• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.113-121
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• 2014

In this work, an integrated model including molecular dynamics and chemical rate theory was implemented to calculate the growth of point defect clusters(PDC) and copper-rich precipitates(CRP) which could change the mechanical properties of reactor pressure vessel(RPV) steels in a nuclear power plant. A number of time-dependent differential equations were established and numerically integrated to estimate the evolution of irradiation defects. The calculation showed that the concentration of the vacancies was higher than that of the self-interstitial atoms. The higher concentration of vacancies induced a formation of the CRPs in the later stage. The size of the CRPs was used to estimate the mechanical property changes in RPV steels, as is the same case with the PDCs. The calculation results were compared with the measured values of yield strength change and Charpy V-notch transition temperature shift, which were obtained from the surveillance test data of Korean light water reactors(LWRs). The estimated values were in fair agreement with the experimental results in spite of the uncertainty of the modeling parameters.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.197-210
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• 2014

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are widely acknowledged as the marker of choice for many genetic and genomic applications because they show co-dominant inheritance, are highly abundant across genomes and are suitable for high-throughput genotyping. Here we evaluated the applicability of SNP markers developed from Crassostrea gigas and C. virginica expressed sequence tags (ESTs) in closely related Crassostrea and Ostrea species. A total of 213 putative interspecific level SNPs were identified from re-sequencing data in six amplicons, yielding on average of one interspecific level SNP per seven bp. High polymorphism levels were observed and the high success rate of transferability show that genic EST-derived SNP markers provide an efficient method for rapid marker development and SNP discovery in closely related oyster species. The six EST-SNP markers identified here will provide useful molecular tools for addressing questions in molecular ecology and evolution studies including for stock analysis (pedigree monitoring) in related oyster taxa.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.389-398
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• 2020

The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is increasing globally, resulting in high mortality rates. Although CRE is a relatively recent problem in Korea (the first case was not diagnosed until 2010), it is responsible for serious morbidities at an alarming rate. In this study, we carried out a molecular genetic analysis to determine the incidence of CRE and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) at a general hospital in Korea between August 2017 and August 2019. Forty strains of CPE were isolated from various clinical specimens and analyzed via antimicrobial susceptibility testing, polymerase chain reaction to detect β-lactamase genes, deoxyribonucleic acid sequencing, multilocus sequence typing, curing testing, and conjugal transfer of plasmids. The results demonstrated that all 40 isolates were multidrug-resistant. The fluoroquinolone susceptibility test showed that 75% of the Enterobacteriaceae isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, whereas 72.5% were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Further, conjugation accounted for 57.5% of all resistant plasmid transfer events, which is 4.3-fold higher than that observed in 2010 by Frost et al. Finally, the high detection rate of transposon Tn4401 was associated with the rapid diffusion and evolution of CPE. Our results highlight the rapid emergence of extensively drugresistant strains in Korea and emphasize the need for employing urgent control measures and protocols at the national level.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.8-16
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• 2017

We firstly described a box jellyfish, Carybdea brevipedalia collected from the southern coasts of Korea. It is morphologically characterized by gastric phacellae, a special digestive system of cubozoan jellyfish, and velarium, the thin muscle flap forming the opening of the subumbrellar cavity. The phacellae are linear-shaped, comprising numerous cirri branched from multiple roots. Each root also has multiple numbers of cirrus bundles. Basis of velarial cannels parts into two branches in each octant of velarium. Its geographic distributions were limited to Jeju-do and the middle-southern coasts where the organisms are seriously hazardous to bathers in summer. Numerous individuals and/or large-sized populations were observed specifically from beaches at Jeju-do, Namhae-do and a small fishing port of Namildae, while only a small amount of the individuals was observed in Gamak Bay, Jaran-Goseung Bay, and Geoje-do. We confirmed molecular identity of the Korean C. brevipedalia with comparison of nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences. Until now, Carybdea brevipedalia is the only cubozoan species reported to be distributed in Korean waters.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.42.2-42.2
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• 2017

The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is a unique target to study the detail structures of molecular clouds and star-forming regions, due to its proximity and face-on orientation from us. Most part of the astrophysical subjects for the LMC have been investigated, but the magnetic field is still veiling despite its role in the evolution of the interstellar medium (ISM) and in the main force to influence the star formation process. Measuring polarization of the background stars behind interstellar medium allows us to describe the existence of magnetic fields through the polarization vector map. In this presentation, I introduce the near-infrared polarimetric results for the $39^{\prime}{\times}69^{\prime}$ field of the northeastern region of the LMC and the N159/N160 star-forming complex therein. The polarimetric observations were conducted at IRSF/SIRPOL 1.4 m telescope. These results allow us to examine both the global geometry of the large-scale magnetic field in the northeastern region and the close structure of the magnetic field in the complex. Prominent patterns of polarization vectors mainly follow dust emission features in the mid-infrared bands, which imply that the large-scale magnetic fields are highly involved in the structure of the dust cloud in the LMC. In addition, local magnetic field structures in the N159/N160 star-forming complex are investigated with the comparison between polarization vectors and molecular cloud emissions, suggesting that the magnetic fields are resulted from the sequential formation history of this complex. I propose that ionizing radiation from massive stellar clusters and the expanding bubble of the ionized gas and dust in this complex probably affect the nascent magnetic field structure.

• ALGAE
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.303-315
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• 2016

Compsopogon specimens collected in China were examined based on morphology and DNA sequences. Five molecular markers from different genome compartments including rbcL, COI, 18S rDNA, psbA, and UPA were identified and used to construct a phylogenetic relationship. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that two different morphological types from China clustered into an independent clade with Compsopogon specimens when compared to other global samples. The Compsopogon clade exhibited robust support values, revealing the affiliation of the samples to Compsopogon caeruleus. Although the samples were distributed in a close geographical area, unexpected sequence divergences between the Chinese samples implied that they were introduced by different dispersal events and from varied origins. It was speculated that Compsopogon originated in North America, a portion of the Laurentia landmass situated in the Rodinia supercontinent at approximately 573.89-1,701.50 million years ago during the Proterozoic era.Although Compsopogonhad evolved for a rather long time, genetic conservation had limited its variability and rate of evolution, resulting in the current monospecific global distribution. Additional global specimens and sequence information were required to increase our understanding of the evolutionary history of this ancient red algal lineage.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.32.2-32.2
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• 2017

Stars form in dense core within the molecular clouds. The prestellar cores provide information of the physical characteristics at the very early stages of star formation. The low dust temperature (<14K) of Planck cold clumps/cores (PGCCs) make them likely to be prestellar objects or at the very initial stage of protostellar collapse. We have been conducting the legacy surveys of Planck cold clumps with the JCMT, the TRAO 14-m and many other telescopes. We aim to study of the initial conditions of star formation and chemical evolutions of the cores in the different environments. From JCMT SCUBA-2 $850{\mu}m$ survey (SCOPE), we have already identified hundreds of dense cores, which may be at the earliest phase of star formation. Therefore in order to explore the chemical evolution of these dense cores, we used KVN telescopes in order to observe 75 well selected SCUBA-2 cores in many molecules as the follow-up project of KVN Pilot Observation of SCUBA-2. These observations will help advance our understanding of the propoerties of these SCUBA-2 cores in PGCCs.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.45.2-45.2
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• 2018

CS molecule is known to be adsorbed onto dust in cold dense cores, causing its significant depletion in the center region of cores. This study is aimed to investigate the depletion of CS molecule with optically thin $C^{34}S$ molecular line observations, including significance of its differentiation depending on the evolutionary status of the dense cores. We mapped five evolved starless cores, L1544, L1552, L1689B, L694-2 and L1197 using two molecular lines, $C^{34}S$ (J=2-1) and $N_2H^+$ (J=1-0) with NRO 45 m telescope. The $H^2$ column density and temperature structures of each targets were obtained by SED fitting for Herschel continuum images and the internal number density profiles by model fitting. All of the integrated intensity maps of $C^{34}S$ show depletion holes and 'semi-ring-like' distribution, indicating that the depletion of CS is clear and general. The radial profiles of CS abundance also show significant decrease towards the core center, while $N_2H^+$ abundance is almost constant or enhanced. We find that the more evolved cores with higher $H^2$ density tend to have a stronger depletion of CS. Our data strongly support claims that CS molecule generally depletes out in the central regions of starless dense cores and such chemical differentiation is closely related to their evolution.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.1270-1280
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• 2001

In this research of biodegradable polymers, it is essential to investigate the relation between biodegradability and molecular structure such as chemical constitution, hydrophilicity, molecular weight, crystallinity, chain orientation, and so on. It is also expected that hydrophilicity of polymer can affect biodegradability because biodegradation occurs with the help of enzymes and microorganisms. This study is to investigate the effect of hydrophilicity on biodegradability of polyesters. Hydrophilicity was varied by adding 5~30 mol% of amide groups, since amide groups are hydrophilic and used for improving thermal and mechanical properties. Surface energies and nitrogen contents by ESCA were measured to determine their hydrophilicity. The biodegradation was examined in activated sludge, enzyme and natural soil by $CO_2$evolution, TOC, weight loss, and observation through microscopy. The results showed that hydrophilicity of polyesteramide films increased with the addition of amide, PBAD series of shorter methylene units showed maximum hydrophilicity at 15~20 mol% of amide contents, but PBSE exhibited maximum values at 5~15 mol% of amide contents. The biodegradability increased as the hydrophilicty on surface increased. The biodegradation rate of PBAD series was higher than that of PBSE series. Therefore, it can be concluded that the addition of appropriate contents of hydrophile enhanced the biodegradability of aliphatic polyesters as well as their physical properties. Also, the experimental results revealed the relation between hydrophilicity and biodegradability of polyesteramides.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.390-400
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• 2012

Eight potato-producing provinces of Iran were surveyed during the growing seasons of 2004-2006 to detect the presence of Tomato yellow fruit ring virus (TYFRV), a tentative species in the genus Tospovirus. A total of 1,957 potato leaf samples were collected from plants with tospovirus-like symptoms of chlorotic or necrotic spots, chlorosis and necrosis. The samples were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using TYFRV-specific antibodies. Among those tested, 498 samples (25.4%) were found to be infected with the virus. The virus was detected in 72.4% of the potato fields in all provinces surveyed. Thirteen potato isolates of TYFRV were selected for further biological and molecular studies. Based on their reactions on Nicotiana tabacum plants, the isolates were separated into two groups, namely L (local infection) and N (systemic infection). The nucleotide sequences of the nucleoprotein (N) genes of the isolates were determined and compared with the homologous sequences in Genbank. No recombination evidence was found in the isolates using different recombination-detecting programs. In the phylogenetic tree, the potato isolates fell into two major groups: IRN-1 and IRN-2 corresponding to the two biologically separated groups. This study shows for the first time the biological and phylogenetic relationships of geographically distant TYFRV isolates from potatoes in the mid-Eurasian country of Iran.