• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.29 no.4A
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• pp.407-419
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate the seismic behavior of precast segmental PSC bridge columns with precast concrete footings and to provide the details and reference data. Six precast segmental PSC bridge columns were tested under a constant axial load and a cyclically reversed horizontal load. A computer program, RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures was used. A bonded or unbonded tendon element based on the finite element method, that can represent the interaction between tendon and concrete of prestressed concrete member, is used. A joint element is modified to predict the inelastic behaviors of segmental joints. This study documents the testing of precast segmental PSC bridge columns with precast concrete footings and presents conclusions based on the experimental and analytical findings.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.4A
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• pp.591-601
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of precast concrete segmental bridge columns with shear resistance connecting structure. The system can reduce work at a construction site and makes construction periods shorter. A model of precast concrete segmental bridge columns with shear resistance connecting structure was tested under a constant axial load and a cyclically reversed horizontal load. A computer program, RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures was used. An bonded or unbonded tendon element based on the finite element method, that can represent the interaction between tendon and concrete of prestressed concrete member, is used. A joint element is newly modified to predict the inelastic behaviors of segmental joints. The proposed numerical method gives a realistic prediction of performance throughout the loading cycles for several test specimens investigated.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.60-60
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• 2021

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), especially including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one of the common diseases with 25% of prevalence globally, but there is no thera-peutic access available. Amomum villosum var. xanthioides (Wall. ex Baker) T.L.Wu & S.J.Chen (AX), which is a medicinal herb and traditionally used for treating digestive tract disorders in Asia countries. We aimed to examine pharmacological effects of ethyl acetate fraction of AX (AXEF) against ER stress-induced NASH mice model using C57/BL6J male mice by tunicamycin (TM, 2 mg/kg) injection focusing on the oxidative stress. Mice were orally administrated AXEF (12.5, 25, or 50 mg/kg), silymarin (50 mg/kg) or distilled water daily for 5 days, and outcomes for fatty liver, inflammation, and oxidative stress were measured in serum or liver tissue levels. AXEF drastically attenuated hepatic ER stress-induced NASH which were evidenced by decreases of li-pid droplet accumulations, serum liver enzymes, hepatic inflammations, and cell death signals in the hepatic tissue or serum levels. Interestingly, AXEF showed potent antioxidant effects by quenching of reactive oxidative stress and its final product of lipid peroxide in the hepatic tissue, specifically increase of metallothionein (MT). To confirm underlying actions of AXEF, we ob-served that AXEF increase MT1gene promoter activities in the physiological levels. Collectively, AXEF showed antioxidant properties on TM-induced ER stress of NASH by enhancement of MTs.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2024

Previous studies have highlighted the pivotal role of the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signaling pathway in stimulating cancer metastasis induced by chronic stress. According to the theory of traditional Korean medicine, chronic stress can induce Qi stagnation. Based on the traditional role of premature citrus unshiu peel in moving Qi, we hypothesized that an ethanol extract of premature citrus unshiu peel (EPCU) can attenuate chronic stress-induced cancer progression. In this study, we investigated the potential role of EPCU on modulating the adrenergic agonists-induced metastatic properties of liver cancer cells. Our findings revealed that adrenergic agonists, including norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and isoproterenol (ISO), augmented the migratory capacity of Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, which was completely abrogated by EPCU treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. Consistently, EPCU inhibited the E-induced invasive property of Hep3B cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that EPCU efficiently attenuates adrenergic agonists-induced metastatic abilities of liver cancer cells. As a molecular mechanism, EPF suppressed the phosphorylation of major components of β-AR signaling pathway, including Src, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and ERK, induced by E treatment. Taken together, our results demonstrate that EPCU impedes the adrenergic agonists-driven metastatic potential of cancer cells by inhibiting β-AR signaling pathway. This study provides basic evidence supporting the probable use of premature citrus unshiu peel to prevent metastasis in liver cancer patients under chronic stress.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.283-293
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• 2023

Objectives : Native to East Asia, Japan, and Korea, Cinnamomum japonicum Siebold (CJ) is renowned for its aromatic leaves and bark. We previously assessed the antioxidant activity of fractionated CJ branches (CJB:70% EtOH extract), including hexane (CJB1), chloroform (CJB2), ethyl acetate (CJB3), butanol (CJB4), and water (CJB5). Our findings revealed that CJB3 exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. Here, we aimed to investigate whether CJB3 possesses cytoprotective effects and induces the activity of antioxidant enzymes in hepatocytes. Methods : As HepG2 cells were the first to exhibit the key characteristics of hepatocytes, we investigated the hepatoprotective effects of CJB3 on HepG2 cells. Results : Before conducting the cell experiment, we checked that CJB3, up to a concentration of 100 ㎍/mL, did not exhibit cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cells. ROS production increased because of t-BHP treatment decreased in a concentration-dependent manner upon CJB3 treatment. We confirmed that CJB3 inhibited t-BHP-induced cell death. CJB3 was found to reverse the expression of proteins associated with t-BHP-induced apoptosis. We also observed that CJB3 induced Nrf2 phosphorylation and the nuclear translocation of Nrf2. And, CJB3 treatment caused a time-dependent enhancement of GCL and NQO1 protein expression. We further confirmed that CJB3 increased the expression of Nrf2 target genes, and this effect was associated with the activation of JNK, p38, and AMPK. Conclusion : CJB3 prevents t-BHP-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis and enhances the expression of Nrf2 target genes via JNK, p38, and AMPK activation. These results suggest that CJB3 is a promising candidate for the treatment of liver diseases.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.550-558
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• 2017

The effect of Artemisia argyi H. under liquid-state fermentation by Monascus purpureus (AAFM) on cognitive impairments has been studied in a mice model of diabetes-associated cognitive decline induced by streptozotocin (STZ). C57BL/6 mice (9 weeks of age, male) were separated into four groups: a normal control, STZ-induced diabetic mouse group (STZ group), Artemisia argyi H. (AA) 10 group (diabetic mouse+AA 10 mg/kg/day), AAFM 10 group (diabetic mouse+AAFM 10 mg/kg/day). Administration of AA and AAFM significantly improved glucose tolerance, as shown by the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), and ameliorated cognitive deficit, as shown by the behavioral tests including passive avoidance, Morris water maze, and Y-maze tests. After behavioral tests, the cholinergic system was examined by assessment of the acetylcholine (ACh) level and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity, and the antioxidant system was also assessed by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in the brain and liver.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.517-523
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• 2018

Elevated levels of cortisol caused by chronic stress may lead to neuron damage in the hippocampus by activating the glucocorticoid receptors (GRs). In cortisol-deficient animals, corticosterone is known to function as a stress hormone. In humans however, corticosterone is considered a precursor of aldosterone and a glucocorticoid with similar properties to cortisol. Recently, many studies have been conducted on the role of cortisol and other synthetic glucocorticoids like dexamethasone in humans, but the exact function of corticosterone is unknown. This study examined the viability of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells treated with various concentrations of corticosterone for 24 and 48 hr via MTT assay. The MTT-assay results showed that corticosterone had an antiproliferation effect on SH-SY5Y cells at higher concentrations (500 and $1,000{\mu}M$), while in lower concentrations ($100{\mu}M$), it showed no antiproliferation effect. Cytotoxicity analysis of extracts from three medicinal crops (Liriope muscari, Schisandra chinensis, and Wolfiporia extensa) revealed that they all possessed deleterious effects on SH-SY5Y cells depending on dosage. However, it was observed that, at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/ml$, Liriope muscari attenuated the corticosterone-induced antiproliferation on SY-SH5Y cells and restored cell growth after 48 hours of treatment. The study examined the synergistic effect of six mixtures each containing $500{\mu}g/ml$ of Liriope and various concentrations of Schisandra (50 or $100{\mu}g/ml$) and Wolfiporia (10, 30, and $50{\mu}g/ml$). The results showed minor growth-restoration activity but less than that of Liriope muscari only, suggesting that Schisandra and Wolfiporia had no additive or synergistic effects.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.161-171
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• 2017

This study was aimed to evaluate and compare the proximate composition, antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of Sageretia thea (Osbeck) M.C.Johnst (S. thea) fruit and blueberry. The calorific value, crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, and carbohydrate were higher in S. thea fruit than in blueberry. S. thea fruit and blueberry have different profile of free sugars, in which amounts of fructose, glucose, and maltose were much higher in S. thea fruit than in blueberry. The methanol extracts of S. thea fruit contain higher amounts of total polyphenol and anthocyanin compared to those of blueberry extracts. In additions, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), alkyl, and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities are greater in S. thea fruit extracts. Ethyl acetate fractions and n-butanol fractions of S. thea fruit and blueberry show the most potent scavenging activity in DPPH-, alkyl-, and ABTS-radical scavenging assay. The ethyl acetate fractions of S. thea fruit and blueberry are the richest fraction in polyphenol contents while the n-butanol fractions of those are the highest fraction in anthocyanin contents. Furthermore, both S. thea fruit and blueberry extracts protect human dermal fibroblast cells against a $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress. The antiproliferative activities of n-hexane and chloroform fraction from S. thea fruit and blueberry were observed in AGS human gastric cancer and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Therefore, our results suggest for the first time that the antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of S. thea fruit is comparable to that of blueberry and the nutritional value of the former is even superior to that of the latter.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.26-38
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• 2014

To examine the antioxidant activities of 11n selected miscellaneous cereal grains (proso millet, yellow glutinous proso millet, hwanggeumchal sorghum, glutinous sorghum, white glutinous sorghum, yellow glutinous foxtail millet, nonglutinous foxtail millet, green glutinous foxtail millet, golden foxtail millet, barnyard millet, and adlay), the free radical-scavenging activities of 80% ethanol extracts of the individual grains were investigated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) methods. The ethanol extracts of hwanggeumchal sorghum, glutinous sorghum, and barnyard millet grains exhibited more potent free radical-scavenging activities as compared to the other grains. When these three ethanol extracts were sequentially fractionated with n-hexane, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol, the majority of the antioxidant activities were detected in the ethyl acetate and butanol fractions in which phenolic ingredients were abundant. The ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of hwanggeumchal sorghum and the ethyl acetate fraction of glutinous sorghum showed higher antioxidant activity than that of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol. Both ferric thiocyanate (FTC) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) methods demonstrated that these organic solvent fractions could inhibit lipid peroxidation. The ethyl acetate fractions from hwanggeumchal sorghum, glutinous sorghum, and barnyard millet grains could suppress tertiary-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP)-induced apoptotic events, including sub-G1 peaks, ${\Delta}{\Psi}m$ loss, activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and cleavage of PARP and lamin B, in human HL-60 cells. These results show that the grains of hwanggeumchal sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench cv. Hwanggeumchalsusu), glutinous sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench cv. Chalsusu), and barnyard millet (Echinochloa esculenta) possess efficient antioxidant activity, which could protect cells from oxidative stress-mediated cytotoxicity.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.39 no.4 s.165
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• pp.299-311
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• 2006

In this paper it is outlined the methodology of estimating the parameters of water balance analysis method for calculating recharge, using ground water level rises in monitoring well when values of specific yield of aquifer are not available. This methodology is applied for two monitoring wells of the case study area in northern area of the Jeiu Island. A water balance of soil layer of plant rooting zone is computed on a daily basis in the following manner. Diect runoff is estimated by using SCS method. Potential evapotranspiration calculated with Penman-Monteith equation is multiplied by crop coefficients($K_c$) and water stress coefficient to compute actual evapotranspiration(AET). Daily runoff and AET is subtracted from the rainfall plus the soil water storage of the previous day. Soil water remaining above soil water retention capacity(SWRC) is assumed to be recharge. Parameters such as the SCS curve number, SWRC and Kc are estimated from a linear relationship between water level rise and recharge for rainfall events. The upper threshold value of specific yield($n_m$) at the monitoring well location is derived from the relationship between rainfall and the resulting water level rise. The specific yield($n_c$) and the coefficient of determination ($R^2$) are calculated from a linear relationship between observed water level rise and calculated recharge for the different simulations. A set of parameter values with maximum value of $R^2$ is selected among parameter values with calculated specific yield($n_c$) less than the upper threshold value of specific yield($n_m$). Results applied for two monitoring wells show that the 81% of variance of the observed water level rises are explained by calculated recharge with the estimated parameters. It is shown that the data of groundwater level is useful in estimating the parameter of water balance analysis method for calculating recharge.