• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1999-2008
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• 2018

The compound 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), an important bio-based monomer for the production of various polymers, can be obtained from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). However, efficient production of FDCA from HMF via biocatalysis has not been well studied. In this study, we report the identification of key genes that are involved in FDCA synthesis and then the engineering of Raoultella ornithinolytica BF60 for biocatalytic oxidation of HMF to FDCA using its resting cells. Specifically, previously unknown candidate genes, adhP3 and alkR, which were responsible for the reduction of HMF to the undesired product 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (HMF alcohol), were identified by transcriptomic analysis. Combinatorial deletion of these two genes resulted in 85.7% reduction in HMF alcohol formation and 23.7% improvement in FDCA production (242.0 mM). Subsequently, an aldehyde dehydrogenase, AldH, which was responsible for the oxidation of the intermediate 5-formyl-2-furoic acid (FFA) to FDCA, was identified and characterized. Finally, FDCA production was further improved by overexpressing AldH, resulting in a 96.2% yield of 264.7 mM FDCA. Importantly, the identification of these key genes not only contributes to our understanding of the FDCA synthesis pathway in R. ornithinolytica BF60 but also allows for improved FDCA production efficiency. Moreover, this work is likely to provide a valuable reference for producing other furanic chemicals.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.367-374
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• 2019

This study concluded the results of a research on the features of cement based permeation grout, based on some important grout parameters, such as the rheological properties (yield stress and viscosity), coefficient of permeability to grout ($k_G$) and the inject ability of cement grout (N and $N_c$ assessment), which govern the performance of cement based permeation grouting in porous media. Due to the limited knowledge of these important grout parameters and other influencing factors (filtration pressure, rate and time of injection and the grout volume) used in the field work, the application of cement based permeation grouting is still largely a trial and error process in the current practice, especially in the local construction industry. It is seen possible to use simple formulas in order to select the injection parameters and to evaluate their inter-relationship, as well as to optimize injection spacing and times with respect to injection source dimensions and in-situ permeability. The validity of spherical and cylindrical flow model was not verified by any past research works covered in the literature review. Therefore, a theoretical investigation including grout flow models and significant grout parameters for the design of permeation grouting was conducted in this study. This two grout flow models were applied for three grout mixes prepared for w/c=0.75, w/c=1.00 and w/c=1.25 in this study. The relations between injection times, radius, pump pressure and flow rate for both flow models were investigated and the results were presented. Furthermore, in order to investigate these two flow model, some rheological properties of the grout mixes, particle size distribution of the cement used in this study and some geotechnical properties of the sand used in this work were defined and presented.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2019

This paper aims to critically analyse and synthesise existing knowledge concerning the use of environmental enrichment and its effect on behavior, physiology and performance of pigs housed in intensive production systems. The objective is also to provide clarity as to what constitutes successful enrichment and recommend when and how enrichment should be used. Environmental enrichment is usually understood as an attempt to improve animal welfare and to a lesser extent, performance. Common enrichment objects used are straw bedding, suspended ropes and wood shavings, toys, rubber tubings, colored plastic keys, table tennis balls, chains and strings. These substrates need to be chewable, deformable, destructible and ingestible. For enrichment to be successful four goals are essential. Firstly, enrichment should increase the number and range of normal behaviors; secondly, it should prevent the phenomenon of anomalous behaviors or reduce their frequency; thirdly, it should increase positive use of the environment such as space and fourthly it should increase the ability of the animals to deal with behavioral and physiological challenges. The performance, behavior and physiology of pigs in enriched environments is similar or in some cases slightly better when compared with barren environments. In studies where there was no improvement, it should be borne in mind that enriching the environment may not always be practical and yield positive results due to factors such as type of enrichment substrates, duration of provision and type of enrichment used. The review also identifies possible areas that still need further research, especially in understanding the role of enrichment, novelty, breed differences and other enrichment alternatives.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.46.1-46.10
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of different instrumentation and irrigation techniques using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) after root canal inoculation with Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). Materials and Methods: Mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals of extracted mandibular molars were apically enlarged up to a size 25 hand K-file, then autoclaved and inoculated with E. faecalis. The samples were randomly divided into 4 main groups according to the system of instrumentation and irrigation: an XP-endo Shaper (XPS) combined with conventional irrigation (XPS/C) or an XP-endo Finisher (XPF) (XPS/XPF), and iRaCe combined with conventional irrigation (iRaCe/C) or combined with an XPF (iRaCe/XPF). A middle-third sample was taken from each group, and then the bacterial reduction was evaluated using CLSM at a depth of $50{\mu}m$ inside the dentinal tubules. The ratio of red fluorescence (dead cells) to green-and-red fluorescence (live and dead cells) represented the percentage of bacterial reduction. The data were then statistically analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test for comparisons across the groups and the Dunn test was used for pairwise comparisons. Results: The instrumentation and irrigation techniques had a significant effect on bacterial reduction (p < 0.05). The iRaCe/XPF group showed the strongest effect, followed by the XPS/XPF and XPS/C group, while the iRaCe/C group had the weakest effect. Conclusions: Combining iRaCe with XPF improved its bacterial reduction effect, while combining XPS with XPF did not yield a significant improvement in its ability to reduce bacteria at a depth of $50{\mu}m$ in the dentinal tubules.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.83-90
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• 2021

In this study, an ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) was used to improve the mechanical properties, scratch resistance and tribological performance of Cu-based bimetals, which are usually used to manufacture sliding bearings and bushings for internal combustion engines (ICEs). Two different Cu-based bimetals, namely CuPb10Sn10 and CuSn10Bi7, were sintered onto a low carbon steel substrate. The mechanical properties and dry tribological performance using a tensile tester and micro-tribo tester were evaluated, respectively. The scratch resistance was assessed using a micro-scratch tester at an incremental load. The tensile test results showed that the yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of both Cu-based bimetals increased after UNSM. Furthermore, the scratch and tribological tests results revealed that the scratch resistance and tribological performance of both Cu-based bimetals were improved by the application of UNSM. These improvements were mainly attributed to the eliminated pores, increased hardness and reduced roughness after UNSM. CuSn10Bi7 demonstrated better mechanical properties, scratch resistance and tribological performance than CuPb10Sn10. It was found that the presence of Bi in CuSn10Bi7 formed a Cu₁₁Bi₇ intermetallic phase, which is harder than Cu₃Sn. Hence, CuSn10Bi7 demonstrated higher strength and wear resistance than CuPb10Sn10. In addition, a CuSn10Bi7 formed both SnO₂ and Bi₂O₃ that prevented adhesion and improved the tribological performance. It can be expected that under dry tribological conditions, ICEs can utilize UNSM bearings and bushings made of CuSn10Bi7 instead of CuPb10Sn10 under oil-lubricated conditions.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.429-445
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• 2021

With regard to economic efficiency, composite fix beams are widely used to pass longitudinal shear forces across the interface. The current knowledge of the composite beam load-slip activity and shear capability are restricted to data from measurements of push-off. Modelling and analysis of the composite beams based on Euro-code 4 regarding to shear, bending, and deflection under differing loads were carried out using Finite Element through an efficient computer simulation and the final loading and sections capacity based on the failure modes was analysed. In bending, the section potential was increased by an improvement of the strength in both steel and concrete, but the flexural and compressive resistance growth is very weak (3.2% 3.1% and 3.0%), while the strength of the concrete has increased respectively from 25 N/mm² to 30, 35, and 40 N/mm² compared to the increment of steel strength by 27% and 21% when it was raised from 275 to 355 and 460 N/mm², respectively. It was found that the final flexural load capacity of fix beams was declined with increase in the fix beam span for both three steel strength. The shear capacity of sections was remained unchanged at constant steel strength and different length, but raised with final yield strength increment of steel sections by 29%, and 67% when it was raised from 275 N/mm² to 355 N/mm² and 460 N/mm², respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.349-356
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• 2011

This study, which evaluated the contribution of the real economic value and system in the Nakdong River Basin, estimated the emergy analysis for environmental accounting of the TMDL program. And an environmental accounting for TMDL is evaluated before and after adopting TMDL program respectively. The value of emergy after adopting the TMDL was 7.90 E+20 sej/yr. Although the real yield of the river after governmental investment was high (before: 9.7118 E+20 sej/yr and after: 9.7224 E+20 sej/yr), the effects of improvement was not great, in terms of an investment cost. The benefit/cost ratio resulted from environmental accounting has decreased from 1.493 to 1.230 due to the cost of managing treatment facilities. The method of improving water quality in the Nakdong River Basin by the TMDL program should be changed into an ecological treatment facilities using resources efficiently from a control of water quality depending on expansion of the wastewater treatment facilities and advanced treatment plant using high cost and non-renewable energies.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.177-182
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• 2021

The fourth industrial revolution based on information and communication technology (ICT) becomes the center of society, and the overall industrial structure is also changing significantly. ICT refers to the hardware of information devices and the software technologies required for the operation and information management of these devices, and any means of collecting, producing, processing, preserving, communicating and utilizing them. ICT is integrated into industries and services or combined with new technologies in various fields such as robotics and nanotechnology to connect all products and services to the network. The development of ICT, which continuously creates new products and services, has spread to all sectors of the industry, affecting not only daily life but also the livestock sector recently. In agriculture, ICT technology can reduce production costs by efficiently managing labor and energy because it can improve quality and yield based on data on environmental and growth information such as temperature, humidity, light and soil. In particular, smart livestock is considered suitable for achieving livestock management goals because it can reduce labor force and improve productivity by remotely and automatically managing accurate information necessary for raising and breeding livestock with ICT devices. The purpose of this study is to propose the need for ICT technology by comparing farm productivity before and after ICT is introduced. The method of the study is to compare the productivity before and after the introduction of ICT in Korean beef farms, pig farms, and poultry farms. The effectiveness of the study proved the excellence of ICT technology through the production results before ICT introduction and the productivity improvement case of livestock farms that efficiently operated manpower management and reduced labor force after ICT introduction. The conclusion of this paper is to present the need for smart livestock through ICT adoption through case study results.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.869-882
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• 2021

Sodium chloride (NaCl) replacement with calcium chloride (CaCl₂) effect on protein solubility, proteolytic enzyme and quality characteristics of a chicken soup prepared from spent hen (SH) chicken were investigated. By means of immerse marination prior to cooking, a total of 60 skinless SH breast meat were randomly allocated into ten groups admitted to treatments with marinade solution containing sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) and reduced percentage of NaCl with CaCl₂ at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% at 4±2℃ for 20 h. STPP was adjusted to 0.5% for all treatments and NaCl replacement at 0% was used as control. The different methods, particularly boiling at 100℃ and retorting at 121℃, 1.5 kgf/cm² for 60 minutes, were applied following marination. An upregulation of cathepsin-B and caspase-3 enzymes were a consequences from a higher percentage of CaCl₂ within meat environment. Accordingly, modified the protein solubility in particular the myofibrillar and total protein solubility. In addition, a significant increase in water holding capacity (WHC), pH value, myofibril fragmentation index (MFI), and moisture content was obtained due to salt replacement (p<0.05). Limited effect was observed for shear force value, collagen content and cooking yield. Eventually, this study implied that although protelytic enzyme and protein solubility was upregulated by the replacement of NaCl with CaCl₂ at >75%, extensive effect on texture properties was not observed. Therefore, NaCl replacement at 75% could be a promising strategy for quality improvement of SH chicken soup.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.309-314
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• 2021

This study aimed to enhance seed productivity and secure genetic resources for Pinus densiflora for. multicaulis. We analyzed the characteristics of cone and seed generated by control pollination between Pinus densiflora (PD) and Pinus densiflora for. multicaulis (PDM). The highest number of cone scales (63.0) was obtained from the self-pollinated (sp) PDM clone B (PDM-sp-B), whereas the lowest number of cone scales (44.7) was obtained from two combinations designated as PDM-A×PD-075 and PDM-A×PD-0111. Both female parents of the hybrids were PDM-A. The highest seed production capacity (80.8) was obtained from the open-pollinated (op) PDM clone B (PDM-op-B). The seed potentials of PDM-B×PD-0111, PDM-op-A, and PDM-sp-B were 67.4, 66.5, and 63.1, respectively. The highest number of fertile scales (41.5) was obtained from PDM-op-B, and the lowest number of fertile scales (28.8) was obtained from PDM-A×PD-075. The total number of aborted ovules and 1st aborted ovules was not statistically significant in the mating design. The cross combination of PDM-B×PD-0111 had the highest number (34.8) of filled seeds and the lowest number of 2nd aborted ovules (5.2) and empty seeds (9). PDM-op-B had the highest number of developed seeds (47.6), although the number of empty seeds was the highest (41.2). Therefore, we conclude that the mating design of PDM-B×PD-0111 is useful for future breeding programs to improve seed yield of PDM. Our results showed that there was a strong correlation between the following two parameter pairs: number of scales and number of fertile scales, and the number of fertility scales and seeds potential (r=0.89 and r=0.84, respectively; both p<0.01).