• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1085-1088
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• 2011

Heavy metal concentration as well as chemical composition were surveyed in commercial liquid pig manure to provide the basic information for mitigation research of hazardous material to agro-product. Seventy-five samples of liquid pig manure were collected and analyzed from 2009 to 2010 nationwide. Average contents of T-N, $P_2O_5$, and $K_2O$ were 0.29%, 0.08%, and 0.11%, respectively. The contents of heavy metals ranged from 0.001~0.083 for As, 0.001~0.108 for Cd, 0.002~0.495 for Cr, 0.07~47.8 for Cu, ND~0.005 for Hg, 0.035~1.033 for Ni, ND~0.291 for Pb, and $0.75{\sim}342.4mg\;L^{-1}$ for Zn, respectively. It was noted that among 75 samples, only four samples exceeded the Zn guideline ($130mg\;L^{-1}$) of liquid fertilizer derived from livestock manure but others were not exceeded the regulation.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.232-239
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• 2018

Human breast milk (HBM) provides neonates with indispensable nutrition. The present study evaluated the anti-cancer activity of diluted and pasteurized early HBM (< 6 weeks' lactation) on human breast cancer cell lines. The cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB231 were exposed to 1 % HBM from the 1st, 3rd, and 6th weeks of lactation and exhibited reduced proliferation rates. As controls, breast cell lines (293T and MCF-10A), breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), and $CD133^{hi}CXCR4^{hi}ALDH1^{hi}$ patient-derived human cancer stem-like cells (KU-CSLCs) were treated with prominent milk proteins ${\beta}$-casein, ${\kappa}$-casein, and lactoferrin at varying doses (10, 50, and $100{\mu}g$) for 24 or 48 hrs. The impact of these proteins on cell proliferation was investigated. Breast cancer cell lines treated with ${\kappa}$-casein and lactoferrin exhibited significantly reduced viability, in both a dose- and time-dependent manner. Interestingly, ${\kappa}$-casein selectively impacted only cancer (but not normal breast) cell lines, particularly the more malignant cell line. However, ${\beta}$-casein-exposed human breast cancer cell lines exhibited a significantly higher proliferation rate. Thus, ${\kappa}$-casein and lactoferrin appear to exert selective anti-cancer activities. Further studies are warranted to determine the mechanisms underlying ${\kappa}$-casein- and lactoferrin-mediated cancer cell-selective cytotoxic effects.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.694-701
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• 2020

Objectives: The main purpose of this study is to evaluate heavy metal concentrations (Cd, As, Hg, Pb, Cr6+), particle size distribution, hydrochloric acid solubility, and parasite eggs in sand in five non-designated sandy beaches in Gyeonggi Province. Methods: The sampling sites are five non-designated Gyeonggi-do sandy beaches located in Ansan and Hwaseong. ICP-OES and UV, a Vibratory Sieve Shaker, and PCM were respectively used to analyze heavy metal concentrations, particle size distribution, and parasite eggs in the sand. Results: Heavy metals were detected within the beach's safety management standards and some of the detected As and Pb before and after beach opening were lower than one-quarter of the average value. In addition, the results of the T-test to confirm the As and Pb concentration changes before and after opening showed a significant difference in some beaches. The composition of sand was 86.53% according to the particle size distribution standard (2.0-0.02 mm), and the hydrochloric acid solubility was the highest at Gubongsolsup (4.9%) and the lowest at Bangameo-li (0.2%). Parasite eggs were undetected in all beach sand before and after opening. Conclusions: The safety of heavy metal concentrations in sandy beaches was secured in the selected five beaches in Gyeonggi Province. However, continuous efforts are required to make Gyeonggi-do's beaches suitable according to the Act on the Use and Management of Beaches.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.15.1-15.13
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• 2023

Background: Inactivated vaccines are limited in preventing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) due to safety problems. Recombinant virus-like particles (VLPs) are an excellent candidate for a novel vaccine for preventing FMD, given that VLPs have similar immunogenicity as natural viruses and are replication- and infection-incompetent. Objectives: The 3C protease and P1 polyprotein of type O FMD virus (FDMV) was expressed in yeast Hansenula polymorpha to generate self-resembling VLPs, and the potential of recombinant VLPs as an FMD vaccine was evaluated. Methods: BALB/c mice were immunized with recombinant purified VLPs using CpG oligodeoxynucleotide and aluminum hydroxide gel as an adjuvant. Cytokines and lymphocytes from serum and spleen were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, enzyme-linked immunospot assay, and flow cytometry. Results: The VLPs of FMD were purified successfully from yeast protein with a diameter of approximately 25 nm. The immunization of mice showed that animals produced high levels of FMDV antibodies and a higher level of antibodies for a longer time. In addition, higher levels of interferon-γ and CD4⁺ T cells were observed in mice immunized with VLPs. Conclusions: The expression of VLPs of FMD in H. polymorpha provides a novel strategy for the generation of the FMDV vaccine.

• 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.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.193-204
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• 2024

Malaria is a global disease affecting a large portion of the world's population. Although vaccines have recently become available, their efficacies are suboptimal. We generated virus-like particles (VLPs) that expressed either apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) or microneme-associated antigen (MIC) of Plasmodium berghei and compared their efficacy in BALB/c mice. We found that immune sera acquired from AMA1 VLP- or MIC VLP-immunized mice specifically interacted with the antigen of choice and the whole P. berghei lysate antigen, indicating that the antibodies were highly parasite-specific. Both VLP vaccines significantly enhanced germinal center B cell frequencies in the inguinal lymph nodes of mice compared with the control, but only the mice that received MIC VLPs showed significantly enhanced CD4⁺ T cell responses in the blood following P. berghei challenge infection. AMA1 and MIC VLPs significantly suppressed TNF-α and interleukin-10 production but had a negligible effect on interferon-γ. Both VLPs prevented excessive parasitemia buildup in immunized mice, although parasite burden reduction induced by MIC VLPs was slightly more effective than that induced by AMA1. Both VLPs were equally effective at preventing body weight loss. Our findings demonstrated that the MIC VLP was an effective inducer of protection against murine experimental malaria and should be the focus of further development.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

The effect of sediments in a waste dumping area on marine organisms was evaluated using sediment toxicity tests with a benthic amphipod (Monocorophium acherusicum) and bioluminescent bacterium (Vibrio fischeri) in accordance with the Korean Standard Method for Marine Wastes (KSMMW). Nine sites in the East Sea-Byeong, East Sea-Jeong, and Yellow Sea-Byeong areas were sampled from 2016 to 2019. The test results showed that the relative average survival rate (benthic amphipods) and relative luminescence inhibition rate (luminescent bacteria) were below 30%, which were judged to be "non-toxic." However, in the t-test, a total of 12 benthic amphipod samples (6, 1, 1, and 4 in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively) were significantly different (p<0.05) from the control samples. To identify the source of toxicity on benthic amphipods, a simple linear regression analysis was performed between the levels of eight heavy metals (Cr, As, Ni, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Hg) in sediments and the relative average survival rate. The results indicated that Cr had the highest contribution to the toxicity of benthic amphipods (p = 0.000, R2 = 0.355). In addition, Cr was detected at the highest concentration at the DB-85 station and exceeded the Marine Environment Standards every year. Although the sediments were determined as "not toxic" according to the ecotoxicity criteria of the KSMMW, the results of the statistical significance tests and toxicity identification evaluation indicated that the toxic effect was not acceptable. Therefore, revising the criteria for determining the toxic effect by deriving a reference value through quantitative risk assessment using species sensitivity distribution curves is necessary in the future.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.190-198
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• 2008

There is an increasing concern over heavy metal contamination of paddy soils and the subsequent translocation of heavy metals to rice. Objective is to monitor the status and long-term trend of heavy metal contamination in paddy soils, periodically. In 2007 survey, the average concentrations of As(arsenic), Cd(cadmium), Cu(copper), Ni(nickel), Pb(lead), and Zn(zinc) in 2,010 paddy soils nationwide were 0.87, 0.08, 3.33, 1.19, 4.95 and $4.67mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Few sites, which were contaminated by As in 2003 and 2007 survey and by Ni in 1999 and 2007 survey, were over the threshold level for soil contamination designated by the Soil Environmental Conservation Act in Korea. Long-term change was shown that As, Ni, and Zn were gradually increased whereas Cd and Cu were decreased. In the distribution of extractable heavy metal contents, the modes of each heavy metal content were similar with the average contents of each heavy metals. Mean value of heavy metals except copper in paddy soils was higher than median value. It means that the downward distribution of heavy metal content in paddy rice was shown against normal distribution.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.170.1-170.1
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• 2015

안티모니 (Sb)를 기반으로 한 제2형 초격자 (Type II superlattice, T2SL)구조 적외선 검출기 연구는 2000년대 들어 Sb 계열의 화합물 반도체 성장 기술이 발전함에 따라 HgCdTe (MCT), InSb, 양자우물 적외선 검출기 (QWIP)를 대체할 수 있는 고성능의 양자형 적외선 검출 소재로 부상하였으며, 현재 전 세계적으로 활발한 연구가 진행되고 있다. 특히, 기존의 양자형 적외선 검출소자에 비해 전자의 유효질량이 상대적으로 커서 밴드 간의 투과전류가 줄어들 뿐만 아니라, 전자와 정공이 서로 다른 물질 영역에 분포하여 Auger 재결합률을 효과적으로 줄일 수 있어 상온 동작이 가능한 소재로 주목을 받고 있다. 또한, T2SL 구조는 초격자를 구성하는 물질의 두께나 조성 변화를 통한 밴드갭 변조가 용이하여 단파장에서 장파장 적외선에 이르는 광범위한 파장 대역에서 동작이 가능할 뿐만 아니라 구조적 변화를 통해 이중 대역을 동시에 검출 할 수 있는 차세대 적외선 열영상 소자로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 분자선 에피택시(MBE)법을 이용하여 300 주기의 InAs/GaSb (10/10 ML) 제2형 초격자 구조를 성장하여 적외선 검출소자를 제작하였다. 제2형 초격자 구조를 구성하는 물질계에 p-type dopant인 Be을 이용하여 각각 도핑 농도가 다른 시료를 성장하였다. 이때 p-type 도핑 농도는 각각 $1/5/10{\times}10^{15}cm^{-3}$로 변화를 주었다. 성장된 시료의 구조적 특성 분석을 위해 고분해능 X선 회절 (High resolution X-ray diffraction, HRXRD)법을 이용하였으며, 초격자 한 주기의 두께가 6.2~6.4 nm 로 설계된 구조와 동일하게 성장됨을 확인 하였으며, 1차 위성피크의 반치폭은 30~80 arcsec로 우수한 결정성을 가짐을 확인하였다. 적외선 검출을 위한 $410{\times}410{\mu}m^2$ 크기의 단위 소자 공정을 진행하였으며 이때 적외선의 전면 입사를 위해 소자 위에 $300{\mu}m$의 윈도우 창을 제작하였다. 단위 소자의 측벽에는 표면 누설 전류가 흐르는데 이를 방지하기 위해서 표면보호막을 증착하였다. 적외선 검출 소자의 전기적 특성 평가를 위해 각각의 시료의 암전류 (dark current)와 파장별 반응 (spectral response)을 온도별로 측정하여 비교 및 분석하였다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 1998

Crystal structural analyses of the API-TLCK complex revealed that the ${\epsilon}$-amino group (NZ) of the lysyl part of TLCK forms hydrogen bonds with OD1 of $Asp^225$ which is a substrate specificity determinant of API, OG of $Ser^214$, O of $Ser^214$, OG1 of $Thr^189$, and O of $Thr^189$ l89/. The ${\beta}$-carboxyl oxygen of $Asp^225$ forms hydrogen bonds with the NE1 of $Trp^182$. From these observations, it is thought that besides $Asp^225$, $Thr^189$, $Ser^214$, and $Trp^182$ may also contribute to the steric specificity for lysine and high proteolytic activity of API. The side-chain hydroxyl groups of $Thr^189$ and $Ser^214$ were removed to elucidate the role of these hydrogen bonds in the $S_1$-pocket. The $k_{cat}$/$K_m$ of T189V, S214A, and T189V.S214A were decreased to 1/4, 1/3, and 1/46, respectively, of the value for native API. The decreased activities were mainly due to the increase of $K_m$. The CD and fluoroscence spectra of the three mutants were similar to those of wild-type API. With regards to the kinetic parameters ($K_i\;and\;k_2$) of mutants for the reaction involving TLCK and DFP, $k_2$decreased by increase of $K_1$ only. These results suggest that the decreased catalytic activity of these mutants is caused by the partial loss of the hydrogen bond network in the $S_1$-pocket. On the other hand, the similarity of enzymatic properties between W182F and the native enzyme suggests that the hydrogen bond between OD2 of $Asp^225$ and NE1 of $Trp^182$ is not directly related to the reaction of $Asp^225$ with the substrate.