• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.268-274
• /
• 2015

3D printing technology has been used in various fields such as materials science, manufacturing, education, and medical field. A number of research are underway to improve the 3D printing technology. Recently, the use of 3D printing technology for fabricating an artificial tissue, organ and bone through the laminating of cell and biocompatible material has been introduced and this could make the conformity with the desired shape or pattern for producing human entire organs for transplantation. This special printing technique is known as "3D Bio-Printing", which has potential in biomedical application including patient-customized organ out-put. In this paper, we describe the current 3D bio-printing technology, and bio-materials used in it and present it's practical applications.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.731-738
• /
• 2019

Endophytic fungi are an important component of plant microbiota, and have the excellent capacity for producing a broad variety of bioactive metabolites. These bioactive metabolites not only affect the survival of the host plant, but also provide valuable lead compounds for novel drug discovery. In this study, forty-two endophytic filamentous fungi were isolated from Ficus elastica leaves, and further identified as seven individual taxa by ITS-rDNA sequencing. The antimicrobial activity of these endophytic fungi was evaluated against five pathogenic microorganisms. Two strains, Fes1711 (Penicillium funiculosum) and Fes1712 (Trichoderma harzianum), displayed broad-spectrum bioactivities. Our following study emphasizes the isolation, identification and bioactivity testing of chemical metabolites produced by T. harzianum Fes1712. Two new isocoumarin derivatives (1 and 2), together with three known compounds (3-5) were isolated, and their structures were elucidated using NMR and MS. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli. Our findings reveal that endophytic fungi from the rubber tree F. elastica leaves exhibit unique characteristics and are potential producers of novel natural bioactive products.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.170-174
• /
• 2021

As the rising attention to the medical and healthcare issue, Bio-MEMS (Micro electro mechanical systems) platform such as bio sensor, cell culture system, and microfluidics device has been studied extensively. Bio-MEMS platform mostly has high resolution structure made by biocompatible material such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). In addition, three dimension structure has been applied to the bio-MEMS. Lithography can be used to fabricate complex structure by multiple process, however, non-rectangular cross section can be implemented by introducing optical apparatus to lithography technic. X-ray lithography can be used even for sub-micron scale. Here in, we demonstrated lines with round shape cross section using the tilted gold absorber which was deposited on the oblique structure as the X-ray mask. This structure was used as a mold for PDMS. Molded PDMS was applied to the cell culture platform. Moreover, molded PDMS was bonded to flat PDMS to utilize to the sub-micro channel. This work has potential to the large area bio-MEMS.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.73-83
• /
• 2015

The objective of this study is to establish implications for forest restoration planning in North Korea by analyzing spatio-temporal forest changes and detecting bio-physical factors driving forest degraded. We measured the relationship and spatial distribution between shifting cultivation and sparse forest. We also analyzed between degraded forest land and ecological variables by binary logistic regression to find biophysical drivers of forest degradation and deforestation in North Korea. Between the sparse forest and the shifting cultivation, a positive relationship is found (r=0.91) and scattered discontinuously throughout the country (Moran's I = -1, Z score = -13.46 (p=0.000)). The sparse forest showed a negative relationship with the warmest month(bio 9), the coldest month(bio10), and the minimum of soil water contents (swc_min), while the shifting cultivation had a negative relationship with the warmest month(bio 9) and the minimum of soil water contents(swc_min). However, the most critical drivers convert forests into sloping farmland were the three months rainfall in summer(bio8) and the yearly mean of soil water contents. Such results reflect the growth period of crops which overlaps with the rainy season in North Korea and the recent land reclamation of uplands where the soil water contents are maintained with a dense forest. When South Korea aids forest restoration projects in North Korea, in consideration of food shortage due to North Korea's cropland deficiency, terrace farmlands where soil water contents can be maintained should be excluded from the priority restoration area. In addition, an evaluation method for selecting a potential restoration area must be modified and applied based on multiple criteria including altitude and socio-economic factors in the respective regions.

• Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.336-341
• /
• 2015

The industrial-scale biological treatment of Chinese nutgall processing wastewater was conducted with a $200m^3$ expanded granular sludge bed reactor and a $900m^3$ bio-contact oxidation reactor. The temperature of the two reactors was controlled under mesophilic conditions ($32-40^{\circ}C$), through changing the proportion of the dilution water, which was composed of steam condensation water and residual circulating water. The effluent COD, gallic acid, chroma, total nitrogen, total phosphorus levels and pH of both the expanded granular sludge bed and bio-contact oxidation reactors were monitored. In addition, the redox potential in the expanded granular sludge bed was recorded. The total COD removal efficiency was 87.257% when the influent COD concentration was $14\;251{\pm}3\;148mg/L$, and the ratio of wastewater: dilution water was 1:5. The removal efficiencies of gallic acid, chroma, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus were 72.221%, 43.940%, 64.151% and 39.316%, respectively. The effluent pH increased in either the expanded granular sludge bed reactor or the bio-contact oxidation reactor during the operation. The redox potential in the expanded granular sludge bed varied between -367 mV and -435 mV. The results indicate that the combined process was suitable for treating Chinese nutgall processing wastewater.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.381-394
• /
• 2020

Accelerated soil wind erosion still remains to date to cause severe economic and environmental impacts. Revised and updated models to quantitatively evaluate wind induced soil erosion have been made for specific factors in the wind erosion equation (WEQ) framework. Because of increasing quantities of accumulated data, the WEQ, the revised wind erosion equation (RWEQ), the wind erosion prediction system (WEPS), and other soil wind erosion models have been established. These soil wind erosion models provide essential knowledge about where and when wind erosion occurs although naturally, they are less accurate than the field-scale. The WEQ was a good empirical model for comparing the effects of various management practices on potential erosion before the RWEQ and the WEPS showed more realistic estimates of erosion using easily measured local soil and climatic variables as inputs. The significant relationship between the observed and predicted transport capacity and soil loss makes the RWEQ a suitable tool for a large scale prediction of the wind erosion potential. WEPS developed to replace the empirical WEQ can calculate soil loss on a daily basis, provide capability to handle nonuniform areas, and obtain predictions for specific areas of interest. However, the challenge of precisely estimating wind erosion at a specific regional scale still remains to date.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.363-369
• /
• 2007

Mitochondria play a central role in energy-generating processes and may be involved in the regulation of channels and receptors. Here we investigated TRPM7, an ion channel and functional kinase, and its regulation by mitochondria. Proton ionophores such as CCCP elicited a rapid decrease in outward TRPM7 whole-cell currents but a slight increase in inward currents with pipette solutions containing no MgATP. With pipette solutions containing 3 mM MgATP, however, CCCP increased both outward and inward TRPM7 currents. This effect was reproducible and fully reversible, and repeated application of CCCP yielded similar decreases in current amplitude. Oligomycin, an inhibitor of $F_1/F_O$-ATP synthase, inhibited outward whole-cell currents but did not affect inward currents. The respiratory chain complex I inhibitor, rotenone, and complex III inhibitor, antimycin A, were without effect as were kaempferol, an activator of the mitochondrial $Ca^{2+}$ uniporter, and ruthenium red, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial $Ca^{2+}$ uniporter. These results suggest that the inner membrane potential (as regulated by proton ionophores) and the $F_1/F_O$-ATP synthase of mitochondria are important in regulating TRPM7 channels.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.141-147
• /
• 2019

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of Acanthopanax sieboldianum (Makino) Koidz (ACS) as a potent antioxidant and antidiabetic agent. The antioxidative and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities were examined using the methanol extracts and solvent fractions from ACS-leaf and ACS-stem. Antioxidative activities were measured by in vitro methods such as DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. When the chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions of ACS-leaf and ethyl acetate fractions of ACS-stem were compared with the control, the SOD-like activity was impaired even at the low treatment concentrations. In addition, the ethyl acetate fractions of ACS-leaf and ACS-stem showed alpha-glucosidase inhibition activities at low treatment concentrations. Analysis of the major components in the fractions of ACS-leaf and ACS-stem was also performed using HPLC. Finally, astragalin, isoqurecetin, chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid contents were measured. Based on this work, we propose that ACS-leaf and ACS-stem have great potential as natural antioxidant and antidiabetic materials related to health benefits.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.113-120
• /
• 2022

Sperm cryopreservation is a fundamental process for the long-term conservation of livestock genetic resources. Yet, the packaging method has been shown, among other factors, to affect the frozen-thawed (FT) sperm quality. This study aimed to develop a new mini-straw for sperm cryopreservation. In addition, the kinematic patterns, viability, acrosome integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of boar spermatozoa frozen in the developed 0.25 mL straw, 0.25 mL (minitube, Germany), or 0.5 mL (IMV technologies, France) straws were assessed. Post-thaw kinematic parameters were not different (experiment 1: total motility (33.89%, 32.42%), progressive motility (19.13%, 19.09%), curvilinear velocity (42.32, 42.86), and average path velocity (33.40, 33.62) for minitube and the developed straws, respectively. Further, the viability (38.56%, 34.03%), acrosome integrity (53.38%, 48.88%), MMP (42.32%, 36.71%) of spermatozoa frozen using both straw were not differ statistically (p > 0.05). In experiment two, the quality parameters for semen frozen in the developed straw were compared with the 0.5 mL IMV straw. The total motility (41.26%, 39.1%), progressive motility (24.62%, 23.25%), curvilinear velocity (46.44, 48.25), and average path velocity (37.98, 39.12), respectively, for IMV and the developed straw, did not differ statistically. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the viability (39.60%, 33.17%), acrosome integrity (46.23%, 43.23%), and MMP (39.66, 32.51) for IMV and the developed straw, respectively. These results validate the safety and efficiency of the developed straw and highlight its great potential for clinical application. Moreover, both 0.25 mL and 0.5 mL straws fit the present protocol for cryopreservation of boar spermatozoa.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.16-24
• /
• 2017

For the development of feasible retinal prosthesis, one of the important elements is acquiring proper judging tool if electrical stimulus leads to patient's visual perception. If evoked potential to electrical stimulus is recorded in primary visual (V1) cortex, it means that the stimulus effectively evokes visual perception. Therefore, in this study, we established VEP recording system on V1 cortex using BioPAC modules as the judging tool. And the measuring system was evaluated by recording VEP of mice. After anesthesia, normal mice (C57BL/6J strain; n = 6) were secured to stereotaxic apparatus (Harvard Apparatus, USA). For the recording of VEP, the stainless steel needle electrode (impedance: $2-5k{\Omega}$) was positioned on the surface of the cortex through the burr hole at 2.5 mm lateral and 4.6 mm caudal to bregma. DA 100C and EEG 100C BioPAC modules were used for the trigger signal and VEP recording, respectively. When left eye was blocked by black cover and right eye was stimulated by flash light using HMsERG (RetVet Corp, USA), VEP response at left V1 cortex was detected, but there was no response at right V1 cortex. Amplitudes and latencies of P2, N3 peaks of VEP recording varied according to the depths of the electrodes on V1 cortex. From the surface upto $600{\mu}m$ depth, amplitudes of P2 and N3 increased, while deeper than $600{\mu}m$, those amplitudes decreased. The deeper the insertion depth of the electrode, the latency of N1 peaks tends to be delayed. However, there was no statistically significant difference among the latencies of P2 and N3 peaks (P > 0.05, ANOVA). Our VEP recording data such as the insertion depth and the latency and amplitudes of peaks might be used as guidelines for electrically-evoked potential (EEP) recording experiment in near future.