• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.353-362
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• 2014

In this study, we investigated the effect of geographical variations on Sargassum thunbergii morphology to make a taxonomic reconsideration about infraspecific taxa in this species. In order to examine the morphological characteristics of S. thunbergii, total 27 matured and morphologically intact thalli were collected from the east, west and south coast in spring 2011. Interestingly, it was observed that the species populations on the west coast were characterized by short, thin and coarse thallus, and soft texture. However, the populations on the east coast showed thicker thallus, larger leaf and vesicle, and tougher texture. Thallus height of S. thunbergii was found to be similar at both east and west coast. Further, the height of the thallus and lateral branch of the species populations residing south coast were highest whereas the size of leaf and vesicle are shortest, in comparison with east and west coast species. Although morphological characteristics of the north east coast populations corresponded to the original description of S. thunbergii f. latifolium, we could not find exact morphological features and diagnostic characters to distinguish form in S. thunbergii. These results indicated that it is not the optimal characteristics to identify infraspecific form in this species. In contrast, morphological variations may signify the adaptation of this species to local environmental factors. Thus, we recommend that intraspecific morphological variation of S. thunbergii should be carefully used to identify infraspecific taxa.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2012

To clarify some ambiguous diagnostic characters of Callicarpa japonica Thunb. and Callicarpa dichotoma (Lour.) K. Koch in Korea (Verbenaceae), the external morphology and micromorphology (leaf, anther, pollen, fruit, in particular endocarp surface and structure) of two taxa are studied and described in detail. It is confirmed that the following characteristics (e.g., the stem outline in a cross-section, the bud shape and length, the corolla tube length and the lobe length, the pattern of the anther dehiscence and length, and the endocarp morphology) are useful for distinguishing these two taxa. In particular, following three characteristics are most useful for an identification: (1) the corolla tube length of C. japonica (2.5-4.6 mm) is longer than that of C. dichotoma (0.7-1.0 mm); (2) the anther is dehiscing by an apical pore at the anthesis of C. japonica, while it is opening by a long fissure from the apex to the base in C. dichotoma; and (3) the edge of the endocarp (lateral view) in C. japonica is concave, while in C. dichotoma it is shown to be flat. On the other hand, the teeth state on the leaf margin and the position of inflorescence are not good diagnostic characteristics for identification. Additionally, the keys for all known Callicarpa taxa in Korea are provided.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.86-93
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• 2019

Plant growth and morphology are affected by light environments. The morphogenesis and growth of the plants growing in plant factories are different from those grown under sunlight due to the effect of far-red light included in sunlight. The objective of this study was to compare the morphogenesis and growth of cucumber plants grown under artificial sunlight, high pressure sodium lamp (HPS), and HPS with additional far-red light (HPS+FR). The artificial solar (AS) with a spectrum similar to sunlight was manufactured using sulfur plasma lamp, incandescent lamp, and green-reducing optical film. HPS was used as a conventional electrical light source and far-red LEDs were added for HPS+FR. The optical properties of each light source was analyzed. The morphogenesis, growth, and photosynthetic rate were compared in each light source. The ratio of red to far-red lights and phytochrome photostationary state were similar in AS and HPS+FR. There were significant differences in morphology and growth between HPS and HPS+FR, but there were no significant differences between AS and HPS+FR. SPAD was highest in HPS, while photosynthetic rate was higher at AS and HPS. Although the photosynthetic rate in HPS+FR was lower than HPS, the growth was similar in AS. It was because canopy light interception was increased by longer petioles and larger leaf areas induced by FR. It is confirmed that the electrical light with additional far-red light induces similar photomorphogenesis and growth in sunlight spectrum. From the results, we expect that similar results will be obtained by adding far-red light to electrical light sources in plant factories.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2015

Simple poor-cosolvent casting was used to surface treat biodegradable elastic poly(L-lactide-co-${\varepsilon}$-caprolactone) (PLCL; 50:50) copolymer films that presented lotus-leaf-like structures. We evaluated whether the lotus-leaflike-structured PLCL (L-PLCL) films could be used as a biomaterial for artificial vascular grafts. The surface morphology, hydrophobicity, and antithrombotic efficiency of the films were examined while immersed in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a contact angle meter. The recovery and crystallinity of the films were measured using a tensile-strength testing machine and an X-ray diffractometer, respectively. The solvent containing acetic acid, as a poor co-solvent, and methylene chloride mixed in a 1:2 ratio produced an optimal PLCL film with a water contact angle of approximately $124^{\circ}$. Furthermore, the surface of the L-PLCL films immersed in PRP showed a lower rate of platelet adhesion (<10%) than that of the surface of an untreated PLCL film immersed in PRP.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.389-390
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• 2012

In this study, we fabricate a superhydrophobic surface made of hierarchical nanostructures that combine wax crystalline structure with moth-eye structure using vacuum cluster system and measure their hydrophobicity and durability. Since the lotus effect was found, much work has been done on studying self-cleaning surface for decades. The surface of lotus leaf consists of multi-level layers of micro scale papillose epidermal cells and epicuticular wax crystalloids [1]. This hierarchical structure has superhydrophobic property because the sufficiently rough surface allows air pockets to form easily below the liquid, the so-called Cassie state, so that the relatively small area of water/solid interface makes the energetic cost associated with corresponding water/air interfaces smaller than the energy gained [2]. Various nanostructures have been reported for fabricating the self-cleaning surface but in general, they have the problem of low durability. More than two nanostructures on a surface can be integrated together to increase hydrophobicity and durability of the surface as in the lotus leaf [3,5]. As one of the bio-inspired nanostructures, we introduce a hierarchical nanostructure fabricated with a high vacuum cluster system. A hierarchical nanostructure is a combination of moth-eye structure with an average pitch of 300 nm and height of 700 nm, and the wax crystalline structure with an average width and height of 200 nm. The moth-eye structure is fabricated with deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) process. $SiO_2$ layer is initially deposited on a glass substrate using PECVD in the cluster system. Then, Au seed layer is deposited for a few second using DC sputtering process to provide stochastic mask for etching the underlying $SiO_2$ layer with ICP-RIE so that moth-eye structure can be fabricated. Additionally, n-hexatriacontane paraffin wax ($C_{36}H_{74}$) is deposited on the moth-eye structure in a thermal evaporator and self-recrystallized at $40^{\circ}C$ for 4h [4]. All of steps are conducted utilizing vacuum cluster system to minimize the contamination. The water contact angles are measured by tensiometer. The morphology of the surface is characterized using SEM and AFM and the reflectance is measured by spectrophotometer.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.199-204
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• 2017

To examine the ecological characteristics of seagrasses growing naturally in Dokdo, shoot morphology and density of seagrasses in a study site each from Dongdo and Seodo, where seagrasses occurred, were investigated in September 2016. In the study sites, Phyllospadix japonicus Makino, a protected seagrass species, was found to be scattered, forming small clusters. P. japonicus shoots from the study sites in Dongdo and Seodo were morphologically similar. The mean leaf width was 2.0 mm at both study sites in Dongdo and Seodo. Numbers of leaves per shoot was 4.8 and 4.7, and the leaf lengths were 42.5 cm and 41.9 cm, in Dongdo and Seodo, respectively. The shoot densities were $3,500{\pm}334.2shoots\;m^{-2}$ and $2,275{\pm}415.1shoots\;m^{-2}$, in Dongdo and Seodo, respectively, with no significant difference. Shoot density and morphological chacteristics of P. japonicus in Dokdo were similar to those on the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.66-79
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• 2000

Anatomical characters such as stem, leaf, ovary, calyx lobe, ultrastructure of stigma, epidermis of leaf blade and midvein, corolla lobe, nectary, seed coat and pollen were examined on 6 taxa of Korean Ophelia, including 5 taxa distributed in south Korea and one taxon considered to be the variation type of Ophelia wilfordi, in order to clarify the limits of intersection and interspecies and to establish the taxonomic position. One taxon distributed in north Korea was also included in the description of species by observation of herbarium specimen of the University of Tokyo in Japan. The two sections were successfully distinguished by internal structure of ovary, morphology of nectary, surface sculpturing of corolla lobe and pollen, ultrastructure of seed and seed coat, which were useful characters to distinguish taxa higher than species. The variation type of Ophelia wilfordi was not distinguished with other species except for absent or present of purple spot in corolla lobe.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.606-612
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Several medicinal properties of Smilax china L. have been studied including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, the antiobesity activity and mechanism by which the water-soluble fraction of this plant mediates its effects are not clear. In the present study, we investigated the lipolytic actions of the water-soluble fraction of Smilax china L. leaf ethanol extract (wsSCLE) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. MATERIALS/METHODS: The wsSCLE was identified by measuring the total polyphenol and flavonoid content. The wsSCLE was evaluated for its effects on cell viability, lipid accumulation, glycerol, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) contents. In addition, western blot analysis was used to evaluate the effects on protein kinase A (PKA), PKA substrates (PKAs), and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL). For the lipid accumulation assay, 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with different doses of wsSCLE for 9 days starting 2 days post-confluence. In other cell experiments, mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated for 24 h with wsSCLE. RESULTS: Results showed that treatment with wsSCLE at 0.05, 0.1, and 0.25 mg/mL had no effect on cell morphology and viability. Without evidence of toxicity, wsSCLE treatment decreased lipid accumulation compared with the untreated adipocyte controls as shown by the lower absorbance of Oil Red O stain. The wsSCLE significantly induced glycerol release and cAMP production in mature 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, protein levels of phosphorylated PKA, PKAs, and HSL significantly increased following wsSCLE treatment. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that the potential antiobesity activity of wsSCLE is at least in part due to the stimulation of cAMP-PKA-HSL signaling. In addition, the wsSCLE-stimulated lipolysis induced by the signaling is mediated via activation of the ${\beta}$-adrenergic receptor.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2011

The microstructure of the leaf epidermis and trichomes of Fallopia sect. Reynoutria are examined using scanning electron microscopy. Fallopia sachalinensis was distinguished from other taxa in this section by its prominent epicuticular wax layer consisting of protruding wax rodlets. In addition, epicuticular rodlets of F. sachalinensis individuals from Ullung Island and Dok Island appear to be thinner than those from other regions, including Japan and Sakhalin. The stomatal size appears to be related to the ploidy level in the sect. Reynoutria, as the hexaploids, octoploids and dodecaploids tend to have larger stomata as compared to tetraploids. Three basic types of trichomes were found in the section; (1) conical unicellular trichomes, (2) uniseriate filiform trichome consisting of 1-8 cells, and (3) peltate glandular trichomes. The trichome types and their distribution appear to be useful in distinguishing the taxa in the section.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.481-489
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• 2002

Unrecorded fern species of Korean flora, Thelypteris interrupta (Willd.) K. Iwats. (Thelypteridaceae) and Dryopteris subexaltata (H. Christ) C. Chr. (Dryopteridaceae), were collected from Jeju island off the south coast of Korean peninsula and reported here. T. interrupta is most similar to T. acuminata (Houtt.) C. V. Morton in morphology, however, the two species are readily distinguishable by the plant color including rhizome, stipe base and spore, and the presence of glandular hair as well as the distribution pattern of sorus on lower leaf surface. D. subexaltata is also well distinguishable from its relatives, D. sparsa (D. Don) Kuntze, D. sabaei (Franch. & Sav.) C. Chr., and D. yakusilvicola Sa. Kurata by the presence of proliferation, shape of pinnae, distribution pattern of sori on lower leaf surface, and shape of indusium.