• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.205-212
• /
• 2023

This study was attempted to find out how the ecological niche and interspecies relationship of Quercus aliena and Q. serrata, which are the main constituents of potential natural vegetation along the riverside of mountains in Korea, under climate change conditions. To this end, soil moisture and soil nutrients were treated with 4 grad ients under climate change conditions with elevated CO₂ and temperature, plants we re harvested at the end of the growing season, growth responses of traits were measured, ecological niche breadth and overlap were calculated, and it was compared with that of the control group(ambient condition). In addition, the relationship between the two species was analyzed by principal component analysis using trait values. As a result, the ecological niche breadth of Q. aliena was wider than that of Q. serrata under the moisture environment conditions under climate change. Under nutrient conditions, the ecological niche of the two species were similar. In addition, the ecological overlap for soil moisture of Q. aliena and Q. serrata was wider than the soil nutrient gradient under climate change. The species with traits in which the increase in ecological niche breadth due to climate change occurred more than the decrease was Q. aliena in both water and nutrient gradients. And in the responses of the population level, due to climate change, the adaptability of Q. aliena was higher than that of Q. serrata under the soil moisture condition, but the two species were similar under the nutrient condition. These results mean that the competition between the two species occurs more severely in the water environment under climate change conditions, and at that time, Q. aliena has higher adaptability than Q. serrata.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.247-258
• /
• 2023

This study aims to investigate the enhancement of water resistance and improvement in adhesion to the skin by combining dextrin palmitate and isopropyl titanium triisostearate coating materials with titanium dioxide. Due to the recent increase in consumers who enjoy outdoor activities, the demand for sunscreen with excellent water resistance is increasing. Prior research was conducted with O/W, Pickering, and W/O/W multiple formulations, but there was a limit to water resistance. The purpose of this study is to develop a complex inorganic powder that can improve water resistance and increase adhesion to the skin to solve this problem. First, we combined dextrin palmitate and isopropyl titanium triisostearate coating materials to form a composite with titanium dioxide. The coating of the inorganic powder was confirmed using FE-SEM and FT-IR analysis. The composite exhibited significantly higher in vitro water resistance compared to other formulations. The hydrophobicity of the coated inorganic powder was compared by measuring the contact angles. When the coated inorganic powder was applied to the W/O sunscreen formulation and the non-coated inorganic powder was applied to the W/O sunscreen formulation as a control, the SPF of the sunscreen containing the coated inorganic powder was higher. These results were the same when observed with a UV camera. Finally the adhesion of the coated inorganic powder to the skin was assessed by applying it to a foundation product. In vivo study, it was observed that the product formulated with the coated powder exhibited less smudging compared to the foundation product formulated with the non-coated powder. The developed inorganic powder in this study demonstrated excellent adhesion to the skin, providing a superior sensory experience, as well as enhanced hydrophobicity and remarkable water resistance effects. In the future, the result of this study is expected to help develop various sunscreen products to improve water resistance.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.158-168
• /
• 2023

Natural products have been used to mitigate the effects of cancer and infectious diseases, as they feature diverse bioactivities, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Here, we chose 10 natural products that are well-known as pulmonary enhancers and investigated their bactericidal effects on Streptococcus pneumoniae. In the disk diffusion assay, the growth of S. pneumoniae was significantly regulated by G. fructus treatment regardless of extraction method used. We first adopted spraying as a novel delivery method for G. fructus. Interestingly, mice exposed to G. fructus three times a day for 2 weeks were resistant to S. pneumoniae intranasal infection (shown both through body weight loss and survival rates compared to the control group). Moreover, we confirmed that exposure to G. fructus regulated the colonization of the bacteria despite the sustained inflammation in the lung after exposure to S. pneumoniae, indicating that migrated inflammatory immune cells may involve a host defense mechanism against pulmonary infectious diseases. While a similar number of granulocytes (CD11b⁺Ly6C⁺Ly6G⁺), neutrophils (CD11b⁺Ly6C^intLy6G⁺), and monocytes (CD11b⁺Ly6C^intLy6G^-) were found between groups, a significantly increased number of alveolar macrophages (CD11b⁺CD11c^hiF4/80⁺) was detected in BAL fluids of mice pre-exposed to G. fructus at 5 days after S. pneumonia infection. Taken together, our data suggest that this usage of G. fructus can induce protective immunity against bacterial infection, indicating that facial spray may be helpful in enhancing the defense mechanism against pulmonary inflammation and in evaluating the efficacy of natural products as immune enhancers against respiratory diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.112 no.2
• /
• pp.258-266
• /
• 2023

Pine wilt disease is caused by the pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) and has killed many pine trees in Europe and Northeast Asia, including South Korea. Resistance to pine wilt disease varies among species. Previous studies were mostly conducted in nature or greenhouses and only a few in test fields. In this study, seedlings of six pine species (Pinus thunbergii, P. koraiensis, P. densiflora, P. parviflora, P. rigida × P. taeda, and P. strobus) were artificially inoculated by pine wood nematodes in the test field. The Wilt Index was measured every 2 weeks after inoculation in addition to the mortality rate, detection rate, and pine wood nematode concentration measurement after 24 weeks. The pine wilt disease mortality rates were P. thunbergii (80%), P. koraiensis (77.8%), P. densiflora (62.5%), and P. parviflora (22.0%), and both P. rigida × P. taeda and P. strobus survived. The pine nematode detection rates were the same among the species except for P. rigida × P. taeda pine (22.2%). High Wilt-Index values were obtained for P. thunbergii, P. koraiensis, and P. densiflora, which had mortality rates higher than the other species. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the Wilt Indexes between P. parviflora, P. rigida × P. taeda, P. strobus, and the control group. Statistically, P. thunbergii and P. koraiensis showed high susceptibility to pine wilt disease, P. densiflora and P. parviflora showed moderate susceptibility, and P. rigida × P. taeda and P. strobus showed apparent resistance. These results provide basic data for pine wood nematode resistance breeding or as evidence of the need for afforestation of P. rigida × P. taeda and P. strobus.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.125-138
• /
• 2016

To assess the industrial possibility of mixed-extracts containing Hovenia dulcis Thunberg and 12 different botanical ingredients, a protective effect was confirmed in the chronic ethanol-induced the liver, brain, and blood injury in mouse. Blood glucose levels of the normal control group(NG) and ethanol administration group(EG) were respectively 119.43mg/dL and 305.25mg/dL, and the mixed-extracts administration group(100, 200mg/kg body weight + 25% ethanol 5g/kg body weight respectively; ME100 & ME200) were decreased to 272.76mg/dL and 234.60mg/dL. Blood ethanol contents were decreased in ME100 and ME200(3.85mg/dL, 3.08mg/dL) compared to EG(4.08mg/dL), and blood acetaldehyde contents were also decreased in ME(15.76mg/dL, 15.16mg/dL) compared to EG(18.72mg/dL). The contents of hepatotoxic indicators such as glutamine pyruvic transaminase(GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), nephrotoxic indicators such as blood urea nitrogen(BUN), and creatine(CRE), and total cholestero(TCHO), and triglyceride(TG) in mouse blood serum were significantly decreased in the ME compared to EG. The acetylcholinesterase(AChE) activity of ME(109.00% and 108.47%, respectively) in mouse brain tissues was decreased in ME compared to EG(116.10%). Finally, ME was remarkable in vivo antioxidant activities in the mouse liver and brain tissues by superoxide dismutase(SOD), oxidized glutathione(GSH)/total GSH ratio and the malondialdehyde (MDA) assay. Therefore, the mixed-extracts was considered to be effective a high value food with protective effect against chronic ethanol traetment-induced cytotoxicity in liver and brain tissues.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.56-70
• /
• 2022

Tombs No. 39 and No. 63 in Gyo-dong, Changnyeong, are unique in the Changnyeong area in that they do not have additional burials because they are hoenggu-style tombs with an entrance on the north side. This study tried to understand the nature and meaning of the two separate stone walls at the entrance of the tomb along with the burial process of the tomb. These two stone walls mark small tombs built independently within a large tomb, with stone wall No. 39 stone wall No. 3 (No.39-3) and No. 63 stone wall No. 3 (No. 63-3). Both units are located in the middle of the northern wall of the burial body part and share one wall with the burial body part wall stone. All animal fluids inside the stone wall were identified. In particular, it was estimated that at least three dogs were buried as a result of identification of animal fluids No. 63-3. Above all, these animals have their heads facing outward with their backs to the main occupants, and do not overlap in a limited space and are placed side by side. Changnyeong Gyo-dong No. 39-3 and 63-3 were created in the process of building the burial body, and although they are independent relics, they form a subordinate relationship in that they were built along the main burial within one tomb. In addition, it is coercive in that it is placed in an orderly manner according to a certain direction in a state that has not been dismantled after killing an animal. Therefore, It is understood to be the SHUNJANG of dogs. Studies on animal fluids excavated from tombs in the Three Kingdoms period are interpreted as animal stewardship, sacrificial collection, and animal sacrifice depending on their location, and this is known as a series of animal sacrifice rites, namely, animal stewardship and sacrifice. This recognition is based on material objectification of animals, such as food or sacrifices. However, Changnyeong Gyo-dong No. 39-3 and 63-3 are different in that they recognize animals as spiritual beings in the process of funeral rites and are closely related to the ideology that there is life after death. In addition, analysis of the location and directionality of the remains is also required from multiple angles. These two SHUNJANG correspond to the entrance to the tomb, and the location is the most open space at the entrance. The appearance of a dog looking outward, etc., can also be interpreted as the meaning of protecting the tombs and byeoksa. This appearance can be compared with the dog depicted in a mural in a Goguryeo tomb that reflects the ancient world's thought and stone figures excavated from the tomb of King Muryeong of Baekje, and it is also consistent with the meaning of the JINMYOSU protecting the ancient tombs. This suggests that a multifaceted study on animal fluid burial remains is needed in the future.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.471-480
• /
• 2023

This study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of Rumohra adiantiformis extracts fermented with Bovista plumbea mycelium (B-RAE) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The total polyphenol and total flavonoid content of B-RAE were 379.26±7.77 mg/g and 50.85±3.08 mg/g, respectively. The results of measuring the antioxidant activity of B-RAE showed that it scavenges 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and superoxide anion radical in a dose-dependent manner. B-RAE inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner without affecting cell viability. The gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-lβ (IL-1β), and IL-6 was measured using real time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). We found that, compared to the LPS-treated group, B-RAE significantly reduced the mRNA levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines in a concentration-dependent manner. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the phosphorylation of transcription factors such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway proteins were assessed using Western blot analysis. We found that B-RAE significantly suppressed the expression of iNOS and COX-2, but their expression was increased by LPS treatment. In addition, the phosphorylation of NF-κB and IκB, which was increased by LPS treatment, was reduced with B-RAE treatment. The effect of B-RAE on the phosphorylation of the MAPK signaling pathway proteins was measured, and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the p38 MAPK proteins decreased in a dose-dependent manner, while the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) increased. These anti-inflammatory effects of B-RAE may thus have been achieved through the high antioxidant activity, the inhibition of NO production through the suppression of iNOS and COX-2 expression, the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway, and the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.46-61
• /
• 2023

Various Buddhist metal artifacts were excavated from the Heungjeon-ri Temple site from 2014 to 2020, such as gilt-bronze openwork decorations, a bronze kundika, a lion incense burner with a handle and lion weight, and so on. The gilt-bronze openwork decoration founded from the main hall of the western area is believed to have been used for the decoration of the Buddhist temple, and it is considered to be the best example of the gilt-bronze openwork decorations of the unified Silla that have been discovered so far. The incense burner with a handle and lion weight excavated from Heungjeon-ri Temple site is the earliest example of the style. The bronze kundikas excavated at the Heungjeon-ri Temple site have a more developed style than those of Ingaksa Temple. The bronze bowl and bronze bowl with a lid are similar to those excavated from the Anapji, Hwangryongsa Temple site, and Inwangdong Temple site. So these bronze vessels seem to have spread from the capital city to the provinces. Bronze seals excavated from the Heungjeon-ri Temple site are similar to those of the Hwangnyongsa Temple site in form and font. So, it was considered that they were produced and sent by the royal palace. In addition, "梵雄官衙之印" on the seal can be said to show that Heungjeonri Temple site was related to the organization of the monks at the time. The Buddhist metal artifacts excavated from Heungjeon-ri Temple site are believed to have been used from the early to mid-9th century at the temple by the Seon Order monk who was the main character of the monument. It can be said to be an important example of how the royal palace of Unified Silla and local crafts had a two-way influence, not a one-way influence, from the first half to the middle of the 9th century.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.232-239
• /
• 2023

This study was to evaluate the values of Korean native sweet sorghum as a new feed crop for ruminants. Sweet sorghum was the Muan native species (Bioenergy Crop Research Center, National Institute of Crop Science), and cultivated from May to October 2021 at Sangji University (Wonju-si, Gangwon-do, Korea). There were a non-treated group (Con), a recommended amount treatment (RD) and a treatment with double the recommended amount (Double RD) by an oil cake fertilizer. Plant height was measured at weekly intervals for 12 weeks after planting sweet sorghum seedlings, and was a significant difference in the order of Double RD, followed by RD and Con in 7 weeks (p<0.05). Feed values and sugar contents were measured in 7, 9, and 11 weeks. Crude protein of Double RD was higher than that of the other treatments in 7 and 9 weeks (p<0.05). Crude fat was higher at Double RD than the other one in 9 weeks (p<0.05). ADF and NDF of Double RD were higher than the other one (p<0.05). When it was compared to corn and sudangrass hybrids grown on farms, Crude protein was lower in sweet sorghum than other crops (p<0.05), and crude fat was higher in sweet sorghum than corn (p<0.05). Crude fiber, ADF and NDF were higher in sweet sorghum compared to corn and sudangrass (p<0.05). The sugar contents of sweet sorghum were 4.07 ± 0.12~7.63 ± 0.21 brix, and showed higher than corn and sudangrass hybrid (p<0.05). The rumen in situ digestibility of sweet sorghum was 30.73~38.13% at the 9th and 11th weeks, and showed higher than that of corn and sudangrass hybrids (p<0.05). Therefore, it is considered that Korean native sweet sorghum has sufficient value as a new forage crop for ruminants, and good value as yield, nutrients and digestibility, when the grass height is 273.33~332.50 cm.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.165-172
• /
• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a significant difference in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio according to the history of suicide attempt in patients with psychiatric diseases. Methods : A medical record review was conducted on patients who had been hospitalized in Konyang University Hospital since 2021-03-01 to 2023-02-28 to collect demographic and clinical characteristics. T-test for continuous variables and Chi-square test for categorical variables were performed to determine demographic differences according to the history of suicide attempt, and the ANCOVA test was performed to compare the average value of peripheral inflammatory marker according to the history of suicide attempt with gender and age as covariates. One-way variance analysis was performed to determine whether the number of suicide attempt causes significant difference of the peripheral inflammatory marker. Results : The final analysis target of this study was 266 patients, 101 had history of suicide attempt, and 165 had no history of suicide attempt. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (p<0.001) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (p<0.001) were higher in patients with the history of suicide attempt than patients without the history of suicide attempt, but the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were not significantly increased depending on the serial increase of number of suicide attempts. Conclusions : This study suggests that peripheral inflammatory markers are meaningful and easily accessible indicators for predicting the risk of suicide attempt in psychiatric patients. We expect that prospective follow-up study will be conducted with more subjects and controlled potential confounding variables.