• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.1091-1100
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• 2023

Objective: The present study is to examine the effect of high inclusion of co-products in pig diets (referred to as an alternative diet) during the finishing stage on pig growth performance, meat quality and boar taint compounds. Methods: Growing pigs were fed an alternative diet made with distillers dried grains with solubles (25%), canola meal (20%), and wheat middling (15%) or a control diet based on barley and soybean meal to investigate the impact of co-products on pig performance and meat quality. Sixteen female and sixteen entire male Duroc×(Large White×Landrace) pigs (22.6±2.07 kg, body weight±standard error) were equally allocated to the diets. Results: Pigs fed the alternative diet had a lower feed intake; however, growth rate and feed conversion efficiency were unaffected by diet. A diet by sex interaction was found for gain:feed whereby males fed the alternative diet had the best feed conversion (p<0.01). Pork from pigs fed the alternative diet had lower a^* and Chroma and protein % (p<0.05), while other meat quality characteristics were unaffected. The alternative diet reduced backfat skatole levels (p<0.001). Conclusion: A diet containing high inclusion levels of co-products can be fed to pigs during the finishing stage without detrimental effects on pig performance or meat quality and with the potential to enhance pork flavour. This finding suggests a solution to increase the sustainable development of pig production.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.37.1-37.11
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• 2023

Forkhead box P3-positive (Foxp3⁺)-inducible Tregs (iTregs) are readily generated by TGF-β1 at low TCR signaling intensity. TGF-β1-mediated Foxp3 expression is further enhanced by retinoic acid (RA) and lactoferrin (LF). However, the intensity of TCR signaling required for induction of Foxp3 expression by TGF-β1 in combination with RA and LF is unknown. Here, we found that either RA or LF alone decreased TGF-β1-mediated Foxp3 expression at low TCR signaling intensity. In contrast, at high TCR signaling intensity, the addition of either RA or LF strongly increased TGF-β1-mediated Foxp3 expression. Moreover, decreased CD28 stimulation was more favorable for TGF-β1/LF-mediated Foxp3 expression. Lastly, we found that at high signaling intensities of both TCR and CD28, combined treatment with TGF-β1, RA, and LF induced robust expression of Foxp3, in parallel with powerful suppressive activity against responder T cell proliferation. Our findings that TGFβ/RA/LF strongly generate high affinity Ag-specific iTreg population would be useful for the control of unwanted hypersensitive immune reactions such as various autoimmune diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.41.1-41.16
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• 2022

The human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 has chemotactic and modulatory activities in various immune cells, including dendritic cells. Because of its characteristics, LL-37 can be considered an adjuvant for vaccine development. In this study, we confirmed the possible adjuvant activity of LL-37 in mucosal vaccine development against Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) by means of intranasal immunization in C57BL/6 and human dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (hDPP4)-transgenic (hDPP4-Tg) mice. Intranasal immunization using the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of MERS-CoV spike protein (S-RBD) recombined with LL-37 (S-RBD-LL-37) induced an efficient mucosal IgA and systemic IgG response with virus-neutralizing activity, compared with S-RBD. Ag-specific CTL stimulation was also efficiently induced in the lungs of mice that had been intranasally immunized with S-RBD-LL-37, compared with S-RBD. Importantly, intranasal immunization of hDPP4-Tg mice with S-RBD-LL-37 led to reduced immune cell infiltration into the lungs after infection with MERS-CoV. Finally, intranasal immunization of hDPP4-Tg mice with S-RBD-LL-37 led to enhanced protective efficacy, with increased survival and reduced body weight loss after challenge infection with MERS-CoV. Collectively, these results suggest that S-RBD-LL-37 is an effective intranasal vaccine candidate molecule against MERS-CoV infection.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.44.1-44.15
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• 2021

Tumor peptides associated with MHC class I molecules or their synthetic variants have attracted great attention for their potential use as vaccines to induce tumor-specific CTLs. However, the outcome of clinical trials of peptide-based tumor vaccines has been disappointing. There are various reasons for this lack of success, such as difficulties in delivering the peptides specifically to professional Ag-presenting cells, short peptide half-life in vivo, and limited peptide immunogenicity. We report here a novel peptide vaccination strategy that efficiently induces peptide-specific CTLs. Nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated from a biodegradable polymer, poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid), attached to H-2K^b molecules, and then the natural peptide epitopes associated with the H-2K^b molecules were exchanged with a model tumor peptide, SIINFEKL (OVA_257-268). These NPs were efficiently phagocytosed by immature dendritic cells (DCs), inducing DC maturation and activation. In addition, the DCs that phagocytosed SIINFEKL-pulsed NPs potently activated SIINFEKL-H2K^b complex-specific CD8⁺ T cells via cross-presentation of SIINFEKL. In vivo studies showed that intravenous administration of SIINFEKL-pulsed NPs effectively generated SIINFEKL-specific CD8⁺ T cells in both normal and tumor-bearing mice. Furthermore, intravenous administration of SIINFEKL-pulsed NPs into EG7.OVA tumor-bearing mice almost completely inhibited the tumor growth. These results demonstrate that vaccination with polymeric NPs coated with tumor peptide-MHC-I complexes is a novel strategy for efficient induction of tumor-specific CTLs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.333-340
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• 2010

Wastewater treatment using algal communities and biodiesel production from wastewater-cultivated algal biomass is a promising green growth technology. In literature, there are many studies providing information on algal species producing high content of lipid. However, very little is known about adaptability and wastewater treatability of such high-lipid algal species. In this study, we attempted to characterize algal biomass production and wastewater treatability of high-lipid algal species under municipal wastewater condition. For this, four known high-lipid algal strains including Chlorella vulgaris AG 10032, Ankistrodesmus gracilis SAG 278-2, Scenedesmus quadricauda, and Botryococcus braunii UTEX 572 were individually inoculated into municipal wastewater where its indigenuous algal populations were removed prior to the inoculation, and the algae-inoculated wastewater was incubated in the presence of light source (80${\mu}E$) for 9 days in laboratory batch reactors. During the incubations, algal biomass production (dry weight) and the removals of dissolved organics (COD), nitrogen and phosphorous were measured in laboratory batch reactors. According to algal growth results, C. vulgaris, A. gracilis and S. quadricauda exhibited faster growth than indigenuous wastewater algal populations while B. braunii did not. The wastewater-growing strains exhibited efficient removals of total-N, ${NH_4}^+$-N, Total-P and ${PO_4}^{3-}$-P which satisfy the Korea water quality standards for effluent from municipal wastewater treatment plants. A. gracilis and S. quadricauda exhibited efficient and stable treatability of COD but C. vulgaris showed unstable treatability. Taken together with the results, A. gracilis and S. quadricauda were found to be suitable species for biomass production and wastewater treatment under municipal wastewater condition.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.623-633
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• 1995

The Beonam deposits which is located in south-western part of Sobaeksan massif are emplaced along $N20{\sim}30^{\circ}E$ trending fissures in Precambrian Sobaeksan gneiss complex. Surrounding granites are inferred to be differentiated and formed from calc-alkaline magma which was generated from remelting or partial melting of the crustral material having igneous composition. The Sr isotope data of ore minerals showing significantly low initial Sr value relative to those of surrounding granite batholiths suggest that the ore-bearing fluid formed the Beonam Au-Ag mine are isotopically distinct from those of the wall rocks, and it indicates that there is no evidence of genetic relationship between ore-bearing fluids and surrounding granites, although further study should be needed. The results of paragenetic studies suggest three stages of hydrothermal mineralization; stage I: base-metal sulfides stage, stage II: late base-metal sulfides, electrum and silver-bearing sulfosalts stage, stage III: minor silverbearing minerals, barren quartz and carbonates stage. The temperature, salinity and pressure of the Beonam deposits estimated from mineral assemblage, chemical composition, fluid inclusion and sulfur isotope geothermometry are as follows; stage I: $200{\sim}315^{\circ}C$, 3.5~6.5 NaCl eq. wt%, 0.28~0.61 Kbar, stage II: $150{\sim}235^{\circ}C$, 4.5~7.4 NaCl eq. wt%, 0.11~0.15 Kbar. The estimated oxygen and sulfur fugacity during first stage mineralization, based on phase relation of associated minerals, range from $10^{35.1}{\sim}10^{-39.7}$ atm. and $10^{-11.0}{\sim}10^{-13.4}$ atm., respectively. All these evidences suggest that the Beonam deposits are polymetallic meso-epithermal ore deposits.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1097-1102
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• 2008

Paraoxonase-1 (PON1), like lipoprotein lipase (LPL), plays a key role in the metabolism and physiology of mammalian growth. The objectives of this study were to estimate the allele and genotype frequencies at the PON1/EcoRV and PON1/AluI loci in three genetic groups of beef cattle and to determine associations between these polymorphisms and growth and carcass traits. Genotyping was performed on 30 Angus, 32 Hereford and 26 Simmental. The association analysis was carried out using the GLM procedure of SAS 9.1 and the least squares means of the genotypes were compared by the Tukey's test. Animals with AG genotype at the PON1/EcoRV locus had higher weight at the time of entry into the fattening corrals ($329.97{\pm}6.08kg$) and close to the time of slaughter ($577.56{\pm}8.32kg$) and net meat weight ($275.89{\pm}4.05kg$) and fitted tenderness ($3.10{\pm}0.19kg$) (p<0.05). Animals with AA genotype at the PON1/AluI locus had higher weight at the time of entry ($333.37{\pm}8.93kg$) and slaughter ($576.82{\pm}13.18kg$) and net meat weight ($275.49{\pm}6.43kg$) and average daily gain ($0.68{\pm}0.02kg/d$) (p<0.05). The meat color score was also significantly higher (p<0.05). Between genotypes and breeds, there were significant differences observed except for TBW, REMG, MBS, REA and MCS. As a metabolism gene, genotypes of the SNPs of PON1 gene might be reflecting BFT directly, such as $A_eA_eG_aG_a$ genotype in this experiment.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.32-41
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• 2012

Objectives: Rehmannia glutinosa pharmacopuncture solution (RGPS) was investigated to determine both its anti-allergic inflammatory effects on mast cells and its detailed mechanism of actions. Methods: We investigated whether RGPS suppress cytokines, enzymes, $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ expression and $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$-mediated signaling in RBL-2H3 cells stimulated with anti-DNP IgE/DNP-HSA. The suppressive effects of RGPS on the levels of cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and GM-CSF were measured using emzyme-linked immunospecific assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression levels of cytokines, enzymes (HDC2, COX-1, COX-2 and 5LO) and $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ ${\alpha}{\beta}{\gamma}$ subunits were measured using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. The activation of $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$-mediated signaling was examined using Western blot analyses. Results: RGPS suppressed production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and GM-CSF) in stimulated RBL-2H3 cells significantly (p < 0.05). RGPS also suppressed mRNA expression of inflammatory enzymes (HDC2, COX-1, COX-2, 5LO). In addition, mRNA expression levels of $Fc{\varepsilon}RI{\alpha}$, $Fc{\varepsilon}RI{\beta}$and $Fc{\varepsilon}RI{\gamma}$ were lowered by treatment with RGPS. Finally, RGPS prevented phosphrylation of Lyn, Syk, LAT, Gab2, PLC ${\gamma}1/2$, PI3K, Akt, cPLA2 and $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$. Conclusions: RGPS effectively suppresses mast cell activations such as degranulation and inflammatory response via down-regulation of the $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$-mediated signaling pathways in IgE/Ag-stimulated mast cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.957-964
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• 2008

Antioxidative, antidiabetes, antibacterial, anticancer and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities of methanol extracts of dried persimmon, fresh persimmon and persimmon leaves were investigated. Total polyphenol content of dried persimmon, fresh persimmon and persimmon leaves were 147.79, 301.45 and $315.90\;{\mu}g/mg$, respectively, of which fresh persimmon and persimmon leaves had significantly higher total polyphenol than dried persimmon. Activities of DPPH radical scavenging, lipid peroxidation inhibition and salivary $\alpha$-amylase inhibition were increased in persimmon leaves related to total polyphenol contents. Anticancer activities against AGS of fresh persimmon and persimmon leaves were $65{\sim}70%$; however, there were no significant differences between dried persimmon and fresh persimmon on free radical scavenging activity and inhibitory activity of salivary $\alpha$-amylase. Also, extracts of dried persimmon, fresh persimmon and persimmon leaves showed good ACE inhibitory activities. Dried persimmon and fresh persimmon showed antibacterial activities on E.coli O157:H7. Therefore, there are many difference activities by dried and parts of persimmon. From this result, it is suggested that persimmon leaves is believed to have possible antioxidative, antidiabetes and anticancer capacities by polyphenol, but further studies on the identification of the active compound(s) as antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypertensive and antibacterial materials will be needed to develop a better understanding of its potency on persimmons.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.548-556
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• 2015

The highly maneuverable fighter aircraft such as F-22, F-16 and F-15have the high maneuverability to maximize the combat performance, whereas the high maneuver characteristics might degrade the pilot's mission efficiency due to fatigue's increase by exposing him to the high gravity and, in the worst case, the pilot could face GLOC (Gravity-induced Loss Of Consciousness). The advanced aerospace company has applied the various technologies to improve the pilot's tolerance to the gravity acceleration, in order to prevent the pilot from entering the situation of the loss of consciousness. Especially, the Anti-G Suit(AGS) equipment to protect the pilot against the high gravity in flight could improve the mission success rate by decreasing the pilot's fatigue in the combat maneuver as well as prevent the pilot from facing GLOC. In this paper, a control algorithm is developed and verified to provide an optimal air pressure to AGS according to the gravity increase during the high performance maneuver. This result is expected, as the key technology, to contribute to the KF-X(Korean Fighter eXperimental), project in the near future.