• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.88-97
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• 2003

Background : Although smoking is a major cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), only 10-20% of cigarette smokers develop symptomatic COPD, which suggests the presence of genetic susceptibility. This genetic susceptibility to COPD might depend on variations in the activities of the enzyme that detoxify hazardous chemical products, such as microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEPHX) and glutathione-S transferase M1 subunit (GSTM1) genes. Methods : The genotypes of 58 patients with COPD, and 79 age matched control subjects, were determined by a polymerase chain reaction, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) for the mEPHX, and multiplex PCR for the GSTM1. Results : GSTM1 was deleted in 53.3% of the subjects. There was no difference in GSTM1 deletion rates between the COPD patients (32/58, 55.2%) and the control subjects (41/79, 51.9%). The combination patterns of two polymorphisms of mEPHX showed slow enzyme activity in 29(21.2%), normal in 73(53.3%) and fast in 32(23.4%). The COPD group (7/57, 12.3%) showed a significantly lower incidence of slow enzyme activity compared to the control subjects (22/77, 28.6%, p<0.05). However, when the COPD and control groups were compared with smokers only, there were no significant differences in the genotypes of GSTM1 and mEPHX. Conclusion : The genotypes of GSTM1 and mEPHX were not significant risk factors of COPD in this cohort of study.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.171-182
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• 2018

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is one of the crops widely planted in tropical and subtropical areas. The papaya fruit has low calories and are plentiful in vitamins A and C and in minerals. A major problem in papaya production is a plant disease caused by the papaya ringspot virus (PRSV). The first PRSV-resistant GM papaya expressing a PRSV coat protein gene was developed by USA scientists in 1992. The first commercial GM papaya cultivars derived from the event was approved by the US government in 1997. Development of transgenic papayas has been focused on vaccine production and limited agricultural traits, including insect and pathogen resistance, long shelf life, and aluminum and herbicide tolerance. Approximately 17 countries, including the USA and China, produced transgenic papayas and/or commercialized them, which provoked studies on biosafety assessment and development of GM-detection technologies. For the biosafety assessment of potential effects on human health, effects of long-term feeding to model animals have been studied in terms of toxicity and allergenicity. Studies on environmental safety assessment include influence on soil-microbial biodiversity and transfer to soil bacteria of GM selection markers. Many countries, such as Korea, the European Union, and Japan, that have strict regulations for GM crops have serious concerns about unintended introduction of GM cultivars and food commodities using unauthorized GM crops. Transgene- and/or GM event-specific molecular markers and technologies for genomics-based detection of unauthorized GM papaya have been developed and have resulted in the robust detection of GM papayas.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.6 no.1_2 s.7
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• pp.25-36
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• 1998

Organic geochemical analyses were carried out in order to characterize organic matter (OM) in the sediments recovered from Korea/japan Joint Development Zone (JDZ V-1, V-3, VII-1 and VII-2) which is located in the northern end of the East China Sea Shelf Basin. Late Miocene sediments from the JDZ V-1 and V-3 wells generally contain less than $0.5\%$ of total organic carbon (TOC). However, early Miocene and Oligocene sediments show TOC values of $0.6-0.8\%$. Middle to late Miocene sediments are rich in TOC up to $20\%$ from JDZ VII-1 and JDZ VII-2 wells. The reason for this rich TOC might be attributed to the presence of coaly shales. Kerogens in the Tertiary sediments from the JDZ series wells are mainly composed of terrestrially derived woody organic matter. Elemental analyses indicate that OM from these wells can be compared to type III. Low hydrocarbon potential and hydrogen index reflect the type of OM. According to the biomarker analyses, the input of the terrestrial OM is prevalent. Oxidizing condition is also indicated by Pristane/Phytane ratio. Samples from the JDZ V-1 and V-3 wells obtain maturities equivalent to the oil generation zone around total depth, and organic matter below 3600 m from JDZ VII-1 and VII-2 wells reached dry gas generation stage. Oligocene sediments below 3500 m in the JDZ VII-1 and JDZ VII-2 wells may have generated limited amount of hydrocarbons, showing a progressive decrease in hydrogen index with depth, due to thermal degradation with increased burial. Gas shows and finely disseminated gilsonite may indicate the generation and migration of the hydrocarbons.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.64-72
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• 2004

We measured the vertical profiles of $O_2$, H$_2$S, and pH in sediment pore water beneath marine cage fish farms using a microsensor with a 25 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ sensor tip size. The sediments are characterized by high organic material load. The oxygen consumption, hydrogen sulfide oxidation, and sulfate reduction rates in the microzonations (derived from the vertical distribution of chemical species concentration) were estimated by adapting a simple one-dimensional diffusion-reaction model. The oxygen penetration depth was 0.75 mm. The oxic microzonations were divided into upper and lower layers. Due to hydrogen sulfide oxidation within the oxic zone, the oxygen consumption rate was higher in the lower layer. The total oxygen consumption rate integrated with reaction zone depth was estimated to be 0.092 $\mu$mol $O_2$cm$^{-2}$ hr$^{-1}$ . The total hydrogen sulfide oxidation rate occurring within 0.7 mm thickness was estimated to be 0.030 $\mu$mo1 H$_2$S cm$^{-2}$ hr$^{-1}$ , and its turnover time in the oxic sediment layer was estimated to be about 2 minutes. This suggests that hydrogen sulfide was oxidized by both chemical and microbial processes in this zone. The molar consumption ratio, calculated to be 0.84, indicates that either other electron accepters exit on hydrogen sulfide oxidation, or elemental sulfur precipitation occurs near the $O_2$- H$_2$S interface. Total sulfate reduction flux was estimated to be 0.029 $\mu$mol cm$^{-2}$ hr$^{-1}$ , which accounted for more than 60% of total $O_2$ consumption flux. This result implied that the degradation of organic matter in the anoxic layer was larger than in the oxic layer.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Inherited Metabolic disease
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.96-102
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• 2017

Glycogen storage disease type IX (GSD IX) is caused by deficiency of phosphorylase kinase which plays a role in breakdown of glycogen. Mutations in PHKA2 are the most common cause of GSD IX (GSD IXa). Clinical manifestations of GSD IXa include hepatomegaly, elevation of liver enzyme, growth retardation, fasting hypoglycemia, and fasting ketosis. However, the symptoms overlap with those of other types of GSDs. Here, we report Korean familial cases with GSD IXa whose diagnosis was confirmed by targeted exome sequencing. A 4-year old male patient was presented with hepatomegaly and persistently elevated liver enzyme. Liver biopsy revealed swollen hepatocyte filled with glycogen storage, suggesting GSDs. Targeted exome sequencing was performed for the differential molecular diagnosis of various types of GSDs. A hemizygous mutation in PHKA2 were detected by targeted exome sequencing and confirmed by Sanger sequencing: c.3632C>T (p.Thr121Met), which was previously reported. The familial genetic analysis revealed that his mother was heterozygous carrier of c.3632C>T mutation and his 28-month old brother had hemizygous mutation. His brother also had hepatomegaly and elevated liver enzyme. The hypoglycemia was prevented by frequent meals with complex carbohydrate, as well as cornstarch supplements. Their growth and development is in normal range. We suggest that targeted exome sequencing could be a useful diagnostic tool for the genetically heterogeneous and clinically indistinguishable GSDs. A precise molecular diagnosis of GSD can provide appropriate therapy and genetic counseling for the family.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.4 s.109
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• pp.436-447
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• 2004

Wetland plants have evolved specialized adaptations to survive in the low-oxygen conditions associated with prolonged flooding. The development of internal gas space by means of aerenchyma is crucial for wetland plants to transport $O_2$ from the atmosphere into the roots and rhizome. The formation of tissue with high porosity depends on the species and environmental condition, which can control the depth of root penetration and the duration of root tolerance in the flooded sediments. The oxygen in the internal gas space of plants can be delivered from the atmosphere to the root and rhizome by both passive molecular diffusion and convective throughflow. The release of $O_2$ from the roots supplies oxygen demand for root respiration, microbial respiration, and chemical oxidation processes and stimulates aerobic decomposition of organic matter. Another essential mechanism of wetland plants is downward water movement across the root zone induced by water uptake. Natural and constructed wetlands sediments have low hydraulic conductivity due to the relatively fine particle sizes in the litter layer and, therefore, negligible water movement. Under such condition, the water uptake by wetland plants creates a water potential difference in the rhizosphere which acts as a driving force to draw water and dissolved solutes into the sediments. A large number of anatomical, morphological and physiological studies have been conducted to investigate the specialized adaptations of wetland plants that enable them to tolerate water saturated environment and to support their biochemical activities. Despite this, there is little knowledge regarding how the combined effects of wetland plants influence the biogeochemistry of wetland sediments. A further investigation of how the Presence of plants and their growth cycle affects the biogeochemistry of sediments will be of particular importance to understand the role of wetland in the ecological environment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1592-1599
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• 2008

The $\beta$-lactamase gene was cloned into E. coli DH5$\alpha$ from Bacillus sp. J105 with strong resistance against $\beta$-lactam antibiotics. The chromosomal DNA was partially digested with Sau3AI and ligated to BamHI digested pLAFR3. $\beta$-Lactamase positive clones were obtained by using in vitro packaging kit. The pKL11-${\Delta}4.6$ with $\beta$-lactamase activity was obtained by subcloning of the recombinant plasmid ($\beta$-lac +). The 6.5 kb fragment in the subcloned plasmid was sequenced. The DNA fragment that contains the $\beta$-lactamase gene encodes 309 amino acids. The 0.17 kb upstream region was similar to those of B. thuringinesis and B. cereus with 97% identity. The deduced amino acids sequence was also similar to those of $\beta$-lactamase from B. thuringinesis and B. cereus with 97% and 94% identity, respectively. The phylogenetic tree also showed the relationships of the $\beta$-lactamase gene of Bacillus sp. J105 to genetically related that of other Bacillus strains. Analysis of expression pattern of the pKL11-${\Delta}4.6$ in E. coli, revealed that the secretion efficiency of $\beta$-lactamase was $4{\sim}5%$ and the molecular weight was as same as that of original $\beta$-lactamase (31 kDa) from Bacillus sp. J105.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.928-934
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• 1996

Rice bran, treated with heat or ${\gamma}-radiation$, was stored at $-15^{\circ}C,\;4^{\circ}C,\;37^{\circ}C$ and room temperature to determine its lipid stability by monitoring the changes in moisture, free fatty acids (FFA) and peroxide value (POV). Initial moisture content of rice bran was 14% and decreased with time. The higher storage temperature, the more moisture loss. The moisture content became 9% after 80 days of storage at $37^{\circ}C$. The initial FFA of rice bran was 2.5% which increased with time except the samples stored at $-15^{\circ}C$. The higher storage temperature, the more FFA was produced, by 9 times the initial FAA after 80 days of storage at $37^{\circ}C$. POV increased about twice the initial value after 80 days of storage at $-15^{\circ}C,\;4^{\circ}C$, and room temperature, and 5 times at $37^{\circ}C$. Rice bran was treated with heat at $70^{\circ}C,\;90^{\circ}C\;or\;105^{\circ}C$ and stored for 2 weeks at $30^{\circ}C$: The higher the heat treatment temperature and the longer the heat treatment time, the more moisture was lost. The not show any significant changes. Irradiation at $1{\sim}30\;kGy$ and subsequent storage for 4 weeks at $5^{\circ}C\;or\;30^{\circ}C$ caused negligible changes in moisture content. The FFA contents of rice bran irradiated up to 10 kGy were almost similar to these of nonirradiated one when measured just after irradiation. The samples irradiated at 30 kGy were 1.5 times higher in the FFA contents than nonirradiated ones. But there was little influence of irradiation doses on the FFA contents during storage. Irradiation caused the increase in POV of rice bran. resulting in 4 times increase in case of 30 kGy irradiated sample. During the storage, however, the POV of irradiated rice bran decreased significantly.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.129-139
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• 2004

This study conducted to find out the best way to prolong green period of Zoysiagrass and Cool-season grass from 1999 to 2001 in Korea. Treatments were control, vinyl, black shade net, green shade net, black shade net+vinyl, green shade net+vinyl, vinyl+black shade net, and vinyl+green shade net for Zoysiagrass. For cool-season grass, treatments were control, non-punched vinyl and punched vinyl. Data on temperature, light intensity, humidity, leaf color and chlorophyll were collected. Plot size was 2 by 2 and the experiment was conducted using completely randomized design with three replication. Zoysiagrass Green period of Zoysiagrass depended on temperature and light intensity than humidity. Effective method of prolongation of green period in Zoysiagrass was to covered it with vinyl during early October to early November, and then using vinyl+black shade net from end of November. Cool-season grass Effective method of prolongation of green period in Cool-season grass was by covering it with vinyl during mid-November to mid-December, and then using vinyl+black shade net from end of December.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.117-135
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• 2016

The present study was performed to develop a functional raw food material from hydrolyzed whey protein powder (23%-GNANA) medication containing sialic acid as a marker compound that is naturally occurring at 7% concentration in GMP (glycomacropeptide). GMP is used worldwide in foodstuffs for babies and infants and is obtained from the milk protein as safe food. While the purpose of our detailed evaluation was aimed to assess preliminary NOAEL values for and above 2,000 mg/kg/day, a clinical dose allowance for 23%-GNANA (as per characteristic of a functional health product, a highly refined test substance of 23% (v/v) sialic acid combined in GMP), at the same time we also wanted to assess the safety of GMP hydrolyzate lacking sialic acid but with identical properties as GMP. Animal safety evaluation was conducted using 23%-GNANA as the test substance, produced from hydrolyzed whey protein powder (product name: HELICOBACTROL-23; provided by Medinutrol Inc. [Korea]; composed of 23% sialic acid and GMP protein) after isolating the sialic acid using enzymes approved as food additives, with GMP as a raw material, and subsequently increasing the content of xx up to 23% through 80% (v/v) ethanol soaking and concentrating, in accordance with GLP Guideline. The animal safety evaluation mentioned above was made on the basis of toxicity in SPF Sprague-Dawley female and male rats dosed with 10 mL of the test substance diluted to 0, 1,250, 2,500, and 5,000 mg/kg directly into their stomachs for 90 d. This was determined in terms of the general symptoms and animal viability, weight and amount of feed intake, eye examination, uracrasia tests, hematological and blood biochemical disorder tests, blood coagulation test, abnormal intestine weight, abnormalities during postmortem and histopathological examinations. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Based on the toxicity determination, a certain minor effect associated with the test substance was observed in male rats with no major effects of the tested substance, in comparison with the control group dosed with sterilized water. Nevertheless, the NOAEL value, evaluated as per toxicity criteria, was verified as 5,000 mg/kg/day (P<0.05). Similarly, for female rats, a certain minor effect associated with the test substance was observed in 5,000 mg/kg/day dosed group, with no major effect, yet the NOAEL value (as assessed as per toxicity criteria) was determined to be 5,000 mg/kg/day (P<0.05), which was the same as for male rats. Accordingly, the NOAEL values of the test substances for all female and male rats were finally verified as 5,000 mg/kg/day (P<0.05). In conclusion, it was determined that the 23%-GNANA test substance exceeds 2,000 mg/kg/day, the clinical allowance characteristic for functional health food, and was finally evaluated to cause no safety concerns when used as a raw material in functional health food production, which was the ultimate goal of the present study.