• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.443-452
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• 2020

Education using smart mobile devices has become part of current children's art education activities. Today's release of pen-equipped mobile devices and smart tablet PC's allows users to painting and coloring with digital devices. Today, art content for children is downloaded and can be educated at any time as an application. However, coloring games that give children the effect of art education are extremely rare, and the content elements in the games are similar to all games and lack the ability to express themselves. The study recognizes the importance of developing coloring game content for children's art education that can help children's coloring activities and improve creativity and imagination, and focuses on the direction and elements of developing children's coloring game content using smart mobile devices that fit digital coloring functions.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1491-1499
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• 2010

Rhizosphere microorganisms possessing phytase activity are considered important for rendering phytate-phosphorus (P) available to plants. In the present study, the Citrobacter braakii phytase gene (appA) was overexpressed in rhizobacteria possessing plant growth promoting (PGP) traits, for increasing their potential as bioinoculants. AppA was cloned under the lac promoter in the broadhost-range expression vector pBBR1MCS-2. Transformation of the recombinant construct pCBappA resulted in high constitutive phytase activity in all of the eight rhizobacterial strains belonging to genera Pantoea, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas (two strains), Rhizobium (two strains), and Ensifer that were studied. Transgenic rhizobacterial strains were found to display varying levels of phytase activity, ranging from 10-folds to 538-folds higher than the corresponding control strains. The transgenic derivative of Pseudomonas fluorescens CHA0, a well-characterized plant growth promoting rhizobacterium, showed the highest expression of phytase (~8 U/mg) activity in crude extracts. Although all transformants showed high phytase activity, rhizobacteria having the ability to secrete organic acid showed significantly higher release of P from Ca-phytate in buffered minimal media. AppA overexpressing rhizobacteria showed increased P content, and dry weight (shoot) or shoot/ root ratio of mung bean (Vigna radiata) plants, to different extents, when grown in semisolid agar (SSA) medium containing Na-phytate or Ca-phytate as the P sources. This is the first report of the overexpression of phytase in rhizobacterial strains and its exploitation for plant growth enhancement.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.623-628
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity-induced steatohepatitis accompanied by activated hepatic macrophages/Kupffer cells facilitates the progression of hepatic fibrinogenesis and exacerbates metabolic derangements such as insulin resistance. Heme oxyganase-1 (HO-1) modulates tissue macrophage phenotypes and thus is implicated in protection against inflammatory diseases. Here, we show that the flavonoid quercetin reduces obesity-induced hepatic inflammation by inducing HO-1, which promotes hepatic macrophage polarization in favor of the M2 phenotype. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were fed a regular diet (RD), high-fat diet (HFD), or HFD supplemented with quercetin (HF+Que, 0.5g/kg diet) for nine weeks. Inflammatory cytokines and macrophage markers were measured by ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. HO-1 protein was measured by Western blotting. RESULTS: Quercetin supplementation decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines ($TNF{\alpha}$, IL-6) and increased that of the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in the livers of HFD-fed mice. This was accompanied by upregulation of M2 macrophage marker genes (Arg-1, Mrc1) and downregulation of M1 macrophage marker genes ($TNF{\alpha}$, NOS2). In co-cultures of lipid-laden hepatocytes and macrophages, treatment with quercetin induced HO-1 in the macrophages, markedly suppressed expression of M1 macrophage marker genes, and reduced release of MCP-1. Moreover, these effects of quercetin were blunted by an HO-1 inhibitor and deficiency of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: Quercetin reduces obesity-induced hepatic inflammation by promoting macrophage phenotype switching. The beneficial effect of quercetin is associated with Nrf2-mediated HO-1 induction. Quercetin may be a useful dietary factor for protecting against obesity-induced steatohepatitis.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2018

Alpha-pinene is an organic compound that possesses antibiotic and anti-parasitic activities. In this study, we developed a layered nanocomposite to combat against Miamiensis avidus which causes scuticociliatosis in the olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. We used a solid-solid reaction to develop the layered nanocomposite, incorporating-pinene ($C_{10}H_{16}$) into organically modified montmorillonite. We used cetyltrimethylammonium cations as the interlayered modifier for the adsorption of hydrophobic pinene molecules. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the nanocomposite structure showed that the basal spacing increased from $9.6{\AA}$ to $30.4{\AA}$. Interestingly, the fraction of ${\alpha}$-pinene released remained constant for a long period of time (228 h) due to the layered nature of the nanocomposite. Additionally, optical microscopic images of the treated scuticociliatids revealed that their cells were lysed, and this effect increased with the increasing concertration of ${\alpha}$-pinene. Histopathological assessment of ${\alpha}$-pinene nanocomposite-treated olive flounder gills revealed no significant morphological changes, even at the highest concentration of the ${\alpha}$-pinene. The nanocomposite has several advantages, including easy handling, high solubility, low toxicity, and the easy formulation of granules or powder, which improve the pesticidal activity of ${\alpha}$-pinene. Collectively, our results suggest that ${\alpha}$-pinene nanocomposite may be a useful treatment against scuticociliatosis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2000

The physiological roles of brain angiotensin II in mediating water deprivation-induced drinking and in regulating renal renin release were assessed in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Specific $AT_1$ receptor antagonists, losartan and SK 1080, and antisense oligonucleotide (AS-ODN) directed to $AT_1$ receptor mRNA were intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) administered in conscious unrestrained rats. When water was given 20 min after i.c.v. injection of $AT_1$ receptor antagonists in 48-h water-deprived rats, losartan and SK 1080 produced approximatly 20% and 50% decrease in 1-h water intake, respectively. In contrast, i.c.v. treatment of the AS-ODN to $AT_1$ receptor mRNA for 24-h did not alter 1-h water intake in 24-h water-deprived rats, but prevented the increase in overnight water intake after 24-h water-deprivation. Six-day i.c.v. treatment of AS-ODN did not alter either the basal plasma renin concentration or renal cortical levels of renin and renin mRNA. The present results suggest that endogenous brain Ang II plays an important role in thirst and water intake through $AT_1$ receptors, but further studies are required to elucidate its regulatory role in renal renin synthesis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2000

To investigate the mechanism of smooth muscle contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores, we measured isometric contraction and $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx. $CaCl_2$ increased $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying- induced contraction in dose-dependent manner, but phospholipase C activity was not affected by the $Ca^{2+}$ store emptying-induced contraction. The contraction was inhibited by voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel antagonists dose dependently, but not by TMB-8 (intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release blocker). Both PKC inhibitors (H-7 and staurosporine) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (genistein and methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinnamic acid) significantly inhibited the contraction, but calmodulin antagonists (W-7 and trifluoperazine) had no inhibitory effect on the contraction. The combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were greater than that of each one alone. In $Ca^{2+}$ store-emptied condition, $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ influx was significantly inhibited by verapamil, H-7 or genistein but not by trifluoperazine. However combined inhibitory effects of protein kinase inhibitors, H-7 and genistein, together with verapamil were not observed. Therefore, this kinase pathway may modulate the sensitivity of contractile protein. These results suggest that contraction induced by emptying of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ stores was mediated by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through voltage-dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel, also protein kinase C and/or tyrosine kinase pathway modulates the $Ca^{2+}$ sensitivity of contractile protein.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.673-677
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• 2009

In order to verify the anti-inflammatory effects of Gelidium amansii, RAW264.7 macrophages were incubated with the extract of 70% ethanol solution (Ex), and activated with the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Ex inhibited the expression of the pro-inflammatory enzymes, including inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and the production of iNOS-mediated NO and COX-2-mediated prostglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production in a dose-dependent manner. Ex also reduced the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-1${\beta}$ (IL-1${\beta}$) and IL-6 in LPS-activated macrophages, The observed anti-inflammatory effects of Ex was associated with inactivation of the nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) that mediates the induction of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1${\beta}$, and IL-6. Further studies showed that Ex inactivated NF-${\kappa}B$ through inhibition of phosphorylation of the inhibitory ${\kappa}B$ ($l{\kappa}B$), Taken together, these results suggest that Gelidium amansii exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory enzymes and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines via inactivation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and/or $l{\kappa}B$.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.600-606
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate Anti-allergic Inflammatory Effects of Hwangyounhaedog-tang on PMA plus A23187-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells. We examined MTT assay, ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase activity, IL-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$ from RBL-2H3 after pre-treatment with HHT. In addition, we investigated expression of COX-1 and COX-2 mRNA using RT-PCR study. The results are as follows: All the concentrations of HHT from 1 to 4 mg/ml didn't have an effect on cell viability. In RBL-2H3 cells, ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release, IL-4 and TNF-${\alpha}$ were significantly reduced by treated all concentrations of HHT. COX-2 on mRNA expression was reduced at treatment 2mg of HHT prior to stimulating by A23187. These results indicate that HHT has inhibition effects on allergy in this study.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.142-151
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• 2002

The present study was attempted to investigate the effect of apamin on catecholamine (CA) secretion evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, cyclopiazonic acid and Bay-K-8644 from the isolated perfused rat adrenal gland and to establish the mechanism of its action. The perfusion of apamin (1 nM) into an adrenal vein for 20 min produced greatly potentiation in CA secretion evoked by ACh (5.32 $ imes$ $10^{-3}$ M), high $K^+$, (5.6 $ imes$ $10^{-2}$), DMPP ($10^{-4}$ M for 2 min), McN-A-343 ($10^{-4}$ M for 2 min), cyclopiazonic acid ($10^{-5}$ M for 4 min) and Bay-K-8644 ($10^{-5}$ M for 4 min). However, apamin itself did fail to affect basal catecholamine output. Furthermore, in adrenal glands preloaded with apamin (1 nM) under the presence of glibenclamide ($10^{-6}$ M), an antidiabetic sulfonylurea that has been shown to be a specific blocker of ATP-regulated potassium channels (for 20 min), CA secretion evoked by DMPP and McN-A-343 was not affected. However, the perfusion of high concentration of apamin (100 nM) into an adrenal vein for 20 min rather inhibited significantly CA secretory responses evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, McN-A-343, cyclopiazonic acid and Bay-K-8644. Taken together, these results suggest that the low concentration of apamin causes greatly the enhancement of CA secretion evoked by stimulation of cholinergic (both nicotinic and muscarinic) receptors as well as by membrane depolarization. These findings suggests that apamin-sensitive SK ($Ca^{2+}$) channels located in rat adrenal medullary chromaffin cells may play an inhibitory role in the release of catecholamines mediated by stimulation of cholinergic nicotinic and muscarinic receptors as well as membrane depolarization. However, it is thought that high concentration of apamin cause the inhibitory responses in catecholamine secretion evoked by stimulation of cholinergic receptors as well as by membrane depolarization from the rat adrenal gland without relevance with the SK channel blockade.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.307-312
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• 2013

Quetiapine is an atypical or second-generation antipsychotic agent and has been a subject of a series of case report and suggested to have the potential for misuse or abuse. However, it is not a controlled substance and is not generally considered addictive. In this study, we examined quetiapine's dependence potential and abuse liability through animal behavioral tests using rodents to study the mechanism of quetiapine. Molecular biology techniques were also used to find out the action mechanisms of the drug. In the animal behavioral tests, quetiapine did not show any positive effect on the experimental animals in the climbing, jumping, and conditioned place preference tests. However, in the head twitch and self-administration tests, the experimental animals showed significant positive responses. In addition, the action mechanism of quetiapine was found being related to dopamine and serotonin release. These results demonstrate that quetiapine affects the neurological systems related to abuse liability and has the potential to lead psychological dependence, as well.