• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.277-291
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• 2008

In order to carry out river basin management, it is necessary to evaluate the state of the river basin and make site-specific measures on the basis of management goals and objectives. A river basin is divided into several watersheds, which are composed of several components: water resources, social and economic systems, law and institution, user, land, ecosystems, etc. They are connected among them and form network holistically. In this study, a methodology for evaluating watershed management was developed by consideration of the various features of a watershed system. This methodology employed factor analysis to develop sub-indexes for evaluating water use management, environment and ecosystem management, and flood management in a watershed. To do this, first, the related data were gathered and classified into six groups that are the components of watershed systems. Second, in all sub-indexes, preliminary tests such as KMO (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin) measure of sampling adequacy and Bartlett's test of sphericity were conducted to check the data's acceptability to factor analysis, respectively. Third, variables related to each sub-index were grouped into three factors by consideration of statistic characteristics, respectively. These factors became indicators and were named, taking into account the relationship and the characteristics of included variables. In order to check the study results, the computed factor loadings of each variable were reviewed, and correlation analysis among factor scores was fulfilled. It was revealed that each factor score of factors in a sub-index was not correlated, and grouping variables by factor analysis was appropriate. And, it was thought that this indicator system would be applied effectively to evaluating the states of watershed management.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.413-418
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• 2011

This study was carried out to establish a proper cultivation site and diagnose the drought-tolerance of Aster scaber and Synurus deltoides leaves by using Pressure-volume curves. In order to measure pressure-volume (P-V) curves, Aster scaber and Synurus deltoides were cut off above ground part and the tip of the cutting were placed in water, which was covered with a plastic bag. Samples were kept overnight (about 12 hours) in darkness at room temperature (20~25$^{\circ}C$) to achieve maximal turgor (full saturation). The pressure in the chamber was gradually increased from 0.3MPa to 1.8MPa by nitrogen gas. After measured, leaf samples were dried at 80$^{\circ}C$ for 48 hours and dry weight of each samples were determined. The result of the original bulk osmotic potential at maximum turgor ${\Psi}^{sat}_o$ sat was lower -0.8 MPa in Aster scaber leaves than -0.7 MPa Synurus deltoides leaves. Also the osmotic potential at incipient plasmolysis ${\Psi}^{tlp}_o$ in Aster scaber leave was -0.9 MPa. In contrast, the value of maximum bulk modulus of elasticity $E_{max}$ of Aster scaber leaves were approximately two folds higher than that of Synurus deltoides leaves. The values of the relative water content at incipient plasmolysis $RWC^{tlp}$ are all above 90% showing that the function of osmoregulation is somewhat better, and Vo/DW, Vt/DW, Ns/DW of Synurus deltoides leaves were approximately 1~2 times higher than that of Aster scaber leaves. Thus, responses to water relations of Aster scaber and Synurus deltoides such as ${\Psi}^{sat}_o$, ${\Psi}^{tlp}_o$, $E_{max}$, ${\Psi}_{P,max}$, $RWC^{tl}$ were shown that the Aster scaber leaves was slightly higher drought-tolerance than Synurus deltoides leaves. However, in both of Aster scaber and Synurus deltoides, occurring incipient plasmolysis at the high water content, have a relatively lower drought-tolerance property indicating that growth of these plants are cultivated appropriate in high moisture soil sites.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.7 s.80
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• pp.1133-1140
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• 2006

Human HtrA1 (High temperature requirement protein A1) is a homologue of the E. coli periplasmic serine protease HtrA. A recent study has demonstrated that HtrA1 is a serine protease involved in processing of insulin like growth factor binding protein (ICFBP), indicating that it serves as an important regulator of IGF activity. Additionally, several lines of evidence suggest a striking correlation between proteolytic activity of HtrA1 serine protease and the pathogenesis of several diseases; however, physiological roles of HtrA1 remain to be elucidated. We used the pGEX bacterial expression system to develop a simple and rapid method for purifying HtrA1, and the recombinant HtrA1 protein was utilized to investigate the optimal conditions in executing its proteolytic activity. The proteolytically active HtrA1 was purified to approximately 85% purity, although the yield of the recombinant HtrA1 protein was slightly low $460{\mu}g$ for 1 liter E. coli culture). Using in vitro endoproteolytic cleavage assay, we identified that the HtrA1 serine protease activity was dependent on the enzyme concentration and the incubation time and that the best reaction temperature was $42^{\circ}C$ instead of $37^{\circ}C$. We arbitrary defined one unit of proteolytic activity of the HtrA1 serine protease as 200nM of HtrA1 that cleaves half of $5{\mu}M\;of\;{\beta}-casein$ during 3 hr incubation at $37^{\circ}C$. Our study provides a method for generating useful reagents to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which HtrA1 serine protease activity contributes in regulating its physiological function and to identify natural substrates of HtrA1.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1301-1309
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• 2011

The major function of adipocytes is to store fat in the form of triglycerides. One of the signaling pathways known to affect adipogenesis, i.e. fat formation, is the WNT/${\beta}$-catenin pathway which inhibits the expression and activity of key regulators of adipogenesis. The purpose of this research is to find genes among the WNT/${\beta}$-catenin pathway which regulate adipogenesis by using small interfering (si) RNA and to find the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the gene with serum triglyceride levels in the human population. To elucidate the effects of ${\beta}$-catenin siRNA on adipogenesis key factors, PPAR${\gamma}$ and C/EBP${\alpha}$, we performed real-time PCR and western blotting experiments for the analyses of mRNA and protein levels. It was found that the siRNA-mediated knockdown of ${\beta}$-catenin upregulates adipogenesis key factors. However, upstream regulators of the WNT/${\beta}$-catenin pathway, such as DVL2 and LRP6, had no significant effects compared to ${\beta}$-catenin. These results indicate that ${\beta}$-catenin is a candidate gene for human fat accumulation. In general, serum triglyceride level is a good indicator of fat accumulation in humans. According to statistical analyses of the association between serum triglyceride level and SNPs of ${\beta}$-catenin, -10,288 C>T SNP (rs7630377) in the promoter region was significantly associated with serum triglyceride levels (p<0.05) in 290 Korean subjects. On the other hand, serum cholesterol levels were not significantly associated with SNPs of the ${\beta}$-catenin gene. The results of this study showed that ${\beta}$-catenin is associated with fat accumulation both in vitro and in the human population.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 1996

To supply seeds with a good quality as plant materials for herbicide screening and to know whether the germination characteristics could be associated with a differential response to herbicides, germination characteristics and differential responses to herbicides were investigated with 3 species of a genus Setaria ; Yellow foxtail(Setaria glauca P. Beauv, SETGL), Giant foxtail(Setaria faberi Hetrm, SETFA), and Green foxtail(Setaria viridis P. Beauv, SETVI). Degree of dormancy was high in the order of SETGL, SETVI and SETFA. The dormancy of SETGL seed was relatively well removed by room temperature and drying storage, but SETFA and SETVI by low temperature and wetting storage(stratification). For breaking dormancy of SETGL, SETVI and SETFA, it was necessary for being kept under the above storage conditions for at least 2, 4 and 4-5 months, respectively. When the dormancy-breaked seeds were transfered to low temperature($4^{\circ}C$) and drying condition, SETGL showed germination rate of 96% even after 2 month storage. However, SETVI and SETFA showed a decreased germination of 54% and 69%, respectively, with a decreased velocity of germination, indicating that secondary dormancy might be induced. On the other hand, a significant change in germination rate was not observed as the seeds were transfered to room temperature($25^{\circ}C$) and drying condition. The germinability of SETGL seed began to decline from 6th year after storage in room temperature and drying condition. All of 3 species showed relatively high germination rate at alternating temperature of $30^{\circ}C$/$20^{\circ}C$(14hr/10hr) and their germination were not increased by light. All of 3 species exhibited similar responses to cycloxydim, sethoxydim and primisulfuron in greenhouse experiment. In contrast, SETVI and SETFA were relatively susceptible to fenoxapropethyl, SETFA to fluazifop-butyl, SETGL and SETFA to clorimuron-ethyl, and SETGL to EK-2612. The difference in herbicidal response among 3 species was the highest in the treatment of EK-2612. These results suggest that there is no a consistent tendency in responses of 3 species to herbicides which have the same target site. And the relationship between germination characteristics and differential responses to herbicides was not found.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.285-297
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• 1993

For the application of the diffusion equation, slope height and maximum slope angle are calculated from the plotted slope profile. Using denudation rate as a solution for the diffusion equation, an apparent age index can be calculated, which is the total amount of denudation through total time. Plots of slope angle versus slope height and apparent age index versus slope height are useful for determining relative or absolute ages and denudation rates. Mathematical simulation plots of slope angle versus slope height can generate equal denudation-rate lines for a given age. Mathematical simulations of slope angle versus age for a given slope height, for equal denudation-rate at a particular profile site, and for comparing to other sites having controlled ages.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.204-211
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• 2006

For the production of the recombinant human interferon-gamma(rhIFN-${\gamma}$) in Escherichia coli, human glucagon and ferritin heavy chain were used as fusion partners. Even though rhIFN-${\gamma}$ is expressed as an inclusion body form in E. coli because of strong hydrophobicity of itself, over 50% of fused rhIFN-${\gamma}$ was expressed as soluble form in E. coli $Origami^{TM}$(DE3) harboring pT7FH(HE)-IFN-${\gamma}$ which encodes ferritin heavy chain-fused rhIFN-${\gamma}$. In the case of using glucagon-ferritin heavy chain hybrid mutant as a fusion partner, 6X His-tag was additionally introduced to N-terminus of GFHM(HE)-IFN-${\gamma}$ for enhancing purification yields of rhIFN-${\gamma}$. Fusion protein HGFHM(HE)-IFN-${\gamma}$ with two 6X His-tag was more effectively bound to Ni-NTA agarose bead than GFHM(HE)-IFN-${\gamma}$ with a 6X His-tag. rhIFN-${\gamma}$ was completely purified from enterokinase-treated HGFHM(HE)-IFN-${\gamma}$ by Ni-NTA affinity column. For high-level production of rhIFN-${\gamma}$, glucose was used as the sole carbon source with simple exponential feeding rate($2.4{\sim}7.2g/h$) in fed-batch process. The effective lactose concentration for the expression of the rhIFN-${\gamma}$ was $10{\sim}20mM$. Under the fed-batch culture conditions, rhIFN-${\gamma}$ production yield reached 11 g DCW/L for 6 hours after lactose induction.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.6 s.122
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• pp.383-390
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• 2004

This study was conducted in three sites, Si-Hwa Lake, Dongman and Seoman island and Janguyeop island, from march, 1999 to september, 2002. The behaviors of pre-breeding season, territorial behaviors, reproductive ecology, foraging sites and behaviors, and the competition of reproduction and foods between intraspecific or interspecific of Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) were observed in each studying sites. The breeding of Eurasian Oystercatcher started on the middle of April in Si-Hwa Lake and on the middle of May in Dongman and Seoman island and Janguyeop island. For intension of pair bond on pre-breeding season, Eurasian Oystercatcher foraged with pair and behaved male-female chasing flight behavior. The pair foraged with male and female before copulation. If other pairs and individuals approached in feeding site of pair, this pair attacked them with piping calling and intruder chasing flight. If continuos serial behaviors were not observed, the discrimination of male-female chasing flight and intruder chasing flight was difficult. Territorial behaviors classified four types; butterfly flight, calling behavior, chasing behavior, fight behavior. The important foraging sites in Si-Hwa Lake are the land place in Daeboo island, tidal flat of Bangameori, tidal flat a front of a stationary net for catching fishes and tidal flat a front of a view station for bird watching. Eurasian Oystercatcher foraged at tidal flat on low water of the tide and foraged at feeding sites near island on flood tide in Dongman and Seoman island. Eurasian Oystercater in Janguyeop island usually foraged feeding sites near island, because water level was not different between low water of the tide and flood tide. Eurasian Oystercatcher competed on foods of intraspecific and interspecific. They chased for taking foods by force in feeding sites and drove out intruders in feeding sites. The foods interspecific competition happened with Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris). Eurasian Oystercatcher was robbed of foods and attacked by Black-tailed Gull. The individual of food competition with Black-tailed Gull was low foods intake rate comparison with other feeding sites and this individual flied out other feeding sites.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.143-150
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• 2003

Korea has plentiful precipitation but rainfall events concentrate on several months of rainy season in her weather condition. Korea, therefore, experiences drought for a given period every year. Moreover the soil has usually low water holding capacity, as it is composed coarse particles originated from the granite. Response of several oaks and the Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) on water stress showed that water budget was significant factor determining vegetation distribution. In addition, dehydration level due to cold resistance mechanism of several evergreen plants during the winter season was closely related to their distribution in natural condition. Experimental result under water stress showed that the Korean red pine was very tolerant to desiccation but the seedlings showed high mortality during the dry season. The mortality tended to proportionate to soil moisture content of each site. A comparison between soil moisture content during June when it is severe dry season and moisture content of the culture soil when the pine seedlings reached the permanent wilting point due to water withheld proved that high mortality during the dry season was due to water deficit. Water potential of sample plants measured during the exposure experiment to the air pollutant showed a probability that water related factors would dominate the occurrence of visible damage and the tolerance level of sample plants. In both field survey and laboratory experiment, plants exposed to air pollution showed more rapid transpiration than those grown in the unpolluted condition. The result would due to injury of leaf surface by air pollutants. Aluminum (Al/sup 3+/) increased in the acid soil not only inhibits root growth but also leads to abnormal distribution of root system and thereby caused water stress. The water stresses due to air pollution and soil acidification showed a possibility that they play dominating roles in inducing forest decline additionally to the existing water deficit due to weather and soil conditions in Korea. Sludge, which can contribute to improve field capacity, as it is almost composed of organic matter, showed an effect ameliorating the retarded growth of plant in the acidified soil. The effect was not less than that of dolomite known in widely as such a soil ameliorator. Litter extract contributed also to mitigate the water stress due to toxic Al/sup 3+/. We prepared a model showing the potential interaction of multiple stresses, which can cause forest decline in Korea by synthesizing those results. Furthermore, we suggested restoration plans, which can mitigate such forest decline in terms of soil amelioration and vegetation restoration.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.55-61
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• 2009

Recently, the number of high-rise buildings being built in Korea by major construction companies for residential and commercial use has been increasing. When constructing a high-rise building, it is necessary to apply massive amounts of concrete to form a mat foundation that can withstand the huge load of the upper structure. However, it is of increasing concern that due to limitations in terms of the amount of placing equipment, available job-sites and systems for mass concrete placement in the construction field, it is not always possible to place a great quantity of concrete simultaneously in a large-scale mat foundation, and for this reason consistency between placement lift cannot be secured. In addition, a mat foundation Is likely to crack due to the stress caused by differences inhydration heat generation time. To derive a solution for these problems, this study provides test results of a hydration heat crack reduction method by applying placement lift change and setting time control with a super retarding agent for mass concrete in a large-scale mat foundation. Mock-up specimens with different mixtures and placement liftswere prepared at the job-site of a newly-constructed high-rise building. The test results show that slump flow of concrete before and after adding the super retarding agent somewhat Increases as the target retarding time gets longer, while the air content shows no great difference. The setting time was observed to be retarded as the target retarding time gets longer. As the target retarding time gets longer, compressive strength appears to be decreased at an early stage, but as time goes by, compressive strength gets higher, and the compressive strength at 28 days becomes equal or higher to that of plain concrete without a super retarding agent. For the effect of placement lift change and super retarding agent on the reduction of hydration heat, the application of 2 and 4 placement lifts and a super retarding agent makes it possible to secure consistency and reduce temperature difference between placement lifts, while also extending the time to reach peak temperature. This implies that the possibility of thermal crack induced by hydration heat is reduced. The best results are shown in the case of applying 4 placement lifts.