. sobrinus. The possible bioactive compounds that are inducing in vitro anti-cariogenic activity of DF are unknown. Based on the preliminary phytochemical analysis, the activity of DF may be related to the presence of anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, coumarines, sterols/terpenes, and phenolics. These results indicate that DF is probably useful for the control of dental plaque formation and subsequent dental caries development.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.609-614
• /
• 2000

Suspension cultures of Camptotheca acuminata, which is known to produce the anticancer indole alkaloid camptothecin and its derivatives, were made to increase camptothecin production. The capability of camptothecin production in suspended cells is decreased by repeated subculturein. Aggregated cells produced more camptothecin than single cells. Optimal cell aggregation was achieved in hybrid medium supplemented with 4% sucrose. Aggregated cells in hybrid medium with 4% sucrose produced $18.04{\times}10^{-4} mg/L$ of camptothecin. The control of shaking speeds was effective at inducing cell aggregation and camptothecin production. A shaking speed of 100 rpm was found optimum to increase the cell aggregation with a camptothecin production of $19.4{\times}10^{-4} mg/L$.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.270-276
• /
• 2007

Silybin is known to be a major active flavonoid component isolated from Silybum marianum, a hepatoprotective medicinal plant. In this study, we examined the immunomodulatory role of silybin on T cell and macrophage-mediated immune responses. To do this, the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes and CD8+ CTLL-2 cells under mitogenic stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), concanavalin (Con) A and interleukin (IL)-2 and the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and NO from LPS- and $IFN-{\gamma}$-activated macrophages was evaluated under silybin treatment. The mitogenic proliferation of splenic lymphocytes induced by LPS and Con A was strongly diminished by silybin in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the proliferation of CD8+ CTLL-2 cells was also negatively modulated by the compound. In contrast, silybin did not strongly suppress the proliferation of normal splenocytes and T cell line Sup-T1 cells, indicating that the inhibitory effect of silybin may be due to blocking only mitogenic responses of splenic lymphocytes. In addition, silybin inhibited $TNF-{\alpha}$ production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Effect of silybin however was distinct, according to NO-inducing stimuli. Thus, silybin only blocked NO production induced by $IFN-{\gamma}$ but not LPS and the inhibition was increased when PMA was co-treated with $IFN-{\gamma}$. Unlike NO inhibition, however, this compound protected the cytotoxic damage of RAW264.7 cells induced by both LPS and $IFN-{\gamma}$. Therefore, our data suggest that silybin may participate in host immune responses mediated by T cells and macrophages via regulating mitogenic proliferation, and the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and NO, depending on cellular stimuli.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.698-704
• /
• 2019

Quercus mongolica (QM), which belongs to fagaceae, is one of the oak native to Korea. We evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of branches extracted with 70% ethanol of QM (QM-B) and elucidated the potential signaling pathway in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. The QM-B showed anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of NO production. The QM-B dose-dependently suppressed NO production by inhibiting iNOS, COX-2 and IL-6 expression in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. The QM-B inhibited the degradation and phosphorylation of IκB-α and NF-κB activation. The QM-B suppressed the phosphorylation of p38 and ERK1/2. Also, the QM-B increased HO-1 expression. These results suggested that QM-B may utilize anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathway and inducing HO-1 expression indicated that the QM-B can be used as a natural anti-inflammatory drugs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.926-929
• /
• 2020

This study aimed to determine the immune-stimulating effects of heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum Ln1 (HK-Ln1) through the production of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokine achieved by inducing NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-signaling pathways in macrophages. HK-Ln1 showed higher NO and cytokine production compared to control (nonstimulated lipopolysaccharide); in addition, the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was induced through HK-Ln1treatment. The phosphorylation of IκB-α and p65 increased following treatment by HK-Ln1, which implicates IκB-α degradation and the translocation of p65 to nucleus. In addition, the phosphorylation of MAPKs, ERK 1/2, JNK, and p38 was induced following HK-Ln1 treatment.