• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.135-142
• /
• 2001

This study attempts to categorizes the factors of forest fire occurrences based on regional meteorologic data and general forest no characteristics of 18 cities and guns in Kangwon province. lo accomplish this goal, some statistical analyses such as analysis of variance, correspondence analysis and multidimensional scaling were adopted. To reveal the forest fires pattern of study region, a categorization process was conducted by employing the quantification approach which modified and quantified the metric-data of fire occurrence dates. Also, The fire occurrence similarity was compared by using multidimensional scaling for each study region. The major results are summarized as follows: It was found that the meteorological factors emerged as different to each region are average and maximum temperature, minimum dew point temperature and average and maximum wind speed. In the result of correspondence analysis representing relationships between fire causes and study regions, Kangrung is caused by arsonist, Chulwon, Hwachen and Yanggu caused by military factor, Sokcho and Chunchen caused by the debris burning, and Samchuk caused by general man-caused fires, respectively. Finally, the forest fire occurrence pattern of this study regions were divided into five areas such as, group I including Samchuk, Kangryung, Chunchen, Wonju, Hongchen and Hhoingsung, group II including Donghae, Taebaek, Yangyang and Pyongchang, group III including Jungsun, Chulwon and Whachen, group Ⅵ including Gosung, Injae and Yanggu, and group V including Shokcho and Youngwol.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.125-130
• /
• 2001

This study was performed to report a direct dose dependent stimulatory effect of the Flavonoid(F) on basal testosterone secretion and a dose dependent effect on LH induced testosterone production by Leydig cell of matured rats in vitro culture. F was obtained kom the Rhus vernicifua through aceton extraction and silica gel adsorption column chromatography. Leydig cells (1$\times$10$^{6}$ cells/well) from 12 weeks old rats were incubated with or without F(0, 20, 40, 80, 160 ng) or insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I) in the presence or absence of LH(10, 100ng). 1. The maximal stimulatory concentrations of testosterone in culture media were showed at 24hr of culture. but these testosterone level were decreased at 36 hr of culture. 2. Flavonoid(80ng) were significantly(P ＜ 0.05) increased testosterone production compared with control groups for 12 hr culture. 3. Testosterone secretion by Leydig cells stimulated with LH(10, 100ng) for 6 hr and 12hr culture compared with 3 hr culture. 4. LH 10 ng augmented testosterone were increased by addition of F 40 ng for 12 hr culture. 5. F(0 and 40 ng) also enhanced LH 10 ng stimulated testosterone for 3 hr Leydig cells culture. 6. Addition of IGF-I 100 ng to the culture medium for 6 hr were increased the concentration of testosterone by Leydig cells stimulated with 100 ng LH. These results indicate that Flavonoid has a direct stimulatory effect on basal testosterone secretion in rat Leydig cells, and also modulates LH mediated testosterone. Therefore, Flavonoid may act as a modulator on gonadal development or gonadal steroidogenesis in direct or indirect.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.371-382
• /
• 2010

TSP and PM2.5 atmospheric aerosols have been collected at Gosan site of Jeju Island, and their compositions were analyzed to understand the pollution characteristics. The composition ratios of nss (non-sea salt)-$SO_4^{2-}$ and $NH_4^+$ were higher in Gosan site than those in other Korean background and urban sites. However the composition ratio of $NO_3^-$ was conversely lower in Gosan site. From the study of aerosol components according to particle sizes, the anthropogenic nss-$SO_4^{2-}$, $NO_3^-$ and $NH_4^+$ components were mostly existed in the fine particles. But the nss-$Ca^{2+}$, $Na^+$, $Cl^-$ and $Mg^{2+}$ originated from soil and marine sources were distributed relatively in the coarse particles. In the seasonal comparison, the concentrations of nss-$Ca^{2+}$, Al, Fe, Ca and $NO_3^-$ increased in spring season, and nss-$SO_4^{2-}$ showed higher concentration in summer and spring seasons. Based on the factor analysis, the atmospheric aerosols in Gosan site have been found to be influenced largely by anthropogenic sources, and next by marine and soil sources. The backward trajectory analyses showed that the concentrations of nss-$SO_4^{2-}$, $NO_3^-$, Pb and nss-$Ca^{2+}$ increased when the air mass moved from Chinese continent to Jeju area. On the other hand, their concentrations decreased when the air mass moved in from the North Pacific Ocean.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.100-110
• /
• 2003

This study was conducted to evaluate influence of chemical properties in the riparian on the species diversity and to get plant information for enhancement of natural purification in Mankyeong River. The concentration of total nitrogen was high in Jeonju and Sam stream, while that of total nitrogen showed the highest peak in Winter. Concentrations of $NH_4-N$ was $0.01{\sim}0.06\;mg/L$ in Gosan and Soyang stream. The water quality of upstream along with Mankyeong River was suitable for the irrigation source. The riparian vegetation was investigated by Zurich-Montpellier school's method from June, 2001 to September, 2002. The number of riparian plants were 59 families, 129 genera, 165 species, 20 varieties in Gosancheon, on the while 53 families, 111 genera, 141 species, 19 varieties in Soyangcheon. The number of riparian plants in Bari basin was higher than that of other sites namely, 73 families, 134 genera, 218 species, 33 varieties. Riparian vegetation was consisted of 12 plant communities. The contents of organic matter, total nitrogen and electrical conductivity had negative relationship with species diversity (Species richness index, Heterogeneity index, Species evenness index Species number). On the while, species diversity had positive relationship with soil pH. Species diversify of the plant communities were affected by topography and disturbance.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.339-345
• /
• 2012

This experiment was carried out in order to separate bovine colostral whey protein from Imsil province and to test the effect of immunological activity on RAW 264.7 cells. The colostral whey protein contained TGF-${\beta}$ 7, 475 pg/g in total. We first tested the effect of the colostral whey protein on the proliferation of RAW 264.7 cells and it demonstrated cytotoxicity at concentrations greater than 20 mg/mL. Therefore, the immunological activities of colostral whey protein were investigated in maximum concentration of 10 mg/mL on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Results indicated that colostral whey protein inhibited the LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner. The colostral whey protein also suppressed the productions of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6) in a dose-dependent manner. In addition to the immunological activity, colostral whey protein led to the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in RAW 264.7 cells. In conclusion, colostral whey protein containing TGF-${\beta}$ inhibited the production of NO, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 via expression of HO-1.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.63-68
• /
• 2013

The effect of black garlic extract on the activation of spleen cells from a C57BL6 mouse was investigated to examine immune activities of of fermented black garlic containing a variety of bioactive substances. xtract obtained from the concentration of commercial Namhae black garlic was used for the analysis of immune activities. Treatment with the extract increased the expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) cytokine. The simultaneous administration of the extract plus lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased the expression of IL-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, and interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$ compared with that of a control group. This result suggests that cellular immunity can be induced by macrophages, resulting in the expression of T lymphocytes and T helper type 1 (Th1) cells. In addition, treatment with the extract increased the late response of IL-6 cytokines, and the extract plus LPS augmented the expression of IL-4 and IL-6 compared with that of an LPS-treated group. Meanwhile, the extract plus LPS decreased the late response of IL-10, suggesting that humoral immunity can be activated by stimulating B lymphocytes, suppressing cellular immunity, and effectively modulating the conversion into humoral immune responses. These findings demonstrate that the black garlic extract activates Th1 and Th2 cells by stimulating T lymphocytes in mouse spleen cells and leads to immunomodulation by activating cellular and humoral immune responses of the immune system.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.836-845
• /
• 1999

Background : Obesity is present in the majority of adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea(OSA) and is considered to be a major risk factor for its development. A reduction in body weight has been associated with substantial improvement in the severity of apnea. However, a variety of treatment strategies for obesity have yielded limited sucess. This study was done to determine resting energy expenditure(REE) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and the correlation between the severity of sleep apnea and REE, and to investigate whether leptin influences REE and correlated with the severity of sleep apnea in 39 patients with OSA and 45 controls matched for obesity. Method : Overnight polysomnography was performed on all subjects using standard techniques. Measurements of REE were made using a Sensormedic Vmax 229 and a canopy system. Serum leptin concentration was measured by human leptin RIA kit of LINCO Research INC. Results : REE was greater in patients with OSA compared with controls, but there was no difference between the two groups on REE%. And also there was no significant correlation between anthropometric data, polysomnographic data and REE%. Serum leptin was linearly related to body mass index(BMI), apnea index, apnea hypopnea index and lowest arterial oxygen saturation($SaO_2$) but not related to REE%. Conclusion : This study suggests the followings. Firstly patients patients with sleep apnea have a pattern of obesity characterized by energy homeostasis at an elevated body weight set-point. In order to achieve a lower body weight in these patients, it may be necessary to increase energy expenditure by increasing physical activity. Secondly leptin level was not correlated with REE, suggesting that leptin may predominantly regulate body fat by altering eating behavior rather than calorigenesis. Lastly leptin level was significantly correlated with the severity of sleep apnea. These elevated level of leptin in patients of sleep apnea may be related to the obesity, however it needs further studies to determine the relationship between the severity of sleep apnea and serum leptin.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.51-60
• /
• 2005

Purpose : Selective inhibition of multiple molecular targets may improve the antitumor activity of radiation. Two specific inhibitors of selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were combined with radiation on the HeLa cell line. To investigate cooperative mechanism with selective COX-2 inhibitor and EGFR blocker, in vitro experiments were done. Materials and Methods : Antitumor effect was obtained by growth inhibition and apoptosis analysis by annexin V-Flous method. Radiation modulation effects were determined by the clonogenic cell survival assay. Surviving fractions at 2 Gy ($SF_2$) and dose enhancement ratio at a surviving fraction of 0.25 were evaluated. To investigate the mechanism of the modulation of radiosensitivity, the cell cycle analyses were done by flow cytometry. The bcl-2 and bax expressions were analyzed by western blot. Results : A cooperative effect were observed on the apoptosis of the HeLa ceil line when combination of the two drugs, AG 1478 and NS 398 with radiation at the lowest doses, apoptosis of $22.70\%$ compare with combination of the one drug with radiation, apoptosis of $8.49\%$. In cell cycle analysis, accumulation of cell on $G_0/G_l$ phase and decrement of S phase fraction was observed from 24 hours to 72 hours after treatment with radiation, AG 1478 and NS 398. The combination of NS 398 and AG 1478 enhanced radiosensitivity on a concentration-dependent manner in HeLa cells with dose enhancement ratios of 3.00 and $SF_2$ of 0.12 but the combination of one drug with radiation was not enhanced radlosensitivity with dose enhancement ratios of 1.12 and SF2 of 0.68 (p=0.005). The expression levels of bcl-2 and bax were reduced when combined with AG 1478 and NS 398. Conclusion : Our results indicate that the selective COX-2 inhibitor and EGFR blocker combined with radiation have potential additive or cooperative effects on radiation treatment and may act through various mechanisms including direct inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, suppression of tumor cell cycle progression and inhibition of anti-apoptotic proteins.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.293-298
• /
• 2015

Muscle atrophy, known as a sarcopenia, is defined as a loss of muscle mass resulting from a reduction in the muscle fiber area or density due to a decrease in muscle protein synthesis and an increase in protein breakdown. Schisandrae fructus (SF) extract of the fruits of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz) Baillon has been used as a tonic in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Although a great deal of work has been carried out on the therapeutic potential of SF, its pharmacological mechanisms of action in muscle diseases actions remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of SF ethanol extracts on the production of muscle atrophy factors in C2C12 myotubes stimulated with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-ribonucleotide (AICAR), an AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) activator, and sought to determine the underlying mechanisms of action. AICAR upregulated atrophy-related ubiquitin ligase muscle RING finger-1 (MuRF-1) and stimulated the levels of the forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) transcription factor in the C2C12 myotubes. SF supplementation effectively and concentration- dependently counteracted AICAR-induced muscle cell atrophy and reversed the increased expression of MuRF-1 and FoxO3a. Our study demonstrates that SF can reverse the muscle cell atrophy caused by AICAR through regulation of the AMPK and FoxO3a signaling pathways, followed by inhibition of MuRF-1.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.19 no.11
• /
• pp.1581-1590
• /
• 2009

Hizikia fusiforme is a kind of brown edible seaweed that mainly grows in the temperate seaside areas of the northwest pacific, including Korea, Japan and China, and has been widely used as a health food for hundreds of years. Recently, H. fusiforme has been known to exert pharmacological activities including antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticoagulant activities. However, the molecular mechanisms of H. fusiforme in malignant cells have not been clearly elucidated yet. In this study, the effects of ethyl alcohol extract of H. fusiforme (EAHF) on the anti-proliferative effects of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were investigated. EAHF treatment resulted in a concentration-dependent growth inhibition by including apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells and G1 phase arrest in MCF-7 cells, which could be proved by MTT assay, DAPI staining, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry analysis. In MDA-MB-231 cells, the increase in apoptosis induced by EAHF treatment correlated with up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax expression. EAHF treatment induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9, and a concomitant inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, $\beta$-catenin, phospholipase-${\gamma}1$ protein and DNA fragmentation factor 45/inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of H. fusiforme.