• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.25-36
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• 2023

Since interstellar objects like 1I/'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov originate from exoplanetary systems, even if we do not visit the exoplanetary systems, flyby, rendezvous, and sample return missions of interstellar objects can provide clues to solve the mysteries of cosmic life phenomena such as the origin of exoplanetary systems, galactic evolution, biosignatures (or even technosignatures), and panspermia. In this paper, we review space missions for interstellar object exploration in the stage of mission design or concept study such as Project Lyra, Bridge, Comet Interceptors, and Lightcraft^TM. We also review space missions, OSIRIS-REx and NEA Scout, designed for Near Earth Asteroids(NEA) explorations, to investigate the current state of basic technologies that can be extended to explore interstellar objects in a velocity of ~ 6AU/year. One of the technologies that needs to be developed for interstellar object exploration is a spacecraft propulsion method such as solar sail, which can catch up with the fast speed of interstellar objects. If this kind of propulsion becomes practical for space explorations, interstellar object explorations will mark a new era and serve as a driving force to provide evidences of cosmic life.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.60.4-60.4
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• 2019

Small bodies in the solar system are pristine leftovers of planetesimals since the formation epoch (~4.6 Gyr ago). After the formation, icy planetesimals have been preserved in the distant cold place beyond 30 au (i.e., Trans-Neptunian region) until recently without any catastrophic processes but have just been injected into inner region (<~5 au from the Sun) to be observed as comets. On the contrary, asteroids are rocky primitive objects (although some of them contains icy volatiles) distributing in the mainbelt between Mars and Jupiter orbits. Because of frequent encounters in the mainbelt, asteroids have experienced a number of repeated impacts until the present day. Namely, it is important to investigate thermal alternation process of cometary volatiles and refractories in the solar radiation field, whereas collisional and subsequence phenomena of asteroidal bodies. Although recent spacecraft observations revealed the physical natures on the surfaces of comets and asteroids, their interiors still remain largely unexplored. It is likely that a sudden brightening of a comet is associated with rapid sublimation of internal CO and CO2 or phase transition of amorphous H2O. An episodic dust ejection from an asteroid is causally related to an impact among asteroids, sudden sublimation of remaining subsurficial volatiles, etc. Because these transient phenomena provide rare opportunities to investigate their interiors, immediate observations using any optical instruments are particular important. In my presentation, I will review some examples of such transient phenomena in the solar system and propose possible collaborative research using the Korean Small Telescope Network.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.321-331
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• 2022

Egg yolk is widely used to extract lecithin, which is utilized in the food and cosmetics industry. After lecithin is removed, the rest of egg yolk is generated as a by-product. Thus, it is necessary to properly utilize it. In this study, egg yolk protein extracts were produced using ethanol (EYE-E) and water (EYE-W). Their antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects were then evaluated. Antioxidant activities of EYE-E and EYE-W were determined using cellular antioxidant capacity (CAC) assay and comet assay. EYE-E and EYE-W showed significant (p<0.05) scavenging effects on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a dose dependent manner. At a concentration of 50 ㎍/mL, EYE-W showed higher (p<0.05) antioxidant activity than EYE-E. EYE-E and EYE-W also exhibited protective effects against DNA damage caused by oxidative stress. After treatment with EYE-E and EYE-W, DNA damage level of 48.7% due to oxidative stress was decreased to 36.2% and 31.8% levels, respectively. In addition, EYE-E and EYE-W showed immunomodulatory effects by regulating Th1 cytokines (TNF-α and IL-2) and Th2 cytokines (IL-10 and IL-4) in Balb/c mouse splenocytes. These data suggest that EYE-E and EYE-W could be used as functional food ingredients with excellent antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities in the food industry.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.107-119
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• 2024

It is known that Chang-Hwa Park (1889-1962) transcribed a chronicle of the Goguryeo kingdom (BC 37-AD 668) of Korea (hereafter Goguri annal) from literature of the time that is no longer available. However, the authenticity of his transcription remains disputed. This study attempts to verify whether the Goguri annal is a pseudograph by analyzing the astronomical records in the annal. Although the Goguryeo kingdom fell in the year 668, the Goguri annal contains records up to the year 536. In this study, we have classified the astronomical records into eight categories and clustered them into two groups: a calendrical data group of reign-name and calendar date categories, and a celestial phenomena group of solar eclipse, trespass, comet, daylight appearance of Venus, meteor/meteorite, and other categories. The records of each category have been compared with those of the Samguksagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), Chinese chronicles, and with the results of modern computations wherever possible. From this comparison, we have not found any critical record that would indicate that the Goguri annal is a pseudograph, although the same astronomical records, with the exception of a few, are also found in the Samguksagi and Chinese chronicles.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.343-348
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• 2008

In this study, antioxidant activity of methanol extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch (GUE) against $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage in human leucocytcs and cell death in PC12 cells was determined. The effect of GUE on $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage in human leucocytcs was evaluated by the comet assay, where GUE ($1-50\;{\mu}g/mL$) was a dose dependent inhibitor of DNA damage induced by $H_2O_2$. The protective effect of GUE against $H_2O_2$-induced damage on PC12 cells was investigated by MTT reduction assay and lactate dehydrogenase release assay. A marked reduction in cell survival induced by $H_2O_2$ was significantly prevented by $1-50\;{\mu}g/mL$ of GUE. The enzyme activity of caspase-3 was elevated in $H_2O_2$-treated PC12 cells, while preincubation with GUE for 30 min inhibited $H_2O_2$-induced caspase-3 activation in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, GUE ameliorates $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage in human leucocytes and has neuroprotective effect by preventing cell death in PC12 cell, suggesting that GU may be a potential candidate for novel therapeutic agents for neuronal diseases associated with oxidative stress.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.995-1002
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• 2008

Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) is a rhizomatous perennial legume that has potential as a forage crop in the North-Central USA because of its excellent persistence under environmental extremes. Little information is available about defoliation effects on productivity of mixtures of kura clover with grasses typically grown in this region. Two field trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of defoliation management on yield and species composition of binary mixtures of 'Rhizo' kura clover with 'Comet' orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), 'Badger' smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), 'Park' Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), and solo-seeded kura clover near Arlington, WI. Three harvest schedules (three, four, or five times annually) and two cutting heights (4 or 10 cm) were imposed. Infrequent defoliation and lower cutting height produced significantly greater total forage yield, 6.6, 5.8, and 5.2 Mg/ha in 3-, 4-, and 5-harvest systems, respectively; and 6.5 and 5.2 Mg/ha for the 4- and 10-cm cutting height, respectively. Averaged over 3 yr and two environments, mixtures had higher forage productions than solo kura clover (6.3, 5.7, and 6.0 Mg/ha for the Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass, and smooth bromegrass mixtures, respectively; compared to 5.2 Mg/ha for solo kura clover). The proportion of kura clover in mixtures increased from yr 1 to yr 2 and was constant from yr 2 to yr 3 (34, 58, and 57%, respectively). We conclude that kura clover has excellent potential as a long-term component of grass-legume mixtures regardless of the cutting height, harvest frequency or grass species, even though the proportion of kura clover in harvested forage was significantly greater with less frequent harvest and shorter cutting height of all mixtures.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.794-800
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• 2004

Deer Antler has been known for its traditional oriental medicinal properties and has been widely used to promote growth, boost immune function, treat blood loss and chronic joint pain. Recent study showed imported (New Zealand) Deer Antler was beneficial in reducing the side effects of cancer treatments. However, there was no intervention study conducted on the effect of Korean Deer Antler on reducing the oxidative stress to patients with diabetes. One of the sensitive ways to measure endogenous oxidative stress is by measuring cellular DNA damage using single cell gel electrophoresis (COMET assay). This study was conducted to investigate the possible beneficial effect of commercial Deer Antler drink (provided by Chung-yang Deer Farm) on lymphocyte DNA damage and blood glucose of diabetic patients. Ten patients (4 men, 6 women) participated in the study and consumed 2 pouches of Deer Antler drink every day for 20 days. Blood was collected on the morning before and after the intervention for lymphocyte isolation and blood glucose analysis. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed a tendency to decrease but did not reach statistical significance after the trial. Blood glucose level was not affected by the supplementation. After the intervention, over 50% reduction were noted in the cellular DNA damage, expressed as tail length (TL) and tail moment (TM: tail length ${\times}$ percent tail DNA) . Although we did not obtain beneficial effect on lowering blood glucose levels in the patients, this results suggest that Deer Antler may initially act in protecting endogenous DNA damage in short-term experiment.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2004

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has been accepted as a heart protection phenomenon against ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. The activation of ATP-sensitive potassium $(K_{ATP})$ channels and the release of myocardial nitric oxide (NO) induced by IPC were demonstrated as the triggers or mediators of IPC. A common action mechanism of NO is a direct or indirect increase in tissue cGMP content. Furthermore, cGMP has also been shown to contribute cardiac protective effect to reduce heart I/R-induced infarction. The present investigation tested the hypothesis that $K_{ATP}$ channels attenuate DNA strand breaks and oxidative damage in an in vitro model of I/R utilizing rat ventricular myocytes. We estimated DNA strand breaks and oxidative damage by mean of single cell gel electrophoresis with endonuclease III cutting sites (comet assay). In the I/R model, the level of DNA damage increased massively. Preconditioning with a single 5-min anoxia, diazoxide $(100\;{\mu}M)$, SNAP $(300\;{\mu}M)$ and 8-(4-Chlorophenylthio)-guanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-pCPT-cGMP) $(100\;{\mu}M)$ followed by 15 min reoxygenation reduced DNA damage level against subsequent 30 min anoxia and 60 min reoxygenation. These protective effects were blocked by the concomitant presence of glibenclamide $(50\;{\mu}M)$, 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) $(100\;{\mu}M)$ and 8-(4-Chlorophenylthio)-guanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, Rp-isomer (Rp-8-pCPT-cGMP) $(100\;{\mu}M)$. These results suggest that NO-cGMP-protein kinase G (PKG) pathway contributes to cardioprotective effect of $K_{ATP}$ channels in rat ventricular myocytes.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.95-104
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• 2007

I. Objective The primary requirement of an endodontic root canal sealer is the biologic compatibility, because they remain in close contact with living periapical tissues over a long period of time. The aim of this study was the evaluation of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of resin-based root canal sealers, AH 26 and ADSEAL. II. Material & Methods In this study, human periodontal ligament cells, human oral cancer cells (KB) and mouse osteoblasts (MC-3T3-E1) were used. Specimens of AH26, ADSEAL were eluted with culture medium for 1, 3, 5 and 7 days. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by using tetrazolium bromide reduction assay (MTT assay) for mitochondrial enzyme activity and cell viability. Genotoxicity was evaluated by using alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis assay (Comet assay). Also cell apoptosis induced by AH 26 was detected by Hoechst33258 staining. III. Results AH 26 and ADSEAL exhibited cytotoxic effects in all investigated cell groups. Genotoxicity was also noted for both sealers in mouse osteoblasts (MC-3T3-E1). But, ADSEAL presented significantly low cytotoxicity and genotoxicity compared with AH 26. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by AH 26 resulted in apopotosis. IV. Conclusion Our results clearly indicate that the recently invented ADSEAL has better biocompatibility than another resin based root canal sealer, AH 26. However ideal root canal sealer should have not only biocompatibility but also satisfactory physico-chemical properties such as sealing ability and stability. Thus continuous studies and developments should follow.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.66-71
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• 2008

Long term exposure of Jurkat cells to 2 ATA pressure resulted in the inhibition of cell growth. Under a 2 ATA pressure, the morphological changes in the cells were visualized by electron microscopy. The cells exhibited significant inhibitory responses after three passages. However, short-term exposure study was carried out, 2 ATA pressure may have beneficial effects. The Jurkat cells were exposed to $H_2O_2$ (25 and $50{\mu}M$) in order to induce DNA damage, and then incubated under at either normal pressure or 2 ATA for 1 or 2 hours in order to recover the DNA damage. The extent of DNA damage was determined via Comet assay. More recovery from DNA damage was observed at 2 ATA than at normal pressure. The activity of the DNA repair enzymes, DNA polymerase-$\beta$, was also evaluated at both normal pressure and 2 ATA. The activity of DNA polymerase-$\beta$ was observed to have increased significantly at the 2 ATA than at normal pressure. In conclusion, the effects of hyperbaric pressure from 1 ATA to 2 ATA on biochemical systems can be either beneficial or harmful. Long term exposure to hyperbaric pressure clearly inhibited cell proliferation and caused genotoxic effects, but short-term exposure to hyperbaric pressure proved to be beneficial in terms of bolstering the DNA repair system. The results of the present study have clinical therapeutic application, and might prove to be an useful tool in the study of genotoxicity in the future.