• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.12
• /
• pp.1002-1014
• /
• 2023

The root of Cirsium japonicum var. maackii (Maxim.) has long been used in traditional medicine to prevent the onset and progression of various diseases and has been reported to exert a wide range of physiological effects, including antioxidant activity. However, research on its effects on hepatocytes remains scarce. This study used the human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell line to investigate the antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of C. japonicum root (EECJ) on hepatocytes. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was used to mimic oxidative stress. The results showed that EECJ significantly reverted the decrease in cell viability and suppressed the release of lactate dehydrogenase in HepG2 cells treated with H₂O₂. Moreover, an analysis of changes in cell morphology, flow cytometry, and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) expression showed that EECJ significantly inhibited HepG2 cell autophagy induced by H₂O₂. Furthermore, it attenuated H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and cell cycle disruption by blocking intracellular reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial superoxide production, indicating strong antioxidant activity. EECJ also restored the decreased levels of intracellular glutathione (GSH) and enhanced the expression and activity of superoxide dismutase and GSH peroxidase in H₂O₂-treated HepG2 cells. Although an analysis of the components contained in EECJ and in vivo validation using animal models are needed, these findings indicate that EECJ is a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress-induced liver cell damage.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.49-67
• /
• 2006

A mesocosm, an artificial tidal flat ecosystem, was constructed outdoors to simulate in situ physical and biochemical environmental conditions of natural tidal flat as much as possible. During the experiment from February to August 2004, the study was focused on the biogeochemical variations of superficial water and porewater after introduction of freshwater into the mesocosm. The mesocosm has three experimental conditions; SW-M-T: maintaining the saline water of approximately 20 psu; FW-M-T: complete exchange of freshwater ul the mesocosm with continuous mixing of water column: FW-NM-T: complete exchange of saline water to freshwater in the mesocosm without mixing of water column. Mass extinction of benthic macrofauna appeared due to drastic decrease of porewater salinity from 20 psu to less than 10 psu between the 63th and 91st day of freshwater introduction in FW-M-T and FW-NM-T. Throughout the periods, 7/8 of bivalves and 2/3 of polychaete populations have been extinguished in the sediment. In FW-NM-T, as temperature rises, both evident decrease of DO in water column and active release of DIP from sediment were observed. ${NO_3}^-$ was removed from water column into sediment throughout the periods. Therefore extremely low ${NO_3}^-$ was found during late spring and summer. Whereas ${NH_4}^+$ exhibited only $1/2{\sim}1/8$ of ${NO_3}^-$ concentration. Unexpectedly even after mass extinction of benthic macrofauna, we were not able to find high ${NH_4}^+$. This mesocosm study suggests that when fresh water introduce to natural tidal flat, its sediment activity functions as a potential source of DIP, but a sink of ${NO_3}^-$.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
• /
• v.47
• /
• pp.241-279
• /
• 2023

The Scripture of Myriad Laws was first published in 1986 and then reprinted in 1994 and 1995. It gained widespread recognition as a mysterious text or a Buddhist document containing enigmatic content that deemed difficult to comprehend. Through the analysis of the content of The Scripture of Myriad Laws, it was revealed that the book was published by the Dragon Flower Order, a Jeungsanist religion founded by Seo Baek-Il (徐白一). Therefore, the various texts included in The Scripture of Myriad Laws can be classified as 'Songs of Jeungsanism' (Jeungsan-gyo Gasa 甑山敎歌辭). The contents included in The Scripture of Myriad Laws often mention terms unique to the Jeungsanist orders, such as 'the Reordering Works of Heaven and Earth' (天地公事), 'presiding over cures' (醫統), 'Degree Number' (度數), 'the West God' (西神), 'the nobility of heaven' (天尊), 'the nobility of earth' (地尊), 'the nobility of humanity' (人尊), 'ruling the world for 50 years' (治天下五十年), and 'the era of Resolving Grievances (解冤時代).' It also discusses the birthplace and birth date of Kang Jeungsan, his family name, and the duration of his existence. The contents directly quote the words spoken by Jeungsan and incorporate them into songs. They also mention unique Jeungsan terms such as 'Five Immortals Playing Baduk' (五仙圍碁), 'open-weight wresting match,' 'birth, growth, harvest, and storage' (生長斂藏), 'the god who listens to words' (言聽神), 'pillar of foundation' (基礎棟樑),' 'Ocean Seal' (海印), and 'the higher gods' (上計神). It is also notable that some verses of Chinese poetry that Jeungsan taught his disciples are directly quoted in this scripture. Furthermore, the scripture shows traces of Buddhist salvational beliefs; particularly those that emphasize faith in Maitreya Bodhisattva (彌勒信仰). However, The Scripture of Myriad Laws differs from traditional Buddhist beliefs in that it anticipates and emphasizes the birth of a specific individual endowed with the power and abilities of Maitreya Buddha. While emphasizing Maitreya Buddha (彌勒世尊) and the Dragon Flower Gathering (龍華會上), the scripture also specifically mentions Geumsan-sa Temple (金山寺) located on Mount Moak (母岳山) in North Jeolla Province, and these details are sung about in a special manner. This positive portrayal serves to affirm the belief of followers that Jeungsan, centered around Geumsan-sa Temple, was an incarnation of Maitreya Buddha. Moreover, The Scripture of Myriad Laws subtly asserts that Seo Baek-il, the leader of the Dragon Flower Order, who is mentioned in the scripture, is the absolute savior who has come to this world in place of Jeungsan. In support of this teaching, his birth date, birthplace, years of imprisonment, release date, and honorific name (號) are all recorded in precise detail.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.103-113
• /
• 2024

Since 2009, the Korean Society of Plant Pathology has established the Committee on Common Names of Plant Disease to systematically review and determine plant disease names and related terminologies. The committee published the 6th edition of the List of Plant Diseases in Korea (LPDK) in 2022, and the list has been made publicly accessible online. The online database has significantly enhanced user accessibility, expedited update processes, and improved interoperability with other databases. As a result, the 6.1 edition of the list was released by online LPDK in 2023, detailing new disease names added over the preceding year and revisions to existing names. Subsequently, in 2024, the 6.2 edition was published, encompassing 6,765 diseases caused by 2,503 pathogen taxa across 1,432 host species. The public release of the online database has, however, introduced several challenges and tasks. Addressing these issues necessitates the development of modern, standardized nomenclature guidelines and a robust system for the registration of new disease names. Open communication and collaboration among the diverse members of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology are required to ensure the reliability of the LPDK.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.149-160
• /
• 2024

Dextran is a glucose homo-polysaccharide with a predominantly α-1,6 glycosidic linkage of microbial source and is known to be produced primarily by lactic acid bacteria. However, it can also be obtained through the dextran dextrinase of acetic acid bacteria (Gluconobacter oxydans). The dextrin-based dextran was obtained from rice starch using G. oxydans fermentation of rice hydrolysate, and its properties were studied. Both dextrin- and rice hydrolysate-added media maintained the OD value of 6 after 20 h of incubation with acetic acid bacteria, and the gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis of the supernatant after 72 h of incubation confirmed that a polymeric material with DP of 480 and 405, which was different from the composition of the substrate in the medium, was produced. The glucose linkage pattern of the polysaccharide was confirmed using the proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) and the increased α-1,4:α-1,6 bond ratio from 0.23 and 0.13 to 1:2.37 and 1:4.4, respectively, indicating that the main bonds were converted to α-1,6 bonds. The treatment of dextrin with a rat-derived alpha-glucosidase digestive enzyme resulted in a slow release of glucose, suggesting that rice hydrolysate can be converted to dextran using acetic acid bacteria with glycosyltransferase activity to produce high-value bio-materials with slowly digestible properties.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.82 no.5
• /
• pp.1258-1273
• /
• 2021

Purpose The balloon-stent technique (BST) has certain strengths as an assisted technique for the treatment of complex aneurysms. After Atlas release, the BST can be executed without an exchange maneuver of the balloon to the stent-delivery catheter. The purpose of this article is to share our experience with the BST using the Scepter-Atlas combination. Materials and Methods Device inspection led us to a simple method to avoid failure in loading Atlas to the Scepter. From March 2018 to December 2019, 57 unruptured distal internal carotid artery (dICA) aneurysms were treated with coil embolization; among which, 25 aneurysms in 23 patients were treated with BST. Clinical and angiographic data were retrospectively collected and reviewed. Results The technical success rate of the Scepter-Atlas combination increased from 50% to 100% after careful inspection. BST angiographic results were comparable to the stent-assisted coil (SAC) group treated during the immediately post-embolization same period (modified Raymond-Roy classification [MRRC] 1 & 2 84% in BST, 96.3% in SAC) and during short-term follow-up (MRRC 1 & 2 95.8% in BST, 88.4% in SAC). A small number of patients showed periprocedural complications, but none had clinical consequences. Conclusion BST using the Scepter-Atlas combination can provide an effective and safe method for the treatment of dICA aneurysms. Scepters can be used as delivery catheters for Atlas.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.50
• /
• pp.275-289
• /
• 2023

Since the implementation of the Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) Act in 2008, approximately 10 million tons of genetically modified corn, soybean, potato, canola, and other crops have been imported into South Korea. The import approval procedures have been completed for approximately 191 cases that include seven crops. Of these, approximately 90 cases, excluding crossbreeds of approved LMOs, were reviewed via consultation risk evaluation in four areas: human health, crop culture, natural ecology, and marine fishery environment. LMO developers in South Korea, who are major stakeholders in the import of LMO crops produced overseas, have raised concerns regarding procedural inefficiency in consultation reviews and the need of excessive reviews that are unsuitable for food-feed processing purposes. These procedures reflect the perspective of consultation agencies that deviate from the nature of risk assessment and demand specific supplementary data that do not reflect familiarity and substantial equilibrium. Based on frequent instances of unintentional environmental release of LMO crops imported into Korea, the ministries responsible for consultation insist on a review that considers the climate and natural environment of Korea. In addition, the ministries mandate that their reviews reflect the expertise of competent ministries and are based on risk assessment principles and methods in accordance with international guidelines. In this regard, considering that traits introduced into LMO crops involving familiar agricultural crops have been considered safe for more than two decades, we have suggested reasonable alternatives to several risk assessment items for agricultural LMOs. These alternatives can mitigate conflicts of interest among key stakeholders within the scope of the current LMO regulations.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.53-68
• /
• 2024

Generative AI is receiving a lot of attention around the world, and ways to effectively utilize it in the business environment are being explored. In particular, since the public release of the ChatGPT service, which applies the GPT-3.5 model, a large language model developed by OpenAI, it has attracted more attention and has had a significant impact on the entire industry. This study focuses on the emergence of Generative AI, especially ChatGPT, which applies OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model, to investigate its impact on the startup industry and compare the changes that occurred before and after its emergence. This study aims to shed light on the actual application and impact of generative AI in the business environment by examining in detail how generative AI is being used in the startup industry and analyzing the impact of ChatGPT's emergence on the industry. To this end, we collected company information of generative AI-related startups that appeared before and after the ChatGPT announcement and analyzed changes in industry, business content, and investment information. Through keyword analysis, topic modeling, and network analysis, we identified trends in the startup industry and how the introduction of generative AI has revolutionized the startup industry. As a result of the study, we found that the number of startups related to Generative AI has increased since the emergence of ChatGPT, and in particular, the total and average amount of funding for Generative AI-related startups has increased significantly. We also found that various industries are attempting to apply Generative AI technology, and the development of services and products such as enterprise applications and SaaS using Generative AI has been actively promoted, influencing the emergence of new business models. The findings of this study confirm the impact of Generative AI on the startup industry and contribute to our understanding of how the emergence of this innovative new technology can change the business ecosystem.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.57 no.2
• /
• pp.102-110
• /
• 2024

This study presents a fine scale distribution of the endangered species, Odontobutis obscura, through field surveys and literature reviews. Using the mark-recapture method, the population size in major habitats was determined. Field surveys conducted on 18 streams in Geoje Island revealed that the O. obscura was only found in the main streams and tributaries of the Sanyang, Gucheon, and Buchun Streams, which are part of the Sanyang Stream watershed. The O. obscura exhibited relative abundances ranging from 0.5% to 35.3% at different locations, with certain spots showing higher relative abundances (18.8% to 35.3%), indicating major habitat areas. A review of six literature studies confirmed the presence of the O. obscura, although there were differences in occurrence status depending on the purpose, scope, and duration of the studies. Combining the results of field and literature surveys, it was found that the O. obscura inhabits the main and tributary streams of the Sanyang, Gucheon, and Buchun Streams, from the upper to lower reaches. Currently, the O. obscura population in the Sanyang Stream watershed maintains a stable habitat, but its limited distribution range suggests potential issues such as genetic diversity deficiency in the long term. The population size of the O. obscura was confirmed at two specific locations, with densities of 0.5 to 1.5 individuals per m². The average movement distance from the release point was 13.1 m, indicating the limited mobility characteristic of ambush predators. Understanding the distribution and population size of endangered species is the first step towards their conservation and protection. Based on this information, further research could significantly contribute to the conservation of the O. obscura.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.399-415
• /
• 1999

From bacteria to mammalian cells, one of the most important mediators of intracellular signal transduction mechanisms which regulate a variety of intracellular processes is free calcium. In salivary acinar cells, elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) is essential for the salivary secretion induced by parasympathetic stimulation. However, in addition to $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, gap junctions which couple individual cells electrically and chemically have also been reported to regulate enzyme secretion in pancreatic acinar cells. Since the plasma membrane of salivary acinar cells has a high density of gap junctions, and these cells are electrically and chemically coupled with each other, gap junctions may modulate the secretory function of salivary glands. In this respect, I planned to investigate the role of gap junctions in the modulation of salivary secretion and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, using mandibular salivary glands of rats. In order to measure the salivary flow rate, fluid was collected from the cannulated duct of the isolated perfused rat mandibular glands at 2 min intervals. $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, was measured from the cells loaded with fura-2 by spectrofluorometry. The results obtained were as follows: 1. CCh-induced salivary secretion was reversibly inhibited by 1 mM octanol, a gap junction blocker. 2. CCh-induced increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, was also reversed by the application of 1 mM octanol. 3. Octanol did not block the initial increase in $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ caused by CCh, which suggested that the reduction of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, caused by gap junction blockade was not resulted from the inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ release from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores. 4. Addition of octanol during stimulation with $1{\mu}M$ thapsigargin, a potent microsomal ATPase inhibitor, reduced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, to the basal level. This suggested that inhibition of gap junction permeability closed plasma membrane $Ca^{2+}$ channels. 5. 2,5-di-tert-butyl-1,4-benzohydroquinone (TBQ) generated $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ oscillations resulting from periodic influx of $Ca^{2+}$ via plasma membrane. The TBQ-induced $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ oscillations were stopped by the application of 1mM octanol which implicated that gap junctions modulate the permeability of plasma membrane $Ca^{2+}$ channels. 6. Glycyrrhetinic acid, another well known gap junction blocker, also inhibited CCh-induced salivary secretion from rat mandibular glands. These results suggested that gap junctions play an important role in the modulation of fluid secretion from the rat mandibular glands and this was probably due to the inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ influx through the plasma membrane $Ca^{2+}$ channels.