• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.112-122
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• 2016

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is an effective tool for the study of soybean gene function. Successful VIGS depends on the interaction between virus spread and plant growth, which can be influenced by environmental conditions. Recently, we developed a new VIGS system derived from the Soybean yellow common mosaic virus (SYCMV). Here, we investigated several environmental and developmental factors to improve the efficiency of a SYCMV-based VIGS system to optimize the functional analysis of the soybean. Following SYCMV: Glycine max-phytoene desaturase (GmPDS) infiltration, we investigated the effect of photoperiod, inoculation time, concentration of Agrobacterium inoculm, and growth temperature on VIGS efficiency. In addition, the relative expression of GmPDS between non-silenced and silenced plants was measured by qRT-PCR. We found that gene silencing efficiency was highest at a photoperiod of 16/8 h (light/dark) at a growth temperature of approximately $27^{\circ}C$ following syringe infiltration to unrolled unifoliolate leaves in cotyledon stage with a final SYCMV:GmPDS optimal density $(OD)_{600}$ of 2.0. Using this optimized protocol, we achieved high efficiency of GmPDS-silencing in various soybean germplasms including cultivated and wild soybeans. We also confirmed that VIGS occurred in the entire plant, including the root, stem, leaves, and flowers, and could transmit GmPDS to other soybean germplasms via mechanical inoculation. This optimized protocol using a SYCMV-based VIGS system in the soybean should provide a fast and effective method to elucidate gene functions and for use in large-scale screening experiments.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.127-138
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• 2012

This study is to assess the effect of preload level on the stress development at the marginal cortical bone surrounding implant neck. A finite element model was created for a single implant placed in the lower jaw bone. An external load of 100N was applied on the top of abutment at 30 degree with the implant axis in lingo-buccal direction. Five different preloads, i.e. 0, 200, 400, 600, 800N were applied to the abutment stem to investigate if and/or how the preload affects on the marginal bone stress. Differences in the marginal bone stress were recorded depending on the level of preload. On the other hand, the tensile stress on the marginal cortical bone decreased in models of higher preload. Preloads between abutment/fixture can increase compressive stresses in the marginal cortical bone although the amount may be insignificant as compared to those generated by functional forces.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.571-578
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• 2013

This study generated regression models through a direct harvesting method to estimate carbon storage and uptake by Pinus densiflora and Pinus koraiensis, the major evergreen tree species in urban landscape, and established essential information to quantify carbon reduction by urban trees. Open-grown landscape tree individuals for each species were sampled reflecting various diameter sizes at a given interval. The study measured biomass for each part including the roots of sample trees to compute the total carbon storage per tree. Annual carbon uptake per tree was quantified by analyzing radial growth rates of stem samples at breast height. The study then derived a regression model easily applicable in estimating carbon storage and uptake per tree for the two species by using diameter at breast height (DBH) as an independent variable. All the regression models showed high fitness with $r^2$ values of higher than 0.98. While carbon storage and uptake by young trees tended to be greater for P. densiflora than for P. koraiensis in the same diameter sizes, those by mature trees with DBH sizes of larger than 20 cm showed results to the contrary due to a difference in growth rates. A tree of P. densiflora and P. koraiensis with DBH of 25 cm stored 115.6 kg and 130.0 kg of carbon, respectively, and annually sequestered 9.4 kg and 14.6 kg. The study has broken new grounds to overcome limitations of the past studies which quantified carbon reduction of the study species by substituting, due to a difficulty in direct cutting and root digging of landscape trees, coefficients from forest trees such as biomass expansion factors, ratios of below ground/above ground biomass, and diameter growth rates.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.52
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• pp.201-221
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• 2003

This paper aims to examine whether there are significant differences in various aspects of a household's arrangements by type of employment of married woman; 1) the extent of the division of labor, 2) the authority of decision making, and 3) financial and expenditure responsibilities. It also investigates the determinants of gender equality in the family. Based on data collected in the fall of 2002 from a representative sample of the Korean population, this study finds that nonstandard employment of married woman including temporary work and daily basis work does not contribute to gender equality within the household, although most of nonstandard employees are full-time workers. However, standard employment of married woman contribute to gender equality in the family. The results of this study show that husbands whose wives are standard-employed are more likely to take part in housework chores that are female-dominated, and standardly employed wives are more likely than non-standardly employed or housewives to take part in the household's financial and expenditure responsibilities. Standardly employed wives also have more power in decision making process within households. On the contrary, non-standardly employed wives gain no advantage over housewives within their families, due to lack of bargaining resources that enable them to affect the household's arrangements. Thus, they have confronted additional burdens, which stem from carrying the dual role of doing house work as well as paid work. Such increasing work-family conflict may bring about disruption of family. Therefore, this study maintains that it is high time that government-level efforts should be made in order to improve the status of irregularly employed wives in the workplace.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.325-333
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• 2021

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders. Enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis by promoting proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) is a promising therapeutic strategy for AD. 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) and oleanolic acid (OA) are small, bioactive compounds found in ginseng that can promote NSC proliferation and neural differentiation in vitro. However, it is currently unknown whether PPD or OA can attenuate cognitive deficits by enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis in vivo in a transgenic APP/PS1 AD mouse model. Here, we administered PPD or OA to APP/PS1 mice and monitored the effects on cognition and hippocampal neurogenesis. Methods: We used the Morris water maze, Y maze, and open field tests to compare the cognitive capacities of treated and untreated APP/PS1 mice. We investigated hippocampal neurogenesis using Nissl staining and BrdU/NeuN double labeling. NSC proliferation was quantified by Sox2 labeling of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. We used western blotting to determine the effects of PPD and OA on Wnt/GSK3β/β-catenin pathway activation in the hippocampus. Results: Both PPD and OA significantly ameliorated the cognitive impairments observed in untreated APP/PS1 mice. Furthermore, PPD and OA significantly promoted hippocampal neurogenesis and NSC proliferation. At the mechanistic level, PPD and OA treatments resulted in Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway activation in the hippocampus. Conclusion: PPD and OA ameliorate cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice by enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis, achieved by stimulating the Wnt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway. As such, PPD and OA are promising novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 2021

Background: Results on the action of antioxidants in extracts of Equisetum hyemale stems and roots have already been reported, but the antioxidant properties have not been analyzed. Purpose: This study was to determine the molecular structure of antioxidants in substances extracted from E. hyemale stems and roots. Methods: Component analysis was analyzed by HPLC and LC-MS after extraction with hot water and ethyl alcohol. Results: The HPLC chromatogram of stem and root extracts showed four significant peaks at a wavelength of 205 nm. Peak 1 at 280 nm is a typical simple phenolic type, and both peaks 2-4 near 280 nm and 370 nm are typical flavonoid glycosides. As for the antioxidant level of the extract by HPLC analysis, the sum of the peaks at 740 nm was the highest at 3,669 mAU in the 100% ethanol extract, 3,096 mAU in the 70% ethanol extract, and 2,868 mAU in the hot water extract. As a result of LC-MS analysis of the antioxidant extract, kaempferol-3-sophoroside-7-glucoside with a molecular weight of 772 da at peak 3, and kaempferol-3-sophoroside-8-glucoside with a molecular weight of 788 and 772 at peak 4 was identified. Conclusions: The above results show that two types of antioxidants were identified in the antioxidant extract of E. hyemale exrtracts. Therefore, the potential as a raw material for functional cosmetics has increased.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.103-113
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• 2022

In this paper, a combined ¹⁸F-FDG(fluorodeoxyglucose) and MNP(magnetic nanoparticles) contrast agent was synthesized using N-(p-maleimidophenyl) isocyanate as the crosslinker for use in simultaneous PET-MRI scans. PET-MRI images were acquired and evaluated before and after injection of the combined contrast imaging agent (¹⁸F-FDG labeled MNP) from a glioma stem cell mouse model. After setting the region of interest (ROI) on each acquired image, the area of the lesion was calculated by segmentation. As a result, the PET image was larger than the MRI. In particular, the simultaneous PET-MRI images showed accurate lesions along with the surrounding soft tissue. The mean and standard deviation values were higher in the MRI images alone than in the PET images or the simultaneous PET-MRI images, regardless of whether the contrast agent was injected. In addition, the simultaneous PET-MRI image values were higher than for the PET images. For PSNR experiments, the original image was PET Image using 18F-FDG, MRI using MNPs, and MRI without contrast medium, and the target image was simultaneous PET-MRI image using 18F-FDG labeled MNPs contrast medium. As a result, all of them appeared significantly, suggesting that the 18F-FDG labeled MNPs contrast medium is useful. Future research is needed to develop an agent that can simultaneously diagnose and treat through SPECT-MRI imaging research that can use various nuclides.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.285-298
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• 2022

This study is to investigate the effects and characteristics of science and engineering integrated lessons on elementary students' creative engineering problem solving propensity (CEPSP). The science and engineering integrated lessons used in this study was a 10 lesson-hours STEM program, co-developed by University of Minnesota and Purdue University. The program was implemented in the 6th grade science class of H Elementary School located in P Metropolitan city. The main data of this study are the pre-post CEPSP result and interview with 5 students collected before and after the research. The CEPSP result was analyzed by a paired-sample t-test and hierarchical cluster analysis. As a result of the t-test, it was found that overall, the program has a positive effect on the students' CEPSP score. As a result of cluster analysis, it was confirmed that studnets' CEPSP could be classified into two groups (lower and higher score cluster). Five students whose, CEPSP score has significantly improved after the lessons were interviewed to find out what the characteristics of the program that contribute the significant change are. As a result of conducting centroid analysis of the interview transcription and the hybrid analysis method, it was found that the meaningful experiences that the five students commonly shared were 'problem solving through collaboration' and 'through repeated experiments (redesign)', problem solving' and 'utilization of scientific knowledge'. As minor reactions, 'choice of the best experimental method' and 'difference between science and engineering' appeared.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 2023

Concerns related to diversity are important throughout society, especially in the context of expansive globalization. In education, diversity-related issues require careful consideration to ensure social groups that have historically been marginalized benefit from educational opportunities. In this study, we investigated a case from within the United States aimed at addressing diversity issues in schools and discuss the implications of this study in relation to diversity issues in Korea. More specifically, we examined the features of the professional development program designed and implemented by the Smithsonian Science Education Center, as well as survey results from teachers who participated between 2019-2020. Our findings revealed that the program provided participants context specific experiences, space and time to develop an in-depth understandings of the causes of diversity issues and supports to attend to the various perspectives needed to set specific goals and action plans and to examine, refine, and revise their plans. Further, features of the professional development program had meaningful effects on participants' learning experience as they were supported to identify useful proposals and take action to solve their specific diversity issues. The findings from this study offer important implications for designing professional development and organizing supports to address varied current and future diversity issues in Korean school contexts.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.21-29
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• 2023

Background : The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of stems and leaves of Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. (ES) from Gangwon-do. Methods and Results : Stems and leaves of ES were collected from two areas in Gangwon-do: Cheorwon-gun and Samcheok-si. Samples were extracted with water by using the pressurized liquid extraction method and with 70% prethanol A by using the heat reflux extraction method. The anti-inflammatory effects of ES were evaluated through the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide(MTT), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) assay, nitric oxide(NO) assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and Western blot analysis in RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). 1) Results showed that ES leaf extractions were not cytotoxic at a concentration of up to 30 ㎍/㎖. The leaves of 70% prethanol A extractions of ES(30 ㎍/㎖) inhibited NO, interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) production and decreased the protein level of cyclooxygenase 2(COX-2). There was no significant change in the protein level of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS). The stem extractions of ES did not exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusions : In this study, the leaves of 70% prethanol A extractions of ES demonstrated anti-inflammatory effect on RAW 264.7 macrophages. The 70% prethanol A extractions have a relatively higher anti-inflammatory effect on RAW 264.7 macrophages than water extractions.