• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.38-45
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• 2005

The feasibility of stimulating in situ aerobic cometabolic activity of indigenous microorganisms was investigated in a trichloroethylene (TCE)-contaminated aquifer. A series of single-well natural drift tests (SWNDTs) was conducted by injecting site groundwater amended with a bromide tracer and combinations of toluene, oxygen, nitrate, ethylene and TCE into an existing monitoring well and by sampling the same well over time. Three field tests, Push-pull Transport Test, Drift Biostimulation Test, and Drift Surrogate Activity Test, were performed in sequence. Initial rate of toluene degradation was much faster than the rate of bromide dilution resulting from natural groundwater drift, indicating stimulation of indigenous toluene-oxidizing microorganisms. Transformation of ethylene, a surrogate probing overall activity of TCE transformation, was also observed, and its transformation results in the production of ethylene oxide, suggesting that some tolueneoxidizing microorganisms stimulated may express a orthomonooxygenase enzyme. Also in situ transformation of TCE was confirmed by greater retardation of TCE than bromide after the stimulation of toluene-oxidizing microorganisms. These results indicate that, in this environment, toluene and oxygen additions stimulated the growth and aerobic cometabolic activity of indigenous microorganisms expressing orthomonooxygenase enzymes. The simple, low-cost field test method presented in this study provides an effective method for conducting rapid field assessments and pilot testing of aerobic cometabolism, which has previously hindered application of this technology to groundwater remediation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1207-1214
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• 2017

Schisandrae Fructus (SF), the fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a number of chronic diseases. SF extracts have been recently reported to attenuate the inflammatory responses in SW1353 human chondrocyte cells in in vitro and monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced cartilage degradation in in vivo osteoarthritis (OA) models. However, their protective and therapeutic potentials against OA in primary culture chondrocytes and animal models remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the ethanol extract of SF on the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), biomarkers for diagnosis of OA, on interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}-induced$ primary cultured rat cartilage chondrocytes and MIA-induced osteoarthritis in a rat model. Our data indicated that SF treatment significantly reduced the mRNA expression and enzyme activity of MMP-1, -3 and -13 in $IL-1{\beta}-induced$ primary cultured rat cartilage chondrocytes. The chondro-protective effects of SF were then analyzed in a rat OA model using a single intra-articular injection of MIA in the right knee joint. According to our results, the elevated levels of MMP-1 and -3 were markedly ameliorated by SF administration. Collectively, these findings indicate that SF could be a candidate for the treatment of OA.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.115-121
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• 2009

Recently sawdust cultivation of Shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes ) is getting increased because log cultivation is getting difficult to get oak logs. It is important to make mycelia browning on the substrate surface in sawdust cultivation. This browned surface plays an important role like as artificial bark of the oak log, which protects the other pests and suppresses water evaporation in the substrate. The period for mycelia browning is so long that the sawdust cultivation of Shiitake mushroom can not spread well into the mushroom farms. In this article we would like to discuss about the effect of environmental condition to the mycelial browning during sawdust bag cultivation for the To reduce the period required for browning of substrates, sawdust substrates was illuminated light with difference intensity. One hundred Lux light illumination was needed for producing normal yield of fruit body but fruit body yield was low and abnormally shaped fruit body was produced when cultured under the dark condition of incubation. Illumination over 200lux is necessary for the successful browning of substrates during incubation. Optimum incubation temperature for browning of substrates and fruiting was $25^{\circ}C$. The treatment of cotton plug with different size to identify the effect of aeration on the browning of substrates and fruiting showed rapid mycelial growth and reduced the periods for browning as the size of cotton plug was bigger. However, yield of fruit body was the highest at 16mm diameter cotton plug as compared to 20mm of that. $CO_2$ content in vessel of substrates was low as the size of cotton plug was bigger during incubation. $CO_2$ content during incubation of substrate was highest in periods between 8 week and 14 week after inoculation of shiitake when substrate was changed color into brown. $C_2H_4$ content in vessel with substrates was highest at 8mm diameter cotton plug and it was increased by order of 12, 16, 20, 0, 4 mm diameter cotton plug during substrate incubation. Sawdust substrate was soaked in cold water for different time to identify soaking effect of sawdust substrate on fruit body yield and activities of enzymes in these substrates were investigated. The fruit body yield was increased up to 40% by soaking substrates in comparison with unsoaked substrates. The soaked substrates showed 165, 175g/1,000ml at treatment of 4 and 15 hours, respectively. Cellulose activities in soaked substrates were not changed with soaking time, but activities of laccase, lignin degradation enzyme, were drastically increased up to 4 times in comparison with unsoaked substrates.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.359-366
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• 2005

Background : IGFBP-3 inhibits the mitogenic and anti-apoptotic activity of IGF by blocking the binding of IGF to its receptor. However, under certain circumstances, IGFBP-3 can enhance the activity of IGF by protecting IGF from its degradation. More than half of the interindividual variations in IGFBP-3 levels are known to be genetically determined by the polymorphism at -202 locus of IGFBP-3 gene. Method : We attempted to ascertain whether A-202C polymorphic variation of IGFBP-3 gene constitutes a risk factor for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Our study included 104 NSCLC patients and 104 age-, gender-, and smoking status-matched control subjects. Result : In the 104 NSCLC subjects, the genotypic frequencies at the -202 site were as follows: AA = 67 (64.4%), AC = 35 (33.7%), and CC = 2 (1.9%). We did detect significant differences in the genotypic distribution between the NSCLC and the control subjects (p<0.05), and the NSCLC risk correlated significantly with AA genotype at the -202 locus (AA>AC>CC). Using CC genotype as a reference, the odds ratio (OR) for the subjects with AC genotype was 2.60 (95% CI: 0.89 - 8.60), and the OR associated with AA genotype was 5.89 (95% CI: 1.92 - 21.16). Conclusion : These results indicate that the dysregulation of IGF axis should now be considered as another important risk factor for NSCLC, and a potential target for novel antineoplastic therapies and/or preventative strategies in high-risk groups.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.296-304
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of climate change on rice yield and quality. Experiments were conducted using SPAR(Soil-Plant-Atmosphere-Research) chambers, which was designed to create virtual future climate conditions, in the National Institute of Crop Science, Jeonju, Korea, in 2016. In the future climate conditions($+2.8^{\circ}C$ temp, 580 ppm $CO_2$) of year 2051~2060 according to RCP 8.5 scenario, elevated temperature and $CO_2$ accelerated the heading date by about five days than the present climate conditions, resulted in a high temperature environment during grain filling stage. Rice yield decreased sharply in the future climate conditions due to the high temperature induced poor ripening. And the spikelet numbers, ripening ratio, and 1000-grain weight of brown rice were significantly decreased compared to control. The rice grain quality was also decreased sharply, especially due to the increased immature grains. In the future climate conditions, expression of starch biosynthesis-related genes such as granule-bound starch synthase(GBSSI, GBSSII, SSIIa, SSIIb, SSIIIa), starch branching enzyme(BEIIb) and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase(AGPS1, AGPS2, AGPL2) were repressed in developing seeds, whereas starch degradation related genes such as ${\alpha}-amylase$(Amy1C, Amy3D, Amy3E) were induced. These results suggest that the reduction in yield and quality of rice in the future climate conditions is likely caused mainly by the poor grain filling by high temperature. Therefore, it is suggested to develop tolerant cultivars to high temperature during grain filling period and a new cropping system in order to ensure a high quality of rice in the future climate conditions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1339-1346
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• 2018

In Korea, edible mushrooms are produced largely on commercial artificial media, so the annual production of spent mushroom substrate (SMS), as a by-product of the mushroom industry, is estimated at over 200 million tons. This SMS is assumed to contain abundant fungal mycelia and pre-fruiting bodies, as well as various nutritive and bioactive compounds that are presently discarded. This study examined the physico-chemical, nutritional, and enzymatic characteristics of uninoculated sterilized medium (USM) and SMS of shiitake mushrooms with the aim of developing a high-value added product from SMS. The contents of crude protein, crude lipid, and ash were higher after the third SMS harvest ($SMS-A-3^{rd}$) than in USM or $SMS-A-1^{st}$. The contents of Ca, Mg, and P in $SMS-A-3^{rd}$ were 2.95, 2.35, and 2.1-fold higher compared than in USM. No As or Cd was detected in USM or SMS. The pH, Brix, and acidity were 4.6, 20.0, and 1.4, respectively in $SMS-A-3^{rd}$, but 5.6, 6.0, and 0.0, respectively, in USM. These results suggest a highly active production of soluble components and organic acids in $SMS-A-3^{rd}$. The distinct color differences noted for USM, $SMS-A-1^{st}$, and $SMS-A-3^{rd}$ could be used as a mycelial growth indicator. Enzyme activity assays using the APIZYM system showed that SMS is a potent source of hydrolysis-related enzymes, especially esterase (C4) and ${\beta}$-glucuronidase. Our results suggested that the SMS of shiitake has a high potential for use in environmental, agricultural, and stock-breeding industries, for example, as active ingredients for sewage treatment, waste-polymer degradation, and feed additives.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.68 no.3
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• pp.188-196
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• 2023

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important crop in Korea, with a per capita consumption of 31.6 kg in 2019. In the southern region, wheat is grown after paddy rice, and it is harvested during the rainy season in mid-June. This timing, in combination with high humidity and untimely rainfall, activates the enzyme alpha-amylase, which breaks down starch in the wheat grains. As a result, sprouted grains have lower quality and value for flour. However, seeds that absorb water before sprouting are expected to maintain better quality. The aim of the study was to identify the critical period during wheat maturation when rainfall has the greatest impact on grain quality, to prevent price declines due to quality deterioration. Two wheat cultivars, Jokyoung and Hwanggeumal, were grown in a speed breeding room, and artificial rainfall was applied at different times after heading (30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 55 days). The proportion of vitreous grains decreased from 40 to 55 days after heading (DAH). Both cultivars had chalky grain sections from 35 DAH, with Hwanggeumal having a higher proportion of vitreous grains. Starch degradation was observed using FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope) at 40 DAH for Jokyoung and 50 DAH for Hwanggeumal. Color measurements indicated increased L and E values from 40 DAH, with rain treatment at 55 DAH leading to a significant increase in L values for both cultivars. Ash content increased at 45 DAH, whereas SDSS decreased at 35 DAH. Overall, grain quality from 40 DAH until harvest was found to be affected to the greatest extent by direct exposure of the spikes to moisture. Red wheat showed better quality than white wheat. These findings have implications for the cultivation of high-quality wheat and can guide future research efforts in this area.