• Title/Summary/Keyword: Biological systems

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Computer Modeling of Modified Atmosphere Packaging of Peaches (복숭아의 환경기체조절포장을 위한 컴퓨터 모델링)

  • Kim, Jong-Kyoung;Ha, Young-Sun;Lee, Jun-Ho;Lee, Sang-Duk;Kim, Jae-Neung
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.33-54
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    • 2003
  • The aim of this study was to develop a model that could be used in the design of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) for peaches. Respiratory data at 5, 10, $20^{\circ}C$ for peaches were gathered and altered for create useful respiration model. Packaging materials were conventional low density polyethylene and polypropylene with anti-fog, and anti-fungi treatments, and thickness was $30{\mu}m$ and $50{\mu}m$ each. Permeability tests were performed to find their oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor transmission rate as increases in temperature. Test results were then converted to logarithm format for MAP modeling. The maximum rate of oxygen uptake increased with increasing temperature. Optimum gas composition in the package system for fruits were set according to literature and upper or lower limits of oxygen and dioxide established. To predict gas composition at certain storage time, weight of fruits, film thickness, film type, and other variables, respiration rate was studied at various storage conditions. The results of tests were used to calculate Cameron's model and converted to a cubic estimation equation. The validity of the model was tested experimentally by observing actual atmospheric changes inside packages. This result of study may be useful for designing dynamic gas exchange MAP systems for similar agricultural products.

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Nitric oxide modulates antioxidant defense and the methylglyoxal detoxification system and reduces salinity-induced damage of wheat seedlings

  • Hasanuzzaman, Mirza;Hossain, Mohammad Anwar;Fujita, Masayuki
    • Plant Biotechnology Reports
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    • v.5 no.4
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    • pp.353-365
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    • 2011
  • The present study investigates the possible regulatory role of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) in antioxidant defense and methylglyoxal (MG) detoxification systems of wheat seedlings exposed to salt stress (150 and 300 mM NaCl, 4 days). Seedlings were pre-treated for 24 h with 1 mM sodium nitroprusside, a NO donor, and then subjected to salt stress. The ascorbate (AsA) content decreased significantly with increased salt stress. The amount of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and the GSH/GSSG ratio increased with an increase in the level of salt stress. The glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity increased significantly with severe salt stress (300 mM). The ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities did not show significant changes in response to salt stress. The glutathione reductase (GR), glyoxalase I (Gly I), and glyoxalase II (Gly II) activities decreased upon the imposition of salt stress, especially at 300 mM NaCl, with a concomitant increase in the $H_2O_2$ and lipid peroxidation levels. Exogenous NO pretreatment of the seedlings had little influence on the nonenzymatic and enzymatic components compared to the seedlings of the untreated control. Further investigation revealed that NO pre-treatment had a synergistic effect; that is, the pre-treatment increased the AsA and GSH content and the GSH/GSSG ratio, as well as the activities of MDHAR, DHAR, GR, GST, GPX, Gly I, and Gly II in most of the seedlings subjected to salt stress. These results suggest that the exogenous application of NO rendered the plants more tolerant to salinity-induced oxidative damage by enhancing their antioxidant defense and MG detoxification systems.

Anxiolytic effects of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, physostigmine, in the adult zebrafish

  • Cho, Han-Eul;Lee, Chang-Joong;Choi, Ji-Seon;Hwang, Jin-Soo;Lee, Yun-Kyoung
    • Animal cells and systems
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    • v.16 no.3
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    • pp.198-206
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    • 2012
  • Anxiety in zebrafish can be determined by examining their bottom-dwelling and light-avoidance behavior. This study determines the effects of physostigmine and scopolamine on anxiety in zebrafish by measuring swimming frequency for three horizontal layers and three vertical columns of a water test tank illuminated by a light source located above the central surface of the tank. In the 1 h session, zebrafish in the control group preferred the bottom layer the most and the center column the least. Zebrafish treated with 2-20 ${\mu}M$ physostigmine were more likely to prefer the to layer than controls, and there were significant pairwise differences between physostigmine-treated zebrafish and controls, indicating the anxiolytic effect of physostigmine. Further, 10 and $20{\mu}M$ physostigmine-treated zebrafish no longer avoided the center column. Scopolamine had no anxiolytic effect on bottom-dwelling and light-avoidance behaviors but suppressed the anxiolytic effect of physostigmine. In terms of their preference for various zones formed by layers and columns, zebrafish in the control group preferred the bottom left and right zones the most. Physostigmine had a positive effect on the preference for the top center zone, which was suppressed by scopolamine pretreatment. The results suggest that the level of anxiety in zebrafish can be reduced by activating acetylcholinergic neurotransmitter systems, which is mediated in part by muscarinic receptors.

Application of Membranes for Biological Waste Gas Treatment Processes (생물학적 폐가스 처리공정 내 멤브레인 활용)

  • Lee, Sang-hun
    • Membrane Journal
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    • v.31 no.5
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    • pp.327-332
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    • 2021
  • The use of membranes for MBRWG (Membrane Bioreactor for Waste Gas) treatment can provide highly selective separation of a waste gas stream followed by effective biological removal. MBRWG have several potential advantages, among which the most distinctive one is separation of gas and liquid phases at each side of membrane potentially allowing the optimal biomass control toward effective biodegradation of target gases as well as biofilm activation. This advantage becomes especially favorable for removal of hydrophobic toxic gases, such as xylene, by MBRWG systems, because the mass transfer, the toxicity, and thereby the biodegradation of hydrophobic gas treatment requires sensitive handling of liquid stream and water control near biofilm. Among various membranes for MBRWG treatment, PDMS-hollow fiber membranes provide the high gas mass transfer. Despite lower specific surface areas, capillary type membranes are also applied current MBRWG studies. In addition to the main application of membranes as biofilm supporter in MBRWG systems, there can be another application of membranes in a posterior process for removal of residual gases or dusts emitted from conventional biological waste gas treatment processes.

Rapid, Simultaneous Detection of Various Biological Toxin Genes Using Multiplex Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification(RT-LAMP) (다중 역전사-루프매개등온증폭법(RT-LAMP)를 이용한 생물 독소 유전자 신속 진단법)

  • Seungho Lee;Chanho Chung;Sehun Gu;Jungeun Kim;Hyeongseok Yun;Daesang Lee;Gyeunghaeng Hur;Donghyun Song
    • Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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    • v.27 no.4
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    • pp.516-527
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    • 2024
  • Rapid, early, accurate detection and identification of the various pathogenic agents associated with the development of biological weapons is critical in preventing loss of life and limiting the impact of these organisms when used against civilian or military targets. The aim of this study was to produce a system for the simple, rapid, accurate and simultaneous detection and identification of Ricin, Botulinum toxin B and Staphylococcal enterotoxin B as a proof of principle for developing field appropriate reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification systems for the accurate identification of potential biological threats. These systems were designed to facilitate the identification of potential threats even in remote or resource-limited locations.

Insights into Enzyme Reactions with Redox Cofactors in Biological Conversion of CO2

  • Du-Kyeong Kang;Seung-Hwa Kim;Jung-Hoon Sohn;Bong Hyun Sung
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.33 no.11
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    • pp.1403-1411
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    • 2023
  • Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most abundant component of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and directly creates environmental issues such as global warming and climate change. Carbon capture and storage have been proposed mainly to solve the problem of increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere; however, more emphasis has recently been placed on its use. Among the many methods of using CO2, one of the key environmentally friendly technologies involves biologically converting CO2 into other organic substances such as biofuels, chemicals, and biomass via various metabolic pathways. Although an efficient biocatalyst for industrial applications has not yet been developed, biological CO2 conversion is the needed direction. To this end, this review briefly summarizes seven known natural CO2 fixation pathways according to carbon number and describes recent studies in which natural CO2 assimilation systems have been applied to heterogeneous in vivo and in vitro systems. In addition, studies on the production of methanol through the reduction of CO2 are introduced. The importance of redox cofactors, which are often overlooked in the CO2 assimilation reaction by enzymes, is presented; methods for their recycling are proposed. Although more research is needed, biological CO2 conversion will play an important role in reducing GHG emissions and producing useful substances in terms of resource cycling.

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a recA-like Gene Induced by DNA Damage from a Fluorescent Pseudomonas sp.

  • Ok Bong Kim;Na Young Kim;Jae Hoon Jeong;Si Wouk Kim;Hye Gwang Jeong;Seong Myeong Yoon;Jong Kun Park;Jung Sup Lee
    • Animal cells and systems
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    • v.3 no.2
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    • pp.229-236
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    • 1999
  • The recA gene plays a central role in genetic recombination and SOS DNA repair in Escherichia coli (E. coli). We have previously identified a 42 kDa RecA-like protein inducible by a variety of DNA damages from a fluorescent Pseudomonas strain sp. and characterized its inducible kinetics. In the present study, we cloned and characterized the gene encoding the RecA-like protein by immunological screening of Pseudomonas genomic expression library using polyclonal E. coli anti-RecA antibodies as a probe. From 10$^{5}$ plaques screened, five putative clones were finally isolated. Southern blot analysis indicated that four clones had the same DNA inserts and the recA-like gene was located within the 3.2 kb EcoRI fragment of Pseudomonas chromosomal DNA. In addition, the cloned recA-like gene was transcribed into an RNA transcript approximately 1.1 kb in size, as judged by Northern blot analysis. The cellular level of RNA transcript of the cloned recA-like gene was increased to an average of 5.15- fold upon treatment with DNA damaging agents such as ultraviolet (UV)- light, nalidixic acid (NA), methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), and mitomycin-C (MMC). These results suggest that the cloned gene is inducible by DNA damage similarly to the recA gene in E. coli. However, the cloned gene did not restore the DNA damage sensitivity of the E. coli recA-mutant.

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Molecular Cloning and Analysis of the Gene for P-450 Hydroxylase from Pseudonocardia autotrophica IFO 12743

  • Kim, Jung-Mee;Younmie Jin;Hyun, Chang-Gu;Kim, Jong-Hee;Lee, Hong-Sub;Kang, Dae-Kyung;Kang, Dae-Jung;Kim, Tae-Yong;Suh, Joo-Won
    • Journal of Microbiology
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    • v.40 no.3
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    • pp.211-218
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    • 2002
  • A 4.8-kb DNA fragment encoding the P-450 type hydroxylase and ferredoxin genes was cloned from Pseudonocardia autotrophica IFO 12743 that can convert vitamin D$\_$3/ into its hydroxylated active forms. In order to isolate the P-450 gene cluster in this organism, we designed PCR primers on the basis of the regions of an oxygen binding site and a heme ligand pocket that are general characteristics of the P-450 hydroxylase. Sequencing analysis of the BamHI fragment revealed the presence of four complete and one incomplete ORFs, named PauA, PauB, PauC, and PauD, respectively. As a result of computer-based analyses, PauA and PauB have homology with enoyl-CoA hydratase from several organisms and the positive regulators belonging to the tetR family, respectively. PauC and PauD show similarity with SuaB/C proteins and ferredoxins, respectively, which are composed of P-450 monooxygenase systems for metabolizing two sulfonylurea herbicides in Streptomyces griseolus PauC shows the highest similarity with another CytP-450$\_$Sca2/ protein that is responsible for production of a specific HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, pravastatin, in S. carbophilus. Cultures of Steptomyces lividans transformant, containing the P-450 gene cluster on the pWHM3 plasmid, was unable to convert vitamin D$\_$3/ to its hydroxylated forms.

Effect of Tillage System and Fertilization Method on Biological Activities in Soil under Soybean Cultivation (경운방법과 시비방법이 콩 재배 토양의 생물학적 활성에 미치는 영향)

  • Oh, Eun-Ji;Park, Ji-Su;Yoo, Jin;Kim, Suk-Jin;Woo, Sun-Hee;Chung, Keun-Yook
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.36 no.4
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    • pp.223-229
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    • 2017
  • BACKGROUND: Tillage systems and fertilization play an important role in crop growth and soil improvement. This study was conducted to determine the effects of tillage and fertilization on the microbial biomass C and dehydrogenase activity of soils in a field under cultivation of soybean. METHODS AND RESULTS: An experimental plot, located in the temperate climate zone, was composed of two main sectors that were no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT), and they were subdivided into four plots, respectively, in accordance with types of fertilizers (non fertilizer, chemical fertilizer, hairy vetch, and liquid pig manure). Microbial biomass C and dehydrogenase activity were evaluated from May to July in 2016. The microbial biomass C and dehydrogenase activity of NT soils were significantly higher than those of CT in all fertilizer treatments, and they were further increased in hairy vetch treatment than the other fertilizer treatments in both NT and CT. The dehydrogenase activity was closely related to microbial biomass C. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that application of green manure combined with no-tillage can provide viable management practices for enhancing microbial properties of soil.

Relationships among a Habitat-Riparian Indexing System (HIS), Water Quality, and Land Coverage: a Case Study in the Main Channel of the Yangsan Stream (South Korea)

  • Jeong, Kwang-Seuk;Kim, Dong-Kyun;Hong, Dong-Kyun;Choi, Jong-Yun;Yoon, Ju-Duk;Joo, Gea-Jae
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.42 no.4
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    • pp.502-509
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    • 2009
  • In this study a total of 27 stream sites, at 1 km intervals, were monitored for simple physicochemical water characteristics, land coverage patterns, and stream environment characteristics using the Habitat-riparian Indexing System (HIS), in the Yangsan Stream. The HIS has been tested in previous research, resulting in some identification of advantages in the application to the stream ecosystems data. Even though reliable stream environment characterization was possible using HIS, there was no information about the application of this tool to present continuity of environmental changes in stream systems. Also the necessity was raised to compare the results of HIS application with land coverage information in order to provide useful information in management strategy development. The monitoring results of this study showed that changes of environmental degradation were well represented by HIS. Especially, stream environment degradation due to construction was relatively well reflected in the HIS monitoring results, and the main causality of Yangsan Stream degradation was expansion of the urbanized area. In addition, there were significant relationships between the HIS scores and land coverage information. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare appropriate options in controlling or managing the expansion of the industrialized areas in this stream basin in order to improve the stream environment. For this purpose, ensemble utilization of HIS results, water quality, and geographical information, resulting in integration with remote sensing processes can be possible.