• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.415-421
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• 2008

Pro-inflammatory mediators, such as prostaglandin $E_2$ (PGE2), nitric oxide (NO), and cyclooxygenases-2 (COX-2), play pivotal roles in normal as well as transformed cells. Previous studies have shown that Euphorbiae humifusae Wind exhibits anti-proliferative and antioxidant activities. However, the it's anti-inflammatory properties are unclear. In this study, we examine the effects of water extract of E. humifusae (WEEH) on the expression of COX-2 and the production of $PGE_2$ in human lymphatic U937 cells. Treatment of phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) significantly induced COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production in U937 cells. However, pretreatment WEEH markedly inhibited the PMA-induced COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, WEEH prevented the elevated early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) expression and nuclear factor-kappaB ($NF{-\kappa}B\; p65$) nuclear translocation stimulated by PMA treatment. Taken together, the present data indicate that WEEH exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes through the $NF{-\kappa}B$ and Egr-1 signaling pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.19-25
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate the bending strength properties of the unreinforced glulam beams and the GFRP laminated glulam beams according to the volume ratio of GFRP. The 7-layer glulam beams ($10cm(b){\times}14cm(h){\times}180cm(l)$) were manufactured, using Larch (Larix kaempferi Carr.) laminae ($2cm(h){\times}10cm(b){\times}360cm(l)$), which were dried to the moisture content of 8% and specific gravity of 0.54. GPRP of 0.1 and 0.3 cm was reinforced between the outmost layer of bottom and next layer. When the glulam beams were reinforced with GFRP at the volume ratio of 0.7% and 2.1%, respectively, the bending strength was increased by 12% and 28%, respectively, in the reinforced beams than in control glulam beams. Also, the GFRP reinforced layer of the glulam beams with GFRP laminations blocked the progression of rupture, and the unbroken part held about 90% of the bending strength. In the results of glue joints test, the block shear strength is higher than $7.1N/mm^2$, the standard of KS F3021, and in the result of delamination, the adhesive strength is good as the water soaking and boiling delamination was less than 5%.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.343-353
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• 2011

Variations of load in both DOM and RDOM of inflowing rivers to lakes were in the range of 5.01-7.29(${\times}10^2$ kg/day) for AD lake and 1.23-3.75(${\times}10^3$ kg/day) for JY lake during the research period excluding the period directly affected by the strong rainy season and the monsoon and typhoon season. We observed a good relationship($R^2$ > 0.8) between SS load and DOM load (including RDOM) in both inflowing rivers to JY lake. Therefore, it was determined that SS would be an alternative parameter with a rapid and energy-efficient method for the analysis of both DOC and RDOC, which require the analytical equipment and a long time period. Both AD lake and JY lake may act as a DOM(including RDOM) source through primary production in the fall season. Because AD lake and JY lake may not act as a DOM buffer zone, both lakes couldn't control the DOM and RDOM in spring before the rainy season. Therefore to improve water quality in downstream rivers is needed to remove pollutants such as DOM and RDOM before inflowing to these lakes in upstream rivers, or to have the unique landscape of wetlands as a buffer zone.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.126-129
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• 2000

The hypoglycemic effects of the hot water extract of soybean paste containing mycelia of Phellinus linteus, Cordyceps militaris, Ganoderma lucidum were evaluated in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. All the diabetic groups were not significantly affected in food intake and food efficiency ratio. Significant decrease in blood glucose was observed in all the soybean paste containing mushroom mycelia (SPM) groups. Especially, administration of soybean paste containing mycelia of Ganoderma lucidum, blood glucose level was significantly lowered up to 45% compared to that of diabetic control group. The GPT and GOT activities indicated lower values in all the SPM groups than in the diabetic control group.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.417-424
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• 2019

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Lespedeza maximowiczii var. tricolor Nakai (LMTN) on glucose metabolism. LMTN extract significantly enhanced the glucose uptake and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes compared with control. Also, LMTN extract in 3T3-L1 adipocytes significantly increased the protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ, insulin receptor substrate-1, and glucose transporter (GLUT)4. The regulatory effect on glucose uptake or insulin signal transduction of LMTM extract was lower than troglitazone or pinitol such as the positive control, but increased PPARγ activation. Additionally, LMTM extract has an insulin-mimetic effect. In db/db mice, LMTN extract (250 mg/kg BW) significantly reduced water and food intake, blood glucose, and level of plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol. Furthermore, the expression of PPARã and GLUT4 mRNA in adipose or muscle tissue effectively was increased by oral treatment of LMTN extract. Thus, our results suggest that LMTN extract improves the glucose metabolism through PPARγ and insulin-mimetic effect in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and db/db mice.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.511-516
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• 2003

Computer vision technology has been utilized as one of the most powerful tools to automate various agricultural operations. Though it has demonstrated successful results in various applications, the current status of technology is still for behind the human's capability typically for the unstructured and variable task environment. In this paper, a man-machine interactive hybrid decision-making system which utilized a concept of tole-operation was proposed to overcome limitations of computer image processing and cognitive capability. Tasks of greenhouse watermelon cultivation such as pruning, watering, pesticide application, and harvest require identification of target object. Identifying water-melons including position data from the field image is very difficult because of the ambiguity among stems, leaves, shades. and fruits, especially when watermelon is covered partly by leaves or stems. Watermelon identification from the cultivation field image transmitted by wireless was selected to realize the proposed concept. The system was designed such that operator(farmer), computer, and machinery share their roles utilizing their maximum merits to accomplish given tasks successfully. And the developed system was composed of the image monitoring and task control module, wireless remote image acquisition and data transmission module, and man-machine interface module. Once task was selected from the task control and monitoring module, the analog signal of the color image of the field was captured and transmitted to the host computer using R.F. module by wireless. Operator communicated with computer through touch screen interface. And then a sequence of algorithms to identify the location and size of the watermelon was performed based on the local image processing. And the system showed practical and feasible way of automation for the volatile bio-production process.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.187-192
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• 1996

The matrix tablet containing sodium alginate and $CaHPO_4$ can release drugs in a controlled fashion from hydrogel with gelling and swelling due to their interaction as water penetrates the matrices of the tablet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate release characteristics of the matrix tablet varying the amount of sodium alginate, $CaHPO_4$ and other excipients such as chitosan, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and $Eudragit^{\circledR}$ RS100 in the simulated gastric and intestinal fluid. The practically soluble ibuprofen was used as a model drug. The release profiles of matrix tablet in the gastric fluid as a function of sodium alginate/$CaHPO_4$ ratio was not pronounced because of low solubility of drug and stability of alginate matrices. However, release rate of drug from the matrix tablet in the intestinal fluid was largely changed when sodium alginate/$CaHPO_4$ ratio was increased, suggesting that the ratio of sodium alginate/$CaHPO_4$ was an important factor to control the gelling and swelling of the matrix tablet. The incorporation of other excipients into the matrix tablet also influenced the release rate of drug. The chitosan and HPMC decreased the release rate of drug. No release of drug was occurred when $Eudragit^{\circledR}$ RS100 was added into the tablet. The retarded release of matrix tablet when excipients were added resulted from the hindrance of swelling and gelling of the matrix tablet containing sodium alginate and $CaHPO_4$. The hardness and bulk density of the matrix tablet was not correlated with release rate of drug in the study. From these findings, the ratio of sodium alginate and $CaHPO_4$ in the matrix tablet in addition to incorporation of excipients could be very important to control the release rate of drug in dosage form design.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the components of organic acids and flavour in flour ferment composed of water, flour, seed mash, yeast and lactic acid bacteria. The pH and TTA in the control (flour ferment without seed mash and lactic bacteria) were 5.6 and 2.5, respectively at 6 hrs after culturing; however, those in flour ferment with seed mash and different lactic acid bacteria were 4.63-4.69 and 9.0-9.9, respectively. Organic acid contents were propionic acid 0.09 mg/g, lactic acid 0.06 mg/g and acetic acid 0.04 mg/g in flour ferment without seed mash, whereas lactic acid 0.23-0.27 mg/g, propionic acid 0.21 mg/g, and acetic acid 0.06-0.08 mg/g in flour ferment with seed mash and lactic acid bacteria. Flavour compounds including ethyl capylate, ethyl caproate, ethyl acetate, ethyl caprate and phenylethyl acetate were detected to be high in flour ferment with seed mash and different lactic acid bacteria than in the control. This results show that the use of flour ferment with seed mash and lactic acid bacteria in making bread will enhance bread flavour.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.392-402
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• 1987

To know the effect of presowing seed soaking with some growth substances (kinetin, IAA, ethrel and salicylic acid) on vegetative growth and yield contributing parameters in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] the investigation was undertaken. The salient features from the study are;-All the treatments showed the enhancement effect on vegetative growth, viz. seediling emergence, germination percentage, plant height, number of leaves and branches per plant as compared with control, whereas salicylic acid delayed the seedling emergence process and lowered the germination percentage.-Nodule initiation, number of nodules and nodule weight were hastened and increased respectively under all the treatments whereas IAA showed an opposite effect on all the parameters at the early stages of nodule development.-Kinetin, IAA and ethrel showed the significant enhancement effect on the levels of biochemical parameters throughout the time of seed development whereas salicylic acid and water showed the tendency similar to that of control.-Yield and its components, viz. number of flowers, pods and seeds per plant were significant increased under all the treatments but they didn't show any significant enhancement effect on number of seeds per pod and pod setting rate. One hundred seed weight was lower under all the treatments, indicating the dilution effect resulting from incapability of increased number and size of source to provide the increased size of sink with assimilates.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.1936-1942
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• 2010

To examine the effect of overdosed functional food in liver-injured patients, we tried to investigate the dose effect of Allium sativum L. (also called garlic) extract on rats with CCl4-induced liver damage, by comparatively examinating the hepatic function of each group. 42 male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and divided equally (n=7) into normal, control, positive control, and three experimental subgroups (E1, E2 and E3), respectively. For each kg of body weight, hepatic injury was induced by intraperitoneal administration of $0.5\;m{\ell}$ (0.20 g/kg/day) $CCl_4$, which was diluted in equal amount of olive oil, once a day on every other day for total 5 times. Hot water extraction was performed using domestically cultivated organic garlics, and the obtained extract was injected by sonde, once daily during 4 weeks, to each experimental subgroups by different dosage of 0.35 g/kg(E1), 0.70 g/kg(E2), 1.40 g/kg(E3), respectively. Results showed that the injection of garlic extract positively influenced the physiological activation which lowered the oxidative stress, changed the toxicity, and functionally improved the hepatic condition. Comparing the dose effect between the three experimental subgroups (E1, E2, E3), results of the maximal-dosed subgroup (E3) showed less significance compared with the lower-dosed subgroups(E1 and E2), which seems to resulted from the (increased) toxicity of garlic.