• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1022-1030
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• 1995

Saponins are glycosidic compounds present in many plant foods. They are characterized by their ability to lyse cell membranes due to their surface-active properties. Saponins are believed to interact primarily with cholesterol in the cell membrane. In this study, the interaction of soybean(SS) with cell membrane was investigated using erythrocytes as a model. Mechanisms of interaction was also investigated by measuring their binding capacity with different membrane lipid fractions. Throughout the study, gypsophilla saponin(GS) and quillaja saponin(QS) were used to evaluate the membranolytic activity of soybean saponins. All saponins released hemoglobin in a concentration-dependent manner. SS induced 40% hemolysis at the concentration of 400 ppm, however there was no increase in hemoglobin release above 400ppm concentration. 5ppm of GS and 8 ppm of QS hemolyzed 100% of erythrocytes. Isolation of SS fractions by thin layer chromatography revealed that only one non-polar saponin possesses strong hemolytic activity. When saponins were incubated decreased the release of cholesterol. When the hemolytic activity of saponins was measured in the presence of other major membrane lipid components, sphingomyelin significantly reduced the hemolytic activity of SS, while cholesterol reduced the activity of QS. GS showed high affinity to other component(s) in the incubation media as well as lipids. These results suggest that the membranolytic activity of saponins are related to their specific chemical structure, which determines the interaction behavior between saponins and different membrane components, and thereby influence the biological activity.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Broadcast Engineers Conference
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• 2011.07a
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• pp.437-438
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• 2011

Spectral segmentation is a major trend in image segmentation. Specially, constrained spectral segmentation, inspired by the user-given inputs, remains its challenging task. Since it makes use of the spectrum of the affinity matrix of a given image, its overall quality depends mainly on how to design the graphical model. In this work, we propose a sparse, multi-layer graphical model, where the pixels and the over-segmented regions are the graph nodes. Here, the graph affinities are computed by using the must-link and cannot-link constraints as well as the likelihoods that each node has a specific label. They are then used to simultaneously cluster all pixels and regions into visually coherent groups across all layers in a single multi-layer framework of Normalized Cuts. Although we incorporate only the adjacent connections in the multi-layer graph, the foreground object can be efficiently extracted in the spectral framework. The experimental results demonstrate the relevance of our algorithm as compared to existing popular algorithms.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.113-119
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• 2009

The feasibility of using cork oak bark for phosphorus removal from wastewater was evaluated in this study. Recently, development of more cost-effective media while maintaining high efficiency in pollutants removal has received concern. Barks have a negative surface charge and, hence, tend to show a high affinity to bind cations, and they need to undergo chemical modification to increase their adsorption capacity of anions. Bark was hydrolyzed by HCl solution and it received modification using an aqueous solution of high molecular weight polyethylenimine(PEI). Surface modification with HCl and PEI resulted in a decrease of specific surface area of the bark from $1.932 m^2/g$ to $1.094 m^2/g$. The adsorption experiments were carried out in batch tests and the data were fitted to the Langmuir isotherm and Freundlich isotherm equations. Phosphate removal rate was higher at the lower solution pH possibly due to the form of phosphate ion in solution. For the initial phosphate concentration of 10 mg/L, maximum adsorption was 20.88 mg P/g at pH 3 and 12.02 mg P/g at pH 5. Mechanism of phosphorus sorption onto the HCl-PEI bark was examined through FT-IR spectrometer. Ion exchange between $NH^+$ and $H_2PO_4{^-}$ appeared to be a key mechanism of phosphate adsorption onto the HCl-PEI bark surface.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.249-255
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• 2006

Ability of iron acquisition of pathogenic microorganisms functions as a virulence factor. Candida albicans, a fungal pathogen that requires iron for growth, is susceptible to growth retardation by high-affinity iron binding proteins such as transferrin. Recently, we reported that C. albicans could utilize the heme as a part of heme-containing proteins dissociated by heme oxygenase, CaHMX1. In search of another pathway that C. albicans can use to bypass the growth regulation produced by iron limitation, this present study examined utilization of non-candidal siderophores such as Desferal and rhodotorulic acid (RA) for acquisition of inorganic iron by the fungus. C. albicans secreting no siderophores was cultured in iron-free (pretreated with apotransferrin for 24 h) (culture medium). Once growth of the yeast reached stasis from iron starvation, a siderophore was added to the culture media. Results showed that cultures containing apotransferrin within a dialysis membrane recovered growth to the level of untreated controls, whereas C. albicans yeast cells in direct contact with soluble iron-free (apo) transferrin recovered growth only partially. When static growth from iron limitation was reached, the addition of siderophore-apotransferrin complex to culture medium also permitted the yeast to recover growth from apotransferrin growth regulation. All the data show that C. albicans can utilize the non-candidal siderophores for iron acquisition under transferrin regulation as can pathogenic bacteria.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.768-778
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• 2011

Calixpyrroles and related macrocycles are non-planer synthetic anion receptors that have attracted considerable attentions in recent years. Although the synthesis of calix[4]pyrrole (known as meso-octamethylporphyrinogen) was reported more than 100 years ago, the anion binding properties were first discovered in 1996. The simple calix[4]pyrroles can be synthesized in single step in high yield by condensation of pyrrole with acetone. The compounds showed preferential binding for halide anions including fluoride, phosphate, carboxylate, and chloride in organic media. Efforts to improve the anion affinity of calix[4]pyrrole and to enhance its selectivity have led to the synthesis of a variety of new calixpyrrole derivatives. Among the various modifications, introduction of straps on one side of the calix[4]pyrroles are the most effective. Incorporation of aromatic rings other than pyrroles also exhibited interesting binding behaviour. Introduction of signalling units as part of the strapping element enable to detect the anions on chromogenic or fluorogenic fashion. Finding of the anion transport properties across the membrane and cytotoxic effects of the calix[4]pyrroles open new window for calixpyrrole-related research. The polymer-incorporated systems have also been employed as anion complexants in solvent-solvent extraction. These old, yet easy-to-make macrocycles have well advanced more recently with the discovery of the ion-pair complexation properties. In this review, the synthetic developments and anion binding properties of calixpyrroles for the last decades will be discussed and will cover the advances in calixpyrrole chemistry.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.197-203
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• 2012

Phosphorus removal during discharge of wastewater is required to achieve in a very high level because eutrophication occurs even at a very low phosphorus concentration. However, there are limitations in the traditional technologies in the removal of phosphorus at very low concentration, such as at a level lower than 0.1 mg/L. Through a series of experiments, a possible technology which can remove phosphate to a very low level in the final effluent of wastewater was suggested. At first Al, Zn, Ca, Fe, and Mg were exposed to phosphate solution by impregnating them on the surface of activated alumina to select the material which has the highest affinity to phosphate. Kinetic tests and isotherm tests on phosphate solution have been performed on four media, which are Ca-impregnated activated alumina, activated alumina, Ca-impregnated loess ball, and loess ball. Results showed that Ca-impregnated activated alumina has the highest capacity to adsorb phosphate in water. Scanning electron microscope image analysis showed that activated alumina has high void volume, which provides a large surface area for phosphate to be adsorbed. Through a continuous column test of the Ca-impregnated activated alumina it was discovered that about 4,000 bed volumes of wastewater with about 0.2 mg/L of phosphate can be treated down to lower than 0.14 mg/L of concentration.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.117-135
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• 2013

With the growth of mass media, professional baseball teams have strived to keep up team's tradition and individuality and build a distinctive image through sports marketing using visual identity. Among others, a baseball uniform is used as a sports marketing tool more than an uniform. Uniform color acts as a distinctive element in team's uniform design and is effective to raise attention, manifest a positive image to spectators, and increase trust and affinity. This study aims to compare and analyze color characteristics and images of professional baseball uniforms in America, Japan, and Korea as visual identity. For this, literature review was made on the history of baseball, uniforms, sports marketing, and visual identity, and then color characteristics and images were analyzed on professional baseball away uniforms in Korea, America, and Japan collected in Internet and official web sites. The results are as follows. First, for color characteristics of professional baseball uniforms, the most frequently used color was R(V) color in Korea, ltGy color in America, and Bk color in Japan. Second, for color images of professional baseball uniforms, the most frequently used image was a casual image in Korea, a dandy image in America, and a modern image in Japan.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.319-328
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• 2023

Malassezia and Staphylococcus are the most dominant genera in human skin microbiome. To explore the inter-kingdom interactions between the two genera, we examined the transcriptional changes in Malassezia and Staphylococcus species induced upon co-culturing. RNA-seq analyses revealed that genes encoding ribosomal proteins were upregulated, while those encoding aspartyl proteases were downregulated in M. restricta after co-culturing with Staphylococcus species. We identified MRET_3770 as a major secretory aspartyl protease coding gene in M. restricta through pepstatin-A affinity chromatography followed by mass spectrometry and found that the expression of MRET_3770 was significantly repressed upon co-culturing with Staphylococcus species or by incubation in media with reduced pH. Moreover, biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus was inhibited in the spent medium of M. restricta, suggesting that biomolecules secreted by M. restricta such as secretory aspartyl proteases may degrade the biofilm structure. We also examined the transcriptional changes in S. aureus co-cultured with M. restricta and found co-cultured S. aureus showed increased expression of genes encoding ribosomal proteins and downregulation of those involved in riboflavin metabolism. These transcriptome data of co-cultured fungal and bacterial species demonstrate a dynamic interplay between the two co-existing genera.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.1-8
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• 2023

Purpose: The marketing practice for the leisure and sports industry is a complex process that requires a thorough understanding of the audience, their needs and motivations. Thus, this niche market is focused on specific products, services, or experiences. The present research explores and suggests meaningful strategies based on the literature textual dataset to provide how to attract consumers in this sector. Research design, data and methodology: We have conducted the 'Secondary Literature Analysis', reviewing and summarizing numerous findings in the relevant prior studies. As a result, we could obtain a total of 15 significant textual resources which are from only peer-reviewed journal article. All resources had a high quality of the instrument to prove their results. Results: The findings of this research pointed out that marketers in leisure sports sector need to communicate via following methods: (1) Understanding the Customers' Needs and Wants, (2) Social Media, (3) Advertising, (4) Promoting Brand Affinity, (5) Offering Discounts, and (6) Providing Value-Added Services. Conclusions: The present research concludes that the marketing practice in the leisure and sports industry should be performed using various channels. In addition, marketing practitioners are supposed to check if tailored marketing messages are compatible with products, services, and events that relate to their target audience's interests.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.228-236
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• 2015

Urbanization causes many environmental, hydrological and ecological problems such as distortion of the natural water circulation system, increase in nonpoint source pollutants in stormwater runoff, degradation of surface water quality, and damage to the ecosystem. Due to the increase in impervious surface by urbanization, developed countries apply low impact development (LID) techniques as important alternatives to reduce the impacts of urbanization. In Korea, LID techniques were employed since 2012 in order to manage nonpoint source pollutants. LID technology is a technique for removing pollutants using a variety of physical, chemical and biological mechanisms in plants, microorganisms and filter media with the reduced effluence of stormwater runoff by mimicking natural water circulation system. These LID facilities are used in a variety of filter media, but an assessment has not been carried out for the comprehensive comparison evaluation of adsorption and desorption characteristics for the pollutant removal capacity. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze the adsorption and desorption characteristics of various filter media used in the LID facilities such as sand, gravel, bioceramic, wood chips and bottom ash etc. in reducing heavy metals(Pb, Cu). In this study, the adsorption affinity for Pb in all filter media was higher than Cu. Pseudo second order equation and Langmuir-3 isotherm are more applicable in the adsorption kinetic model and adsorption isotherm model, respectively. As a result of the desorption experiment, the filter media does not exceed KSLT which is the hazardous substance leaching limit, showing the capability of the filter media in LID. The bioceramic and woodchip as filter medias were evaluated and exhibited excellent adsorption capacity for Pb.