실내 벽면녹화용으로 많이 이용되고 있는 덩굴식물 스킨답 서스(Epipremnum aureum)는 줄기의 상·하 유인방향에 생장 차이를 보이는 것으로 알려져 있으나 그 원인에 대해서는 구 체적으로 알려져 있지 않다. 본 연구에서는 광원의 위치(상· 하)와 줄기 유인방향(상·하)에 따른 스킨답서스의 생장반응을 15주간 조사하였다. 그 결과 정상적인 식물 생장 환경조건인 광원이 위에 있고 줄기를 위로 유인한 처리를 제외하고는 광 원이 아래에 위치하거나 줄기를 아래로 유인한 처리에서는 굴 곡과 뒤틀림 정도가 매우 컸다. 이것은 굴광성과 항굴지성에 대한 식물체 지상부의 반응 결과이며, 굴광성과 항굴지성의 경합반응은 식물체 아래 광원이 위치하고 줄기를 아래로 유인 했을 때 더욱 뚜렷하였다. 광원의 위치와 줄기 유인방향에 따 른 스킨답서스의 생장 반응은 굴광성과 항굴지성으로 설명 가 능하며 굴광성의 영향이 상대적으로 높게 나타났다.

The occurrence of sudden strike pest events in urban areas is increasing as global warming intensifies, consequently, re causing harmful impacts. Studies on these incidents are fewer in number and insufficient compared to research on other nuisances such as mosquitoes and flies. Therefore, we conducted a study on the development of a selective collection method, using a filter layer to establish a monitoring system for Ephemera orientalis (Ephemeroptera: Ephemeridae), a species frequently identified as a sudden strike pest. Three sampling points were selected along the Hangang River in Namyangju, where E. orientalis outbreaks occur. Prototypes, consisting of four layers and with a light source attached to attract insects, were installed at each sampling point. Sampling was performed every 30 minutes between 19:00 and 22:30 in the month of June. The filter interval of each layer was adjusted so that the collected mayflies were distributed into specific layers. To evaluate the collection efficiency in line with the materials and the filter intervals, the optimal collection efficiency was investigated by combining two types of layer materials (stainless and acrylic) and filter intervals (1-5 mm). The optimal conditions were as follows: The selective collection efficiency was found to be highest at 96.5% when the interval of the selective target filter was 2.0 mm and there was one upper filter.

소변검사 전 냉/해동 반복과 해동 과정에 따라 대표적인 임상 화학검사 측정값의 변화를 확인 함으로써 소변검사의 안정성과 품질 개선방안을 모색하고자 하였다. 조사 대상자는 모두 건강한 남성 10명이었으며 이들의 소변 검체를 이용하여 냉/해동 안정성(freeze and thaw stability) 실험을 진행하였다. Micro-albumin과 Amylase의 경우 시간이 경과 됨에 따라 37℃에서 는 통계적 유의성은 없었으나, 42℃와 60℃에서는 시간의 경과에 따른 결과가 통계적으로 유의한 변동 이 있었고, BUN, Creatinine, Uric acid와 Glucose에서는 통계적으로 유의한 변동이 있었다. Long term의 안정성 결과, 7일이 지난 후에는 Glucose의 변이는 증가하였고, 60℃에서는 Amylase가 감 소하는 양상을 보였다. Glucose와 Amylase의 경우 시간의 경과에 따른 결과가 통계적으로 유의한 변동 이 있었다. 신뢰성 있는 검사결과를 얻기 위해서는 소변 시료의 채취, 보관 및 저장 등을 비롯한 요검사 의 정확한 표준화가 필요하며 생체 물질별 안정성 확보를 위한 조건들의 체계적 연구가 필요하다.

본 연구는 거친대추멍게 (Ascidiella aspersa)의 알 발육과 유생 부착에 미치는 수온과 염도의 영향을 파악하고자 실시하였다. 거친대추멍게 알 발육과 유생 부착 실험은 12개의 수온 조건 (6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28°C, 과 2개의 염도 조건 (30, 34 psu)에서 진행하였다. 거친대추멍게 알의 부화율과 발육률은 염도에 관계없이 수온이 높아짐에 따라 증가하는 경향을 보였으며 최적 수온 범위 이후 감소하는 경향을 보였으며 부화 및 발육을 위한 최적 수온은 20~22°C의 범위를 보였다. 저온 발육임계수온은 30 psu와 34 psu에서 각각 1.5°C와 1.8°C로 큰 차이를 보이지 않았다. 부착률은 염도에 관계없이 16~22°C의 최적 수온 범위를 보였으며 부착시간은 수온이 증가함에 따라 지속적으로 증가 하였다. 결과적으로 거친대추멍게의 최적 발육 및 생존 수온은 염도 조건에 관계없이 20~22°C 범위를 보였다. 본 연구 결과는 국내 양식장에서의 거친대추멍게에 의한 경제적 피해가 증가하고 있는 시점에서 거친대추멍게의 분포 및 발생 시기를 예측하고 확산 방지 및 방제 방안을 구축하는 데 활용될 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

Codium fragile (Suringar) Hariot is an edible green seaweed that belong to the Codiaceae family and has been used in Oriental medicine for the treatment of enterobiasis, dropsy, and dysuria. Methanol extract of codium fragile has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, although the anti-cancer effect on oral cancer has not yet been reported. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity and the mechanism of cell death by methanol extracts of Codium fragile (MeCF) on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Our data showed that MeCF inhibits cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, and markedly induced apoptosis, as determined by the MTT assay, Live/Dead assay, and DAPI stain. In addition, MeCF induced the proteolytic cleavage of procaspase -3, -7, -9 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP), and upregulated or downregulated the expression of mitochondrial-apoptosis factor, Bax(pro-apoptotic factor), and Bcl-2(anti-apoptotic factor), . Futhermore, MeCF induced a cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase through suppressing the expression of the cell cycle cascade proteins, p21, CDK4, CyclinD1, and phospho-Rb. Taken together, these results indicated that MeCF inhibits cell growth, and this inhibition is mediated by caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways through cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, methanol extracts of Codium fragile can be provided as a novel chemotherapeutic drug due to its growth inhibition effects and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

Ficus carica L. (common fig), one of the first plants cultivated by humans, originated in the Mediterranean basin and currently grows worldwide, including southwest Asia and South Korea. It has been used as a traditional medicine for treatment of metabolic, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases as well as hemorrhoids and skin infections. Its pharmacological properties have recently been studied in detail, but research on the anti-cancer effect of its latex has been only been studied on a limited basis on several cell lines, such prostate cancer, breast cancer, and leukemia. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of the latex of Ficus carica L.and its underlying mechanism in FaDu human hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells. (See Ed. note above) We confirmed through SDS-PAGE analysis and gelatinolytic activity analysis that the latex of Ficus carica contains cysteine protease ficin. Our data showed that the latex inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the latex treatment markedly induced apoptosis in FaDu cells as determined by FACS analysis, elevated expression level of cleaved caspase-9, -3 and PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase), and. increased the expression of Bax (pro-apoptotic factor) while decreasing the expression of Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic factor). Taken together, these results suggested that latex containing the ficin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis by caspase and the Bcl-2 family signaling pathway in FaDu human hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells. These findings point to the potential of latex of Ficus carica to provide a novel chemotherapeutic drug due to its growth inhibition effects and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

본 연구는 국내 배추 주산단지 5지역을 대상으로 배추 재배에 활용되는 농업용수를 각 지역의 수확 시기에 채취 하여 위생지표세균(총대장균군, 대장균, 장구균)과 이화학 성분을 분석함으로써 농업용수의 수질의 오염도를 조사하기 위하여 수행되었다. 그 결과 지하수 보다 지표수에서 위생지표세균이 높은 수준으로 검출되었다. 지표수의 경 우 총대장균군 1.96-4.96 log MPN/100 mL, 지하수의 경우 0-3.98 log MPN/100 mL 수준이었다. 장구균의 경우 지표 수에서 95% (72/75), 지하수에서 22% (8/36) 빈도로 검출 되었으며, 대장균의 경우 지표수에서 100% (72/75), 지하수에서 22% (8/36) 빈도로 검출되었다. 위생지표세균과 이 화학성분의 상관관계를 조사한 결과, 지표수의 경우 대장균군과 대장균은 총인과 상관성을 보였으며, 장구균은 부유물질과 생물학적산소요구량에 상관성을 보였다. 지하수의 경우 위생지표세균은 부유물질과 화학적산소요구량에 상관성을 보였다. 본 연구의 결과는 엽채류 재배에 사용되는 농업용수의 미생물 기준을 설정하기 위한 기초자료 로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다.

Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm. is a perennial herb found widely distributed in various regions of Korea, Europe, and New Zealand. The root of A. sylvestris have been extensively used in the treatment for antitussive, antipyretic, cough remedy in Oriental medicine, but the physiologically active function of the leaf of A. sylvestris is as yet unknown. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity and the mechanism of cell death of water extracts of leaf of Anthriscus sylvestris (WELAS), on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Our data showed that WELAS treatment inhibited cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In addition, the treatment of WELAS markedly induced apoptosis in FaDu cells, as determined by the viability assay, DAPI stain and FACS analysis. WELAS also increased the proteolytic cleavage of procaspase-3, -9 and PARP (poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase). In addition, exposure to WELAS decreased the expression of Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptotic factor), but increased the expression of Bax (a pro-apoptotic factor), suggesting that mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways are mediated in WELAS-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicate that water extracts of leaf of A. sylvestris inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis via the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway in FaDu human hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, we propose that the water extracts of leaf of A. sylvestris is a novel chemotherapeutic drug, having growth inhibitory properties and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

Anthricin (Deoxypodophyllotoxin), a naturally occurring flavolignan, has well known anti-cancer properties in several cancer cells, such as prostate cancer, cervical carcinoma and pancreatic cancer. However, the effects of Anthricin are currently unknown in oral cancer. We examined the anticancer effect and mechanism of action of Anthricin in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Our data showed that Anthricin inhibits cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner (IC50 50 nM) in the MTT assay and Live & Dead assay. In addition, Anthricin treated FaDu cells showed marked apoptosis by DAPI stain and FACS. Furthermore, Anthricin activates anti-apoptotic factors such as caspase-3, -9 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), suggesting that caspase-mediated pathways are involved in Anthricin- induced apoptosis. Anthricin treatment also leads to accumulation of the pro-apoptotic factor Bax, followed by inhibition of cell growth. Taken together, these results indicate that Anthricn-induced cell death of human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells is mediated by mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway. In summary, our findings provide a framework for further exploration on Anthricin as a novel chemotherapeutic drug for human oral cancer.

Using current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements, the electrical properties of Au and Cu Schottky contacts to n-Ge were comparatively investigated. Lower values of barrier height, ideality factor and series resistance were obtained for the Au contact as compared to the Cu contact. The values of capacitance showed strong dependence on the bias voltage and the frequency. The presence of an inversion layer at the interface might reduce the intercept voltage at the voltage axis, lowering the barrier height for C-V measurements, especially at lower frequencies. In addition, a higher interface state density was observed for the Au contact. The generation of sputter deposition-induced defects might occur more severely for the Au contact; these defects affected both the I-V and C-V characteristics.

남자고등학교 교실에서 발생하는 냄새(발냄새, 머리냄새, 쉰냄새, 땀냄새)와 대표악취물질(부티르산, 암모니아)에 대한 뇌파반응을 분석하였다. 냄새자극 시험은 30~50대의 여성을 대상으로 수행하였다. 교실냄새와 대표악취물질의 자극에 대한 뇌파 지표들의 변화 경향은 측두엽에서 가장 두드러지게 나타났다. 이들 악취물질의 측두엽에서 반응은 바탕뇌파대비 상대알파파를 0.04~0.13 감소시켰고, 상대베타파 0.02~0.06, 상대감마파를 0.03~0.09 증가시켰다. 교실냄새들과 두 악취물질들은 이완상태를 나타내는 알파파를 감소시켰고, 각성과 긴장 및 스트레스를 나타내는 고베타파(18~30Hz)와 불안과 흥분상태를 나타내는 감마파(30~50Hz)를 활성화시켰다. 냄새물질들의 뇌 각성 및 자극정도는 머리냄새 > 부트르산 > 발냄새, 쉰냄새 > 암모니아> 땀냄새 순이었다. 이러한 결과는 교실냄새가 과도한 각성이나 긴장을 유발하므로 수업 집중력이나 학습능력을 저해할 수 있음을 의미한다.

In using both hands, everyone dominantly use one hand and it is called left-handedness or right-handedness person. Measurements of grip and pinch strength provide objective indexes to represent functional integrity of the upper extremity. This study was conducted for thirty female college students(19 right-handedness and 11 lefthandedness). For assessment of the type of handedness, questionnaire was used; for grip strength, Jamar dynamometer was used; for pinch strength, Jamar pinch gauge was used. In right handedness, the grip and pinch strength of the dominant right hand was significantly higher than those of the non-dominant hand. In addition, regular exercises were shown to give influences on reduction of strength gaps between dominant and non-dominant hands. In both groups of left and right handedness, the grip and pinch strength of the dominant hand were significantly higher than those of the non-dominant hand, and regular exercises were shown to give influences on reduction of strength gaps between dominant and non-dominant hand.

The production of insoluble glucan was affected by the concentration of ions and buffers in a mouth. In this study, the effects of ions and buffers on the mRNA expression of gtfB and gtfC gene of Streptococcus mutans which is an important causative agent of dental caries were investigated by Fluorescent in situ hybridization(FISH). The mRNA of gtfB and gtfC gene was normally expressed in the BHI broth containing 1 % sucrose. The gtfB and gtfC mRNA expression was increased at 0.25 mM and 4 mM of CaCl2, respectively. While the mRNA expression of two genes was inhibited at each concentration of KCl and MgCl2 when compared to the control. As for buffers, the gtfB and gtfC mRNA expression was lower than the control by the addition of sodium bicarbonate. The addition of sodium phosphate decreased the gtfB mRNA expression except for 100 mM in which the expression was increased, and the gtfC mRNA expression was similar to or lower than the control at each concentraion of sodium phosphate. The mRNA expression of the gtfB and gtfC was decreased at each concentration of potassium phosphate when compared to the control.

For successful embryo implantation, the stromal cells of the endometrium are morphologically and functionally differentiated into decidual cells. In the endometrium, estrogen induces proliferation of epithelial cells, but progesterone regulates the differentiation of epithelial cells, leading to decidualization of stromal cells. Kruppel like factor (KLF) is a zinc finger DNA binding protein that regulates transcription and has a wide range of functions in the cell cycle, cell apoptosis and differentiation control. In the uterus, KLF9, 13 plays an important role in implantation and decidual cell differentiation. KLF4 and KLF15 regulate the proliferation and differentiation of endometrial epithelial cells, but their role in stromal cells is unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of KLF4 and KLF15 in endometrial stromal cells. In mouse uterus, KLF4 was expressed in proliferative phase of glandular and luminal epithelial cells. However in endometrial stromal cells, KLF4 was highly expressed in secretory phase and secondary decidual zone after implantation. The expression of KLF15 was little in cytoplasm of luminal and glandular epithelial cells and proliferated in nucleus of secretory phase stromal cell.herefore, KLF4 and 15 are thought to be important for decidualization. To investigate the effect of estrogen and progesterone on the expression of KLF4 and KLF15, uterus of ovariectomy (OVX) mice which were injcected 17β- estradiol (E2, 0.3 mg) and progesterone (P4, 1 mg) and both ERα-knock out and wild type (diestrus, estrus) mice were used. KLF4 in OVX+E2 group was significantly higher than OVX+E2 / P4 group was lower than OVX+E2 group. There was no significant difference between ERαKO and WT diestrus group and significantly lower than WT estrus group. Expression of KLF15 was higher in the OVX+ P4 group than in the OVX group and lower in the OVX+E2 group. The OVX+E2 / P4 group was higher than the OVX+E2 group. There was no difference between ERαKO and WT diestrus. The differences in expression of KLF4 and KLF15 by P4 in OVX mouse uterine tissues may be due to the tissue specific expression pattern of epithelial (KLF4) and stromal cells (KLF15). The expression of KLF4 and KLF15 was increased by treatment of cyclic adenosine monophostphate (cAMP, 0.5 mM) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, 1μM) in human endometrial stromal cells. KLF15 siRNA increased the expression of decidualization markers (BMP2, IGFBP-1 and prolactin) with increasing progesterone receptor A/B (PR A/B), while KLF4 siRNA treatment decreased expression of decidualization markers. There was no significant difference in cell proliferation and apoptosis markers in KLF4 / 15 siRNA treatment. Therefore, progesterone induces KLF4 to promote decidualization, while normally induced KLF15 inhibits progesterone receptor expression. Expression of KLF4 in endometrial epithelium is induced by estrogen but induced by progesterone to promote decidualization, and KLF15 is mainly induced by progesterone in stromal cells and inhibit excessive PR A / B activity.

Background : Some of invasive plants, which were introduced from foreign countries, have caused problems in Korea. Invasion of these invasive plants in the ecosystem threatens the habitat of endemic species, reducing biodiversity, and causing a disturbance in the ecological system. Hypochaeris radicata L. (Asteraceae), the most invasive plants in Korea, particularly in Jeju Island, invade farmland, and autochthonous forest, establishing monocultures and modifying the ecosystem structure. This invasive species has become a serious environmental problem because they displace the indigenous plant species. This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidantive effects of ethanolic extracts from different parts (root, stem, seed and leaf) of the invasive exotic species Hypochaeris radicata L. Methods and Results : The aim of present study was to estimate the total phenolic and flavonoid contents and to investigate in vitro antioxidant potential of ethanolic leaf, root, seed, and stem extracts of the Hypochaeris radicata. Antioxidant activity was assessed by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, reducing power activity, [2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)] ABTS+ assay and ferrous ion chelating activity. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined and expressed in gallic acid and quercetin equivalent respectively. The results of the study indicate that the ethanolic extracts of the leaf, root, seed, and stem of H. radicata posses significant scavenging activity against DPPH (21.25% for leaf, 34.98% for root, 60.76% for seed and 45.25% for stem at 250 μg/ml each) and ABTS+ radical scavenging activity (14.85% for leaf, 17.40% for root, 35.91% for seed and 24.70% for stem at 250 μg/ml each), reducing power activity (0.178 absorbance at 300 μg/ml for leaf, 0.211 absorbance at 300 μg/ml for root, 0.447 absorbance at 300 μg/ml for seed, 0.276 absorbance at 300 μg/ml for stem). The free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities may be attributed to the presence of adequate phenolic (gallic acid content is 361.92.98 μg/g in leaf, 356.59μg/g in root, 719.72 μg/g in seed and 512.08 μg/g stem) and flavonoid compounds (219.52 μg/g in leaf, 75.67μg/g in root, 281.39 μg/g in seed and 215.66 μg/g stem). This study revealed that the ethanolic extracts of both leaf, root, seed and stem of H. radicata has demonstrated significant antioxidant activity. Conclusion : In conclusion, the present study has demonstrated that Hypochaeris radicata seed ethanol extracts are rich in phenolics and have a strong antioxidant activity and a radical-scavenging action in all of the tested methods. This suggests that Hypochaeris radicata is a good source of natural antioxidants.

Environmental stresses including drought, extreme temperatures, and high salinity are major factors that severely limit crop productivity worldwide. To overcome yield loss due to these environmental stresses, a large number of researches have been conducted to understand how plants respond to and adapt these environmental stresses. Posttranscriptional regulation as well as transcriptional regulation of gene expression is recognized as a key regulatory process in plant stress responses, and these cellular processes are regulated by diverse RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Over the last years, we have extensively investigated the functional roles of RBPs that harbor an RNA-recognition motif at the N-terminal half and a glycine-rich region at the C-terminal half (glycine-rich RNA-binding proteins, GRPs), zinc finger-containing GRP, and cold shock domain proteins (CSDPs) in Arabidopsis thaliana, rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and rapeseed (Brasicca napus) under stress conditions. Our comparative analysis demonstrated that certain family members display RNA chaperone function during stress adaptation process in monocotyledonous plants as well as in dicotyledonous plants. These findings point to the importance of the regulation of mRNA metabolism in plant response to environmental stresses and shed new light on the practical application of these RBPs to develop stress-tolerant transgenic crops.