• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.198-203
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• 2016

This study aimed to isolate a novel agarase-producing marine bacterium and characterize its agarase, as agarases are known to produce biofunctional agarooligosaccharides or neo-agarooligosaccharides. A novel agar-degrading bacterium, SH-2, was isolated from the seawater of Namhae in Gyeongnam Province, Korea, and cultured in Marine agar 2216 medium. The 16S rRNA gene sequence represented 99% identity with that of the members of the Marinomonas genus; hence, the isolated bacterium was named Marinomonas sp. SH-2. The crude agarase was prepared from a culture medium of Marinomonas. sp SH-2, and exhibited maximum agarase activity at 170.2 units/l. The optimum conditions were pH 6.0 and 30℃ in 20 mM Tris-HCl buffer. The agarase activity of the bacterium was highly elevated from 20℃(42% relative activity) to 30℃(100%), and 82% activity was shown at 40℃. Its relative activities were less than 40% at over 40℃ after a 0.5 hr exposure. Relative activity was 100% at pH 6.0, while it was 72% and 48% at pH 5.0 and pH 7.0, respectively. The enzyme from Marinomonas sp. SH-2 degraded agarose to neoagarohexaose and neoagarotetraose, indicating that the enzyme is β-agarase. Thus, Marinomonas sp. SH-2 and its enzyme could be practical for applications in food, cosmetic, and medical research.

• The Korean Journal of Blood Transfusion
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.152-161
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• 2012

Background: Since Jan. 2012, for performance evaluation of viral reagents, analysis of domestic samples has been recommended in order to obtain approval from the KFDA when they are first introduced to Korea. This regulation requires the standard domestic materials driven from locally infected samples. We tried manufacturing the plasma working standards of HBV, HCV, and HIV NAT using a mixed titer of viral loads. Methods: Forty three HBV DNA positive plasmas, 25 HCV RNA positive plasmas, and 26 HIV RNA positive plasmas were evaluated according to viral load and genotype. Several plasma units, which had high-titer viral loads and the common viral genotypes in Korea, were selected as the source materials for each viral standard. To adjust the appropriate concentration based on the detectable range of variable viral reagents, the source plasma was diluted to several concentrations, divided into small vials, and analyzed for quantification. Results: The 13 plasma working standards, which had variable viral loads for the mixed titer performance panel of HIV, HCV, and HBV NAT, were produced. Conclusion: These national standard materials were first produced in order to supply the mixed titer performance panel for the viral NAT reagent of the level IV transfusion related high-risk group in Korea.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.176-183
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• 2021

In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity of an extract of the fruiting body of the Tuber himalayense (TH) truffle collected from oak growing areas in Korea was investigated. The extract was not cytotoxic at concentrations below 100 ㎍/mL in an experiment evaluating inflammation inhibitory effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) production was inhibited by the extract in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blot assay results indicated that the anti-inflammatory activity of TH extract was likely caused by the reduced production of NO and PGE₂ via suppression of induced NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression. In addition, TH extract effectively inhibited the production of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 by macrophages. Thus, TH extract effectively inhibits the overexpression of various inflammatory mediators and could be valuable in formulating anti-inflammatory foods and medicines that target these components.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.411-419
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated in vitro immune-enhancing and anti-obesity activity of Abelmoschus manihot roots (AMR) in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells and mouse adipocytes 3T3-L1 cells. AMR increased the production of immunostimulatory factors such as nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in RAW264.7 cells. The inhibition of toll like receptor (TLR) 2 and 4 blocked AMR-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, the inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathway reduced AMR-mediated production of immunostimulatory factors. From these results, AMR is considered to have immune-enhancing activity through TLR2/4-mediated activation of MAPKs signaling pathway. In addition, AMR inhibited lipid accumulation and reduced the protein level such as CCAAT enhancer-binding protein alpha (CEBPα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), perilipin-1, adiponectin and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) associated with lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells, indicating that AMR may have anti-obesity activity. Based on these results, AMR is expected to be used as a potential functional agent for immune enhancement and anti-obesity.

• Asia-pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.701-709
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• 2019

Recently, heart rate signal, which is one of biological signals, have been used in various fields related to healthcare. Conventionally, most of the proposed heart rate signal detection methods are contact type methods, but there is a problem of discomfort that the subject have to contact with the device. In order to solve the problem, detection study by non-contact method has been progressed recently. The detected heart rate signal can be used for finger vein liveness detection and various application using heart rate. In this paper, we propose a method to obtain heart rate signal by using finger vein imaging system. The proposed method detected the signal from the changes of the brightness value in the time domain of the infrared finger vein images and converted it into the frequency domain using the image processing algorithm. After the conversion, we removed the noise not related to the heart rate signal through band-pass filtering. In order to evaluate the accuracy of the signal, we analyzed the correlation with the signal obtained simultaneously with the finger vein acquisition device and contact type PPG sensor approved by KFDA. As a result, it was possible to confirm that the heart rate signal detected in non-contact method through the finger vein image coincides with the waveform of actual heart rate signal.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.778-783
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• 2022

This study isolated a new agarase-producing bacterium and characterized its agarase. A new agar-degrading strain was isolated from the seashore of Namhae in Gyeongnam province, Korea, and was purely cultured using the Marine Agar 2216 media. The isolated bacterium was identified as Simiduia sp. SH-2 after 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The crude agarase was obtained from the culture medium of the Simiduia sp. SH-2 strain, and the agar-degrading activity was measured. The highest level of activity of the Simiduia sp. SH-2-derived agar-degrading enzyme was 625 U/l. Agar degradation activity was most significant at 40℃ and pH 7.0. Compared to the activity at 40℃, the relative activity was 31% at 20℃ and 71% at 30℃. Compared to the activity at pH 7.0, the relative activity was 94% and 89% at pH 6.0 and pH 8.0, respectively. Residual activity was greater than 96% after exposure to 20℃ and 30℃ for 2 hr and more than 49% after exposure to 40℃ for 2 hr. Simiduia sp. SH-2 was identified as a strain producing β-agarase that creates neoagarooligosaccharides, such as neoagarotetraose and neoagarohexaose. Therefore, the Simiduia sp. SH-2 strain and its β-agarase are expected to be useful functional material producers in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.333-345
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• 2021

Amid the rapidly changing logistics environment and demand changes in the post-corona-19 era, the importance of the cold chain logistics sector is being highlighted. The scope of cold chain is not limited to food, but is expanding to various fields such as pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and flowers. The demand on the storage and transportation of corona vaccines is rapidly increasing. The rapid increase in domestic low-temperature facility construction and renovation may lead to the saturation of the cold chain related industry in the future and slow growth. In preparation for this, it is necessary to accumulate infrastructure know-how using IT technologies, and to consider entering into the UN procurement market as a potential niche market, by taking advantage of Korea's recent global status. The demand for cold chain in the UN procurement market is increasing mainly in underdeveloped countries, and it is expected to continue to grow. In this paper, the capabilities of domestic cold chain related companies were analyzed, domestic and overseas cold chain logistics market trends and overseas market entry status were investigated. An in-depth survey was conducted to present strategies for domestic cold chain logistics related companies to enter the UN procurement market.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.348-356
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• 2022

With the development of the bio industry, membrane chromatography with a high adsorption efficiency is emerging to replace the existing column chromatography used in the downstream processes of pharmaceuticals, food, etc. In this study, through the deacetylation reaction of two commercial cellulose acetate (CA) membranes with different pore sizes, the porous regenerated cellulose (RC) supports for membrane chromatography were obtained to attach the anion exchange ligands. The adsorptive membranes for anion exchange were prepared by attaching an anion exchange ligand ([3-(methacryloylamino) propyl] trimethylammonium chloride) containing quaternary ammonium groups on the RC supports by grafting and UV polymerization. The protein adsorption capacities of the prepared membranes were obtained through both the static binding capacity (SBC) and the dynamic adsorption capacity (DBC) measurement. As a result, the membrane chromatography with the smaller the pore size, the larger the surface area showed the highest protein adsorption capacity. Membrane chromatography which was prepared by using deacetylated commercial CA support with MAPTAC ligand (i.e., RC 0.8 + MAPTAC: 43.69 mg/ml, RC 3.0 + MAPTAC: 36.33 mg/ml) showed a higher adsorption capacity compared to commercial membrane chromatography (28.38 mg/ml).

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2024

In this study, we investigated the antioxidant effects and active ingredients of Gynura Procumbens extracts obtained through various extraction methods for the development of natural-based cosmetics and pharmaceutical materials. The contents of compounds, total flavonoids, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid were compared at different concentrations, revealing the highest content of active ingredients in the 100% ethanol extract. Antioxidant activity assessed by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays showed a concentration-dependent increase in antioxidant activity with the ethanol concentration. Additionally, we validated the DNA damage inhibition and anti-inflammatory effects of Gynura Procumbens extracts through UVB irradiation on Hs68 cell models. The 100% ethanol extract demonstrated significant inhibition of the expression of p-p53, γ-H2AX, iNOS, and COX-2 induced by UVB, indicating its potential in alleviating photodamage effects. Consequently, the efficient extraction of Gynura Procumbens for skin functional material development was confirmed, suggesting the suitability of ethanol or alcohol-based solvents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.179-190
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• 2024

Cannabis sativa is a plant widely cultivated worldwide and has been used as a material for food, medicine, building materials and cosmetics. In this study, we assessed the functional effects of C. sativa stem and root extracts using network pharmacology and confirmed their novel functions. The components in stem and root ethanol extracts were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, and networks between the components and proteins were constructed using the STICHI database. Functional annotation of the proteins was performed using the KEGG pathway. The effects of the extracts were confirmed in lysophosphatidylcholine-induced THP-1 cells using real-time PCR. A total of 21 and 32 components were identified in stem and root extracts, respectively, and 147 and 184 proteins were linked to stem and root components, respectively. KEGG pathway analysis showed that 69 pathways, including the MAPK signaling pathway, were commonly affected by the extracts. Further investigation using pathway networks revealed that terpenoid backbone biosynthesis was likely affected by the extracts, and the expression of the MVK and MVD genes, key proteins in terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, was decreased in LPC-induced THP-1 cells. Therefore, this study determined the diverse function of C. sativa extracts, providing information for predicting and researching the effects of C. sativa.