• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.207-215
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• 2017

Body scales directly exposed to external environments can be an important factor to understand various characteristics of a species such as habitat features, life history and basic ecology. In this study, we compared size and morphology of dorsal, outermost dorsal, keeled dorsal and ventral scales of total nine snake species in Korea; Oocatochus rufodorsatus, Elaphe dione, Rhabdophis tigrinus, Amphiesma vibakari, Dinodon rufozonatum, Hierophis spinalis in the Colubridae and Gloydius ussuriensis, G. brevicaudus, G. saxatilis in the Viperidae. The morphological characteristics of the scales seem to well reflect foraging modes and moving activity of both families. Uniquely D. rufozonatum had a diamond shape dorsal scale and had the greatest and smallest value of the ratio of width/length of dorsal and ventral scales, respectively. O. rufodorsatus, D. rufozonatum and H. spinalis did not have keeled dorsal scales and E. dione had keel on the few of dorsal scales. In addition, morphological characteristics of scales of three viper species were closely consistent with previously known phylogenetic relationships.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 1998

This study was performed to examine the effects of DA-9601, a novel antiulcer agent extracted from Artemisiae Herba, on radiation colitis in the rat. Female Wistar rats received a 30 Gy dose of irradiation to the 2 cm of distal colon in length using an intrarectal applicator system. 30 mg/tg or 100 mg/kg of DA- 9601 was administered orally 30 min before and 4 h after radiation on day 1. And the same dose of DA-9601 was given to the animals twice a day from day 2 to 14. As a reference control, sucralfate suspension (100 or 300 mg/head) was given as an enema based on the same treatment schedule of DA-9601. Body weight change and the frequency of diarrhea were recorded during the observation period as markers of radiationinduced injury, All animals were sacrificed on day 15 for evaluation of macro- and microscopic findings and mucosal myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Radiated animals showed diarrhea, mucosal redness and histologic changes characterized by edema and eosinophilic infiltration of the periglandular lamina propria with loss of colonic epithelium. Radiation also significantly increased mucosal MfO activity of affected colon f\\\\\\\\`<0.05). However, most of these changes were completely protected by oral administration with DA-9601. DA-9601 reduced radiation-induced histologic alteration significantly in a dose-related manner (P<0.05). In addition, mucosal MPO activity in rats receiving high dose of DA-9601 decreased significantly when compared with that in radiated control. High dose of sucralfate (300 mg/head) alleviated radiation-induced histologic lesion, but failed to reach statistical significance. The results of this study suggest that DA-9601 can be useful for the prevention of acute clinical symptoms of radiation proctocolitis and that decrease of mucosal MPO by DA-9601 plays a role in its protective mechanism(s), at least in part.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.477-483
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• 2005

Anammox (Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation) bacteria is recently discovered microorganism which can oxidize ammonium to nitrogen gas in the presence of nitrite under anaerobic conditions. The anammox process can save an energy for nitrification and need not require a carbon source for denitrification, however, the start-up periods takes a long time more than several months due to the long doubling time (approximately 11 days). In order to find the effects of seeding microorganisms, hydrazine, and nitrite concentration on the enhancement of the anammox activity, five kinds of microorganisms were selected. Among the several kinds of seeding microorganisms, the granule from acclimated microorganisms treating high concentration of ammonia nitrogen (A-1) and sludge from piggery wastewater treatment plant (A-2) were found to have a high anammox activity. In the case of A-1, the maximum nitrogen conversion rate represented 0.4 mg N/L-hr, and the amount of nitrite utilization was high compared to those of other seeding microorganisms. The A-4 represented a higher nitrogen conversion rate to 0.7 mg N/L-hr although the ammonium concentration in the serum bottle was high as 200 mg/L. Meanwhile, the anaerobic granule from UASB reactor treating distillery wastewater showed a low anammox activity due to the denitrification by the remained carbon sources in the granule. Hydrazine, intermediate product in anammox reaction, enhanced the anammox activity by representing 1.4 times of nitrogen gas was produced in the test bottle than that of control, when 0.4 mM of $N_2H_4$ was added to serum bottle which contains 5 mM of nitrite. The high concentration of nitrite (10 mM) resulted in the decrease of the anammox activity by showing lower production of nitrogen gas compared to that of 5 mM addition of nitrite concentration. As a result of FISH (Florescence In-Situ Hybridization) experiment, the Amx820 probe showed a more than 13% of anammox bacteria in a granule (A-1).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.250-256
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• 2004

Background : Bacterial infections in diabetic patients are an important cause of increased morbidity and mortality. It has been reported that bacterial infections in diabetics showed more impaired PMN functions such as reduced PMN respiratory burst and decreased microbicidal activity in inflammed tissues. Also, apoptosis(programmed cell death) is postulated to be a key mechanism for neutrophil elimination. It is very important that PMN apoptosis keeps the balance from an area of inflammation. Actuallly, as little was known about PMN apoptosis and respiratory burst in diabetes, we investigated PMN apoptosis and hydrogen peroxide production after endotoxin exposure. Methods : Peripheral venous blood samples were collected by routine venipuncture from healthy volunteers and diabetics to harvest neutrophils. We respectively measured the PMN apoptosis, the production of hydrogen peroxide, and the cell viability. Results : Normal neutrophils showed a tendency to decreased apoptosis after endotoxin treatment. In patients with diabetes, PMN apoptosis was significantly decreased compared with healthy controls. In addition, the LPS-induced neutrophils in diabetics demonstrated more decreased apoptosis. However, the production of hydrogen peroxide was not different between groups. Conclusion : These observations suggest that the decreased PMN apoptosis in diabetics with endotoxin exposure may also affect the increased susceptibility and severity of infections.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 2013

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of L-cysteine on sperm characteristics and oocyte cleavage in vitro in Korean native cattle. For this study, the freezing of diluted semen were added with Triladyl containing 20% egg-yolk and/or 0, 5, 10 and 20 mM L-cysteine before cryopreservation. The viability in frozen-thawed sperm were estimated by SYBR14/PI double stain, acrosome damage with FITC-PNA, mitochondria intact with Rhodamin123 and hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$) level with carboxy-DCFDA by flow-cytometry. The developmental capacity was also assessed with cleavage rates in oocytes fertilized in vitro by frozen-thawed sperm. In results, the sperm viability was significantly increased in 10 mM and 20 mM concentrations of L-cysteine than other groups (p<0.05). In addition, acrosome damage was significantly decreased in 10 mM and 20 mM concentrations of L-cysteine than other groups (p<0.05). The mitochondria intact was also significantly increased in 10 mM and 20 mM concentrations of L-cysteine than other groups (p<0.05). On the other hand, the cleavage rates were significantly increased in 0 mM, 5 mM and 10 mM groups than 20 mM concentration of L-cysteine (p<0.05). The oocyte degeneration of oocytes were significantly decreased in 0 mM, 5 mM and 10 mM groups than in 20 mM L-cysteine group (P<0.05). However, there are no significantly differences among the L-cysteine treatment groups. We suggest that concentration of 10 mM L-cysteine have beneficial impact for sperm cryopreserved in Korean native cattle. This result also could be recommended for artificial insemination program if supported by an improvement in the fertility results and required further study.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.383-392
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• 2020

In this paper, AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite photocatalyst is successfully synthesized by microemulsion method and anion in situ substitution method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) are used to study the structural and physicochemical characteristics of the AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite composite. Using rhodamine B (RhB) as a simulated pollutant, the photocatalytic activity and stability of the AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite composite under visible light are evaluated. In the AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite visible light system, RhB is nearly 100 % degraded within 15 minutes. And, after five cycles of operation, the photocatalytic activity of AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite remains at 95 % of the original level, much higher than that of pure Ag₃PO₄ (40 %). In addition, the mechanism of enhanced catalytic performance is discussed. The high photocatalytic performance of AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite composites can be attributed to the synergistic effect of Ag₃PO₄, diatomite and AgCl nanoparticles. Free radical trapping experiments are used to show that holes and oxygen are the main active species. This material can quickly react with dye molecules adsorbed on the surface of diatomite to degrade RhB dye to CO₂ and H₂O. Even more remarkably, AgCl/Ag₃PO₄/diatomite can maintain above 95 % photo-degradation activity after five cycles.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 1983

The inhibitory activity of 20 Lactic strains from Kimchi was tested against Escherichia coli and other microorganisms. Of the lactic strains investigated, A7 (Pediococcus cerevisiae) and C4(Leuconostoc spp.) were the most effective in restricting the growth of test organisms. The mixed culture inoculation of each selected lactic strain and Escherichia coli resulted in a drastic reduction in the plate count of Escherichia coli after 24 hours. Similar results were obtained when Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus were used as test organisms. For all test organisms, the presence of A7 caused a higher death rate constant than that of C4. Addition of catalase in the mixed culture did not prevent inhibition, suggesting that hydrogen peroxide did not cause the inhibition. The filtrate of A7 culture added to Escherichia coli showed identical inhibitory action, however heat treatment of filtrate at $80^{\circ}C$ 30min. destroyed the inhibitory activity. A7 filtrate treated with trypsin substantially lost the inhibitory effect, but not by pepsin. The results imply that the protein-like compound(s) is the principal inhibitor produced by this lactic strain.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.321-330
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• 2021

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of neuronal disorders including brain ischemic injury. Thioredoxin 1 (Trx1), a 12 kDa oxidoreductase, has anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic functions in various cells. It has been highly implicated in brain ischemic injury. However, the protective mechanism of Trx1 against hippocampal neuronal cell death is not identified yet. Using a cell permeable Tat-Trx1 protein, protective mechanism of Trx1 against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death was examined using HT-22 cells and an ischemic animal model. Transduced Tat-Trx1 markedly inhibited intracellular ROS levels, DNA fragmentation, and cell death in H2O2-treatment HT-22 cells. Tat-Trx1 also significantly inhibited phosphorylation of ASK1 and MAPKs in signaling pathways of HT-22 cells. In addition, Tat-Trx1 regulated expression levels of Akt, NF-κB, and apoptosis related proteins. In an ischemia animal model, Tat-Trx1 markedly protected hippocampal neuronal cell death and reduced astrocytes and microglia activation. These findings indicate that transduced Tat-Trx1 might be a potential therapeutic agent for treating ischemic injury.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.343-351
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• 2020

BACKGROUND: Irrigation water is known to be one of the major sources of bacterial contamination in agricultural products. In addition, anti-microbial resistance (AMR) bacteria in food products possess serious threat to humans. This study was aimed at investigating the prevalence of foodborne bacteria in irrigation water and evaluating their anti-microbial susceptibility. METHODS AND RESULTS: Surface water (n = 66 sites) and groundwater (n = 40 sites) samples were collected from the Gyeongi and Gangwon provinces of South Korea during April, July, and October 2019. To evaluate the safety of water, fecal indicators (Escherichia coli) and foodborne pathogens (E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes) were examined. E. coli isolates from water were further tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using VITEK2 system. Overall, detection rate of foodborne pathogens in July was highest among three months. The prevalence of pathogenic E. coli (24%), Salmonella (3%), and L. monocytogenes (3%) was higher in surface water, while only one ground water site was contained with pathogenic E. coli (2.5%). Of the 343 E. coli isolates, 22.7% isolates were resistant to one or more antimicrobials (ampicillin (18.7%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (7.0%), and ciprofloxacin (6.7%)). CONCLUSION: To enhance the safety of agricultural products, it is necessary to frequently monitor the microbial quality of water.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.143-151
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• 2008

This study was conducted to identify the correlation of bacterial phytase ($Transphos^{(R)}$) to the calcium level in feed. Of all 21-week-old 720 HyLine brown laying hens, 2 birds of similar weight were placed on each individual cage. The experiment was conducted by $3{\times}2{\times}3$ factorial design with including 3 different levels of phytase (0, 300, and 1,000 DPU/kg), 2 different levels of calcium (3.5% and 4.0%), and 3 different levels of no NPP addition 0% (0.095 NPP), 0.5% (0.185% NPP), and 1.0% (0.275% NPP). The feeding trial maintained the ME level of 2,800 kcal/kg and 16% for crude protein. The diet was fed ad libitum and 17 hours of lighting was provided throughout the experimental period. Egg production seemed to increase, in the 300 DPU of bacterial phytase added group and the cracked egg tended to reduce in Transphos added group. The egg productivity between treatment groups did not show significant difference by dietary calcium level, whereas non NPP added group (0.095% NPP) was found to be low compared to NPP added groups (P<0.05). The highest mean egg weight and the highest daily egg mass were detected in 300 DPU phytase added group. Although the mean egg weight was significantly higher in treatment groups fed with 3.5% calcium containing feeds (P<0.05), daily egg mass was no among treatment groups. The mean egg weight and daily egg mass were the lowest in non NPP added group (0.095% NPP) compared to other treatment groups (P<0.05). The feed intake showed similar pattern regardless of the bacterial phytase and calcium levels in the diet. However, the treatment groups fed diets containing NPP level of 0.275% and 0.165% showed significantly higher feed intake than the group fed with 0.095% NPP (P<0.05). Although the feed conversion was not affected by calcium and NPP levels in the diet, the most improved result was obtained from 300 DPU phytase added group (P<0.05). The eggshell breaking strength and thickness increased as dietary calcium level increase the level of calcium increases in diet. The treatment groups fed diet containing 0.275% and 0.165% NPP revealed to show improvement in eggshell breaking strength and yolk color index compared to the NPP non added (0.095% NPP) treatment group. The result of the present study suggests that the appropriate level of microbial phytase is 300 DPU and at this level, tricalciumphosphate supplementation in feed can be reduced to 40% of NRC recommendation. Higher calcium level in feed fail to show synergistic effect by adding microbial phytase.