• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.581-586
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• 2017

In this study, in order to find the feasibility of thermophilic biological pre-treatment for the co-digestion of food wastewater and sewage sludge, digestion efficiency of the combined thermophilic aerobic and mesophilic anaerobic process and its effect on methane production were investigated. Also, a lab-scale co-digestion process was operated to observe parameter changes according to the increase of organic loading rates using different dilution ratios of distilled water and food wastewater (1/3 [Run I], 2/3 [Run II] in addition to using the raw food wastewater [Run III]). The results indicated that co-digestion process maintained quite stable and constant pH during entire experiments. With regard to VS removal, the higher removal was observed in the combined process and the removal efficiency was 52.24% (Run I), 66.59% (Run II) and 72.53 (Run III), respectively. In addition, the combined process showed about an 1.6-fold improved methane production rate and significantly higher methane yield than that of using single anaerobic digestion process.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.1052-1059
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• 2011

The contents of bioactive and antioxidative activities (DPPH (${\alpha},{\alpha}'$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl), free radical scavenging activity, peroxidation of linoleic acid and rat hepatocyte microsome, and Fe/Cu reducing power, tyrosinase inhibition activity) were tested by in vitro experimental models using water, hot water, ethanol and methanol extracts of leaves (ASL), roots (ASR), stems (ASS) and fruits (ASF) from Acanthopanax senticosus. Hot water extract from ASL showed the highest extraction yield (16.04%) as well as highest contents of phenolic compounds (2.67%) and flavonoids (1.43%). Major minerals were K, Ca and Mg. In oxidation in vitro models using DPPH free radical scavenging activity, Fe/Cu reducing power, $Fe^{2+}$/ascorbate-induced linoleic acid peroxidation by ferric thiocyanate and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) methods, tyrosinase inhibition activity and autooxidation of rat hepatic microsomes membrane, and antioxidative activities were strong in Acanthopanax senticosus. From these results, ASL extracts were shown to have the most potent antioxidative properties and contain the highest amounts of antioxidative compounds such as phenolic compounds and flavonoids. These results may provide the basic data to understand the biological activities of bio-active materials derived from leaves of Acanthopanax senticosus.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.172-179
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• 2017

The fermentation of Panax ginseng can yield many compounds from ginsenosides that have a wide variety of biological functions. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains are capable of converting ginsenosides. The purposes of this study were to: (1) characterize Enterococcus faecium SA5, an isolated LAB from Mongolian mare milk, (2) identify the existence of extracellular ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity in the milk, and (3) ascertain if the ${\beta}$-glucosidase has the capacity of converting ginsenoside in Korean ginseng. The results revealed that E. faecium SA5 was acid-resistant, bile salt-resistant, and has antibiotic activities against 4 pathogenic microorganisms (Salmonella typhimurium KCTC 3216, Listeria monocytogenes KCTC 3710, Bacillus cereus KCTC 1012, Staphylococcus aureus KCTC 1621). In addition, E. faecium SA5 had tolerance against some antibiotics such as colistin, gentamycin and neomycin. It was also found that E. faecium SA5 possessed bile salt hydrolase activity, which could lower blood cholesterol level. When incubated in 10% (w/v) skim milk as a yogurt starter, E. faecium SA5 caused to decrease pH of the medium as well as increase in viable cell counts. Using TLC and HPLC analysis on the samples incubated in MRS broth, our study confirmed that E. faecium SA5 can produce ${\beta}$-glucosidase, which was capable of converting ginsenoside $Rb_1$ into new ginsenosides $Rg_3-s$ and $Rg_3-r$. It was concluded that E. faecium SA5 possessed a potential of probiotic activity, which could be applied to yogurt manufacture as well as ginsenoside conversion in ginseng.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.540-546
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• 2018

Annona muricata, generally known as soursop, graviola, or sirsak, is native to the warmest tropical areas of North and South America and is now widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical parts of the world, including India and Nigeria. This study tested the contents of polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, and minerals, as well as the antioxidative effects of DPPH radical-scavenging activity, Fe/Cu-reducing power, linoleic-acid peroxidation using thiobarbituric-acid (TBA) methods and peroxidation of rat-hepatocyte microsomes, and ${\beta}$-carotene bleaching assay. These were tested with in-vitro experimental models using water, ethanol, and methanol extracts of the Annona muricata leaf (AMl). Water extracts of AMl showed the highest extraction yield (1.76%). The total polyphenol-compound concentration was the highest in the methanol extract of AMl. However, the flavonoids concentration was the highest in the ethanol extracts of AMl. AMlMl major minerals were Ca, K, and Mg. In DPPH radical-scavenging activity, the contents exhibited a strong scavenging effect on the ethanol and methanol extracts of AMl. Additionally, the Fe/Cu-reducing power was strong in ethanol and methanol extracts of AMl. $Fe^{2+}$/ascorbate-induced linoleic-acid peroxidation using TBA methods and auto-oxidation of rat-hepatic microsomes showed strong antioxidative activities in ethanol extracts of AMl. ${\beta}$-Carotene bleaching was also highest in the ethanol extracts of AMl. These results may provide the basic data to understand the chemical characteristics and antioxidative effects of Annona muricata leaf extract for the development of functional foods.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.631-637
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• 2015

Streptavidin, a protein produced by Streptomyces avidinii, strongly binds up to four molecules of vitamin H, d-biotin exhibiting the dissociation constant of about 10⁻¹⁵ M. This strong binding affinity has been applied for detection and characterization of numerous biological molecules suggesting expression and purification of functional streptavidin should be very useful for the application of this streptavidin-biotin interaction. To express a soluble streptavidin in Escherichia coli, We synthesized streptavidin genes and cloned into pET-22b plasmid, which uses T7 RNA polymerase/T7 promoter expression systems containing pelB leader for secretion into periplasmic space and six polyhistidine tags at C-terminus for purification of expressed proteins. Although streptavidin is toxic to Escherichia coli due to strong biotin binding property, streptavidin was expressed very sufficiently in a range of 10-20 mg/ml. In SDS-PAGE, the size of purified protein was shown as 17 kDa in denatured condition (boiling) and 68 kDa in native condition (without boiling) suggesting tetramerization of monomeric subunit by non-covalent association. Further analysis by size-exclusion chromatography supported streptavidin’s tetrameric structure as well. In addition, soluble streptavidin detected biotinylated proteins in westernblot indicating its functional activity to biotin. Taken these results together, it concluded that our simple expression system was able to show high yield, homotetrameric formation and biotin binding activity analogous to natural streptavidin.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1233-1243
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• 2018

Sterol regulatory-element binding proteins (SREBPs) are a family of transcription factors that regulate lipid homeostasis and metabolism by controlling the expression of enzymes required for endogenous cholesterol, fatty acid (FA), triacylglycerol, and phospholipid synthesis. The three SREBPs are encoded by two different genes. The SREBP1 gene gives rise to SREBP-1a and SREBP-1c, which are derived from utilization of alternate promoters that yield transcripts in which distinct first exons are spliced to a common second exon. SREBP-2 is derived from a separate gene. Additionally, SREBPs are implicated in numerous pathogenic processes, such as endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation, autophagy, and apoptosis. They also contribute to obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases. Genome-wide analyses have revealed that these versatile transcription factors act as important nodes of biological signaling networks. Changes in cell metabolism and growth are reciprocally linked through SREBPs. Anabolic and growth signaling pathways branch off and connect to multiple steps of SREBP activation and form complex regulatory networks. SREBPs are activated through the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway in these processes, but the molecular mechanism remains to be understood. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of SREBPs in physiology and pathophysiology at the cell, organ, and organism levels.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.567-572
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• 1994

Diglyceride was prepared by reaction of hydrogenated beef tallow and glycerol (GL) in the presence of a Pseudomonas lipase. Both substrates were mixed at the ratio of GL/Triglyceride of 0.5 which is the stoichiometric molar ratio for the complete conversion of triglyceride (TG) to diglyceride (DG). DG can be obtained by solid phase-glycerolysis of hydrogenated beef tallow without use of organic solvents or emulsifiers by careful control of reaction temperature. Optimized reaction temperature condition was as follows: An initial incubation at$60^{\circ}C$ for 2h followed by the first temperature shift down to $55^{\circ}C$ for 4h, and then the second shift down to $50^{\circ}C$ for up to 3 days. There was a large decrease in the content of TG during the first $60^{\circ}C$ incubation for 2h. Even a prolonged incubation at $60^{\circ}C$ could not make a change of the composition of the reaction mixture at liquid state. By controlling the temperature lower than $60^{\circ}C$, reaction mixtures were solidified. The reaction temperature at $50^{\circ}C$ below the melting temperature of hydrogenaed beef tallow gave an 71% optimum yield of DG after 72h enzymatic glycerolysis and about 73% of total DG was 1,3-DG.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.276-282
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• 2015

Recently, during the multi-level fusion with pedicle screws, interspinous spacer are sometimes substituted for the most superior level of the fusion in an attempt to reduce the number of fusion level and likelihood of degeneration process at the adjacent level. In this study, a finite element (FE) study was performed to assess biomechanical efficacies of the interspinous spacer combined with posterior lumbar fusion with a previously-validated 3-dimensional FE model of the intact lumbar spine (L1-S1). The post-operative models were made by modifying the intact model to simulate the implantation of interspinous spacer and pedicle screws at the L3-4 and L4-5. Four different configurations of the post-op model were considered: (1) a normal spinal model; (2) Type 1, one-level fusion using posterior pedicle screws at the L4-5; (3) Type 2, two-level (L3-5) fusion; (4) Type 3, Type 1 plus Coflex$^{TM}$ at the L3-4. hybrid protocol (intact: 10 Nm) with a compressive follower load of 400N were used to flex, extend, axially rotate and laterally bend the FE model. As compared to the intact model, Type 2 showed the greatest increase in Range of motion (ROM) at the adjacent level (L2-3), followed Type 3, and Type 1 depending on the loading type. At L3-4, ROM of Type 2 was reduced by 34~56% regardless of loading mode, as compared to decrease of 55% in Type 3 only in extension. In case of normal bone strength model (Type 3_Normal), PVMS at the process and the pedicle remained less than 20% of their yield strengths regardless of loading, except in extension (about 35%). However, for the osteoporotic model (Type 3_Osteoporotic), it reached up to 56% in extension indicating increased susceptibility to fracture. This study suggested that substitution of the superior level fusion with the interspinous spacer in multi-level fusion may be able to offer similar biomechanical outcome and stability while reducing likelihood of adjacent level degeneration.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the characteristics of nutrient removal of municipal wastewater in membrane bioreactor system. Membrane bioreactor consists of four reactors such as the anaerobic, the stabilization, the anoxic and the submerged membrane aerobic reactor with two internal recycles. The hydraulic retention time (HRT), sludge retention time (SRT) and flux were 6.2 h, 34.1 days and 19.6 L/$m^2$/hr (LMH), respectively. The removal efficiency of $COD_{Cr}$, SS, TN and TP were 94.3%, 99.9%, 69.4%, and 74.6%, respectively. The estimated true biomass yield, specific denitrification rate (SDNR), specific nitrification rate (SNR), specific phosphorus release rate (SPRR) and specific phosphorus uptake rate (SPUR) were 0.653 kgVSS/kgBOD/d, 0.044 $mgNO_3$-N/mgVSS/d, 0.035 $mgNH_4$-N/mgVSS/d, 51.0 mgP/gVSS/d and 5.4 mgP/gVSS/d, respectively. The contents of nitrogen and phosphorus of biomass were 8.86% and 3.5% on an average.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.180-186
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• 2014

Background: This study evaluated changes in ginsenoside compositions and antioxidant activities in hydroponic-cultured ginseng roots (HGR) and leaves (HGL) with heating temperature. Methods: Heat treatment was performed at temperatures of $90^{\circ}C$, $110^{\circ}C$, $130^{\circ}C$, and $150^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours Results: The ginsenoside content varied significantly with heating temperature. The levels of ginsenosides Rg1 and Re in HGR decreased with increasing heating temperature. Ginsenosides F2, F4, Rk3, Rh4, Rg3 (S form), Rg3 (R form), Rk1, and Rg5, which were absent in the raw ginseng, were formed after heat treatment. The levels of ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rf, and Rb1 in HGL decreased with increasing heating temperature. Conversely, ginsenosides Rk3, Rh4, Rg3 (R form), Rk1, and Rg5 increased with increasing heating temperature. In addition, ginsenoside contents of heated HGL were slightly higher than those of HGR. The highest extraction yield was 14.39% at $130^{\circ}C$, whereas the lowest value was 10.30% at $150^{\circ}C$ After heating, polyphenol contents of HGR and HGL increased from 0.43 mg gallic acid equivalent/g (mg GAE eq/g) and 0.74 mg GAE eq/g to 6.16 mg GAE eq/g and 2.86 mg GAE eq/g, respectively. Conclusion: Antioxidant activities of HGR and HGL, measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical scavenging ability, increased with increasing heating temperature. These results may aid in improving the biological activity and quality of ginseng subjected to heat treatments.