• Title/Summary/Keyword: Systems Biotechnology

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Macrophage Stimulating Activity of Crude Polysaccharide on Maca (Lepidium meyenii) Varieties (마카 품종별 조다당 획분의 대식세포 활성)

  • Shin, Hyun Young;Kim, Hoon;Jeong, Eun-Jin;Yu, Kwang-Won
    • The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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    • v.35 no.1
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    • pp.7-15
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    • 2022
  • Maca roots (Lepidium meyenii) are an important medicinal herb that have long been used by the Andes-indigenous peoples and South Americans. In Korea, recently, it has attracted attention as a health food material because of nutritional values and physiological activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the industrial applicability of maca (red and golden varieties; R&G) as immunostimulating materials. In the macrophage stimulating assay using RAW 264.7 cells at 125~500 ㎍/mL of non-cytotoxicity doses, G-HW showed the most potent production of TNF-α, IL-6 and nitric oxide compared to red maca or the other extracts. The general component analysis results showed that all extracts comprised more than 90% neutral sugars with small amounts of uronic acid and protein. Meanwhile, component sugar analysis showed the difference in the content of uronic acids of cold- and hot-water extract. Additionally, the further fractionation of G-HW into crude polysaccharide (G-CP) greatly enhanced the macrophage stimulating activity, and G-CP contained macromolecules over 144 kDa, comprised mainly of glucose and galacturonic acid (51.0 and 34.9%). In conclusion, crude polysaccharide from maca showed industrial applicability as immunostimulating material, and especially golden maca showed higher macrophage stimulating activity than red maca.

Tracking Changes of Snow Area Using Satellite Images of Mt.Halla at an Altitude of 1,600 m (위성화상을 이용한 고도 1,600 m 이상의 한라산 적설 면적 변화 추적)

  • Han, Gyung Deok;Yoon, Seong Uk;Chung, Yong Suk;Ahn, Jinhyun;Lee, Seung-Jae;Kim, Yoon Seok;Min, Taesun
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.31 no.10
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    • pp.815-824
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    • 2022
  • It is necessary to understand the amount of snowfall and area of snow cover of Mt. Halla to ensure the safety of mountaineers and to protect the ecosystem of Mt. Halla against climate change. However, there are not enough related studies and observation posts for monitoring snow load. Therefore, to supplement the insufficient data, this study proposes an analysis of snow load and snow cover using normalized-difference snow index. Using the images obtained from the Sentinel2 satellite, the normalized-difference snow index image of Mt. Halla could be acquired. This was examined together with the meteorological data obtained from the existing observatory to analyze the change in snow cover for the years 2020 and 2021. The normalized-difference snow index images showed a smaller snow pixel number in 2021 than that in 2020. This study concluded that 2021 may have been warmer than 2020. In the future, it will be necessary to continuously monitor the amount of snow and the snow-covered area of Mt. Halla using the normalized-difference snow index image analysis method.

Improving Children's Emotional Health through Installing Biowalls in Classrooms

  • Lee, A-Young;Kim, Ha-Ram;Kwon, Hyuk Joon;Kim, Soo-Young;Park, Sin-Ae
    • Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.29-38
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    • 2021
  • Background and objective: The physical environment where children spend most of their time is closely associated with their emotional development. To improve the emotional health of children, the introduction of natural elements in the indoor space has been suggested, the benefits of which have been shown in preliminary studies. This study aims to examine the effects that a biowall - a wall installation - in a classroom has on the emotional health of children in kindergarten. Methods: A total of four biowalls were separately installed in four kindergarten classrooms at a school in Seoul, South Korea, and the 60 children in these classrooms participated in the study. We assessed the children's emotional intelligence (via an Emotional Intelligence Rating Scale), resilience (via the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment), and eco-friendly attitudes (via the Children's Attitudes Toward Scale) before the installation of the biowalls and then again 3 months later. Results: The children's emotional intelligence, resilience, and eco-friendly attitudes had been significantly improved after the installation of the biowalls (p = .01). The sub-categories of the children's emotional intelligence and resilience were also significantly improved (p < .001). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the potential of biowalls-as an indoor environmental factor-in promoting the healthy emotional development of children. By bringing natural elements into indoor classroom settings, biowalls appear to increase children's direct/indirect contact with nature. To extrapolate the results of the study to the general population, future studies should be conducted with broader age groups.

Characterization of ovarian culture in vitro and sex steroids in vivo by recombinant eel gonadotropin treatments in the eel Anguilla japonica

  • Kim, Dae-Geun;Kim, Jung-Hyun;Baek, Hea-Ja;Kim, Shin-Kwon;Min, Kwan-Sik;Kim, Dae-Jung
    • Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.25 no.1
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    • pp.12-19
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    • 2022
  • In the present study, we investigated the effects of recombinant eel gonadotropins (rec-GTHs) on maturation induction in immature ovarian culture in vitro and sex steroid hormones in vivo in the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica. To study the in vitro effects of rec-GTHs on estradiol-17β (E2) production in immature ovarian tissues, ovarian tissues were incubated with different doses of rec-follicle-stimulating hormone (rec-FSH) or rec-luteinizing hormone (rec-LH). The results revealed that the E2 levels in the rec-FSH (0.1, 0.5, or 1 ㎍/mL)- and rec-LH (0.1 or 0.5 ㎍/mL)-treated groups were significantly higher than those in the female eels from the control group. Furthermore, to investigate the in vivo effects of rec-GTHs on the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and plasma sex steroid hormone levels, the eels were injected intraperitoneally with eel's ringer (control), salmon pituitary extract (SPE; for female eels), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; for male eels), rec-FSH, rec-LH, and rec-FSH + rec-LH once a week. The results revealed that except for the SPE and the hCG groups, none of the groups exhibited a significant difference in GSI values. However, in vivo plasma E2 levels increased at the end of 4 weeks after rec-FSH treatment in female eels. Based on these results, it is suggested that rec-GTHs may have a positive effect on sexual maturation in female eels; however, further studies on complementary rec-protein production systems and additional glycosylation of rec-hormones are needed to elucidate hormone bioactivity in vivo and in vitro.

Awareness of Agro-Healing for Increased Utilization of Abandoned School Facilities in Rural Areas and Recognition Characteristics of Demand for Institutionalization - For Users of Uootdari Culture Village, Ezere and Woori Nuri Culture Center - (농촌 폐교 시설의 활용 증대를 위한 치유농업 인식과 제도화 수요에 대한 인식 특성 - 웃다리문화촌, 에제르와 우리누리문화관 이용자를 대상으로 -)

  • Lee, Sun-Mi;Kim, Jeong-Eun;Kim, Dae-Sik;Park, Sin-Ae
    • Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.29-35
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    • 2023
  • Although Due to industrial development and urbanization, the number of schools closing due to a decrease in the school-age population is increasing due to the phenomenon of relocation from farming and fishing villages. Closing schools are used as social and cultural facilities, or they are used to generate income by providing education and experiences. Agro-healing is an activity that promotes psychological, social, and physical health by using rural resources. By reflecting the Agro-healing in the services operated by the closed school, the perception of the provision of the Agro-healing service was investigated as a way to provide a therapeutic service to visitors and to increase the utilization of the closed school. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions, a total of 5 questions related to demographic information, a total of 5 questions related to the perception of agro-healing activities in closed school facilities. As a result, 347 people participated in the survey. The higher the awareness of agro-healing, the need for a agro-healing expert, the satisfaction with the use of rural closed school facilities, and the willingness to participate in agro-healing activities, the higher the awareness that the provision of agro-healing services was necessary by the state. Theses results are expected to be useful as basic to data to solve the diverse limitation in rural closed school and agro-healing activities.

Analysis of Key Parameters for the Printing Process Optimization of a Fluid Dispensing Systems (유체 디스펜싱 시스템의 프린팅 프로세스 최적화를 위한 주요 파라미터 분석)

  • Hoseung Kang;Haechang Jeong;Soonho Hong;Nam Kyung Yoon;Sunyoung Sohn
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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    • v.37 no.4
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    • pp.382-393
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    • 2024
  • The Microplotter system with a fluid dispensing method, sprays fluid based on ultrasonic pumping through piezoelectric devices. This technique can possible for various materials with a wide range of viscosities to be printed in microscale. In this paper, we introduces dispenser printing technology as well as aim to understand and apply various processes using the equipment. In addition, we will explain how to optimize the equipment by adjusting parameters such as spray intensity, tip height during printing, and patterning speed. By utilizing Microplotter's advantage of being compatible with a wide range of fluids, including metal nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, DNA, and proteins, it is expected to be used in various fields such as printed electronics, biotechnology, and chemical engineering.

Cytokinin signaling promotes root secondary growth and bud formation in Panax ginseng

  • Kyoung Rok Geem;Yookyung Lim;Jeongeui Hong;Wonsil Bae;Jinsu Lee;Soeun Han;Jinsu Gil;Hyunwoo Cho;Hojin Ryu
    • Journal of Ginseng Research
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    • v.48 no.2
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    • pp.220-228
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    • 2024
  • Background: Panax ginseng, one of the valuable perennial medicinal plants, stores numerous pharmacological substrates in its storage roots. Given its perennial growth habit, organ regeneration occurs each year, and cambium stem cell activity is necessary for secondary growth and storage root formation. Cytokinin (CK) is a phytohormone involved in the maintenance of meristematic cells for the development of storage organs; however, its physiological role in storage-root secondary growth remains unknown. Methods: Exogenous CK was repeatedly applied to P. ginseng, and morphological and histological changes were observed. RNA-seq analysis was used to elucidate the transcriptional network of CK that regulates P. ginseng growth and development. The HISTIDINE KINASE 3 (PgHK3) and RESPONSE REGULATOR 2 (PgRR2) genes were cloned in P. ginseng and functionally analyzed in Arabidopsis as a two-component system involved in CK signaling. Results: Phenotypic and histological analyses showed that CK increased cambium activity and dormant axillary bud formation in P. ginseng, thus promoting storage-root secondary growth and bud formation. The evolutionarily conserved two-component signaling pathways in P. ginseng were sufficient to restore CK signaling in the Arabidopsis ahk2/3 double mutant and rescue its growth defects. Finally, RNA-seq analysis of CK-treated P. ginseng roots revealed that plant-type cell wall biogenesis-related genes are tightly connected with mitotic cell division, cytokinesis, and auxin signaling to regulate CK-mediated P. ginseng development. Conclusion: Overall, we identified the CK signaling-related two-component systems and their physiological role in P. ginseng. This scientific information has the potential to significantly improve the field-cultivation and biotechnology-based breeding of ginseng.

Monitoring of infectious diseases in three grouper species (Hyporthodus septemfasciatus, Epinephelus moara and E. moara ♀× E. lanceolatus ♂) cultured in recirculating aquaculture systems (순환여과시스템에서 양식되는 바리과 어류 3종[능성어, (Hyporthodus septemfasciatus), 자바리(Epinephelus moara), 교잡종 대왕자바리(E. moara ♀× E. lanceolatus ♂)]의 감염성 질병 모니터링)

  • Hee-Jae Choi;Da-Yeon Choi;SungHyun Jo;JeYun Shin;Jong Yeon Park;In-chul Bang;Yue Jai Kang
    • Journal of fish pathology
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    • v.37 no.1
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    • pp.97-110
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    • 2024
  • The Serranidae is high-quality fish species with good meat quality and is traded at high price, and is attracting attention in South Korea as a cultured species that creates high added value. However, the high-density fish farming for mass production increases the risk of mass mortality due to infectious diseases, leading to enormous economic losses. Therefore, in order to safely prevent and protect farmed fish from serious infectious diseases, it is necessary to conduct disease monitoring on a regular basis. In this study, Hyporthodus septemfasciatus, Epinephelus moara, and the hybrid longtooth grouper (E. moara ♀×E. lanceolatus ♂) were collected once a month from fish farm of Garorim and Aquabiotech Co., Ltd for a total of six months, from July to December 2023. We investigated infections of five species of bacterial diseases, including Flavobacterium columnare, six species of viral diseases, including LCDV (lymphocystis disease virus), and parasitic pathogens in grouper farms. As the result, Vibrio vulnificus and V. harveyi were detected in H. septemfasciatus in August, in the case of viral diseases, NNV was detected in H. septemfasciatus from July to August using RT-PCR or PCR. Finally, In the case of parasitic diseases, Tricodina sp. was detected in E. moara and the hybrid longtooth grouper from August to December.

Effects of In Vitro Culture Systems on the Development of In Vitro Fertilized or DNA-Microinjected Embryos (체외 배양 체계가 체외수정 및 유전자 미세주입 수정란의 발달에 미치는 영향)

  • Park Y. S.;Min K. S.
    • Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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    • v.29 no.3
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    • pp.181-186
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    • 2005
  • This experiment was conducted to investigate effects of the two different in vitro production systems, serumcontaining system (IVM, IVF and IVC; TCM199, TALP and CR1aa) and serum-free system (IVM, IVF and IVC; IVMD101, IVMD100 and IVMD101), on the development of in vitro fertilized or DNA-microiniected embryos. We also examined the effect of DNA dosage and its expression pattern in embryos. The DNA used for microinjection was a green fluorescence protein gene. The development rates to $\geq$ 2cell, 8cell and blastocyst stage were significantly higher in vitro fertilized embryos than those in DNA-microinjected embryos. The development rate to the 8-cell stage was significantly higher in serum-free system than in serum-containing system (p<0.05; $3.3\%\;vs.\;15.5\%\;and\;21.4\%$, respectively). The development rates to the blastocyst stage of in vitro fertilzed or DNA-microinjected embryos between two different culture system ($2.7\%\;vs.\;2.3\%\;and\;23.0\%\;vs.\;23.6\%$, respectively) were not different. The development rates of embryos injected 2 ng/uL DNA was higher. than those of embryos injected 4 or 8 ng/uL DNA. The GFP expression rate of 1-cell embryos was significantly higher than that of 2-cell and 4-cell embryos, whereas the rates were not different between 4-cell and blastocyst-stage embryos.

Effect of different rearing systems on cortisol level and fatty acid composition in M-Longissimus of Korean native steers (사육방식의 차이가 거세한우의 등심내 콜티졸 수준 및 지방산조성에 미치는 영향)

  • Ha, Jae Jung;Oh, Dong Yep;Yi, Jun Koo;Lee, Jae-Young;Lee, Ji Hong;Park, Young Sik
    • Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.669-675
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    • 2015
  • This study was carried out to elucidate the effect of different rearing system on cortisol level, stress hormone, and fatty acid composition in the edible muscle tissues. These steers were reared in two different systems including antibiotic-free (ARS) and conservative system (CRS). In the M-Longissimus tissue, cortisol level was significantly lower in ARS than CRS, (p=0.0176). But, the levels of total saturated and unsaturated-fatty acids does not differ in ARS as CRS (p >0.05). However, the total saturated fatty acid levels tended to be greater in CRS and the total unsaturated fatty acid levels tended to be greater in ARS. However, the level of n-6 unsaturated fatty acid was higher in ARS than CRS (p=0.004). Especially, levels of linoleic acid (LA) and ${\gamma}$-linolenic acid (GLA) were significantly higher in ARS (p <0.01). Cortisol level and the n-6 fatty acid content in muscle tissue were negatively correlated (at p=0.00140.) In conclusion, ARS may produce beef with higher quality which contains lower cortisol and greater n-6 fatty acids, such as ALA and GLA.