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First report of the photosynthetic dinoflagellate Heterocapsa minima in the Pacific Ocean: morphological and genetic characterizations and the nationwide distribution in Korea

  • Lee, Sung Yeon;Jeong, Hae Jin;Kwon, Ji Eun;You, Ji Hyun;Kim, So Jin;Ok, Jin Hee;Kang, Hee Chang;Park, Jae Yeon
    • ALGAE
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    • v.34 no.1
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    • pp.7-21
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    • 2019
  • The genus Heterocapsa is one of the major dinoflagellate groups, with some of its species having worldwide distributions. However, prior to the present study, the phototrophic species Heterocapsa minima has been reported only from the northeast Atlantic Ocean. Recently, H. minima was found in the Korean waters, and a clonal culture was established. This culture was used to examine the morphology of the Korean strain H. minima HMMJ1604 through light and scanning electron microscopy, as well as for its genetic characterization. Furthermore, to determine the nationwide distribution of H. minima in Korea, its abundance was quantified in the waters of 28 stations in all four seasons in 2016-2018 using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method. The overall morphology of H. minima HMMJ1604 was very similar to that of the Irish strain H. minima JK2. However, the Korean strain had five pores around the pore plate, whereas the Irish strain had six pores. When properly aligned, the sequences of the large subunit and internal transcribed spacer regions of the ribosomal DNA of the Korean strain were identical to those of the Irish strain. This species was detected in the waters of 26 out of 28 stations, but its abundance was greater than $1.0cells\;mL^{-1}$ at 8 stations. The highest abundance of H. minima was $44.4cells\;mL^{-1}$. Although this species was found in all seasons, its abundance was greater than $1.0cells\;mL^{-1}$ when the water temperature and salinity were $10.9-25.0^{\circ}C$ and 17.5-34.1, respectively. To the best knowledge, the present study reported for the first time that H. minima lives in the Pacific Ocean and is widely distributed in the Korean waters.

Development of a new system for measurement of total effluent load of water quality

  • Keiji, Takase;Akira, Ogura
    • Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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    • 2015.05a
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    • pp.221-221
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    • 2015
  • Sustainable use of water resource and conservation of water quality are essential problems in the world. Especially, problems of water quality are serious one for human health as well as ecological system of all creatures on the earth. Recently, the importance of total effluent load as well as the concentrations of pollutant materials has been recognized not only for the conservation of water quality but also for sustainable water use in watersheds. However, the measurement or estimation of total effluent load from non-point source area such as farm lands or forests may be more difficult because both of concentration and discharge of the water are greatly changed depending on various factors especially metrological conditions such as rainfall, while the measurement from a point source area may be easy because the concentration of pollutant materials and amount of discharge water are relatively steady. Therefore, the total effluent load from a non-point source is often estimated by statistical relationships between concentration and discharge, which is called as L-Q equation. However, a lot of work and time are required to collect and analyze water samples and to get the accurate relationship or regressive equation. So, we proposed a new system for direct measurement of total effluent load of water quality from non-point source areas to solve the problem. In this system, the overflow depth at a hydraulic weir is measured with a pressure gage every hourly interval to calculate the amount of hourly discharge at first. Then, the operating time of a small electric pump to collect an amount of water which is proportional to the discharge is calculated to intake the water into a storage tank. The stored water is taken out a few days later in a case of storm event or several weeks later in a case of non-rainfall event and the concentrations of water quality such as total nitrogen and phosphorous are analyzed in a laboratory. Finally, total load of the water quality can be calculated by multiplying the concentration by the total volume of discharge. The system was installed in a small experimental forestry watershed to check the performance and know the total load of water quality from the forest. It was found that the system to collect a proportional amount of water to actual discharge operated perfectly and a total load of water quality was analyzed accurately. As the result, it was expected that the system will be very available to know the total load from a non-point source area.

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Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities of Diospyros malabarica Stem Extract against Streptococcus mutans (Streptococcus mutans에 대한 인도감나무 줄기 추출물의 항균활성 및 생물막 형성 억제 효과)

  • Kim, Hye Soo;Lee, Sang Woo;Sydara, Kongmany;Cho, Soo Jeong
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.90-96
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    • 2019
  • The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of Diospyros malabarica stem extract, a natural materials, in oral health material. With this aim in mind, thin layer chromatography (TLC), TLC-bioautography, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and real-time qPCR were performed. The antibacterial activity of D. malabarica stem extract against Streptococcus mutans KCTC3065 was confirmed in an n-hexane fraction with low polarity. The molecular weight of the antibacterial compound was estimated to be 188 by ESI-MS analysis. The inhibitory effects of the extract on biofilm formation and gene expression related to biofilm formation of S. mutans were determined by SEM and real-time PCR analysis. The extract inhibited the formation of S. mutans biofilms at D. malabarica stem extract concentrations of 1 mg/ml, as shown by SEM. The real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression of the gtfC gene, which is associated with biofilm formation, was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Based on the above results, it can be concluded that D. malabarica stem extracts, a natural materials, can be used in oral health products to suppress the formation of biofilms by inhibiting tooth adhesion of S. mutans, a causative agent of dental caries.

Cell-Based Screen Using Amyloid Mimic β23 Expression Identifies Peucedanocoumarin III as a Novel Inhibitor of α-Synuclein and Huntingtin Aggregates

  • Ham, Sangwoo;Kim, Hyojung;Hwang, Seojin;Kang, Hyunook;Yun, Seung Pil;Kim, Sangjune;Kim, Donghoon;Kwon, Hyun Sook;Lee, Yun-Song;Cho, MyoungLae;Shin, Heung-Mook;Choi, Heejung;Chung, Ka Young;Ko, Han Seok;Lee, Gum Hwa;Lee, Yunjong
    • Molecules and Cells
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    • v.42 no.6
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    • pp.480-494
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    • 2019
  • Aggregates of disease-causing proteins dysregulate cellular functions, thereby causing neuronal cell loss in diverse neurodegenerative diseases. Although many in vitro or in vivo studies of protein aggregate inhibitors have been performed, a therapeutic strategy to control aggregate toxicity has not been earnestly pursued, partly due to the limitations of available aggregate models. In this study, we established a tetracycline (Tet)-inducible nuclear aggregate (${\beta}23$) expression model to screen potential lead compounds inhibiting ${\beta}23$-induced toxicity. High-throughput screening identified several natural compounds as nuclear ${\beta}23$ inhibitors, including peucedanocoumarin III (PCIII). Interestingly, PCIII accelerates disaggregation and proteasomal clearance of both nuclear and cytosolic ${\beta}23$ aggregates and protects SH-SY5Y cells from toxicity induced by ${\beta}23$ expression. Of translational relevance, PCIII disassembled fibrils and enhanced clearance of cytosolic and nuclear protein aggregates in cellular models of huntingtin and ${\alpha}$-synuclein aggregation. Moreover, cellular toxicity was diminished with PCIII treatment for polyglutamine (PolyQ)-huntingtin expression and ${\alpha}$-synuclein expression in conjunction with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) treatment. Importantly, PCIII not only inhibited ${\alpha}$-synuclein aggregation but also disaggregated preformed ${\alpha}$-synuclein fibrils in vitro. Taken together, our results suggest that a Tet-Off ${\beta}23$ cell model could serve as a robust platform for screening effective lead compounds inhibiting nuclear or cytosolic protein aggregates. Brain-permeable PCIII or its derivatives could be beneficial for eliminating established protein aggregates.

A Case Study on the Game Behavior of Medical School Students (의과대학생들의 게임행위에 관한 사례연구)

  • Cha, Myeong-Hee;Sang, Chong-Ryel
    • Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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    • v.10 no.5
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    • pp.279-286
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    • 2019
  • The purpose of this study is to explore what causes medical college students to play games they will play and use them as academic foundation material. And lay a complex foundation for game addicts. To achieve this objective, an approach was taken as a method of exploratory case study. The participants in the study were recruited by their consent at the R meeting of the College of Medicine. Data collection was collected through a one-on-one interview with FGI. The data analysis was read repeatedly and classified into semantic units to derive the essential meaning. The study produced two essential topics and seven revealed topics. It is 'my job to play games' and 'know the importance of discrimination.'According to the analysis, the game behavior played by medical students was able to quit due to the self-efficacy experienced during the course of growth. When one's expectations were met and self-strengthened, one could see that self-control was possible through self-efficacy. It suggested that measures for sound game culture and complex strategy should be explored and measures to improve self-efficacy should be explored.

Gene Expression of Supernumerary Dental Pulp Related to the Subculture Speed: A Pilot Study (계대 배양 속도가 다른 과잉치 치수유래 줄기세포 간 유전자 발현 특성)

  • Lee, Yookyung;Kim, Jongsoo;Shin, Jisun;Kim, Jongbin
    • Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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    • v.46 no.2
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    • pp.219-225
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    • 2019
  • The purpose of this study was to investigate the odontoblast gene expression related to the subculture speed of supernumerary dental pulp stem cells (sDPSCs). The stem cell is undifferentiated cells which has the ability to differentiate into various cells. Specific stimulation or environment induces cell differentiation, and these differentiation leads to bone or muscle formation. 20 sDPSCs were obtained from 20 children under aseptic condition. During the culture through the 10th passage, the third passage cells which showed short subculture period and 10th passage cells which showed long subculture period were earned. Each cell was divided into differentiated group and non-differentiated group. Quantitative real-time polychain reaction (q-RT-PCR) was performed for each group. The genes related to odontoblast differentiation, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Osteocalcin (OCN), Osteonectin (ONT), Dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and Dentin matrix acidic phosphoprotein 1 (DMP-1), were measured. Differentiated cells showed more gene expression levels. Undifferentiated cells showed higher gene expression level in 10th passages but differentiated cells showed higher gene expression level in 3rd passages. Cells that showed faster subculture period showed relatively lower gene expression level except for OCN and DSPP.

The effect of heat stress on frame switch splicing of X-box binding protein 1 gene in horse

  • Lee, Hyo Gun;Khummuang, Saichit;Youn, Hyun-Hee;Park, Jeong-Woong;Choi, Jae-Young;Shin, Teak-Soon;Cho, Seong-Keun;Kim, Byeong-Woo;Seo, Jakyeom;Kim, Myunghoo;Park, Tae Sub;Cho, Byung-Wook
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.32 no.8
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    • pp.1095-1103
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    • 2019
  • Objective: Among stress responses, the unfolded protein response (UPR) is a well-known mechanism related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. ER stress is induced by a variety of external and environmental factors such as starvation, ischemia, hypoxia, oxidative stress, and heat stress. Inositol requiring enzyme $1{\alpha}$ ($IRE1{\alpha}$)-X-box protein 1 (XBP1) is the most conserved pathway involved in the UPR and is the main component that mediates $IRE1{\alpha}$ signalling to downstream ER-associated degradation (ERAD)- or UPR-related genes. XBP1 is a transcription factor synthesised via a novel mechanism called 'frame switch splicing', and this process has not yet been studied in the horse XBP1 gene. Therefore, the aim of this study was to confirm the frame switch splicing of horse XBP1 and characterise its dynamics using Thoroughbred muscle cells exposed to heat stress. Methods: Primary horse muscle cells were used to investigate heat stress-induced frame switch splicing of horse XBP1. Frame switch splicing was confirmed by sequencing analysis. XBP1 amino acid sequences and promoter sequences of various species were aligned to confirm the sequence homology and to find conserved cis-acting elements, respectively. The expression of the potential XBP1 downstream genes were analysed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: We confirmed that splicing of horse XBP1 mRNA was affected by the duration of thermal stress. Twenty-six nucleotides in the mRNA of XBP1 were deleted after heat stress. The protein sequence and the cis-regulatory elements on the promoter of horse XBP1 are highly conserved among the mammals. Induction of putative downstream genes of horse XBP1 was dependent on the duration of heat stress. We confirmed that both the mechanisms of XBP1 frame switch splicing and various binding elements found in downstream gene promoters are highly evolutionarily conserved. Conclusion: The frame switch splicing of horse XBP1 and its dynamics were highly conserved among species. These results facilitate studies of ER-stress in horse.

Integrative analysis of cellular responses of Pseudomonas sp. HK-6 to explosive RDX using its xenA knockout mutant (Pseudomonas sp. HK-6의 xenA 돌연변이체를 이용하여 RDX 폭약에 노출된 세포반응들의 통합적 분석)

  • Lee, Bheong-Uk;Choi, Moon-Seop;Seok, Ji-Won;Oh, Kye-Heon
    • Korean Journal of Microbiology
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    • v.54 no.4
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    • pp.343-353
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    • 2018
  • Our previous research demonstrated the essential role of the xenB gene in stress response to RDX by using Pseudomonas sp. HK-6 xenB knockout. We have extended this work to examine the cellular responses and altered proteomic profiles of the HK-6 xenA knockout mutant under RDX stress. The xenA mutant degraded RDX about 2-fold more slowly and its growth and survival rates were several-fold lower than the wild-type HK-6 strain. SEM revealed more severe morphological damages on the surface of the xenA mutant cells under RDX stress. The wild-type cells expressed proportionally-increased two stress shock proteins, DnaK and GroEL from the initial incubation time point or the relatively low RDX concentrations, but slightly less expressed at prolonged incubation period or higher RDX. However the xenA mutant did not produced DnaK and GroEL as RDX concentrations were gradually increased. The wild-type cells well maintained transcription levels of dnaA and groEL under increased RDX stress while those in the xenA mutant were decreased and eventually disappeared. The altered proteome profiles of xenA mutant cells under RDX stress also observed so that the 27 down-regulated plus the 3 up-regulated expression proteins were detected in 2-DE PAGE. These all results indicated that the intact xenA gene is necessary for maintaining cell integrity under the xenobiotic stress as well as performing an efficient RDX degradation process.

Evolution of Exercise Performance and Medical Assessments in U-12 Youth Football Players (U-12 유소년 축구선수의 운동수행력 및 의학적 평가)

  • Seo, Sang-Won;Lee, Ho-Seong
    • 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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    • v.56 no.5
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    • pp.665-677
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    • 2017
  • This study aimed to examine the evolution of exercise performance and medical assessments in U-12 youth football players. Participants were recruited from an youth football players (YFG, n=15; $11.2{\pm}0.9yrs$) and normal youth (CON, n=15; $11.5{\pm}0.6yrs$). Both groups were tested for exercise performance (health related physical fitness, skill related physical fitness, functional movement screen; FMS and Y-balance) and medical assessments (lower extremity alignment, range of motion; ROM and manual muscle test; MMT). YFG showed a positive effects on pacer in health related physical fitness, 50-m run and Single-leg standing with eyes closed in skill related physical fitness, active straight leg raise and rotary stability in FMS, non-dominant composite score in Y-balance, respectively compared to CON. However, YFG showed a negative effects on Q-angle of dominant and non-dominant in lower extremity alignment, dorsiflexion of non-dominant, plantarflexion of dominant and non-dominan in ROM, hip extension and abduction, knee flexion and extension of dominant, knee flexion and extension of non-dominant in MMT, respectively compared to CON. These results indicated that U-12 youth football players have shown excellent exercise performance, but medical assessments has proved negative effects.

Effects of Overall Shading and Partial Shading on the Response of Chlorophyll Fluorescence of Soybean (전면적차광과 부분차광이 콩 엽록소 형광 반응에 미치는 영향)

  • Cho, Yuna;Jo, Euni;Jeong, Jae-Hyeok;Yoon, Changyong;An, Kyunam;Cho, Jaeil
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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    • v.23 no.3
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    • pp.163-168
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    • 2021
  • The growth experiment under shading condition has been performed to understand the eco-physiological responses of crops to light in terms of photosynthesis. There are two types of shading: overall shading and partial shading. In this study, the chlorophyll fluorescence of soybean was observed under the overall shading of the box made by polyresin and the partial shading at agrivoltaic system. The overall shading condition during vegetative growth induced lower SPAD and Electron transport rate (ETR). These lower values recovered after removal of shading box. However, the Non-photochemical fluorescence quenching (NPQ) became lower under overall shading and higher under partial shading. Such increase in NPQ limited crop photosynthesis even though the ETR was almost same to the control without shading treatment. Under the condition of partial shading, the values of SP AD and ETR for soybean did not change. However, the NPQ was higher than control condition. This suggests that the crop photosynthesis under both types of shading would be decreased by different eco-physiological processes which are the lower ETR in overall shading and the higher NP Q in partial shading despite the reduced light under shading conditions.