• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.229-237
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• 2023

Objective: This study evaluated the effects of dandelion supplements on lactation performance, circulating antioxidative activity and plasma metabolomics in primiparous dairy cows. Methods: A total of 60 mid-lactation dairy cows (milk yield = 34.29±0.34 kg/d; days in milk = 151.72±2.36 days) were divided into 4 treatment groups randomly, comprising the addition of dandelion at 0, 100, 200, 400 g/d per head. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks with an extra 10 days' pre-feeding period. Milk and blood samples were collected, and plasma samples were selected to perform metabolomics analysis. Results: Supplementing 200 g/d of dandelion increased the yield of milk and lactose (p≤0.05). The milk somatic cell counts (p≤0.05) were lower in all dandelion groups than those in the control group. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (p≤0.05) and superoxide dismutase (p≤0.05) were increased and plasma malondialdehyde (p = 0.01) was decreased when cows were fed 200 g/d dandelion. Plasma metabolomics analysis showed that 23 hub differential metabolites were identified in the 200 g/d dandelion group. These metabolites such as ribose, glutamic acid, valine, and phenylalanine were enriched in D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism (p = 0.06, impact value = 1), phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis (p = 0.05, impact value = 0.5), and starch and sucrose metabolism (p = 0.21, impact value = 0.13). Moreover, correlation analysis showed that circulating ribose, mannose, and glutamic acid were positively related to milk yield. Conclusion: Dandelion supplementation could improve lactation performance and elevate the plasma carbohydrate and amino acids metabolism and antioxidative activity. Supplementation of 200 g/d dandelion is recommended for lactating dairy cows.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.12-24
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• 2023

Sitophilus oryzae L. (Rice Weevil) is a stored pest of rice that causes extensive loss throughout the world. We tested the leaf powders of 12 plant species viz., Chrysanthemum sp., Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Citrus grandis, Citrus limon, Gliricidia sepium, Gymnema sylvestre, Hemigraphis colorata, Michelia champaca, Moringa oleifera, Murraya koenigii, Polyalthia longifolia, and Sauropus androgynus at dosages of 1.00, 1.50, 2.00 and 3.00g against the adult rice weevil and mortality was recorded at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 12 and 2l days after treatment (DAT) by direct contact toxicity for their adulticidal effect. We observed 100 percent adult mortality in C. zevlanicum and M. koenigii among the tested leaf powders. In addition, the first-time tested H. colorata and S. androgynus also caused high mortality compared to other plants. All the plant powders caused moderate to high adult mortality. Hence, these plants could be effective botanical insecticides against S. oryzae as they comprise a potential source of bioactive chemicals and are generally free from toxicants. Applications of these natural derivatives in S. oryzae control could reduce the cost of control methods and storage of rice contamination. Therefore, the present study indicates that some plant extracts can be used as an alternative to toxic synthetic chemicals in the management of rice weevils.

• ALGAE
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.111-126
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• 2023

Mixotrophic dinoflagellates act as primary producers, prey, and predators in marine planktonic food webs, whereas exclusively autotrophic dinoflagellates are primary producers and prey. Species of the dinoflagellate genus Scrippsiella are commonly found in marine ecosystems and sometimes cause harmful red tides. Among the 28 formally described Scrippsiella species, S. acuminata has been found to be mixotrophic and two unidentified species have been found to be mixotrophic. To determine whether the other species in this genus are similarly mixotrophic, the mixotrophic ability of S. donghaiensis SDGJ1703, S. lachrymosa SLBS1703, S. masanensis SSMS0908, S. plana SSSH1009A, and S. ramonii VGO1053 was explored using 15 potential prey items, including 2-㎛ fluorescently labeled microspheres (FLM) and heterotrophic bacteria (FLB), the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp., and various microalgal prey species. The ability of S. acuminata to feed on FLM and FLB was also investigated. We found that S. donghaiensis, S. lachrymosa, S. masanensis, S. plana, and S. ramonii did not feed on any potential prey tested in this study, indicating a lack of mixotrophy. However, S. acuminata fed on both FLM and FLB, confirming its mixotrophic ability. These results lowered the proportion of mixotrophic species relative to the total number of tested Scrippsiella species for mixotrophy from 100% to 29-38%. Owing to its mixotrophic ability, S. acuminata occupies an ecological niche that is distinct from that of S. donghaiensis, S. lachrymosa, S. masanensis, S. plana, and S. ramonii.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

Oral bacterial infections substantially affect the development of various periodontal diseases and oral cancers. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the association between Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum ), a major periodontitis (PT)-associated pathogen, and these diseases require extensive research. Previously, our RNA-sequencing analysis identified a few hundred differentially expressed genes in patients with PT and peri-implantitis (PI) than in healthy controls. Thus, in the present study using oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells, we aimed to evaluate the effect of F. nucleatum infection on genes that are differentially regulated in patients with PT and PI. Human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines OSC-2O, HSC-4, and HN22 were used. These cells were infected with F. nucleatum at a multiplicity of infection of 100 for 3 hours at 37℃ in 5% CO₂. Gene expression was then measured using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Among 18 genes tested, the expression of CSF3, an inflammation-related cytokine, was increased by F. nucleatum infection. Additionally, F. nucleatum infection increased the phosphorylation of AKT, p38 MAPK, and JNK in OSC-20 cells. Treatment with p38 MAPK (SB202190) and JNK (SP600125) inhibitors reduced the enhanced CSF3 expression induced by F. nucleatum infection. Overall, this study demonstrated that F. nucleatum promotes CSF3 expression in OSCC cells through p38 MAPK and JNK signaling pathways, suggesting that p38 MAPK and JNK inhibitors may help treat F. nucleatum-related periodontal diseases by suppressing CSF3 expression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.202-210
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• 2017

As an effort to find a potential biopreservative, we isolated bacterial strains producing bacteriocin from fermented foods. A strain was finally selected and characteristics of the bacteriocin were investigated. The selected strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis E9-1 based on the 16S rRNA gene analysis. The culture supernatant of B. subtilis E9-1 showed antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Subtilisin A, ${\alpha}$-chymotrypsin, trypsin and proteinase K inactivated the antimicrobial activity, which means its proteinaceous nature, a bacteriocin. The bacteriocin activity was fully retained at the pH range from 2.0 to 8.0 and stable at up to $100^{\circ}C$ for 60 min. Solvents such as ethanol, isopropanol and methanol had no effect on the antimicrobial activity at the concentration of 100% but acetone and acetonitrile reduced the activity at up to 100% concentration. Cell growth of four indicator strains was dramatically decreased in dose-dependent manner. Listeria monocytogenes was the most sensitive, but Enterococcus faecium was the most resistant. Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus showed the medium sensitivity. The bacteriocin showed its antimicrobial activity against B. cereus and L. monocytogenes via bactericidal action. The number of viable cells of L. monocytogenes started to reduce after addition of bacteriocin to the minced beef. The bacteriocin was purified through acetone concentration, gel filtration chromatography and RP-HPLC. The whole purification step led to a 6.82 fold increase in the specific activity and 6% yield of bacteriocin activity. The molecular weight of the purified bacteriocin was determined to be 3.3 kDa by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.895-903
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• 2007

As for the increasing demanding on the development of direct-ecological landfill monitoring methods, it is needed for critically defining the condition of landfills and their influence on the environment, quantifying the amount of enzymes and bacteria mainly concerned with biochemical reaction in the landfills. This study was thus conducted to understand the fates of contaminants in association with groundwater quality parameters. For the study, groundwater was seasonally sampled from four closed unsanitary landfills(i.e. Cheonan(C), Wonju(W), Nonsan(N), Pyeongtaek(P) sites) in which microbial diversity was simultaneously obtained by 16S rDNA methods. Subsequently, a number of primer sets were prepared for quantifying the specific gene of representative bacteria and the gene of encoding enzymes dominantly found in the landfills. The relationship between water quality parameters and gene quantification were compared based on correlation factors. Correlation between DSR(Sulfate reduction bacteria) gene and BOD(Biochemical Oxygen Demand) was greater than 0.8 while NSR(Nitrification bacteria-Nitrospira sp.) gene and nitrate were related more than 0.9. A stabilization indicator(BOD/COD) and MTOT(Methane Oxidation bacteria), MCR(Methyl coenzyme M reductase), Dde(Dechloromonas denitrificans) genes were correlated over 0.8, but ferric iron and Fli(Ferribacterium limineticm) gene were at the lowest of 0.7. For MTOT, it was at the highest related at 100% over BOD/COD. In addition, anaerobic genes(i.e., nirS-Nitrite reductase, MCR. Dde, DSR) and DO were also related more than 0.8, which showing anaerobic reactions generally dependant upon DO. As demonstrated in the study, molecular biological investigation and water quality parameters are highly co-linked, so that quantitative real-time PCR could be cooperatively used for assessing landfill stabilization in association with the conventional monitoring parameters.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.372-379
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• 1999

A bacteriological study of sea water and oyster in Tongyeong coastal area was conducted to evaluate sanitary conditions of the bay and compliance of waters with the recommended bacteriological criteria fur the designated area of shellfish cultivation. The Samples were collected at 5 zone, 34 sampling stations(Fig. 1) established once a month from September 1997 to August 1998. During the study period, temperature ranged from 6.9 to 23.6$^{\circ}C$, transparency ranged from 2.6 to 6.2 m, chemical oxygen demand ranged from 1.35 to 1.82 mg/ι, dissolved oxy-gen ranged from 5.0 to 9.9 mg/ι, dissolved nitrogen ranged from 1.60 to 8.17 $\mu\textrm{g}$-at/ι, phosphate ranged from 0.14 to 1.21 $\mu\textrm{g}$-at/ι, Chlorophyll-a ranged from 2.03 to 69.9 mg/㎥, respectively. The coliform group and fecal coliform MPN's of sea water were ranged from <3.0~1,600 and <3.0~540, respectively. The coliform group and fecal coliform MPN's of oysters were ranged from <18~16,000 and <18~2,200, respectively. The viable cell counts in oyster ranged from $1.5\times$10$^2$to 8.2$\times$10$^3$. The coliform stoup, fecal coliform, classification of coliform group with IMViC reactions and pathogenic vibrios were analyzed. 437 strains that were obtained from Tongyeoung coastal area seawater samples represented E. coli group 47.5%, C. freundii group 14.8%, K. aerogenes 10.9%, unknown 26.8%, respectively. During the study period, infectious bacteria such as Vibrio ohoEerae, Salmonella sp. and Shigella sp. were not detected from the samples, but detection ratios of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus were 12~21% in summer months.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2004

The effect of gas sparging on continuous fermentative $H_2$ production was investigated using external gases ($N_2$, $CO_2$) with various flow rates (100, 200, 300, 400 ml/min). Gas sparging showed a higher $H_2$ yield than no sparging, indicating that the decrease of $H_2$ partial pressure by gas sparging had a good effect on $H_2$ fermentation. Especially, $CO_2$ sparging was more effective in the reactor performance than $N_2$ sparging. The composition of butyrate, the main metabolic product of $H_2$ fermentation by Clostridium sp., was much higher in $CO_2$ sparging. $H_2$ production increased with increasing flow rate only in $CO_2$ sparging. The best performance was obtained by $CO_2$ sparging at 300 ml/min, resulting in the highest $H_2$ yield of 1.65 mol $H_2/mol$ hexoseconsumed and the maximum $H_2$ production of 6.77 L $H_2/g$ VSS/day. Compared to $N_2$ sparging, there could be another beneficial effect in $CO_2$ sparging apart from lowering down the $H_2$ partial pressure. High partial pressure of $CO_2$ had little effect on $H_2$ producing bacteria but inhibitory effect on other microorganisms like lactic acid bacteria and acetogens which were competitive with $H_2$ producing bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.429-436
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• 1998

A bacteriological study of sea water and oyster in Charan Bay was conducted to evaluate sanitary conditions of the bay and compliance of waters with the recommended bacteriological criteria for the designated area of shellfish cultivation, The Samples were collected at 23 sampling stations(Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) estaslished once a month from January 1997 to December 1997, During the study period, temperature ranged from 4.7 to $25.6^{\circ}C$, transparency ranged from 3.3 to 6.2m chemical oxygen demand ranged from 1.67 to 2.18 mg/$\ell$, dissolved oxygen demand ranged from 5.4 to 10.0 mg/$\ell$ dissolved nitrogen ranged from 1.65 to 7.88 $\mu$g-at/$\ell$, phosphate ranged from 0.15 to 1.16 $\mu$g-at/$\ell$, Chlorophylla-a ranged from 0.95 to 12.69mg/$\ell$. The coliform group and fecal coliform MPN's of sea water were ranged from <1.8$\~$l,600 and <1.8$\~$540, respectively. The coliform group and fecal coliform MPN's of oysters were ranged from <18$\~$16,000 and <18$\~$1,400, respectively. The viable cell counts in oyster ranged from $1.5\times10^2$ to $7.5\times10^3$. The bacteriological criteria of sea water in shellfish growing area should be less than 70 per 100 ml of sea water for median value of coliform MPN, and below $10\%$ of the samples which contain over than 230 for coliform MPN or over than 43 for fecal coliform MPN. The sea water from 432 samples were complied water coliform criteria recommended for designated shellfish growing area. The coliform group, fecal coliform, classification of coliform group with IMViC reactions and pathogenic vibrios were analyzed. During the study period, infectious bacteria such as Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella sp, and Shigella sp, were not detected from the samples, but detection ratios of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnifirus were $7\~17\%$ in summer months.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.12
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• pp.1329-1335
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• 2008

Purpose : This study aimed to determine the best cutoff line for insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3 to discriminate between growth hormone deficiency (GHD) patients and the control group. Methods : Two hundred thirty subjects with normal controls (129 boys and 101 girls, aged 7-15 years), 14 patients with complete GHD (12 boys and 2 girls), and 17 patients with partial GHD (9 boys and 8 girls) were studied. IGF-I serum concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay (RI), and IGFBP-3 concentrations were measured by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). Results : The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plot analysis showed that the best IGF-I and IGFBP-3 cutoff line was at -1 standard deviation (SD). By comparing IGF-I serum levels of GHD children within 1 SD of normal control, we determined the sensitivity (S) (87.5-100%) and specificity (Sp) (80-84.6%) according to the age group. For IGFBP-3, we determined the following values: S (58.7-85.7%) and Sp (79.2-85.5%). Eleven of 14 patients with complete GHD (78.5%) and 16 of 17 patients with partial GHD (94.1%) had IGF-I concentrations equal to or below -1 SD of the control group mean. Ten of 12 complete GHD children (83.3%) and 13 of 17 partial GHD children (76.5%) had IGFBP-3 concentrations equal or below -1 SD of the control group mean. Conclusion : We conclude that the measurement of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations might provide essential supplementary data in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with GHD. Our results support the need to use cutoff lines based on below -1 SD of the control.