• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.273-280
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• 2016

Most biocontrol agents for plant diseases have been isolated from sources such as soils and plants. As an alternative source, we examined the feces of tertiary larvae of the herbivorous rhino beetle, Allomyrina dichotoma for presence of biocontrol-active microbes. The initial screen was performed to detect antifungal activity against two common fungal plant pathogens. The strain with strongest antifungal activity was identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens KB3. The inhibitory activity of this strain correlated with lipopeptide productions, including iturin A and surfactin. Production of these surfactants in the KB3 isolate varied with the culture phase and growth medium used. In planta biocontrol activities of cell-free culture filtrates of KB3 were similar to those of the commercial biocontrol agent, B. subtilis QST-713. These results support the presence of microbes with the potential to inhibit fungal growth, such as plant pathogens, in diverse ecological niches.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.202-207
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• 2006

The crude methanol extract of the roots of Achyranthes aspera Linn. was investigated for its possible antinociceptive, diuretic and neuropharmacological activities in animal models. At the dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight, the extract showed a significant antinociceptive effect in acetic acid induced-writhing in mice comparable to that produced by diclofenac sodium, used as standard drug. The crude extract produced significant diuretic effect at the dose of 500 mg/kg of body weight comparable to that produced by furosemide, used as standard drug. The extract also potentiated significantly the pentobarbital induced sleeping time in mice; decreased the open field score in open field test, decreased the number of hole crossed from one chamber in the hole cross test and decreased the head dip responses. The obtained results provide a support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine and its further investigation.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.60-65
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• 2009

Berberis is an important medicinal plant, of the family Berberidaceae. Different Berberis species and their parts are very common in herbal drug markets of India and world over as an adulterant/substitute to 'Daruharidra' i.e. B. aristata DC. Antimicrobial activity of 50% hydroalcoholic extracts of stem of four Berberis species viz. B. aristata DC., B. asiatica Roxb. ex DC., B. chitria Lindl. and B. lycium Royle and the isolated alkaloid berberine were tested against eleven bacterial and eight fungal strains. The extracts with the strongest antibacterial activity was obtained from B. lycium followed by B. aristata, B. asiatica and B. chitria. Based on these results it is possible to conclude that the hydroalcoholic extract and alkaloid (berberine) has stronger and broader spectrum against bacterial strains as compared to fungal strains. The result obtained in the present study authenticates and support the use of these plants in folklore medicine for treatment of various infectious diseases caused by the bacterial pathogens. However, an attempt has been made to explore the possibilities of utilizing stem part rather than roots of these species with the aim to conserve this species which is over exploited due to diverse use of its root. These findings will stimulate the search for novel, natural products as new antibacterial/antifungal agents which may be useful to pharmaceutical industries.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2011

Tocopherols belong to the plant-derived poly phenolic compounds known for antioxidant functions in plants and animals. Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) is a common reaction of plant cells in defense-related signal transduction pathways. We report a novel non-antioxidant function of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol in higher plants linking the physiological role of tocopherol with stress signalling pathways. Pre-incubation of a low concentration of $50{\mu}M$ ${\alpha}$-tocopherol negatively interferes with MAPK activation in elicitor-treated tobacco BY2 suspension culture cells and wounded tobacco leaves, whereas pre-incubated BY2 cells with ${\alpha}$-tocopherol phosphate did not show the inhibitory effect on stimuli-induced MAPK activation. The decreased MAPK activity was neither due to a direct inhibitory effect of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol nor due to the induction of an inhibitory or inactivating activity directly affecting MAPK activity. The data support that the target of ${\alpha}$-tocopherol negatively regulates an upstream component of the signaling pathways that leads to stress dependent MAPK activation.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.196-200
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the muscle activity of the trunk muscles during balance exercises on a stable and unstable surface in patients with stroke. Methods: Thirteen subjects (8 males, 5 females) with stroke were enrolled in the study. Muscle activity was recorded using surface EMG electrodes from the affected side of the erector spinae, external oblique, and internal oblique muscles. The exercise was performed under three conditions. For the first condition for balance exercise, subjects were instructed to sit on an exercise mat with legs extended. The second condition was to sit with legs extended, with a balance pad under their buttocks. The third condition was to sit with legs extended, have a balance pad under the buttocks and a balance cushion under the lower legs. Results: This study showed significant differences in EMG activities during both arm lifting exercise and weight shifting exercise between conditions. This study showed that the EMG activities of the erector spinae, external oblique, and internal oblique muscles were significantly higher when the trunk exercise was performed using the balance pad with balance ball than when using the stable surface. Conclusion: In conclusion, performing balance exercises using an unstable surface is a useful method for facilitating trunk-muscle strength and hence trunk stability.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.158-158
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• 1998

The non-mevalonate pathway is a newly discovered isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway in some bacteria, cyanobacteria, algae and plants. Because isoprenoid metabolites (ubiquinone, menaquinone, undecaprenol) are essential for bacterial growth, this pathway may represent a novel target for antibacterial agents. Antibiotics with a unique mechanism of action are needed to combat the risk of antibiotic resistance that is a current worldwide problem. In order to study this pathway as viable target, it was necessary to verify use of the pathway in our model system, the bacterium Bacillus subtilis. Incubation experiments with [6,6-$^2$H$_2$]-D-glucose and [l-$^2$H$_3$]-deoxy-D-xylulose were conducted to provide labeled menaquinone-7 (MK -7), the most abundant isoprenoid in B. subtilis. $^2$H-NMR analysis of the MK-7 revealed labeling patterns that strongly support utilization of the non-mevalonate pathway. Another approach to study the pathway is by structure activity relationships of proposed inhibitors of the pathway. Fosmidomycin is a phosphonic acid with antibacterial activity known to inhibit isoprenoid biosynthesis in susceptible bacteria and may act by inhibiting the non-mevalonate pathway. Fosmidomycin and an N-methyl analog were synthesized and tested for antibacterial activity. Fosmidomycin was active against Escherichia coli and B. subtilis, while N-formyl-N-methyl-3-amino-propylphosphonic acid was inactive.

• Hwankyungkyoyuk
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.112-121
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• 2004

An activity of nature experience guidance can be considered as an educational event, thus, I regarded the volunteers as the guides of nature experience and examined closely their guidance activities as a participant to provide in-depth description about their behavior, context, and changes in ethnographic view. In this study I raised two following questions; 1) how have the guides been changed through two types of activities and 2) what problems are brought up in their context. First, the volunteers acquired awareness and sensitivity to the total environment and its related problems during course of training, even though they were initially motivated to participate in training course for their children. Second, guidance activity improved their basic understanding of and views toward the environment, awareness of the total environment, attitudes to environment, skills in solving environmental problems and participation levels in working towards resolution of environmental problems. However, they had difficulties in communication with each other and since nature experience guides are wives and mothers they worked against time and needed support from their family. Further studies will continue on analysis of training programs for the guides to improve and to contribute guide's positive changes to non-formal environmental education.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.229-235
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• 2017

Through density functional theory calculations, to provide insight into the origins of the catalytic activity of Au nanoparticles (NPs) toward oxidation reactions, we have scrutinized the oxygen adsorption chemistry of 9 types of small unsupported Au NPs of around 1 nm in size (Au13, Au19, Au20, Au25, Au38, and Au55) looking at several factors (size, shape, and coordination number). We found that these NPs, except for the icosahedral Au13, do not strongly bind to $O_2$ molecules. Energetically most feasible $O_2$ adsorption that potentially provides high CO oxidation activity is observed in the icosahedral Au13, our smallest Au NP. In spite of the chemical inertness of bulk Au, the structural fluxionality of such very small Au NP enables strong $O_2$ adsorption. Our results can support recent experimental findings that the exceptional catalytic activity of Au NPs comes from very small Au species consisting of around 10 atoms each.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.582-587
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• 2009

Immobilized cells of Arthrohacter nitroguajacolicus ZJUTB06-99 capable of producing nitrilase were used for biotransformation of acrylonitrile to acrylic acid. Six different entrapment matrixes were chosen to search for a suitable support in terms of nitrilase activity. Ca-alginate proved to be more advantageous over other counterparts in improvement of the biocatalyst activity and bead mechanical strength. The effects of sodium alginate concentration, $CaCl_2$ concentration, bead diameter, and ratio by weight of cells to alginate, on biosynthesis of acrylic acid by immobilized cells were investigated. Maximum activity was obtained under the conditions of 1.5% sodium alginate concentration, 3.0% $CaCl_2$ concentration, and 2-mm bead size. The beads coated with 0.10% polyethylenimine (PEI) and 0.75% glutaraldehyde (GA) could tolerate more phosphate and decrease leakage amounts of cells from the gel. The beads treated with PEI/GA could be reused up to 20 batches without obvious decrease in activities, which increased about 100% compared with the untreated beads with a longevity of 11 batches.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.154-166
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to design and implementation of database for school health activity. This database system was designed stand-alone application for college school health center without a hospital affiliation and the database system was made of relational database management system, Microsoft access 2000 to be made GUI (Graphic user interface) type design and made up 7 tables: patients. symptoms. departments, income and outgo. medical cures. and medicine. The construction of this database system was patient management. code management. medicine management. and statistics management. The results of the database system were as follows; 1) This database system could be used for college school health center. 2) This database system could be made correct statistic data. 3) This database system could be managed income and outgo. 4) This database system could be changed for the better activity of community health service. 5) This database system could be simply attired administrative system. This database system will be used for students and employees to protect and promote health to measure for health level and quality of health service. In conclusion. this database system can be applied for unit health center to manage the college school health activity and advanced data management can be applied for health profession to do quality improvement. cost containment. management information system. and decision support system.