• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.111-118
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• 2015

This research aims to utilize lapilli from the Mt. Baekdusan as environmently-friendly construction material. First of all, the neutralizing method for fabricating lapilli-cement-mixed bioblock was examined. And then, by use of the neuralized bioblock with microorganism for water purification, the growth inhibition effect against the pathogenic coliform bacillus was evaluated. The result regarding growth inhibition effect on pathogenic coliform bacillus indicates that the pretreatment condition, which is a concurrent procession with aqueous solution of 10% di-ammonium Phosphate after water curing, led to pH degraded below 10 which was the target value. Therefore it was concluded that the method was effective on bio-block neutralization. The microorganisms purifying water and di-ammonium phosphate were detected through the examination for microorganism existence on the bioblock, therefore it was concluded that the bioblock composed of lapilli and cement is able to be utilized in various structures as an environment friendly construction material.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.49-56
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• 2003

As a part of agricultural utilization of charcoal and pyroligneous acid, the effect of wood carbonization products on the growth of red pepper and soil microorganisms was investigated. The treatment of charcoal and pyroligneous acid provided good growth conditions to microorganisms through neutralizing soil acidity and improving the physicochemical properties of soil. Therefore the density of useful microorganism in the soil has been increased. In the growth of red pepper, the length, diameter, and the fruit numbers of red pepper have been increased by treating with wood carbonization products. It was especially shown that yield has increased about 50% in the fruit number, by treating charcoal 1kg, 1000 time-diluted solution of pyroligneous acid and bacteria, compared with the control. It was estimated that increasing the length of seedling and the diameter of red pepper stem contributed to the resistance against the prerequisites of various environmental changes in open field. Therefore, the final yield would be increased. In the antagonism experiment of red pepper mold (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides), the mold became extinct in the 2- and 10-time diluted solution of pyroligneous acid, compared with the control. On the other hand, their growth speed was delayed in the 100- and 1000 time-diluted solution.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.65-73
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• 2021

Since the amount of red mud, generated from aluminum smelting process as a by-product, has increased worldwide, the recycle and metal resource recovery from the red mud is becoming more important. In this study, in order to recycle the red mud as a soil stabilizer to remediate arsenic contaminated soils, neutralization of red mud was investigated. Red mud was neutralized by washing with distilled water and NaCl, CaCl₂, FeCl₃, and HCl solutions and heating at 200-800℃, and arsenic stabilization characteristics in soils were evaluated with the neutralized red mud. Although washing with distilled water was not effective in neutralizing red mud, the application of the washed red mud to soils lowered the soil pH compared to the application of untreated red mud. Among NaCl, CaCl₂, FeCl₃, and HCl solutions, washing with FeCl₃ showed the most effective in lowering pH of the red mud from pH 10.73 to pH 4.26. Application of the neutralized red mud in soils resulted in quite different arsenic stabilization efficiency depending on soil samples. In M1 soil, which showed relatively high arsenic stabilization efficiency by untreated red mud, the neutralization of red mud resulted in little effect on arsenic stabilization in soil. On the other hand, in M2 soil, which showed low arsenic stabilization efficiency by untreated red mud, the neutralization of red mud increased arsenic stabilization significantly. Soil characteristics such as clay minerals and pH buffering capacity seemed to affect reactions between red mud and soils, which resulted in different effects of the red mud application on soil pH and arsenic stabilization efficiencies.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2021

Inflammatory reactions activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of gram-negative bacteria can lead to severe septic shock. With the recent emergence of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria and a lack of efficient ways to treat resulting infections, there is a need to develop novel anti-endotoxin agents. Antimicrobial peptides have been noticed as potential therapeutic molecules for bacterial infection and as candidates for new antibiotic drugs. We previously designed the 9-meric antimicrobial peptide Pro9-3 and it showed high antimicrobial activity against gram-negative bacteria. Here, to further examine its potency as an anti-endotoxin agent, we examined the anti-endotoxin activities of Pro9-3 and elucidated its mechanism of action. We performed a dye-leakage experiment and BODIPY-TR cadaverine and limulus amebocyte lysate assays for Pro9-3 as well as its lysine-substituted analogue and their enantiomers. The results confirmed that Pro9-3 targets the bacterial membrane and the arginine residues play key roles in its antimicrobial activity. Pro9-3 showed excellent LPS-neutralizing activity and LPS-binding properties, which were superior to those of other peptides. Saturation transfer difference-nuclear magnetic resonance experiments to explore the interaction between LPS and Pro9-3 revealed that Trp3 and Tlr7 in Pro9-3 are critical for attracting Pro9-3 to the LPS in the gram-negative bacterial membrane. Moreover, the anti-septic effect of Pro9-3 in vivo was investigated using an LPS-induced endotoxemia mouse model, demonstrating its dual activities: antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria and immunosuppressive effect preventing LPS-induced endotoxemia. Collectively, these results confirmed the therapeutic potential of Pro9-3 against infection of gram-negative bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.130-136
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• 1981

Rice hull was reduced to ash by carbonization grades to illcuidate alkalinity increase and extract of inorganic nutrients in the rice hull charcoal. Alkaline reaction of water extraction was neutral at less carbonized charcoal, but much carbonized ash from 65% weight loss reached over 10 of pH value, also origin shape of rice hull was maintained until near 65% carbonized grade. Therefore, physical properties sustained good condition for seedling bed. The more charcoal carbonized to ash, the pH value and concentration of inorganic nutrient in their extracts were increased gradually. Nitric acid concentrations for neutralizing extract from charcoal were stronger in proportion to the carbonized grade but 0.1 N nitric acid solution was very reasonable to neutralize the 65% carbonized charcoal for mixing with heavy texture acidy soil(pH 5.3) of uncultivated deep horizon to transplant the tobacco seedlings. Volume ratio mixing for seedling bed is adequate at five of ash to one of acid solution. Neutralization with nitric acid solution also accelerated extraction of the inorganic nutrient in rice hull ash. Tobacco seedlings grown on bed mixed with neutralized rice hull charcoal and soil had shown better results on the agronomic measurement than alkaline ash bed, and phosphorus and cations were uptaken more amounts.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2015

In this study, we investigated the inhibitory activities on gastritis and gastric ulcer using liriodendrin which is a constituent isolated from Kalopanax pictus. To elucidate its abilities to prevent gastric injury, we measured the quantity of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) as the protective factor, and we assessed inhibition of activities related to excessive gastric acid be notorious for aggressive factor and inhibition of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonization known as a cause of chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, and gastric cancer. Liriodendrin exhibited higher $PGE_2$ level than rebamipide used as a positive control group at the dose of $500{\mu}M$. It was also exhibited acid-neutralizing capacity (10.3%) and $H^+/K^+$-ATPase inhibition of 42.6% ($500{\mu}M$). In pylorus-ligated rats, liriodendrin showed lower volume of gastric juice ($4.38{\pm}2.14ml$), slightly higher pH ($1.53{\pm}0.41$), and smaller total acid output ($0.47{\pm}0.3mEq/4hrs$) than the control group. Furthermore liriodendrin inhibited colonization of H. pylori effectively. In vivo test, liriodendrin significantly inhibited both of HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis (46.9 %) and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer (46.1%). From these results, we suggest that liriodendrin could be utilized for the treatment and/or protection of gastritis and gastric ulcer.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.718-724
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• 2017

The combination of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) with a vaccine is currently effective against rabies infections, but improvements are needed. Genetic engineering antibody technology is an attractive approach for developing novel antibodies to replace RIG. In our previous study, a single-chain variable fragment, scFv57R, against rabies virus glycoprotein was constructed. However, its inherent weak stability and short half-life compared with the parent RIG may limit its diagnostic and therapeutic application. Therefore, an acidic tail of synuclein (ATS) derived from the C-terminal acidic tail of human alpha-synuclein protein was fused to the C-terminus of scFv57R in order to help it resist adverse stress and improve the stability and half-life. The tail showed no apparent effect on the preparation procedure and affinity of the protein, nor did it change the neutralizing potency in vitro. In the ELISA test of molecular stability, the ATS fusion form of the protein, scFv57R-ATS, showed an increase in thermal stability and longer half-life in serum than scFv57R. The protection against fatal rabies virus challenge improved after fusing the tail to the scFv, which may be attributed to the improved stability. Thus, the ATS fusion approach presented here is easily implemented and can be used as a new strategy to improve the stability and half-life of engineered antibody proteins for practical applications.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.173-183
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• 2001

Substance P can stimulate secretion of tumor necrosis $factor-\;{\alpha}\;(TNF-\;{\alpha}\;)$ from astrocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Here I report that Chilbogeum can modulate cytokines secretion from primary cultures of rat astrocytes. Chilbogeum $(10\;{\mu}g/ml)$ significantly inhibited the $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion by astrocytes stimulated with LPS and Substance P. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been shown to elevate $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion from LPS-stimulated astrocytes while having no effect on astrocytes in the absence of LPS. Treatment of Chilbogeum $(10,\;100\;{\mu}g/ml)$ to astrocytes stimulated with both LPS and Substance P decreased IL-1 secretion significantly. The secretion of $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ by LPS and Substance P in astrocytes was progressively inhibited with increasing amount of IL-1 neutralizing antibody. Upon stimulation from various agents, these cells adopt a reactive phenotype, a morphological hallmark in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, during which they themselves may produce still more inflammatory cytokines. Chilbogeum $(10,\;100\;{\mu}g/ml)$ significantly inhibited the $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion by CCF-STTG1 astrocytoma cells stimulated with $A\;{\beta}$ and IL-1. These results suggest that Chilbogeum may inhibit $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion by inhibiting IL-1 secretion and that Chilbogeum has an antiinflammatory activity in AD brain.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.157-171
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• 2001

Astrocytes are glial cells that play a major role in the inflammation observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Upon stimulation from various agents, these cells adopt a reactive phenotype, a morphological hallmark in AD pathology, during which they themselves may produce still more inflammatory cytokines. Substance P (SP) can stimulate secretion of tumor necrosis $factor-\;{\alpha}$ $(TNF-\;{\alpha})$ from astrocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Here I report that Sunghyangjungkisan- ga- pogokyoung(Sgp) can modulate cytokines secretion from primary cultures of rat astrocytes. Sgp $(10\;to\;1000\;{\mu}g/ml)$ significantly inhibited the $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion by astrocytes stimulated with LPS and SP. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been shown to elevate $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion from LPS-stimulated astrocytes while having no effect on astrocytes in the absence of LPS. Treatment of Sgp $(10\;to\;1000\;{\mu}g/ml)$ to astrocytes stimulated with both LPS and SP decreased IL-1 secretion significantly. The secretion of $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ by LPS and SP in astrocytes was progressively inhibited with increasing amount of IL-1 neutralizing antibody. Neurodegenerative processes in AD are thought to be driven in part by the deposition of ${\beta}\;-amyloid\;(A\;{\beta})$, a 39- to 43-amino acid peptide product resulting from an alternative cleavage of amyloid precursor protein. Sgp $(10\;to\;1000\;{\mu}g/ml)$ significantly inhibited the $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion by astrocytes stimulated with $A-{\beta}-$and IL-1. These results suggest that Sgp may inhibit $TNF-\;{\alpha}$ secretion by inhibiting IL-1 secretion and that Sgp has an antiinflammatory activity in AD brain

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.2135-2145
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• 2015

VP7, an outer capsid protein of grass carp reovirus (GCRV), was expressed and displayed on the surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for developing an efficient vaccine against hemorrhagic disease of grass carp. The result of flow cytometry analysis indicated that protein VP7 could be displayed on the surface of yeast cells after inducing with galactose. The expression of VP7 was confirmed by western blot analysis and further visualized with confocal microscopy. The specific antibodies against VP7 generated from mice were detectable from all immune groups except the control group, which was immunized with untransformed yeast cells. The displaying VP7 on glycosylation-deficient strain EBYΔMnn9 was detected to induce a relatively low level of specific antibody amongst the three strains. However, the antiserum of EBYΔM9-VP7 showed relative high capacity to neutralize GCRV. Further neutralization testing assays indicated that the neutralizing ability of antiserum of the EBYΔM9-VP7 group appeared concentration dependent, and could be up to 66.7% when the antiserum was diluted to 1:50. This result indicates that appropriate gene modification of glycosylation in a yeast strain has essential effect on the immunogenicity of a yeast-based vaccine.