• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.26 no.2 s.85
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• pp.246-255
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• 1998

Ganoderan (GAN), an immunomodulating ${\beta}-glucan$ of G. lucidum, induces potent antitumor immunity in tumor-bearing mice. This study was set up to elucidate the ability of macrophage activation of GANs. GAN-treated Raw 264.7 macrophages showed enhanced production of nitric oxide (NO). The ability of GANs to produce NO was based on differences in chemical composition of GANs obtained from the mycelium on various carbon sources and mycelial fractionation. The highest NO production was observed in CW-AS-WS polysaccharide which was extracted from the mycelial wall. GAN-treated Raw 264.7 cells gave a 2-to 5-fold (24 hr) formation of NO levels compared with those treated with medium only. Partial removal of the protein in the extracellular GAN by TCA treatment did appreciably reduce its capacity to secrete NO. The mixture effect of GAN and LPS increased the nitric oxide secretion from RAW 264.7. The cell proliferation of GAN-treated Raw 264.7 cell tines inhibited as compared with its control. Of the culture supernatant of macrophage activated by GAN, the percentage of cytotoxicity against mouse leukemia L1210 cells was slightly dependent on the amount of NO in the culture supernatants of the activated-macrophages. These results indicate that the ${\beta}-glucan-related$ polysaccharides of the higher fungus activate macrophage and release nitric oxide. It also suggests that murine macrophages possess certain receptors for ${\beta}-anomeric$ glucans and play a critical role of ${\beta}-glucan-related$ tumor killing mechanism.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.237-269
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• 2016

Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) is the only intergovernmental space cooperation organization in Asia. Since its establishment to date, eight countries have signed the convention and become member states. South Korea participated actively in the preparatory phase of creating the organization, and one conference organized by AP-MCSTA which is the predecessor of APSCO was held in South Korea. However, after the APSCO Convention was opened for signature in 2005 to date, South Korea does not ratify the Convention and become a member. The rapid development of space commercialization and privatization, as well as the fastest growing commercial space market in Asia, provides opportunities for Asian countries to cooperate with each other in relevant space fields. And to participate in the existing cooperation framework (e.g., the APSCO) by the Asian space countries (e.g., South Korea) could be a proper choice. Even if the essential cooperation in particular space fields is challenging, joint space programs among different Asian countries for dealing with the common events can be initiated at the first steps. Since APSCO has learned the successful legal arrangements from ESA, the legal measures established by its Convention are believed to be qualified to ensure the achievement of benefits of different member states. For example, the regulation of the "fair return" principle confirms that the return of interests from the relevant programs is in proportion to the member's investment in the programs. Moreover, the distinguish of basic and optional activities intends to authorize the freedom of the members to choose programs to participate. And for the voting procedure, the acceptance of the "consensus" by the Council is in favor of protecting the member's interest when making decisions. However, political factors that are potential to block the participation of South Korea in APSCO are difficult to be ignored. A recent event is an announcement of deploying THAAD by South Korea, which causes tension between South Korea and China. The cooperation between these two states in space activities will be influenced. A long-standing barrier is that China acts as a non-member of the main international export control mechanism, i.e., the MTCR. The U.S takes this fact as the main reason to prevent South Korea to cooperate with China in developing space programs. Although the political factors that will block the participation of South Korea in APSCO are not easy to removed shortly, legal measures can be taken to reduce the political influence. More specifically, APSCO is recommended to ensure the achievement of commercial interests of different cooperation programs by regulating precisely the implementation of the "fair return" principle. Furthermore, APSCO is also suggested to contribute to managing the common regional events by sharing satellite data. And it is anticipated that these measures can effectively response the requirements of the rapid development of space commercialization and the increasing common needs of Asia, thereby to provide a platform for the further cooperation. In addition, in order to directly reduce the political influence, two legal measures are necessary to be taken: Firstly, to clarify the rights and responsibilities of the host state (i.e., China) as providing assistance, coordination and services to the management of the Organization to release the worries of the other member states that the host state will control the Organization's activities. And secondly, to illustrate that the cooperation in APSCO is for the non-military purpose (a narrow sense of "peaceful purpose") to reduce the political concerns. Regional cooperation in Asia regarding space affairs is considered to be a general trend in the future, so if the participation of South Korea in APSCO can be finally proved to be feasible, there will be an opportunity to discuss the creation of a comprehensive institutionalized framework for space cooperation in Asia.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2008

Risperidone is a widely prescribed atypical antipsychotic agent. Approved by the FDA as the first drug to treat irritability associated with autism in children, it is also used to treat tic disorder and Tourette's syndrome. Its adverse reactions related to dentistry include dry mouth, the mechanism of which is yet to be identified. The aim of this study is to identify, at the cellular level, how and to what extent risperidone affects intracellular free calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), an primary intracellular factor in the regulation of fluid secretion in salivary gland cells. The human salivary gland cell line (HSG) was grown in MEM supplemented with 10% BCS. In order to measure $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, Fura-2/AM was loaded in the HSG, and fluorescence at 340 nm/380 nm excitation was measured in the 500 nm emission ratio. After every experiment, a calibration experiment was conducted in order to readjust the ratio to the actual $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. Changes in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ were measured in the presence of carbachol, ATP and histamine. The researcher then explored how the pretreatment of risperidone affected such changes. Findings of this study include: 1. In HSG, $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ increased due to the addition of carbachol, ATP and histamine. The presence of risperidone inhibited the action of histamine on this process, while making little effect on that of carbachol and ATP. 2. A quantification of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ in relation to histamine of different concentrations indicates that the effect of histamine was concentration dependent with an $EC_{50}$ of $3.3{\pm}0.5\;{\mu}M$. 3. The inhibitory effect of risperidone on histamine-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ was concentration-dependent with an $IC_{50}$ of $104.4{\pm}14\;nM$. 4. Risperidone inhibits histamine-induced Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum and influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in HSG cells(p<0.05).

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.4 s.109
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• pp.436-447
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• 2004

Wetland plants have evolved specialized adaptations to survive in the low-oxygen conditions associated with prolonged flooding. The development of internal gas space by means of aerenchyma is crucial for wetland plants to transport $O_2$ from the atmosphere into the roots and rhizome. The formation of tissue with high porosity depends on the species and environmental condition, which can control the depth of root penetration and the duration of root tolerance in the flooded sediments. The oxygen in the internal gas space of plants can be delivered from the atmosphere to the root and rhizome by both passive molecular diffusion and convective throughflow. The release of $O_2$ from the roots supplies oxygen demand for root respiration, microbial respiration, and chemical oxidation processes and stimulates aerobic decomposition of organic matter. Another essential mechanism of wetland plants is downward water movement across the root zone induced by water uptake. Natural and constructed wetlands sediments have low hydraulic conductivity due to the relatively fine particle sizes in the litter layer and, therefore, negligible water movement. Under such condition, the water uptake by wetland plants creates a water potential difference in the rhizosphere which acts as a driving force to draw water and dissolved solutes into the sediments. A large number of anatomical, morphological and physiological studies have been conducted to investigate the specialized adaptations of wetland plants that enable them to tolerate water saturated environment and to support their biochemical activities. Despite this, there is little knowledge regarding how the combined effects of wetland plants influence the biogeochemistry of wetland sediments. A further investigation of how the Presence of plants and their growth cycle affects the biogeochemistry of sediments will be of particular importance to understand the role of wetland in the ecological environment.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.5 s.174
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• pp.547-561
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• 2005

General characteristics of groundwater contamination by As were reviewed with several recent researches, and its occurrence in groundwater of Korea was investigated based on a ffw previous studies and a groundwater quality survey in Nonsan and Geumsan areas. In Bangladesh, which has been known as the most serious arsenic calamity country, about $28\%$ of the shallow groundwaters exceeded the Bangladesh drinking water standard, $50{\mu}g/L$, and it was estimated that about 28 million people were exposed to concentrations greater than the standard. Groundwater was characterized by circum-neutral pH with a moderate to strong reducing conditions. Low concentrations of $SO_4^{2-}$ and $NO_3^-$, and high contents of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and $NH_4^+$ were typical chemical characteristics. Total As concentrations were enriched in the Holocene alluvial aquifers with a dominance of As(III) species. It was generally agreed that reductive dissolution of Fe oxyhydroxides was the main mechanism for the release of As into groundwater coupling with the presence of organic matters and microbial activities as principal factors. A new model has also been suggested to explain how arsenic can naturally contaminate groundwaters far from the ultimate source with transport of As by active tectonic uplift and glaciatiion during Pleistocene, chemical weathering and deposition, and microbial reaction processes. In Korea, it has not been reported to be so serious As contamination, and from the national groundwater quality monitoring survey, only about $1\%$ of grounwaters have concentrations higher than $10{\mu}g/:L.$ However, it was revealed that $19.3\%$ of mineral waters, and $7\%$ of tube-well waters from Nonsan and Geumsan areas contained As concentrations above $10{\mu}g/:L.$. Also, percentages exceeding this value during detailed groundwater quality surveys were $36\%\;and\;22\%$ from Jeonnam and Ulsan areas, respectively, indicating As enrichment possibly by geological factors and local mineralization. Further systematic researches need to proceed in areas potential to As contamination such as mineralized, metasedimentary rock-based, alluvial, and acid sulfate soil areas. Prior to that, it is required to understand various geochemical and microbial processes, and groundwater flow characteristics affecting the behavior of As.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 2000

Background: Thromboxane A2 and endothelin-1 are the potent vasoconstrictors affecting pulmonary pathophysiology in response to whole body inflammatin following CPB. Aprotinin, as an antiiflammatory agent, may decrease the release of such vasoactive substance from pulmonary tissues, preventing pulmonary hypertension after cardiopulmonary bypass. Material and Method: Ten mongrel dogs(Bwt. ac. 20kg) were subjected to cardioupulmonary bypass for 2 hours and postbypass pulmonary vascular resistance(0, 1, 2, 3 hours) were compared with prebypass level. The dogs were divided into 2 groups; control group(n-5) and aprotinin group(n=5). In the aprotinin group, aprotinin was administered as follows; 50,000 KIU/kg mixed in pump priming solution, 50,000 KIU/kg prebypass intravenous infusion over 30 minutes, 10,000 KIU/kg/hour postbypass continuous infusion. Prebypass and postbypass 0, 1, 2, 3 hour pulmonary vascular resistance were measured. At prebypass and postbypass 0, 90, 180 minutes, blood samples were obtained from pulmonary arterial and left atrial catherers for the assay of plasma thromboxane B2 a stable metabolite of thromboxane A2, and endothelin-1 concentrations. Result: The ratios of pustbypass over prebypass pulmonary vascular at postbypass 0, 1, 2, 3 hours were 1.28$\pm$0.20, 1.82$\pm$0.23, 1.90$\pm$0.19, 2.14$\pm$0.18 in control group, 1.58$\pm$0.18, 1.73$\pm$0.01, 1.66$\pm$0.10, 1.50$\pm$0.08 in aprotinin group ; the ratios gradually increased in control group while decreased or fluctuated after postbypass 1 hour in aprotinin group. There was statistically significant difference between control group and aprotinin group at postbypass 3 hours(P=0.014). Pulmonary arterial plasma concentration of thromboxane B2(pg/ml) at prebypass, postbypass 0, 90, 180 minutes were 346.4$\pm$61.9, 529.3$\pm$197.6, 578.3$\pm$255.8, 493.3$\pm$171.3 in control group, 323.8$\pm$118.0, 422.6$\pm$75.6, 412.3$\pm$59.9, 394.5$\pm$154.0 in aprotinin group. Left atrial concentrations were 339.3$\pm$89.2, 667.0$\pm$65.7, 731.2$\pm$192.7, 607.5$\pm$165.9 in control group, 330.0$\pm$111.2, 468.4$\pm$190.3, 425.4$\pm$193.6, 4.7.3$\pm$142.8 in aprotinin group. These results showed decrement of pulmonary thromboxane A2 generation in aprotinin group. Pulmonary arterial concentrations of endothelin-1(fmol/ml) at the same time sequence were 7.84$\pm$0.31, 13.2$\pm$0.51, 15.0$\pm$1.22, 16.3$\pm$1.73 in control group, 7.76$\pm$0.12, 15.3$\pm$0.71, 22.6$\pm$6.62, 14.9$\pm$1.11 in aprotinin group. Left atrial concentrations were 7.61$\pm$17.2, 57.1$\pm$28.4, 18.9$\pm$18.2, 31.5$\pm$20.5 in control group, 5.61$\pm$7.61, 37.0$\pm$26.2, 28.6$\pm$21.7, 37.8$\pm$30.6 in aprotinin group. These results showed that aprotinin had no effect on plasma endothelin-1 concentration after cardiopulmonary bypass. Conclusion: Administration of aprotinin during cardiopulmonary bypass could attenuate the increase in pulmonary vascular resistance after bypass. Inhibition of pulmonary thromboxane A2 generation was thought to be one of the mechanism of this effect. Aprotinin had no effect on postbypass endothelin-1 concentration.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.221-228
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• 2014

Purpose: Citron seed oil (CSO) has been reported to have high antioxidant activity. However, the composition and other biologically activities of CSO have not been reported. In this study, we confirmed the fatty acid composition of CSO, which may be beneficial to vascular disease and obesity. Methods: We investigated the oil composition of CSO using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, and cytotoxicity was confirmed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Nitric oxide (NO) production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was measured using Griess reagent, and lipid accumulation and leptin secretion in 3T3-L1 cells were measured by Oil-Red O staining and commercial ELISA kit, respectively. Results: GC-MS analysis indicated that CSO contains several components, including linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linolenic acid, palmitoleic acid, and arachidic acid. In physiological activity analysis, CSO did not induce cytotoxic effects in HUVECs and 3T3-L1 cells. Further, CSO significantly induced nitric oxide and leptin secretion as well as inhibited lipid accumulation. Conclusion: CSO increased NO release, inhibited lipid accumulation, and induced leptin secretion, suggesting it may be useful for the management of vessels and weight gain. Although further studies are required to investigate the safety and mechanism of action of CSO, our results show that the composition and physiological activity of CSO are sufficient for its use as functional edible oil.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.33 no.3 s.98
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• pp.169-183
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• 2003

Tooth movement by orthodontic force effects great tissue changes within the periodontium, especially by shifting the blood flow in the pressure side and resulting in a hypoxic state of low oxygen tension. The aim of this study is to elucidate the possible mechanism of apoptosis in response to hypoxia in MC3T3El osteoblasts, the main cells in bone remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement. MC3T3El osteoblasts under hypoxic conditions ($2\%$ orygen) resulted in apoptosis in a time-dependent manner as estimated by DNA fragmentation assay and nuclear morphology stained with fluorescent dye, Hoechst 33258. Pretreatment with Z-VAD-FMK, a pancaspase inhibitor, or Z-DEVD-CHO, a specific caspase-3 inhibitor, completely suppressed the DNA ladder in response to hypoxia. An increase in caspase-3-like protease (DEVDase) activity was observed during apoptosis, but no caspase-1 activity (YVADase) was detected. To confirm what caspases are involved in apoptosis, Western blot analysis was performed using anti-caspase-3 or -6 antibodies. The 10-kDa protein, corresponding to the active products of caspase-3, and the 10-kDa protein of the active protein of caspase-6 were generated in hypoxia-challenged cells in which the processing of the full length form of caspase-3 and -6 was evident. While a time course similar to this caspase-3 and -6 activation was evident, hypoxic stress caused the cleavage of lamin A, which was typical of caspase-6 activity. In addition, the stress elicited the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol during apoptosis. Furthermore, we observed that pre-treatment with SB203580, a selective p38 mitogen activated protein kinase inhibitor, attenuated the hypoxia-induced apoptosis. The addition of SB203S80 suppressed caspase-3 and -6-like protease activity by hypoxia up to $50\%$. In contrast, PD98059 had no effect on the hypoxia-induced apoptosis. To confirm the involvement of MAP kinase, JNK/SAPK, ERK, or p38 kinase assay was performed. Although p38 MAPK was activated in response to hypoxic treatment, the other MAPK -JNK/SAPK or ERK- was either only modestly activated or not at all. These results suggest that p38 MAPK is involved in hypoxia-induced apoptosis in MC3T3El osteoblasts.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.561-574
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• 2000

Poly-P has been used to prevent decomposition of foods and has been shown to have inhibitory effect on the growth of gram positive bacteria. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of poly-P on the growth of Porphyromonas endodontalis, a gram negative obligate anaerobic rod, endodontopathic bacterium. P. endodontalis ATCC 35406 was in BHI broth containing hemin and vitamin K with or without poly-P. Inhibitory effect of each poly-P which was added at the beginning(lag phase) or during(exponential phase) the culture, MIC(minimum inhibitory concentration) was determined by measuring the optical density of the bacterial cell at 540nm. Viable cell counts were measured to determined whether poly-P has a bactericidal effect. Leakage of intracellular nucleotides from P. endodontalis was determined at 260nm and morphological change of P. endodontalis was observed under the TEM(transmission electron microscope). Binding of 32P-labeled poly-P to P. endodontalis was examined. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and zymography were performed to observe the changes in protein and enzyme profiles of P. endodontalis, respectively. The results from this study were as follows : 1. The minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC) of poly-P to P. endodontalis appeared to be 0.04~0.05%. 2. Poly-P added to the P. endodontalis culture during the exponential phase of P. endodontalis was as much effective as poly-P added at the begining of the culture, suggesting that the antibacterial effect of poly-P is not much dependent on the initial inoculum size of P. endodontalis. 3. Poly-P are bactericidal to P. endodontalis, demonstrating the decrease of the viable cell counts. 4. Intracellular nucleotide release from the P. endodontalis, was not increased in the presence of poly-P and was not reversed by the addition of divalent cations like $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2-}$. 5. Under the TEM, it was observed that fine electro-dense materials were prominent in the poly-P grown P. endodontalis, appearing locally in the cell, and the materials were more abundant and more dispersed in the cell as the incubation time with poly-P increased. In addition, highly electron dense granules accumulated in many poly-P grown cells, most of which were atypical in their shape. 6. Binding of 32P-labeled poly-P to P. endodontalis appeared to be 32.8 and 45.5 and 53.4% at 30 minutes, 1 hours and 2 hours, respectively. 7. In the presence of poly-P. the synthesis of proteins with apparent molecular masses of 25, 27, 35, 45 was lost or drastically decreased whereas expression of a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 75 was elevated. 8. Proteolytic activity of P. endodontalis was decreased by poly-P. The overall results suggest that use of poly-P may affect the growth of P. endodontalis, and the anti-bacterial activity of poly-P seems largely bactericidal. Changes in shape, protein expression, and proteolytic activity of P. endodontalis by poly-P may be directly and indirectly attributed to the antibacterial effect of poly-P. Further studies will be needed to confirm the effect of poly-P.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2020

Mycorrhiza refers to the association between a plant and a fungus colonizing the cortical tissue of the plant's roots during periods of active plant growth. The benefits afforded by plants from mycorrhizal symbioses can be characterized either agronomically, based on increased growth and yield, or ecologically, based on improved fitness (i.e., reproductive ability). In either case, the benefit accrues primarily because mycorrhizal fungi form a critical linkage between plant roots and the soil. The soilborne or extramatrical hyphae take up nutrients from the soil solution and transport them to the root. This mycorrhizae-mediated mechanism increases the effective absorptive surface area of the plant. There are seven major types of mycorrhizae along with mycoheterotrophy: endomycorrhizae (arbuscular mycorrhizae, AM), ectomycorrhizae (EM), ectendomycorrhizae, monotropoid, arbutoid, orchid, and ericoid. Endomycorrhizal fungi form arbuscules or highly branched structures within root cortical cells, giving rise to arbuscular mycorrhiza, which may produce extensive extramatrical hyphae and significantly increase phosphorus inflow rates in the plants they colonize. Ectomycorrhizal fungi may produce large quantities of hyphae on the root and in the soil; these hyphae play a role in absorption and translocation of inorganic nutrients and water, and also release nutrients from litter layers by producing enzymes involved in mineralization of organic matters. Over 4,000 fungal species, primarily belonging to Basidiomycotina and to a lesser extent Ascomycotina, are able to form ectomycorrhizae. Many of these fungi produce various mushrooms on the forest floor that are traded at a high price. In this paper, we discuss the benefits, nutrient cycles, and artificial cultivation of mycorrhizae in Korea.