• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.319-325
• /
• 2006

[ $\beta$ ]-Glucans (AG) were prepared from Agaricus blazei cultured in the medium fortified with the roots of Pueraria spp. by repeated extraction with hot water, gel filtration chromatography and DEAE ion exchange chromatography. Oligosaccharides (AO) were derived from the hydrolysis of AG by an endo-$\beta$-(1$\rightarrow$6)-glucanase from Bacillus megaterium. The anti-HT-29 human colon cancer activity of AG or AO was investigated using MTT assay, apoptosis assay, cell cycle analysis, and cDNA microairay. AG and AO both inhibited proliferation and growth of HT-29 cells, and stimulated apoptosis of the cells in a dose-dependent manner. In cell cycle analysis, treating HT-29 cells with AG or AO resulted in the increase of cells in the G0 (sub-G1) and G1 phase. Especially, AO was more effective in inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest than AG. To screen the genes involved in the increase of apoptosis, the gene expression profile of the HT-29 cells treated with AO was examined by cDNA microarray. While several genes involved in cell cycle progression (CCND2 and CDK2) were down-regulated, many genes involved in apoptosis (TNFSF9, TNFRSF9, FADD, CASP8, BAD, CRADD, CASP9 etc), cell cycle inhibitor (CDKN2A), immune response (IL6, IL18, IL6R etc), and tumor suppressor (CEACAM1, TP53BP2, IRF1, and PHB) were up-regulated. These results suggest that AO could inhibit the proliferation and growth of HT-29 cells by G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.244-250
• /
• 2008

To evaluate bacteriological water quality, samples were taken from drinking water dispensers placed at S company (S-C) and U highschool (U-H) in Ulsan. The medians of heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs) were 53 CFU/ml for the 74 water samples of S-C and 80 CFU/ml for the 36 cold water samples of U-H, and 38% of the S-C and 42% of the U-H samples showed HPC bacterial concentrations higher than 100 CFU/ml. Coliform bacteria were detected from one sample of S-C. To determine the major source of bacterial contamination, water samples were taken daily for $6\sim8$ days from the bottled water containers as well as the faucets of an experimental water dispenser. While the average HPCs in the bottled water containers were 33 CFU/ml for the first and 132 CFU/ml for the 2nd analysis, the HPC concentration in the cold water samples was 1,022 CFU/ml for the 2nd analysis. These results suggest that the majority of bacteria detected in the cold water samples were originated from the biofilms on the surface of water passages within the water dispensers. There was no significant increase in HPC bacterial concentrations within the bottled water container after installation on the water dispenser. We could isolate and tentatively identify 3 genera 6 species of Gram-positive and 7 genera 7 species of Gram-negative bacteria from the plate count agar plates of U-H samples. Among the isolates, 72% were observed as Gram-positive, and Micrococcus spp. was the most abundant with 54% of the total, followed by Sphingomonas paucimobilis with 16%. It appears that most of the HPC bacteria detected in water dispensers originate from indoor airborne bacteria, which may play important roles in the formation of biofilms on the surface of water passages within the water dispensers.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.48-54
• /
• 1986

Because of the drastic development of nuclear industries, the contamination of natural environments by the disposal of radioactive materials which are released from nuclear facilities have aroused a considerable concern in relation to agricultural practices. Therefore the present investigation, through pot experiment, was performed to find out the aspect of the uptake of $Sr^{90}$ by rice plants and its distribution in them in five different types(physicochemical and minerallogical properties) of paddy soils. The results obtained were as follows; 1) Visual toxic symptoms on the growth of rice plant due to treatment of $Sr^{90}$ up to $40{\mu}Ci/10㎏$ in a pot were not observed even though uptake of $Sr^{90}$ by rice plant was proportionally increased with the $Sr^{90}$ treatment. 2) Distribution of $Sr^{90}$ in the rice plant was the highest in the leaves (84.5%) followed in the order by stems (13.5%) and rough grain (2.0%). The ratio of $Sr^{90}$ to Ca was higher in the leaves (872) and stems (667) than in the rice grain (89). 3) $Sr^{90}$ absorption in the rice plant ranged $0.15{\sim}0.30%$ at harvesting time. Uptake of $Sr^{90}$ by rice plants decreased by the increase of soil pH and exchangeable canons in the soils, but $Sr^{90}$ uptake increased when nitrogen, organic matter and clay content in soil was high, and uptake of this nuclide in the rice plant was higher with low Illite and Vermiculite content in the soils.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.137-145
• /
• 2012

BACKGROUND: Along with the surplus rice production, introduction of upland crop cultivations into newly reclaimed tidal areas has gained public attentions in terms of farming diversification and farmers income increase. However, its impacts on the surroundings have not been well studied yet, especially associated with nutrient balance from reclaimed upland cultivation. The objective of this study was to investigate water and nutrient balance during winter barley cultivation as affected different fertilization methods. METHODS AND RESULTS: TN and TP balance for three different plots treated by livestock compost, chemical fertilizer, and no application were monitored during winter green barley cultivation (2010-2011) at the NICS Kyehwa experimental field in Jeonbuk, Korea. Nutrient content in soil and pore water near soil surface appeared to increase, while sub-soil layer remained similar with no fertilization plot. Livestock compost application appeared to increase organic matter content in surface soil compared to chemical fertilization. Crop yield was the greatest with livestock compost application (10.6 t/ha) followed by chemical fertilization (6.9 t/ha) and no application (1.8 t/ha). The nitrogen uptake rate was also greater with livestock compost (52.4%) than chemical fertilizer (48.1%). Phosphorus uptake rate was much smaller (about 7.0%) compared to nitrogen. Nutrient loss by surface and subsurface runoff seemed to be minimal primarily due to small rainfall amount during the winter season. Most of the remaining nutrients, particularly phosphate seemed to be stored in soil layer. Phosphate accumulation appeared to be more phenomenal in the plot applied by livestock compost with higher phosphorus content. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that livestock compost application to tidal upland may increase barley crop production and also improve soil fertility by supplying organic content. However, excessive phosphorus supply with livestock compost seems likely to cause a phosphate accumulation problem, unless the nitrogen-based fertilization practice is adjusted.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.55-68
• /
• 2010

The seasonal variation of microbial community, based on the bacteria, heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF), phytoplankton and ciliates, was investigated at three sites in the eutrophic brackish water of Lake Shihwa and its adjacent areas from May 2007 through May 2008. At the upstream-region site St. 1, compared to the other two sites, significantly lower salinities and higher concentrations of nutrients and chlorophyll $\alpha$ (Chl. $\alpha$) were recorded. The annual average abundances of bacteria at St. 1, St. 2 and St. 3 were $6.8{\times}10^6$, $7.4{\times}10^6$ and $4.6{\times}10^6\;cells\;mL^{-1}$, respectively. As for the annual average concentrations of HNF, $19{\times}10^2$, $6.7{\times}10^2$ and $5.9{\times}10^2\;cells\;mL^{-1}$, were recorded in St. 1, St. 2 and St. 3 respectively. The highest ciliate abundance appeared at St. 1 on 29 April, 2008 and in which, 99% were autotrophic ciliate Mesodinium rubrum (Myrionecta rubra). Significant linear correlations between the biomass of bacteria and Chl. $\alpha$ were found, however, no significant relationships between ciliates abudance/biomass and their prey organisms were detected in all three sites, implying relatively low energy transfer efficiencies between them. These results indicated that the trophic relationship between ciliates and their prey organisms in the microbial community might be influenced by indirect route since higher trophic level organisms did not directly correlate to those of lower trophic level, although high primary productions were detected in the eutrophic brackish water of Lake Shihwa and its adjacent areas.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.55-92
• /
• 2010

In terms of labor market accomplishments, such as income, size of the company, and the matching quality between one's job and college major (specialization), a very large discrepancy is observed between the graduates from colleges located in Seoul and those outside Seoul. But, when the department average score of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) at the time of college entrance is controlled for, the discrepancy is found to be reduced to a considerable degree. In the case of wage gap, at least two third can be explained by the SAT score gap. The remaining wage gap seems to reflect the characteristics of workplace. In other words, graduates with high SAT scores enter colleges located in Seoul and thus tend to find better jobs leading to earning differences. This result that confirms the importance of aptitude test scores suggests that in the labor market, one of the major reasons behind a lower accomplishment of the graduate from local colleges is due to a lower competitiveness of local colleges in attracting the brightest students. But, this should not be viewed as only an internal problem of local colleges. This is because the growth of local economies tends to haul the advancement of local colleges in that area rather than being the other way around. The agglomeration effect in Seoul where headquarters of large corporations and financial institutions gather is the factor that has elevated the status of colleges located in Seoul since this provides highly preferred job choices of graduates. When the competitiveness of college is significantly influenced by exogenous factors, such as the vicinity to Seoul, the effort being made by colleges alone would not be enough to improve the situation. However, the central government, too, is not in the position to carry out countermeasure policies for such problems. The regional development strategy boosted through supportive policies for local colleges, such as financial support, is not based on the persuasive and empirical grounds. It is true that college education is universal and that the government''s intervention in assisting local colleges to secure basic conditions, such as tenure faculty and adequate facilities is necessary. However, the way of intervention should not be a support-only type. In order to improve the efficiency and effect of financial support, restructuring programs, including the merger and integration of insolvent colleges, should be underway prior to providing support. In addition, when the policy is focused on education recipients-local college students, and not on education providers-local colleges, the importance of regional gap in compulsory education (elementary and junior high schools) turns out to be much important as the gap between metropolitan area colleges and local colleges. Considering the educational gap before college entrance shown from the discrepancies of aptitude test scores among different regions, the imbalance between regions in terms of human resources is apparently derived from compulsory education, and not from college education. Therefore, there is a need to double the policy efforts to reduce the educational gap among different regions. In addition, given the current situation where it is difficult to find appropriate ex post facto policy measures to solve the problem of income gap between the graduates from metropolitan colleges and local colleges, it can be said that improving the environment for compulsory education in local areas is a growing necessity for bridging the educational gap among different regions.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.121-127
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to analyze college students basic knowledge of oral health of a college student and compare with the knowledge of oral health between dental hygiene students and non-dental hygiene students. A survey was conducted on the residents in Gyeonggi-do and Gwangju from June 2006 to May 2007. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. Concerning the knowledge of oral health, dental hygiene students got the source of information most frequently from school work about oral health(80.0%) and non-dental hygiene students got from health programs of TV or radio(42.7%). Concerning the reason of keeping of oral hygiene, dental hygiene students were to preventive of dental caries(80.9%) and nondental hygiene students were to preventive of periodontal disease(52.4%). There were significant difference between dental hygiene students and non-dental hygiene students(p < 0.001). 2. The knowledge degree of dental caries, to the both groups, methods of preventing caries appeared regular brush and main cause of dental caries was not to brush. There were significant difference between dental hygiene students and non-dental hygiene students(p < 0.001). 3. Dental hygiene students answered about the knowledge of fluoride know fluoride(93.6%) and non-dental hygiene students answered (55.3%). Dental hygiene students thought that fluoride could preventive dental caries(85.5%) but non-dental hygiene students thought that fluoride couldn't preventive dental caries(51.0%). There was significant difference between dental hygiene students and non-dental hygiene students(p < 0.001). 4. In the knowledge of oral health state, both of groups, replied that their own tooth state is average but they concerned about their tooth health. There was significant difference between dental hygiene students and non-dental hygiene students(p < 0.001). About main cause of dental caries, students ranked that the first reason was the poor toothbrush and the second reason was the over intaking of sugared foods. 5. About knowledge of oral diagnosis, to both groups, students ranked that first could endure the pain and the second was in much pain. For both groups, students ranked that difficult of dental treatment was cost, fear and time. There was significant difference between dental hygiene students and non-dental hygiene students(p < 0.01). For both groups, when they visit dentist's office, they felt misgivings and fear.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.449-460
• /
• 2013

This study analyzes the processes of change in oral health behaviors induced by oral health education for 23 university students. To this end, we analyzed the changing patterns of the stages of change and motivational components for each oral health behavior. Additionally, we performed an in-depth interview-based investigation of the factors influencing such motivational components. Oral health education was performed twice with a concrete purpose of changing the participants' behaviors in complying with the practice of proper brushing and flossing as the main oral health management, and checking the nutrient facts as a good dietary habit. Upon completion of these two sessions of oral health education, the level of change in oral health behavior was assessed by measuring the stages of change and motivational components for each oral health behavior. In order to gain an in-depth understanding of the reasons for the changes that were demonstrated more markedly during the second education session than during the first session, collective interview surveys were carried out after the second session. The contents of the recorded interviews were categorized into subscales of distinctive concepts on the basis of the items of a health behavior model. The study had the findings as below. First, after the first and second education sessions, some behaviors showed positive changes from lower to higher levels of practice. Second, self-efficacy about oral health behavior was high or perceived barriers were low when its necessity and benefits were clearly perceived. Third, educational features such as the practice and participation-centered education, and examining their own oral conditions influenced the participants' oral health awareness and behavioral changes. There is a need for oral health education capable of leading to practical behavioral changes by establishing concrete strategies of deriving various motivational components at each stage of the processes of change.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.122-134
• /
• 2010

We investigated the levels of resistance and accumulation of terapyrroles, reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidative enzymes for reasons of growth reduction in herbicide-transgenic rice overexpressing Myxococcus xanthus, Arabidopsis thaliana, and human protoporphyrinogen oxidase (Protox) genes. The transgenic rice overexpressing M. xanthus (MX, MX1, PX), A. thaliana (AP31, AP36, AP37), and human (H45, H48, H49) Protox genes showed 43~65, 41~72 and 17~70-fold more resistance to oxyfluorfen, respectively, than the wild type. Among transgenic rice lines overexpressing Protox genes, several lines showed normal growth compared with the wild type, but several lines showed in reduction of plant height and shoot fresh weight under different light conditions. However, reduction of plant height of AP37 was much higher than other lines for the experimental period. On the other hand, the reduction of plant height and shoot fresh weight in the transgenic rice was higher in high light condition than in low light condition. Enhanced levels of Proto IX were observed in transgenic lines AP31, AP37, and H48 at 7 days after seeding (DAS) and transgenic lines PX, AP37, and H48 at 14 DAS relative to wild type. There were no differences in Mg-Proto IX of transgenic lines except for H41 and H48 and Mg-Proto IX monomethyl ester of transgenic lines except for MX, MX1, and PX. Although accumulation of tetrapyrrole intermediates was observed in transgenic lines, their tetrapyrrole accumulation levels were not enough to inhibit growth of transgenic rice. There were no differences in reactive oxygen species, MDA, ALA synthesizing capacity, and chlorophyll between transgenic lines and wild type indicating that accumulated tetrapyrrole intermediate were apparently not high enough to inhibit growth of transgenic rice. Therefore, the growth reduction in certain transgenic lines may not be caused by a single factor such as Proto IX, but by interaction of many other factors.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.389-398
• /
• 2013

Platycodin D is a major constituent of triterpene saponins, which is found in the root of Platycodon grandiflorum, Platycodi Radix, which is widely used in traditional Oriental medicine for the treatment of many chronic inflammatory diseases. Several pharmacological effects of this compound have been reported recently, such as anti-inflammation, immunogenicity, anti-adipogenesis, lowered cholesterol, and anti-cancer activity. However, the mechanism by which this action occurs is poorly understood. In this study, we found that platycodin D greatly increased the potential of the anti-proliferative effect in various cancer cell lines. Our data revealed that platycodin D treatment resulted in a time- and concentration-response growth inhibition of U937 cells by inducing apoptosis, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies, chromatin condensation, and the accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase. Apoptosis induction of U937 cells by platycodin D correlated with an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caused the down-regulation of IAP family members. In addition, platycodin D treatment resulted in proteolytic activation of caspase-3, the concomitant degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases, and the collapse of the mitochondria membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}_m$). However, the cytotoxic effects induced by platycodin D treatment were significantly inhibited by z-DEVD-fmk, a caspase-3 inhibitor, which demonstrated the important role that caspase-3 played in the observed cytotoxic effect. These findings suggest that platycodin D may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for use in the control of human leukemia U937 cells. These findings also provided important new insights into possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of platycodin D.