• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.936-943
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• 2007

Previously it was reported that promoter of groES-groEL operon of Staphylococcus aureus is induced by various cellwall active antibiotics. In order to exploit the above promoter for identifying novel antistaphylococcal drugs, we have cloned the promoter containing region ($P_g$) of groES-groEL operon of S. aureus Newman and found that the above promoter is induced by sublethal concentrations of many antibiotics including cell-wall active antibiotics. A reporter S. aureus RN4220 strain (designated SAU006) was constructed by inserting the $P_g$-lacZ transcriptional fusion into its chromosome. Agarose-based assay developed with SAU006 shows that $P_g$ in single-copy is also induced distinctly by different classes of antibiotics. Data indicate that ciprofloxacin, rifampicin, ampicillin, and cephalothin are strong inducers, whereas, tetracycline, streptomycin and vancomycin induce the above promoter weakly. Sublethal concentrations of ciprofloxacin and ampicilin even have induced $P_g$ efficiently in microtiter plate grown SAU006. Additional studies show for the first time that above promoter is also induced weakly by arsenate salt and hydrogen peroxide. Taken together, we suggest that our simple and sensitive assay systems with SAU006 could be utilized for screening and detecting not only novel antistaphylococcal compounds but also different toxic chemicals.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1100-1108
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• 2011

The immunomodulating effects of moxifloxacin seem to be effective in downregulating inflammatory reactions. This presumed effect was tested in endotoxin (ETX)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rats. After moxifloxacin treatment (10 mg/kg) of ETX-given rats, lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, bronchoalveolar-lavage (BAL) protein, and the number of neutrophils in the BAL cells were measured. Light and electron microscopic structures were also examined. Electron microscopic $CeCl_3$ histochemistry for the detection of hydrogen peroxide in the lungs and immunohistochemistry of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) in the lung tissues and BAL cells were performed. To examine the expression of TNF${\alpha}$ in the lungs, western blotting was carried out with the lung tissues. ETX had accumulated neutrophils in the lungs, which was followed by lung leak. Oxidative stress occurred, and increased expression of cPLA2 in the lung tissues and BAL cells was observed in the ETX-given rats. Simultaneously, the expression of TNF${\alpha}$ was enhanced by ETX. Moxifloxacin, however, decreased all these parameters, indicating that ALI may have been ameliorated. Moxifloxacin appears to ameliorate ETX-induced ALI partially through the suppression of cPLA2 in the lungs of rats.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.68.1-68.1
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• 2010

We focus on two Galactic molecular clouds that are located in wholly different environments and both are observed by FIMS instrument onboard STSAT-1. The Draco cloud is known as a translucent molecular cloud at high Galactic latitude. The FUV spectra show important ionic lines of C IV, Si IV+O IV], Si II* and Al II, indicating the existence of hot and warm interstellar gases in the region. The enhanced C IV emission inside the Draco cloud region is attributable to the turbulent mixing of the interacting cold and warm/hot media, which is supported by the detection of the O III] emission line and the $H{\alpha}$ feature in this region. The Si II* emission covers the remainder of the region outside the Draco cloud, in agreement with previous observations of Galactic halos. Additionally, the H2 fluorescent map is consistent with the morphology of the atomic neutral hydrogen and dust emission of the Draco cloud. In the Aquila Rift region near Galactic plane, FIMS observed that the FUV continuum emission from the core of the Aquila Rift suffers heavy dust extinction. The entire field is divided into three sub-regions that are known as the- "halo," "diffuse," and "star-forming" regions. The "diffuse" and "star-forming" regions show various prominent H2 fluorescent emission lines, while the "halo" region indicates the general ubiquitous characteristics of H2. The CLOUD model and the FUV line ratio are included here to investigate the physical conditions of each sub-region. Finally, the development of an infrared imaging system known as the MIRIS instrument onboard STSAT-3 is briefly introduced. It can be used in WIM studies through $Pa{\alpha}$ observations.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.620-631
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• 2015

A total of 59 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were isolated from corn stover silage. According to phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences and recA gene polymerase chain reaction amplification, these LAB isolates were identified as five species: Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum subsp. plantarum, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Enterococcus mundtii, Weissella cibaria and Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, respectively. Those strains were also screened for antimicrobial activity using a dual-culture agar plate assay. Based on excluding the effects of organic acids and hydrogen peroxide, two L. plantarum subsp. plantarum strains ZZU 203 and 204, which strongly inhibited Salmonella enterica ATCC $43971^T$, Micrococcus luteus ATCC $4698^T$ and Escherichia coli ATCC $11775^T$ were selected for further research on sensitivity of the antimicrobial substance to heat, pH and protease. Cell-free culture supernatants of the two strains exhibited strong heat stability (60 min at $100^{\circ}C$), but the antimicrobial activity was eliminated after treatment at $121^{\circ}C$ for 15 min. The antimicrobial substance remained active under acidic condition (pH 2.0 to 6.0), but became inactive under neutral and alkaline condition (pH 7.0 to 9.0). In addition, the antimicrobial activities of these two strains decreased remarkably after digestion by protease K. These results preliminarily suggest that the desirable antimicrobial activity of strains ZZU 203 and 204 is the result of the production of a bacteriocin-like substance, and these two strains with antimicrobial activity could be used as silage additives to inhibit proliferation of unwanted microorganism during ensiling and preserve nutrients of silage. The nature of the antimicrobial substances is being investigated in our laboratory.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.215-219
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• 2008

The bonding structure and composition of silicon nitride (SiNx) films were investigated by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). SiNx films were deposited on Si substrate at $340^{\circ}C$ using a conventional PECVD system. The compositions of Si and N in SiNx films were confirmed by using Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) and photoluminescence (PL) analysis. The surface morphology of SiNx films was also analyzed by using atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that the contents of NH(at. %) is the reverse related with those of SiH corresponding to the result of FT-IR. we conclude that a quantitative analysis on SiNx films can be possible through a precise detection of the contents of H in SiNx films with a FT-IR analysis only.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.338-343
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• 2005

In this work, sample loss of reduced sulfur compounds (RSC) was investigated with respect to bag sampling techniques. For comparison purpose, calibration slopes were obtained by analyzing standards prepared by 'within syringe dilution' (WSD) method against those made either by 'Tedlar bag dilution' (TBD) or by 'polyester aluminum bag dilution' (PBD) method. The results indicated that the recovery rate of TBD showed the mean values of about 87%, while those of PBD about 77%. Despite the fact that sample loss is inevitable, precise sampling of reduced sulfur compounds may still be possible, if one acknowledges and be prepared for such loss rates of bag sampling methods.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.152.1-152.1
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• 2011

We report preliminary results of long-slit near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy of Luminous Blue Variables (LBVs) with moderate resolution of R ~ 2400. We obtained Jshort (1.04-1.26 micron) and Ks (2.02-2.31 micron) band spectra of 4 LBVs and 3 LBV candidates in Southern hemisphere using IRIS2, infrared imager and spectrograph, mounted on the 4-m Anglo-Australian Telescope. All targets are fairly bright in NIR so that we can obtain high signal-to-noise ratio for clear line detection and modeling. They are also widely distributed in the HR diagram so that we can compare the spectral properties of LBVs in different temperature and luminosity ranges. Among them, we present the results of two well-known LBVs AG Car and HR Car. Their spectra show similar properties with hydrogen, He I, and metallic lines such as Fe II and Mg II, most of them in emission. We discuss, in particular, the He I 1.083 micron lines formed in stellar wind because these two LBVs show large variation in their He I line intensities, compared to previous studies. Since the He I 1.083 line is known to be anticorrelated with the photometric variation of LBVs, strong line intensities with P-Cygni profiles in both stars indicate that they are now near the visual minimum phase. We model the obtained spectra using non-LTE atmosphere code CMFGEN of Hillier (1998) to derive stellar parameters such as wind velocity and mass loss rate, and discuss the long-term variability of stellar parameters of these LBVs. deduced from our otometric solution.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.223-229
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• 2001

A method for the determination of glucose in human whole blood by chemiluminescence method using a stopped flow injection system has been studied. The method is based on the differences in the chemiluminescence intensities of luminol due to the different amounts of hydrogen peroxide produced from the glucose oxidase catalyzed reaction. The enzyme reactor was prepared by immobilization of glucose oxidase on aminopropyl glass beads and the chemiluminescence from a flow cell was measured by means of an optical fiber bundle. In order to obtain the optimum experimental conditions, effects of pH for the chemiluminogenic solution and enzyme reactor, flow rate and temperature on the chemiluminescence intensity were investigated. The calibration curve obtained under optimum experimental conditions was linear over the range from $1.0{\times}10^{-1}$ mM to 7.0 mM and the detection limit was $6.0{\times}10^{-2}$ mM. The proposed method was applied to the determination of glucose in whole human blood sample and the results were compared with those obtained by an official method. The present method was also evaluated by the results of recovery experiments.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 1991

A new tubular poly(vinyl chloride) membrane type of nitrate selective electrode was prepared and its characteristics were evaluated. The response slope, detection limit, and response time (t$_{99}$) under the optimum membrane composition (5${\%}$ aliquat-NO$_3$ solution + 32${\%}$ poly(vinyl chloride) + 63${\%}$ dibutyl sebecate) of the electrode were 58.5 ${\pm}$ 0.1 mV/decade, 2.0 ${\times}$ 10$^{-5}$ M, and 25 seconds, respectively. The nitrite ion was determined by the continuous-automated method using the new electrode. 10$^{-2}$ M phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.6) was used as a recipient solution. And also hydrogen peroxide (0.3${\%}$) was added to the recipient as an oxidant. The linear response range and response range and response slope for the standard nitrite solution under the optimum condition of this electrode system were 8.0 ${\times}$ 10$^{-5}$ M ∼ 5.0 ${\times}$ 10$^{-2}$ M and 56.8 ${\pm}$ 0.2 mV/decade, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.639-642
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• 2006

This study aimed to identify effective washing and sanitation programs to minimize the contamination of cooked rice by B. cereus. As such, the effectiveness of five sanitizers, including QAC, alcohol, chlorine, CaO, and $H_2O_2$, was evaluated in relation to the survivability of B. cereus spores in cooked rice and resulting sensory properties of the rice. The water-treated cooked rice showed remaining B. cereus spores at 1.09 $log_{10}CFU/g$. In contrast, treatment with the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the sanitizers, such as 200 ppm of QAC, 50% of alcohol, 100 ppm of chlorine, 650 ppm of CaO, and 500 ppm of $H_2O_2$, destroyed all the spores in the cooked rice below a non-detection limit (ND< 0.15 CFU/g). The sensory properties of the sanitizer-treated (1,000 ppm of $H_2O_2$, 100 ppm of chlorine, and 800 ppm of CaO) cooked rice did not differ significantly from those of the water-treated cooked rice. As a result, 500 ppm of $H_2O_2$, 650 ppm of CaO, and 100 ppm of chlorine were found to effectively eliminate B. cereus spores in rice while cooking.