• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.101-105
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• 2018

With the rapidly growing of the population and industrization of cities, the clean and affordable water resources have gained immense interest because of remaining about 780 million people still lack access to it. However, present wastewater treatment systems have been faced with various issues, such as low processing efficiency, high operational costs and the requirement of a large area for manufacturing. It is therefore urgently required to develop an inexpensive and efficient wastewater treatment system. As the one of these efforts, we suggested and successfully demonstrated the wastewater treatment system using and electrochemical method via a dimensionally stable anode (DSA) based on rutile type $RuO_2$. Our system achieved biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiently at the respective rates of 52.0%, 77.8%, and 65.6% from household wastewater. In addition, we were able to remove BOD, COD, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) from animal husbandry wastewater at rates of 92.9%, 75.6%, 35.1%, and 100%, respectively, thereby achieving dramatic reductions. Considering the excellent removal efficiency and the small size of this device, electrochemical wastewater treatment using a DSA coated in rutile $RuO_2$ presents a promising option for the treatment of both household and animal husbandry wastewater.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.975-985
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• 2017

To investigate the beneficial effects of an agar gel mask (AGM) on UV-induced photoaging, SKH-1 hairless mice were treated with a topical application of AGM and an AGM dipped in essence (AGMdE). The mice were divided into an no radiation group, UV + AGM, UV + AGMdE, and UV + vehicle (PBS) treatment groups. Alterations in skin wrinkles, skin phenotype, histological structures, oxidative status, and toxicity were then evaluated during 4 weeks of exposure. The topical application of AGM and AGMdE inhibited wrinkle formation, suppressed the erythema index, prevented transepidermal water loss, and enhanced skin hydration. In addition, epidermal thickness recovered to a similar level as that in the no irradiation group in the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups compared with the UV + vehicle (distilled water) group. Furthermore, the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tyrosinase were reduced in the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups, although the highest level varied. Moreover, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly lower in the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups as compared with the UV + vehicle group. No significant alterations induced by most toxic compounds were measured in serum biochemical markers and liver and kidney histological features of the UV + AGM and UV + AGMdE treatment groups. These results suggest that AGM may protect against skin aging by regulating skin morphology, histopathological structures, and oxidative conditions.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.510-514
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• 2007

Twenty-five bacterial strains that secrete mucous materials were isolated from sediment obtained from King George Island, Antarctica. Seven of these strains proved capable of producing cryoprotective exopolysaccharides. The strain KOPRI 21653 was selected for the further study of an anti-ice-nucleating polysaccharide (ANP), which originated from a polar region. KOPRI 21653 was identified as Pseudoalteromonas arctica as the result of 16S rRNA analysis. The exopolysaccharide, P-21653, was purified completely from the KOPRI 21653 cell culture via column chromatography and protease treatment. The principal sugar components of P-21653 were determined to be galactose and glucose, at a ratio of 1:1.5, via GC-MS analysis. The cryoprotective activity of P-21653 was characterized via an E. coli viability test. In the presence of 0.1% (w/v) P-21653, the survival ratio of E. coli cells was as high as 82.6% over three repeated freeze-thaw cycles. The survival ratio decreased drastically to 71.5 and 48.1 %, respectively, in five and seven repeated cycle conditions; however, the survival ratios were greater over three (96.6-92.1%) to seven (100.5-91.6%) freeze-thaw cycles in the presence of 0.5 and 1.0% (w/v) P-21653. In addition, at much lower concentrations (0.1-1.0%), P-21653 resulted in survival ratios (83.1-98.4%) similar to those of two commercially available cryoprotectants ($V_{EG}$ plus X-1000, 92.9% and $V_{M3}$, 95.3%), which were utilized at the recommended concentrations (90%). The biochemical characteristics of exopolysaccharide P-21653 reflect that this compound may be developed as a useful cryoprotectant for use in medical applications and in the food industry.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether nutrient intakes and serum biochemical indices are associated with the skin condition of humans. Anthropometric data, skin surface hydration, ceramide content, dietary intake of nutrients and serum lipids (total cholesterol, HDL-, LDL-cholesterol, TG, MDA: malondialdehyde, TAS: total antioxidant status) were obtained from 36 healthy young women. Subjects were classified into 2 groups {LM: Low Moisture Group (n = 20) , HM: High Moisture Group (n = 16)} by forehead skin hydration. The results of this study were as follows: The average age, BMI, total body water, LBM, body fat$\%$, WHR, forehead hydration, ceramide content were 20.2 yrs, 20.7, 28.81, 39.2 kg, $28.0\%$, 0.8, $44.3\%$, and 1.05 $\mu$g/$\mu$g protein, repectively. The intakes of SF A (saturated fatty acid) , MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acid) in the HM group were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in the LM group, but zinc intakes in the LM group were higher than in the HM group. Serum levels of TAS in the LM group (1.27 mmol/l) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of in the HM group (1.20 mmol/l). Whereas other lipid levels were not significantly different, intakes of vitamin $B_{6}$ and folate showed significant positive correlation with the forehead hydration (r = 0.447, r = 0.377). Intakes of calcium and phosphorus showed significant negative correlation with forearm ceramide content (r = -0.496, r = -0.485). Several associations between nutrient intakes and skin conditions were observed, indicating that changes in baseline nutritional status may affect skin health.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.225-231
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• 2005

Acid-labile subunit (ALS) is a component of the 150-kDa insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) complex, which, by sequestering the majority of IGFs-I and -II and thereby prolonging the half-life of them in plasma, serves as a circulating reservoir of IGFs in mammalian species. A pGEX-2T plasmid and a baculovirus expression constructs harboring a coding sequence for glutathione-S transferase (GST)-porcine ALS (pALS) fusion protein were expressed in BL21(DE3) E. coli and Sf9 insect cells, respectively. The expressed protein was purified by glutathione or Ni-NTN affinity chromatography, followed by cleavage of the fusion protein using Factor Xa. In addition, pALS and hIGFBP-3 were also produced in small amounts in the Xenopus oocyte expression system which does not require any purification procedure. A 65-kDa pALS polypeptide was obtained following the prokaryotic expression and the enzymatic digestion, but biochemical characterization of this polypeptide was precluded because of an extremely low expression efficiency. The baculovirus-as well as Xenopus-expressed pALS exhibited the expected molecular mass of 85 kDa which was reduced into 75 and 65 kDa following deglycosylation of Asn-linked carbohydrates by Endo-F glycosidase, indicating that the expressed pALS was properly glycosylated. Moreover, irrespective of the source of pALS, the recombinant pALS and hIGFBP-3 formed a 130-kDa binary complex which could be immunoprecipitated by anti-hIGFBP-3 antibodies. Collectively, results indicate that an authentic pALS protein can be produced by the current expression systems.

• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.237-247
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• 2014

Polysaccharides prepared from marine algae sometimes contain contaminants such as polyphenols and endotoxins that may mislead their bona fide biological activities. In this study, we examined bioactive contaminants in commercially available fucoindan from Fucus vesiculosus, along with ascophyllan and fucoidan from Ascophyllum nodosum. F. vesiculosus fucoidan inhibited the growth of Vibrio alginolyticus in a concentration-dependent manner ($0-1,000{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$). However, the antibacterial activity of the fucoidan significantly reduced after methanol-extraction, and the methanol-extract showed a potent antibacterial activity. The extract also showed cytotoxicity to RAW264.7 and U937 cells, and induced apoptotic nuclear morphological changes in U937 cells. These results suggest that the antibacterial activity of the fucoidan is partly due to the methanol-extractable contaminants that can also contribute to the cytotoxicity on RAW264.7 and U937 cells. On the other hand, the activities to induce secretion of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ from RAW264.7 cells were observed in the fucoidan even after methanol extraction, and the extract had no such activities. Our observations suggest that commercially available fucoidan should be purified prior to biochemical use.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.219-229
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• 2016

Fatty liver is a common metabolic disorder of dairy cows during the transition period. Historically, the diagnosis of fatty liver has involved liver biopsy, biochemical or histological examination of liver specimens, and ultrasonographic imaging of the liver. However, more convenient and noninvasive methods would be beneficial for the diagnosis of fatty liver in dairy cows. The plasma metabolic profiles of dairy cows with fatty liver and normal (control) cows were investigated to identify new biomarkers using $^1H$ nuclear magnetic resonance. Compared with the control group, the primary differences in the fatty liver group included increases in ${\beta}$-hydroxybutyric acid, acetone, glycine, valine, trimethylamine-N-oxide, citrulline, and isobutyrate, and decreases in alanine, asparagine, glucose, ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid glycerol, and creatinine. This analysis revealed a global profile of endogenous metabolites, which may present potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of fatty liver in dairy cows.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1500-1509
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• 2020

Drought is a major abiotic factor and has drastically reduced crop yield globally, thus damaging the agricultural industry. Drought stress decreases crop productivity by negatively affecting crop morphological, physiological, and biochemical factors. The use of drought tolerant bacteria improves agricultural productivity by counteracting the negative effects of drought stress on crops. In this study, we isolated bacteria from the rhizosphere of broccoli field located in Daehaw-myeon, Republic of Korea. Sixty bacterial isolates were screened for their growth-promoting capacity, in vitro abscisic acid (ABA), and sugar production activities. Among these, bacterial isolates YNA59 was selected based on their plant growth-promoting bacteria traits, ABA, and sugar production activities. Isolate YNA59 highly tolerated oxidative stress, including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and produces superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities in the culture broth. YNA59 treatment on broccoli significantly enhanced plant growth attributes, chlorophyll content, and moisture content under drought stress conditions. Under drought stress, the endogenous levels of ABA, jasmonic acid (JA), and salicylic acid (SA) increased; however, inoculation of YNA59 markedly reduced ABA (877 ± 22 ng/g) and JA (169.36 ± 20.74 ng/g) content, while it enhanced SA levels (176.55 ± 9.58 ng/g). Antioxidant analysis showed that the bacterial isolate YNA59 inoculated into broccoli plants contained significantly higher levels of SOD, CAT, and APX, with a decrease in GPX levels. The bacterial isolate YNA59 was therefore identified as Variovorax sp. YNA59. Our current findings suggest that newly isolated drought tolerant rhizospheric Variovorax sp. YNA59 is a useful stress-evading rhizobacterium that improved drought-stress tolerance of broccoli and could be used as a bio-fertilizer under drought conditions.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.190-194
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• 2018

Recently, the horse racing industry in Korea has developed rapidly with good betting turnover. One of the most important factors in enhancing the performance of racehorses is the study of equine exercise physiology. This study was performed to analyze the results of pre-race blood test on race day and evaluate its correlation with the race performance in Thoroughbred racehorses. Twenty-one, healthy 3- to 6-year-old Thoroughbred horses were used to collect blood samples and hematological and biochemical measurements were performed. Results were analyzed to identify its correlation with racing performance. Analysis of hematological profile of pre-race blood of the racehorses revealed that red blood cell indices including RBC, Hb, and PCV levels were elevated. Additionally, levels of AP, AST, and GGT were also elevated in pre-race blood of horses on race day. RBC, Hb, and PCV levels of high performance racehorses were significantly lower than those of low class racehorses. Moreover, the analysis of correlation between blood test results and racing ability-related categories have shown negative correlations for rating, placing strike rate, prize money per race, RBC, Hb, and PCV and positive correlations for G3F and PCV. Additionally, AST value was positively correlated to prize money per race. Thus, the results of this study show that red blood cell indices and AST are good parameters for evaluating racing performance of horses before the race.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.559-568
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• 2003

The aim of present study is to investigated on the development of the functional doenjang possessing antioxidative and fibrinolytic activity. A strain, BH-23 showing antioxidative and fibrinolytic activity was isolated from traditionally doenjang, and then identified as Bacillus subtilis based on moophological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, and named as Bacillus subtilis BH-23. The optimal pH level and temperature conditions were 5.0 and $40^{\circ}C$, NaCl concentration was grown well at 15% Antioxidative and fibrinolytic activity of Bacillus subtilis BH-23 was accoidance with growth conditions of the original state. By comparising with traditionally commercialized doenjang, it is prepared with Bacillus subtilis BH-23. The final results evaluated with positive elements rised above the surface such as color, taste and flavor without ammonia. Therefore, it is safe to assume, doenjang has strong market value in the food industry.