• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.555-560
• /
• 2010

The objective of this study was to investigate levels of serum creatinine, CuSOD and MnSOD protein expression in the kidney after renal ischemic reperfusion with pre-exercise using heat shock protein 70.1 in knock-out mice (KO). The C57/BL6 strain (Wild type: WT) and KO were divided into 4 groups as follows: Sham control group (Sham), pre-exercise group (Ex), pre-exercise +ischemia group (Ex+IR), and ischemia group (IR). CuSOD and MnSOD expression were significantly decreased (p<0.01, p<0.05) and blood creatinine concentration was significantly increased (p<0.01) in the IR group of KO. In contrast, CuSOD and MnSOD expression in the Ex+IR group of KO were higher than the IR group, while creatinine concentration was significantly lower. These results suggest that Hsp70 is directly correlated to renal ischemic reperfusion injury. Pre-exercise in renal ischemia might prevent or inhibit positive oxidative stress inhibitory effects by increasing anti-oxidative enzymes (CuSOD, MnSOD) within the kidney and improve to prevent renal function. Thus, pre-exercise may have a protective role against renal injury after renal ischemia.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.23-36
• /
• 2017

Objective: This paper presents a study to evaluate the WBGT index for assessing the effects of a wide range of outdoor weather conditions on human responses. Background: The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index was firstly developed for the assessment of hot outdoor conditions. It is a recognised index that is used world-wide. It may be useful over a range of outdoor conditions and not just for hot climates. Method: Four group experiments, involving people performing a light stepping activity, were conducted to determine human responses to outside conditions in the U.K. They were conducted in September 2007 (autumn), December 2007 (winter), March 2008 (spring) and June 2008 (summer). Environmental measurements included WBGT, air temperature, radiant temperature (including solar load), humidity and wind speed all measured at 1.2m above the ground, as well as weather data measured by a standard weather station at 3m to 4m above the ground. Participants' physiological and subjective responses were measured. When the overall results of the four seasons are considered, WBGT provided a strong prediction of physiological responses as well as subjective responses if aural temperature, heart rate and sweat production were measured. Results: WBGT is appropriate to predict thermal strain on a large group of ordinary people in moderate conditions. Consideration should be given to include the WBGT index in warning systems for a wide range of weather conditions. However, the WBGT overestimated physiological responses of subjects. In addition, tenfold Borg's RPE was significantly different with heart rate measured for the four conditions except autumn (p<0.05). Physiological and subjective responses over 60 minutes consistently showed a similar tendency in the relationships with the $WBGT_{head}$ and $WBGT_{abdomen}$. Conclusion: It was found that either $WBGT_{head}$ or $WBGT_{abdomen}$ could be measured if a measurement should be conducted at only one height. The relationship between the WBGT values and weather station data was also investigated. There was a significant relationship between WBGT values at the position of a person and weather station data. For UK daytime weather conditions ranging from an average air temperature of $6^{\circ}C$ to $21^{\circ}C$ with mean radiant temperatures of up to $57^{\circ}C$, the WBGT index could be used as a simple thermal index to indicate the effects of weather on people. Application: The result of evaluation of WBGT might help to develop the smart clothing for workers in industrial sites and improve the work environment in terms of considering workers' wellness.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.16 no.4 s.82
• /
• pp.521-528
• /
• 2004

In general, polymer concrete has more excellent mechanical properties and durability than Portland cement concrete, but very sensitive to heat and has large deformations. In this study, the long-term creep behaviors was predicted by the short-term creep test, and then the characteristic of creep of recycled-PET polymer concrete was defined by material and experimental variables. The error in the predicted long-term creep values is less than 5 percent for all polymer concrete systems. The filler carry out an important role to restrict the creep strains of recycled PET Polymer concrete. The creep strain and specific on using the $CaCO_3$ were less than using fly-ash. The creep increases with an increase in the applied stress, but not proportional the rate of stress increase ratio. The creep behavior of polymer concrete using recycled polyester resin is not a linear viscoelastic behavior.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.182-188
• /
• 2008

A hyperthermophilic bacteria (strain HJ6) was isolated from a hot springs located in the Arima-cho, Hyogo, Japan. The cells were long-rod type ($2-4{\mu}m$), about $0.4{\mu}m$ in diameter. The pH and temperature for optimal growth were 6.5 and $80^{\circ}C$, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rDNA sequence and biochemical studies indicated that HJ6 belonged to the genus Thermus thermophilus (Tt). The gene encoding the Trehalose synthase (TS) was cloned and sequenced. The open reading frame (ORF) of the TtTS gene was composed of 2,898 nucleotides and encoded a protein (975 amino acids) with a predicted molecular weight of 110.56 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence of TtTS showed 99% and 83% identities to the Thermus caldophilus TS and Meiothermus ruber TS, respectively. TtTS gene was expressed in Escherichia coli cells, and the recombinant protein was purified to homogeneity. The optimal temperature and pH for Trehalose synthase activity were found to be $80^{\circ}C$ and 7.5, respectively. The half-life of heat inactivation was about 40 min at $90^{\circ}C$. The maximum trehalose conversion rate of maltose into trehalose by the enzyme increased as the substrate concentration increased, and reached 55.7% at the maltose concentration of 500 mM, implying that the enzyme conversion was dependent of the substrate concentration.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.4 no.6
• /
• pp.651-661
• /
• 1994

Utilizing Mechanical Alloy Process, that were obt,ained the results from investigated formation process of AC4A/$SiC_p$. composite material powders and mechanical properties of their extrusion materials. The obtained results are as follow conclusions. AC4A-lOwt.% $SiC_p$ powders which were mechanically alloyed at 150rpm for 420min have been obtained finely and uniformly rounded powder particals that were reached the steady state which was saturated micro hardness about tlv 230 in the range size of 1 0 ~ 2 0$\mu \textrm{m}$. EDAX analysis tests have been resulted in a little amount of I'e conrents increasing with MA times, the artifical aging of AC4A/S$SiC_p$ composite materials was obtained the hardness with solution treated at $525^{\circ}C$ for lOhrs the maximum value of Hv 230 with aging at. $170^{\circ}C$ for 1000min. The Intensity and width of X-ray diffraction pattern were decreasing and widening because of grain boundary refinement and heterogeneous strain during mechanical alloying. Tensile tests at room temperature were carried out the maximum value of 37 Kgf/$\mu \textrm{mm}^2$ with ext,rused materials, 27 Kgf/$\mu \textrm{mm}^2$ with heat treated them at $500^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.245-252
• /
• 2013

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii are significant opportunistic pathogens in hospitals and are resistant to most antibiotics. Multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa (MDRPA) and A. baumannii (MDRAB) cause severe human nosocomial infections and are more difficult to treat than methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Bifidobacteria are among of the most beneficial probiotics and have been widely studied for their antimicrobial activities. The present study explored the antimicrobial activity of Bifidobacterium sp. isolated from healthy Koreans against MDRPA and MDRAB. The antimicrobial activity of the isolates against MDRPA and MDRAB, which are resistant to ciprofloxacin, tobramycin, gentamicin, meropenem, and ceftazidime, was determined by modified broth microdilution methods using absorbance. Among all tested bifidobacteria isolates (nine B. adolescentis, three B. longum, and two B. pseudocatenulatum), the culture supernatant of B. pseudocatenulatum SPM1309 showed a strong growth inhibitory effect against MDRPA and MDRAB. No change in the turbidity of the mixture was observed during incubation, and its inhibitory effect occurred through bacteriostastic action. Moreover, the antibacterial activity was observed in the fraction with molecular weights <10 kDa of bifidobacteria culture supernatant, and the active fraction was heat-stable because it maintained its activity when heated at $70^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. The results suggest that this Bifidobacterium strain could have potential applications for alternative therapy in MDRPA and MDRAB infections.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.17-23
• /
• 2009

The gene encoding Thermus thermophilus HJ6 DNA polymerase (Tod) was cloned and sequenced. The open reading frame (ORF) of the Tod gene was composed of 2,505 nucleotides and encoded a protein (843 amino acids) with a predicted molecular weight of 93,795 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence of Tod showed 98% and 86% identities to the Thermus thermophilus HB8 DNA pol and Thermus aquaticus DNA pol, respectively, The Tod gene was expressed under the control of the bacteriophage $\lambda$ promoters PR and PL on the expression vector pJLA503 in Escherichia coli strain BL21 (DE3) codon plus. The expressed enzyme was purified by heat treatment, $HiTrap^{TM}$ Q column, and $HiPrep^{TM}$ Sephacryl S-200 HR 26/60 column chromatographies. The optimal temperature and pH for DNA polymerase activity were found to be $75{\sim}80^{\circ}C$ and 9.0, respectively. The optimal concentrations of $Mg^{2+}$ and $Mn^{2+}$ were 2.5 mM and 1 mM, respectively. The enzyme activity was activated by divalent cations, and was inhibited by monovalent cations. The result of the PCR experiment with Tod DNA polymerase indicates that this enzyme might be useful in DNA amplification and PCR-based applications.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.340-349
• /
• 2009

A CJ9 bacterial strain, which showed antifungal and antibacterial activities, was isolated from meju and identified as Bacillus polyfermenticus based on Gram staining, biochemical properties, as well as its 16S rRNA sequence. B. polyfermenticus CJ9 showed the antimicrobial activity against the various pathogenic molds, yeasts, and bacteria. The antibacterial activity was stable in the pH 5.0~9.0, but the activity was lost at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 hr. The antifungal activity was stable in the pH range of 3.0~9.0 and reduced at $121^{\circ}C$ for 15 min, but antifungal activity was not completely destroyed. The antibacterial activity was completely inactivated by proteinase K, protease, trypsin, and $\alpha$-chymotrypsin. The antifungal activity was also completely inactivated by protease and $\alpha$-chymotrypsin, and reduced its activity by proteinase which indicated that the antifungal and antibacterial compounds have proteineous nature. The apparent molecular mass of the partially purified antifungal compound, as indicated by using the direct detection method in Tricine-SDS-PAGE, was approximately 1.4 kDa. The molecular mass of the antibacterial compound could not be determined because of its heat-liable characteristic.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.135-141
• /
• 2002

This study was carried out to isolate antagonistic bacterium against Sclerotium cepivorum causing Allium fistulosum white rot. Total of 146 strains were isolated from A. fistulosum roots. The isolates were screened for antagonism to S. cepivorum and the isolated strain No. AL-1 was selected among these bacteria. It was identified as Serratia plymuthica based on morphological and physiological characteristics according to the Bergey's mannual of systematic bacteriology and 16S rDNA sequences methods. Serratia plymuthica AL-1 showed broad spectrum of antifungal activities against plant pathogenic fungi Alternaria altrata, Colletotrichum gleosporioids, Phoma sp., Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Stemphylium solani, Fusarium oxysporium niveum but not inhibited Didymella bryoniae. When S. plymuthica AL-1 cultivated in the TSB medium containing 1％ colloidal chitin, the high molecular fraction (>10 kDa) have chitinase activity (3.2 units/ml) and the low molecular fraction (<10 kDa) have not chitinase activity. Oppositely, after heat treatment (80℃ for 30 min) of the cultivation supernatant, the high molecular fractions have not antifungal activity but the low molecular fractions have antifungal activity.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.107-114
• /
• 2017

A turbocharger is an engine supercharger that is driven by exhaust gas. It improves the output and fuel efficiency by increasing the charging efficiency of the mixture gas, which is achieved by changing the rotatory power of the turbine connected to the exhaust passage. It is important to control the supercharging for this purpose. A nozzle slide joint is one of the core parts. Austenitic stainless steel is currently used as the material for this part, and its excellent mechanical properties include high heat resistance and corrosion resistance. However, because of its poor machinability, there are many difficulties in producing products with complicated shapes. Machining is used in the production of nozzle slide joints for high dimensional accuracy after metal powder injection molding. As design variables in this study, we investigated the sintering temperature, product stress, deformation rate, radius of curvature of the punch, and angle of the chamfer punch, which are related to the strain and shapes. The goal is to suggest a forming process using Nitronic 60 that does not require machining to manufacture a nozzle slide joint for a turbocharger. Accordingly, we determined the best process environment using finite-element analysis, the signal-noise ratio, and the Taguchi method for experiment design. The relative density and hydrostatic pressure of the final product were in accordance with the results of the finite element analysis. Therefore, we conclude that the Taguchi method can be applied to the design process of metal powder injection molding.