• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.313-318
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• 2013

In March, 2013, twenty symptomatic freesia plants (10 plants of cultivar Shiny Lemon and 10 plants of cultivar Shiny Gold), with striking virus-like symptoms were collected in Cheongju, Korea. The plants showed chlorotic, coalescing, interveinal, whitish, necrotic, mosaic, mottling or dark brown-to-purple necrotic spots on leaves. Freesia crude sap was directly analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, which potyvirus particles as well as long virus-like particles were detected. Total RNA extracts were analyzed for the infection of Freesia sneak virus (FreSV) by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR with primers specific to FreSV coat protein (CP) gene based on the sequences of FreSV isolates (GenBank No. GU071089, FJ807730 and DQ885455), showing 9 of 20 plants were infected. All 1305bp RT-PCR products were cloned and sequenced. Comparisons of nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences using BLAST and bioinformatics tools resulted in 99 to 100% sequence identity with FreSV isolates FOV, Virginia, and Italy, confirming FreSV in 9 symptomatic freesia plants. Of 9 determined cDNAs of FreSV isolates, sequences of 5 cDNA clones were identical (GenBank No. AB811437) and sequences of 4 cDNA clones were identical (GenBank No. AB811792). To our knowledge, this is the first report of FreSV from Freesia spp. in Korea.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.841-850
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• 2003

Soy-based formula has been used for centuries in Korea. Soybeans contain phytochemicals with a biochemically active component, isoflavone. Isoflavone is a kind of phytoestrogens, structurally and functionally similar to estrogen. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of soy-based infant formula on growth, development, and isoflavone concentration in the plasma and urine. Thirty-nine healthy infants who were delivered at K university medical center were recruited. Experimental groups were the breast milk group (n = 15, BM) who were fed breast milk, soy-based formula group (n = 10, SBF) who were fed soy-based infant formula, and the casein-based formula group (n = 14, CBF) who were fed casein-based infant formula for 4 months. HPLC analysis was used to measure the concentration of isoflavones. The measurements of infant weight, length, head circumference and chest circumference were all in the normal growth range and were similar among the experimental groups. No significant differences were found in the scores of total mean of infant development test (Development Quotient, DQ) among the experimental groups. The isoflavone content of soy-based formula was significantly higher than. that of breast milk and casein-based formula. Plasma concentration of daidzein and genistein in the infants fed soy-based formula (daidzein : 264.1 ng/ml, genistein : 392.1 ng/ml) was significantly higher (p<.0001) than that in infants fed breast milk (daidzein : 3.4 ng/ml, genistein : 3.8 ng/ml) and casein-based formula (daidzein: 8.1 ng/ml, genistein: 9.3 ng/ml). Also, urinary daidzein and genistein concentrations in infants fed soy-based formula (daidzein: 19.82 $\mu$g/ml, genistein : 17.89 $\mu$g/ml) were significantly higher (p<.001) than those in infants fed breast milk (daidzein: 0.28 $\mu$g/ml, genistein : 0.22 $\mu$g/ml) and casein-based formula (daidzein : 0.45 $\mu$g/ml, genistein : 0.33 $\mu$g/ml).

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.9-13
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• 2006

Objectives : To determine the DNA sequence of the 18S rRNA gene of the Rehmannia glutinosa and analyze it phylogenetically Methods : Dried root of the Rehmannia glutinosa was ground with a mortar and pestle. Glass beads(0.5 mm in diameter), TE buffer and SDS solution were added to that. The mixture was vortexed vigorously and extracted with the mixture of phenol, chloroform and isoamyl alcohol and with the mixture of the chloroform and isoamyl alcohol. The nucleic acids were precipitated with ethanol and resuspended in TE buffer. Contaminating RNA was digested with RNAse A and the DNA was purified further with the Geneclean Turbo Kit. This DNA was used as a template for amplification of the 18S rRNA gene by PCR. The PCR product was cloned in the pBluescript SK II plasmid by blunt-end ligation and the DNA sequence of the insert was determined. This DNA sequence was analyzed phylogenetically by the BLAST program. Results and Conclusion : Vortexing the ground powder of the dried plant root with glass beads during cell lysis improved recovery of DNA. The DNA sequence of the Rehmannia glutinosa 18S rRNA gene was determined and deposited at the GenBank as the accession number DQ469606. Phylogenetic analysis of that sequence showed the relationship between the members of the family of Scrophulariaceae and also the close relationship of the Buddleja davidii to the members of the Scrophulariaceae family.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.617-624
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• 2017

Piezoelectric nanobeams are used in several nano electromechanical systems. The first step in designing these systems is conducting a vibration analysis. In this research, the free vibration of a piezoelectric nanobeam is analyzed by using the nonlocal elasticity theory. The nanobeam is modeled based on Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. Hamilton's principle is used to derive the equations of motion and also the boundary conditions of the system. The obtained equations of motion are solved by using both Galerkin and the Differential Quadrature (DQ) methods. The clamped-clamped and cantilever boundary conditions are analyzed and the effects of the applied voltage and nonlocal parameter on the natural frequencies and mode shapes are studied. The results show the success of Galerkin method in determining the natural frequencies. The results also show the influence of the nonlocal parameter on the natural frequencies. Increasing a positive voltage decreases the natural frequencies, while increasing a negative voltage increases them. It is also concluded that for the clamped parts of the beam and also other parts that encounter higher values of stress during free vibrations of the beam, anti-nodes in voltage mode shapes are observed. On the contrary, in the parts of the beam that the values of the induced stress are low, the values of the amplitude of the voltage mode shape are not significant. The obtained results and especially the mode shapes can be used in future studies on the forced vibrations of piezoelectric nanobeams based on Galerkin method.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3211-3217
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• 2014

Background: The current study investigated the effects of Piper longumine on radio-sensitization of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured in vitro and those in logarithmic growth phase were selected for experiments divided into four groups: control, X-ray exposed, Piper longumine, and Piper longumine combined with X-rays. Conogenic assays were performed to determine the radio-sensitizing effects. Cell survival curves were fitted by single-hit multi-target model and then the survival fraction (SF), average lethal dose ($D_0$), quasi-threshold dose ($D_q$) and sensitive enhancement ratio (SER) were calculated. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). Western blot assays were employed for expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Bc1-2 and Bax) after treatment with Piper longumine and/or X-ray radiation. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was detected by FCM with a DCFH-DA probe. Results: The cloning formation capacity was decreased in the group of piperlongumine plus radiation, which displayed the values of SF2, D0, Dq significantly lower than those of radiation alone group and the sensitive enhancement ratio (SER) of D0 was1.22 and 1.29, respectively. The cell apoptosis rate was increased by the combination treatment of Piper longumine and radiation. Piper longumine increased the radiation-induced intracellular levels of ROS. Compared with the control group and individual group, the combination group demonstrated significantly decreased expression of Bcl-2 with increased Bax. Conclusions: Piper longumine at a non-cytotoxic concentration can enhance the radio-sensitivity of MDA-MB-231cells, which may be related to its regulation of apoptosis-related protein expression and the increase of intracellular ROS level, thus increasing radiation-induced apoptosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.795-799
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• 2013

Ku70/80 heterodimer is a central element in the nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) DNA repair pathway, Ku80 playing a key role in regulating the multiple functions of Ku proteins. It has been found that the Ku80 protein located at telomeres is a major contributor to radiosensitivity in some telomerase positive human cancer cells. However, in ALT human osteosarcoma cells, the precise function in radiosensitivity and telomere maintenance is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Ku80 depletion in the U2OS ALT cell line cell line. Suppression of Ku80 expression was performed using a vector-based shRNA and stable Ku80 knockdown in cells was verified by Western blotting. U2OS cells treated with shRNA-Ku80 showed lower radiobiological parameters (D0, Dq and SF2) in clonogenic assays. Furthermore, shRNA-Ku80 vector transfected cells displayed shortening of the telomere length and showed less expression of TRF2 protein. These results demonstrated that down-regulation of Ku80 can sensitize ALT cells U2OS to radiation, and this radiosensitization is related to telomere length shortening.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2014

Anisakis spp. (Nematoda: Anisakidae) parasitize a wide range of marine animals, mammals serving as the definitive host and different fish species as intermediate or paratenic hosts. In this study, 18 fish species were investigated for Anisakis infection. Katsuwonus pelamis, Euthynnus affinis, Caranx sp., and Auxis thazard were infected with high prevalence of Anisakis type I, while Cephalopholis cyanostigma and Rastrelliger kanagurta revealed low prevalence. The mean intensity of Anisakis larvae in K. pelamis and A. thazard was 49.7 and 5.6, respectively. A total of 73 Anisakis type I larvae collected from K. pelamis and A. thazard were all identified as Anisakis typica by PCR-RFLP analysis. Five specimens of Anisakis from K. pelamis and 15 specimens from A. thazard were sequenced using ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and 6 specimens from A. thazard and 4 specimens from K. pelamis were sequenced in mtDNA cox2 region. Alignments of the samples in the ITS region showed 2 patterns of nucleotides. The first pattern (genotype) of Anisakis from A. thazard had 100% similarity with adult A. typica from dolphins from USA, whereas the second genotype from A. thazard and K. pelamis had 4 base pairs different in ITS1 region with adult A. typica from USA. In the mtDNA cox2 regions, Anisakis type I specimens from A. thazard and K. pelamis showed similarity range from 94% to 99% with A. typica AB517571/DQ116427. The difference of 4 bp nucleotides in ITS1 regions and divergence into 2 subgroups in mtDNA cox2 indicating the existence of A. typica sibling species in the Makassar Strait.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.41-48
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• 2008

This paper proposes a three-phase Z-source dynamic voltage restorer (Z-DVR) to mitigate the voltage sag for the critical loads. The proposed system is composed of passive filter and Z-source topology inverter. As an ESS(Energy Storage System) of the proposed system is employed the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC). To calculate and control the harmonics and compensation voltage, $i_{d}-i_{q}$ theory in dq rotating reference frame and PI controller are used. In case that three-phase voltage sags occurred, a PSIM simulation was done for the performance comparison of the conventional method employed battery stacks and proposed method. As a result, considering the voltage compensation performance, each method was nearly similar. Also, the compensation performance and the %THD(%Total Harmonic Distortion) result under the various source voltage conditions (sag or swell) were presented and discussed to show the performance of the proposed system.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.297-309
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• 2016

Grid-connected inverters (GCIs) with an LCL output filter have the ability of attenuating high-frequency (HF) switching ripples. However, by using only grid-current control, the system is prone to resonances if it is not properly damped, and the current distortion is amplified significantly under highly distorted grid conditions. This paper proposes a synchronous reference frame equivalent proportional-integral (SRF-EPI) controller in the αβ stationary frame using the parallel virtual resistance-based active damping (PVR-AD) strategy for grid-interfaced distributed generation (DG) systems to suppress LCL resonance. Although both a proportional-resonant (PR) controller in the αβ stationary frame and a PI controller in the dq synchronous frame achieve zero steady-state error, the amplitude- and phase-frequency characteristics differ greatly from each other except for the reference tracking at the fundamental frequency. Therefore, an accurate SRF-EPI controller in the αβ stationary frame is established to achieve precise tracking accuracy. Moreover, the robustness, the harmonic rejection capability, and the influence of the control delay are investigated by the Nyquist stability criterion when the PVR-based AD method is adopted. Furthermore, grid voltage feed-forward and multiple PR controllers are integrated into the current loop to mitigate the current distortion introduced by the grid background distortion. In addition, the parameters design guidelines are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. Finally, simulation and experimental results are provided to validate the feasibility of the proposed control approach.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.728-732
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• 2007

In the present article, a novel fusion expression vector for Escherichia coli was developed based on the pTORG plasmid, a derivative of pET32a. This vector, named pT7MT(GenBank Accession No DQ504436), carries a T7 promoter and it drives the downstream gene encoding Metallothionein 2A(MT2A). There are in-framed multiple cloning sites(MCS) downstream of the MT2A gene. A target gene can be cloned into the MCS and fused to the C-terminal of the MT2A gene in a compatible open reading frame(ORF) to achieve fusion expression. The metal-binding capability of MT2A allows the purification of fusion proteins by metal chelating affinity chromatography, known as $Ni^{2+}$-affinity chromatography. Using this expression vector, we successfully got the stable and high-yield expression of MT2A-GST and MT2A-Troponin I fusion proteins. These two proteins were easily purified from the supernatant of cell lysates by one-step $Ni^{2+}$-affinity chromatography. The final yields of MT2A-GST and MT2A-Troponin I were 30mg/l and 28mg/l in LB culture, respectively. Taken together, our data suggest that pT7MT can be applied as a useful expression vector for stable and high-yield production of fusion proteins.