• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 1992

This paper provides an overview of system analysis of immunology. The theoretical research in this area is aimed at an understanding of the precise manner by which the immune system controls Infec pious diseases, cancer, and AIDS. This can provide a systematic plan for immunological experimentation by means of an integrated program of immune system analysis, mathematical modeling and computer simulation. Biochemical reactions and cellular fission are naturally modeled as nonlinear dynamical processes to synthesize the human immune system! as well as the complete organism it is intended to protect. A foundation for the control of tumors is presented, based upon the formulation of a realistic, knowledge based mathematical model of the interaction between tumor cells and the immune system. Ordinary bilinear differential equations which are coupled by such nonlinear term as saturation are derived from the basic physical phenomena of cellular and molecular conservation. The parametric control variables relevant to the latest experimental data are also considered. The model consists of 12 states, each composed of first-order, nonlinear differential equations based on cellular kinetics and each of which can be modeled bilinearly. Finally, tumor control as an application of immunotherapy is analyzed from the basis established.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.507-521
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• 2014

A phase variation has been reported in an entomopathogenic bacterium, Xenorhabdus nematophila. Compared with a wild-type primary form, a secondary form usually loses several physiological and biochemical characters. This study showed that the phase variation of X. nematophila caused a significant alteration in its immunosuppressive activity and subsequent entomopathogenicity. A secondary form of X. nematophila was detected in laboratory colonies and exhibited significant differences in dye absorption and entomopathogenicity. In addition, the secondary form was different in its production of eicosanoid-biosynthesis inhibitors (EBIs) compared with the primary form of X. nematophila. Production of oxindole and p-hydroxypropionic acid was significantly reduced in the culture broth of the secondary form of X. nematophila. The reduced EBI production resulted in significant suppression in the inhibitory effects on cellular nodule formation and phenoloxidase activity. Culture broth of the primary form of X. nematophila enhanced the pathogenicity of Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt) significantly more than the culture broth of the secondary form. Furthermore, this study developed a highly efficient "Dual Bt-Plus: to control both lepidopteran insect pests Plutella xylostella and Spodoptera exigua, by mixing two effective Bt strains along with the addition of potent bacterial metabolites or 100-fold concentrated X. nematophila culture broth.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.489-498
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• 2013

A new Bacillus strain degrading starch, named Bacillus sp. UEB-S, was isolated from a southern Tunisian area. Amylase production using solid-state fermentation on millet, an inexpensive and available agro-resource, was investigated. Response surface methodology was applied to establish the relationship between enzyme production and four variables: inoculum size, moisture-to-millet ratio, temperature, and fermentation duration. The maximum enzyme activity recovered was 680 U/g of dry substrate when using $1.38{\times}10^9$ CFU/g as inoculation level, 5.6:1 (ml/g) as moisture ratio (86%), for 4 days of cultivation at $37^{\circ}C$, which was in perfect agreement with the predicted model value. Amylase was purified by Q-Sepharose anion-exchange and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration chromatography with a 14-fold increase in specific activity. Its molecular mass was estimated at 130 kDa. The enzyme showed maximal activity at pH 5 and $70^{\circ}C$, and efficiently hydrolyzed starch to yield glucose and maltose as end products. The enzyme proved its efficiency for digesting raw cereal below gelatinization temperature and, hence, its potentiality to be used in industrial processes.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.297-303
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• 1989

Attempts to isolate the naturally occurring ultra-violet resistant bacteria from environmental sources were made. The isolates, designated No.29, 100, and 107, among numbers of bacterial isolates revealed a remarkable resistance to UV ray, whose degree of resistance in dose/response kinetics was comparable to that of an endospore-former, Bacillus subtilis. In a range of 100-300 $Jm^{-2}$/min of UV irradiation, the isolates exhibited 500-1000 fold resistance compated with E. coli. The isolated appeared to possiss cell-bound pigment of organge or crimson-red. The isolate 29 is spherical in pairs or tetrads, whereas the isolates 100 and 107 are rod. All are Gram-gositive bacteria and seemed to be non-endospore-bearer. A number of biochemical studies pursued on the isolates suggested that they are quite different to each other. Electron microscopic examination and the physiological characters of the isolate 29 suggested that this UV resistant spherical bacterium might be one species of Deinococcus, probably Deinococus radiophilus. Since there is no documents on UV resistant, Gram-positive, non-sporeformer bacillus so far, the isolates 100 and 107 might be turned out as new kinds of UV resistant bacteria occurring in nature by further investigation.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.235-236
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• 2017

The circadian clock is an internal system that is synchronized by external stimuli, such as light and temperature, and influences various physiological and developmental processes in living organisms. In the model plant Arabidopsis, transcriptional, translational and post-translational processes are interlocked by feedback loops among morning- and evening-phased genes. In a post-translational loop, plant-specific single-gene encoded GIGANTEA (GI) stabilize the F-box protein ZEITLUPE (ZTL), driving the targeted-proteasomal degradation of TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION 1 (TOC1) and PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATOR 5 (PRR5). Inherent to this, we demonstrate the novel biochemical function of GI as a chaperone and/or co-chaperone of Heat-Shock Protein 90 (HSP90). GI prevents ZTL degradation as a chaperone and facilitates ZTL maturation together with HSP90/HSP70, enhancing ZTL activity in vitro and in planta. GI is known to be involved in a wide range of physiology and development as well as abiotic stress responses in plants, but it could also interact with diverse client proteins to increase protein maturation. Our results provide evidence that GI helps proteostasis of ZTL by acting as a chaperone and a co-chaperone of HSP90 for proper functioning of the Arabidopsis circadian clock.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2013

The relationship between relative water contents of lettuce leaves and biochemical activities in lettuce was examined in this study to explore an adaptation response of lettuce to water stress from soils. Soil water contents and relative water contents of leaves were positively related to show $R^2$=0.8728. Hydrogen peroxide contents of leaves rapidly increased with reduction of soil water content, whereas soluble protein contents and dry matters rapidly decreased. And chlorophyll a and b contents of leaves decreased with increase in carotenoid content. Furthermore, the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) increased dramatically, and mRNA transcript levels of APX, MDHAR and DHAR also increased. Relationship of relative water content of lettuce leaves to hydrogen peroxide, to ascorbate peroxidase activity, to dehydroascorbate reductase activity, and to monodehydroascorbate reductase activity was shown to be positively correlated. It is highly plausible from this study that these enzyme activities could be developed as an indicator of water states in soils.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.346-353
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• 1995

The dietary requirement for zinc to maintain optimally the various metabolic and physiological funcitons is still under study. Human beings adapt to reductions in zinc intake by reducing the rate of growth or zinc excretion. Reductions in dietary zinc beyond the capacity to maintain homeostasis lead to utilization of zinc from an exchangeable pool. Loss of a small, critical amount of zinc from this pool leads to both biochemical and clinical signs of zinc deficiency. Zinc requirements have been assessed by balance studies and factorial method. As tissue zinc status influences endogenous losses and the dietary needs, individuls in good status may require higher amounts of zinc than those in poor status. While plasma zinc is insensitive to reducitons in dietary zinc, it is regarded as a valid, useful indicator of the exchangeable pool of zinc. Plasma metallothionein concentrations may prove useful for identifying poor zinc status. It has been suggested that functional end point measurement is the new direciton for zinc requirement. However, determination of the functional response to a marginal zinc intake is difficult because of the lack of a specific, sensitive indicator of zinc status. Presently, no good method for assessment of human zinc requirements exists.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2018

Background: Incorrect administration of an anesthetic during local anesthesia is one of the most important causes of pain symptoms in patients scheduled for dental procedures. The current study assessed the severity of damage to periodontal tissue following different rates of anesthetic administration. Methods: The research was conducted on 50 outbred male rats with a body mass of 180-240 g. The anesthetic used was 1% articaine. Results: The results showed that administration of the anesthetic at a rapid pace caused structural damage to the periodontal tissue. Further, signs of impaired microcirculation were noted at all rates of administration. Biochemical studies demonstrated changes in the level of glucose and enzymes with the rapid introduction of the anesthetic, indicating severe systemic stress response of the body. Conclusions: Injection of local anesthetic at any rate of introduction induces vascular congestion in the microcirculatory bloodstream and exudative reactions. Rapid introduction of an anesthetic causes progression of structural changes in the gingival tissue.

• ALGAE
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.131-147
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• 2013

Major progress has been made in the past decade towards understanding of the biosynthesis of red carotenoid astaxanthin and its roles in stress response while exploiting microalgae-based astaxanthin as a potent antioxidant for human health and as a coloring agent for aquaculture applications. In this review, astaxanthin-producing green microalgae are briefly summarized with Haematococcus pluvialis and Chlorella zofingiensis recognized to be the most popular astaxanthin-producers. Two distinct pathways for astaxanthin synthesis along with associated cellular, physiological, and biochemical changes are elucidated using H. pluvialis and C. zofingiensis as the model systems. Interactions between astaxanthin biosynthesis and photosynthesis, fatty acid biosynthesis and enzymatic defense systems are described in the context of multiple lines of defense mechanisms working in concert against photooxidative stress. Major pros and cons of mass cultivation of H. pluvialis and C. zofingiensis in phototrophic, heterotrophic, and mixotrophic culture modes are analyzed. Recent progress in genetic engineering of plants and microalgae for astaxanthin production is presented. Future advancement in microalgal astaxanthin research will depend largely on genome sequencing of H. pluvialis and C. zofingiensis and genetic toolbox development. Continuous effort along the heterotrophic-phototrophic culture mode could lead to major expansion of the microalgal astaxanthin industry.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.539-548
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• 2010

Potassium ($K^+$) is one of the most abundant cations in higher plant. It comprises about 10% of plant dry weight and it plays roles in numerous functions such as osmo- and turgor regulation, charge balance of plasma membrane and control of stomata and organ movement. Several potassium transporters and potassium channels regulate $K^+$ homeostasis in response to $K^+$ uptake systems. In this review, we describe the biological, biochemical and physiological characteristics of shaker like potassium channels in higher plant. Especially, we searched the rice genome databases and analysized expressed genes, genome structures and protein domain characteristics of shaker like potassium channels.