• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.203-211
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• 2013

Selected 11 rice transgenic lines, through preliminary yield trials on 32 lines, were evaluated on important agronomic traits as well as grain quality by conducting replicated yield trials having three replication plots. Japonica recipients, Nipponbare, Nagdongbyeo, and Dongjinbyeo, were the recipients of 7 transformed genes, which were putatively related with high yield, abiotic stress tolerance, and disease resistance. To estimate the degrees of deviations from the wild types, 11 traits of transgenic lines, relating with grain quality were evaluated and subjected to multivariate analyses. Principal coordinate and clustering analyses did not support collection manners of transgenic lines in terms of the genes transformed as well as the genetic background. Meanwhile, some transgenic lines would be acceptable due to their over-all performances were similar to their wild types, it was hardly possible to declare any transgenic line, which adhered closely to the commercial profits of wild type. Thereby, with considerations on the demanding resources in establishing rice transgenic lines having market competitiveness, it was speculated that proper application of breeding strategies would be crucial factor for the efficiency of developing prospective rice transgenic lines.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.58-65
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• 2019

Polymer concrete is expected to be widely used as a building material because it has a shorter hardening time and excellent compression, tensile, bending, bond strength, frictional resistance and abrasion loss compared to general concrete. The polymer concrete has excellent vibration damping performance and research on the use of various reinforcing materials is being conducted. However, in order to completely replace the general concrete and the general anti-vibration reinforcement, such polymer concrete requires an overall review of vibration reduction performance considering physical properties, dynamic properties, productivity and field applicability. In this study, the physical and dynamic properties of polymer concrete by epoxy mixing ratio were compared with those of general concrete. It was appeared that compression, tensile, bending and bond strengths of polymer concrete by epoxy mixing were significantly higher than those of general concrete. Especially, the tensile strength was more than 4 ~ 6.5 times. Based on the basic physical properties of polymer concrete, the damping ratio, which is a dynamic characteristic according to the epoxy mixing ratio, was derived through analytical models and experiments. As a result, the dynamic stiffness of polymer concrete was 20% higher than that of general concrete and the loss rate was about 3 times higher.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.376-387
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• 2018

Among a variety of environmental stresses heat, cold, chilling, high salt, drought, and so on exposed to plants, drought stress has been reported as a crucial factor to adversely affect the growth and productivity of plants. Therefore, to understand the mechanism for the drought stress signal transduction pathway in plants is more helpful to develop useful crops that display the enhanced tolerance against drought stress, and to expand crop growing areas. The signal transduction pathway for the drought stress in plants is largely categorized into two types; ABA-dependent pathway and ABA-independent pathway. It has been reported that two transcription factors, AREB/ABF and DREB2, play predominant roles in ABA-dependent and ABA-independent pathways, respectively. In addition to transcriptional regulation mediated by AREB/ABF and DREB2 transcription factors, post-translational modification (such as phosphorylation and ubiquitination) and epigenetic control are importantly involved in the signal transduction for drought stress. In this paper, we review current understanding of signal transduction pathway on drought stress in plants, especially focusing on the biological roles of a variety of signaling components related to drought stress response. Further understanding the mechanism of drought resistance in plants through this review will be useful to establish theoretical basis for developing drought tolerant crops in the future.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.199-205
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• 2015

Background: Ginsenoside Rb1 (G-Rb1), the major active constituent of ginseng, improves insulin sensitivity and exerts antidiabetic effects. We tested whether the insulin-sensitizing and antidiabetic effects of G-Rb1 results from a reduction in ectopic fat accumulation, mediated by inhibition of lipolysis in adipocytes. Methods: Obese and diabetic db/db mice were treated with daily doses of 20 mg/kg G-Rb1 for 14 days. Hepatic fat accumulation was evaluated by measuring liver weight and triglyceride content. Levels of blood glucose and serum insulin were used to evaluate insulin sensitivity in db/db mice. Lipolysis in adipocytes was evaluated by measuring plasma-free fatty acids and glycerol release from 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with G-Rb1. The expression of relevant genes was analyzed by western blotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: G-Rb1 increased insulin sensitivity and alleviated hepatic fat accumulation in obese diabetic db/db mice, and these effects were accompanied by reduced liver weight and hepatic triglyceride content. Furthermore, G-Rb1 lowered the levels of free fatty acids in obese mice, which may contribute to a decline in hepatic lipid accumulation. Corresponding to these results, G-Rb1 significantly suppressed lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and upregulated the perilipin expression in both 3T3-L1 adipocytes and mouse epididymal fat pads. Moreover, G-Rb1 increased the level of adiponectin and reduced that of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in obese mice, and these effects were confirmed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Conclusion: G-Rb1 may improve insulin sensitivity in obese and diabetic db/db mice by reducing hepatic fat accumulation and suppressing adipocyte lipolysis; these effects may be mediated via the upregulation of perilipin expression in adipocytes.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.218-226
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• 2016

Helicobacter pylori primarily colonizes the human stomach. Infection by this bacterium is associated with various gastric diseases, including inflammation, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. Although there are antibiotic regimens for the eradication of H. pylori, the resistance of this species against antibiotics has been continuously increasing. The natural compound plumbagin has been reported as an antimicrobial and anticancer molecule. In this study, we analyzed the inhibitory effect of plumbagin on H. pylori strain ATCC 49503 as well as the expression of various molecules associated with H. pylori growth or virulence by immunoblotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses. We demonstrated the minimal inhibitory concentration of plumbagin on H. pylori through the agar dilution and broth dilution methods. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of plumbagin treatment on the expression of the RNA polymerase subunits and various virulence factors of H. pylori. Plumbagin treatment decreased the expression of RNA polymerase subunit alpha (rpoA), which is closely associated with bacterial survival. Moreover, the mRNA and protein levels of the major CagA and VacA toxins were decreased in plumbagintreated H. pylori cells. Likewise, the expression levels of urease subunit alpha (ureA) and an adhesin (alpA) were decreased by plumbagin treatment. Collectively, these results suggest that plumbagin may inhibit the growth, colonization, and pathogenesis of H. pylori by the mechanism demonstrated in this study.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.88-93
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• 2018

In this study, damaged composite laminates were repaired by a stepped patch repair method using halloysite nanotube(HNT) and milled carbon(MC) reinforced composite materials with different amount of the particles. And the mechanical and structural effects of the particles on the interface between the damaged and repair surfaces were analyzed. At this time, after exposing them to a harsh environment of high temperature and humidity for a long time, the recovery rate of the material properties relative to the material forming the damaged plate was compared. As a result, at $70^{\circ}C$ high temperature distilled water, the hygroscopicity of the HNT/GFRP composites was significantly different from that of the MC/GFRP composites. Especially, 0.5, 1 wt. % HNT was added, the moisture absorption rate was the lowest and this was the factor that contributed to the mechanical strength increase. On the other hand, MC showed a high hygroscopic resistance only with a small amount, and the strength was different according to the action direction of the load, and the addition amount was also different.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.16 no.4 s.82
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• pp.477-484
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• 2004

As a part of durability improvement of concrete-structure, penetrating water repellency of liquid type is applied to concrete surface. Besides, a related standard is made recently, but the standard has been prescribe for initial settlement state of penetrating water repellency of liquid type, to the exclusion of performance variation depending time and outdoor environment factor. For measurement of performance variation, we measured the weight of outdoor exposure specimen every regular intervals and check a measured value against a measured value of different condition specimen. Moreover, after the application of penetrating water repellent, measured a adhesive strength in tension between cement-polymer modified waterproof coatings and surface of specimen. The applied penetrating water repellent is a emulsified silicon type with a deep penetration depth. In view of the results so far achieved, the more a Quantity of application and active solid content does get, the deeper penetrating water repellency of emulsion type Penetrate get longer and supplied moisture increase in quantity, a penetrating water repellency of liquid type penetrates more deep, but a quantity of water absorption increase gradually. Perhaps this result is caused by a reduction of active solid content on concrete surface, because active ingredient is moved into the concrete by dissolution.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.403-411
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• 2009

Thiacremonone, the main component isolated from heated garlic (Allium sativum L.), is interested for using as a cancer preventive or therapeutic agent since garlic has been known to be useful plant in the treatment of cancers. Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-${\kappa}B$) is constitutively activated in the prostate cancer and activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ is implicated in drug resistance in cancer cells. Docetaxel, a semisynthetic analog of paclitaxel, is an antineoplastic drug widely used for advanced various cancer. In previous studies, we found that thiacremonone inhibited activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in cancer cells and marcrophages. In the present study, we investigated whether thiacremonone could increase susceptibility of prostate cancer cells (PC-3 and DU145) to docetaxel via inactivation of NF-${\kappa}B$. We found that the combination treatment of thiacremonone (50 ${\mu}g$/ml) with docetaxel (5 nM) was more effective in the inhibition of prostate cancer cell growth and induction of apoptosis accompanied with the significant inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activity than those by the treatment of thiacremonone or docetaxel alone. It was also found that NF-${\kappa}B$ target gene expression of Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 was much more significantly enhanced, but the expression of Bcl-2 was also much more significantly inhibited by the combination treatment. These results indicate that thiacremonone inhibits NF-${\kappa}B$, and enhances the susceptibility of prostate cancer cells to docetaxel. Thus, thiacremonone could be useful as an adjuvant anti-cancer agent.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15-29
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• 2009

Most breakwater armor blocks are designed by using Hudson's or van der Meer's formula. The minimum weight of armor blocks is calculated by equating the resistance to the load in each formula. The larger value is then chosen as the design weight. In this study, we have performed reliability analyses for thus designed breakwater armor blocks of 12 trade harbors and 8 coastal harbors in Korea. The probability of failure calculated by the reliability analysis provides a criterion for evaluating the stability of armor blocks. The calculated probability of failure was almost same for all the breakwaters so that we were able to quantitatively evaluate the safety level of armor blocks of existing breakwaters. We also found that the safety factor used in the deterministic design method and the probability of failure in the reliability design method show a linear relationship. Therefore the probability of failure of existing breakwaters can be quantitatively calculated from the safety factors. The calculated probability of failure could also be used for determining the target probability of failure in the future.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.519-525
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• 2010

Data from beam-based bond tests for FRP bars in the literature were collected and regression analyses were conducted for the data of splitting failure. Average bond strengths obtained from splice tests were found to be lower and more affected by C/$d_b$ values than average bond strengths from anchorage tests, indicating needs of new design equation for the splice length of FRP bars based on the data of splice tests only. In addition, the variation of bond strengths was greater than that of tensile strengths of FRP bars and, therefore, a new safety factor should be involved for the design equation. Five percent fractile coefficients were used to develop the design equations based on the assumption that load and resistance factors for FRP reinforced concrete structures are same to the factors for steel reinforced concrete structures. The proposed design equations give economical and reliable lengths for development and splice of FRP bars. The proposed equation for splice provides shorter lengths than the ACI 440 equation in case of C/$d_b$ of 3.0 or greater. Because FRP bars are expected to be used in slabs and walls exposed to weather with thick cover and large spacing between bars, the proposed equation gives optimal splice lengths.