• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.180-186
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• 2012

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative bacterium, is an ubiquitous and opportunistic human pathogen, which expresses many virulence factors through quorum sensing (QS) regulation. QscR, one of the QS signal receptors of P. aeruginosa, has unique features that make it possible to distinguish QscR from other QS receptors. In the present study, we focused on amino acid residues responsible for such a broad signal specificity of QscR. Thus we constructed mutant QscRs: $QscR_{T72I}$, $QscR_{R132M}$, and $QscR_{T140I}$ by substituting $72^{nd}$ threonine, $132^{nd}$ arginine, and $140^{th}$ threonine residues with isoleucine, methionine, and isoleucine, respectively by site-directed mutagenesis. When we examined the activity of these mutant QscRs, $QscR_{R132M}$ failed to respond to N-3-oxododecanoyl homoserine lactone (3OC12-HSL), but $QscR_{T72I}$ and $QscR_{T140I}$ remained the ability to respond to 3OC12-HSL despite much reduction of the sensitivity. When we treated a variety of acyl-HSLs with different structure, $QscR_{T72I}$ and $QscR_{T140I}$ showed better responsiveness to N-decanoyl HSL (C10-HSL) or N-dodecanoyl HSL (C12-HSL) that has no oxo-moiety at $3^{rd}$ carbon of acyl group than to 3OC12-HSL, and $QscR_{R132M}$ showed no responsiveness to any acyl-HSLs tested here. In addition, $QscR_{T72I}$ and $QscR_{T140I}$ were inhibited by 5f, a QscR inhibitor as similarly as wild type QscR was. These results suggest that while the $130^{th}$ arginine is crucial in both activity and acyl-HSL binding of QscR, the $72^{nd}$ and $140^{th}$ threonines are important in the activity, but they are little responsible for the discrimination of acyl-HSLs or competitive inhibitor.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.258-263
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• 2016

The risks of sanitary indicative bacteria, heavy metals and chlorinated derivatives in 94 cases of sanitary wet towels used in food services (39 from sanitary wet towel treatment business, 55 from food services) were assessed in the present study. Lead was detected in the range of N.D.~0.41 mg/kg (75 cases were not detected), N.D.~0.25 mg/kg of arsenic (93 cases were not detected), N.D.~0.01 mg/kg of cadmium (7 cases were lower than limit of quantitation; 87 cases were not detected), 0.003 mg/kg ~ 0.09 mg/kg of mercury. And chromium (VI) was not detected from all samples. The level of lead was the highest among the tested heavy metals, and the highest concentration of lead was 0.41 mg/kg. However, it was only 2.1% of legal limit (less than 20 mg/kg). The average moisture content of the samples was 61.9% (50.0% ~ 77.0%) and it showed no relevance to the detection of bacterial counts. Escherichia coli was not detected. Bacterial counts were detected 43 cases and among them, 24 cases were exceeded the legal limit. It was verified that the packaging conditions of sanitary wet towel (whether it is packed by a piece or not and sealed or not) are critical factors to cause the germ contamination and cross contamination in the wet towels. The chlorinated derivatives (chlorites and chlorates) were detected in 17 (19.3%) out of 88 cases. The results would be used as preliminary information to establish the programs of "Safety education for manufacturers and public policy of safety".

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.517-523
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• 2018

Elevated levels of cortisol caused by chronic stress may lead to neuron damage in the hippocampus by activating the glucocorticoid receptors (GRs). In cortisol-deficient animals, corticosterone is known to function as a stress hormone. In humans however, corticosterone is considered a precursor of aldosterone and a glucocorticoid with similar properties to cortisol. Recently, many studies have been conducted on the role of cortisol and other synthetic glucocorticoids like dexamethasone in humans, but the exact function of corticosterone is unknown. This study examined the viability of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells treated with various concentrations of corticosterone for 24 and 48 hr via MTT assay. The MTT-assay results showed that corticosterone had an antiproliferation effect on SH-SY5Y cells at higher concentrations (500 and $1,000{\mu}M$), while in lower concentrations ($100{\mu}M$), it showed no antiproliferation effect. Cytotoxicity analysis of extracts from three medicinal crops (Liriope muscari, Schisandra chinensis, and Wolfiporia extensa) revealed that they all possessed deleterious effects on SH-SY5Y cells depending on dosage. However, it was observed that, at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/ml$, Liriope muscari attenuated the corticosterone-induced antiproliferation on SY-SH5Y cells and restored cell growth after 48 hours of treatment. The study examined the synergistic effect of six mixtures each containing $500{\mu}g/ml$ of Liriope and various concentrations of Schisandra (50 or $100{\mu}g/ml$) and Wolfiporia (10, 30, and $50{\mu}g/ml$). The results showed minor growth-restoration activity but less than that of Liriope muscari only, suggesting that Schisandra and Wolfiporia had no additive or synergistic effects.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.383-390
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• 1984

The present paper was carried out to elucidate the effect of salt-treatment and the addition of some food additives on the histamine formation and histidine decarboxylase activity in mackerel muscle during storage under different conditions. The histamine formation was inhibited by salting and histamine was hardly formed regardless of the brine concentraction during storage at $5^{\circ}C$. While, during storage at $25^{\circ}C$, the inhibitory effect upon the histamine formation and histidine decarboxylase activity was in proportion to the increase of the brine concentration. The addition of accidulants such as citric acid, malic acid and succinic acid inhibited the histamine formation and histidine decarboxylase activity. Especially, the histamine contents in the muscle added $10\%$ of citric acid and malic acid was below the critical concentration of poisoning for histamine during storage at $25^{\circ}C$ for 10 days. The histamine formation and histidine decarboxylase activity were inhibited by the $10\%$ addition of D-sorbitol, while there was no significant effect in the case of $5\%$ addition. Generally, the histamine content was increased with histidine decarboxylase activity, but didn't reveal the quantitative correlation ship with the enzyme activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.470-486
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• 1995

Mammary epithelial cells contain a subpopulation of cells with a large proliferativ potential which are responsible for the maintenance of glandular cellularity and are the progenitor cells of mammary cancer. These clonogens give rise to multicellular clonal alveolar or ductal units(AU or DU) on transplantation and hormonal stimulation. To isolate putative mammary clonogens, enzymatically monodispersed rat mammary epithelial cells from organoid cultures and from intact glands are sorted by flow cytometry according to their affinity for FITC labeled peanut lectin(PNA) and PE labeled anti-Thy-1.1 antibody(Thy-1.1) into four subpopulations : cells negative to both PNA and Thy-1.1(B-), PNA+cells, Thy-1.1+cells, and cells positive to both reagents(B+). The in vivo transplantation assays indicate that the clonogenic fractions of PNA+cells from out-growths of organoids in primary cultures for three days in complete hormone medium(CHM) are significantly higher than those of cells from other subpopulations derived from cultrues or from intact glands. Extracellular matrix(ECM) is a complex of several proteins that regulated cell function ; its role in cell growth and differentiation and tissue-specific gene expression. It can act as a positive as well as a negative regulator of cellular differentiation depending on the cell type and the genes studied. Regulation by ECM is closely interrelated with the action of other regulators of cellular function, such as growth factors and hormones. Matrigel supports the growth and development of several different multicellular colonies from mammary organoids and from monodispersed epithelial cells in culture. Several types of colonies are observed including stellate colonies, duct-like structures, two- and three-dimensional web structures, squamous organoids, and lobulo-duct colonies. Organoids have the greatest proliferative potential and formation of multi-cellular structures. Phase contrast micrographs demonstrate extensive intracellular lipid accumulation within the web structures and some of duct-like colonies. At the immunocytochemical and electron micrograph level, casein proteins are predominantly localized near the apical surface of the cells or in the lumen of duct-like or lobulo-duct colonies. Squamous colonies are comprised of several layers of squamous epithelium surrounding keratin pearls as is typical fo squamous metaplasia(SM). All-trans retinoic acid(RA) inhibits the growth of SM. The frequency of lobulo-ductal colony formation increased with the augmentation of RA concentration in these culture conditions. The current study models could provide powerful tools not only for understanding cell growth and differentiation of epithelial cells, but also for the isolation and characterization of mammary clonogenic stem cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.104-111
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• 1993

Background: Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin induced septicemia is known to be a leading cause in the development of adult respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). The mechanism of endotoxin induced lung injury is mainly due to the activated neutrophils which injure the capillary endothelial cells by releasing oxidant radical and resulted in pulmonary edema. We studied the change of antioxidant enzyme in the case of large or small, intermittant dose of endotoxin infused rat lungs. Methods: Endotoxin was given to the rat through the peritoneal cavity in the dose of 7 mg/kg body weight in the large dose group and 1 mg/kg for 10 days in the small dose group. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was done and rats were killed at 6, 12, 24 hours after single endotoxin injection in the large dose group and 3, 7, 10 days after daily endotoxin injection for 10 days in the small dose group. The lungs were perfused with normal saline through the pulmonary artery to remove the blood and were homogenized in 5 volume of 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer containing 0.1 mM EDTA. After centrifuging at 100,000 g for 60 minute, the supernatent was removed and stored at $-70^{\circ}C$ until measuring for superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and protein. Results: We observed the following results. 1) The lung wet/dry weight ratio and albumin concentration in the BAL fluids were increased to peak at 12 hours and neutrophil number in the BAL fluids were peak at 6 hours after endotoxin injection in the large dose group. 2) Cu, Zn SOD (IU/mg protein) was significantly decreased after 6, 12 hours after endotoxin injection in the large dose group. 3) There were no singnificant change in the level of Mn SOD, catalase, GSH-Px after endotoxin injection in both groups. Conclusion: Endotoxin in the large dose group produced the acute pulmonary edema and decreased the Cu, Zn SOD in the lung tissue after injecting endotoxin at 6 and 12 hours. These phenomenon may be due to the cell membrane damage by endotoxin. Further research would be necessary whther giving SOD by intratracheal route or method to increase the synthesis of SOD may lessen the acute lung injury by endotoxin.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.295-300
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• 2015

The aim of the study was to assess the in vitro effect of 808-nm InGaAs diode laser on rabbit articular chondrocyte proliferation and sulphated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) synthesis in alginate bead. Previous studies revealed either positive or negative stimulatory effects of laser on different types of cells. A 808-nm InGaAs diode laser at 1.0W power output was used to irradiate the rabbit chondrocytes in alginate beads with energy densities of $31J/cm^2$ (G 1) and $62J/cm^2$ (G 2) corresponding to the experimental groups for 10 seconds and 20 seconds, respectively at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after seeding. Control group was left untreated. MTT assay was performed at 1 week and 2 weeks after the $1^{st}$ laser irradiation in alginate beads. sGAG synthesis in alginate beads at 1 week and 2 weeks were determined by DMMB assay. Histological evaluation for cellular distribution and sGAG deposition around the cells were performed by alcian blue stain. MTT assay revealed no positive stimulatory effect in cell proliferation in alginate bead. DMMB assay results showed significantly increased sGAG production in G 2 chondrocytes at 2 weeks. Image analysis of alcian blue stained slides also showed significantly higher percentage of positive alcian blue stain in G 2 chondrocytes. This result suggests that 808-nm InGaAs diode laser with 1.0 W power output although cannot stimulate cell proliferation it can increase the cell secretion activity and sGAG deposition in alginate beads.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.155-159
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• 2010

The antimicrobial activity of Sargassum fulvellum (SF) was investigated using the agar diffusion assay and MIC test. In addition, the stability of this activity under extreme heat and pH conditions was examined. The SF ethanol extract was shown to display strong antimicrobial activities against B. subtilis, C. perfringens, L. plantarum, S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, S. cerevisae and C. tropicalis in the agar diffusion assay at the concentration of 4 mg/mL. The MIC value of the SF ethanol extract against the tested microbes ranged from 0.05 to 0.0063%. In the heat and pH stability test, the antimicrobial activity of the SF ethanol extract was not altered when the temperature was maintained at $121^{\circ}C$ for 15 min, and it was also not affected in the pH range of 2-10. These results suggest that the SF ethanol extract is highly stable against drastic changes in temperature and pH.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.107 no.4
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• pp.351-360
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• 2018

This study was conducted to analyze the responses of chlorophyll contents and growth of Pinus densiflora and Quercus variabilis seedlings on distance from the well and $CO_2$ flux after the artificial $CO_2$ release. From June 1 to 30, 2016, $CO_2$ gas was injected at the rate of $6L\;min^{-1}$ at the study site in Eumseong. Chlorophyll content was analyzed in the middle of July, 2016, and root collar diameter (RCD), height (H), and biomass were measured in May and December, 2016 after planting 2-year-old P. densiflora and 1-year-old Q. variabilis seedlings in May, 2015. The chlorophyll content of P. densiflora seedlings did not show a significant correlation with $CO_2$ flux, whereas the chlorophyll content of Q. variabilis seedlings showed a significant negative correlation with increasing $CO_2$ flux (P<0.05). The RCD and H growth rates of both species showed the significant difference in the distance from the well of the $CO_2$ anthropogenic release treatment. In particular, the RCD and H growth rate of P. densiflora seedlings and the RCD growth rate of Q. variabilis seedlings increased significantly as the seedlings were closer to the well, but the H growth rate of Q. variabilis seedlings decreased significantly. In addition, as the $CO_2$ concentration in the ground increases, ${\Delta}R/S$ ratio increases in both species, suggesting that the high $CO_2$ concentration in the soil promotes carbon distribution relative to the root part. The results of this study can be used as data necessary to monitor the $CO_2$ leakage and physiological and growth responses of both species to leakage of stored $CO_2$ in the future.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2024

The importance of active sonar systems is emerging due to the quietness of underwater targets and the increase in ambient noise due to the increase in maritime traffic. However, the low signal-to-noise ratio of the echo signal due to multipath propagation of the signal, various clutter, ambient noise and reverberation makes it difficult to identify underwater targets using active sonar. Attempts have been made to apply data-based methods such as machine learning or deep learning to improve the performance of underwater target recognition systems, but it is difficult to collect enough data for training due to the nature of sonar datasets. Methods based on mathematical modeling have been mainly used to compensate for insufficient active sonar data. However, methodologies based on mathematical modeling have limitations in accurately simulating complex underwater phenomena. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a sonar signal synthesis method based on a deep neural network. In order to apply the neural network model to the field of sonar signal synthesis, the proposed method appropriately corrects the attention-based encoder and decoder to the sonar signal, which is the main module of the Tacotron model mainly used in the field of speech synthesis. It is possible to synthesize a signal more similar to the actual signal by training the proposed model using the dataset collected by arranging a simulated target in an actual marine environment. In order to verify the performance of the proposed method, Perceptual evaluation of audio quality test was conducted and within score difference -2.3 was shown compared to actual signal in a total of four different environments. These results prove that the active sonar signal generated by the proposed method approximates the actual signal.