• Title/Summary/Keyword: Natural Sciences

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Extracts of Allium fistulosum Attenuates Pro-Inflammatory Action in the Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated BV2 Microglia Cells (Lipopolysaccharide에 의한 BV2 세포의 염증 반응에 대한 파 추출물의 저해 활성)

  • Park, Shin-Hyoung;Kim, Jung-In;Jeong, Yong-Kee;Choi, Yung-Hyun
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.21 no.6
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    • pp.796-804
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    • 2011
  • Microglia are central nervous system (CNS)-resident professional macrophages that function as the principal immune cells responding to pathological stimulations in the CNS. Activation of microglia, induced by various pathogens, protects neurons and maintains homeostasis in the CNS, but severe activation causes inflammatory responses secreting various neurotoxic molecules such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Allium fistulosum, a member of the onion family, is mainly cultivated for consumption, as well as medicinal use in Oriental medicine. It has been reported that A. fistulosum has various biological effects such as anti-oxidant, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-fungus and anti-cholesterol synthesis, however there has been no research about the anti-inflammatory effects of A. fistulosum extracts. In this study, it was undertaken to explore the functions of A. fistulosum as a suppressor of neuronal inflammation by using BV2 microglia cells. As a result, it was found that four kinds of extracts of A. fistulosum effectively reduced the expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) at both mRNA and protein levels, and also attenuated pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) at the mRNA level in BV2 stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, the extracts of A. fistulosum attenuated the release of NO markedly, as well as resulting in slight decreases of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 production, the effects of which were most significant when treated with ethyl alcohol extract from the whole A. fistulosum. In conclusion, the data indicated that the anti-inflammatory actions of A. fistulosum against BV2 microglia cells is through the down-regulation of iNOS, COX2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6, and these effects are expected to help in the protection of nerve tissues by suppressions of neuronal inflammation in various neurodegenerative diseases.

Seasonal Variations of Environmental Factors and Distribution of Anabaena cylindrica Growth-Inhibiting Bacteria in the Lower Daechung Reservoir (대청호 하류에서 환경요인과 Anabaena cylindrica 생장억제세균의 계절별 분포 변화)

  • Lee, Jung-Ho;Kim, Chul-Ho
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.33 no.2 s.90
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    • pp.128-135
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    • 2000
  • The authors surveyed the seasonal variations of environmental factors, the distributions of heterotrophic bacteria and Anabaena cylindrica growth-inhibiting bacteria at each water layer in Daechung Reservoir to verify the role of bacteria during the extinction of bloom. Average water depth at site 1, 2, and 3 were 25.5 m, 15.0 m and 12.3 m, respectively. Water temperature showed a typical pattern seasonally. The variation of DO was relatively inverse proportional to that of water temperature, although it was irregular during summer time. DO decreased gradually to early May, fluctuated sharply after then, and followed by gradual increasement after middle of September. This variation pattern was notable at surface layer. There was remarkable difference in DO concentraion between surface layer and the other water layers during the period in which DO irregulary varied. The variation range of chlorophyll-a concentraion at surface layer in summer time was broad, and it was relatively high when DO was high. The population size of heterotrophic bacteria was high from Spring to Autumn, an declined after September when the water temperature droped rapidly. Especially this variation pattern was prominent at the surface layer. Bacteria that inhibit the growth of A. cylindrica was almost not detected by June, and its distribution increased in July. Afterward, it showed different variation pattern between each site. The distribution of A. cylindrica growth-inhibiting bacteria was higher at the middle and bottom layer than the surface layer in July and October, when it was larger at all sites for the study period. This result suggests that the antagonistic bacteria exhibit higher activity when host activity drops. These results also suggest that natural water bacteria control the distirbution of cyanobacteria, especially its activity as controller is remarkable when cyanobacterial growth declines.

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Community Distribution on Mountain Forest Vegetation of the Hwangjangsan Area in the Worak National Park, Korea (월악산국립공원 황장산 일대 삼림식생의 군락분포에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Jung-Yun;Oh, Jang-Geun;Jung, Se-Hoon;Kim, Ha-Song
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.48 no.4
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    • pp.203-211
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    • 2015
  • Forest vegetation of Hwangjangsan (1,077.3 m) in Woraksan National Park is classified into mountain forest vegetation. Mountain forest vegetation is subdivided into deciduous broad-leaved forest, mountain valley forest, coniferous forest, riparian forest, afforestation and other vegetation. Including 55 communities of mountain forest vegetation and 4 communities of other vegetation, the total of 59 communities were researched; mountain forest vegetation classified by physiognomy classification are 28 communities deciduous broad-leaved forest, 12 communities of mountain valley forest, 3 communities of coniferous forests, 2 communities of riparian forest, 10 afforestation and 4 other vegetation. As for the distribution rate for surveyed main communities, Quercus mongolica and Quercus variabilis communities account for 65.928 percent of deciduous broad leaved forest, Fraxinus rhynchophylla - Quercus mongolica community takes up 41.459 percent of mountain valley forest, Pinus densiflora community holds 86.100 percent of mountain coniferous forest holds. In conclusion, minority species consisting of Quercus mongolica, Pinus densiflora, Quercus variabilis, Fraxinus rhynchophylla, and Quercus serrata are distributed as dominant species of the uppermost part in a forest vegetation region in Woraksan National Park. In addition, because of vegetation succession and climate factors, numerous colonies formed by the two species are expected to be replaced by Quercus mongolica, Quercus variabilis, and Fraxinus rhynchophylla which are climax species in the area.

Correlation between Glycemic Index and in vitro Starch Hydrolysis of Cereals (곡류의 혈당지수와 전분 가수분해율과의 상관관계)

  • Lee, Jung-Sun;Shin, Hyun-Kyung
    • Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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    • v.30 no.5
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    • pp.1229-1235
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    • 1998
  • To see the correlation between the rate of in vitro starch hydrolysis and the glycemic index, an in vitro digestion was carried out by incubating the cereal samples for 2 hours with ${\alpha}-amylase$ in dialysis tubing. Also the levels of blood glucose were measured over 2 hours after feeding healthy volunteers with 50 g carbohydrate portions. Hydrolysis area, hydrolysis index (HI) and the dialysate content of carbohydrate throughout the digestion time for barley was significantly below those for other cereals (p<0.05), and unpolished glutinous rice was significantly above (p<0.05). The GI-glucose of barley $(57%{\pm}7)$ to glucose as standard was significantly (p<0.05) lower than those of other cereals whereas the GI-glucose of glutinous rice $(110%{\pm}8)$ was significantly higher (p<0.05) than other cereals. The GI-rice values to rice as standard were $122%{\pm}4$ for glutinous sorghum, $116%{\pm}13$ for job's tear, $115%{\pm}13$ for glutinous millet, $106%{\pm}6$ for unpolished glutinous rice, $102%{\pm}7$ for glutinous rice, $100%{\pm}0$ for rice, $90%{\pm}12$ for unpolished rice, $85%{\pm}6$ for foxtail millet, $79%{\pm}5$ for buckwheat and $63%{\pm}6$ for barley. The GI-rice was significantly correlated to hydrolysis area and HI (r=0.75, p<0.01). It suggests that the in vitro starch hydrolysis offers good potential to predict the in vivo glycemic response of starch foods.

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Immunohistochemical study of the gastrointestinal endocrine cells in the Mongolian Gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus (몽골리안 저빌(Meriones unguiculatus)의 위장관 내분비 세포에 대한 면역조직화학적 연구)

  • Lee, Jae-hyun;Lee, Hyeung-sik;Ku, Sae-kwang;Park, Ki-dae;Kim, Kil-soo
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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    • v.40 no.4
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    • pp.653-660
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    • 2000
  • In order to study the regional distribution and relative frequency of the immunoreactive endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract of the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus, the gastrointestinal tract was divided into 9 portions (cardia, fundus, pylorus, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon and rectum) and immunostained by immunohistochemical (PAP) method using 8 types of specific antisera against cholecystokinin (CCK)-8, gastrin, secretin, pancreatic polypeptide(PP), somatostatin, serotonin, glucagon and insulin. CCK-8-, gastrin-, somatostatin- and serotonin-immunoreactive cells were demonstrated in this study. These immunoreactive cells were found in the gastric gland regions of the pylorus or between parietal and chief cells of the fundus with round to spherical shaped, and in the interepithelial regions of the intestinal tract with spherical to spindle shaped except for jejunum where some of immunoreactive cells were also observed in the intestinal glands with round to spherical shaped. CCK-8-immunoreactive cells were restricted to the pylorus and duodenum with numerous and a few frequency, respectively. Gastrin-immunoreactive cells were restricted to the pylorus with numerous frequency. Similar to those of gastrin-immunoreactive cells, somatostatin-immunoreactive cells were restricted to pylorus with moderate frequency. Serotonin-immunoreactive cells were detected throughout whole gastrointestinal tract except for cardia and cecum with moderate or numerous frequency. However, no secretin-, PP-, glucagon- and insulin-immunoreactive cells were observed in this study. From these results, the appearance type, regional distribution and relative frequency of immunoreactive endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal tract of the Mongolian gerbils were somewhat lowered or restricted compared to those of other mammals and these differences were might be caused by feeding habits and species specification.

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Effect of Combining Wood Particles and Plastic(Polypropylene) Screen on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Board (목재(木材)파이티클과 플라스틱(폴리프로필렌) 망(網)의 결체(結締) 보오드의 물리(物理) 및 기술적(機械的) 성질(性質)에 미치는 영향(影響))

  • Lee, Phil-Woo;Park, Heon
    • Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.21-44
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    • 1988
  • As a way for the effective utilization of pallman chips and sawdusts, these furnish materials were combined with non-woody material of plastic (polypropylene) screen in board manufacturing to improve their weak physical and mechanical properties. The conventional boards were made with conditions of specific gravity 0.40, 0.55, 0.70, and 0.85, resin content 8, 10, 12 and 14%, and number of polypropylene screen 1, 2, 3 and 4, and press-lam boards were also manufactured. The physical and mechanical properties were measured and discussed on thickness swelling, bending modulus of rupture and elasticity, tensile strength, internal bond strength, and screw holding strength. The results obtained at this study were summarized as follows: 1. In thinckness swelling both of pallman chip board and sawdust board were improved by the increase of resin content, and press-lam boards showed lower thickness swelling than conventional boards. 2. Both the modulus of rupture and elasticity were increased with the increase of specific gravity, and press-lam boards showed higher modulus of rupture and elasticity than conventional boards. On the other hand, modulus of rupture was increased with the increase of number of polypropylene screen and resin content whereas these effects in modulus of elasticity was not recognized. 3. Tensile strength was increased with the increase of specific gravity, and the boards combined with polypropylene screen showed higher tensile strength than control boards. Also tensile strength was increased with the increase of number of polypropylene screen, and press-lam boards revealed higher tensile strength than conventional boards. 4. Internal bond strength was increased with the increase of specific gravity, and the boards combined with polypropylene screen were lower in internal bond strength than control boards. Also, the boards combined with odd number of polypropylene screen showed lower internal bond strength than those combined with even number of polypropylene screen. 5. Screw holding strength was increased with the increase of resin content and specific gravity but significant difference was not approved between boards combined with polypropylene screen and control boards. In press-lam boards, pallman chip boards of higher specific gravity but sawdust boards of lower specific gravity showed better screw holding strength than control boards.

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Changes of Quality Characteristics of Seasoned Pork during Aging at 10℃ (양념 돈육의 10℃ 숙성시 품질변화)

  • Jin, S.K.;Kim, I.S.;Hah, K.H.;Lyou, H.J.;Park, K.H.;Lee, J.I.;Chung, K.Y.
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.47 no.5
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    • pp.837-850
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    • 2005
  • This study was conducted to investigate the changes of quality characteristics on seasoned pork with Korean traditional 4 types seasoning such as soybean sauce(T1); Kimchi sauce(T2); pickled shrimps sauce(T3); onion sauce(T4). The seasoned samples were aged at 10±1℃ for 13 days. The results obtained were as follows; Except for T2, pH of treatments were significantly decreased(P<0.05) as aging period increased. Salinity(%) and saccharinity(%) of seasoned meat were tended to increased during aging period. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) were increased significantly during storage in all treatment(P<0.05). T4 showed the highest TBARS among the all treatment groups. Volatile basic nitrogen(VBN) values of all treatments were significantly increased(P<0.05) as storage period increased. There were no significant differences in water holding capacity(WHC) among the all treatments, and those values were not changed by the passage of storage days. Shear force values of all treatments were tended to decreased by the passage of storage days. In surface color, the values of L*, a* and b* showed a tendency of increasing value along the storage days. The values of a* and b* of T2 were significantly higher than other treatments during aging period(P<0.05). In inner color, a* and b* values of T2 were significantly higher than those of other treatments during aging period(P<0.05). In the sensory evaluation of cooked meat, T3 treatment resulted in lower score in aroma, flavor, tenderness, juiciness and overall acceptability. The number of total plate counts and Lactobacilli spp. tended to increase with storage in all treatments group. The numbers of Escherichia coli were not changed by the passage of storage time.

A Study on the Forest Vegetation and Soil-environmental Factors Affecting the Water Quality of Iwonch on Stream (이원천 수질에 미치는 삼림식생과 토양환경요인)

  • Bang, Je-Yong;Yang, Keum-Chul
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.183-190
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    • 2009
  • Characterization of the analysis of forest vegetation, soil environmental conditions and water quality were performed from March 2003 to March 2007. The two basins were characterized by cultivated area (Kaesim reservoir) and mountain area (Jangchan reservoir), and divided into eleven small basins, where dynamics of pollutants, forest vegetation and soil environmental conditions were surveyed. The vegetation can be divided into 10 types by $Z\ddot{u}rich$-Montpellier school's method. Pearson coefficients between vegetation type and water quality were correlated with dissolved oxygen (DO) in the Quercus variabilis community at the 5% level and total phosphorus (TP) in the Larix leptolepis plantation at the 1% level. Especially total phosphorous and total nitrogen increased in small basins where the proportion of cultivated and residential area increased. The analysis of influences of pollutant discharge on water quality showed that pollutant charge was very low in forest land area ($Y_{T-P}$=-0.0017X+0.2215, r=0.16, $Y_{COD}$=- 0.0395X+8.5051 r=0.47). The soil types of western area were comparatively simple, but those of eastern area were complicated with regosols, red-yellow soils, lithosoles, etc. The pH, total solid (TS) and volatile substance (VS) of the forest and agricultural land soils collected in each site were 5.4~6.9, 75.8~80.2%, and 3.80%~5.80%, respectively. According to the analytical result of soil environmental conditions, heavy metal contents fell short to the mean value of natural conditions. Runoff amount (Y) and depth of topsoil (X) were negatively correlated, $Y_{ron}=-1.0088X_{top}+35.378$ (r=0.68). The correlation was much lower in up-stream but much higher in down-stream, because permeation into soil particle was larger on down-stream due to its more or less gentle slope. Pearson coefficients between soil pH and water pH were statistically significant at 1% level.

The Hydrochemical and Stable Isotope Characteristics of Shallow Groundwater Near the Gwangju Stream (광주천 인근 천부 지하수의 수리화학 및 안정동위원소 특성)

  • Yoon, Wook;Ji, Se-Jung;So, Chil-Sub
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.36 no.6
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    • pp.441-455
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    • 2003
  • The most common water types are found to be Ca-$HCO_3$, Ca-Na-$HCO_3$ and Ca-Na-$HCO_3$-Cl in Gwangju groundwater. Groundwater near the Gwangju stream are characterized Ca-Cl water type, with over 50 mg/L of C1- and 400 ${\mu}$S/cm of EC. The systematic variation of $Cl^-$, $HCO_3^-$,- EC and ${\gamma}^{18}O$ values in groundwater with distance away from drainages is caused by streamwater infiltration. Stable isotope data indicate that ${\gamma}$D and ${\gamma}^{18}O$ values of groundwaters near drainages were enriched by evaporation effect, showing a equation of ${\gamma}$D=7. 1${\times}{\gamma}^{18}O$-1. ${\gamma}^{18}O$ values over -6${\textperthansand}$ are anomalous in the unconfined groundwater zones, which are influenced by the local surface water enriched in $^{18}O$ composition. Groundwater in highland shows remarkably light ${\gamma}^{18}O$ values below -8$\textperthousand$. The infiltration of streamwater is dominant in unconfined alluvium aquifer near drainages. ${\gamma}^{13}$CDIC values (-17.6∼-15.2$\textperthousand$) of groundwaters near drainages revealed that dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) is predominantly originated from natural soil-derived $CO_2$. ${\gamma}^{15}N$ and ${\gamma}^{18}O$ values of nitrate are 0∼17.0${\textperthansand}$ and 6.6∼17.4${\textperthansand}$, respectively. Relationship between ${\gamma}^{15}N$ and ${\gamma}^{18}O$ shows a systematic isotopic fractionation caused by denitrification of 40∼60%, suggesting that the major source of groundwater nitrate originated from nitrate of soils, and mixing nitrate of soil and sewage or manure.

Study on the Induction of Antlerogenesis by Calcium Chloride Treatment in Female Elk Deer (염화칼슘 처리에 의한 엘크 암사슴의 뿔 발생 유도에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Sang-Woo;Lee, Seung-Soo;Choi, Sun-Ho;Sang, Byong-Don;Kim, Young-Keun;Sang, Byong-Chan;Seo, Kil-Woong;Moon, Sang-Ho
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.50 no.2
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    • pp.279-284
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    • 2008
  • To investigate the effects of CaCl2 on artificial induction of antlerogenesis in female deer, various CaCl2 conditions with different concentrations, dosages and times were treated to five female Elk(Cervua Canadensis). After injection of CaCl2 solution to the putative region of antlerogenesis, rate of induction, yield of antler, length of antler, number of point were examined. In regard to the effect of concentration of CaCl2 solution on the induction of antlerogenesis in the female deer, generation of pedicle and antler has not induced under treatment of 2ml and 3ml of 15% solution, but only pedicle has generated with 4ml of 15% solution, otherwise generation of pedicle and antler has induced under treatment of 1.5ml, 2ml and 3ml of 30% solution and 1ml and 2ml of 50% solution. The yields of antler were 319g in 4ml of 15% solution, and 1,290g, 513g and 295g in 1.5ml, 2ml and 3ml of 30% solution, respectively, and 800g and 443g in 1ml and 2ml of 50% solution, respectively. The yields of antler of 30% solution and 50% solution were decreased with increase the dosage volume. The maximum yield of antler was 1,290g at 30% 1.5ml treatment. The length of antler were 25cm in 15% 4ml treatment, and 55cm, 51cm and 35㎝ in 1.5ml, 2ml and 3ml of 30% solution, respectively, and 60cm and 35cm in 1ml and 2ml 50% solution, respectively. There was a tendency that length of antler became longer as yield of antler were grew. The numbers of point were 2 in 15% 4ml treatment, and 5, 2.3 and 1 in 1.5ml, 2ml and 3ml of 30% solution, respectively, and 3 and 1 in 1ml and 2ml of 50% solution, respectively. The number of point was not related to concentration and dosage of CaCl2 solution, but related to the shape of wound due to the time and method of injection. Consequently, the optimum concentration of CaCl2 solution for artificial induction of antlerogenesis in female elk is 30%.