• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.162-169
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• 2007

Immune activities of two different extracts of Kadsura japonica Dunal. by typical extraction processes using water and ethanol at 60 $^{\circ}$C and 100 $^{\circ}$C were compared to them by ultrasofication system and through traditional fermemtation process. The fermented broth Kadsura japonica Dunal. definitely improved the growth of human B and T cell up to 30% and 22%, respectively, compared to the control. The secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-60 was also enhanced by the addition of the fermented broth, up to 35%. NK cell activation was significantly improved up to 1.4 times higher than the case of adding other extracts. It was also found that this broth could yield higher nitric oxide production from macrophage than Lipopolysaccharides (LPS). It can be concluded that Kadsura japonica has immune activities and, in general, the culture broth from a conventional fermentation has higher immune activities, possibly by yielding immuno-modulatory compounds, not existed in typcial extraction systems as the result of HPLC analysis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.1690-1698
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• 2006

In order to investigate the effect of dissolved oxygen (DO) level on AVM $B_{1a}$ production by a high yielding mutant of Streptomyces avermitilis, five sets of bioreactor cultures were performed under variously controlled DO levels. Using an online computer control system, the agitation speed and aeration rate were automatically controlled in an adaptive manner, responding timely to the oxygen requirement of the producer microorganism. In the two cultures of DO limitation, the onset of AVM $B_{1a}$ biosynthesis was observed to casually coincide with the fermentation time when oxygen-limited conditions were overcome by the producing microorganism. In contrast, this phenomenon did not occur in the parallel fermentations with DO levels controlled at around 30% and 40% throughout the entire fermentation period, showing an almost growth-associated mode of AVM $B_{1a}$ production: AVM $B_{1a}$ biosynthesis under the environments of high DO levels started much earlier than the corresponding oxygen-limited cultures, leading to a significant enhancement of AVM $B_{1a}$ production during the exponential stage. Consequently, approximately 6-fold and 9-fold increases in the final AVM $B_{1a}$ production were obtained in 30% and 40% DO-controlled fermentations, respectively, especially when compared with the culture of severe DO limitation (the culture with 0% DO level during the exponential phase). The production yield ($Y_{p/x}$), volumetric production rate (Qp), and specific production rate (${\bar{q}}_p$) of the 40% DO-controlled culture were observed to be 14%, 15%, and 15% higher, respectively, than those of the parallel cultures that were performed under an excessive agitation speed (350 rpm) and aeration rate (1 vvm) to maintain sufficiently high DO levels throughout the entire fermentation period. These results suggest that high shear damage of the high-yielding strain due to an excessive agitation speed is the primary reason for the reduction of the AVM $B_{1a}$ biosynthetic capability of the producer. As for the cell growth, exponential growth patterns during the initial 3 days were observed in the fermentations of sufficient DO levels, whereas almost linear patterns of cell growth were observed in the other two cultures of DO limitation during the identical period, resulting in apparently lower amounts of DCW. These results led us to conclude that maintenance of optimum DO levels, but not too high to cause potential shear damage on the producer, was crucial not only for the cell growth, but also for the enhanced production of AVM $B_{1a}$ by the filamentous mycelial cells of Streptomyces avermitilis.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.76-85
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• 2004

Anaerobic decomposition of municipal solid waste (MSW) had potential adverse impacts such as the production of methane and long-term post closure on human health and the environment. It was demonstrated that aerobic degradation of MSW resulted in the reduction of a methane yield and the enhancement of stabilization of MSW. Excavated solid wastes were both aerobically and anaerobically treated in order to evaluate the effects of air injection on the stabilization of landfill site. The municipal solid waste (MSW) samples were excavated from a 10-year old landfill (operation period: 1991. 11~1994. 11), Jeonju, Korea. Excavated municipal solid wastes are primarily composed of soils and vinyl/plastics. For the two aerobic simulated lysimeters, the levels of $O_2$ ranged 1.6~23.1% and the levels of $CO_2$ ranged 1.5~15.1%, which confirmed the aerobic decomposition. Aeration did prevent methane formation. For the anaerobic simulated lysimeter, the $CO_2$ rose as $O_2$ was consumed and low levels of CH4 were produced. The pH levels ranged from 7.7 to 8.9 for anaerobic lysimeter and from 7.3 to 8.5 for aerobic lysimeters. As expected, aerobic treatment proved to enhance the removal of biodegradable materials in the excavated solid wastes when monitoring the concentration of BOD, COD, $NH_4-N$, and $NO_3-N$ in the leachate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.44-44
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• 2017

Recently, the occurrences of extreme flooding and drought, often in the same areas, have increased due to climate change. We tested the hypothesis that wetland species could help upland species under flood conditions; that is, the roots of wetland crops may supply $O_2$ to the roots of upland crops by a series of experiments conducted in both humid Japan and semi-arid Namibia (See Iijima et al, 2016 and Awala et al, 2016). Firstly, flooding tolerance of upland-adapted staple crops-pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) mix-cropped with rice (Oryza spp.) was investigated in glasshouse and laboratory experiments in Japan. We found a phenomenon that strengthens the flood tolerance of upland crops when two species-one wetland and one drought tolerant-were grown using the mixed cropping technique that results in close tangling of their root systems, hereinafter referred to "close mixed-planting". This technique improved the photosynthetic and transpiration rates of the upland crops subjected to flood stress ($O_2$-deficient nutrient culture). Oxygen transfer was suggested between the two plants mix-cultured in water, implying its contribution to the phenomenon that improved the physiological status of upland crops under the simulated flood stress. Secondly, we further tested whether this phenomenon would be expressed under field flood conditions. The effects of close mixed-planting of pearl millet and sorghum with rice on their survival, growth and grain yields were evaluated under controlled field flooding in semi-arid Namibia during 2014/2015-2015/2016. Single-stand and mixed plant treatments were subjected to 11-22 day flood stress at the vegetative growth stage. Close Mixed-planting increased seedling survival rates in both pearl millet and sorghum. Grain yields of pearl millet and sorghum were reduced by flooding, in both the single-stand and mixed plant treatments, relative to the non-flooded upland yields, but the reduction was lower in the mixed plant treatments. In contrast, flooding increased rice yields. Both pearl millet-rice and sorghum-rice mixtures demonstrated higher land equivalent ratios, indicating a mixed planting advantage under flood conditions. These results indicate that mix-planting pearl millet or sorghum with rice could alleviate flood stress on dryland cereals. The results also suggest that with this cropping technique, rice could compensate for the dryland cereal yield losses due to field flooding. Mixed cropping of wet and dryland crops is a new concept to overcome flood stress under variable environmental conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2017.06a
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• pp.239-239
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• 2017

The enhancement of leaf photosynthetic capacity can have the potential to improve the seed yield of soybean. Key targets for the increase of leaf photosynthetic capacity remains unclear in soybean. Peking, Chinese local variety, has been the useful material for soybean breeding since it shows various resistances against biotic and abiotic stress. Sakoda et al., 2017 reported that Peking had the higher capacity of leaf photosynthesis than Enrei, Japanese elite cultivar. They identified the genetic factors related to high photosynthetic capacity of Peking. The objective of this study is to elucidate the physiological basis underlying high photosynthetic capacity of Peking. Peking and Enrei were cultivated at the experimental field of the Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. The sowing date was July 4, 2016. Gas exchange parameters were evaluated at the uppermost fully expanded leaves on 43, 49, and 59 days after planting (DAP) with a portable gas exchange system, LI-6400. The leaf hydraulic conductance, $K_{leaf}$, was determined based on the water potential and transpiration rate of the uppermost fully expanded leaves on 60 DAP. The morphological traits related to leaf photosynthesis were analyzed at the same leaves with the gas exchange measurements. The light-saturated $CO_2$ assimilation rate ($A_{sat}$) of Peking was significantly higher than that of Enrei at 43 and 59 DAP while the stomatal conductance ($g_s$) of Peking was significantly higher at all the measurements (p < 0.05). It suggested that high $A_{sat}$ was mainly attributed to high $g_s$ in Peking. $g_s$ is reported to be affected by the morphological traits and water status inside the leaf, represented by $K_{leaf}$, in crop plants. The tendency of the variation of the stomatal density between two cultivars was not consistent throughout the measurements. On the other hand, $K_{leaf}$ of Peking was 59.0% higher than that of Enrei on 60 DAP. These results imply that high $g_s$ might be attributed to high $K_{leaf}$ in Peking. Further research is needed to reveal the mechanism to archive high $g_s$ on the basis of water physiology in Peking. The knowledge combining the genetic and physiological basis underlying high photosynthetic capacity of Peking can be useful to improve the biomass productivity of soybean.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.6 s.134
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• pp.79-86
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• 2005

Aspen wood (Populus tremuloides, L.) was biotreated with Ceriporiopsis subvermispora for 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks to observe the physical/chemical modification of wood components. Milled wood lignins (MWLs) isolated from each decayed wood were analyzed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and nitrobenzene oxidation (NBO). As fungal treatment was progressed, lignin contents continuously decreased up to 20% after 6-week treatment. The lignin polymer could be fragmented to low-molecular phenolics, which make an enhancement of alkali solubility. Holocellulose contents were not affected severely during the period of fungal treatment, only reduction of 5~6% compared to the control. Xylose contents were decreased gradually from 23.4% to 18% after 6 weeks, whereas alpha-cellulose remained almost unchanged. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) indicates that molecular weight of lignin undergoes a slight decrement for 4 weeks of fungal treatment. Nitrobenzene oxidation revealed that total yield of NBO products of lignins were lowered ca 20% after fungal treatment. Sum of syringaldehyde and syringic acid are remarkably decreased. However, increment of sum of vanillin and vanillic acid was surprisingly observed. These results work as indirect evidence that a specific lignolytic reaction, maybe selective demethoxylaytion of S-lignin, can occur during fungal treatment of aspen wood by C. subvermispora.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.411-416
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• 1994

The research is concerned with optimization of growth medium composition in an attempt to improve the product yield of Bacillus licheniformis amylase (BLMA) in recombinant E. coli containing the BLMA gene. BLMA has the catalytic activity of producing branched oligosaccharides from starch. The medium optimization was performed in flask cultures based on the Box and Wilson method. The optimized medium is composed of tryptone 18.0 g/l, yeast extract 22.4 g/l, NaCl 5.3 g/l and glucose 2.1 g/l. In a jar fermenter culture with the conventional LB medium, the recombinant E. coli yielded 1.39 g/l of final dry cell mass and 5.11 U/ml of enzyme activity. In the optimized medium, however, the final cell mass was increased to 6.01 g/l and the enzyme activity to 23.2 U/ml. Medium optimization improved cell mass by 4.3 times and enzyme activity by 4.5 times. Such an increase in enzyme activity is mainly due to an enhancement of cell mass.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.190-194
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• 2009

Gamma spectral results for macroalgae samples taken from the environment of Ulchin nuclear power plants in Korea (east coast), showed 766 keV peaks, which were identified as $^{95}Nb$ by several research institutes. After the enhancement of liquid radioactive waste disposal facility at Ulchin NPP site, the $^{95}Nb$ amount in the liquid radioactive waste outflow has drastically reduced, but the expected reduction in $^{95}Nb$ specific activity from environmental samples did not actually show up on gamma spectroscopy. Detailed re-investigation revealed that along with 766 keV peak, other peaks (63, 92 and 1001 keV) from $^{234}Th-^{234}mPa$ decay series were also detected on spectroscopy, and that the measured half lives of the four peaks were very close to known half life of $^{234}Th-^{234}mPa$ decay series, which is 24.1 day. The measured gamma yield ratios of 766 keV peak to 1001 peak were very close to known ratio 0.35 for $^{234}mPa$. It is concluded that 766 keV peaks on gamma spectroscopy of Ulchin NPP environmental samples were mainly from $^{234}mPa$, which is one of naturally occurring radionuclides.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.31 no.2B
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• pp.117-128
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• 2006

For the legacy IEEE 802.15.3 WPAN protocol, an unpredictable piconet coordinator(PNC) leaving from a piconet without a proper handoff procedure causes an absence of PNC, and thus the piconet gets collapsed. In addition, several beacons from PNCs in adjacent piconets may be collided on a device(DEV) located between those piconets. This beacon collision eventually makes the DEV leave from the piconet. To remedy these two problems, we here propose an Active Seamless Coordinator Switching(ASCS) scheme and a PNC HB based Beacon Alignment(PHBA) one. In the ASCS scheme, a PNC assigns a number of DEVs as next possible PNCs in sequence for provisioning against the abrupt breakdown of the current active PNC. Each nominated DEV proactively sends a probe frame to confirm the operation status of the active PNC. For the case of no response from the PNC, the nominated DEV tries to become a new PNC immediately. In the second PHBA scheme, each PNC is allow to broadcast a special Heart Beat(HB) frame randomly during a superframe period. When a DEV receives a HB frame from other PNC, it promptly sends the related PNCs a special Hiccup Beat(HCB) frame with the superframe information of its associated PNC. As a result, the HCB frame makes both PNCs align their superframe beginning time in order to yield no more beacon collisions. For these two proposed schemes, we show the performance by simulations. We can confirm the enhancement of throughput for each superframe and average frame transfer delay, since each scheme can reduce the duration of piconet collapse. Finally, it is worth while to note that the proposed schemes can be operated with frames those are permitted in the legacy WPAN standard.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2019

Bacillus genus are found abundantly in various sites and their secondary metabolites were used as potential agents in agriculture, notably plant growth promoting and bio-control. The objective of this study was to develop the culture conditions of GH1-13 strain including higher cell growth, stable endospore-forming and enhancement of potential agents which are related with plant growth promoting and phytopathogen suppression. The optimal carbon and nitrogen sources were determined by glucose and soy bean flour, respectively, then resulted in $7.5{\times}10^9cells/mL$, $6.8{\times}10^9\;endospore\;cells/mL$ and sporulation yield of 90% after 30 h cultivation in 500 L submerged fermenter at $37^{\circ}C$, pH 7.0. Cells and cell-free supernatant of GH1-13 strains showed the potent antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. It was also confirmed that indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production of GH1-13 strain was greatly increased by addition of 0.3% tryptophan.