• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.414-420
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• 2022

Objective: In this study, the test-retest reliability and validity were presented to evaluate the usability of isokinetic rehabilitation equipment for the knee joint. Design: Cross-sectional design, reliability & validity study. Methods: Thirty healthy adults participated in the study. A CSMI dynamometer was used as a standardized measuring device to present the validity of the equipment. It was measured based on the dominant leg. The average peak torque value was selected as the measurement variable. After the measurement, a questionnaire was conducted on safety, satisfaction, and performance through the usability evaluation questionnaire. Results: The knee joint isokinetic rehabilitation equipment showed high reliability with Intraclass Correlations Coefficients (ICC) =0.883~0.956. In order to check the validity of the equipment, the 95% confidence interval of the mean difference limit was confirmed by the Bland & Altman plot. As a result, all three angular velocities showed a smaller confidence interval in the flexion than in extension. There were less than 10 plots that were not included in 2 Standard Deviation (SD) between all measurements. As a result of the usability evaluation questionnaire, the average of the safety domain(4.9±0.4), satisfaction domain(4.1±0.8), performance domain(4.3±0.8). Conclusions: If the product is improved by supplementing the items identified in the usability evaluation process, it is judged that it can be used as a useful device in various knee joint rehabilitation fields.

• 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.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.680-685
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• 2015

Previously, cellulase and xylanase producing microorganism, Bacillus subtilis NC1, was isolated from soil. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence and API 50 CHL test the strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis, and named as B. subtilis NC1. We cloned and sequenced the genes for cellulase and xylanase. Plus, the deduced amino acid sequences from the genes of cellulase and xylanase were determined and were also identified as glycosyl hydrolases family (GH) 5 and 30, respectively. In this study to optimize the medium parameters for cellulase production by B. subtilis NC1 the RSM (response surface methodology) based on CCD (central composite design) model was performed. Three factors, tryptone, yeast extract, and NaCl, for N or C source were investigated. The cellulase activity was measured with a carboxylmethyl cellulose (CMC) plate and the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) methods. The coefficient of determination (R²) for the model was 0.960, and the probability value (p=0.0001) of the regression model was highly significant. Based on the RSM, the optimum conditions for cellulase production by B. subtilis NC1 were predicted to be tryptone of 2.5%, yeast extract of 0.5%, and NaCl of 1.0%. Through the model verification, cellulase activity of Bacillus subtilis NC1 increased from 0.5 to 0.62 U/ml (24%) compared to the original medium.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2012

This research was conducted to obtain basic data with regard to the heating performance that would be produced by installing an aluminum hot water pipe inside the greenhouse with the goal of reducing the heating energy in greenhouse. The research results are summarized as follows. The degree of difference in relation to the temperature by height within the greenhouse during the entire experiment was significant - within the range of 4.0~$7.0^{\circ}C$. The temperature difference between incoming and outgoing water was about $3.3^{\circ}C$ greater when FCU was activated compared to when it was not activated. Meanwhile, the amount of energy consumed increased about 36.2~40.1%. The amount of pyrexia per hour also increased by 44.6~52.0%. During the experiment period, circulated flux was within the range of 0.48~$0.49L{\cdot}s^{-1}$ while average fluid speed was 1.53~$1.56m{\cdot}s^{-1}$. The average temperature difference between incoming and outgoing water was 6.24~$11.50^{\circ}C$. The amount of heating value by each set temperature within the minimum outdoor temperature range of -14.0~$-0.6^{\circ}C$ was 135,930~307,150 kcal, and the range was within the 9,610~$19,630kcal{\cdot}h^{-1}$ per hour. This demonstrated that about 23~53% heating energy of the maximum heating load could be supplied. Total radiating value and amount of energy consumed were 2,548,306 kcal and 3,075.7 kWh, respectively. When heating takes place using oil, which is a fossil fuel, the total amount of light oil consumed was 281.6 L while the cost was 321,000 won. When the electricity cost for farms is applied, the total cost was about 110,730 won, which is about 33.5% of the cost required compared to oil consumption. The temperature at in the experiment area was about 8.3~$14.6^{\circ}C$ higher compared to that of the control area.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.100-109
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• 2005

In South America, natural products with unknown drug effects are used as folk remedies and for preventive medicine. Among South American natural products, we directed our attention to Propolis, which have been known as medicinal plants, and examined the mechanisms by which these substances affect antioxidant activity, anti-tumor activity and immunoresponse. When the antioxidant activities of Propolis were examined by the DPPH and Rhoudan iron methods, since Propolis contains high levels of flavonoids, it is thought that flavonoids may be responsible for the antioxidant activity in this study. In the examination of immunoenhancement activity, we measured lymphocyte versus polymorphonuclear leukocyte ratios (L/P activity). The number of lymphocytes was significantly increased in groups treated with Proplolis. Specifically, slightly high levels of $IFN-{\gamma}$ were measured in mice bearing the S-180 carcinoma, after administration of Propolis. This strongly suggests that cellular immunity is especially activated by treatment with Propolis, because production of $IFN-{\alpha}$ is limited to the T cells and NK cells stimulated by mitogen and sensitized antigen. $TNF-{\alpha}$ shows a different extent and mechanism of action depending on the target cells. When $TNF-{\alpha}$ was measured in mice bearing the S-180 carcinoma, mice treated with Propolis showed slightly higher $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels as compared to the control group. This suggests that activated macrophages produce $TNF-{\alpha}$ in mice treated with Prapolis, since activated macrophages and lymphocytes are the source of most $TNF-{\alpha}$. When anti-tumor action was examined using two kinds of sarcoma (Ehrlich solid carcinoma and Sarcoma-180 carcinoma), tumor-suppressive ratios after treatment with Propolis was 29.1%. When Sarcoma-180 solid carcinoma was used, tumor-suppressive ratios were 62%. Thus, Propolis showed strong anti-tumor activity against two kinds of solid carcinoma. Taken altogether, this strongly suggests that Propolis enhances original functions of macrophages and NK cells, and as a result, secondarily enhances the immune reaction and suppresses tumor growth.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2021

TiO2 has been used in various fields such as solar cells, dental implants, and photocatalysis, because it has high physical and chemical stability and is harmless to the body. TiO2 nanofibers which have a large specific surface area also show a good reactivity in bio-friendly products and excellent photocatalysis in air and water purification. To fabricate TiO2 nanofibers, an electrospinning method was used. To observe the diameter of TiO2 nanofibers with fabrication variables, the fabrication variables was divided into precursor composition variables and process variables and microstructure was analyzed. The concentrations of PVP (Polyvinylpyrrolidone) and TTIP (Titanium(IV) isopropoxide) were selected as precursor composition variables, and inflow velocity and voltage were also selected as process variables. Microstructure and crystal structure of TiO2 nanofibers were analyzed using FE-SEM (Field emission scanning electron microscope) and XRD (X-ray diffraction), respectively. As-spun TiO2 nanofibers with an average diameter of about 0.27 ㎛ to 1.31 ㎛ were transformed to anatase TiO2 nanofibers with an average diameter of about 0.22 ㎛ to 0.78 ㎛ after heat treatment of 3 hours at 450℃. Anatase TiO2 nanofibers with an average diameter of 0.22 ㎛ can be expected to improve the photocatalytic properties by increasing the specific surface area. To change the average diameter of TiO2 nanofibers, the control of precursor composition variables such as concentrations of PVP and TTIP is more efficient than the control of electrospinning process variables such as inflow velocity and voltage.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2014

Twelve Universal fungal PCR fingerprint (UFPF) primers that were modified from Universal rice primer (URP) were used to assess genetic diversity of 64 Agaricus strains including 45 A. bisporus strains and other 19 strains of other Agaricus spp. Eight primers, UFPF1, UFPF2, UFPF3, UFPF7, UFPF9, UFPF10, UFPF11, and UFPF12 produced PCR polymorphic bands within and between the Agaricus species. Primer UFPF7 produced specific PCR polymorphic bands that are distinct Korean strain from different strains. Ninety five PCR polymorphic bands were inputted for UPGMA cluster analysis. Forty five strains of A. bisporus are genetically clustered into 8 groups, showing coefficient similarity from 0.75 to 0.9 among them. The varieties, Saea, Saedo, Saejeong and Saeyeon that have recently been developed in Korea were involved in the same group with close genetic relationship of coefficient similarity over 0.96, whereas, other Korean strains were genetically related to A. bisporus strains that were introduced from USA, Eroupe and Chinese.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2012

A bacterium, identified as $Bacillus$ $amyloliquefacies$, CNL-90 using 16S rDNA analysis, was isolated from malt grain. The optimal activities of its ${\alpha}$-amylase and protease were observed at pH 6 and $60^{\circ}C$, and at pH 6 and $50^{\circ}C$, respectively although their activities remained stable at pH 7 and $40^{\circ}C$for ${\alpha}$-amylase and at pH 7 and $50^{\circ}C$ for protease. After solid-state fermentation of $B.$ $amyloliquefacies$, CNL-90 on wheat bran for 72hr or 144hr, the ${\alpha}$-amylase and protease activities were 170,000 and 290,000 units/kg, and 290,000 and 310,000 units/kg, respectively. The viable bacterial cell counts were $1.5{\times}10^9$ CFU/g and $2.2{\times}10^9$ CFU/g at 72hr and 144hr of the solid-state fermentation, respectively. A feeding trial with a total of 127 piglets was also conducted. The animals were divided into two groups: an experimental group fed with the fermented product (63 piglets) and a control group (64 piglets). The growth rate of the experimental group was 6.66% higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). The results of this study indicate that the ${\alpha}$-amylase and protease from $B.$ $amyloliquefacies$, CNL-90 can be used for industrial applications due to their activity in production of carbohydrate hydrolysates.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.404-412
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• 2016

We hypothesized that supplementing finishing diets with palm oil would promote adipogenic gene expression and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) gene expression in subcutaneous (s.c.) and intramuscular (i.m.) adipose tissues of feedlot steers. Eighteen Angus and Angus crossbred steers were assigned to three groups of 6 steers and fed a basal diet (control), with 3% palm oil, or with 3% soybean oil, for 70 d, top-dressed daily. Tailhead s.c. adipose tissue was obtained by biopsy at 14 d before the initiation of dietary treatments and at 35 d of dietary treatments. At slaughter, after 70 d of dietary treatment, tailhead s.c. adipose tissue and i.m. adipose tissue were obtained from the longissimus thoracis muscle. Palm oil increased plasma palmitic acid and soybean oil increased plasma linoleic acid and ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid relative to the initial sampling time. Expression of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha ($AMPK{\alpha}$) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) increased between the initial and intermediate biopsies and declined thereafter (p<0.03). SCD gene expression did not change between the initial and intermediate biopsies but declined by over 75% by the final period (p = 0.04), and G-coupled protein receptor 43 (GPR43) gene expression was unaffected by diet or time on trial. Soybean oil decreased (p = 0.01) $PPAR{\gamma}$ gene expression at the intermediate sample time. At the terminal sample time, $PPAR{\gamma}$ and SCD gene expression was less in i.m. adipose tissue than in s.c. adipose tissue (p<0.05). $AMPK{\alpha}$ gene expression was less in s.c. adipose tissue of palm oil-fed steers than in control steers (p = 0.04) and CCAAT enhancer binding protein-beta ($CEBP{\beta}$) gene expression was less in s.c. and i.m. adipose tissues of palm oil-fed steers than in soybean oil-fed steers (p<0.03). Soybean oil decreased SCD gene expression in s.c. adipose tissue (p = 0.05); SCD gene expression in palm oil-fed steers was intermediate between control and soybean oil-fed steers. Contrary to our original hypothesis, palm oil did not promote adipogenic gene expression in s.c. and i.m. adipose tissue.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.304-308
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• 2004

Immune enhancing activities of water and ethanol extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. (HP) were examined. HP extracts inhibited the growth of human hepatocarcinoma, human gastric cancer cell and human breast cancer cells in concentration-dependent mammers over a concentration range of $0.05{\sim}1.0\;mg/ml$, showing inhibiton of more than 80% with the concentration of 1.0 mg/ml. However, HP the same concentration. Overall selectivity of the extracts on the three human cancer lines was over 3.5, which is higher than those from the conventional herbs. The growth of human immune B and T cells was enhanced up to 1.4 to 2.0 folds by the addition of the extracts for 4 days, compared to controls. Ethanol extracts of HP after 6 days incubation increased the secretions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha $(TNF-{\alpha})$ from T cells and interleukin-6 (IL-6) from B cells to 6.7 pg/cell and 6.8 pg/cell, respectively. These results suggest that HP has a potent immune enhancing effect.