• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1022-1026
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• 2009

Cross contamination of foodborne virus via food utensils can be an important route of virus propagation. Bacteriophage MS2 was used as a surrogate for norovirus. The viability loss of bacteriophage MS2 attached to 4 kinds of metal surfaces was investigated at different temperatures and relative humidities (RH). The rate of viability loss was higher at $22^{\circ}C$ than at $10^{\circ}C$ and was higher at 75% RH than at 40% RH. The viability loss of the virus attached to copper or bronze surface was faster than on stainless steel or tin surface. Also the beef juice applied with the virus inoculum on the metal surfaces lowered the rate of viability loss. Although bronze was not as effective as copper in resulting the viability loss, it has been extensively used as a traditional Korean kitchen utensil and could be used more widely to decrease the viral poisoning at food processing environment and hospitals.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2021

Several herbs including Artemisia are known to possess conceptive property. In the present study, mouse spermatozoa were incubated with ethanol extract of Artemisia vulgaris leaves. The effect of extract on acrosome exocytosis was studied by labeling spermatozoa with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) peanut agglutinin and by staining with Coomassie blue. Viability and membrane integrity were studied by Trypan-blue staining and hypo-osmotic swelling test. Artemisia extract at very low concentration caused precocious acrosome reaction and loss of sperm viability. Acrosome reaction increased remarkably from 22.63% to 88.42% with increasing extract concentration from 0 to 2,000 ㎍/mL. However, the viability loss of spermatozoa was increased from 11.71% in control to 63.73% in samples treated, evaluated by Trypan-blue staining method. Membrane damage caused by the extract, evaluated by hypo-osmotic swelling test was even low, ranging from 2.27% to only 24.23%. These results indicate that Artemisia extract might block fertilization by causing precocious acrosome exocytosis in spermatozoa. A direct contraceptive effect was tested by injecting the plant extract into the vagina of female mice and then allowing them to mate with normal males. The treated female mice delivered significantly fewer litters in comparison to the control.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.21-33
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• 1996

This study was to obtain basic information needed to develop the effective weed control method for the production of less polluted agricultural products by inducing viability loss of weed seeds in soil with infrared irradiation. Ceramic plates were heated by LPG with the aid of forced air and the infrared produced from plates was used as the heat source for heating soil. The soil heated in this study was sandy loam with four levels of moisture contents (0.5, 5.1, 9.1, 15.0% wb). The temperature distribution was measured at various soil depths when soil was irradiated with infrared for different irradiation time (30, 60, 90 sec). The soil depths with duration time of minimum 3 minutes over $80^circ C$, temperature inducing viability loss of weed seeds, were investigated. When the moisture content of soil was 0.5% and 5.1% wb, the soil depths which can induce viability loss of weed seeds was greatly increased with increasing irradiation time. When 30 seconds of irradiation time was applied on soil with moisture content of 9.1% or 15.0% wb, any depths of soil tested in this study was not reached to the temperature of 8$0^{\circ}C$. Generally, the soil depth being needed for viability loss of weed seeds was decreased with increasing moisture content of soil.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.432-438
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• 2013

This study was conducted to compare seed viability among 42 species after ten years of storage in the midterm storage complex ($4^{\circ}C$, 30-40% RH) at the National Agrobiodiversity Center (NAC) Korean genebank maintained by the Rural Development Administration (RDA), Republic of Korea and to suggest the relative seed longevity and suitable monitoring intervals. The germination data from initial tests and after ten years of storage were compared to measure changes in viability during storage. The decline in seed viability varied greatly among seeds from -11.5% for Triticum sp. to 80% for melon. Coriander, crowndaisy, safflower, cosmos, Chinesebellflower, waxgourd, melon, castorbean, Welch-onion, hollyhock, wild barley, and tallfescue showed significant decreases in viability of 34.2%, 73.4%, 36.5%, 30.0%, 40.2%, 71.3%, 80.0%, 65.9%, 45.5%, 51.4%, 53.0%, and 33.5%, respectively. Gardenpea, soybean, perilla, onion, wild rice, Italian-ryegrass, and pepper showed a 15-30% decline in viability, while the viability of morningglory, adzukibean, maize, and Capsicum sp. decreased by 15% to 5%. Chicory, radish, Chinese-cabbage, bottlegourd, watermelon, cucumber, pumpkin, Cucurbita sp., groundnut, kidneybean, clubwheat, sesame, wheat, Triticum sp., rice, barley, orchardgrass, buckwheat, and wild tomato showed changes in viability of <5%. The changes in storage viability also varied within families. The wild types of rice and barley showed rapid viability loss and presented different aspects from cultivars. Since seed viability of species, classified as index 1 or 2, showed germination losses >15% after ten years of storage, a viability test should be conducted with five year intervals, while species with germination loss of <15% (in index 3 or 4) can be retested at ten year intervals.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.132-139
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• 1999

A cell-entrapment technique using compressed air was applied to Bifidobacterium longum KCTC 3128 for the improvement of bifidobacteria viability. The main cell-entrapment matrix used was alginate, and viability improvement of the B. longum entrapped in alginate lattices was monitored along with the effects of other additional biopolymers. A prerequisite for acquiring consistent results was the uniformity of bead size and cell distribution which was achieved by using compressed air and mixing the cell suspension with sterilized alginate powder, respectively. The viability losses of the B. longum entrapped in alginate beads in the presence of three different substances logarithmically increased in relation to the reaction time, and proportionately decreased with an increased alginate concentration and bead diameter. The strongest improvement in B. longum viability was exhibited with a bead containing 3％ alginate and 0.15％ xanthan gum.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.95-105
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• 2008

Objectives : Although herbal medicines containing flavonoids have been reported to exert anti-tumor activities, it has not been explored whether Hwang-Jeong (Polygonati sibirici Rhizoma, PsR) exerts anti-tumor activity in human glioma. The present study was therefore undertaken to examine the effect of PsR on cell viability and to determine its underlying mechanism in A172 human glioma cells. Methods : Cell viability was estimated by MTT assay. Reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured by the fluorescence dyes. The phosphorylation of kinases was evaluated by western blot analysis and caspase activity was estimated using colorimetric assay kit. Results : PsR resulted in loss of cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. PsR did not increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the PsR-induced cell death was also not affected by antioxidants, suggesting that ROS generation is not involved in loss of cell viability. Western blot analysis showed that PsR treatment caused rapid reduction in phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) without changes in p38 and Jun-NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). U0126, an inhibitor of ERK, increased the PsR-induced cell death, but inhibitors of p38 and JNK did not affect the cell death. PsR induced depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential. Caspase activity was not stimulated by PsR and caspase inhibitors did not prevent the PsR-induced cell death. Conclusion : Taken together, these findings suggest that PsR results in human glioma cell death through caspaseindependent mechanisms involving down-regulation of ERK.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.88-99
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• 2001

Objectives : This study was performed to determine if Orostachys japonicus A. Berger aquacupuncture (OjB) provides the protective effect against the loss of celi viability and DNA damage induced by oxidant in renal proximal tubular cells. Methods : The cell viability was evaluated by a MTT reduction assay and DNA damage was estimated by measuring double stranded DNA breaks in opossum kidney (OK) cells, an established proximal tubular cell line. Lipid peroxidation was determined by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation. Results : $H_2O_2$ increased the loss of cell viability in a time-dependent manner, which were prevented by 0.1% OjB. The protective effect of OjB was dose-dependent over concentration range of 0.05-0.5%. $H_2O_2$ caused ATP depletion and DNA damage, which were prevented by OjB and the hydrogen peroxide scavenger catalase. The loss of cell viability by $H_2O_2$ was not affected by the antioxidant DPPD, but lipid peroxidation by the oxidant was completely inhibited by DPPD. Conclusions : These data suggest that $H_2O_2$-induced death results from a lipid peroxidation-independent mechanism and the protective effect of OjB is not associated with its antioxidant activity.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.451-462
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• 2022

Dioscorea bulbifera tubers contain several phytochemicals of pharmaceutical value. They have been traditionally used for treating various ailments, including postmenopausal symptoms. In the present study, we analyzed the direct effects of Dioscorea tuber extract on mouse spermatozoa. Its contraceptive effect was also evaluated by an intravaginal application before copulation. Mouse spermatozoa were cultured in vitro with various concentrations of the extract. After culturing, the spermatozoa were stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate peanut agglutinin or Coomassie blue to study the acrosome reaction, stained with trypan blue to study the viability, or treated with a hypo-osmotic medium to study the membrane damage. Estrous female mice were intravaginally injected with the extract and copulated with males. The extract induced acrosome exocytosis, viability loss, and membrane damage in a concentration-dependent manner. Female mice treated with the extract showed complete loss of fertility. These observations indicate that the Dioscorea bulbifera tuber extract could be used as a topical contraceptive. Infertility could be due to the precocious acrosome exocytosis of the spermatozoa or membrane damage.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2019

Numerous studies have reported that enteric neurons involved in controlling neurotransmitter secretion and motility in the gut critically contribute to the progression of gut inflammation. Clostridium difficile toxins, which cause severe colonic inflammation, are also known to affect enteric neurons. Our previous study showed that C. difficile toxin A directly induces neural cell toxicities, such as viability loss and apoptosis. In the current study, we attempted to identify a potent inhibitor of toxin A-induced neural cell toxicity that may aid in managing toxin A-induced gut inflammation. In our recent study, we found that the Korea dung beetle-derived antimicrobial peptide CopA3 completely blocked neural cell apoptosis caused by okadaic acid or 6-OHDA. Here, we examined whether the antimicrobial peptide CopA3 inhibited toxin A-induced neural cell damage. In neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, CopA3 treatment protected against both apoptosis and viability loss caused by toxin A. CopA3 also completely inhibited activation of the pro-apoptotic factor, caspase-3. Additionally, CopA3 rescued toxin A-induced downregulation of neural cell proliferation. However, CopA3 had no effect on signaling through ROS/p38 $MAPK/p27^{kip1}$, suggesting that CopA3 inhibits toxin A-induced neural cell toxicity independent of this well-characterized toxin A pathway. Our data further suggest that ability of CopA3 to rescue toxin A-induced neural cell damage may also ameliorate the gut inflammation caused by toxin A.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.370-374
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• 2005

AC loss of a superconducting conductor has a strong influence on the economic viability of a superconducting fault current limiter, which offers an attractive means to limit short circuit current in power systems. Therefore, the AC loss characteristics in several fault current limiting elements of a coil type have been investigated experimentally. The test result shows that AC losses measured in the fault current limiting elements depend on arrangement of a voltage lead. The AC loss of a bifilar coil is smallest among the fault current limiting elements of the coil type. The measured AC loss of the bifilar coil is much smaller than that calculated from Norris's elliptical model. However, the loss measured in a meander, which is frequently used in a resistive fault current limiter, agrees well to the theoretical one.