• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.90-98
• /
• 1987

In the present paper I described the relations of wood ray indicators such as ray height, ray width, number of rays per $0.25mm^2$, ray spacing and fusiform ray height on the stem of Pinus koraiensis and Larix leptolepis grown at the Experiment Forest of Kangweon National University. The results may be summarized as follows. 1. The number of rays and ray spacing were generally decreased with the increase of ray height on the sample woods. 2. According to the tree species the patterns of varition of ray width with the increase of ray height were different, namely the relation between ray width and ray height showed some positive correlation on Pinus koraiensis and negative on Larix leptolepis. 3. It was recognized that the variation of fusiform ray height due to the increase of ray height indicated two patterns(the increasing, md constant regions) in sample woods. This boundary seemed to appear at six cells of ray height on Pinus koraiensis and ninc cells on Larix leptolepis. 4. The relation between fusiform ray height and number of rays had a negative correlation on Pinus koraiensis, but this tendancy was not obvious on Larix leptolepis. And ray spacing and ray width due to the increase of fusiform ray height were generally decreased. 5. On the whole the values of ray spacing and ray width became gradually larger in proportion to the increase of number of rays. 6. According to the increase of ray spacing the values of ray width also increased gradually. But this tendency was more clear on Pinus koraiensis than larix leptolepis.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.34-47
• /
• 1996

Veneers of two nominal thicknesses, 1.5 and 2.5mm, were rotary peeled from Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis). Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinei) and Radiata pine (Pinus radiata) bolts unheated and heated in the water vat temperature of $66^{\circ}C$ by rising a final temperature at 10cm core of $60^{\circ}C$ to remain core diameter of 11.4cm. 1.5 and 2.5mm thick veneer cut from the heated Japanese larch were significantly thinner than those of the unheated bolt and 2.5mm thick veneer cut from the heated Dahurian larch were significantly thicker than that of the unheated bolt. 1.5mm thick Dahurian larch veneer and 1.5 and 2.5mm thick Radiata pine veneers showed insignificant difference between the unheated and heated bolts, respectively. Check distance on the loose side of 1.5mm thick veneer cut from the heated Radiata pine was significantly wider than that of the unheated bolt. However check distances on the loose side of 1.5 and 2.5mm thick Japanese larch and Dahurian larch veneers and 2.5mm thick Radiata pine veneers showed insignificant difference between the unheated and heated bolts. Also the depth of check on the loose side of three species showed insignificantly difference between the unheated and heated bolts. Arithmatic mean deviation($R_a$) and maximum height($R_{max}$) of the profile on the loose side of dried veneer by preheating the bolt compared with unheated bolts were different among apecies and between veneer thickness. The preheating treatment slightly affected qualities of these thin veneers such as 1.5 and 2.5mm. The yield of 2.5mm thick veneer from the heated radiata pine was significantly higher than that of the unheated bolt. However the yield of 2.5mm thick veneer for other two species and 1.5mm thick veneer for three species showed insignificant difference between the unheated and heated bolts. The yield of 2.5mm thick veneer for three species were higher than those of 1.5mm thick veneer. The average yields of green veneer of Japanese larch. Dahurian larch and Radiata pine were 57.1, 55.1 and 54.0 percent, respectively. Variables such as initial MC. drying time and veneer thickness had strong effect for Japanese larch veneer, less effect for Radiata pine veneer and nuch less effect on final MC for Dahurian larch veneer in jet drying. Correlation between the current MC and the drying time of Dahurian larch with low variation of initial MC was higher than those of Japanese larch and Radiata pine veneer with high variation of initial MC in high temperature drying. Thickness shrinkages of 2.5mm thick veneer for Japanese larch and Radiata pine were higher than those of 1.5mm thick veneers, but shrinkages of Dahurian larch veneer were similar between two nominal veneer thicknesses.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.120-128
• /
• 2008

The death ligand tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)/ Apo1L is a cytokine that activates apoptosis through cell surface death receptors. TRAIL has sparked growing interest in oncology due to its reported ability to selectively trigger cancer cell death. Euphorbiae humifusae Wind has been used in traditional Oriental medicine as a folk remedy used for the treatment of cancer. However, the mechanism responsible for the anticancer effects of E. humifusae not clearly understood. Here, we show that treatment with subtoxic doses of water extract of E. humifusae (WEEH) in combination with TRAIL induces apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant human gastric carcinoma AGS cells. Combined treatment with WEEH and TRAIL induced chromatin condensation and sub-G1 phase DNA content. These indicators of apoptosis were correlated with the induction of caspase activity that resulted in the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Combined treatment also triggered the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, co-treatment with WEEH and TRAIL down-regulated the protein levels of the anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, XIAP and cIAP-1. Although more study will be needed to examine the detailed mechanisms, this combined treatment may offer an attractive strategy for safely treating gastric adenocarcinomas and the results provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anticancer activity of E. humifusae.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.604-609
• /
• 2011

Pine (pinus densiflora) needles have long been used as a traditional health-promoting medicinal food in Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of pine needle extracts on the hepatic antioxidant system in the damaged liver of carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-treated rats. Nine-week-old Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups: normal group (NOR), $CCl_4$-treated group (CCL), pine needle hot water extract and $CCl_4$-treated group (CCL-P), and Vitamin C and $CCl_4$-treated group (CCL-V). The enzyme activities and antioxidant effects of the pine needle hot water extracts were investigated at the levels of liver homogenates and serum of rats intoxicated with $CCl_4$. Serum GOT and GPT activities by $CCl_4$ treatment increased compared to those of the NOR group. However, they tended to decrease in the hot water extract-administered group. Liver SOD activity in the CCL group was significantly lower than the NOR group (p<0.05). However, they increased in the CCL-P group compared to the CCL group. Further, the CAT and GPx activities of serum treated with $CCl_4$ were higher compared to those of the NOR group but lower in the CCL-P group compared to CCL group. These results suggest that pine needle hot water extract increases antioxidant activities.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.365-373
• /
• 2010

To monitor newly emerged influenza virus variants and to investigate the prevalence pattern, our laboratory performed isolation of the viruses from surveillance sentinel hospitals. In the present study, we analysed influenza A/H1N1, A/H3N2, B viruses isolated in Busan during the 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons by sequence analysis of the hemagglutinin (HA1 subunit) and neuraminidase (NA) genes. The isolates studied here were selected by the stratified random sample method from a total of 277 isolates, in which 15 were A/H1N1, 16 were A/H3N2 and 29 were B. Based on the phylogenetic tree, the HA1 gene showed that A/H1N1 isolates had a 96.7% to 97.7% homology with the A/Brisbane/59/2007, A/H3N2 isolates had a 98.4% to 99.7% homology with the A/Brisbane/10/2007, and B isolates had a 96.5% to 99.7% homology with the B/Florida/4/2006(Yamagata lineage), which are all the vaccine strains for the Northern Hemisphere in 2008~2009 season. In the case of the NA gene, A/H1N1 isolates had 97.8% to 98.5% homologies, A/H3N2 isolates had 98.9% to 99.4% homologies, and B isolates had 98.9% to 100% homologies with each vaccine strain in the 2008~2009 season, respectively. Characterization of the hemagglutinin gene revealed that amino acids at the receptor-binding site and N-linked glycosylation site were highly conserved. These results provide useful information for the control of influenza viruses in Busan and for a better understanding of vaccine strain selection.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.10
• /
• pp.1121-1129
• /
• 2016

High-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs) are extremely important determinants of the functional properties of wheat dough. Transgenic rice plants containing a wheat TaGlu-Ax1 gene encoding a HMG-GS were produced from the Korean wheat cultivar ‘Jokyeong’ and used to enhance the bread-making quality of rice dough using the Agrobacterium-mediated co-transformation method. Two expression cassettes with separate DNA fragments containing only TaGlu-Ax1 and hygromycin phosphotransferase II (HPTII) resistance genes were introduced separately into the Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105 strain for co-infection. Rice calli were infected with each EHA105 strain harboring TaGlu-Ax1 or HPTII at a 3:1 ratio of TaGlu-Ax1 and HPTII. Among 210 hygromycin-resistant T₀ plants, 20 transgenic lines harboring both the TaGlu-Ax1 and HPTII genes in the rice genome were obtained. The integration of the TaGlu-Ax1 gene into the rice genome was reconfirmed by Southern blot analysis. The transcripts and proteins of the wheat TaGlu-Ax1 were stably expressed in rice T₁ seeds. Finally, the marker-free plants harboring only the TaGlu-Ax1 gene were successfully screened in the T₁ generation. There were no morphological differences between the wild-type and marker-free transgenic plants. The quality of only one HMW-GS (TaGlu-Ax1) was unsuitable for bread making using transgenic rice dough. Greater numbers and combinations of HMW and LMW-GSs and gliadins of wheat are required to further improve the processing qualities of rice dough. TaGlu-Ax1 marker-free transgenic plants could provide good materials to make transgenic rice with improved bread-making qualities.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.337-347
• /
• 1994

Breast conserving surgery and irradiation is now accepted as preferable treatment method for the patients with stage I and II breast cancer. Our institution activated team approach for breast conservation in 1991 and treated one hundred and fourty patients during the next three years. Purpose : To present our early experience with eligibility criteria, treatment techniques, and the morbidities of primary radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: Sixty four patients with early stage breast cancer who received breast conserving treatment between January 1991 and December 1992 were evaluated. All patients received partial mastectomy(wide excision to quadrantectomy) and axillary node dissection followed by radiotherapy. Total dose of 4500-5040 cGy in 5-5 1/2 weeks was given to entire involved breast and boost dose of 1000-2000 cGy in 1-2 weeks was given to the primary tumor site. Linac 4 MV X-ray was used for breast irradiation and electron beam was used for boost. Thirty five Patients received chemotherapy before or after radiotherapy. Patients characteristics, treatment techniques, and treatment related morbidities were analyzed. Results : Age distribution was ranged from 23 to 59 year old with median age of 40. Twenty-seven patients had T1 lesions and 34 patients had T2 lesions. In three patients, pathologic diagnosis was ductal carcinoma in situ. Thirty-seven Patients were N0 and 27 patients were Nl. There were three recurrences, one in the breast and two distant metastases during follow-up period(6-30 months, median 14 months). Only one breast recurrence occured at undetected separate lesion with microcalcifications on initial mammogram. There was no serious side reaction which interrupted treatment courses or severe late complication. Only one symptomatic radiation pneumonitis and one asymptomatic radiation pneumonitis were noted. Conclusions: Conservative surgery and primary radiotherapy for early breast cancer is Proven to be safe and comfortable treatment method without any major complication. Long-term follow up is needed to evaluate our treatment results in terms of loco-regional control rate, survival rate, and cosmetic effect.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.135-143
• /
• 2015

This study evaluated fuel properties of composite materials which were prepared by mixing a waste activated carbon from the used purifier filter with torrefied wood powder. Wood species of the raw material of torrefied wood powder are oak wood (Quercus serrata Thunb. ex Murray) and pine wood (Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc). And the treatment conditions used for this study were 300 s, 450 s, and 600 s at $200^{\circ}C$ for the wood roaster. Also, the mixing ratios are 5 : 95, 10 : 90, 15 : 85, 20 : 80, 40 : 60, 60 : 40 and 80 : 20 (waste activated carbon : torrefied wood powder). The fuel properties such as highly heating value (HHV), elementary analysis and ash content were evaluated. The results obtained are followings; 1. Despite the same treatment condition of wood roasting, pine wood has higher carbon contents than oak wood. Therefore, pine wood indicated the optimum carbonization at low temperature and short treatment times. 2. The gross calorific value and ash content increased as the mixing ratio of waste activated carbon increased. 3. Mixtures of the waste activated carbon and torrefied wood powder showed greater gross calorific value than those of the mixtures of waste activated carbon and the untreated wood powder. Also, the pine wood resulted in higher heating value that thaose of the oak wood. 4. When composite fuels that were composed waste activate carbon and wood powder are used, higher temperature conditions are required because the combustion is incomplete at $800^{\circ}C$ and 4 hours. 5. The increasing rate of the gross calorific value of mixtures of waste activated carbon and untreated wood powder is higher than does the mixtures of waste activated carbon and torrefied wood powder. Also, this phenomenon is more obvious for pine woods. Therefore, an optimal mixing ratio of waste activated carbon was determined to be between 5% and 10% (wt%). Also, this condition satisfied the requirement of the No.1 grade of wood pellet.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.255-264
• /
• 2009

To evaluate the effects of chemical pretreatments of lignocellulosic biomass on enzymatic hydrolysis process, Populus euramericana was pretreated for 1 hr with 1% sulfuric acid ($H_2SO_4$) at $150^{\circ}C$ and 1% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at $160^{\circ}C$, respectively. Before the enzymatic hydrolysis, each pretreated sample was subjected to drying process and thus finally divided into four subgroups; dried or non-dried acid pretreated samples and dried or non-dried alkali pretreated samples and chemical and physical properties of them were analyzed. Biomass degradation by acid pretreatment was determined to 6% higher compared to alkali pretreatment. By the action of acid ca. 24.5% of biomass was dissolved into solution, while alkali degraded ca. 18.6% of biomass. However, reverse results were observed in delignification rates, in which alkali pretreatment released 2% more lignin fragment from biomass to the solution than acid pretreatment. Unexpectedly, samples after both pretreatments were determined to somewhat higher crystallinity than untreated samples. This result may be explained by selective disrupture of amorphous region in cellulose during pretreatments, thus the cellulose crystallinity seems to be accumulated in the pretreated samples. SEM images revealed that pretreated samples showed relative rough and partly cracked surfaces due to the decomposition of components, but the image of acid pretreated samples which were dried was similar to that of the control. In pore size distribution, dried acid pretreated samples were similar to the control, while that in alkali pretreated samples was gradually increased as pore diameter increased. The pore volume which increased by acid pretreatment rapidly decreased by drying process. Alkali pretreatment was much more effective on enzymatic digestibility than acid pretreatment. The sample after alkali pretreatment was enzymatically hydrolyzed up to 45.8%, while only 26.9% of acid pretreated sample was digested at the same condition. The high digestibility of the sample was also influenced to the yields of monomeric sugars during enzymatic hydrolysis. In addition, drying process of pretreated samples affected detrimentally not only to digestibility but also to the yields of monomeric sugars.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
• /
• v.21 no.3 s.87
• /
• pp.339-345
• /
• 2005

This study was carried out to determine the changes of chlorophyll contents in spinach during growth stages and storage with two packaging materials. The chlorophyll contents increased to a maximum level in the spinach leaves after 35 days of planting, while the level in the roots extremely decreased and that in the stems did not change during the growth period. The total chlorophyll content was higher in the leaves than that in the stems and roots. The ratios of chlorophyll a/b in the leaves and stems were almost similar to those reported for spinach elsewhere. When stored for 1, 3, and 5 days without packaging, the remaining percentage of chlorophyll was $96.29\%,\;90.79\%\;and\;85.74\%$, respectively, at $5^{\circ}C,\;and\;82.75,\;44.63,\;33.07\%$, respectively, at $20^{\circ}C$. The chlorophyll contents of the spinach stored in polyethylene bags were significantly higher than of that those without packaging and of that packaged with newspaper during storage. From the results, it was found that spinach packaged in polyethylene bags suppressed the degradation of chlorophyll and maintained the freshness during low temperature storage and that the chlorophyll contents increased during the growth period.