• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2022

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNPA2/B1) is an N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) RNA modification regulator and a key determinant of prem-RNA processing, mRNA metabolism and transportation in cells. Currently, m⁶A reader proteins such as hnRNPA2/B1 and YTHDF2 has functional roles in mice embryo. However, the role of hnRNPA2/B1 in porcine embryogenic development are unclear. Here, we investigated the developmental competence and mRNA expression levels in porcine parthenogenetic embryos after hnRNPA2/B1 knock-down. HhnRNPA2/B1 was localized in the nucleus during subsequent embryonic development since zygote stage. After hnRNPA2/B1 knock-down using double stranded RNA injection, blastocyst formation rate decreased than that in the control group. Moreover, hnRNPA2/B1 knock-down embryos show developmental delay after compaction. In blastocyste stage, total cell number was decreased. Interestingly, gene expression patterns revealed that transcription of Pou5f1, Sox2, TRFP2C, Cdx2 and PARD6B decreased without changing the junction protein, ZO1, OCLN, and CDH1. Thus, hnRNPA2/B1 is necessary for porcine early embryo development by regulating gene expression through epigenetic RNA modification.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.106-119
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• 2023

Due to global decarbonization movement and tightening of maritime emissions restrictions, the shipping industry is going to switch to alternative fuels. Among candidates of alternative fuel, methanol is promising for decreasing SOx and CO2 emissions, resulting in minimum climate change and meeting the goal of green shipping. In this study, a novel combined system of direct methanol solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), gas turbine (GT), and organic Rankine cycle (ORC) targeted for marine vessels was proposed. The SOFC is the main power generator of the system, whereas the GT and PEMFC could recover waste heat from the SOFC to generate useful power and increase waste heat utilizing efficiency of the system. Thermodynamics model of the combined system and each component were established and analyzed. Energy and exergy efficiencies of subsystems and the entire system were estimated with participation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The energy and exergy efficiencies of the overall multigeneration system were estimated to be 76.2% and 30.3%, respectively. The combination of GT and PEMFC increased the energy efficiency by 18.91% compared to the SOFC stand-alone system. By changing the methanol distribution ratio from 0.05 to 0.4, energy and exergy efficiencies decreased by 15.49% and 5.41%, respectively. During the starting up and maneuvering period of vessels, a quick response from the power supply system and propulsion plant is necessary. Utilization of PEMFC coupled with SOFC has remarkable meaning and benefits.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 2008

Neural stem/precursor derived from pluripotent human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) has considerable therapeutic potential due to their ability to generate various neural cells which can be used in cell-replacement therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. However, production of neural cells from hESCs remains technically very difficult. Understanding neural-tube like rosette characteristic neural precursor cells from hESCs may provide useful information to increase the efficiency of hESC neural differentiation. Generally, neural rosettes were derived from differentiating hEBs in attached culture system, however this is time-consuming and complicated. Here, we examined if neural rosettes could be formed in suspension culture system by bypassing attachment requirement. First, we tested whether the size of hESC clumps affected the formation of human embryonic bodies (hEBs) and neural differentiation. We confirmed that hEBs derived from $500{\times}500\;{\mu}m$ square sized hESC clumps were effectively differentiated into neural lineage than those of the other sizes. To induce the rosette formation, regular size hEBs were derived by incubation of hESC clumps($500{\times}500\;{\mu}m$) in EB medium for 1 wk in a suspended condition on low attachment culture dish and further incubated for additional $1{\sim}2$ wks in neuroectodermal sphere(NES)-culture medium. We observed the neural tube-like rosette structure from hEBs after $7{\sim}10$ days of differentiation. Their identity as a neural precursor cells was assessed by measuring their expressions of neural precursor markers(Vimentin, Nestin, MSI1, MSI2, Prominin-1, Pax6, Sox1, N-cadherin, Otx2, and Tuj1) by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. We also confirmed that neural rosettes could be terminally differentiated into mature neural cell types by additional incubation for $2{\sim}6$ wks with NES medium without growth factors. Neuronal(Tuj1, MAP2, GABA) and glial($S100{\beta}$ and GFAP) markers were highly expressed after $2{\sim}3$ and 4 wks of incubation, respectively. Expression of oligodendrocyte markers O1 and CNPase was significantly increased after $5{\sim}6$ wks of incubation. Our results demonstrate that rosette forming neural precursor cells could be successfully derived from suspension culture system and that will not only help us understand the neural differentiation process of hESCs but also simplify the derivation process of neural precursors from hESCs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.697-703
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• 2023

As a part of the global industrial efforts to reduce environmental pollution owing to air pollution, regulations have been established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IMO has implemented various regulations such as EEXI, EEDI, and CII to reduce air pollution emissions from ships. They are also promoting measures to decrease the power consumption in ships, aiming to conserve energy. Most of the power used in ships is consumed by electric motors. Among the motors installed on ships, the engine room blower that takes up a significant load, operates at a constant irrespective of demand. Therefore, energy savings can be expected through frequency control. In this study, we demonstrated the efficacy of energy savings by controlling the frequency of the electric motor of the generator blower that supplies combustion air to the generator's turbocharger. The system was modeled based on the output data of the turboharger outlet temperature in response to the blower frequency inpu. A PI control system was established to control the frequency with the target being the turbocharger outlet temperature. By maintaining the turbocharger design standard outlet temperature and controlling the blower frequency, we achieved an annual energy saving of 15,552kW in power consumption. The effectiveness of energy savings through frequency control of blower fans was verified during the summer (April to September) and winter (March to October) periods. Based on this, we achieved annual fuel cost savings of 6,091 thousand won and reduction of 8.5 tons of carbon dioxide, 2.4 kg of SOx, and 7.8 kg of NOx air pollutants on the training ship.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 2019

The objective of present study is to evaluate concentration-dependent in vitro anti-osteoarthritic (OA) effects of synergic mixed formula consisted of dried pomegranate juice concentrate powder, Eucommiae Cortex aqueous extract and Achyranthis Radix aqueous extract 5:4:1 (g/g) mixture on the primary cultured rat articular chondrocytes. First, any cytotoxic effect of mixture was observed using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium Bromide) assay. Next, cyto-protective effect of test substances was evaluated by using the recombinant human interleukin $(rhIL)-1{\alpha}$ induced chondrocytes. In addition, anti-inflammatory effects were also observed on the lipopolysaccaride (LPS) treated chondrocytes through prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ productions and 5-lipoxygenase (LPO) activities, and inhibitory effects on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activities were observed on $rhIL-1{\alpha}$ treated chondrocytes with their extracellular matrix (ECM) related mRNA expressions. No obvious cytotoxic effects of mixture were demonstrated. Inflammatory damages of chondrocytes and related ECM degradations induced by treatment of LPS or $rhIL-1{\alpha}$ were significantly and concentration-dependently inhibited by pretreatment of mixture from a concentration level of 0.001 mg/ml to 1 mg/ml. In addition, mixture showed $IC_{50}$ for $rhIL-1{\alpha}-induced$ MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities as 44.01 and $162.47{\mu}g/ml$, and also showed $EC_{50}$ for $rhIL-1{\alpha}-induced$ inhibition of collagen type II, SOX9 and aggrecan mRNA expression as 8.61, 10.79 and $4.47{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. It is observed that mixture showed concentration-dependent anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective ECM preserved effects on the primary cultured rat articular chondrocytes without cytotoxicity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.635-647
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• 2014

Unfertilized oocytes age inevitably after ovulation, which limits their fertilizable life span and embryonic development. Rapamycin affects mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) expression and cytoskeleton reorganization during oocyte meiotic maturation. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of rapamycin treatment on aged porcine oocytes and their in vitro development. Rapamycin treatment of aged oocytes for 24 h (68 h in vitro maturation [IVM]; $44h+10{\mu}M$ rapamycin/24 h, $47.52{\pm}5.68$) or control oocytes (44 h IVM; $42.14{\pm}4.40$) significantly increased the development rate and total cell number compared with untreated aged oocytes (68 h IVM, $22.04{\pm}5.68$) (p<0.05). Rapamycin treatment of aged IVM oocytes for 24 h also rescued aberrant spindle organization and chromosomal misalignment, blocked the decrease in the level of phosphorylated-p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and increased the mRNA expression of cytoplasmic maturation factor genes (MOS, BMP15, GDF9, and CCNB1) compared with untreated, 24 h-aged IVM oocytes (p<0.05). Furthermore, rapamycin treatment of aged oocytes decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity and DNA fragmentation (p<0.05), and downregulated the mRNA expression of mTOR compared with control or untreated aged oocytes. By contrast, rapamycin treatment of aged oocytes increased mitochondrial localization (p<0.05) and upregulated the mRNA expression of autophagy (BECN1, ATG7, MAP1LC3B, ATG12, GABARAP, and GABARAPL1), anti-apoptosis (BCL2L1 and BIRC5; p<0.05), and development (NANOG and SOX2; p<0.05) genes, but it did not affect the mRNA expression of pro-apoptosis genes (FAS and CASP3) compared with the control. This study demonstrates that rapamycin treatment can rescue the poor developmental capacity of aged porcine oocytes.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.107-117
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• 2020

Based on the airborne measurement results over a coal fired power plant and steel work in Dangjin city, SO2 emission amounts of each site are estimated (top-down emission). Airborne measurements were carried out on May-June and October-November 2019. The estimated SO2 emission in 2019 for the power plant was 1502.1 kg/hr and that for the steel work was 2850.5 kg/hr, higher as much as a factor of 2.5 and 2.0, respectively, than the emission amounts provided by both facilities (bottom-up emission). The outcomes strongly illustrates that well designed airborne observations can serve a quantitative diagnostic tool for bottom-up emission estimates. Further research direction to improve the reliability of the top-down emission estimates is suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 2014

HanPoong Leading (HPL)-04 were prepared with different oriental medicines (balk of Kalopanax pictus balk, Chaenomelis Fructus, Angelica gigas root, Zingiber officinale, Raphanus sativus Linne and Saururus chinensis Baill.) to investigate the protective effects of HPL-04 on cartilage degradation in knee osteoarthritis (OA). Rat articular chondrocytes incubated with rhIL-$1{\alpha}$ markedly increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and 9 activities, decreased cell viability and reduced chondrogenic gene expression. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, MMP-2 and 9 activities and real time RT-PCR indicated that HPL-04 counteracted these harmful effects in dose-dependent manner. In addition, for experimental OA in vivo, monosodium iodoacetate (MIA, 0.5 mg/50 ${\mu}L$) was injected into knee joints of rats and administered HPL-04 to rats for 4 consecutive weeks after MIA treatment. The experimental data showed that treatment with HPL-04 significantly prevented of MMP-2 and 9 activities in articular cartilage. Histopathological and micro-CT evaluations of the knee joints also revealed that HPL-04 effectively ameliorated MIA-induced degenerative OA. In conclusion, HPL-04 has potential applicability for the prevention and treatment of degenerative OA.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.306-312
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• 2008

Total sugar, crude protein, crude lipid, ash, total polyphenol, extract and betaine contents of various Lycii fructus species (Cheongyang jaerae, Myungan, Bulro, Cheongdae, Jangmyung, Cheongwoon, Cheongyang NO.6, and Cheongyang NO.7) were investigated according to harvest time at intervals of one momth from mid August to mid November. In Cheongyang NO.6, average content of total sugar and extract were the highest, 28.91% and 62.31%, respectively. In Cheongyang NO.7, crude protein (3.24%), total polyphenol (2.13%), betaine(10.77 mg/g) were the highest and crude lipid (6.82%) was the higest in Cheongdae species, and ash (5.83%) was the highest in Cheongwoon species. At the most of the species (except Cheongyang jaerae, Myungan) crude protein, crude lipid, ash and betaine contents were increased, and total sugar, total polyphenol and extract contents were decreased according to harvest time was lated. Also, a relationship among the components of Lycii fructus was found out. ; excract contents (r = 0.81) were increased as total sugar contents were increased, while crude protein (r = -0.88), crude lipid (r = -0.82), ash contents (r = -0.81) were decreased as that And betaine contents (r = 0.90) were increased as total polyphenol contents were increased.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.5-13
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• 2016

This study investigated the environmental and economical assessment for sewage sludge treatment options including biogasification, incineration, carbonization, drying, and solidification. For the economical feasibility the 30 plants with anaerobic digestion treatment and the 17 plants without anaerobic digestion treatment were investigated. In regarding to the environmental assessment, the air emission pollutants (SOx, NOx, etc) from incineration and carbonization plants were assessed and 1~34 % of emission limits was emitted. Drying and solidification plants emitted about 30 % of odour limits. And the rest of the pollutants were emitted either at not-detectable level or at below the limits. When the by-products from the solidification treatment was used as landfill cover materials, the unconfined compression strength could be below the limit and it could cause an unsafe condition for those passing vehicles and the possibility of the ground subsidence. There has been a maintenance difficulty due to frequent blockage and operational failure. The result of the comparison of sewage sludge treatment options showed that anaerobic digestion+incineration was the most economically feasible considering incineration and drying. For smaller treatment capacity, solidification was the most economically feasible considering carbonization and solidification and anaerobic digestion+carbonization was the most economically feasible considering carbonization and solidification.