• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.185-198
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• 2019

Human tissue undergoes aging by the oxidant damage via structural change and its physical properties. The skin aging process is well known and many evaluations have been conducted. However, studies on hair aging were relatively few and thus care for aging hair is difficult. This study aims to fabricate an aging hair and identify anti-aging effect with known ingredient in anti-aging. First of all, physical properties of aging hair of age 60s by physiologically intrinsic factors were compared to those of the hair made by various extrinsic factors such as several chemical reactions and iteration numbers of the treatments. The extrinsic aging hair of this study relates to the less amount of lipid and to the hair of perm treated once accordingly, wherein several physical properties, preferably comprise roughness and tensile strength, present a novel concept of the intrinsic aging hair. The penetration of peptide into the aging hair was leading the extrinsic hair towards more structurally directed a younger hair. In addition to the structural change, the penetration of the peptide enhanced texture and tensile strength of the aging hair. These patterns have been also found in addition of propolis. For the first time, these qualitative studies exhibit that indeed our extrinsic aging hair well describes the anti-aging efficacy as a receptor for a cross-linker and the ingredients of human hair.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.724-734
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• 2019

The present study investigated the cytotoxicity of particulate matter (PM) derived from car air filter (outdoor PM) and home cleaner filter (indoor PM) in the various human cell lines. Each outdoor and indoor PM were harvested by ethanol extraction method, subsequently sieved with 10 um filter paper, sterilized with autoclave and added to culture media. The half maximal inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) values was significantly (p<0.05) lower in the outdoor PM, compared with indoor PM, and the significantly (p<0.05) higher $IC_{50}$ values were observed in the cancer cell lines (A-549 lung adenocarcinoma and AGS stomach adenocarcinoma), than those of normal MRC-5 fibroblasts and dental papilla tissue derived-mesenchymal stem cells (DSC). After being exposed to $100{\mu}g/ml$ outdoor PM for 7 days, the population doubling time (PDT) was significantly (p<0.05) increased in especially MRC-5 and DSC cell lines, compared with untreated cell lines. Further, the expression of senescence-associated ${\beta}$-galactosidase activity was up-regulated in all the cells exposed to outdoor PM than those of untreated control. Besides, the expression level of inflammation-associated genes, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was found to be significantly (p<0.05) increased in the outdoor PM-treated cell lines than those of untreated cell lines. Our results showed that PM induces the cytotoxicity via arrest of cell growth, cell damage and inflammation response.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.498-506
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• 2018

Purpose: Lycopene, a carotenoid with anti-oxidant properties, occurs naturally in tomatoes and pink grapefruit. Although the beneficial effects of lycopene on various disorders have been established, little attention has been paid to the possible anti-diabetic effects of lycopene focusing on ${\beta}$-cells. Therefore, this study investigated the potential of lycopene to protect ${\beta}$-cells against apoptosis induced by a cytokine mixture. Methods: For toxicity experiments, the cells were treated with 0.1 ~ 10 nM of lycopene, and the cell viability in INS-1 cells (a rat ${\beta}$-cell line) was measured using a MTT assay. To induce cytokine toxicity, the cells were treated with a cytokine mixture (20 ng/mL of $TNF{\alpha}$ + 20 ng/mL of IL-$1{\beta}$) for 24 h, and the effects of lycopene (0.1 nM) on the cytokine toxicity were measured using the MTT assay. The expression levels of the apoptotic proteins were analyzed by Western blotting, and the level of intracellular reactive oxidative stress (ROS) was monitored using a DCFDA fluorescent probe. The intracellular ATP levels were determined using a luminescence kit, and mRNA expression of the genes coding for anti-oxidative stress response and mitochondrial function were analyzed by quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR. Results: Exposure of INS-1 cells to 0.1 nM of lycopene increased the cell viability significantly, and protected the cells from cytokine-induced death. Lycopene upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and reduced the expression of the Bcl-2 associated X (Bax) protein. Lycopene inhibited apoptotic signaling via a reduction of the ROS, and this effect correlated with the upregulation of anti-oxidative stress response genes, such as GCLC, NQO1, and HO-1. Lycopene increased the mRNA expression of mitochondrial function-related genes and increased the cellular ATP level. Conclusion: These results suggest that lycopene reduces the level of oxidative stress and improves the mitochondrial function, contributing to the prevention of cytokine-induced ${\beta}$-cell apoptosis. Therefore, lycopene could potentially serve as a preventive and therapeutic agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.249-259
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• 2018

$Iso{\ddot{e}}tes$ L. ($Iso{\ddot{e}}taceae$) is a cosmopolitan genus of heterosporous lycopods containing ca. 200 species being found in lakes, streams, and wetlands of terrestrial habitats. Despite its ancient origin, worldwide distribution, and adaptation to diverse environment, species in $Iso{\ddot{e}}tes$ show remarkable morphological simplicity and convergence. Allopolyploidy appears to be a significant speciation process in the genus. These characteristics have made it difficult to assess the phylogenetic relationships and biogeographic history of $Iso{\ddot{e}}tes$ species. In recent years, these difficulties have somewhat been reduced by employing multiple molecular markers. Here, we reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships in East Asian $Iso{\ddot{e}}tes$ species. We also provide their divergence time and biogeographic origin using a fossil calibrated chronogram. East Asian $Iso{\ddot{e}}tes$ species are divided into two clades: I. asiatica and the remaining species. $Iso{\ddot{e}}tes$ asiatica from Hokkaido forms a clade with northeastern Russian and western North American $Iso{\ddot{e}}tes$ species. In clade I, western North America is the source area for the dispersal of $Iso{\ddot{e}}tes$ to Hokkaido and northeastern Russia via the Bering land bridge during the late Miocene. The remaining $Iso{\ddot{e}}tes$ species (I. sinensis, I. yunguiensis, I. hypsophila, I. orientalis, I. japonica, I. coreana, I. taiwanensis, I. jejuensis, I. hallasanensis) from East Asia form a sister group to Papua New Guinean and Australian species. The biogeographic reconstruction suggests an Australian origin for the East Asian species that arose through long-distance dispersal during the late Oligocene.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.152-168
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• 2019

The element arsenic, which is abundant in the Earth's crust, is used for various industrial purposes including materials for disease treatment and household goods. Various human activities, such as the disposal of soil waste, metal mining and smelting, and combustion of fossil fuels, have caused the pollution of the environment with arsenic. Recently, guidelines for arsenic in rice have been adopted by the Korean ministry of food and drug safety to prevent health risks based on rice consumption. Because of the exposure to arsenic and its accumulation in the human body through various channels, such as air inhalation, skin contact, ingestion of drinking water, and food consumption, integrated multimedia risk assessment is required to adopt appropriate risk management policies. Therefore, integrated human health risk assessment was carried out in this study using integrated exposure assessment based on multimedia (e.g., air, water, and soil) and multi-route (e.g., oral, inhalation, and dermal) scenarios. The results show that oral uptake via drinking water is the most common pathway of arsenic into the human body, accounting for 57%-96% of the total arsenic exposure. Among various age groups, the highest exposures to arsenic were observed in infants because the body weight of infants is low and the surface areas of infant bodies are large. Based on the results of the exposure assessment, the cancer and non-cancer risks were calculated. The cancer risk for CTE and RME is in the range of 2.3E-05 to 6.7E-05 and thus is negligible because it does not exceed the cancer probability of 1.0E-04 for all age groups. On the other hand, the cancer risk for RME varies from 6.4E-05 to 1.8E-04 and from 1.3E-04 to 1.8E-04 for infants and preschool children, exceeding the excess cancer risk of 1.0E-04. The non-cancer risks range from 5.4E-02 to 1.9E-01 and from 1.5E-01 to 6.8E-01, respectively. They do not exceed the hazard index 1 for all scenarios and all ages.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2014

With continued economic growth, Korea has seen an increase in the nighttime activities of its citizens as hours of activity have extended into night. There is an increasing trend in energy consumption related to citizens' nighttime activities. In order to analyze ideas for an efficient replacement of the power consumption of streetlights and for profit generation by applying grid-type solar systems, this study used an RETScreen model. Through energy analysis and cost analysis, the application benefit and viability of grid-type solar street light systems were analyzed. With analysis result of a total weekly power generation of 114 kWh via a grid-connected solar streetlight system, it was shown that the net present value of a grid-connected solar street light system is 155,362 KRW, which would mean a payback period of about 5.2 years, and as such, it was shown that profit could be generated after about 6 years. In addition, if the grid-connected solar power generation system proposed by this study is to be applied, it was shown that 401,935 KRW in profit could be generated after the 20-year useful life set for the solar system. In addition, the sensitivity analysis was performed taking into account the price fluctuations of SMP, maintenance. As a result, a payback period has increased by 1~2 years, and there were no significant differences. Because the most important factor that affect the economic analysis is the cost of supply certification of renewable energy, a stable sales and acquisition of this certification are very important. the Seoul-type Feed in Tariff(FIT) connected to other institutions will enable steady sales by confirming to purchase the certification for 12 years. Therefore, if those issues mentioned above are properly reflected, Central-grid PV system project will be able to perform well in the face of unfavorable condition of solar PV installation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.507-514
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• 2018

Purpose: Sargassum horneri (S. horneri) is a species of brown macroalgae that is common along the coast of Japan and Korea. The present study investigated the immuno-modulatory effects of different types of S. horneri extracts in RAW264.7 macrophages. Methods: S. horneri was extracted by three different methods, hot water extraction, 50% ethanol extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction. Cell viability was then measured by MTT assay, while the production levels of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Griess assay, respectively. The expression and activation levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) were examined by western blot analysis. Results: The three different S. horneri extracts were nontoxic against RAW 264.7 cells up to $50{\mu}g/mL$, among which treatment with hot water extract (HWE) of S. horneri significantly enhanced the production of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and NO in a dose-dependent manner. Hot water extract of S. horneri also increased the expression level of iNOS, suggesting that up-regulation of iNOS expression by HWE of S. horneri was responsible for the induction of NO production. In addition, treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with HWE of S. horneri increased the phosphorylation levels of ERK, p38 and JNK. Furthermore, the activation and subsequent nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ was enhanced upon treatment with HWE of S. horneri, indicating that HWE of S. horneri activates macrophages to secrete TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and NO and induces iNOS expression via activation of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ and MAPKs signaling pathways. Conclusion: Taken together, these findings suggest that HWE of S. horneri possesses potential as a functional food with immunomodulatory activity.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 2019

A macroporous Sn thick film as a high capacity negative electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery was prepared by using a chemical etching method using nitric acid for a Sn film having a thickness of $52{\mu}m$. The porous Sn thick film greatly reduced the over-voltage for the alloying reaction with lithium by the increased reaction area. At the same time. The porous structure of active Sn film plays a part in the buffer and reduces the damage by the volume change during cycles. Since the porous Sn thick film electrode does not require the use of the binder and the conductive carbon black, it has substantially larger energy density. As the concentration of nitric acid in etching solution increased, the degree of the etching increased. The etching of the Sn film effectively proceeded with nitric acid of 3 M concentration or more. The porous Sn film could not be recovered because the most of Sn was eluted within 60 seconds by the rapid etching rate in the 5 M nitric acid. In the case of etching with 4 M nitric acid for 60 seconds, the appropriate porous Sn film was formed with 48.9% of weight loss and 40.3% of thickness change during chemical acid etching process. As the degree of etching of Sn film increased, the electrochemical activity and the reversible capacity for the lithium storage of the Sn film electrode were increased. The highest reversible specific capacity of 650 mAh/g was achieved at the etching condition with 4 M nitric acid. The porous Sn film electrode showed better cycle performance than the conventional electrode using a Sn powder.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.243-250
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Recently, the use of $^{131}I$ for diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer has been increasing, and the radionuclide is continuously released into aquatic ecosystem. This study was carried out to investigate the $^{131}I$ concentrations in mainstreams, tributaries, and sewage wastewater treatment plants (SWTPs) of the Yeongsan River Basin and to identify their origins from the assessment of behaviors in the rivers. METHODS AND RESULTS: The water samples were collected from 19 sites including mainstreams (13), tributaries (4) and SWTPs (2). The $^{131}I$ concentration was measured using a gamma-ray spectrometry with a HPGe detector. The $^{131}I$ in SWTPs was detected mostly in the discharged effluent at the sampling sites. However, from the surface water of the rivers, $^{131}I$ was found only at two sites from each sampling period of the first (MS4 and MS10) and the second half (MS4 and MS7) of the year 2017. The concentrations of $^{131}I$ in the effluent discharged from SWTPs were in the range of 0.0870 to 3.87 Bq/L for SWTP1, and $^{131}I$ in the river revealed that it was not detected in the upper streams of the mainstreams and tributaries, while continuous detection was found in the SWTPs and downstream sites affected by the effluent. However, the concentration of $^{131}I$ decreased downstream, eventually becoming undetectable. Such behavior was closely related to the behavior found in the SWTPs. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that medically-derived $^{131}I$ was discharged to the river via sewage effluent at the SWTPs. It is necessary to evaluate the influence of aquatic ecosystems through continuous monitoring in the future.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2019

Menadione is known as an anti-tumor factor. Many studies have reported the potential anti-cancer role of menadione against a range of cancer cell lines. In this study, the anti-cancer effects of menadione and the underlying molecular signaling involved in apoptosis was investigated in gastric cancer cell lines. The menadione treatment decreased the cell viability of MKN45 gastric cancer cells. The decreased cell viability was attributed to the induction of apoptosis, which was confirmed by the results indicating the activation of caspase-3 and -7 and the cleavage of PARP in Western blotting. The upstream regulatory molecules involved in apoptosis were investigated further and it was discovered that menadione reduced the expression of survivin, an inhibitor of upstream apoptosis proteins. In addition, a transcription factor ${\beta}$-catenin, which is known to regulate survivin expression, was down-regulated by menadione. A previous report showed that menadione inhibited XIAP expression to induce apoptosis and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest in AGS cells. This study elucidated another inhibitory mechanism of menadione against gastric cancer cells in a different cell line. Although further studies will be needed, the inhibitory mechanism demonstrated in this study will help better understand the anti-cancer effects of menadione.