• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2014

To understand the degradation processes of organic matter related to sulfate reduction by Sulfate Reduction Bacteria (SRB) in the tidal flat sediments of Hwang-do and Sogeun-ri, Tae-an Peninsula in Chungnam-do, biogeochemical characteristics were analyzed and highlighted using specific microbial biomarkers. The organic geochemical parameters (TOC, ${\delta}^{13}C_{org}$, C/N ratio, long-chain-n-alkane) indicate that most of the organic matter has been derived from marine phytoplankton and bacteria in the fine-grained sediment of Sogeun-ri, although terrestrial plant components have occasionally been incorporated to a significant degree in the coarse-grained sediment of Hwang-do. The concentration of sulfate in pore water is a constant tendency with regard to depth profile, while methane concentration appears to be slightly different with regard to depth profile at the two sites. Especially, the sum of bacteria fatty acid (a-C15:0 + i-C15:0 + C16:1w5) confirms that the these concentrations in Sogeun-ri are related to the degradation of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene (BTEX) compounds from the crude oil retained in the sediments as a result of the Hebei Spirit oil-spill accident in 2007. The methane-related microbial communities as shown by lipid biomarkers (crocetane, PMI) are larger in some sedimentary sections of Hwang-do than in the Sogeunri tidal flat. These findings suggest that methane production by microbiological processes is clearly governed by SRB activity along the vertical succession in organic-enriched tidal flats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.987-992
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• 2010

This study was to detect the expression of heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) gene mRNA in different tissues of Rugao and Luyuan chickens at 56 d and 120 d by real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase-chain reaction (FQ-RT-PCR). The primers were designed according to the sequences of HFABP, A-FABP and GAPDH genes in Gallus gallus, which were used as target genes and internal reference gene, respectively. The levels of H-FABP and A-FABP gene expression were detected by SYBR Green I FQ-RT-PCR. The relative H-FABP and A-FABP gene mRNA expression level was calculated with 2-$^{{\Delta}Ct}$. Melting curve analysis showed a single peak of three genes. Intramuscular fat (IMF) content in breast muscle and leg muscle of the two chicken breeds at 120 d was higher than at 56 d. IMF content in breast muscle and leg muscle at 56 d and 120 d in Luyuan was significantly higher than in Rugao, however, abdominal fat of Luyuan was significantly lower than that of Rugao. The relative H-FABP gene mRNA expression level in cardiac muscle was the highest in both chicken breeds. The relative H-FABP and A-FABP gene expression of different tissues in Luyuan was higher than in Rugao. H-FABP gene mRNA expression had a negative effect on IMF of leg and breast muscles, and was significantly negatively correlated with IMF content. The relative A-FABP gene mRNA level in abdominal fat was higher than in liver. The A-FABP gene mRNA was not expressed in leg, breast and cardiac muscles. A-FABP gene mRNA expression level was significantly positively correlated with abdominal fat and had a significant effect on abdominal fat but not IMF content.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2011

Application of biochar to soils is proposed as a significant, long-term, sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide in terrestrial ecosystems. In addition to reducing emissions and increasing the sequestration of carbon, production of biochar and its application to soils will contribute improve soil quality and crop productivity. Objectives were i) to evaluate biochar productivity from crop residues using a low-cost field scale mobile pyrolyzer and ii) to evaluate characteristics of feedstocks and biochars from locally collected crop residues. Pyrolysis experiments were performed in a reactor operated at $400-500^{\circ}C$ for 3-4 hours using biomass samples of post-harvest residues of corn (Zea mays L.), cotton (Gossypium spp.), rice (Oryza sativa L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Feedstocks differed, but average conversion to biochar was 23%. Carbon content of biomass feedstock and biochar samples were 445 g $kg^{-1}$ and 597 g $kg^{-1}$, respectively. Total carbon content of biochar samples was 34% higher than its feedstock samples. Significant increases were found in P, K, Ca, Mg, and micro-nutrients contents between feedstock and biochar samples. Biochar from corn stems and rice hulls can sequester by 60% and 49% of the initial carbon input into biochar respectively when biochar is incorporated into the soils. Pyrolysis conversion of corn and rice residues sequestered significant amounts of carbon as biochar which has further environmental and production benefits when applied to soils. Field experiment with crop residue biochar will be investigated the stability of biochars to show long-term carbon sequestration and environmental influences to the cropping systems.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.296-304
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• 2013

PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of polishing and glazing on the color and spectral distribution of monolithic zirconia. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Forty-five monolithic zirconia specimens ($16.3mm{\times}16.4mm{\times}2.0mm$) were fabricated and divided into 5 groups according to the number of A2-coloring liquid applications (Group I to V). Each group was divided into 3 subgroups according to the method of surface treatments (n=3): N: no treatment; P: polishing; G: glazing. Color and spectral distribution of five different areas of each specimen were measured according to CIELAB color space in the reflectance mode relative to the standard illuminant D65 on a reflection spectrophotometer. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's HSD test, Pearson correlation and regression analysis (${\alpha}$=.05). RESULTS. There was a significant difference in CIE $L^*$ between Subgroup N and P, and in CIE $b^*$ between Subgroup P and G in each group. Spectral reflectance generally decreased in Subgroup P and G in comparison with Subgroup N. Color differences between Subgroup P and G were within the perceptibility threshold (${\Delta}E{^*}_{ab}$ < 3.7) in most groups. Highly significant correlation was found between CIE $b^*$ and each subgroups as the number of coloring liquid applications increased ($R^2$ >0.88, P<.001). CONCLUSION. A perceptible color difference can be detected after polishing of monolithic zirconia. Polishing decreases the lightness, and glazing also decreases the lightness, but increases the yellowness of monolithic zirconia.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.166-173
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• 2018

In order to investigate the effect of Mn on the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of PMN-PT [$Pb(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3-PbTiO_3$], four different types of 71PMN-29PT samples were prepared using the solid-state single crystal growth (SSCG) method: (1) Undoped single crystals, (2) undoped polycrystalline ceramics, (3) Mn-doped single crystals, and (4) Mn-doped polycrystalline ceramics. In the case of single crystals, the addition of 0.5 mol% Mn to PMN-PT decreased the dielectric constant ($K_3{^T}$), piezoelectric charge constant ($d_{33}$), and dielectric loss (tan ${\delta}$) by about 50%, but increased the coercive electric field ($E_C$) by 50% and the electromechanical quality factor ($Q_m$) by 500%, respectively. The addition of Mn to PMN-PT induced an internal bias electric field ($E_I$) and thus specimens changed from piezoelectrically soft-type to piezoelectrically hard-type. This Mn effect was more significant in single crystals than in ceramics. These results demonstrate that Mn-doped 71PMN-29PT single crystals, because they are piezoelectrically hard and simultaneously have high piezoelectric and electromechanical properties, have great potential for application in fields of SONAR transducers, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), and ultrasonic motors.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.452-455
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• 2004

In this paper, investigations of the SAMs(self-assembled monolayers) of a thiol-fuctionalized viologen derivatives, $V_8SH$ and $SH_8V_8SH$, where, V is N,N'-dialkylbipyridinium (i.e. a viologen group), have been carried out by elucidate voltammetry date. The redox reactions are highly reversible and can be cycled many times without significant side reaction, which has been known as a nano-gram order mass detector through resonant frequency change self-assembly process of the viologen has been investigated with $QCM({\Delta}F)$. The assembling process of the $V_8SH$ and $SH_8V_8SH$ monolayers can be finished completely in about 1 hour. The measured frequency shift for $V_8SH$ and $SH_8V_8SH$ were about 351 and 172 Hz, respectively. From these values, we calculated that the mass adsorbed $V_8SH$ and $SH_8V_8SH$ were about 375 and 183 ng. We believe that this mass loss is caused by the simultaneous loss of the anions present within the monolayer for charge compensation of the viologen dications and some solvent.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.178-178
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• 2008

ZnO 바리스터는 인가되는 전압에 따라 저항이 변하는 전압 의존형 저항체이며 각종 전기 전자 정보통신용 제품에 정전기(ESD) 대책용 소자로 폭 넓게 사용되는 전자 세라믹스 부품이다. 특별히 Bi-based ZnO 바리스터는 다양한 상(phase)으로 구성되어 있으며 그 입계의 전기적 특성은 소량 첨가되는 dopant의 종류에 따라 다양하게 변하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 Bi-based ZnO 바리스터 (ZnO-$Bi_2O_3$, ZnO-$Bi_2O_3-Mn_3O_4$)에서 각종 유전함수$(Z^*,M^*,\varepsilon^*,Y^*,tan{\delta})$를 이용하여 입계의 주파수-온도에 대한 특성을 살펴 보았다. 일반적인 ZnO 바리스터 제조법으로 시편을 제작하여 78K~800K 온도 범위에서 각종 유전함수를 이용하여 복소 평면도(complex plane plot)와 주파수 응답도(frequency explicit plot)의 방법으로 defect level과 입계 특성(활성화 에너지, 정전용량, 저항, 입계 안정성 등)에 대하여 고찰하였다. ZnO-$Bi_2O_3$(ZB)계와 ZnO-$Bi_2O_3-Mn_3O_4$(ZBM)계 모두 상온 이하의 온도에서 $Zn_i$와 $V_o$의 결함이 나타났으며, 이들의 결함 준위는 각 유전함수에 따라 다소 차이가 났다. 입계 특성으로 ZB계는 이상구간(560~660K)을 전후로 1.15 eV $\rightarrow$ 1.49 eV의 활성화 에너지의 변화가 나타났지만, ZBM계는 이러한 현상이 나타나지 않았다. 또한 입계 전위 장벽의 온도 안정성에 대해서는 Cole-Cole model을 적용하여 분포 파라미터 (distribution parameter; $\alpha$)를 구하여 고찰하였다. ZB계의 입계 안정성은 온도에 따라 불안정해 졌지만, ZBM계는 안정하였다.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.487-496
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• 1995

Previous studies have demonstrated that not all A. actinomycetemcomitans produced significant level of leukotoxic factor and its leukotoxicity have associated with serotype and genetic variation. Our aim was to investigate on the interrelationship between serotype and leukotoxicity of an A. actinomycetemcomitans consisting of 13 clinically well characterized. Korean isolates and to evaluate if particular virulent clonal types of A. actinomycetemcomitans are associated with periodontal disease. For this study, 13 strains of A. actinomycetemcomitans from 6 patients with periodontal disease were isolated and identified by using a selective medium(tryptic soy agar supplemented with 10% serum, $75{\mu}g$ of bacitracin and $5{\mu}g$ of vancomycin per ml) in 10% C02 incubator for 3days with routine Gram staining, colony morphology and biochemical test..For serotyping, antisera were prepared from reference strains of 5 serotypes. (ATCC 29523,Y4, SUNY aB 67, IDH 781, IDH 1705) and then ammonium sulfate precipitation, immunoabsorption and indirect immunofluoroscent procedures were done. For analysis of leukotoxicity, sonic extract of A. actinomycetemcomitans exposed to PMN, and trypan blue was stained for counting the cell viability. Finally Southern blot analyses of genomic DNA digested with the restriction enzyme Tag I was done and the Southern blots were hybridized with the 530bp fragment, termed delta 530, originating from the ltx promoter of strain 652 and deleted from strain JP2. Also ltxA-3.1 and SC2 probe from strain JP2 were hybridized with genomic DNA fragments. Results reveal that strains isolated showed approximately equal proportions of 3 serotypes(b, d, e) and serotype b was not detected. 2 patients harbored 2 different serotypes in the same disease site. The prevalence of leukotoxic strain was 23% and there was no relationship between serotype, leukotoxicity and clinical observations. Especially virulent clonal types of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitan (JP2 strain) could not found. Further studies are necessary on the genetic polymorphism of leukotoxin and its relations to clinical status.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.412-418
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• 2007

Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) is an unique antioxidant enzyme that directly reduces lipid hydroperoxides in biomembranes. In the present work, the entire encoding region for Oryza sativa PHGPx was expressed in Escherichia coli M15, and the purified fusion protein showed a single band with 21.0 kD and pI = 8.5 on SDS- and IFE-PAGE, respectively. Judging from CD and fluorescence spectroscopy, this protein is considered to have a well-ordered structure with 12.2% $\alpha$-helix, 30.7%$\beta$-sheet, 18.5% $\delta$-turn, and 38.5% random coil. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme activity were pH 9.3 and 27$^{\circ}C$. The enzyme exhibited the highest affinity and catalytical efficiency to phospholipid hydroperoxide employing GSH or Trx as electron donor. Moreover, the protein displayed higher GSH-dependent activity towards t-Butyl-OOH and $H_2O_2$. These results show that OsPHGPx is an enzyme with broad specificity for hydroperoxide substrates and yielded significant insight into the physicochemical properties and the dynamics of OsPHGPx.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.282-289
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• 2018

Melanin is a pigment produced from tyrosine in melanocytes. Although melanin has a protective role against UVB radiation-induced damage, it is also associated with the development of melanoma and darker skin tone. Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in melanin synthesis, which regulates the rate-limiting step during conversion of tyrosine into DOPA and dopaquinone. To develop effective RNA interference therapeutics, we designed a melanin siRNA pool by applying multiple prediction programs to reduce human tyrosinase levels. First, 272 siRNAs passed the target accessibility evaluation using the RNAxs program. Then we selected 34 siRNA sequences with ${\Delta}G{\geq}-34.6kcal/mol$, i-Score value ${\geq}65$, and siRNA scales score ${\leq}30$. siRNAs were designed as 19-bp RNA duplexes with an asymmetric 3' overhang at the 3' end of the antisense strand. We tested if these siRNAs effectively reduced tyrosinase gene expression using qRT-PCR and found that 17 siRNA sequences were more effective than commercially available siRNA. Three siRNAs further tested showed an effective visual color change in MNT-1 human cells without cytotoxic effects, indicating these sequences are anti-melanogenic. Our study revealed that human tyrosinase siRNAs could be efficiently designed using multiple prediction algorithms.