• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.1-35
• /
• 2024

The assumption of homoscedasticity is one of the most crucial assumptions for many parametric tests used in the biological sciences. The aim of this paper is to compare the empirical probability of type I error and the power of ten parametric and two non-parametric tests for homoscedasticity with simulations under different types of distributions, number of groups, number of samples per group, variance ratio and significance levels, as well as through empirical data from an agricultural experiment. According to the findings of the simulation study, when there is no violation of the assumption of normality and the groups have equal variances and equal number of samples, the Bhandary-Dai, Cochran's C, Hartley's Fmax, Levene (trimmed mean) and Bartlett tests are considered robust. The Levene (absolute and square deviations) tests show a high probability of type I error in a small number of samples, which increases as the number of groups rises. When data groups display a nonnormal distribution, researchers should utilize the Levene (trimmed mean), O'Brien and Brown-Forsythe tests. On the other hand, if the assumption of normality is not violated but diagnostic plots indicate unequal variances between groups, researchers are advised to use the Bartlett, Z-variance, Bhandary-Dai and Levene (trimmed mean) tests. Assessing the tests being considered, the test that stands out as the most well-rounded choice is the Levene's test (trimmed mean), which provides satisfactory type I error control and relatively high power. According to the findings of the study and for the scenarios considered, the two non-parametric tests are not recommended. In conclusion, it is suggested to initially check for normality and consider the number of samples per group before choosing the most appropriate test for homoscedasticity.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.61-74
• /
• 2016

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that sample their environment and present antigens to naïve T lymphocytes for the subsequent antigen-specific immune responses. DCs exist in a range of distinct subpopulations including plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) and classical DCs (cDCs), with the latter consisting of the cDC1 and cDC2 lineages. Although the roles of DC-specific transcription factors across the DC subsets have become understood, the posttranscriptional mechanisms that regulate DC development are yet to be elucidated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are pivotal posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression in a myriad of biological processes, but their contribution to the immune system is just beginning to surface. In this study, our in-house probe collection was screened to identify miRNAs possibly involved in DC development and function by targeting the transcripts of relevant mouse transcription factors. Examination of DC subsets from the culture of mouse bone marrow with Flt3 ligand identified high expression of miR-124 which was able to target the transcript of TCF4, a transcription factor critical for the development and homeostasis of pDCs. Further expression profiling of mouse DC subsets isolated from in vitro culture as well as via ex vivo purification demonstrated that miR-124 was outstandingly expressed in CD24⁺ cDC1 cells compared to in pDCs and CD172α⁺ cDC2 cells. These results imply that miR-124 is likely involved in the processes of DC subset development by posttranscriptional regulation of a transcription factor(s).

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.268-279
• /
• 2023

The pharmaceutical industry in Bangladesh produces a diverse range of antibiotics for human and animal use, however, waste disposal management is inadequate. This results in substantial quantities of antibiotics being discharged into water bodies, which provide suitable environment for the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, capable of spreading resistance genes. This study intended for exploring the bacterial antibiotic resistance profile in adjoining aquatic environmental sources of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in Bangladesh. Seven surface water samples were collected from the vicinity of two pharmaceutical industries located in the Savar area and 51 Escherichia coli isolates were identified using both phenotypic and genotypic methods. Antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed the highest percentage of resistance against ampicillin, azithromycin, and nalidixic acid (100%) and the lowest resistance against meropenem (1.96%) out of sixteen different antibiotics tested. 100% of the study E. coli isolates were observed with Multidrug resistance phenotypes, with the Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) value ranging from 0.6-1.0. Furthermore, 69% of the isolates were Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBL) positive as per the Double Disk Diffusion Synergy Test (DDST). ESBL resistance genes bla_TEM, bla_CTX-M-13, bla_CTX-M-15, and bla_SHV were detected in 70.6% (n = 36), 60.8% (n = 32), 54.9% (n = 28), and 1.96% (n = 1) of the isolates, respectively, by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Additionally, 15.68% (n = 8) of the isolates were positive for E. coli specific virulence genes in PCR. These findings suggest that pharmaceutical wastewater, if not properly treated, could be a formidable source of antibiotic resistance spread in the surrounding aquatic environment. Therefore, continued surveillance for drug resistance among bacterial populations around drug manufacturing facilities in Bangladesh is necessary, along with proper waste disposal management.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.183-190
• /
• 2023

The global problem of handling radioactive materials is facing limitations. Eco-friendly bioremediation methods using microorganisms are being studied. This study was conducted to screen cesium-resistant microbial strains. M1 strain was selected from the soil sample by enriched culture in R2A medium containing 100 mM CsCl. In liquid medium containing above 40 mM of CsCl, the growth of M1 was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. Otherwise, M1 can survive up to 80mM CsCl in solid medium although the growth rate was slow and colony size was small. M1 strain was genetically identified as a strain of the genus Acinetobacter through 16S rRNA sequencing, and radiation resistance (D10 value) of M1 was found to be 0.307 kGy. These results showed that M1 strain is highly resistant to cesium and can grow in radiation environment. It was considered that M1 strain is useful in the field of biological decontamination of cesium.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.44-54
• /
• 2024

One of the serious modern environmental problems is pollution caused by highly toxic pesticides. Only small amounts of applied pesticides reach their target, and the rest ends up in soil and water. Chlorpyrifos is a toxic, broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide. In humans, chlorpyrifos inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the peripheral and central nervous system, and particularly in children, small amounts of this pesticide cause neurotoxic damage. As the toxic effects of chlorpyrifos and its persistence in the environment require its removal from contaminated sites, it is essential to study the biological diversity of chlorpyrifos-degrading microorganisms. In this study, we sought to determine the chlorpyrifos-degrading ability of the bacterial strain Ochrobactrum intermedium PDB-3. This strain was isolated from soil contaminated with various pesticides and identified as PDB-3 based on morpho-cultural characteristics, MALDI-TOF MS, and 16S rRNA. Studies were conducted for 30 days in sterile soils containing initial concentrations of 50, 75, 100, and 125 mg/kg of chlorpyrifos. To determine the degradation of chlorpyrifos, a liquid culture of the strain was added to the soil at three optical densities: 0, and after 24 and 48 h (OD = 0.03, 0.2 and 0.32). Using GX-MS, we determined that chlorpyrifos was converted to 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP). We also found that with increasing optical density, rapid degradation of the initial concentration of chlorpyrifos occurred. Sterile soil without strain PDB-3 was used as a control sample.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.30-35
• /
• 2008

In order to investigate whether or not CCD-986sk cell line can be affected by Korean Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura, we examined the MTT assay when we treated Korean Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura extract in CCD-986sk human fibroblast cell line. The sample were tested for cell proliferation activity by means of a modification of the MTT assay. Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura extract showed significantly strong cell proliferation activity at the range of from 6.25 mg $mL^{-1}$ to 1.56 mg $mL^{-1}$ compared with control group. And in order to search for inhibition agents of skin melanin formation, we tested for inhibition effect of melanin pigmentation of Korean Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura using Clone M-3 mouse melanocyte cell lines. when we treated the extracts of Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura to the mouse melanocyte cell lines, the sample showed a significantly little formation of melanin pigments compared with control group at the only range of 200 mg $mL^{-1}$. These results suggest that extract of Korean Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura may represents an excellent candidate for inhibition of melanin pigmentation and for protection of human skin aging at in vitro level.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.107-115
• /
• 1986

The chemical changes and the quality of the soysauce which was Bade by new convenient method using vinyl teat instead of koji room, replacing wheat with milled barley koji were investigated. Protease activity of the koji was higher as tile ratio of soybeans was increased but amylase activity was higher as the ratio of milled barley was increased. The amounts of total nitrogen showed substantial increases until 80 days and afterwards, their rates of increases were lower. The more its content of soybeans, the higher its amount of total nitrogen, The amount of amino nitrogen increased slowly in all samples and the sample which had a large amount of soybeans was higher than those with small amounts of soybeans. The amount of ammonia nitrogen showed increases until 120 days tut decreased after then. The amount of reducing sugar showed increases until 80 days and decreased after then and the greater its source of carton, the higher its amount of reducing sugar. The total acid contort had large increases until 100 days in all samples and afterward they did not show any particular changes. The changes of pH decreased for 100 days and afterwards, they increased a little. In the original soysauce, combined ratio of soybean 3 to milled barley 2 and the sample of those ratio 4 : 1 are better than others and in diluted soysauce combined ratio of soybean 4 to milled barley 1 is better than the others. In original soysauce the use of $20{\sim}40%$ barley koji, which is added to soybeans, is superior and diluted soysauce the use of 20% barley koji is superior.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.414-429
• /
• 1990

Numerous research reports have substantiated the role of stressful life events in relation to the onset of health changes. The relationship tends to hold across different age groups. Theoretically, adolescence has been considered a developmental crisis period of great stress, impoverished coping skills and high vulnerability to biological, social and psychological demands. The research problem addressed by this study was to examine the relationships between stressful life events and health symptom patterns, and the effect of two variables, coping and social, support, theoretically considered to mediate the relationship between stress and health symptoms in adolescents. The following five hypotheses were tested in this research : 1. Health symptoms are positively related to stressful life events in adolescents, 2. Health symptoms are negatively related to coping in adolescents, 3. Health symptoms are negatively related to social support in adolescents, 4. When coping is controlled, the relationship between health symptoms and stressful life events will decrease, and 5. When social support is controlled, the relationship between health symptoms and stressful life events will increase. The study subjects consisted of 1090 high school students of the metropolitan city of Seoul. The following sampling procedure was used : 1. Of the 169 high schools in nine school administrative districts in the city, a proportional sample of ten schools was selected. 2. One class from each of the freshman and sophomore was randomly selected and all the students who were in the sampled class were used as the study sample. The study was limited to freshman and sophomore adolescents, aged 15 to 18(mean＝16.6). Of the 1090 subjects 688(63%) were boys and 402(37%) were girls. An Adolescent Inventory of Stressful Life Events, a Health Symptom Questionnaire and an Adolescent Coping Inventory were adapted for this study. The Norbeck Social Support questionnaire was utilized to collect the data on perceived social support. Five high school teachers in the areas of school health and counselling reviewed the items of each questionnaire for content validity. A pilot study was undertaken to ascertain reliability. Fifty three high school students responded to the questionnaires and gave their opinions on the items. For stressful life events, health symptoms, coping, and social support, the Cronbach's alpha's on the study were .70, .94, .77, and .76, respectively. Research assistants attended all the sampled classes with the school proctor to explain the purpose and procedures of the study to the students. The questionnaires along with a ballpoint pen were distributed to the students who were asked to complete each item. The research assistants left the ballpoint pen with the students as a gift for their cooperation. An average of 50 minutes was required to complete the questionnaires. Using an SPSS, the first, three hypotheses were tested using Gamma, a measure of association for ordinal variables. Partial gamma was used to test the fourth and fifth hypotheses. Patterns of elaboration described by Babbie were selected to interpret the relationship of the three variable analyses. The significance of gamma was determined by Chisquare at a .05 level of significance. There was a positive relationship between health symptoms and stressful life events(Gamma＝.35, p＝.000). Thus the first hypothesis was supported. Unexpectedly, coping was positively related with health symptoms(Gamma＝.13, p＝.000). That is, the higher the coping levels, the greater number of health problems. The third hypothesis, the higher the level of social support, the fewer the health symptoms, was not accepted in this adolescent study group. When coping was controlled, under the condition of low coping the association between health symptoms and stressful life events increased significantly to a partial gamma of .39, and under the condition of high coping it was .30. According to the elaboration model, when one partial relationship is the same or greater than the original and the other is smaller, the control variable should be considered to be specifying the conditions. When social support was controlled the relationship between stressful life events and health symptoms increased under the condition of low social support, but with high social support, the relationship decreased. Both partial gamma were statistically significant at .05 level(.43 and .26 relatively). It can be interpreted that stressful life events are strongly and positively related to health symptoms under the condition of low social support, however this relationship can not be expected with high social support. Thus, the last two hypotheses were conditionally sustained. In this study, the relationships between stressful life events and health symptoms, and the specified me diating roles of coping and social support were found to have statistical interaction. This finding supports the theoretical position of this study. It suggests that stressful life events would create high susceptability to biological social and psychological health symptoms and coping and social support buffering the relationship between stressful life events and health symptom. The findings of this study have implications for nursing practice. When adolescents are confronted with non-developmental life events that are perceived as stressful, nurses should recognize the evidence of the stress-buffering effect of coping and social support on health symptoms and utilize the diverse sources of social support that are readily available to adolescents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.38 no.11
• /
• pp.1485-1491
• /
• 2009

The biological compounds such as vitamin C, carotenoids, hesperidin and naringin were determined in Yuza grown in Geoje, Goseong, Gohung and Namhae. Also, activities of electron donating, nitrite scavenging and tyrosinase were detected by concentration of water extracts made from Yuza peel. Vitamin C contents of flesh sample were 6.34${\Pm}$0.12-10.74${\Pm}$1.25 mg/100 g and its contents of peel were 2.17-3.57 times higher than flesh. The carotenoid contents of peel were higher than flesh, and its contents were abundant (over 6.0 mg/100 g) in peel of Yuza grown in Goseong and Namhae-native, while Goheung-native and improved samples were detected below 3.6 mg/100 g. The contents of total phenols were the highest in flesh (11.11${\Pm}$0.10 mg/100 g) and peel (31.76 mg/100 g) of Namhae-improve Yuza. The contents of hesperidin and naringin were about 4.81-7.80, 3.07-4.62 times higher in peel than flesh. Electron donating ability of water extracts made from Yuza peel was 52.78${\Pm}$1.13-66.88${\Pm}$0.53%, in over 5 mg/mL; especially, its ability in Namhae sample was significantly high in reaction system added over 5 mg/mL of water extracts. Nitrite scavenging ability in all samples was below 30% in reaction system added 1 mg/mL of water extracts. Inhibition activity of tyrosinase in reaction system added 2.5 mg/mL of water extracts was only observed in Namhae samples, but the other samples were increased in reaction system added over 5 mg/mL of water extracts.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.18 no.8
• /
• pp.1123-1131
• /
• 2008

This study was performed to confirm of biological function of black garlic, it heated for 11 days at $40{\sim}90^{\circ}C$ (first step: heate for 2 days at $90^{\circ}C$, second step: heated for 4 days at $80^{\circ}C$, third step: heated for 4 days at $60^{\circ}C$ and fourth step: heated for 1 day at $40^{\circ}C$). Samples were analyzed physico-chemical characteristics and antioxidant activity. Hunter L, a and b values were decreased during processing, and then inner part Hunter values were highly decreased at the second step. The moisture contents were decreased to 58.48${\pm}$0.41 g/100 g at fourth step. pH was also acidified to pH 4.22${\pm}$0.02, but O.D. value at 420 nm was increased during processing of black garlic. At fourth step, total phenolics and flavonoids contents were increased about 1.9 and 2.6 folds than first step sample. Also, total pyruvate and thiosulfinate contents were increased about 1.6 and 5.8 folds as change of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, respectively. Fructose contents were the highest level among free sugars and its contents increased to 2,454.45${\pm}$4.20 mg/100 g. Contents of sucrose and maltose were decreased during processing of black garlic. The contents of total minerals were the highest at fourth step (1,009.20${\pm}$6.91 mg/100 g) during its processing. Contents of glutamic acid, proline and aspartic acid were detected higher than other composition amino acids. Taurine and ethanolamine were not detected in the first step sample, but they were detected 0.88${\pm}0.60{\sim}1.06{\pm}$0.04 and 0.28${\pm}0.4{\sim}0.5{\pm}$0.09 mg/100 g in next processing step, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging ability of water and ethanol extracts from black garlic was increased during its processing. Abilities of DPPH radical scavenging were the highest in fourth step sample, its abilities were 67.40${\pm}$0.21% in 1,000 ${\mu}g/ml$ of water extracts. Reducing power was also significantly higher in water extract than ethanol extract on the whole.