• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2017

This study investigated the effect of the dichloromethane fraction form Katsuwonus pelamis heart on anti-inflammatory responses in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and mouse models. Ethanol extract was partitioned with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water. Among the fractions, the dichloromethane fraction showed a significant decrease in nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, $IL-1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$] production compared to ethanol extract. The dichloromethane fraction attenuated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$) p65 proteins in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the expression of phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was also inhibited by the dichloromethane fraction. Moreover, the administration of 10, 50, and 250 mg/kg body weight-dose dependently inhibited the formation of edema by croton-oil and the application of dichloromethane (2 mg/ear) significantly reduced epidermal and dermal thickness and the infiltrated mast cell numbers. Therefore, the dichloromethane fraction exhibited an anti-inflammation effect by inhibiting $NF-{\kappa}B$ and MAPK signaling activation in macrophages.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.178-183
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• 2017

This study examined a new functional cosmetic material possessing application possibility of Sambucus sieboldiana var. pendula (Nakai) (SS) extract. For this, we analyzed the toxic effect of the SS extract on macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells) by performing MTT assay. Results of the MTT assay showed ${\geq}100%$ cell viability after treatment with $500{\mu}g/ml$ SS extract. To determine the anti-inflammatory activity of the SS extract, we examined its inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells by performing Griess assay. Result of the Griess assay showed that the SS extract inhibited LPS-induced NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. Next, we examined the effect of the SS extract on the production of proinflammatory factors inducible NOS (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. First, we determined the inhibitory effect of 50, 100, and $500{\mu}g/ml$ SS extract on iNOS and COX-2 protein expression by performing western blot analysis, with ${\beta}$-actin as a positive control. Results of western blotting showed that treatment with $500{\mu}g/ml$ SS extract decreased iNOS and COX-2 protein expression by 31.2% and 54.7%, respectively. Next, we determined the inhibitory effect of 50, 100, and $500{\mu}g/ml$ SS extract on iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression by performing reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with GAPDH as a positive control. Results of reverse transcription-PCR showed that treatment with $500{\mu}g/ml$ SS extract decreased the mRNA expression of iNOS and COX-2 by 72.2% and 89%, respectively. These results suggest that the SS extract is a highly valuable natural compound because of its functional components and anti-inflammatory activity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.789-797
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• 2008

This study was conducted to investigate removal characteristics of gaseous trimethylamine(TMA) through biofilter packed with waste tire-chips. The sludge in this experiment was collected from an activated sludge operated in a wastewater treatment facility treating malodorous pollutants. The nominal amount of collected sludge was inoculated through packing materials in the filter. The removal efficiencies for varying concentrations and SVs(Space velocity) were assessed based on TMA, COD$_{Cr}$, NO$_3{^-}$-N, NO$_2{^-}$-N, NH$_4{^+}$-N and EPS(Extracellular Polymeric Substances) in leachate, since biofilter had been steady-stately operated. The influent concentration of 10 ppm of TMA was removed to approximately 95% regardless of changing SV at 120 and 180 hr$^{-1}$, but it was lowered to 80 to 90% at SV 240 hr$^{-1}$. As influent concentration was gradually increased from 5 to 55 ppm, the removal efficiencies of TMA were initially high for 95% in the range of 5 to 10 ppm, but lowered to 80% for 10 to 30 ppm. As a part of kinetic study for TMA decomposition, V$_m$(maximum substrate removal rate) and $K_s$(substrate infinity coefficient) were 14.3 g$\cdot$m$^{-3}$$\cdot$h$^{-1}$ and 0.043 g$\cdot$m$^{-3}$, respectively while adapted period was shown in the range of 100 to 150 hr. Also, the EPS concentration was consistently observed from the leachate showing 100 to 200 ppm, which indicates that biofilm has been continuously formed and sustained throughout tire-chips packed reactor.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.10
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• pp.561-567
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• 2017

This study focused on estimating the low concentration of $NH_4{^+}-N$ removal by using simultaneous reaction of the adsorption and microbial nitrification with microbe-attached zeolite media. To evaluate the adsorption effect of the zeolite media, the expanded polypropylene (EPP) media which are not able to adsorb $NH_4{^+}-N$ were used as a control media in order to compare the adsorption ability. Each media was used to experiment after aerated 8 hr for attachment of the microbes. The batch experiment shows that nitrification occurred in zeolite media better than EPP media because nitrifiers could consume the relatively enough amount of $NH_4{^+}-N$ adsorbed onto the zeolite media. Compared to the reactor with EPP media, nitrification occurred only in the reactor with zeolite media under continuous operation at the empty bed contact time (EBCT) of 25 min and 3 mg/L of $NH_4{^+}-N$ concentration. As the EBCT of the reactor with zeolite media increased from 10 to 60 min, the nitrification efficiencies increased too. $NH_4{^+}-N$ removal efficiency showed up more than 90% at EBCT 60 min. And the difference in concentration of the total nitrogen between the influent and the effluent was 0.25 mg/L at EBCT 10 min, 0.78 mg/L at EBCT 25 min, 0.59 mg/L at EBCT 40 min and 0.37 mg/L at EBCT 60 min, respectively. This difference was due to between adsorption rate and nitrification rate of $NH_4{^+}-N$, and it was considered that $NH_4{^+}-N$ was adsorbed on the zeolite media by the gap of the concentration.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.463-470
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• 2016

The enzymatic degradation of xylans is the most versatile way to obtain the high value-added functional compounds or the fermentable sugars for renewable energy. The endo-${\beta}$-xylanases are the major enzymes which hydrolyze the internal ${\beta}$-1,4-linkages of xylan backbones to produce the mixtures of xylooligosaccharides including xylobiose and xylotriose. Among them, glucuronoxylanase GH30 can exclusively hydrolyze the internal ${\beta}$-1,4-linkages of xylans decorated with methylglucuronic acid branches. In the present study, two xylanolytic enzyme (PaXN_10 and PaGuXN_30) genes were cloned from Paenibacillus amylolyticus KCTC 3005, and expressed in Escherichia coli, respectively. PaXN_10 (38.7 kDa) belongs to the endo-${\beta}$-xylanases GH10 family, while PaGuXN_30 (58.5 kDa) is a member of glucuronoxylanase GH30. They share the same optimal reaction conditions at $50^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0. Enzymatic characterization proposed that P. amylolyticus can utilize the hardwood glucuronoarabinoxylans via the cooperative actions of xylanases GH10 and GH30. The extracellular PaGuXN_30 is secreted into the medium and hydrolyzes glucuronoarabinoxylans to release a series of aldouronic acid mixtures with a methylglucuronic acid branch. The resultant products being transported into the microbial cell are successively degraded into the smaller xylooligosaccharides by the intracellular PaXN_10, which will be utilized for the cellular metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 1999

This experiment was carried out to establish effective weed control system in the cultivation of Coix lachryma-jobi L. The effect of annual weeds artificially transplanted on the growth of Coix lachryma-jobi L. were that the higher the density of weeds, the lower the yield considerably by reducing number of grains and tillers per plant. Among four weeds of Echinochloa crusgalli galli P. BEAUV., Digitaria sanguinalis $S_{COPOL}$., Chenopodium album L., and Portulaca oleracea L., weed of Portulaca oleracea L. reduced adlay yield most by 182.6kg/10a and it was judged to be the most injurious weed to adlay production. Among four weed control systems, which are one herbicide treatment, one herbicide treatment + one cultivating work with cultivator, two times cultivating work with cultivator and two times hand-weeding, the control system of 'one herbicide treatment + one cultivating work with cultivator' showed the lowest amount of weed growth by 7.34 weeds per $m^2$ in comparison with control plot of 35.00 weeds per $m^2$. Among four weed control systems, the system of 'two times hand-weeding' had much more amount of light penetration in adlay canopy with 791.9 mol than any other systems.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.455-462
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• 2016

Pseudomonas aeruginosa P-5 is an unusual organism capable of synthesizing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) consisting of 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) and medium-chain-length (MCL) 3-hydroxyalkanoate (3HA) monomer units when C-odd alkanoic acids are fed as the sole carbon source. Evaluation of the substrate chain-length specificity of two P. aeruginosa P-5 PHA synthases ($PhaC1_{P-5}$ and $PhaC2_{P-5}$) by heterologous expression of $PhaC1_{P-5}$ and $PhaC2_{P-5}$ genes in Pseudomonas putida GPp104 revealed that $PhaC2_{P-5}$ incorporates both 3HV and MCL 3HAs into PHA, whereas $PhaC1_{P-5}$ favors only MCL 3HAs for polymerization. In order to obtain $PhaC2_{P-5}$ mutants with altered substrate specificity, site-specific mutagenesis for $PhaC2_{P-5}$ was conducted. Amino acid substitutions of $PhaC2_{P-5}$ at two positions (Ser326Thr and Gln482Lys) were very effective for synthesizing copolymers with a higher 3HV fraction. When recombinant P. putida GPp104 harboring double mutated $phaC2_{P-5}$ gene ($phaC2_{P-5}QKST$) was grown on nonanoic acid, 2.5-fold increase of copolymer content with 3.8-fold increase of 3HV fraction was observed. The $phaC2_{P-5}QKST$-containing Ralstonia eutropha PHB-4 supplemented with valeric acid also produced copolymers consisting of 3HV and 3-hydroxyheptanoate with a high 3HV fraction. These results suggest that recombinants containing $phaC2_{P-5}QKST$ could be useful for production of new PHA copolymers with improved material properties.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.376-383
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• 2003

To utilize composts more efficiently, combining composts with fertilizer to meet crop requirements is an appealing alternative. A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of application rate of composted pig manure blended with fertilizer on the availability and loss of fertilizer-N. Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. cv. Samjin) plants were cultivated for 30 and 60 days. 15N-Labeled urea ($5.24\;^{15}N\;atom\;%$) was added to soil at $450mg\;N\;kg^{-1}$, and unlabeled compost ($0.37\;^{15}N\;atom\;%$) was added at 0, 200, 400, and $600mg\;N\;kg^{-1}$. The amount of plant-N derived from urea was not affected by compost application at rate of $200mg\;N\;kg^{-1}$. However, compost application at 400 and $600mg\;N\;kg^{-1}$ significantly (P<0.05) increased plant assimilation of N from urea irrespective of sampling time, probably because of physicochemical changes in the soil properties allowing urea-N to be assimilated more efficiently. The amount of immobilized urea-N increased with increasing rate of compost application at both growth periods, as the results of increased microbial activities using organic C in the compost. Total recovery of urea-N (as percentage of added N) by Chinese cabbage and soil also increased with increasing rate of compost from 71.5 to 95.6% and from 67.0 to 88.2% at the 30- and 60-days of growth, respectively. These results suggest that increasing rate of compost blending increases plant uptake of fertilizer-N and enhances immobilization of fertilizer-N, which leads to decrease in loss of fertilizer-N. However, information about the fate of immobilized N during future crop cultivation is necessary to verify long-term effect of compost blending.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.169-182
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• 2014

This study investigates the physicochemical quality characteristics of tomato sauce added with different kinds of pimpinella brachycarpa. The results are as follows. The pH of tomato sauce added with freeze-dried pimpinella brachycarpa, in contrast to the tomato sauce with raw pimpinella brachycarpa, decreased as the addition quantity of the sample increased. As for sugar content, PBP0 with Pimpinella brachycarpa contained was shown to be the highest with 10.83. For chromaticity, all values (e.g, L, A and B) of tomato sauce added with pimpinella brachycarpa and with freeze-dried pimpinella brachycarpa decreased showing significant differences among the samples as the addition quantity of the samples increased. With increased addition quantity of the sample with freeze-dried Pimpinella brachycarpa, its water content decreased. PBP4, addition group with 4% of freeze-dried Pimpinella brachycarpa, was shown to be the highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity as 29.58. When adding Pimpinella brachycarpa to tomato sauce, a total number of micro-organisms decreased. In case of adding raw Pimpinella brachycarpa rather than freeze-dried Pimpinella brachycarpa, it created a further effect on an inhibitive action of growing and developing micro-organisms. In the preference of tomato sauce with Pimpinella brachycarpa, PBF2 with 2% of Pimpinella brachycarpa had the highest score as 5.1 for the color. For taste, 3.7, the lowest taste score, was shown in PBF1with 1% of Pimpinella brachycarpa. The overall preference revealed that PBF2 was the highest scoring 5.8.. PBF3 was scored highest with 5.9 for overall preference. From the comprehensive findings, 2~3% of the addition ratio between raw Pimpinella brachycarpa and freeze-dried Pimpinella brachycarpa in the production of tomato sauce is considered the most preferable.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.1158-1167
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• 2012

During the peeling, cutting, and shredding of wild root vegetables, the surface is exposed to air. This results in a rapid deterioration in quality and an increase in the potential of contamination by microorganisms, both of which reduce the shelf-life of wild root vegetables in retail markets. Thus, in this study, the effects of various washing treatments on the quality of wild root vegetables, including lotus root, burdock root, and bellflower root, were investigated at 10 and $24^{\circ}C$. Lotus root, burdock root and bellflower root were washed with 0.2% acetic acid (AA), 0.2% citric acid (CA), 500 ppm acidified sodium chlorite (ASC), and tap water (TW), which was used as a control, and stored at $10^{\circ}C$ and $24^{\circ}C$. The changes in total plate counts, coliform groups, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, color, pH, and exterior appearance of the samples were then evaluated. The pH and initial microbial contamination levels were reduced when the root vegetables were washed with AA, CA, and ASC. In particular, initial population levels of total plate counts and coliform groups were not detected in lotus root and burdock root that had been washed with ASC and their growth was significantly (p<0.05) inhibited during storage at 10 and $24^{\circ}C$ when compared to the control (TW). In addition, the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities of the root vegetables washed with AA, CA and ASC were lower than that of root vegetables washed with TW. ASC was determined to be the most effective treatment for preventing microbial growth, tissue softening, and the development of browning and an unpleasant smell. At $10^{\circ}C$, the overall qualities of the wild root vegetables were maintained longer when compared to $24^{\circ}C$.