• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.231-238
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• 2019

Objectives: Alzheimer's disease (AD), an overwhelming neurodegenerative disease, has deleterious effects on the brain that consequently causes memory loss and language impairment. This study was intended to investigate the neuroprotective activity of the two essential oils (EOs) from Iranian Pistacia khinjuk (PK) leaves and Allium sativum (AS) cloves against β-Amyloid 25-35 (Aβ25-35) induced elevation of cholinesterase enzymes in AD. Methods: The EOs of PK (PKEO) and AS (ASEO) were prepared and analyzed in terms of extraction yield, phenolic content, and cholinergic markers in vitro. Moreover, both were administered orally to adult male Wistar rats at concentrations of 1, 2, and 3%. The inhibitory potential of PKEO and ASEO was compared with Donepezil (0.75 mg/kg) against the high activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes. Results: PKEO reached an inhibition rate of 83.6% and 81.4% against AChE and BChE, respectively. ASEO had lower anti-cholinesterase activity (65.4% and 31.5% for the inhibition AChE and BChE). PKEO was found to have more phenolic content than ASEO. A significantly positive correlation was observed between the total phenolics and anti-cholinesterase potential. In rats, both EOs decreased the enzyme activity in a concentration-dependent manner. As compared with Donepezil, the significant difference in the AChE and BChE inhibition occurred as rats were treated with PKEO 3% (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It could be concluded that PKEO and ASEO are potent inhibitors of AChE and BChE in rats that hold promise to be used for the treatment of AD.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1995

Isothermal and thermal-mechanical fatigue characteristics of 12Cr heat resisting steel used for high temperature applications were investigated including hold time effects. Isothermal low cycle fatigue test at $600^{\circ}C$ and in-phase, out-of-phase thermal-mechanical fatigue test at 350 to $600^{\circ}C$ were conducted using smooth cylindrical hollow specimen under strain-control with total strain ranges from 0.006 to 0.015. Regardless of thermal-mechanical and isothermal fatigue tests, cyclic softening behavior was observed and much more pronounced in the thermal-mechanical fatigue tests with hold times due to the stress relaxation during the hold time. The phase difference between temperature and strain in thermal-mechanical fatigue tests resulted in significantly shorter fatigue life for out-of-phase compared to in-phase. The differences in fatigue lives were dependent upon the magnitudes of plastic strain ranges and mean stresses. During the hold time in the strain-controlled fatigue tests, the increase in the plastic strain range and the stress relaxation were observed. It appeared that the increase in plastic strain range per cycle and the introduction of creep damage made important contributions to the reduction of thermal-mechanical fatigue life with hold time, and the life reduction tendency was more remarkable in the in-phase than in the out-of-phase thermal-mechanical fatigue. Isothermal fatigue tests performed under the combination of fast and slow strain rates at $600^{\circ}C$ showed that the fatigue life decreased as the strain rate and frequency decreased,especially for the low strain ranges.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.329-335
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• 2013

Objectives: To comprehensively examine the relationship between current sleep duration and past suicidal idea or attempt among Korean adolescents. Methods: Data came from the 2009 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey with 75 066 participants (with the participation rate of 97.6%) in 800 middle and high schools. Binary logistic regression was conducted by gender and depressed mood to identify significant factors for suicidal ideation/attempt. The dependent variable was the log odds of suicidal ideation/attempt, while the independent/control variables were sleep duration and other demographic, socio-economic and health-related factors. Results: A negative association between sleep duration and suicidal ideation or attempt was weaker for those with depressed mood than for those without such experience in Korea for Year 2009. The odds ratio of suicidal ideation/attempt regarding less than 4 hours of sleep compared to 6 to 7 hours of sleep, was smaller in a group with depressed mood than in a group without such experience, for example, 1.64 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29 to 2.08) vs. 2.06 (95% CI, 1.34 to 3.17) for men's suicidal ideation, 2.50 (95% CI, 1.69 to 3.69) vs. 3.89 (95% CI, 1.74 to 8.66) for men's suicidal attempt. A negative association between age (or self-rated health) and suicidal ideation/attempt was also weaker for those with depressed mood than for those without such experience in the nation for the year. Conclusions: There was a negative association between sleep duration and suicidal ideation/attempt in Korea for Year 2009 and this association was weaker for those with depressed mood than for those without such experience. Based on the findings of this study, adolescents' better mental health and longer, more comfortable sleep might help to prevent their suicidal ideation and attempt in Korea.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1142-1147
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• 2007

In this study, we investigated the effects of the flowers of Lespedeza bicolor on melanogenesis in a mouse melanocyte cell line, B16/F10 cells. Our results show that the flowers of Lespedeza bicolor significantly inhibits melanin synthesis in concentration-dependent manner. In addition, it was also found to inhibit the activity of tyrosinase, the rate-limiting melanogenic enzyme. While the flowers of Lespedeza bicolor have no direct inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity in cell free assay system using mushroom tyrosinase. Moreover, the flowers of Lespedeza bicolor effectively suppressed the ${\alpha}-MSH-stimulated$ melanin formation, tyrosinase activity and dendrite outgrowth. These results suggest that the flowers of Lespedeza bicolor is a potent depigmetation agent.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2014

After harvesting the medicinal parts of Curcuma longa, the remaining underground parts were discarded. From the remaining underground parts of Curcuma longa quercetin-3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside-7-O-${\alpha}$-L-rhamnopyranoside (Q37) was isolated. The antioxidant activities in vitro and lifespan-extension effect of Q37 were elucidated using the Caenorhabditis elegans. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect of Q37 showed similar potent activities in comparison with vitamin C. Q37 also showed potent superoxide quenching activities as measured by the riboflavin- and xanthine-originated superoxide quenching activity tests. Q37 prolonged lifespan of worms under normal culture condition. In terms of protective effect of Q37 on the stress conditions such as thermal and oxidative stresses, Q37-treated worms exhibited enhanced survival rate, as compared to control worms. To know the possible mechanism of Q37-mediated increased lifespan and stress resistance of worms, we examined the activities of Q37on superoxide dismutase (SOD), and invested intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The results revealed that Q37 was able to elevate SOD activity of worms and reduce intracellular ROS accumulation in a dose-dependent manner.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.300-314
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• 2014

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometer (UPLC-ESI-MS) method was established for the simultaneous quantification of eighteen marker compounds in traditional Korean formula, Cheonwangbosimdan (CWBSD). In addition, we evaluated the antioxidant effects of CWBSD. Eighteen marker components were separated on a UPLC BEH $C_{18}$ analytical column ($2.1{\times}100mm$, $1.7{\mu}m$) and kept at $45^{\circ}C$ by gradient elution with 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in water and acetonitrile as mobile phase. The flow rate was 0.3 mL/min and the injection volume was $2.0{\mu}L$. The antioxidant activities of CWBSD were assessed by measuring free radical scavenging activities on 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 1-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The calibration curves of all analytes showed good linearity (correlation coefficient ${\geq}0.9937$) within the test ranges. The limits of detection and quantification for the 18 marker compounds were 0.01-4.71 ng/mL and 0.03-14.13 ng/mL, respectively. The contents of the 18 compounds in CWBSD extract ranged from none to $1701.00{\mu}g/g$. The CWBSD showed the radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner. The concentration required for 50% reduction ($RC_{50}$) against ABTS and DPPH radicals were $149.42{\mu}g/mL$ and $339.24{\mu}g/mL$.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.313-317
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• 2004

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases produced by a variety of cell type, and have a fundamental role in the degradation and remodeling of extracellular matrix. In this study, we screened the secretion of MMPs in leaves of different developmental stages and in response to environmental stress using tobacco. Compare with fully maturing leaves and older leaves, the rate of MMPs activity was high in expanding and younger leaves. It is tempting to speculate that MMPs may be involved in tissue modeling, which must occur during leaf expansion. The MMPs activity in tobacco leaves grown in the presence of stressors showed a significantly increase at salinity treatment and pathogen infection. The MMPs activity in salinity and pathogen treatment increased respectively, by 1.2- and 1.5-fold with respect to the control. These results suggest that MMPs may be involved in plant defence against adverse environment and pathogenic infection.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.91-108
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to assist the development of parenting-aid policies by analyzing information from life perspectives, family system theory, and integrated family policy perspectives. For this purpose, we conducted a literature using a variety of sources including internet sites, laws, published material related to current parenting-aid policies. Based on analyses we formulated four agendas: empowering parent competency, supporting diverse family parenting, guaranteeing parent's rights, and supporting parenting of dual-income families parenting. The results were as follow: Firstly, for empowering parent competency, we proposed the development of family relationship empowerment programs including family life cycle and children-raising support services. Secondly, for diverse family parenting, we proposed access to integrated parenting-aid programs dependent on family types. Thirdly, for guaranteeing parent’s rights, we proposed the supporting of child raising costs and tax returns to families with children, and provide child allowances. Finally, for dual-income family parenting, we proposed that schools and communities must recognize that dual-income families are a universal family type, establish family friendly business culture, and to develop a more democratic domestic family-relationship. This policy proposed a new paradigm where parents must be recognized as partners and stakeholder in development of family related policies. Ultimately, such policies will contribute to increased birth rate and development of a more respectful society.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.317-323
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• 2007

Almost all the people, particularly the rural people are directly dependent on the continued productivity of natural resources, like water, soils, forests and fisheries. But the overuse by the extremely high population pressures has degraded the natural resources into severe widespread deforestation. The degradation of natural resources, particularly the plant resources has been a great concern for socio-economic and sustainable development of the country. The Forests in Bangladesh have been depleted and degraded in volume, area, and quantity, thus requiring urgent forest protection by identifying the causes of forest loss. There are so many causes of deforestation and loss of genetic resources such as; the timber industry, which, legal or not, are cutting too many trees; indigenous forest dwellers, having their own types of problems; migrants, who, because of problems in their places of origin, have decided to move to the forests and the government through its Forest Department which is not able or willing to implement suitable policies to regulate the cutting trees and to prevent illegal cutting. Because it is a time consuming task to mitigate the first and second sets of factors, we recommend involving forest dwellers in forestry practices as much as possible and taking necessary steps to alleviate the third and fourth sets and thereby reduce the rate of forest depletion. Accordingly, a number of strategies that should be adopted to halt the loss of remaining forest cover are discussed.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.78-82
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• 2011

Mono- and few-layer graphenes were grown on Ni thin films by rapid-thermal pulse chemical vapor deposition technique. In the growth steps, the exposure step for 60 s in $H_2$ (a flow rate of 10 sccm (standard cubic centimeters per minute)) atmosphere after graphene growth was specially established to improve the quality of the graphenes. The graphene films grown by exposure alone without $H_2$ showed an intensity ratio of $I_G/I_{2D}$ = 0.47, compared with a value of 0.38 in the films grown by exposure in H2 ambient. The quality of the graphenes can be improved by exposure for 60 s in $H_2$ ambient after the growth of the graphene films. The physical properties of the graphene films were investigated for the graphene films grown on various Ni film thicknesses and on 260-nm thick Ni films annealed at 500 and $700^{\circ}C$. The graphene films grown on 260-nm thick Ni films at $900^{\circ}C$ showed the lowest $I_G/I_{2D}$ ratio, resulting in the fewest layers. The graphene films grown on Ni films annealed at $700^{\circ}C$ for 2 h showed a decrease of the number of layers. The graphene films were dependent on the thickness and the grain size of the Ni films.