• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.353-365
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• 2011

The present study investigates the possible regulatory role of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) in antioxidant defense and methylglyoxal (MG) detoxification systems of wheat seedlings exposed to salt stress (150 and 300 mM NaCl, 4 days). Seedlings were pre-treated for 24 h with 1 mM sodium nitroprusside, a NO donor, and then subjected to salt stress. The ascorbate (AsA) content decreased significantly with increased salt stress. The amount of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and the GSH/GSSG ratio increased with an increase in the level of salt stress. The glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity increased significantly with severe salt stress (300 mM). The ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities did not show significant changes in response to salt stress. The glutathione reductase (GR), glyoxalase I (Gly I), and glyoxalase II (Gly II) activities decreased upon the imposition of salt stress, especially at 300 mM NaCl, with a concomitant increase in the $H_2O_2$ and lipid peroxidation levels. Exogenous NO pretreatment of the seedlings had little influence on the nonenzymatic and enzymatic components compared to the seedlings of the untreated control. Further investigation revealed that NO pre-treatment had a synergistic effect; that is, the pre-treatment increased the AsA and GSH content and the GSH/GSSG ratio, as well as the activities of MDHAR, DHAR, GR, GST, GPX, Gly I, and Gly II in most of the seedlings subjected to salt stress. These results suggest that the exogenous application of NO rendered the plants more tolerant to salinity-induced oxidative damage by enhancing their antioxidant defense and MG detoxification systems.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.274-278
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• 2010

Objectives: This report describes the results of an investigation on an outbreak of novel influenza A (H1N1) in an English language Institute in Seoul, Korea in May 2009. Methods: In this outbreak, novel influenza A (H1N1) was confirmed in 22 of 91 trainees, trainers and staff members. The trainees and 2 staff members were isolated in an assigned facility and the rest were isolated in their homes after we discovered the first patient with novel influenza A (H1N1). After the isolation, the people in the assigned facility were educated to use N95 respirators and they received oseltamivir for prophylaxis. Results: The initial findings in this study suggest that the symptoms were mild and similar to those of seasonal influenza. The classmates and roommates of the infected patients were more likely to get infected with novel influenza A (H1N1) than the trainees who were not classmates or roommates of the patients (OR: 3.19, 95% Cl=0.91 - 11.11 for classmates and OR: 40.0, 95% Cl=7.4-215.7 for roommates). Conclusions: The public health response seems successful in terms of preventing the spread of this virus into the local community.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.111-117
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• 2004

Hepatic microcirculatory failure is a major component of reperfusion injury in the liver. Recent data provided some evidence that endothelium-derived vasoconstrictors and vasodilators may be functionally important to the control of the total hepatic blood flow under these conditions of circulatory failure. Since Kupffer cells provide signals that regulate the hepatic response in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), the aim of this study was to investigate the role of Kupffer cells in the I/R-induced imbalance of vasoregulatory gene expression. Rats were subjected to 60 min hepatic ischemia, followed by 5 h of reperfusion. The Kupffer cells were inactivated by gadolinium chloride ($GdCl_3$, 7.5 mg/kg body weight, intravenously) 1 day prior to ischemia. Liver samples were obtained 5 hrs after reperfusion for RT-PCR analysis of the mRNA for genes of interest: endothelin-1 (ET-1), its receptors $ET_A and ET_B$, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). ET-1 mRNA expression was increased by I/R. mRNA levels for $ET_A$ receptors showed no change, whereas $ET_B$ receptor transcripts increased in the I/R group. The increases in ET-1 and $ET_B$ mRNA were not prevented by the $GdCI_3$ pretreatment. The mRNA levels for iNOS and eNOS significantly increased within the I/R group with no significant difference between the I/R group and the $GdCl_3$-treated I/R group. HO-1 mRNA expression significantly increased in the I/R group and this increase was attenuated by $GdCI_3$. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that an imbalance in hepatic vasoregulatory gene expression occurs during I/R. Our findings suggest that the activation of Kupffer cells is not required for I/R-induced hepatic microvascular dysfunction.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.565-574
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• 2021

Astrocytes are activated in response to brain damage. Here, we found that expression of Kir4.1, a major potassium channel in astrocytes, is increased in activated astrocytes in the injured brain together with upregulation of the neural stem cell markers, Sox2 and Nestin. Expression of Kir4.1 was also increased together with that of Nestin and Sox2 in neurospheres formed from dissociated P7 mouse brains. Using the Kir4.1 blocker BaCl₂ to determine whether Kir4.1 is involved in acquisition of stemness, we found that inhibition of Kir4.1 activity caused a concentration-dependent increase in sphere size and Sox2 levels, but had little effect on Nestin levels. Moreover, induction of differentiation of cultured neural stem cells by withdrawing epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor from the culture medium caused a sharp initial increase in Kir4.1 expression followed by a decrease, whereas Sox2 and Nestin levels continuously decreased. Inhibition of Kir4.1 had no effect on expression levels of Sox2 or Nestin, or the astrocyte and neuron markers glial fibrillary acidic protein and β-tubulin III, respectively. Taken together, these results indicate that Kir4.1 may control gain of stemness but not differentiation of stem cells.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.700-705
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• 2021

A portable and disposable pH sensor based on Ti wire was successfully developed for monitoring hydronium ion concentrations. A sensing electrode was prepared by electrochemically depositing iridium oxide onto a Ti wire, while a reference electrode was fabricated by coating Ag/AgCl ink on a Ti wire. Combining the two electrodes in the pH sensor enabled the collection of open circuit potential signals when the sensor was immersed in solutions of various pH values. The pH sensor exhibited excellent electrochemical sensing performance in terms of sensitivity, response time, repeatability, selectivity, and stability. To demonstrate point-of-measurement applications, the pH sensor was integrated with a wireless electronic module that could communicate with a mobile application. The portable pH sensor accurately measured pH changes in real samples. The results obtained were consistent with those of using a commercial pH meter.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2024

In electrical power substations, bulky iron-core potential transformers (PTs) are installed in a tank of gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) to measure system voltages. This paper proposed a low-power voltage transformer (LPVT) that can replace the conventional iron-core PTs in response to the demand for the digitalization of substations. The prototype LPVT consists of a capacitive voltage divider (CVD) which is embedded in a spacer and an impedance matching circuit using passive components. The CVD was fabricated with a flexible PCB to acquire enough insulation performance and withstand vibration and shock during operation. The performance of the LPVT was evaluated at 80%, 100%, and 120% of the rated voltage (38.1 kV) according to IEC 61869-11. An accuracy correction algorithm based on LabVIEW was applied to correct the voltage ratio and phase error. The corrected voltage ratio and phase error were +0.134% and +0.079 min., respectively, which satisfies the accuracy CL 0.2. In addition, the voltage ratio of LPVT was analyzed in ranges of -40~+40℃, and a temperature correction coefficient was applied to maintain the accuracy CL 0.2. By applying the LPVT proposed in this paper to the same rating GIS, it can be reduced the length per GIS bay by 11%, and the amount of SF6 by 5~7%.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1114-1119
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• 2012

This study was conducted to assess the microbial toxicity of ionic silver solution ($Ag^+N$) and silver nanoparticle suspension ($Ag^0NP$) based on the Microtox bioassay. In this test, the light inhibition of luminescent bacteria was measured after 15 and 30 min exposure to aqueous solutions and soils spiked with a dilution series of $Ag^+N$ and $Ag^0NP$. The resulting dose-response curves were used to derive effective concentration (EC25, $EC_{50}$, EC75) and effective dose ($ED_{25}$, $ED_{50}$, $ED_{75}$) that caused a 25, 50 and 75% inhibition of luminescence. In aqueous solutions, $EC_{50}$ value of $Ag^+N$ after 15 min exposure was determined to be < $2mg\;L^{-1}$ and remarkably lower than $EC_{50}$ value of $Ag^0NP$ with $251mg\;L^{-1}$. This revealed that $Ag^+N$ was more toxic to luminescent bacteria than $Ag^0NP$. In soil extracts, however, $ED_{50}$ value of $Ag^+N$ with 196 mg kg-1 was higher than $ED_{50}$ value of $Ag^0NP$ with $104mg\;kg^{-1}$, indicating less toxicity of $Ag^+N$ in soils. The reduced toxicity of $Ag^+N$ in soils can be attributed to a partial adsorption of ionic $Ag^+$ on soil colloids and humic acid as well as a partial formation of insoluble AgCl with NaCl of Microtox diluent. This resulted in lower concentration of active Ag in soil extracts obtained after 1 hour shaking with $Ag^+N$ than that spiked with $Ag^0NP$. With longer exposure time, EC and ED values of both $Ag^+N$ and $Ag^0NP$ decreased, so their toxicity increased. The toxic characteristics of silver nanomaterials were different depending on existing form of Ag ($Ag^+$, $Ag^0$), reaction medium (aqueous solution, soil), and exposure time.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.281-290
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• 2008

In plant, Receptor-like kinases (RLKs) are protein family, though its function is not yet understood, consisted of a predicted signal sequence, single transmembrane region, and cytoplasmic kinase domain. RLKs are involved in hormonal response pathways, cell differentiation, plant growth and development, self-incompatibility, and symbiont and pathogen recognition. In this study, expression levels of RLG1, RLG5, RLG6, RLG#6, RLG8, RLG10, RLG17, RLG18 and RLG20 were analyzed by Real-time PCR, when rice (Oryzae sativa) was treated abiotic stress. The expression levels of all RLGs were compared each other by analyzed value of threshold cycles ($C_T$). Consequently, RLGs were suppressed by NaCl as salinity stress, and expression of each RLK genes were showed difference treated salicylic acid and wound, respectively. However, All RLGs were induced under low temperature condition. Therefore, our results indicate protection-function of RLK genes to be an early response of rice against cold weather.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.102-111
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the optimal conditions of collagen extraction from scales of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) using surface response methodology. Four independent variables of NaOH concentration and pretreatment fime in alkali pretreatment and enzyme concentration and treatment time in enzyme hydrolysis were used to predict a model equation for the collagen yield. The determinant coefficient ($R^2$) for the equation was 0.906. The values of the independent variables for the maximum yield were 0.32 N NaOH, 16.38 h alkali pretreatment time, 0.18% enzyme concentration, and 31.02 h enzyme treatment time. In the physicochemical properties of tuna scale collagen, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of tuna scale collagen showed the same migration distances as that of calf skin collagen. The amide A, I, II, and III regions of tuna scale collagen in Fourier transform infrared measurements were shown in the peaks of 3,414 $cm^{-1}$, 1,645 $cm^{-1}$, 1,553 $cm^{-1}$, and 1,247 $cm^{-1}$, respectively. The amount of imino acids in tuna scale collagen was 18.97% and the collagen denaturation temperature was $33^{\circ}C$. The collagen solubility as a function of NaCl concentration decreased to 4% NaCl (w/v) and the collagen solubility as a function of pH was high at pH 2-4 and sharply decreased from pH 4 to pH 7. Viscosity of the collagen solution decreased continuously until $30^{\circ}C$ and this decreasing rate slowed in the temperature range of $35-50^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.2 s.69
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• pp.287-292
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• 2005

The crude galactomannans (GMs) were obtained from the culture of a newly isolated fungus Trichoderma erinaceum DG-312 and their anti-inflammatory activity was investigated in mice. The maximum concentrations of mycelial biomass and GMs reached 9.44 g/l, 2.72 g/l at day 3 in a 5-l stirred-tank bioreactor, respectively. The results of Sepharose CL-6B gel chromatography and compositional analysis revealed that the crude GMs contain heterogeneous polysaccharides consisting of $74.9\%$ mannose and $24.1\%$ galactose. The GMs was shown to possess a significant anti-inflammatory activity against acetic acid-induced inflammatory mouse model in a dose-dependent manner, when mice were treated with 100 and 200 mg GMs/kg body weight. The inhibition in vascular permeability $(60.6\%)$ and in writhing response $(62.5\%)$ evidenced an anti-inflammatory activity of the GMs. The marked anti-inflammatory and writhing-lowering properties of the GMs suggest its potential therapeutic use.