• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.24-31
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• 2019

Recently, an air-lift bio-reactor operated by micro bubbles has been utilized to product hydrogen fuel. To enhance the performance, characteristics of hydrodynamics inside the bio-reactor were analyzed using a numerical simulation for two-phase flow. An Eulerian model was employed for both of liquid and gas phases. The standard k-ε model was used for turbulence induced by micro bubbles. A Population Balance Model was employed to consider size distribution of bubbles. A hollow cylinder was introduced at the center of the reactor to reduce a dead area which disturbs circulation of CO bubbles. An appropriate diameter of the draft tube and hollow cylinder were optimized for better performance of the bio-reactor. The optimum model could be obtained when the cross-sectional area ratio of the hollow cylinder to the reactor, and the width ratio of the riser to the downcomer approached 0.4 and 3.5, respectively. Consequently, it is expected that the optimum model could enhance the performance of the bio-reactor with the homogeneous distribution and higher density of CO, and more effective mixing.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.99-110
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• 2018

Compared to yellow dust coming from China or particulate matter created naturally in spring due to Total Suspended Particulate(TSP), particulate matter in winter season have much more serious effect on human body as they penetrate cell membranes. Although such particulate matter are becoming a social issue, there are no concrete plans on how to reduce them. Air-purifying plants are limited in maintaining the indoor air quality of large area because it is usually difficult to quantify their performance. In order to improve this, a bio-filter that can be connected to air conditioner is suggested as an option. This study seeks to improve air conditioning model-based monitoring method for bio-filters from prior studies and objectify correlations between applied vegetation and growing environment into quantitative indicators. By doing so, this study seeks to provide criteria on plants applied to artificial soil-based vegetation bio-filters and basic information to set air-conditioning features. The study results confirmed significant tendency on the growing stability of each purifying plant in mechanical air-conditioning environment. Among three models selected for bio-filter vegetation models, epipremnum aureum showed high performance in quantitative indicators, including soil moisture, EC, and leaf temperature, etc., indicating that it would assure the highest growing stability in this test air-conditioning environment.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of two new calcium silicate-based pulp-capping materials (Biodentine and BioAggregate) to induce healing in a rat pulp injury model and to compare them with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). Materials and Methods: Eighteen rats were anesthetized, cavities were prepared and the pulp was capped with either of ProRoot MTA, Biodentine, or BioAggregate. The specimens were scanned using a high-resolution micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) system and were prepared and evaluated histologically and immunohistochemically using dentin sialoprotein (DSP). Results: On micro-CT analysis, the ProRoot MTA and Biodentine groups showed significantly thicker hard tissue formation (p < 0.05). On H&E staining, ProRoot MTA showed complete dentin bridge formation with normal pulpal histology. In the Biodentine and BioAggregate groups, a thick, homogeneous hard tissue barrier was observed. The ProRoot MTA specimens showed strong immunopositive reaction for DSP. Conclusions: Our results suggest that calcium silicate-based pulp-capping materials induce favorable effects on reparative processes during vital pulp therapy and that both Biodentine and BioAggregate could be considered as alternatives to ProRoot MTA.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.248-257
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• 2018

Overexpression of AtCYP78A7, a gene encoding a cytochrome P450 protein, has been reported to improve tolerance to drought stress in genetically modified (GM) rice (Oryza sativa L.). The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential allergenicity and acute oral toxicity of the AtCYP78A7 protein expressed in GM rice. Bioinformatics analysis of the amino acid sequence of AtCYP78A7 did not identify any similarities with any known allergens or toxins. It showed that no known allergen had more than a 35% amino acid sequence homology with the AtCYP78A7 protein over an 80 amino acid window or more than 8 consecutive identical amino acids. The gene encoding the AtCYP78A7 protein was cloned in the pGEX-4T-1 vector and expressed in E. coli. Then, the AtCYP78A7 protein was purified and analyzed for acute oral toxicity. The AtCYP78A7 protein was fed at a dose of 2,000 mg/kg body weight in mice, and the changes in mortalities, clinical findings, and body weight were monitored for 14 days after the dosing. Necropsy was carried out on day 14. The protein did not cause any adverse effects when it was orally administered to mice at 2000 mg/kg body weight. These results indicate that the AtCYP78A7 protein expressed in GM rice would not be a potential allergen or toxin.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to isolate bacteriocin-producing bacteria with antagonistic activities against pathogens from the intestines of pigs for probiotic use. Lactobacillus sp. AP 116 possessing antimicrobial property was selected from a total of 500 isolates. The AP 116 strain showed a relatively broad spectrum of inhibitory activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium perfringens, Pediococcus dextrinicus, and Enterococcus strains using the spot-on-lawn method. Bacteriocin activity remained unchanged after 15 min of heat treatment at $121^{\circ}C$ and exposure to organic solvents; however, it diminished after treatment with proteolytic enzymes. Maximum production of bacteriocin occurred at $34^{\circ}C$ when a pH of 6.0 was maintained throughout the culture during fermentation. According to a tricine SDS-PAGE analysis, the molecular weight of the bacteriocin was approximately 5 kDa. The isolate tolerated bile salts and low pH, and also induced nitric oxide (NO) in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Bacteriocin and bacteriocin-producing bacteria, such as Lactobacillus sp. AP 116, could be potential candidates for use as probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics in the pig industry.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1993-2005
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• 2016

Bacillus pumilus is one of the most characterized microorganisms that are used for high-level production of select industrial enzymes. A novel B. pumilus SCU11 strain possessing high alkaline protease activity was obtained in our previous work. The culture supernatant of this strain showed efficient dehairing capability with minimal collagen damage, indicating promising potential applications in the leather industry. In this study, the strain's extracellular proteome was identified by LC-MS/MS-based shotgun proteomic analysis, and their related secretory pathways were characterized by BLAST searches. A total of 513 proteins, including 100 actual secreted and 413 intracellular proteins, were detected in the extracellular proteome. The functions of these secreted proteins were elucidated and four complete secretory systems (Sec, Tat, Com, and ABC transporter) were proposed for B. pumilus. These data provide B. pumilus a comprehensive extracellular proteome profile, which is a valuable theoretical and applicative basis for future genetic modifications and development of industrial enzymes.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.360-368
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• 2016

A more efficient use of nutrients can benefit both farmers and water quality. To propose an establishment scheme for official standards for liquid fertilizer from swine manure slurry, we evaluated previous and present data related to swine manure as well as analyzed 101 swine manure samples collected from 28 public livestock recycling centers throughout the nation. From these investigations, we found that the official standards for byproduct fertilizers set by the Rural Development Administration (RDA), especially for a liquid swine manure fertilizer, should be revised due to nutrient content requirements having to meet at least 0.3% content for the sum of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Otherwise, most of the swine manure cannot be utilized as a liquid fertilizer because the result of the 101 samples' analysis showed fewer than 28% of them met the minimum standard of ${\geq}0.3%$ content for the sum of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, while the contents of heavy metals as indicators of toxicity met the standard requirements. Therefore, it is suggested that official standards for byproduct fertilizers set by RDA should be revised as follows: no limit for nutrient contents and addition of chloride as homogeneity. Also, NaCl should be changed to Na because NaCl cannot be analyzed by instrument.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.405-409
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• 2011

The present study demonstrated that valproic acid (VPA) transcriptionally regulates human GM3 synthase (hST3Gal V), which catalyzes ganglioside GM3 biosynthesis in ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cells. For this, we characterized the promoter region of the hST3Gal V gene. Functional analysis of the 5'-flanking region of the hST3Gal V gene revealed that the -177 to -83 region functions as the VPA-inducible promoter and that the CREB/ATF binding site at -143 is crucial for VPA-induced expression of hST3Gal V in ARPE-19 cells. In addition, the transcriptional activity of hST3Gal V induced by VPA in ARPE-19 cells was inhibited by SP600125, a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor. In summary, our results identified the core promoter region in the hST3Gal V promoter and for the first time demonstrated that ATF2 binding to the CREB/ATF binding site at -143 is essential for transcriptional activation of hST3Gal V in VPA-induced ARPE-19 cells.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.3567-3572
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• 2010

Black pine barks from the southern region of Korea were extracted using pressurized hot water and the water soluble extracts were then separated in a stepwise fashion using a variety of solvents, column chromatography (CC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antioxidant activities of each fraction and the active compounds were determined based on the radical scavenging activities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reductive potential of ferric ion, and total phenol contents. A DPPH test showed that the half maximal effective concentration ($EC_{50}$ value : $6.59{\pm}0.31\;{\mu}g/mL$) of the ethyl acetate fraction (ca. 0.67%) was almost the same as that of the control compounds and inversely proportional to the value of the total phenol contents. The cell viability of the water extracts was confirmed by methyl thiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) with enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). Catechin, epicatechin, quercetin and ferulic acid were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction as active compounds and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance. The antioxidant activity as value of DPPH of each of the separated compounds was lower than the ethyl acetate fraction, and ferulic acid was the lowest among these compounds.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Mathematical model such as GLEAMS have been developed and successfully applied to upland fields to estimate the level of pesticide residues in soil. But, the GLEAMS model rarely applied to the Korean conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: To evaluate pesticide transport in soil residue using the GLEAMS model from pepper plot, Alachlor, Endosulfan, Cypermethrin and Fenvalerate were applied for standard and double rate. Soil sampling was conducted and decaying patterns of pesticides were investigated. Observed climate data such as temperature and irrigation amount were used for hydrology simulation. The observed pesticide residue data of 2008 were used for parameter calibration, and validation of GLEAMS model was conducted with observed data of 2009. After calibration, the $K_{oc}$ (Organic carbon distribution coefficient) and WSHFRC (Washoff fraction) parameters were identified as key parameters. The simulated concentrations of the pesticides except Fenvalerate were sensitive to $K_{oc}$ parameter. Overall, soil residue concentrations of Alachlor, Cypermethrin and Fenvalerate were fairly simulated compared to those of Endosulfan. The applicability of the GLEAMS model was also confirmed by statistical analysis. CONCLUSION(s): GLEAMS model was eligible for evaluation of pesticide soil residue for Alachlor, Cypermethrin and Fenvalerate.