• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2007

In this study, the sulfonated ion exchange fiber was synthesized by $Co^{60}\;{\gamma}-ray$ radiation-induced graft copolymerization. Degree of grafting (DG) increased with increasing the total dose and showed the highest value at 50 v/v% styrene monomer. And also, the degree of sulfonation (DS) increased with increasing the DG and reaction temperature. DS showed the maximum value at 20 min. Ion exchange capacity and swelling ratio of ion exchange fibers increased with increasing the DS and their maximum values were 4.76 meq/g and 23.5%, respectively. Ammonia adsorption increased as increasing the ammonia concentration and ion exchange capacity and remained constant over 10 cycles.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.139-144
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• 2005

An implantable microphone that can be utilized as part of a totally implantable hearing aid is designed and implemented. The proposed microphone is implanted in the center of the pinna, and designed to ensure the speech frequency range and the appropriate sensitivity. The characteristics of the proposed microphone are evaluated using a finite element analysis (FEA). The microphone is composed of a small electric condenser microphone, titanium case 6.2mm in diameter and 3mm high, and $10{\mu}m$ SUS316L vibrating membrane in contact with hypodermic tissue to maintain the sensitivity of the microphone. The microphone components are all made of biocompatible materials, then the assembled microphone is hermetically sealed using a polymer and ceramic. Experiments with the fabricated microphone confirm an operational bandwidth of up to 5kHz without any decline of sensitivity in 6mm of hypodermic tissue.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.251-257
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• 2009

Recently, there is much interest in the antimicrobial activity of silver since silver has known to be safe and effective as a disinfectant or an antimicrobial agent against a broad spectrum of microorganisms. Although silver has been applied to various kinds of products due to the effective antimicrobial activity, the quantitative antimicrobial activity or detailed mechanism of silver is not clearly investigated yet, causing the controversy and confusion. In this review paper, we summarized the characteristics, antimicrobial activities and mechanisms, synergistic effects with other antimicrobials, and applicability of silver.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.209-214
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• 2016

Binaural hearing aids with a voice transmitter have been widely used to enhance sound quality in noisy environment. However, this system has a limitation on sound-source localization. In this study, we investigated automatic directional-gain control method using geomagnetic sensors to provide directional information to binaural hearing aid user. The loudness gains of two hearing aids were differently controlled based on the directional information between a speaker position and a viewing direction of hearing aids user. This relative directional information was measured by two geomagnetic sensors on hearing aids user and a speaker. The results showed that the loudness gains were accurately controlled and could provide directional information based on the cue of interaural level differences.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 2010

Sulfur cathodes were prepared by ball milling method with different types of electronic conductors and binders in different ball milling time. The sulfur cell with a cathode prepared in 45 min ball milling time gave an initial discharge capacity of 794mAh/g with Super-P as an electronic conductor and poly(vinylidene fluoride) as a binder. The cathode with multi-walled carbon nanotube as an electronic conductor showed an initial discharge capacity of 944 mAh/g and a discharge capacity of 300 mAh/g after 20 cycles. Cathodes with poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) as binders showed different cycle performance.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.260-267
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• 2023

In this study, we sought to improve lutein and zeaxanthin production in Mychonastes sp. 247 and investigated the effect of environmental factors on lutein and zeaxanthin productivity in Mychonastes sp. The basic medium selection and N:P ratio were adjusted to maximize cell growth in one-stage culture, and lutein and zeaxanthin production conditions were optimized using a central composite design for two-stage culture. The maximum lutein production was observed at a light intensity of 60 μE/m²/s and salinity of 0.49%, and the maximum zeaxanthin production was observed at a light intensity of 532 μE/m²/s and salinity of 0.78%. Lutein and zeaxanthin production in the optimized medium increased by up to 2 and 2.6 folds, respectively, compared to that in the basic medium. Based on these results, we concluded that the optimal conditions for lutein and zeaxanthin production are different and that optimization of light intensity and culture salinity conditions may help increase carotenoid production. This study presents a useful and potential strategy for optimizing microalgal culture conditions to improve the productivity of lutein and zeaxanthin, which has applications in the functional food field.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.1001-1004
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• 2006

The m-calpain activity hydrolyzing a fluorogenic substrate of N-Succinyl-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-7-amino-4-methylcourmarin (LLVY-AMC) was significantly stimulated by more than two-fold in the presence of 5$\mu$M $\alpha$synuclein at $15{^{\circ}C}$. The stimulation was also confirmed with azocasein. The stimulation of the peptide hydrolyzing activity required structural intactness of $\alpha$-synuclein since the C-terminally or N-terminally modified proteins such as $\beta$-synuclein, $\alpha$-syn1-97, and $\alpha$-syn61-140 did not increase the proteolytic activity. Instead, however, the N-terminally truncated $\alpha$-syn61-140 was shown to drastically suppress the calpain activity. Since the N-terminal truncation was known to be the primary cleaving event of calpain-mediated proteolysis of $\alpha$-synuclein and the $\alpha$-syn61-140 has been demonstrated to be resistant against the calpain digestion, it has been proposed that the intracellular calpain activity could be regulated in a reciprocal manner by $\alpha$-synuclein and its proteolyzed C-terminal fragment. Based on the results, a possible physiological function of $\alpha$-synuclein has been suggested as a calpain regulator which contains both stimulatory and inhibitory activities.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.2283-2287
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• 2007

Amyloid fibril formation of amyloid β/A4 protein (Aβ) is critical to understand the pathological mechanism of Alzheimer's disease and develop controlling strategy toward the neurodegenerative disease. For this purpose, dequalinium (DQ) has been employed as a specific modifier for Aβ aggregation and its subsequent cytotoxicity. In the presence of DQ, the final thioflavin-T binding fluorescence of Aβ aggregates decreased significantly. It was the altered morphology of Aβ aggregates in a form of the bundles of the fibrils, distinctive from normal single-stranded amyloid fibrils, and the resulting reduced β-sheet content that were responsible for the decreased fluorescence. The morphological transition of Aβ aggregates assessed with atomic force microscope indicated that the bundle structure observed with DQ appeared to be resulted from the initial multimeric seed structure rather than lateral association of preformed single-stranded fibrils. Investigation of the seeding effect of the DQ-induced Aβ aggregates clearly demonstrated that the seed structure has determined the final morphology of Aβ aggregates as well as the aggregative kinetics by shortening the lag phase. In addition, the cytotoxicity was also varied depending on the final morphology of the aggregates. Taken together, DQ has been considered to be a useful chemical probe to control the cytotoxicity of the amyloid fibrils by influencing the seed structures which turned out to be central to develop therapeutic strategy by inducing the amyloid fibrils in different shapes with varied toxicities.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.237-241
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• 2017

Acetoin is variously applicable platform chemical in chemical and food industry. In this study, Klebsiella pneumoniae was engineered for acetoin production using metabolic engineering. From the recombinant Klebsiella pneumoniae (KMK-05) producing 2,3-butanediol, budC and dhaD genes encoding two 2,3-butanediol dehydrogenases were deleted to reduce 2,3-butanediol production. Furthermore, a transcriptional regulator, AcoK, was deleted to reduce the expression levels of acetoin degrading enzyme. Lastly, NADH oxidase was overexpressed for adjusting intracellular redox balance. The resulting strain (KJW-03-nox) produced considerable amount of acetoin, with concentration reaching 51 g/L with 2.6 g/L/h maximum productivity in 36 h fed-batch fermentation.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.198-206
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• 2024

Given the high theoretical capacity (1,675 mAh g^-1) and the inherent affordability and ubiquity of elemental sulfur, it stands out as a prominent cathode material for advanced lithium metal batteries. Traditionally, sulfur was sequestered within conductive porous carbons, rooted in the understanding that their inherent conductivity could offset sulfur's non-conductive nature. This study, however, pivots toward a transformative approach by utilizing diatom shell (DS, diatomite)-a naturally abundant and economically viable siliceous mineral-as a sulfur host. This approach enabled the development of a sulfurlayered diatomite/S composite (DS/S) for cathodic applications. Even in the face of the insulating nature of both diatomite and sulfur, the DS/S composite displayed vigorous participation in the electrochemical conversion process. Furthermore, this composite substantially curbed the loss of soluble polysulfides and minimized structural wear during cycling. As a testament to its efficacy, our Li-S battery, integrating this composite, exhibited an excellent cycling performance: a specific capacity of 732 mAh g^-1 after 100 cycles and a robust 77% capacity retention. These findings challenge the erstwhile conviction of requiring a conductive host for sulfur. Owing to diatomite's hierarchical porous architecture, eco-friendliness, and accessibility, the DS/S electrode boasts optimal sulfur utilization, elevated specific capacity, enhanced rate capabilities at intensified C rates, and steadfast cycling stability that underscore its vast commercial promise.