• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2009

Biofouling in seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination process causes many problems such as flux decline, biodegradation of membrane, increased cleaning time, and increased energy consumption and operational cost. Therefore biofouling is considered as the most critical problem in system operation. To control biofouling in early stage, detection of the most problematic bacteria causing biofouling is required. In this study, six model bacteria were chosen; Bacillus sp., Flavobacterium sp., Mycobacterium sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Rhodobacter sp. based on report in the literature and phylogenetic analysis of seawater intake and fouled RO membrane. The adhesion to RO membrane, the high pressure resistance, and the hydrophobicity of the six model bacteria were examined to find out their fouling potential. Rhodobacter sp. and Mycobacterium sp. were found to attach very well to RO membrane surface compared to others used in this study. The test of hydrophobicity revealed that the bacteria which have high hydrophobicity or similar contact angle with RO membrane ($63^{\circ}$ of contact angle) easily attached to RO membrane surface. P. aeruginosa which is highly hydrophilic ($23.07^{\circ}$ of contact angle) showed the least adhesion characteristic among six model bacteria. After applying a pressure of 800 psi to the sample, Rhodobacter sp. was found to show the highest reduction rate; with 59-73% of the cells removed from the membrane under pressure. P. fluorescens on the other hand analyzed as the most pressure resistant bacteria among six model bacteria. The difference between reduction rates using direct counting and plate counting indicates that the viability of each model bacteria was affected significantly from the high pressure. Most cells subjected to high pressure were unable to form colonies even thought they maintained their structural integrity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.78 no.2
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• pp.103-118
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• 1989

The occurrence of witches' broom in Ligustrum ovalifolium was first noticed in Korea by author in 1984. The present study was carried out with particular emphasis on the symptomatology, etiology, transmission of the disease and antibiotic treatments. The infected tissue was observed by the fluorescence and electron microscopy and its biochemical characteristics were compared with healthy one by electrophoresis. The results are summarized as follows : 1. symptoms of the infected trees were characterized by the dwarfing of the organs, yellowing and brooming of the foliage. 2. The observation by the trans electron microscopy on the witches' broom of L. ovalifolium revealed the occurrence of numerous mycoplasma-like organisms(MLOs) in the phloem tissue cells of the midribs of infected leaves. 3. The MLOs were surrounded by a single unit membrane, and they appeared to be multiplied by binary fission. 4. The presence of crystals unidentified in the phloem parenchyma cells was noticed by electron rnicroscopy, 5. The disease was able to be transmitted by budding, crown, and greenwood graftings to L. ovalifolium, L. obtusifolium, L, japonicum and also transmitted, even when the stocks and scions were not completely grafted. 6. Insect transmission on L. ovalifolium and L, obtzrsifolium was carried by Hishimonus sellatus. 7. The infected roots dipped in the 1,000 ppm of teracyclin solution was only temporarily effective in controlling the disease. 8. Infected plant with MLOs showed specific fluorescent reactions in phloems with DAPI stain. 9. The protein and peroxidase separated by electrophoresis showed strikingly distinctive difference between the healthy and diseased leaves.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.787-795
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• 2021

Eupatorium chinensis var. simplicifolium (EUC) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Young sprouts of EUC have been used as food for a long time, and the whole EUC plant has been used as an herbal remedy in oriental medicine. Arteriosclerosis, or chronic inflammation in arterial vessels, is a cardiovascular disease and is involved in various disorders. Cardiovascular diseases such as restenosis and neuropathic hyperplasia are mainly caused by abnormal growth and movement due to multiple growth factors in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a mitogen released from damaged vessel walls and is involved in the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. To determine the effects of EUC on the abnormal proliferation and migration of VSMCs, the present study investigated intracellular signaling pathways in PDGF-BB-induced VSMCs treated with and without EUC. Pretreating PDGF-BB-induced VSMCs with EUC tended to effectively decrease cell proliferation and migration. Subsequently, the intracellular growth-related signaling pathways of AKT, phospholipase C gamma (PLC-γ), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were investigated using western blotting to confirm inhibited phosphorylation. Furthermore, flow cytometry data showed that EUC blocked the cell cycle of VSMCs. These results suggest that EUC can inhibit the proliferation and migration of VSMCs by controlling the cell cycle and growth factor receptors. Furthermore, this indicates that EUC can be used as a preventative against cardiovascular disease resulting from abnormal proliferation and migration of VSMCs.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.661-676
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• 2018

Veronica persica (V. persica) is a perennial plant that is broadly distributed in Europe, Asia and so on. V. persica is used for pain about the lower abdomen and low back. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of V. persica ethanol extract in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. To evaluate the anti-oxidant activity, the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, and reducing power activity were carried out. The DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity were evaluated as 72.0% and 73.0% at the concentrations of 200 and $500{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of V. persica extracts were measured as 65.22 mg/g and 43.82 mg/g at the concentration of 1 mg/mL. The reducing power activity measurement showed 53.0% activity at 1 mg/mL. The anti-inflammatory effects of the V. persica extract were evaluated in LPS induced RAW 264.7 cells. In the evaluation of cell viability by proliferation ＆ cytotoxicity assay kit, the cytotoxicity of the extract was not confirmed at $0{\sim}800{\mu}g/mL$ concentration. And the V. persica significantly inhibited NO production in a concentration dependent manner. The inhibition effects of NO in cell medium of V. persica was over 80% at $800{\mu}g/mL$. The V. persica also suppressed the expression of iNOS, COX-2, and phosphorylation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and $IkB-{\alpha}$ proteins. These results indicate that the V. persica has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by modulating $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathways and can be used as natural functional materials.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 2023

As a protective defensive mechanism against ultraviolet (UV) light exposure in skin tissue, melanocytes produce the pigment melanin. Tyrosinase plays a key role in melanin production in melanocytes. However, the overproduction of melanin can lead to lesions, such as freckles and dark spots. Thus, it is clinically important to find a modulating molecule to control melanogenesis by regulating tyrosinase expression and/or activity. It is known that catechin, a plant flavonoid, can reduce melano- genesis through the downregulation of tyrosinase expression. Here, we tested whether catechin derivatives isolated from the stem bark of Ulmus parvifolia have an effect on melanin production by regulating tyrosinase in mouse melanoma cells and in vitro mushroom tyrosinase. The catechin derivatives used in this study included C5A, C7A, C7G, and C7X. Treatments using these catechin derivatives reduced melanin production in mouse melanoma B16F10 cells in which melanogenesis was stimulated by α-MSH. Notably, the anti-melanogenic effects of catechin derivatives were similar to those of kojic acid, a well-known anti-melanogenic molecule. Both C5A and C7A directly inhibited the activity of tyrosinase isolated from mushrooms in vitro. Furthermore, our in silico computational simulation showed that these two compounds were expected to bind to the active site of tyrosinase, which is similar to kojic acid. In addition, all four catechin derivatives reduced tyrosinase protein expression. In summary, our results showed that catechin derivatives can reduce melanogenesis by regulating tyrosinase activity or expression. Thus, this study suggests that catechin derivatives isolated from U. parvifolia can be novel modulators of melanin production.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.273-280
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• 2003

Saline conditions invoke oxidative stress attributed to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Changes in quantum efficiency and antioxidative enzyme activity upon salt treatment were examined in a salt-tolerant plant, Atriplex gmelini, to test the hypothesis that salt tolerance of A. gmelini is due to the increased activity of antioxidative enzymes. A. gmelini showed optimum growth at 100 mM NaCl producing 116% of the shoot dry weight over control plants in 0 mM NaCl treatment. Healthy growth persisted up to 300 mM NaCl treatment maintaining normal internal water content and dry weight. No photochemical stress or damages on antioxidative defense system was obvious in plants of 2 and 4 day salt treatment which was indicated by increased quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm value), decreased stress index (Fo/Fm value), and increased activity of antioxidative enzymes such as SOD, APX, GR. However, the plants treated with 400 mM NaCl showed decrease in growth and in antioxidative enzyme activity although the enzyme activity was still higher than that of the 0 mM NaCl treated plants (l31%, 114%, and 134% of the SOD, APX, and GR activity, respectively). Interestingly, another important antioridative enzyme that scavenges H₂O₂ in plant cells, CAT, showed rapid decrease in its activity as salt concentration increased; 38%, 22%, 15% of the 0 mM NaCl treated plants at 200, 300, 400 mM NaCl treatments, respectively. It appears that the enzymes in ascorbate-glutathione cycle such as APX and GR play the major roles in scavenging ROS produced by salt stress in A. gmelini. After 6 days of salt treatment, the damage in photochemical and antioxidative defense system was indicated by decreased Fv/Fm value and increased Fo/Fm value. A. gmelini appears to cope with short term salt treatment by enhanced activity of the antioxidative defense system, whereas long term stress invoke oxidative stress by increased ROS due to the damages in photochemical and antioxidative system.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.673-680
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• 2009

This study was conducted to screen for plant food materials that improve human intestinal microflora, especially microorganisms associated with obesity. Among 30 tested plant food materials, the extract of Schizandra chinensis inactivated Eubacterium limosum, Bacteroides fragilis and Clostridium spp. Additionally, S. chinensis extract was also found to have a growth-promoting effect on Bifidobacterium spp.. The antimicrobial activity and antioxidant activity of the water extract did not decrease in respond to heating. Additionally, the water extract of S. chinensis did not show a toxic effect on the growth of Caco-2 cells. In vivo feeding tests were performed to investigate the influence of extract on the intestinal microflora in rats. Although the extract did not reduce obesity induced by a high fat diet, it led to significant increase in the population of Bifidobacterium spp. and a decrease in the population of Clostridium spp. in rats. Taken together, these results indicate that S. chinensis could be useful as a functional food component to control intestinal microbial flora.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 1986

The blue-light effect on the grown as well as on the physiological activity of some major horticultural plants in Korea has been investigated. The light quality used for the work was obtained from sunlight filtered by an orangecolored polyethylene film which removed about 70% of visible light in the spectral region of $350㎚{\sim}500㎚$. The film was developed in this laboratory especially for the work and named BCR film meaning blue color-removing film. The light environment in the plastic house which was built with BCR film provided plants with the blue color-deficient sunlight. Thus, the photobiological effect of blue light could be examined conversely by comparing with the effect of white sunlight in a conventional plastic house built with colorless polyethylene film. In a sense of applicability to horticulture, two remarkable effects of the blue color-deficient sunlight on plant physiology were observed: First, it enhanced to a great extent the growth activity of plants-pepper, cucumber, zucchini, tomato, and leaf lettuce at the vegetative stage as well as at the reproductive stage, as demonstrated by their yield which were in average $40{\sim}50%$ increased compared with the control (under white sunlight). Second, it improved significantly the cold tolerance of plants, as exhibited with their resistance to chilling during treatment in a cold chamber maintained at a temperature which caused chilling injury to the plants of control. The visualized effects were reflected on the physiological activity of cells on organelle level. Chloroplast isolated from the plant leaves grown under BCR film showed considerably stronger photosynthetic activity, as judged by the increased electron transport rate of illuminated chloroplast, than that from leaves grown under white PE film. Mitochondria from leaves grown under BCR film maintained normal respiration activity until temperature decreased to a few degree($^{\circ}C$) lower than the temperature which caused respiratory inhibition to mitochondria obtained from leaves of the control.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2020

The striped fruit fly, Zeugodacus scutellata, is endemic in Korea, but it has been regarded as one of the serious quarantine pests throughout the world. Sterile insect release technique (SIT) has been used to eradicate quarantine fruit flies. This study developed a technique to generate sterile males and applied SIT to control Z. scutellata. First of all, the reproductive systems of Z. scutellata adults were examined with fluorescent microscope. Polytrophic ovaries comprises of around 100 follicles with developing oocytes. Each follicle contains an oocyte with several nurse cells and are surrounded with follicular epithelium. Oocyte development began at 10 days after adult emergence (DAE) and formed chorionated oocytes after 20 DAE. On the other hand, male testes were well developed just after adult emergence. The vas deferens was filled with motile sperms. To generate sterile males, different doses (0~1,000 Gy) doses of electron beam were irradiated to 3~5 days old pupae of Z. scutellata. When male pupae were irradiated with electron beam at 200 Gy, they developed and mated with females without any significant difference compared to untreated males. Although the untreated females mated with the 200 Gy-irradiated males laid eggs, no eggs did not hatch. The 200 Gy-irradiated males were then applied to untreated male and female flies in a density ratio of 1:9 (untreated males : treated males). The laid eggs suffered significant infertility. These results suggest that electron beam-irradiated pupae at 200 Gy resulted in male sterility and the resulting males would be applied to SIT.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.50-58
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• 1995

These studies were carried out to develop a system for non -destructive and continuous measurement of fresh weight and to analyse the growth response of leaf lettuce under the different nutrient solution and light condition with this system. The developed measurement system was consisted of four load cells and a microcomputer. The output from the system was highly positive correlation with the plant fresh weight above the surface of the hydroponic solution. The top fresh weight of plant could be measured within the error $\pm$ 1.0g in the range of 0 - 2000g. The top fresh weight of leaf lettuce increased 44 times at 18th day after transferring to the nutrient solution, and the maximum growth rate was observed at 13th day after transferring. The growth rate was 10.7- 29.6% per day during 18 days. Optimum concentration of the nutrient solution for the growth of lettuce was 1.4 - 2.2 mS/cm of EC level. When the light condition was changed from dark to light, the fresh weight was temporarily decreased, but the fresh weight increased under the opposite condition. Top fresh weight of leaf lettuce in the darkness normally increased within 12 hours after darkness treatment, and then slowly increased until 78 hours under continuous dark condition. After that times, the fresh weight began to decrease.