• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.60 no.2
• /
• pp.398-406
• /
• 2011

In this paper, we introduce a new architecture of PSO-based Polynomial Neural Networks (PNN) and discuss its comprehensive design methodology. The conventional PNN is based on a extended Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) method, and utilized the polynomial order (viz. linear, quadratic, and modified quadratic) as well as the number of node inputs fixed (selected in advance by designer) at Polynomial Neurons located in each layer through a growth process of the network. Moreover it does not guarantee that the conventional PNN generated through learning results in the optimal network architecture. The PSO-based PNN results in a structurally optimized structure and comes with a higher level of flexibility that the one encountered in the conventional PNN. The PSO-based design procedure being applied at each layer of PNN leads to the selection of preferred PNs with specific local characteristics (such as the number of input variables, input variables, and the order of the polynomial) available within the PNN. In the sequel, two general optimization mechanisms of the PSO-based PNN are explored: the structural optimization is realized via PSO whereas in case of the parametric optimization we proceed with a standard least square method-based learning. To evaluate the performance of the PSO-based PNN, the model is experimented with using Gas furnace process data, and pH neutralization process data. For the characteristic analysis of the given entire data with non-linearity and the construction of efficient model, the given entire system data is partitioned into two type such as Division I(Training dataset and Testing dataset) and Division II(Training dataset, Validation dataset, and Testing dataset). A comparative analysis shows that the proposed PSO-based PNN is model with higher accuracy as well as more superb predictive capability than other intelligent models presented previously.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.21 no.7
• /
• pp.719-727
• /
• 2011

Botulism is a neuroparalytic disease caused by Clostridium botulinum, which produces seven (A-G) antigenically diverse neurotoxins (BoNTs). BoNTs are the most poisonous substances known to humans, with a median lethal dose ($LD_{50}$) of approximately 1 ng/kg of body weight. Owing to their extreme potency and lethality, they have the potential to be used as a bioterrorism agent. The mouse bioassay is the gold standard for the detection of botulinum neurotoxins; however, it requires at least 3-4 days for completion. Attempts have been made to develop an ELISA-based detection system, which is potentially an easier and more rapid method of botulinum neurotoxin detection. The present study was designed using a synthetic gene approach. The synthetic gene encoding the catalytic domain of BoNT serotype B from amino acids 1-450 was constructed with PCR overlapping primers (BoNT/B LC), cloned in a pQE30 UA vector, and expressed in an E. coli M15 host system. Recombinant protein production was optimized at 0.5 mM IPTG final concentration, 4 h post induction, resulting in a maximum yield of recombinant proteins. The immunogenic nature of the recombinant BoNT/B LC protein was evaluated by ELISA. Antibodies were raised in BALB/c mice using various adjuvants. A significant rise in antibody titer (p<0.05) was observed in the Alum group, followed by the Titermax Classic group, Freund's adjuvant, and the Titermax Gold group. These developed high-titer antibodies may prove useful for the detection of botulinum neurotoxins in food and clinical samples.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.419-426
• /
• 2018

Recently, in an effort to reduce the energy efficiency design index (EEDI), studies on energy saving devices (ESDs) have been conducted. In this study, we designed a post-device suitable for a KRISO container ship (KCS) using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In order to increase the efficiency of the post-device, a twisted rudder was used, which has a proven performance (showing a 1.34% reduction in DHP compared to the bare hull at 24 knots) in previous research at Pusan National University. In addition, an increase in efficiency was expected by the use of a rudder bulb, including the discontinuous section of the twisted rudder and a divergent propeller cap to prevent the contraction of the wake. The optimization criterion was the case where the delivery power was the least compared with the bare hull. We analyzed the cause of the efficiency increase through an analysis of the self-propulsion factor. The case study for optimization was divided into 4 types (1. clearance of the bulb and cap, 2. shape of the bulb, 3. size of the bulb and cap, and 4. asymmetric bulb). Finally, with a clearance of 50 mm from the ship, a spherical bulb with the cap having an angle of $5^{\circ}$, and an asymmetric rudder bulb with a bulb diameter of 1.2HH/1.4H (horizontal/vertical) showed a 2.05% reduction in DHP compared to the bare hull at 24 knots. We will fabricate a post-device that will be optimized in the future and verify the performance of the post-device through model tests.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.9
• /
• pp.1470-1477
• /
• 2019

${\beta}_2$-adrenergic receptor (${\beta}_2-AR$) was expressed efficiently using Bac-to-Bac Baculovirus Expression System in Sf9 cells as a bio-recognition element for multianalyte screening of ${\beta}$-agonist residues in pork. Sf9 cells were selected as the expression system, and codon optimization of wild-type nucleic acid sequence and time-dependent screening of expression conditions were then carried out for enhancing expression level and biological activity. Under optimum conditions of multiplicity of infection (MOI) = 5 and 48 h post transfection, the protein yield was up to 1.23 mg/ml. After purification by chromatographic techniques, the purified recombinant protein was applied to develop a direct competitive enzyme-linked receptor assay (ELRA) and the efficiency and reliability of the assay was determined. The IC50 values of clenbuterol, salbutamol, and ractopamine were 28.36, 50.70, and $59.57{\mu}g/l$, and clenbuterol showed 47.61% and 55.94% cross-reactivities with ractopamine and salbutamol, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) was $3.2{\mu}g/l$ and the relevant recoveries in pork samples were in the range of 73.0-91.2%, 69.4-84.6%, and 63.7-80.2%, respectively. The results showed that it had better performance compared with other present nonradioactive receptorbased assays, indicating that the genetically modified ${\beta}_2-AR$ would have great application potential in detection of ${\beta}$-agonist residues.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.960-968
• /
• 2003

A bacterial isolate showing a strong endochitosanase activity was isolated from soil and then characterized. The isolate was identified and designated as Bacillus cereus P16, based on morphological and biochemical properties, assimilation tests, cellular fatty acids pattern, along with 16S rRNA gene sequence. The optimized medium for producing extracellular chitosanase in a batch culture contained 1% tryptone, 0.5% chitosan, and 1% NaCl (pH 7.0). Powder chitosan and tryptone served the best as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, for the chitosanase production. Chitosanase activity was the highest when culture was completed at $37^{\circ}C$ among various temperatures ($20-42^{\circ}C$) tested in a shaking incubator (200 rpm). The levels of chitosanase activity in the culture fluid were 2.0 U/ml and 3.8 U/ml, respectively, when incubated in a flask for 60 h and in a jar fermenter for 24 h. The culture supernatant showed a strong liquefying activity on the soluble chitosan. The viscosity of 1% chitosan solution, that was incubated with the culture supernatant, was rapidly decreased, suggesting the secretion of endochitosanolytic enzymes by P16. The culture fluid revealed six endo-type chitosanase isozymes, two major (38 and 45 kD), and four minor (54, 65, 82, and 96 kD) forms by staining profile. The crude enzymes were very stable, and full activity was maintained for 4 weeks at $4^{\circ}C\;or\;-20^{\circ}C$ in the culture supernatant, suggesting a highly desirable stability rate for making an industrial application of the crude enzymes. The supernatant also cleaved the insoluble chitosan powder, but the hydrolysis rate was much lower. The enzymic degradation products of chitosan contained $(GlcN)_n$ (n=2-8). The concentration of chitosan in the reaction mixture of the crude enzyme affected the chitooligosaccharides composition of the hydrolysis products. When the higher concentration of chitosan was used, the higher degree of polymerized chitooligosaccharides were produced. By comparison with other commercial chitosanase preparations, P16 was indeed found to be a valuable enzyme source for industrial production of chitooligosaccharides from chitosan.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.504-511
• /
• 2016

Lactulose, a synthetic disaccharide, has received increasing interest because of its role as a prebiotic that can increase the proliferation of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus spp. and enhance the absorption of calcium and magnesium. While the industrial production of lactulose is still mainly achieved by the chemical isomerization of lactose in alkaline media, this process has drawbacks including the need to remove catalysts and by-products, as well as high energy requirements. Recently, the use of cellobiose 2-epimerase (CE) has been considered an interesting alternative for industrial lactulose production. In this study, to develop a process for enzymatic lactulose production using CE, we screened improved mutant enzymes ($CS-H^RC^E$) from a library generated by an error-prone PCR technique. The thermostability of one mutant was enhanced, conferring stability up to $75^{\circ}C$, and its lactulose conversion yield was increased by 1.3-fold compared with that of wild-type CE. Using a recombinant Escherichia coli strain harboring a CS35 $H^RC^E$-expressing plasmid, we prepared cell beads immobilized on a Ca-alginate substrate and optimized their reaction conditions. In a batch reaction with 200 g/l lactose solution and the immobilized cell beads, lactose was converted into lactulose with a conversion yield of 43% in 2 h. In a repeated 38-plex batch reaction, the immobilized cell beads were relatively stable, and 80% of the original enzyme activity was retained after 4 cycles. In conclusion, we developed a reasonable method for lactulose production by immobilizing cells expressing thermostable CE. Further development is required to apply this approach at an industrial scale.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.171-177
• /
• 2012

A determination method of aromatic amino acids such as trytophan (Trp), tyrosine (Tyr), and phenylalanine (Phe) using luminol-$H_2O_2$-Cu(II) system has been presented. In the presence of an aromatic amino acid, the enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) intensity of luminol-$H_2O_2$-Cu(II) system was obtained by forming a complex between Cu(II) and the amino acid. Based on the above phenomenon, a sensitive and fast determination of three aromatic amino acids was performed using the CL method in batch-type detection system. To optimize determination conditions, the kinetic influence of an aromatic amino acid on the luminol-$H_2O_2$-Cu(II) system and the effects of $H_2O_2$ and Cu(II) concentration, pH, and buffers were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration curve was linear over the range from $1.0{\times}10^{-6}$ to $2.0{\times}10^{-5}\;M$ for Trp, $1.0{\times}10^{-6}$ to $2.0{\times}10^{-5}\;M$ for Try, and $2.0{\times}10^{-6}$ to $2.0{\times}10^{-5}\;M$ for Phe, respectively. In this range, reproducibility (RSD, n = 4) of Trp, Try, and Phe were 3.21%, 2.64%, and 2.48%, respectively. The limit of detection ($3{\sigma}/s$) was calculated to be $6.8{\times}10^{-7}\;M$ for Trp, $5.7{\times}10^{-7}\;M$ for Try, and $9.6{\times}10^{-7}\;M$ for Phe.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.122-134
• /
• 1998

In this review, we describe the electrochemical properties of spinel-type lithium manganese oxides $(Li_xMn_2O_4)$ and their failure modes encountered in 4 V lithium rechargable cells. The long-term cyclability (reversibility) of spinel electrodes is determined partly by the purity, size and distribution of spinel particles, and also by the microstructure of electrode plates. A proper selection of electrolytes is another important task in cyclability enhancements. In the spinel preparation, impurity formation and cation mixing should be minimized. The carbon content in composite cathodes should also be minimized to the extent where the cell polarization does not bring about adverse effects on cell performances. The binder content should be optimized on the basis of dispersion of component materials and mechanical strength of the plates. Cathodic capacity losses arising from solvent oxidation and spinel dissolution can be mitigated by using electrolytes composed of carbonates and/or fluorine-containing lithium salts. The carbon additives may be selected after a trade-off between the cell polarization in composite cathodes and the solvent oxidation on carbon surface.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.117-122
• /
• 2019

The objective of this study was to establish an in vitro culture system for ovarian preantral follicles of B6D2F1. First, we optimized the in vitro preantral-follicle culture by culture duration, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) type, and activin A concentration. Duration of in vitro culture for 9, 11, and 13 days was sufficient for the normal development of preantral follicles to antral follicles. Formation of cumulus cell-oocyte complex (COC) was induced by treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 2.5 IU/mL) and epidermal growth factor (EGF; 5 ng/mL). In addition, metaphase II (MII) oocytes formed during this in vitro culture of preantral follicles. In vitro preantralfollicle culture for 9 days showed higher rates of growth and maturation, thus yielding a greater number of antral follicles, and there were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the number of MII oocytes (that formed from these preantral follicles via differentiation) between the 9-day culture and 11-day or 13-day culture. The follicles cultured for 9 days contained a tightly packed well-defined COC, whereas in follicles cultured for 11 days, the COC was not well defined (spreading was observed in the culture dish); the follicles cultured for 13 days disintegrated and released the oocyte. Second, we compared the growth of the preantral follicles in vitro in the presence of various FSH types. There were no significant differences in the growth and maturation rates and in differentiation into MII oocytes during in vitro culture between preantral follicles supplemented with FSH from Merck and those supplemented with FSH from Sigma. To increase the efficiency of MII oocyte formation, the preantral follicles were cultured at different activin A concentrations (0 to 200 ng/mL). The control follicles, which were not treated with activin A, showed the highest rate of differentiation into antral follicles and into MII oocytes among all the groups (0 to 200 ng/mL). Therefore, activin A (50 to 200 ng/mL) had a negative effect on oocyte maturation. Thus, in this study, we propose an in vitro system of preantral-follicle culture that can serve as a therapeutic strategy for fertility preservation of human oocytes for assisted reproductive medicine, for conservation of endangered species, and for creation of superior breeds.

• Current Applied Physics
• /
• v.18 no.11
• /
• pp.1268-1274
• /
• 2018

We have investigated the effects of chemical rounding (CR) on the surface passivation and/or antireflection performance of $AlO_{x^-}$ and $AlO_x/SiN_x:H$ stack-passivated pyramid textured $p^+$-emitters with two different boron doping concentrations, and on the performance of bifacial n-PERT Si solar cells with a front pyramid textured $p^+$-emitter. From experimental results, we found that chemical rounding markedly enhances the passivation performance of $AlO_x$ layers on pyramid textured $p^+$-emitters, and the level of performance enhancement strongly depends on boron doping concentration. Meanwhile, chemical rounding increases solar-weighted reflectance ($R_{SW}$) from ~2.5 to ~3.7% for the $AlO_x/SiN_x:H$ stack-passivated pyramid textured $p^+$-emitters after 200-sec chemical rounding. Consequently, compared to non-rounded bifacial n-PERT Si cells, the short circuit current density Jsc of 200-sec-rounded bifacial n-PERT Si cells with ~60 and ${\sim}100{\Omega}/sq$ $p^+$-emitters is reduced by 0.8 and $0.6mA/cm^2$, respectively under front $p^+$-emitter side illumination. However, the loss in the short circuit current density Jsc is fully offset by the increased fill factor FF by 0.8 and 1.5% for the 200-sec-rounded cells with ~60 and ${\im}100{\Omega}/sq$ $p^+$-emitters, respectively. In particular, the cell efficiency of the 200-sec-rounded cells with a ${\sim}100{\Omega}/sq$ $p^+$-emitter is enhanced as a result, compared to that of the non-rounded cells. Based on our results, it could be expected that the cell efficiency of bifacial n-PERT Si cells would be improved without additional complicated and costly processes if chemical rounding and boron doping processes can be properly optimized.