• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.60-69
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• 2022

Organoids show great potential in clinical translational research owing to their intriguing properties to represent a near physiological model for native tissues. However, the dependency of organoid generation on the use of poorly defined matrices has hampered their clinical application. Current organoid culture systems mostly reply on biochemical signals provided by medium compositions and cell-cell interactions to control growth. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of the extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, cell-ECM interactions, and mechanical signals for organoid expansion and differentiation. Thus, several hydrogel systems prepared using natural or synthetic-based materials have been designed to recreate the stem cell niche in vitro, providing biochemical, biophysical, and mechanical signals. In this review, we discuss how recapitulating multiple aspects of the tissue-specific environment through designing and applying matrices could contribute to accelerating the translation of organoid technology from the laboratory to therapeutic and pharmaceutical applications.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.4
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• pp.417-425
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• 2023

The aim of this study was to derive stem taper equations for Quercus acuta, one of main evergreen broad-leaved tree species found in warm temperate regions, and to prepare a stem volume table using those stem taper equations. A total of 688 individual trees were used in the analysis, which were collected from Jeonnam-do, Gyeongnam-do, and Jeju-do. The stem taper models applied to derive the stem curve pattern were the Max and Burkhart, Kozak, and Lee models. Among the three stem taper models, the best explanation of the stem curve shape of Q. acuta was found to be given by the Kozak model, which showed a fitness index of 0.9583, bias of 0.0352, percentage of estimated standard error of 1.1439, and mean absolute deviation of 0.6751. Thus, the stem taper of Q. acuta was estimated using the Kozak model. Moreover,thestemvolumecalculationwasperforme d by applying the Smalian formula to the diameter and height of each stem interval. In addition, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to compare the two existing Q. acuta stem volume tables (2007 and 2010) and the newly created stem volume table (2023). This analysis revealed that the stem volume table constructed in the Wando region in 2007 included about twice as much as the stem volume tables constructed in 2010 and 2023. The stem volume table (2023) developed in this study is not only based on the regional collection range and number of utilized trees but also on a sound scientific basis. Therefore, it can be used at the national level as an official stem volume table for Q. acuta.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.133-147
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• 1983

This study was carried out to obtain the basic information for the development of new ginseng varieties. The two variants (violet-stem variant and yellow-berry variant) of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) of one to four-year were used for this study. All of the characteristics, such as leaf length, leaf width, petiol length, number of leaves per plant, number of leaflets per plants, stem diameter, stem length, number of stems per plant, root length, primary root length, root diameter, root weight were determined and correlations among them were estimated. The results obtained were summarized as follows. 1. Leaf length, petiol length, number of leaves per plant, and number of leaflets per plant of Panax ginseng, violet-stem variant and yellow-berry variant, were larger than those of Panax quinquefolium at all of the plant ages, while leaf width was wider in Panax quinquefolium. 2. The length of stem of Panax quinquefolium was shorter than that of Panax ginseng, and the frequency of multi-stem plants at 4-year-old ginseng was larger in violet-stem variant than in Panax quinquefolium and yellow-berry variant. 3. In the characteristics of ginseng root, the primary root length of Panax ginseng, violet-stem variant and yellow-berry variant, were less than that of Panax quinquefolium, while root weight, root diameter, and umber of secondary root related to yield were larger in Panax ginseng. 4. The root weight per plant related to the yield had positive and highly significant correlations with stem diameter, leaf length, leaf length, leaf width, number of compound leaves and leaflets in Panax ginseng and Panax quinguefolium. 5. The root weight related to the wield of ginseng had been influenced to stem diameter, leaf length, and leaf width directly, and number of compound leaves and leaflets indirectly. 6. The number, total area and activity of stomate per mm2 of Panax quinquefolium were more, larger and stronger than those of Panax ginseng.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2017

Human cardiomyocytes (CMs) cease to proliferate and remain terminally differentiated thereafter, when humans reach the mid-20s. Thus, any damages sustained by myocardium tissue are irreversible, and they require medical interventions to regain functionality. To date, new surgical procedures and drugs have been developed, albeit with limited success, to treat various heart diseases including myocardial infarction. Hence, there is a pressing need to develop more effective treatment methods to address the increasing mortality rate of the heart diseases. Functional CMs are not only an important in vitro cellular tool to model various types of heart diseases for drug development, but they are also a promising therapeutic agent for cell therapy. However, the limited proliferative capacity entails difficulties in acquiring functional CMs in the scale that is required for pathological studies and cell therapy development. Stem cells, human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in particular, have been considered as an unlimited cellular source for providing functional CMs for various applications. Notable progress has already been made: the first clinical trials of hPSCs derived CMs (hPSC-CMs) for treating myocardial infarction was approved in 2015, and their potential use in disease modeling and drug discovery is being fully explored. This concise review gives an account of current development of differentiation, purification and maturation techniques for hPSC-CMs, and their application in cell therapy development and pharmaceutical industries will be discussed with the latest experimental evidence.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.283-286
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• 2004

The methylene chloride soluble fraction of MeOH extract from the stem bark of Styrax japonica S. et Z. (Styracaceae) showed significant cytotoxicity by SRB method against five human tumor cell lines. Four known pentacyclic triterpenoids, oleanolic aldehyde acetate (1), erythrodiol-3-acetate (2), euphorginol (3), and anhydrosophoradiol -3-acetate (4) were isolated by activity-guided fractionation. Their structures were determined by chemical and spectral analysis. Compounds 1-4 were isolated from S. japonica for the first time.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.485-491
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• 2015

This study was conducted to develop stem volume models for the volume estimation of Quercus glauca Thunb. in Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. Furthermore, this study validated the developed stem volume models using an independent dataset. A total of 167 trees were measured for their diameter at breast height (DBH), total height and stem volume using non-destructive sampling methods. Eighty percent of the dataset was used for the initial model development while the remaining 20% was used for model validation. The performance of the different models was evaluated using the following fit statistics: standard error of estimate (SEE), mean bias absolute mean deviation (AMD), coefficient of determination (R²), and root mean square error (RMSE). The AMD of the five models from the different DBH classes were determined using the validation dataset. Model 5 (V = aD^bH^c), which estimates volume using DBH and total height as predicting variables, had the best SEE (0.02745), AMD (0.01538), R² (0.97603) and RMSE (0.02746). Overall, volume models with two independent variables (DBH and total height) performed better than those with only one (DBH) based on the model evaluation and validation. The models developed in this study can provide forest managers with accurate estimations for the stem volumes of Quercus glauca in the subtropical forests of Jeju Island, Korea.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.517-524
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• 2015

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used in cell-based therapy to promote revascularization after peripheral or myocardial ischemia. High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the senescence and apoptosis of MSCs, causing defective neovascularization. Here, we examined the effect of the natural antioxidant lycopene on oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in MSCs. Although $H_2O_2$ ($200{\mu}M$) increased intracellular ROS levels in human MSCs, lycopene ($10{\mu}M$) pretreatment suppressed $H_2O_2$-induced ROS generation and increased survival. $H_2O_2$-induced ROS increased the levels of phosphorylated p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), and p53, which were inhibited by lycopene pretreatment. Furthermore, lycopene pretreatment decreased the expression of cleaved poly (ADP ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and caspase-3 and increased the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), which were induced by $H_2O_2$ treatment. Moreover, lycopene significantly increased manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) expression and decreased cellular ROS levels via the PI3K-Akt pathway. Our findings show that lycopene pretreatment prevents ischemic injury by suppressing apoptosis-associated signal pathway and enhancing anti-oxidant protein, suggesting that lycopene could be developed as a beneficial broad-spectrum agent for the successful MSC transplantation in ischemic diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2010

Data with collected from 278 trees sampled through out the climatic range of Quercus acuta in Jeju Experiment Forests. The models tested to select the best-fit equations form the Max & Burkhart's model, Kozak's model, and Lee's model. Performance of the equations in predicting of residuals on predicted values. In result, all three models gave slightly better values of fit statistics. In plotting residuals against predicted diameter, Max & Burkhart's model showed underestimation in predicting small diameter and Lee's Model did the same in predicting small diameter. Based on the above analysis of three models in predicting stem taper, Kozak's model was chosen for the best-fit stem taper equations, and its parameter estimates was given for Quercus acuta. Kozak's model was used to develop a stem volume table outside bark for Quercus acuta.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.191-219
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• 2015

The Japanese government has announced that it would invest 30 billion yen in iPS cell research for the next 10 year, and the Japan National Assembly has made an act that supports the iPS cell research. This study analyzes 1) the current trend and application field of stem cell research under Japan; 2) recent policy and regulation change in stem cell research and its application under Japan. This treatise reviews about "Act for Promoting Regenerative Medicine", "Act for Assuring Safety of Regenerative Medicine", and "the Revision of Pharmaceutical Act under Japan. This study may serve as the fundamental reference for the improvements of legal and institutional systems with regard to regulations on the stem cell research under Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.124-126
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• 2012

Stem rot symptoms of Eupatorium lindleyanum occurred sporadically in the herb exhibition field at Hamyang-gun Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services in Korea. The typical symptom included water-soaking on the main stem, rotting, wilting, and blighting, which eventually leads to death of the plant. The sclerotia, white to brown, globoid with size of 1-3 mm, were formed over lesions and surface soil line. The optimum temperature for mycelial growth and sclerotia formation was $30^{\circ}C$ on PDA. The typical clamp connections were observed in the hyphae of the fungus grown on PDA. Mycological characteristics and pathogenicity to host plants indicated that the infected fungus was Sclerotium rolfsii Saccardo. This is the first report of stem rot on Eupatorium lindleyanum caused by S. rolfsii in Korea.