• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.1120-1128
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• 2004

The SCBFC was composed of bilayered cathode, the outside of which was modified with $Fe^{3+}$ (graphite-Fe(III) cathode) and the inside of which was porcelain membrane, and of an anode which was modified with $Mn^{4+}$ (graphite­Mn(lV) anode). The graphite-Fe(III), graphite-Mn(IV), and porcelain membrane were designed to have micropores. The outside of the cathode was exposed to the atmosphere and the inside was contacted with porcelain membrane. In all SCBFCS the graphite-Fe(III) was used as a cathode, and graphite-Mn(IV) and normal graphite were used as anodes, for comparison of the function between normal graphite and graphite-Mn(IV) anode. The potential difference between graphite-Mn(IV) anode and graphite-Fe(III) cathode was about 0.3 volt, which is the source for the electron driving force from anode to cathode. In chemical fuel cells composed of the graphite-Mn(IV) anode and graphite-Fe(III) cathode, a current of maximal 13 mA was produced coupled to oxidation of NADH to $NAD^{+}$ the current was not produced in SCBFC with normal graphite anode. When growing and resting cells of E. coli were applied to the SCBFC with graphite-Mn(IV) anode, the electricity production and substrate consumption were 6 to 7 times higher than in the SCBFC with normal graphite anode, and when we applied anaerobic sewage sludge to SCBFC with graphite-Mn(IV) anode, the electricity production and substrate consumption were 3 to 5 times higher than in the SCBFC with normal graphite anode. These results suggest that useful electric energy might possibly be produced from SCBFC without electron mediators, electrode-active bacteria, and extra energy consumption for the aeration of catholyte, but with wastewater as a fuel.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.830-837
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• 2011

A genomic DNA fragment encoding a putative maltooligosyltrehalose trehalohydrolase (NfMTH) for trehalose biosynthesis was cloned by the degenerate primer- PCR from cyanobacterium Nostoc flagelliforme. The ORF of NfMTH is 1,848 bp in length and encodes 615 amino acid residues, constituting a 70 kDa protein. The deduced amino acid sequence of NfMTH contains 4 regions highly conserved for MTHs. By expression of NfMTH in E. coli, the function of this protein was demonstrated, where the recombinant protein catalyzed the hydrolysis of maltooligosyl trehalose to trehalose. The expressions of MTH and maltooligosyltrehalose synthase in the filaments of N. flagelliforme were upregulated significantly under dehydration stress, NaCl stress, and high temperature-drought stress. The accumulations of both trehalose and sucrose in the filaments of N. flagelliforme were also improved significantly under the above stresses. Furthermore, trehalose accumulated in smaller quantities than sucrose did when under NaCl stress, but accumulated in higher quantities than sucrose did when under temperature-drought stress, indicating that both trehalose and sucrose were involved in N. flagelliforme adapted to stresses and different strategies conducted in response to various stress conditions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1093-1096
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• 2016

The tumor suppressor p16 is a biomarker for transforming human papilloma virus (HPV) infections that can lead to contradictory results in skin carcinomas. The aim of this study was to evaluate p16 expression and HPV-16 infection in the cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This case-control study was performed on paraffin blocks of BCCs and SCCs and normal skin (53, 36, and 44 cases, respectively), between 2006 to 2015. Initial sections for groups were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H & E). Immunohistochemistry was performed for p16 expression and human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV-16) infection. Normal group was skin of mammoplasty specimens and normal skin tissue in the periphery of tumors. The mean age at diagnosis was 42.1, 61.7 and 71.4 years for normal, BCC and SCC groups, respectively. P16 positivity was more in SCC and BCC groups compared to normal group (P<0.05) and HPV was negative in all patients in three groups. Also, the mean age at diagnosis and P16-positivity were higher for the SCC group than the BCC group (P<0.005). In conclusion, in non-melanoma skin cancers (SCC and BCC), p16-positivity can be a prognostic factor but there is no correlation between HPV-16 and p16 in these tumors.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.659-668
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• 2018

A series of direct shear tests were implemented on three different types of specimens (i.e., clean Perth sand, sand containing 10, 20 and 30% bentonite, sand containing 1, 3 and 5% slag, and sand containing 10, 20 and 30% bentonite with increasing percentages of added slag (1%, 3% and 5%). This paper focuses on the shear stress characteristics of clean sand and sand mixtures. The samples were tested under different three normal stresses (100, 150 and 200 kPa) and three curing periods of no curing time, 7 and 14 days. It was observed that the shear stresses of clean sand and mixtures were increased with increasing normal stresses. In addition, the use of slag has improved the shear strength of the sand-slag mixtures; the shear stresses rose from 128.642 kPa in the clean sand at normal stress of 200 kPa to 146.89 kPa, 154 kPa and 161.14 kPa when sand was mixed with 1%, 3% and 5% slag respectively and tested at the same normal stress. Internal friction angle increased from $32.74^{\circ}$ in the clean sand to $34.87^{\circ}$, $37.12^{\circ}$ and $39.4^{\circ}$ when sand was mixed with 1%, 3% and 5% slag respectively and tested at 100, 150, and 200 kPa normal stresses. The cohesion of sand-bentonite mixtures increased from 3.34 kPa in 10% bentonite to 22.9 kPa, 70.6 kPa when sand was mixed with 20% and 30% bentonite respectively. All the mixtures of clean sand, different bentonite and slag contents showed different behaviour; some mixtures exhibited shear stress more than clean sand whereas others showed less than clean sand. The internal friction angle increased, and cohesion decreased with increasing curing time.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.9
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• pp.403-409
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• 2014

Purpose: Although high morning blood pressure (BP) is known to be associated with the onset of cardiovascular events in adults, data on its effects in children with hypertension are limited. Our retrospective study aimed to define the clinical characteristics of children with morning hypertension (MH) and to determine its associated factors. Methods: We reviewed 31 consecutive patients with hypertension, confirmed by the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). We divided these patients into 2 groups: the MH group (n=21, 67.7%), morning BP above the 95th percentile for age and height (2 hours on average after waking up) and the normal morning BP group (n=10, 32.3%). We compared the clinical manifestations, laboratory results, and echocardiographic findings including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) between the groups. Results: The early/atrial (E/A) mitral flow velocity ratio in the MH group was significantly lower than that in the normal morning BP group. In addition, LV mass was higher in the MH group than in the normal morning BP group, although the difference was not statistically significant. The age at the time of hypertension diagnosis was significantly higher in the MH group than in the normal morning BP group (P =0.003). The incidence of hyperuricemia was significantly higher in the MH group than in the normal morning BP group. Conclusion: Older patients and those with hyperuricemia are at higher risk for MH. The rise in BP in the morning is an important factor influencing the development of abnormal relaxation, as assessed by echocardiography. Clinical trials with longer follow-up periods and larger sample sizes are needed to clarify the clinical significance of MH.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.1459-1462
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• 2009

Two new flavone glycosides, giraldiin A and B, together with three known compounds, annulatin, myricetin 3-O-$\alpha$- L-rhamnopyranoside and gallic acid, were isolated from the ethanol extract of the root of Pteroxygonum giraldii Damm. et Diels. The structures of giraldiin A and B are designated as 3'-($\alpha$-L-arabinopyranosyloxy)-4',5,5',7- tetrahydroxy-3-methoxyflavone and 4'-($\beta$-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-5,5',7-trihydroxy-2',3-dimethoxyflavone, respectively, on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analyses. The free radical scavenging activity of giraldiin A was evaluated by decolouring spectrophotometry of pentamethine cyanine dye (Cy5) with $Fe^{2+}-H_2O_2$ Fenton radical generating system. The results indicated the hydroxyl free radical scavenging activity of giraldiin A (E$D_{50}$ = 23.7 nmol/mL) is higher than that of some known antioxidants such as rutin, puerarin, daidzein and 2,6-di-tertbutyl-4-methylphenol.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.550-558
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• 2006

The study investigated the serum lipid metabolism and enzyme activities of Korean teas for their preventative activity against chronic disease and obesity. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were raised for 8 weeks on four experimental diets: normal diet, hyperlipidemic diet, and hyperlipidemic diet to which green and black teas (2% each) were added. Various biological actions, including lipid metabolism and enzyme activities of the serum, were investigated. Diet-induced, hyperlipidemic rats fed with green and black teas, showed significant decrease in food efficiency ratio, triglyceride, total lipid, and phospholipid compared to control, i.e. the normal and diet-induced, hyperlipidemic rats. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, Al(atherogenic index), LHR, VLDL-cholesterol, ester-cholesterol, and free-cholesterol also showed a significant decrease. However, there was no significant difference between the tea-fed, diet-induced, hyperlipidemic dieted groups. HDL-cholesterol concentration was increased significantly in the tea-dieted and normal groups compared to the control. There was a little difference in lipase activity between the normal and control groups, although green and black tea-dieted experimental groups were both increased compared to the control. The contents of total lipid, triglycerides, and total cholesterol were decreased in the normal and experimental groups compared to the control. The GOT, GPT, ALP and LDH serum enzyme activities of the experimental groups were significantly reduced compared to those of the control groups.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.33.1-33.15
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• 2020

Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) causes bovine ephemeral fever, which can produce considerable economic damage to the cattle industry. However, there is limited experimental evidence regarding the underlying mechanisms of BEFV. Annexin A2 (AnxA2) is a calcium and lipid-conjugated protein that binds phospholipids and the cytoskeleton in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner, and it participates in various cellular functions, including vesicular trafficking, organization of membrane domains, and virus proliferation. The role of the AnxA2 gene during virus infection has not yet been reported. In this study, we observed that AnxA2 gene expression was up-regulated in BHK-21 cells infected with the virus. Additionally, overexpression of the AnxA2 gene promoted the release of mature virus particles, whereas BEFV replication was remarkably inhibited after reducing AnxA2 gene expression by using the small interfering RNA (siRNA). For viral proteins, overexpression of the Matrix (M) gene promotes the release of mature virus particles. Moreover, the AnxA2 protein interaction with the M protein of BEFV was confirmed by GST pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation assays. Experimental results indicate that the C-terminal domain (268-334 aa) of AxnA2 contributes to this interaction. An additional mechanistic study showed that AnxA2 protein interacts with M protein and mediates the localization of the M protein at the plasma membrane. Furthermore, the absence of the AnxA2-V domain could attenuate the effect of AnxA2 on BEFV replication. These findings can contribute to elucidating the regulation of BEFV replication and may have implications for antiviral strategy development.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.878-889
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• 2023

Animal welfare during transport became an largely issue because of increasing demand for improved animal welfare standards. Most studies on the animal welfare during transportation have concentrated on the atmosphere and the temperature of the truck compartments. Thus, the objective of study was to collect and quantify three axis acceleration and determine the effect of bedding for transporting pigs from farm to slaughterhouse. A total of 2,840 crossbred fattening pigs with a live weight of approximately 115 kg were used. They were raised in the same commercial farms and transported to the same commercial slaughterhouse. A 3×2×2 completely randomized factorial design was used to investigate effects of rubber type bedding (bedding or non-bedding) and two levels of driving style (aggressive or normal) in three different time periods with different outside temperatures. Air temperature treatments were as follow: high temperature ([HT] higher than 24℃); low temperature ([LT] lower than 10℃); normal temperature ([NT] 10℃ to 24℃). In our experiment, pigs transported under aggressive driving style showed lower (p < 0.05) pH and water holding capacity (WHC) than those transported under normal driving style. Pigs transported under normal driving style showed a lower percentage of drip loss (DL) (p < 0.05) than those transported with an aggressive driving style. Also, transported with bedding showed higher (p < 0.05) lying behavior but lower (p < 0.05) sitting behavior than those transported without bedding. Pigs transported under normal driving style showed lower (p < 0.05) cortisol level than those transported under aggressive driving style. In conclusion, aggressive driving style cause acute stress in pigs, while bedding helps alleviate acute stress in pigs during transportation in LT.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8847-8853
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to establish the expression and localization of E-cadherin and ${\beta}$-catenin in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) so that we could correlate the findings with prognostic-relevant histopathological variables. E-cadherin and ${\beta}$-catenin expression in normal oral epithelia and in oral squamous cell carcinomas was examined immunohistochemically, and associations with histopathological differentiation and prognosis were then analyzed in 33 patients who had been operated on for OSCC. E-cadherin expression was found in (82%) of the squamous cells of well differentiated OSCC, (61%) of moderately differentiated and (39%) of poorly differentiated. E-cadherin expression was significantly associated with histological grade (p=0.000). No nuclear staining was detected. In (19.5%) of the cells E-cadherin localized in the cytoplasm, with no correlation to the histological grade (p=0.106). ${\beta}$-Catenin expression was found in 87% of the squamous cells of well differentiated OSCC, 67% of moderately differentiated and 43% of poorly differentiated, the expression was significantly associated with histological grade (p=0.000). the nuclear ${\beta}$-Catenin expression appeared in 3.3% of the cells and it was correlated to the histological grade (p=0.000). In (23.5%) of the cells ${\beta}$-Catenin localized in the cytoplasm, with correlation to the histological grade (p=0.002). According to this study the expression of ${\beta}$-catenin and E-cadherin were independent prognostic factors for histological grade. E-cadherin was closely linked to ${\beta}$-catenin expression in OSCC (p=0.000) and to tumor differentiation. That reflects a structural association and the role of both in tumor progression.