• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.451-457
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• 2007

Four parallel $A^2/O$ systems maintaining an MLSS of 3,000 mg/L were operated to investigate the effects of varying an HRT of anoxic reactors and packing Bio contact media (BCM, fixed beds) in aerobic reactors on organic matter removal and nitrification/denitrification efficiencies. All systems were operated under conditions that the external recycle ratio was kept 0.5 Q while the internal recycle ratio was changed 1.0 Q to 1.5 Q with that $NH_4-N$ concentration of feed was increased to 40 mg/L by adding $NH_4Cl$. In terms of TSS and TCODcr removal efficiency, both systems with BCM and a system without BCM, respectively, had a similar level of the removal efficiency under varied HRTs of anoxic reactors (0.6 hr, 1.3 hr, 2 hr, 2 hr; control, without BC M) showing that varying an HRT of anoxic reactors did not affect the removal efficiency. While SCODcr removal efficiency of systems with BCM was improved approximately 4~5% at the same HRT of anoxic reactor, the removal efficiency of system with BCM was slightly decreased by reducing an HRT of anoxic reactor. The nitrification efficiency for both systems with BCM and a system without BCM was above 94% showing that packing BCM in aerobic reactors and varying an HRT of anoxic reactors did not affect the efficiency significantly despite of increasing $NH_4-N$ concentration of feed. The denitrification efficiency increased from 81.4% to 85.4% at system with BCM while the efficiency decreased when a shorter HRT of anoxic reactors was kept. The excellent effluent quality for $NO_3-N$ concentration was observed although the $NO_3-N$ concentration increased in anoxic reactors that $NH_4-N$ concentration of feed sufficiently converted into nitrate through nitrification. As a result, packing 20% BCM to an aerobic reactor with HRT of 1.3 hr of anoxic reactor in $A^2/O$ system can achieve a similar level of nitrogen removal efficiency in $A^2/O$ system which the aerobic reactor had no BCM and HRT of 2 hr for anoxic reactor is maintained.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.264-269
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• 2017

Prunella vulgaris, well-known traditional medicinal plant, is used for the cure of abscess, scrofula, hypertension and urinary diseases. Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease. The pathological characteristics of diabetic nephropathy are glomerular and tubular basement membrane thickening. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Prunella vulgaris, on diabetic glomerular injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 45 mg/kg) and confirmed by random glucose level higher than ${\leq}300mg/dL$. The experimental rats were divided into five groups: control group (Male SD rats), STZ group (Male SD rats injected STZ), Aminoguanidine group (Male SD rats injected STZ + AG 100 mg/kg/day), Low dose group (Male SD rats injected STZ + APV 100 mg/kg/day), High dose group (Male SD rats injected STZ + APV 300 mg/kg/day). AG or APVs were administered once a day for 8 weeks. Body weight and food/water intake were measured every four weeks. At the end of study, the kidneys were collected and cut into pieces for immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Our study showed that body weight and water/food intake were no significant differences between untreated STZ-induced diabetic rat and APV treated-STZ rat. However, phosphorylation of receptor-regulated Smads (Smad3) was significantly decreased in APV treated-STZ rat as compared with the diabetic group. In addition, APV was improved nephrin level in kidney tissue. Therefore, we suggest that APV has a protective effect against STZ-induced diabetic glomerular injury.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.359-366
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• 2010

Large-scale preparation steps of antithrombotic materials from wood ear mushroom (Auricularia auricular-judae) were established as follows. Grounded dry wood ear mushroom was extracted with 75% ethanol and its precipitate was extracted with $76^{\circ}C$ water for 2 hr followed by filter pressing. The filtrate was then concentrated by vacuum and extracted with 80% ethanol, and the resulting precipitate was then freeze-dried. The formula of the product was determined using consumer susceptibility tests as follows; mushroom extract 90.5%, high fructose corn syrup 2.0%, $\beta$-cyclodextrin 1.5%, fructo-oligosaccharide 2.0%, pear puree 4.0%. When the packed products were stored at 25, 37, or $45^{\circ}C$ for 8 weeks, there were no noticeable changes in water activity, moisture content, pH, and acidity. The viable cell number of total bacteria was slightly increased during the storage period at 25 and $37^{\circ}C$, The total bacteria were not detected in the product when stored at $45^{\circ}C$. When the product was injected intravenously into rat at the level of 1,000 mg/kg, antithrombotic activities such as activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, prothrombin time, and FIB were increased when compared with the control group. When the product was administrated orally into rat at the level of 500 mg/kg, it showed the same antiplatelet activity to aspirin.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.1-13
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the chlorophyll content, photosynthetic characteristics, and growth characteristics of Aster koraiensis and Dendranthema zawadskii var. latiloba according to shading treatment. A. koraiensis and D. zawadskii grew in four different shading treatment plots (0%, 50%, 75% and 95% of full sunlight) for experiments. It was found that as the shading level increased, the total chlorophyll content increased and dark respiration decreased in both A. koraiensis and D. zawadskii, indicating that A. koraiensis and D. zawadskii increase the utilization efficiency for photosynthesis under low light conditions. In addition, as the shading level increased, the net apparent quantum yield increased, resulting in the highest in the 95% shading plot, but the highest photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, and leaf mass per area (LMA) were shown in the control group than in the shading treatments. The results showed that A. koraiensis and D. zawadskii are heliophytes showing plasticity to light, and if the light is restricted to continue to shade, it may be detrimental to growth. For healthy growth, it is considered suitable to grow A. koraiensis under full light conditions, and D. zawadskii under the light condition that blocks 0-50% of full sunlight.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.157-166
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• 2015

Purpose: The effects of water extract and distillate from the mixture of black goat meat and medicinal herb on MG-63 osteoblast proliferation and mouse bone marrow derived osteoclast formation were investigated. Methods: Proximate composition, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), mineral content, free amino acid composition and free fatty acid composition in black goat meat were determined. Water extract and distillate were prepared with three groups; goat meat only (BG-E, BG-D), six herbs added group (BG-E6, BG-D6), and eight herbs added group (BG-E8, BG-D8). Osteoblast proliferation, mineralization and calcium uptake activity of MG-63 cells were measured and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase activity of osteoclasts was analyzed. Results: Black goat meat had remarkably low fat and high level of calcium. Glutamic acid was the most abundant amino acid. Herbs added extract groups (BG-E6 and BG-E8) showed increased MG-63 cell proliferation in a concentration dependent manner, while all the distillates did not show the effect. All extracts and distillates showed significantly increased osteoblast mineralization depending on the concentration. In particular, herb added extract, BG-E6, increased 170.3% of control and the distillate of BG-D and BG-D6 increased up to 168.5% and 159.8%, respectively. Calcium uptake activities of all water extracts showed remarkable increase of BG-E6 and BG-E8 up to 615.5% and 628.1% of control, respectively. Ditillates had no effect except BG-D6. All water extracts significantly reduced the activity of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in osteoclasts derived from mouse bone marrow. Conclusion: Combination of black goat meat and medicinal herb increased the MG-63 cell proliferation and effectively inhibited osteoclast differentiation in both water extracts and distillate of them, which implies that they could be used as potent functional food materials for bone health.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.68-74
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• 2000

Penicillium oxalicum (PENOX) has shown the potential as a biocontrol agent(5CA) for control of a weed, clover(Trifolium repens L.) in grass plots. The bioherbicidal activity may be due to germinative and growth capacities and substrate availability of the agent over a range of environmental factors. The influences of different water activities($0.94{\sim}0.995\;a_w$) and temperatures($18{\sim}30^{\circ}C$) on mycelial growth, conidial germination, sporulation oil 2% MEA(malt extract agar) adjusted to different water activities with glycerol, and carbon source utilization using BIOLOG GN MicroPlate were determined in vitro. Decreases in $a_w$ on MEA caused a reduction in mycelial growth and conidial germination depending on temperature. The mycelial growth of PENOX was greatest at $30^{\circ}C/0.995\;a_w$. At some lowered water activity($0.97\;a_w$), the growth was similar between 25 and $30^{\circ}C$, and considerably decreased at lowered temperature($20^{\circ}C$). The germination rate was also greatest at $30^{\circ}C/0.995\;a_w$. Lag phase times for PENOX at $18^{\circ}C$ on MEA were >6hrs at tile whole $a_w$ level tested, and at 18 and $25^{\circ}C$ they were >18hrs and >12hrs at $0.94\;a_w$, respectively. However, its sporulation was some better at $0.97\;a_w$ than $0.995\;a_w$ or $0.94\;a_w$, and better at $20^{\circ}C$ than $30^{\circ}C$. In contrast, the number of carbon sources(niche size) utilized by PENOX varied with $a_w$ and temperature. Under some water stress condition($0.95\;a_w$), the agent utilized smaller number of carbon sources than $0.995\;a_w$ depending on temperature. The niche size at 0.995 and $0.95\;a_w$ were highest at $25^{\circ}C$, and showed 86 and 65, respectively. At $30^{\circ}C$, the niche size at 0.995 and $0.95\;a_w$ showed 84 and 50, respectively. There was no carbon source utilized by PENOX at $0.90\;a_w$ regardless of temperature. These information of tile fungal ecophysiology will be useful for the effective development of BCA.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.204-209
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the anti-diabetic activity of Kocat-D1, which is widely used in traditional medicine to treat diabetes in Shandong, China. Sprague Dawley rats (8 weeks of age) were separated into 4 groups: a normal control, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat group (DM control), Kocat-D1-1 (diabetic rat treated with 0.25 g/kg/day hot water extract), and Kocat-D1-2 (diabetic rat treated with 1 g/kg/day hot water extract). After eight weeks of treatment, the fasting blood glucose levels of the Kocat-D1-1 ($334.3{\pm}32.9\;mg/dL$) and Kocat-D1-2 group ($259.5{\pm}35.0\;mg/dL$) were significantly lower when compared to the DM control group ($451{\pm}42.6\;mg/dL$). Furthermore, the levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), albumin and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in the serum of the Kocat-D1-2 group were significantly normalized when compared to the DM control group. However, significant differences were not observed between the Kocat-D1-1 group and the DM control group. Histochemical staining of the liver of the Kocat-D1-2 group revealed no fat accumulation. The insulin level was significantly upregulated in the Kocat-D1-2 group ($0.13{\pm}0.02\;ng/mL$) when compared to the DM control group ($0.05{\pm}0.04\;ng/mL$). The relative volume of $\beta$-cells in the pancreas of the Kocat-D1-2 group ($49.4{\pm}4.2%$) also increased significantly when compared to the DM control group ($12.9{\pm}7.9%$). These results suggest that Kocat-D1 exerts an anti-hyperglycemic effect through the enhancement of insulin secretion.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.100-107
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• 2013

Unlike general microwave, QRD (Quadratic Residue Diffusor) Microwave used in this study is known as a new technology that enhances the sterilization effect with low power because it is possible to induce the average sterilization by changing wavelength phase difference. Therefore, basic research was conducted on the function that could sterilize culture media for plant factory by using environmentally friendly and low energy consuming QRD Microwave. The results are as follows: It was confirmed that there was no external deformation in the polyurethane foam and rock wool medium when changing the microwave level between 2 and 8 kW in different water content of culture media. However, PDA solid media at 2 kW were not dissolved in 60 and 180 seconds. All of the media were dissolved in other processing. There was little difference in the microwave irradiation level and surface temperature of the strain according to the processing time between Bacillus sp. and Burkholderia sp. In the sterility test according to the microwave irradiation level and processing time, it was confirmed that both Bacillus sp. and Burkholderia sp. grew in the microwave level 2 kW regardless of time. In the microwave level 6 kW, all experimental groups except the processing of Burkholderia sp. for 60 seconds were sterilized, and all of Bacillus sp. was killed in the all experimental groups. In the microwave level 8 kW, it was confirmed that both Bacillus sp. and Burkholderia sp. were sterilized regardless of time. The temperature in microwave-processed media after contaminating strains to each medium was maintained at more than 100 in polyurethane foam and rock wool medium after 60 seconds. In general, it was shown that it was possible to sterilize after 60 seconds. Therefore, it is considered that Bacillus sp. and Burkholderia sp. which are the biggest problems in the plant factory can be adequately sterilized by QRD Microwave used in this study.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.82-92
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• 2007

In 2003, we evaluated biological water quality at twelve sites of Youngsan River using community analysis, fish compositions, and the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI). Of the twelve, four sites were the controls, which have no point sources in the upstream and the remaining eight sites were the impacted sites, which are influenced by wastewater treatment plant (WTP) and agro-industrial complex. Model values of the IBI, based on 12 sites data, averaged 28 (n=12, range: $18{\sim}44$), indicating fair poor condition according to the criteria of US EP A (1993). In the mean time, mean IBI in the control sites (S3, S5, S6, S11) was 42 (n=4, range: $38{\sim}44$), indicating a good condition, whereas mean IBI in the impacted sites was 21, indicating a poor condition. Mean IBI value in the control, thus, was greater by 2 fold than that in the WTP sites. The spatial pattern of IBI values was similar to the patterns of species diversity index and species richness index, except for Site 11, which was 1st order stream. Similarity analysis indicated that three groups were divided at the similarity level of 80%. One group was the streams influenced by wastewater and the other two groups were the pristine streams as the control, indicating that the stream health conditions are directly influenced by presence or absence of the point sources. Also, Pearson's correlation analysis showed that IBI values had negative correlation (r=0.899, p<0.001) with relative abundance of tolerance species, and had positive relation (r=0.890, p<0.001) with sensitive species. Overall, outcomes suggest that the point sources of the WTP might impact the species composition and ecological health, resulting in degradation of biological water quality.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1151-1156
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• 2014

Traditional medicinal plants are widely used to treat many diseases, such as inflammation, infections, and even cancer. Ulmus macrocarpa Hance, a Chinese elm species, is distributed in Korea, China, and Japan. The stem bark is widely employed in Korean traditional medicine to treat dermatitis, mastitis, and edema. The aim of this study was to investigate whether water extract of U. macrocarpa Hance bark (Ulmus cortex) has a immune-modulating function in a mouse model. Three different concentrations (30 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg) of Ulmus cortex water extract (UCWE) were orally administered to mice for 14 days, and their immune responses were analyzed. Cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, and IFN-${\gamma}$, increased in the blood of UCWE-fed groups when compared with a control group. In contrast, the IL-4 level did not change in any of the UCWE-fed groups Cell-mediated cytotoxicity was also assayed using lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAK). LAK showed greater cytotoxicity in the UCWE-fed groups than LAK in the control group. Internal organ indices, such as liver, kidney, spleen, and thymus, were similar in all the groups, including the control group, indicating that UCWE may have been nontoxic in the experimental animals. These data suggest that UCWE has an immune-modulating function in a mouse model.