• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1280-1286
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• 2016

This study was aimed to evaluate the in vitro effects of medicinal herb extracts (MHEs) on ruminal fermentation characteristics and the inhibition of protozoa to reduce methane production in the rumen. A fistulated Hanwoo was used as a donor of rumen fluid. The MHEs (T1, Veratrum patulum; T2, Iris ensata var. spontanea; T3, Arisaema ringens; T4, Carduus crispus; T5, Pueraria thunbergiana) were added to the in vitro fermentation bottles containing the rumen fluid and medium. Total volatile fatty acid (tVFA), total gas production, gas profiles, and the ruminal microbe communities were measured. The tVFA concentration was increased or decreased as compared to the control, and there was a significant (p<0.05) difference after 24 h incubation. pH and ruminal disappearance of dry matter did not show significant difference. As the in vitro ruminal fermentation progressed, total gas production in added MHEs was increased, while the methane production was decreased compared to the control. In particular, Arisaema ringens extract led to decrease methane production by more than 43%. In addition, the result of real-time polymerase chain reaction indicted that the protozoa population in all added MHEs decreased more than that of the control. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that MHEs could have properties that decrease ruminal methanogenesis by inhibiting protozoa species and might be promising feed additives for ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.190-197
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• 2011

The objective of the present study was to elucidate the fundamental mechanism of bovine oviduct epithelial cell (BOEC) co-culture on developmental capacity of bovine IVM/IVF embryos and to determine whether or not melatonin acts as an antioxidant in BOEC culture and subsequent embryo development. These studies examined the effects of melatonin against NO-induced oxidative stress on cell viability, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and the expression of antioxidant genes (CuZnSOD, MnSOD and Catalase) or apoptosis genes (Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and Bax) during BOECs culture. We also evaluated the developmental rates of bovine IVM/IVF embryos with BOEC co-culture, which were pre-treated with melatonin ($1,000\;{\mu}M$) in the presence or absence of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, $1,000\;{\mu}M$) for 24 h. Cell viability in BOECs treated with SNP (50-$2,000\;{\mu}M$) decreased while melatonin addition (1-$1,000\;{\mu}M$) increased viability in a dose-dependent manner. Cell viability in melatonin plus SNP ($1,000\;{\mu}M$) gradually recovered according to increasing melatonin addition (1-$1,000\;{\mu}M$). The LPO products were measured by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) reaction for malondialdehyde (MDA). Addition of melatonin in BOEC culture indicated a dose-dependent decrease of MDA, and in the SNP group among BOECs treated with SNP or melatonin plus SNP groups MDA was significantly increased compared with SNP plus melatonin groups (p<0.05). In expression of apoptosis or antioxidant genes detected by RT-PCR, Bcl-2 and antioxidant genes were detected in melatonin or melatonin plus SNP groups, while Caspase-3 and Bax genes were only found in the SNP group. When bovine IVM/IVF embryos were cultured for 6-7 days under the BOEC co-culture system pre-treated with melatonin in the presence or absence of SNP, the highest developmental ability to blastocysts was obtained in the $1,000\;{\mu}M$ melatonin group. These results suggest that melatonin has an anti-oxidative effect against NO-induced oxidative stress on cell viability of BOECs and on the developmental competence of bovine IVM/IVF embryo co-culture with BOEC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.179-183
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• 2016

Breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer among women around the world, and mortality is primarily caused by micro-metastatic disease. The complex mechanisms of breast cancer invasion and metastasis are intrinsically related to the malignant cell type so that early detection of micro-metastases can help prolongation of survival for patient. The aim of the present research work was evaluation of the expression status of mammoglobin protein as a candidate molecular marker in the negative sentinel lymph node (SLN). Fifty tumor specimens, and 50 normal adjacent breast tissue samples from the same patients were selected on the basis of having more than 10% tumor content for RNA extraction from SLNs. Tumor samples and normal adjacent breast tissue were archived in the form of frozen fresh tissue in liquid nitrogen. Real-time PCR was performed on a Bioner life express gradient thermal cycler system. Mammoglobin gene overexpression in breast cancer metastasis was investigated. Single marker results were mammaglobin 66.7% and CK19 50.0%, with 58.3% for the two in combination. Due to improved outcome with at least 3 genes (83.3%), it seems, triple marker evaluation will be most likely useful for detecting micro-metastases instead of studying separate genes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1824-1836
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• 2020

Objective: On the hypothesis that grazing of cattle prompts organs to secrete or internalize circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) in parallel with changes in energy metabolism, we aimed to clarify biological events in adipose, skeletal muscle, and liver tissues in grazing Japanese Shorthorn (JSH) steers by a transcriptomic approach. Methods: The subcutaneous fat (SCF), biceps femoris muscle (BFM), and liver in JSH steers after three months of grazing or housing were analyzed using microarray and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), followed by gene ontology (GO) and functional annotation analyses. Results: The results of transcriptomics indicated that SCF was highly responsive to grazing compared to BFM and liver tissues. The 'Exosome', 'Carbohydrate metabolism' and 'Lipid metabolism' were extracted as the relevant GO terms in SCF and BFM, and/or liver from the >1.5-fold-altered mRNAs in grazing steers. The qPCR analyses showed a trend of upregulated gene expression related to exosome secretion and internalization (charged multivesicular body protein 4A, vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 4B, vesicle associated membrane protein 7, caveolin 1) in the BFM and SCF, as well as upregulation of lipolysis-associated mRNAs (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A, hormone-sensitive lipase, perilipin 1, adipose triglyceride lipase, fatty acid binding protein 4) and most of the microRNAs (miRNAs) in SCF. Moreover, gene expression related to fatty acid uptake and inter-organ signaling (solute carrier family 27 member 4 and angiopoietin-like 4) was upregulated in BFM, suggesting activation of SCF-BFM organ crosstalk for energy metabolism. Meanwhile, expression of plasma exosomal miR-16a, miR-19b, miR-21-5p, and miR-142-5p was reduced. According to bioinformatic analyses, the c-miRNA target genes are associated with the terms 'Endosome', 'Caveola', 'Endocytosis', 'Carbohydrate metabolism', and with pathways related to environmental information processing and the endocrine system. Conclusion: Exosome and fatty acid metabolism-related gene expression was altered in SCF of grazing cattle, which could be regulated by miRNA such as miR-142-5p. These changes occurred coordinately in both the SCF and BFM, suggesting involvement of exosome in the SCF-BFM organ crosstalk to modulate energy metabolism.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.709-714
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• 2018

This study researched the reasons for changing polarity in accordance with junction properties in an interface of semiconductors. The contact properties of semiconductors are related to the effect of the semiconductor's device. Therefore, it is an important factor for understanding the junction characteristics in the semiconductor to increase the efficiency of devices. For generation of various junction properties, carbon-doped silicon oxide (SiOC) was deposited with various argon (Ar) gas flow rates, and the characteristics of the SiOC was varied based on the polarity in accordance with the Ar gas flows. Tin-doped zinc oxide (ZTO) as the conductor was deposited on the SiOC as an insulator to research the conductivity. The properties of the SiOC were determined from the formation of a depletion layer by the ionization reaction with various Ar gas flow rates due to the plasma energy. Schottky contact was good in the condition of the depletion layer, with a high potential barrier between the silicon (Si) wafer and the SiOC. The rate of ionization reactions increased when increasing the Ar gas flow rate, and then the potential barrier of the depletion layer was also increased owing to deficient ions from electron-hole recombination at the junction. The dielectric properties of the depletion layer changed to the properties of an insulator, which is favorable for Schottky contact. When the ZTO was deposited on the SiOC with Schottky contact, the stability of the ZTO was improved by the ionic recombination at the interface between the SiOC and the ZTO. The conductivity of ZTO/SiOC was also increased on SiOC film with ideal Schottky contact, in spite of the decreasing charge carriers. It increases the demand on the Schottky contact to improve the thin semiconductor device, and this study confirmed a high-performance device owing to Schottky contact in a low current system. Finally, the amount of current increased in the device owing to ideal Schottky contact.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.913-920
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• 2003

Soybean sauce fermented with soybean and wheat, has been a major condiment of Korean diets from centuries ago. Melanoidin, a brown pigment generally found in various food systems, is a final product produced in amino-carbonyl reaction during soybean sauce processing. Antioxidative activities of soybean sauce and melanoidin were investigated in vitro system using linoleic acid emulsion. Soybean sauce and glucose-lysine model melanoidin showed the stronger antioxidative effect than control by ferric thiocyanate and conjugated diene assays. In addition, DPPH radical scavenging effect of soybean sauce was higher than melanoidin, which was ascribed to soluble peptide and low molecular protein existing in soybean sauce. To ascertain antioxidative effect of dietary soybean sauce and melanoidin in vivo, the male Wister rats were fed 10% soybean sauce or 10% glucose-lysine model melanoidin with corn oil or fish oil for 5 weeks. Fatty acid compositions in liver and plasma were influenced by oil source. Therefore, EPA and DHA contents of fish oil group were higher than those of corn oil group. When the inhibitory effect of soybean sauce and melanoidin on lipid peroxidation using TBARS methods was measured, fish oil group (FC) showed higher malondialdehyde (MDA) content than corn oil group (CC). However, supplementation of soybean sauce and melanoidin to fish oil group attenuated MDA formation. In the levels of phosphatidyl choline hydroperoxide (PCOOH) in liver and plasma by CL (chemiluminescence)-HPLC method, PCOOH in FC group was significantly higher than that of CC group both in liver and plasma. Supplementation of soybean sauce to fish oil groups significantly inhibited the formation of PCOOH in plasma and liver, while melanoidin suppressed hepatic PCOOH formation. Based on these results, it can be suggested that soybean sauce possesses stronger antioxidative potential than melanoidin.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.547-555
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• 2020

Objective: Apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) affects mammalian follicular development and fecundity. This study aimed to explore the regulatory relationship between microRNA-26a (miR-26a) and the 3β-hydroxysteroid-Δ24-reductase gene (DHCR24) gene in porcine follicular granular cells (pGCs), and to provide empirical data for the development of methods to improve the reproductive capacity of pigs. Methods: The pGCs were transfected with miR-26a mimic, miR-26a inhibitor and DHCR24-siRNA in vitro. The cell apoptosis rate of pGCs was detected by the flow cytometry. The secretion levels of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) in pGCs were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Double luciferase validation system was used to detect the binding sites between miR-26a and DHCR24 3'-UTR region. Qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to verify the DHCR24 mRNA and protein expression in pGCs, respectively, after transfecting with miR-26a mimic and miR-26a inhibitor. Results: Results showed that enhancement of miR-26a promoted apoptosis, and inhibited E2 and P secretion in pGCs. Meanwhile, inhibition of DHCR24 also upregulated the Caspase-3 expression, reduced the BCL-2 expression, promoted pGCs apoptosis, and inhibited E2 and P secretion in pGCs. There were the binding sites of miR-26a located within DHCR24 3'-UTR. Up-regulation of miR-26a inhibited DHCR24 mRNA and protein expression in pGCs. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that miR-26a can promote cell apoptosis and inhibit E2 and P secretion by inhibiting the expression of DHCR24 in pGCs.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2008

We have studied the effect of heat treatment of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) as a counter electrode on the electro-chemical properties of dye-snsitized solar cells. MWNTs on the p-type Si substrate were synthesized by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using Fe catalysts. We prepared the two types of MWNTs samples with the different diameters. The rapid thermal annealing (RTA) treatment for the MWNTs was carried out at the growth temperature ($900^{\circ}C$) for 1 minute with $N_2$ gas atmosphere. The structural, electrical and electrochemical properties of MWNTs were investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Raman spectroscopy, 2-point probe station and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The I(D)/I(G) ratio of heat-treated MWNTs in Raman spectra was considerably decreased. It was also found that the heat-treated MWNTs showed better redox reaction of iodide at the interface between MWNTs surface and electrolyte than that of as-grown MWNTs. The redox resistance value of heat-treated electrodes was measured to be much lower than that of as-grown electrode at the interface. As a result, the counter electrode using the heat-treated MWNTs showed better electrochemical properties.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 2014

The effects of pH and oxygen back-flushing were investigated in hybrid process of ceramic microfiltration and PES (polyethersulfone) beads loaded with titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) photocatalyst for advanced drinking water treatment in viewpoints of membrane fouling resistance ($R_f$), permeate flux (J), and total permeate volume ($V_T$). As increasing pH, $R_f$ decreased and J increased. Finally the maximum $V_T$ could be acquired at pH 9. Treatment efficiencies of turbidity was almost same independent of pH. Treatment efficiency of dissolved organic matters (DOM) decreased as increasing pH. As results of comparing the oxygen and nitrogen back-flushing, $R_{f,180}$ at oxygen back-flushing was the lower than that at nitrogen back-flushing, and the dimensionless final permeate flux ($J_{180}/J_0$) by initial permeate flux ($J_0$) at oxygen back-flushing was maintained the higher than that at nitrogen back-flushing except 10 and 12 min of back-flushing period (FT). Treatment efficiency of turbidity at oxygen back-flushing was a little higher than that at nitrogen back-flushing. Treatment efficiency of the DOM at nitrogen back-flushing was the higher than that at oxygen back-flushing. Also, treatment efficiency of turbidity at saturated oxygen was similar with those of oxygen and nitrogen back-flushing, but the treatment efficiency of DOM was increased significantly because OH radical could be generated by reaction between saturated oxygen and photocatalyst.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.384-390
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• 2018

Air and soil are being contaminated by the environmental pollution as a result of climate change and urbanization, resulting in water pollution reaching serious levels. In this studies, we investigated the use of antimicrobial copper for the removal of biological pollutants from water system. Specifically, we tested its effects against E. coli, B. subtilis, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa. Made a sphere shape having a diameter of 2cm using a strip-shaped copper wire of 0.5g, 1g and 2g. And then, to confirm the antimicrobial activities, each copper ball was equipped in the broth which inoculated each pathogens. The results showed that bacterial growth of the five test bacteria was inhibited by more than 99% after reaction with a 0.5 g copper ball for at least 20 minutes. Based on the these results, if perform the further experiment such cytotoxicity, it is expected that will be enough to be used as a filter for water quality purification. The developed technique is expected to be widely applied in various industries.