• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.399-406
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• 1996

The orientational cross-over phenomena in an RF sputtering growth of TiN films were studied in an in-situ, real-time synchrotron x-ray scattering experiment. For the films grown with pure Ar sputtering gas, the cross-over from the more strained (002)-oriented grains to the less strained (111)-oriented grains occurred as the film thickness was increased. As the sputtering power was increased, the cross-over thickness, at which the growth orientation changes from the <002> to the <111> direction, was decreased. The addition of $N_2$ besides Ar as sputtering gas suppressed the cross-over, and consequently resulted in the (002) preferred orientation without exhibiting the cross-over. We attribute the observed cross-over phenomena to the competition between the surface and the strain energy. The x-ray powder diffraction, the x-ray reflectivity, and the ex-situ AFM surface topology study consistently suggest that the microscopic growth front was in fact always the (002) planes. In the initial stage of growth, the (002) planes were aligned to the substrate surface to minimize the surface energy. At later stages, however, the (002) growth front tilted away from the surface by about $60^{\circ}$ to relax the strain, which caused the cross-over of the preferred growth direction to the <111> direction.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1731-1739
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• 2012

In this study, seven strains isolated from mustard leaf kimchi were screened for their tolerance to simulated gastric and bile juices, the adhesive properties to Caco-2 cells, and the inhibition ability of Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 29631 adhesion. Lactobacillus acidophilus GK20, Lactobacillus paracasei GK74, and Lactobacillus plantarum GK81, which were resistant to bile as well as gastric juices, possessed high bile-salt hydrolase (BSH) activity towards both sodium glycocholate and sodium taurocholate. The strongest in vitro adherence of $53.96{\pm}4.49%$ was exhibited by L. plantarum GK81 followed by L. acidophilus GK20 with adhesion levels of $40.72{\pm}9.46%$. The adhesion of these strains was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced after exposure to pepsin and heating for 30 min at $80^{\circ}C$. Addition of $Ca^{2+}$ led to a significant (p < 0.05) increase of the adhesion of L. acidophilus GK20, but the adhesion ability of L. plantarum GK81 was not different from the control by the addition of calcium. In the competition and exclusion experiment, the adhesion inhibition of S. Typhimurium by L. plantarum GK81 strain was much higher than the other strains. Moreover, the exclusion inhibition of S. Typhimurium by L. acidophilus GK20 was considerably high, although the inhibition activity of this strain was lower than L. plantarum GK81.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.680-685
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• 2004

The capability of lactic acid bacteria (LABs) to adhere to intestinal epithelial cells and vaginal epithelial cells is an important factor in the formation of a barrier to prevent the colonization of pathogenic bacteria. In addition, the ability to coaggregate with pathogens and production of antimicrobial agents also allow LABs to fight against pathogens. In this work, Weissella confusa PL9001 was tested for its ability to inhibit the growth and adherence of genitourinary pathogens, including Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE), isolated from the urine of hospitalized female patients. W. confusa PL9001 was found to coaggregate with the four pathogens, as observed with a light microscope and scanning electron microscope. In competition, exclusion, and displacement tests, the adherence of the pathogens to T24 bladder epithelial cells was also inhibited by W. confusa PL9001. Accordingly, these results suggest that W. confusa PL9001 is potentially useful for both preventive and therapeutic treatment of genitourinary infections.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.353-359
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• 2010

In order to control postharvest spoilage of satsuma mandarin fruits, rhizobacteria were isolated from soil samples. The Pantoea agglomerans strain 59-4 (Pa 59-4) which suppresses the decay of mandarin fruit by green and blue mold, was tested for the control efficacy and its mode of action was investigated. Pa 59-4 inhibited infection by green and blue mold on wounded mandarins, which were artificially inoculated with a spore suspension of Penicillium digitatum and P. italicum with control efficacies of 85-90% and 75-80%, respectively. The biocontrol efficacy was increased by raising the concentration of cells to between $10^8$ and $10^9\;cfu/ml$, and pretreatment with the antagonist prevented subsequent infection by green mold. The population of Pa 59-4 was increased more than 10 fold during the 24 hr incubation at $20^{\circ}C$, indicating that colonization of the wound site might prevent the infection by green mold. Despite poor antifungal activity, the Pa 59-4 isolate completely inhibited the germination and growth of P. digitatum spores at $1{\times}10^8\;cfu/ml$. We argue that the control efficacy was mediated by nutrient competition. Overall, the effective rhizobacterium, Pa 59-4, was shown to be a promising biocontrol agent for the postharvest spoilage of mandarin fruits by green and blue mold.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.197-203
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• 1993

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to avaluate strain competition, nodulation, patterns of nodule occupancy and population changes of Bradyrhizobium sp. strain HCR-46 $str^{r}cep^{r}$ and CB756 $str^{r}rif^{r}$ in the rhizosphere of peanut(Arachis hypogaea L.) under different root temperatures. Inoculated with two strains using seed coating with peat slurry under different root temperatures, population of each strain in the rhizosphere increased with plant growth and multiplication rate of inoculum in the unit weight of root were showed the highest from 10 to 15days after sowing. The multiplication rate of inoculum in the rhizosphere was $28^{\circ}C$>$34^{\circ}C$>$22^{\circ}C$. The density of HCR-46 $str^{r}cep^{r}$ was more increased than that of CB756 $str^{r}rif^{r}$ under $22^{\circ}C$ and $28^{\circ}C$. While the density of two strains showed no difference under $34^{\circ}C$. Inoculated with HCR-46 $str^{r}cep^{r}$ and CB756 $str^{r}rif^{r}$, respectively at 22, 28 and $34^{\circ}C$, nodulation of each strain was dominated in its inoculation portion. Inoculated with the mixture of HCR-46 $str^{r}cep^{r}$ and CB756 $str^{r}rif^{r}$, occupancy rate of HCR-46 $str^{r}cep^{r}$ was dominated over that of CB756 $str^{r}rif^{r}$ at $22^{\circ}C$ and $28^{\circ}C$, but that was similar between them at $34^{\circ}C$. Dry mass, nodulation, nitrogen content per plant and nitrogenase activity showed higher at $28^{\circ}C$ than at $32^{\circ}C$ and $22^{\circ}C$, while those were higher in HCR-46 $str^{r}cep^{r}$ and mixing HCR-46 $str^{r}cep^{r}$ with CB756 $str^{r}rif^{r}$ than in CB756 $str^{r}rif^{r}$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1298-1304
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• 2005

This study was performed to evaluate the characteristics of the competition between two electron acceptors, perchlorate and nitrate, with Citrobacter Amalonaticus strain JB101. In addition, the applicability of membrane bioreactor(MBR) for perchlorate removal was evaluated. The maximum growth rate of strain JB101 on perchlorate and nitrate are 0.27 and 0.58 $hr^{-1}$, and maximum substrate utilization rates were 35.1 mg $ClO_4^-/g$ protein-day and 45.6 mg $NO_3^-/g$ protein-day, respectively. Nitrate was a competitive inhibitor for perchlorate, and strain JB101 prefer nitrate to perchlorate as electron acceptor. Complete removal of perchlorate could be achieved up to the surface leading rate of 4.6 g $ClO_4^-/m^2-day$ with the MBR fed with 20 mg $ClO_4^-/L$(HCMBR). When 5 mg/L of nitrate was added to the same influent, perchlorate removal efficiency decreased to 96.5%, while nitrate was completely removed. For the MBR fed with 0.7 mg/L of perchlorate (LCMBR), the maximum perchlorate removal efficiency was 100% up to the loading rate of 0.23 g $ClO_4^-/m^2-day$. Membrane fouling was found to be a problem at high leading rate for both MBRs. The acetate consumption ratio per perchlorate was $13.7{\sim}51.7\;e^-eq./e^-eq.$ in LCMBR, while the value was $2.5{\sim}3.6\;e^-eq./e^-eq.$ in HCMBR. This difference could be related to the acetate consumption with oxygen as electron acceptor. Therefore, the amount of acetate addition must be determined considering the concentrations of other electron acceptors in the influent.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.449-454
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• 2011

The infection of pandemic influenza viruses such as swine flu (H1N1) and avian flu viruses to the host cells is related to the following two factors: First, the surface protein such as HA (hemagglutinin) and NA (neuraminidase) of the influenza virus. Second, the specific structure of the oligosaccharide [sialic acid(${\alpha}2$-6) galactose(${\beta}1$-4)glucose or sialic acid(${\alpha}2$-3)galactose(${\beta}1$-4)glucose] on the host cell. After recognizing the specific structure of the oligosaccharide on the surface of host cells by the surface protein of the influenza virus, the influenza virus can secrete sialidase and cleave the sialic acid attached on the final position of the specific structure of the oligosaccharide on the surface of host cells. Tamiflu (oseltamivir), known as a remedy of swine flu, has a saccharide analog structure, especially the sialic acid analog. Tamiflu can inhibit the invasion of influenza viruses (swine flu and avian flu viruses) into the host cells by competition with sialic acid on the terminal position of the specific oligosaccharide on the surface of the host cell. Because of the emergence of Tamiflu resistance, the development of new potent anti-influenza inhibitors is needed. The inhibitors with positive-charge groups have potential as antiviral therapeutics, and the strain specificity must also be resolved.

• Mycobiology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.286-294
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• 2010

Epicoccum purpurascens stain 5615 AUMC was investigated for its biocontrol activity against root rot disease caused by Pythium irregulare. E. purpurascens greenhouse pathogenicity tests using three leguminous plants indicated that the fungus was nonpathogenic under the test conditions. The germination rate of the three species of legume seeds treated with a E. purpurascens homogenate increased significantly compared with the seeds infested with P. irregulare. No root rot symptoms were observed on seeds treated with E. purpurascens, and seedlings appeared more vigorous when compared with the non-treated control. A significant increase in seedling growth parameters (seedling length and fresh and dry weights) was observed in seedlings treated with E. purpurascens compared to pathogen-treated seedlings. Pre-treating the seeds with the bioagent fungus was more efficient for protecting seeds against the root rot disease caused by P. irregulare than waiting for disease dispersal before intervention. To determine whether E. purpurascens produced known anti-fungal compounds, an acetone extract of the fungus was analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The extract revealed a high percentage of the cinnamic acid derivative (trimethylsiloxy) cinnamic acid methyl ester. The E. purpurascens isolate grew more rapidly than the P. irregulare pathogen in a dual culture on potato dextrose agar nutrient medium, although the two fungi grew similarly when cultured separately. This result may indicate antagonism via antibiosis or competition.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.37-44
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• 2007

Mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the bulk metallic glass (BMG) are so unique that the deformation behavior is largely dependent on the temperature and the strain rate. Impacting behavior of NiTiZrSiSn bulk metallic glass powder during kinetic spraying was investigated in this study. Considering the impact behavior of the BMG, the kinetic spraying system was modified and attached the powder preheating system to make the transition from the inhomogeneous deformation to the homogeneous deformation of impacting BMG particle easy BMG splat formation is considered from the viewpoint of the adiabatic shear instability. It is suggested that the impact behavior of bulk metallic glass particle is determined by the competition between fracture and deformation. The bonding of the impacting NiTiZrSiSn bulk amorphous particle was primarily caused by the temperature-dependent deformation and fracture (local liquid formation) behavior.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.104-109
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• 2003

A microcellular, which combines a rubber with the conventional formulation of styrene/divinylbenzene/sorbitan monooleate/water system, was prepared using high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) polymerization. Although the open microcellular foam with low density from the conventional HIPE polymerization shows highly porous characteristics with fine, regular and isotropic structure, the one having much smaller cell size is desirable for various applications. In this study, a polybutadiene was introduced to reduce the cell size with comparable properties. Major interests were focused on the effects of rubber concentration and agitation speed on the cell sizes and compression properties. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the microcellular morphology and compression tests were conducted to evaluate the stress-strain behaviors. It was found that the cell size decreased as rubber concentration increased, reflecting a competition between the higher viscosity of continuous phase and the lower viscosity ratio of dispersed to continuous phases due to the addition of high molecular weight rubber into the oil phase of emulsion. A correlation for the average cell size depending on agitation speed was attempted and the result was quite satisfactory.