• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.180-184
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• 2014

Mitochondria play a crucial role in many essential biological events by way of the electron transport chains and intermembrane proteins that they contain. Abnormalities in the mitochondria are strongly correlated with the development of diseases such as atherosclerosis, cancer, and diabetes. However, the study of mitochondria has been referred to as 'labor-intensive' because of the difficulty in isolating the organelles from their various sources, which can include cultured cells and tissues. Multiple companies provide mitochondria isolation kits, and it is possible for investigators to use different kits and apply different protocols depending on the source of the mitochondria. Therefore, we focused on producing an isolation buffer that could be applied to both cultured cells and tissues, and optimized an isolation protocol that could be used with both. Specifically, we adjusted the buffer condition that can be applied to human cervical cancer cells, fibroblasts, and tissues such as mouse liver and spleen. We also optimized the protocol to improve the efficacy and efficiency of the steps involved in the isolation of mitochondria. These methodological improvements may contribute to advanced research by allowing investigators to overcome the difficulties involved in isolation of mitochondria from biological samples.

• Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2005

Assessing health condition of crop in the field is one of core operation in precision fanning. A sensing system was proposed to remotely detect the crop health condition in terms of SP AD readings directly related to chlorophyll contents of crop using a multispectral camera equipped on ground-based platform. Since the image taken by a camera was sensitive to changes in ambient light intensity, it was needed to convert gray scale image data into reflectance, an index to indicate the reflection characteristics of target crop. A reference reflectance panel consisting of four pieces of sub-panels with different reflectance was developed for a dynamic calibration, by which a calibration equation was updated for every crop image captured by the camera. The system performance was evaluated in a field by investigating the relationship between com canopy reflectance and SP AD values. The validation tests revealed that the com canopy reflectance induced from Green band in the multispectral camera had the most significant correlation with SPAD values $(r^2=0.75)$ and NIR band could be used to filter out unwanted non-crop features such as soil background and empty space in a crop canopy. This research confirmed that it was technically feasible to develop a ground-based remote sensing system for assessing crop health condition.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.14-37
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• 2014

Objectives: Since information on biological factors in the workplace are currently lacking, I wanted to create a handbook of these factors that would be viewable at a glance as a means to more effectively prevent occupationally-infected diseases. Proper information on biological hazards in the workplace allowing the appropriate recognition of the harmful factors is desperately needed. Methods and Results: In this study, I intended to create a high-utility handbook of biologically hazardous agents in the workplace. To ensure its effectiveness, information and references about biologically hazardous agents in the workplace were analyzed and classified and pathogen safety data sheets(PSDS) sourced from the Public Health Agency of Canada were included. I intended to make it accessible from the point of view of workers and their employers. A more effective classification system of occupational infectious diseases is presented, and biologically hazardous agents were classified according to occupations, industries, infectious diseases, and so on. The handbook consists of 60 major kinds of biologically infectious occupational factors that are expected to be generated in workplaces in Korea, and are focused on practical utility. The pathogen safety data sheets(PSDS) of 192 species were also included. To allow more effective management, domestic and foreign laws and regulations are presented. Conclusions: This case report presents general information on the history and contents of the handbook and PSDS, it will also be useful in workplaces if download from the homepage of OSHRI, KOSHA(oshri.kosha.or.kr/bridge?menuID=901).

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.513-517
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• 2005

This study examined the possibility of using striped field mice as a biological dosimeter or indicator for the environmental radio-surveillance. For this study, the external morphological characteristics and isoenzymic types of dark-striped field mice were studied after they were captured. Among the morphological external characteristics, the dark-brown coat, dark back stripe, head-to-tail length, tail length, and ear length matched the taxonomical characteristics of dark-striped field mice. The analyses on L-lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and malate dehydrogenese revealed that one species of dark-striped field mice, called Apodemus agrarius, was inhabitated throughout a wide range of Korea. On the other hand, A. agrarius and ICR mice to analyze their survival rate and frequency of micronuclei in peripheral polychromatic erythrocytes after irradiation (0, 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 Gy). The $LD_{50/30}$ of A. agrarius and ICR mice were approximately 5 Gy and 7Gy, respectively. The results of the study reveal that wild A. agrarius have a high potential as a biological monitoring system to determine the impact of radiation effect in areas such as those within the vicinity of nuclear power plants.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2019

Saline soils comprise more than half a billion hectares worldwide. Thus, they warrant attention for their efficient, economical, and environmentally acceptable management. Halophytes are being progressively utilized for human benefits. The halophyte microbiome contributes significantly to plant performance and can provide information regarding complex ecological processes involved in the osmoregulation of halophytes. Microbial communities associated with the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and endosphere of halophytes play an important role in plant health and productivity. Members of the plant microbiome belonging to domains Archaea, Bacteria, and kingdom Fungi are involved in the osmoregulation of halophytes. Halophilic microorganisms principally use compatible solutes, such as glycine, betaine, proline, trehalose, ectoine, and glutamic acid, to survive under salinity stress conditions. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) enhance plant growth and help to elucidate tolerance to salinity. Detailed studies of the metabolic pathways of plants have shown that plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria contribute to plant tolerance by affecting the signaling network of plants. Phytohormones (indole-3-acetic acid and cytokinin), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase biosynthesis, exopolysaccharides, halocins, and volatile organic compounds function as signaling molecules for plants to elicit salinity stress. This review focuses on the functions of plant microbiome and on understanding how the microorganisms affect halophyte health and growth.

• The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.1-10
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• 2022

Hypercholesterolaemia is one of the risk factors of coronary health in humans; hence this research was to investigate the effect of Parkia biglobosa seeds fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum on the cardiac risk factors of diet-induced hypercholesterolaemic Wistar rats. Hypercholesterolaemia in rats were experimentally induced and the hypercholesterolaemic Wistar rats were treated with iru samples. The total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), liver biomarkers and cardiac risks factors were determined after inducement and treatment with iru. Fourteen (14)-days after inducement, the rats in the group induced had the highest weight of 112.40 g while the control group had 94.30 g. The total cholesterol (TC) in the induced group was 100.80 mg/dl while the control had 51.40 mg/dl, triglyceride (TG) in the induced group was 111.75 mg/dl while the control group had 68.45 mg/dl. After 28 days of treatment, the group treated with fermented samples showed a reduction in the TC (100.80 to 56.99 mg/dl), Triglyceride (111.75 to 32.53 mg/dl), LDL (49.48 to 6.65 mg/dl), cardiac risk ratio (3.36 to 1.28), atherogenic coefficient (3.13-0.29) and atherogenic index (0.57 to 0.11). The result from this study reveals that fermented Parkia biglobosa sample reduced the cardiac risk of rats significantly.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.1226-1233
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• 2022

Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be consumed by humans in amounts sufficient to offer health-promoting effects. Owing to their various biological functions, probiotics are widely used in biological engineering, industry and agriculture, food safety, and the life and health fields. Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus), an important human intestinal probiotic, was originally isolated from the human gastrointestinal tract and its functions have been widely studied ever since it was named in 1900. L. acidophilus has been found to play important roles in many aspects of human health. Due to its good resistance against acid and bile salts, it has broad application prospects in functional, edible probiotic preparations. In this review, we explore the basic characteristics and biological functions of L. acidophilus based on the research progress made thus far worldwide. Various problems to be solved regarding the applications of probiotic products and their future development are also discussed.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2024

Despite advancements in therapeutic approaches, radiotherapy and cisplatin-based chemotherapy remain primary noninvasive treatments for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Moreover, the 5-year survival rate for patients with OSCC has remained almost unchanged for several decades, and many side effects of chemotherapy still exist. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) models of OSCC were established using fibroblasts, and the efficacy of various biological inhibitors was evaluated. A culture of epithelial cells with two types of fibroblasts (hTERT-hNOFs and cancer-associated fibroblasts) within a type I collagen matrix resulted in the formation of a continuous layer of tightly packed cells compared to models without fibroblasts. Furthermore, the effects of biological chemicals, including Y27632, latrunculin A, and verteporfin, on these models were investigated. The stratified formation of the epithelial layer and invasion in OSCC 3D-culture models were effectively inhibited by verteporfin, whereas invasion was weakly inhibited by Y27632 and latrunculin. Collectively, the developed OSCC 3D-culture models established with fibroblasts demonstrated the potential for drug screening, with verteporfin showing promising efficacy.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.375-376
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Entomolohy Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.32-32
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• 2002