• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2003

Oxygen to metal ratio has been measured by wet and dry chemical analysis to study the properties of sintered $UO_2$ pellets and $U_3O_8$ in the lithium reduction process of spent pressurized water reactor fuels. Uranium dioxide pellets simulated for the spent PWR fuels with burnup values of 20,000~60,000 MWd/MtU were prepared by mixing $UO_2$ powder and oxides of fission product elements, pelleting the powder mixture and sintering it at $1,700^{\circ}C$ under a hydrogen atmosphere. For wet chemical analysis, the simulated spent fuels were dissolved with mixed acid (10 M HCl : 8 M $HNO_3$, 2.5 : 1, v/v) using acid digestion bomb technique. The total amount of uranium and fission products added in the simulated spent fuels were measured using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Weight change of the simulated fuel during its oxydation was measured by thermogravimetry and then the O/M ratio result was compared to that obtained by wet chemical analysis. Influence of $Mo_{0.4}-Ru_{0.4}-Rh_{0.1}-Pd_{0.1}$, quaternary alloy, on the determination of O/M ratio was investigated.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.748-755
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• 2014

In the genome annotation of Escherichia coli MG1655, the orf382 (1,149 bp) is designated as a gene encoding an alcohol dehydrogenase that may be Fe-dependent. In this study, the gene was amplified from the genome by PCR and overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The recombinant $6{\times}$His-tag protein was then purified and characterized. In an enzymatic assay using different hydroxyl-containing substrates (n-butanol, $\small{L}$-threonine, ethanol, isopropanol, glucose, glycerol, $\small{L}$-serine, lactic acid, citric acid, methanol, or $\small{D}$-threonine), the enzyme showed the highest activity on $\small{L}$-threonine. Characterization of the mutant constructed using gene knockout of the orf382 also implied the function of the enzyme in the metabolism of $\small{L}$-threonine into glycine. Considering the presence of tested substrates in living E. coli cel ls and previous literature, we believed that the suitable nomenclature for the enzyme should be an $\small{L}$-threonine dehydrogenase (LTDH). When using $\small{L}$-threonine as the substrate, the enzyme exhibited the best catalytic performance at $39^{\circ}C$ and pH 9.8 with $NAD^+$ as the cofactor. The determination of the Km values towards $\small{L}$-threonine (Km = $11.29{\mu}M$), ethanol ($222.5{\mu}M$), and n-butanol ($8.02{\mu}M$) also confirmed the enzyme as an LTDH. Furthermore, the LTDH was shown to be an ion-containing protein based on inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry with an isoelectronic point of pH 5.4. Moreover, a circular dichroism analysis revealed that the metal ion was structurally and enzymatically essential, as its deprivation remarkably changed the ${\alpha}$-helix percentage (from 12.6% to 6.3%).

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.291-296
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• 2000

The SIMFUEL which composition is similar to PWR nuclear spent fuels was dissolved with a acid digestion bomb. An analytical conditions of ICP-AES for the direct determination of molybdenum in the uranium matrices without separation process were investigated. Based on the effect of uranium on molybdenum intensity. the most optimum wavelengths of molybdenum were found to be 202.030 and 203.844 nm. However, the method of standard additions is applied to overcome the effects of changing background caused by analyzing the sample solutions containing high concentration of uranium and the standard calibration solutions. The relative error of two methods, direct and indirect measurements with cation exchange resin separation procedures, was less than 5%. Therefore it was possible for this procedure to directly measure molybdenum in uranium matrices without separation. And this method was also applied to the determination of several percent of molybdenum in a U-Mo alloy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.808-817
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• 2011

Because of its elevated cellulolytic activity, the filamentous fungus Trichoderma harzianum has a considerable potential in biomass hydrolysis applications. Trichoderma harzianum cellobiohydrolase I (ThCBHI), an exoglucanase, is an important enzyme in the process of cellulose degradation. Here, we report an easy single-step ion-exchange chromatographic method for purification of ThCBHI and its initial biophysical and biochemical characterization. The ThCBHI produced by induction with microcrystalline cellulose under submerged fermentation was purified on DEAE-Sephadex A-50 media and its identity was confirmed by mass spectrometry. The ThCBHI biochemical characterization showed that the protein has a molecular mass of 66 kDa and pI of 5.23. As confirmed by smallangle X-ray scattering (SAXS), both full-length ThCBHI and its catalytic core domain (CCD) obtained by digestion with papain are monomeric in solution. Secondary structure analysis of ThCBHI by circular dichroism revealed ${\alpha}$- helices and ${\beta}$-strands contents in the 28% and 38% range, respectively. The intrinsic fluorescence emission maximum of 337 nm was accounted for as different degrees of exposure of ThCBHI tryptophan residues to water. Moreover, ThCBHI displayed maximum activity at pH 5.0 and temperature of $50^{\circ}C$ with specific activities against Avicel and p-nitrophenyl-${\beta}$-D-cellobioside of 1.25 U/mg and 1.53 U/mg, respectively.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.253-260
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• 2008

Comparative study was performed on heavy metal contents among domestic herbal medicines and imported one. The heavy metal contents in 89 samples of 65 types of herbal medicines were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and mercury analyzer. The mean values of heavy metal contents (mg/kg) for herbal medicines were as follows: Hg, 0.010 (domestic: 0.010, imported: 0.010); Pb, 0.380 (domestic: 0.311, imported: 0.449); Cd, 0.080 (domestic: 0.101, imported: 0.059); As, 2.085 (domestic: 1.845, imported: 2.324); Mn, 31.564 (domestic: 33.844, imported: 29.283); Zn, 15.436 (domestic: 18.703, imported: 12.168); Cu, 3.406 (domestic: 3.374, imported: 3.437); Fe, 134.944 (domestic: 108.327, imported: 161.561). The measured values of Hg, Pb and Cd of domestic and imported herbal medicines showed lower levels than the recommended levels of those in herbal medicines by WHO/PHARM (Pb : not more than 5 mg/kg, Cd : not more than 0.3 mg/kg). This results will he used as a basic data for the future legislation on the regulation and control of heavy metal contents of herbal medicines.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.460-466
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• 2002

Titanium oxide film was deposited on the commercially pure titanium (cp-Ti) by thermal oxidation method for its medical application. The cp-Ti disks were cleaned and then heat-treated at the temperatures of 500, 550, 600, 650, and 700${\circ}C$, respectively, for 10 min in air or Ar. To test the ability of calcium phosphate formation, the specimens were immersed in the Eagle's minimum essential medium solution at 36.5${\circ}C$ for 15 days. The morphology and chemical composition of the surfaces before and after soaking were analyzed by using FE-SEM and EDS. The in-vitro formation of carbonated calcium phosphate on the thin films containing nano-sized $TiO_2$ crystals was identified.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.137-142
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• 2016

We investigated the anti-proliferative effects of solar salt and purified salt (PS) on HepG2 human hepatocellular cancer cells as well as their effects on mRNA and protein expression of apoptosis- and cell cycle-related genes, including Bcl-2, Bax, p53, and p21. Each salt sample suppressed cancer cell proliferation when treated at a concentration of 0.5% or 1%. Especially solar salt from T salt field (SS-T) and solar salt from Y salt field (SS-Y) significantly suppressed proliferation of cancer cells in comparison with PS. Treatment of HepG2 cells with salt samples at a concentration of 1% suppressed expression of Bcl-2 and promoted expression of Bax, p53, and p21 at the mRNA and protein levels in comparison with the control group. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) showed that SS-T and SS-Y had higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, S, and K than PS, and SS-T contained higher concentrations of these minerals than SS-Y. It seems that Na and mineral contents in solar salt may contribute to regulation of the genes. Taken together, salt, especially mineral rich solar salt, inhibits cancer cell growth by regulating apoptosis and cell cycle-related genes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.442-442
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• 2008

Hydrogen was produced by water plasma excited in very high frequency inductively coupled tube reactor. Mass spectrometry was used to monitor gas phase species at various process conditions. Water dissociation rate depend on the process parameters such as ICP power, flow-rate and pressure. Water dissociation percent in ICP reactor decrease with increase of chamber pressure and $H_2O$ flow rate, while increase with increase of ICP power. In our experimental range, maximum water dissociation rate was 65.5% at the process conditions of 265 mTorr, 68 sccm, and 400 Watt. The effect of $CH_4$ addition to a water plasma on the hydrogen production has been studied in a VHF ICP reactor. With the addition of $CH_4$ gas, $H_2$ production increases to 12% until the $CH_4$ flow rate increases up to 15 sccm. But, with the flow rate of $CH_4$ more than 20 sccm, chamber wall was deposited with carbon film because of deficiency of oxygen in gas phase, hydrogen production rate decreased. The main roles of $CH_4$ gas are to reacts with O forming CO, CHO and $CO_2$ and releasing additional $H_2$ and furthermore to prevent reverse reaction for forming $H_2O$ from $H_2$ and $O_2$. But, $CH_4$ addition has negative effects such as cost increase and $CO_x$ emission, therefore process optimization is required.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.568-575
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• 1999

Two different digestion procedures for the simultaneous determination of major and platinum-group element(PGE) in spent automobile catalysts containing PGE and silicates by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry(ICP-AES) are compared. Combinations of mixed aids using HF, $HNO_3$, HCl, $HClO_4$, $H_2O_2$, and $H_3BO_3$ are utilized for the hot plate dissolution method and the closed-vessel microwave digestion method, The latter method has been shown to be relatively superior in terms of recovery, analysis time, and amount of aqua regia (3 parts HCl + part $HNO_3$ required to dissolve PGE in comparison with conventional open vessel hot-plate dissolution. The best results were drawn from the following conditions: In closed Teflon PFA vessels under microwave heating with temperature/pressure regulation, a 0.25 g portion of sample was digested in 2 mL of HF, 2 mL of $HNO_3$ and 6mL of HCl under the pressure of 200 psi(13.79 bar) at $180^{\circ}C$ for 1hr, followed by a second digestion stage with 16 mL of 5%(w/v) boric acid under the pressure of 20 psi(1.38 bar) at $100^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. After the microwave heating, the sample was post-treated with 10 mL of aqua regia twice by hot-plate heating. This condition gives the PGE recovery within 85~110% and the relative standard deviations within 2%. The method developed can therefore be regarded as an alternative method for routine analysis of spent automobile catalysts.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.146-156
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• 1998

Fly ash produced in coal combustion is a fine-grained material consisting mostly of spherical, glassy, and porous particles. A physical, morphological, and chemical characteristic of fly ash has been analyzed. This study may contribute to the data base of domestic fly ash, the improvement of combustion efficiency, ash recycling and ash collection in the electrostatic precipitator. The physical property of fly ash is determined using a particle counter for the measurement of ash size distribution and gravimeter. Morphological characteristic of fly ash is performed using a scanning electron micrograph and an optical microscope. The chemical components of fly ash are determined using an inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP). The distribution of fly ash size was ranged from 15 to 25 $\mu$m in mass median diameter. Exposure conditions of flue gas temperature and duration within the combustion zone of the boiler played an important role on the morphological properties of the fly ash such as shape, relative opacity, coloration, cenosphere and plerosphere. The spherical fly ash might be generated at the condition of complete combustion. The size of fly ash was found to be increased the with particle-particle interaction of agglomeration and coagulation. Fly ash consisted of $SiO_2\;Al_2O_3\;and\;Fe_2O_3$ with 85% and carbon with 3~10% of total mass.