• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.722-725
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• 1999

Filamentation-suppressed recombinant Escherichia coli strain harboring the Alcaligenes latus polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biosynthesis genes and the E. coli ftsZ gene was constructed and cultivated for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] with high concentration and high content. By the pH-stat fed-batch culture of this recombinant E. coli strain XL1-Blue(pJC5), the final cell concentration and P(3HB) concentration obtained in 44.25h were 172.2g cell dry weight/l and 141.9g P(3HB)/l, respectively, resulting in productivity of 3.21g P(3HB)/l-h. More importantly, the P(3HB) content obtained was 82.4 wt %, which was significantly higher than that obtained with the recombinant E. coli harboring only the PHA biosynthesis genes.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.32.1-32.1
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• 2020

An independent determination of H0 is crucial given the growing tension of the Hubble constant (H0). In this work, we present a new determination of H0 using velocities and Tip of the Red Giant Branch (TRGB) distances to 33 galaxies in front of the Virgo Cluster. We model the infall pattern of the local Hubble flow modified by the Virgo mass, as a function of the H0, the radius of the zero-velocity surface R0, and the intrinsic velocity scatter. Fitting velocities and TRGB distances of 33 galaxies to the model, we obtain H0 = 65.6 +/- 3.4 (stat) +/- 1.0 (sys) km/s/Mpc and R0 = 6.96 +/- 0.35 Mpc. Our local H0 is consistent with the global H0 determined from cosmic microwave background radiation, showing no tension.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.293-301
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• 2005

We conducted several different leaching experiments for assessing the potential environmental risk when utilizing recycled concrete for stabilizing bridge pier. The methods include continuous batch leaching test (DIN 38414-S4), availability test (NEN 7341), pH-stat test (CEN/TC 292/WG6) and tank diffusion test (NEN 7345). The concentration ranges vary depending on the testing method. Nearly all the trace elements were low, some elements recording under detection limit. The maximum concentrations for trace elements leached throughout the whole tests are (as mg/L); Cd (0.029), Cu (0.437), Pb (0.14), Ni, Zn (0.95), Hg (0.005). Although the testing methods we used in this study are much more rigorous than other commonly adapted method including TCLP and domestic testing method for solid waste, the trace elemental concentrations are under the criteria for hazardous material set by the TCLP and domestic method. The result seems to suggest that applying the recycled concrete on stream water will be accepatable practice as for as trace elements are concerned. However, the influence of inorganics such as Ca, Mg, Ni and $SO_4^{2-}$ on aquatic ecology should be further examined.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.587-594
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• 2010

To develop commercially available food protein hydrolysates, the effects of different types of enzymes and substrates on bitterness and solubility of partially hydrolyzed food proteins were investigated. Four types of proteins (casein, isolated soy protein (ISP), wheat gluten, and gelatin) and five types of proteolytic enzymes (a microbial alkaline protease (alcalase), a microbial neutral protease (neutrase), papain, bromelain, trypsin) were used. To profile the pattern of hydrolysis, the degree of hydrolysis (DH) were monitored during 180 min of reaction time by pH-stat method. Casein showed the highest susceptibility to hydrolysis for all five proteases compared to those of ISP, gluten, and gelatin. In addition, the bitter intensity and solubility (nitrogen soluble index, NSI) of each protein hydrolysate were compared at DH 10%. Bitterness and solubility of protein hydrolysates were highly affected by DH and the types of enzymes and substrates. At DH=10%, casein hydrolysate by trypsin, ISP and gluten hydrolysates by either bromelain or neutrase, and gelatin hydrolysates by the five proteases tested in this study were highly soluble and less bitter.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.462-469
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• 2013

Withaferin A is a steroidal lactone purified from the Indian medicinal plant Withania somnifera. It exhibits a wide variety of activities, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, and immunomodulation properties. In this review, we focused on the anti-cancer effects of withaferin A. Withaferin A inhibits cell proliferation, metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis in cancer cells. Furthermore, it sensitized irradiation, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-, and doxorubicin-mediated apoptosis. The results showed that multiple mechanisms were involved in withaferin A-mediated anti-cancer effects. First, withaferin A increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and induced ER stress- and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Second, withaferin A inhibited the signaling pathways (Jak/STAT, Akt, Notch, and c-Met), which are important in cell survival, proliferation, and metastasis. Third, it induced apoptosis and inhibited cancer cell migration through the up-regulation of prostate apoptosis protein-4 (Par-4). Finally, withaferin A up-regulated pro-apoptotic protein expression levels through the inhibition of proteasome activity. Our findings suggested that withaferin A is a potential, potent therapeutic agent.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.93-99
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• 2002

Two-stage fed-batch culture of Candide tropicalis that was designated primarily to cultivate the cell in the glucose medium (1st stage) and then produced the xylitol from xylose medium (2nd stage) was developed to improve a xylitol yield and productivity. In the growth stage, glucose was automatically supplied to the fermentor by pH-stat mode when the pH was up 5.7, When a feeding medium was added in order to reach the glucose and yeast extract concentrations up to 100 and 40 g/L, respectively, a high cell concentration and a relatively low ethanol concentration were obtained in 18.5 h culture. In the production stage, initial xylose concentration of 150 g/L was the most favorable for obtaining the final xylitol concentration and productivity. The addition of mineral salts was also enhanced a xylitol production. But the aeration rate was not significantly affected a xylitol production. When the addition of 16 g yeast extract and 232.5 g xylose powder at the production stage was used, xylitol yield and productivity were significantly increased. With these conditions, xylitol concentration, yield and productivity of 108.9 g/L, 74%) and 3.3 g/L·h, respectively, were obtained in a final volume of 1.58 L. The further addition of 16 g yeast extract and 232.5 g xylose powder increased the working volume partly (1.67 L) and resulted in a relatively high xylitol concentration, yield and productivity of 193 g/L, 70% and 3.6 g/L·h, respectively.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.151-160
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• 2021

Under some pathological conditions such as osteoarthritis, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) including MMP-13 have an important role in degrading cartilage materials. When the regulatory effects of some herbal extracts on MMP-13 expression were examined to evaluate the cartilage-protective potential, the ethanol extract of the radix of Viscum album was found to strongly downregulate MMP-13 induction in IL-1β-treated chondrocytes, SW1353 cells. Based on this finding, activity-guided separation was carried out, which yielded five constituents identified as 3,5-dihydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)heptane (1), hesperetin-7-glucoside (2), syringin (3), homoflavoyadorinin B (4), and 4,4'-dihydroxy-3,6'-dimethoxychalcone-2'-glucoside (5). Of these, 1 and 5 significantly inhibited MMP-13 expression in SW1353 cells, with 5 being the most potent. Compound 5, a chalcone derivative, showed the downregulation of MMP-13 at 20 - 100 μM. The mechanism study revealed that 5 exerted MMP-13 down-regulatory action, at least in part, by interrupting the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) activation pathway. Furthermore, this compound protected against cartilage degradation in an IL-1-treated rabbit cartilage explant culture. All these findings demonstrated for the first time that Viscum album and its constituents, especially chalcone derivative (5), possessed cartilage-protective activity. These natural products may have the potential for alleviating cartilage degradation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.509-513
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• 1999

The molecular size reduction and the formation of bitterness during a tryptic hydrolysis of soybean 11S glycinin were determined by using quantitative analysis and organoleptic evaluation. The 11S glycinin of 90% purity was prepared by cryoprecipitation and Con A Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography, and hydrolyzed with trypsin in a pH-stat reactor for 4 h. Bitterness was formed within 1 h of hydrolysis, and then slowly increased up to $3.5\times10^{-5}$ M quinine-HCl equivalent. The extent of hydrolysis (DH) was 7% at 1 h and increased up to 12% by the end of the reaction. The -amino nitrogen content increased from an initial 0.7 mM to 7 mM at the end of the period. The SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the acidic subunit of 11S glycinin was mostly hydrolyzed. The GP-HPLC analysis indicated that the bitterness was mainly contributed by the peptide fractions of molecular weights of 360-2,100 Da.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.4-9
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• 2013

Leptin, a 16-kDa cytokine, is secreted by adipose tissue in response to the surplus of fat store. Thereby, the brain is informed about the body's energy status. In the hypothalamus, leptin triggers specific neuronal subpopulations (e.g., POMC and NPY neurons) and activates several intracellular signaling events, including the JAK/STAT, MAPK, PI3K, and mTOR pathway, which eventually translates into decreased food intake and increased energy expenditure. Leptin signal is inhibited by a feedback inhibitory pathway mediated by SOCS3. PTP1B involves another inhibitory pathway of leptin. Leptin potently promotes fat mass loss and body weight reduction in lean subjects. However, it is not widely used in the clinical field because of leptin resistance, which is a common feature of obesity characterized by hyperleptinemia and the failure of exogenous leptin administration to provide therapeutic benefit in rodents and humans. The potential mechanisms of leptin resistance include the following: 1) increases in circulating leptin-binding proteins, 2) reduced transport of leptin across the blood-brain barrier, 3) decreased leptin receptor-B (LRB), and/or 4) the provocation of processes that diminish cellular leptin signaling (inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, feedback inhibition, etc.). Thus, interference of the cellular mechanisms that attenuate leptin signaling improves leptin action in cells and animal models, suggesting the potential utility of these processes as points of therapeutic intervention. Various experimental trials and compounds that improve leptin resistance are introduced in this paper.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1597-1602
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• 2010

Chitinase is one of the most important mycolytic enzymes with industrial significance. This enzyme is produced by a number of organisms including bacteria. In this study, we describe the optimization of media components with increased production of chitinase for the selected bacteria, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, isolated from soil. Different components of the defined media responsible for influencing chitinase secretion by the bacterial isolate were screened using Plackett-Burman experimental design and were further optimized by Box-Behnken factorial design of response surface methodology in liquid culture. Maximum chitinase production was predicted in medium containing 4.94 g/l chitin, 5.56 g/l maltose, 0.62 g/l yeast extract, 1.33 g/l $KH_2PO_4$, and 0.65 g/l $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$ using response surface plots and the point prediction tool of the DESIGN EXPERT 7.1.6 (Stat-Ease, USA) software.