• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.79-90
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• 2019

Lichens are generally known as self-sufficient, symbiotic life-forms between fungi and algae/cyanobacteria, and they also provide shelter for a wide range of beneficial bacteria. Currently, bacterial-derived biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is grabbing the attention of many researchers as a promising alternative to non-degradable plastics. This study was conducted to develop a new method of PHA production using unexplored lichen-associated bacteria, which can simultaneously degrade two ubiquitous industrial toxins, anthracene and naphthalene. Here, 49 lichen-associated bacteria were isolated and tested for PHA synthesis. During the GC-MS analysis, a potential strain of EL19 was found to be a 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3-HHx) accumulator and identified as Pseudomonas sp. based on the 16S rRNA sequencing. GC analysis revealed that EL19 was capable of accumulating 30.62% and 19.63% of 3-HHx from naphthalene and anthracene, respectively, resulting in significant degradation of 98% and 96% of naphthalene and anthracene, respectively, within seven days. Moreover, the highly expressed phaC gene verified the genetic basis of $PHA_{mcl}$ production under nitrogen starvation conditions. Thus, this study strongly supports the hypothesis that lichen-associated bacteria can detoxify naphthalene and anthracene, store energy for extreme conditions, and probably help the associated lichen to live in extreme conditions. So far, this is the first investigation of lichen-associated bacteria that might utilize harmful toxins as feasible supplements and convert anthracene and naphthalene into eco-friendly 3-HHx. Implementation of the developed method would reduce the production cost of $PHA_{mcl}$ while removing harmful waste products from the environment.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.93-103
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• 2019

Objectives : The aim of this study is to review the current trends in experimental studies on the acupuncture moxibustion treatment for visceral hypersensitivity. Methods : PubMed was searched for experimental studies about visceral hypersensitivity and acupuncture/moxibustion. Data were extracted and tabulated from the selected articles about experimental method, intervention, result and mechanism. Results : Total 23 articles were reviewed. Chronic visceral hypersensitivity animal model was applied in 17 studies (74%). Visceral hypersensitivity was measured by abdominal withdrawal reflex scoring or/and abdominal electromyogram. Acupoints like ST25, ST36, ST37, BL25, LI11, BL32 and PC6 were treated by electroacupuncture or moxibustion. All articles reported that electroacupuncture or moxibustion treatment is significantly effective in reducing visceral hypersensitivity. Treatment mechanisms were studied, related to mast cell, serotonin (5-HT) and receptor (5-HT3R and 5-HT4R), substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), c-fos positive cell, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), purinergic 2X (P2X)2, P2X3, P2X4, P2X7, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (NR1 and NR2B), prokinectin (PK) 1 and PK2. Conclusions : Evidences on acupuncture/moxibustion treatment for visceral hypersensitivity in animal studies warrant more research on effective acupoins, electro-acupuncture methods and treatment durations.

• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.28-34
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• 2019

This study analyzed the occurrence pattern of Dolichospermum (= Anabaena) in the Bukhan river from March 2012 to December 2014 in order to identify the genotypes of Dolichospermum. Furthermore, 16S rRNA were analyzed to identify the genotypes of Dolichospermum that occurred in 2015 which were then compared to the reference sequence deposited at NCBI. During this period, the occurrence of Dolichospermum was highly correlated to water temperature. In the year 2012 and 2013, Dolichospermum appeared in Lake Cheongpyeong (CP), Sambong (SB), and Lake Paldang (P2) between July and August. However, in 2014, it appeared in SB and P2, but not in CP. This reduction in appearance was attributed to the decreased inflow to Lake Uiam as a result of low rainfall in 2014 as compared to 2012. In July 2015, the Dolichospermum 16S rRNA genotype was confirmed in five locations; Lake Cheongpyeong (CP), Seojong (SJ), Songchon Sewage Treatment Plant (SC), Joan (P4), and Lake Paldang (PD). Anabaena crassa of spiral clone, A. planctonica of linear clone, and A. circinalis of spiral clone exhibited high genetic similarity with the reference sequence. The 16r RNA genotype showed approximately 3 % sequence variation between the locations and were more similar to each other in locations that were closer.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.432-439
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• 2021

Microbial community plays important roles in the culture environment of mud crab Scylla serrata. One of the environmental management efforts for the cultivation of S.serrata is by stabilizing microorganisms involved in nitrogen cycle process. The availability of dissolved inorganic nitrogen in its culture environment under a recirculating system closely relates to the nitrogen cycle, which involves both anaerobic and aerobic bacterial activities. Anaerobically, there are two major nitrogen compound degradation processes, i.e., denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). This study aimed to identify denitrifying and DNRA bacteria isolated from the recirculating cultivation of S. serrata. The water samples were collected from anaerobic filters called close filter system, which is anaerobically conditioned with the addition of varying physical filter materials in the recirculating mud crab cultures. The results showed that three denitrifying bacterial isolates and seven DNRA bacterial isolates were successfully identified. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene of the denitrifying bacteria revealed that HIB_7a had the closest similarity to Stenotrophomonas daejeonensis strain MJ03. Meanwhile, DNRA bacterial isolate of HIB_92 showed a 100% similarity to Bacillus sonorensis strain N3, Bacillus vallismortis strain VITS-17, Bacillus tequlensis strain TY5, Geobacillus sp. strain DB24, Bacillus subtilis strain A1, and Bacillus mojavensis strain SSRAI21. This study provides basic information denitrifying and DNRA bacterial isolates identity which might have the potential to be applied as probiotics in aquaculture systems in order to maintain optimal environmental conditions.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제59권2호
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• pp.131-138
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• 2021

Helminth infections are prevalent in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). This study aimed at determining the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal helminthiasis in remote mountainous villages of northern Lao PDR. During the dry season in January 2017, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 3 remote mountainous villages in Oudomxay province, Lao PDR. Villagers older than 18 years of age who agreed to submit stool samples or undergo an interview, were recruited. Stool samples from 198 individuals were examined by the Kato-Katz method, and a questionnaire surveyed 161 individuals among them. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors associated with the intestinal helminthiasis. An overall prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis was 75.8%. Hookworm infection was the most common (63.1%), followed by Opisthorchis viverrini/minute intestinal flukes (17.7%), Taenia spp. (15.2%), Trichuris trichiura (2.0%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1.5%), and Enterobius vermicularis (1.0%). Questionnaire analysis revealed sex (male) and absence of latrine to be significant risk factors for hookworm infection and consumption of raw meat for taeniasis. These results suggest that the mountainous area in northern Lao PDR has a different composition of helminth infections from other studies conducted in Lao PDR; a high prevalence of hookworm infection and taeniasis and low prevalence of T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides infections were observed. Also, liver flukes or intestinal flukes were similarly prevalent in the mountainous area.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.134-142
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• 2021

Objective: To understand the athletic characteristics of Thoroughbreds, high-throughput analysis has been conducted using horse muscle tissue. However, an in vitro system has been lacking for studying and validating genes from in silico data. The aim of this study is to validate genes from differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of our previous RNA-sequencing data in vitro. Also, we investigated the effects of exercise-induced stress including heat, oxidative, hypoxic and cortisol stress on horse skeletal muscle derived cells with the top six upregulated genes of DEGs. Methods: Enriched pathway analysis was conducted using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) tool with upregulated genes in horse skeletal muscle tissue after exercise. Among the candidates, the top six genes were analysed through geneMANIA to investigate gene networks. Muscle cells derived from neonatal horse skeletal tissue were maintained and subjected to exercise-related stressors. Transcriptional changes in the top six genes followed by stressors were investigated using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: The inflammation response pathway was the most commonly upregulated pathway after horse exercise. Under non-cytotoxic conditions of exercise-related stressors, the transcriptional response of the top six genes was different among types of stress. Oxidative stress yielded the most similar expression pattern to DEGs. Conclusion: Our results indicate that transcriptional change after horse exercise in skeletal muscle tissue strongly relates to stress response. The qRT-PCR results showed that stressors contribute differently to the transcriptional regulation. These results would be valuable information to understand horse exercise in the stress aspect.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.1-14
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• 2021

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the pre-emptive analgesic efficacy of injected ketorolac to that of other agents for impacted third molar surgical removal in a healthy population. PubMed, Ovid SP, Cochrane databases were filtered from 1980 to July 2020 for potential papers using relevant MeSH terms and pre-specified inclusion and exclusion criteria independently by reviewers. Studies that compared pre-emptive intramuscular or intravenous administration of ketorolac to other agents were evaluated. The outcomes sought were self-reported postoperative pain (patient-perceived pain), median duration for rescue analgesic medication, total number of analgesics consumed in the recovery period, and global assessment (overall patient satisfaction) after the recovery period. Six studies were included in the final evaluation. The outcome of pain perception and the number of analgesics taken were significantly lower in the ketorolac group (intramuscular or intravenous) in most of the studies (n=5) than in the group of other drugs. The mean time for rescue analgesia intake was higher for the ketorolac group, and global assessment scores were also better in the ketorolac group. Although the included studies show significantly better outcomes such as postoperative pain, median time taken for rescue medication, total number of analgesics taken, and overall patient satisfaction with injected ketorolac group in comparison to injected diclofenac, dexamethasone, and tramadol, definitive conclusions cannot be made regarding the superiority of injected Ketorolac as a pre-emptive agent. A greater number of randomized control trials with a proper protocol are needed to make definitive conclusions.

• ALGAE
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.361-373
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• 2020

The community dynamics of benthic diatoms in the hypersaline environment are investigated to advance our understanding how salinity impacts marine life. Diatoms were sampled in the two salterns encompassing salt Ponds, ditches, and seawater reservoirs (n = 11), along the salinity gradient (max = 324 psu), and nearby tidal flats (n = 2). The floral assemblages and distributions across sites and stations showed great variations, with a total of 169 identified taxa. First, not surprisingly, higher diversity of benthic diatoms was found at natural tidal flats than salterns. The saltern diatoms generally showed salinity dependent distributions with distinct spatial changes in species composition and dominant taxa. Biota-environment and principal component analysis confirmed that salinity, mud content, and total nitrogen were key factors influencing the overall benthic community structure. Some dominant species, e.g., Nitzschia scalpelliformis and Achnanthes sp. 1, showed salinity tolerance / preference. The number of diatom species at salinity of >100 psu reduced over half and no diatoms were found at maximum salinity of 324 psu. The highest salinity for the observed live diatoms was 205 psu, however, a simple regression indicated a theoretical salinity threshold of ~300 psu on the survival. Finally, the indicator species were identified along the salinity gradient in salterns as well as natural tidal flats. Overall, high species numbers, varying taxa, and euryhaline distributions of saltern diatoms collectively reflected a dynamic saltern ecosystem. The present study would provide backgrounds for biodiversity monitoring of ecologically important microalgal producers in some unique hypersaline environment, and elsewhere.

• 한국정보통신학회논문지
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.268-275
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• 2020

정보보안 응용에 적합한 self-timed 링 (ring) 기반 TRNG (true random number generator)의 경량 하드웨어 설계에 관해 기술한다. TRNG의 하드웨어 복잡도를 줄이기 위해 피드백 구조의 엔트로피 추출기를 제안하였으며, 이를 통해 링 스테이지 수를 최소화 하였다. 본 논문의 FSTR-TRNG는 동작 주파수와 엔트로피 추출 회로를 고려하여 링 스테이지 수가 11의 배수가 되도록 결정되었으며, 링 발진기가 등간격 모드로 진동할 수 있도록 토큰 (token)과 버블(bubble) 개수의 비를 결정하였다. FSTR-TRNG는 FPGA 디바이스에 구현하여 난수 생성 동작을 검증하였다. Spartan-6 FPGA 디바이스에 구현된 FSTR-TRNG로부터 2,000만 비트의 데이터를 추출하여 NIST SP 800-22에 규정된 통계학적 무작위성 테스트를 수행한 결과, 15개의 테스트가 모두 기준을 만족하는 것으로 확인되었다. Spartan-6 FPGA 디바이스로 합성한 FSTR-TRNG는 46 슬라이스로 구현이 되었으며, 180 nm CMOS 표준셀로 합성하는 경우에는 약 2,500 등가 게이트로 구현되었다.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제45권4호
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• pp.97-109
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• 2020

Purpose: Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is pain referred to the head/ face from the structures in vicinity of upper cervical spinal nerves via trigeminocervical pathway. Ponticulus Posticus (PP) and Elongated Styloid Process (ESP) are anatomical structures that cause compression of vasculature present around upper cervical nerve plexus. Recently, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has shown to play an essential role in identification of these high-pressure zones in the brain. The aim of this research is to study the association of ESP and PP in patients with CGH and to develop a hypothesis by CFD to analyse vertebrobasilar insufficiency as a contributing factor in occurrence of CGH. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 4500 full skull CBCT scans was done for the presence of partial or complete PP and length of Styloid Process (SP). Research was divided into two phases; In first Preliminary Phase, 150 scans that showed the presence of PP and ESP were analysed, and only 134 patients gave consent to fill the questionnaire containing 96 question items pertaining to symptoms associated with CGH. In the second phase, simulation of Vertebral and Carotid Artery was done using Fluent 14.5 Software and by CFD, pressure distribution on arteries was obtained that helped to identify high pressure regions. Results: Both PP and ESP showed a statistically significant association with CGH (p<0.001). By CFD analysis, both steady and transient phases of simulation showed drop in pressure due to constriction of internal carotid and vertebral artery by ESP and PP respectively and were found to decrease the volume of blood reaching the brain, 0.12 /0.13 mL and 0.06 mL respectively. Conclusions: Our analysis proves ESP and PP as contributing factors towards CGH. Hence for proper diagnosis and management of headache disorders, clinicians should have adequate knowledge about these anatomical structures and their resulting clinical symptoms.