• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.457-469
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• 2013

We have analyzed the regional in-situ stress pattern using 460 stress measurement data at about 100 test sites in Korea, and suggested correlation equations of stress-depth and stress ratio-depth. We made Korea Stress Map(KSM) as in-situ stress fields of the Korean peninsula, combining with a paleo-stress analysis according to the geological period and a stress estimation from focal mechanism. We confirmed the reliability and applicability of correlation equations derived in this study, comparing with worldwide stress-depth patterns, and also estimated the pattern of in-situ stress fields of north-eastern Asia including Korea, China and Japan, comparing with World Stress Map.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2020

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder on the large intestine that has been considered as an incurable not only in Western society but also in Eastern Asia in recent years. Despite enormous efforts to develop novel therapeutics for this disease, strategy using bioactive compounds from natural product is still considered as important. p-hydroxycinnamic acid (HCA) is an intermediate substance found in several plants and has been known to possess anti-inflammation but little evidence is reported whether HCA has an inhibitory effect on intestinal inflammation. In the present study, we observed HCA does not show cytotoxic and apoptotic in HT-29 cells. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed that HCA effectively blocks the activity of HT-29 cells stimulated with TNF-α treatment. HCA inhibits translocation of p65 and MAPK pathways in activated HT-29 cells by TNF-α treatment. Besides, oral administration of HCA attenuates manifestation of DSS-induced inflammatory disease in vivo. Histological analysis exhibited that oral administration of HCA recovers IBD symptoms. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines were reduced by oral administration of HCA on intestinal tissues. Therefore, these results suggest that HCA has a potent anti-inflammatory effect on intestinal cells as well as show a therapeutic potential for treating IBD in vivo.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.87-97
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• 2020

The development of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using degenerate primers against conserved regions of most potyviral genomes enabled sampling of the potyvirome. However, these assays usually involve sampling potential host plants, but identifying infected plants when they are asymptomatic is challenging, and many plants, especially wild ones, contain inhibitors to DNA amplification. We used an alternative approach which utilized aphid vectors and indicator plants to identify potyviruses capable of infecting common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Aphids were collected from a range of asymptomatic leguminous weeds and trees in Iran, and transferred to bean seedlings under controlled conditions. Bean plants were tested serologically for potyvirus infections four-weeks postinoculation. The serological assay and symptomatology together indicated the presence of one potyvirus, and symptomology alone implied the presence of an unidentified virus. The partial genome of the potyvirus, encompassing the complete coat protein gene, was amplified using generic potyvirus primers. Sequence analysis of the amplicon confirmed the presence of an isolate of Wisteria vein mosaic virus (WVMV), a virus species not previously identified from Western Asia. Phylogenetic analyses of available WVMV sequences categorized them into five groups: East Asian-1 to 3, North American and World. The Iranian isolate clustered with those in the World group. Multiple sequence alignment indicated the presence of some genogroup-specific amino acid substitutions among the isolates studied. Chinese isolates were sister groups of other isolates and showed higher nucleotide distances as compared with the others, suggesting a possible Eastern-Asian origin of WVMV, the main region where Wisteria might have originated.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.73 no.2
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• pp.84-92
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• 2012

Background: Asian dust storms can be transported across eastern Asia. In vitro, Asian dust particle-induced inflammation and enhancement of the allergic reaction have been observed. However, the fibrotic effects of Asian dust particles are not clear. Production of transforming growth factor ${\beta}_1$ (TGF-${\beta}_1$) and fibronectin were investigated in the bronchial epithelial cells after exposure to Asian dust particulate matter (AD-PM10). Methods: During Asian dust storm periods, air samples were collected. The bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to AD-PM10 with and without the antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Then TGF-${\beta}_1$ and fibronectin were detected by Western blotting. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by the measurement of dicholorodihydrofluorescin (DCF), using a FACScan, and visualized by a confocal microscopy. Results: The expression of TGF-${\beta}_1$, fibronectin and ROS was high after being exposed to AD-PM10, compared to the control. NAC attenuated both TGF-${\beta}_1$ and fibronectin expression in the AD-PM10-exposed the bronchial epithelial cells. Conclusion: AD-PM10 may have fibrotic potential in the bronchial epithelial cells and the possible mechanism is AD-PM10-induced intracellular ROS.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.79-84
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• 2016

Objective : Nypa fruticans Wurmb. Fruit (NF) has been used as a conventional medicine to treat inflammatory peridontal diseases in Myanmar and Eastern Asia. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of NF aqueous extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses was not well-investigated. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of NF on LPS-induced inflammatory responses on RAW 264.7 cells.Methods : To induce inflammation on the macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 cells were treated with 500 ng/mL of LPS. Water extracts of NF was treated 1 h prior to treatment of LPS. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Production of nitrite was measured with Griess assay and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukine (IL)-1β and IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, we examined the inhibitory mechanisms of NF by western blot and immunocytochemistry.Result : Water Extract from NF itself did not have any cytotoxic effect at the concentration of 200 ㎍/ml in RAW 264.7 cells. Treatment of NF inhibited the production of nitrite, and pro-inflammatory cytokines inlcuding IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in a dose dependant. In addition, NF treatment inhibited the LPS-induced activation and translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB.Conclusion : In summary, our result suggest that treatment of NF could reduce the LPS-induced inflammatory responses via deactivation of NF-κB. This study could suggest that NF could be a beneficial drug or agent to prevent inflammation.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2015

Objectives: Samjung-hwan (SJH), a well-known traditional fermented herb formula recorded in Dongui Bogam, has been commonly used for prolonging life for four hundred years in Eastern Asia. However, fermented SJH has not been investigated in terms of microbial ecology until present time. Methods: SJH was fermented for five weeks and fermentation characteristics during SJH fermentation were performed including pH, acidity and microbial profiling. Also, we measured total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents and 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity. In order to select starter candidate, several lactic acid bacteria were isolated from fermented SJH. Results: pH of fermented SJH was decreased from 4.7 to 3.0 and acidity was increased from 0.45% to 1.72%. Also, fermented SJH increased antioxidant indicator such as total polyphenol and total flavonoid as well as DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Lactobacillus brevis was increased, Pseudanabaena sp. was decreased, and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis was stable during 5-week fermentation of SJH. L. brevis and L. plantarum were isolated from fermented SJH. Conclusions: Fermented SJH for four weeks had optimal effect on antioxidant and fermentation characteristics such as pH, acidity and microbial profile. Further studies are required to develop starter and analyze functional compounds in oder to produce standardized SJH.

• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.85-95
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• 2016

In this study, we investigated the variabilities of wind speed of 850 hPa and precipitable water over the East Asia region using the NCEP Final Analysis data from December 2001 to November 2011. A large variance of wind speed was observed in northern and eastern China during the winter period. During summer, the regions of the East China Sea, the South Sea of Japan and the East Sea show large variances in the wind speed caused by an extended North Pacific High and typhoon activities. The large variances in the wind speed in the regions are shown to be correlated with the inter-annual variability of precipitable water over the inland region of windward side of the Korean Peninsula. Based on the investigation, sensitivity tests to the domain size were performed using the WRF model version 3.6 for heavy precipitation events over the Korean Peninsula for 26 and 27 July 2011. Numerical experiments of different domain sizes were set up with 5 km horizontal and 50 levels vertical resolutions for the control and the first experimental run, and 9 km horizontal for the second experimental run. We found that the major rainfalls correspond to shortwave troughs with baroclinic structure over Northeast China and extended North Pacific High. The correlation analysis between the observation and experiments for 1-h precipitation indicated that the second experiment with the largest domain had the best performance with the correlation coefficient of 0.79 due to the synoptic-scale systems such as short-wave troughs and North Pacific High.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.463-468
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• 2017

Background: Both Panax ginseng Meyer and Panax quinquefolius are obligate shade-loving plants whose natural habitats are broadleaved forests of Eastern Asia and North America. Panax species are easily damaged by photoinhibition when they are exposed to high temperatures or insufficient shade. In this study, a cytohistological study of the leaf structures of two of the most well-known Panax species was performed to better understand the physiological processes that limit photosynthesis. Methods: Leaves of ginseng plants grown in soil and hydroponic culture were sectioned for analysis. Leaf structures of both Panax species were observed using a light microscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. Results: The mesostructure of both P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius frequently had one layer of non-cylindrical palisade cells and three or four layers of spongy parenchymal cells. P. quinquefolius contained a similar number of stomata in the abaxial leaf surface but more tightly appressed enlarged grana stacks than P. ginseng contained. The adaxial surface of the epidermis in P. quinquefolius showed cuticle ridges with a pattern similar to that of P. ginseng. Conclusion: The anatomical leaf structure of both P. ginseng and P. quinquefolius shows that they are typical shade-loving sciophytes. Slight differences in chloroplast structure suggests that the two different species can be authenticated using transmission electron microscopy images, and light-resistant cultivar breeding can be performed via controlling photosynthesis efficiency.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.602-607
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• 2017

Background: Panax ginseng is a traditional herb used for medicinal purposes in eastern Asia. P. ginseng contains various ginsenosides with pharmacological effects. In this study, floralginsenoside A (FGA), ginsenoside Rd (GRD), and ginsenoside Re (GRE) were purified from P. ginseng berry. Methods: Chemical structures of FGA, GRD, and GRE were determined based on spectroscopic methods, including fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy, ID-nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopy. Inhibitory activities of these compounds on melanogenesis were studied by measuring the expression of protein and melanin content in the melan-a cell line. This inhibitory activity was confirmed by observing pigmentation and tyrosinase activities of zebrafish. Results: GRD, GRE, and FGA were not cytotoxic at concentrations less than $20{\mu}M$, $80{\mu}M$, and $160{\mu}M$ in melan-a cells, respectively. GRD, GRE, and FGA inhibited melanin biosynthesis in melan-a cells by 15.2%, 22.9%, and 23.9% at $20{\mu}M$, $80{\mu}M$, and $160{\mu}M$, respectively. FGA was observed to display the most potent inhibitory effect. In addition, FGA decreased microphthalmia-associated transcription factor protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, FGA induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation level in melan-a cells. In addition, melanin pigment content and tyrosinase activity in zebrafish treated with FGA at $160{\mu}M$ were reduced. Conclusion: FGA showed the most potent inhibition of melanogenesis in both in vitro and in vivo studies. This study suggests that FGA purified from P. ginseng may be an effective melanogenesis inhibitor.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2000

The sweetpotato whiteflies, Bemisia tabaci(Gennadius), were found recently in Korea on Glycine max, Euphorbia pulcherrima, and Rosa hybrida. The biotype identity of Bemisia tabaci in Korea was determined by several DNA markers including the random amplified polymorphic DNAs, and restriction fragments length polymorphism of mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA genes. The electromorph profiles of DNA fragments from the rose(Jincheon) and poinsettia(Seoul) populations in Korea are both identical to those of B biotypes distributed in Australia, Israel, and Japan. The populations of B. tabaci collected on Glycine max, Ipomea batatas, and Perilla frutescens in different localities retained the same DNA markes with the population from Lonicera japonica and shikoku of Japan. These populations are non-B biotype and considered as an indigenous type in the Far Eastern Asia Region including Korea and Japan, Morphological Characteristics of B. Tabaci were also observed by the scanning electron microscope and described with the comparison to the other important whitefly pest, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood).