• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.434-440
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• 2019

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from kimchi were studied for their ${\beta}$-glucuronidase activity. Among the 156 strains tested, 52 strains utilized glucuronic acid as a carbon source and their intracellular ${\beta}$-glucuronidase activities were significantly higher than their extracellular activities. Leuconostoc mesenteroides KFRI 73007 isolated from turnip kimchi exhibited the highest intracellular ${\beta}$-glucuronidase activity of $0.77{\pm}0.01U/mg$ protein, which was further increased to $1.14{\pm}0.01U/mg$ protein under optimized reaction conditions (pH 7, $37^{\circ}C$). The activity of ${\beta}$-glucuronidase was notably decreased by the addition of divalent cations, and glucuronic acid was the best carbon source to produce ${\beta}$-glucuronidase in Leu. mesenteroides KFRI 73007.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2021

For the bonding of smaller PCB solder bumps of less than 100 microns, an experiment was performed to make up a tin plating solution and find plating conditions in order to produce a bump pattern through tin electroplating, replacing the previous PCB solder bumps process by microballs. After SR patterning, a Cu seed layer was formed, and then, through DFR patterning, a pattern in which Sn can be selectively plated only within the SR pattern was formed on the PCB substrate. The tin plating solution was made based on methanesulfonic acid, and hydroquinone was used as an antioxidant to prevent oxidation of divalent tin ions. Triton X-100 was used as a surfactant, and gelatin was used as a grain refiner. By measuring the electrochemical polarization curve, the characteristics of organic additives in Triton X-100 and gelatin were compared. It was confirmed that the addition of Triton X-100 suppressed hydrogen generation up to -1 V vs. NHE, whereas gelatin inhibited hydrogen generation up to -0.7 V vs. NHE. As the current density increased, there was a general tendency that the grain size became finer, and it was observed that it became finer when gelatin was added.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.455-462
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• 2014

This work investigated the hydrophobic coating of silicate yellow phosphor powder in the form of divalent europium-activated strontium orthosilicate ($Sr_2SiO_4:Eu^{2+}$) by using an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma with argon as a carrier and hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO), toluene and n-hexane as precursors. After the plasma treatment of the phosphor powder, the lattice structure of orthosilicate was not altered, as confirmed by an X-ray diffractometer. The coated phosphor powder was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence spectrophotometry and contact angle analysis (CAA). The CAA of the phosphor powder coated with the HMDSO precursor revealed that the water contact angle increased from $21.3^{\circ}$ to $139.5^{\circ}$ (max. $148.7^{\circ}$) and the glycerol contact angle from $55^{\circ}$ to $143.5^{\circ}$ (max. $145.3^{\circ}$) as a result of the hydrophobic coating, which indicated that hydrophobic layers were successfully formed on the phosphor powder surfaces. Further surface characterizations were performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry, which also evidenced the formation of hydrophobic coating layers. The phosphor coated with HMDSO exhibited a photoluminescence (PL) enhancement, but the use of toluene or n-hexane somewhat decreased the PL intensity. The results of this work suggest that the DBD plasma may be a viable method for the preparation of hydrophobic coating layer on phosphor powder.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.237-252
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• 1989

Effect of a $Na^+$ gradient on $Ca^{2+}$ uptake was studied in isolated sarcolemmal vesicles of cat ileal longitudinal muscle. $Ca^{2+}$ uptake was markedly stimulated in the presence of an outwardly directed $Na^+$ gradient. External $Na^+$, monensin and A23187 abolished the $Na^+-dependent$ $Ca^{2+}$ uptake. Monovalent cations such as $K^+$, $Li^+$, $Rb^+$, $Cs^+$ and choline could not substitute for $Na^+$ in enhancement of $Ca^{2+}$ uptake. Divalent cations such as $Ba^{2+}$, $Sr^{2+}$, $Mn^{2+}$ and $Cd^{2+}$ but not $Mg^{2+}$ inhibited the $Na^+-dependent$ $Ca^{2+}$ uptake. Increase in external pH in the range of 6.0 to 8.0 stimulated the $Na^+-dependent$ $Ca^{2+}$ uptake. Amiloride inhibited the $Na^+-dependent$ $Ca^{2+}$ uptake at concentrations above 0.5 mM, whereas diltiazem or vanadate did not. The apparent Km of the $Na^+-dependent$ $Ca^{2+}$ uptake for $Ca^{2+}$ was 18.2 ${\mu}M$ and apparent Vmax was 689.7 pmole/mg protein/5 sec. Kinetic analysis of the $Na^+-dependent$ $Ca^{2+}$ uptake showed a noncompetitive interaction between internal $Na^+$ and external $Ca^{2+}$. The dependence of $Ca^{2+}$ uptake on internal $Na^+$ showed sigmoidal kinetics and Hill coefficient for internal $Na^+$ was 2.52. Inside positive membrane potential generated by imposing an inwardly directed $K^+$ gradient and valinomycin significantly stimulated the $Na^+-dependent$ $Ca^{2+}$ uptake. These results indicate that a $Na^+-Ca^{2+}$ exchange system exists in the sarcolemmal membranes isolated from cat ileal longitudinal muscle and it might operate as an electrogenic process.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.871-879
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• 2012

Polyploids are a potentially important germplasm source in seedless citrus breeding program. Seedlessness is one of the most promising traits of commercial mandarin breeds that mandarin triploid hybrids possess permanently. The formation of new constant triploid hybrids can be recovered through diploid species hybridization from the fusion of divalent gametes at low frequencyor intra-and inter-ploidy crosses. However, extensive breeding work based on small $F_1$ hybrid seeds developed is impossible without a very effective aseptic methodology and ploidy event. In this study, in vitro embryo culture was employed to recover natural hybrids from monoembryonic diploid, open-pollinated mandarin. Flow cytometry was used to determine ploidy level. A total of 10,289 seeds were extracted from 792 fruits having approximately 13 seeds per fruit. Average frequency of small seeds developed was 7.1%, while the average frequency of small seeds per fruit were: 8.9% for 'Clementine' 10.2% for 'Harehime' 2.6% for 'Kamja' 3.1% for 'Pyunkyool' 2.8% for 'Sadookam' and 7.0% for 'Wilking' mandarin. Average size of a perfect seed was $49.52{\pm}0.07mm^2$ ('Clementine') while the small seed measured $7.95{\pm}0.04mm^2$ ('Clementine'), which was about 1/6 smaller than the perfect seed. In total, 731 small seeds were obtained and all of them contained only one embryo per seed. The efficiency of 'Clementine' was 14 times higher than 'Wilking' and more than 109 times higher than 'Pyunkyool'. The basic information on spontaneous polyploidy provides for the hybridization of constant triploids and increases the efficiency of conventional cross.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2009

The $\beta$-glucosidase gene from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The ORF consisted of 1377 nucleotides encoding 51 kDa in a predicted molecular weight. Effects of pH indicated that the $\beta$-glucosidase showed similar activity using $\alpha$-pNPG($\rho$-nitrophenyl-$\alpha$-D-glucopyranoside), $\beta$-pNPG($\rho$-nitrophenyl-$\beta$-D-glucopyranoside), and $\beta$-pNPF($\rho$-nitrophenyl-$\beta$-D-fucopyranoside) at range of pH 3 to 10, and high activity using $\beta$-pNPGA ($\rho$-nitrophenyl-$\beta$-D-galactopyranoside) from pH 5 to 10, especially, 3.3 times higher activity at pH 9. Effects of temperature indicated that the $\beta$-glucosidase showed low activity using $\alpha$-pNPG, $\beta$-pNPG, and $\beta$-pNPF from $20^{\circ}C$ to $70^{\circ}C$, and increased activity using $\beta$-pNPGA from $30^{\circ}C$ to $50^{\circ}C$, 1.8 times higher activity at $50^{\circ}C$ than at $30^{\circ}C$. According to activity determination of other substrates, the enzyme was active on daidzin, genistin, and glycitin, inactive on esculin and apigenin-7-glucose. The EDTA and DTT as reducing agents inhibited $\beta$-glucosidase activity, but SDS and mercaptoethanol did not inhibit. Monovalent or divalent metal ions such as $MnSO_4$, $CaCl_2$, KCl, and $MgSO_4$ did not inhibited $\beta$-glucosidase activity. $CuSO_4$ and NaCl showed low inhibition, and $ZnSO_4$ inhibited 3.3 times higher than control.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.347-355
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• 2000

Zinc is one of the most abundant oligoelements in the living cell. It appears tightly bound to some metalloproteins and nucleic acids, loosely bound to some metallothioneins or even as free ion. Small amounts of zinc ions (in the nanomolar range) regulate a plentitude of enzymatic proteins, receptors and transcription factors, thus rolls need accurate homeostasis of zinc ions. Zinc is an essential catalytic or structural element of many proteins, and a signaling messenger that is released by neural activity at many central excitatory synapses. Growing evidences suggest that zinc may also be a key mediator and modulator of the neuronal death associated with transient global ischemia and sustained seizures, as well as perhaps other neurological disease stoles. Some neurons have developed mechanisms to accumulate zinc in specific membrane compartment ('vesicular zinc') which can be evidenced using histochemical techniques. Substances giving a bright colour or emitting fluorescence when in contact with divalent metal ions are currently used to detect them inside cells; their use leads to the so called 'direct' methods. The fixation and precipitation of metal ions as insoluble salt precipitates, their maintenance along the histological process and, finally, their demonstration after autometallographic development are essential steps for other methods, the so called 'indirect methods'. This study is a short report on the autometallograhical approaches for zinc detection in the central nervous system (CNS) by means of a modified selenium method.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.54-67
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• 2003

The voltage-dependence of N-type calcium current inactivation is U-shaped with the degree of inactivation roughly mirroring inward current. This voltage-dependence has been reported to result from a purely voltage-dependent mechanism. However, $Ca^{2＋}$-dependent inactivation of N-channels has also been reported. We have investigated the role of $Ca^{2＋}$ in N-channel inactivation by comparing the effects of $Ba^{2＋}$and $Ca^{2＋}$ on whole-cell N-current in rat superior cervical ganglion neurons. For individual cells in-activation was always larger in $Ca^{2＋}$ than in $Ba^{2＋}$ even when internal EGTA (11 mM) was replaced with BAPTA (20 mM). The inactivation vs. voltage relationship was U-shaped in both divalent cations. The enhancement of inactivation by $Ca^{2＋}$ was inversely related with the magnitude of inactivation in $Ba^{2＋}$ as if the mechanisms of inactivation were the same in both $Ba^{2＋}$ and $Ca^{2＋}$. In support of this idea we could separate fast ( ${\gamma}$ ～150 ms) and slow ( ${\gamma}$ ～ 2500 ms) components of inactivation in both $Ba^{2＋}$and $Ca^{2＋}$ using 5 sec voltage steps. Differential effects were observed on each component with $Ca^{2＋}$ enhancing the magnitude of the fast component and the speed of the slow component. The larger amplitude of fast component indicates that the more channels inactivate via this pathway with $Ca^{2＋}$ than with $Ba^{2＋}$, but the stable time constants support the idea the fast inactivation mechanism is identical in $Ba^{2＋}$and $Ca^{2＋}$. The results do not support a $Ca^{2＋}$-dependent mechanism for fast inactivation. However, the $Ca^{2＋}$-induced acceleration of the slowly inactivating component could result from a $Ca^{2＋}$-dependent process.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.561-574
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• 2000

Poly-P has been used to prevent decomposition of foods and has been shown to have inhibitory effect on the growth of gram positive bacteria. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of poly-P on the growth of Porphyromonas endodontalis, a gram negative obligate anaerobic rod, endodontopathic bacterium. P. endodontalis ATCC 35406 was in BHI broth containing hemin and vitamin K with or without poly-P. Inhibitory effect of each poly-P which was added at the beginning(lag phase) or during(exponential phase) the culture, MIC(minimum inhibitory concentration) was determined by measuring the optical density of the bacterial cell at 540nm. Viable cell counts were measured to determined whether poly-P has a bactericidal effect. Leakage of intracellular nucleotides from P. endodontalis was determined at 260nm and morphological change of P. endodontalis was observed under the TEM(transmission electron microscope). Binding of 32P-labeled poly-P to P. endodontalis was examined. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and zymography were performed to observe the changes in protein and enzyme profiles of P. endodontalis, respectively. The results from this study were as follows : 1. The minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC) of poly-P to P. endodontalis appeared to be 0.04~0.05%. 2. Poly-P added to the P. endodontalis culture during the exponential phase of P. endodontalis was as much effective as poly-P added at the begining of the culture, suggesting that the antibacterial effect of poly-P is not much dependent on the initial inoculum size of P. endodontalis. 3. Poly-P are bactericidal to P. endodontalis, demonstrating the decrease of the viable cell counts. 4. Intracellular nucleotide release from the P. endodontalis, was not increased in the presence of poly-P and was not reversed by the addition of divalent cations like $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2-}$. 5. Under the TEM, it was observed that fine electro-dense materials were prominent in the poly-P grown P. endodontalis, appearing locally in the cell, and the materials were more abundant and more dispersed in the cell as the incubation time with poly-P increased. In addition, highly electron dense granules accumulated in many poly-P grown cells, most of which were atypical in their shape. 6. Binding of 32P-labeled poly-P to P. endodontalis appeared to be 32.8 and 45.5 and 53.4% at 30 minutes, 1 hours and 2 hours, respectively. 7. In the presence of poly-P. the synthesis of proteins with apparent molecular masses of 25, 27, 35, 45 was lost or drastically decreased whereas expression of a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 75 was elevated. 8. Proteolytic activity of P. endodontalis was decreased by poly-P. The overall results suggest that use of poly-P may affect the growth of P. endodontalis, and the anti-bacterial activity of poly-P seems largely bactericidal. Changes in shape, protein expression, and proteolytic activity of P. endodontalis by poly-P may be directly and indirectly attributed to the antibacterial effect of poly-P. Further studies will be needed to confirm the effect of poly-P.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.249-259
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• 2009

The objective of this research was to find out the physical properties, such as dispersion and coagulation, of soil minerals depending on the types and concentrations of the cations in aqueous solution. Hwangto samples were obtained from 90 to 130 cm from surface at Jangdong-ri, Donggang-Myon, Naju, Chonnam Province. The clay fraction (< $2\;{\mu}m$) was separated by sedimentation method from the bulk soils. Both Hwangto and clay fractions, and the same samples after removal of amorphous and crystalline iron oxides were used in this experiment. The effect of 4 cations ($Na^+$, $K^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$) and their concentrations on settling speed and basal spacing of the minerals were observed to examine the physical properties of the soil and clay minerals. Hwangto mainly consisted of quartz, and the clay fractions consisted of kaolinite, illite, and vermiculite. The bulk soils contained 16.3 mg/kg of amorphous iron oxides and 436 mg/kg of crystalline iron oxides. Clay fractions were dispersed better than bulk soils due to their smaller particle size than that of the bulk samples in the aqueous solution. The bulk and clay samples were dispersed better when iron oxides were removed because of coating of minerals by the iron oxides. Clay minerals were settled faster as the charge and the concentration of cations added increased. The d-spacing of kaolinite and illite did not change when 4 types of cations were added. The d-spacing of vermiculite showed $14.04\;{\AA}$ when divalent cations were added while that of vermiculite showed $13.9\;{\AA}$ when monovalent cations were added. It may be attributed to the hydration radii of cations. This study indicated that both coating of iron oxides on minerals and types and concentrations of cations affect dispersion of minerals in solution and d-spacing of expanding clay minerals such as vermiculite.