• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.260-266
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• 2023

In recent years, excessive emissions of carbon dioxide(CO₂) have become the cause of global climate change. Consequently, there has been significant research activity aimed at both removing and utilizing CO₂. This study assesses the potential utilization of railway tie concrete waste, generated from railway infrastructure, as a CO₂ absorption material and investigates the physicochemical properties before and after CO₂ absorption to understand the CO₂ removal mechanisms. Railway tie concrete waste primarily consists of Si(26.60 %) and contains 9.82 % of Ca. Compared to samples of Cement and Normal concrete waste, it demonstrated superior potential for use as a CO₂ absorption material, with approximately 98 % of the Ca content participating in CO₂ absorption reactions. Through Thermogravimetric Analysis(TGA) and X-ray Diffraction(XRD) analysis, it was confirmed that the carbonate reaction, where the Ca in railway tie concrete waste converts into CaCO₃ through reaction with CO₂ gas, is the primary mechanism for CO₂ removal. Furthermore, Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM) analysis revealed the formation of numerous CaCO₃ particles with sizes less than 0.1 ㎛ after the CO₂ absorption reaction. This transformation of large internal voids in the CO₂ absorption material into mesopores resulted in an increase in the specific surface area of the material.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.175-195
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• 2023

This study is for analyzing the relation between Korean Water transport and the other main countries Water transport. In the Free trade system, Maritime transport has a high impact on the global economy as well as the each countries. The division of labor through the global value chain(GVCs) has became the ordinary activity in business, and in Maritime shipping,, there are the International trade among countries. Therefore, This study analyze relation of Korean water transport and other 13 regions using World Input-Output Table(WIOT) by Asia Development Bank(ADB). The result of analysis, the proportion of intermediate goods in the input structure of Korean water transport is about 70%, and the ratio of using domestic products is higher than the major European countries. However, since 2000, intermediate inputs from foreign countries have steadily increased, and added value has decreased. Countries with a high relation with Korean Water transport industry are United States(USA) on the input structure, Singapore(SIN) and Japan(JPN) on the distribution structure. Analyzing the relation through the production inducement coefficient, Singapore(SIN) has the high relationship with Korean Water transport industry.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2023

This study aims to find out a suitable extender and cryoprotective agent (CPA) for cryopreservation and its optimum concentration in order to conduct planned artificial seed production of Korean bullhead Pseudobagrus fulvidraco and to preserve superior sperm. Experiments were designed to investigate the effects of the different combinations of three extenders (I: 300 mM glycose, II: Kurokura extender, III: Li extender), four cryoprotectants (dimethyl sulfoxide, ethylene glycol, methanol and glycerol) and four concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20%) on the cryopreservation of Korean bullhead sperm. Postthawed sperm survival rate and sperm activity index (SAI) were detected to evaluate the effects of sperm cryopreservation. The optimal combination of extender and CPA for cryopreservation of Korean bullhead sperm was extender III + 10 and 15% methanol, resulting in a survival rate and SAI of 66.9 ± 8.7, 67.3 ± 13.1% and 2.6 ± 0.4, 2.6 ± 0.5 respectively, which was higher than had been achieved with other extenders and CPAs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.967-977
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• 2023

Rubus crataegifolius (RC) is a traditional Asian medicinal plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. The fruits of RC are known to prevent adult diseases through antioxidants. In this study, the effects of RC extract (RCex) on obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were evaluated in animal models. Twenty-eight male C57BL/6J mice were induced to become obese for 8 weeks and then the extract was orally administered for 8 weeks. RCex reduced body weight, adipose tissue, liver weight. RCex improved biochemical biomarkers including lipid metabolism (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), plasma triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol). The activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) reduced the expression of adipogenesis genes (liver × receptor (LXR), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthesis (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) and the effect of enhancing carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) activity by RCex was verified. RCex also influence on plasma production of hormones (adiponectin & leptin) related on energy expenditure and metabolism. In addition, we confirmed that RCex improved glucose intolerance in HFD-induced obese rats. RCex was first demonstrated to have anti-obesity as well as anti-NAFLD effects by regulating fatty acid oxidation and fatty acid synthesis by phosphorylation of AMPK. This suggests that RCex could be a good supplement for the prevention of obesity and related NAFLD.

• Clean Technology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.327-332
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• 2023

This study investigated synthesis gas production via steam reforming of biogas. Ni-Al₂O₃ and Ni-CeO₂ catalysts were synthesized using the co-precipitation method, with controlled precipitation agent injection rates. Catalytic performances were tested at various temperatures, with a gas composition ratio of CH₄:CO₂:H₂O = 1:0.67:3 and a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 647,000 mL h^-1 gcat^-1. The rate of precipitation agent injection influenced the characteristics of the catalysts depending on the type of support used. As the temperature increased, both the CO₂ reforming of methane and the reverse water gas shift reactions occurred. The Ni-Al₂O₃ catalyst, synthesized with a single injection of the precipitation agent, exhibited the best catalytic activity under conditions with sufficient steam supply among the prepared catalysts, due to its high Ni dispersion.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.1775-1784
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• 2023

Objective: The aim of this study was to reveal the role and regulatory mechanism of miR-188-5p in the proliferation and differentiation of goat muscle satellite cells. Methods: Goat skeletal muscle satellite cells isolated in the pre-laboratory were used as the test material. First, the expression of miR-188-5p in goat muscle tissues at different developmental stages was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In addition, miR-188-5p was transfected into goat skeletal muscle satellite cells by constructing mimics and inhibitors of miR-188-5p, respectively. The changes of differentiation marker gene expression were detected by qPCR method. Results: It was highly expressed in adult goat latissimus dorsi and leg muscles, goat fetal skeletal muscle, and at the differentiation stage of muscle satellite cells. Overexpression and interference of miR-188-5p showed that miR-188-5p inhibited the proliferation and promoted the differentiation of goat muscle satellite cells. Target gene prediction and dual luciferase assays showed that miR-188-5p could target the 3'untranslated region of the calcium/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II beta (CAMK2B) gene and inhibit luciferase activity. Further functional studies revealed that CAMK2B promoted the proliferation and inhibited the differentiation of goat muscle satellite cells, whereas si-CAMK2B restored the function of miR-188-5p inhibitor. Conclusion: These results suggest that miR-188-5p inhibits the proliferation and promotes the differentiation of goat muscle satellite cells by targeting CAMK2B. This study will provide a theoretical reference for future studies on the molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle development in goats.

• BMB Reports
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• v.56 no.12
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• pp.663-668
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• 2023

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory marker and risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. However, the mechanism through which CRP induces myocardial damage remains unclear. This study aimed to determine how CRP damages cardiomyocytes via the change of mitochondrial dynamics and whether survivin, an anti-apoptotic protein, exerts a cardioprotective effect in this process. We treated H9c2 cardiomyocytes with CRP and found increased intracellular ROS production and shortened mitochondrial length. CRP treatment phosphorylated ERK1/2 and promoted increased expression, phosphorylation, and translocation of DRP1, a mitochondrial fission-related protein, from the cytoplasm to the mitochondria. The expression of mitophagy proteins PINK1 and PARK2 was also increased by CRP. YAP, a transcriptional regulator of PINK1 and PARK2, was also increased by CRP. Knockdown of YAP prevented CRP-induced increases in DRP1, PINK1, and PARK2. Furthermore, CRP-induced changes in the expression of DRP1 and increases in YAP, PINK1, and PARK2 were inhibited by ERK1/2 inhibition, suggesting that ERK1/2 signaling is involved in CRP-induced mitochondrial fission. We treated H9c2 cardiomyocytes with a recombinant TAT-survivin protein before CRP treatment, which reduced CRP-induced ROS accumulation and reduced mitochondrial fission. CRP-induced activation of ERK1/2 and increases in the expression and activity of YAP and its downstream mitochondrial proteins were inhibited by TAT-survivin. This study shows that mitochondrial fission occurs during CRP-induced cardiomyocyte damage and that the ERK1/2-YAP axis is involved in this process, and identifies that survivin alters these mechanisms to prevent CRP-induced mitochondrial damage.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2024

A key component of wound healing is epithelialization, which involves the proliferation and migration of epidermal keratinocytes surrounding the wound. Increasing cortisol, a stress hormone, is known to slow the healing process by inhibiting cell proliferation and migration. This study aims to develop an ingredient that can promote delayed wound healing by cortisol through a combination of Centella asiatica (C. asiatica), known for its excellent wound healing effect, and Rosamarinus officinalis (R. officinalis) leaf known for their antipsychotic effect. R. officinalis leaf extract was found to inhibit the activity of 11β-HSD1, an enzyme involved in the production of cortisol. A combination of C. asiatica and R. officinalis leaf extracts (AlfaCalm) was found to enhance cortisol induced delayed keratinocyte migration to a greater extent than C. asiatica extract. AlfaCalm enhanced the expression of CDC42 and the formation of filopodia, which are crucial for the relaxation of the actin skeleton. These results suggest that AlfaCalm can be used as an effective wound healing material in stress condition.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1268-1277
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• 2023

In this study, to evaluate the possibility of utilizing Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. (C. obtusa) leaf fractions as anti-inflammatory functional materials, C. obtusa extract extracted with 99% ethanol (CO99EL) was fractionated with hexane (CO99EL-H), chloroform (CO99EL-C), ethyl acetate (CO99EL-E), butanol (CO99EL-B) and distilled water (CO99EL-W). The anti-inflammatory effects of each fraction was performed using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 mouse macrophages. Cytotoxicity was highest in CO99EL-H and CO99EL-C and lowest in CO99EL-W. Interestingly, LPS-induced iNOS expression and NO production were significantly reduced by CO99EL-H and CO99EL-E, and COX-2 expression was significantly reduced by CO99EL-B and CO99EL-W. In addition, interleukin (IL)-1𝛽, an inflammatory cytokine increased by LPS, was significantly reduced by CO99EL-C, CO99EL-E, CO99EL-B and CO99EL-W, and IL-6 was significantly reduced by CO99EL-B and CO99EL-W. Therefore, the janus kinase (JAK)/signaling transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway activated by LPS was significantly reduced by CO99EL-H and CO99EL-C, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was slightly reduced by CO99EL-H and CO99EL-C. However, nuclear factor (NF)-𝜅B activity was not reduced by any fractions. Based on the results of this study, it was confirmed that CO99EL fractions have different anti-inflammatory mechanisms depending on the solvent used for fractionation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.170-178
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• 2024

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are capable of differentiation into multiple lineages of cells, which has attracted attention for clinical therapy. However, ADSCs have poor proliferation capacity and a short life span in culture, which is an impediment in the application to clinical use. Previously, to overcome growth disadvantages, we had established an immortalized ADSC line (ADSC-T) by introducing the SV40 T antigen coding gene into primary human ADSC. In the present study, we evaluated the differentiation potential of this cell line and assessed the anti-inflammatory effect of its conditioned medium (CM). ADSC-T appeared to maintain the differentiation potential into adipocyte and chondrocyte. The CM of ADSC-T suppressed the NF-κB activity and its target gene expression of COX-2 and iNOS. Furthermore, the phosphorylations of MAPKs, including ERK, JNK and p38, were suppressed by the ADSC-T CM. The expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-13 were also suppressed by the CM of ADSC-T. In the Nc/Nga atopic model mice, the CM showed therapeutic effect on DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis. These results indicate that the immortalized ADSC-T maintains the beneficial properties of primary ADSC and could be a versatile cell source for not only research into ADSC but also for production of CM suitable for clinical application.