• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.71-79
• /
• 2015

Background: Recent studies have shown that the nontuberculosis mycobacterium (NTM) recovery rate in clinical cultures has increased within Korea. However, another study conducted by a secondary hospital within Daegu reported different results. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand and evaluate the microbiological distribution and clinical features of NTM in Daegu. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 11,672 respiratory specimens undergoing acid fast bacilli (AFB) culture from 6,685 subjects who visited Yeungnam University Respiratory Center from January 2012 to December 2013. Results: Of the 11,672 specimens undergoing AFB culture, 1,310 specimens (11.2%) showed positive results. Of these specimens, NTM was recovered from 587 specimens, showing a recovery rate of 44.8%. Identification test for NTM was performed on 191 subjects; the results were as follows: M. avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) 123 (64.4%), M. abscessus 20 (10.5%), M. kansasii 12 (6.3%), and 33 other NTM germ strains. Of the 382 subjects with NTM, 167 were diagnosed with pulmonary NTM disease (43.7%), however virulence differed depending on NTM strain. Multivariate analysis showed that nodular bronchiectasis, the nodules, and finding consistent with cavity under imaging study were statistically significant for triggering pulmonary NTM disease. AFB culture showing MAC and M. abscessus was statistically significant as well. Positive predictive value for NTM polymerase chain reaction (NTM-PCR) was 88.6%. Conclusion: Results for NTM recovery rate within the Daegu area were similar to those for the Seoul metropolitan area. We can assume that NTM infection is increasing in our community, therefore AFB-positive subjects (1) should undergo NTM-PCR, (2) should have their culture results checked for differentiation of mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB) from NTM, and (3) undergo NTM identification test to confirm its type. Administration of treatment with the above results should be helpful in improving the patients' prognosis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.555-563
• /
• 2016

Purple rice is a strain of glutaneous rice rich in anthocyanins and ${\gamma}$-oryzanol. Both types of compounds are involved in antioxidant and lipid metabolism of mammals. Three experimental diet types were used which consisted approximately by half either of purple rice, white rice or corn. Diets were fed to $3{\times}10$ pigs growing from about 30 to 100 kg. Meat samples were investigated either as raw or cured loin chops or as smoked bacon produced from the belly. Various physicochemical traits were assessed and data were evaluated by analysis of variance. Traits describing water-holding capacity (drip, thaw, and cooking losses) and tenderness (sensory grading, shear force) of the meat were mostly not significantly affected by the diet type. However, purple rice feeding of pigs resulted in lower fat and cholesterol contents of loin and smoked bacon compared to white rice, but not compared to corn feeding except of the fat content of the loin. The shelf life of the raw loin chops was improved by purple rice as well. In detail, the occurrence of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances after 9 days of chilled storage was three to four times higher in the white rice and corn diets than with purple rice. The n-6:n-3 ratio in the raw loin chops was 9:1 with purple rice and clearly higher with 12:1 with the other diets, meat lipids. Level and kind of effect of purple rice found in raw meat was not always recovered in the cured loin chops and the smoked bacon. Still the impression of flavor and color, as well as overall acceptability were best in the smoked bacon from the purple-rice fed pigs, whereas this effect did not occur in the cured loin chops. These findings suggest that purple rice has a certain, useful, bioactivity in pigs concerning meat quality, but some of these effects are of low practical relevance. Further studies have to show ways how transiency and low recovery in meat products of some of the effects can be counteracted.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.28-32
• /
• 2007

Fruiting bodies of Inonotus obliquus were collected from the trunk of Betula ermani at 1,100 m of Mt. Odae. Diameter range of the trees at breast height (DBH) was $10{\sim}50$ cm and size range of the sclerotia was $8{\times}5{\sim}20{\times}16cm$. Relationships between the examined strains and Inonotus obliquus strain registered in National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) were very near. And all of 10 strains except strains registered in NCBI showed high homologous characteristics by neighbour joining analysis of ITS sequence. Mycelial growth showed a big difference among strains. Mycelial growth of KFRI 744 was fastest and KFRI 739 was slowest. Difference of mycelial growth between KFRI 735 and 738 was slight, but the difference of mycelial growth between KFRI 744 and 739 was almost twice. Also weight reduction rate among strains showed some difference. KFRI 744 was highest and KFRI 741 was lowest. Vegetative incompatibilities were observed in all mycelial pairings except for KFRI 740-741 and KFRI 742-743 combinations.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.231-239
• /
• 2014

Polyetherimide (PEI) membranes for separators in Zn air batteries were prepared via phase inversion process from casting solution composed of PEI, n-methylpyrolidone (NMP), and polyvinylpurrolidone (PVP). Furthermore, Zn air batteries were fabricated with the separators. The effects of PEI content and PVP addition in the casting solution on the morphology, mechanical strength, ionic conductivity were investigated through SEM, stress-strain test and ac impedance test. The elelctrochemical performances of the batteries were evaluated through galvanostatic discharge analysis. The mechanical strength of the membrane increased with increasing PEI composition in the casting solution. Little effect of PVP addition into the solution on the mechanical strength of the membrane was investigated. The ionic conductivity value decreased with increasing PEI composition in the solution. With addition of PVP, ionic conductivity of membrane increased until 10 wt% to show the maximum value of 0.1 S/cm. In the higher range of PVP addition over 10%, the ionic conductivity decreased with increasing PVP addition. Ionic conductivity of separator strongly affected the capacity of Zn air battery, and the battery assembled with the separator which showed high ionic conductivity showed high capacity.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2007.05a
• /
• pp.120-122
• /
• 2007

All living organisms use numerous signal-transduction pathways to sense and respond to their environments and thereby survive and proliferate in a range of biological niches. Molecular dissection of these signalling networks has increased our understanding of these communication processes and provides a platform for therapeutic intervention when these pathways malfunction in disease states, including infection. Owing to the expanding availability of sequenced genomes, a wealth of genetic and molecular tools and the conservation of signalling networks, members of the fungal kingdom serve as excellent model systems for more complex, multicellular organisms. Here, we employed Cryptococcus neoformans as a model system to understand how fungal-signalling circuits operate at the molecular level to sense and respond to a plethora of environmental stresses, including osmoticshock, UV, high temperature, oxidative stress and toxic drugs/metabolites. The stress-activated p38/Hog1 MAPK pathway is structurally conserved in many organisms as diverse as yeast and mammals, but its regulation is uniquely specialized in a majority of clinical Cryptococcus neoformans serotype A and D strains to control differentiation and virulence factor regulation. C. neoformans Hog1 MAPK is controlled by Pbs2 MAPK kinase (MAPKK). The Pbs2-Hog1 MAPK cascade is controlled by the fungal "two-component" system that is composed of a response regulator, Ssk1, and multiple sensor kinases, including two-component.like (Tco) 1 and Tco2. Tco1 and Tco2 play shared and distinct roles in stress responses and drug sensitivity through the Hog1 MAPK system. Furthermore, each sensor kinase mediates unique cellular functions for virulence and morphological differentiation. We also identified and characterized the Ssk2 MAPKKK upstream of the MAPKK Pbs2 and the MAPK Hog1 in C. neoformans. The SSK2 gene was identified as a potential component responsible for differential Hog1 regulation between the serotype D sibling f1 strains B3501 and B3502 through comparative analysis of their meiotic map with the meiotic segregation of Hog1-dependent sensitivity to the fungicide fludioxonil. Ssk2 is the only polymorphic component in the Hog1 MAPK module, including two coding sequence changes between the SSK2 alleles in B3501 and B3502 strains. To further support this finding, the SSK2 allele exchange completely swapped Hog1-related phenotypes between B3501 and B3502 strains. In the serotype A strain H99, disruption of the SSK2 gene dramatically enhanced capsule biosynthesis and mating efficiency, similar to pbs2 and hog1 mutations. Furthermore, ssk2, pbs2, and hog1 mutants are all hypersensitive to a variety of stresses and completely resistant to fludioxonil. Taken together, these findings indicate that Ssk2 is the critical interface protein connecting the two-component system and the Pbs2-Hog1 pathway in C. neoformans.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.9 no.7
• /
• pp.747-752
• /
• 1999

The interfacial reaction and joint properties of Sn-3.5Ag/Cu and Sn-3.5Ag-1Zn/Cu joint were studied. Modified double lap shear solder joints of Sn-3.5Ag and Sn-3.5Ag- lZn solder were aged for 60days at $100^{\circ}C$ and $150^{\circ}C$ and then loaded to failure in shear. The Sn-3.5Ag/Cu had a fast growth rate of the reaction layer in comparison with the Sn-3.5Ag-lZn at the aging temperature of $150^{\circ}C$ Through the SEM/EDS analysis of solder joint, it was proved that intermatallic layer was $Cu_{6}Sn_5$ phase and aged specimens showed that intermatallic layer grew in proportion to $t_{1/2}$, and the precipitate of $Ag_3Sn$ occur to both inner layer and interface of layer and solder. In case of Zn-containing composite solder, $Cu_{6}Sn_{5}$ phase formed at the side of substrate and $Cu_{5}Zn_{8}$ phase formed at the other side in double layer. The shear strength of the Sn-3.5Ag/Cu joint improved by addition of IZn. The strength of the joint increases with strain rate and decreases with aging temperature

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.53-59
• /
• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the characteristics between non-fermented chinese yam and rice (non-FCYR) and fermented chinese yam and rice (FCYR). 1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, total polyphenol, flavonoid contents and reducing power were investigated to evaluate the anti-oxidation activities of FCYR. Also, productivity of monacolin K, major medicinal ingredient of FCYR, was investigated, using Aspergillus terreus KCCM 12225. In case of non-FCYR, DPPH radical scavenging activities for three kinds of yam (Dioscorea japonica, Dioscorea batatas, Dioscorea opposita) and rice were estimated about 51.8, 66.4, 42.2 and 7.5%, while in case of FCYR, those for three kinds of yam and rice were estimated to increased about 64.7, 74.7, 52.8, and 32.3%, respectively. Total polyphenol contents of non-FCYR were estimated to 196.9, 265.7, 160.1, and 91.6 mg/kg, while total polyphenol contents of FCYR were estimated to increase about 530.7, 708.3, 427.2, and 265.9 mg/kg, respectively. Total flavonoid contents of FCYR increased to 2.8-3.3 times higher than those of non-FCYR. Reducing power of non-FCYR was about 0.97, 1.28, 0.64, and 0.17 (OD at 700 nm), while, that of FCYR increased about 1.75, 2.38, 1.24, and 0.46. Remakable increase in monacolin K productivity of FCYR was observed. Monacolin K productivity of FCYR was estimated to 467.1, 514.8, 339.2, and 272.5 mg/kg, respectively. In this study, fermented chinese yam (Dioscorea batatas) was estimated to be effective biological activity material.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.8-14
• /
• 2014

The objective of this work is to investigate and compare several functional properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Lactobacillus casei SK-7 isolated from home-made yogurt and Lactobacillus bulgaricus YK-11 from commercial yogurt. Initially, physiological and biochemical properties of SK-7 and YK-11 were characterized. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA sequencing were performed to identify the strains, and the strain could be assigned to Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, designated as L. casei SK-7 and L. bulgaricus YK-11. Phylogenetic tree of SK-7 and YK-11 was plotted based on 16S rRNA sequence comparisons. Production of lactic acid and organic acid, and pH changes in the cultures of SK-7 and YK-11 were monitored during 72 h. During the incubation period, several functional properties of L. casei SK-7 and L. bulgaricus YK-11 were examined. L. casei SK-7 and L. bulgaricus YK-11 cultures eliminated 93.9% and 88.2% of nitrite, respectively. Antioxidant activity of cultural supernatants of SK-7 and YK-11 were 62.6%, 54.9%, and activity of ${\beta}$-galactosidase were 14.9 units/mg and 13.1 units/mg, respectively. The antimicrobial activities were examined with 20-fold concentrated culture supernatants from the cultures of SK-7 and YK-11. The activities of SK-7 supernatants were clearly observed against all microorganisms in this work, whereas no activities were observed in YK-11 supernatants. Although it might be conducted additional functional research, functional properties of LAB isolated from home-made yogurt have been shown to be better than those of commercial yogurt in this work.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.352-360
• /
• 2012

Bacillus clausii I-52 which produced SDS- and $H_2O_2$-tolerant extracellular alkaline protease (BCAP) was isolated from heavily polluted tidal mud flat of West Sea in Incheon, Korea and stable strain (transformant C5) of B. clausii I-52 harboring another copy of BCAP gene in the chromosome was developed using the chromosome integration vector, pHPS9-fuBCAP. When investigated the production of BCAP using B. clausii transformant C5 through pilot-scale submerged fermentation (500 L) at $37^{\circ}C$ for 30 h with an aeration rate of 1 vvm and agitation rate of 250 rpm, protease yield of approximately 105,700 U/mL was achieved using an optimized medium (soybean meal 2%, wheat flour 1%, sodium citrate 0.5%, $K_2HPO_4$ 0.4%, $Na_2HPO_4$ 0.1%, NaCl 0.4%, $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$ 0.01%, $FeSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$ 0.05%, liquid maltose 2.5%, $Na_2CO_3$ 0.6%). The enzyme stability of BCAP was increased by addition of polyols (10%, v/v) and also, the stabilities of BCAP towards not only the thermal-induced inactivation at $50^{\circ}C$ but also the SDS and $H_2O_2$-induced inactivation at $50^{\circ}C$ were enhanced. Among the polyols examined, the best result was obtained with propylene glycol (10%, v/v). The BCAP supplemented with propylene glycol exhibited extreme stability against not only the detergent components such as ${\alpha}$-orephin sulfonate (AOS) and zeolite but also the commercial detergent preparations. The granulized enzyme of BCAP was prepared with approximately 1,310,000 U/g of granule. Wash performance analysis using EMPA test fabrics revealed that BCAP granule exhibited high efficiency for removal of protein stains in the presence of anionic surfactants as well as bleaching agents. When compared to Savinase 6T$^{(R)}$ and Everlase 6T$^{(R)}$ manufactured by Novozymes, BCAP under this study probably showed similar or higher efficiency for the removal of protein stains. These results suggest that the alkaline protease produced from B. clausii transformant C5 showing high stability against detergents and high wash performance has significant potential and a promising candidate for use as a detergent additive.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.10-17
• /
• 2016

This paper presents a laboratory validation of a new approach for Finite Element Model Updating(FEMU) on short-span bridges by combining ambient vibration measurements with static load input-deflection output measurements. The conventional FEMU approach based on modal parameters requires the assumption on the system mass matrix for the eigen-value analysis. The proposed approach doesn't require the assumption and even provides a way to update the mass matrix. The proposed approach consists of two steps: 1) updating the stiffness matrix using the static input-deflection output measurements, and 2) updating the mass matrix using a few lower natural frequencies. For a validation of the proposed approach, Young's modulus of the laboratory model was updated by the proposed approach and compared with the value obtained from strain-stress tests in a Universal Testing Machine. Result of the conventional FEMU was also compared with the result of the proposed approach. It was found that proposed approach successfully estimated the Young's modulus and the mass density reasonably while the conventional FEMU showed a large error when used with higher-modes. In addition, the FE modeling error was discussed.