• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.827-833
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• 2021

Dendropanax morbiferus leaves (DPL) has been used as a medicine since ancient times in various diseases such as inflammation, diabetes, and cancer. In particular, it has been found to have anticancer effects on several types of cancer cells, but the anticancer effect on breast cancer cells SK-BR-3 has not yet been revealed. Therefore, in this study, DPL caused proliferation inhibition in breast cancer cells SK-BR-3 and the anticancer effect by inducing apoptosis was confirmed, through an in vitro experiment. In order to examine the effect of DPL on cell viability, MTT assay was performed to confirm a significant decrease in the concentration of cell viability. DAPI staining was performed to examine the effect of DPL on cellular morphological changes and increase of apoptotic bodies. To supplement this, an increase in the apoptosis rate was also confirmed through flow cytometry after staining with annexin V/PI. Western blot was performed to confirm apoptosis-related proteins. DPL increased the expression of Cleaved-PARP, Bax whereas decreased the expression of Bcl-2. Changes in the expression levels of MAPK pathway proteins p-ERK1/2, p-JNK, and p-p38 were also confirmed, and a significant increase in p-p38 was observed. These results indicated that DPL induced apoptosis, through p-p38 MAPK signal pathway in SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.818-826
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• 2021

5-Aminolevulinic acid phosphate (5-ALA-p) is a substance obtained by eluting 5-ALA (a natural delta amino acid) with aqueous ammonia, adding phosphoric acid to the eluate, and then adding acetone to confer properties suitable for use in photodynamic therapy applications. However, its pharmacological efficacy, including potential mechanisms of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory reactions, remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 5-ALA-p on oxidative and inflammatory stresses in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Our data showed that 5-ALA-p significantly inhibited excessive phagocytic activity via LPS and attenuated oxidative stress in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, 5-ALA-p improved mitochondrial biogenesis reduced by LPS, suggesting that 5-ALA-p restores mitochondrial damage caused by LPS. Additionally, 5-ALA-p significantly suppressed the release of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6, which are associated with the inhibition of inducible NO synthase and respective cytokine expression. Furthermore, 5-ALA-p reduced the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and inhibited phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), indicating that the anti-inflammatory effect of 5-ALA-p is mediated through the suppression of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Based on these results, 5-ALA-p may serve as a potential candidate to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.423-433
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• 2021

This study was performed to examine the neuroprotective effect of the ethyl acetate fraction from Eucommia ulmoides oliver leaf (EFEL) on PM_2.5-induced cytotoxicity. EFEL had higher total phenolic and flavonoid contents than the other fractions. In ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities, the IC₅₀ of EFEL was measured as 212.80 and 359.13 ㎍/mL, respectively. To investigate the neuroprotective effect of EFEL, MTT and DCF-DA assays were performed on HT22, MC-IXC, and BV-2 cells. EFEL effectively decreased PM_2.5-induced intercellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and inhibited PM_2.5-induced cell death. In the results of protein expression related to cellular cytotoxicity on microglial cells (BV-2), EFEL had an improvement effect on cell apoptosis and inflammatory pathways. Rutin and chlorogenic acid were identified as the main physiological compounds. Moreover, it was expected that EFEL, including rutin and chlorogenic acid, could be functional food substances with neuroprotective effects against PM_2.5-induced oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.223-229
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• 2021

To evaluate the protective effect of Codium fragile on fine dust (PM2.5)-induced cytotoxicity, we investigated its antioxidant activity and cell protective effect on PM2.5-exposed cells. The 40% ethanolic extract of C. fragile showed the highest total phenolic content, whereas the water extract of C. fragile showed the highest total polysaccharide content. The protective effect of the extracts on PM2.5-induced oxidative damage in nasal cavity (RPMI2650), lung (A549), brain (MC-IXC), hippocampus (HT-22), and microglia (BV-2) cells was evaluated by measuring the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and cell viability. The results showed that the 40% ethanolic extract more efficiently inhibited ROS production than the water extract. In contrast, PM2.5-exposed cells treated with the water extract showed higher viability than those treated with the 40% ethanolic extract.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.164-180
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• 2021

Plants Social Network(PSN) analysis combines the plant sociological method and the social network analysis to understand plant society focusing on environmental-to-plant and plant-to-plant relationships. PSN is at an early stage of research and require comparing plant society analyses in various environments and existing interspecies binding analysis. This study conducted a vegetation structural analysis of Mudeungsan National Park and compared the existing interspecies connection analysis with the PSN. A total of 60 plots were established for a survey on the Old Trail. The TWINSPAN and DCA analysis showed that the 60 survey plots were divided into the Quercus serrata-Pinus densiflora community (Community I) and the Quercus mongolica community (Community II) based on an altitude of 800 meters. We performed the interspecies correlation with more than 30% emergence frequency and the DCA analysis and compared the results with a focus on the major species in each colony. The results showed that Quercus serrata had a correlation of -0.450^** and -0.375^** with Pinus densiflora and Quercus mongolica, respectively. The DCA analysis also confirmed that Quercus serrata was located close to Pinus densiflora and far from Quercus mongolica along one axis. For the PSN analysis of PSN, 40 survey plots were added to investigate the species appearing in a total of 100 survey plots. The network structural analysis showed 378 links and a species having an average of 6 interspecies bindings. The density was 0.097, the diameter was 7, and the average path distance was 2.788, similar to the PSN analysis results of the Busan Metropolitan City. The plant social network analysis showed similar results to the existing interspecies combination analysis, enabling analyzing more data than the existing methods and observing the structure of plant society.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.4
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• pp.504-515
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• 2021

To examine the relationship between environmental factors influencing the habitat of Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz., this study employed the MexEnt model to evaluate 21 environmental factors. Fourteen environmental factors having an AUC of at least 0.6 were found to be the age of stand, growing stock, altitude, topography, topographic wetness index, solar radiation, soil texture, mean temperature in January, mean temperature in April, mean annual temperature, mean rainfall in January, mean rainfall in August, and mean annual rainfall. Based on the response curves of the 14 descriptive factors, Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz. on the Baekun Mountain were deemed more suitable for sites at an altitude of 600 m or lower, and habitats were not significantly affected by the inclination angle. The preferred conditions were high stand density, sites close to valleys, and distribution in the northwestern direction. Under the five-age class system, the species were more likely to be observed for lower classes. The preferred solar radiation in this study was 1.2 MJ/m². The species were less likely to be observed when the topographic wetness index fell below the reference value of 4.5, and were more likely observed above 7.5 (reference of threshold). Soil analysis showed that Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz. was more likely to thrive in sandy loam than clay. Suitable conditions were a mean January temperature of - 4.4℃ to -2.5℃, mean April temperature of 8.8℃-10.0℃, and mean annual temperature of 9.6℃-11.0℃. Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz. was first observed in sites with a mean annual rainfall of 1,670- 1,720 mm, and a mean August rainfall of at least 350 mm. Therefore, sites with increasing rainfall of up to 390 mm were preferred. The area of potential habitats having distributive significance of 75% or higher was 202 ha, or 1.8% of the area covered in this study.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1079-1087
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• 2021

To analyze gut microbiota of livestock in Korea and compare taxonomic differences, we conducted 16S rRNA metagenomic analysis through next-generation sequencing. Fecal samples from broiler chickens, pigs, and cattle were collected from domestic feedlots randomly. α-diversity results showed that significant differences in estimated species richness estimates (Chao1 and ACE, Abundance-based coverage estimators) and species richness index (OUTs, Operational taxonomic units) were identified among the three groups. However, NPShannon, Shannon, and Simpson indices revealed that abundance and evenness of the species were statistically significant only for poultry (broiler chickens) and mammals (pigs and cattle). Firmicutes was the most predominant phylum in the three groups of fecal samples. Linear discriminant (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analysis was conducted to reveal the ranking order of abundant taxa in each of the fecal samples. A size-effect over 2.0 on the logarithmic LDA score was used as a discriminative functional biomarker. As shown by the fecal analysis at the genus level, broiler chickens were characterized by the presence of Weissella and Lactobacillus, as well as pigs were characterized by the presence of provetella and cattele were characterized by the presence of Acinetobacter. A permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) showed that differences of microbial clusters among three groups were significant at the confidence level. (p=0.001). This study provides basic data that could be useful in future research on microorganisms associated with performance growth, as well as in studies on the livestock gut microbiome to increase productivity in the domestic livestock industry.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.133-146
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• 2021

Aragonite is one of common polymorphs of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and formed via biological or physical processes through precipitation in many different environments including marine ecosystems. It is noted that aragonite formation and growth as well as the substitution of trace elements such as strontium (Sr) in the aragonite structure would be dependant on several key parameters such as concentrations of chemical species and temperature. In this study, properties of the incorporation of Sr into aragonite were investigated over a wide range of various saturation conditions and temperatures similar to the marine ecosystem. All pure aragonite samples were inorganically synthesized through a constant-addition method with varying concentrations of the reactive species ([Ca]=[CO₃] 0.01-1 M), injection rates of the reaction solution (0.085-17 mL/min), and solution temperatures (5-40 ℃). Pure aragonite was also formed even under the Sr incorporation conditions (0.02-0.5 M, 15-40 ℃). When temperature and saturation index (SI) with respect to aragonite increased, the crystallinity and the crystal size of aragonite increased indicating the growth of aragonite crystal. However, it was difficult to interpret the crystal growth rate because the crystal growth rate calculated using BET-specific surface area was significantly influenced by the crystal morphology. The distribution coefficient of Sr (K_Sr) into aragonite decreased from 2.37 to 1.57 with increasing concentrations of species (Ca²⁺ and CO₃^2-) at a range of 0.02-0.5 M. Similarly, it was also found that K_Sr decreased 1.90 to 1.54 at a range of 15-40 ℃. All K_Sr values are greater than 1, and the inverse correlation between the K_Sr and the crystal growth rate indicate that Sr incorporation into aragonite is in a compatible relationship.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.420-427
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• 2017

'Pungwonmi', a new sweetpotato variety, was developed for table use by Bioenergy Crop Research Institute, National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), RDA in 2014. This variety was derived from the cross between 'Benisatsuma' and 'Luby3074' in 2006. The seedling and line selections were performed from 2007 to 2009, and preliminary and advanced yield trials were carried out from 2010 to 2011. The regional yield trials were conducted at five locations from 2012 to 2014, and it was named as 'Pungwonmi'. This variety has cordate leaf shape, and its leaves, stems, nodes, and petioles are green. Storage root of 'Pungwonmi' has an elliptical shape, red skin, and light orange flesh. 'Pungwonmi' was moderately resistant to fusarium wilt, and resistant to root-knot nematode. Dry matter content was 31.2%, and texture of steamed storage root was intermediate. Total sugar content of raw and steamed storage roots of 'Pungwonmi' was higher than that of 'Yulmi'. ${\beta}$-carotene content of 'Pungwonmi' was 9.1 mg/100g DW. Yield of marketable storage root over 50 g of 'Pungwonmi' was 24.3 MT/ha under the early season culture, which was 46% higher than that of 'Yulmi'. The number of marketable storage roots per plant was 2.8 and the average weight of marketable storage root was 156 g under the optimal and late season culture. Marketable storage root yield of 'Pungwonmi' was 24.1 MT/ha under the optimum and late season culture, which was 26% higher than that of 'Yulmi'. (Registration No. 6428).

• Journal of Korean Theatre Studies Association
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• no.40
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• pp.239-275
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• 2010

Cette ${\acute{e}}tude$ a pour but de proposer une $m{\acute{e}}thodologie$ de critique avec la $s{\acute{e}}miotique$ ouverte. La critique de $th{\acute{e}}{\hat{a}}tre$ commence ${\grave{a}}$ lire le $th{\acute{e}}{\hat{a}}tre$, l'analyse et juge son valeur. Il arrive souvent qu'on juge avec intutition. On dit que c'est une critique d'impressionnisme. Cette critique est subjective, mais pas objective. La $s{\acute{e}}miotique$ de Saussure offre la $m{\acute{e}}thodologie$ scientifique ${\grave{a}}$ la critique. A $c{\hat{o}}t{\acute{e}}$ de la critique d'impressionnisme qui est subjective, la $s{\acute{e}}miotique$ peut expliciter la raison objective. On ${\acute{e}}tait$ admiratif devant sa scientisme, pourtant $apr{\grave{e}}s$ quoi on critique sa non-$subjectivit{\acute{e}}$ et sa non-$historicit{\acute{e}}$. Dans l'opposition de $l^{\prime}objectivit{\acute{e}}$ et de la $subjectivit{\acute{e}}$, on tente de rechercher un model $int{\acute{e}}gr{\acute{e}}$ dialectiquement entre l'impressionisme(subjective) et la scientisme(objective). Pour cela, on doit aux Ecrits de linguistique $g{\acute{e}}n{\acute{e}}rale$ ($publi{\acute{e}}$ en 2002 chez Gallimard). Ces Ecrits nous aident ${\grave{a}}$ amener la $s{\acute{e}}miotique$ $ferm{\acute{e}}e$ sur la $s{\acute{e}}miotique$ ouverte et ${\grave{a}}$ $red{\acute{e}}couvrir$ la $pens{\acute{e}}e$ de Saussure. Ils nous font ouvrir un nouveau champ de recherche pour la $s{\acute{e}}miotique$ ouverte. L'essentiel de la $th{\acute{e}}orie$ saussurienne du signe $d{\acute{e}}pend$ de l'arbitraire et du circulaire du signe. On $red{\acute{e}}couvre$ la notion ${\acute{e}}largie$ du signe, dans Ecrits de linguistique $g{\acute{e}}n{\acute{e}}rale$, contre le courant majeur de linguistique et de structuralisme. Cette notion s'y focalise, ${\grave{a}}$ la valeur, ${\grave{a}}$ la $relativit{\acute{e}}$, ${\grave{a}}$ la $diff{\acute{e}}rence$ et au $syst{\grave{e}}me$. Avec elle, on tente d'adopter la $s{\acute{e}}miotique$ ouverte pour rechercher une $m{\acute{e}}thodologie$ de critique qui se veut objective et ${\grave{a}}$ la fois subjective. Il s'agit d'une difficile combinaison de l'impressionisme et de la scienticisme. Pour cela, la $m{\acute{e}}thodologie$ se $d{\acute{e}}veloppera$ en trois ${\acute{e}}tapes$. $1{\grave{e}}re$ ${\acute{e}}tape$: c'est lire le $th{\acute{e}}{\hat{a}}tre$ comme un signe total pour 1er jugement d'impressionnisme. $2{\grave{e}}me$ ${\acute{e}}tape$: c'est retrouver sa structure invisible dans la $relativit{\acute{e}}$ des signes. $3{\grave{e}}me$ ${\acute{e}}tape$: c'est juger, dans leur $relativit{\acute{e}}$, comment les $d{\acute{e}}tails$ de signes se fonctionnent. C'est lire les $d{\acute{e}}tails$ de signes et puis $r{\acute{e}}affirmer$ le jugement en $1{\grave{e}}re$ ${\acute{e}}tape$. Selon les $derni{\grave{e}}res$ deux ${\acute{e}}tapes$, on pourra comparer le premier jugement (impressif) et le dernier jugement (objectif), et enfin s'assumer comme critique. Selon la $m{\acute{e}}thodologie$ $propos{\acute{e}}e$, on pratique la critique sur ${\acute{e}}crit$ par Jean Genet, et mise en $sc{\grave{e}}ne$ par Lee Youn-Taek et par Park Jung-Hee. Pour la critique intertextuelle, on la fera en comparant les deux spectacles avec la $pi{\grave{e}}ce$ de Jean Genet. $D^{\prime}apr{\grave{e}}s$ la comparaison, Lee Youn-Taek met en $sc{\grave{e}}ne$ avec $fid{\acute{e}}lit{\acute{e}}$ la structre et les signes de $d{\acute{e}}tail$ de l'auteur, Park Jung-Hee change sa structre et ses signes pour mettre en $sc{\grave{e}}ne$ la $pi{\grave{e}}ce$ de Genet. Ils se $diff{\grave{e}}rent$ l'un et l'autre: Lee incite le discours de la classe sociale dans le spectacle, et Park y incite le discours du $d{\acute{e}}sir$. La $diff{\acute{e}}rence$ des signes dans la $relativit{\acute{e}}$ apporte la $diff{\acute{e}}rence$ de la signification de discours $th{\acute{e}}{\hat{a}}tral$, et enfin se font changer les significations de deux spectacles.