• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.842-849
• /
• 2015

This study investigated the effects of rare-earth fertilizer on the shoot cuttings' rooting of Vitex rotundifolia L. and Tamarix chinensis Lour. The shoot cutting test was carried in 2008 and the main results are summarized as follows. The rate of rooting and the average roots increased in both number and length when rare-earth fertilizer is treated in V. rotundifolia and T. chinensis in comparison to those of the untreated control plot. In particular, when rare-earth fertilizer is diluted with water 1/2500, the rooting outstandingly increases. This result is almost similar to the effect of the rooting stimulant, IAA. Although there is no differentiation in its rooting rate according to the density, the rooting of T. chinensis shows a 100 percent effect on in the entire treated plot but not in the untreated control plot, so it is usable as a rooting stimulant. As for shoot cuttings' rooting, depending on the time immersed in diluted solution of rare-earth fertilizer, both V. rotundifolia and T. chinensis showed relatively higher percentages in all treatment plot immersed for 60 minutes than for 10 minutes. In conclusion, considering the results of the rooting percentage and the average number and length of roots of V. rotundifolia and T. chinensis, the shoot cuttings' rooting appeared higher in percentage when they were immersed in the rooting stimulant for sixty minutes with a lower density than 1/2500. This result shows that rare-earth fertilizer can be utilized as an alterative for IAA rooting stimulants currently available in the market.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2002.04a
• /
• pp.110.1-110.1
• /
• 2002

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.251-257
• /
• 1995

The objective of the present study was to test the effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on rat alveolar macrophages. PAF alone did not stimulate superoxide secretion from alveolar macrophages. However, PAF $(10^{-5}\;M)$ significantly enhanced phagocytic activator zymosan-induced superoxide secretion from alveolar macrophages. This enhancement of PAF plus zymosan was 30% above the sum of the separate effects of PAF and zymosan. Similarly, PAF $1.3{\times}(10^{-5}\;M)$ was not a direct stimulant of alveolar macrophages, as it had no stimulatory effect on chemiluminescence generation, but potentiated zymosan-induced activation of chemiluminescence, i.e., 162% above the separate effects of each stimulant. PAF $10^{-16}{\pm}10^{-6}\;M$ also failed to stimulate IL-1 production from alveolar macrophages. In contrast, when both PAF $10^{-10}\;M$ and lipopolysaccharide(LPS) $(1 {\mu}g/ml)$ were added together at the initiation of the culture, IL-1 production was significantly increased indicating the potentiative effects of PAF on IL-1 production by alveolar macrophages. Collectively, these data suggest that PAF alone does not activate the release of bioactive products from alveolar macrophages. However, PAF appears to act as a priming mediator that potentiates stimuli-induced macrophage activity. These novel actions of PAF prove its role as a potent mediator of inflammatory and immune responses in the lung.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.49-56
• /
• 2012

Methylphenidate is a widely used stimulant for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In addition to core symptoms of attention and behavioral symptoms, methylphenidate is even effective for executive functions. However, abuse and misuse of stimulants, including methylphenidate, for the purpose of cognitive enhancement is an issue of concern worldwide. Some prejudices and misunderstandings against methylphenidate are popular ; however, little attention has been given to the neuropsychiatric evidence of methylphenidate for enhancement of cognitive function among healthy populations. In this article, our aim was to conduct a review of previous studies investigating the effect of methylphenidate in healthy populations. Findings from several recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of methylphenidate for enhancement of cognitive function in healthy populations. The mechanisms of cognitive enhancement are thought to be associated with motivation and the reward circuit in the brain. However, when considering the risk to benefit, an official discussion of the use of methylphenidate among healthy members of the population would be premature. Instead, investigation of epidemiological studies of the prevalence of misuse of stimulants among healthy members of the population, particularly adolescents and college students, is needed. In addition, based on achievements reported in previous studies, investigation of the effect of an approach using non-pharmacological enhancing motivation, which will in turn result in increased cognitive function would be helpful.

• KIEAE Journal
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.11-18
• /
• 2006

In this research, Conducting an engineering properties experiment, this study examined basic properties of regional Hwangto. The results of experiments are as followings. 1) This study confirmed that a result of examining lime order for Hwangto and comparison of stimulants, this study confirmed that 28 day's strength promotion is found in case of calcium hydroxide(Ca(OH)2) and calcium chloride(CaCl2) stimulant. Finally, it is known the fact that lime highly improves the weak strength of Hwangtoh. 2) As XRD analysis for proving the strength manifestation principle of Hwangto by regions, CSH figure and CASH figure appeared in each regional Hwangto in all the strength areas. This result could be appeared through hydraulicity from reaction of alkali stimulant and water, and pozzolan reaction(CSH figure) and $Str{\ddot{a}}tlingite$ reaction(CASH figure) by silica (SiO2) ingredient and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) among ingredients of clay, and alumina(Al2O3). 3) In result of strength analysis, It is knowned that the Gyeongsangdo Hwangto is stronger than the Jeollado Hwangto in reactivity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.40 no.9
• /
• pp.1208-1214
• /
• 2011

Caffeine, a psychoactive stimulant, has been implicated in the modulation of learning and memory functions due to its action as a non-selective adenosine receptors antagonist. On the contrary, some side effects of caffeine have been reported, such as an increased energy loss and metabolic rate, decrease DNA synthesis in the spleen, and increased oxidative damage to exerted on LDL particles. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a safe stimulant from natural plants mixture (Aralia elata, Acori graminei Rhizoma, Chrysanthemum, Dandleion, Guarana, Shepherd's purse) that can be used as a substitute for caffeine. Thirty SD rats were divided into three groups; control group, caffeine group (15.0 mg/kg, i.p.), and natural plants mixture group (NP, 1 mL/kg, p.o.). The effect of NP extract on stimulant activity was evaluated with open-field test (OFT) and plus maze test for measurement of behavioral profiles. Plasma lipid profiles, lipid peroxidation in LDL (conjugated dienes), total antioxidant capacity (TRAP) and DNA damage in white blood, liver, and brain cells were measured. In the OFT, immobility time was increased significantly by acute (once) and chronic (3 weeks) supplementation of NP and showed a similar effect to caffeine treatment. Three weeks of caffeine treatment caused plasma lipid peroxidation and DNA damage in liver cells, whereas there were no changes in the NP group. NP group showed a higher plasma HDL cholesterol concentration compared to the caffeine group. The results indicate that the natural plants mixture had a stimulant effect without inducing oxidative stress.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.79-84
• /
• 2008

This paper describes the application of bioluminescence stimulating agents on a genetically engineered microorganism, Pseudomonas putida mt-2 KG1206, to monitor toluene analogs using in groundwater samples from petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites. The maximum bioluminescent response with pure chemicals followed in the order: m-methyl benzyl alchohol > m-toluate > toluene > m-xylene > benzoate > p-xylene > o-xylene. Generally, the bioluminescence production of strain mixed with groundwater samples was dependent on the contaminated total inducer concentrations. However, few samples showed opposite results, where these phenomena may be caused by the complexicity of environmental samples. Two chemicals, SL(sodium lactate) and KNO$_3$, were tested to determine a better bioluminescence stimulant. Both chemicals stimulate the bioluminescence activity of strain KG1206, however, a slightly high bioluminescence was observed with nitrogen chemical. This selected stimulant was then tested on samples collected from contaminated groundwater samples. The bioluminescence activity of all samples mixed with the strain was stimulated with KNO$_3$ amendment. This suggests that the low bioluminescence activity exhibited by the environmental groundwater samples can be stimulated by amending the culture with a proper agent, such as nitrogen compound. These findings would be useful, especially, when strain was used to monitor the groundwater samples contaminated with low inducer contaminants. Overall, the results of this study found the ability of bioluminescence producing bacteria to biosensor a specific group of environmental contaminants, and suggest the potential for more efficient preliminary application of this engineered strain in a field-ready bioassay.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.236-240
• /
• 2004

Acanthopanax species (Araliaceae) traditionally has been used as analgesics, stimulant of immune system, and replenishment of body functions. Acanthopanax divaricatus var. albeofructus is indigenous plant to Korea. The antioxidant activities of compounds from A divaricatus var. albeofructus were determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) assay on human plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The triterpenoid and lignan constituents from this plant showed antioxidant activities and the lignan, l-sesamin exhibited the most potent antioxidant activity in Cu$^{2+}$ -induced LDL oxidation.n.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.107-112
• /
• 1993

The optimal conditions for protoplast fusion between the cells of kanamycin resistant Lactobacillus bulgaricus IFO 13593 and those of lincomycin resistant Lactobacillus helveticus IAM 12090 were investigated in this study. The highest fusion frequency of 9.1*10-4 was obtained when protoplast fusion was carried out for 0.5 min using 40% PEG 4000 solution as a cell fusion stimulant and subsequent post-PEG-incubation was undergone at 30 for 30 min in the PPI medium.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.47 no.6
• /
• pp.361-364
• /
• 2003

Acanthopanax species (Araliaceae) has been traditionally used as tonic, analgesic, stimulant of immune system, and replenishment of body function. The antioxidant activities of leaf and root bark of Acanthopanax species were determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay and relative electrophoretic mobility (REM) on human plasma low density lipoproteins (LDL). Acanthopanax divaricatus var. albeofructus and Acanthopanax for. nambunensis showed potent antioxidant activities.