• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.871-879
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• 2024

Our group had isolated Bifidobacterium breve strain BS2-PB3 from human breast milk. In this study, we sequenced the whole genome of B. breve BS2-PB3, and with a focus on its safety profile, various probiotic characteristics (presence of antibiotic resistance genes, virulence factors, and mobile elements) were then determined through bioinformatic analyses. The antibiotic resistance profile of B. breve BS2-PB3 was also evaluated. The whole genome of B. breve BS2-PB3 consisted of 2,268,931 base pairs with a G-C content of 58.89% and 2,108 coding regions. The average nucleotide identity and whole-genome phylogenetic analyses supported the classification of B. breve BS2-PB3. According to our in silico assessment, B. breve BS2-PB3 possesses antioxidant and immunomodulation properties in addition to various genes related to the probiotic properties of heat, cold, and acid stress, bile tolerance, and adhesion. Antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated using the Kirby-Bauer disk-diffusion test, in which the minimum inhibitory concentrations for selected antibiotics were subsequently tested using the Epsilometer test. B. breve BS2-PB3 only exhibited selected resistance phenotypes, i.e., to mupirocin (minimum inhibitory concentration/MIC >1,024 ㎍/ml), sulfamethoxazole (MIC>1,024 ㎍/ml), and oxacillin (MIC >3 ㎍/ml). The resistance genes against those antibiotics, i.e., ileS, mupB, sul4, mecC and ramA, were detected within its genome as well. While no virulence factor was detected, four insertion sequences were identified within the genome but were located away from the identified antibiotic resistance genes. In conclusion, B. breve BS2-PB3 demonstrated a sufficient safety profile, making it a promising candidate for further development as a potential functional food.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.126-130
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• 2008

In this study, in order to develop low loss multilayer piezoelectric actuator, PZN-PZT ceramics were fabricated using $Li_2CO_3,\;Bi_2O_3$, CuO and ZnO as sintering aids, their structural, piezoelectric and dielectric characteristics were investigated according to the amount of ZnO addition, At the sintering temperature of $870^{\circ}C$, the density, electromechanical coupling factor(kp), mechanical quality factor(Qm), dielectric constant(${\epsilon}_r$) and piezoelectric constant($d_{33}$) of 0.4 wt% ZnO added specimen (sintered at $870^{\circ}C$) showed the optimum value of $7.812g/cm^3$, 0.535, 916, 1399, 335 pC/N respectively. Taking into consideration above piezoelectric properties of the specimen sintered at low temperature, it was concluded that PZN-PZT ceramics using 0.4 wt% ZnO as additive showed the optimum characteristics as the composition ceramics for low loss multilayer piezoelectric actuator application.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1991.10a
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• pp.20-23
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• 1991

In this study, 0.05Pb(Mn$\_$1/3/Nb$\_$2/3/)O$_3$+ 0.95Pb(Zr/Ti)O$_3$+x[wt%]Cr$_2$O$_3$piezoelectric ceramics were fabricated by Hot-press method, and its structural, dielectrical, piezoelectrical properties, temperature stability and aging characteristics were investigated. Among the MPB and tetragonal compositions, the specimens with 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 [wt%] Cr$_2$O$_3$ additive amount had the poisson ratio more than 1/3. At tetragonal phase, the aging was small, and the temperature stability was improved by Cr addition. The specimen most suitable to the HF device substrate was the one with the composition of 47/53 (Zr/Ti) an 0.4 [wt%] Cr$_2$O$_3$addition.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.442-445
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• 2001

In this study, microstructural and dielectric properties of P $b_{0.83}$(L $a_{0.2}$C $e_{0.8}$)$_{0.08}$Ti $O_3$PCT ceramics as a function of Mn $O_2$ addition were investigated for 30MHz ceramic resonator application. Grain size was gradually increased according to the increase of Mn $O_2$ addition amount and showed the highest value of 1.502${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ at the 0.9wt% Mn $O_2$. Moreover, density showed the highest value of 7.582 g/$\textrm{cm}^2$ at the 0.7wt% Mn $O_2$. All the composition ceramics, curie temperature was nearly constant around 33$0^{\circ}C$.EX>.>.>.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.174-182
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• 2011

The present study evaluated the major lead sources in a steel metallurgy industrialized city by measuring lead isotopes/lead concentrations of ambient air and potential sources in an industrial area and residential areas according to relative distance. The quality control program obtained during the measurement procedure for lead isotopes and concentrations exhibited $0.5ng/m^3$ for method detection limit, more than 90% for recoveries of standard particulate matters, and lower than 0.2% for reproducibility errors of four lead isotopes ($^{204}Pb$, $^{206}Pb$, $^{207}Pb$, $^{208}Pb$). For all three lead isotope ratios ($^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb$, $^{207}Pb/^{206}Pb$, $^{208}Pb/^{206}Pb$), the ratios were obtained in the industrial area were closer to nearby residential area than those of a residential area far away from the industrial area, thereby suggesting that lead sources were more similar each other in the industrial and nearby residential area. Furthermore, for both summer and winter seasons ambient lead concentrations were more than four times higher in the industrial area than in the residential areas and in turn, they were higher in the nearby residential area compared with the far-away residential area. As a result, it was suggested that lead emitted from the industrial area would influence more the ambient lead in the nearby residential area than the far-away residential area. Both slag and traffic emissions are likely to be major lead sources in the industrial and nearby residential areas, since their three lead isotope ratios ($^{206}Pb/^{204}Pb$, $^{207}Pb/^{206}Pb$, $^{208}Pb/^{206}Pb$) were similar to the ratios obtained from ambient air of these two areas. In addition, the lead isotope ratios revealed different pattern between seasons, and the ambient lead concentrations were higher for winter than for summer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.209-214
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• 2004

Lead has long been considered as a toxic environmental pollutant that severely damages the central nervous system. In various neurogenerative diseases, actrocytes become activated by proinflammatory cytokines. In the present study, we investigated whether lead (Pb$^{2+}$) affects inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in activated glial cells. Rat primary glial cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 ${\mu}$g/ml) plus IFN$_{\gamma}$(100 U/ml). Pre-treatment of Pb$^{2+}$ increased nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS/IFN$_{\gamma}$-stimulated glial cells. Lead itself, however, suppressed the basal production of NO in control glial cells. Addition of the iNOS inhibitors L-NAME (1 mM) and L-NNA (800 ${\mu}$M) prevented the Pb$^{2+}$-induced increase in NO production. Western blot analysis showed that pre-treatment of Pb$^{2+}$ augmented LPS/IFN$_{\gamma}$-induced increase in iNOS immunoreactivity, which was well correlated with the increased NO production. In addition, pre-treatment of Pb$^{2+}$ synergistically increased the iNOS mRNA expression induced by LPS and IFN${\gamma}$. The present results indicate that lead intoxication adversely affect brain function by potentiating iNOS expression and NO production in activated glial cells observed in various neurodegenerative diseases.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.07b
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• pp.590-594
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• 2004

In this study, lead-free piezoelectric ceramics were investigated for pressure sensor applications as a function of the amount of $CeO_2$ addition at Bi(Na,K)$TiO_3-SrTiO_3$ system. With increasing the amount of $CeO_2$ addition, the density and dielectric constant increased. Electromechanical coupling factor($k_p$) showed the maximum value(kp, 0.39) at 0.1wt% $CeO_2$ addition and decreased above 0.1wt% $CeO_2$ addition., Density, dielectric constant(${\varepsilon}_r$) increased but mechanical quality factor(Qm), piezoelectric constant(d33) decreased in $CeO_2$ addition, respectively.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.10 no.10
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• pp.35-43
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• 2012

Purpose - The current analysis has been done in order to verify the difference between consumer attitudes on the distributor's PB products in terms of practical shopping value and attitudes about the product according to its perceived quality. Research design, data, and methodology - The target respondents of this study were those who have bought PB products at large-scale discount stores within the past six months. We asked homemakers, office workers, and students who live in Seoul or Daejon to respond to a questionnaire by filling out self-evaluations, and collected the completed questionnaires. To test the hypothesis, a t-test was carried out by group for 25 percent of the high and low rankings, including a quarter of the total respondents, to verify attitudes toward products and brands, purchase satisfaction, and re-purchase intention according to the practical shopping value and recognized quality of PB products. A variance analysis was conducted to see if there were differences among groups in terms of practical shopping value and perceived quality. Scheffe's back testing was used to identify differences between groups. Results - The result of the investigation of consumer attitudes according to practical shopping value is as follows. First, it was verified that consumer attitudes about PB products increase as practical shopping value increases. Second, there was no significant. Third, it was verified that repurchase intentions for PB products get higher as the practical shopping value of the consumer increases. The following is the result of the investigation of consumer attitudes according to the perceived quality of PB products. First, it was verified that the product attitude improves as the perceived quality of PB products increases. Second, the research confirmed that the brand attitude improves as the perceived quality of PB products increases. Third, consumer satisfaction is higher when the perceived quality of PB products is high. Fourth, this study verified that repurchase intentions for PB products are higher as the perceived quality of the product increases. Finally, the results of identifying differences between groups for perceived quality and shopping value are as follows. It was identified that there were differences in shopping value according to the characteristics of the groups. However, perceived quality does not change according to the characteristics of groups. Conclusions - These results have practical implications for the marketing strategy of PB products in order to satisfy consumer demands and provide a differentiated service by the distributor. In addition, it is suggested that a communication strategy may be necessary to increase brand loyalty and ensure the continual growth and value creation of PB products as symbolic products for distributors.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.5-10
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• 2002

Pistia stratiotes(Water Lettuce) can be applied to remove inorganic pollutants from the wastewater for the advanced treatment. This study attempts to remove heavy metals from the secondary treated wastewater. Three different initial concentrations of heavy metals were applied as 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg/L for Lead(Pb) and Chromium(Cr(VI)). In addition, the removal efficiency for the mixture of Lead and Chromium was also observed. The removal efficiency of Pb was in the range of 41.0~72.0% for Pb and it was in the range of 25.0~30.0% for Cr(VI) by Pistia stratiotes. The plants placed in static systems were able to remove the heavy metals in a few days of exposure. However, it was observed that the heavy metals affected produce phytotoxic effects on plants resulting in inhibition of chlorophyl synthesis, decrease in biomass production, and finally plant necrosis. The removal efficiencies of Pb and Cr(VI) by Pistia stratiotes were increased with plant growth.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.459-471
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• 2010

This study examines the exposure effects of the brand of fashion manufacturers on the brand attitude of consumers towards the private brand of fashion retailers. In addition, it investigates the exposure effects of the brand of fashion manufacturers on the brand attitude of consumers towards the private brand of fashion retailers based on the sensitivity of consumers as related to the brand. Data are analyzed by a reliability analysis, a factor analysis, the correlation analysis, t-test, and one-way ANOVA. The main results are summarized as follows. First, when the private brand of fashion retailers (Perry Jensen) was shown to customers, three groups ('PB without exposing the brands of fashion manufactures', 'PB with exposing Galaxy', and 'PB with exposing Parkland') revealed statistically significant differences in consumer purchase intentions as well as brand preferences to the PB products of fashion retailers. The group of 'PB with exposing high-sensitive Galaxy group' showed an overall higher brand attitude than the other two groups-'PB without exposing the fashion manufactures' brands' and 'PB with exposing low-sensitive Parkland'. Second, in comparison with the effects of the brand sensitivity of each group, the group with the higher brand sensitivity showed statistically significant browsing intension as well as purchase intention on both brands of fashion manufactures (Galaxy and Parkland).