• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.275-289
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• 2014

Recent scaled-up onshore and offshore field production tests revealed that the expectancy to produce gas from the gas hydrate deposits is gradually increasing, recognizing its potentials as one of the future energy resources. The total produced gas was approximately $480m^3$ by the hot water circulation method for 6 days' operation in Mallik 2002 project in Canada. In Mallik 2006-2008 project, the gas was successfully produced stably by the depressurization method for 6 days, up to $13,000m^3$ cumulatively. The depressurization method applied in the Mallik test was revealed as an effective way to produce gas from gas hydrates. The Alaska North Slope field trial in 2012 to inject mixed gas of $CO_2$ and $N_2$ to exchange $CH_4$ was successfully completed for the first time to produce maximum $1,270m^3$ per day. The remarkable achievement is that Japan has completed first offshore production test in the Eastern Nankai Trough, and produced approximately $120,000m^3$ of methane by the depressurization method for 6 days in March 2013. The technical challenges and uncertainties obtained from Nankai Trough production test give Korea more considerations in the aspects of well completion, reservoir formation and seafloor stability, sand control, flow assurance, and etc., due to the different geological environments and geomechnical properties in Ulleung Basin in Korea.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.647-654
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• 1992

In order to study the physiological properties of the intestinal bacteria, we isolated the intestinal bacteria of Koreans and tested the enzymatic patterns. Isolated Bifidobacterium sp. Int-57 had the higher activity of $\alpha$-glucosidase, $\beta$-glucosidase, $\alpha$-galactosidase, $\beta$-galactosidase. $\beta$-xylosidase and $\alpha$-arabinofuranosidase than other intestinal microorganisms. The effect of the carbon sources on the production of each enzymes of Bijidobacterium sp. Int-57 was investigated. The most suitable carbon source for the production of $\beta$-glucosidase was maltose, for a-glucosidase cellobiose, for $\alpha$-galactosidase raffinose, for $\beta$-galactosidase lactose, and for $\beta$-xylosidase and $\alpha$-arabinofuranosidase xylose, respectively. In addition, we investigated the optimal conditions and pH stability of each crude enzymes. The optimal condition of a-glucosidase was pH 6.0 and $40^{\circ}C$. that of Jj-glucosidase pH 7.0 and 50oe, that of $\beta$-galactosidase pH 7.0 and $50^{\circ}C$, that of $\beta$-xylosidase pH 6.0 and $40^{\circ}C$ , and that of $\alpha$-arabinofuranosidase pH 5.0 and $50^{\circ}C$. respectively. a-Glucosidase was stable at pH 4.0-9.0. Jj-glucosidase at pH 4.0-7.0. $\beta$-galactosidase at pH 4.0-9.0, $\beta$-xylosidase at pH 4.0-6.0, and /3-arabinofuranosidase at pH 7.0-9.0, respectively.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.267-273
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• 2005

To develop effective and powerful probiotic, Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains producing cellulolytic enzymes were genetically brooded. For the production of exoglucanase, the plasmid pVT-TExo (8.8 kb) was constructed, in which Thermomonosporafusca exoglucanase gene (E3) was under the control of ADHl promoter, and introduced into S. cerevisiae SEY2102. When the transformant, S. cerevisiae SEY2102/pVT-TExo, was cultivated on YPD medium, the total expression level of avicelase reached about 190 unit/l. The secretion efficiency and plasmid stability were about $50\%\;and\;91\%$, respectively. Recombination exoglucanase enzyme bound to avicel better than Clostridium endoglucanase (CelA) and Trichoderma endoglucanase (C4) enzymes. The mixing ratio of E3 and CelA displaying the best synergistic hydrolysis for avicel was observed at 4:1. The mixture of endoglucanase (CelA) and exoglucanase (E3) resulted in 3.2-fold increase of avicelase activity and 2.5-fold enhanced production of sugar production from avicel, compared to the single enzyme treatment.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1980

Changes of nucleic acid related substances and their enzymes during rice makkulli koji making were observed and enzymological properties of crude enzymes were examined. The results obtained were as follows : (1) The amounst of acid soluble phosphorus were increased, while no remarkable changes were observed in the component of total phosphorus during koji making. (2) AMP and IMP were increased, while ADP and ATP were decreased gradually in the course of process. (3) Activities of nucleic acid degrading enzymes were increased with the lapse of time. (4) In the crude enzyme solution extracted from rice makkulli koji, the optimal pH of RNase was 4.0~5.0 and those of PDase PNase were 5.0. (5) RNase and PMase were stable at the range of pH 4.0~5.0 and PDase was stable at the pH 4.0. (6) The optimal temperature of RNase was 55$^{\circ}C$, and that of PDase was at the range of 50~55$^{\circ}C$, and 5$0^{\circ}C$ for PMase. (7) Among the three enzymes, the heat stability was in order RNase, PDase and PMase, and especially PMase was so heat labile that it was almost inactivated at 7$0^{\circ}C$ for 10 min. (8) Inhibition by metal ions and other inhibitors was disclosed : C $u^{++}$ and Z $n^{++}$ inhibited the activity of RNase, and C $u^{++}$, NaF and N $a_2$HP $O_4$ inhibited that of PDase, while C $u^{++}$ and NaF inhibited the PMase activity.ctivity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 2007

Isolation, expression, and characterization of a novel $endo-{\beta}-1,3(4)-D-glucanase$ with high specific activity and homology to Bacillus lichenases is described. One clone was screened from a genomic library of Paenibacillus sp. F-40, using lichenan-containing plates. The nucleotide sequence of the clone contains an ORF consisting of 717 nucleotides, encoding a ${\beta}-glucanase$ protein of 238 amino acids and 26 residues of a putative signal peptide at its N-terminus. The amino acid sequence showed the highest similarity of 87% to other ${\beta}-1,3-1,4-glucanases$ of Bacillus. The gene fragment Bg1 containing the mature glucanase protein was expressed in Pichia pastoris at high expression level in a 3-1 high-cell-density fermenter. The purified recombinant enzyme Bg1 showed activity against barley ${\beta}-glucan$, lichenan, and laminarin. The gene encodes an $endo-{\beta}-1,3(4)-D-glucanase$ (E. C. 3.2.1.6). When lichenan was used as substrate, the optimal pH was 6.5, and the optimal temperature was $60^{\circ}C$. The $K_m,\;V_{max},\;and\;k_{cat}$ values for lichenan are 2.96mg/ml, $6,951{\mu}mol/min{\cdot}mg,\;and\;3,131s^{-1}$, respectively. For barley ${\beta}-glucan$ the values are 3.73mg/ml, $8,939{\mu}mol/min{\cdot}mg,\;and\;4,026s^{-1}$, respectively. The recombinant Bg1 had resistance to pepsin and trypsin. Other features of recombinant Bg1 including temperature and pH stability, and sensitivity to some metal ions and chemical reagents were also characterized.

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

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.201-245
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• 2006

We applied general equilibrium model to analysis the economic impact of international emission trading by sector and the efficiency of the Convention to study whether Climate Change Convention satisfy the efficiency. We divided the world as 4 groups : USA, OECD members w/o USA (OEC), Former Soviet Union (FSU) and Developing countries (DEV). Compared to no trading, global trading would accomplish the same environmental effect with less cost as much as 97.8 billion$, which is the surplus of trading. However, half of it is taken by USA and 20% by OEC. FSU and DEV have only 18% and 10%. This result suggest the two things. First, the emission trading is effective as far as the participation of developing countries are guaranteed. If they do not take part in the coalition and emit the leakage, it may threaten the stability of the international trading coalition. Second, we found the logical ground of the side payment for developing countries. The permit buying countries take more share of the surplus under the emission trading, while the energy sector of developing countries shrinks to sell permits, which may adversely affect to economic growth of the countries. Therefore, the Annex-I countries need to provide side payment to lead the participation of the developing countries.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.17 s.17
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• pp.83-94
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• 2005

Host rock or the standing sculptured Buddha in the Yongamsa temple is macular porphyritic biotite granite, which has gone through mechanical and chemical weathering. The rock around the Buddha statue is busily scattered with steep inclinations that are almost vertically discontinuous planes with the strikes of $N8^{\circ}E$. Especially the development of the joints that cross the major joints causes the structural instability of the rock. The rock of the Buddha statue is separated into several rock blocks because of many different discontinuity. Thus it is estimated that the bed rock has not only plane and toppling failure but also wedge failure in all the sides. Since the differential pressure is imposed on the body of the Buddha in the host rock, it is urgent to give a reinforce treatment of geotechnical engineering for the safe of its structural stability. Very contact area of joints have turned into soil, which promotes the growth of weeds and plant roots, then aggravates the mechanical weathering of the rock. Thus conservational treatments should also be considered to get rid of secondary contaminants and vegetation along the discontinuities and to prevent further damages.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.439-450
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to find out characteristics of the fillers made by epoxy resin (L-30) and filling epoxy resin (L-50) with talc, quartz sand and wollastonite with different mixture ratio of 5%, 50%, 80%, 120%, and 150%. The viscometer and colorimeter were used to measure the viscosity and chromaticity of the fillers. Additionally, IC and SEM were used to reveal characteristics of the filler, and checked ultrasonic wave velocity, compressive strength and contact angle to estimate the stability between the filler and stones which are essential for conservation treatments. The filler mixed with the talc had the lowest value in the ultrasonic wave velocity analysis, and its compressive strength decreased as the mixing rate of talc increased. On the other hand, wollastonite had higher values than others in the ultrasonic wave velocity and the compressive strength regardless of epoxy resin type, also, these values increased as mixing rate increased. The properties of the filler, which include the granularity and shape, have influence on characteristics of the stone conservation adhesives. Thus, the filler type, characteristic, and mixture ratio must be considered for effective conservation treatment.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.123-136
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• 2014

Considering that decision in conservation treatment for damaged objects should consider not only various options of methodology of intervention but also possible consequences of different types of intervention, it is a difficult task to decide and propose clear and safest solution of preserving an object. In addition, it should be constantly challenged by conservators even if it is proved technique or methodology in a past treatment. Therefore, there is no absolute solution which can be applied to all practice but each decision can be different case by case. It is not possible to estimate the way how the present condition of material and environmental aspects would affect to the condition of an object in future. However if conservators keep trying to set out various ways of analysing pro and against effect of past treatments, it would be able to provide useful logics of proving efficiency and appropriateness of a certain treatment. Understanding that the advantage of laser technique is to adopt a way of cleaning an object without making a direct contact, which is different from other techniques, this paper aims at securing stability of laser techniques, although it remains a limitation in the compatibility to all other materials. This study has examined reacting process on the painted pigments against laser beam by using CLSM in order for it to display both the problems from such reacting process and the efficiency of it as a cleaning methodology. It has intended to estimate the result of laser techniques and propose the range of applicability.