• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.15 no.6 s.73
• /
• pp.961-967
• /
• 2005

Macrophage migration inhibitory fartor (MIF), known as a cytokine, is a multifunctional protein that is ubiquitously expressed in a variety of cells and tissues; however, enzymatic function of MIF still remains elusive in cells. In this study, we assessed details of the tautomerase activity of MIF. We established rapid purification condition for MIF by using pGEX system and compared the L-dopachrome tautomerase activity of GST-MIF, tMIF, and MIF. The results show that GST (glutathione S-transferase)-epitope tag or N-terminal amino acids flanking the essential $P^{2}$ almost completely abrogated L-dopachrome tautomerase activity of MIF. Subsequently, to determine whether the N-terminal tags have effects on oligomerization of MIF, protein cross-linking products were analyzed on $15\%$ SDS-PACE. The result demonstrates that N-terminal tags are dispensable for the formation of MIF's homooligomers. Thus, the results imply that exposure of If containing hydrophobic pocket in the active site is critical for L-dopachrome tautomerase activity of MIF. In addition, our study suggest that the MIF's tautomerase activity might be influenced by interacting with cellular partners.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.58-67
• /
• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effects of a mindfulness-based Body-Mind Intervention Program using marine resources on the improvement of quality of sleep, mood symptoms, and cognitive function in Korean female emotional labor workers. Methods: Twelve female workers who experienced excess emotional labor participated at the training camp program for five days in Danghangpo-ocean park, Goseung-gun, Gyeongnam Province in South Korea. Participant sleep quality, mood symptoms, and cognitive functioning before, after, and 1.5 months later were evaluated and analyzed. Results: After participating in the marine resource program, participants reported significantly decreased sleep latency. Global sleep quality, cognitive functions (attention, flexibility, and inhibition control), and mood states, including depression, tension, anger, fatigue, were also improved. These effects were generally maintained after 1. 5 months (PSQI t = 2.63, p = 0.02 ; HAM-D t = 5.92, p < 0.001). Conclusion: A Body-Mind Intervention Program using marine resources was effective in relaxing emotion-related tension and improving cognitive function. To advance this pilot study, it is necessary to carry out further research to investigate the use of marine resources in mental health interventions.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.252-260
• /
• 2022

In Korea, low-quality kaolin has significantly greater reserves and superior economic efficiency than high-purity kaolin. However, the utilization is low because it does not match the demand conditions of the market, and it is difficult to find a suitable source of demand. The purpose of this study is to derive the possibility and optimal calcination temperature of domestic low-quality kaolin that can be used as a raw material for limestone plastic clay cement (LC³). Isothermal calorimetry, X-ray diffraction analysis, Thermogravimetric Analysis, and compressive strength tests were conducted to evaluate hydrate generation and mechanical properties of LC³ paste according to calcination temperatures (600 ℃, 700 ℃, 800 ℃, 900 ℃). As a result, although 50 % of the clinker was replaced, the domestic low-quality kaolin clay produced calboaluminate hydrate and C(A)SH from the 3rd day of hydration, showing almost equal or higher strength to OPC, and there was a big difference in strength depending on the firing temperature.

• Research in Plant Disease
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.459-463
• /
• 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the plant-parasitic nematodes of ornamental foliage plants, citrus orchards, and tea plantations from July to December 2022. As a result of the investigation of plant-parasitic nematodes in 415 foliage plants, root-lesion nematodes were detected most frequently, followed by root-knot nematodes, pin nematodes, and other nematodes. In tea plantations, spiral nematodes, cyst nematodes, and root-knot nematodes were detected. Citrus nematodes, ring nematodes, and root-knot nematodes were discovered in citrus orchards. In foliage plants, tea plantations, and citrus orchards, the detection rate of plant-parasitic nematodes was not high, but root-lesion nematodes were detected. Therefore, it is necessary to apply appropriate control methods to manage root-lesion nematodes during the cultivation of foliage, tea, and citrus plants.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.225-231
• /
• 2006

To investigate the effect of feeding rare earth (RE) on the performance of breeder hens a feeding trial with sixteen thousands of 158 day old Ross broiler breeder hens was conducted for thirty weeks. A mixture of RE- chlorides containing mainly La, Ce, and Pr was mixed into corn-soy based diet at two levels, 300 and 600 mg/kg, All the hens were housed in flat layer houses and the ratio of male to female was maintained at one to ten. Dietary supplementation of the of RE at a level of 300 mg/kg made the hens reach egg production peak higher by about 6% and earlier by about two weeks. As a result, it made higher hatchable egg production by 3.5%. It also reduced dramatically the mortality of both male and female breeders(P<0.05). Egg weight was slightly increased but egg qualify was not much influenced by dietary supplementation of RE. Egg albumin hight and Haugh unit were significantly improved while egg shell thickness, egg breaking strength and yolk color were similar to those of the control. Experimental results appeared to show a good possibility that egg fertility and hatchability were improved by feeding RE. Dietary supplementation of RE at a level of 300 mg/kg should be acceptable but not the 600 mg/kg level for breeder hens. Further studies on the effect of RE on egg fertility and hatchability appears to be necessary.