• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 2022

This study aims to understand how mobile and stationary air pollution sources affect the air quality and soil properties in urban parks. We selected three sites of urban parks in Seoul as follows: Ha-neul Park in Mapo-gu (Site_M), Ill-won Eco-Park in Gangnam-gu (Site_G), and Yangjae Citizen's Forest in Seocho-gu (Site_Y), and compared the results of each site's traffic volume, air quality concentration, and soil analysis. Traffic volume was high in Site_M, followed by Site_G and Y; Site_M and G were closer to the resource recovery facility than Site_Y. Hence, we hypothesized that PM and NO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere were higher in Site_M than Site_G and Y, causing different soil nitrogen content among sites due to different atmospheric deposition. Consistent with our hypothesis, the concentrations of PM2.5 and NO₂ were higher in Site_M and G than Site_Y, while Site_Y had higher PM10 than other sites. The soil NO₃^- contents showed no significant difference among three sites, whereas the soil NH₄+ content was extremely high in Site_Y. This high content of soil NH₄⁺ is thought to be due to acidification from excessive fertilization. Lower soil pH of Site_Y further supported the evidence of heavy fertilization in this site. Overall nitrogen dynamics implies that soil nitrogen status is more influenced by park management such as fertilization rather than atmospheric deposition. Despite of lower soil NH₄⁺ content of Site_M and G than Y, vegetation vitality looked similar among three sites. This indirectly indicates that excessive fertilizer input in urban park management needs to be reconsidered. This study showed that even if the air quality was different due to mobile and stationary sources, it did not directly affect the soil nitrogen nutrient status of the adjacent urban park.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 2023

This study was conducted to discover substances that regulate skin surface acidification using human epidermal keratinocyte cell lines, and to investigate their effects on the moisturizing ability and skin barrier function of the stratum corneum. Prunella vulgaris (P. vulgaris) is an herb widely distributed in Northwest Africa and North America that has been studied for its anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, research on the regulation of NHE1 expression and the restoration of skin barrier function has not been conducted. Analysis of P. vulgaris revealed the presence of rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid as active ingredients, which were tested for toxicity in human epidermal keratinocyte cell lines (HaCaT), and showed no toxic effects were observed at high concentarion (100 ㎍/mL or 100 µM). It is known that sodium-hydrogen ion exchange pumps (NHE1) decrease in expression in aging skin to maintain the acidic pH of the stratum corneum, and it is hypothesized that this decrease plays an important role in the impaired restoration of skin barrier function in aging skin. P. vulgaris extract and caffeic acid increased the expression of NHE1 in keratinocytes, increased the expression of natural moisturizing factor (NMF) precursor filaggrin and ceramide synthesis enzyme serine palmitoyl transferase (SPT). In addition, P. vulgaris and caffeic acid decreased the extracellular pH of keratinocytes, indicating a direct effect on skin pH regulation. Taken together, these results suggest that P. vulgaris and caffeic acid can regulate skin pH through NHE1 modulation, and may help to restore skin barrier function by increasing NMF and ceramide synthesis. These results show the possibility that honeysuckle and caffeic acid can have a positive effect on skin health, and can be the basis for the development of new skin protection products using them.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.408-419
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• 2023

Background: Ginsenoside compound K (CK), the main active metabolite in Panax ginseng, has shown good safety and bioavailability in clinical trials and exerts neuroprotective effects in cerebral ischemic stroke. However, its potential role in the prevention of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of ginsenoside CK against cerebral I/R injury. Methods: We used a combination of in vitro and in vivo models, including oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion induced PC12 cell model and middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion induced rat model, to mimic I/R injury. Intracellular oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification rate were analyzed by Seahorse multifunctional energy metabolism system; ATP production was detected by luciferase method. The number and size of mitochondria were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and MitoTracker probe combined with confocal laser microscopy. The potential mechanisms of ginsenoside CK on mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergy were evaluated by RNA interference, pharmacological antagonism combined with co-immunoprecipitation analysis and phenotypic analysis. Results: Ginsenoside CK pretreatment could attenuate mitochondrial translocation of DRP1, mitophagy, mitochondrial apoptosis, and neuronal bioenergy imbalance against cerebral I/R injury in both in vitro and in vivo models. Our data also confirmed that ginsenoside CK administration could reduce the binding affinity of Mul1 and Mfn2 to inhibit the ubiquitination and degradation of Mfn2, thereby elevating the protein level of Mfn2 in cerebral I/R injury. Conclusion: These data provide evidence that ginsenoside CK may be a promising therapeutic agent against cerebral I/R injury via Mul1/Mfn2 mediated mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergy.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2010

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the biologically adverse effect of increased carbon dioxide in seawater on marine bacteria, Vibrio fischeri. We measured the bioluminescence and cell density at every 6 hours for 24 hours of the whole incubation period after exposing test microbes to a range of $CO_2$ concentration such as 380(Control), 1,000, 3,000, 10,000 and 30,000 ppm, respectively. Significant effect on relative luminescence(RLU) of V. fischeri was observed in treatments with $CO_2$ concentration higher than 3,000 ppm at t=12 h. However, the difference of RLU among treatments significantly decreased with the incubation time until t=24 h. Similar trend was observed for the variation of cell density, which was measured as optical density using spectrophotometer. The results showed that a significant relationship between $CO_2$ concentration and bioluminescence of test microbes was observed for the mean time. However, the inhibition of relative bioluminescence and also cell density could be recovered at the concentration levels higher than 3,000 ppm. The dissolved $CO_2$ can be absorbed directly by cell and it can decrease the intracellular pH. Our results implied that microbes might be adversely affected at the initial growing phase by increased $CO_2$. However, they could adapt by increasing ion transport including bicarbonate and then could make their pH back to normal level. Results of this study could be supported to understand the possible influence on marine bacteria by atmospheric increase of $CO_2$ in near future and also by released $CO_2$ during the marine $CO_2$ sequestration activity.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.93-109
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• 2012

This study was performed to investigate the effects of added whey protein concentrates (WPC) and whey powder (WP) on the quality and shelf life of Tofu, a traditional food in Korea. Combined whey powder and whey protein concentrates were obtained at drainage after the casein was separated by using rennet enzyme or acidification of milk. We manufactured whey Tofu and evaluated its nutritional quality by testing, the general composition for yield, moisture, pH, crude protein, crude fat, carbohydrate, rheology, sensory properties, and change during storage. 1. The general compositions of WPC and WP were as follows: (a) WPC: moisture, 5.9%; crude protein, 56.2%; crude fat, 0.1%; carbohydrate, 32.6%; ash, 5.2%; and pH 5.93 and (b) WP: moisture, 3.7%; crude protein, 13.2%; crude fat, 1.6%; carbohydrate, 74.4%; ash, 7.1%; and pH, 6.65. 2. The yield of Tofu was as follows: (a) in WPC, the content was $CaCl_2$:GDL=6:4 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=9:1 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=7:3 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=8:2 and (b) in WP, 2% addition was the highest (265%) at $13.3g/cm^2$, but with 4% addition WP was the lowest (184%) at $22.2g/cm^2$. 3. The moisture content of Tofu was as follows: (a) in WPC, the content was $CaCl_2$:GDL = 6:4 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=9:1 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=7:3 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=8:2 and (b) in WP, 2% addition was the highest at 79.82% ($13.3g/cm^2$), but 4% was the lowest at 75.18% ($22.2g/cm^2$). 4. The pH of Tofu was as follows: (a) in WPC, the value was WPC 6% > WPC 4% > WPC 2% > control and $CaCl_2$:GDL=6:4 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=8:2 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=9:1 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=7:3 and (b) in WP, WP 4% > WP 2% > control. 5. The ash content of Tofu was as follows: (a) in WPC, the content was $CaCl_2$:GDL=8:2 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=7:3 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=6:4 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=9:1 and (b) in WP, there was no difference between 2% and 4% addition. 6. The crude protein content of Tofu was as follows: (a) in WPC, the content was $CaCl_2$:GDL=8:2 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=7:3 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=9:1 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=6:4 and (b) in WP, there was no difference between 2% and 4% addition. 7. The crude fat content of Tofu was as follows: (a) in WPC, the content was $CaCl_2$:GDL=8:2 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=7:3 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=9:1 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=6:4 and (b) in WP, values decreased with increasing pressed weight. 8. The carbohydrate content of Tofu was as follows: (a) in WPC, the content was $CaCl_2$:GDL=8:2 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=7:3 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=6:4 > $CaCl_2$:GDL=9:1 and (b) in WP, values increased with increasing pressed weight. 9. The rheology test results of Tofu were as follows: (a) in WPC, hardness and brittleness was highest with $CaCl_2$:GDL=8:2 and 6% added WPC. Cohesiveness was highest with $CaCl_2$:GDL=6:4 and 2% added WPC. Elasticity was the highest with $CaCl_2$:GDL=7:3 and the added WPC control. (b) in WP, hardness was the highest with $22.2g/cm^2$ and added WP control. Cohesiveness was the highest with $17.8g/cm^2$ and added WP 2%. Elasticity was the highest with $17.8g/cm^2$ and added WP 4%. Brittleness was the highest with $17.8g/cm^2$ and added WP control. 10. The sensory test results of Tofu were as follows: (a) in WPC, the texture, flavor, color, and smell were the highest with $CaCl_2$:GDL=6:4 and 6% added WPC. (b) in WP, the texture was the highest in the control with $22.2g/cm^2$. Flavor and smell were the highest in WP 2% and $22.2g/cm^2$. Color was the highest in WP 2% and $17.8g/cm^2$. 11. The quality change of Tofu during storage was as follows: (a) in WPC, after 60 h, all samples began to get spoiled and their color changed, and mold began to germinate. (b) in WP, the result was similar, but the rate of spoilage was more rapid than that in the control.