• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.138-147
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• 2007

An emergy concept was used to evaluate the environment and economy of the Han River basin in Korea and to suggest policy perspectives far the sustainable utilization of its environment and associated estuarine ecosystem. The economy of the basin used $5.19{\times}10^{23}\;sej/yr$ of emergy in 2005. The economy of the Han River basin was heavily dependent on outside energy sources from foreign countries and other parts of Korea, with internal sources, renewable and nonrenewable, contributing only 15.6% to the total emergy use. The basin's trade balance in terms of emergy showed trade surplus, whereas there was a deficit in monetary terms. The population of the Han River basin was far greater than the carrying capacity calculated using the emergy flow, with renewable carrying capacity only at 1.8% of the basin's population and developed carrying capacity at 14.3%. The economy of the basin imposed a substantial stress on its environment, with an environmental loading ratio of 54.8. Overall, the economy of the Han River basin was not sustainable with an emergy sustainability of 0.02. These are reflected in lower quality of living expressed in the emergy term than the national average. Deconcentration of population and economic activities is needed to reduce environmental stress on the environment of the basin and its valuable estuarine ecosystem. Policies to restore ecosystem productivity of the basin are also needed to ensure the sustainability of the basin's economic activities and the sustainable utilization of the Han River estuary. In this regard, it is urgently needed for the Korean government to implement sustainable management measures for the Han River estuary, a well-preserved, productive natural estuarine ecosystem in Korea.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.774-782
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• 2006

This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of an ethanol extract of lotus root (LRE) on alcohol-induced liver damage in rat. Sprague-Dawley rae weighing $100{\sim}150g$, were divided into 6 groups: basal diet group (BD), alcohol (35% 10 mL/kg/day) teated stoup (ET), LRE 200 mg/kg/day teated group (BD-LREL). LRE 400 mg/kg/day treated group (BD-LREH), LRE 200 mg/kg/day and alcohol treated group (ET-LREL), and LRE 400 3mg/kg/day and alcohol teated group (ET-LREH). After the administration, rats were sacrificed to get serum and liver to analyze antioxidant enzyme activity, glutathione and lipid peroxide contents. The body weight gain and feed efficiency ratio were decreased by alcohol administration, however, were gradually increased to a little lower level than the basal diet group by the combined administration of alcohol and LRE. The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), asparate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities that were elevated by alcohol were significantly decreased by LRE administration. It was also observed that thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content, xanthine oxidase (XO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in liver that were increased by alcohol, were markedly decreased in the combined alcohol and LRE administered groups as compared with the alcohol administrated group. These effect of LRE within the alcohol groups were in a dose-dependent manner. The glutathione (GSH) content in liver was decreased by alcohol administration, however, increased after administering LRE. Teken together, these result suggest that ethanol extract of lotus root may have a possible protective effect on liver function in hepatotoxicity-induced rat by alcohol administration.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Obesity is a pro-inflammatory state that contributes to the development of metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we evaluated the inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice by Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg L. water extract (PJT). Lipid accumulation measurement indicates that PJT markedly inhibited adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR results demonstrated that the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα) in 3T3-L1 cells were significantly down-regulated by PJT treatment. Oral administration of PJT (100, 300, and 500 ㎎/㎏, b.w/daily for 4 weeks) was conducted in high-fat diet induced obese mice and C57BL/6 mice. The PJT-administered group of HFD-induced mice had a lower body weight gain, along with decreased serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol compared with the control mice, however, the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was increased. Furthermore, the elevated mRNA expression levels of adipogenesis related genes in the white adipose tissue of obese mice were significantly suppressed by PJT. These results indicate that PJT exhibits anti-obesity effects in obese mice by decreasing in serum lipid levels and lipogenesis related gene.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.94 no.6
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• pp.441-445
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• 2005

Researches on estimating national-scaled forest biomass are being carried out to quantify the carbon stock of forests with the Kyoto Protocol. In general, estimates of national-scaled forest biomass are based on forest inventory data which provides estimates of forest area, stem volume, and growth of stem by age classes. Estimates of forest biomass are, however, obtained by converting stem volumes to dry weight with stem density and thereafter to whole tree biomass with biomass expansion factors (ratios of whole tree dry weight to stem dry weight). Pinus densiflora is widely distributed and one of the most economically important timber species in Korea. The species are largely grouped into two ecotypes of Geumgang and Jungbu. Stems of Geumgang type trees are straight and high compared to those of Jungbu type trees. The objective of this study was to determine and compare stem density and biomass expansion factors fore two ecotypes of Pinus densiflora according to stand age. Stem density of both ecotypes of Pinus densora increased and biomass expansion factors of them decreased with increasing tree age. In he same age class, stem density and biomass expansion factor of Geungang type Pinus densiflora were lower than those of Jungbu type Pinus densiflora. There were statistically significant differences in stem density and biomass expansion factors between Geumgang type and Jungbu type Pinus densiflora in 0-20-year-old stands and 40-60-year-old stands. Our results suggested that the reliability of the national forest biomass inventory could be improved by applying the ecotype- and age-dependent stem density and biomass expansion factors.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.89 no.2
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• pp.208-215
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• 2000

In order to improve 'Salso' method (conventional tapping method) which was very inefficient in the aspects of collection time and labor, this study was carried out to investigate the effect of the application date and the distance from treatment point in the lactree(Rhus verniciflua) treated with 10% CEPA and to decide the possibility of application of the technique in the field. Bark thickness was significantly increased to the part 40cm above and below the treatment point, but urushiol content was increased to the part 20cm above and 10cm below the zone treated with 10% CEPA. The urushiol content of the bark was highest at 5cm above the treated zone and decreased in the order of 10, 20, and 40cm. And the urushiol contents of the bark of the upper part were higher than that of the low part. The effects of CEPA on bark thickness were similar to urushiol contents. Urushiol production of lactree is highly dependent on climatic conditions and particularly on the precipitation, and duration of sunshine. Ten percent of CEPA-lanolin pastes which was treated on June 16 affected bark anatomy and urushiol contents, while the treatment on August 24 did not affect. In the Rhus verniciflua treated with 10% CEPA, the urushiol contents was initially increased from 7 days after treatment, continued for the 4 weeks, and then slight decrease occurred at 5 weeks after the treatment. We measured a total sap yield by Salso method in lactree treated with 10% CEPA. By applying 10% CEPA, the sap yield was increased 3-4 times compared to that of untreated trees in the first tapping. But the relative ratio was gradually decreased from the second tapping to sixth, and after seventh tapping, the untreated trees secreted more sap than the treated trees. We discussed about the causes.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.67-84
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• 2010

In terms of business, forecasting is a work of what is expected to happen in the future to make managerial decisions and plans. Therefore, the accurate forecasting is very important for major managerial decision making and is the basis for making various strategies of business. But it is very difficult to make an unbiased and consistent estimate because of uncertainty and complexity in the future business environment. That is why we should use scientific forecasting model to support business decision making, and make an effort to minimize the model's forecasting error which is difference between observation and estimator. Nevertheless, minimizing the error is not an easy task. Case-based reasoning is a problem solving method that utilizes the past similar case to solve the current problem. To build the successful case-based reasoning models, retrieving the case not only the most similar case but also the most relevant case is very important. To retrieve the similar and relevant case from past cases, the measurement of similarities between cases is an important key factor. Especially, if the cases contain symbolic data, it is more difficult to measure the distances. The purpose of this study is to improve the forecasting accuracy of case-based reasoning approach using fuzzy relation and composition. Especially, two methods are adopted to measure the similarity between cases containing symbolic data. One is to deduct the similarity matrix following binary logic(the judgment of sameness between two symbolic data), the other is to deduct the similarity matrix following fuzzy relation and composition. This study is conducted in the following order; data gathering and preprocessing, model building and analysis, validation analysis, conclusion. First, in the progress of data gathering and preprocessing we collect data set including categorical dependent variables. Also, the data set gathered is cross-section data and independent variables of the data set include several qualitative variables expressed symbolic data. The research data consists of many financial ratios and the corresponding bond ratings of Korean companies. The ratings we employ in this study cover all bonds rated by one of the bond rating agencies in Korea. Our total sample includes 1,816 companies whose commercial papers have been rated in the period 1997~2000. Credit grades are defined as outputs and classified into 5 rating categories(A1, A2, A3, B, C) according to credit levels. Second, in the progress of model building and analysis we deduct the similarity matrix following binary logic and fuzzy composition to measure the similarity between cases containing symbolic data. In this process, the used types of fuzzy composition are max-min, max-product, max-average. And then, the analysis is carried out by case-based reasoning approach with the deducted similarity matrix. Third, in the progress of validation analysis we verify the validation of model through McNemar test based on hit ratio. Finally, we draw a conclusion from the study. As a result, the similarity measuring method using fuzzy relation and composition shows good forecasting performance compared to the similarity measuring method using binary logic for similarity measurement between two symbolic data. But the results of the analysis are not statistically significant in forecasting performance among the types of fuzzy composition. The contributions of this study are as follows. We propose another methodology that fuzzy relation and fuzzy composition could be applied for the similarity measurement between two symbolic data. That is the most important factor to build case-based reasoning model.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.163-168
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• 2008

Temperature dependent development of Tetranychus. urticae Koch was studied on the leaf of eggplant at 17, 22, 27, 32 and $37^{\circ}C$. T. urticae showed a minimum mortality at $27^{\circ}C$ and it increased at higher or lower temperatures than $27^{\circ}C$. The hatchability was low at 17 and $37^{\circ}C$. The duration of development decreased with increasing temperatures i.e., 5.3d at $37^{\circ}C$ and 25.8d at $17^{\circ}C$. Linear regression analysis of temperature vs. rate of development yielded the higher $r^2{\geq}0.88$ resulting in a good fit of the estimated line in the range of $17{\sim}37^{\circ}C$. Developmental zero temperature was $12.5^{\circ}C$ for the entire immature stage of female and $12.8^{\circ}C$ for that of male. Thermal constants were 80.5 and 74.7 degree days for those of female and male, respectively. Adult life span and oviposition period decreased with increasing temperatures. The number of eggs laid per female peaked at 141.0 eggs at $27^{\circ}C$, while that was a minimum 78.0 eggs at $37^{\circ}C$. Rate of hatchability, ratio of female, and $R_o$ were increased up to $27^{\circ}C$, and than declined thereafter. Intrinsic rate of natural increase (Rm) increased with rising temperatures and showed a maximum 0.5652 at $37^{\circ}C$. Also, ${\lambda}$ increased with increasing temperature. Doubling time (Dt) and generation time (T) decreased with increasing temperature.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1054-1065
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• 2010

SH21B is a natural composition composed of seven herbs: Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Prunus armeniaca Maxim, Ephedra sinica Stapf, Acorus gramineus Soland, Typha orientalis Presl, Polygala tenuifolia Willd and Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner (Ratio 3:3:3:3:3:2:2). In our previous study, we reported that SH21B inhibited adipogenesis and fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells through modulation of various regulators in the adipogenesis pathway. The aim of this study was to analyze the transcriptome profiles for the anti-adipogenic effects of SH21B in 3T3-L1 cells. Total RNAs from SH21B-treated 3T3-L1 cells were reverse-transcribed into cDNAs and hybridized to Affymetrix Mouse Gene 1.0 ST array. From microarray analyses, we identified 2,568 genes of which expressions were changed more than two-fold by SH21B, and the clustering analyses of these genes resulted in 9 clusters. Three clusters among the 9 showed down-regulation by SH21B (cluster 4, cluster 6 and cluster 9), and two clusters showed up-regulation by SH21B (cluster 7 and cluster 8) during the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells. It was found that many genes related to cell proliferation and adipogenesis were included in these clusters. Clusters 4, 6 and 9 included genes which were related with adipogenesis induction and cell cycle arrest. Clusters 7 and 8 included genes related to cell proliferation as well as adipogenesis inhibition. These results suggest that the mechanisms of the anti-adipogenic effects of SH21B may be the modulation of genes involved in cell proliferation and adipogenesis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.595-602
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• 2014

Styela Clava tunic (SCT) has found some applications in many areas of medical treatment including as an anti-inflammatory compound, a wound healing film, in guided bone regeneration, and as a food additive. The protective effect of SCT aqueous extract (AE-SCT) on cell death induced by $H_2O_2$ treatment was investigated by measuring the changes in cell viability in HepG2 cells after AE-SCT treatment. High concentrations of antioxidant compounds including flavonoids (3.3 mg/g) and phenolics (32.3 mg/g) were detected in AE-SCT but no significant cytotoxicity was observed in HepG2 cells treated with AE-SCT. The viability of HepG2 cells was also not changed by treatment with different concentrations of AE-SCT after $H_2O_2$ treatment. However, cell viability was significantly increased in cells treated with three different concentrations of AE-SCT before $H_2O_2$ treatment. The greatest increase in cell viability was observed in the group treated with $50{\mu}g/ml$ AE-SCT, when compared with vehicle-treated group. FACS and DAPI staining analysis indicated that the decrease in number of dead cells was dependent on the concentration of AE-SCT. Alterations in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio after $H_2O_2$ treatment were significantly restored by treatment with different concentrations of AE-SCT. These results indicate that AE-SCT, which contains high levels of antioxidants, may protect cells against death induced by $H_2O_2$ treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.994-1002
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• 2017

This study was performed to evaluate the anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, and whitening effects of Zizania latifolia ethanol extracts prepared from 5 different ethanol concentrations (10, 30, 50, 70, and 90%). As the ethanol concentration in the extraction solvent was increased, the radical scavenging activities also increased. The inhibitory activity of Z. latifolia ethanol extracts on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells tended to increase as the content of ethanol increased. The highest inhibitory activity was obtained with 70% ethanol extract. The antiallergy effects of Z. latifolia ethanol extracts were tested by measuring the release of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$ in IgE-sensitized RBL-2H3 cells. The suppressive effect of Z. latifolia ethanol extracts increased in a dose-dependent manner as the proportion of ethanol increased, except for the 10% ethanol extract. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of Z. latifolia ethanol extracts against melanin production in ${\alpha}-melanocyte$ stimulated hormone (MSH)-stimulated B16F0 cells increased as the ethanol ratio increased, and 70 and 90% ethanol extracts showed similar inhibitory activities to arbutin, a positive control, at $250{\mu}m$. The present study confirmed the efficacy of Z. latifolia ethanol extracts in various areas, demonstrating antioxidative, anti-inflammation, antiallergy, skin protective, and skin whitening effects, with no cytotoxicity. It could be used as a raw material in functional foods, as well as in cosmetics.