• ALGAE
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.287-295
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• 2007

Infection of free-living dinoflagellates by endoparasitic dinoflagellates of the genus Amoebophrya are thought to have significant impacts on host population dynamics and have long been proposed to be a potential biological agent for controlling harmful algal bloom (HAB). To understand the impact of Amoebophrya on particular host species, however, it is necessary to quantify aspects the parasites life cycle. Here we used cultures of Amoebophryahost systems from Jinhae Bay, Korea to determine, parasite generation time, and dinospore survival and infectivity. The proportion of host cells infected by Amoebophrya sp. changed sharply from 5% to 87% with increasing dinospore:host inoculation ratios. In the absence of H. triquetra, most free-living dinospores died within 72 hours and their ability to infect host cells decreased remarkably in a day. The relatively short free-living phase of Amoebophrya suggests that the spread of infections is most likely to occur during seasons of high host abundance, as that is when dinospores have the greatest chance of encountering host cells. Infection of host cells inoculated with dinospores during the day was higher than when inoculated during the night, suggesting that infection rates might be related to environmental light conditions and/or diurnal biological rhythm of host species. Total generation times of parasite strains from a thecate dinoflagellate Heterocapsa triquetra were nearly the same regardless of dinospore:host inoculation ratios, representing 54 ± 0.5 h in a 1:1 ratio and 55 ± 1.2 h in a 20:1 ratio. Dinospore production of Amoebophrya sp. infecting Heterocapsa triquetra was estimated to be 125 dinospores per a strain of Amoebophrya sp. There is a growing need to maintain a variety of host-parasite systems in culture and to examine their autecology under various environmental conditions. Such studies would be very helpful in understanding ecological role of these parasites, their overlooked importance in the flow of material and energy in marine ecosystem, and their practical use as biological control agents applied directly to areas affected by HAB.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.385-392
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have reported an association of the angiotensin II type 2 receptor (AT2R) 3123Cytosine/Adenine (3123C/A) polymorphism with essential hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism affects blood pressure for free-living hypertensive men during a 5-month intervention period. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects were free-living hypertensive Japanese men aged 40 to 75 years who agreed to intervention in the period from 2004 to 2011. Detection of the AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction. The dietary intervention was designed to decrease salt level and to increase potassium level through cooking instructions and self-monitoring of the diet. The exercise session consisted of activities such as stretching, resistance training, and walking. Blood pressure, urinary sodium and potassium excretion, dietary and lifestyle data, and non-fasting venous blood sample were collected at baseline and after the intervention period. RESULTS: Thirty nine subjects were eligible for participation and the follow-up rate was 97.4%. The C allele proportion was 57.9%. AT2R 3123C/A polymorphism was X-chromosome-linked, therefore we analyzed the C and A genotypes. At baseline, no significant differences were observed between the genotype groups. After the intervention, there were no significant differences in lifestyle habit between the groups. Nevertheless, the estimated salt excretion (g/day) was significantly decreased only in the C genotype (13.0-10.3, P = 0.031). No significant change was observed in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mmHg) in the A genotype, but a significant decrease was observed in the C genotype (150.0-141.5, P = 0.024). CONCLUSTIONS: In the C genotype, it might be easy to improve SBP through lifestyle intervention in free-living hypertensive Japanese men, however generalization could not be achieved by the small sample size.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제62권2호
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• pp.180-192
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• 2024

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are found in diverse environments, such as soils, rivers, and seas. Hence, they can be used as bioindicators to assess the water quality based solely on their presence. In this study, we determined the presence of FLA in river water by filtering water samples collected from various sites and culturing the resulting filtrates. FLA were detected in all the water samples with varying quality grades (Grades I-V). The significant increase in the size of the amoebae population with the deterioration in the water quality. Monoxenic cultures of the amoebae were performed, and genomic DNAs were isolated, among which 18S rDNAs were sequenced to identify the amoeba species. Of the 12 species identified, 10 belonged to the Acanthamoeba genus; of the remaining 2 species, one was identified as Vannella croatica and the other as a species of Vermamoeba. Acanthamoeba was detected in samples with Grades I to VI quality, whereas the Vermamoeba species was present only in Grade I water. V. croatica was found exclusively in water with Grade II quality. Following morphological observations, genomic DNA was sequenced using 16S rDNA to determine whether the species of Acanthamoeba harbored endosymbionts. Most of the isolated Acanthamoeba contained endosymbionts, among which 4 species of endogenous bacteria were identified and examined using transmission electron microscopy. This study provides evidence that the distribution of amoebae other than Acanthamoeba may be associated with water quality. However, further confirmation will be required based on accurate water quality ratings and assessments using a more diverse range of FLA.

• 한국지역사회생활과학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.571-579
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• 2010

Jeupjang has long been considered only a local delicacy. So, it has gradually been forgotten because its name and definition have not been established. This study was performed in order to provide some basic data by comparing the general components, color, free amino acids, free sugar, organic acids and antioxidant activities between commercial Jeupjang(GG, GD, JM, NJ, NS). Moisture contents, crude protein, crude fat and crude ash contents of Jeupjang were 48.07~61.77%, 4.08~10.53%, 3.92~4.64%, and 3.63~9.95%. pH, titrable acidity and salt in Jeupjang were 4.32~5.50, 9.37~14.82 mL(1N-NaOHmL), and 3.27~8.90%. Amino-type nitrogen content is 42.05~ 138.83mg%. Lightness(L), redness(a) and yellowness(b) values in color of Jeupjang were10.04~21.89, 18.92~28.80, and 17.16~37.56. The total content of free amino acids in commercial Jeupjang ranged from 35.22mg% to 306.02mg% in which it showed wide variation among samples. The major free amino acids were glutamic acid, aspartic acid, alanine and proline. The major free sugars were fructose(0.31~1.60%), glucose(6.20~ 13.61%) and maltose(7.34~10.01%). The major organic acids were succinic acid(29.08~ 103.62 mg%) and citric acid(3.08~108.69 mg%). Total polyphenol contents were from 1.16 mg/g to 1.78 mg/g, DPPH radical scavenging activity is from 0.57 AEAC to 1.53 AEAC and ABTS radical scavenging activity is from 1.58 AEAC to 2.85 AEAC. This result might cause the differences of soybean composition, processing methods and brewing periods. For the succession of traditional fermented food such as Jeupjang, quality standards are required. To this end, the standardization of manufacturing processes must be followed.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.227-231
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• 1993

The role of ascorbate as an antioxidant in the prevention and cure of disease that result from free radicals has been of considerable interest and controversy lately. As an antioxidant, we can expect it to protect against radiation damage caused by free radicals that are produced when radiation, especially sparsely ionizing radiation, interacts with living tissues. The plasma and whole blood concentration of ascorbate was analyzed before and just after the radiation therapy for the purpose of estimating the consumption amount of ascorbate during radiotherapy. Whole blood ascorbate was decreased from 1.82 mg/dl to 1.58 mg/dl, plasma ascorbate was decreased from 1.13 mg/dl to 1.08 mg/dl, and urine ascorbate was decreased from 9.33 mg/dl to 6.96 mg/dl after radiotherapy. Although the difference was not significant statistically, further human study should be followed to define the role of ascorbate as a radioprotector.

• 청정기술
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.231-237
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• 2011

이광자 현미경(two-photon microscopy)은 다양한 생명현상을 살아있는 조직의 깊은 곳에서 관찰할 수 있다는 장점 때문에 차세대 영상기술로 발전하고 있다. 이에 따라 다양한 목적에 사용할 수 있는 이광자 센서의 개발이 활발하게 진행 중이다. 이 총설에서는 금속이온 이광자 센서에 관한 최근의 연구 결과를 소개하고자 한다.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.303-309
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• 1985

Continuous production of hydrogen by Ca alginate-immobilized photosynthetic bacteria was studied in a packed-bed bioreactor. The dilution rate and input concentration of carbonaces substrate were selected as operating parameters. To choose the strain for immobilization, hydrogen productivities of Rhodopseudomonas caposulata 10006 and Rhodospirillum rubrum KS-301 were compared through preliminary batch cultures of their free cells: the former was found to show better hydrogen productivity in spite of its lower specific growth rate. For the continuous production of hydrogen by immobilized R capsulata, the optimum dilution rate was about 0.84 h$^{-1}$ . The Immobilized tells gave better hydrogen yield and conversion efficiency than free ones. And a kinetic parameter K'$_{m}$ was determined for the packed-bed bioreactor, being practically constant for a specific range of dilution rates.s.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.221-234
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• 2014

Mitochondria dysfunction was first described in the 1960s. However, the extent and mechanisms of mitochondria dysfunction's role in cellular physiology and pathology has only recently begun to be appreciated. To adequately evaluate mitochondria-mediated toxicity, it is not only necessary to understand mitochondria biology, but discerning mitochondrial redox biology is also essential. The latter is intricately tied to mitochondrial bioenergetics. Mitochondrial free radicals, antioxidants, and antioxidant enzymes are players in mitochondrial redox biology. This review will provide an across-the-board, albeit not in-depth, overview of mitochondria biology and mitochondrial redox biology. With accumulating knowledge on mitochondria biology and mitochondrial redox biology, we may devise experimental methods with adequate sensitivity and specificity to evaluate mitochondrial toxicity, especially in vivo in living organisms, in the near future.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.357-360
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• 2004

For determining the process of bacterial aggregation, glucose was added into water from Lake Baikal which had been stored for seven months. In the presence of a higher concentration of glucose, the abun­dance of single bacteria and aggregates were higher, but the biovolumes of both bacteria were similar. Theses results mean that both free-living and aggregated bacteria have similar maximum sizes and that aggregates are forming with available organic materials. With available organic materials, the biovol­ume of aggregates becomes larger.

• Journal of Species Research
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.539-540
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• 2016

Microturbellarians, small free-living Platyhelminthes are rich in freshwater environments. They are useful as indicator of water quality. There has never been a record of microturbellarians in Korea. Here I report a microturbellarian species, Catenula confusa Nuttycombe, 1956. Although specimens in this study show some differences with those of the original description of C. confusa in length and width of zooid, they conform to the specific diagnosis of this species.