• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.237-242
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• 2015

The use of calcite-forming bacteria (CFB) in crack remediation and durability improvements in construction materials creates a permanent and environmentally-friendly material. Therefore, research into this type of application is stimulating interdisciplinary studies between microbiology and architectural engineering. However, the mechanisms giving rise to these materials are dependent on calcite precipitation by the metabolism of the CFB, which raises concerns about possible hazards to cement-based construction due to microbial metabolic acid production. The aim of this study was to determine target microorganisms that possibly can have bio-corrosive effects on cement mortar and to assess multi-functional CFBs for their safe application to cement structures. The chalky test was first used to evaluate the $CaCO_3$ solubilization feature of construction sites by fungi, yeast, bacterial strains. Not all bacterial strains are able to solubilize $CaCO_3$, but C. sphaerospermum KNUC253 or P. prolifica KNUC263 showed $CaCO_3$ solubilization activity. Therefore, these two strains were identified as target microorganisms that require control in cement structures. The registered patented strains Bacillus aryabhatti KNUC205, Arthrobacter nicotianae KNUC2100, B. thuringiensis KNUC2103 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KNUC2106, reported as multifunctional CFB (fungal growth inhibition, crack remediation, and water permeability reduction of cement surfaces) and isolated from Dokdo or construction site were unable to solubilize $CaCO_3$. Notably, B. aryabhatti KNUC205 and A. nicotianae KNUC2100 could not hydrolyze cellulose or protein, which can be the major constituent macromolecules of internal materials for buildings. These results show that several reported multi-functional CFB can be applied to cement structures or diverse building environments without corrosive or bio-deteriorative risks.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.415-425
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• 2013

This study compared the characteristics of five Bacillus strains capable of aerobic and anaerobic growth, CBW3, CBW4, CBW9, CBW14 and EBW10. They were isolated and selected from a polychaete, Perinereis aibuhitensis, which is known as a good degrader of organic compounds in marine wetland. Based on a 16S rRNA sequence, CBW3 and CBW14 were found to share more than 99.8% similarity with B. nanhaiensis, B. arsenicus and B. barbaricus. CBW4, CBW9 and EBW10 shared 92.7%, 99.8%, and 99.8% similarity with B. anthracis, B. algicoa and B. thuringiensis, respectively. The temperature, salinity, and pH ranges of the cell growth of the Bacillus strains were $4-45^{\circ}C$, 0-17%, and pH 5-pH 9, respectively. All Bacillus strains were found to exhibit enzyme activities for the degradation of casein and starch. Notably, strain EBW10 exhibited the enzyme activities for all the tested macromolecules, DNA, casein, starch, cellulose, and four kinds of Tweens, which suggests the possibility that it had protease, amylase, cellulose, and lipase. All five Bacillus strains had alkaline phosphatase activities, and the strains CBW3, CBW4, and EBW10 also had acid phospatase. Strains CBW3 and EBW10 exhibited the enzyme activities both for esterase (C4) and esterase lipase (C8). The analysis of fatty acids revealed that in all strains, major fatty acids were anteiso $C_{15:0}$ and iso $C_{15:0}$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1056-1062
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• 2016

Lung cancer is currently the most common malignant disease and the leading cause of mortality in the world and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 75-80% of lung cancer cases. miR-155 gene was found to be over expressed in several solid tumors, such as thyroid carcinoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, cervical cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and lung cancer. The aims of this study were to define the expression of miR-155 in lung cancer and its associated clinic-pathologic characteristics. Total RNA was purified from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded NSCLC tissues and benign lung tissues. Expression of miR-155 in human lung cancer tissues were evaluated as mean fold changes of miR-155 in cancer tissues compared to benign lung tissues by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real-time qRT-PCR) and associations of miR-155 expression with clinic-pathologic findings of cancer. Compared with the benign control group, miR-155 expression was significantly overexpressed in NSCLCs (p=<0.001). miR-155 was more overexpressed in squamous cell carcinoma than in adenocarcinoma. Poorly differentiated tumors showed significantly overexpression of miR-155 than well-differentiated tumors (p=<0.001). Overexpression of miR-155 was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (p=<0.05). In survival analysis for all NSCLC patients, high miR-155 expression was significantly correlated with worse overall survival (p=<0.05). These results suggested that miR-155 might play an important role in lung cancer progression and metastasis.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.372-380
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• 2009

After supercritical water treatment of poplar wood meals (passed through 60 mesh) for 60s between 325 and $425^{\circ}C$ at the fixed pressure at $220{\pm}10atm$, some solid residues were present in the degradation products. They mainly consisted of chemically modified lignin and fibrous materials. Glucose and xylose were identified as main sugar components of fibrous materials, and the highest ratio of glucose/xylose was achieved at the highest reaction temperature. As reaction temperature was elevated, the portion of fibrous materials decreased in the solid residues, while lignin was further accumulated. The H : G : S ratio of lignin in solid residues was estimated by analytical pyrolysis. Irrespective of reaction temperatures, the H:G:S ratios were not significantly changed in the lignin in solid residues. Compared to poplar milled wood lignin (MWL), it was remarkable that H type monomers were further lowered, while portion of S type monomers increased. The amount of G type monomers were relative stable. In presence of HCl catalyst, lowering H type as well as enhancing S type was further distinguishable. According to the result of nitrobenzene oxidation (NBO), ca. 265 mg of vanillin and syringaldehyde was yielded from poplar MWL as main products. However, remarkably reduced amount of NBO products were determined from solid residues by raising operating temperature as well as by the addition of HCl catalyst. These results strongly indicate that $\beta$-O-4 linkage could be easily cleaved during supercritical water treatment, so that the lignins in the solid residues seem to be condensed phenol polymers, which are mainly formed by carbon-carbon linkages rather than $\beta$-O-4 linkage.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.234-240
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• 2012

This study was conducted to examine the effects of low molecular weight gelatin hydrolysates (GH, less than 3kDa), extracted from pig skin collagen on the bone metabolism of ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The rats in the experimental groups were randomly segregated into six different treatment groups such as 1) NC, the normal rat fed AIN 93 diet (basal diet) only; 2) OC, the OVX rat fed the basal diet only; 3) GH 0.1, the OVX rat fed the basal diet with 0.1% GH; 4) GH 0.8, the OVX rat fed the basal diet with 0.8% GH; 5) G 0.1, the OVX rat fed the basal diet with 0.1% gelatin; 6) G 0.8, the OVX rat fed the basal diet with 0.8% gelatin. Body weight gain in the GH 0.1, GH 0.8, and G 0.8 was significantly higher than those in the NC and OC. Feed intake of the GH 0.1 and GH 0.8 was higher than that of the NC and OC, while no significant difference was found in feed efficiency ratio (FER). BMD of the GH 0.8 was higher than that of the OC. However, gelatin hydrolysates and gelatin resulted in higher BMC level compare to the OC. Serum HDL-cholesterol of rat fed GH and gelatin was higher than that of OC (p<0.05). LDL-C of the GH 0.1 and the GH 0.8 tended to be less than that of OC. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of the GH 0.1 was lower than that of the OC. The serum of GH 0.8 showed lower osteocalcin value than the OC (p<0.05). In addition, GOT and GPT levels significantly decreased in all treatment groups. These results indicated that gelatin hydrolysates from pig skin gelatin hydrolysates enhanced BMD and serum biochemical parameters related to bone metabolism. Therefore, the gelatin hydrolysates could be used as a beneficial material to improve bone health.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.263-275
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• 2014

It's shown how to proceed the study on Manufacturing techniques & Conservation to the Iron Pot from Cheonmachong Ancient Tomb(the 155th Tomb in Hwangnam-dong). In order to investigate manufacturing techniques of the Iron Pot, some parts of the relic were gathered. After mounting, polishing and etching on the relic, analyzing the metal microstructure was conducted. Also it's conducted a SEM-EDS analysis on the nonmetallic inclusion. White iron structure was observed in the metallurgical structure inspection, SEM-EDS analysis. It seems to be dried slowly at room temperature after casting, doesn't look as particular heat treatment to improve brittleness. It is estimated that it's as the handle seam side were verified about 3cm inch wide, 1.5 thick in center of body, so 2 separate half-completed products was cast with width-type mould. The manufacturing techniques Using white cast iron structure, width-type mould are observable to the Iron Pot excavated from Sikrichong Ancient Tomb & Hwangnamdaechong grand Ancient Tomb around those were constructed the same time. It's able to recognize that it's almost identical manufacturing techniques at that time. Conservation is generically following those are survey of pretreatment, foreign material removal, stabilization, restoration and color matching in the order. cleaning & drying were added to the process as occasion demands. The strengthening treatment were difficult with artifact's volume, low concentration Paraloid NAD-10 solution was spread two or three times with a brush, surface hardening also came up with 15wt% Paraloid NAD-10 solution after the conservation was complete. There were connection & restoration for the restoration to the damage after modeling forms that it's similar to damaged parts by using the Fiber Reinforced Plastic resins(POLYCOAT FH-245, mold laminated type). Throughout this research, capitalizing on accumulations of measurements about the production technique of Iron Pot in the time of the fifth and 6th centuries is no less important than the Iron artifact's conservation for a better study in the future.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 1999

To improve Bacillus strains producing biopolymer, conditions for protoplast formation and regeneration were investigated in biopolymer producing Bacillus subtilis K-1 and lactose utilizing Bacillus coagulans. Bacillus subtilis K-1 mutant (SM-2) and Bacillus coagulans mutants (CM-12) were marked auxotrophic and antibiotics-resistant (SM-2) and an antibiotics-resistant mutants, respectively. To formate protoplasts derived from the mutants, conditions were established as follows. For B. subtilis mutant SM-2, its culture in mid-logarithmic phase was added with penicillin G (1.0 unit/ml) and further reacted for 1.5 hr. Cells were collected and then treated in lysis fluid (pH 7.0) containing 0.4 M sucrose and lysozyme $25\;{\mu}g/ml$ for 40 min at $37^{\circ}$. Protoplast formation was very successful (99.6%) and the ratio of cell wall regeneration was 2.4%. For Bacillus coagulans mutant CM-12, its mid-logarithmic phase culture was treated with penicillin G (0.3 unit/ml) and glycine (0.5%) for 1hr. Cells were collected and then resuspended in lysis buffer (pH 7.0) containing 0.6 M lactose and lysozyme $(300\;{\mu}g/ml)$ for 30 min at $37^{\circ}$. Protoplast formation was also successful (90.8%) and cell wall regeneration ratio was similar to SM-2 (2.2%). To improve regeneration frequency, regeneration medium was obtained as followed condition,. Cell wall regeneration was improved 2-4 folds with 5.1% for B. subtilis SM-2 and 10.3% for B. coagulans CM-12 when protoplasts mixed with soft top agar(0.4%) was overlaid onto trypticase soy broth medium containing 0.4 M sucrose, 0.7% casamino acid, 1% PVP, 25 mM $MgCl_2,\;25\;mM\;CaCl_₂$ and 1.5% agar.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 1998

It were reported that antifungal mechanism of Enterobacter cloacae is a volatile ammonia that produced by the strain in soil, and the production of ammonia is related to the bacterial urease activity. A powerful bacterium SH14 against soil-borne pathogen Fusarium solani, which cause root rot of many important crops, was selected from a ginseng pathogen suppressive soil. The strain SH14 was identified as Bacillus subtilis by cultural, biochemical, morphological method, and $API^{circledR}$ test. From several in vitro tests, the antifungal substance that is produced from B. subtilis SH14 was revealed as heat-stable and low-molecular weight antibiotic substance. In order to construct the multifunctional biocontrol agent, the urease gene of Bacillus pasteurii which can produce pathogenes-suppressive ammonia transferred into antifungal bacterium. First, a partial BamH I digestion fragment of plasmid pBU11 containing the alkalophilic B. pasteurii l1859 urease gene was inserted into the BamH I site of pEB203 and expressed in Escherichia coli JM109. The recombinant plasmid was designated as pGU366. The plasmid pGU366 containing urease gene was introduced into the B. subtilis SH14 with PEG-induced protoplast transformation (PIP) method. The urease gene was very stably expressed in the transformant of B. subtilis SH14. Also, the optimal conditions for transformation were established and the highest transformation frequency was obtained by treatment of lysozyme for 90 min, and then addition of 1.5 ${mu}g$/ml DNA and 40% PEG4000. From the in vitro antifungal test against F. solani, antifungal activity of B. subtilis SH14(pGu366) containing urease gene was much higher than that of the host strain. Genetical development of B. subtilis SH14 by transfer of urease gene can be responsible for enhanced biocontrol efficacy with its antibiotic action.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.344-351
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the thermal expansion characteristics of injectable ther-moplasticized gutta-perchas and a Resilon. The materials investigated are Obtura gutta-percha, Diadent gutta-percha, E&Q Gutta-percha Bar and Epiphany (Resilon). The temperature at the heating chamber orifice of an Obtura II syringe and the extruded gutta-percha from the tip of both 23- and 20-gauge needle was determined using a Digital thermometer. A cylindrical ceramic mold was fabricated for thermal expansion test, which was 27 mm long, with an internal bore diameter of 3 mm and an outer diameter of 10 mm. The mold was filled with each experimental material and barrel ends were closed with two ceramic plunger. The samples in ceramic molds were heated in a dilatometer over the temperature range from $25^{\circ}C$ to $75^{\circ}C$. From the change of specimen length as a function of temperature, the coefficients of thermal expansion were deter-mined. There was no statistical difference between four materials in the thermal expansion in the range from $35^{\circ}C$ to $55^{\circ}C$ (p > 0.05). However, Obtura Gutta-percha showed smaller thermal expansion than Diadent and Metadent ones from $35^{\circ}C$ to $75^{\circ}C$ (p < 0.05). The thermal expansion of Epiphany was similar to those of the other gutta-percha groups.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2015

To evaluate the effects of limestone powder and silica fume on the properties of high-strength high-volume ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) blended cement concrete, this study investigated the rheology, strength development, hydration and pozzolanic reaction characteristics, porosity and pore size distribution of high-strength mortars with the water-to-binder ratio of 20, 50 to 80% GGBFS, up to 20% limestone powder, and up to 10% silica fume. According to test results, compared with the Portland cement mixture, the high-volume GGBFS mixture had much higher flow due to the low surface friction of GGBFS particles and higher strength in the early age due to the accelerated cement hydration by increase of free water; however, because of too low water-to-binder ratio and cement content, and lack of calcium hydroxide content, the pozzolanic reactio cannot be activated and the long-term strength development was limited. Limestone powder did not affect the flowability, and also accelerate the early cement hydration. However, because its effect on the acceleration of cement hydration is not greater than that of GGBFS, and it does not have hydraulic reactivity unlikely to GGBFS, compressive strength was reduced proportional to the replacement ratio of limestone powder. Also, silica fume and very fine GGBFS lowered flow and strength by absorbing more free water required for cement hydration. Capillary porosities of GGBFS blended mortars were smaller than that of OPC mortar, but the effect of limestone powder on porosity was not noticeable, and silica fume increased porosity due to low degree of hydration. Nevertheless, it is confirmed that the addition of GGBFS and silica fume increases fine pores.