• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.763-770
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• 2003

The $BH_5$ molecule, which is suggested as an intermediate of the acidolysis of $BH_4^-$, contains a weak two-electron-three-center bond and it requires extremely high-level of theories to calculate the energy and structure correctly. The structures and energies of $BH_5$ and the transition state for the hydrogen scrambling have been studied using recently developed multi-coefficient correlated quantum mechanical methods (MCCMs). The dissociation energies and the barrier heights agree very well with the previous results at the CCSD(T)/ TZ(3d1f1g, 2p1d) level. We have also calculated the potential energy curves for the dissociation of $BH_5$ to $BH_3$ and $H_2$. The lower levels of theory were unable to plot correct potential curves, whereas the MCCM methods give very good potential energy curves and requires much less computing resources than the CCSD(T)/ TZ(3d1f1g,2p1d) level. The potential energy of the $BH_5$ scrambling has been obtained by the multiconfiguration molecular mechanics algorithm (MCMM), and the rates are calculated using the variational transition state theory including multidimensional tunneling approximation. The rate constant at 300 K is 2.1 × $10^9s^{-1}$, and tunneling is very important.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.630-637
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• 2015

Morus alba root extract (MARE) has been used to treat hyperglycaemic conditions in oriental medicine. Here, we studied whether MARE possesses a cytotoxic effect on neuroblastoma. To check the cytotoxicity generated by MARE was whether relatively higher against the cancer cells rather than normal cells, we chose a neuroblastoma cell line (B103) and a normal cell line (Rat-2). A CCK assay revealed that MARE ($10{\mu}g/ml$) reduced cell viability to approximately 60% compared to an untreated control in B103 cells. But in Rat-2 cells, MARE induced relatively lower cytotoxicity. To investigate the mechanisms underlying the cytotoxic effect of MARE, we used flow cytometry combined with immunoblot analyses. We found that MARE-treatment could accumulate ROS and depolarize mitochondria membrane potential of B103 cells. Further treatment with MARE in B103 cells also could damage DNA and induce apoptosis. An expression study of p-Akt also suggested that there was a reduction in cellular proliferation and transcription along with the process of apoptosis, which was further evidenced by an increase in Bax and cleaved-caspase 3 activity. Together, our findings suggest that MARE produces more cytotoxicity in cancer cells while having a relatively attenuated effect on normal cells. As such, MARE may be a safer option in cancer therapeutics, and it also shows potential for the patients with symptoms of hyperglycemia and cancer.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.148-151
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• 2007

Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) in the pig genome represent a potential risk of infection in pig-to-human transplantation and are transmitted vertically. The solitary long terminal repeat (LTR) elements of the PERVs affect the replication properties of the individual viruses via their repeat sequences and by encoding a set of specific transcription factors. We examined the promoter activities of solitary LTR elements belonging to the PERV-A and -B families of the Korean domestic pig (KDP) using luciferase reporters. Three of the LTR structures (of PERV-A5-KDP, PERV-A7-KDP, PERV-A8-KDP) had different promoter activities in human HCT116 cells and monkey Cos7 cells, and potential negatively and positively acting regions affecting transcription were identified by deletion analysis. These data suggest that specific sequences in the U3 region of a given LTR element can affect the activities of promoter or enhancer elements in the PERV.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.13
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• pp.5325-5329
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• 2015

Farnesiferol C is a natural compound with various anti-cancer properties that belongs to the class of sesquiterpene coumarins. However, the low bioavailability of farnesiferol C limits its therapeutic potential. Here, we overcame this problem utilizing dendrosome nano-particles and evaluated the anti-cancer effect of dendrosomal farnesiferol C (DFC) on the AGS gastric cancer cell line. The 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2yl)-2,5- diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were respectively used to detect the anti-proliferative properties of DFC and expression ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 as a hallmark of apoptosis. Compared to the void farnesiferol C (FC), our data showed that DFC significantly suppresses the proliferation of AGS cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). Also, DFC meaningfully increased the expression ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in AGS cells (P<0.01). The findings demonstrate that our nano-based formulation of farnesiferol C could be considered as a potential therapeutic agent in cancer targeting.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.129-135
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• 1985

In order to search for potential antidotes for T-2 toxin poisoning, seven Chinese herbal drug extracts and five natural constituents were tested on mice intoxicated with T-2 toxin. When extracts of Panax ginseng and Atractylodes japonica (500 mg/kg) were administered p.o. once 3 hrs before and once 1 hr after T-2 toxin treatment, a 30% complete survival rate was noted. In case of Paeonia albiflora var. typica, a 30% complete survival rate was also produced at a dose of 250 mg/kg. Other extracts, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Scutellaria baicalensis, Rehmannia glutinosa and Plantago asiatica exhibited no significant protection from the T-2 toxin poisoning. A nucleoside, thymidine showed protective activity against T-2 toxin toxicity and it produced a 40% complete survival rate when administered i.p. once 0.5 hr after T-2 toxin treatment. Other natural constituents, aucubin, vitamin C and E, and lipoic acid did not show any significant protective activities.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.419-423
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• 2006

Basic studies on natural gas hydrates in the East Sea were been carried out by the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) from 2000 to 2004 involving 2D multichannel seismic lines and piston coring. 27 piston cores recovered from the deed-water Ulleung Basin of the East Sea were analyzed in this study. In piston cores cracks generally developed parallel to bedding suggest significant gas content. The core analyses showed high total organic carbon (TOC) content, sedimentation rate and heat flow of sediments. The cores recovered from the southern study area show also high residual hydrocarbon gas concentrations for the formation of natural gas hydrates. This study indicates that there is the potential for the generation of biogenic gas and the formation of natural gas hydrates in the near seafloor sediments of the study area.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2021

As the consumption of avocado fruits and avocado oils is steadily increasing, the amount of avocado seeds which are thrown away as by-products is also inceasing. Thus, the possibility of use of avocado seeds as natural preservatives was studied focused on the antioxidant effect. The extraction of avocado seeds and seed husks with 100% ethanol by maceration showed highest antioxidant activities and lowest IC50 values compared to 80% ethanol extract. Furthermore, 100% ethanol extract of avocado seeds and seed husks included significantly higher amount of polyphenols than 80% extract. However, total flavonoid content of 100% avocado seed extract was not signigicantly different from 80% seed extract, whereas that of 100% avocado seed husk extract was significantly higher than 80% seed husk extract. In case of acid values, heating of oil alone for 120 and 180 min significantly increased the acid values, whereas the treatment of oil with seed and seed husk extract signficantly decreased the acid values. These results suggest that antioxidant effects of avocado seeds and seed husks protected the oil against heat-induced acidification. Thus, avocado seeds and seed husks have a potential to be developed as an natural antioxidant and natural preservative which could be used commercially.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.96-112
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• 1998

This study aims to evaluate the potential of pro-environmental application(PEP) in streams conceptualized ecological conservation and recreational use to be in harmony with. The main content of research are to clarify the PEP, to establish the evaluation model, and to evaluate 3 streams(Dongchon, Seokhyunchon, Okchon) in Sunchon city. Researchers introduced 12 evaluation items(water quality, water quantity, vegetation-water area, vegetation conservation, streamscape, neighborhood landscape, stream width, optimum area, nearby landuse, facility in stream, distance from user, obstacle to acces) by 5 scales to evaluate the characteristics of natural and artificial factors in stream area and nearby area. Also to decide the weight of items, researchers surveyed the opinion of 22 landscape architects experienced stream-plan through delphi method. Lastly the pro-environmental potential on streams were calculated by the ecological potential and recreational potential indices to be standardized and indicidual sections in streams were divided 5 grades on the basis of PEP. The result of this study are as follows; 1) The evaluation model of PEP was constructed by 4 steps, such as the decision of weight, the measurement of scale, the calculation of potential indices, the gradation of individual sections in streams. 2) The ecological potential were highly influenced by natural factor such as water quality, vegetation conservation, vegetation-water area, but on the other hand the recreational potential were influenced by optimum area, distance from user, water quantity, obstacle to access. 3) The factors such as vegetation conservation, optimum area, nearby landuse, distance from user were function as discernment factors to evaluate relatively ecological and recreational potential. and water quality, water quantity, vegetation -water area, neighborhood landscape were acted as important items to decide PEP.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.77-84
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• 2007

This study aims to analyze temporal variation of rural tourist potential in village level. In order to analyze the temporal variation, this study applied a green-tourism potential evaluation model(GPEM) to a study area, Namilmyun with 18 villages, which located on county of Kumsan, province of Chungnam. GPEM consists of two factors about human resources, which is quantified by resident population of the village who will be participated in village management for green-tourism, and amenity resources, which is calculated by an evaluation table with 31 criteria and their weighting values. Data surveying for the study area was performed at August 2003 and 2006, respectively, in order to quantity the 31 evaluation criteria of GPEM. From the analysis results, the amenity resources with three sub-classes of industrial, natural, and social resources showed that the evaluation values of 2006 were increased in more than those of 2003, displaying the increase rate of ranging from 108% to 112% in the three sub-classes, except of one village in social resources and three village in natural resources with reduction. In human resources, the evaluation values of 2006 were highly increased more than those of 2003, showing the rate of 556% in the gradient of linear regression line. In green tourism potential in each village, the evaluation results for two time series showed that the potential is increased by time, which the increase rate of the potential is 114%. Ultimately, the results of this study enable us to realize that the green-tourism potential in each village over time is increased, for example, due to developing new facilities in the village by investment of government and participating in rural tourism by resident people over time. From the analysis and results, the methodology of this study can be applied to analyze the temporal variation of the potential for villages having investment from government.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2004

In this paper we have examined the effect of dust charge density on nonlinear ion acoustic solitary wave which propagates obliquely with respect to the external magnetic field in a dusty plasma. For the dusty charge density below a critical value, the Sagdeev potential $\Psi1(n)$ has a singular point in the region n < 1, where n is the ion number density divided by its equilibrium number density. If there exists a dust charge density over the critical value, the Sagdeev potential becomes a finite function in the region n < 1, which means that there may exist the rarefactive ion acoustic solitary wave. By expanding the Sagdeev potential in the small amplitude limit up to on4 near n=1, we find the solution of ion acoustic solitary wave. Therefore we suggest that the dust charge density plays an important role in generating the rarefactive solitary wave.