• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.153-160
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• 2022

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) based on wood pulp fibers are gained much attention as part of biocompatible hydrogels for biomedical applications such as tissue engineering scaffolds, biomedicine, and drug carrier. However, CNF hydrogels have relatively poor mechanical properties, impeding their applications requiring high mechanical integrity. In this work, we prepare 2,2,6,6-tetramethylipiperidin-oxyl (TEMPO) oxidated cellulose nanofibrils hydrogels mediated with metal cations, which form the metal-carboxylate coordination bonds for enhanced mechanical strength and toughness. We conduct the large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) test and Live/dead cell assay for obtaining nonlinear viscoelastic parameters and cell viability, respectively. In particular, the cell proliferation and viability change depending on the type of metal salt, which also affected the rheological properties of the hydrogels.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.751-757
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of mulberry (Morus alba) sugar extracts (MSE) against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. The MSEs was mixed with matured mulberry and sugar at the same ratio (1:1, w/w) and stored at $18{\pm}3^{\circ}C$ for 40 days. In 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging test, MSE stored for 40 days showed high activity with a ratio above 66%. Therefore, we selected 40 days as the optimum storage period. After cell viability analysis using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, we determined that the optimum concentration of MSE was 0.5%. Our results showed that MSE increased the cell viability and antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in $H_2O_2$-treated HepG2 cells. Moreover, the treatment with MSE inhibited malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in $H_2O_2$-treated HepG2 cells. We also observed a reduction in apoptotic bodies in the Hoechst staining. These data show that MSE treatment significantly suppressed caspase-3 activity in HepG2 cells expored to $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress, thereby indicationg the protective effects of MSE in $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.318-326
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• 2013

Purpose: We developed a viability evaluation method for cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seed using hyperspectral reflectance imaging. Methods: Reflectance spectra of cucumber seeds in the 400 to 1000 nm range were collected from hyperspectral reflectance images obtained using blue, green, and red LED illumination. A partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was developed to predict viable and non-viable seeds. Various ranges of spectra induced by four types of LEDs (Blue, Green, Red, and RGB) were investigated to develop the classification models. Results: PLS-DA models for spectra in the 600 to 700 nm range showed 98.5% discrimination accuracy for both viable and non-viable seeds. Using images based on the PLS-DA model, the discrimination accuracy for viable and non-viable seeds was 100% and 99%, respectively Conclusions: Hyperspectral reflectance images made using LED light can be used to select high quality cucumber seeds.

• FLOWER RESEARCH JOURNAL
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2010

Current rose cultivars are all composed of heterozygous genome due to long history of out crossing including interspecific hybridization. It has been adapted by artificial selection and crossing by breeders that mainly based on the crossing with fertile pollen derived from inter- or intra-specific hybridization. Pollen viability and germination ability tests provide valuable information for the designing of parentage for more successful breeding efficacy. In this study, we tested the pollen viability and germination ability in seven rose cultivars to find any relationship among several factors including pollen size, ploidy levels, and crossing compatibility. The pollen viability showed wide ranges from 39% 'Pinocchio' as minimum to 82% 'Scarlet Mimi' as maximum, whereas pollen germination rate were from 1% 'Mini Rosa' to 41% 'Scarlet Mimi' as a highest. Pollen size ranged from 41.3 to $45.4{\mu}m$ in large sized pollen and 30.7 to $37.4{\mu}m$ in small sized pollen. The mean diameter of large sized pollen is approximately 10-40% bigger than that of small sized pollen. There are positive relationships among ploidy level, total chromosome length, and pollen size. Crossing list showed that seed setting ratio and seed germination were related to pollen viability, pollen germination, and ploidy level.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.78-83
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• 1999

Sublethal effects of imidacloprid (30 and 100 ppm) and insect growth regulators; flufenoxuron (3 and 10 ppm), triflumuron (10 ppm), and teflubenzuron (3 ppm), were tested by treatment via larval rearing medium of a housefly, Musca domestica, in laboratory. Pupal weight was significantly reduced by treatment to the 3rd larvae with high concentrations of imidacloprid (100 ppm) and flufenoxuron (10 ppm), and the adults that survived the flufenoxuron 10 ppm treatment deposited significantly fewer eggs compared with controls and other treatments. Adult longevity and egg viability, however, were not affected by any of the treatments.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.534-542
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• 2006

The effects of ethanol fractions of three different rice grain extracts, Jakwangchalbyeo, Hwasunchalbyeo, and Ilpumbyeo, on apoptotic cell death in the rat hepatoma H4IIE cell line were investigated using the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] cell viability assay. One hundred mg/mL Jakwangchalbyeo extract significantly reduced cell viability to 69.5, 57.2, and 46.1% within 24, 48, and 72 hr, respectively. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analyses were also performed to characterize the cell death pattern caused by treatment with the rice grain extracts. Apoptotic cell death was clearly observed with time after treatment with the Jakwangchalbyeo extract. In Western blotting analysis, degradation of the 116 kDa poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) molecule was observed with concomitant formation of an 89 kDa product 24, 48, and 72 hr after treating cells with the Jakwangchalbyeo extract. This indicates that an apoptotic process caused cell death in these cells. In conclusion, red-pericarp Jakwangchalbyeo extract induced apoptotic cell death in H4IIE cells to a larger extent than the other rice extracts.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1343-1349
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• 2021

Cockroaches live in places where various pathogens exist and thus are more likely to use antimicrobial compounds to defend against pathogen intrusions. We previously performed an in silico analysis of the Periplaneta americana transcriptome and detected periplanetasin-5 using an in silico antimicrobial peptide prediction method. In this study, we investigated whether periplanetasin-5 has anticancer activity against the human leukemia cell line K562. Cell growth and survival of K562 cells treated with periplanetasin-5 were decreased in a dose-dependent manner. By using flow cytometric analysis, acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining and DNA fragmentation, we found that periplanetasin-5 induced apoptotic and necrotic cell death in leukemia cells. In addition, these events were associated with increased levels of the pro-apoptotic proteins Fas and cytochrome c and reduced levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Periplanetasin-5 induces the cleavage of pro-caspase-9, pro-caspase-8, pro-caspase-3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). The above data suggest that periplanetasin-5 induces apoptosis via both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Moreover, caspase-related apoptosis was further confirmed by using the caspase inhibitor carbobenzoxy-valyl-alanyl-aspartyl-[O-methyl]-fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD-FMK), which reversed the periplanetasin-5-induced reduction in cell viability. In conclusion, periplanetasin-5 caused apoptosis in leukemia cells, suggesting its potential utility as an anticancer therapeutic agent.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.785-798
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• 2023

Considering irrigation facilities are currently insufficient and drought vulnerability due to climate change is high, efficient measures are required to secure water supply for field crops. This study, therefore, calculated the water shortage to secure water for representative field crops. An economic analysis was further conducted by comparing the production income to the input cost for each method. Here, five distinct regions were selected to represent each crop-Cheongyang-gun for chili peppers, Yesan-gun for apples, Dangjin-si for cabbages, Seosan-si for garlic, and Goesan for beans. The regions with insufficient water supply were estimated by calculating the water requirements and the supplied water from public groundwater wells for each area. A comprehensive set of four scenarios was presented as a strategy to ensure water security and manage irrigation facilities. These scenarios comprised the maintenance of existing groundwater wells, the construction of new water storage tanks, the installation of additional groundwater wells, and the utilization of surface water. B/C (benefit/cost) analysis was conducted for each scenario. As a result, the construction of water storage tanks was selected as a facility and water management plan in Cheongyang-gun, Dangjin-si, and Seosan-si. The analysis additionally indicated the economic viability of installing surface water utilization facilities in Yesan-gun and developing water storage tanks and groundwater (aquifer) wells in Goesan-gun. The results of this study are considered to serve as foundation data that may be utilized in the selection of water management plans for drought-prone areas in the future.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.173-177
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• 2009

The in vitro antibacterial activities of honeybee(Apis mellifera. L) venom collected by a bee venom collector were investigated against several bacteria including antibiotic-susceptible and resistant Propionibacterium acnes. Honeybee venom was prepared with different concentrations and they showed strong antibacterial activites. Honeybee venom inhibited the growth of the tested antibiotic-resistant P. acnes at the concentration of 1 mg/ml. The inhibitory activities of the honeybee venom showed time-dependent manner. Honeybee venom did not influence the viability of human dermal fibroblast at the high concentration of less than 10 mg/ml. From these results, we expect that honeybee venom has strong antibacterial activities and has advantage for treating cure.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1275-1280
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• 2015

Previously, we performed de novo RNA sequencing of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans using high-throughput sequencing technology and identified several antimicrobial peptide candidates. Among them, a cationic antimicrobial peptide, scolopendrasin VII, was selected based on its physicochemical properties, such as length, charge, and isoelectric point. Here, we assessed the anticancer activities of scolopendrasin VII against U937 and Jurkat leukemia cell lines. The results showed that scolopendrasin VII decreased the viability of the leukemia cells in MTS assays. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining revealed that scolopendrasin VII induced necrosis in the leukemia cells. Scolopendrasin VII-induced necrosis was mediated by specific interaction with phosphatidylserine, which is enriched in the membrane of cancer cells. Taken together, these data indicated that scolopendrasin VII induced necrotic cell death in leukemia cells, probably through interaction with phosphatidylserine. The results provide a useful anticancer peptide candidate and an efficient strategy for new anticancer peptide development.