• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제34권6호
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• pp.459-469
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• 2018

Plants and microorganisms (microbes) use information from chemicals such as volatile compounds to understand their environments. Proficiency in sensing and responding to these infochemicals increases an organism's ecological competence and ability to survive in competitive environments, particularly with regard to plant-pathogen interactions. Plants and microbes acquired the ability to sense and respond to biogenic volatiles during their evolutionary history. However, these signals can only be interpreted by humans through the use of state-of the-art technologies. Newly-developed tools allow microbe-induced plant volatiles to be detected in a rapid, precise, and non-invasive manner to diagnose plant diseases. Beside disease diagnosis, volatile compounds may also be valuable in improving crop productivity in sustainable agriculture. Bacterial volatile compounds (BVCs) have potential for use as a novel plant growth stimulant or as improver of fertilizer efficiency. BVCs can also elicit plant innate immunity against insect pests and microbial pathogens. Research is needed to expand our knowledge of BVCs and to produce BVC-based formulations that can be used practically in the field. Formulation possibilities include encapsulation and sol-gel matrices, which can be used in attract and kill formulations, chemigation, and seed priming. Exploitation of biogenic volatiles will facilitate the development of smart integrated plant management systems for disease control and productivity improvement.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권9호
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• pp.1361-1368
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• 2019

Codium fragile is an edible seaweed in Asian countries that has been used as a thrombolytic, anticoagulant, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-stimulatory agent. Ginseng has also been known to maintain immune homeostasis and to regulate the immune system via enhancing resistance to diseases and microorganisms. In this study, anionic macromolecules extracted from C. fragile (CFAM) were orally administered with red ginseng extract (100 mg/kg body weight) to cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed male BALB/c mice to investigate the immune-enhancing cooperative effect of Codium fragile and red ginseng. Our results showed that supplementing CFAM with red ginseng extract significantly increased spleen index, T- and B-cell proliferation, NK cell activity, and splenic lymphocyte immune-associated gene expression compared to those with red ginseng alone, even though a high concentration of CFAM with red ginseng decreased immune biomarkers. These results suggest that CFAM can be used as a co-stimulant to enhance health and immunity in immunosuppressed conditions.

• 식품보건융합연구
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.7-20
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• 2019

The use of caffeine as a psychoactive stimulant in tea has been observed to have serious negative effects in humans' systems such as respiratory, nervous, cardiovascular, renal and skeletal systems. This study was carried out to assess the levels of caffeine in 10 different tea brands available in local market in Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria. Quantitative analysis of caffeine was performed by a simple and fast UV-Vis spectrophotometric methods using different solvents for extraction. The caffeine content in all the tea samples analyzed in this study were below the maximum allowable limits set by the USFDA. Tea have been associated with adverse health effects and the claims made by manufacturers about the benefits of tea do not highlight risks associated with excessive consumption of a combination of the ingredients contained in tea. Long term effects of tea consumption of children and young people have not been adequately studied. Therefore, it is recommended that further research be carried out on the adverse effects of energy drinks on children. Research is also needed to be done on the effects of the combination of ingredients on health and excessive consumption of those ingredients to children and adolescents. People need to be educated and given proper awareness on the health risks associated with caffeine containing beverages.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.59-65
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• 2022

Phosphorylation levels of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) negatively correlated with psychomotor stimulant-induced locomotor activity. Locomotor sensitization induced by psychomotor stimulants was previously shown to selectively accompany the decrease of GSK3β phosphorylation in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) core, suggesting that intact GSK3β activity in this region is necessary for psychomotor stimulants to produce locomotor sensitization. Similarly, GSK3β in the NAcc was also implicated in mediating the conditioned effects formed by the associations of psychomotor stimulants. However, it remains undetermined whether GSK3β plays a differential role in the two sub-regions (core and shell) of the NAcc in the expression of drug-conditioned behaviors. In the present study, we found that GSK3β phosphorylation was significantly lower in the NAcc shell obtained from rats expressing amphetamine (AMPH)-induced conditioned locomotor activity. Further, we demonstrated that these effects were normalized by treatment with lithium chloride, a GSK3β inhibitor. These results suggest that the behavior produced by AMPH itself and a conditioned behavior formed by associations with AMPH are differentially mediated by the two sub-regions of the NAcc.

• 한국건축시공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국건축시공학회 2020년도 봄 학술논문 발표대회
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• pp.126-127
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• 2020

Recently, as interest in environmental issues increases, minimizing carbon dioxide generated during cement manufacturing is a problem to be solved. In order to solve such a problem, it is required to use an industrial by-product of recycled aggregate, blast furnace slag, and circulating fluidized bed boiler fly ash to replace it on the basis of geopolymer(=cementless). This study examines the characteristics of eco-friendly artificial stone according to the mixing ratio of geopolymer-based recycled aggregate. As a result of the experiment, when the addition rate of the alkali stimulant was 15% and the mixing ratio of the circulating aggregate was 70%, the flexural strength and compressive strength were the highest. Density and water absorption decreased as density of circulating aggregates increased and water absorption increased. However, when the mixing ratio of the circulating aggregate exceeded 70%, the flexural strength and compressive strength decreased. Therefore, in order to obtain strengths meeting the KS standards, the mixing ratio of recycled aggregate was set to 70%, and artificial stone was manufactured using industrial by-products.

• 한국자원식물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국자원식물학회 2022년도 추계학술대회
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• pp.97-97
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• 2022

The fruit of the Crataegus pinnatifida bunge has been known to have a role as a digestive stimulant, and is used for postpartum abdominal pain and women's menstrual pain. It is used for coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Ascorbic acid, hydroquinone, retinoids, alpha-hydroxy acids, kojic acid, azelaic acid have been used for cosmetic whitening and medical depigmentation. To determine whether Crataegus pinnatifida bunge fruit also has whitening and depigmentation effect, tyrosinase inhibition assay was performed with American Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge ethanol extracts, Korean Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge (Cra) ethanol extracts and Arbutin as a positive control as previously described by Korean FDA guideline. Korean Cra fruit ethanol extracts were 1.87 fold more inhibitory function to tyrosinase activity than American Cra in the experimental condition that inhibitory function to tyrosinase activity of Korean Cra Arbutin is 81.8% when compared to that of the standard control Arbutin as 100%. These results suggest that ethanol extracts of Crataegus pinnatifida bunge have significant whitening effects and may provide the basis for development of cosmetic whitening agent and medical depigmentation applications.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• 제57권2호
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• pp.163-171
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• 2024

In the last decade, melatonin has gained recognition as a potent scavenger and an effective antioxidant capable of neutralizing free radicals, including reactive oxygen species. Additionally, it exhibits anti-apoptotic properties. In this review, we will examine a compilation of articles that explore the cellular signaling function of melatonin on spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and adjacent cells such as Sertoli and Leydig cells. These cells play a crucial role in the proliferation of SSCs both in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we analyze the function of melatonin in the proliferation of SSCs from other aspects. For this purpose, we examine the articles based on the presence of melatonin on SSCs in four groups: As a supplement in SSCs medium culture, SSCs three-dimensional culture system, SSCs freezing medium, and as a therapeutic factor in vivo. Mechanisms of growth and proliferation of SSCs were considered. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential effects of melatonin as a powerful antioxidant or growth stimulant for SSCs, both in vivo and in vitro.

• 농업과학연구
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.349-356
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• 2023

Garlic powder (GP) was supplemented in the diet to assess the growth efficiency, nutritional retention, and fecal score of growing pigs. In total, 80 growing pigs ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc) were arbitrarily allotted (22.04 ± 0.56 kg primary average body weight) to two different trial groups with eight repetitions (three males and two females) in each pen for the 42-day trial. The dietary treatment consisted of control (CON, basal diet), which included 0.2% GP (TRT1). Growing pigs fed the GP diet exhibited an increase (p < 0.05) in body weight on day 42 and a lower (p < 0.05) overall feed conversion ratio compared to the CON pigs; however, the average daily gain and feed intake showed no difference (p > 0.05). Additionally, nutrient utilization of dry matter was greater (p < 0.05) in the GP-supplemented diet group than in the CON group. The feeding methods did not adversely affect the nitrogen and energy utilization and the fecal score significantly (p > 0.05). In summary, growing pigs fed the GP diet showed increased growth and nutritional utilization, and no adverse impact on the fecal score; thus, it could be utilized as a stimulant for improved growth performance.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.121-130
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• 2008

Methamphetamine, a commonly used addictive drug, is a powerful addictive stimulant that dramatically affects the CNS. Repeated METH administration leads to a rewarding effect in a state of addiction that includes sensitization, dependence, and other phenomena. It is well known that susceptibility to the development of addiction is influenced by sources of reinforcement, variable neuroadaptive mechanisms, and neurochemical changes that together lead to altered homeostasis of the brain reward system. These behavioral abnormalities reflect neuroadaptive changes in signal transduction function and cellular gene expression produced by repeated drug exposure. To provide a better understanding of addiction and the mechanism of the rewarding effect, it is important to identify related genes. In the present study, we performed gene expression profiling using microarray analysis in a reward effect animal model. We also investigated gene expression in four important regions of the brain, the nucleus accumbens, striatum, hippocampus, and cingulated cortex, and analyzed the data by two clustering methods. Genes related to signaling pathways including G-protein-coupled receptor-related pathways predominated among the identified genes. The genes identified in our study may contribute to the development of a gene modeling network for methamphetamine addiction.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.61-68
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• 2008

Purpose: Protein kinase C (PKC) is a member of a family of serine/threonine kinases that are activated by diacylglycerol (DG) and PKC stimulants. PKC play a key role in signal transduction, including muscle contraction, cell migration, apoptosis, cell proliferation and differentiation. However, the mechanism relating mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and PKC, especially in the volume-dependent hypertensive state, remains unclear. Methods: In the present study, I investigated the relationship between PKC and MAPKs for isometric contraction, PKC translocation, and enzymatic activity from normotensive sham-operated rats (NSR) and aldosterone-analogue deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) hypertensive rats (ADHR). Results: Systolic blood pressure was significantly increased in ADHR than in NSR. Physiological salt solution (PSS)-induced resting tension and the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration ([$Ca^{2+}{_i}$]) were different in the ADHR and NSR. The expression of PKC$\alpha$, PKC$\beta$II, PKC$\delta$, PKC$\varepsilon$ and PKC$\xi$ were different between the cytoplasmic and membranous fractions. However, expression of the PKC isoforms did not differ for the ADHR and NSR. The use of 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate (DPB, a PKC stimulant) induced isometric contraction in $Ca^{2+}$-free medium, which was diminished in muscle strips from ADHR as compared to NSR. Increased vasoconstriction and phosphorylation induced by the use of 1 ${\mu}$M DPB were inhibited by treatment with 10 ${\mu}$M PD098059 and 10 ${\mu}$M SB203580, inhibitors of extracellular-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 MAPK from ADHR, respectively. Conclusion: These results suggest that the development of aldosterone analogue-induced hypertension is associated with an altered blood pressure, resting tension, [$Ca^{2+}{_i}$], and that the $Ca^{2+}$-independent contraction evoked by PKC stimulants is due to the activation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK in volume-dependent hypertension. Therefore, it is suggested that PKC activity affects volume-dependent hypertension and the need to develop cardiovascular disease-specialized physical therapy.