• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.18 no.10
• /
• pp.559-568
• /
• 2017

recent times, the monthly rent in the Jongno-gu Historical and Cultural Street in Seoul has rapidly increased, because of the presence of large-scale franchises and the entry of private investment into the traditional and local businesses focusing on Bukchon, Seochon, Insa-dong, and Samcheong-dong. As a result, the business environment for these merchants has worsened, due to the increasing economic burden. In order to maintain the business environment of the merchants, it is necessary to evaluate the potential for establishing a regional commercial area, in order to resolve the problems of the existing commercial areas and to improve the locational, economic, cultural and political environment. This study analyzed the factors influencing the merchants' satisfaction with the business environment as a function of their age, by considering three age groups, viz. 30-49, 50-59, and more than 60, considering the locational, economic, cultural and political environment of the merchants. Among the factors influencing the satisfaction with the business environment, the merchants in their 30s and 40s placed more emphasis on the traffic accessibility, floating population, store premium and monthly rent than the other age groups. Among the factors influencing the satisfaction with the business environment, the merchants in their 50s placed more emphasis on the cultural organization, artist activities, expansion of community support facilities, and banning of franchises in certain locations than the other age groups. Among the factors influencing the satisfaction with the business environment, the merchants over 60 years old placed more emphasis on the walking accessibility, monthly sales, merchant community, preservation of historical and cultural landscape, and commercial protection of the government than the other age groups.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.136-141
• /
• 2009

Familial Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) is a progressive neurodegenetative disorder induced by mutations of the SOD1 gene. Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is well-defined as a stress-inducible protein, however the its role in ALS protection has not yet been established. To investigate the role HSP27 may have in SOD1 mutant-mediated apoptosis, human SOD1 or HSP27 genes were fused with a PEP-1 peptide in a bacterial expression vector to produce a genetic in-frame fusion protein, which was then transduced into cells. We found the purified PEP-1-HSP27 fusion proteins can be transduced efficiently into neuronal cells and protect against cell death by enhancing mutant SOD1 activity. Moreover, transduced PEP-1-HSP27 efficiently prevents protein aggregation produced by oxidative stress. These results suggest that transduced HSP27 fusion protein may be explored as a potential therapeutic agent for FALS patients.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.237-243
• /
• 2010

Comprehensive quarterly serosurveillance on scrub typhus in small mammals collected from military training sites located near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), northern Gyeonggi-do (Province), ROK was conducted to determine the potential rodent-borne and associated ectoparasite disease risks to military personnel. A total of 1,196 rodents and insectivores representing 8 species, Apodemus agrarius (87.3%, n = 1,044), Mus musculus (5.4%, n = 65), Crocidura lasiura (3.3%, n = 40), Microtus fortis (2.6%, n = 31), Micromys minutus (0.3%, n = 4), Tscherskia triton (0.3%, n = 4), Rattus norvegicus (0.3%, n = 4), and Myodes regulus (0.3%, n = 4) were assayed for the presence of antibodies to Orientia tsutsugamushi. O. tsutsugamushi antibodies were detected in 6 of 8 species and seroprevalence determined; A. agrarius (45.6%), M. musculus (23.1%), M. fortis (48.4%), M. minutus (50.0%), T. triton (50.0%), and R. norvegicus (25.0%). A total of 31,184 chigger mites collected from 508 rodents and insectivores were slide-mounted and 10 species belonging to 4 genera were identified. Leptotrombidium pallidum (53.4%) was the most frequently collected, followed by L. pal pale (15.7%), Neotrombicula tam/yai (14.3%), L. orientate (10.7%), L. zetum (3.1%), Walchia fragilis (2.1%), and L. gemiticutum (0.8%), while the remaining 3 species, L subintennedium, N. gardellai, and Euschoengastia koreaensis were rarely observed (prevalence < 10%). In contrast to previous surveys, higher chigger indices of the primary scrub typhus vectors, L. pallidum (165.4), L. orientale (45.0), and L. palpate (21.4), were observed during the spring season.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.139-144
• /
• 2002

Sterols play two major roles in plants: a bulk component in biological membranes and precursors of plant steroid hormones. Physiological effects of plant steroids, brassinosteroids (BRs), include cell elongation, cell division, stress tolerance, and senescence acceleration. Arabidopsis mutants that carry genetic defects in BR biosynthesis or its signaling display characteristic phenotypes, such as short robust inflorescences, dark-green round leaves, and sterility. Currently there are more than 100 dwarf mutants representing 7 genetic loci in Arabidopsis. Mutants of 6 loci, dwf1/dim1/cbb1, cpd/dwf3, dwf4, dwf5, det2/dwf6, dwf7 are rescued by exogenous application of BRs, whereas bri1/dwf2 shares phenotypes with the above 6 loci but are resistant to BRs. These suggest that the 6 loci are defective in BR biosynthesis, and the one locus is in BR signaling. Biochemical analyses, such as intermediate feeding tests, examining the levels of endogenous BR, and molecular cloning of the genes revealed that dwf7, dwf5, and dwf1 are defective in the three consecutive steps of sterol biosynthesis, from episterol to campesterol via 5-dehydroepisterol. Similarly, det2/dwf6, dwf4, and cpd /dwf3 were shown to be blocked in D$^4$reduction, 22a-hydroxylation, and 23 a-hydroxylation, respectively. A signaling mutant bril/dwf2 carries mutations in a Leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase. Interestingly, the bri1 mutant was shown to accumulate significant amount of BRs, suggesting that signaling and biosynthesis are dynamically coupled in Arabidopsis. Thus it is likely that transgenic plants over-expressing the rate-limiting step enzyme DWF4 as well as blocking its use by BRIl could dramatically increase the biosynthetic yield of BRs. When applied industrially, BRs will boost new sector of plant biotechnology because of its potential use as a precursor of human steroid hormones, a novel lead compound for cholesterol-lowering effects, and a various application in plant protection.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.8
• /
• pp.1019-1024
• /
• 2013

The aims of this study were to determine antioxidation effect and neuroblastoma cell protection effect of donkey's bone and skin extracts (DBSE). DBSE was extracted by a pressure-cooker for 48 h and lyophilized. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was significantly increased with increased doses of DBSE and 40 mg/ml of DBSE showed 95.43% of the DPPH scavenging effect, which was equivalent to 1 mg/ml of vitamin C. The 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity was also increased in a dose-dependent manner, and 20 mg/ml of DBSE showed 88.73% of the ABTS scavenging effect. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (${\mu}M$ Trolox equivalent) of DBSE was significantly increased at a concentration of 10 mg/ml, which showed $132.53{\mu}M$ TE. The viability of oxidatively stressed brain cells induced by $500{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$ was protected by DBSE at concentrations greater than $50{\mu}M$. Cell viability after DBSE treatment at 50 and $100{\mu}g/ml$ was 53.78 and $54.34{\mu}M$ TE, respectively. There was no significant difference between both doses; however, 200 and $500{\mu}g/ml$ of DBSE showed 59.74 and 66.08% of cell viability, respectively indicating that DBSE protected SK-N-SH from oxidation stress. These results suggest that DBSE may have potential to be used as natural antioxidants in food industry, while in vivo evidence is necessary to support DBSE's in vitro-based antioxidative efficiency.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.257-265
• /
• 2017

Ferulic Acid (FA) is a metabolite of phenylalanine and tyrosine, a phenolic compound commonly found in fruits and vegetables. Several studies have shown that FA has various functions such as antioxidant effect, prevention of cell damage from irradiation, protection from cell damage caused by oxygen deficiency, anti-inflammatory action, anti-aging action, liver protective effect and anti-cancer action. In this study, we investigated the maturation rate, intracellular glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) of porcine oocytes by adding FA to the in vitro maturation (IVM) medium and examined subsequent embryonic developmental competence at 5% oxygen through parthenogenesis. There is no significant difference between the control group ($0{\mu}M$) and treatment groups ($5{\mu}M$, $10{\mu}M$, $20{\mu}M$) on maturation rates. Intracellular GSH levels in oocyte treated with $5{\mu}M$ of FA significantly increased (P < 0.05), and $20{\mu}M$ of FA revealed significant decrease (P < 0.05) in intracellular ROS levels compared with the control group. Oocytes treated with FA exhibited significantly higher cleavage rates (79.01% vs 89.19%, 92.20%, 90.89%, respectively) than the control group. Oocytes treated with $10{\mu}M$ showed significantly higher blastocyst formation rates (28.3% vs 40.3%, respectively) after PA than the control group. Total cell numbers in blastocyst of $10{\mu}M$ FA displayed significantly higher (39.4 vs 51.9, respectively) than the control group. In conclusion, these results suggested that treatment with FA during IVM improved the developmental potential of porcine embryos by increasing intracellular GSH synthesis and reducing ROS levels. Also, there was an improvement of cleavage rate, blastocyst formation and total cell numbers in blastocysts. It might be associated with Keap1-Nrf2 pathway as an antioxidant regulate pathway that plays a crucial role in determining the sensitivity of cells to oxidative damages by regulating the basal and inducible expression of enzymes which is related to detoxification and anti-oxidative effects, stress response enzymes and/or proteins and ABC transporters.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.329-336
• /
• 2017

This study examined the effects of polyphenols in grape pruning stem extracts (GPSE) using grape stems discarded after harvest. The inhibitory effects on allergy, proliferation, and apoptosis in UVB-induced HR-1 hairless mice were analyzed. The applicability as a material for functional food and functional cosmetics was evaluated. The contents of the active ingredients of GPSE were analyzed by HPLC. After UVB irradiation on the dermis of HR-1 hairless mice, the number of mast cells was determined by toluidine blue staining to confirm that the skin allergic reaction was caused by GPSE. The results were similar to the normal group in the group applied GPSE, and there was no allergic reaction in the GPSE application group and a significant decreased compared to the sun cream control. PCNA immunohistochemical staining of the epidermal proliferation factor had an inhibitory effect on epidermal epithelial cell proliferation in all concentrations of GPSE and serum base mixture as an average of 42% compared to the control group. The mixture of GPSE and serum base suppressed the apoptosis inhibition rate by 27% on average compared to the control. These results confirmed the inhibitory effects GPSE on the allergic, proliferation, and apoptosis activities by with a serum base on UVB-induced skin damage. GPSE is a functional ingredient with potential skin protection effects, and has a high utilization as an ingredient for functional cosmetics.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.317-326
• /
• 2009

This study has shown the screening of anti-bacterial activity of three Indian medicinal plant choloroform : methanol (50:50) solvent leaf extracts (i.e. Azadirachta indica, Ocimum sanctum, and Curcuma longa) with different concentrations (10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, 0.312, and 0.156 mg/ml) under in vitro conditions against fish pathogenic bacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila, Streptococcus iniae, Vibrio harveyi, V. anguillarum, and Edwardsiella tarda isolated from olive flounder farms, Jeju Island, South Korea. The anti-microbial activity of the A. indica and O. sanctum extracts yielded the zones of growth inhibition (ZI) was 3 and 1mm against A. hydrophila at concentration of 0.156 mg/ml when compared to that of tetracycline standard (3 mm). At highest concentration (10 mg/ml) of A. indica, O. sanctum, and C. longa, high inhibition was 9, 7, and 6 mm when compared to that of tetracycline (11 mm) against A. hydrophila. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of A. indica, O. sanctum, and C. longa at 0.156 mg/ml that yield 9, 10, and 13 CFU/ml for A. hydrophila, 16, 22, and 25 CFU/ml for S. iniae and 18, 22, and 23 CFU/ml for E. tarda compared to the tetracycline. At highest concentration (10 mg/ml) of the three extracts was better inhibiting the growth of A. hydrophila, S. iniae and E. tarda. A. indica, O. sanctum, and C. longa were determined to the potential antioxidant activityon the basis of their scavenging activity of the stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. A. indica extract was 0.625 mg/ml which indicated that the strong anti-oxidant activity. However, O. sanctum and C. longa extracts showed weak anti-oxidant activity at this concentration. Hence, in vitro assay among the pathogens, A. hydropila is better inhibitory activity of the extracts. It is evident that the Indian medicinal plants extracts were subjected to its effectiveness against A. hydrophila, S. iniae, and E.tarda at low concentrations. The obtained results in the present study suggested that the Indian plant extracts is a prevention tools for Korean olive flounder aquaculture pathogens and its need further advance investigation.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.107-114
• /
• 2014

For the treatments and protection of bacterial fish disease, many requirements are needed for aquatic probiotics so that they are effective in aquaculture animals but are also harmless to humans. In the present study, among 17 candidate probiotic bacteria (CPB) obtained from the edible part of the shellfish, Bacillus sp. CPB-St (CPB-St) were selected and in vitro evaluated for the possibility as a probiotic strain for the control of fish streptococcosis which frequently occurs in the olive flounder farms. CPB-St showed inhibitory effects on the growth of various fish pathogenic bacteria, Streptococcus sp., S. parauberis, S. iniae, Lactococcus garvieae and L. piscium by the double layer test ranging about 18~26 mm of clear zone. Inhibitory activity of CPB-St to Streptococcus sp. was observed 6 hours after and the growth of Streptococcus sp. was decreased to 8~55 folds in the co-culture of CPB-St with Streptococcus sp.. The safety of CPB-St to fish and survival of CPB-St in the intestine were assessed in the olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Fish mortality was not observed in artificial infection with CPB-St for 2 weeks. CPB-St was entirely excreted from the stomach and intestine 24 hours after oral injection. This results indicate that CPB-St has potential applications as a probiotic for the control of fish streptococcosis in aquaculture.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.195-206
• /
• 1979

Where the industrial waste is increasing in number of kind and in quantities by the industrialization and population increases, the pollution problem is not only national but grobal question of the day. This paper is trying to invite attentions by the people who are working in both sector-natural sciences and industries in reviewing limited reports and materials. 1. By the chemical evaluation of over 20 industrial waste produced in Korea, potential wastes for commercial fertilizer would be wastes from alcohol fermantation, beer brewery, leather processing, synthetic fiber, and coffee grounds. 2. The composition of city waste is differ from other countries and sludge cake from human feces processing is promising one in the organic matter and phosphate content particularly. However, the content of heavy matals, specific order, and availability of phosphate are the bottle-neck for the development. 3. There is one commercial fertilizer from industrial waste in the market. It is very reasonable in the content of nitrogen and organic matter, and its formulation and responeses on crops. 4. Discussions were also given on the general problems in processing and marketing of fertilizers from industrial waste, however, scientists and industrial owners have to pay more attention on the development of fertilizers from tire industrial wastes because of vital environmental protection view-point.