• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1951-1964
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• 2016

1,4-Dioxane-degrading bacterial consortia were enriched from forest soil (FS) and activated sludge (AS) using a defined medium containing 1,4-dioxane as the sole carbon source. These two enrichments cultures appeared to have inducible tetrahydrofuran/dioxane and propane degradation enzymes. According to qPCR results on the 16S rRNA and soluble di-iron monooxygenase genes, the relative abundances of 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria to total bacteria in FS and AS were 29.4% and 57.8%, respectively. For FS, the cell growth yields (Y), maximum specific degradation rate ($V_{max}$), and half-saturation concentration ($K_m$) were 0.58 mg-protein/mg-dioxane, $0.037mg-dioxane/mg-protein{\cdot}h$, and 93.9 mg/l, respectively. For AS, Y, $V_{max}$, and $K_m$ were 0.34 mg-protein/mg-dioxane, $0.078mg-dioxane/mg-protein{\cdot}h$, and 181.3 mg/l, respectively. These kinetics data of FS and AS were similar to previously reported values. Based on bacterial community analysis on 16S rRNA gene sequences of the two enrichment cultures, the FS consortium was identified to contain 38.3% of Mycobacterium and 10.6% of Afipia, similar to previously reported literature. Meanwhile, 49.5% of the AS consortium belonged to the candidate division TM7, which has never been reported to be involved in 1,4-dioxane biodegradation. However, recent studies suggested that TM7 bacteria were associated with degradation of non-biodegradable and hazardous materials. Therefore, our results showed that previously unknown 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacteria might play an important role in enriched AS. Although the metabolic capability and ecophysiological significance of the predominant TM7 bacteria in AS enrichment culture remain unclear, our data reveal hidden characteristics of the TM7 phylum and provide a perspective for studying this previously uncultured phylotype.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.84-89
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• 2005

Mongolian dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum H.) extracted with solvents having different polarities were prepared to investigate protection activity of gastric mucosa. Ethanol extracts were successively reextracted with methylene chloride, and n-butanol. Concentrations of total flavonoids and luteolin in n-butanol extracts were 27.75 and 1.14%, respectively, much higher than those of other solvent extracts. Results of anti-microbial acitivity test against Helicobacter pylori and urease inhibition test revealed n-butanol extract exerted higher inhibition (13.16%) than other solvent extracts. Based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, n-butanol extract showed the highest efficiency of free radical-scavenger activity among the extracts ($SC_{50}\;47{\mu}g/mL$). Erythrocytic photohemolysis tests, for the protection of cell membrane showed that half-life of human erythrocytes was increased by the addition of n-butanol extract $({\tau}_{50}=172min;C=5.0{\mu}g/mL)$. These results indicate n-butanol extract of Mongolian dandelion may be useful as a adjuvant for gastric diseases.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.103-111
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• 2007

In this paper, we propose a VLSI architecture of hardware optimized high quality image signal processor for a Single-chip CMOS Image Sensor(CIS). The Single-chip CIS is usually used for mobile applications, so it has to be implemented as small as possible while maintaining the image quality. Several image processing algorithms are used in ISP to improve captured image quality. Among the several image processing blocks, demosaicing and image filter are the core blocks in ISP. These blocks need line memories, but the number of line memories is limited in a low cost Single-chip CIS. In our design, high quality edge-adaptive and cross channel correlation considered demosaicing algorithm is adopted. To minimize the number of required line memories for image filter, we share the line memories using the characteristics of demosaicing algorithm which consider the cross correlation. Based on the proposed method, we can achieve both high quality and low hardware complexity with a small number of line memories. The proposed method was implemented and verified successfully using verilog HDL and FPGA. It was synthesized to gate-level circuits using 0.25um CMOS standard cell library. The total logic gate count is 37K, and seven and half line memories are used.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.757-779
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• 2000

The aim of our study is to achieve complete periodontal tissue regeneration by the application of BMP and resorbable membrane. Three beagle dogs aged over one and half years and weighed 14 to 16 kg were used in this study. Mandibular 1st, 2nd premolars were extracted bilaterally. Horizontal furcation defects were induced around 3rd, 4th premolars bilaterally. BMP-4 were applied in the right side with resorbable membranes and only resorbable membranes were applied in the left side respectively. Each animal was sacrificed at 2, 4, and 8weeks, after regenerative surgery. Specimens were prepared with Hematoxylin-Eosin stain and Goldner's modified Masson Trichrome stain for light microscopic evaluation. The results were as follows: 1. At 2 weeks after regenerative surgery, downgrowth of junctional epithelium was observed both in the membraneapplied site and BMP-4-and-membrane-applied site. 2. At 4 weeks after regenerative surgery, resorbable membranes were completely resolved, therefore would not prevent downgrowth of junctional epithelium. New bone formation, new cementum formation and Sharpey's fiber were observed in BMP-4-andmembrane-applied site. 3. At 8 weeks after regenerative surgery, downgrowth of junctional epithelium was observed in the membrane-applied site. But, new cementum formation was observed in the same site. The extensive regeneration of new bone, new cementum and remarkable formation of Shapey's fiber were showed in BMP-4-and-membrane-applied site. 4. Resorbable membranes were resolved via the cell-mediated processes. 5. Periodontal tissue regeneration were better achieved in the BMP-4-andmembrane-applied site than in the membrane-applied site. Within the above results, BMP-4 may have the strong capability to form the new bone and resorbable membrane may be able to prevent the bony ankylosis. However, resolution rate of resorbable membrane may not be enough to protect rapid epithelial downgrowth for ideal periodontal regeneration. In conclusion, I suggest BMP-4 may have the strong possibility to be utilized in the clinical periodontal treat-

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.585-588
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• 2008

To predict the service life of reinforced concrete structures exposed to chloride environment, quantitative measures of material properties such as the critical chloride content for corrosion in concrete and the diffusion coefficient of chloride ions of concrete and the surface chloride content of the concrete are essential. However, it should be noted that they are influenced by several factors such as concrete mix proportions, cement type, and environmental conditions, etc. Thus, the purpose of this research is to estimate more actually the critical chloride content for corrosion of the reinforcing steel in concrete by field exposure experiment. For this purpose, the prism concrete test specimens were made for water-cement(W/C) ratios of 31%, 42%, 50%, and 70%, and then the field exposure experiment for them were conducted at Youngduk of the east coast for about 3 years. During the test, corrosion monitoring by half cell potential method was carried out to detect the time to initiation of corrosion for test specimens and its chloride content was evaluated by breaking the concrete test specimens when corrosion of the reinforcing steel in concrete was perceived. It was observed from the test results that the critical chloride content for corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete would be dependent on W/C ratio and almost irrespective of concrete cover.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.258-266
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• 2020

Background: Oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis is a key pathological process in ischemic heart disease. Glutathione reductase (GR) reduces glutathione disulfide to glutathione (GSH) to alleviate oxidative stress. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) prevents the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes; however, the role of GR in this process is unclear. Therefore, the effects of GRb1 on GR were investigated in this study. Methods: The antiapoptotic effects of GRb1 were evaluated in H9C2 cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and Western blotting. The antioxidative effects were measured by a reactive oxygen species assay, and GSH levels and GR activity were examined in the presence and absence of the GR inhibitor 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the binding of GRb1 to GR. The direct influence of GRb1 on GR was confirmed by recombinant human GR protein. Results: GRb1 pretreatment caused dose-dependent inhibition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cell apoptosis, at a level comparable to that of the positive control N-acetyl-L-cysteine. The binding energy between GRb1 and GR was positive (-6.426 kcal/mol), and the binding was stable. GRb1 significantl reduced reactive oxygen species production and increased GSH level and GR activity without altering GR protein expression in H9C2 cells. Moreover, GRb1 enhanced the recombinant human GR protein activity in vitro, with a half-maximal effective concentration of ≈2.317 μM. Conversely, 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea co-treatment significantly abolished the GRb1's apoptotic and antioxidative effects of GRb1 in H9C2 cells. Conclusion: GRb1 is a potential natural GR agonist that protects against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of H9C2 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1517-1522
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• 2007

Gap junction channels formed by two adjacent cells allow the passage of small molecules up to ${\sim}\;1\;kDa$ between them. Hemichannel (connexon or half of gap junction) also behaves as a membrane channel like sodium or potassium channels in a single cell membrane. Among 26 types of connexin (Cx), $Cx32^*43E1$ (a chimera in which the first extracellular loop of Cx32 has been replaced with that of Cx43), Cx38, Cx46, and Cx50 form functional hemichannels as well as gap junction channels. Although it is known that Xenopus oocytes express endogenous connexin 38 (Cx38), its biophysical characteristics at single channel level are poorly understood. In this study, we performed single channel recordings from single Xenopus oocytes to acquire the biophysical properties of Cx38 including voltage-dependent gating and permeation (conductance and selectivity). The voltage-dependent fast and slow gatings of Cx38 hemichannel are distinct. Fast gating events occur at positive potentials and their open probabilities are low. In contrast, slow gatings dominate at negative potentials with high open probabilites. Based on hi-ionic experiments, Cx38 hemichannel is anion-selective. It will be interesting to test whether charged amino acid residues in the amino terminus of Cx38 are responsible for voltage gatings and permeation.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.413-422
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• 2018

Soybean transgenic plants with ectopically expressed AtABF3 were produced by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and investigated the effects of AtABF3 expression on drought and salt tolerance. Stable Agrobacterium-mediated soybean transformation was carried based on the half-seed method (Paz et al. 2006). The integration of the transgene was confirmed from the genomic DNA of transformed soybean plants using PCR and the copy number of transgene was determined by Southern blotting using leaf samples from $T_2$ seedlings. In addition to genomic integration, the expression of the transgenes was analyzed by RT-PCR and most of the transgenic lines expressed the transgenes introduced. The chosen two transgenic lines (line #2 and #9) for further experiment showed the substantial drought stress tolerance by surviving even at the end of the 20-day of drought treatment. And the positive relationship between the levels of AtABF3 gene expression and drought-tolerance was confirmed by qRT-PCR and drought tolerance test. The stronger drought tolerance of transgenic lines seemed to be resulted from physiological changes. Transgenic lines #2 and #9 showed ion leakage at a significantly lower level (P < 0.01) than ${\underline{n}}on-{\underline{t}}ransgenic$ (NT) control. In addition, the chlorophyll contents of the leaves of transgenic lines were significantly higher (P < 0.01). The results indicated that their enhanced drought tolerance was due to the prevention of cell membrane damage and maintenance of chlorophyll content. Water loss by transpiration also slowly proceeded in transgenic plants. In microscopic observation, higher stomata closure was confirmed in transgenic lines. Especially, line #9 had 56% of completely closed stomata whereas only 16% were completely open. In subsequent salt tolerance test, the apparently enhanced salt tolerance of transgenic lines was measured in ion leakage rate and chlorophyll contents. Finally, the agronomic characteristics of ectopically expressed AtABF3 transgenic plants ($T_2$) compared to NT plants under regular watering (every 4 days) or low rate of watering condition (every 10 days) was investigated. When watered regularly, the plant height of drought-tolerant line (#9) was shorter than NT plants. However, under the drought condition, total seed weight of line #9 was significantly higher than in NT plants (P < 0.01). Moreover, the pods of NT plants showed severe withering, and most of the pods failed to set normal seeds. All the evidences in the study clearly suggested that overexpression of the AtABF3 gene conferred drought and salt tolerance in major crop soybean, especially under the growth condition of low watering.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.243-274
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• 2013

To investigate the research state and characteristics of dinoflagellate cyst along the Korean coastal waters, this work analyzed 45 studies conducted in the Korean coasts and basin, the south of Jeju, East China Sea including some part of the Yellow Sea. It was found that the research on dinoflagellate cyst began in the later half of the 1980s in Korea, and that the research areas focused on eutrophied regions where a red tide occurred or on the seas where coastal development occurred. In other words, no research on the East Sea was found. In terms of research contents, there were various studies on analysis of cyst assemblage, tracking of the changes in marine environment like process of eutrophication, roles as a seed population in occurrence of a red tide, creation of cyst by use of sediment trip and tracking of its changes, morphological changes by the change of pH concentration in the hypoxia zone of eutrophied region, germination of a specific species, and other international-level studies. Species composition and cell density also varied in the Korean coastal waters. However, much research on dinoflagellate cyst in Korea is not systematic, and is fragmentary and individual and hencesuffers from great limitations. The research results so far have focused only on specific regions, and sporadic research had been conducted by specific research groups. Dinoflagellate cyst of surface sediments represents the accumulation index of pelagic environment in the sea and is a useful index to understand the marine environment efficiently. In conclusion, Korea requires organized human resources and collaborative research on dinoflagellate cyst which in turn should be considered as a component of marine ecosystem and as an essential aspect of marine biology.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.136-143
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• 2016

There are various method for evaluating the durability life of concrete structures due to salt damage. The best way is to perform a corrosion test for a rebar embedded in concrete specimen was exposure to marine environment. However, this method has the disadvantage that it takes a long period of time. Also, accelerated corrosion test which was complemented complements the time-consuming weakness is limited to apply because it could not reveal a correlation between long-term exposure test. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to derive a correlation coefficient between cycle drying-wetting accelerated corrosion test and long-term exposure test. Corrosion initiation time was measured in four types of concrete samples, i.e., two samples mixed with fly ash(FA) and blast furnace slag(BS), and the other two samples having two water/cement ratio(W/C = 0.6, 0.35) without admixture(OPC 60 and OPC 35). The accelerated corrosion test was carried out by two case, i.e., one is a cyclic drying-wetting method(case 1), and the other is a artificial seawater ponding test method(case 2). Whether corrosion occurs, it was measures using half-cell potential method. The results indicated that case 1 is to accelerated the corrosion of rebar about 24~36% as compared with case 2, then the corrosion of rebar embedded in concrete occurred according to the order of OPC60, FA, BS, OPC35. Correlation coefficient between accelerated corrosion test and long-term exposure test, case 1 is 4.23 to 5.42, and case 2 is 6.54 to 7.82.