• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.57-61
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• 2016

In order to protect the solar cells from the moisture and oxygen, we evaluated the electrical and optical properties for the $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) solar cells which were prepared by the spray coating method. Generally, the EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) films are laminated to protect the CIGS flexible solar cells, which results in a high cost process due to complicated devices. In this study, we tried to prepare the protection layers of the flexible CIGS flexible solar cells by using spray coating method instead of conventional laminating films in order to reduce the device weight as well as the process time. The CIGS solar cells with spray coating method showed an enhanced efficiency than the before treated sample (2.77% to 2.93%) and relatively proper water vapor transmission rate of the solar cells about 62.891 gm/[$m^2-day$].

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2000

The wandering spider, Pardosa astrigera, had four pairs of ocelli that arranged in three rows on the cephalothorax. Along the anterior margin lay a pair of small anterior median (AM) eye flanked on each side by anterior lateral (AL) eye. Two large posterior median (PM) eye was situated on the clypeus behind the anterior row and still more posteriorly was a pair of posterior lateral (PL) eye. The visual cell of retina consisted of cell body, rhabdome, and intermediate segment. Bipolar neuron was found in anterior median eye (principal eye) and unipolar neuron in others (secondary eye). Rhabdome showed that arranged in PMeye and PLeye. But rhabdomes of AMeye and ALeye were irregular in retina. Except AMeye, incontinuous tapetum found in ALeye, PMeye, PLeye. Anterior median eye was similar to anterior lateral eye in length and posterior median eye similar to posterior lateral eye. Component size of eye were similar to 4 pairs eye in cornea. Size of lens, cell body, and rhabdome was similar not only anterior median eye and anterior lateral eye but also posterior median eye and posterior lateral eye. Vitreous body was large posterior median eye than others.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.378-384
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• 2015

Nuruk is a fermentation agent, which has been used for the production of traditional Korean alcoholic beverages. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of temperature on nuruk fermentation. One wheat nuruk sample was fermented at $36^{\circ}C$ for 30 days (TN-A) and another at $45^{\circ}C$ for 10 days followed by $36^{\circ}C$ for 20 days (TN-B). The activities of ${\alpha}$-amylase, glucoamylase, and acidic protease, as well as metabolite contents were measured. Initially, the enzymatic activities increased rapidly regardless of the fermentation temperature. After 3 days of fermentation, the enzymatic activities were maintained in TN-A, but gradually decreased in TN-B until the end of fermentation process. Metabolite analysis using $^1H$-NMR showed that the levels of glucose, glycerol, fructose, mannitol, and lactose initially increased quickly and then decreased in TN-A. However, they initially decreased and then were maintained over the fermentation period in TN-B. The contents of glycine, proline, and serine were higher in TN-A than in TN-B. This study suggests that a constant temperature of approximately $36^{\circ}C$ is appropriate for achieving high amylolytic and proteolytic activities in the production of wheat nuruk.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1665-1672
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• 2012

An 80% ethanol extract of Hizikia fusiforme was obtained and followed by successive fractionation using the organic solvents n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol to identify the antioxidative substance. The aqueous part of the nbutanol fractionation step, showing high antioxidative activity, was subjected to reverse-phase liquid chromatography. As a result, a substance purified from a BB-2 fraction showed high antioxidative activity. The m/z 419 [M+H] molecular ion peak in the fraction was observed by the analysis of the ESI-LC/MS spectrum. By the analysis of 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-$d_6$) and $^{13}C$ NMR (125 MHz, DMSO-$d_6$) spectra, a unique compound of the fraction was biochemically identified as a 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,8,3',4'-hexamethoxyflavone (5HHMF). We also investigated the effect of 5HHMF on human gastric AGS carcinoma cells. Western blot analysis suggested that the flavone substantially increased the levels of the death receptor-associated apoptosis mediators Fas, Fas L, FADD, TRADD, and DR4 in a concentration-dependent manner. The levels of Fas, Fas L, TRADD, and DR4 in the cells treated with 5HHMF ($5{\mu}g/ml$) were approximately 26.4-, 12.8-, 6.7-, and 9.8-times higher than those of non-treated cells, respectively. Of note, the level of FADD protein in the cells exposed to 5HHMF ($1{\mu}g/ml$) increased approximately 9.6-times. In addition, the cleavage of caspase-3, -8, and -9 in cultured AGS cells treated with 5HHMF was significantly confirmed. Therefore, our results suggest that 5HHMF from H. fusiforme is involved in the induction of death receptor-associated apoptosis mediators in human gastric AGS carcinoma cells.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.466-472
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] is a legume and an important oil crop worldwide. This study was conducted to evaluate the possible impact of transgenic soybean cultivation on the soil microbial community. METHODS AND RESULTS: Microorganisms were isolated from the rhizosphere soils. Microbial community was identified based on the culture-dependent and molecular biology methods. The total numbers of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycete in the rhizosphere soils cultivated with transgenic and non-transgenic soybeans were similar to each other, and there was no significant difference between transgenic and non-transgenic soybeans. Dominant bacterial phyla in the rhizosphere soils cultivated with transgenic or non-transgenic soybeans were Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. The microbial communities in transgenic and non-transgenic soybean soils were characterized using the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The DGGE profiles showed the different patterns, but didn't show significant difference to each other at 0.05 significance level. DNAs were isolated from soils cultivating transgenic or non-transgenic soybeans and analyzed for persistence of transgenes in the soil by using PCR. PCR analysis revealed that there were no amplified ${\gamma}$-tmt and bar gene in soil DNA. CONCLUSION(S): The results of this study suggested that microbial community of soybean field were not significantly affected by cultivation of the transgenic soybeans.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.163-169
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• 2009

Many biological systems are regulated by an intricate set of feedback loops that oscillate with a circadian rhythm of roughly 24 h. This circadian clock mediates an increase in body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol secretion early in the day. Recent studies have shown changes in the amplitude of the circadian clock in the hearts and livers of streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats. It is therefore important to examine the relationships between circadian clock genes and growth factors and their effects on diabetic phenomena in animal models as well as in human patients. In this study, we sought to determine whether diurnal variation in organ development and the regulation of metabolism, including growth and development during the juvenile period in rats, exists as a mechanism for anticipating and responding to the environment. Also, we examined the relationship between changes in growth factor expression in the liver and clock-controlled protein synthesis and turnover, which are important in cellular growth. Specifically, we assessed the expression patterns of several clock genes, including Per1, Per2, Clock, Bmal1, Cry1 and Cry2 and growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and -2 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ in rats with STZ-induced diabetes. Growth factor and clock gene expression in the liver at 1 week post-induction was clearly increased compared to the level in control rats. In contrast, the expression patterns of the genes were similar to those observed after 5 weeks in the STZ-treated rats. The increase in gene expression is likely a compensatory change in response to the obstruction of insulin function during the initial phase of induction. However, as the period of induction was extended, the expression of the compensatory genes decreased to the control level. This is likely the result of decreased insulin secretion due to the destruction of beta cells in the pancreas by STZ.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.269-279
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• 2013

Low efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is attributed to incomplete reprogramming of transfered nuclei into oocytes. Trichostatin A (TSA), histone deacetylase inhibitor and 5-aza-2'deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC), DNA methylation inhibitor has been used to enhance nuclear reprogramming following SCNT. However, it was not known molecular mechanism by which TSA and 5-aza-dC improve preimplantation embryo and fetal development following SCNT. The present study investigates embryo viability and gene expression of cloned porcine preimplantation embryos in the presence and absence of TSA and 5-aza-dC as compared to embryos produced by parthenogenetic activation. Our results indicated that TSA treatment significantly improved development. However 5-aza-dC did not improve development. Presence of TSA and 5-aza-dC significantly improved total cell number, and also decreased the apoptotic and autophagic index. Three apoptotic-related genes, Bak, Bcl-xL, and Caspase 3 (Casp3), and three autophagic-related genes, ATG6, ATG8, and lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2), were measured by real time RT-PCR. TSA and 5-aza-dC treatment resulted in high expression of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-xL and low pro-apoptotic gene Bak expression compared to untreated NT embryos or parthenotes. Furthermore, LC3 protein expression was lower in NT-TSA and NT-5-aza-dC embryos than those of NT and parthenotes. In addition, TSA and 5-aza-dC treated embryos displayed a global acetylated histone H3 at lysine 9 and methylated DNA H3 at lysine 9 profile similar to the parthenogenetic blastocysts. Finally, we determined that several DNA methyltransferase genes Dnmt1, Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b. NT blastocysts showed higher levels Dnmt1 than those of the TSA and 5-aza-dC blastocysts. Dnmt3a is lower in 5-aza-dC than NT, NTTSA and parthenotes. However, Dnmt3b is higher in 5-aza-dC than NT and NTTSA. These results suggest that TSA and 5-aza-dC positively regulates nuclear reprogramming which result in modulation of apoptosis and autophagy related gene expression and then reduce apoptosis and autophagy. In addition, TSA and 5-aza-dC affects the acetylated and methylated status of the H3K9.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.413-422
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigated the mechanism of pharmacological action of local anesthetic and provide the basic information about the development of new effective local anesthetics. Fluorescent probe techniques were used to evaluate the effect of lidocaine HCl on the physical properties (transbilayer asymmetric lateral and rotational mobility, annular lipid fluidity and protein distribution) of synaptosomal plasma membrane vesicles (SPMV) isolated from bovine cerebral cortex, and liposomes of total lipids (SPMVTL) and phospholipids (SPMVPL) extracted from the SPMV. An experimental procedure was used based on selective quenching of 1,3-di(1-pyrenyl)propane (Py-3-Py) and 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) by trinitrophenyl groups, and radiationless energy transfer from the tryptophans of membrane proteins to Py-3-Py. Lidocaine HCl increased the bulk lateral and rotational mobility of neuronal and model membrane lipid bilayes, and had a greater fluidizing effect on the inner monolayer than the outer monolayer. Lidocaine HCl increased annular lipid fluidity in SPMV lipid bilayers. It also caused membrane proteins to cluster. The most important finding of this study is that there is far greater increase in annular lipid fluidity than that in lateral and rotational mobilities by lidocaine HCl. Lidocaine HCl alters the stereo or dynamics of the proteins in the lipid bilayers by combining with lipids, especially with the annular lipids. In conclusion, the present data suggest that lidocaine, in addition to its direct interaction with proteins, concurrently interacts with membrane lipids, fluidizing the membrane, and thus inducing conformational changes of proteins known to be intimately associated with membrane lipid.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.311-319
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• 2018

Mitochondrial calcium overload is a crucial event in determining the fate of neuronal cell survival and death, implicated in pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. One of the driving forces of calcium influx into mitochondria is mitochondria membrane potential (${\Delta}{\psi}_m$). Therefore, pharmacological manipulation of ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ can be a promising strategy to prevent neuronal cell death against brain insults. Based on these issues, we investigated here whether nobiletin, a Citrus polymethoxylated flavone, prevents neurotoxic neuronal calcium overload and cell death via regulating basal ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ against neuronal insult in primary cortical neurons and pure brain mitochondria isolated from rat cortices. Results demonstrated that nobiletin treatment significantly increased cell viability against glutamate toxicity ($100{\mu}M$, 20 min) in primary cortical neurons. Real-time imaging-based fluorometry data reveal that nobiletin evokes partial mitochondrial depolarization in these neurons. Nobiletin markedly attenuated mitochondrial calcium overload and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in glutamate ($100{\mu}M$)-stimulated cortical neurons and isolated pure mitochondria exposed to high concentration of $Ca^{2+}$ ($5{\mu}M$). Nobiletin-induced partial mitochondrial depolarization in intact neurons was confirmed in isolated brain mitochondria using a fluorescence microplate reader. Nobiletin effects on basal ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ were completely abolished in $K^+-free$ medium on pure isolated mitochondria. Taken together, results demonstrate that $K^+$ influx into mitochondria is critically involved in partial mitochondrial depolarization-related neuroprotective effect of nobiletin. Nobiletin-induced mitochondrial $K^+$ influx is probably mediated, at least in part, by activation of mitochondrial $K^+$ channels. However, further detailed studies should be conducted to determine exact molecular targets of nobiletin in mitochondria.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.584-589
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• 1995

To select new useful plants with antibacterial activity, ninety five sample of eighty different species of wild plants were collected, and extracted with methanol. Antibacterial activity of the methanol extracts was tested against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The methanol extracts from Artemisia capillaris, Hemistepta lyrata, Youngia japonica, Prunella vulgaris, Lamium amplexicaule and Juniperus chinensis was effective against all bacterial strains tested, and eight methanol extracts including Ixeris dentata, Gnaphalium affine, Chelidonium majus and Spiraea prunifolia exhibited the antibacterial activity against at least 3 bacterial strains. Methanol extracts from leaf of Syringa vulgaris, Drava nemorosa and clove of Erythronium japonicum showed a selective antibacterial activity against two gram negative bacteria, V. parahaemolyticus, and B. subtilis, respectively. With investigations on antibacterial activity against a certain bacterial strains tested, metahnol extracts from clove of Erythronium japonicum, Spiraea prunifolia, leaf and twig of Camelia japonica, and Drava nemorosa showed strongest activities against B. subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli, and V. parahaemolyticus, respectively. Nine methanol extracts based on the results were successively fractionated with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and water portions, which were examined antibacterial activity against B. subtilis and V. parahaemolyticus. Among the all fractions tested, chloroform fractions of Hemistepta lyrata showed strongest antibacterial activity against both B. subtilis (17mm) and V. parahaemolyticus (29 mm). Chloroform fractions of Youngia japonica, n-hexane fractions of Artemisia capillaris, Iexeris dentata and Prunella vulgaris, and ethyl acetate fraction of leaf and twig of Camelia japonica showed relatively a strong antibacterial activity. On the other hand, Juniperus chinensis and Equisetum arvense was distributed to all fractions except for water fraction.