• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.751-763
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• 2005

Statement of problem. To improve a direct implant fixation to the bone, various strategies have been developed focusing on the surface of materials. The surface quality of the implant depends on the chemical, physical, mechanical and topographical properties of the surface. The different properties will interact with each other and a change in thickness of the oxide layer may also result in a change in surface energy, the surface topography and surface, chemical composition. However, there is limited the comprehensive study with regard to changed surface and biologic behavior of osteoblast by anodization. Purpose of study. The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of an oxide layer formed and to evaluate the cellular biologic behaviors on titanium by anodic oxidation (anodization) by cellular proliferation, differentiation, ECM formation and gene expression. And the phospholipase activity was measured on the anodized surface as preliminary study to understand how surface properties of Ti implant are transduced into downstream cellular events. Methods and Materials. The surface of a commercially pure titanium(Grade 2) was modified by anodic oxidation. The group 1 samples had a machined surface and other three experimental specimens were anodized under a constant voltage of 270 V(Group 2), 350 V(Group 3), and 450 V(Group 4). The specimen characteristics were inspected using the following five categories; the surface morphology, the surface roughness, the thickness of oxide layer, the crystallinity, and the chemical composition of the oxide layer. Cell numbers were taken as a marker for cell proliferation. While the expression of alkaline phosphatase and Runx2 (Cbfa1) was used as early differentiation marker for osteoblast. The type I collagen production was determined, which constitutes the main structural protein of the extracellular matrix. Phospholipase $A_2$ and D activity were detected. Results. (1) The anodized titanium had a porous oxide layer, and there was increase in both the size and number of pores with increasing anodizing voltage. (2) With increasing voltage, the surface roughness and thickness of the oxide film increased significantly (p<0.01), the $TiO_2$phase changed from anatase to rutile. During the anodic oxidization, Ca and P ions were more incorporated into the oxide layer. (3) The in vitro cell responses of the specimen were also dependant on the oxidation conditions. With increasing voltage, the ALP activity, type I collagen production, and Cbfa 1 gene expression increased significantly (p<0.01), while the cell proliferation decreased. (4) In preliminary study on the relation of surface property and phospholipase, PLD activity was increased but $PLA_2$ activity did not changed according to applied voltage. Conclusion. The anodized titanium shows improved surface characteristics than the machined titanium. The surface properties acquired by anodization appear to give rise more mature osteoblast characteristics and might result in increased bone growth, and contribute to the achievement of a tight fixation. The precise mechanism of surface property signaling is not known, may be related to phospholipase D.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1286-1298
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• 2005

The genus Paenibacillus is a new group of bacilli separated from the genus Bacillus, and most of species have been isolated from soil. In the present study, we collected 450 spore-forming bacilli from the roots of winter crops, such as barley, wheat, onion, green onion, and Chinese cabbage, which were cultivated in the southern part of Korea. Among these 450 isolates, 104 Paenibacillus-like isolates were selected, based on their colony shape, odor, color, and endospore morphology, and 41 isolates were then finally identified as Paenibacillus spp. by 16S rDNA sequencing. Among the 41 Paenibacillus isolates, 23 were classified as P. polymyxa, a type species of the genus Paenibacillus, based on comparison of the 16S rDNA sequences with those of 32 type strains of the genus Paenibacillus from the GenBank database. Thirty-five isolates among the 41 Paenibacillus isolates exhibited antagonistic activity towards plant fungal and bacterial pathogens, whereas 24 isolates had a significant growth-enhancing effect on cucumber seedlings, when applied to the seeds. An assessment of the root-colonization capacity under gnotobiotic conditions revealed that all 41 isolates were able to colonize cucumber roots without any significant difference. Twenty-one of the Paenibacillus isolates were shown to contain the nifH gene, which is an indicator of $N_{2}$ fixation. However, the other 20 isolates, including the reference strain E681, did not incorporate the nifH gene. To investigate the diversity of the isolates, a BOX-PCR was performed, and the resulting electrophoresis patterns allowed the 41 Paenibacillus isolates to be divided into three groups (Groups A, B, and C). One group included Paenibacillus strains isolated mainly from barley or wheat, whereas the other two groups contained strains isolated from diverse plant samples. Accordingly, the present results showed that the Paenibacillus isolates collected from the rhizosphere of winter crops were diverse in their biological and genetic characteristics, and they are good candidates for further application studies.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.199-209
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• 2010

The locking compression plates-distal femur(LCP-DF) are being widely used for surgical management of the extra-articular complex fractures of the distal femur. They feature locking mechanism between the screws and the screw holes of the plate to provide stronger fixation force with less number of screws than conventional compression bone plate. However, their biomechanical efficacies are not fully understood, especially regarding the number of the screws inserted and their optimal configurations. In this study, we investigated effects of various screw configurations in the shaft and the condylar regions of the femur in relation to structural stability of LCP-DF system. For this purpose, a baseline 3-D finite element (FE) model of the femur was constructed from CT-scan images of a normal healthy male and was validated. The extra-articular complex fracture of the distal femur was made with a 4-cm defect. Surgical reduction with LCP-DF and bone screws were added laterally. To simulate various cases of post-op screw configurations, screws were inserted in the shaft (3~5 screws) and the condylar (4~6 screws) regions. Particular attention was paid at the shaft region where screws were inserted either in clustered or evenly-spaced fashion. Tied-contact conditions were assigned at the bone screws-plate whereas general contact condition was assumed at the interfaces between LCP-DF and bone screws. Axial compressive load of 1,610N(2.3 BW) was applied on the femoral head to reflect joint reaction force. An average of 5% increase in stiffness was found with increase in screw numbers (from 4 to 6) in the condylar region, as compared to negligible increase (less than 1%) at the shaft regardless of the number of screws inserted or its distribution, whether clustered or evenly-spaced. At the condylar region, screw insertion at the holes near the fracture interface and posterior locations contributed greater increase in stiffness (9~13%) than any other locations. Our results suggested that the screw insertion at the condylar region can be more effective than at the shaft during surgical treatment of fracture of the distal femur with LCP-DF. In addition, screw insertion at the holes close to the fracture interface should be accompanied to ensure better fracture healing.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2009

Cryo-SEM which enables specimens to be observed in frozen form has been used to study liquid specimens in their native states. Cryo-methods, sample preparation for cryo-SEM, are quite complex and involve several discrete but vitally interconnected steps which are rapid cooling, fracturing, sectioning, etching and coating. It is important to select practical techniques and to optimize conditions of each steps considering analytic purpose and specimen characters, viz., sample dimension, water contents. In this study, etching methods and sample preparation before freezing had been studied for observation of cyanobacteria, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 using cryo-SEM and their cryo-SEM images were compared to Conventional SEM (CSEM) images treated by chemical fixation. We could observe the improved morphological images of the pili of the surface and membranes of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and the three-dimensional architectures of their biofilm, which were difficult to observe using chemical fixation and CSEM. These results suggest that cryo-methods/cryo-SEM are useful techniques for morphological study of biological specimen.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 2008

In this work we have studied the antifouling properties of the hydrophobic sol-gel modified sensing membrane and its optical properties for sensor application. E. coli JM109, B. cereus 318 and P. pastoris X-33 were cultivated in confocal cultivation dishes with glass surface, respectively. The glass surface was coated with the hydrophobic sol-gels prepared by the dimethoxy-dimethyl-silane (DiMe-DMOS) and tetramethyl-orthosilicate (TMOS). After cultivation, microorganisms adhered on the surface coated with sol-gels and glass surface were dyed by gram-staining method and the numbers of microorganisms were analyzed based on the image data of the scanning electronic microscope (SEM). A great number of microorganisms, about $2{\sim}3{\times}10^4/mm^2$, was adhered on the glass surfaces which no hydrophobic sol-gels were coated. But, the antifouling effect of the hydrophobic sol-gels was large, that microorganisms of less than $200{\sim}300/mm^2$ were adhered on the coated glass surface. The performance of the sensing membranes for detection of pH and dissolved oxygen was enhanced by recoating the light insulation layer prepared with the mixture of the hydrophobic sol-gel and graphite particles.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.295-302
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• 2005

The nitrogen (N) balance in Korea during 1985-1997 was calculated according to the surface balance method of the PARCOM guidelines and compared with Japanese N balance. The some differences were founded in the coefficients used on calculating N balance in two nations. Of the important parameters, which can make a big difference in balance, N input by organic fertilizers was not included in Korea different with Japanese, due to absence of reliable statistics and then made lower the input. Nitrogen destruction rate from livestock manure was adjusted differently with 15% in Korea but 28% in Japan. There was some difference in the conversion factors of livestock number into manure N quantity in two nations, but the gap was ignoble scale except beef cattle. Our manure N production rate of beef cattle might be evaluated to be so lower than Japanese. Biological N fixation by pulses was very higher in Korea than in Japan but scarcely affect the increase of total N input, due to small cultivation area. In contrast, N fixation rate by free-living organisms in Korean and Japanese wet paddies showed the big difference with 7.6 and $37.0kg\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$, respectively, and therefore $29.4kg\;ha^{-1}\;yr^{-1}$ of nitrogen was estimated to be more inputted in Japan. Although there are many points to be more specified and improved, still, Korean N balance was very high with $250-257kg\;ha^{-1}$ in the mid of 1990s, which was the second highest level in OECD countries and furthermore increased continuously during the investigation. In contrast in Japan, which has similar fanning system with Korea, N balance was lower with $130-158kg\;ha^{-1}$ and has decreased continuously since 1993. This high N balance was mainly due to a high usage of chemical fertilizers in our intensive fanning system and the fast increment of livestock feeding. Therefore, the more active action to decrease chemical fertilizer utilization and reduce livestock feeding density is required in the government and farmer sides.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1995 no.05
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• pp.23-26
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• 1995

The objectives of the present study are 1)to find the effect of the diameter of transpedicular screws on their fixational strength in pedicles under static pull-out loading, 2)to determine the biomechanical correlation between the pedicle diameter and the screw diameter, and 3)to find the effects of other factors in the screw design, such as materials, screw pitch, thread height and shape on their fixational strength. Biomechanical tests (Test I) were performed to evaluate the effect of the screw diameter on pull-out strength by using 60 porcine pedicls and six groups of custom-made pedicle screws with different diameters (the major and the minor diameter of the screws used in the testing varied from 4mm upto 9mm and from 3mm upto 8mm, respectively) while all other factors (materials, screw pitch, thread height and shape etc.) were fixed. In Test II, by using 61 porcine pedicles, the relationship between the ratio of the pedicle diameter and the screw diameter(=aspect ratio) of the custum-made screw and the pull-out strength of the screw was investigated. Test III was performed with 94 porcine pedicles and 8 different types of the commercial screws from 6 major productors in order to determine the effect of the screw diameter, pitch and the thread shape on the pull-out strength of the screw, respectively. The results of Test I showed that the axial pull-out resistance of the screw could be increased prportionaly to the screw diameter(P<0.05). But this increase in the pull-out resistance did not found when the screws of 4mm or 9mm in the diameter were employed. It was found from the results of Test II that the screws had its maximum pull-out resistant force when the aspect ratio ranging 40 - 69% (P<0.05). based on the results for the major diameter against the minor diameter of screw, the maximal pull-out resistance was found at 60-65% (P<0.05). According to these biomechanical testing results, it seems that the screw with a moderately large pitch is more desirable and the buttress-shaped screw can provide stronger fixation than the V-shape one can, if other designal factor and conditions were fixed.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.443-449
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• 1988

The effects of rice-straw annual application on nitrogen fixing microbial flora in the soil of paddy fields and their biological activities were investigated. Experiments were performed in both NPK fertilizer applied soil and rice-straw applied soil of Agricultural Station in Aomori-ken, Japan. The following results were obtained. 1. The ARA by phototrophs was significantly increased in both soil plots. From the soil plot in which 300ppm-nitrogen was applied, the increase of ARA began to be seen from three weeks later. On the other hand, 33ppm-nitrogen applied soil plot and non-nitrogen applied soil plot showed the ARA increase from the beginning. The amount of ARA by non-phototrophs was only one-tenth of that by phototrophs. 2. For the first three weeks, the phototrophic bacteria (mainly Rhodopseudomonas) were predominant in both soil plots. Since then, as the ARA rapidly increased, the proliferation of blue-green algae forming heterocysts was remarkably promoted. Such effects were more distinct in the rice-straw annually applied soil plot than in the NPK fertilizer annually applied soil plot. 3. The degree of proliferation of blue-green algae depended on the amount of applied nitrogen. While Anabaena, Nostoc and Cylindrospermum were largely proliferated in the non-nitrogen applied soil plot, Cylindrospermum and Calothrix were in the 33ppm-nitrogen applied soil plot, but Calothrix tended to predominated in the 100ppm-nitrogen applied soil plot.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 1977

Acetylene-ethylene($C_2H_2-C_2H_4$) assay was carried out to find the heterotrophic nitrogen-fixing activities and distribution of nitrogen fixers in eleven different soil series which are located in Kyeonggi province. Following are the summaries of this study. 1. Acetylene-reducing activities were higher in Gwanghwal, Mangyeong and Buyong series which are derived from fluviomarine deposite than in Yeongsan, Hamchang and Pyeongtack series which are observed from continental alluvial plain. The lowest activities are observed in Yecheon, Hoegog, and Jisan series which are situated in local valley region. 2. Estimated amouts of $N_2$ per annum fixed by $N_2$-fixing heterotrophs were about 3.2kg in fuluvio marine soils, 2.6kg in continental alluvial plain and 2.0kg/10a in local valley region, respectively. 3. Azotobacter and Beijerinckia were not detected in any of the ten different soil series except in Pyeongtaeg series. However, Clostridia, anaerobic nitrogen fixer, was detected in order of ${\times}10^2$. It is assumed that these population are not enough to contribute to the nitrogen supply by the biological fixation in paddy soil. 4. For the assesment of heterotrophic nitrogen fixation in paddy soil, it must be presumed that aerobes, anaerobes and phototrophs which can grow on nitrogen free media may greatly contribute for the asymbiotic netrogen fixation.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.201-209
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• 2012

The multi-function of 18 Bacillus subtilis isolates collected from agricultural extension centers of local government and National Academy of Agricultural Science was investigated by measuring their antifungal activities against five plant pathogens, such as Rhizoctonia solani, Colletotrichum acutatum, Fusarium oxysporum, Magnaporthe oryzae and Phytophthora capsici, phosphorus solubilization ability, production of indole acetic acid (IAA) and siderophore, and nitrogen fixation. The B. subtilis isolates showed antifungal activity against several plant pathogens and nitrogen fixation activity, and produced siderophore and IAA. They could control pepper powdery mildew (Leveillula taurica), but there was no difference in control efficacy among the B. subtilis isolates. In fields, the control efficacy of B. subtilis R2-1 ($10^8$ cells/ml) was compared with two microbial fungicides, Q-pect and Topsid. In 2009, the control efficacy of B. subtilis R2-1 (37.7%) was lower than that of Topsid (47.6%), but higher than that of Q-pect (25.7%). In 2010, the control efficacy of B. subtilis R2-1 (83.3%) was higher than that of Topsid (67.9%). In order to elucidate mode of action of B. subtilis R2-1 for controlling pepper powdery mildew, spore germination rates of pepper powdery mildew pathogen collected on treated leaves was investigated when suspensions of B. subtilis R2-1 and two microbial fungicides (Q-pect and Topsid) were foliar-sprayed. They highly suppressed spore germination of the pathogen with inhibition values of 84.2% for B. subtilis R2-1, 97.9% for Q-pect and 94.7% for Topsid. Further study on the mass-culturing method and formulation is needed for development of a microbial fungicide.