• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.462-475
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• 2022

Purpose: Allomyrina dichotoma larvae are one of the approved edible insects with nutritional value and various functional and medicinal properties. Previously we have demonstrated that the Allomyrina dichotoma larval extract (ADLE) ameliorates hepatic insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice through the activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). This study investigated the effects of ADLE on insulin resistance in the skeletal muscle and explored mechanisms for enhancing the glucose uptake in palmitate (PAL)-treated C2C12 myotubes. Methods: To induce insulin resistance, the differentiated C2C12 myotubes were treated with PAL (0.5 mM) for 24 hours, and then treated with a 0.5 mg/ml concentration of ADLE, and the resultant effects were measured. The expression levels of glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4), AMPK, and the mitochondrial metabolism-related proteins were analyzed by western blotting. The mRNA expression levels of lipogenesis- related genes were determined by quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR. Results: The exposure of C2C12 myotubes to 0.5 mg/ml of ADLE increased cell viability significantly compared to PAL-treated cells. ADLE upregulated the protein expression of GLUT4 and enhanced glucose uptake in the PAL-treated cells. ADLE increased the phosphorylated AMPK in both the PAL-treated C2C12 myotubes and HFD-treated skeletal muscle. The reduced expression levels of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator-1 alpha (PGC1α) and uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) due to the PAL and HFD treatment were reversed by the ADLE treatment. The citrate synthase activity was also significantly increased with the PAL and ADLE co-treatment. Moreover, the mRNA and protein expressions of fatty acid synthesis-related factors were reduced in the PAL and HFD-treated muscle cells, and this effect was significantly attenuated by the ADLE treatment. Conclusion: ADLE activates AMPK, which in turn induces mitochondrial metabolism and reduces fatty acid synthesis in C2C12 myotubes. Therefore, ADLE could be useful for preventing or treating insulin resistance of skeletal muscles in diabetes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.106-112
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• 1999

The therapeutic potential of phosphodiesterase 4(PDE4) inhibitors in inflammatory diseases including some autoimmune diseases has been explored recently with some hopeful results. These PDE4 inhibitors are thought to show their anti-inflammatory effect by down-regulating tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-$\alpha$) production in lymphocytes and macrophages. A high concentration of TNF-$\alpha$has been found in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium and reducing TNF-$\alpha$using biological agents was proven to be an effective RA treatment. To test the possibility of using PDE4 inhibitors for RA treatment, the effects of a newly synthesized PDE4 inhibitor, DWP205505, on TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-10 production was tested in cells isolated from normal peripheral blood and rheumatoid arthritis synovial fluid. Cytokine production was assayed at the protein level by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and at the mRNA expression level by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Another PDE4 inhibitor, RP73401, was used for comparison. DWP205505 and RP73401 had no harmful effect on cell viability up to 10 $\mu$M concentration during the 24 h culture period. DWP205505 as well as RP73401 significantly reduced TNF-$\alpha$ secretion from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (pBMC) and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMC). The effect of DWP205505 or RP73401 treatment on the mRNA expression of TNF-$\alpha$ was also studied in LPS-stimulated PBMC and SFMC. TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA expression was increased by LPS stimulation and both of the PDE4 inhibitors suppressed TNF-$\alpha$ mRNA expression. For interleukin-l0 (IL-l0), a little different results were obtained from PBMC and SFMC; IL-l0 secretion was unaffected by LPS stimulation and only minimally affected by both of the PDE4 inhibitors in PBMC. In unstimulated SFMC, DWP205505 and RP73401 slightly enhanced IL-10 secretion, while they reduced IL-l0 secretion from LPS-stimulated SFMC where IL-l0 secretion was a lot higher than unstimulated SFMC. These results suggest that the newly synthesized PDE4 inhibitor DWP205505 may have anti-rheumatoid arthritis activity.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.35-42
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• 1980

To establish a generation acceleration technique, two crops a year at field condition of Suweon, 10 varieties different in their spring growth habit were tested with 6 different seeding time after harvesting. These materials were harvested on June 10, 19, 79 and tested for their seed production ability at varions seeding time from July I I to August 15 with a week interval. An immatured seed germination technique and green vernalization methods were applied in cycling generations and the results obtained were summarized as follows. 1. In summer growing, seedlings establishment after transplanting was better in earlier transplanting. 2. Heading time was remarkably enhanced by earlier transplanting. Considering the results of two years early or mid of July was the suitable time to plant the second summer crop. 3. Those varieties of spring growth habit expressed little variations in plant height among the varieties. In 1978 which is referred as warm year produced plant height as tall as 8-16cm and poor crop but produced good crop with 25-65cm plant height in 1979. 4. No definit tendency in the length of spike was. observed among the cultivars but longer spike was found in winter wheat compared to the spring. 5. Number of spikes per plant was ranged from 1 to 3 regardless the transplanting time in 1979. However, more spikes per plant were produced in early or mid of July transplanting and those varieties of higher growth habit than V did not produces any spikes. 6. Higher number of grains per spike was found at earlier transplanted varieties. Therefore, it is concluded that those materials of I-IV growth habit with mid or early July transplanting would be suitable in practical sense considering their ability of seed production. 7. Two-year results indicated that wheat crop can not tolerate the temperature level higher than average 32$^{\circ}C$ C at Suweon. In this regard, the cultivation schedule was established assuming average temperature condition like the year of 1979 which was possible to grow wheats.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.129-137
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• 2023

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an essential role in a variety of cellular physiological phenomena. The present study assessed the signaling axis that mediates the lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-induced migration of SKOV-3 cells. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) stimulated SKOV-3 cell migration in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Similarly, LPA stimulated SKOV-3 cell migration and the phosphorylation of Akt in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The pharmacological inhibition of LPA receptors (LPA₁/LPA₃) significantly suppressed LPA-induced SKOV-3 cell migration. However, IGF-1-induced SKOV-3 cell migration was not affected by the inhibition of LPA1 and LPA3. Pharmacological inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) or Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) significantly suppressed LPA-induced migration, whereas the inhibition of MAPK kinase (MEK) had no effect. Inhibition of PI3K or ROCK completely suppressed LPA-induced ROS generation, and suppression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) or chelation of ROS by N-acetylcysteine (NAC) blocked LPA-induced SKOV-3 cell migration. LPA-induced ROS generation was suppressed by silencing Rictor or Akt1 but not Raptor or Akt2. Silencing Rictor or Akt1 significantly suppressed LPA-induced SKOV-3 cell migration, whereas silencing Raptor or Akt2 had no effect. Finally, the overexpression of the constitutively active form Akt1 (CA-Akt1) significantly enhanced the LPA-induced migration of SKOV-3 cells. Given these results, we suggest that LPA stimulates SKOV-3 cell migration by ROS generation, which is mediated by the mTORC2/Akt1/NOX signaling axis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 2023

In this study, two cases of food poisoning caused by Salmonella that occurred in Gyeongsangnam-do in September 2021 are reported. One of the outbreaks occurred in a school and the other in a company. The molecular epidemiological characteristics of the isolated strains in the two outbreaks were analyzed. In the case of the school outbreak, 29 (4.9%) of 588 individuals experienced diarrhea and abdominal pain. As a result of a test of 36 individuals (patients, n=29; cook workers, n=7), Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis was detected in 17 (47.2%) patients, suggesting this serotype was the principal cause. Meanwhile, Salmonella spp. were not detected in 35 food and environmental samples. In the company outbreak, 87 (3.0%) of 2,900 individuals who had intaked from the same source experienced diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. In a test of 50 individuals (patients, n=40; cook workers, n=10), S. Enteritidis was detected in 28 patients (56.0%). Also, Vibrio cholerae (NAG) was detected in four patients with S. Enteritidis, and V. cholerae (NAG) only was detected in one patient. Salmonella spp. were not detected in 118 preserved foods, but S. Enteritidis was detected in one eaten food (toast) delivered in group by the company. Through PFGE genetic homology analysis of the isolated strains, all S. Enteritidis detected in patients and consumed foods were the same type. It seems that these S. Enteritidis isolates were the same type as detected in a previous school outbreak and in patients of group food poisoning in other regions, leading to an enhanced problem of food poisoning and epidemiology. Our analytic results can provide data for epidemiological management and food poisoning prevention based on molecular characteristics.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2023

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a multifunctional cytokine that affects not only the survival and growth of cancer cells but also the activity of immune cells. Although it has been generally accepted that cancer cell-derived TGF-β could promote the survival and growth of early cancer cells and have immunosuppressive roles, it has been known that TGF-β has differential effects according to the type or stage of cancer cells. Therefore, it is hard to clearly define its role in cancer progression and immune responses. This study investigated the effects of TGF-β signaling on the expression of five NKG2D ligands and the NK cell-mediated anticancer immune response in the primary colon cancer cell line KM12C and its two metastatic cell lines, KM12SM and KM12L4A. At the surface protein level, exogenous TGF-β decreased the expression of MICA, MICB, ULBP1, and ULBP2, and galunisertib increased the expression of MICA, MIAB, ULBP1, ULBP2, and ULBP3 in KM12C. However, KM12SM and KM12L4A showed no significant changes in the expression of NKG2DLs after treatment with TGF-β or galunisertib. TGF-β signaling inhibition via galunisertib improved the NK cell-mediated anticancer immune response against KM12C but did not show a significant response to KM12SM and KM12L4A. Therefore, the suppression of TGF-β signaling could improve the NK cell-mediated anticancer immune response against KM12C. However, an increase in NKG2DLs expression and an enhanced NK cell-mediated cancer immune response is hard to expect due to the alteration of TGF-β signaling in KM12SM and KM12L4A.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.409-422
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• 2022

Two dominant thrips in hot pepper (Capsicum annuum) cultivating in greenhouses are Frankliniella occidentalis and F. intonsa in Korea. This study investigated their overwintering physiology. These two thrips were freeze-susceptible and suppressed the body freezing temperature by lowering supercooling point (SCP) down to -15~-27℃. However, these SCPs varied among species and developmental stages. SCPs of F. occidentalis were -25.7±0.5℃ for adults, -17.2±0.3℃ for pupae, and -15.0±0.4℃ for larvae. SCPs of F. intonsa were -24.0±1.0℃ for adults, -27.0±0.5℃ for pupae, -17.2±0.8℃ for larvae. Cold injuries of both species occurred at low temperature treatments above SCPs. Thrips mortality increased as the treatment temperature decreased and its exposure period increased. F. occidentalis exhibited higher cold tolerance than F. intonsa. In both species, adults were more cold-tolerant than larvae. Two thrips species exhibited a rapid cold hardening because a pre-exposure to 0℃ for 2 h significantly enhanced the cold tolerance to a lethal cold temperature treatment at -10℃ for 2 h. In addition, a sequential exposure of the thrips to decreasing temperatures made them to be acclimated to low temperatures. To investigate the overwintering sites of the two species, winter monitoring of the thrips was performed at the greenhouses. During winter season (November~February), adults of the two species were not captured in outside of the greenhouses. However, F. occidentalis adults were captured to the traps and observed in weeds within the greenhouses. F. occidentalis adults were also emerged from soil samples obtained from the greenhouses during the winter season. F. intonsa adults did not come out from the soil samples at November and December, but emerged from the soil samples obtained after January. To determine the adult emergence due to diapause development, two thrips species were reared under different photoperiods. Adult development occurred in all photoperiod treatments in F. occidentalis, but did not in F. intonsa especially under short periods. Tomato spotted wilt virus, which is transmitted by these two species, was detected in the weeds infested by the thrips during the winter season. These results suggest that F. occidentalis develops on weeds in the greenhouses while F. intonsa undergoes a diapause in the soil during winter.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.145-158
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• 2023

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are effective technologies for urban wastewater management, utilizing natural physico-chemical and biological processes to remove pollutants. This study employed a bibliometric analysis approach to investigate the progress and future research trends in the field of CWs. A comprehensive review of 100 most-recently published and open-access articles was performed to analyze the performance of CWs in treating wastewater. Spain, China, Italy, and the United States were among the most productive countries in terms of the number of published papers. The most frequently used keywords in publications include water quality (n=19), phytoremediation (n=13), stormwater (n=11), and phosphorus (n=11), suggesting that the efficiency of CWs in improving water quality and removal of nutrients were widely investigated. Among the different types of CWs reviewed, hybrid CWs exhibited the highest removal efficiencies for BOD (88.67%) and TSS (95.67%), whereas VSSF, and HSSF systems also showed high TSS removal efficiencies (83.25%, and 78.83% respectively). VSSF wetland displayed the highest COD removal efficiency (71.82%). Generally, physical processes (e.g., sedimentation, filtration, adsorption) and biological mechanisms (i.e., biodegradation) contributed to the high removal efficiency of TSS, BOD, and COD in CW systems. The hybrid CW system demonstrated highest TN removal efficiency (60.78%) by integrating multiple treatment processes, including aerobic and anaerobic conditions, various vegetation types, and different media configurations, which enhanced microbial activity and allowed for comprehensive nitrogen compound removal. The FWS system showed the highest TP removal efficiency (54.50%) due to combined process of settling sediment-bound phosphorus and plant uptake. Phragmites, Cyperus, Iris, and Typha were commonly used in CWs due to their superior phytoremediation capabilities. The study emphasized the potential of CWs as sustainable alternatives for wastewater management, particularly in urban areas.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.73-82
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• 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of soil physico-chemical properties and crop growth responses for application of biochar derived from substrate with post harvest of oyster mushroom. The biochar was produced at 450~600℃ using a top-light up draft gasifier (TLUD) production system. As a result of elemental analysis, the biochar used was C 76.2%, H 2.5%, N 3.2%, and H/C was 0.39, which met the international certification standards for biocarbons (IBI) below 0.7. The chemical properties were 10.1 for pH, 1.0% for P₂O₅, 1.8% for K₂O, and 2.5% for CaO. The application rates of biochar were 0, 100, 200, 300, and 500 kg/10a. For cultivation of chinese cabbage and welsh onion, soil organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (T-N), total carbon (T-C), Ex.cation K contents and cation exchange capacity (CEC) in the treatments were increased compared to the no treatment. In addition, the bulk density was lowered and the porosity was increased, improving the soil physical properties in the treated soil. The growth of chinese cabbage and green onion increased with the application of biochar, but the yields of chinese cabbage and green onion did not significantly different among the treatments. Soil carbon sequestration in the treatments enhanced with increasing the amount of biochar application. It is expected to apply the biochar derived from spent oyster mushroom substrate in the eco-friendly farm soil management, improving soil physico-chemical properties.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.45
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• pp.37-67
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• 2023

This paper aims to examine the loyalty and filial piety pursued by Taoists, focusing on the concept of loyalty and loyalty shown in Wenchang Filial Piety Classic and General Collection of Jingming on Loyalty and Filial Piety. After the Han Dynasty, the concept of loyalty and filial piety became the representative virtues that led the country and society to follow the ideology of Confucius as the dominant ideology. This applied to everyone from emperor to each individual. Taoism had different reasons for promoting the concept of loyalty and filial piety and these even varied from sect to sect, but generally, Taoism could also be said to emphasize loyalty and filial piety. Depending on the sect of Taoism, filial piety might be valued on its own or filial piety might be valued in conjunction with loyalty. In particular, defining Taoism was criticized for "forgetting the desirable behavior required in the human network of the world and severing relationships with various objects encountered in life." In this respect, the concept of loyalty and filial piety in General Collection of Jingming on Loyalty and Filial Piety, could be observed to emphasize 'filial piety' in conjunction with 'loyalty', and this shows the influence of Confucius' concept of loyalty and filial piety. At the same time, this shows the concept of loyalty and filial piety as reimagined by Taoism. The most fundamental aim of Taoism is to pursue immortality. However, as a prerequisite for becoming such a god, loyalty and filial piety, were practiced alongside 'gentleness' and 'humanity and trustworthiness.' Here, the Taoist emphasis on 'loyalty and filial piety', 'gentleness', and 'humanity and trustworthiness' is essentially the same as in Neo-Confucianism. However, seeking to become an immortal through these values represents a motivation that is different from Neo-Confucians who denied the pursuit of immortality. In this paper, loyalty and filial piety as understood and practiced by Neo-Confucian scholars will be compared with the same concepts in the Taoist context and the findings will be summarized via three categories. First, in the Taoist model longevity and the pursuit of immortality are seen as being closely related to filial piety. The reason why achieving longevity and pursuing immortality was considered closely related to filial piety is because this is a modified and enhanced reimagining of the Neo-Confucianist concept of loyalty and filial piety. The other is that Taoism's concept of loyalty and filial piety is richly supplemented with content about 'interactions between heaven and humankind.' When filial piety is practiced in this context, the principle of responding to the gods of heaven and earth is emphasized. At the same time, Taoism presents consequences for insufficient filial piety to parents or insufficient loyal to the king; disasters will be brought down by heaven. Finally, it is argued that the practice filial piety is necessary and should extend not only to parents to all phenomena in the world without distinguishing based on one's degree of intimacy to those phenomena.