• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2012

$Schizandra$ $chinensis$ Baillon is a traditional folk medicine plant that is used to treat and prevent several inflammatory diseases and cancer in Korea, but the underlying mechanisms involved in its anti-allergic activity are not fully understood. This study was designed to investigate mechanisms of anti-allergic activity of a $Schizandra$ $chinensis$ Baillon water extract (SCWE) in immunoglobulin E (IgE)-antigen complex-stimulated RBL2H3 cells and to assess whether gastric and intestinal digestion affects the anti-allergic properties of SCWE. Oxidative stress is an important consequence of the allergic inflammatory response. The antioxidant activities of SCWE increased in a concentration-dependent manner. RBL-2H3 cells were sensitized with monoclonal anti-dinitrophenol (DNP) specific IgE, treated with SCWE, and challenged with the antigen DNP-human serum albumin. SCWE inhibited ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release and expression of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) mRNA and protein in IgE-antigen complex-stimulated RBL2H3 cells. We found that digested SCWE fully maintained its antioxidant activity and anti-allergic activity against the IgE-antigen complex-induced activation of RBL-2H3 cells. SCWE may be useful for preventing allergic diseases, such as asthma. Thus, SCWE could be used as a natural functional ingredient for allergic diseases in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.411-422
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• 2010

Self-sensing on micro-failure, dispersion degree and relating properties, of carbon nanotube(CNT)/epoxy composites, were investigated using wettability, electro-micromechanical technique with acoustic emission(AE). Specimens were prepared from neat epoxy as well as composites with untreated and acid-treated CNT. Degree of dispersion was evaluated comparatively by measuring volumetric electrical resistivity and its standard deviation. Apparent modulus containing the stress transfer was higher for acid-treated CNT composite than for the untreated case. Applied cyclic loading responded well for a single carbon fiber/CNT-epoxy composite by the change in contact resistivity. The interfacial shear strength between a single carbon fiber and CNT-epoxy, determined in a fiber pullout test, was lower than that between a single carbon fiber and neat epoxy. Regarding on micro-damage sensing using electrical resistivity measurement with AE, the stepwise increment in electrical resistivity was observed for a single carbon fiber/CNT -epoxy composite. On the other hand, electrical resistivity increased infinitely right after the first carbon fiber breaks for a single carbon fiber/neat epoxy composite. The occurrence of AE events of added CNT composites was much higher than the neat epoxy case, due to micro failure at the interfaces by added CNTs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1420-1430
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• 2018

Objective: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a major ingredient of catechin polyphenols and is considered one of the most promising bioactive compounds in green tea because of its strong antioxidant properties. However, the protective role of EGCG in bovine oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) has not been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to study the effects of EGCG on IVM of bovine oocytes. Methods: Bovine oocytes were treated with different concentrations of EGCG (0, 25, 50, 100, and $200{\mu}M$), and the nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation, cumulus cell expansion, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, total antioxidant capacity, the early apoptosis and the developmental competence of in vitro fertilized embryos were measured. The mRNA abundances of antioxidant genes (nuclear factor erythriod-2 related factor 2 [NRF2], superoxide dismutase 1 [SOD1], catalase [CAT], and glutathione peroxidase 4 [GPX4]) in matured bovine oocytes were also quantified. Results: Nuclear maturation which is characterized by first polar body extrusion, and cytoplasmic maturation characterized by peripheral and cortical distribution of cortical granules and homogeneous mitochondrial distribution were significantly improved in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG-treated group compared with the control group. Adding $50{\mu}M$ EGCG to the maturation medium significantly increased the cumulus cell expansion index and upregulated the mRNA levels of cumulus cell expansion-related genes (hyaluronan synthase 2, tumor necrosis factor alpha induced protein 6, pentraxin 3, and prostaglandin 2). Both the intracellular ROS level and the early apoptotic rate of matured oocytes were significantly decreased in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG group, and the total antioxidant ability was markedly enhanced. Additionally, both the cleavage and blastocyst rates were significantly higher in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG-treated oocytes after in vitro fertilization than in the control oocytes. The mRNA abundance of NRF2, SOD1, CAT, and GPX4 were significantly increased in the $50{\mu}M$ EGCG-treated oocytes. Conclusion: In conclusion, $50{\mu}M$ EGCG can improve the bovine oocyte maturation, and the protective role of EGCG may be correlated with its antioxidative property.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2008

Four series (S, M, R, and W) of Alternaria longipes isolates were obtained based on consecutive selection with Dimethachlon (Dim) and ultraviolet irradiation. These isolates were then characterized according to their tolerance to Dim, sensitivity to osmotic stress, and phenotypic properties. All the selected Dim-resistant isolates showed a higher osmosensitivity than the parental strains, and the last generation was more resistant than the first generation in the M, R, and W series. In addition, the changes in the Dim resistance and osmotic sensitivity were not found to be directly correlated, and no distinct morphologic characteristics were found among the resistant and sensitive isolates, with the exception of the resistant isolate K-11. Thus, to investigate the molecular basis of the fungicide resistance, a group III two-component histidine kinase (HK) gene, AlHK1, was cloned from nineteen A. longipes isolates. AlHK1p was found to be comprised of a six 92-amino-acid repeat domain (AARD), HK domain, and response regulator domain, similar to the Os-1p from Neurospora crassa. A comparison of the nucleotide sequences of the AlHK1 gene from the Dim-sensitive and -resistant isolates revealed that all the resistant isolates contained a single-point mutation in the AARD of AlHK1p, with the exception of isolate K-11, where the AlHK1p contained a deletion of 107 amino acids. Moreover, the AlHK1p mutations in the isolates of each respective series involved the same amino acid substitution at the same site, although the resistance levels differed significantly in each series. Therefore, these findings suggested that a mutation in the AARD of AlHK1p was not the sole factor responsible for A. longipes resistance to dicarboximide fungicides.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.93-100
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• 2015

Pachymic acid (PA) is a lanostane-type triterpenoid derived from the Poria cocos mushroom. Several beneficial biological features of PA provide medicine with a wide variety of valuable effects, such as anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity; it also has antioxidant effects against oxidative stress. Nonetheless, the biological properties and mechanisms that produce this anti-cancer action of PA remain largely undetermined. In this study, we investigated the pro-apoptotic effects of PA in T24 human bladder cancer cells. It was found that PA could inhibit the cell growth of T24 cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies and chromatin condensation and accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase. The induction of apoptotic cell death by PA was connected with an up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax and Bad protein expression and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins, and inhibition of apoptosis family proteins. In addition, apoptosis-inducing concentrations of PA induced the activation of caspase-9, an initiator caspase of the mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic pathway, and caspase-3, accompanied by proteolytic degradation of poly (ADP-ribose)-polymerase. PA also induced apoptosis via a death receptor-mediated extrinsic pathway by caspase-8 activation, resulting in the truncation of Bid and suggesting the existence of cross-talk between the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Taken together, the present results suggest that PA may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human bladder cancer cells.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.2945-2950
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• 2015

While perfluoroalkane (PFA), a liquid state nucleating agent for a rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) to enhance the thermal insulation property, has the excellent nucleating characteristics, it is very expensive as well as environmentally harmful due to the fluoride compound. Many researches, therefore, have been performed to develop the alternative nucleating agents to replace PFA. In the present work, a multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) was used as a sloid state nucleating agent, and thereby the effects on the property changes of the RPUF were carried out. Average cell size decreased from 165.6 for base RPUF to $162.9{\mu}m$ and cell uniformity was also enhanced, showing the standard cell-size deviation of 45.6 and 35.2, respectively. While k-factor of base PUF was $0.01763kcal/m.hr.^{\circ}C$, that of the sample with 0.01 phr MWCNT showed 1.02% reduced value of $0.01745kcal/m.hr.^{\circ}C$. Though the compressive yield stress is nearly the same as $0.030{\times}105Pa$ for the both samples, initial modulus of the sample with 0.01 phr MWCNT was higher than that of base sample. it was considered as the results that small amount of MWCNT could play a sufficient role as the effective nucleating agent for RPUF, showing that an echo-friendly RPUF with reduced-cost could be fabricated, which has an enhanced thermal and mechanical properties.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.17 no.2 s.86
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• pp.281-290
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• 2005

This paper presents experimental and analytical studies on long-term behavior of square CFT columns under central axial loading. Two loading cases are considered; (1) the load applied only at the inner concrete of the column and (2) the load applied simultaneously on both the concrete and the steel tube. Four specimens of square CFT columns were tested under the two loading cases, and basic creep test for two concrete specimens was performed to find out the creep properties of the inner concrete. Three-dimensional finite element analysis models were established and verified with the experimental results. The verification shows that the prediction for the long-term behavior of actual square CFT columns is possible from the three dimensional finite element modeling considering the bond behavior between steel tube and inner concrete. Also, experimental results and numerical calculations revealed that the bond stress Induced by the confinement pressure as well as the slip between inner concrete and steel tube were increased with time In the first loading case. However, the confinement by the loading Plate was decreased with time while increasing confinement effect by the steel tube was observed over time. In contrast no confinement effects occur in the second loading case.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.373-381
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• 2017

The main objective of this study was to increase the germination percentage of kenaf seeds with less number of times under non-saline and saline conditions. Therefore, the first goal was to assess the response of kenaf seeds to NaCl. The second goal was to evaluate the effects of $KNO_3$ on kenaf seed germination. The germination percentage exhibited a decreasing tendency in germination rate. Plant dry weight was approximately 0.2 g in all treatments at 5 days after germination. As time passed, the electrical conductivity (EC) value of hydro-priming (HP) consistently increased by 8.7 mS/cm at 24 hours of immersion. However, seeds primed with $KNO_3$ showed no difference in EC values even as times passed. Regarding the priming effect, priming in 100 mM $KNO_3$ concentration for 12 hours increased germination up to 85% in $H_20$ solution and in 0 mM $KNO_3$ concentration upto 73.8% under 0.3% NaCl solution, compared to that of Control. Germination synchronization, shoot length, and leaf unfolding of primed seeds were greater than those of the Control. In addition, main root and hair roots appeared more rapidly in the treated seeds and were more abundant compared to that of the Control. The T50 (times to reach 50% of the final germination percentage) of the Control in both $H_20$ and 0.3% NaCl solutions was 18 and 22 hours, respectively. However, when treated $KNO_3$ priming (0 to 100 mM) in $H_20$ and 0.3% NaCl solution, 9 hours was sufficient to reach T50. Primed (hydro-priming and $KNO_3$) seeds had a lower MDG (mean days untill germination; 0.6-0.62) compared to that of the Control (1.13-1.31) in $H_20$ and 0.3% NaCl solutions. Regarding dry weight of plants after priming, an increasing tendency after the priming treatment in the H20 solution was observed. Furthermore, no significant difference in plant dry weight under 0.3% NaCl stress was observed between the Control and primed seeds. Taken together, the results suggest that 50-100 mM $KNO_3$ priming for 24 hours optimize seed germination rate in less number of times of exposure with great vigor. Therefore, it is recommended for kenaf seed invigoration before planting.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.170-176
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• 2016

Superintendents have used a silicate fertilizer to improve a resistance of turfgrass against several diseases, drought damage and wear stress. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of liquid fertilizer containing silicate (LFSi) on changes of turfgrass quality and growth by investigating visual quality, chlorophyll content-chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll, root length, shoot length, dry weight of clipping, and nutrient content in leaves tissue. Treatments were designed as follows; control fertilizer (CF), SiF-1 (CF + $1ml\;m^{-2}$ LFSi), SiF-2 (CF + $2ml\;m^{-2}$ LFSi), and SiF-3 (CF + $4ml\;m^{-2}$ LFSi). As compared with CF, soil chemical properties, visual turfgrass quality, chlorophyll content, and dry weight of clipping of LFSi treatments were not significantly. Contrastingly, shoot density, root length, and the content of nitrogen or potassium were increased by application of LFSi. The content of Si in the tissue was positively correlated with potassium content or shoot length, and similarly shoot density positively with chlorophyll content or visual quality, respectively. These results suggested that the application of LFSi improved the turfgrass quality by increasing shoot density or K content in leaf tissue of creeping bentgrass.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.55-65
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• 2002

Ginseng has been used as a key constituent in traditional medicine prescriptions for centuries. Other than its well-known anti-stress and adaptogenic properties, ginseng has also been shown to be very effective in treating age-related deterioration in metabolic and memory functions. Although it is generally believed that the saponin (GS) fraction of the ginseng root accounts for the bioactivity of ginseng, a direct demonstration on which ginsenoside does what is still generally lacking. In the past decade, our laboratory has endeavored to identify the active GS components involved in energy metabolism, memory, and anti-neurotoxicity. To examine the ergogenic effects of GS in enhancing aerobic capacity, rats were subjected to either severe cold ($40^{\circ}C$ under helium-oxygen, two hours) or exercise workload $(70\%\;VO_{2}max,$ to exhaustion). Acute systemic injection (i.p.) of ginseng GS (5-20 mg/kg) significantly elevated both the total and maximum heat production in rats and improved their cold tolerance. However, pretreating the animal with the optimal dose (10 mg/kg) of GS devoid of $Rg_1\;and\;Rb_1$ failed to elicit any beneficial effects in improving cold tolerance. This indicates that either $Rb_1\;and/or\;Rg_1$ may be essential in exemplifying the thermogenic effect of GS. Further studies showed that only pretreating the animals with $Rb_1(2.5-5\;mg/kg),\;but\;not\;Rg_l,$ resulted in an increase in thermogenesis and cold tolerance. In contrast to the acute effect of GS on cold tolerance, enhancement of exercise performance in rats was only observed after chronic treatment (4 days). Further, we were able to demonstrate that both $Rb_1\;and\;Rg_1$ are effective in enhancing aerobic endurance by exercise. To illustrate the beneficial effects of GS in learning and memory, a passive avoidance paradigm (shock prod) was used. Our results indicated that the scopolamineinduced amnesia can be significantly reversed by chronically treating (4 days) the rats with either $Rb_1\;or\;Rg_1$ (1.25 - 2.5 mg/kg). To further examine its underlying mechanisms, the effects of various GS on ${\beta}-amyloid-modulated$ acetylcholine (ACh) release from the hippocampal slices were examined. It was found that inclusion of $Rb_1$ (0.1 ${\mu}M$), but not $Rg_1$, can attenuate ${\beta}-amyloid-suppressed$ ACh release from the hippocampal slices. Our results demonstrated that $Rb_1\;and\;Rg_1$ are the key components involved in various beneficial effects of GS but they may elicit their effects through different mechanisms.