• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.764-771
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• 2016

Extracts from Artemisia annua Linné (AAE) have been known to possess various functions, including anti-bacterial, anti-virus, and anti-oxidant effects. However, the mechanism of those effects of AAE is not well-known. The aim of this study was to analyze the inhibitory effects of AAE on cell proliferation of the human hepatoma cell line (Hep3B) and to examine its effects on apoptosis. Activation by phosphorylation of Akt is cell proliferation through the phosphorylation of TSC2, mTOR, and GSK-3β. We suggested that AAE may exert cancer cell apoptosis through Akt/mTOR/GSK-3β signal pathways and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic proteins. For this, we examined the effects of extracts of AAE on cell proliferation according to treatment concentration. Treatment with AAE not only reduced cell viability, but also resulted in the induced release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). These results were determined with a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. Furthermore, we determined the effects of apoptosis through Hoechst 33342 staining, annexinⅤ-propidium iodide (PI) staining, 5,5′, 6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethyl-imidacarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) staining, and Western blotting. Our study showed that the treatment of liver cancer cells with AAE resulted in the inhibition of Akt, TSC2, GSK-3β-phosphorylated, Bcl-2, and pro-caspase 3 and the activation of Bim, Bax, Bak, and cleaved PARP expressions. These results indicate that AAE induced apoptosis by means of a mitochondrial event through the regulate of Akt/mTOR/GSK-3β signaling pathways.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.188-201
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• 2019

In the past, food additives were classified and managed as chemical synthetic and natural additives according to the manufacturing process, but it was difficult to confirm the purpose or function of food additives.CODEX, an internationalstandard, classifies food additives according to their practical use, based on scientific evidence on the technical effects of food additives, instead of classifying them as synthetic or natural. Therefore, very recently, the food additive standards in Korea have been completely revised in accordance with these global trends. Currently, the classification system of food additives is divided into 31 uses to specify their functions and purposes instead of manufacturing methods. Newer revision of the legislative framework for defining and expanding the scope of the Act as an enlarged area is required. Competition for preempting new food products based on bio-based technology is very fierce in order to enhance the safety of domestic people and maximize the economic profit of their own countries. In this age of infinite competition, it is very urgent to revise or supplement the current regulations in order to revitalize the domestic food industry and enhance national competitiveness through the development of food additives using new biotechnology. In this report, current laws on domestic food ingredients, food additives and manufacturing methods, and a comparison of domestic and foreign advanced countries' regulations and countermeasures strategies were reviewed to improve national competitiveness of domestic advanced biotechnology-based food additives industry.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2021

TiO2 has been used in various fields such as solar cells, dental implants, and photocatalysis, because it has high physical and chemical stability and is harmless to the body. TiO2 nanofibers which have a large specific surface area also show a good reactivity in bio-friendly products and excellent photocatalysis in air and water purification. To fabricate TiO2 nanofibers, an electrospinning method was used. To observe the diameter of TiO2 nanofibers with fabrication variables, the fabrication variables was divided into precursor composition variables and process variables and microstructure was analyzed. The concentrations of PVP (Polyvinylpyrrolidone) and TTIP (Titanium(IV) isopropoxide) were selected as precursor composition variables, and inflow velocity and voltage were also selected as process variables. Microstructure and crystal structure of TiO2 nanofibers were analyzed using FE-SEM (Field emission scanning electron microscope) and XRD (X-ray diffraction), respectively. As-spun TiO2 nanofibers with an average diameter of about 0.27 ㎛ to 1.31 ㎛ were transformed to anatase TiO2 nanofibers with an average diameter of about 0.22 ㎛ to 0.78 ㎛ after heat treatment of 3 hours at 450℃. Anatase TiO2 nanofibers with an average diameter of 0.22 ㎛ can be expected to improve the photocatalytic properties by increasing the specific surface area. To change the average diameter of TiO2 nanofibers, the control of precursor composition variables such as concentrations of PVP and TTIP is more efficient than the control of electrospinning process variables such as inflow velocity and voltage.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.559-567
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• 2021

This study compared the nutritional characteristics and antioxidant effects of sea mustards sourced from five different areas (Barammaegi, Gultongmeori, Chanmulgae, Johongtaek, and Goraedeung) in Taejongdae, Youngdo, Busan. The contents of total flavonoids and phenols and fatty acid composition were measured. To evaluate their antioxidant effects, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays were used. Acetone/methylene chloride (A+M) extracts from all the sea mustards contained higher amounts of total flavonoids and phenols than methanol (MeOH) extracts. Among the sea mustards obtained from the different areas, the total flavonoid and total phenolic content of the A+M extract of the sea mustard from Gultongmeori was 1.44±0.04 mg/g and 1.72±0.06 mg/g, respectively. In terms of the fatty acid composition, the Gultongmeori sea mustard had higher percentages of total n-6, total n-3, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) than the sea mustards from the other areas. The A+M extract of the sea mustard from Gultongmeori was more effective in terms of scavenging free radicals as compared with that of the other sea mustards, as assessed by the DPPH and ABTS assays (p<0.05). In a 120-minute reactive oxygen species (ROS) production assay, all the extracts tested decreased cellular ROS production induced by H₂O₂ compared to that produced by exposure to an extract-free control (p<0.05). The extracts from Barammaegi and Gultongmeori had a greater inhibitory effect on cellular ROS production. These results indicated that the antioxidant effects of sea mustards might be associated with a higher amount of flavonoids and phenols. This study suggests that food-processed products from sea mustard can be developed as functional foods for promoting health in the local population.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.17-28
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• 2022

The application of supplemental activated biochar pellet fertilizers (ABPFs) was evaluated by investigating key factors such as changes of surface paddy water and soil chemical properties and rice growth responses during the growing season. The treatments consisted of control, activated rice hull biochar pellet (ARHBP-40%), and activated palm biochar pellet (APBP-40%) applications. It was shown that the lowest NH₄⁺-N and PO₄^--P concentrations were observed in surface paddy water to the ARHBP-40%, while the NH₄⁺-N concentration in the control was abruptly decreased until 30 days after transplant in the soil. However, the lowest NH₄⁺-N concentration in the blended biochar application was 9.18 mg L^-1 at 1 day of transplant, but its ABPFs application was observed to be less than 1 mg L^-1 at 56 days after transplant. The lowest PO₄^--P concentration in paddy water treated ARHBP-40% ranged from 0.06 mg L^-1 to 0.08 mg L^-1 until 30 days after transplant among the treatments. For the paddy soil, the NH₄⁺-N concentration in the control was abruptly decreased from 177.7 mg kg^-1 to 49.4 mg kg^-1, while NO₃^--N concentration was highest, 13.2 mg kg^-1 in 14 days after transplant. The P₂O₅ concentrations in the soils increased from rice transplants until the harvesting period regardless of the treatments. The highest K₂O concentration was 252.8 mg kg^-1 in the APBP-40% at 84 days after transplant. For the rice growth responses, plant height in the control was relatively high compared to others, but grain yield was not significantly different between the control and ARHBP-40%. The application of ARHBP-40% can minimize nitrogen and phosphorous application rates into the agro-ecosystem.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.147-158
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• 2007

To clarify the bloom pattern and species succession in phytoplankton community, the population dynamics with the determination of physico-chemical factors have been studies in Masan Bay, the south sea of Korea, for the periods November 2003-October 2004. Concentration of $NH_4-N$ was always higher than that of $NO_3-N$, which was similar level as compared to other costal areas. $PO_4-P$ concentration was lower than those in other coastal areas but similar to oligotrophic environments. Thus, phosphate seems the limiting nutrient rather than nitrogen. $SiO_2-Si$ concentration was also low as compared to other costal areas. Si:P ratio was low from autumn to winter, suggesting silicate and/or phosphate limitation during this period. The cell density of phytoplankton was high in winter 2003 and early autumn 2004. The carbon biomass was high in winter 2003 and summer 2004. And chlorophyll-a concentration was high in late autumn 2003 and summer 2004. Among 78 species of phytoplankton found in the bay during the investigated period, dominant species were two diatoms of Cylindrotheca closterium, Skeletonema costatum, and three dinoflagellates of Heterocapsa triquetra, Prorocentrum minimum, P. triestinum, and one raphidophyte of Heterosigma akashiwo. P. minimum dominated from late autumn to winter, but it was replaced by H. triquetra in late winter. P. triestinum dominated from late spring to early summer. Simultaneously, H. akashiwo cell density steadily increased, and it became dominant with C. closterium in late summer. With decreasing of H. akashiwo and C. closterium, S. costatum became the most dominant species in autumn. The canonical analyses showed that total phytoplankton cell density related to diatom cell density and it was affected by temperature, and concentrations of $NO_3-N\;and\;PO_4-P$. The carbon bio-mass and $chlorophyll-{\alpha}$ concentration related to diatom- and dinoflagellate cell densities and these were affected by flagellate cell density, salinity, and concentrations of $SiO_2-Si\;and\;PO_4-P$. Last six years monitoring data in Masan city obtained from Korean Meteorological Agency indicates gradual increase in air temperature. And the precipitation decreased especially in spring season. The winter bloom found in 2003 may be caused by the increase in the temperature and this bloom subsequently induced the nutrients depletion, which continued until next spring probably due to no precipitation. Therefore, the spring bloom, which had been usually observed in the bay, might disappear in 2004.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.272-279
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• 2012

In order to effectively treat livestock wastewater in constructed wetlands by natural purification method, removal velocities of pollutants under different injection methods in constructed wetlands were investigated. The removal velocities of chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended solid (SS), T-N and T-P by continuous injection method were slightly rapid than those by intermittent injection method in full-scale livestock wastewater treatment plant. The removal velocity (K; $day^{-1}$) of COD by continuous injection method was $0.38\;d^{-1}$ for $1^{st}$ bed, $0.13\;d^{-1}$ for $2^{nd}$ bed, $0.17\;d^{-1}$ for $3^{rd}$ bed, $0.05\;d^{-1}$ for $4^{th}$ bed and $0.17\;d^{-1}$ for $5^{th}$ bed. The removal velocities (K; $day^{-1}$) of COD in $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$, $3^{rd}$, $4^{th}$ and $5^{th}$ beds by intermittent injection method were $0.210\;d^{-1}$, $0.086\;d^{-1}$, $0.222\;d^{-1}$, $0.053\;d^{-1}$ and $0.137\;d^{-1}$, respectively. The removal velocity (K; $day^{-1}$) of SS by continuous injection method was $0.750\;d^{-1}$ for $1^{st}$ bed, $0.108\;d^{-1}$ for $2^{nd}$ bed, $0.120\;d^{-1}$ for $3^{rd}$ bed, $0.086\;d^{-1}$ for $4^{th}$ bed and $0.292\;d^{-1}$ for $5^{th}$ bed. The removal velocities (K; $day^{-1}$) of SS in $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$, $3^{rd}$, $4^{th}$ and $5^{th}$ beds by intermittent injection method were $0.485\;d^{-1}$, $0.056\;d^{-1}$, $0.174\;d^{-1}$, $0.081\;d^{-1}$ and $0.227\;d^{-1}$, respectively. The removal velocity (K; $day^{-1}$) of T-N by continuous injection method was $0.361\;d^{-1}$ for $1^{st}$ bed, $0.121\;d^{-1}$ for $2^{nd}$ bed, $109\;d^{-1}$ for $3^{rd}$ bed, $0.047\;d^{-1}$ for $4^{th}$ bed and $0.155\;d^{-1}$ for $5^{th}$ bed. The removal velocities (K; $day^{-1}$) of T-N in $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$, $3^{rd}$, $4^{th}$ and $5^{th}$ beds by intermittent injection method were $0.235\;d^{-1}$, $0.071\;d^{-1}$, $0.171\;d^{-1}$, $0.058\;d^{-1}$ and $0.126\;d^{-1}$, respectively. The removal velocity (K; $day^{-1}$) of T-P by continuous injection method was $0.803\;d^{-1}$ for $1^{st}$ bed, $0.084\;d^{-1}$ for $2^{nd}$ bed, $0.076\;d^{-1}$ for $3^{rd}$ bed, $0.118\;d^{-1}$ for $4^{th}$ bed and $0.301\;d^{-1}$ for $5^{th}$ bed. The removal velocities (K; $day^{-1}$) of T-P in $1^{st}$, $2^{nd}$, $3^{rd}$, $4^{th}$ and $5^{th}$ beds by intermittent injection method were $0.572\;d^{-1}$, $0.049\;d^{-1}$, $0.090\;d^{-1}$, $0.112\;d^{-1}$ and $0.222\;d^{-1}$, respectively.