• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.96-103
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• 2017

Nocardia species (spp.) are opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised hosts. The genus Nocardia contains more than 70 species. Nocardia takedensis has been recently reported as a new species of the genus Nocardia. In this study, we describes the first clinical isolate of N. takedensis from the skin lesion in Busan, Korea. For the identification of clinical isolate to the species level as N. takedensis, classical methods (colony morphology, biochemical characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibility), molecular method (16S rRNA gene sequencing), and MS (mass spectrometry) analysis were conducted. Clinical isolates grew slowly on the culture media (5% sheep blood agar and chocolate agar) under 5% $CO_2$ condition. Especially, carotene pigmentation was detected well on the media. Using mass spectrometry, Nocardia isolate was not identified to the species level. However, molecular method based on 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed the isolate as N. takedensis correctly. N. takedensis isolate was partial positive for acid-fast bacilli on the Ziehl-Neelsen method. And it was observed to be resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and ciprofloxacin. Our results provide useful information to develop optimal identification protocol of N. takedensis in clinical diagnostic laboratories.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2009

As part of an investigation to identify microorganisms that are biotechnologically interesting for industrial application, we isolated a bacterial strain from Chungkookjang that produces extracellular neutral lipase. In addition, the crude enzyme was characterized. This isolated strain, designated as JKA-3 was identified as Bacillus subtilis JKA-3 based on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, as well as phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequence. The cells were rod-shaped and $0.6-0.8{\times}2.0-2.3\;{\mu}m$ in size. Optimal growth conditions were $35-40^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.0-8.0. The isolate was able to grow in up to 0-10.0% (w/v) NaCl. Optimal activity conditions of the crude lipase fraction of B. subtilis JKA-3 were pH of 7.0 at $35^{\circ}C$. This enzyme was stable in the pH ranging 6.0-8.0.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.23-32
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• 2007

Changes in the characteristics of dissolved organic matter was studied at selected stations in the Nakdong river basin using physical and chemical methods. Characteristics of dissolved organic matters were analysed and assessed. Production of disinfection byproducts were also investigated. Distribution of the organic compounds according to the Molecular weight(MW) indicate that MWs higher than 100K were highest with cattle excrement wastewater and MW between 100-10K were highest with waters from forest streams. Low MW compounds (Jess than 1K) were highest with the effluents from environmental facilities. Results of resin fractionation study show that acidic hydrophobic substances(AHS) were dominant in many stations. The values were higher in the samples from mainstreams and sidestreams where the influence of organic matter is higher than the water from environmental facilities. Hydrophilic neutral substances(HoN) such as hydrocarbon, pesticides and detergents were higher in the wastewater treatment facilities. HoN values of water from the forest streams were 4.7% indicating there is no synthetic pollutant.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.349-357
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• 2007

Reports of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), and personal care products (PCPs) have raised substantial concern in important potable drinking water quality issues. Our study investigates the removal of EDCs, PhACs, and PCPs of 10 compounds having different physico-chemical properties (e.g., molecular weight, and octanol-water partition coefficient ($K_{OW}$)) by nanofiltration (NF) membranes. The rejection of micropollutants by NF membranes ranged from 93.9% to 99.9% depending on solute characteristics. A batch adsorption experiments indicated that adsorption is an important mechanism for transport/removal of relatively hydrophobic compounds, and is related to the octanol-water partition coefficient values. The transport phenomenon associated with adsorption may also depend on solution water chemistry such as pH and ionic strength influencing the pKa value of compounds. In addition, it was visually seen that the retention was somewhat higher for the larger compounds based on their molecular weight. These results suggest that the NF membrane retains many organic compounds due to both hydrophobic adsorption and size exclusion mechanisms.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.165-166
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• 2008

We investigate characteristics of J-aggregation as take advantage of LB technic. In order to confirm the applications possible for the molecular electronic device, the morphological properties of merocyanine dye were investigated by AFM. ${\pi}-A$ curves investigated the surface pressure of the LB film from a liquid to a solid state ranged between 90 and 100 mN/m. We observed aggregation and it's characteristics by using visible reflection spectroscopy. We have observed morphology of merocyanine dye on gold surface by STM. focuses on results obtained in mercocyanide dye of J-aggregation. When LB films of merocyanine dye are mixed with arachidic acid, J-aggregate formation is exhibited. J-aggregate formation has been serving as typical systems in revealing the physical and structural aspects of nano-sized molecular aggregates constructed as muiltilayers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.341-345
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• 2005

This paper is for the combustion characteristics of gas generator which drive 1.5MW-class turbo pump and runs in fuel-rich combustion regime with LOx/kerosene as propellant. The outline of development procedure of real scale high pressure gas generator is introduced and the relation between O/F ratio and outlet temperature and the molecular weight and specific heat ratio of combustion gas are described. The relation between O/F ratio and temperature is newly obtained at higher pressure and the molecular weight and specific heat ratio is modified and their validity is confirmed by the mass relation equation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2002.07b
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• pp.769-772
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• 2002

Dendrimers are well-defined macromolecules exhibiting a tree-like structure, first derived by the cascade molecule approach. Peculiar features of the dendritic geometry are the large number of end groups as well as the shape persistence in higher generations, approaching spherical geometry. And one of the most peculiar characteristics of dendritic macromolecules is their controlled molecular structure and orientation, which means that they have a practical application in achieving a highly organized molecular arrangement. We attempted to fabricate a dendrimer LB films containing 48 pyridinepropanol functional end group. As the pyridinepropanol functional group could form a complex structure with metal ions. We investigated the surface activity of dendrimer films at air-water interface compared with pure dendrimer and its complex with $Fe^{2+}$ ions into subphase. We though that metal ions are contributed to networking or branching reaction between dendrimers. And we expected that it can result in the differences on the electrical properties. We have studied the electrical properties of the ultra thin dendrimer LB films investigated by the current-voltage characteristics of metal dendrimer LB films/metal (MIM) structure.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.561-571
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• 1987

In case of glass ceramics and powder preparation from the metalakoxide solutions, metalakoxide solutions with a various species of alkoxy groups have unique characteristics. Therefore, in this study, the mixing ability of homogeneous sol, gel morphology and physical properties of gels were investigated by the changes in terms of the different four alkoxy groups, CH3-, C2H5-, i-C3H7-n-C4H9-, along with the catalyst for the purpose of the observation about the homogenous transition range from sol to gel. As a result, when the fixed condition was mol ratio of H2O/Si(OR)4=2.0 and variables were batch composition and addition amount of catalyst, the characteristics of Tetra-normal-Butoxysilane and Tetra-iso-propoxysilane systems had very narrow sol-gel conversion region than Tetramethoxysilane and Tetraethoxysilane system. And silicon-alkoxide, systems having narrow sol-gel conversion region were enlarged by addition of catalyst. In viewpoint of the weight loss of gel produced by hydrolysis of silicon alkoxide systems with different four alkoxy groups, the amounts of weight loss of gel containing large molecular alkoxy groups were much more than those of small molecular alkoxy group.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.397-403
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• 2006

Compositional characteristics and origin of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs), which should be strongly regulated for environmental protection in the crude oils and petroleum products, have been investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC/MS). In the crude oils analyzed, two-rings compound(naphthalene) of PAHs was detected around $72.3\sim93.5%$, but five- or six-rings compound of PAHs was not detected. In the crude oils analyzed, the molecular ratio indices of Phe/Ant(phenanthrene/anthracene)>15, Fla/Pyr(fluoranthene/pyrene)<1, BaA/Chr(benzo (a)anthracene/chrysene)$\leq0.4$ could be effectively applied, and we found that the origin of PAHs was petrogenic sources. Total PAHs concentrations in the crude oils were increased with increasing API gravity and with decreasing sulfur contents of the analyzed crude oils. Five- or six-rings compound of PAHs were not included in ail petroleum products except bunker-C. Furthermore, the molecular ratio indices of Phe/Ant(phenanthrene/anthracene) vs. Fla/Pyr(fluoranthene/pyrene) could be effectively applied as the standard for the PAHs contamination criterion at the other Korean areas.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.6-15
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• 2009

The most common genetic disorder Down syndrome (DS) displays various developmental defects including mental retardation, learning and memory deficit, the early onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD), congenital heart disease, and craniofacial abnormalities. Those characteristics result from the extra-genes located in the specific region called 'Down syndrome critical region (DSCR)' in human chromosome 21. In this review, we summarized the recent findings of the DYRK1A and RCAN1 genes, which are located on DSCR and thought to be closely associated with the typical features of DS patients, and their implication to the pathogenesis of neural defects in DS. DYRK1A phosphorylates several transcriptional factors, such as CREB and NFAT, endocytic complex proteins, and AD-linked gene products. Meanwhile, RCAN1 is an endogenous inhibitor of calcineurin A, and its unbalanced activity is thought to cause major neuronal and/or non-neuronal malfunction in DS and AD. Interestingly, they both contribute to the learning and memory deficit, altered synaptic plasticity, impaired cell cycle regulation, and AD-like neuropathology in DS. By understanding their biochemical, functional and physiological roles, we hope to get important molecular basis of DS pathology, which would consequently lead to the basis to develop the possible therapeutic tools for the neural defects in DS.