• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• 제2권
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• pp.42-55
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• 1984

The direction of scientific researches on tree improvement and forest management in several universities and research institutes in Japan can be summarized as follows: They put a great emphasis on sugi, Cryptomeria japonica and cypress, Chamaecyparus oblusa which are two major conifer species largerly planted in the Japanese forestry. In the research of sugi, a great concern has been made in evaluating inheritance of forest tree, quantitative characters and genetic parameter of growth, and in breeding for resistance to diseases and insects and to all the natural calamities. Interaction between environmental conditions and genetic nature of tree can be concerned factors in relation with forest damage, together with silvicultural conditions and pest infestation. Selfing hybrids of $F_1$ made from crossing twisted-leaf sugi, defomity leaf type and midori sugi, normal leaf type segregated the normal needle, twisted needle, green leaf and albino leaf type. It seemed that separation of many defomity individuals can be governed by two dominant complementary genes and from the near loci of which it was detected lethal genes. 52% of Japanese forestry is occupied by the small forest landowners like Korean forestry. This made difficulty for forest improvement such as progressive afforestation and for capital accumulation form forestry. The Forest Corporation was established at first in 1959 to aming at productive forestry structure and forest management, and afforestation. For these purpose, 35 Forest Corporations are at moment operating throughout Japan. However, investment in forestry business becomes less attractive since the wage in forest production duction increased in higher trend. than timber price. Therefore, an artifical afforestation becomes yearly decreased. At present. the self-sufficient rate of timber production in Japan is about 35%, and so a great effort is being made to increase self-sufficient rate of timber production.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.18.1-18.12
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• 2021

Background: We previously elucidated the protective mechanism of Korean red ginseng oil (RGO) against Brucella abortus infection, and our phytochemical analysis revealed that palmitic acid (PA) was an abundant component of RGO. Consequently, we investigated the contribution of PA against B. abortus. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the efficacy of PA against B. abortus infection using a murine cell line and a murine model. Methods: Cell viability, bactericidal, internalization, and intracellular replication, western blot, nitric oxide (NO), and superoxide (O₂^-) analyses and flow cytometry were performed to determine the effects of PA on the progression of B. abortus infection in macrophages. Flow cytometry for cytokine analysis of serum samples and bacterial counts from the spleens were performed to determine the effect of PA in a mouse model. Results: PA did not affect the growth of B. abortus. PA treatment in macrophages did not change B. abortus uptake but it did attenuate the intracellular survivability of B. abortus. Incubation of cells with PA resulted in a modest increase in sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression. Compared to control cells, reduced nitrite accumulation, augmented O₂^-, and enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine production were observed in PA-treated B. abortus-infected cells. Mice orally treated with PA displayed a decreased serum interleukin-10 level and enhanced bacterial resistance. Conclusions: Our results suggest that PA participates in the control of B. abortus within murine macrophages, and the in vivo study results confirm its efficacy against the infection. However, further investigations are encouraged to completely characterize the mechanisms involved in the inhibition of B. abortus infection by fatty acids.

• 한국표면공학회지
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• 제55권6호
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• pp.353-362
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• 2022

Recently, transmittance of photomasks for ultra-violet (UV) region is getting more important, as the light source wavelength of an exposure process is shortened due to the demand for technologies about high integration and miniaturization of devices. Meanwhile, such problems can occur as damages or the reduction of yield of photomask as electrostatic damage (ESD) occurs in the weak parts due to the accumulation of static electricity and the electric charge on chromium metal layers which are light shielding layers, caused by the repeated contacts and the peeling off between the photomask and the substrate during the exposure process. Accordingly, there have been studies to improve transmittance and antistatic performance through various functional coatings on the photomask surface. In the present study, we manufactured antireflection films of Nb₂O₅, | SiO₂ structure and antistatic films of ITO designed on 100 × 100 × 3 mmt sodalime glass by DC magnetron sputtering system so that photomask can maintain high transmittance at I-line (365 nm). ITO thin film deposited using In/Sn (10 wt.%) on sodalime glass was optimized to be 10 nm-thick, 3.0 × 103 𝛺/☐ sheet resistance, and about 80% transmittance, which was relatively low transmittance because of the absorption properties of ITO thin film. High average transmittance of 91.45% was obtained from a double side antireflection and antistatic thin films structure of Nb₂O₅ 64 nm | SiO₂ 41 nm | sodalime glass | ITO 10 nm | Nb₂O₅ 64 nm | SiO₂ 41 nm.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.265-273
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• 2022

Resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is a significant problem in the treatment of colorectal cancer, resulting in low response rates and decreased survival. Recent studies have shown that shikonin, a naphthoquinone derivative, promotes apoptosis in colon cancer cells and cisplatin-resistant ovarian cells, raising the possibility that this compound may be effective in drug-resistant colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to characterize the molecular mechanisms underpinning shikonin-induced apoptosis, with a focus on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, in a 5-fluorouracil-resistant colorectal cancer cell line, SNU-C5/5-FUR. Our results showed that shikonin significantly increased the proportion of sub-G₁ cells and DNA fragmentation and that shikonin-induced apoptosis is mediated by mitochondrial Ca²⁺ accumulation. Shikonin treatment also increased the expression of ER-related proteins, such as glucose regulatory protein 78 (GRP78), phospho-protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK), phospho-eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α), phospho-phosphoinositol-requiring protein-1 (IRE1), spliced X-box-binding protein-1 (XBP-1), cleaved caspase-12, and C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP). In addition, siRNA-mediated knockdown of CHOP attenuated shikonin-induced apoptosis, as did the ER stress inhibitor TUDCA. These data suggest that ER stress is a key factor mediating the cytotoxic effect of shikonin in SNU-C5/5-FUR cells. Our findings provide an evidence for a mechanism in which ER stress leads to apoptosis in shikonin-treated SNU-C5/5-FUR cells. Our study provides evidence to support further investigations on shikonin as a therapeutic option for 5-fluorouracil-resistant colorectal cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• 제54권12호
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• pp.608-613
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• 2021

Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, exhibits a high risk of metastasis. Although chemotherapeutic treatment for metastatic melanoma improves disease outcome and patient survival, some patients exhibit resistance or toxicity to the drug treatment regime. OTUB1 is a deubiquitinating enzyme overexpressed in several cancers. In this study, we investigated the effects of inhibiting OTUB1 expression on melanoma-cell proliferation and viability and identified the underlying molecular mechanism of action of OTUB1. We did endogenous OTUB1 knockdown in melanoma cells using short interfering RNA, and assessed the resulting phenotypes via MTT assays, Western blotting, and cell-cycle analysis. We identified differentially expressed genes between OTUB1-knockdown cells and control cells using RNA sequencing and confirmed them via Western blotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, we investigated the involvement of apoptotic and cell survival signaling pathways upon OTUB1 depletion. OTUB1 depletion in melanoma cells decreased cell viability and caused simultaneous accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase, indicating an increase in the apoptotic-cell population. RNA sequencing of OTUB1-knockdown cells revealed an increase in the levels of the apoptosis-inducing protein TRAIL. Additionally, OTUB1-knockdown cells exhibited increased sensitivity to PLX4032, a BRAF inhibitor, implying that OTUB1 and BRAF act collectively in regulating apoptosis. Taken together, our findings show that OTUB1 induces apoptosis of melanoma cells in vitro, likely by upregulating TRAIL, and suggest that approaches targeting OTUB1 can be developed to provide novel therapeutic strategies for treating melanoma.

• 전기전자학회논문지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.500-505
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• 2022

본 연구에서는 새로운 구조의 dual gate tri-layer split channel 박막트랜지스터를 제작하였다. 전류 구동 능력을 향상시키기 위해 액티브 층의 양쪽에 게이트를 형성하였고 전하이동도를 증가시키기 위하여 액티브 층에서 채널이 형성되는 구간인 첫번째 층과 세번째 층에 전도성이 높은 ITO 층을 배치하였다. 추가적으로 분할 채널을 이용하여 채널의 series 저항을 낮추면서 분할한 채널의 측면에서도 accumulation을 유도하여 전하이동도를 향상시켰다. 기존의 single gate a-ITGZO 박막트랜지스터가 15 cm²/Vs의 전하이동도를 가지는 반면 dual gate tri-layer split channel 박막트랜지스터는 134 cm²/Vs의 높은 전하이동도를 가졌다.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.637-645
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• 2022

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most serious diseases in barley and wheat, as it is usually accompanied by the production of harmful mycotoxins in the grains. To identify FHB-resistant breeding resources, we evaluated 60 elite germplasm accessions of barley (24) and wheat (36) for FHB and mycotoxin accumulation. Assessments were performed in a greenhouse and five heads per accession were inoculated with both Fusarium asiaticum (Fa73, nivalenol producer) and F. graminearum (Fg39, deoxynivalenol producer) strains. While the accessions varied in disease severity and mycotoxin production, four wheat and one barley showed <20% FHB severity repeatedly by both strains. Mycotoxin levels in these accessions ranged up to 3.9 mg/kg. FHB severity was generally higher in barley than in wheat, and Fa73 was more aggressive in both crops than Fg39. Fg39 itself, however, was more aggressive toward wheat and produced more mycotoxin in wheat than in barley. FHB severity by Fa73 and Fg39 were moderately correlated in both crops (r = 0.57/0.60 in barley and 0.42/0.58 in wheat). FHB severity and toxin production were also correlated in both crops, with a stronger correlation for Fa73 (r = 0.42/0.82 in barley, 0.70 in wheat) than for Fg39.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.219-236
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• 2022

Wood-based nanocomposite electrode materials were synthesized for application in supercapacitors by mixing nanostructured hematite (Fe₂O₃) with highly porous activated carbon (AC) produced from the wood-waste of Pinus roxburghii. The AC was characterized using various instrumental techniques and the results showed admirable electrochemical properties, such as high surface area and reasonable porosity. Firstly, AC was tested as an electrode material for supercapacitors and it showed a specific capacitance of 59.02 Fg^-1 at a current density of 1 Ag^-1, cycle life of 84.2% after 1,000 cycles (at a current density of 3 Ag^-1), and energy density of 5.1 Wh/kg at a power density of 135 Wkg^-1. However, when the AC was composited with different ratios of Fe₂O₃ (1:1, 2:1, and 1:2), there was an overall improvement in its electrochemical performance. Among the 3 ratios, 2:1 (AC:Fe₂O₃) had the best specific capacitance of 102.42 Fg^-1 at 1 Ag^-1, cycle life of 94.4% capacitance after 1,000 cycles (at a current density of 3 Ag^-1), and energy density of 8.34 Wh/kg at a power density of 395.15 Wkg^-1 in 6 M KOH electrolyte in a 3-electrode experimental setup with a high working voltage of 1.55 V. Furthermore, when Fe₂O₃ was doubled, 1:2 (AC:Fe₂O₃), the electrochemical capacitive performance of the electrode twisted and deteriorated due to either the accumulation of Fe₂O₃ particles within the composite or higher bulk resistance value of pure Fe₂O₃.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.79-90
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• 2022

Background: Herbal medicines are popular approaches to capably prevent and treat obesity and its related diseases. Excessive exposure to dietary lipids causes oxidative stress and inflammation, which possibly induces cellular senescence and contribute the damaging effects in brain. The potential roles of selective enhanced ginsenoside in regulating high fat diet (HFD)-induced brain damage remain unknown. Methods: The protection function of Ginsenoside F1-enhanced mixture (SGB121) was evaluated by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Human primary astrocytes and SH-SY5Y cells were treated with palmitic acid conjugated Bovine Serum Albumin, and the effects of SGB121 were determined by MTT and lipid uptake assays. For in vivo tests, C57BL/6J mice were fed with high fat diet for 3 months with or without SGB121 administration. Thereafter, immunohistochemistry, western blot, PCR and ELISA assays were conducted with brain tissues. Results and conclusion: SGB121 selectively suppressed HFD-induced oxidative stress and cellular senescence in brain, and reduced subsequent inflammation responses manifested by abrogated secretion of IL-6, IL-1β and TNFα via NF-κB signaling pathway. Interestingly, SGB121 protects against HFD-induced damage by improving mitophagy and endoplasmic reticulum-stress associated autophagy flux and inhibiting apoptosis. In addition, SGB121 regulates lipid uptake and accumulation by FATP4 and PPARα. SGB121 significantly abates excessively phosphorylated tau protein in the cortex and GFAP activation in corpus callosum. Together, our results suggest that SGB121 is able to favor the resistance of brain to HFD-induced damage, therefore provide explicit evidence of the potential to be a functional food.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제46권7호
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• pp.420-429
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• 2023

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in elderly individuals. However, the currently used intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor are invasive, and repetitive injections are also accompanied by a risk of intraocular infection. The pathogenic mechanism of AMD is still not completely understood, but a multifactorial mechanism that combines genetic predisposition and environmental factors, including cellular senescence, has been suggested. Cellular senescence refers to the accumulation of cells that stop dividing due to the presence of free radicals and DNA damage. Characteristics of senescent cells include nuclear hypertrophy, increased levels of cell cycle inhibitors such as p16 and p21, and resistance to apoptosis. Senolytic drugs remove senescent cells by targeting the main characteristics of these cells. One of the senolytic drugs, ABT-263, which inhibits the antiapoptotic functions of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, may be a new treatment for AMD patients because it targets senescent retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. We proved that it selectively kills doxorubicin (Dox)-induced senescent ARPE-19 cells by activating apoptosis. By removing senescent cells, the expression of inflammatory cytokines was reduced, and the proliferation of the remaining cells was increased. When ABT-263 was orally administered to the mouse model of senescent RPE cells induced by Dox, we confirmed that senescent RPE cells were selectively removed and retinal degeneration was alleviated. Therefore, we suggest that ABT-263, which removes senescent RPE cells through its senolytic effect, has the potential to be the first orally administered senolytic drug for the treatment of AMD.