• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.210-218
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• 2012

The morphological characteristics, carbon and nitrogen concentrations, stable isotope values and photosynthetic rates of Porphyra yezoensis were studied at the main purple lavers production areas on southwestern coast of Korea. The morphological characteristics of leaf length, leaf width and weight of Porphyra blades were between 11.6~16.3 (average 13.8) cm, 4.6~6.3 (average 5.4) cm, $1.1{\sim}2.6(average\;1.86)g\;DW\;m^{-2}$, respectively. Photosynthetic pigment of Chl a concentration of Porphyra blades was between $2.18{\sim}17.77(average\;9.65)mg\;DW\;Chl\;a\;m^{-2}$. Carbon and nitrogen concentrations of Porphyra blades was between $201{\sim}317(average\;240)mg\;DW\;g^{-1}$, $39.8{\sim}50.0(average\;43.5)mg\;DW\;g^{-1}$ and C/N ratio 5.0~6.7 (average 5.5). The range of average ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of Porphyra blades was between - 25.6 to - 24.0 (average - 24.7)‰ for ${\delta}^{13}C$, and 1.3 to 4.1 (average 2.1)‰ for ${\delta}^{15}N$. Photosynthetic characteristics of seaweeds measured by pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) fluorometry was used as an indicator of photosynthetic activity. We use Diving-PAM fluorometry to examine photosynthetic rates of the seaweeds Porphyra yezoensis at each station. Maximum quantum yield of Porphyra blades was between 0.46~0.55 (average 0.52), the variance of the effective PS II maximum quantum yield of the station was broadly similar. Maximum relative electron transport rate (rETRmax) of Porphyra blades was between $4.71{\sim}5.84(average\;5.33){\mu}mol\;electrons\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$, the changes of maximum relative electron transport rate (rETRmax) of Porphyra yezoensis were similar to those of PS II maximum quantum yield. Photosynthetic efficiency (${\alpha}$) was between 0.027~0.045 (average 0.036). Minimum saturating irradiance ($E_k$) range was $139{\sim}180(average\;156){\mu}mol\;photons\;m^{-2}\;s^{-1}$. Minimum saturating irradiance ($E_k$) made a difference by station within the area on southwestern coast. Carbon and nitrogen concentrations and photosynthetic rates of Porphyra blades production areas on southwestern coast were broadly similar. The photosynthetic characteristics showed low photosynthetic rates because the low maximum quantum yields and low maximum relative electron transport rate.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.505-514
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• 2014

To examine the anti-obese activity of miscellaneous cereal grains, 80% ethanol extracts from eight selected miscellaneous cereal grains were compared for their cytotoxic effects on 3T3-L1 murine preadipocytes. The ethanol extract of proso millet exhibited the highest cytotoxicity. Further fractionation of the ethanol extract with methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol showed that the cytotoxicity of the ethanol extract was mainly partitioned into the butanol fraction. As compared with differentiated mature adipocytes, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were more susceptible to the cyctotoxicity of the butanol fraction. When each organic solvent fraction (25 ${\mu}g/ml$) was added during the differentiation period for 6 days, the cell viability was not affected significantly except for the butanol fraction, but the intracellular lipid accumulation declined to a level of 81.5%~50.3% of the control. The Oil Red O staining data also demonstrated that the ethanol extract as well as the butanol fraction could inhibit the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into mature adipocytes. The presence of the butanol extract during the induced adipocytic differentiation also resulted in a significant reduction in the expression levels of critical adipogenesis mediators $(C/EBP{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$, aP2, and LPL) to a barely detectable or undetectable level and the cells retained the fibroblast-like morphology of 3T3-L1. In 3T3-L1 cells, the cytotoxicity of the butanol fraction (50-100 ${\mu}g/ml$) was accompanied by mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\psi}m$) loss, caspase-3 activation, and PARP degradation. Taken together, these results indicate that proso millet grains possess pro-apoptotic and anti-adipocytic activities toward adipocytes, which can be applicable to prevention of obesity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.82-89
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• 1997

Monascus anka produces biologically active materials, and liquid M. anka koji was employed for preparing fermented hot pepper soybean paste (kochujang). Three kinds of koji (M. anka, Aspergillus oryzae and mixed koji) were used to prepare kochujang, and changes of physicochemical characteristics were examined during fermentation. A. oryzae koji showed the highest ${\alpha}-amylase$ and protease activities; whereas, M. anka koji showed the highest ${\beta}-amylase$ activity in liquid koji. Water content of kochujang continuously decreased, whereas viscosity increased during fermentation. The water content and viscosity was 46% and $1.4{\times}10^5\;cP$, respectively after 40 days of fermentation. The pH of kochujang with M. anka and/or A. oryzae koji was $4.63{\sim}4.65$ in the beginning and was between 4.53 and 4.67 after 40 days of fermentation. L-, a- and b-values decreased rapidly during fermentation until 20 days of fermentation. After 40 days, L- and b-values of kochujang prepared with M. anka koji showed lower values than A. oryzae, and a-value showed higher values as the amount of M. anka koji increased. Ammoniacle nitrogen content continuously increased during fermentation. Amino nitrogen content was the highest, 241.2 ㎎%, and ammoniacle nitrogen was the lowest, 97.2 ㎎%, in kochujang prepared with A. oryzae. However, amino and ammoniacle nitrogen content showed no difference between M. anka and A. oryzae koji kochujang. Kochujang prepared with M. anka koji showed a potential that kochujang can be manufactured lower level of red pepper than previously used.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 1998

Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) was purified from the culture broth of the Bacillus firmus var. alkalophilus, using ultrafiltration, starch adsorption/desorption, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration on Sephacryl HR-100. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was determined as 77,000 by SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH and temperature for the CD synthesis were 6.0 and 5$0^{\circ}C$, respectively. The activity of this enzyme was stably kept at the range of pH 6.0～9.5 and up to 5$0^{\circ}C$. However, in the presence of $Ca^{2+}$, the optimum temperature for CD synthesis was shifted 55~6$0^{\circ}C$ and this enzyme was stable up to 6$0^{\circ}C$ because of the stabilizing effect of $Ca^{2+}$. The purified CGTase produced CDs with high conversion yields of 45~51% from sweet potato starch, com starch and amylopectin as substrate, especially, and the product ratio of $\beta$-CD to ${\gamma}$-CD was obtained at range of from 5.8:1 to 8.4:1 according to the kind of substrate. The purified enzyme produced mainly $\beta$-CD without accumulation of $\alpha$-CD during enzyme reaction using various starches as the substrate, indicating that the purified enzyme is the typical $\beta$-CGTase. The purified CGTase produced 25 g/l of CDs from 5.0% (w/v) liquefied com starch and the conversion yield of CDs was 50%, and the content of $\beta$-CD was 84% of total CDs after 8 hours under the optimum reaction condition.ion.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.64-70
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• 2013

The greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, is an economically important pest for greenhouse crops because they cause direct damage by feeding on plant nutrients and indirect damage as transmits many virus vectors. It has recently become a serious problem because of the continuous use of insecticide resulting in resistance among greenhouse whitefly population. To overcome these problems, in this study, the biological characteristics and virulence of an entomopathogenic fungus isolated from the cadaver of nymph greenhouse whitefly were investigated. Isolated fungus was identified as Isaria fumosorosea by morphological examinations and genetic identification using sequences of the ITS, ${\beta}$-tubulin, and EF1-${\alpha}$ regions. This fungus was named as I. fumosorosea SDTv and tested for the virulence against nymphs T. vaporariorum and the cold activity, the thermotolerance and the stability of UV-B irradiation on conidia. Mortality rate of greenhouse whitefly showed from 84 to 100% and the virulence increased with increasing conidial concentrations, $1{\times}10^5$ to $10^8$ conidia/ml. Conidia were stable at $35^{\circ}C$, 0.1 $J/cm^2$ of UV irradiation and germinated after 8 days at $4^{\circ}C$. Additionally, the activities of chitinases and proteases produced by I. fumosorosea SDTv were varied according to the medium. In conclusion, I. fumosorosea SDTv which showed high mortality rate against greenhouse whitefly will be used effectively in the integrated pest management programs against the greenhouse whitefly.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2013

Thyroid hormone (TH) plays a role in growth of the poultry. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulates production and distribution of TH, and is a heterodimer which is formed by ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-subunits. Most of TSH activity is known to rely on ${\beta}$-subunit. TSH-${\beta}$ gene is located on chicken chromosome 26 and associated with growth performances. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association of TSH- ${\beta}$ SNP (G1031C) with economic traits (layday, layw, layno, bw150, bw270, layw270) in Korean Native Black chicken, Rhode Island Red and Cornish. Allele frequency of GG genotype in Rhode Island Red (RIR) was found to be 1.00 in this study. A significant effect was only observed on body weight at day 150 in Cornish. In Cornish, body weights of chicken with the CC genotype ($302.15{\pm}6.336$) were significantly higher than that of the GG genotype ($294.56{\pm}4.537$) (p<0.05). These findings suggest that the G1031C SNP of TSH-${\beta}$ gene can be used for improvement of growth-related traits in Cornish.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.205-211
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• 2018

Rebaudioside A is a natural sweetener isolated from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, one of the glycosides based on steviol. Recent studies have shown that rebaudioside A inhibits the inflammatory response by inhibiting cytokines secretion such as interleukin-$1{\alpha}/1{\beta}$ in activated RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells by LPS. However, the inhibitory mechanism of inflammation by rebaudioside A in the presence of LPS has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, in this study, we tried to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of rebaudioside A at the protein level when RAW264.7 cells were stimulated by LPS. The inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expression level was reduced in the group treated with $250{\mu}M$ rebaudioside A compared to the LPS-treated group. In addition, the mRNA expression level of $NF-{\kappa}B$, which is a representative nuclear transcription factor by inflammatory signal, was also decreased as compared with that of LPS-treated group. In addition, $NF-{\kappa}B$ and inhibitor-${\kappa}B$ ($I-{\kappa}B$) complexes that are known to be dissociated by $I-{\kappa}B$ phosphorylation and ubiquitination were less phosphorylated than LPS treated group in the presence rebaudioside A. Finally, we could find that rebaudioside A was involved in the $NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway through reducing extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that rebaudioside A might suppress inflammatory reaction through MAPK and $NF-{\kappa}B$ regulation in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.37-60
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• 1983

The uterus receives adrenergic terminals from the mesenteric ganglia and considerably large amount of catecholamines have been shown to be contained in this organ. On the other hand, the activities of epinephrine, norepinephrine or adrenergic nerve on uterine motility is so complicated that many controversial results have been reporter. Recently, a large number of reports concerning the changes of uterine catecholamines content have appeared, but little is known about the role of uterine catecholamines in their activities on uterine motility. The present experiments were undertaken to determine the significance of the intrinsic uterine catecholamines in the physiology of uterus. Female albino rabbits weighing approximately 2 kg were employed in this experiment. uterine strip3 were prepared and suspended in a constant temperature $bath(38^{\circ}C)$ containing 100 ml of Locke's solution aerated with 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide. Spontaneous motility was recorded on a smoked drum with an isotonic lever. The catecholamines concentration of the uterus was determined according to the Procedure described of Shore and Olin (1958). Human uterus obtained from patients was also used to determine the catecholam ines content of myometrium. Followings are summarized results. 1) On the non-pregnant rabbit uterine strips, epinephrine and norepinephrine significantly elevated the tonus and stimulated the spontaneous motility. Pretreatment with dichloroisoproterenol(DCI), an adrenergic beta-receptor blocker, enhanced the stimulatory activity of epinephrine or norepinephrine. On the other hand, pretreatment with dibenamine, an adrenergic alpha-receptor blocker, rendered the uterine muscle to exhibit inhibition after the administration of epinephrine or norepinephrine. Following the treatment with both DCI and dibenamine, epinephrine or norepinephrine produced no appreciable effects on the spontaneous motility of the uterus. These results suggest there exist both alpha and beta-adrenergic receptors in the uterine muscle and the response to epinephrine of the former is predominant over that of latter in the non-pregnant uterus of rabbits. The total catecholamines concentration of the non-pregnant uterus was $351\;m{\mu}g/g$ and the fractional concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine were $125\;m{\mu}g/g(35.7%)$ and $226\;m{\mu}g/g$ respectively. It is interesting to note that the catecholamines content of uterus was characterized by a high fractional corcentration of epinephrine relative to norepinephrine. 2) On the pregnant rabbit uterine strips, the effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine varied according to the period of pregnancy. The response to epinephrine of adrenergic beta receptor of uterus increased during pregnancy, and the effect of catecholamine was inhibitory in the early pregnancy but became stimulatory as the pregnancy progressed. This stimulating action on the uterine motility was found to occur through the action of norepinephrine. The uterine catecholamines concentration was markedly reduced during pregnancy. The catecholamines concentration was started to decrease in the early pregnancy, reached the lowest level in the mid-pregnancy and then started to increaae again in the late pregnancy when the total catecholamines content became the highest level of all. This increase of catefholamines in late pregnancy was chiefly due to the increase of norepinephrine. These results suggest that the uterine motility may be related to the catecholamines content, especially norepinephrine content in the uterus. 3) Bilateral oophorectomy of rabbits results in a marked shrink of the uterus in size. The spontaneous motility of the uterine segment of these animals was very weak and irregular. Norepinephrine produced inhibitory effect, whereas epinephrine was stimulatory or inhibitory effect on the uterine segment. The total catecholamines tontent in whole uterus was markedly reduced. The injection of estrogen into the oophorectornized rabbit increased the weight of uterus to approximately three times of that of oophorectornized animal. The apontaneous motility and the response to epinephrine and norepinephrine of the uterine segment were greatly enhanced. Both epinephrine and norepinephrine produced a marked stimulatory effects of the uterine motility. The uterine content of catecholamines, particularly epinephrine, was markedly increased. The injection of progesterone into the oophorectornized rabbit increaeed the weight of uterus to approximately 2.5 times of that of eophorectornized animal. The spontaneous motility of the uterine segment was weak and irregular. Epinephrine produced stimulatory effect at high concentrations but norepinephrine always prcdnced inhibitory effect on the uterine segment. The uterine content of catecholamines, particularly of norepinephrine, was markedly reduced. These results suggested that ovarian hormones play an important role not only on the growth and spontaneous norepinephrine of uterus but also on the catecholamines content and responee to epinephrine and norepinephrine of the uterus. 4) The intraperitoneal injection of reserpine(3 mg/kg) into the non-pregnant, pregnant and oophorectornieed rabbits markedly decreased the uterine content of catecholamines, particularly of the norepinephrine. The stimulatory response to epinephrine and. norepinephrine of the uterine segment of these reserpinized ratbits was markedly reduced whereas the inhibitory response to these catecholamines was enhanced. This finding further support the close relationship between the uterine catecholamines content and uterine response to epineptrire and norepinephrine. 5) In the human uterus, the concentration of epinephrine was actrally greater than that of norepinephrine and it was significantly greater during the proliferative phase of the menstrtal cycle. In the human pregnant uterus, the concentrations of toth epinephrine and ncrefinephrine were markedly reduced and showed about 45 percent rednction after 6-8 weeks of ectopic Pregnancy. At full term ana during labor, the concentrations of epinephrine and norepinephrine at placental sites were less than those found in the non-pregnant group. Of interest was the finding that the norepinephrine concentration of uterus from toxemic patients was two and half times higher than that of lower uterine segment of the nontoxemic pregnant individuals. Also the epinephrine concentraticn was slightly increaeed.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.24-32
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• 1984

In order to process instant foods which hold appropriate moisture contents and soft texture, four kinds of retort pouched seasoned-oyster products were prepared as control, seasoned products, solid smoked and liquid smoked product after seasoning and their processing conditions and quality stability during 100 days of storage were investigated. The optimum processing conditions of retort pouched seasoned-oyster product were as follows ; namely, raw oyster was seasoned at $105^{\circ}C$ for 10 min with seasoning solution prepared from sugar, sorbitol, salt, monosodium glutamate and 5'-ribonucleotide and then dipped for 30 seconds in Smoke-EZ solution(Alpha Foods Co., Ltd.) after predried for 30 min in hot-air drier. After. smoking, the seasoned and liquid smoked oyster was dried at $40-42^{\circ}C$ for 2.5 hours, vacuum packed in plastic film bag, and sterilized in a hot water circulating retort at $120^{\circ}C$ for 16 min. Comparing their quality before and after sterilization, TBA value of all the products after sterilization slightly decreased and among texture profiles hardness, toughness and chewiness slightly decreased, while elasticity and cohesiveness were rarely changed. Color value (a value) of the product treated with solid smoke or liquid smoke increased after sterilization. During storage pH, VBM and water activity of all products changed little and TBA values of the solid smoked product and liquid smoked one were lower than that of the others. Viable cell count was negative and texture changed little during storage. As for color difference during storage, green meat appeared on the surface of control and seasoned product after 15 days storage, while the masking of green meat could achieved by solid and liquid smoking treatment. And liquid smelling treatment was more effective than solid smoking. As a conclusion, retort pouched seasoned-oyster product treated with liquid smoke kept their good quality during 100 days storage and it seemed to be consumed as one of the instant foods which hold appropriate moisture contents and soft texture.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.145-152
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• 2002

The composition of primary minerals in the rocks and secondary minerals of clay fractions of the soil developed on the cinder cones in the foot of Halla Mt., Jeju Island was investigated. The effects of parent materials on the physico-chemical properties and mineralogical characteristics were evaluated by XRD, DTA with the chemical composition of $H^+$ saturated clays. The main rock-forming minerals of a residual cinder cones were plagioclase with subsidiary minerals of hematite, gibbsite and quartz in the red cinder cone and of augite, quartz, feldspars and olivine in black cinder cone. It is demonstrated that ignition loss and sesquioxides content were higher in the red cinder soil than black cinder, which was resulted in the intermittent eruption of volcanic activity. For the chemical analysis of whole soils, $SiO_2/Al_2O_3$ ratio was increased from 2 to 3, but Ignition loss is decreased and $K_2O$ content are very low with increasing the soil depth in regard to the composition and kinds of clay minerals. No clay formation from micas mineral were in volcanic ashes. Dominant clay minerals of the cinder cone soils as a black and red cinder cone soil were allophane with some quartz and feldspars, while vermiculite, illite, kaolin were coexisted as a subsidiary minerals. But the red cinder cones soils had more hematite and gibbsite of the clay fractions than the black soils with magnetite. The exothermic pick of DTA at about $660^{\circ}C$ for cinder cone soils might be corresponded the oxidation magnetite to hematite reation. With regarding to the compositions of mineral detected by X-ray diffractogram and the properties of minerals by D.T.A thermogram, the dominant clay mineral was allophane of the cinder cone soils with some ferrous compounds, red colour of the cinder cone soils which are originated in hematite.