• Biomaterials Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.235-248
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• 2018

Background: Injectable hydrogels have been extensively researched for the use as scaffolds or as carriers of therapeutic agents such as drugs, cells, proteins, and bioactive molecules in the treatment of diseases and cancers and the repair and regeneration of tissues. It is because they have the injectability with minimal invasiveness and usability for irregularly shaped sites, in addition to typical advantages of conventional hydrogels such as biocompatibility, permeability to oxygen and nutrient, properties similar to the characteristics of the native extracellular matrix, and porous structure allowing therapeutic agents to be loaded. Main body: In this article, recent studies of injectable hydrogel systems applicable for therapeutic agent delivery, disease/cancer therapy, and tissue engineering have reviewed in terms of the various factors physically and chemically contributing to sol-gel transition via which gels have been formed. The various factors are as follows: several different non-covalent interactions resulting in physical crosslinking (the electrostatic interactions (e.g., the ionic and hydrogen bonds), hydrophobic interactions, ${\pi}$-interactions, and van der Waals forces), in-situ chemical reactions inducing chemical crosslinking (the Diels Alder click reactions, Michael reactions, Schiff base reactions, or enzyme-or photo-mediated reactions), and external stimuli (temperatures, pHs, lights, electric/magnetic fields, ultrasounds, or biomolecular species (e.g., enzyme)). Finally, their applications with accompanying therapeutic agents and notable properties used were reviewed as well. Conclusion: Injectable hydrogels, of which network morphology and properties could be tuned, have shown to control the load and release of therapeutic agents, consequently producing significant therapeutic efficacy. Accordingly, they are believed to be successful and promising biomaterials as scaffolds and carriers of therapeutic agents for disease and cancer therapy and tissue engineering.

• Human Ecology Research
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.93-106
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to understand what we have learnt thus far on the sustainable consumption of natural resources by household in Korea. We propose a two-wing model designating households as the main agent of sustainable living where both the production of human resources and the consumption of natural resources take place. In the current study, we focused on the sustainability of natural resource consumption. Undertaking an empirical study, we selected 10 major journals that represent each area of human ecological research and then, identified 120 relevant studies regarding sustainability published since 2000. First, we classified 381 keywords into three categories: production, consumption, and social environment, and the identified studies were then classified in one of the seven categories created by combinations of the abovementioned three categories: production (P), consumption (C), social environment (S), production-consumption (PC), production-social environment (PS), consumption-social environment (CS), and production-consumption-social environment (PCS). The results showed that the sustainability of natural resources has been mainly investigated in the fields of clothing & textiles and food & nutrition. Further, consumer science research has been conducted in the area of consumption-social environment and consumption-production. The current study indicates that the field of human ecology has created and accumulated knowledge to support sustainable living. In the future, we need to conduct more integrated research across disciplines and methods and promote research interest in the underdeveloped area of sustainability research in human ecology.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2010

Hepatic fibrosis represents the main complication of most chronic liver disorders and, regardless of its etiology, is characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix components. In this study, we examined that 1-O-Hexyl-2,3,5-Trimethylhydroquinone (HTHQ), a potent anti-oxidative agent, could prevent experimental hepatic fibrosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) in male SD rats. Except for vehicle control group, other groups were induced hepatic fibrosis by intraperitoneal injection with DMN (10 mg/ml/kg) on 3 consecutive days weekly for 4 weeks. During the same 4 weeks, control and DMN groups were given vehicle and HTHQ 50, 100 and 200 groups were orally administered HTHQ (50, 100, 200 mg/kg respectively). In HTHQ 100 and 200 groups, relative liver weight and serum chemistry level improved significantly. HTHQ reduced hydroxyproline (p < 0.05) and malondialdehyde (p < 0.05) level in the liver. Histopathological examination of H&E, Masson's trichrome stain showed the reduced fibrotic septa in HTHQ 100 and 200 groups. HTHQ administration showed reduced mRNA level of PDGF (Platelet-derived growth factor), $\alpha$-SMA ($\alpha$-smooth muscle actin) and TGF-$\beta$ (transforming growth factor-$\beta$) than DMN-induced hepetic fibrosis animals in the liver tissue. In this study, we showed that HTHQ improves against DMN-induced liver fibrosis in male SD rats.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1830-1840
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• 2019

Loliolide is one of the most ubiquitous monoterpenoid compounds found in algae, and its potential therapeutic effect on various dermatological conditions via agent-induced biological functions, including anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic properties, was demonstrated. Here, we investigated the effects of loliolide on hair growth in dermal papilla (DP) cells, the main components regulating hair growth and loss conditions. For this purpose, we used a three-dimensional (3D) DP spheroid model that mimics the in vivo hair follicle system. Biochemical assays showed that low doses of loliolide increased the viability and size of 3D DP spheroids in a dose-dependent manner. This result correlated with increases in expression levels of hair growth-related autocrine factors including VEGF, IGF-1, and KGF. Immunoblotting and luciferase-reporter assays further revealed that loliolide induced AKT phosphorylation, and this effect led to stabilization of β-catenin, which plays a crucial role in the hair-inductive properties of DP cells. Further experiments showed that loliolide increased the expression levels of the DP signature genes, ALP, BMP2, VCAN, and HEY1. Furthermore, conditioned media from loliolide-treated DP spheroids significantly enhanced proliferation and the expression of hair growth regulatory genes in keratinocytes. These results suggested that loliolide could function in the hair growth inductivity of DP cells via the AKT/β-catenin signaling pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.136-143
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• 2009

The injuries as a result of fall accidents is the one of the most common kind of injuries in Korea, especially fall from height is the top most common kind for fatal injuries. Futhermore, the number of fall injuries in manufacturing industry has been steadily increasing from 2000 to 2007. In 2007 the number of fall fatal injuries increased 10.6 % in comparison with the number in 2006. These numbers are 6~17 times higher than those for foreign countries such as the U.K and the USA. So, it is needed to make a study to reduce these numbers for manufacturing industry. To get the goals, we did research as followings. First, this study analyzed statistics by industry, by fall height, by common agent and so on to gain an insight into real aspect of fall injuries. It showed that ladder is the commonly cited agent for manufacturing industry, and 3 risky activities ; the ladder work, the load/unload work, and the maintenance work. Secondly, this study made a survey of manufacturing workers for their understandings of the most 3 risky activities. It showed that 'tendency to work easily' and 'difficulty of applying measures due to inherent working conditions' are main reasons for workers not to implement the preventive measures against the fall accidents. Thirdly, this study tested the slip characteristics of ladder base and lungs. The tests were done based on ANSI standard and KS. In addition to the standard condition, this study performed slip tests in wet and sandy conditions and compared the results with the those of standard condition. It showed that friction coefficient is standard condition > wet condition > sandy condition, and the friction coefficient of ladder for sandy condition is measured to be reduced by 63.9% compared with that for standard condition. Finally, this study developed safety work models for using of portable ladders in consideration of the safety standards of foreign countries such as the U.K, the USA, and the Australia.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2019

From 2016 to 2018, approximately 15% of kohlrabi were observed displaying significant clubroot symptoms in farmer's fields in Jeju, Korea. The initial infection appeared as hypertrophy of root hairs, and as the disease progressed, galls formation occurred on the main roots, finally disease progress resulted in yellowing and wilting of leaves. Pathogenicity was proven by artificial inoculation of plants with resting spore suspension, fulfilling Koch's postulates. The resting spore is one-celled, spherical and subspherical, colorless, and $3-5{\mu}m$ in diameter. On the basis of the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of internal transcribed spacer rDNA, the causal agent was identified as Plasmodiophora brassicae. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of P. brassicae on kohlrabi in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.263-272
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• 2012

The potential as natural herbicide of d-limonene natural agent was conducted on several weeds in a greenhouse and Sciyos angulatus in field condition. Herbicidal activity of foliar application at a concentration of 100 and 200 kg ai $ha^{-1}$ of d-limonene on seven weed species was completely killed in a greenhouse condition. Also, d-limonene at a concentration of 50 kg ai $ha^{-1}$ was completely killing on Abutilon theophrasti, Aeschynomene indica, Echinochloa crus-galli and Digitaria ciliaris 3 days after treatment. While pre-emergence treatment of d-limonene concentration of 12.5 to 200 kg ai $ha^{-1}$ showed not significant visible damages. Phytotoxic symptoms of d-limonene by foliar treatment were characterized by wilting and burn-down of leaves and stems followed by discoloration, finally, plant death. Crop selectivity at d-limonene concentration of 100 kg ai $ha^{-1}$ over to five main crops including Zea mays by foliar application was not at all. Field trial of foliar treatment with d-limonene 70 to 140 kg ai $ha^{-1}$ have effectively controled over 5~20 leaf stages of S. angulatus at the natural habitats. And herbicidal efficacy of foliar application on S. angulatus with carrier volume in field condition was increased with dose dependent manners. These results suggest that d-limonene is considered possible as herbicide, and may be further optimized for natural agent for environmental friendly natural herbicide.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.250-258
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• 2020

Emphysema, a major component of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a leading cause of human death worldwide. The progressive deterioration of lung function that occurs in the disease is caused by chronic inflammation of the airway and destruction of the lung parenchyma. Despite the main impact of inflammation on the pathogenesis of emphysema, current therapeutic regimens mainly offer symptomatic relief and preservation of lung function with little therapeutic impact. In the present study, we aimed to discover novel therapeutics that suppress the pathogenesis of emphysema. Here, we show that LJ-2698, a novel and highly selective antagonist of the adenosine A₃ receptor, a G protein-coupled receptor involved in various inflammatory diseases, significantly reversed the elastase-induced destructive changes in murine lungs. We found that LJ-2698 significantly prevented elastase-induced airspace enlargement, resulting in restoration of pulmonary function without causing any obvious changes in body weight in mice. LJ-2698 was found to inhibit matrix metalloproteinase activity and pulmonary cell apoptosis in the murine lung. LJ-2698 treatment induced increases in anti-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages at doses that displayed no significant cytotoxicity in normal cell lines derived from various organs. Treatment with LJ-2698 significantly increased the number of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages in the lungs. These results implicate the adenosine A₃ receptor in the pathogenesis of emphysema. Our findings also demonstrate the potential of LJ-2698 as a novel therapeutic/preventive agent in suppressing disease development with limited toxicity.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.22
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• pp.5-25
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• 2001

The germicidal and insecticidal properties of volatile components extracted from star anise(Illicium verum Hooker filius) and clove (Eugenia caryophyllata THUNBERG)were evaluated against five microorganisms and three insects for the purpose of developing biocidal active substances from medicinal plants. The volatile components of star anise and clove showed strong antimicrobial effect against Aspergillus niger, Penicillium funiculosum, Mucor hiemalis, Trichoderma viride, and Aureobasidium pullulans. The extracts of each medicine also showed insecticidal effects against Sitophilusoryzae L., Lyctus linearis GOZE, and Reticulitermes spertus kyushuensis Morimoto. Fumigant toxicities to adult insects were determined. In the case of fumiganttoxicity, the extract of star anise showed 100% mortality against R. spertus, S.oryzae, and L. linearis at rates of $2.5\mu\ell$, $50\mu\ell$, $250\mu\ell$/filter paper, respectively but showed no killing effects by clove. The volatile components of star anise and clove were investigated by means of GC/MS. The main constitute, anethole among 20components from star anise and eugenol among 9 components from clove were identified. The mixture of star anise and clove as the volume ratio of 2 : 1 showed higher properties for antimicrobial and insecticidal effect than each volatile component. A. niger was inhibited by the mixture(125ml/$m^3$) for up to 10 days of exposure. Also, from the result of observing state change of organic materials by volatile extracts of star anise and clove, volatile extracts effects have no effect on natural organic materials of organic cultural properties and can be used as biological control agent. As research contents as above, the insecticidal and germicidal agents from star anise and clove and the mixture of them were more efficient and high level to prevent biological damage for conservation of organic cultural properties. So they may be used in new development of biologicalinsecticidal and germicidal agents for conservation of cultural properties.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.233-241
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• 2001

Dirofilaria immitis, the causative agent of canine heartworm disease, inhabits mainly in the pulmonary arteries and the heart of dogs and cats, causing circulatory and respiratory disorders. Although diagnosis of the disease is based on the presence of microfilaria in the peripheral blood or of specific antigens released from the adult worms into the peripheral blood, the severity of the infection and the assessment of disease progression are based on the clinical signs and radiographic image analysis. We analysed 12 mixed-bred Jindo dogs naturally infected with Dirofilaria immitis without any clinical signs and compared the radiographic images of the heart and the lung with the number of adult worms at necropsy. The dorsoventral radiographs of 12 infected dogs revealed that the right caudal lobar pulmonary arteries (RCaLPA) were dialated in 66.7% of dogs, whereas the main pulmonary artery segment was enlarged in 50.3% of dogs. The cranial lobar pulmonary arteries (RCrLPA) were dilated or pruned in 33.3% of dogs. All dogs displayed the interstitial lung pattern, while the vertebral heart size (VHS) was of normal range. Although a range of 9 to 166 adult worms (av. 45.6) was found in the pulmonary arteries, in the heart or in the vena cava, no correlation with the radiographic findings and/or with the clinical signs was observed.