• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.169-173
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• 2003

Alkylthioureido-1,3-propandiols (KY353X series) were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors for neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase). To examine whether KY353X series inhibit N-SMase, we purified the N-SMase from bovine brain. The N-SMase was partially purified by sequential chromatographies of DEAE-Cellulose anionic exchange and phenyl-5PW hydrophobic HPLC. These seqeuntial procedures for N-SMase resulted in a 67-fold purification and excluded other isoforms of SMase. Based on in vitro assay, KY353X series inhibited N-SMase activity in time, concentration-dependent manners and completely inactivated N-SMase at 50 $\mu$M. In particular, KY3535 and KY3536 inhibited more effectively than the others. To further determine the .inhibitory pattern, a Dixon plot was constructed, to showing that the inhibition by KY3535 and KY3536 were competitive. The inhibition constant (Ki) of KY3535 and KY3536 was 1.7 $\mu$M and 2.5$\mu$M in 100 mM Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.0, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.495-501
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• 1999

Lactobacillus acidophilus KY 2104 was isolated from 41 healthy korean ($2{\sim}35\;age$, 26 man, 15 woman) feces to use as a probiotic lactic acid bacteria for functional foods, fermented milk and pharmaceutical products. L. acidophilus KY 2104 survived in the presence of acid and bile, and inhibited pathogens. It survived almost 100% in pH 3.0 phosphate buffer for 2 hr, and more than $10^4\;cfu/mL$ in pH 2.0 phosphate buffer when inoculated by $10^7\;cfu/mL$. It was also found to grow in MRS medium containing 0.5% oxgall. L. acidophilus KY 2104 exerted inhibitory effect against enteric pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhimurium, when grown with each in associative cultures for 16 hr. As a result of acute toxicity of L. acidophilus KY 2104 in rats, there was no observation on motality, clinical signs, body weights and gross findings in the oral administration.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.409-425
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• 2019

Marine terraces, a step-like landform, are important geologic markers that provide tectonic information during the Quaternary Period. Marine terraces are well developed along all coastlines(East, West, and South) of the Korean Peninsula, those along the East coastline are the most distinctive. The marine terraces of the East coastline are classified into 4-6 flights that are several meters or several tens of meters above the present sea level. It is believed that these terraces, except for the lowest one, were formed in the middle Pleistocene. In the base of the OSL age dating results and Blake excursion events of magnetostratigraphy, the $2^{nd}$ and $3^{rd}$ terraces are correlated to the last interglacial stage. Considering the marine terraces linked to a sea-level curve of the Pleistocene, it is thought that regional tectonic movements have uplifted the East coastal area since the middle Pleistocene. Besides, former shorelines of each terrace have varied elevations from Gangreung to Busan bay, which can be divided into four regions, namely, Gangreung-Yonghanri(I), Homikot-Najung(II), Najung-Bangeojin(III), and Waesung-Busan Bay(IV). The former shorelines of each terrace at both Gangreung-Yonghanri(I) and Najung-Bangeojin(III) are higher than those in the other two regions, due to block movements by regional faults such as the Ocheon Fault or its subsidiaries, the Gampo Lineament and Ulsan Fault. Uplift rate of the East coast ranges from 0.2 m/ky to 0.3 m/ky, but each region shows different uplift rate.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.297-302
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• 2004

A chitinase-producing bacterium was isolated from seashore mud around Beobseongpo in Chunmam province through the use of a selective enrichment culture. The best chitinase producing strain was isolated and identified as Serratia marcescens KY from its characteristics. For effective production of chitinase, optimum pH, temperature, and agitation speed were investigated in flask cultures. The optimum pH using Serratia marcescens KY was between pH 6 and 7 and the chitinase produced was 37.9 unit/mL. On the other hand, the optimal pH of the Serratia marcescens ATCC 27117 was 7.5, and the produced amount of chitinase was 35.2 unit/mL. The optimal temperature for chitinase production for Serratia marcescens KY and Serratia marcescens ATCC 27117 was $30^{\circ}$. The cell growth pattern at different temperature was almost identical to the chitinase production. To investigate the optimal shaking speed under optimal culture, speeds were varied in the range of 0∼300 rpm. The maximum production of chitinase was carried at 200 rpm although the cell growth was the highest at 150 rpm. It indicates that oxygen adjustment is required for the maximum chitinase production. Using optimal conditions, batch cultures for comparing Serratia marcescens KY and Serratia marcescens ATCC 27117 were carried out in a 5 L fermentor. The oxygen consumption was increased with the increase of culture. Especially, at 120 h of culture Serratia marcescens KY and Serratia marcescens ATCC 27117 produced 38.3 unit/mL, and 33.5 unit/mL, respectively.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.233-242
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• 2003

The southeasternmost coastal area of the Korean peninsula has been regarded as a seismologically stable area as neither Quaternary faults nor earthquake activity has been reported. To clarify whether the active tectonic movement has occurred or not, a digital marine terrace mapping and fracture mapping have been done in the coastal area. Bed rocks are composed of the Cretaceous volcanic and sedimentary rocks and the Paleogene granite. Wave-cut platform in the area is smaller and narrower relative to that of the northern coastal area. Most of the platforms in the area have little Quaternary sediment. The platforms except the Holocene terrace (1 st terrace) can be divided into three steps. The lowest platform (2nd terrace) has an altitude of 8-11 m. The broad middle one (3rd terrace) is 17 to 22 m high. The highest terrace (4th terrace) is a narrow and sporadic bench with an altitude of about 44 m high. The lowest terrace is correlated to the 2nd terrace of the northern area, which corresponds to the oxygen isotopic stage 5a. The uplift rate calculated from a graphic method is 0.19 m/ky. This low uplift is typical of an intra-plate, suggesting that the area is tectonically stable. The elevation of the platforms tends slightly lower from the north to the south in the survey area. The decreasing altitude of the platforms towards the south is interpreted to result from a local block tilting during the Latest Pleistocene. This also indicates that the eastern coast of the Korean peninsula has been suffering a subsidence to the south.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 1993

A bacterial strain KY-l isolated from sewage was able to produce an extracellular agarase(agarose 4-glycanohydrolase. EC 3.2.1.81). The strain KY-1 was identified as Cytophaga fermentans subsp. agarovorans based on its morphological and physiological characteristics. The agarase was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by DEAE-Sephadex A-50. Bio-Gel P-100. and CM-Cellulose column chromatography. The molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 24 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The optimum temperature and pH for the enzyme activity were 30^{circ}C and 7.5, respectively. The enzyme activity was significantly inhibited in the presence of 0.1 mM $HgCl_2$. whereas it was elevated 3 times by $MnSO_4$ at 1 mM concentration. The Km value and Vmax were 16.67 mg/ml and 3.77 unit/ml.min. The agarase gene was cloned into Escherichia coli MC1061 using the plasmid vector pBR322. A 1.4 Kb DNA fragment of PstI-digested chromosomal DNA of C. fermentans KY-l was inserted into the PstI site of pBR322. expressed in the E. coli. and up to 60% of the total enzyme was extracellularly secreted. Enzymatic properties of the extracellular agarases produced by both the transformant and the donor were very similar in terms of optimal pH and temperature.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.654-659
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• 2013

This study was conducted to identify an optimal ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C/N ratio) for denitrification of nitrate using molasses as an external carbon source. A series of batch and column tests was conducted using an indigenous bacterium Pseudomonas sp. KY1 isolated from a nitrate-contaminated soil. For the initial nitrate-nitrogen concentration of 100 mg-N/L, batch test results indicated that C/N ratio of 3/1 was the optimal ratio with a relatively high pseudo-first-order reaction constant of $0.0263hr^{-1}$. At C/N ratio of 3/1, more than 80% of nitrate-nitrogen concentration of 100 mg-N/L was removed in 100 hrs. Results of column tests with a flow velocity of 0.3 mL/min also indicated that the C/N ratio of 3/1 was optimal for denitrification with minimizing remaining molasses concentrations. After 172 hrs of column operation (35 pore volumes) with an influent nitrate-nitrogen concentration of 100 mg-N/L, the effluent met the drinking water standard (i.e., 10 mg $NO_3$-N/L).

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate survival rates of vitrified mouse blastocysts in various vitrification solutions (cryoprotectants) and apparatuses. The mouse blastocysts were harvested from culture of mouse 2 cell embryo and were divided into three group (i) untreated (control); (ii) exposed to cryoprotectant agents; or (iii) cryopreserved by various vitrification apparatuses. Vitrification solutions are 40% ethylene glycol (EG) + 5.8 mg/mL ficoll + 0.5M sucrose (EFS solution), 3M glycerol + 3M EG (ES solution), 20% EG + 20% dimethyl sulfoxide (ED solution), 3M EG + 1.0 m sucrose (ES solution). Vitrification apparatuses consisted of 5 groups ; closed plastic straw (CPS), electron microscope (EM) grid, cryoloop, open pulled straw (OPS), and glass micropippete in plastic straw (GPS). The survival rates of control were 88.0%. The survival rates of exposed blastocysts in EFS, GE, ED, and ES solutions were 70.8%, 43.5% (P<0.01), 83.3% and 65.2%, respectively. The survival rates of vitrified blastocysts in CPS, EM grid, cryoloop, OPS and GPS were 56.5% (P< 0.01), 72.7%, 83.3%, 60.9% (P<0.05) and 54.2% (P<0.01), respectively. Among the vitrification solutions, the highest survival rate was seen in blastocysts vitrified in EG + DMSO (83.3%). The survival rate was not significantly different from that of the control (88%). Blastocysts cryopreserved with glycerol in all groups had an overall low survival rate of 43.5%. Survival rate of mouse blastocysts between vitrification apparatuses showed higher in cryoloop.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.95-99
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• 2018

An innovative, simple, and rapid assay method based on liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of eight statin drugs in human urine. A simple sample clean-up procedure using the "dilute and shoot" (DAS) approach enabled a fast and reliable analysis. The influence of the dilution factor was investigated to ensure detectability and reduce the matrix effect. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Phenomenex Kinetex C18 column ($50{\times}3.0mm$ i.d., $2.6{\mu}m$) using an elution gradient of mobile phase A composed of 0.1% acetic acid, and mobile phase B composed of acetonitrile, at a flow rate of 0.35 mL/min. Quantitation was performed on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operated in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using electrospray ionization in positive ion mode. The total chromatographic run time was 15 min. The method was validated for selectivity, sensitivity, recovery, linearity, accuracy, precision, and stability. The present method was successfully applied to the analysis of Rosuvastatin in urine samples after oral administration to healthy human subjects.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2003

Background & Objectives: Hyperexcitablity of motor system is a well-established characteristic pathophysiologic finding of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Whereas little is known about the source of excitability according to the progression of the disease. We evaluated the excitability and its source in advanced ALS patients using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Meterial & Methods: Motor evoked potentials (MEP) by TMS were recorded for abductor pollicis brevis muscles in 20 patients, 11 men and 9 women, with ALS. Mean age was $54.2{\pm}12.1years$, and mean disease duration was $13.9{\pm}13.4years$. Serial magnetic stimulations were applied to get the parameters; excitability threshold (ET), amplitude and latency of MEP. We also had a facilitated MEP (fMEP). Results: The parameters were analyzed according to the clinical settings. ET was higher in ALS(mean $63.5{\pm}18.1$) than normal control (mean $46.0{\pm}8.4$, p<0.01). Amplitudes of MEP were reduced in ALS ($2.6{\pm}3.6mV$; control $6.5{\pm}3.1mV$, p<0.01). Duration of the disease and ET showed significant inverse correlation (Spearson correlation coefficient = -0.57, p<0.01). Duration of the disease and fMEP/MEP ratio showed less but also significant inverse correlation (Spearson correlation coefficient, r = -0.52, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Lower ET in advanced ALS patients, in spite of decreased fMEP/MEP ratio, may indicate the hyperexcitability of lower motor neurons in these patients. This study suggests that lower motor neurons is hyperexcitable due to upper motor neuron dysfunction at advanced stage.