• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.92-100
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• 2017

Acetoin (AC) is a volatile platform compound with various potential industrial applications. AC contains two stereoisomeric forms: (3S)-AC and (3R)-AC. Optically pure AC is an important potential intermediate and widely used as a precursor to synthesize novel optically active materials. In this study, chiral (3R)-AC production from meso-2,3-butanediol (meso-2,3-BD) was obtained using recombinant Escherichia coli cells co-expressing meso-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase (meso-2,3-BDH), NADH oxidase (NOX), and hemoglobin protein (VHB) from Serratia sp. T241, Lactobacillus brevis, and Vitreoscilla, respectively. The new biocatalyst of E. coli/pET-mbdh-nox-vgb was developed and the bioconversion conditions were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, 86.74 g/l of (3R)-AC with the productivity of 3.61 g/l/h and the stereoisomeric purity of 97.89% was achieved from 93.73 g/l meso-2,3-BD using the whole-cell biocatalyst. The yield and productivity were new records for (3R)-AC production. The results exhibit the industrial potential for (3R)-AC production via whole-cell biocatalysis.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.323-335
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• 2017

Recently, Korea is facing a trend of a fast-paced change towards a multi-cultural society, accompanied by the consequential increase in population and many changes in the peripheral environment. Particularly, the influx of multi-cultural families in Ansan City is increasing every year, but their housing environment remains in poor conditions. Actually, the research on housing policy for multi-cultural families and their housing satisfaction is restrictive. It is therefore necessary to research on how to overcome this problem, and what realistic policy alternatives are required. The purpose of this study is to present some policy alternatives to improve the housing satisfaction of the Korean-Chinese residing in Ansan City. To this end, this study conducted empirical analysis with a focus on Korea-Chinese multi-cultural families living in Ansan City through a questionnaire. As the analysis method, this study conducted frequency analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, cross analysis, and regression analysis, and used the statistical package-SPSS 20.0 as an analysis tool. As a result of the research, first, it was found that their awareness of the government housing policy is insufficient; second, they had a lot more hardships in housing due to the problem of the rising house prices caused by urban development & regeneration; third, in terms of housing tenure type, there was a higher proportion of a lease on a deposit basis and monthly rent than owner-occupied housing. Hence, this study drew the conclusion that the Korean-Chinese multi-cultural family's housing environment needs to be improved and policy support is required for Korean-Chinese. In addition, this study gives great significance in providing these research results as basic materials which make it possible to inquire into mutually reciprocal practice plan and strategic alternatives for a multi-cultural families from now on.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.521-528
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• 2017

Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of many neurological diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and many efforts are under way to solve them. Red ginseng is known to enhance neuronal survival, inhibit apoptosis, and promote nerve regeneration of nerve cells. This study examined whether Rg3-enriched Korean red ginseng extract (KRG) inhibits the apoptosis of PC12 cells caused by alcohol-induced neurotoxicity and how KRG regulates several factors related to the caspase mediated pathway. In this way, the cell survival rate and apoptosis rate of PC12 cells were measured using an EZ-Cytox cell viability assay kit and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression of the apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2, Bid, Bax and caspase-3) were analyzed by western blotting, and the significance of the measured results was confirmed using the ANOVA method. As a result, KRG increased the expression of Bcl-2; inhibited the expression of Bid, Bax, and caspase-3; and inhibited the apoptosis of alcohol-induced PC12 cells. These results mean that the KRG-induced increase in Bcl-2 expression and down-regulation of Bid and Bax expression down-regulate caspase-3 expression, which in turn inhibits the mitochondrial apoptotic pathways. This study suggests that KRG is worth developing as a neuroprotective agent candidate.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.4627-4634
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• 2013

Carbon dioxide is one of the main causes of global warming. In order to develop a novel absorbent, the characteristics of amino acid salts solution as a solvent for $CO_2$ capture in continuous process were investigated. The cost of $CO_2$ capture is almost 70% of total cost of CCS (carbon dioxide capture and storage). In the carbon dioxide capture process, process maintenance costs consist of the absorbent including the absorption, regeneration, degradation, and etc. It is very important to study the characteristics of absorbent in continuous process. In this study, we have investigated the properties of potassium L-lysine (PL) for getting scale-up factors in continuous process. To obtain optimum condition for removal efficiency of $CO_2$ in continuous process by varying liquid-gas (L/G) ratio, concentration of $CO_2$ and absorbent (PL) were tested. The stable condition of absorber and regenerator (L/G) ratio is 3.5. In addition, PL system reveals the highest removal efficiency of $CO_2$ with 3.5 of L/G and 10.5 vol% $CO_2$ ($1.5Nm^3/h$).

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.469-486
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• 2017

Economy-based urban redevelopment is the main priority in Malaysia, but has resulted in social problems such as gentrification, loss of heritage and identity, inequity, etc. Hence, it is crucial for the government to seek other alternatives rather than being solely reliant on urban redevelopment. Neighborhood renewal is a strategy involving the integration of redevelopment, rehabilitation, revitalization and preservation that aims to improve deprived areas using a more holistic approach. The aim of this paper is to review the neighborhood renewal policies in developed countries and to identify those elements that can be adopted in Malaysia. This study is conducted via a literature review. It was found that neighborhood renewal which integrates people-based, place-based and system-based policies highlights the importance of diversity, thereby aiming for resource optimization, community engagement and urban governance with the focal point of the fair, equity and systematic provision of resources. This paper concluded that neighborhood renewal in Malaysia should be initiated by locals with an emphasis on real local participation and a sustainable funding system. The government and local authorities should be observers rather than implementers.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.634-641
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• 2019

The world's population reached 7.7 billion in 2019. Despite this trend, not all cities are growing. Most of the growing population is driven to large cities for convenience and jobs. This phenomenon has led to a decrease in the population of small and medium-sized cities, and in certain cities, a decrease in employment as well as recession have resulted. Korea is no exception. The nation's population is concentrated in the metropolitan cities. To solve these problems, researchers started to study how to deal with the contraction of a city, i.e., a shrinking city, rather than focusing on only the growth of a city. In this paper, demographically outstanding declined domestic cities were selected as shrinking cities and their characteristics were analyzed. The concept of smart shrinking cities was then defined for the selected cities, which were chosen as a good case in overseas countries to solve the shrinking city problem. Through this process, the strategic differences were compared between domestic and oversea cases. As a result, a modified strategy for the smart shrinking city concept, FSSC (flexible smart shrinking city), is proposed as an alternative strategy that can save resources and cost.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.213-223
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• 2018

This study assessed the maintenance plan of the Shimbashi-Toranomon Development Area in Japan, which has recently been completed using the three-dimensional road system. In the main relevant law system, a three-dimensional road system, which enables the construction of buildings above and below the road, was applied. The specific construction regulations applying the financing power and knowledge of private business operators were applied. In the development district, city maintenance guidelines were established, and housing and shopping malls were regulated. This purpose was to promote change, unity of distance, effective use of land, and continuous urban revitalization with charm and vitality. The main features of the maintenance plan were accessibility and greenery, comfort and a sophisticated design, and a maintenance concept utilizing historical buildings and road space through the participation of local residents and the opinions of related committees. In addition, in the case of the construction of the upper and lower roads, the construction restrictions were relaxed, and the separation of the roads and the undergrounding of electric poles were promoted. The main aim was to improve the convenience of the residents and produce a pleasant road landscape.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.160-167
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• 2021

This study investigated the environmental effects of improving the general-type activated carbon adsorption tower used at the Sihwa/Banwol Industrial Complex with use of a cartridge-type activated carbon adsorption tower for the application of an activated carbon co-regenerated system. Four general-type activated carbon adsorption towers and two cartridge-type activated carbon adsorption towers were selected to analyze the properties of activated carbon and to compare the efficiency of reducing environmental pollutants. The results showed that the activated carbon used in the cartridge-type activated carbon adsorption towers was high quality activated carbon with an iodine adsorption force of more than 800 mg/g and that a good adsorption performance was maintained within the replacement cycle. From an analysis of the environmental pollutant reduction efficiency, it was confirmed that the cartridge-type activated carbon adsorption tower functioned properly as a prevention facility for handling emissions pollutants with a treatment efficiency of total hydrocarbons (THC), toluene, and methylethylketone (MEK) components of 71%, 77%, and 80%, respectively. The general activated carbon adsorption tower, which was confirmed to use low-performance activated carbon, had a very low treatment efficiency and did not function properly as a prevention facility for dealing with emission pollutants. It is believed that it is possible to reduce pollutants during operations by changing from the general-type activated carbon adsorption tower to a cartridge-type activated carbon adsorption tower.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.326-335
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• 2021

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of fermented soybean extract and its fractions on skin cell proliferation and growth. The extract was procured by the pepsin and Lactobacillus rhamnosus fermentation of soybean. LC-MS analysis was performed subsequent to soybean fermentation, and cell viability was measured by the WST-1 assay. Cell proliferation was observed to increase after exposing cells to the fermented soybean extract and its fractions at all concentrations tested (0~2,000 ㎍/mL). In particular, compared to the normal control group and 120 % proliferation of the EGF (epidermal growth factor) positive control group, 160~180 % cell proliferation was achieved at 800 ㎍/ml, indicating the excellent potential as an application material for skin aging inhibition and skin cell regeneration. In addition, we also examined the effects of fermented soybean extract and its fractions on wound healing ability, in HaCaT cells and fibroblasts. Our results indicate excellent cell migration abilities after treatment with fermented soybean extract and its fractions, as compared to the control treatment. Similar cell migration abilities were observed in the positive control group (EGF). Taken together, our results indicate that fermented soybean extract and its fractions (F4 and F5) exert amelioratory effects as a natural material for skin.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.1-6
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• 2021

Mercury, once released, is not destroyed but accumulates and circulates in the natural environment, causing serious harm to ecosystems and human health. In the United States, sulfur-impregnated activated carbon is being considered for the removal of vapor mercury from the flue gas of coal-fired power plants, which accounts for about 32 % of the anthropogenic emissions of mercury. In this study, a high-efficiency porous mercury adsorption material was developed to reduce the mercury vapor in the exhaust gas of coal combustion facilities, and the mercury adsorption characteristics of the material were investigated. As a result of the investigation of the vapor mercury adsorption capacity at 30℃, the silica nanotube MCM-41 was only about 35 % compared to the activated carbon Darco FGD commercially used for mercury adsorption, but it increased to 133 % when impregnated with 1.5 % sulfur. In addition, the furnace fly ash recovered from the waste copper regeneration process showed an efficiency of 523 %. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity was investigated at temperatures of 30 ℃, 80 ℃, and 120 ℃, and the best adsorption performance was found to be 80 ℃. MCM-41 is a silica nanotube that can be reused many times due to its rigid structure and has additional advantages, including no possibility of fire due to the formation of hot spots, which is a concern when using activated carbon.