• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.87-95
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• 2021

Objective : Liquidambaris Storax, the processed resin of Liquidambar orientalis Mill., has been therapeutically used as orifice-opening medicinals in Korean Medicine. However, unauthenticated resinous drugs from various origins were sold as Liquidambaris Storax. This study aimed to establish the quality assessment of genuine Liquidambaris Storax and to provide quantitative differences of Liquidambaris Storax in herbal markets. Methods : Bibliographic research on ancient Liquidambaris Storax was performed using classic books of herbology. The quality assessment was approached by searching modern books of herbal medicines. The marker compounds in Liquidambaris Storax from various origins were quantitatively analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results : L. orientalis was botanically characterized by palmately 5-lobed shape of leaves. Genuine Liquidambaris Storax was recognized as resinous or semi-solid form (ancient―Song dynasty) to liquid form (Myeong/Cheong dynasty) and two processed forms were available in current markets. Genuine liquid Liquidambaris Storax should be lengthened as a thread when it was lifted by a stick and be sunken under the water. The crystals of cinnamic acid was seen under microscopic observation and the scent of benzaldehyde occurred after the treatment with potassium permanganate. Cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamic acid, and cinnamaldehyde were quantified in two liquid samples of Liquidambaris Storax, while cinnamaldehyde was not quantified in resinous (semi-solid) sample. Conclusion : This study presents the detailed methods of quality assessment for genuine Liquidambaris Storax as well as the status in the herbal markets. Further quantitative study with diverse samples is required to establish the quality standard of Liquidambaris Storax.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.213-220
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• 2020

Background: The leaves of Perilla frutescens, commonly called perilla and used for food in Korea, contain components with a variety of biological effects and potential therapeutic applications. The purpose of this study was to identify the components of 70% ethanol extracted Perilla frutescens (EEPF) and determine its inhibitory effects on oral microbial activity and production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated Raw264.7 macrophages, consequently, to confirm the possibility of using EEPF as a functional component for improving the oral environment and preventing inflammation. Methods: One kg of P. frutescens leaves was extracted with 70% ethanol and dried at -70℃. EEPF was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, and antimicrobial activity against oral microorganisms was revealed using the disk diffusion test. Cell viability was elucidated using a methylthiazolydiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay, and the effect of EEPF on LPS-induced morphological variation was confirmed through microscopic observation. The effect of EEPF on LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory mediators, NO and PGE2 was confirmed by the NO assay and PGE2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The main component of EEPF was rosemarinic acid, and EEPF showed weak anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects against microorganisms living in the oral cavity. EEPF did not show toxicity to Raw264.7 macrophages and had inhibitory effects on the morphological variations and production of pro-inflammatory mediators, NO and PGE2 in LPS-stimulated Raw264.7 macrophages. Conclusion: EEPF can be used as a functional material for improving the oral environment through the control of oral microorganisms and for modulating inflammation by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.5-12
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• 2011

Macro- and micro-behaviors of soluble granular media during dissolution process is investigated by numerical analysis. Soluble media are represented by assemblies of non-soluble particles and soluble particles with the different soluble particles contents. Dissolutions of particles are implemented by reducing sizes of soluble particles. The numerical simulations results exhibit that the vertical displacements increase to certain times and become constant while the porosities still increase until no soluble particles are present. However, the porosities and vertical displacements increase with the increase of soluble particles content. The microscopic views show that the fabrics of media change during dissolution process until the certain times, the higher soluble particles contents, and the larger change in fabric.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.735-743
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• 2018

We investigated the effect of transforming growth factor beta 1 ($TGF-{\beta}1$) on equine hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) gene expression and hyaluronan (HA) synthesis in culture models of articular chondrocytes. Equine chondrocytes were treated with $TGF-{\beta}1$ at different concentrations and times in monolayer cultures. In three-dimensional cultures, chondrocyte-seeded gelatin scaffolds were cultured in chondrogenic media containing 10 ng/mL of $TGF-{\beta}1$. The amounts of HA in conditioned media and in scaffolds were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. HAS2 mRNA expression was analyzed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The uronic acid content and DNA content of the scaffolds were measured by using colorimetric and Hoechst 33258 assays, respectively. Cell proliferation was evaluated by using the alamarBlue assay. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), histology, and immunohistochemistry were used for microscopic analysis of the samples. The upregulation of HAS2 mRNA levels by $TGF-{\beta}1$ stimulation was dose and time dependent. $TGF-{\beta}1$ was shown to enhance HA and uronic acid content in the scaffolds. Cell proliferation and DNA content were significantly lower in $TGF-{\beta}1$ treatments. SEM and histological results revealed the formation of a cartilaginous-like extracellular matrix in the $TGF-{\beta}1$-treated scaffolds. Together, our results suggest that $TGF-{\beta}1$ has a stimulatory effect on equine chondrocytes, enhancing HA synthesis and promoting cartilage matrix generation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.409-422
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• 2021

A doctor's coat worn by Seo Jae-pil (1864-1951)-National Registered Cultural Heritage No. 607-was conserved with wet cleaning to remove thick wrinkles and brown stains that had been present for a long time. This paper also applied microscopic observation and infrared spectrophotometric analysis to obtain scientific investigation data on the cotton fabric of this doctor's coat. Information about Seo Jae-pil's time as a doctor, the process of changing his English name, and C.D.Williams & Co., which produced the medical coat, revealed that this doctor's coat was worn by Seo Jae-pil between 1892 and 1898 or 1926 and 1939. Additionally, this paper proposes a pad for filling relics that can protect the shape of modern and contemporary clothing, such as Seo Jae-pil's doctor's coat, for display at a museum site. Specifically, this research provides detailed information on the manufacturing of filling pads that can prevent damage to modern and contemporary jackets and coats so that they can be used in the cultural heritage field by developing filling materials for three-dimensional costume artifacts.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1253-1270
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• 2021

Assessment of male fertility is based on the evaluation of sperm. Semen evaluation measures various sperm quality parameters as fertility indicators. However, semen evaluation has limitations, and it requires the advancement and application of strict quality control methods to interpret the results. This article reviews the recent advances in evaluating various sperm-specific quality characteristics and methodologies, with the help of different assays to assess sperm-fertility status. Sperm evaluation methods that include conventional microscopic methods, computer-assisted sperm analyzers (CASA), and flow cytometric analysis, provide precise information related to sperm morphology and function. Moreover, profiling fertility-related biomarkers in sperm or seminal plasma can be helpful in predicting fertility. Identification of different sperm proteins and diagnosis of DNA damage has positively contributed to the existing pool of knowledge about sperm physiology and molecular anomalies associated with different infertility issues in males. Advances in methods and sperm-specific evaluation has subsequently resulted in a better understanding of sperm biology that has improved the diagnosis and clinical management of male factor infertility. Accurate sperm evaluation is of paramount importance in the application of artificial insemination and assisted reproductive technology. However, no single test can precisely determine fertility; the selection of an appropriate test or a set of tests and parameters is required to accurately determine the fertility of specific animal species. Therefore, a need to further calibrate the CASA and advance the gene expression tests is recommended for faster and field-level applications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.61-75
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• 2021

Roadside greenery in the city is not only a means of reducing fine dust, but also an indispensable element of the city in various aspects such as improvement of urban thermal environment, noise reduction, ecosystem connectivity, and aesthetics. However, in studies dealing with the effect of reducing fine dust through trees in existing urban spaces, microscopic aspects such as the adsorption effect of plants were dealt with, structural changes such as the width of urban buildings and streets, and the presence or absence of trees, Impact studies that reflect the actual form of In this study, the effect of greenery composition applicable to urban space on PM2.5 was simulated through the microclimate epidemiologic model ENVI-met, and field measurements were performed in parallel to verify the results. In addition, by analyzing the results of fine dust background concentration, wind speed, and leaf area index, the sensitivity to major influencing variables was tested. As a result of the study, it was confirmed that the fine dust reduction effect was the highest in the case with a high planting amount, and the reduction effect was the greatest at a low background concentration. Based on this, the cost of planting street green areas and the effect of reducing PM2.5 were compared. The results of this study can contribute as a basis for considering the effect of pedestrian space on air quality when planning and designing street green spaces.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.259-267
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• 2022

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides/nitrides or "MXenes" belong to a diverse-class of layered compounds, which offer composition- and electric-field-tunable electrical and physical properties. Although the majority of the MXenes, including Ti₃C₂T_x, are metallic, they typically show semiconductor-like behaviour in their percolated thin-film structure; this is also the most common structure used for fundamental studies and prototype device development of MXene. Magnetoconductance studies of thin-film MXenes are central to understanding their electronic transport properties and charge carrier dynamics, and also to evaluate their potential for spin-tronics and magnetoelectronics. Since MXenes are produced through solution processing, it is desirable to develop deposition strategies such as inkjet-printing to enable scale-up production with intricate structures/networks. Here, we systematically investigate the extrinsic negative magnetoconductance of inkjetprinted Ti₃C₂T_x MXene thin-films and report a crossover from weak anti-localization (WAL) to weak localization (WL) near 2.5K. The crossover from WAL to WL is consistent with strong, extrinsic, spin-orbit coupling, a key property for active control of spin currents in spin-orbitronic devices. From WAL/WL magnetoconductance analysis, we estimate that the printed MXene thin-film has a spin orbit coupling field of up to 0.84 T at 1.9 K. Our results and analyses offer a deeper understanding into microscopic charge carrier transport in Ti₃C₂T_x, revealing promising properties for printed, flexible, electronic and spinorbitronic device applications.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.361-365
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• 2022

We report a species of diplostomid fluke recovered from 3 carcasses of wild Korean raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis, in Korea. A total of 107 diplostomid flukes were recovered from the small intestines of Korean raccoon dogs, which were obtained from the Gangwon Wildlife Medical Rescue Center. Worms fixed with 10% neutral formalin were subjected to microscopic observation and those fixed in 70% ethanol were used for molecular genomic analysis. The worm was divided into 2 separate parts, forebody and hindbody, with a total length of 3,020-4,090 (3,855) ㎛ and a width of 1,210-1,770 (1,562) ㎛. The boat-shaped forebody has a pair of characteristic tentacular appendage, 2 suckers, holdfast organ, and vitelline follicles. The oval to cylindrical hindbody has reproductive organs. The ovary was round or elliptical and located in the anterior of the testes. Two large testes were slightly segmented and tandemly arranged, occupying almost half of hindbody. The short uterus contained a relatively small number of unembryonated eggs sized 130-140×85-96 ㎛. The partial sequence of 18S rRNA of this fluke was consistent with Alaria alata. Based on the morphological and molecular characteristics, the diplostomid flukes recovered from the small intestine of Korean raccoon dogs were identified as A. alata (Digenea: Diplostomidae).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.927-937
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• 2022

The reproductive characteristics of Pacific anchovy, Engraulis japonicus were investigated using samples randomly collected from the southern waters of Korea between January and December 2021. We analyzed monthly changes in maturity stages, gonadosomatic index (GSI), egg diameter, fecundity, and fork length (FL) at sexual groups maturity of 50%, 75% and 97.5%, and sex ratio (female:male). GSI value showed two peaks in May and August; however, microscopic analysis of E. japonicus gonad tissue revealed that the spawning period was from March to October. The main spawning seasons for the entire populations were from April to June and August to September. The overall sex ratio was female-biased (1 females, 0.89 male). The fecundity (F) of female anchovies ranged from 429 eggs at an FL of 8.0 cm to 13,824 eggs at an FL of 14.9 cm and the relationship between FL and F was 0.0788FL^4.422. The FL at 50% group maturity was 8.26 cm for female anchovies. Based on the results, we suggest that the reproductive cycle in Pacific anchovies may be related to pulses in water temperature and the sexual cycle of the fish.