The purpose of this study was to find out the effects of electroencephalograph (EEG) power and coherence on cognitive function in normal elderly, non-demented elderly with mild cognitive impairment, and demented elderly during working cognition tasks. Forty elderly women (19 demented elderly, 10 non-demented elderly with mild cognitive impairment, 11 norma1 elderly) participated in this study, All subjects performed working cognition tasks with Raven's CPM while EEG signal was recorded, EEGs were measured continuously at rest and during the working cognition task. EEG power and coherence was computed over 21 channels: right and left frontal, central, parietal, temporal and occipital region. We found that there were more correct answers among normal elderly women than in other groups Owing the working cognition task, wave at Fp1, Fp2 and F8, a wave at Fp2, wave at Fp1, Fp2. F4 and F8 of the frontal region was increased significantly in the demented elderly group. On the other hand. wave at Fp1, Fp2 and F7, wave at Fp1, Fp2, F3 and F7 of the frontal region was increased significantly in the group of non-demented elderly with mild cognitive impairment. In contrast. in the normal elderly group, all of the θ wave and wave at Fp1, Fp2, F3, F4, F7 and F8 of the frontal region (except wave at F3) was increased significantly, These results suggest that the nerves in prefrontal and right hemisphere regions were most active in the demented elderly group during problem solving, and the nerves in the prefrontal and left hemisphere lobe were most active in the group of non-demented elderly with mild cognitive impairment. In contrast, me majority of nerves in the frontal region were active in the normal elderly group.

Mesoscale low is often observed over the downstream region of the East Sea (or, northwest coast off the Japan Islands) during East-Asia winter monsoon. The low system causes a heavy snowfall at the region. A series of numerical experiments were conducted with the aid of a regional model (MM5 ver. 3.5) to examine the formation mechanism of the mesoscale low. The following results were obtained: 1) A well-developed mesoscale low was simulated by the regional model under real topography, NCEP reanalysis, and OISST; 2) The mesoscale low was simulated under a zonally averaged SST without topography. This implies that the meridional gradient of SST is the main factor in the formation of a mesoscale low; 3) A thermal contrast (>10˚C) of land-sea and topography-induced disturbance served as the second important factor for the formation; 4) Paektu Mountain caused the surface wind to decelerate downstream, which created a more favorable environment for thermodynamic modification than that was found in a flat topography; and 5) The types of cumulus parameterizations did not affect the development of the mesoscale low.

A hyrdrothermal synthesis has been developd to prepare rod-like crystals of copper oxide using copper nitrate trihydrate as a function of synthesis temperature, stirring speed and solution pH value. The properties of the fabricated crystals were studied using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and particle size analysis. The morphology of the synthesized CuO was dependent on both the pH value of the solution and the morphology of the seed materials. Synthesized particles have regular morphologies and a uniform size distribution.

Chlorogenic acid, formed of an ester of caffeic acid and quinic acid, which is naturally abundant in many plant species, was used as a model O-dihydoxy phenolic compound. In the previous study, we have reported that the isolated constituent from Apocynum venetum leaves has an inhibitory effect on Cu2+-induced oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Among them, chlorogenic acid showed the most potent anti-LDL oxidative activity than other compounds. For the reason, we investigated the inhibitory effect of the chlorogenic acid on Cu2+-induced oxidative modification of LDL, monitored a lag time in the conjugated-diene formation and TBARS formation, and measured TNBS free amino acid group, and form cell formation in vitro system. The TBARS- and diene- formation were strongly inhibited by chlorogenic acid (0~100 μg/ml) with dose dependent manner. On the other hand, TNBS reactive lysine amino groups on LDL oxidation were protected by chlorogenic acid- treated cell group. Therefore, chlorogenic acid inhibited to cholesterol accumulation in the isolated peritoneal macrophage.

Phytochemical investigation of the sesame dregs of Sesamum indicum was conducted by open column and prep-HPLC chromatography. Two phytosterols (1 and 2) and two lignans (3 and 4) were isolated from the MeOH extracts of sesame dregs, and identified as β-sitosterol (1), daucosterol (2), sesamin (3), and sesamolin (4) by spectral analysis. Although these compounds were already isolated from sesame, it is important that they were still main phytochemical components in the sesame dregs.

This study evaluated the effect of organic fertilizer on the yield of sesame and the movement of nitrogen and carbon in soil under mulching cultivation. The seven fertilizer treatments investigated are as follows: 1) 8-4-9 kg N-P2O5-K2O 10a-1-control, 2) 80% of control treatment N from mixed expeller cake (MEC)-MEC 80%, 3) 100% of control treatment N from MEC-MEC 100%, 4) 80% of control treatment N from mixed organic fertilizer (MOF)MOF 80%, 5) 100% of control treatment N from MOF-MOF 100%, 6) 80% of control treatment N from latex coated urea complex fertilizer (LCU)-LCU 80%, and 7) no nitrogen. The soil mineral N available in the applied organic MEC and MOF fertilizers was less than the available N in the applied urea fertilizer during the early growth stage of sesame but the amount was observed to increase with time. The concentration of nitrate-N in leached solution 35 days after application was highest at 75 mg l-1 in the control, followed in descending order by MEC 100%, MOF 100%, LCU 80%, MOF 80% and MEC 80%. The concentration of nitrate-N in the leachate in all treatments was observed to rapidly decrease 45 days after fertilizer application and recorded at less than 20 mg l-1 65 days after application. The concentration of dissolved organic carbon in the leached solution and organic carbon in the soil of the organic fertilizer plots was higher than in the urea- and LCU-fertilized plots during the whole growing period. The yields of sesame applied with MEC and MOF organic fertilizers were 2 to 7% higher than those fertilized with urea. The amount of retained mineral N or organic carbon in the soil is higher in the LCU and organic fertilizer plots than in the urea-fertilized treatments, which resulted in the reduction of nitrate leaching, increasing N efficiency and sesame yield.

Nelumbo nucifera root(NNR) is used to clear summerheat(暑熱), bear Yang(陽) upwards and stop bleeding as mentioned in traditional Korean medicine. Also, it has been known that NNR is effective for lowering blood pressure and hyperlipidemia. The rhizome is considered to be nutritive, demulcent, diuretic and cholagogue and is used to treat piles, dyspepsia and diarrhea. An increasingly growing market for nutraceuticals and functional foods has triggered the study on natural sources for nutraceuticals, health foods and functional foods. But rhizome was inconvenient to formulate liquid dosage form(extract) by way of hot water because of its limited storage. Also the majority of the consumers have a complaint against the dosage. The purpose of this study was to develop the functional materials from NNR without side effects. We formulated the solid dosage form viz tablet and granule from the lotus root. Sensory evaluation was performed in terms of smell, taste, color and overall of lotus root and all colored forms(brown, dark brown, light green and yellow) of tablet and granule to evaluate the acceptability of the formulated tablets and granules. In sensory evaluation, among the formulated tablets and granules, light green granules obtained best score overall and yellow tablets showed the overall improved acceptability. In conclusion, lotus rhizome could be recommended as functional food. Further studies to clarify bioactive functions of Nelumbo nucifera in experimental animal model on atopic dermatitis are in progress.

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.(family Nymphaeaceae) has been used for summer heat syndrome as home remedy in Japan, China and Korea. Although whole plant parts are edible, root is commonly consumed. It has been reported that rhizome extract showed anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. However, in spite of usefulness for treatment of various diseases, the effect of Nelumbo nucifera rhizome(NNR) on proliferation, migration and matrix degrading enzymes-matrix metalloproteinsases(MMPs), the expression of which degrades extracellular matrix(ECM) leading to metastasis, has not been fully elucidated. We examined the effect of hot water extract of NNR on the proliferation, migration and secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in rat smooth muscle cells(rSMC), epidermoid cancer cells(A431) and breast cancer cells(MDA-MB-231). The proliferation assay was carried out using MTT assay, the principle of which depends upon the conversion of MTT by mitochondrial dehydrogensases of viable cells to formazan crystals. The effect of NNR on migration of cells was examined using wound healing assay. Our results showed that there was inhibition in the proliferation, migration and expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in dose dependent fashion in all the cells used. Thus, we concluded that NNR could be used as traditional medicine in the treatment of various diseases where proliferation, migration and MMPs' expression plays a pathological role like in restenosis and metastasis.

RAPD analysis showed that all the OTUs of 'Sandolbae' were the same species because amplified band patterns of all samples generated by each of 5 random primers were identical. Even though there were different environmental conditions, all the "Chuiangne" trees from three different places were the same species, and also all the "Cheongshilli" trees were the same species too. No genetic variations were detected between native Korean pears grown in the habitats and in the research field. Because 212 polymorphic bands were generated by 9 primers selected through primer screening, they were possible to analyze genetic relationship among naturally growing three native Korean pears and nine cultivars of Pyrus pyrifolia and P. communis. Based on the RAPD analysis, three main groups were formed. The first group represented the Six P. pyrifoia cultivars, the second group was the three native Korean pears, and the last group was the three P. communis cultivars. Genetic distance between 'Wonwhang' and 'Chojuro' was closer than other cultivars in group 1 since dissimilarity index value between these two cultivars was 50.82. However, genetic distance between 'Niitaka' and 'Chojuro' was the most distant compared to the others in group 1. In group 2, 'Sandlobae' was genetically closer to 'Chuiangne' than 'Cheongshilli' because dissimilarity index value between 'Sandlobae' and 'Chuiangne' was smaller, 50.82, than the value between 'Sandlobae' and 'Cheongshilli', 63.636. In group 3, 'Old Home' was genetically closer to 'Bartlett' than 'Kaiser Alexander(or Bosc)'. Group 3 composed of P. communis cultivars was genetically further than other two groups, P. pyrifolia cultivars and native Korean pears.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of slow release fertilizers (SRF), crotonylidene diurea (CDU) and latex coated urea (LCU), on nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) and nitrate-N leaching in a silty clay loam soil under polyethylene film mulching (PFM) for sesame cultivation. In PFM plot, concentrations of NO3-N and NH4-N in SRF applied soils were less than that in the urea plot during the whole growing period. However, NO3-N and NH4-N in all the non-mulched plots (NM) were not significantly different. Urea-N in soil treated with SRF was higher than urea plot until 50 days after application and was comparable in all the treatments after 50 days. NO3-N concentrations in leached solution in 21 days after urea fertilization in PFM and NM were 26 mg L-1 and 83 mg L-1 , respectively. However, NO3-N in leached solution at applied CDU and LCU was less than that of urea similar to nitrate concentration in soil. NO3-N in leached solution in applied CDU and LCU in 44 days after application was about 25% lower than that urea plot and PFM, while the NO3-N concentration of CDU and LCU treatment in NM did not changed. Application of SRF increased the yield of sesame and N recovery compared to urea and there was a little difference between SRF and N levels. In conclusion, application of 80% N level with SRF increased N recovery and reduced nitrate leaching without reduction of yields compared with urea application.

Seed of Codonopsis lanceolata exhibits low germination due to impermeable seed coat. Prolonged seed dormancy can be overcome by the application of gibberellins, as it promotes growth of the embryo and weakens the structures surrounding of embryo. The effects of photoperiod, sugar and gibberellin concentration were investigated at constant temperature for 12 days and 22 days in vitro and invivo conditions respectively. The rate of germination of seeds of Codonopsis lanceolata in wet filter paper in both complete dark and light treatments was significantly lower than that of seed treated with GA3. It clearly indicates that there is significant coat imposed dormancy in the seed of Codonopsis lanceolata. The rate of germination in vivo condition was lower than that of the in vitro condition supplemented with GA3 Thus, the physical dormancy due to impermeable seed coat and low level of endogenous gibberellins in the seed was the cause of poor germination rate in Codonopsis lanceolata.

The present study was designed to elucidate the physiological changes with age by chronic administration of red ginseng. All rats were reared in the conventional system. Ginseng treated rats were continously supplied with ginseng water extracts together water from 6 weeks of age to the age 24 months. Rats did not show any discernible signs or the rejection symptoms by red ginseng water extracts. A long-term administration of red ginseng extracts did not cause any physiological changes in the gain of body and organs weight, food intake and general properties of urine. However, red ginseng caused to decrease the level of serum cholesterol, glucose and TBARS, and it attenuated effectively the age-dependent decline of LDH activity. Other biochemical parameters measured from blood and general properties of urine were not significantly changed. These results suggest that long-term administration of red ginseng to rat does not cause any clear physiological changes in appearance and urine, and it retards age-related deteriorations in some biochemical parameters such as LDL-cholesterol, glucose and LDH in serum.