• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.632-639
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• 2006

Here we examined the expression patterns and regulation of seven photosynthesis (PS) genes (puf, puc, puhA, bchC, bchE, bchF, and bchI) in the anoxygenic photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, based on lacZ reporter gene assay. Expression of the tested PS genes, except puhA and bchI, were strongly induced in R. sphaeroides grown under anaerobic conditions relative to that under aerobic conditions. The puhA and bchI genes appear to form the operons together with bchFNBHLM-RSP0290 and crtA, respectively. Expression of the puf, puc, and bchCXYZ operons in R. sphaeroides grown photosynthetically was proportional to the incident light intensity, whereas that of bchFNBHLM(RSP0290-puhA) was inversely related to light intensity. Expression of bchEJG was lowest under medium-light photosynthetic conditions $(10\;W/m^2)$ and highest under high light conditions $(100\;W/m^2)$. The regulation of PS genes by the three major regulatory systems involved in oxygen- and light-sensing in R. sphaeroides is as following: puf and bchC are regulated by both the PpsR repressor and the PrrBA two-component system. The puc operon is under control of PpsR, FnrL, and PrrBA system. Expression of bchE is controlled by FnrL and PrrBA two-component system, whereas bchF is regulated exclusively by PpsR. It was demonstrated that the PpsR repressor is responsible for high-light repression of bchF and that FnrL might be involved in perceiving the cellular redox state in addition to sensing $O_2$ itself.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1660-1668
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• 2007

The non-ionic surfactant (NIS) Tween 80 was evaluated for its ability to influence invitro cumulative gas production, dry matter digestibility, cellulolytic enzyme activities, anaerobic microbial growth rates, and adhesion to substrates by mixed rumen microorganisms on rice straw, alfalfa hay, cellulose filter paper and tall fescue hay. The addition of NIS Tween 80 at a level of 0.05% increased significantly (P<0.05) in vitro DM digestibility, cumulative gas production, microbial growth rate and cellulolytic enzyme activity from all of substrates used in this study. In vitro cumulative gas production from the NIS-treated substrates; rice straw, alfalfa hay, filter paper and tall fescue hay was significantly (P<0.05) improved by 274.8, 235.2, 231.1 and 719.5% compared with the control, when substrates were incubated for 48 hr in vitro. The addition of 0.05% NIS Tween 80 to cultures growing on alfalfa hay resulted in a significant increase in CMCase (38.1%), xylanase (121.4%), Avicelase (not changed) and amylase (38.2%) activities after 36 h incubation. These results indicated that the addition of 0.05% Tween 80 could greatly stimulate the release of some kinds of cellulolytic enzymes without decreasing cell growth rate in contrast to trends reported with aerobic microorganism. Our SEM observation showed that NIS Tween. 80 did not influence the microbial adhesion to substrates used in the study. Present data clearly show that improved gas production, DM digestibility and cellulolytic enzyme activity by Tween 80 is not due to increased bacterial adhesion on the substrates.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.908-915
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• 1998

By using Korean native soybean, traditional meju was prepared in Chuncheon, Kangweondo according to the traditional process. Analysis of physico-chemical, enzymatic and microbiological changes during meju fermentation were carried out in order to obtain a basic information for industrial scale production of meju. The enviroments for natural meju fermentation were $10{\sim}15^{\circ}C$ and $60{\sim}70%{\;}RH$. Moisture content decreased from 59% to 11% (exterior section) and 19% (interior section). the pH of meju rapidly increased up to 8.5 at $33^{rd}{\;}day$ of fermentation and thereafter decreased down to 7.9 at $70^{th}{\;}day$ of fermentation. Souble protein content was 1.47% at initial stage and increased up to $6.31{\sim}7.34%$ at $33^{rd}{\;}day$ of fermentation. Amino nitrogen content was $460{\sim}770{\;}mg%$ at $70^{th}{\;}day$ of fermentation. the color of meju became gradually black and decreased in redness and yellowness. During the process, protease and lipase seemed to play an important role in the digestion of soy protein and fat. Acidic protease activity increased up to $135.9{\sim}152.4{\;}unit/g$ at $33^{rd}{\;}day$ of fermentation and were $181.3{\sim}272.6{\;}unit/g$ at $70^{th}{\;}day$ of fermentation. Lipase activity increased up to 6 unit/g (interior section) and 15 unit/g (exterior section) at $70^{th}{\;}day$ of fermentation. the viable cell count of meju was at the level of $10^8{\;}CFU/g$ during the overall fermentation period. Aerobic halophilic count was $1.51{\times}10^7{\;}CFU/g$ at initial stage and maintained $10^8{\;}CFU/g$ level during the process. Initial anaerobic cell count was $2.0^9{\times}10^4{\;}CFU/g$ and increased up to $10^5{\;}CFU/g$ level at 47 days. Yeast and mold counts were $10^4{\sim}10^5{\;}CFU/g$ for the fermentation period.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.942-953
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of L-arginine supplementation on muscle damage and fatigue indices and athletic performance improvement of canoe athletes after conducting a high-intensity training program. To achieve the objective, this study applied a high-intensity training program to seven high school canoe athletes. The high-intensity training program is composed of aerobic exercise sessions (twice per week; Tuesday and Thursday), anaerobic exercise sessions (three times per week; Monday, Wednesday, and Friday), and flexibility exercise sessions (five times per week). During the 6 week high-intensity training program, drug ingestion (L-arginine or placebo) was conducted in the first two weeks, wash out (two weeks) followed it, and drug ingestion (L-arginine or placebo) was carried out again in the last two weeks. The crossover design was used for the experiment so all study subjects were assigned to either the L-arginine intake group (the treatment group) or the placebo group (the control group). Each subject ingested 3g per day. This study confirmed the significant effects of L-arginine supplementation on muscle damage indices, fatigue indices, and antioxidants using blood samples. Additionally, FMD was analyzed to evaluate vascular endothelial cell functions and canoe performance was examined using the canoe ergometer. The results of this study showed that L-arginine intake did not have direct effects on the levels of ammonia, IP, and CK. The level of LDH decreased significantly more in the ARG group than in the PLA group due to L-arginine supplementation. Moreover, L-arginine supplementation did not change total NO, d-ROMs, BAP, and FMD significantly. Lastly, the results of the 500m canoe ergometer, which was conducted to evaluate the canoe performance, revealed that L-arginine did not have direct effects on total time, stroke distance, and mean velocity. However, L-arginine supplementation significantly improved muscle damage indices, fatigue indices, antioxidants, FMD, and canoe performance. Therefore, it is believed that additional studies are needed for examining the potential effects of L-arginine supplementation athletic performance enhancement.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.145-158
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• 2023

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are effective technologies for urban wastewater management, utilizing natural physico-chemical and biological processes to remove pollutants. This study employed a bibliometric analysis approach to investigate the progress and future research trends in the field of CWs. A comprehensive review of 100 most-recently published and open-access articles was performed to analyze the performance of CWs in treating wastewater. Spain, China, Italy, and the United States were among the most productive countries in terms of the number of published papers. The most frequently used keywords in publications include water quality (n=19), phytoremediation (n=13), stormwater (n=11), and phosphorus (n=11), suggesting that the efficiency of CWs in improving water quality and removal of nutrients were widely investigated. Among the different types of CWs reviewed, hybrid CWs exhibited the highest removal efficiencies for BOD (88.67%) and TSS (95.67%), whereas VSSF, and HSSF systems also showed high TSS removal efficiencies (83.25%, and 78.83% respectively). VSSF wetland displayed the highest COD removal efficiency (71.82%). Generally, physical processes (e.g., sedimentation, filtration, adsorption) and biological mechanisms (i.e., biodegradation) contributed to the high removal efficiency of TSS, BOD, and COD in CW systems. The hybrid CW system demonstrated highest TN removal efficiency (60.78%) by integrating multiple treatment processes, including aerobic and anaerobic conditions, various vegetation types, and different media configurations, which enhanced microbial activity and allowed for comprehensive nitrogen compound removal. The FWS system showed the highest TP removal efficiency (54.50%) due to combined process of settling sediment-bound phosphorus and plant uptake. Phragmites, Cyperus, Iris, and Typha were commonly used in CWs due to their superior phytoremediation capabilities. The study emphasized the potential of CWs as sustainable alternatives for wastewater management, particularly in urban areas.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.260-268
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• 2010

The lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27, LDH) isozymes in tissues from Channa argus were purified and characterized by biochemical, immunochemical and kinetic methods. The activity of LDH in skeletal muscle was the highest at 380.4 units and those in heart, eye and brain tissues were 13.4, 3,5 and 5.4 units, respectively. Citrate synthase (EC 4.1.3.7, CS) activity in heart tissue was the highest at 20.7 units. LDH/CS in skeletal muscle, heart, eye and brain tissues were 172.9, 0.6, 0.32 and 0.47. Protein concentration in skeletal muscle tissue was 14.7 mg/g and specific activities of LDH in skeletal muscle, heart, eye and brain tissues were 25.88, 0.79, 0.31 and 1.38 units/mg, respectively. Therefore, skeletal muscle tissue was anaerobic and heart tissue was aerobic. The LDH isozymes in tissues were identified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoprecipitation and Western blot with antiserum against $A_4$, $B_4$, and eye-specific $C_4$. LDH $A_4$, $A_3B$, $A_2B_2$. $AB_3$ and $B_4$ isozymes were detected in every tissue, $C_4$, $AC_3$, $A_2C_2$ and $A_3C$ were detected in eye tissue, and $A_3C$ was found in brain tissue. LDH $A_4$, $A_3B$, $A_2B_2$, $AB_3$, $B_4$, eye-specific $C_4$ isozymes were purified by affinity chromatography and Preparative PAGE Cells. The LDH $A_4$ isozyme was purified in the fraction from elution with $NAD^+$ containing buffer of affinity chromatography. Eye-specific $C_4$ isozyme was eluted right after $A_4$, after which $B_4$ isozyme was eluted with plain buffer. As a result, one part of molecular structures in $A_4$, $B_4$ and eye-specific $C_4$ were similar, but were different from each other in $B_4$ and $C_4$. Therefore the subunit A may be conservative in evolution, and the evolution of subunit B seems to be faster than that of subunit A. The activity of LDH $A_4$, $A_2B_2$, $B_4$, and eye-specific $C_4$ isozymes remained at 39.98, 21.28, 19.67 and 16.87% as a result of the inhibition by 10 mM of pyruvate, so the degree of inhibition was very high. The $Km^{PYR}$ values were 0.17, 0.27 and 0.133 mM in $A_4$, $B_4$ and eye-specific $C_4$ isozymes, respectively. The optimum pH of LDH $A_4$, $B_4$, eye-specific $C_4$, $A_2B_2$, $A_3B$, and $AB_3$ were pH 6.5, pH 8.5, pH 5.5, pH 6.0-6.5, pH 5.0 and pH 7.5. The $A_4$ and heterotetramer isozymes stabilized a broad range of pH. Especially, LDH activities in skeletal muscle tissue were high, resulting in a high degree of muscle activity.LDH metabolism in eye tissue seems to be converted faster from pyruvate to lactate by eye-specific $C_4$ isozyme as eye-specific $C_4$ have the highest affinity for pyruvate, and right after the conversion, oxidation of lactate was induced by $A_4$ isozyme. It was found that expression of Ldh-C, affinity to substrate and reaction time of $C_4$ isozyme were different according to the ecological environmental and feeding capturing patterns.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.82-92
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• 1976

The study was carried out to investigate the changes of the various chemical components and the microflora during the aging period of Korean navive Kochuzang. (Red pepper soybean paste) Korean native maeju loaves were separated into surface and inner parts. Three kinds of Korean native Kochuzang were prepared from surface part, inner part, and ordinary of maeju. The selection and the indentification of the high enzyme producing strains from the microflora and characteristics of their enzymes were studied. I. The changes of the various chemical components during the aging period of Kochuzang. 1) The changes of pH in the 3 kinds of Kochuzang displayed rapid decrease for the first 10 days after preparing and gradual curve of decrease until 60 days, but slight increase for the next 30 days. The pH of the surface part Kochuzang was lower than that of inner part or ordinary Kochuzang. 2) The total acid contents in the 3 kinds of Kochuzang showed gradual increase until the 60 days but it slowly reduced after this time. 3) The total nitrogen contents in the 3 kind of Kochuzang showed gradual inerease up to the 60 days, but slight decrease after this time. 4) The changes of trichloroacetic acid soluble nitrogen in the 3 kinds of Kochuzang showed a remarkable increase for the first 10 days, however gradual increase after this time. 5) The increase of amino nitrogen contents in the 3 kinds of Kochuzang seemed to be remarkable until the first 30 days, however to be less remarkable after this time. 6) The contents of reducing sugar in the 3 kinds of Kochuzang showed remarkable increase until the first 50 days and it slowly reduced after this time. II. The changes of microflora during the aging period of Kochuzang. 1) Aerobic, anaerobic bacteria and mold in the 3 kinds of Kochuzang were increased until the first 30 to 40 days, but they were reduced after this time. 2) No yeast in the three kinds of Kochuzang appeared until the first 20 days. Yeast were proved to grow, when the pH value was decreased below 5.4 after the 30 days. Yeasts in the surface part and ordinary Kochuzang were gradually increased and those in the inner part Kochuzang were decreased as aging. III. The selection and identification of high amylase and protease producing strains from the microflora during the aging period of Kochuzang. 1) The amylase and protease highly producing strains from microflora were identified as Bacillus subtilis-P, Bacillus subtilis-G, Bacillus licheniformis-K, Aspergillus oryzae-B. 2) Amylase activity of Aspergillus oryzae-B was highest among the strains and the strains in order of the higher activity to the lower one were Bacillus subtilis-P Bacillus licheniformis-K, Bacillus subtilis-G. Protease activities of Aspergillus oryzae-B and Bacillus subtilis-P were about the same and the strains in order of the higher activity to the lower one were Bacillus licheniformis-K, Bacillus subtilis-G. 3) Amylase activity was inhibited more than protease activity was with NaCl concentration. Amylase activity was inhibited by 45 to 65 percent and protease activity by 40 to 46 percent at the concentration of 15 percent NaCl, which was the average concentration of NaCl in Kochuzang.