• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 2008

A safety valve has a valve mechanism for the automatic release of gas from piping system when the pressure exceeds preset limit cause of a defect of a pressure regulator, condensation of water in a pipe. Therefore, for the safety of pressure regulating station, it is essential to study the flow regime and characteristics of safety valve. This article presents the numerical analysis on the flow analysis, the ejection capacity and required effective discharge area of the safety valve that is established in pressure regulating station. Then, the results are compared and analyzed with domestic and foreign regulations such as API(America Petroleum Institute), EN(European Standard), and NF(Norme Francise). Moreover, the installation number of safety valve is considered by using domestic and foreign regulations and maximum reguired effective discharge area of safety valve.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.244-255
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• 2019

Xylose isomerase (XI; E.C. 5.3.1.5) catalyzes the isomerization of xylose to xylulose, which can be used to produce bioethanol through fermentation. Therefore, XI has recently gained attention as a key catalyst in the bioenergy industry. Here, we identified, purified, and characterized a XI (PbXI) from the psychrophilic soil microorganism, Paenibacillus sp. R4. Surprisingly, activity assay results showed that PbXI is not a cold-active enzyme, but displays optimal activity at $60^{\circ}C$. We solved the crystal structure of PbXI at $1.94-{\AA}$ resolution to investigate the origin of its thermostability. The PbXI structure shows a $({\beta}/{\alpha})_8$-barrel fold with tight tetrameric interactions and it has three divalent metal ions (CaI, CaII, and CaIII). Two metal ions (CaI and CaII) located in the active site are known to be involved in the enzymatic reaction. The third metal ion (CaIII), located near the ${\beta}4-{\alpha}6$ loop region, was newly identified and is thought to be important for the stability of PbXI. Compared with previously determined thermostable and mesophilic XI structures, the ${\beta}1-{\alpha}2$ loop structures near the substrate binding pocket of PbXI were remarkably different. Site-directed mutagenesis studies suggested that the flexible ${\beta}1-{\alpha}2$ loop region is essential for PbXI activity. Our findings provide valuable insights that can be applied in protein engineering to generate low-temperature purpose-specific XI enzymes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.99-109
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to determine whether fimasartan, a newly developed $AT_1$ receptor blocker, can affect the CA release in the isolated perfused model of the adrenal medulla of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Fimasartan (5~50 ${\mu}M$) perfused into an adrenal vein for 90 min produced dose- and time-dependently inhibited the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32 mM), high $K^+$ (56 mM, a direct membrane depolarizer), DMPP (100 ${\mu}M$) and McN-A-343 (100 ${\mu}M$). Fimasartan failed to affect basal CA output. Furthermore, in adrenal glands loaded with fimasartan (15 ${\mu}M$), the CA secretory responses evoked by Bay-K-8644 (10 ${\mu}M$, an activator of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels), cyclopiazonic acid (10 ${\mu}M$, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase), and veratridine (100 ${\mu}M$, an activator of $Na^+$ channels) as well as by angiotensin II (Ang II, 100 nM), were markedly inhibited. In simultaneous presence of fimasartan (15 ${\mu}M$) and L-NAME (30 ${\mu}M$, an inhibitor of NO synthase), the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh, high $K^+$, DMPP, Ang II, Bay-K-8644, and veratridine was not affected in comparison of data obtained from treatment with fimasartan (15 ${\mu}M$) alone. Also there was no difference in NO release between before and after treatment with fimasartan (15 ${\mu}M$). Collectively, these experimental results suggest that fimasartan inhibits the CA secretion evoked by Ang II, and cholinergic stimulation (both nicotininc and muscarinic receptors) as well as by membrane depolarization from the rat adrenal medulla. It seems that this inhibitory effect of fimasartan may be mediated by blocking the influx of both $Na^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ through their ion channels into the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells as well as by inhibiting the $Ca^{2+}$ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store, which is relevant to $AT_1$ receptor blockade without NO release.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2008

Purpose: Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a group of proteins that are activated when cells are exposed to a variety of environmental stresses, such as infection, inflammation, exposure to toxins, starvation, hypoxia, brain injury, or water deprivation. The activation of HSPs by environmental stress plays a key role in signal transduction, including cytoprotection, molecular chaperone, anti-apoptotic effect, and anti-aging effects. However, the precise mechanism for the action of small HSPs, such as HSP27 and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs: extracellular-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38MAPK, stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK), is not completely understood, particularly in application of cell stimulators including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), angiotensin II (AngII), tumor necrosis factor $\alpha$ (TNF$\alpha$), and $H_2O_2$. This study examined the relationship between stimulators-induced enzymatic activity of HSP27 and MAPKs from rat smooth and skeletal muscles. Methods: 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionizationtime-of-flight/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) analysis were used to identify HSP27 from the intact vascular smooth and skeletal muscles. Three isoforms of HSP27 were detected on silver-stained gels of the whole protein extracts from the rat aortic smooth and skeletal muscle strips. Results: The expression of PDGF, AngII, TNF$\alpha$, and $H_2O_2$-induced activation of HSP27, p38MAPK, ERK1/2, and SAPK/JNK was higher in the smooth muscle cells than the control. SB203580 (30${\mu}$M), a p38MAPK inhibitor, increased the level of HSP27 phosphorylation induced by stimulators in smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, the age-related and starvation-induced activation of HSP27 was higher in skeletal muscle cells (L6 myoblast cell lines) and muscle strips than the control. Conclusion: These results suggest, in part, that the activity of HSP27 and MAPKs affect stressors, such as PDGF, AngII, TNF$\alpha$, $H_2O_2$, and starvation in rat smooth and skeletal muscles. However, more systemic research will be needed into physical therapy, including thermotherapy, electrotherapy, radiotherapy and others.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 1984

Four polymorphic forms (I, II, III and IV) of hydrochlorothiazide have been characterized on the basis of x-ray diffractometry and differential thermal analysis. Form I was obtained by crystallization from N, N-dimethylformamide and Form II was crystallized from hot methanol. Form III was precipitated from sodium hydroxide aqueous solution by treatment with hydrochloric acid and Form IV was crystallized from 50% methanol. The metastable form I was a most stable form among four polymorphs, which was stable more than ten months at room temperature. The thermodynamic parameters such as heat of solution, enthalpy, entropy, free energy difference and transition temperature were determined by the measurement of intrinsic dissolution rate. The transition temperature and the heat of transition between the metastable Form I an Form II were determined to be $299.15^{\circ}$K and 5.03 Kcal/mole, respectively and free energy difference ($\delta$ F) was 302. 13 cal/mole. Diuretic action of these four polymorphic forms was also evaluated by monitoring the difference in urinary excretion of sodium, potassium and magnesium in rats.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.14-25
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• 2018

The combined cycle power plant has a cycle of operating the gas turbine with fuel, such as natural gas, and then producing steam using residual heat. The fuel gas is supplied to the gas turbine at a level of 4 to 5 MPa, $200^{\circ}C$ through a compressor and a heat exchanger. In this study, the risk assessment method considering the piping system stress was carried out for safe operation and soundness of the gas fuel supply piping system. The API 580/581 RBI code, which is well known for its risk assessment techniques, is limited to reflect the effect of piping stress on risk. Therefore, the systematic stress of the pipeline is analyzed by using the piping analysis. For the study, the piping system stress analysis was performed using design data of a gas fuel supply piping of a combined cycle power plant. The result of probability of failure evaluated by the API code is compared to the result of stress ratio by piping analysis.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2004

Purpose: we would like to suggest the proper surgical methods according to the severity of instability by analyzing the results. Materials and Methods: Between January 1998 and August 2002, eighty five patients have been operated on because of posterolateral rotatory instability (PLRI). The materials were included the patients who had followed-ups for over 2 years in sixty one patients and the patient's assessments were done by clinical score (OAK, IKDC) and posterolateral drawer and dial test. Results: Through our results, the fibular tunnel turned out to be superior compared to the tibia tunnel method in rotational stability. Hughston-Jacobson methods and biceps tenodesis showed poor results. Fibula head tunnel was superior to tibia tunnel in rotational stabiliaty Conclusion: The surgical technique that passes the modified posterolateral corner sling through the fibula head tunnel may provide good clinical results in grade II PLRI. It is necessary to reconstruct both tibia and fibula tunnel in grade III PLRI. When there is combined varus instability, a positive result may be obtained if an additional LCL reconstruction is performed.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.327-335
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to determine whether losartan, an angiotensin II (Ang II) type 1 ($AT_1$) receptor could influence the CA release from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla. Losartan (5${\sim}$50 ${\mu}$M) perfused into an adrenal vein for 90 min produced dose- and time-dependent inhibition of the CA secretory responses evoked by ACh (5.32 mM), high $K^+$ (56 mM, a direct membrane depolarizer), DMPP (100 ${\mu}$M) and McN-A-343 (100 ${\mu}$M). Losartan failed to affect basal CA output. Furthermore, in adrenal glands loaded with losartan (15 ${\mu}$M) for 90 min, the CA secretory responses evoked by Bay-K-8644 (10 ${\mu}$M, an activator of L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channels), cyclopiazonic acid (10 ${\mu}$M, an inhibitor of cytoplasmic $Ca^{2+}$ -ATPase), veratridine (100 ${\mu}$M, an activator of $Na^+$ channels), and Ang II (100 nM) were markedly inhibited. However, at high concentrations (150${\sim}$300 ${\mu}$M), losartan rather enhanced the CA secretion evoked by ACh. Collectively, these experimental results suggest that losartan at low concentrations inhibits the CA secretion evoked by cholinergic stimulation (both nicotininc and muscarinic receptors) as well as by membrane depolarization from the rat adrenal medulla, but at high concentration it rather inhibits ACh-evoked CA secretion. It seems that losartan has a dual action, acting as both agonist and antagonist to nicotinic receptors of the rat adrenal medulla, which might be dependent on the concentration. It is also thought that this inhibitory effect of losartan may be mediated by blocking the influx of both $Na^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ into the rat adrenomedullary chromaffin cells as well as by inhibiting the $Ca^{2+}$ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store, which is thought to be relevant to the $AT_1$ receptor blockade, in addition to its enhancement of the CA release.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.145-153
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• 1994

Ibuprofen is an effective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), but it has several limitations in clinical application because of low solubility in water and gastrointestinal irritation. A water-soluble salt of ibuprofen, ibuprofen Iysinate, has been synthesized to overcome these shortcomings, and it was formulated as suppository for rectal administration. Witepsol and polyethylene glycols were employed as suppository bases for either ibuprofen or ibuprofen Iysinate, in order to compare the bioavailability in rabbits. The plasma concentrations of ibuprofen were assayed by HPLC after a rectal administration of ibuprofen and ibuprofen Iysinate, respectively. In addition to the comparison of two suppository bases, the other factors which affect on rectal absorption were also evaluated, especially in the point of not only particle size and shape of ibuprofen Iysinate but also effects of additives such as stearic acid, cetyl alcohol and capric acid. And pharmacokinetic parameters such as AUC, $C_{max}$, and $T_{max}$ were also compared. In conclusion, spray-dried ibuprofen Iysinate which was polyporous and spherical shape gave an increased absorption from the rectal formulations with Witepsol Hl5 and stearic acid.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1697-1705
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• 2020

Meju, a type of fermented soybean paste, is used as a starter in the preparation of various Korean traditional soybean-based foods. In this study, we performed Illumina-MiSeq paired-end sequencing for microbial communities and mass spectrometry analysis for metabolite profiling to investigate the differences between 11 traditional meju products from different regions across Korea. Even though the bacterial and fungal communities showed remarkable variety, major genera including Bacillus, Enterococcus, Variovorax, Pediococcus, Weissella, and Aspergillus were detected in every sample of meju. The metabolite profile patterns of the 11 samples were clustered into two main groups: group I (M1-5) and group II (M6-11). The metabolite analysis indicated a relatively higher amino acid content in group I, while group II exhibited higher isoflavone, soyasaponin, and lysophospholipid contents. The bioactivity analysis proved that the ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) radical-scavenging activity was higher in group II and the FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) activity was higher in group I. The correlation analysis revealed that the ABTS activity was isoflavonoid, lipid, and soyasaponin related, whereas the FRAP activity was amino acid and flavonoid related. These results suggest that the antioxidant activities of meju are critically influenced by the microbiome and metabolite dynamics.