• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.589-601
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• 2023

Purpose: Baicalein, a natural flavone found in herbs, exhibits diverse biological activities. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an irreversible condition often associated with a poor prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of baicalein on the development of NASH in mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups. Three groups were fed a methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet to induce NASH and were simultaneously treated with baicalein (at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg) or vehicle only (sodium carboxymethylcellulose) through oral gavage for 4 weeks. The control group was fed a methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS) diet without the administration of baicalein. Results: The baicalein treatment significantly reduced serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, suggestive of reduced liver damage. Histological analysis revealed a marked decrease in nonalcoholic fatty liver activity scores induced by the MCD diet in the mice. Similarly, baicalein treatment at both doses significantly attenuated the degree of hepatic fibrosis, as examined by Sirius red staining, and hepatocellular death, as examined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Baicalein treatment attenuated MCD-diet-induced lipid peroxidation, as evidenced by lower levels of hepatic malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal, demonstrating a reduction in oxidative stress resulting from lipid peroxidation. Moreover, baicalein treatment suppressed hepatic protein levels of 12-lipoxygenase (12-Lox) induced by the MCD diet. In contrast, baicalein enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Additionally, baicalein treatment significantly reduced hepatic non-heme iron concentrations and hepatic ferritin protein levels in mice fed an MCD diet. Conclusion: To summarize, baicalein treatment suppresses hepatic lipid peroxidation, 12-Lox expression, and iron accumulation, all of which are associated with the attenuation of NASH progression.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.348-353
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• 2024

The S355NL steel has garnered attention as a structural material for applications in extremely challenging environments owing to its excellent mechanical properties. This study investigated the hot deformation behavior of S355NL steel through compression tests conducted in a temperature range of 900-1200℃ and a strain rate range of 10^-3-1 s^-1 to explore the optimal processing parameters. The flow behaviors consisted of an initial rapid increase and subsequent plateau with a marginal decrease in stress. This phenomenon was interpreted in terms of microstructural evolution, such as dislocation density and dynamic recrystallization. The efficiency of power dissipation and instability domains were derived using the dynamic material model based on the compression test dataset, providing a series of processing maps. In contrast to conventional processing maps plotted for a single strain value, this study has established ten maps at a strain interval of 0.1. This approach allowed for the consideration of continuously variable strain parameters, which is inherent to an actual metal-forming process. The efficiency of power dissipation was strongly governed by the high temperatures (≥ 1100℃). The strain rates barely affected the efficiency, but it primarily contributed to the instability domains. The application of high strain rates (≥ 10^-1s^-1) generated a region of negative instability due to the absence of dynamic recrystallization and the presence of cracks at grain boundaries.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.62-69
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• 2003

Corticotropin-releasing factor(CRF) and neuropeptide Y(NPY) are known to play important roles in mediating stress responses and stress-related behavior. To elucidate the role of neuropeptides in response to the condition that had paired with traumatic event, we observed the changes of CRF and NPY by immunohistochemistry using a conditioned footshock paradigm. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in a shuttle box and exposed to 20 pairings of a tone(< 70dB, 5sec) followed by a footshock(FS, 0.8mA, 1sec) over 60min. A second group was exposed to the tone-footshock pairings, returned to the homecage for 2days, and then reexposed to the test chamber and 20tones alone for 60min, prior to sacrifice. Control groups were : a) sacrificed without exposure to FS ; b) exposed to the tone-footshock pairings and then sacrificed two days later ; or c) exposed to the chamber and tones alone, returned to the homecage for 2days and then reexposed to the chamber and 20tones over 60min prior to sacrifice. CRF was increased in animals exposed to FS or the aversive condition(context and tone) that had paired to FS in bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) compared to the control. NPY was increased by FS in amygdala and PVN, but the condition previously associated with FS results in slight increase only in amygdala area. These results suggest that the BNST appears to be the mostly involved neural circuit in response to explicit cues previously paired with footshock. Moreover, this study raise the possibility that increased CRF peptide in the BNST in response to re-exposure to the aversive condition may underlie, in part, the experience of conditioned fear-related anxiety behavior.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.841-846
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• 2003

Landrace(L), Largewhite(Lw), Korean Native Pig(KNP) and commercial hybrid were experimented to determine holothane sensitivity, RYR gene mutation and quality profiles. In the results of halothane test, the incidence of halothane positive pigs was similar between L and Lw. But, the rate of dubious halothane positive type was higher in L than Lw. In hal-gene analysis, halothane-positive pigs(nn) were not found in any tested breed and heterotype(Nn) appeared only in one pig of L. Of the breed effect on the quality profiles, there were no differences in pH$_1$(pH at 1hr postslaughter), but pH$_{u}$(pH at 24hr postslaughter) was significantly higher in commercial hybrid and KNP than other breeds(p〈0.05). Color assessed by National Pork Producers Council(NPPC) and CIE L$^{*}$ was significantly paler in L breed than other breeds(p〈0.05). Significant differences were found in water holding capacity(WHC) and cooking loss in KNP(p〈0.05).

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.67-75
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• 2014

Use of mobile shading helps ameliorate heat stress of cucumber in greenhouse during summer. The mobile shading according to solar radiation may be optimal to produce high-quality cucumber in greenhouse during summer. Simultaneous comparison was made among greenhouse sections that were either not shaded or covered with reflective aluminized shadecloth that shaded 40%, or 90% of direct sunlight. Solar radiation amount, soil temperature, difference in leaf temperature and air temperature, and air temperature were lower, and relative humidity was higher as shade level increased. With increased shade level, photosynthesis rate, leaf area, fresh weight, dry weight, and number of marketable fruits increased. The mobile shading of 90% when the outer sunlight was above 650W·m^-2 yielded favorable growth environment in greenhouse of cucumber during summer.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.65-73
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• 2008

In the current practice for slope stability problem in Japan, the shear strength, $\tau$, mobilized along the failure surface is usually estimated based on an empirical approximation in which the cohesion, c, is assumed to be equal to the soil thickness above the supposed slip surface, d(m). This approximation is advantageous in that the result of stability analysis is not influenced by the designers in charge. However, since the methodology has little theoretical background, the cohesion may often be grossly overestimated, and conversely the angle of shear resistance, $\phi$, is significantly underestimated, when the soil thickness above the supposed slip surface is quite large. In this paper, a case record of natural slope failure that took place in Hyogo Prefecture in 2007, is described in detail for the case in which the shear strength along the collapsed surface was carefully examined in a series of direct shear box (DSB) tests by considering the effects of in-situ shear stress along the slip surface. It is demonstrated that the factor of safety agrees with that of in-situ conditions when the shear strength from this kind of DSB test was employed for the back-analysis of the slope failure.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2000

Wood of Robinia pseudoacacia and bark of Populus alba$\times$P. glandulosa, Fraxinus rhynchophylla and Ulmus davidiana var. japonica were collected and extracted with acetone-water(7:3, v/v) in glass jar to examine whether its bioactive compounds exist. The concentrated extracts were fractionated with hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate and water, and then freeze-dried for column chromatography and bioactive tests. The isolated compounds were sakuranetin-5-O-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside from Populus alba $\times$Pl glandulosa, 4--ethyoxy-(+)-leucorobinetinidin frm R. pseudoacacia and fraxetion from F. rhynchophylla and were characterized by $^1H$ and$^{13}C $ NMR and positive FAB-MS. Decay-resistant activity was expressed by weight loss ratio and hyphae growth inhibition in the wood dust agar medium inoculated wood rot fungi. R. pseudoacacia showed best anti-decaying property in both test and its methanol untreated samples, indicating higher activity than methanol treated samples in hyphae grwoth test. In antioxidative test, $\alpha$-tocopherol, one of natural antioxidants, and BHT, one of synthetic antioxidants, were used as references to cmpare with the antioxidant activities of the extacted fractions. Ethylacetate fraction of F. rhynchophylla bark indicated the hightest activity in this test and all fractions of R. pseudiacacia extractives also indicated higher activities compared with the other fractions. In the isolated compounds, aesculetin isolated from F. rhynchophylla bark showed best activity and followed by robonetinidin from R. pseudoacaica.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.761-767
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• 2007

This study was conducted to determine the effects of exogenous zinc-metallothionein (Zn-MT) on anti-oxidative function and pork quality. After feeding a corn-soybean meal-based diet for two weeks, 48 pigs ($Duroc{\times}Landrace{\times}Chinese\;Black Pig$) were assigned randomly to four groups. Pigs in Group 1 were maintained under non-stress conditions, whereas pigs in Groups 2, 3 and 4 were aggressively handled for 25 min to produce stress. Pigs in Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 received intramuscular administration of saline (control group; CON), 0 (negative control group; NCON), 0.8 (low dose group; LOW), and 1.6 (high dose group; HIGH) mg rabbit liver Zn-MT per kg body weight, respectively. Pigs were slaughtered at 3 and 6 h post-injection. Zn-MT treatment increased (p<0.05) the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-PX) while decreasing the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver. These responses were greater (p<0.05) at 6 h than at 3 h post Zn-MT injection. Zn-MT treatment increased (p<0.05) hepatic SOD mRNA levels in a time and dose-dependent manner and decreased (p<0.05) serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase activities (indicators of tissue integrity). Zn-MT administration decreased (p<0.05) lactate concentration and increased (p<0.05) pH and water-holding capacity in the longissimus thorasis meat. Collectively, our results indicate that intramuscular administration of Zn-MT to pre-slaughter stressed pigs improved tissue anti-oxidative ability and meat quality.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.6D
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• pp.771-778
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• 2011

Preliminary feasibility study on Busan metro line #1 in Yangsan line (Nopo-Bukjeong) depending on active volume of mass transportation between Yangsan city and Busan city was conducted. As the study concluded that it's valid, the necessity to establish the metro railroad network connecting to Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongnam Province is demanded to improve the transportation issues in Ungsang area vulnerable to metro service and to drive the balanced development between metropolitan cities. In addition, the volume of transportation depending on methods in target areas and road traffic assignment are surveyed to put a stress on the necessity to establish the metro railroad network. As the demand of transportation for alternative lines is predicted, the budget and benefits for construction for each alternative line set for the rough economic analysis depending on traffic volume for each method and traffic assignment results. The total project budget necessary for construction of proposal line #1 set as effective one among target three lines in this project is calculated in 794.32 billion won. Construction accounts for the most expensive in expenses for project and contingency allowances, purchases for vehicles and collateral expense are followed in orders. However, compensation for lands is not counted. In particular, according to economic analysis in proposal #1, ratio of benefit/cost (B/C) is 0.584, net present value (NPV) is -217.47 billion won, the internal rate of return (IRR) is analyzed in 0.604 %. At the current stage, it is not economically feasible, but the B/C is 0.737 in long-term upon construction of Yangsan line between Wolpheong and Yongdang which is proposal line #3. Therefore, when Busan metro basic plan is reorganized to aim the benefit of residents in Ungsang area vulnerable to the metro service, we think it must be necessary to establish the metro railroad network connecting to Busan-Yangsan-Ulsan which is proposal line #2 by extending the existing Sinjeong line and including this task line in high-ranked plan related to metro railroad.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.529-541
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• 2003

Yukmijihwang-tang has been widely used as an and-aging herbal medicine for hundred years in Asian countries. Numerous studies show that Yukmijihwangtang has anti-oxidative effect both in vivo and in vitro. It has been reported that Moutan Cortex Radicis extract (MCR) was the most effective herb in Yukmijihwang-tang on undifferentiated PC12 cells upon oxidative-stressed with hydrogen peroxide. The purpose of this study is to; 1) evaluate the recovery of neuronal damage by assessing the anti-oxidant effect of MCR on PC12 cells differentiated with nerve growth factor (NGF), 2) identify candidate genes responsible for anti-oxidative effect on differentiated PC12 cells by oligonucleotide chip microarray. PC12 cells, which were differentiated by treating with NGF, were treated without or with hydrogen peroxide in the presence or absence of various concentration of MCR. Cell survival was determined by using MTS assay. Measurement of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was determined using the H2DCFDA assay The viability of cells treated with MCR was significantly recovered from stressed PC12 cell. In addition, wide rage of concentrations of MCR shows dose-dependent inhibitory effect on ROS production in oxidative-stressed cells. Total RNAs of cells without treatment(Control group), only treated with H₂O₂ (stressed group) and treated with both H₂O₂ and of MCR (MCR group) were isolated, and cDNAs was synthesized using oligoT7(dT) primer. The fragmented cRNAs, synthesized from cDNAs, were applied to Affymetrix GeneChip Rat Neurobiology U34 Array. mRNA of Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II delta subunit(CaMKII), neuron glucose transporter (GLUT3) and myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein(MOG) were downregulated in Stressed group comparing to Control group. P2X2-5 receptor (P2X2R-5), P2X2-4 receptor (P2X2R-4), c-fos, 25 kDa synaptosomal attachment protein(SNAP-25a) and GLUT3 were downregulated, whereas A2 adenosine receptor (A2AR), cathechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT), glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), EST223333, heme oxygenase (HO), VGF, UI-R-CO-ja-a-07-0-Ul.s1 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) were upregulated in MCA group comparing to Control group. Expression of Putative potassium channel subunit protein (ACK4), P2X2A-5, P2X2A-4, Interferon-gamma inducing factor isoform alpha precursor (IL-18α), EST199031, P2XR, P2X2 purinoceptor isoform e (P2X2R-e), Precursor interleukin 18 (IL-18) were downregulated, whereas MOO, EST223333, GLUT-1, MIF, Neuronatin alpha, UI-R-C0-ja-a-07-0-Ul.s1, A2. adenosine receptor, COMT, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), HO, VGF, A rat novel protein which is expressed with nerve injury (E12625) were upregulated in MCR group comparing to Stressed group. The results suggest that decreased viability and AOS production of PC12 cell by H₂O₂ may be, at lease, mediated by impaired glucose transporter expression. It is implicated that the MCR treatment protect PC12 cell from oxidative stress via following mechanisms; improving glucose transport into the cell, enhancing expression of anti-oxidative genes and protecting from dopamine cytotoxicity by increment of COMT and MIF expression. The list of differentially expressed genes may implicate further insight on the action and mechanism behind the anti-oxidative effects of herbal extract Moutan Cortex Radicis.