• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 2018

Tenofovir nanoparticles are novel therapeutic intervention in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection reaching the virus in their sanctuary sites. However, there has been no systemic toxicity testing of this formulation despite global concerns on the safety of nano drugs. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the toxicity of Tenofovir nanoparticle (NTDF) on the liver and kidney using an animal model. Fifteen adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats maintained at the animal house of the biomedical resources unit of the University of KwaZulu-Natal were weighed and divided into three groups. Control animals (A) were administered with normal saline (NS). The therapeutic doses of Tenofovir (TDF) and nanoparticles of Tenofovir (NTDF) were administered to group B and C and observed for signs of stress for four weeks after which animals were weighed and sacrificed. Liver and kidney were removed and fixed in formal saline, processed and stained using H/E, PAS and MT stains for light microscopy. Serum was obtained for renal function test (RFT) and liver function test (LFT). Cellular measurements and capturing were done using ImageJ and Leica software 2.0. Data were analysed using graph pad 6, p values < 0.05 were significant. We observed no signs of behavioural toxicity and no mortality during this study, however, in the kidneys, we reported mild morphological perturbations widening of Bowman's space, and vacuolations in glomerulus and tubules of TDF and NTDF animals. Also, there was a significant elevation of glycogen deposition in NTDF and TDF animals when compared with control. In the liver, there were mild histological changes with widening of sinusoidal spaces, vacuolations in hepatocytes and elevation of glycogen deposition in TDF and NTDF administered animals. In addition to this, there were no significant differences in stereological measurements and cell count, LFT, RFT, weight changes and organo-somatic index between treatment groups and control. In conclusion, NTDF and TDF in therapeutic doses can lead to mild hepatic and renal histological damage. Further studies are needed to understand the precise genetic mechanism.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.45-45
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• 2018

We had already reported the successful germination for green pods of purple lady's slipper orchid (Cypripedium macranthos Sw.). The green pod methods is to take immature seeds in green capsules, sterilize the capsule, and take out the sterile seeds. This method, however, needs very critical time of harvest. The critical time of seed harvest changes depending upon the species, condition of the specimen, and climatic influence, and the right time lies between 5 and 12 weeks after fertilization. In this study, the mature seeds were collected after 120-130 days with hand-polination of lady's slipper orchids. Mature seeds are usually dormant and it has to be overcome, either with hormone or storing the seeds near freezing for two or three months to break dormancy. The seeds were first surface sterilized with 70% ethanol and then transferred 1% NaOCl for 10-15 minutes, followed by rinses 3 times with sterilized distilled water. The cypripedium seeds consists of an embryo within a seed coat known as a testa. The testa is water repellent and the seed has a large air space between the embryo and testa so the seed tends to float on water. We had resolved the problems with vacuum pump to soak water into the testa before sterilization. The seeds were placed on liquid or agar solidified germination media. Cultures were incubated at $24{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ in dark. The seeds were germinated in 6-8 weeks in liquid suspension culture (germination percentage over 18%); however, the seeds on agar solidified media took more than 5 months to germinate and the germination percentage less than 5%. The most effective media for liquid culture was 1/4 strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 50 ml/l coconut water ($4brix^{\circ}$) at pH 5.8.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.7-20
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• 2004

This study was executed to find out how to improve the planting and use of landscaping plants in Chuncheon. The number of street trees was 17,877 in 2003. The major species of street trees were Ginkgo biloba(52.7％), Prunus sargentii(15.3％), Zelkova serrata(8.9％), Platanus occidentalis(7.3％). Salix babylonica and Platanus occidentalis were decreased, while Prunus sargentii and Zelkova serrata were increased. Salix babylonica is a good species for a lakeside city, but its seeds cause allergies to some people. Most of the trees have been removed in Chuncheon. The planting of Salix babylonica(♂) resulted in no problems, and it should be propagated to plant. The soil of several areas was analysed to investigate soil conditions. The outskirts of city had good conditions in pH, organic matter and minerals, but the downtown areas had high alkalic, due to alkali from footpath concrete blocks. Appropriate pruning adds to the aesthetic and prolongs the useful life; it also requires less managing of insects and diseases to maintain good healthy of street trees. Street trees were not properly pruned due to electric lines and shortage of pruning information. The pruning was controlled by Korea Electric Power Co, which has no pruning information. Pruning must be maintained by a professional landscape company to maintain good shape such as with Bonsai. The Shrubs planting zone between street trees and other trees, and preservation plates were established for healthy of street trees. They have to be repaired and maintained well to keep better environmental conditions. The number of tree and flower species of 68 schools in Chuncheon were 12 and 16, respectively. The species that showed high preference were Juniperus chinensis, Pinus koraiensis, Pinus densiflora, Rosa centifolia, Forsythia koreana, and Rhododendron schlippenbachii. The high frequency of the protection trees designated by Chuncheon were Pinus densiflora, Ginko biloba, Zelkova serrata, Quercus species. It was thought that the diversification of street tree species, the selection of street trees suitable to each space, the generalization of use of native species, the appropriate pruning and proper fertilization, the control of pests and diseases, and the opinions of citizens concerning landscape plants were needed to improve the planting, use and maintenance of landscaping plants in Chuncheon.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 2000

Many models of globular cluster formation assume the presence of cold dense clouds in early universe. Here we re-examine the Fall & Rees (1985) model for formation of proto-globular cluster clouds (PGCCs) via thermal instabilities in a protogalactic halo. We first argue, based on the previous study of two-dimensional numerical simulations of thermally unstable clouds in a stratified halo of galaxy clusters by Real et al. (1991), that under the protogalactic environments only nonlinear (${\delta}{\ge}1$) density inhomogeneities can condense into PGCCs without being disrupted by the buoyancy-driven dynamical instabilities. We then carry out numerical simulations of the collapse of overdense douds in one-dimensional spherical geometry, including self-gravity and radiative cooling down to T = $10^4$ K. Since imprinting of Jeans mass at $10^4$ K is essential to this model, here we focus on the cases where external UV background radiation prevents the formation of $H_2$ molecules and so prevent the cloud from cooling below $10^4$ K. The quantitative results from these simulations can be summarized as follows: 1) Perturbations smaller than $M_{min}\~(10^{5.6}\;M{\bigodot})(nh/0.05cm^{-3})^{-2}$ cool isobarically, where nh is the unperturbed halo density, while perturbations larger than $M_{min}\~(10^8\;M{\bigodot})(nh/0.05cm^{-3})^{-2}$ cool isochorically and thermal instabilities do not operate. On the other hand, intermediate size perturbations ($M_{min} < M_{pgcc} < M_{max}$) are compressed supersonically, accompanied by strong accretion shocks. 2) For supersonically collapsing clouds, the density compression factor after they cool to $T_c = 10^4$ K range $10^{2.5} - 10^6$, while the isobaric compression factor is only $10^{2.5}$. 3) Isobarically collapsed clouds ($M < M_{min}$) are too small to be gravitationally bound. For supersonically collapsing clouds, however, the Jeans mass can be reduced to as small as $10^{5.5}\;M_{\bigodot}(nh/0.05cm^{-3})^{-1/2}$ at the maximum compression owing to the increased density compression. 4) The density profile of simulated PGCCs can be approximated by a constant core with a halo of $p{\infty} r^{-2}$ rather than a singular isothermal sphere.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.545-557
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• 2023

Sphingomyelinase (SMase) catalyzes ceramide production from sphingomyelin. Ceramides are critical in cellular responses such as apoptosis. They enhance mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) through self-assembly in the mitochondrial outer membrane to form channels that release cytochrome c from intermembrane space (IMS) into the cytosol, triggering caspase-9 activation. However, the SMase involved in MOMP is yet to be identified. Here, we identified a mitochondrial Mg²⁺-independent SMase (mt-iSMase) from rat brain, which was purified 6,130-fold using a Percoll gradient, pulled down with biotinylated sphingomyelin, and subjected to Mono Q anion exchange. A single peak of mt-iSMase activity was eluted at a molecular mass of approximately 65 kDa using Superose 6 gel filtration. The purified enzyme showed optimal activity at pH of 6.5 and was inhibited by dithiothreitol and Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Fe³⁺ ions. It was also inhibited by GW4869, which is a non-competitive inhibitor of Mg²⁺-dependent neutral SMase 2 (encoded by SMPD3), that protects against cytochrome c release-mediated cell death. Subfractionation experiments showed that mt-iSMase localizes in the IMS of the mitochondria, implying that mt-iSMase may play a critical role in generating ceramides for MOMP, cytochrome c release, and apoptosis. These data suggest that the purified enzyme in this study is a novel SMase.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.658-666
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to select a suitable planting substrate for multilayered plantings in an apartment landscape space. The experiment was conducted between May to October 2019, at the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science. Planting substrate was prepared in six repetitions of eight treatment zones using mulching material, horticultural soil, bottom ash, and subgrade soil. Rosa hybrid 'Barkarole' and Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nikko Blue' were selected as the experimental plants. We investigated the monthly variation and effect of the substrate type on the growth (plant height, number of branches, leaf length, leaf width, and plant area of the substrates) of the plants. In R. hybrid 'Barkarole' grown in 20 cm of horticultural soil and 10 cm of bottom ash, the plants were taller(102.2±5.8 cm), had more branches (5.5±0.6 each), longer leaves (10.9±1.0 cm), and greater leaf width (6.2±0.5 cm) and plant area (4077.1±416.6 cm²)(p<0.05). H. macrophylla 'Nikko Blue' showed the best growth from 3cm of mulching, 20cm of horticultural topsoil, and 10cm of bottom ash, which resulted in taller plants (43.6±2.1 cm), more branches (4.9±0.8 each), longer leaves (7.2±0.5 cm), and greater leaf width(4.3±0.3 cm) and plant area (344.5±43.2 cm²). Through this study, it was possible to propose an optimal planting substrate for shrubs for multi-layered landscaping.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.316-333
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• 2021

In order to understand basic data for improving the fishing system and fishing vessel structure in coastal improved stow net fishery, a questionnaire survey and on-site hearing were conducted from May 10 to June 11, 2019 to analyze opinions on the improvement of operation status and fishing vessel structure. The questionnaire survey consisted of ten questions on the operation status of coastal improved stow net fishery and six questions on the improvement of fishing vessel structure, and the results of each question were analyzed by the region, the captain's age, the captain's career and the age of fishing vessel. As a result of analyzing opinions on the operation status of the coastal improved stow net fishery, it was found that the average time required for casting net was 32.8 to 33.0 minutes and that the average time required for hauling net was 41.0 to 42.2 minutes which took 10 to 12 minutes more than for casting net. The most important work requiring improvement during fishing operation (the first priority) were 'hauling net operation,' 'readjustment and storage of fishing gear,' and 'fish handling' and the hardest factor in fishing management were in the order of 'reduction of catch,' 'labor shortage' and 'rising labor costs.' The most institutional improvement that is most needed in coastal improved stow net fishery was an 'using fine mesh nets.' Most of the respondent to the questions on the experience in hiring foreign crews was 'either hiring or willing to hire foreign crews,' and the average number of foreign crews employed was found to be 2.3 to 2.4 persons. The most important reason for hiring (or considering employment) foreign crews was 'high labor costs.' The degree of communication with foreign crews during fishing operation were 'moderate' or 'difficult to direct work.' The most important problem in hiring foreign crews (the first priority) was an 'illegal departure.' As the survey results on the opinion of structural improvement of coastal improved stow net fishing vessel, the degree of satisfaction with fishing vessel structure related to fishing operation was found to be somewhat unsatisfactory, with an average of 3.3 points on a five-point scale. The inconvenient structure of fishing vessel in possession (the first priority), the space needed most for the construction of new fishing vessel (the first priority) and the space considered important for the construction of new fishing vessel (the first prioprity) was a 'fish warehouse.' The most preferred equipment for the construction of new fishing vessel were 'engine operation monitoring' and 'navigation safety devices.' The average size (tonnage class), the average horse power and the average total length of fishing vessel for proper profit and safety fishing operation was between 13.8 and 14.0 tonnes, 808.3 to 819.5 H.P. and 23.4 to 23.5 meters, respectively. The results of the operation status of coastal improved stow net fishery and the requirement for improving the fishing vessel structure are expected to be provided as basic data for reference when we build or improve the fishing vessel.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.63-92
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• 2012

This study investigated consumer intention to use a location-based mobile shopping service (LBMSS) that integrates cognitive and affective responses. Information relevancy was integrated into pleasure-arousal-dominance (PAD) emotional state model in the present study as a conceptual framework. The results of an online survey of 335 mobile phone users in the U.S. indicated the positive effects of arousal and information relevancy on pleasure. In addition, there was a significant relationship between pleasure and intention to use a LBMSS. However, the relationship between dominance and pleasure was not statistically significant. The results of the present study provides insight to retailers and marketers as to what factors they need to consider to implement location-based mobile shopping services to improve their business performance. Extended Abstract : Location aware technology has expanded the marketer's reach by reducing space and time between a consumer's receipt of advertising and purchase, offering real-time information and coupons to consumers in purchasing situations (Dickenger and Kleijnen, 2008; Malhotra and Malhotra, 2009). LBMSS increases the relevancy of SMS marketing by linking advertisements to a user's location (Bamba and Barnes, 2007; Malhotra and Malhotra, 2009). This study investigated consumer intention to use a location-based mobile shopping service (LBMSS) that integrates cognitive and affective response. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship among information relevancy and affective variables and their effects on intention to use LBMSS. Thus, information relevancy was integrated into pleasure-arousal-dominance (PAD) model and generated the following hypotheses. Hypothesis 1. There will be a positive influence of arousal concerning LBMSS on pleasure in regard to LBMSS. Hypothesis 2. There will be a positive influence of dominance in LBMSS on pleasure in regard to LBMSS. Hypothesis 3. There will be a positive influence of information relevancy on pleasure in regard to LBMSS. Hypothesis 4. There will be a positive influence of pleasure about LBMSS on intention to use LBMSS. E-mail invitations were sent out to a randomly selected sample of three thousand consumers who are older than 18 years old and mobile phone owners, acquired from an independent marketing research company. An online survey technique was employed utilizing Dillman's (2000) online survey method and follow-ups. A total of 335 valid responses were used for the data analysis in the present study. Before the respondents answer any of the questions, they were told to read a document describing LBMSS. The document included definitions and examples of LBMSS provided by various service providers. After that, they were exposed to a scenario describing the participant as taking a saturday shopping trip to a mall and then receiving a short message from the mall. The short message included new product information and coupons for same day use at participating stores. They then completed a questionnaire containing various questions. To assess arousal, dominance, and pleasure, we adapted and modified scales used in the previous studies in the context of location-based mobile shopping service, each of the five items from Mehrabian and Russell (1974). A total of 15 items were measured on a seven-point bipolar scale. To measure information relevancy, four items were borrowed from Mason et al. (1995). Intention to use LBMSS was captured using two items developed by Blackwell, and Miniard (1995) and one items developed by the authors. Data analyses were conducted using SPSS 19.0 and LISREL 8.72. A total of usable 335 data were obtained after deleting the incomplete responses, which results in a response rate of 11.20%. A little over half of the respondents were male (53.9%) and approximately 60% of respondents were married (57.4%). The mean age of the sample was 29.44 years with a range from 19 to 60 years. In terms of the ethnicity there were European Americans (54.5%), Hispanic American (5.3%), African-American (3.6%), and Asian American (2.9%), respectively. The respondents were highly educated; close to 62.5% of participants in the study reported holding a college degree or its equivalent and 14.5% of the participants had graduate degree. The sample represents all income categories: less than $24,999 (10.8%), $25,000-$49,999 (28.34%), $50,000-$74,999 (13.8%), and $75,000 or more (10.23%). The respondents of the study indicated that they were employed in many occupations. Responses came from all 42 states in the U.S. To identify the dimensions of research constructs, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) using a varimax rotation was conducted. As indicated in table 1, these dimensions: arousal, dominance, relevancy, pleasure, and intention to use, suggested by the EFA, explained 82.29% of the total variance with factor loadings ranged from .74 to .89. As a next step, CFA was conducted to validate the dimensions that were identified from the exploratory factor analysis and to further refine the scale. Table 1 exhibits the results of measurement model analysis and revealed a chi-square of 202.13 with degree-of-freedom of 89 (p =.002), GFI of .93, AGFI = .89, CFI of .99, NFI of .98, which indicates of the evidence of a good model fit to the data (Bagozzi and Yi, 1998; Hair et al., 1998). As table 1 shows, reliability was estimated with Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability (CR) for all multi-item scales. All the values met evidence of satisfactory reliability in multi-item measure for alpha (>.91) and CR (>.80). In addition, we tested the convergent validity of the measure using average variance extracted (AVE) by following recommendations from Fornell and Larcker (1981). The AVE values for the model constructs ranged from .74 through .85, which are higher than the threshold suggested by Fornell and Larcker (1981). To examine discriminant validity of the measure, we again followed the recommendations from Fornell and Larcker (1981). The shared variances between constructs were smaller than the AVE of the research constructs and confirm discriminant validity of the measure. The causal model testing was conducted using LISREL 8.72 with a maximum-likelihood estimation method. Table 2 shows the results of the hypotheses testing. The results for the conceptual model revealed good overall fit for the proposed model. Chi-square was 342.00 (df = 92, p =.000), NFI was .97, NNFI was .97, GFI was .89, AGFI was .83, and RMSEA was .08. All paths in the proposed model received significant statistical support except H2. The paths from arousal to pleasure (H1: ${\ss}$=.70; t = 11.44), from information relevancy to intention to use (H3 ${\ss}$ =.12; t = 2.36), from information relevancy to pleasure (H4 ${\ss}$ =.15; t = 2.86), and pleasure to intention to use (H5: ${\ss}$=.54; t = 9.05) were significant. However, the path from dominance to pleasure was not supported. This study investigated consumer intention to use a location-based mobile shopping service (LBMSS) that integrates cognitive and affective responses. Information relevancy was integrated into pleasure-arousal-dominance (PAD) emotional state model as a conceptual framework. The results of the present study support previous studies indicating that emotional responses as well as cognitive responses have a strong impact on accepting new technology. The findings of this study suggest potential marketing strategies to mobile service developers and retailers who are considering the implementation of LBMSS. It would be rewarding to develop location-based mobile services that integrate information relevancy and which cause positive emotional responses.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2009

This study, tasting 14 months, was conducted to investigate the effects of different pen size and group size on growing-fattening characteristics of Hanwoo steers. Forty-eight, 12-month-old Hanwoo steers($305.8{\pm}32.2\;kg$) were randomly assigned to three groups($35.28\;m^2$; n=4 heads, $70.56\;m^2$; n=8 heads, $105.84\;m^2$; n=12 heads) and reared in separate pens with a constant space allowance of $8.82m^2$ per head from 12 to 21 month of age and then regrouped to 4 heads per pen. A common diet including concentrate(limited) and forage(ad lib) was provided to all the animals. Images of live animal ultrasonic back fat thickness, longissimus muscle area and Marbling score were evaluated in three months interval from 12 months of age using an ultrasound equipment(HS-2000) at the 13th rib and lumber vertebra interface of left side. Significant differences of ADG was found mainly at $15{\sim}18$ month and $18{\sim}21$ month fattening stages(p<0.05). Marbling score(MS) was higher(p<0.05) in 12 heads group when compared with that of 4 and 8 heads groups after 18 months. Animals in 12 heads group had the lowest Average daily gain(ADG) but showed the highest longissimus muscle area(LMA) and marbling score(MS). In addition, Hanwoo steers in 12 heads group obtained a higher quality appearance(HQA) of 82.7% than that of other treatments. The results indicated that Hanwoo steers housed on large group size and pen size decreased their ADG but improved meat quality.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 1999

This study was carried out to obtain reasonable management method of salt-affected soil for ecological restoration in the reclaimed land. Chemical properties of reclaimed soil was investigated base on reclamation years. Ionic acitivity in soil and satruration extract were analyzed to estimate the effect of salt interception by planting ground treatment. The soil porperties of reclaimed land was saline-sodic soil with $11.3dSm^{-1}$ of electrical conductivity, 34.8% of exchangeable sodium percent in first reclamation year. Electrical conductivity, exchangeable sodium and exchangeable chlorine were remarkedly decreased during six years after reclamation but chemical properties of reclaimed soil was unsuitable status for tree growth. Exchangeable sodium perecnt was higher in the neighborhood parks and street tree sites than in the buffer green spaces and was higher in subsoil than in topsoil of profile in all sites. Content of soduim, chloride and sulfate in saturation extract were more than other ions. Content of soduim and chloride were higher in the neighborhood parks and street tree sites than in the buffer green spaces and were higher in subsoil than in topsoil. Content of calcium plus magnesium of soil was higher in the buffer green space than in the neighborhood park and street tree but content of calcium and magnesium in saturation extract were higher, as result from exchangeable sodium, in the neighborhood parks and street tree sites than in the buffer green spaces. Concentration of salt in soil showed the difference with mounding height and planting ground treatment. The lowest concentration of salt appeared in buffer green spaces and street tree sites was the highest. Salt interception by mounding height in the same planting ground treatment was more effective 120cm of mounding height than 70cm of mounding height.