• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.75-87
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• 2023

This study presents an experimental design for demonstrating the role of nature-based solutions to climate change in the landscape and garden sector. The study suggests spatial strategies for a carbon-neutral society and its role as a cultural industry. This paper describes the use of a low-maintenance garden as part of a strategy for carbon reduction with the goal of protecting the environment and forming a carbon-neutral society. To this end, this study involved the design and construction of a realistic model garden to provide scientific data on the functions, spatial elements, and carbon neutrality of carbon-reducing gardens. The target site is located in the Sejong National Arboretum. The test area in which the carbon-reducing function is measured is located in the centre of the site, and other spaces include dry gardens, community gardens, and flower gardens intended for exhibition and relaxation. The experimental area is divided into several smaller areas within which the carbon-reducing effect is analysed according to the amount of biochar installed, the planting density, and the plant species present. The application of facilities and construction methods to promote carbon reduction were based on the method known as '10 types of carbon gardening for the earth'. In the model garden, we employed rainwater utilization facilities and used low-carbon certified wood and local materials. The carbon reduction effect of each facility and construction method is compared and presented here. The results are expected to serve as an important basis for realizing a carbon-neutral society and can be used as a reference in various fields that require sustainable development, such as the garden industry.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.469-489
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• 2023

Six field surveys were conducted at 29 locations from April 2020 to April 2022 to identify the freshwater flora of the Taean Peninsula. Based on the collected specimens, the vascular plants of the Taean Peninsula were summarized as 391 taxa: 94 families, 248 genera, 362 species, 5 subspecies, and 24 varieties. Freshwater plants in the Taean Peninsula consisted of 104 taxa, 45 taxa for aquatic plants, and 59 taxa for wetland plants. When classified by life history, annuals accounted for 33 taxa, winter annuals 5 taxa, biennial 6 taxa, and perennials accounted for most of the 60 taxa. Among the 391 identified taxa, 2 taxa of Endangered plants, 3 taxa of Korean endemic plants, 5 taxa of IUCN red list plants, 49 taxa of Korean floristic target plants, 38 taxa of biological resources subject to the approval of outbound transfer, 55 taxa alien plants and 7 taxa of ecosystem disturbing plant. The results of this study are intended to be used as basic data on the freshwater environment and distribution of aquatic plants in the Taean Peninsula.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.899-916
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Oxidative stress is a fundamental neurodegenerative disease trigger that damages and decimates nerve cells. Neurodegenerative diseases are chronic central nervous system disorders that progress and result from neuronal degradation and loss. Recent studies have extensively focused on neurodegenerative disease treatment and prevention using dietary compounds. Heseperetin is an aglycone hesperidin form with various physiological activities, such as anti-inflammation, antioxidant, and antitumor. However, few studies have considered hesperetin's neuroprotective effects and mechanisms; thus, our study investigated this in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-treated SH-SY5Y cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: SH-SY5Y cells were treated with H₂O₂ (400 µM) in hesperetin absence or presence (10-40 µM) for 24 h. Three-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assays detected cell viability, and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining allowed us to observe nuclear morphology changes such as chromatin condensation and apoptotic nuclei. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection assays measured intracellular ROS production; Griess reaction assays assessed nitric oxide (NO) production. Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reactions quantified corresponding mRNA and proteins. RESULTS: Subsequent experiments utilized various non-toxic hesperetin concentrations, establishing that hesperetin notably decreased intracellular ROS and NO production in H₂O₂-treated SH-SY5Y cells (P < 0.05). Furthermore, hesperetin inhibited H₂O₂-induced inflammation-related gene expression, including interluekin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 activation. In addition, hesperetin inhibited NF-κB translocation into H₂O₂-treated SH-SY5Y cell nuclei and suppressed mitogen-activated protein kinase protein expression, an essential apoptotic cell death regulator. Various apoptosis hallmarks, including shrinkage and nuclear condensation in H₂O₂-treated cells, were suppressed dose-dependently. Additionally, hesperetin treatment down-regulated Bax/Bcl-2 expression ratios and activated AMP-activated protein kinase-mammalian target of rapamycin autophagy pathways. CONCLUSION: These results substantiate that hesperetin activates autophagy and inhibits apoptosis and inflammation. Hesperetin is a potentially potent dietary agent that reduces neurodegenerative disease onset, progression, and prevention.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.247-255
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• 2023

The occurrence of sudden strike pest events in urban areas is increasing as global warming intensifies, consequently, re causing harmful impacts. Studies on these incidents are fewer in number and insufficient compared to research on other nuisances such as mosquitoes and flies. Therefore, we conducted a study on the development of a selective collection method, using a filter layer to establish a monitoring system for Ephemera orientalis (Ephemeroptera: Ephemeridae), a species frequently identified as a sudden strike pest. Three sampling points were selected along the Hangang River in Namyangju, where E. orientalis outbreaks occur. Prototypes, consisting of four layers and with a light source attached to attract insects, were installed at each sampling point. Sampling was performed every 30 minutes between 19:00 and 22:30 in the month of June. The filter interval of each layer was adjusted so that the collected mayflies were distributed into specific layers. To evaluate the collection efficiency in line with the materials and the filter intervals, the optimal collection efficiency was investigated by combining two types of layer materials (stainless and acrylic) and filter intervals (1-5 mm). The optimal conditions were as follows: The selective collection efficiency was found to be highest at 96.5% when the interval of the selective target filter was 2.0 mm and there was one upper filter.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.193-202
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• 2024

Objective: Oxidative stress (OS) is a pathological process arising from the excessive production of free radicals in the body. It has the potential to alter animal gene expression and cause damage to the jejunum. However, there have been few reports of changes in the expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the jejunum in piglets under OS. The purpose of this research was to examine how lncRNAs in piglet jejunum change under OS. Methods: The abdominal cavities of piglets were injected with diquat (DQ) to produce OS. Raw reads were downloaded from the SRA database. RNA-seq was utilized to study the expression of lncRNAs in piglets under OS. Additionally, six randomly selected lncRNAs were verified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to examine the mechanism of oxidative damage. Results: A total of 79 lncRNAs were differentially expressed (DE) in the treatment group compared to the negative control group. The target genes of DE lncRNAs were enriched in gene ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) signaling pathways. Chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species, the Foxo signaling pathway, colorectal cancer, and the AMPK signaling pathway were all linked to OS. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that DQ-induced OS causes differential expression of lncRNAs, laying the groundwork for future research into the processes involved in the jejunum's response to OS.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.50
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• pp.142-154
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• 2023

Plant abscission is a natural process in which plant organs or tissues undergo detachment, a strategy selected by nature for the disposal of nonessential organs and widespread dissemination of seeds and fruits. However, from an agricultural perspective, the abscission of seeds or fruits represents a major factor that reduces crop productivity and product quality. Therefore, during the crop domestication process in traditional agriculture, mutants exhibiting suppressed abscission were selected and crossbred, thereby enabling the production of modern crop varieties such as rice, tomatoes, canola, and soybeans. These crops possess a unique trait of retaining ripe fruits or seeds in contrast to disposal via abscission. During the previous century, research on quantitative trait loci along with genetic and molecular biological studies on Arabidopsis thaliana have elucidated various cell biological mechanisms, signaling pathways, and transcription regulators involved in abscission. Additionally, it has been revealed that various hormone signals, which are involved in plant growth, play crucial roles in modulating abscission activity. Researchers have developed several chemical treatments that target these hormones and signal transduction pathways to enhance crop yields. This review aimed to introduce the previously identified signal transduction pathways and pivotal regulators implicated in abscission activity. Moreover, this review will discuss the future direction of research required to investigate crop abscission mechanisms for their potential application in smart farming and other areas of agriculture, as well as areas within model systems that require extensive research.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.211-222
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• 2024

Objectives: Tilia viridis (Bayer) Simonk. (Malvaceae) is widely distributed in Argentina and employed for its tranquilizing properties. Other species of the genus (Tilia europaea L., Tilia cordata Mill., Tilia platyphyllos Scop.) have been traditionally used for the treatment of epilepsy. Epilepsy affects approximately 65 million people worldwide and is characterized by an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory processes in the brain, leading to unpredictable, unprovoked, recurrent seizures. Current pharmacological interventions often present mild to moderately severe side effects. Epilepsy has been associated with oxidative and nitrative stress as well as neuroinflammation. Herbal medicine therapies may offer new treatment options with multi-target antioxidant and anticonvulsant effects for patients whose seizures remain uncontrolled, potentially providing cost-effective solutions for individuals worldwide suffering from uncontrolled epilepsy.The aim of this study was to demonstrate the anticonvulsant activity of a standardized T. viridis aqueous extract (TE). Methods: Study of the constituents of TE, TE's antioxidant and anticonvulsant activities and toxicity, and analysis of the possible relation between the potential activities and the compounds present in the extract. In order to demonstrate TE's anticonvulsant activity a zebrafish model was used. The study also assessed TE's toxicity and antioxidant activity. To standardize the extract, total polyphenols and flavonoids were quantified and specific flavonoids were identified and quantified using HPLC-MS/MS and HPLC-UV. Results: TE exhibited anticonvulsant activity at low concentrations and demonstrated antioxidant effects by scavenging free radicals, exhibiting superoxide dismutase and peroxidase-like activities, as well as inhibiting lipoperoxidation. These actions can be attributed to the presence of polyphenols, particularly flavonoids. Conclusion: TE holds promise as a complementary herbal medicine in the treatment of epilepsy and may also offer benefits for other neuropathies associated with oxidative stress, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.219-228
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• 2024

Pepper anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum spp., leads to a decrease in the quantity of pepper fruit production. Molecular diagnosis is crucial for rapid identification of pathogens and determination of fungicide resistance. However, the traditional process of isolating the pathogen, extracting genomic DNA, and analyzing the gene sequence is time-consuming, which delays rapid diagnosis. In this study, we introduced a method using conidia of Colletotrichum spp. instead of genomic DNA, eliminating the need for DNA extraction or special processing for diagnosis. To elucidate this method, sensitivity was assessed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) tests using internal transcribed spacer-based primer pairs. Both PCR and qPCR tests showed that detection is feasible with just one conidia, with over 1,000 conidia yielding results comparable to approximately 1 pg of genomic DNA. For amplifying the cytochrome b gene for quinone-outside inhibitor fungicide susceptibility testing, detection from a single conidium is achievable, but a stable PCR product is obtained by increasing the number of cycles to 35. Additionally, the addition of 10% grinding fresh chili pepper paste to V8-Juicea gar medium, which is known for inducing conidia rapidly from the isolates, resulted in 3.2 to 6.0 times more conidia compared to the commonly used potato dextrose agar medium, enhancing the potential for swift testing. Taken together, this study presents a direct utilization of pepper anthracnose conidia through PCR or qPCR, offering a valuable technique for amplifying target genes, such as the minimum conidial amount and barcode genes, for molecular identification of anthracnose disease in pepper through PCR and qPCR analysis.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.559-571
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• 2017

This study was conducted to determine the adhesive performances of plywoods affected by layering direction and the amounts of thermoplastic films. The face and back layers of veneer were hardwood species (Mixed light hardwood) and core layer veneer was radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don). Thermoplastic film used as adhesive were polypropylene (PP) film and polyethylene (PE) film. Thermal analysis and tensile strength were investigated on each films. As a result, the melting temperature of PP and PE films were $163.4^{\circ}C$ and $109.7^{\circ}C$, respectively, and the crystallization temperature were $98.9^{\circ}C$ and $93.6^{\circ}C$, respectively. Tensile strength and elongation of each films appeared higher on the width direction than length direction. Considering the characteristics of the thermoplastic films, the test for the amount of film used was carried out by layering film to the target thickness on veneer. The effecting of layering direction of film on plywood manufacturing was conducted by laminating in the length and width directions of the film according to the grain direction of veneer. Tensile-shear strength of plywood in wet condition was satisfied with the quality standard (0.7 MPa) of KS F 3101 when the film was used over 0.05 mm of PP film and over 0.10 mm of PE film. Tensile-shear strength of plywood after cyclic boiling exceeded the KS standard when PP film was used 0.20 mm thickness. Furthermore, higher bonding strength was observed on a plywood made with width direction of film according to grain direction of veneer than that of length direction of film. Based on microscopic analysis of the surface and bonding line of plywood, interlocking between veneers by penetration of a thermoplastic film into inner and cracks were observed.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.249-268
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• 2005

Drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) play central roles in the metabolism, elimination and detoxification of xenobiotics and drugs introduced into the human body. Most of the tissues and organs in our body are well equipped with diverse and various DMEs including phase I, phase II metabolizing enzymes and phase III transporters, which are present in abundance either at the basal unstimulated level, and/or are inducible at elevated level after exposure to xenobiotics. Recently, many important advances have been made in the mechanisms that regulate the expression of these drug metabolism genes. Various nuclear receptors including the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), orphan nuclear receptors, and nuclear factor-erythoroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) have been shown to be the key mediators of drug-induced changes in phase I, phase II metabolizing enzymes as well as phase III transporters involved in efflux mechanisms. For instance, the expression of CYP1 genes can be induced by AhR, which dimerizes with the AhR nuclear translocator (Arnt) , in response to many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs). Similarly, the steroid family of orphan nuclear receptors, the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR), both heterodimerize with the ret-inoid X receptor (RXR), are shown to transcriptionally activate the promoters of CYP2B and CYP3A gene expression by xenobiotics such as phenobarbital-like compounds (CAR) and dexamethasone and rifampin-type of agents (PXR). The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR), which is one of the first characterized members of the nuclear hormone receptor, also dimerizes with RXR and has been shown to be activated by lipid lowering agent fib rate-type of compounds leading to transcriptional activation of the promoters on CYP4A gene. CYP7A was recognized as the first target gene of the liver X receptor (LXR), in which the elimination of cholesterol depends on CYP7A. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) was identified as a bile acid receptor, and its activation results in the inhibition of hepatic acid biosynthesis and increased transport of bile acids from intestinal lumen to the liver, and CYP7A is one of its target genes. The transcriptional activation by these receptors upon binding to the promoters located at the 5-flanking region of these GYP genes generally leads to the induction of their mRNA gene expression. The physiological and the pharmacological implications of common partner of RXR for CAR, PXR, PPAR, LXR and FXR receptors largely remain unknown and are under intense investigations. For the phase II DMEs, phase II gene inducers such as the phenolic compounds butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA), tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), green tea polyphenol (GTP), (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and the isothiocyanates (PEITC, sul­foraphane) generally appear to be electrophiles. They generally possess electrophilic-medi­ated stress response, resulting in the activation of bZIP transcription factors Nrf2 which dimerizes with Mafs and binds to the antioxidant/electrophile response element (ARE/EpRE) promoter, which is located in many phase II DMEs as well as many cellular defensive enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), with the subsequent induction of the expression of these genes. Phase III transporters, for example, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs), and organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 (OATP2) are expressed in many tissues such as the liver, intestine, kidney, and brain, and play crucial roles in drug absorption, distribution, and excretion. The orphan nuclear receptors PXR and GAR have been shown to be involved in the regulation of these transporters. Along with phase I and phase II enzyme induction, pretreatment with several kinds of inducers has been shown to alter the expression of phase III transporters, and alter the excretion of xenobiotics, which implies that phase III transporters may also be similarly regulated in a coordinated fashion, and provides an important mean to protect the body from xenobiotics insults. It appears that in general, exposure to phase I, phase II and phase III gene inducers may trigger cellular 'stress' response leading to the increase in their gene expression, which ultimately enhance the elimination and clearance of these xenobiotics and/or other 'cellular stresses' including harmful reactive intermediates such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), so that the body will remove the 'stress' expeditiously. Consequently, this homeostatic response of the body plays a central role in the protection of the body against 'environmental' insults such as those elicited by exposure to xenobiotics.