• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1313-1319
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• 2016

Cancer is a complex disease heterogeneously composed of various types of cells including cancer stem-like cells responsible for relapse and chemoresistance in the tumor microenvironment. The conventional two-dimensional cell culture-based platform has critical limitations for representing the heterogeneity of cancer cells in the three-dimensional tumor niche in vivo. To overcome this insufficiency, three-dimensional cell culture methods in a scaffold-dependent or -free physical environment have been developed. In this study, we improved and simplified the HCT-8 colon cancer cell-based spheroid culture protocol and evaluated the relationship between cancer stemness and responses of chemosensitivity to 5- Fluorouracil (5-FU), a representative anticancer agent against colon cancer. Supplementation with defined growth factors in the medium and the culture dish of the regular surface with low attachment were required for the formation of constant-sized spheroids containing $CD44^+$ and $CD133^+$ colon cancer stem cells. The chemo-sensitivities of $CD44^+$ cancer stem cells in the spheroids were much lower than those of $CD44^-$ non-stem-like cancer cells, indicating that the chemoresistance to 5-FU is due to the stemness of colon cancer cells. Taken together, the inflammation and oncogenic gut environment-sensitive HCT-8 cell-based colon cancer spheroid culture and comparative evaluation using the simplified model would be an efficient and applicable way to estimate colon cancer stemness and pharmaceutical response to anticancer drugs in the realistic tumor niche.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.3 s.117
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• pp.378-389
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• 2006

Seasonal changes of biomass and cell size of bacteria and protozoa, and factors affecting their distribution in Lake Paldang and Kyungan Stream were analyzed from April to December, 2005. Bacterial abundance at Paldang Dam and Kyungan Stream was similar, but it did not much increase during hot summer period. Protozoan carbon biomass was much greater at Kyungan Stream compared to Paldang Dam. HNAN generally accounted for the majority of total protozoan biomass, but ciliates made up the highest proportion in April and November at Paldang Dam and June at both sites. PNAN showed low biomass at both sites, but it was high during spring and fall season. Small-sized HNAN ($3{\sim}7\;{\mu}m$) numerically predominated the protozoan community at both sites. Average cell size of HNAN was bigger at Kyungan Stream where nutrients concentration was much higher than Paldang Dam. Average cell size of ciliates varied seasonally; it was relatively small during the summer. HNAN biomass significantly correlated with Chl-a concentration and ciliates biomass at Paldang Dam, indicating that HNAN increase might link to the ciliates increase. At Kyungan Stream, HNAN biomass showed a significant relationship with PNAN biomass, and Chl-a concentration was closely related with both of HNAN and PNAN biomass. Ciliate biomass showed significant relationship with nutrient (TN, TP) and particulate matter (SS) only at Kyungan Stream. At both sites, protozoan biomass was significantly correlated with bacterial biomass, and ciliates were additionally related flagellates. High biomass of microbial components and the close relationships among them suggest that the energy transfer through the microbial loop may important in the plankton food web of Lake Paldang ecosystem.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.4 s.48
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• pp.533-541
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• 2004

Atopic dermatitis, also called congenital fever, is a allergic eczema of chronic itching disease. It is a recurrent and familial disease and appears on a wide age group from infant to adult. It is very common, and the ratio of occurrence is about $9{\~}l2\%$ of a child. However. it is showing trend of continuous increase by social and natural environment, food culture, and life style, recently. The human skin plays a barrier role against a physical and chemical stimulus from external environment. According to the latest study, the decreased amount of ceramide in horny layer impairs the bier function and moisture-maintaining function of skin in atopic dematitis patient. Ceramide is a kind of the sphingolipid in which a fatty acid is connected to sphingosin. Ceramide constitutes about $40\%$ of total lipid between keratinocytes and has the function of defense wall and building regular structure to suppress moisture vaporization in horny layer. In horny layer of skin a comified cell is composed of multi-layer structure of a brick shape, and, as for this cornified cell, it is strongly connected by ceramide, cholesterol, and free fatty acid. Here, we described the effects of a cream containing ceramide on the recovery of skin harrier function of atopic dermatitis patient. The safety and efficacy of latex and liquid formula were evaluated as cosmetics for atopic dermatitis. The latex products was composed of intercellular lipid components-ceramide, cholesterol, and free fatty acid-to restore skin barrier function in atopic dermatitis patients. The liquid one contained beta-glucan, magnolia extracts, and licolice extracts, which have skin immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. It is also confirmed that their possibility on new cosmetic market of atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.27-36
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• 2018

This study suggests the necessity of behavior analysis as changes to a park environment to reflect user desires can be implemented only by grasping the needs of park users. Online data (blog) were defined as the basic data of the study. After collecting data by 5 - year units, data mining was used to derive the characteristics of the time series behavior while the significance of the online data was verified through social network analysis. The results of the text mining analysis are as follows. First, primary results included 'walking', 'photography', 'riding bicycles'(inline, kickboard, etc.), and 'eating'. Second, in the early days of the collected data, active physical activity such as exercise was the main factor, but recent passive behavior such as eating, using a mobile phone, games, food and drinking coffee also appeared as a new behavior characteristic in parks. Third, the factors affecting the behavior of park users are the changes of various conditions of society such as internet development and a culture of expressing unique personalities and styles. Fourth, the special behaviors appearing at Olympic Park were derived from educational activities such as cultural activities including watching performances and history lessons. In conclusion, it has been shown that people's lifestyle changes and the behavior of a park are influenced by the changes of the various times rather than the original purpose that was intended during park planning and design. Therefore, it is necessary to create an environment tailored to users by considering the main behaviors and influencing factors of Olympic Park. Text mining used as an analytical method has the merit that past data can be collected. Therefore, it is possible to form analysis from a long-term viewpoint of behavior analysis as well as to measure new behavior and value with derived keywords. In addition, the validity of online data was verified through social network analysis to increase the legitimacy of research results. Research on more comprehensive behavior analysis should be carried out by diversifying the types of data collected later, and various methods for verifying the accuracy and reliability of large-volume data will be needed.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2015

This study was conducted to evaluate influence of short-term application of abscisic acid (ABA) in nutrient solution on growth and drought tolerance of tomato seedlings. The treatments included four ABA concentrations (0.5, 1, 2, $3mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) and control (non-treatment) were applied to the nutrient solution in a hydroponic system. On the $5^{th}$ and $10^{th}$ day after growing in the nutrient solution containing ABA, seedlings were transferred to -5 bars of PEG-8000 in a growth chamber to induce water stress. Except for stem diameter and fresh and dry weight of root, there were no statistical differences in other growth parameters among control, 0.5 and $1mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ of ABA treatments. Seedlings growths were strongly inhibited in nutrient solution containing 2 and $3mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ of ABA. The root growth such as fresh and dry weigh of root, total root surface area, and average root diameter was slightly enhanced in $1mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ of ABA treatment. The elevation of ABA concentrations in nutrient solution resulted in the decrease in transpiration rate and increase in stomatal diffusive resistance and leaf temperature of tomato seedlings. The initiations of seedling wilting after treating in -5 bars of PEG were delayed from 10 hrs in control to 30 hrs in ABA applied treatments. Additionally, the high percentages of recovered seedlings were observed in 0.5 and $1mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ of ABA treatments after re-irrigation. Therefore, short-term application of $1mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ of ABA in the nutrient solution stimulated the root growth and drought tolerance of tomato seedlings by delaying the start time of wilting point and enhancing the recovery after re-irrigation.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.116-123
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate into the effect of light-emitting diode (LED) for the light quality as a light source on the broccoli seed germination and the physiological activity of vegetable sprouts. We have also germinated seeds of the broccoli and applied LED as a light quality such as blue, green, red, white, yellow and red + blue color lights to their sprouts for 14 hours and kept dark for 10 hours at the temperature of $25^{\circ}C$ (day)/$18^{\circ}C$ (night). Broccoli sprouts were extracted by methanol and their physiological activities were examined. All broccoli seeds were germinated at 3 days after seeding regardless of the light color. Total sprout fresh weight were mostly became highest by 0.389g (10 plants) at 8 days after seeding when their sprouts were grown under blue color light. Total phenol compound contents in broccoli sprouts were extremely increased by $83.0\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ under the white light, and total flavonoid contents were most much more by $72.6\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ under the blue light. DPPH radical scavenging activity at $2,000\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ were most highest by 93.5% in broccoli sprouts grown under the white light. Nitrite radical scavenging activity at the concentration of $500\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in sprout extracts were the most increased by 66.9% under the yellow light, and tyrosinase inhibition activity at $2,000\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in sprout extracts were by 14.5% under red light.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.190-196
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• 2010

Nowadays many people use antibiotics to protect processed foods from many pathogenic bacteria. The abuse of antibiotics, however, can run the risk of creating resistant forms of bacterium. Our study focus is on making new substances that can not only replace antibiotics but also be friendly to the environment. In our experiments, we used fermented citrus fruit, soil microbes and coenzyme Q10 as probiotics and prebiotics. Chickens in the experimental group were fed these substances via oral route while those in the control group were not. After specific time periods, blood and feces samples were collected to test for Salmonella spp.. It is interesting that fermented citrus fruit was the most effective in suppressing this bacterium. Furthermore, dissection of the experiment group chickens shows that their livers did not change to a yellow color, in contrast to the control group. The results confirmed our proposal that the chickens fed with these materials can be protected from infection by Salmonella and other pathogens. These probiotics and prebiotics are highly practical because they are natural substances that can be easily recycled in the environment. It can also be used as an animal feed ingredient because of its safety.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.8-9
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• 2017

Soybean yield has been low and unstable in Japan and other areas in East Asia, despite long history of cultivation. This is contrasting with consistent increase of yield in North and South America. This presentation tries to describe perspective of breaking stagnation of soybean yield in East Asia, considering the factors of the different yields between regions. Large amount of rainfall with occasional dry-spell in the summer is a nature of monsoon climate and as frequently stated excess water is the factor of low and unstable soybean yield. For example, there exists a great deal of field-to-field variation in yield of 'Tanbaguro' soybean, which is reputed for high market value and thus cultivated intensively and this results in low average yield. According to our field survey, a major portion of yield variation occurs in early growth period. Soybean production on drained paddy fields is also vulnerable to drought stress after flowering. An analysis at the above study site demonstrated a substantial field-to-field variation of canopy transpiration activity in the mid-summer, but the variation of pod-set was not as large as that of early growth. As frequently mentioned by the contest winners of good practice farming, avoidance of excess water problem in the early growth period is of greatest importance. A series of technological development took place in Japan in crop management for stable crop establishment and growth, that includes seed-bed preparation with ridge and/or chisel ploughing, adjustment of seed moisture content, seed treatment with mancozeb+metalaxyl and the water table control system, FOEAS. A unique success is seen in the tidal swamp area in South Sumatra with the Saturated Soil Culture (SSC), which is for managing acidity problem of pyrite soils. In 2016, an average yield of $2.4tha^{-1}$ was recorded for a 450 ha area with SSC (Ghulamahdi 2017, personal communication). This is a sort of raised bed culture and thus the moisture condition is kept markedly stable during growth period. For genetic control, too, many attempts are on-going for better emergence and plant growth after emergence under excess water. There seems to exist two aspects of excess water resistance, one related to phytophthora resistance and the other with better growth under excess water. The improvement for the latter is particularly challenging and genomic approach is expected to be effectively utilized. The crop model simulation would estimate/evaluate the impact of environmental and genetic factors. But comprehensive crop models for soybean are mainly for cultivations on upland fields and crop response to excess water is not fully accounted for. A soybean model for production on drained paddy fields under monsoon climate is demanded to coordinate technological development under changing climate. We recently recognized that the yield potential of recent US cultivars is greater than that of Japanese cultivars and this also may be responsible for different yield trends. Cultivar comparisons proved that higher yields are associated with greater biomass production specifically during early seed filling, in which high and well sustained activity of leaf gas exchange is related. In fact, the leaf stomatal conductance is considered to have been improved during last a couple of decades in the USA through selections for high yield in several crop species. It is suspected that priority to product quality of soybean as food crop, especially large seed size in Japan, did not allow efficient improvement of productivity. We also recently found a substantial variation of yielding performance under an environment of Indonesia among divergent cultivars from tropical and temperate regions through in a part biomass productivity. Gas exchange activity again seems to be involved. Unlike in North America where transpiration adjustment is considered necessary to avoid terminal drought, under the monsoon climate with wet summer plants with higher activity of gas exchange than current level might be advantageous. In order to explore higher or better-adjusted canopy function, the methodological development is demanded for canopy-level evaluation of transpiration activity. The stagnation of soybean yield would be broken through controlling variable water environment and breeding efforts to improve the quality-oriented cultivars for stable and high yield.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1101-1106
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• 2006

Many BNR (Biological Nutrient Removal) plants have experienced a bulking problem, mainly due to the growth of filamentous organisms, particularly during the winter months. This study investigated the problem of bulking due to the growth of M. parvicella both at a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant and a pilot scale plant located in the C city. The full-scale facility was operated at a flow rate of $51,000m^3/d$, an F/M (Food-to-Microorganism) ratio of 0.12 kgBOD/kgMLVSS/d and an SRT (Solids Retention Time) higher than 25 days, respectively. This plant experienced bulking and foaming problems at low temperatures below $15^{\circ}C$ since it was retrofitted with the BNR system in 2003. The pilot plant employed had an identical process configuration as the full scale one and used the same wastewater source. It was operated at a flow rate of $3.8m^3/d$, temperatures between 10 to $25^{\circ}C$ and SRTs between 10 and 25 days. At full scale, the M. parvicella growth and SVI (Sludge Volume Index) patterns were studied in conjunction with temperature variations. At pilot scale, DO and SRT variations were also explored, in addition to the filamentous bacteria growth and SVI patterns. During the full-scale investigation, over a 3 year period, it was noted that the SVI was maintained within acceptable operational values (i.e. under 160) during the summer months. Moreover settling in the secondary clarifiers was good and was not affected by the presence of M. parvicella. In contrast, at low mean temperatures during winter, the SVI increased to over 300. Overall, as the temperature decreased, the predominance of M. parvicella became apparent. According to this study, M. parvicella growth could be controlled and SVI could drop under 160 by a change in operational conditions which involved an increase in DO concentration between 2 and 4 mg/L and a decrease in SRT to less than 20 days.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 1997.11a
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• pp.3-31
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• 1997

Water has always played a significant role in the lives of people. In urbanised Rome, with its million people. sophisticated supply systems developed and then fled with the empire. only to be rediscovered later But it was the industrial Revolution commencing in the eighteenth century that ushered in major paradigm shifts In use and altitudes towards water. Rapid and concentrated urbanisation brought problems of expanded demands for drinking supplies, waste management and disease. The strategy of using water from local streams, springs and village wells collapsed under the onslaughts of rising urban demands and pollution due to poor waste disposal practices. Expanding travel (railways. and steamships) aided the spread of disease. In England. public health crises peaks, related to water-borne typhoid and the three major cholera outbreaks occurred in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century respectively. Technological, engineering and institutional responses were successful in solving the public health problem. it is generally accepted that the putting of water into pipe networks both for a clean drinking supply, as well as using it as a transport medium for removal of human and other wastes, played a significant role in towering death rates due to waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid towards the end of the nineteenth century. Today, similar principles apply. A recent World Bank report Indicates that there can be upto 76％ reduction in illness when major water and sanitation improvements occur in developing countries. Water management, technology and thinking in Australia were relatively stable in the twentieth century up to the mid to late 1970s. Groundwater sources were investigated and developed for towns and agriculture. Dams were built, and pipe networks extended both for supply and waste water management. The management paradigms in Australia were essentially extensions of European strategies with the minor adaptions due to climate and hydrogeology. During the 1970s and 1980s in Australia, it was realised increasingly that a knowledge of groundwater and hydrogeological processes were critical to pollution prevention, the development of sound waste management and the problems of salinity. Many millions of dollars have been both saved and generated as a consequence. This is especially in relation to domestic waste management and the disposal of aluminium refinery waste in New South Wales. Major institutional changes in public sector water management are occurring in Australia. Upheveals and change have now reached ail states in Australia with various approaches being followed. Market thinking, corporatisation, privatisation, internationalisation, downsizing and environmental pressures are all playing their role in this paradigm shift. One casualty of this turmoil is the progressive erosion of the public sector skillbase and this may become a serious issue should a public health crisis occur such as a water borne disease. Such crises have arisen over recent times. A complete rethink of the urban water cycle is going on right now in Australia both at the State and Federal level. We are on the threshold of significant change in how we use and manage water, both as a supply and a waste transporter in Urban environments especially. Substantial replacement of the pipe system will be needed in 25 to 30 years time and this will cost billions of dollars. The competition for water between imgation needs and environmental requirements in Australia and overseas will continue to be an issue in rural areas. This will be especially heightened by the rising demand for irrigation produced food as the world's population grows. Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation in the emerging S.E Asian countries are currently producing considerable demands for water management skills and Infrastructure development. This trend e expected to grow. There are also severe water shortages in the Middle East to such an extent that wars may be fought over water issues. Environmental public health crises and shortages will help drive the trends.