• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.53-61
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• 2023

Most of the sewage sludge is organic waste containing a large amount of organic substances decomposable by microorganisms by biological treatment. As for existing sewage sludge treatment methods, reduction and fuel conversion are being carried out using technologies such as drying, incineration, torrefaction, carbonization. However, the disadvantage of high energy consumption has been pointed out as latent heat of 539 kcal/kg is consumed based on drying. Therefore, in this study, we intend to produce solid fuel through hydrothermal carbonization(HTC), which is a thermochemical treatment. To evaluate the value of solid fuel, the characteristics of carbonization and fuel ratio were analyzed. As a result, as the hydrothermal carbonization reaction temperature increased, the lower heating value also increased by about 500 kcal/kg due to the increase in the degree of carbonization. H/C, O/C, ratio showed a decreasing trend from 1.78, 0.46 to 1.57, 0.32. When the ratio of ash to combustible content (fixed carbon + volatile) of dry sludge was 0.25 or more, it was derived that the degree of carbonization and calorific value did not increase even when hydrothermal carbonization was performed.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.22.1-22.15
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• 2023

Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is one of the most aggressive cancer type of the urinary system. Metastatic KIRC patients have poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Ankyrin 3 (ANK3) is a scaffold protein that plays important roles in maintaining physiological function of the kidney and its alteration is implicated in many cancers. In this study, we investigated differential expression of ANK3 in KIRC using GEPIA2, UALCAN, and HPA databases. Survival analysis was performed by GEPIA2, Kaplan-Meier plotter, and OS-kirc databases. Genetic alterations of ANK3 in KIRC were assessed using cBioPortal database. Interaction network and functional enrichment analyses of ANK3-correlated genes in KIRC were performed using GeneMANIA and Shiny GO, respectively. Finally, the TIMER2.0 database was used to assess correlation between ANK3 expression and immune infiltration in KIRC. We found that ANK3 expression was significantly decreased in KIRC compared to normal tissues. The KIRC patients with low ANK3 expression had poorer survival outcomes than those with high ANK3 expression. ANK3 mutations were found in 2.4% of KIRC patients and were frequently co-mutated with several genes with a prognostic significance. ANK3-correlated genes were significantly enriched in various biological processes, mainly involved in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway, in which positive correlations of ANK3 with PPARA and PPARG expressions were confirmed. Expression of ANK3 in KIRC was significantly correlated with infiltration level of B cell, CD8+ T cell, macrophage, and neutrophil. These findings suggested that ANK3 could serve as a prognostic biomarker and promising therapeutic target for KIRC.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.351-360
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• 2023

Citrus melanose, caused by Diaporthe citri, has been one of the serious diseases, and chemical fungicides were used for protection in many citrus orchards of Jeju Island. Establishing a disinfectant resistance management system and reducing pesticide usage would be important for contributing to safe agricultural production. In this study, monitoring of chemical resistance was performed with 40 representative D. citri isolates from many citrus orchards in Jeju Island. Four different fungicides, kresoxim-methyl, benomyl, fluazinam, and prochloraz manganese, with seven different concentrations were tested in vitro by growing the mycelium of the fungal isolates on the artificial medium potato dextrose agar. Among the 40 fungal isolates, 12 isolates were investigated as resistant to kresoxim-methyl which could not inhibit the mycelium growth to more than 50%. Especially isolate NEL21-2 was also resistant against benomyl, whose hyphae grew well even on the highest chemical concentration. However, any chemical resistance of fungal isolates was found against neither fluazinam nor prochloraz manganese. On the other hand, in vivo bio-testing of some resistant isolates was performed against both kresoxim-methyl and benomyl on young citrus leaves. Typical melanose symptoms developed on the citrus leaves pre-treated with both agrochemicals after inoculation with the resistant isolates. However, no or less symptoms were observed when the susceptible isolates were inoculated. Based on these results, it was suggested that some resistant isolates of D. citri occurred against both systemic fungicides, which may be valuable to build a strategy for protecting citrus disease.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.18-18
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• 2022

Barley has been used for the production of malt in the brewing industry. Malting is the process of preparing barley through partial germination. Malt extract is the most important quality parameter for malt quality. The grain and malt quality parameters of ten Korean malting barley varieties were studied. Malts was prepared using Phoeix automated micro malting system(Phoenix Bio, Australia). Quality analysis of Barley and malt was determined according to European brewery convention(EBC, 1998) and American society of brewing chemists(ASBC, 1997) method. And the hordeins of barley and malt were extracted with 50% isopropyl alcohol(IPA, 2-propanol) of 1% dithiothreitol(DTT). The analysis of hordeins was carried out by ultra-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC). The mean values of 1000-grains weight, assortment rate, protein content, starch content, beta-glucan content, husk rate, germination energy, germination capacity and water sensitivity of grain were 45.8g, 86.8%, 11.9%, 58.0%, 3.8%, 14.0%, 96.2%, 97.2%, 10.0%, respectively. The mean values of protein content, friability, diastatic power, extract, soluble protein, Kolbach index, beta-glucan of malt and wort were 11.3%, 87.6%, 201WK(Windish Kolbach), 79.3%, 4.6%, 41%, 85mg/L, respectively. UPLC analysis of grain and malt hordeins revealed that the amount of hordeins significantly degraded during malting. Also, we could successfully be used to compare hordein polypeptide patterns with malt quality.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.20-26
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• 2023

Emitted CO₂ is an attractive material for microbial electrochemical CO₂ reduction. Microbial electrochemical CO₂ reduction (i.e., microbial electrosynthesis, MES) using biocatalysts has advantages compared to conventional CO₂ reduction using electrocatalysts. However, MES has several challenges, including electrode performance, biocatalysts, and reactor optimization. In this study, an MES system was investigated for optimizing reactor types, counter electrode materials, and CO₂-converting microorganisms to achieve effective CO₂ upcycling. In autotrophic cultivation (supplementation of CO₂ and H₂), CO₂ consumption of Rhodobacter sphaeroides was observed to be four times higher than that with heterotrophic cultivation (supplementation of succinic acid). The bacterial growth in an MES reactor with a single-chambered shape was two times higher than that with a double chamber (H-type MES reactor). Moreover, a single-chambered MES reactor equipped with titanium mesh as the counter electrode (anode) showed markedly increased current density in the graphite felt as a working electrode (cathode) compared to that with a graphite felt counter electrode (anode). These results demonstrate that the optimized conditions of a single chamber and titanium mesh for the counter electrode have a positive effect on microbial electrochemical CO₂ reduction.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2024

Gearboxes designed for reciprocating motion operating mechanisms operate under conditions where both the load and speed undergo continuous variations. When conducting durability tests on gearboxes designed for such applications, operating the target gearbox under conditions similar to the intended usage is essential. The gearbox must be operated for the required number of cycles to validate its durability under conditions mirroring its intended usage. This study devised an accelerated test method for gearboxes, which reduces operating angles and operational strokes. The reliability of the accelerated test was verified by comparing the stresses imposed on the gears under general and acceleration conditions through multi-body dynamic simulations. The results confirmed that the maximum contact stress levels under normal and accelerated conditions were within a 0.1% error range, indicating a minimal difference in the gear damage rates. However, a difference in the maximum contact stress results between the normal and accelerated conditions was observed when inertial forces acted on the output shaft due to the operational acceleration of the gearbox. Therefore, when conducting this acceleration test, caution should be exercised to ensure that the operational load on the gearbox, which affects inertia, does not significantly deviate from the conditions observed under normal operating conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.17-29
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• 2024

To increase industrial applicability of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) as immunostimulating materials, hot-water extract (AME) was prepared from AM and fermented with Kimchi-lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus sakei & Leuconostoc mesenteroides) to prepare fermented AM-postbiotics (FAME). Although FAME prepared from AM-postbiotics did not show a significant enhancement in macrophage stimulating activity compared to non-fermented AME, crude polysaccharide (FAME-CP) fractionated by EtOH precipitation from FAME showed significantly higher macrophage stimulating activity than AME-CP. Compared to AME-CP, FAME-CP showed dramatic changes in component sugar and molecular weight distribution. FAME-CP was a polysaccharide with a major molecular weight distribution of 113.4 kDa containing Man (44.2%), Glc (19.3%), Gal (10.2%), GalA (10.2%), and Ara (7.4%) as sugar components. FAME-CP with enhanced macrophage stimulatory activity not only increased expression levels of mRNA genes encoding macrophage-activated factors (iNOS, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-6, and COX-2), but also led the nuclear translocation of activated p65 and c-Jun. In conclusion, crude polysaccharide from AM-postbiotics fermented with lactic acid bacteria could increase industrial applicability as a functional material with enhanced immunostimulating activity than AME-CP.

• BMB Reports
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.256-261
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• 2024

In the context of aging, the susceptibility to infectious diseases increases, leading to heightened morbidity and mortality. This phenomenon, termed immunosenescence, is characterized by dysregulation in the aging immune system, including abnormal alterations in lymphocyte composition, elevated basal inflammation, and the accumulation of senescent T cells. Such changes contribute to increased autoimmune diseases, enhanced infection severity, and reduced responsiveness to vaccines. Utilizing aging animal models becomes imperative for a comprehensive understanding of immunosenescence, given the complexity of aging as a physiological process in living organisms. Our investigation focuses on Cisd2, a causative gene for Wolfram syndrome, to elucidate on immunosenescence. Cisd2 knockout (KO) mice, serving as a model for premature aging, exhibit a shortened lifespan with early onset of aging-related features, such as decreased bone density, hair loss, depigmentation, and optic nerve degeneration. Intriguingly, we found that the Cisd2 KO mice present a higher number of neutrophils in the blood; however, isolated neutrophils from these mice display functional defects. Through mass spectrometry analysis, we identified an interaction between Cisd2 and Calnexin, a protein known for its role in protein quality control. Beyond this function, Calnexin also regulates calcium homeostasis through interaction with sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium transport ATPase (SERCA). Our study proposes that Cisd2 modulates calcium homeostasis via its interaction with Calnexin and SERCA, consequently influencing neutrophil functions.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.9.1-9.21
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• 2024

The cytokine IL-7 plays critical and nonredundant roles in T cell immunity so that the abundance and availability of IL-7 act as key regulatory mechanisms in T cell immunity. Importantly, IL-7 is not produced by T cells themselves but primarily by non-lymphoid lineage stromal cells and epithelial cells that are limited in their numbers. Thus, T cells depend on cell extrinsic IL-7, and the amount of in vivo IL-7 is considered a major factor in maximizing and maintaining the number of T cells in peripheral tissues. Moreover, IL-7 provides metabolic cues and promotes the survival of both naïve and memory T cells. Thus, IL-7 is also essential for the functional fitness of T cells. In this regard, there has been an extensive effort trying to increase the protein abundance of IL-7 in vivo, with the aim to augment T cell immunity and harness T cell functions in anti-tumor responses. Such approaches started under experimental animal models, but they recently culminated into clinical studies, with striking effects in re-establishing T cell immunity in immunocompromised patients, as well as boosting anti-tumor effects. Depending on the design, glycosylation, and the structure of recombinantly engineered IL-7 proteins and their mimetics, recombinant IL-7 molecules have shown dramatic differences in their stability, efficacy, cellular effects, and overall immune functions. The current review is aimed to summarize the past and present efforts in the field that led to clinical trials, and to highlight the therapeutical significance of IL-7 biology as a master regulator of T cell immunity.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.61-74
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• 2016

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that sample their environment and present antigens to naïve T lymphocytes for the subsequent antigen-specific immune responses. DCs exist in a range of distinct subpopulations including plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) and classical DCs (cDCs), with the latter consisting of the cDC1 and cDC2 lineages. Although the roles of DC-specific transcription factors across the DC subsets have become understood, the posttranscriptional mechanisms that regulate DC development are yet to be elucidated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are pivotal posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression in a myriad of biological processes, but their contribution to the immune system is just beginning to surface. In this study, our in-house probe collection was screened to identify miRNAs possibly involved in DC development and function by targeting the transcripts of relevant mouse transcription factors. Examination of DC subsets from the culture of mouse bone marrow with Flt3 ligand identified high expression of miR-124 which was able to target the transcript of TCF4, a transcription factor critical for the development and homeostasis of pDCs. Further expression profiling of mouse DC subsets isolated from in vitro culture as well as via ex vivo purification demonstrated that miR-124 was outstandingly expressed in CD24⁺ cDC1 cells compared to in pDCs and CD172α⁺ cDC2 cells. These results imply that miR-124 is likely involved in the processes of DC subset development by posttranscriptional regulation of a transcription factor(s).