• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1345-1351
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• 2011

Vancomycin therapy failure due to the emergence of tolerance in pneumococci is increasing. The molecular mechanism of tolerance is not clear, but lytA and $pep^{27}$ are known to be involved. Our aim was to evaluate the expression of both genes in vancomycin-tolerant Streptococcus pneumoniae (VTSP) strains. Eleven VTSP strains from a total of 309 clinical isolates of S. pneumoniae from 1997 to 2006 were classified according to the criteria of Liu and Tomasz. All VTSP strains were evaluated for susceptibility according to CLSI criteria, serotype by the Quellung test, and clonality by PFGE. The expressions of lytA and $pep^{27}$ were analyzed in different growth phases by RT-PCR with and without vancomycin. Eighty-two percent of VTSP strains showed resistance to penicillin, and 100% were sensitive to vancomycin and cefotaxime. The most frequent serotypes of VTSP strains were 23F (4/11) and 6B (3/11). Clonal relationship was observed in only two strains. No significant changes were observed in $pep^{27}$ expression in the three phases of growth in VTSP strains with and without vancomycin. Interestingly, $pep^{27}$ expression in the stationary phase in the non-tolerant reference strain R6 was significantly higher. However, no significant differences in lytA expression were observed between VTSP and R6 strains during the phases of growth analyzed. The absence of changes in $pep^{27}$ expression in VTSP strains in the stationary phase may be related to their ability to tolerate high antibiotic concentrations, and thus, they survive and remain in the host under the antibiotic selective pressure reflected in therapeutic failure.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.717-724
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• 2003

A newly isolated Citrobacter sp. Y19 catalyzes the CO-dependent $H_2$ production (biological water-gas shift reaction) by the actions of CO dehydrogenase (CODH) and hydrogenase. Y 19 requires $O_2$ for fast growth, but its $H_2$ production activity is significantly inhibited by $O_2$. In the present study, the effect of $O_2$ on the activities of CODH ard hydrogenase was investigated quantitatively in both whole cells and broken cells, based on CO-dependent or methyl viologen (MV)-dependent $H_2$ production in addition to CO-dependent MV reduction. In crude cell extracts, CODH activity was mostly found in the soluble fraction. Inactivation of CODH and hydrogenase activities by $O_2$ followed the first-order decay kinetics, and the dependence of the rate constants on $O_2$ partial pressure could be expressed by the Michaelis-Menten equation. In whole cells, the maximum deactivation rate constants ($k_{d,max}$ of hydrogenase and CODH were quite similar: $0.07{\pm}0.03 min^{-1}\;and\;0.10{\pm}0.04 min^{-1}$, respectively. However, the first-order rate constant ($k_{d,max}/K_s$) of CODH ($0.25\;min^{-1}\;atm^{-1}$) at low $O_2$ partial pressures was about 3-fold higher than that of the hydrogenase, since the half-saturation constant ($K_s$) of CODH was about half of that of hydrogenase. In broken cells, both enzymes became significantly more sensitive to $O_2$ compared to the unbroken cells, while $k_{d,max}/K_s$ increased 37-fold for hydrogenase and 6.7-fold for CODH. When whole cells were incubated under anaerobic conditions after being exposed to air for 1 h, hydrogenase activity was recovered more than 90% in 2 h suggesting that the deactivation of hydrogenase by $O_2$ was reversible. On the contrary, CODH activity was not recovered once deactivated by $O_2$ and the only way to recover the activity was to synthesize new CODH. This study indicates that $O_2$ sensitivity of $H_2$ production activity of Citrobacter sp. Y19 is an important drawback as in other $H_2-producing$ bactria.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.84-88
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• 2016

AlN single crystals were grown by the PT (Physical vapor transport) method with position-changable induction coil. And the graphite crucible dimensioned ${\Phi}90{\times}H120$ was used on processing. The temperature was $1950{\sim}2050^{\circ}C$ and ambient pressure was 150~1 Torr. And the hot-zone was changed according to times on growing for result comparison. When hot-zone by coil is located below far enough (> 40 mm) from AlN crystal concentration position, the as-grown crystals physical size is better ($300{\mu}m/hr$) than another condition, but the condition-reproducibility was very poor. However the closer the distance between hot-zone and AlN growing posion, the smaller the size of as-grown crystal and the rarer the generation of the crystal nuclear, but the crystal growing condition is stable for quality. The best condition for both growth rate and quality is gained when the starting position of hot-zone coil is about 20 mm distance from growing position. For the best growth condition, the position of hot-zone is very sensitive factor and the further more the condition of speed of coil shift also must control.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.679-700
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• 1996

Inferior alveolar nerve dysfunction may be the result of trauma, disease, or iatrogenic injury. Inferior alveolar nerve injury is inherent risk in endodontic therapy, orthognathic surgery of the mandible, and extraction of mandibular teeth, particularly the third molars. The sensory disturbances of inferior alveolar nerve associated with such injury have been well documented clinical problem that is commonly evaluated by several clinical sensory test including Tinels sign, Von Frey test(static light touch detection), directional discrimination, two-point discrimination, pin pressure nociceptive discrimination, and thermal test. These methods used to detect and assess inferior alveolar nerve injury have been subjective in nature, relying on the cooperation of the patients. In addition, many of these techniques are sensitive to differences in the examiners experience and skill with the particular technique. Data obtained at different times or by different examiners are therefore difficult to compare. Prior experimental studies have used electro diagnostic methods(sensory evoked potential) to objectively evaluate inferior alveolar nerve after nerve injury. This study was designed with inferior alveolar nerve of rabbit. Several types of injury including mind, moderate, severe compression and perforation with 19 gauze, 21 gauze needle and 6mm, 10mm traction were applied for taking the sesory evoked ppterntial. Latency and amplitude of injury rabbit inferior alveolar nerve were investigated with sensory evoked potential using unpaired t-test. The results were as follows : 1. Intensity of threshold (T1) was $128{\pm}16{\mu}A$ : latency, $0.87{\pm}0.07$ microsecond : amplitude, $0.4{\pm}0.1{\mu}V$ : conduction velocity, 23.3 m/s in sensory evoked potential of uninjured rabbit inferior alveolar nerve. 2. Rabbit inferior alveolar nerve consists of type II and III sensory nerve fiber. 3. Latency was increased and amplitude was decreased in compression injury. The more injured, the more changed in latency and amplitude. 4. Findings in perforation injury was similar to compression injury. Waveform for sensory evoked potential improved by increasing postinjured time. 5. Increasing latency was prominent in traction injury rabbit inferior alveolar nerve. 6. In microscopic histopathological findings, significant degeneration and disorganization of the internal architecture were seen in nerve facicle of severe compression and 10mm traction group. From the above findings, electrophysiological assessment(sensory evoked potential) of rabbit injured inferior alveolar nerve is reliable technique in diagnosis and prognosis of nerve injury.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.86-95
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• 2006

Brillouin backscatter is a type of reflection that occurs when light is shone into an optical fibre. Brillouin reflections are very sensitive to changes in the fibre arising from external effects, such as temperature, strain and pressure. We report here several case studies on the measurement of strain using Brillouin reflections. A mechanical bending test of an I beam, deployed with both fiber optic sensors and conventional strain gauge rosettes, was performed with the aim of evaluating: (1) the capability and technical limit of the DTSS technology for strain profile sensing; (2) the reliability of strain measurement using fiber optic sensor. The average values of strains obtained from both DTSS and strain gauges (corresponding to the deflection of I beam) showed a linear relationship and an excellent one-to-one match. A practical application of DTSS technology as an early warning system for land sliding or subsidence was examined through a field test at a hillside. Extremely strong, lightweight, rugged, survivable tight-buffered cables, designed for optimal strain transfer to the fibre, were used and clamped on the subsurface at a depth of about 50cm. It was proved that DTSS measurements could detect the exact position and the progress of strain changes induced by land sliding and subsidence. We also carried out the first ever distributed dynamic strain measurement (10Hz) on the Korean Train eXpress(KTX) railway track in Daejeon, Korea. The aim was to analyse the integrity of a section of track that had recently been repaired. The Sensornet DTSS was used to monitor this 85m section of track while a KTX train passed over. In the repaired section the strain increases to levels of 90 microstrain, whereas in the section of regular track the strain is in the region of 30-50 microstrain. The results were excellent since they demonstrate that the DTSS is able to measure small, dynamic changes in strain in rails during normal operating conditions. The current 10km range of the DTSS creates a potential to monitor the integrity of large lengths of track, and especially higher risk sections such as bridges, repaired track and areas at risk of subsidence.

• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.216-222
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• 2016

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization of p-dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) can be performed using the tungsten type catalyst. This reaction usually progresses in nitrogen condition, because the catalysts are extremely sensitive in air condition. To solve this problem, DCPD resin with tungsten (W) was cured using hot press after stirring of DCPD A and B liquid in air condition. Mechanical properties of DCPD were improved by reducing microvoid occurrence successfully by using hot press method. It might be because hot press could provide sufficient press on DCPD specimen. Addition of catalyst was not effective for the curing of resin in a short time. During polymerization, pressure and temperature had a great influence on the mechanical properties of DCPD.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.227-242
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• 2012

This study is to experientially verify that market orientation affect organizational performance toward social service marketization. social service marketization put pressure upon financial environment in nonprofit human service organizations and exacerbate competition between nonprofit human service organizations and profit organizations each other. For survival, nonprofit human service organizations in social service market where various supply organization participate needs sensitivity to the environment. For this purpose the need of introduction of market orientation is being raised. At this point this study is useful that measure the level of market orientation and analysis impact of market orientation toward organizational performance in nonprofit human service organizations. Data was collected from busan nonprofit human service organizations in participate voucher program, number of total organization is 92. The level of market orientation was 3.63. Analysis of the impact of market orientation to organizational performance used regression analysis through structural equation modelling. As a result of the analysis, market orientation was affected by organizational performance. Based on the results, this study suggests that nonprofit human service organizations should need market orientation centered organization management and sensitive response toward external environment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.554-563
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• 2016

Ships are capable of operating on residual fuel oil. Recently, various attempts have been made to meet environmental regulations and with ships operating on residual fuel oil. One way of fulfilling these requirements is by using fuel additives. Dispersants and fuel combustion improvers will have a positive effect on improving the combustion characteristics of the residual fuel oil. As such, this study examines fuel oils blended with additives by using fuel combustion analysis (FIA/FCA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results of FIA/FCA focuse only on the amount of work done by the fuel oil. Therefore, it is recommended in this study that a new method to evaluate the combustion efficiency via FIA/FCA processes be developed. The analysis with ROHR curve gained by FIA/FCA brought similar results with pressure trace curve therefore it can be said that new analysis method can be reliable. The TGA, analysis process is very sensitive to the evaporation of fuel, for example, which could be addressed. In the performance-related findings of this study, blended samples with additives containing iron compounds showed a greater improvement in early combustion characteristics than samples without additives.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.523-530
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• 1999

Acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive has been made utilizing organic solvents, but nowadays it is made by solvent-free system due to environmental problems. In this study, emulsion polymerization were carried out at $40^{\circ}C$ with methacrylic acid(MAA), n-butyl acrylate(n-BA) and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate(2-EHA) as monomers in the presence of anionic(sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) and nonionic(ethylene oxide types) surfactant mixtures. The overall conversion of the polymerization reaction in a mixed surfactant system was found to be higher than that in a single surfactant system. Emulsion stability in mixed or anionic surfactant systems was found to be over 12 week, which was better than that in nonionic surfactant system. Emulsion particle size decreased as surfactant content increased. The Tg and molecular weight of emulsion polymer were inependent of the type, the amount and the mixing ratio of surfactant. Based on the results of stability and peel strength, the optimum nonionic surfactant ratio in total 4 g of surfactant mixture systems is found to be 40~60% by weight where the nonionic surfactant has 50 ethylene oxide groups and 16~18 carbon atoms in hydrophobic alkyl chain.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.71-80
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• 2005

Effects of low temperature ($8^{\circ}C$) on the hydraulic conductivity of young roots of a chilling-sensitive (cucumber; Cucumis sativus L.) and a chilling-resistant (figleaf gourd; Cucurbita ficifolia Bouche) crop have been measured at the levels of whole root systems (root hydraulic conductivity, $Lp_r$) and of individual cortical cells (cell hydraulic conductivity, Lp). In figleaf gourd, there was a reduction only in hydrostatic $Lp_r$ but not in osmotic $Lp_r$ suggesting that the activity of water channels was not much affected by low root temperature (LRT)treatment in this species. Changes in cell Lp in response to chilling and recovery were similar asroot level, although they were more intense at the root level. Roots of figleaf gourd recovered better from LRT treatment than those of cucumber. In figleaf gourd, recovery (both at the root and cell level) often resulted in Lp and $Lp_r$ values which were even bigger than the original, i.e. there was an overshoot in hydraulic conductivity. These effects were larger forosmotic (representing the cell-to-cell passage of water) than for hydrostatic $Lp_r$. After a short term (1 d) exposure to $8\;^{\circ}C$ followed by 1 d at $20\;^{\circ}C$, hydrostatic $Lp_r$ of cucumber nearly recovered and that of figleaf gourd still remained higher due to the overshoot. On the contrary, osmotic $Lp_r$ and cell Lp in both species remained high by a factor of 3 as compared to the control, possibly due to an increased activity of water channels. After pre-conditioning of roots at LRT, increased hydraulic conductivitywas completely inhibited by $HgCl_2$ at both the root and cell levels. Different from figleaf gourd, recovery from chilling was not complete in cucumber after longer exposure to LRT. It is concluded that at LRT, both changes in the activity of aquaporins and alterations of root anatomy determine the water uptake in both species. To better understand the aquaporin function in plants under various stress conditions, we examined the transgenic Arabidopsisand tobacco plants that constitutively overexpress ArabidopsisPIP1;4 or PIP2;5 under various abiotic stress conditions. No significant differences in growth rates were found between the transgenic and wild-type plants under favorable growth conditions. By contrast, overexpression of PIP1;4 or PIP2;5 had a negative effect on seed germination and seedling growth under drought stress, whereas it had a positive effect under cold stress and no effect under salt stress. Measurement of water transport by cell pressure probe revealed that these observed phenotypes under different stress conditions were closely correlated with the ability of water transport by each aquaporin in the transgenic plants. Together, our results demonstrate that PIP-type aquaporins play roles in seed germination, seedling growth, and stress response of Arabidopsis and tobacco plants under various stress conditions, and emphasize the importance of a single aquaporin-mediated water transport in these cellular processes.