The oral care probiotic strain Weissella cibaria CMU (oraCMU) inhibits volatile sulphur compounds associated with halitosis, presumably by inhibiting the growth of associated oral pathogens. In the present study, we investigated whether oraCMU inhibits the production of these compounds by suppressing the expression of mgl . This gene encodes L-methionine-α-deamino-γ-mercaptomethane-lyase (METase) and is involved in the production of methyl mercaptan (CH3SH) by Porphyromonas gingivalis . Therefore, we specifically investigated the effects of oraCMU on the growth, CH3SH production, METase activity, and mgl expression of P. gingivalis . The minimum inhibitory concentrations of cell-free supernatant and secreted proteins from oraCMU were 125 mg/mL and 800 µg/mL, respectively. At sub-minimum inhibitory concentration levels, these metabolites inhibited CH3SH production, but they also reduced P. gingivalis viability. Only heat-killed oraCMU decreased CH3SH production without affecting P. gingivalis viability. Heat-killed oraCMU also inhibited METase activity toward L-methionine and mgl mRNA expression (p < 0.05). In summary, we demonstrated the inhibition of volatile sulphur compounds via the antimicrobial action of oraCMU and, for the first time, the inhibition of such compounds by heat-killed oraCMU, which occurred at the molecular level.

In this study, steric height variability in the East Asian Seas (EAS) has been analyzed by using ocean reanalysis intercomparison project (ORA-IP) data. Results show that there are significant correlations between ocean reanalysis and satellite data except the phase of annual cycle and interannual signals of the Yellow Sea. Reanalysis ensemble derived from 15-different assimilation systems depicts higher correlation (0.706) than objective analysis ensemble (0.296) in the EAS. This correlation coefficient is also much higher than that of the global ocean (0.441). For the longterm variability of the thermosteric sea level during 1993-2010, a significant warming trend is found in the East/Japan Sea, while cooling trend is shown around the Kuroshio extension area. For the halosteric sea level, a dominant freshening trend is found in the EAS. However, below 300 m depth around this area, the signal-to-noise ratio of the linear trend is generally less than one, which is related to the low density of observation data.

In argumentative writing, writers are expected to use hedged expressions and stance devices through specific linguistic expressions to convince their proposition effectively. Yet little research attention has been paid to whether the inclusion of such devices is related to the overall quality of second or foreign language learners’ argumentative writing. In this study, hedges and stance devices that are included in 28 advanced Korean EFL writers’ argumentative writing were analyzed to identify their potential relation to the overall writing quality. Analyses demonstrated that although hedges and stance devices were related to argumentative writing quality in general, the specific linguistic forms that predicted two different aspects of writing quality – formal and content quality – were different. Specifically, hedges played a significant positive role in only content quality of writing, and the specific stance devices that significantly predicted formal quality did not contribute to the content quality, and vice versa. The findings from this study provides important pedagogical implications for EFL writing instruction.

Pigs are considered as optimal donor animal for the successful xenotransplantation. To increase the possibility of clinical application, genetic modification to increase compatibility with human is an important and essential process. Genetic modification technique has been developed and improved to produce genetically modified pigs rapidly. CRISPR/Cas9 system is widely used in various fields including the production of transgenic animals and also can be enable multiple gene modifications. In this study, we developed new gene targeting vector and enrichment system for the rapid and efficient selection of genetically modified cells. We conducted co-transfection with two targeting vectors for simultaneous inactivation of two genes and enrichment of the genetically modified cells using MACS. After this efficient enrichment, genotypic analysis of each colony showed that colonies which have genetic modifications on both genes were confirmed with high efficiency. Somatic cell nuclear transfer was conducted with established donor cells and genetically modified pigs were successfully produced. Genotypic and phenotypic analysis of generated pigs showed identical genotypes with donor cells and no surface expression of α-Gal and HD antigens. Furthermore, functional analysis using pooled human serum revealed dramatically reduction of human natural antibody (IgG and IgM) binding level and natural antibody-mediated cytotoxicity. In conclusion, the constructed vector and enrichment system using MACS used in this study is efficient and useful to generate genetically modified donor cells with multiple genetic alterations and lead to an efficient production of genetically modified pigs.

The purpose of this study is to determine if natural extracts could be used as an additive in oral health food made with Weissella cibaria CMU (oraCMU). Natural extracts of green tea, mulberry leaf, licorice, and propolis, which are reported to have antimicrobial activities, were selected and used in this study. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of extracts on periodontal pathogens such as Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis and their synergy effects with oraCMU by the fractional inhibitory concentrations methods were measured. From the results obtained, all the extracts showed no effect on the growth of oraCMU. Green tea extract showed the best antibacterial activity with MIC of 1.8 mg/ml against both F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis. In addition, green tea extract had a synergistic effect with oraCMU against F. nucleatum. Therefore, these results suggested that green tea extract is available as an additive in oral health food made with oraCMU.

Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder is a common cause of pain that occurs during shoulder movement, thereby restricting shoulder rotation in clinical practice. Although most patients respond to pain relief treatment (NSAID or corticosteroids) by improving their range of motion, it remains poorly understood without any definitive treatment algorithm. In addition to immune cells, synoviocytes, chondrocytes and osteoblasts in the joint are known to produce pro-inflammatory mediators such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammatory cytokines and lipid mediators, presumably contributing to the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) and adhesive capsulitis. Although inflammation and also fibrosis are proposed to be the basic pathological changes of a frozen shoulder, there is a lack of information regarding the downstream targets of the pro-inflammatory ROS signaling pathway in the synoviocytes and also how these ROS targets are modulated at the transcription level by a corticosteroid - dexamethasone. In this study, we used human fibroblast like synoviocytes (HFLS) to characterize the signaling targets of ROS by employing a human DNA microarray tool and studied the role of dexamethasone in this process. Our data suggest that several genes such as FOS, FOSB and NFkBIZ, which are known to be involved in pro- or anti- inflammation response, are modulated at the transcription level by ROS and dexamethasone.

Medical mushroom, Phellinus linteus (PL) called as “Sanghwang” has been studied extensively for its extraordinary capacity of suppressing cancer or enhancing body immunity. The mycelial materials of PL have mainly been used as research samples worldwide because its fruiting body was difficult to artificially produce. Alternatively, P. baumii (variety, “Jangsu”) have stably been cultivated in Korea. However, fruiting body morphology of P. baumii is clearly different to that of PL. Of Phellinus isolates collected in Korea, P. linteus, KACC 93057P having features of fast mycelial growth rate was mycologically characterized. This study is to establish artificial cultivation of P. linteus KACC93057P having high mycelial growth rate and to examine bioactive efficacy of its fruiting body. The grain spawn of P linteus KACC93057P was inoculated on oak and mulberry logs (20 cm). The optimum temperature for the mycelial growth was at 25-30°C and growth was optimal at pH 5-7. The mycelial growth of P. linteus was faster than P. baumii and other P. linteus isolates. The mushroom pinning was observed on the 60 days after the inoculation, and fruiting bodies were formed in more than 90% of the logs after 6 months. The productivity fruiting body on the logs was more than 10 times that of the existing P. linteus (Korean Sanhwang). The fruiting bodies showed typical morphologies of P. linteus. The pore shape in basidiocarp is circular with 5-7 per mm, hyphal system is dimity, and basidiospores are ellipsoid. Bioactive efficacy of the fruiting bodies was analyzed by immunoreactivity and antioxidant activity.

A reliable and selective liquid chromatography–ultraviolet detection method for determination of antiprotozoals (selamectin, doramectin and fenbendazol) has been described. HPLC separation of active constituents was achieved on various C18 columns using methanol, acetonitrile, 0.1% phosphoric acid, acetic acid and distilled water as mobile phase, with UV detection at 243, 245 and 224 nm. The analytical procedure has been successfully identified. The method was validated for specificity, linearity, accuracy, repeatability and intermediated precision. All calibration curves showed good linearity (R2 of 0.9999) within the concentrations ranges (0~200, 0~200 and 50~400 μg/mL). The accuracy and repeatability showed 99%, 100%, 100% and below 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, respectively. The precision tests conducted for 3 days in three different concentrations with standard also revealed below 3.5%, 2.4% and 2.7%. The method has also been applied successfully to monitor post-market 5 veterinary products of which active ingredient are selamectin, doramectin and fenbendazol. There were no non-compliant products.

This study aimed to investigate antioxidant activity of various extracts from fruiting bodies and mycelia of two Phellinus linteus strains and P. baumii. The Phellinus strains have cultivated on oak and mulberry logs. The fruiting bodies species were harvested from each Phellinus strain and used in this study. The tested items include: 2, 2’-azinobis[3-ethylbenzthiazoline]-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), free radical scavenging assay and determination of total phenolics contents (TPC), ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP), and DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl) radical-scavenging activities. Different extractions with 60% Ethyl alcohol, 70% methyl alcohol and heat water were done on the mycellial and fruiting bodies samples of the mushroom species. The methyl alcohol extraction from fruiting body of P. linteus KACC93057P displayed the highest antioxidant activity on ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH assays. The ethyl acetate fraction was concentrated and subjected to an ODS column chromatography, followed by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Finally six compounds 1-6 were detected by preparative reversed-phase HPLC.

방사성폐기물 발생기관의 가용데이터를 기반으로 산출된 핵종재고량을 적용하여 예비안전성평가를 수행한 결과 처분안전성과 운영측면에서 많은 어려움이 예상됨을 확인하였다. 본 논문에서는 전체처분시설 예비안전성평가를 수행하였으며, 평가결과 성능목표치 초과핵종에 대해 방사능량이 큰 비중을 차지하는 단위포장물을 선별하고, 높은 표면선량률의 포장물을 처분대상에서 제외하는 방식으로 처분시설의 처분방사능량제한을 도입하였다. 처분방사능량제한은 안전기준 만족을 위한 처분시설별 인수기준과 처분기준 설정에 기초자료로 활용할 것이며, 경주 처분시설의 안전한 종합개발계획수립 및 처분시 설의 안전성 최적화를 위한 Safety Case 구축에 기여할 것으로 판단된다.