• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.910-917
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• 2015

A total of 646 strains, including green algae and diatoms, were isolated from 220 samples to screen microalgae with high lipid productivity (LP). The samples were obtained from nine habitats in Northern Xinjiang, China in June 2013. This study initially identified eight lipidrich strains, namely, Desmodesmus intermedius XJ-498, D. intermedius XJ-145, D. intermedius XJ-99, Monoraphidium pusillum XJ-489, M. dybowskii XJ-435, M. dybowskii XJ-151, Mychonastes homosphaera XJ-488, and Podohedriella falcata XJ-176, based on 18S rDNA sequencing. The strains were cultured in a photobioreactor for the same period. Results showed that the specific growth rate (day^-1) of M. pusillum XJ-489 was the highest (1.14 ± 0.06), and the biomass concentration (g/l) of D. intermedius XJ-99 was the highest (2.84 ± 0.3). Futhermore, the lipid content (%) of M. dybowskii XJ-151 was the highest (33.5 ± 4.38), and the lipid productivity (mg l^-1 day^-1) of My. homosphaera XJ-488 was the highest (86.41 ± 9.04). C16 to C18 accounted for 86% to 98% of the total lipid, and the biodiesel qualities of the selected algae corresponded to international standards. This study suggests that My. homosphaera XJ-488, D. intermedius XJ-99, and M. dybowskii XJ-151 are the most potential strains for biodiesel production among all the isolated strains.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2014

The effects of initial solid concentration and microwave irradiation (MWI) time on the hydrolysis of waste activated sludge (WAS) were investigated. MWI time strongly influenced WAS hydrolysis for all initial solid concentrations of 8.20, 31.51, and 52.88 g VSS/L. For all WAS, the volatile suspended solids (VSS) solubilization degree ranged from 35.6% to 38.4% during a total MWI time of 10 min. Soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) concentration increased at a rate proportional to the decrease of VSS during the MWI. However, the clearly different VSS solubilization patterns that were observed during the MWI were explained by the 2-step hydrolysis of WAS, consisting of the initial disintegration of the easily degradable part of the sludge, followed by the subsequent disintegration of the hardly degradable part of the sludge. WAS hydrolysis rates for 3 to 6 min of MWI were significantly lower than those for less than 3 min, or more than 6 min. From these results, 3 min MWI time and WAS of 31.51 g VSS/L (centrifugal thickener WAS) showed the most efficient hydrolysis of WAS at 36.0%. The profiles of total nitrogen (T-N) concentrations corresponded well to the SCOD increases in terms of the empirical formula of bacterial cell mass ($C_5H_7O_2N$). The negligible T-N increase and pH decrease during WAS hydrolysis by MWI will allow the application of this process to subsequent biological processes, such as anaerobic digestion.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2006

We produced the electron density distribution in the ionosphere over South Korea using the data from nine permanent GPS (Global Positioning System) stations which have been operated by KASI (Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute). The dual-frequency GPS receiver data was used to precisely estimate the electron density in the ionosphere and we obtained the precise electron density profile based on two-dimensional TEC (Total Electron Contents). We applied ART (Algebraic Reconstruction Technique), which is one of the most commonly used algorithms to develop the tomography model. This paper presented the electron density distribution over South Korea with time. We compared with the electron density profiles derived from the GPS tomography reconstruction, Ionosonde measurement data obtained by observations, and the IRI-2001 values. As a result, the electron density profile by GPS reconstruction was in excellent agreement with the electron density profile obtained by Ionosonde measurement data.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.12-19
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was done out to evaluate the effects of Sida rhombifolia methanol extract (SRM) on diabetes in moderately diabetic (MD) and severely diabetic (SD) Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: SRM was prepared by soaking the powdered plant material in 70% methanol and rota evaporating the methanol from the extract. Effective hypoglycemic doses were established by performing oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) in normal rats. Hourly effects of SRM on glucose were observed in the MD and the SD rats. Rats were grouped, five rats to a group, into normal control 1 (NC1), MD control 1 (MDC1), MD experimental 1 (MDE1), SD control 1 (SDC1), and SD experimental 1 (SDE1) groups. All rats in the control groups were administered 1 mL of distilled water (DW). The rats in the MDE1 and the SDE1 groups were administered SRM orally at 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight (BW), respectively, dissolved in 1 mL of DW. Blood was collected initially and at intervals of 1 hour for 6 hours to measure blood glucose. A similar experimental design was followed for the 30-day long-term trial. Finally, rats were sacrificed, and blood was collected to measure blood glucose, lipid profiles, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH). Results: OGTTs indicated that two doses (200 and 300 mg/kg BW) were effective hypoglycemic doses in normal rats. Both doses reduced glucose levels after 1 hour in the MDE1 and the SDE1 groups. A long-term trial of SRM in the MD group showed a reduced glucose level, a normal lipid profile, and normal GSH and TBARS levels. In SD rats, SRM had no statistically significant effects on these parameters. Normal weight was achieved in the MD rats, but the SD rats showed reduced BW. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that SRM has potential to alleviate the conditions of moderate diabetic, but not severe diabetes.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2004

In postmenopausal women, the incidence of cardiovascular disease(CVD) is common and there is growing evidences that astaxanthin has a strong antioxidant capacity and plays a beneficial role in the prevention of CVD. However, current data are not sufficient to determine the effect of astaxanthin on improving lipid profiles and antioxidant capacity in human. In this study, 15 healthy postmenopausal women were divided into 3 groups and given astaxanthin supplements of 0,2 or 8mg/day for 8 weeks. Blood samples were taken before and after 4 and 8 weeks of astaxanthin supplementation for analysis of serum total choelsterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, plasma TBARS, total antioxidant status(TAS) and urinary 8-isoprostanes. HDL-cholesterollevels in 2mg and 8mg group increased significantly after 8 weeks from 50.6$\pm$5.8 to 60.4$\pm$7.1mg/dl, 44.4$\pm$10.7 to 49.4$\pm$2.7$mg/dl$ respectively (p<0.05). In the 2mg group, triglyceride decreased significantly from 171.6$\pm$67.4 mg/$dl$ to 145.8$\pm$5.1$mg/dl$ (p<0.05). Plasma TBARS level in the 2mg group decreased from 1.42$\pm$0.18nM/mg to 1.13$\pm$0.18nM/mg after 8 weeks (p<0.05). In the 8mg group, TBARS level decreased significantly from 1.62$\pm$0.14nM/mg to 1.13$\pm$0.12nM/mg after 8 weeks (p<0.05). TAS, as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, increased significantly from 0.85$\pm$0.42mM/$l$ to 1.90$\pm$0.58mM$l$ after 8 weeks in the 8mg group (p<0.05). Urinary 8-isoprostanes excretion did not decrease significantly with astaxanthin supplementation. In conclusion, it would be helpful for postmenopausal women with common cardiovascular disease to supplement with astaxanthin as an antioxidant.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.85-91
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• 2015

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has reduced AIDS-related morbidity and mortality; however, it has been associated with metabolic abnormalities including dyslipidemia and dysglycemia depending on the regimens used. The aims of this study were to analyze the prescription patterns of antiretroviral agents and to examine the prevalence of lipid abnormalities among the prescriptions of HAART. The electronic medical records (EMR) of HIV patients were retrospectively reviewed from January 2007 to September 2012 based on our inclusion criteria. The patients who had taken HAART for at least 3 months were included in this study. The lipid profiles of patients on antiretrovirals (ARTs) were collected from his or her laboratory data, and dyslipidemia was defined as total cholesterol (TC) ${\geq}240mg/dL$ and triglycerides (TG) >200 mg/dL. Eighty-four prescriptions were discovered during the study period. Twenty-three prescriptions were the combination of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and one non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). Fifty-three prescriptions were the combination of two NRTIs and one protease inhibitor (PI) and thirty-nine prescriptions of them included a PI booster. Eight prescriptions were the combination of two NRTIs and one integrase inhibitor. The Incidence of hypertriglyceridemia among the patients receiving HAART was totally about 41.7% (2NRTIs+PI regimen vs. 2NRTIs+NNRTI regimen vs. 2 NRTIs+integrase inhibitor regimen, 52% vs. 12.5% vs. 25%), but there was no incidence of hypercholesterolemia. This study investigated that the prescription medication patterns and dyslipidemia associated with lipid abnormalities among HIV patients receiving HAART. The types of HAART prescription regimens had an effect on the occurrence of hypertriglycemia. Further studies related to metabolic abnormalities and adverse effects of HIV patients on ARTs are needed in the near future.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 2020

This study investigated the effects of the dietary supplementation with gaeddongssuk (Artemisia annua L.) powder on blood biochemical compositions, meat lipids and fatty acid profiles of the broiler chicks. One hundred male broiler chicks were divided randomly into five groups: group fed with basal diet (Control); group supplemented with 2.5% antibiotics in the drink water (Antibiotics), and groups supplemented gaeddongssuk powder with 5% (BG-I), 6% (BG-II), and 7% (BG-III) in the basal diets. Levels of total lipid and LDL-C in serum of broiler chicks were significantly lower in the groups supplemented with gaeddongssuk compared to the Antibiotics group. Contents of triglyceride and total cholesterol were significantly lower in the BG-III. HDL-C level was significantly higher in BG-I and BG-II compared to the Antibiotics group. Antioxidant activity of serum in the BG-II was significantly higher than Control and Antibiotics groups. Lipid peroxide contents in the BG-I and BG-II were significantly lower than to the Antibiotics group. Total lipids level of breast and legs meat was significantly lower in the groups supplemented gaeddongssuk compared to the Antibiotics group. Total cholesterol level of breast meat was significantly lower in the groups supplemented with gaeddongssuk compared to the Antibiotics group. UFA/SFA ratio of breast and legs meat from the BG-II was tend to higher compared to Control and Antibiotics groups. Taken together, these results suggest that dietary supplementation of gaeddongssuk with 6% could be applicable as the possibility to improve blood biochemical compositions and meat lipids properties in broiler chicks.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.229-234
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• 2008

We used serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) approach to derive a profile of expressed genes of the posterior silk glands (PSG) and to create a reference for understanding gene cluster related to the mechanism of silk protein synthesis in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. We constructed a 3' SAGE library from the PSG of the fifth instar larvae of the silkworm. In total we obtained 2,406 SAGE tags, of which 682 were unique tags. Sorted by tag count number, 27 (4%) unique tags were significantly more abundant genes (ten or more times), whereas 445 (65%) unique tags were detected as single copies. The annotation of 682 unique SAGE tags revealed that 462 (68%) of the SAGE tag sequences represented known genes, whereas 220 (32%) of the tag sequences had no matches in SAGE map and silkworm EST databases. Of the 682 SAGE tags, the most abundant tag sequences were that of the fibroin light chain gene and the silk protein P25. In addition, we compared two relative abundance results of the SAGE and the EST approaches to verify whether their transcript quantitative aspects are significant or not. The comparative results of relative abundances of the fibroin H-, L- chain and P25 glycoprotein genes indicated that the quantitative approach based on SAGE tags is effective for quantitative cataloging and comparison of expressed genes in same organs. The SAGE tag information reported in this study would be useful for researchers in the field to analyze genes associated with silk processing mechanisms of insects.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2007

The present study demonstrates the changes in body weight (BW) and plasma sex steroid hormone profiles during artificial maturation induced by human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or salmon pituitary extract (SPE) injections in cultured eel, Anguilla japonica, kept in seawater for 3 months. In the weekly SPE-injected female group, BW was relatively stable during vitellogenesis. Following induction of vitellogenesis, females exhibited a rapid increase of BW, and the oocytes were observed to be in the migratory nucleus stage at the end of the experiment. Plasma testosterone (T) and $estradiol-17{\beta}$ ($E_2$) levels increased slightly during vitellogenesis and peaked at an average of 5.82 ng/mL and 4.76 ng/mL, respectively, at the end of the experiment. In the weekly control and HCG-injected female groups, BW slowly decreased during the experimental period, and the oocytes of the two groups were observed to be at the primary yolk globule stage. In the weekly HCG-injected female group, plasma T and $E_2$ levels increased slightly during vitellogenesis and decreased afterward. In the control female group, however, plasma T and $E_2$ levels were not altered during the experimental period. Furthermore, plasma $17{\alpha},20{\beta}-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one$ (DHP) was not detected in all experimental groups. Fertility and hatching rates of SPE-injected females were significantly higher in those that ovulated 15 h after DHP injection than 18 h. These results indicate that long rearing in seawater increases responsiveness to SPE in ovarian maturation of the Japanese eel, resulting in shortened period from completion of vitellogenesis by sex steroid hormone production.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1455-1462
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• 2012

The vertical distributions of nitrifying bacteria in aerobic fixed biofilm were investigated to evaluate the relationship between nitrification performance and microbial community at different HRT. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and portable ion selective microelectrode system were adopted to analyze microbial communities and ions profiles according to the biofilm depth. Cilia media packed MLE (Modified Ludzack-Ettinger) like reactor composed of anoxic, aerobic I/II was operated with synthetic wastewater having COD 200 mg/L and $NH_4{^+}$-N mg/L at HRT of 6 hrs and 4 hrs. Total biofilm thickness of aerobic I, II reactor at 4 hrs condition was over two times than that of 6 hrs condition due to the sufficient substrate supply at 4 hrs condition (6 hrs; aerobic I 380 ${\mu}m$ and II 400 ${\mu}m$, 4 hrs; aerobic I 830 ${\mu}m$ and II 1040 ${\mu}m$). As deepen the biofilm detection point, the ratio of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was decreased while the ratio of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) was maintained similar distribution at both HRT condition. The ratio of AOB was higher at 4 hrs than 6 hrs condition and $NH_4{^+}$-N removal efficiency was also higher at 4 hrs with 89.2% than 65.4% of 6 hrs. However, the ratio of NOB was decreased when HRT was reduced from 6 hrs to 4 hrs and $NO_2{^-}$-N accumulation was observed at 4 hrs condition. Therefore, it is considered that insufficient HRT condition could supply sufficient substrate and enrichment of AOB in all depth of fixed biofilm but cause decrease of NOB and nitrite accumulation.