• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2013

The United States Department of Energy (US DOE) is conducting research and development (R&D) activities under the Used Fuel Disposition Campaign (UFDC) to support storage, transportation, and disposal of used nuclear fuel (UNF) and wastes generated by existing and future nuclear fuel cycles. R&D activities are ongoing at nine national laboratories, and are divided into storage, transportation and disposal. Storage R&D focuses on closing technical gaps related to extended storage of UNF. Transportation R&D focuses on ensuring transportability of UNF following extended storage, and addressing data gaps regarding nuclear fuel integrity, retrievability, and demonstration of subcriticality. Disposal R&D focuses on identifying geologic disposal options and addressing technical challenges for generic disposal concepts in mined repositories in salt, clay/shale, and granitic rocks, and deep borehole disposal. UFDC R&D goals include increasing confidence in the robustness of generic disposal concepts, reducing generic sources of uncertainty that may impact the viability of disposal concepts, and developing science and engineering tools to support the selection, characterization, and licensing of a repository. The US DOE has also initiated activities in the Nuclear Fuel Storage and Transportation (NFST) Planning Project to facilitate the development of an interim storage facility and to support transportation infrastructure in the near term.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.272-280
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ageing and feeding strategies on the calpain protease system and meat quality traits in Braford steers. Methods: Thirty Braford steers were employed; 15 animals were supplemented with corn silage during finishing and 15 were kept only on pasture. Meat quality traits and calpain system protein activity were evaluated in longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) steaks aged for 2, 7, 14, and 21 days. Results: Aged meat showed higher pH and calcium content, while Warner Bratzler shear force (WBSF) decreased to day 21. No interaction between ageing and diet was seen for quality traits. Steers finished with corn silage showed higher values of water holding capacity, WBSF and free calcium, and lower values of pH and cooking loss. Calpain and calpastatin activities decreased with ageing. Finishing steers on pasture produced higher values of calpains and lower values of calpastatin activities. The higher values of calpain 1 activity were observed in muscles aged 2 days from pasture finished animals, and the lower activity of the inhibitor in the 21 days aged samples of the same group. Conclusion: These results suggest a diet by ageing interaction in calpains and calpastatin and this interaction impact in Warner Bratzler Shear Force in Braford LTL muscle.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.98-141
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• 2003

Lip chapping is a serious cosmetics problem, though remedies other than moisturizing have not been proposed. We investigated changes in the surface configurations of lip corneocytes and increased CD activity and improved chapping severity. Our results suggest that lip chapping can be activities of desquamation-regulating proteinases associated with lip chapping. Using scanning electron microscopy, villus-like projections were observed on the inner surfaces of most corneocytes from normal lips, whereas those with flatter surface were predominant in chapped lips. Further, cell surface area increased with the severity of lip chapping. Cathepsin D (CD)-like and chymotrypsin-like proteinase, which are also present in skin as desquamation-regulating proteinases, were detected in lip corneocytes, though only CD activity was found to decrease in severely chapped lips. Hydration was also lower in areas of lip chapping. Sequential topical application of apricot extract essence characterized as similar to senile xerosis rather than dry skin such as winter xerosis, as it shows a delayed transition of corneocytes through the stratum corneum, and the reduced CD activity may be one of the mechanisms that is further decreased by low hydration. We propose that an enhancement of both CD activity and lip moisture may be effective to improve lip chapping.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.694-705
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• 2023

Panax ginseng Meyer is a traditional Chinese medicine that is widely used as tonic in Asia. The main pharmacologically active components of ginseng are the dammarane-type ginsenosides, which have been shown to have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, neuroprotective, and metabolic regulatory activities. Moreover, some of ginsenosides (eg, Rh2 and Rg3) have been developed into nutraceuticals. However, the utilization of ginsenosides in clinic is restrictive due to poor permeability in cells and low bioavailability in human body. Obviously, the dammarane skeleton and glycosyls of ginsenosides are responsible for these limitations. Therefore, improving the oral bioavailability of ginsenosides has become a pressing issue. Here, based on the structures of ginsenosides, we summarized the understanding of the factors affecting the oral bioavailability of ginsenosides, introduced the methods to enhance the oral bioavailability and proposed the future perspectives on improving the oral bioavailability of ginsenosides.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.311-313
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• 2002

X-ray structures of pharaonis phoborhodopsin (ppR) show the different direction of the side chain of Arg72 from that of the corresponding residue (Arg82) of bacteriorhodopsin, BR. For BR, this residue is considered to play an important role in the proton pumping. In order to investigate the role of Arg72 in ppR, we constructed Arg72 mutants of R72A, R72K and R72Q, and measured the photocycle and proton pumping activities. The pH-titration curves on the absorption maximum of the mutants were shifted to alkaline in comparison of that of the wild-type. This may imply the increase of pKa of D75, suggesting the presence of the (probably electric) interaction between D75 and Arg72. Rate constants of the M-decay were 3-7 times faster than that of the wild-type, and the time for the completion of the photocycling was also reduced. Using Sn0$_2$ electrode, the rate of transmembrane proton transport was measured upon illumination. The photo-induced proton pumping activities were estimated after the corrections that are the percentages of the associated form of D75 (which has no pumping activity) and the photocycling rates. R72A and R72Q showed the reduced activity while R72K did not reduce the activity.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 2015

${\varepsilon}$-Polylysine (EPL) is used as a natural preservative in food. However, few studies have been conducted to assess the beneficial functions of dietary EPL. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanism underlying the inhibition of neutral and acidic sterol absorption and hepatic enzyme activity-related fatty acid biosynthesis following EPL intake. EPL digest prepared using an in vitro digestion model had lower lipase activity and micellar lipid solubility and higher bile acid binding capacity than casein digest. Male Wistar rats were fed an AIN-93G diet containing 1% (wt/wt) EPL or L-lysine. After 4 weeks of feeding these diets, the marked decrease in serum and liver triacylglycerol contents by the EPL diet was partly attributed to increased fecal fatty acid excretion. The activities of hepatic acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which are key enzymes of fatty acid biosynthesis, were enhanced in rats fed EPL diet. The increased fatty acid biosynthesis activity due to dietary EPL may be prevented by the enhancement of fecal fatty acid excretion. The hypocholesterolemic effect of EPL was mediated by increased fecal neutral and acidic sterol excretions due to the EPL digest suppressing micellar lipid solubility and high bile acid binding capacity. These results show that dietary EPL has beneficial effects that could help prevent lifestyle-related diseases such as hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.201-209
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• 2020

The effect of mulberry leaves and yacon tuber extracts (MYE) on antioxidant was tested in this study. The present study investigated the in vivo effects of the anti-oxidative effect of MYE on catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). The seven-day acclimation of the mice was divided into six groups: Normal diet group (NOR), high fat diet group (HFD), high fat diet with 0.5% hydroxycitric acid group diet group for positive group (HHCA), high fat diet with 1% mulberry leaf and 1% yacon diet group (MYE-1), high fat diet with 3% mulberry leaf and 3% yacon group (MYE-3) and high fat diet with 5% mulberry leaf and 5% yacon group (MYE-5). The effect of serum antioxidant in the catalase of MYE-1, MYE-3, and HHCA comparing to HFD by 31.0%, 27.7% and 45.2%, respectively (P<0.05~0.01). The effect on hepatic antioxidant in the catalase of HFD was significantly increased 3.7 (77.3%) times than that of NOR (P<0.01). But, the activities of catalase were decreased significantly in MYE-1, MYE-3, MYE-5 and HHCA by 21.7%, 24.2%, 24.9%, and 28.8% compared to HFD, respectively. GSH-Px was significantly decreased in MYE-1, MYE-3, MYE-5 and HHCA by 15.5%, 37.1%, 23.4%, and 23.7% compared to HFD, respectively (P<0.05). The activities of CAT, SOD, GST, GSH-Px, and TBARS were more significantly decreased in MYE-1 and MYE-3 than those of HFD and HHCA. MYE have shown significant effects on anti-oxidative function against high fat diet.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.155-160
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• 2005

Abstract A direct approach was used to retrieve active lipases from Paenibacillus polymyxa genome databases. Twelve putative lipase genes were tested using a typical lipase sequence rule built on the basis of a consensus sequence of a catalytic triad and oxyanion hole. Among them, six genes satisfied the sequence rule and had similarity (about 25%) with known bacterial lipases. To obtain the six lipase proteins, lipase genes were expressed in E. coli cells and lipolytic activities were measured by using tributyrin plate and pnitrophenyl caproate. One of them, contig 160-26, was expressed as a soluble and active form in E. coli cell. After purifying on Ni-NTA column, its detailed biochemical properties were characterized. It had a maximum hydrolytic activity at $30^{\circ}C$ and pH 7- 8, and was stable up to $40^{\circ}C$ and in the range of pH 5- 8. It most rapidly hydrolyzed pNPC$_6$ among various PNPesters. The other contigs were expressed more or less as soluble forms, although no lipolytic activities were detected. As they have many conserved regions with lipase 160-26 as well as other bacterial lipases throughout their equence, they are suggested as true lipase genes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.396-416
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• 2021

Objectives: This study was conducted to analyze the trends of government R&D (R&D) projects related to laboratory safety over the past 20 years. Methods: We collected publications from various databases(DBs) with words such as laboratory(ies), lab(s), researcher(s), laboratory worker(s), safety, environment, hazard(s), risk(s), and so on. Selected publications were analyzed by the research funds and the number of projects according to the investment subject and research characteristics. Results: About 93% of the total R&D budget went to government policy projects, not scientific research. Second, from the perspective of 'safety management activities', most of the research is related to management and inspection at the organizational level. Issues that need to be discussed at the national level like policy governance are not included. Third, focusing on the 'safety management cycle', there were few studies related to 'prediction' or 'post-response'. Fourth, when an analysis framework combining the perspectives of 'safety management activities' and 'safety management cycle' is applied, most of the budget is spent on infrastructure such as digital management systems, whereas basic knowledge for prevention and production of evidence was very few. Conclusions: In order to prevent policy planning without policy evaluation, implementation without strategy, and evaluation without evidence, it is necessary to expand investment in empirical research on risks, research on the effectiveness of current application methods, and research on theory development. The government budget for laboratory safety-related projects should be managed separately from the R&D budget for scientific research. Although less than 5% of the budget allocated to scientific research is the total budget, an optical illusion occurs because both the project budget and the scientific research budget are counted as R&D budgets.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.655-667
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of a hydroethanolic extract of walnut green husks (WGH) on rumen fermentation and the diversity of bacteria, methanogenic archaea, and fungi in sheep fed a high-concentrate diet. Methods: Five healthy small-tailed Han ewes with permanent rumen fistula were selected and housed in individual pens. This study adopted a self-controlled and crossover design with a control period and an experimental period. During the control period, the animals were fed a basal diet (with a ratio of concentrate to roughage of 65:35), while during the treatment period, the animals were fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.5% hydroethanolic extract of WGH. Fermentation parameters, digestive enzyme activities, and microbial diversity in rumen fluid were analyzed. Results: Supplementation of hydroethanolic extract of WGH had no significant effect on feed intake, concentrations of total volatile fatty acids, isovalerate, ammonia nitrogen, and microbial protein (p>0.05). However, the ruminal pH, concentrations of acetate, butyrate and isobutyrate, the ratio of acetate to propionate, protozoa count, and the activities of filter paper cellulase and cellobiase were significantly increased (p<0.05), while concentrations of propionate and valerate were significantly decreased (p<0.05). Moreover, 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the relative abundance of rumen bacteria Christensenellaceae R7 group, Saccharofermentans, and Ruminococcaceae NK4A214 group were significantly increased, while Ruminococcus gauvreauii group, Prevotella 7 were significantly decreased (p<0.05). The relative abundance of the fungus Pseudomonas significantly increased, while Basidiomycota, Fusarium, and Alternaria significantly decreased (p<0.05). However, there was no significant change in the community structure of methanogenic archaea. Conclusion: Supplementation of hydroethanolic extract of WGH to a high-concentrate diet improved the ruminal fermentation, altered the structure of ruminal bacterial and fungal communities, and exhibited beneficial effects in alleviating subacute rumen acidosis of sheep.