• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.207-214
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• 2013

A concerted effort to develop alternative forms of energy is underway due to fossil fuel shortages and its deleterious effects. Recently, bioenergy from microalgae has gained prominence and the use of municipal wastewater as a low cost alternative for a nutrient source has significant advantages. In this study, we have employed municipal wastewater directly after primary treatment (primary settling basin) in a small scale raceway pond (SSRP) for microalgal growth. Indigenous microalgae in the wastewater were encouraged to grow in the SSRP under optimal conditions. The mean removal efficiencies of TN, TP, and $NH_3-N$ after 6 days were 77.77%, 63.55%, and 89.02%, respectively. The average lipid content of the microalgae was 19.51% of dry cell weight, and linolenate and linoleate (18:n) were the predominant fatty acids. The 18S rRNA gene analysis and microscopic observations of the indigenous microalgae community revealed the presence of Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus as the dominant microalgae. These results indicate that untreated municipal wastewater, serving as an excellent nitrogen and phosphate source for microalgal growth, could be treated using microalgae in open raceway ponds. Moreover, microalgal biomass could be further profitable by the extraction of biodiesel.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.20-25
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• 2015

Objectives: Recently, thread-embedding therapy (TET) has been widely applied in Korean medicine for cosmetic purposes such as reducing skin wrinkles. An inserted thread was reported to have induced continuous stimulation, followed by support for connective tissue regeneration. However, the potential role of TET in hair-growth has not yet been reported. Methods: We designed this study to evaluate whether TET has a hair-growth-promoting effect. C57 black 6 (C57BL/6) mice were divided into three groups: normal saline-treated, minoxidil-treated, and thread-embedded groups. Normal saline or 5% minoxidil was topically sprayed on the dorsal skin of the mice once a day for 16 days. Medical threads were embedded into the dorsal skin of the mice in a single application. Hair growth activity was evaluated by using dermoscopic and microscopic observations. Sections of the dorsal skin were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Expressions of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF-7), and fibroblast growth factor-5 (FGF-5) were detected by using immunohistochemical staining. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was adopted to measure the messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of FGF-7 and FGF-5. Results: TET enhanced anagen development in the hair follicles of C57BL/6 mice. The expressions of BrdU and PCNA, both of which imply active cellular proliferation, were increased by using TET. Moreover, TET increased the expression of FGF-7, an anagen-inducing growth factor, while decreasing the expression of FGF-5, an anagen-cessation growth factor, both at the protein and the mRNA levels. Conclusion: TET enhanced hair re-growth in C57BL/6 mice. TET regulated the expressions of anagen-associated growth factors and activated the proliferation of hair follicular cells in depilated skin lesions. Considering its long-lasting effect, TET may be a good alternative therapeutic for the treatment of alopecia.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1654-1663
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• 2014

To examine the effect of tumor suppressor protein p53 on the antitumor activity of 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeO-$E_2$), 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced cell cycle changes and apoptotic events were compared between the human colon carcinoma cell lines HCT116 ($p53^{+/+}$) and HCT116 ($p53^{-/-}$). When both cell types were exposed to 2-MeO-$E_2$, a reduction in the cell viability and an enhancement in the proportions of $G_2/M$ cells and apoptotic sub-$G_1$ cells commonly occurred dose-dependently. These 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced cellular changes, except for $G_2/M$ arrest, appeared to be more apparent in the presence of p53. Immunofluorescence microscopic analysis using anti-${\alpha}$-tubulin and anti-lamin B2 antibodies revealed that after 2-MeO-$E_2$ treatment, impaired mitotic spindle network and prometaphase arrest occurred similarly in both cell types. Following 2-MeO-$E_2$ treatment, only HCT116 ($p53^{+/+}$) cells exhibited an enhancement in the levels of p53, p-p53 (Ser-15), $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$, and Bax; however, the Bak level remained relatively constant in both cell types, and the Bcl-2 level decreased only in HCT116 ($p53^{+/+}$) cells. Additionally, mitochondrial apoptotic events, including the activation of Bak and Bax, loss of ${\Delta}{\psi}m$, activation of caspase-9 and -3, and cleavage of lamin A/C, were more dominantly induced in the presence of p53. The Bak-specific and Bax-specific siRNA approaches confirmed the necessity of both Bak and Bax activations for the 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced apoptosis in HCT116 cells. These results show that among 2-MeO-$E_2$-induced apoptotic events, including prometaphase arrest, up-regulation of Bax level, down-regulation of Bcl-2 level, activation of both Bak and Bax, and mitochondria-dependent caspase activation, the modulation of Bax and Bcl-2 levels is the target of the pro-apoptotic action of p53.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.60-71
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• 1992

To investigate the delignification behaviour in solvolysis pulping process, Populus alba ${\times}$ glandulosa H. and Pinus Kuraiensis S. et Z. were cooked with p-cresol and vater solvent(2:8, 5:5, 8:2 v/v) at $175^{\circ}C$ for 9 cooking time levels(20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, min). Pulp yield, residual lignin content, de lignification rate, decarborhydration rate were determined. Delignification behaviours were analyzed by TEM. 1. The p-cresol-water solvent cooking of P. alba ${\times}$ glandulosa showed good delignification at the solvent system which the mixture ratio of p-cresol and water were 2:8(v/v), while the cooking of P. koraiensis with the p-cresol and water mixture ratio of 5:5 was no good. 2. P. alba ${\times}$ glandulosa showed three step-delignification phenomena at the solvent system which the mixture ratio of p-cresol and water were 2:8(v/v) anti 5:5(v/v). But P. koraiensis showed a first order delignification reaction at the same mixture ratio of p-cresol and water solvent system. 3. In TEM micrograph obtained for the solvent system which the mixture ratio of p-cresol and water was 5:5(v/v), the partial delignification of the cell corner of P. alba ${\times}$ glandulosa and P. koraiensis were observed at 60min. of cooking time. Complete delignification at the cell corner of P. alba ${\times}$ glandulosa was observed at 160min. and that of P. koraiensis was observed of 180min. of cooking time. 4. In optical microscopic observation, fiber separation of P. alba ${\times}$ glandulosa occured at 120min. and that of P. koraiensis began at 140min. of cooking time. 5. At the solvent system which the mixture ratio of p-cresol and water was 5:5(v/v), middle layer on secondary wall($S_2$) and cell corner of P. alba ${\times}$ glandulosa were more selectively delignified than primary wall(P) and outer layer on secondary wall($S_1$). However P. koraiensis did not showed any difference in delignification between cell wall layers and cell corner.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.163-174
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• 2008

The conventional four-step travel demand model is still widely used as the state-of-practice in most transportation planning agencies even though it does not provide reliable estimates of travel demand. In order to improve the accuracy of travel demand estimation, implementing an alternative approach would be critical as much as acquiring reliable socioeconomic and travel data. Recently, the role of travel demand model is diverse to satisfy the needs of microscopic analysis regarding various policies of travel demand management and traffic operations. In this context, the activity-based approach for travel demand estimation is introduced and a case study of developing a spatial-temporal activity presence-based approach that estimates travel demand through forecasting number of people present at certain place and time is accomplished. Results show that the spatial-temporal activity presence-based approach provides reliable estimates of both number of people present and trips actually people made. It is expected that the proposed approach will provide better estimates and be used in not only long-term transport plans but short-term transport impact studies with respect to various transport policies. Finally, in order to introduce the spatial-temporal activity presence-based approach, the data such as activity-based travel diary and land use based on geographic information system are essential.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.135-147
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• 2014

This study analyzed spectroscopic methods for characterization of skarn minerals and sphalerite occurring in Dangdu ore deposit, and effectiveness of portable spectrometer in skarn mineral resources exploration is discussed. The spectroscopic analyses identified clinopyroxene, garnet, epidote, calcite, chlorite and sphalerite where spectral curves of clinopyroxene, garnet, epidote, and sphalerite show single mineral spectral characteristics and those of chlorite are in a mixed form with calcite and clinopyroxene. The assessment of spectroscopic analyses based on XRD analysis and microscopic observation reveals that clinopyroxene, garnet, epidote correspond well with more than 80% of detection, but sphalerite, chlorite, and calcite showed below 50% of detection rate. It is expected that skarn deposit exploration using a portable spectrometer is more effective in detection of clinopyroxene, garnet, and epidote whereas spectroscopic data of sphalerite, chlorite, and calcite needs to be utilized as a supplementary data. For the effective detection of chlorite and calcite, their content in the samples needs to be sufficient.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.163-170
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• 2012

In order to inhibit the growth of pathogens and degrade biogenic amines during the fermentation of soybean products, an isolate with antimicrobial activity against pathogens and biogenic amine-degrading property was obtained from 83 traditionally fermented soybean products. The morphological and biochemical tests and the phylogenetic relationship among 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate named as the strain SCK B11 was most closely related to Bacillus licheniformis. The cell-free supernatant of two day cultures was active against several pathogens including Enterococcus faecalis, Listeria monocytosis, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus. PCR analysis was conducted to determine relatedness to antimicrobial lantibiotics and biosurfactants produced by Bacillus spp., but showed negative for the genes encoding surfactin, lichenysin, and lichenicidine. Electron microscopic observation indicated that the antimicrobial agent seemed to attack the membrane of the pathogens, leaving the ghost or shrunken cells. The strain was found to degrade histamine by 72% and tyramine by 66% in the cooked soybean containing 5.3% of biogenic amine over 10 days of fermentation time. The use of selected strain would be a potential control measure in manufacturing traditionally fermented soybean products that are difficult to control pathogens and biogenic amine levels.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.5-15
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• 1980

The first recorded trypanosomiasis epidemic in Uganda took place at the beginning of this century in the islands and in a strip along the northern shores of Lake Victoria, which resulted in deaths of 1/3 million people. The disease was partly controlled by early 1930's and continued to occur sporadically in certain localized foci. The disease has however flared up in an explosive outbreak in Busoga district along Lake Victoria since 1977. The incidence of disease in northern district adjacent to Southern Sudan is also increasing lately. This paper describes the three month observation on the surveillance and control activities in the epidemic areas and of various health units including the Vector Control Division, the Tsetse fly Control Division, Tororo Trypanosomiasis Research Institute, medical units in Busoga, and Acholi districts. Data analysis and review were made of disease information so far collected by various health units in the Ministry of Health and district health offices. The findings may be summarized in the following: 1) A total of 12, 100 patients and 38 deaths: have occured in Busoga district since 1977 onward, and over 100 cases of diseases arc occuring in the Northern region bordering Southern Sudan. 2) the distribution of trypanosomiasis is characterized with two district patterns. The disease caused by Trypanosoma rhodesiense occurs in Busoga and is transmitted by Glossina palpalis, G. fuscipes infested in the islands and in the northern shore of forests of Lake Victoria. Another type caused by Trypanosoma gambiense occurs in Madi and Acholi in the north and is transmitted by Glossina morsitans in Savannah. 3) The house survey in Rusoga indicated that most of patients keep domestic animals in their house premises, and are engaging in either farming or fishing. Practically all the patients remembered that they had been bitten by tsetse in the field. 4) The routine diagnostic methods in the hospital laboratory is carried out through the microscopic examination of trypanosome with Giemsa stain of blood and cerebro-spinal fluid, The measurement of ESR and IgM has been used by Tororo Tryponosomiasis Research Institute for field screening.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.457-464
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• 2009

Fiber is an important ingredient in fiber-reinforced cement composite (FRCC) which can control fracture of cement composite by bridging action. In compliance with the action of the fiber and the aggregate size, it also showed a different failure mechanism. For practical application, it is needed to investigate the fracture behavior of the FRCC and to understand the micro-mechanism of cement matrix with reinforcing fiber. In order to evaluate a characteristics of fracture process in the FRCC, acoustic emission (AE) technique was used for the analysis and evaluation of FRCC damage by acoustic emission under flexural and cyclic compressive loadings. The AE signals were monitored by AMSY4 AE instrument during the entire loading period. The specimens are reinforced with 0, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% (by volume) Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber. The test results showed that the damage progress of the FRCC was characteristic for the fiber replacement ratio. As a result of analyzing the felicity ratio (FR) values, it is shown that this values can be used for evaluating the degree of FRCC damage. On the whole the felicity ratio values of FRCC are shown between 0.4 and 1.1. And, the AE kaiser effect was shown in the all FRCC specimen. In addition, the damage behavior and the microscopic fracture process of the FRCC are evaluated using the AE parameters, such as calm ratio, b-value and felicity ratio. The purpose of this reserch was to advance the state of knowledge regarding the applicability of acoustic emission as an evaluation method for FRCC.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.401-409
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• 2014

This research develops tools and strategies for optimizing RC column sections applied in tall buildings. Optimization parameters are concrete strength and section shape, the objective function for which is subject to several predefined constraints drawn from the original structural design. For this purpose, we developed new components for StrAuto, a parametric modeling and optimization tool for building structure. The components receive from external analysis solvers member strengths calculated from the original design model, and output optimized column sections satisfying the minimum cost. Using these components, optimized sections are firstly obtained for each predefined concrete strength applied to the whole floors in the project building. The obtained results for each concrete strength are comparatively examined to determine the fittest sections which will also result in the fittest vertical zoning for concrete strength. The main optimization scenario for this is to search for the vertical levels where the identical optimized sections coincide for the two different concrete strengths in concern, and select those levels for the boundaries where a concrete strength will be changed to another. The optimization process provided in this research is a product of an intensive development designed for a specific member in a specific project. Thus, the algorithm suggested takes on a microscopic and mathematical approach. However, the technique has a lot of potential that it can further be extensively developed and applied for future projects.