Along with other heavy metals, arsenic (As) is one among the substances most harmful to living organisms including humans. Owing to its morphological similarity to phosphorus, the uptake of As is influenced by photosynthesis and the phosphorus uptake pathway. In this study, we varied arsenic exposure and light intensity during nutrient solution cultivation of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) to determine the effect of these two factors on arsenic uptake, lettuce growth, and electron transfer in photosystem II. In the treatment exposed to 30 μmol L-1 of arsenic, the shoot arsenic concentration increased from 4.73 mg kg-1 to 18.97 mg kg-1 as the light intensity increased from 22 to 122 μmol m-2 s-1. The water content and ET2o/RC of the shoots were not affected by arsenic at low light intensity; however, at optimal light intensity, they decreased progressively with arsenic exposure. Increased light intensity stimulated the growth of plant roots and shoots; contrarily, the difference in growth decreased as the concentration of As exposure increased. The results of this study suggest that the effect of As on plant growth is dependent on light intensity; in particular, an increase in light intensity can increase the uptake of As, thereby affecting plant growth and As toxicity.

The purpose of this study is to develop a zirconium-based alloy with low modulus and magnetic susceptibility to prevent the stress-shielding effect and the generation of artifacts. Zr-7Cu-xSn (x = 1, 5, 10, 15 mass%) alloys are prepared by an arc melting process. Microstructure characterization is performed by microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Mechanical properties are evaluated using micro Vickers hardness and compression test. The magnetic susceptibility is evaluated using a SQUIDVSM. The average magnetic susceptibility value of the Zr-7Cu-xSn alloy is 1.176 × 108 cm3g1. Corrosion tests of zirconiumbased alloys are conducted through polarization test. The average Icorr value of the Zr-7Cu-xSn alloy is 0.1912 A/cm2. The elastic modulus value of 14 ~ 18 GPa of the zirconium-based alloy is very similar to the elastic modulus value of 15 ~ 30 GPa of the human bone. Consequently, the Sn added zirconium alloy, Zr-7Cu-xSn, is very interesting and attractive as a biomaterial that reduces the stress-shielding effect caused by differences of elastic modulus between human bone and metallic implants. In addition, this material has the potential to be used in metallic dental implants to effectively eliminate artifacts in MRI images due to low magnetic susceptibility.

국내 고농도의 초미세먼지 발생 빈도 증가와 함께 그 전구물질인 NH3와 관련한 연구가 활발히 진행 중이다. NH3 배출에 있어 농업의 기여율이 높은 것은 자명한 사실이다. 그러나 비료 사용이 농경지 대기 중 NH3 농도에 장기간 미치는 영향에 관련한 연구는 미비한 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 수동식 NH3 확산형 포집기를 활용해 11개월 간 농경지 대기 중 NH3 농도를 관측하였다. 그 결과 비료 살포 직후 한 달 동안 NH3 배출의 영향이 가장 큰 것으로 나타났다. 그 이후 여름철 기온 상승으로 NH3 휘발이 촉진되어 대기 중 농도가 증가할 것으로 예상하였으나, 54일간의 지속적인 강우로 인하여 대기 중 높은 암모니아 농도는 관측되지 않았다. 그 후 NH3 농도는 가을과 겨울을 거치면서 점차 감소하였다. 비료의 영향력이 감쇠한 시점 이후에는 기온이 감소할수록, 그리고 강수량이 증가할수록 NH3 농도는 감소하는 것을 상관분석을 통해 확인할 수 있었다. 종합해 보면, 국내 NH3 배출량에서 비료의 기여율을 연구하는 데 있어 비료 살포 직후 최소 한 달 동안은 집중적으로 살펴보아야 할 것이며, 현장 연구 시 강수량과 무강우 일수 등의 기상 정보도 함께 고려해야 할 것이다.

국내 발생 암모니아 중 가축분뇨의 기여율이 높은 것은 자명한 사실이다. 암모니아 배출량 산정 과정의 정확도와 신뢰도 향상을 위해서는, 가축분뇨 발생량의 정확한 집계, 가축분뇨의 퇴비화 및 액비화 과정에서 단계별 암모니아 전환량과 발생량 산출, 퇴액비의 저장 및 운송과정에서의 암모니아 발생량 산정 그리고 토양 살포 과정과 방법에 따른 암모니아 발생량 비교 연구가 반드시 수행되어야 할 것이다. 미국과 유럽과 비교해 볼 때, 특히 국내 배출계수가 상대적으로 매우 획일적이고 시공간적으로 세분화되지 못해 국내 실정을 충분히 반영하지 못하고 있다. 암모니아 배출계수 산정의 정확도와 전문성을 향상 시킬 수 있는 방안으로, 퇴액비의 특성, 토양의 특성 그리고 기후 특성의 복합적인 고려가 가능한 챔버시스템을 활용할 수 있을 것이다. 국내외 암모니아 배출과 관련한 자료의 검토와 비교를 통해 현재 국내 시스템의 부족한 점과 나아가야할 방향을 확인할 수 있었으며, 암모니아 배출유량 산정이 가능한 챔버 시스템을 제언하였다. 향후 누락배출원의 신규 배출계수 산정과 같은 실질적인 정책과의 연계를 위해서는 실내의 챔버 시스템에서 더 나아가 현장에서의 mesocosom 시스템의 방법론 구축 또한 필요할 것으로 판단된다.

Climate change is the biggest concern of the 21st century. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from various sectors are attracting attention as a cause of climate change. The DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC) model simulates GHG emissions from cropland. To study future GHG emissions using this simulation model, various factors that could change in future need to be considered. Because most problems are from the agricultural sector, DNDC would be unable to solve the factor-changing problem itself. Hence, it is necessary to link DNDC with separate models that simulate each element. Climate change is predicted to cause a variety of environmental disasters in the future, having a significant impact on the agricultural environment. In the process of human adaptation to environmental change, the distribution and management methods of farmland will also change greatly. In this study, we introduce some drawbacks of DNDC in considering future changes, and present other existing models that can rectify the same. We further propose some combinations with models and development sub-models.

We determined the effects of different water temperatures (15, 20, and 25℃) and photoperiod cycles (24L:0D, 12L:12D, and 0L:24D) on the oxygen consumption of the offspring of a cultured Japanese strain (JJ), a selected Korean strain (KK), and intraspecific hybrid strains (JK and KJ) of red seabream, Pagrus major, under starvation conditions. The different fish strains, water temperatures, and photoperiod cycles had effects on the mean oxygen consumption of fish. Oxygen consumption increased with increasing water temperatures for all photoperiod treatments (p <0.001). Fish held in continuous darkness (0L:24D) used consistently less oxygen than fish exposed to continuous light (p <0.05). The oxygen consumption of fish exposed to the light phase in a 12L:12D photoperiod was higher than that of fish in the dark phase of the 12L:12D cycle, and differences were significant in three of the strains: JJ (15℃), KK (15 and 20℃), and KJ (25℃). The oxygen consumption of the inbred (JJ and KK) and intraspecific hybrid (JK and KJ) strains varied with differing water temperatures and photoperiod cycles. The JK strain displayed significantly higher oxygen consumption than the other strains under all experimental conditions except 15℃ with a 0L:24D photoperiod. The JK and KJ strains usually showed the highest and lowest oxygen consumption values, respectively, whereas the inbred strains exhibited intermediate values. Oxygen consumption in the JJ and JK strains was usually higher than that of the KK and KJ strains. We propose that differences in the thermal sensitivity and photosensitization properties of the strains contribute to differences in their ability to adapt to changes in water temperature and photoperiod, thus resulting in differences in the amplitude of their metabolic rates.

Melanin is produced by melanocytes of the melanoepidermic unit and other cell types. These cells secrete and distribute the melanin pigment, which provides protection from ultraviolet radiation. In this study, the inhibitory activity against tyrosinase and melanin biosynthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells and anti-wrinkling effects on human dermal fibroblasts of Dendrobium speciosum ethanol extract were investigated. The Dendrobium speciosum extract inhibited melanin biosynthesis and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner in comparison with an untreated control group. Treatment with the Dendrobium speciosum extract suppressed α-MSH-stimulated melanogenesis in B16F10 cells and the dendrite outgrowth of melanocyte/melanoma cells. The α-MSH-induced mRNA expression of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2) and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) was significantly attenuated in a concentration-dependent manner by Dendrobium speciosum treatment. In addition, Dendrobium speciosum treatment increased production of type I procollagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts. Dendrobium speciosum ethanol extract exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on melanin biosynthesis, tyrosinase activity and increased procollagen synthesis. These results indicate that Dendrobium speciosum shows promise as an ingredient in cosmeceutical products due to its whitening and anti-wrinkle effects.

Obesity is a pro-inflammatory state that contributes to the development of metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we evaluated the inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice by Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg L. water extract (PJT). Lipid accumulation measurement indicates that PJT markedly inhibited adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR results demonstrated that the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein- α (C/EBPα) in 3T3-L1 cells were significantly down-regulated by PJT treatment. Oral administration of PJT (100, 300, and 500 ㎎/㎏, b.w/daily for 4 weeks) was conducted in high-fat diet induced obese mice and C57BL/6 mice. The PJT-administered group of HFD-induced mice had a lower body weight gain, along with decreased serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol compared with the control mice, however, the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was increased. Furthermore, the elevated mRNA expression levels of adipogenesis related genes in the white adipose tissue of obese mice were significantly suppressed by PJT. These results indicate that PJT exhibits anti-obesity effects in obese mice by decreasing in serum lipid levels and lipogenesis related gene.

이차원 전기영동 분석을 이용하여 국내 밀 32 품종의 HMW-GS 단백질 발현의 정성 및 정량적인 분석을 통해 품 HMW-GS 발현 정도를 평가하여 국내 밀 품종 육성의 초 자료로 활용하고자 수행하였다. 평균 HMW-GS 스팟 수는 11.78개였으며, Glu-A1 1.31개, Glu-B1 5.53개, 그리고 Glu-D1에서 4.94 개였다. Glu-B1과 Glu-D1에서는 subunit에 따른 단백질 스팟 수가 차이가 없기 때문에, Glu-A1에서는 1과 2* subunit을 지닌 품종이 null allele 품종에 비하여 단백질 스팟 수가 많았다. 단백질 스팟 수는 조경밀이 18개로가장 많았으며, 다홍밀은 7개로 제일 적었다. 단백질의 상대적인 발현량을 조사한 결과 평균 0.44로 대비 품종인 Chinese Spring에 비하여(1.0) 낮았고, 고분밀이 1.11로 가장 높았으며, 은파밀이 0.24로 가장 낮았다. 단백질 스팟수와 발현량을 이용한 유연관계 분석 결과, 국내 밀 품종을 6개 그룹으로 분류할 수 있었다.

LMW-GSs represent approximately 1/3 of the total wheat gluten fraction, which have not been widely studied, even though they are important in the context of wheat end-use quality. In this study, we report on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of LMW-GS in korean wheat cultivars by 2DE in 32 cultivars of Korean wheat for the use of the basis of wheat breeding. We firstly identified spots corresponding each of Glu-3 alleles. The 2DE results for each cultivar will be used as reference map or protein marker discriminating wheat cultivars, wheat and rice, imported and Korean flour. Unexpectedly, five LMW-GS spots were found to be expressed at a common position in hexaploid wheat cultivars, and these spots might play something in glutenin biosynthesis. Total spot numbers were expressed variously between 20 and 10, and average spot number was shown 17.12. The average number of spots in Glu-A3, Glu-B3 and Glu-D3 were 3.0, 4.56 and 2.96 respectively. When the Korean wheat cultivars were compared with the Chinese spring (1.0) in the average relative expression level, Korean one’s were lower as 0.67. Especially, Gobun was the highest as 1.32 and Baekjoong was the lowest as 0.24. Also we investigated phylogenetic relationship based on frequency of HMW-GS spots and quantification value of each spot to all LMW-GS spots. As a result, the varieties of Korean wheat could be classified into five groups.

To evaluate expression level of HMW-GS protein qualitatively and quantitatively, we separated glutenin fractions and conducted two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) in 32 cultivars of Korean wheat for the use of as the basis of wheat breeding. The average spot number of HMW-GS in all Korean wheat cultivars was 11.78 which included 1.31, 5.53 and 4.94 to Glu-A1, Glu-B1 and Glu-D1 loci, respectively. Cultivars harboring 1, 2* subunits had many spots more than ones harboring null allele in Glu-A1 loci because there is no difference of spots between Glu-B1 and Glu-D1 loci. In total spot number of HMW-GS, the highest one was Jokyung as 18 and Dahong the lowest as 7. When the Korean wheat cultivars were compared with the Chinese spring in the average relative expression level, Korean one’s were lower as 0.44. Especially, Gobun was the highest as 1.11 and Eunpa was the lowest as 0.24. Also we investigated phylogenetic relationship based on both frequency of HMW-GS spots and quantification value of each spot to all HMW-GS spots. As a result, Korean the varieties of Korean wheat could be classified into six groups.