• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.465-474
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• 2023

The chemical composition and molecular weight characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) exert a profound influence on the efficiency of organic matter removal in water treatment systems, acting as efficiency predictive indicators. This research evaluated the primary chemical and molecular weight properties of DOM derived from diverse sources, including rivers, lakes, and biomasses, and assessed their relationship with the efficiency of coagulation/flocculation treatments. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal efficiency through coagulation/flocculation exhibited significant correlations with DOM's hydrophobic distribution, the ratio of humic-like to protein-like fluorescence, and the molecular weight associated with humic substances (HS). These findings suggest that the DOC removal rate in coagulation/flocculation processes is enhanced by a higher presence of HS in DOM, an increased influence of externally sourced DOM, and more presence of high molecular weight compounds. The results of this study further posit that the efficacy of water treatment processes can be more accurately predicted when considering multiple DOM characteristics rather than relying on a singular trait. Based on major results from this study, a predictive model for DOC removal efficiency by coagulation/flocculation was formulated as: 24.3 - 7.83 × (fluorescence index) + 0.089 × (hydrophilic distribution) + 0.102 × (HS molecular weight). This proposed model, coupled with supplementary monitoring of influent organic matter, has the potential to enhance the design and predictive accuracy for coagulation/flocculation treatments targeting DOC removal in future applications.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.113-119
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• 2005

O-methylation mediated by O-methyltransferases (OMTs) is a common modification in natural product biosynthesis and contributes to diversity of secondary metabolites. OMTs use phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, other phenolics and alkaloids as substrates, and share common domains for S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) and substrate binding. We searched Arabiposis genome and found 17 OMTs genes (AtOMTs). AdoMet- and substrate-binding sites were predicted. AdoMet binding domain of AtOMTs is highly conserved, while substrate-binding domain is diverse, indicating use of different substrates. In addition, expressions of six AtOMT genes in response to UV and in different tissues were investigated using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. All the AtOMTs investigated were expressed under normal growth condition and most, except AtOMT10, were induced after UV illumination. AtOMT1 and AtOMT8 were expressed in all the tissues, whereas AtOMT10 showed flower-specific expression. Analysis of these AtOMT gene expressions could provide some clues on AtOMT involvement in the cellular processes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.899-908
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• 2020

Intrinsically disordered proteins or regions (IDPs or IDRs) are widespread in the eukaryotic proteome. Although lacking stable three-dimensional structures in the free forms, IDRs perform critical functions in various cellular processes. Accordingly, mutations and altered expression of IDRs are associated with many pathological conditions. Hence, it is of great importance to understand at the molecular level how IDRs interact with their binding partners. In particular, discovering the unique interaction features of IDRs originating from their dynamic nature may reveal uncharted regulatory mechanisms of specific biological processes. Here we discuss the mechanisms of the macromolecular interactions mediated by IDRs and present the relevant cellular processes including transcription, cell cycle progression, signaling, and nucleocytoplasmic transport. Of special interest is the multivalent binding nature of IDRs driving assembly of multicomponent macromolecular complexes. Integrating the previous theoretical and experimental investigations, we suggest that such IDR-driven multiprotein complexes can function as versatile allosteric switches to process diverse cellular signals. Finally, we discuss the future challenges and potential medical applications of the IDR research.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.553-557
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• 2005

The formation of striped phases of unsymmetric hexyl octadecyl disulfide ($CH_3(CH_2)_5SS(CH_2)_{17}CH_3$, HOD) and 1-hydroxyundecyl octadecyl disulfide ($CH_3(CH_2)_{17}SS(CH_2)_{11}$OH, HUOD) on Au(111) and graphite has been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to understand the self-assembly processes of dialkyl disulfides. STM imaging clearly shows the formation of striped phases having corrugation periodicities that are nearly consistent with the molecular length of alkanethiolate moieties formed after the S-S bond cleavage of dialkyl disulfide on a gold surface. On the other hand, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of dialkyl disulfides on a graphite surface displayed long-range, well-ordered monolayers with one striped pattern that shows periodicity as a function of molecular length via nondissociative adsorption. From a nonoscopic viewpoint, we have clearly demonstrated that dialkyl disulfide SAMs on gold form via S-S bond cleavage of disulfide.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.21-38
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• 2009

The use of multi scale modeling concepts and simulation techniques to study the destabilization of an ultrathin layer of oxide interface between a metal substrate and the surrounding environment is considered. Of particular interest are chemo-mechanical behavior of this interface in the context of a molecular-level description of stress corrosion cracking. Motivated by our previous molecular dynamics simulations of unit processes in materials strength and toughness, we examine the challenges of dealing with chemical reactivity on an equal footing with mechanical deformation, (a) understanding electron transfer processes using first-principles methods, (b) modeling cation transport and associated charged defect migration kinetics, and (c) simulation of pit nucleation and intergranular deformation to initiate the breakdown of the oxide interlayer. These problems illustrate a level of multi-scale complexity that would be practically impossible to attack by other means; they also point to a perspective framework that could guide future research in the broad computational science community.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.41-51
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• 2020

Microbes influence many aspects of human life from the environment to health, yet evaluating their biological processes at the chemical level can be problematic. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) enables direct evaluation of microbial chemical processes at the atomic to molecular levels without destruction of valuable two-dimensional information. MSI is a label-free method that allows multiplex spatiotemporal visualization of atomic- or molecular-level information of microbial and microberelated samples. As a result, microbial MSI has become an important field for both mass spectrometrists and microbiologists. In this review, basic techniques for microbial MSI, such as ionization methods and analyzers, are explored. In addition, we discuss practical applications of microbial MSI and various data-processing techniques.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.12S
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• pp.1157-1164
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• 2003

This paper shows the results of atomistic modeling for the interaction between spherical nano abrasive and substrate in chemical mechanical polishing processes. Atomistic modeling was achieved from 2-dimensional molecular dynamics simulations using the Lennard-Jones 12-6 potentials. The abrasive dynamics was modeled by three cases, such as slipping, rolling, and rotating. Simulation results showed that the different dynamics of the abrasive results the different features of surfaces. This model can be extended to investigate the 3-dimensional chemical mechanical polishing processes.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.57-78
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• 2023

Understanding the chemical composition of the brain helps researchers comprehend various neurological processes effectively. Understanding of the fundamental pathological processes that underpin many neurodegenerative disorders has recently advanced thanks to the advent of innovative bioanalytical techniques that allow high sensitivity and specificity with chemical imaging at high resolution in tissues and cells. Mass spectrometry imaging [MSI] has become more common in biomedical research to map the spatial distribution of biomolecules in situ. The technique enables complete and untargeted delineation of the in-situ distribution characteristics of proteins, metabolites, lipids, and peptides. MSI's superior molecular specificity gives it a significant edge over traditional histochemical methods. Recent years have seen a significant increase in MSI, which is capable of simultaneously mapping the distribution of thousands of biomolecules in the tissue specimen at a high resolution and is otherwise beyond the scope of other molecular imaging techniques. This review aims to acquaint the reader with the MSI experimental workflow, significant recent advancements, and implementations of MSI techniques in visualizing the anatomical distribution of neurochemicals in the human brain in relation to various neurogenerative diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.152-157
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• 1998

The diversity of RNA functions ranges from storage and propagation of genetic information to enzymatic activity during RNA processing and protein synthesis. This diversity of functions requires an equally diverse arrays of structures, and, very often, the formation of functional RNA-protein complexes. Recognition of specific RNA signals by RNA-binding proteins is central to all aspects of post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. We will describe how NMR is being used to understand at the atomic level how these important biological processes occur.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.569-573
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• 2012

We investigated the speed change of the diamond spherical abrasive during the substrate surface polishing under the pad compression by using classical molecular dynamics modeling. We performed three-dimensional molecular dynamics simulations using the Morse potential functions for the copper substrate and the Tersoff potential function for the diamond abrasive. As the compressive pressure increased, the indented depth of the diamond abrasive increased and then, the speed of the diamond abrasive along the direction of the pad moving was decreased. Molecular simulation result such as the abrasive speed decreasing due to the pad pressure increasing gave important information for the chemical mechanical polishing including the mechanical removal rate with both the pad speed and the pad compressive pressure.