• Journal of Korea Foundry Society
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.115-122
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• 2005

In the present study, an EMC (Electromagnetic Casting) process, using a segmented Cu cold crucible under a high frequency alternating magnetic field of 20 kHz, was practiced for the fabrication of poly-crystalline Si ingot of 50 mm diameter. The effects of Joule heating and electromagnetic pressure in molten Si were systematically investigated with various processing parameters such as electric current and crucible configuration. A preliminary experimental work was initiated with the pure Al system for the establishment of a stabilized non-contact working condition, and further adapted to the semiconductor-off-grade Si system. A commercialized software such as Opera-3D was utilized in order to simulate electromagnetic pressure and Joule heating. In order to evaluate the meniscus shape of the molten melts, shape parameter was used throughout the research. A segmented graphite crucible, which was attached at the upper part of the cold crucible, was introduced to enhance significantly the heating efficiency of Si melt keeping non-contact condition during continuous melting and casting processes.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.145-149
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• 2011

We studied any variations of skin mucus cells of Misgurnus mizolepis caused by inducing a great change of water temperature including high temperature- and low temperature-adapted groups and then compared them with a control group of normal water condition. The high temperature-adapted group showed no significant different in size and number of the mucus cell (P>0.01), whereas in the low temperature-adapted group, the surface area of mucus cell layer and shape of its mucus cell, and the number of mucus cell remarkably increased in all the skin regions of dorsum, lateral region and occiput (P<0.01). Returned to the same condition as the control group, the low temperature-adapted groups showed the same features that appear in the normal water condition (P<0.01). Based on these results, the skin mucus cells of M. mizolepis seems to be very sensitive to cold water temperature and therefore they may play a key role in assessment of its environmental conditions.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2002

Bradyrhizobium japonicum is a soil bacterium with a unique ability to infect the roots of leguminous plants and establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, which has been used as a microbial manure. In this study, we examined the stress response after pretreatment of cells with cold temperature. When pre-treated with cold temperature ($4^{\circ}C$) for 16 hr, B. japonicum increased the viability in subsequent stress-conditions such as alcohol, $H_2O_2$, heat, and dehydration. For cold adpatation, cultured B. japonicum was exposed to $4^{\circ}C$. Upon subsequent exposure to various conditions, the number of adapted cells pretreated by cold adaptation was 10-1000 fold higher than that of non-adaptated ones. It appeared de novo protein synthesis occurred during adaptation, because a protein synthesis inhibitor, chloramphenicol abolished the increased stress tolerance. By using a degenerate PCR primer set, a csp homolog was amplified from B. japonicum genome and sequenced. The deduced partial amino acid sequence of the putative Csp (Cold shock protein) shares a significant similarity with known Csp proteins of other bacteria.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.12
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• pp.1724-1734
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• 2010

A phosphate-solubilizing bacterial strain isolated from Hippophae rhamnoides rhizosphere was identified as Rahnella sp. based on its phenotypic features and 16S rRNA gene sequence. The bacterial strain showed the growth characteristics of a cold-adapted psychrotroph, with the multiple plant growth-promoting traits of inorganic and organic phosphate solubilization, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate-deaminase activity, ammonia generation, and siderophore production. The strain also produced indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-acetaldehyde, indole-3-acetamide, indole-3-acetonitrile, indole-3-lactic acid, and indole-3-pyruvic acid in tryptophan-supplemented nutrient broth. Gluconic, citric and isocitric acids were the major organic acids detected during tricalcium phosphate solubilization. A rifampicin-resistant mutant of the strain exhibited high rhizosphere competence without disturbance to the resident microbial populations in pea rhizosphere. Seed bacterization with a charcoal-based inoculum significantly increased growth in barley, chickpea, pea, and maize under the controlled environment. Microplot testing of the inoculum at two different locations in pea also showed significant increase in growth and yield. The attributes of cold-tolerance, high rhizosphere competence, and broad-spectrum plant growth-promoting activity exhibited the potential of Rahnella sp. BIHB 783 for increasing agriculture productivity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1484-1489
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• 2014

A novel esterase gene, est01, was successfully unearthed from a biogas digester microbiota metagenomic library. The 1,194 bp est01 gene encodes a protein of 44,804 Da (designated Est01). The amino acid sequence of Est01 shows only moderate (33%) identity to a lipase/esterase. Phylogenetic analysis and biochemical characterization confirmed that Est01 is a new member of family VIII esterases. The purified Est01 from recombinant Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) showed high hydrolytic activity against short-chain fatty acid esters, suggesting that it is a typical carboxylesterase rather than a lipase. Furthermore, the Est01 was even active at $10^{\circ}C$ (43% activity remained), with the optimal temperature at $20^{\circ}C$, and had a broad pH range from 5.0 to 10.0, with the optimal pH of 8.0. These properties suggest that Est01 is a cold-adaptive esterase and could have good potential for low-temperature hydrolysis application.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.325-330
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• 1996

The content of reducing sugars and sucroses was increased by cold- and PA-treatment in cotyledons of spring radish. But in cotyledons of fall radish, the content of reducing sugars, and sucroses was increased by cold treatment but was not increased by cold- and PA-treatment. Total free amino acids in cotyledons of spring radish were increased by cold treatment, but were not increased in cotyledons of fall radish. The results show that cold sensitive spring radishes were adapted by regulating of cellular osmosis and show that the physiological and biochemical metabolism of spring radish was much different from the fall radish. We report first that polyamine has synergetic effect with cold stress on cotyledons of spring radish, but not on cotyledons of fall radish.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.1925-1930
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• 2011

Psychrophilic bacteria have acquired cold-resistance in order to protect themselves against freezing temperatures, which would otherwise be lethal. DnaK/DnaJ/GrpE systems are molecular chaperones which facilitate proper folding of newly synthesized proteins. Efficient folding processes are of great importance especially in a cold environment, such as the Arctic. In order to understand the protection mechanisms of psychrophilic bacteria against cold temperatures, we have explored a genome of KOPRI22215, tentatively identified as Psychromonas arctica, whose genome sequence has not yet been discovered. With an aim of searching for a coding gene of DnaK from KOPRI22215, we have applied a series of polymerase chain reactions (PCR) with homologous primers designed from other Psychromonas species and LA PCR in vitro cloning. 1917 bp complete coding sequence of dnaK from KOPRI22215 was identified including upstream promoter sites. Recombinant plasmids to overexpress PaDnaK along with EcDnaK (DnaK of E. coli) were then constructed in pAED4 vector and the pET-based system to induce PaDnaK expression by IPTG. Characterization assays of expressed PaDnaK were carried out by measuring survival rates upon 4 day incubation at 4 $^{\circ}C$: a refolding assay as molecular chaperone, and ATPase assay for functional activity. Taking account of all the data together, we conclude that PaDnaK was identified, successfully expressed, and found to be more efficient in providing cold-resistance for bacterial cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.265-267
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• 1998

Cattle in Alaska seemed to be tolerant to low blood selenium (Se) although arctic winter energy demands might exacerbate oxidative damage to tissues lacking protection by Se. The thermogenic properities of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the long cold adaptation period for Alaskan cattle indicates that they might develop BAT. Eighteen mature beef cows with whole blood Se of< 19 ppb were used to examine possible relation-ships among Se deficiency, tissue lesions, and observable BAT. All cows were wintered on a diet low in Se and nine cows were given supplemental Se provided by intraruminal bolus. Blood Se was elevated (p < .05) from November through February by supplemental Se, but body weight and back fat thickness were unaffected (p < .10). Tissues were taken from two Se deficient cows, two cows supplemented with Se, and two cows given large doses of Se (300 mg by injection) four weeks before slaughter. Histopathological examination of 187 samples of fat (7 to 55 from each cow) showed no observable amount of BAT. Examination of other tissues showed no lesions attributable to Se deficiency.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.2405-2409
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• 2011

The psychrophilic bacteria Psychromonas arctica survives at subzero temperatures by having adapted several protective mechanisms against freezing and oxidative stresses. Many reactive oxygen species are likely generated in P. arctica as a result of reduced metabolic turnover rates. A previous study identified the pasod gene for superoxide dismutase from P. arctica using a series of PCR amplifications. Here, upon cloning into a His-tag fused plasmid, the sod gene from P. arctica (pasod) was successfully expressed by IPTG induction. His-tagged PaSOD was subsequently purified by $Ni^{2+}$-NTA affinity chromatography. The purified PaSOD exhibited a higher SOD activity than that of Escherichia coli (EcSOD) at all temperatures. The difference in activity between PaSOD and EcSOD becomes even more significant at 4$^{\circ}C$, indicating that PaSOD plays a functional role in the cold adaptation of P. arctica in the Arctic.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2010

Niobium microalloying is effective in hot-rolled and cold-rolled steels by providing a fine-grained microstructure resulting in increased strength. To optimize the strengthening effect, alloy design and hot-rolling conditions have to be adapted. As a key issue the dissolution and precipitation characteristics of Nb are discussed in particular with regard to the run-out table conditions. It is then considered how the hot-rolled microstructure and the solute state of Nb interact with the hot-dip galvanizing cycle. The adjusted conditions allow controlling the morphology and distribution of phases in the cold-rolled annealed material. Additional precipitation hardening can be achieved as well. The derived options can be readily applied to produce conventional HSLA and IF high strength steels as well as to modern multiphase steels. It will be explained how important application properties such as strength, elongation, bendability, weldability and delayed cracking resistance can be influenced in a controlled and favorable way. Examples of practical relevance and experience are given.