Potential of Snapshot-Type Hyperspectral Imagery Using Support Vector Classifier for the Classification of Tomatoes Maturity.

It is necessary to convert to automation in a tomato hydroponic greenhouse because of the aging of farmers, the reduction in agricultural workers as a proportion of the population, COVID-19, and so on. In particular, agricultural robots are attractive as one of the ways for automation conversion in a hydroponic greenhouse. However, to develop agricultural robots, crop monitoring techniques will be necessary.

How Suppressed Anger Can Become an Illness: A Qualitative Systematic Review of the Experiences and Perspectives of Hwabyung Patients in Korea.

In the clinical field, anger has generally been studied in terms of aggressive behavior. However, in Asians, anger suppression is more common than anger expression. Hwabyung is a culture-related anger syndrome in Korea and is known to occur due to the continued repression of anger.

Association of Cost and Medical Service Satisfaction with Korean and Conventional Medicine Use before and after Surgery in Postsurgical Patients: A Questionnaire Survey of Korean Patients with Postsurgical Pain Visiting Korean Medicine Hospitals.

This study aimed to assess the costs, health status, and medical service satisfaction with Korean and conventional medicine use before and after surgery of patients visiting Korean medicine hospitals for postsurgical musculoskeletal pain. The study population comprised patients who visited KM hospitals for the first time between June and November 2017 for persistent or recurrent pain and discomfort after low back, neck, shoulder, or knee surgery. Various validated questionnaires were used to collect data.

Mussel adhesive Protein-conjugated Vitronectin (fp-151-VT) Induces Anti-inflammatory Activity on LPS-stimulated Macrophages and UVB-irradiated Keratinocytes.

Background: Skin inflammation and dermal injuries are a major clinical problem because current therapies are limited to treating established scars, and there is a poor understanding of healing mechanisms. Mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) have great potential in many tissue engineering and biomedical applications. It has been successfully demonstrated that the redesigned hybrid type MAP (fp-151) can be utilized as a promising adhesive biomaterial.

Effectiveness of Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture for Chronic Neck Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this systematic review was to assess evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture and electroacupuncture in patients with chronic neck pain. We searched nine databases including Chinese, Japanese and Korean databases through 30 July 2016. The participants were adults with chronic neck pain and were treated with acupuncture or electroacupuncture.

Prunus mume extract exerts antioxidant activities and suppressive effect of melanogenesis under the stimulation by alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone in B16-F10 melanoma cells.

In the current study, we examined the antioxidant and skin-whitening properties of Prunus mume extract (PME). The ability of PME to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals was investigated in vitro. At a concentration of 1000 μg/mL, PME neutralized >45% free radical activity.

A bitter herbal medicine Gentiana scabra root extract stimulates glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion and regulates blood glucose in db/db mouse.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Gentiana scabra root extract (GS) is frequently prescribed as an internal remedy in traditional Korean medicine for treatment of diabetes mellitus. GS contains bitter iridoid glycosides including loganic acid, gentiopicrin, trifloroside, and rindoside. We previously reported that the intestinal bitter taste sensation stimulates GLP-1 secretion, and thereupon hypothesized that the blood glucose regulatory effect of GS is due to its GLP-1 secreting effect in enteroendocrine L cells.

Overlay accuracy on a flexible web with a roll printing process based on a roll-to-roll system.

For high-quality flexible devices from printing processes based on Roll-to-Roll (R2R) systems, overlay alignment during the patterning of each functional layer poses a major challenge. The reason is because flexible substrates have a relatively low stiffness compared with rigid substrates, and they are easily deformed during web handling in the R2R system. To achieve a high overlay accuracy for a flexible substrate, it is important not only to develop web handling modules (such as web guiding, tension control, winding, and unwinding) and a precise printing tool but also to control the synchronization of each unit in the total system.

Lead iodide perovskite sensitized all-solid-state submicron thin film mesoscopic solar cell with efficiency exceeding 9%.

We report on solid-state mesoscopic heterojunction solar cells employing nanoparticles (NPs) of methyl ammonium lead iodide (CH(3)NH(3))PbI(3) as light harvesters. The perovskite NPs were produced by reaction of methylammonium iodide with PbI(2) and deposited onto a submicron-thick mesoscopic TiO(2) film, whose pores were infiltrated with the hole-conductor spiro-MeOTAD. Illumination with standard AM-1.

Effect of glutathione on growth of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri.

Glutathione (GSH) is an abundant nonprotein thiol that plays numerous roles within the cell. Previously, we showed that Lactobacillus salivarius has the capacity to mount a glutathione-mediated acid-tolerance response. In the present work we provide evidence of a requirement for GSH by Lactobacillus reuteri and have studied the role of GSH during cell growth.

[Comparative proteomic analysis of cancerous and adjacent normal lung tissues].

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in industrialized countries. Unfortunately, most lung cancers are found too late for a cure, therefore early detection and treatment is very important. We have applied proteomic analysis by using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and peptide mass fingerprinting techniques for examination of cancerous and adjacent non-cancerous lung tissues from the same patient.

Proteomic analysis of protein expression in Lactobacillus plantarum in response to alkaline stress.

Lactobacillus plantarum, a probiotic organism that plays an important role in the microbial fermentation of alkaline materials in fermenting foods, faces alkaline stress during the fermentation process. Here, we report the patterns of protein expression in L. plantarum subjected to transient (1h) alkaline stress at pH 7.

Effect of transient acid stress on the proteome of intestinal probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri.

We report the acid tolerance response and changes in the level of protein expression of probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri subjected to transient (1.5 h) acid stress at pH 3.0.

Proteomic analysis of endogenous conjugated linoleic acid biosynthesis in lactating rats and mouse mammary gland epithelia cells (HC11).

This study was conducted to investigate the amount of CLA synthesized endogenously by rat mammary tissues in response to TVA (a precursor for cis-9, trans-11 CLA endogenous synthesis) treatment as well as the differences in the protein expression of genes encoding the biosynthesis of CLA in rat mammary tissue and mouse mammary gland epithelia cells (HC11). Treatment with TVA resulted in improved CLA productivity. Furthermore, 2-DE revealed two spots in samples of mammary tissues and one spot in samples of mammary gland epithelia cells (HC11) that were consistently altered in the TVA treatment groups when compared with the control group (non-fatty acid).

Proteomic profiling combining solution-phase isoelectric fractionation with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis using narrow-pH-range immobilized pH gradient gels with slightly overlapping pH ranges.

This paper describes a simple new approach toward improving resolution of two-dimensional (2-D) protein gels used to explore the mammalian proteome. The method employs sample prefractionation using solution-phase isoelectric focusing (IEF) to split the mammalian proteome into well-resolved pools. As crude samples are thus prefractionated by pI range, very-narrow-pH-range 2-D gels can be subsequently employed for protein separation.

Effect of separation dimensions on resolution and throughput using very narrow-range IEF for 2-DE after solution phase isoelectric fractionation of a complex proteome.

This paper describes how the lengths of the first and second dimensions in narrow pH-range 2-DE affect the number of detected protein spots, by analysis of human breast carcinoma cell line lysates prefractionated by solution phase IEF. The aim is to maximize throughput while minimizing experimental costs. In this study, systematic evaluation of narrow-range IPG strip lengths showed that separation distances were very important, with dramatic increases in resolution when longer gels were used.

Isolation and characterization of potential probiotic lactobacilli from pig feces.

This study examined four lactobacilli isolated from pig feces. Two hundred lactic acid bacteria strains were obtained from pig feces using selective culture media (with vancomycin and bromocresol green; termed LAMVAB agar). Microscopy, the catalase test, Gram-staining, and RAPD-PCR analysis were used to group the bacteria into 20 related clusters.

Proteomic analysis of the effect of bile salts on the intestinal and probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri.

Lactobacillus reuteri is a resident of the human and animal intestinal tracts. The ability of L. reuteri to survive passage through the intestinal tract is a key point in its function as a probiotic.

Evaluation of an effective sample prefractionation method for the proteome analysis of breast cancer tissue using narrow range two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

One method of improving the protein profiling of complex mammalian proteomes is the use of prefractionation followed by application of narrow pH range two dimensional (2-D) gels. The success of this strategy relies on sample solubilization; poor solubilization has been associated with missing protein fractions and diffuse, streaked, and/or trailing protein spots. In this study, I sought to optimize the solubilization of prefractionated human cancer cell samples using isoelectric focusing (IEF) rehydration buffers containing a variety of commercially available reducing agents, detergents, chaotropes, and carrier ampholytes.

Influence of gel dimensions on resolution and sample throughput on two-dimensional gels.

To achieve high throughput and economical format of 2-D PAGE, comparison between gel size and resolution was conducted on human breast carcinoma cell line (MCF-7/AZ) proteins. SDS gel length showed a weaker influence of separation length on resolution in the second dimension, and there was little benefit of separation distances greater than 15 to 19 cm. IPG strip separation distances were very important with dramatic increase in resolution of longer gels compared with smaller gels, and maximal resolution was obtained using 18- and 24-cm IPG strips.

The effect of low pH on protein expression by the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri.

The ability of a lactic acid bacterium to survive passage through the gastrointestinal tract is a key point in its function as a probiotic. In this study, protein synthesis by the probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus reuteri, was analyzed under transiently decreased pH conditions. L.

Electroenzymatic degradation of azo dye using an immobilized peroxidase enzyme.

Azo dyes are largely resistant to biodegradation and persist in conventional wastewater treatment processes. Combining enzymatic catalysis and the electrochemical generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an electroenzymatic process was developed, which is a potential alternative to traditional processes. In this study, an electroenzymatic method that uses an immobilized horseradish peroxidase enzyme (HRP), was investigated to degrade orange II (azo dye) within a two-compartment packed-bed flow reactor.

Depletion of multiple high-abundance proteins improves protein profiling capacities of human serum and plasma.

Systematic detection of low-abundance proteins in human blood that may be putative disease biomarkers is complicated by an extremely wide range of protein abundances. Hence, depletion of major proteins is one potential strategy for enhancing detection sensitivity in serum or plasma. This study compared a recently commercialized HPLC column containing antibodies to six of the most abundant blood proteins ("Top-6 depletion") with either older Cibacron blue/Protein A or G depletion methods or no depletion.

A media design program for lactic acid production coupled with extraction by electrodialysis.

The aim of this study was to investigate industrial media for lactic acid fermentation to reduce the cost of nitrogen sources. Corn steep liquor (CSL) was successfully used at 5% (v/v) in batch fermentations. Use of soluble CSL improved the productivity approximately 20% with an advantage of clearer fermentation broth.

Electroenzymatic oxidation of veratryl alcohol by lignin peroxidase.

This paper reports the formation of veratraldehyde by electroenzymatic oxidation of veratryl alcohol (3,4-dimethoxybenzyl alcohol) hybridizing both electrochemical and enzymatic reactions and using lignin peroxidase. The novel electroenzymatic method was found to be effective for replacement of hydrogen peroxide by an electrochemical reactor, which is essential for enzyme activity of lignin peroxidase. The effects of operating parameters such as enzyme dosage, pH, and electric potential were investigated.