• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.293-298
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• 2009

Several studies have reported that nonylphenol (NP) and 2,2', 4,6,6'-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB104) exhibit estrogenic activity. To investigate the estrogenic potency of NP and PCB104 during oocyte maturation, fully vitellogenic oocytes (0.76 mm diameter in average) of yellow fin goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus, were exposed in vitro to these chemicals at different concentrations (0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 1,000 ng/mL) with the exogenous precursor $17\alpha$-hydroxyprogesterone ($17{\alpha}OHP$) 50 ng/mL in the presence or absence of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). The production of testosterone (T), estradiol-$17\beta$ (E2), and $17\alpha,20\beta$-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one ($17\alpha20{\beta}OHP$) in response to NP or PCB104 were measured by radioimmunoassay. Steroid levels were also expressed as E2/T and E2/$17\alpha20{\beta}OHP$ ratios. In the absence of HCG, no significant differences in either NP or PCB104 treatment groups were observed. In the presence of HCG, NP treatment did not show significant differences in the production of T, E2, and $17\alpha20{\beta}OHP$ at any concentrations tested, but E2/T ratios were decreased at concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10, and 1,000 ng/mL compared with the control group. PCB104 decreased E2 production at concentrations of 0.1, 10, and 1000 ng/mL, but did not show significant differences in the production of T and $17\alpha20{\beta}OHP$ at any concentration tested. While E2/T ratios were decreased at PCB104 concentrations of 0.1, 1, 10, and 1,000 ng/mL, E2/$17\alpha20{\beta}OHP$ ratios were also decreased at 0.1, 10, and 1,000 ng/mL compared with the control. Results indicate that both NP and PCB104 appeared to have antiestrogenic effects during this phase.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.661-671
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• 1993

The change in fatty acid composition in brain tissue of the second generation rats(Sprague-Dawley strain) was studied using four different fat diets(Corn oil=CO, Soybean oil=SO, Perilla oil=PO, Fish oil=FO, 10% by Wt). The experimental diets were started from pregnancy in four different groups, each consisting of 9 rats. The seound generation rats were fed the same diet as their mothers. Animals were anesthetized with ether at 0, 3, 9 & 16 weeks of age. Whole brains were dissected out, brain tissues were, then, homogenized and lipids were extracted from brain tissues. The fatty acid compositions were measured after methylation by gas-liquid chromatography at 0, 3, 9 and 16 weeks of age of offspring. The changes in the relative concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA) or more specifically docosahexaenoic acid(22 : 6, $\omega$3, DHA), the major $\omega$3 fatty acid component in rat brain at different age were similar to changes in the amount of DNA in brain tissue showing the maximum value during the lactation. The changes in saturated fatty acid(SFA) content showed a contrasting patten to those of PUFA, while monounsaturated fatty acid(MUFA) increased steadily throughout the experimental period. At birth, the relative concentrations of $\omega$3 series fatty acids the relative concentrations of PUFA, MUFA and SFA converged to very similar values respectively regardless of the dietary fatty acid compositions. In brain tissue, it is of value to note that while changes in relative concentrations of linoleic acid (18 : 2, $\omega$6, LA) and arachidonic acid(20 : 4, $\omega$6, AA) showed a precursor-product-like relationship, $\alpha$-linolenic acid(18 : 3, $\omega$3, $\alpha$-LnA) and DHA showed a different pattern. Even when the $\omega$3 fatty acid content in very low in maternal diet(CO), the second generation rat brain tissues appeared to secure DHA content, suggesting an essential role of this fatty acid in the brain. The fact that a large amount of $\alpha$-LnA in the maternal diet did not have a significant effect on the second generation rat brain $\alpha$-LnA content, indicated that DHA seemed essential component for the brain development in our experimental condition. In all groups, the relative content of $\alpha$-LnA in the brain tissues remained relatively constant throughout the experimental period at the very low level. The study of the specific concentrations and essential role(s) of DHA in each parts of brain tissue is needed in more details.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.165-175
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• 2017

In Japan, the primary carbonaceous particles emitted from motor vehicles and waste incinerators have been reduced due to strict regulations against exhaust gas. However, the relative contribution of carbonaceous particles derived from plants and biomass has been increasing. Accordingly, compositional analysis of carbonaceous particles has become increasingly important to determine the sources and types of particles produced. To reveal the sources of the organic particles contained in particulate matter with diameters of ${\leq}2.5{\mu}m$ ($PM_{2.5}$) and the processes involved in their generation, we analyzed molecular marker compounds (2-methyltetrols, cis-pinonic acid, and levoglucosan) derived from the plants and biomass in the $PM_{2.5}$ collected during daytime- and nighttime-sampling periods in summer (July and August) and autumn (November) in Kazo, which is in the northern area of Saitama prefecture, Japan. We also measured $^{14}C$ carbonaceous concentrations in the same $PM_{2.5}$ samples. The concentrations of 2-methyltetrols were higher in the summer than in the autumn. Because the deciduous period overlaps with this decrease in the levels of 2-methyltetrols, we considered the emission source to broad-leaved trees. In contrast, the emission source of the cis-pinonic acid precursor was considered to be conifers, because its concentration remained almost constant throughout the year. The concentration of levoglucosan was considerably increased in the autumn due to frequent biomass open burning. The ratio of plant-derived carbon to total carbon, obtained by measuring of $^{14}C$, in summer $PM_{2.5}$ sample was higher in the nighttime, and could be influenced by anthropogenic sources during the daytime.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.165-178
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• 2014

Statistical medium optimization has been carried out for the production of succinic acid in anaerobic fermentations of Actinobacillus succinogenes. Succinic acid utilized as a precursor of many industrially important chemicals is a fourcarbon dicarboxylic acid, biosynthesized as one of the fermentation products of anaerobic metabolism by A. succinogenes. Through OFAT (one factor at a time) experiments, corn steep liquor (CSL), a very cheap agricultural byproduct, was found to have significant effects on enhanced production of succinic acid, when supplemented along with yeast extract. Hence, using these factors including glucose as a carbon/energy source, interactive effects were investigated through $2^n$ full factorial design (FFD) experiments, showing that the concentration of each component (i.e., glucose, yeast extract and CSL) should be higher. Further statistical experiments were conducted along the steepest ascent path, followed by response surface method (RSM) in order to find out optimal concentrations of each constituent. Consequently, optimized concentrations of glucose, yeast extract and CSL were observed to be 180 g/L, 15.08 g/L and 20.75 g/L respectively (10 g/L of $NaHCO_3$ and 100 g/L of $MgCO_3$ to be supplemented as bicarbonate suppliers), with the estimated production level of succinic acid to be 92.9 g/L (about 3.5 fold higher productivity as compared to the initial medium). Notably, the RSM-estimated production level was almost similar to the amount of succinic acid (92.9 g/L vs. 89.1 g/L) produced through the actual fermentation process performed using the statistically optimized production medium.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1097-1113
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• 2012

Ozone is the secondary photochemical pollutant formed from ozone precursor such as nitrogen dioxide and non-methane volatile organic compounds(VOCs). The ambient concentration of ozone depends on several factors: sunshine intensity, atmospheric convection, the height of the thermal inversion layer, concentrations of nitrogen oxides and VOCs. Busan is located in the southeast coastal area of Korea so the ozone concentration of Busan is mainly affected from the meteorological variables related to the sea such as sea breeze. In this study the ozone concentrations of Busan in 2008~2010 were used to analyse the cause of the regional ozone difference in eastern area of Busan. The average ozone concentration of Youngsuri was highest in Busan however the average ozone concentration of Gijang was equal to the average ozone concentration of Busan in 2008~2010. The two sites are located in eastern area of Busan but the distance of two sites is only 9km. To find the reason for the difference of ozone concentration between Youngsuri and Gijang, the meteorological variables in two sites were analyzed. For the analysis of meteorological variables the atmospheric numerical model WRF(Weather Research and Forecasting) was used at the day of the maximum and minimum difference in the ozone concentration at the two sites. As a result of analysis, when the boundary layer height was lower and the sea breeze was weaker in Youngsuri, the ozone concentration of Youngsuri was high. Furthermore when the sea breeze blew from the south in the eastern area of Busan, the sea breeze at Youngsuri turned into the southeast and the intensity of sea breeze was weaker because of the mountain in the southern region of Youngsuri. In that case, the difference of ozone concentration between Youngsuri and Gijang was considerable.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.281-285
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• 2013

In the present work, ZnO nanofibers were applied to electrode materials for the detection of cholesterol. ZnO nanofibers were synthesized using the electrospinning technique with zinc acetate as a precursor. Electrospinning-synthesized ZnO nanofibers were uniformly distributed by properly controlling the electrospinning parameters. After the calcination treatment, nanofibers of pure ZnO phase were synthesized. Then, these fibers were successfully placed on Au-coated glass substrates by dispersion of ZnO nanofibers in ethanol, dropping, and drying, in sequence. Cholesterol oxidase was then immobilized onto the surface of the ZnO nanofibers. To enhance the immobilization, Nafion was additionally applied. The sensing performances of the fabricated ZnO nanofibers-based sensors were analyzed by cyclic voltammetry in terms of cholesterol concentration ranging from 100 to 400 mg/dl. In the I-V curves, measured by cyclic voltammetry, the ZnO nanofiber-based sensor showed a proportional current behavior with cholesterol concentrations in phosphate buffered saline solution. The sensitivity was measured and found to be $30.7nA/mM{\cdot}cm^2$, which is comparable to the values reported in the literature. After not only optimizing the shape of the ZnO nanofibers but also improving the adhesion nature between the ZnO nanofibers and the Au conducting layer, these fibers can be a good candidate for electrode materials in devices used to detect low concentrations of cholesterol in blood.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.171-185
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• 2000

Siliceous mudstones are embedded on a large scale in the Tertiary formations of Pohang area. Some useful zeolites such as NsP, (Na, TMA)P, analcime and hydroxysodalite were synthesized from the siliceous mudstones by treating with the variety of solution, i.e ., NaOH, NaOH+NaCl, NaOH, NaOH+$NaAlO_2$and NaOH+TMAOH at the low-temperature hydrothermal system ranging 60~12$0^{\circ}C$. Major precursor of zeolites is found as opal-CT in the zeolite-forming reaction. Smectite, which is included in considerable amounts in the mudstone, appears to play a major role of Al-source in the zeolite synthesis. In comparison, chalcedonic quartz and mica are rather insoluble in alkaline solution, and thus, these are observed as major impurities in the reaction products. An addition of $NaAlO_2$to NaOH solution is effective for eliminating these impurities in the reaction procedure, through these are partly dissolved when elevating the reaction temperature, concentration, and time. Phase change from NaP to hydroxysodalite takes place at the NaOH concentrations of 3.0~4.0 M, and the reaction is not sensitive to the temperature shift. NaP is more stable at lower NaOH concentration and higher activity of $Na_{+}$ whereas analcime is sensitive to the temperature change and stable at higher than $100^{\circ}C$ and 2.0~4.0 M in NaOH concentration. For the pure NaP synthesis without any other products, the treatment of mudstones with 1:1 solution of NaOH and $NaAlO _2$ turns out to be quite effective. NaP was successfully synthesized together with analcime at $100^{\circ}C$ as well as lower concentrations of NaOH+NaCl solution. In addition, the organic type, (Na, TMA)P was formed together with smectite in the 1:1 solution of NaOH and TMAOH.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.189-195
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• 2013

Amyloid-${\beta}$ peptide ($A{\beta}$), generated by proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The key step in the generation of $A{\beta}$ is cleavage of APP by beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1). Levels of BACE1 are increased in vulnerable regions of the AD brain, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. In the present study, we reported the effects of ferrous ions at subtoxic concentrations on the mRNA levels of BACE1 and a-disintegrin-and-metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) in PC12 cells and the cell responses to ferrous ions. The cell survival in PC12 cells significantly decreased with 0 to 0.3 mM $FeCl_2$, with 0.6 mM $FeCl_2$ treatment resulting in significant reductions by about 75%. 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining showed that the nuclei appeared fragmented in 0.2 and 0.3 mM $FeCl_2$. APP-${\alpha}$-carboxyl terminal fragment (APP-${\alpha}$-CTF) associations with ADAM10 and APP-${\beta}$-CTF with BACE1 were increased. Levels of ADAM10 and BACE1 mRNA increased in response to the concentrations of 0.25 mM, respectively. In addition, p-ERK and p-Bad (S112, S155) expressions were increased, suggesting that APP-CTF formation is related to ADAM10/ BACE1 expression. Levels of Bcl-2 protein were increased, but significant changes were not observed in the expression of Bax. These data suggest that ion-induced enhanced expression of AMDA10/BACE1 could be one of the causes for APP-${\alpha}/{\beta}$-CTF activation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.496-502
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• 2015

Polyketide secondary metabolites share common precursor pools, acyl-CoA. Thus, the effects of engineering strategies for heterologous and native secondary metabolite production are often determined by the measurement of pikromycin in Streptomyces venezuelae. It is hard to compare the effectiveness of engineering targets among published data owing to the different pikromycin production media used from one study to the other. To determine the most important nutritional factor and establish optimal culture conditions, medium optimization of pikromycin from Streptomyces venezuelae ATCC 15439 was studied with a statistical method, Plackett-Burman design. Nine variables (glucose, sucrose, peptone, (NH₄)₂SO₄, K₂HPO₄, KH₂PO₄, NaCl, MgSO₄·7H₂O, and CaCO₃) were analyzed for their effects on a response, pikromycin. Glucose, K₂HPO₄, and CaCO₃ were determined to be the most significant factors. The path of the steepest ascent and response surface methodology about the three selected components were performed to study interactions among the three factors, and the fine-tune concentrations for maximized product yields. The significant variables and optimal concentrations were 139 g/1 sucrose, 5.29 g/l K₂HPO₄, and 0.081 g/l CaCO₃, with the maximal pikromycin yield of 35.5 mg/l. Increases of the antibiotics production by 1.45-fold, 1.3-fold, and 1.98-fold, compared with unoptimized medium and two other pikromycin production media SCM and SGGP, respectively, were achieved.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2003

Dimethylamine (DMA) is the immediate precursor of carcinogenic N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). In vitro and in vivo experiments using whole strawberries, and garlic and kale juices were conducted to determine concentrations of DMA and trimethylamine (TMA) in foods and urine. Experimental diets [an amino-rich diet as nitrosatable precursors in combination with added nitrate-containing drinking water without (TD1) or with whole strawberries or garlic or kale juices (TD2, TD3 and TD4, respectively), or a diet of low in nitrate and amino (TD5) were incubated in simulated saliva and gastric juices at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour. We also studied the urinary excretion of DMA and TMA after consumption of the experimental diets (TD1~TD5). Urine samples were obtained for 18 hrs after consumption of experimental diets and concentrations of DMA and TMA were measured in the digested diet and urine. The DMA concentration after incubation in experimental diets (TD1~TD5) was 4.7$\pm$0.3, 6.7 $\pm$0.2, 7.9$\pm$0.2, 7.1$\pm$0.2 and 0.3$\pm$0.1 mg/kg, respectively. Urinary excretion of DMA (TD1~TD5) was 22.0$\pm$5.0, 28.3$\pm$4.3, 29.2$\pm$4.1, 27.4$\pm$4.5 and 20.4$\pm$3.1 mg/18 hr, respectively. Consumption diets with added strawberries or juices of kale or garlic increased urinary TMA and DMA, suggesting that those precursors were excreted and not converted to the carcinogen, NMDA.