• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.266-279
• /
• 2021

The present study examined the cytotoxic effects of a Smilax china L. extract (SCLE) in human cancer (A-549, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, U87-MG, AGS, MKN-74, and SNU-601) and normal MRC-5 fibroblasts, as well as in mesenchymal stem cells derived from dental tissue (DSC). The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for SCLE were significantly (p<0.05) lower in the cancer cell lines (A-549, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, U87-MG, AGS, MKN-74 and SNU-601) than in the MRC-5 and DSC cells. Cell growth was significantly (p<0.05) more inhibited in the cancer cell lines treated with 200 ㎍/ml SCLE than in the normal MRC-5 and DSC, and anoikis-like floating cell morphology was observed in the SCLE-treated cancer cells. The cells detached by SCLE treatment were retrieved daily and assayed for viability and telomerase activity. Cells retrieved at 4 days showed significantly decreased viability and telomerase activity (p<0.05), as well as apoptosis-like abnormal morphology, when compared to cells retrieved in the previous 3 days. The ratio of apoptosis and cells in the G1 phase was significantly (p<0.05) increased in the A-549, AGS, and MCF-7 cancer cells treated with SCLE for 4 days compared to untreated controls. However, after SCLE treatment, cell adhesion was not increased by application of an inhibitor of the associated protein kinase (ROCK) that mainly contributes to the increase in cell attachment. This suggests that the cellular detachment by SCLE is probably controlled by a Rho-independent mechanism(s). These observations indicate that SCLE readily induces anoikis in cancer cells and could serve as a potent agent for cancer chemotherapy.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.53-61
• /
• 2022

Growing agricultural products in greenhouses controlled by creating suitable climatic conditions and root zone of crop has been an important research and application subject. Appropriate environmental conditions in greenhouse are necessary for optimum plant growth improved crop yields. This study aimed to establish web-based remote monitoring system which monitors crops growth environment and status of crop on a real-time basis by applying to greenhouses IT technology connecting greenhouse equipment such as temperature sensors, soil sensors, crop sensors and camera. The measuring items were air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, CO₂ concentration, EC and pH of nutrient solution, medium temperature, EC of medium, water content of medium, leaf temperature, sap flow, stem diameter, fruit diameter, etc. The developed greenhouse monitoring system was composed of the network system, the data collecting device with sensors, and cameras. Remote monitoring system was implemented in a server/client environment. Information on greenhouse environment and crops is stored in a database. Items on growth and environment is extracted from stored information, could be compared and analyzed. So, A integrated monitoring system for smart greenhouse would be use in application practice and understanding the environment and crop growth for smart greenhouse management. sap flow, stem diameter and pant-water relations

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.77-90
• /
• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of chilling temperature and duration at different seeding stages on yield, fruit characteristics and growth of cucumber in a greenhouse. When 20-day-old cucumber were exposed to 0 and 3℃ for 10 hours, 25 and 30% reduction in the main stem elongation rate and 34 and 37% reduction in total leaf area per plant were observed. The reduction in stem elongation and total leaf area was apparently associated with the increases in chilling duration. Exposure of seedlings to 6℃ failed to causes any significant differences in growth as compared to the unchilled plants. Repeated exposure of seedlings to 3℃ chilling for 10 hours per day increased the chilling injury significantly. The seedlings exposed to low temperature for 3 consecutive days exhibited severe injury as compared to the seedlings exposed to chilling treatment only once or twice. Fruit elongation rate was inhibited by approximately 10%, such as 0.59~2.26cm/day, with chilling of 15 hours at 0℃ as compare to 0.61~2.60cm/day in the non-chilled plants. Chilling treatment at 0~3℃ for 10 hours reduced the percentage of marketable fruits by 25~26%. while it increased the percentage of severely bent fruits significantly. Total fruits yield was reduced by 15~25% in cucumber plants when the chilling treatment was given to 20-day-old seedlings and by 22~37% in 30-day-old seedlings. This shows that, Larger seedlings were more sensitive to chilling. Total yield was also influenced by the duration of chilling. Definitely, at 0℃, 5-hour chilling treatment caused 18% of reduction, 10-hour caused 30%, and 15-hour caused 36%, respectively.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.39-47
• /
• 2018

This study was carried out to investigate the applicability of alternating temperature control during night time in a nursery seedling production. Three groups of samples were exposed to three different environmental conditions for 6 days from 18:00 to 09:00; one was constantly 15 ℃, another was alternating between 15 ℃ for 2 hours and 11 ℃ for 2 hours, and the other was alternating between 15 ℃ for 2 hours and 11 ℃ for 4 hours. Leaf temperature and stem temperature was measured in real time. The influence of cold stress was analyzed by flavonoid content and growth of tomato seedling. The temperature of leaves and stem became equal to the ambient temperature over time, furthermore, there was no significant difference among the treatments. In conclusion, it is considered that heating costs can be saved considerably, as the alternating temperature has fewer effects on cold stress reaction by tomato seedling growth.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.512-522
• /
• 2023

Cancer with unlimited cell growth is a leading cause of death globally. Various cancer treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy, can be applied alone or in combination depending on the cancer type and stage. New treatments with fewer side effects than previous cancer treatments are continually under development and in demand. Undifferentiated stem cells with unlimited cell growth are gradually changed via cellular differentiation to arrest cell growth. In this study, we reviewed the possibility of treating cancer by using cellular differentiation into the adipocytes in cancer cells. In previous in vitro studies, oral antidiabetic drugs of the thiazolidinedione (TDZ) class, such as rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, were induced into the adipocytes in various cancer cell lines via increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR γ) expression and glucose uptake, which is the key regulator of adipogenesis and the energy metabolism pathway. The differentiated adipogenic cancer cells treated with TDZ inhibited cell growth and had a less cellulotoxic effect. This adipogenic differentiation treatment suggests a possible chemotherapy option in cancer cells with high and abnormal glucose metabolism levels. However, the effects of the in vivo adipogenic differentiation treatment need to be thoroughly investigated in different types of stem and normal cells with other side effects.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.78-83
• /
• 2024

This study was carried out to analyze the effect of changes in the light environment caused by the daylight disturbance on the growth, flowering, and cut flower quality of spray chrysanthemums. The spray chrysanthemum 'Yellow Cap' and 'Pitch PangPang' cultivars for cut flowers were artificially shaded to interfere with 66% of sunlight compared to the non-shading, and then the growing and flowering characteristics, and cut flower yield were investigated accordingly. There was no significant difference in the cut flower yield per unit area between the shading and the non-shading treatments. However, the number of days to flowering was 72.1 days for the 'Yellow Cap' and 65.2 days for the 'Pitch PangPang', which were delayed by 14.1 and 8.9 days, respectively, compared to the non-shading light. In the shading treatment, the flower diameter and the number of flowers also decreased by 10% and 15%, and 30% and 28% for both 'Yellow Cap' and 'Pitch PangPang', respectively. The stem length also decreased by 10% and 20%, the stem diameter by 23% and 37%, and fresh weight by 32% and 33%, respectively. The shading treatment delayed the flowering of chrysanthemums and reduced the growth such as flower diameter, number of flowers, and the length and weight of cut flowers. Based on these results, the daylight disturbance by artificial buildings is expected to reduce the productivity and quality of cut flowers by limiting the light intensity needed for chrysanthemum growth, flower bud differentiation, and flower development. Therefore, further research is needed on the rate of decrease in yield and market value according to the degree of shading to relieve damage to chrysanthemum growers caused by the daylight disturbance.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.321-335
• /
• 2019

This study aims to explore the influencing factors and the process of enhancing science self-efficacy (SSE) and to lay the foundation in understanding science self-efficacy of students. The ten categories related to the science self-efficacy were derived through the coding of the interview data based on the grounded theory and paradigm analysis to develop a process model of science self-efficacy improvement. Through the process analysis, four cyclical phases were found in the process of enhancing SSE: 'Entering into learning science' phase, 'enhancing SSE' phase, 'adjustment' phase, and 'result' phase. More specifically, the phase of 'entering into learning science' is where students choose science track and stimulated to construct SSE. The phase of 'enhancing SSE' is where students taking a science track actively learn science and perform science activities. In the phase of 'adjustment', students come to have successful performance about learning science and performing science activities by using diverse strategies. Finally, 'result' phase indicates different appearances of students depending on SSE levels. The phases were non-linear and periodically repeat depending on situation. The core category in the selective coding was indicated to be 'enhancing science self-efficacy.' Students' SSE form by learning science and performing science activities. These finding may help better understand the behavior of students who are taking a science track by facilitating effective science learning through the increase of their SSE levels.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.365-376
• /
• 2024

The present study assessed the cytotoxic effects on cell growth and senescence in human cancer (A-549, AGS, HCT-116, MDA-MB-231, and U 87-MG) and normal (MRC-5 and mesenchymal stem cells) cell lines treated with efavirenz (EFA), an inhibitor of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RTase). Following EFA treatment, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values were approximately 15 µM, and the IC₅₀ value was significantly (p<0.05) lower in the cancer cell lines, compared to normal cell lines. After determining the IC₅₀ values against EFA, each cell line was treated with 15 µM EFA for up to one week. Significant (p<0.05) decreases in endogenous RTase and telomerase activity were observed in the cancer cell lines. RTase and telomerase activity were absent or detected at very low levels in both EFA-untreated and treated MRC-5 and MSC normal cells. The cell doubling time (CDT) was also significantly (p<0.05) prolonged by the decreased cell growth rate in the EFA-treated cancer cell lines compared to the untreated cell lines. Furthermore, EFA-treated cancer cells displayed a high number of cells with a high intensity of senescence-associated ß-galactosidase activity (SA-ß-gal activity), compared to the untreated cells. The present study showed that inhibition of RTase activity induces cellular senescence and arrests cell growth in human cancer cell lines; however, normal cell lines showed greater tolerance against EFA. RTase treatment could offer optional chemotherapy for cancer treatment in human cancer cell lines with high RTase activity.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.17 no.12
• /
• pp.378-385
• /
• 2017

The aim of this study was to analyze cohesion and word information among different types of questions in the English reading section of the College Scholastic Ability Tests (CSAT). The types of questions were divided into three categories: macro reading, micro reading, and indirect writing. Reading texts from 1994 to 2017 CSAT were analyzed by Coh-Metrix, an automated evaluation program of text and discourse. The findings of this study indicated that there were statistical differences among the three categories of questions for noun overlap, stem overlap, adversative and contrastive connective, additive connective, pronoun incidence, age of acquisition, concreteness for content word, imagability, and meaningfulness. The information of the findings bore pedagogic implications for developing textbooks, questions for CSAT, and reading strategies by students.

• Journal of KIBIM
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.34-41
• /
• 2016

The previous studies argue that using the semantic properties of BIM objects is efficient for simulating the behaviors of autonomous, computer agents, called virtual-users, but such assumption is not proven via evidence-based research approaches. Hence, this present study aims to investigate the empirical effects of a human behavior simulation model equipped the semantics of spaces on the architecture-major students' operation and understanding of the simulation system, compared to a typical path-finding model. To achieve the aim, this study analyzed the survey and interview data, collected in the authentic design projects. The analysis indicates that (1) using a simulation model equipped the semantics of spaces helps the students' operation of the simulation, and (2) it also aids understanding the relationship between the variables of spaces and virtual-users (${\alpha}=0.74$). In addition, the qualitative data inform that the advantages of the simulation model that computes the semantics of spaces stem in the automatic behavioral changes of massive numbers of virtual-users, and efficient detection and activation on the what-if situations. The analysis also reveals that the simulation model has shortcomings in orchestrating the complex data structure between the semantics properties of spaces and virtual-users under multi-sequential scenarios. The results of this study contribute to develop a future design system combining BIM with human behavior simulation.