• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.133-140
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• 2005

Although amino acids are substrates for the synthesis of proteins and nitrogen-containing compounds, it has become more and more clear over the years that these nutrients are also extremely important as regulators of body protein turnover. The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) together or simply leucine alone stimulate protein synthesis and inhibit protein breakdown in skeletal muscle. However, it was only recently that the mechanism(s) involved in the regulation of protein turnover by BCAAs has begun to be defined. The acceleration of protein synthesis by these amino acids seems to occur at the level of peptide chain initiation. Oral administration of leucine to food-deprived rats enhances muscle protein synthesis, in part, through activation of the mRNA binding step of translation initiation. Despite our knowledge of the induction of protein synthesis by BCAAs, there are few studies on the suppression of protein degradation. The recent findings that oral administration of leucine rapidly reduced $N^{\tau}$-methylhistidine (3-methylhistidine; MeHis) release from isolated muscle, an index of myofibrillar protein degradation, indicate that leucine suppresses myofiblilar protein degradation. The details of the molecular mechanism by which leucine inhibits proteolysis is just beginning to be elucidated. The purpose of this report was to review the current understanding of how BCAAs act as regulators of protein turnover.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.648-657
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• 2008

In this study, we used functional genomic strategies, proteomics and quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR, to advance our understanding of genes associated with fumonisin production in the fungus Fusarium verticillioides. Earlier studies have demonstrated that deletion of the FCC1 gene, which encodes a C-type cyclin, leads to a drastic reduction in fumonisin production and conidiation in the mutant strain (FT536). The premise of our research was that comparative analysis of F. verticillioides wild-type and FT536 proteomes will reveal putative proteins, and ultimately corresponding genes, that are important for fumonisin biosynthesis. We isolated proteins that were significantly upregulated in either the wild type or FT536 via two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and subsequently obtained sequences by mass spectrometry. Homologs of identified proteins, e.g., carboxypeptidase, laccase, and nitrogen metabolite repression protein, are known to have functions involved in fungal secondary metabolism and development. We also identified gene sequences corresponding to the selected proteins and investigated their transcriptional profiles via quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR in order to identify genes that show concomitant expression patterns during fumonisin biosynthesis. These genes can be selected as targets for functional analysis to further verify their roles in $FB_1$ biosynthesis.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2013

Microalgae can grow autotrophically with the supply of light, carbon dioxide and inorganic nutrients in water through photosynthesis. Generally, microalgal growth is limited by the concentrations and relative ratio of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) among the nutrients in the aquatic environment. Each microalga has its specific optimum N : P ratio resulting in dominance in a particular water having similar nutrient composition. Algal bloom is an immense growth of certain microalga commonly cyanobacterium and can be sequestrated by reducing the limiting nutrient, generally P in the freshwater. Moreover, dominance of a less toxic blooming strain can be established by manipulating N : P ratio in the water. On the other hand, microalgal biomass of a certain species can be enhanced by increasing limiting nutrient and adjusting the N : P ratio to the target species. The above-mentioned eco-physiological features of microalgae can be more completely interpreted in connection with their genomic informations. Consequently, microalgal growth regulation which can be achieved on the basis of its eco-physiological and further genomic insights would be helpful not only in the control of algal bloom, but also for an increased yield of algal biomass.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.19 no.2 s.58
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• pp.29-36
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• 2005

We carried out discharge and fire extinguishing tests of new inert gas clean agent, which consists of $92\%$ nitrogen and $8\%$ carbon dioxide, as an alternative of Halon that is banned by Montreal Protocol to protect the ozone layer of the earth. Discharge and fire extinguishing tests were performed in $27m^3$ and $190m^3$ rooms with piping which allows gaseous agent to transport from storage to test rooms. We confirmed that it took less than regulation time, 60 seconds for the discharge of over $95\%$ initial charged amounts. Discharge test variables were piping length and orifice size. Fire extinguishing tests verified that this new inert gas clean agent is suitable for both n-Heptane fire and deep seated fire of wood crib.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.39-45
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• 2012

Today gasoline engines for vehicular application are not only faced with stringent emission regulation but also with increasing requirements to better fuel economy, while guaranteeing power density. The spray-guided type gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine has an advantage of improved thermal efficiency and lower harmful emissions. Centrally mounted high pressure injector and adjacent spark plug allow stable lean combustion due to the flexible mixture stratification. In the present study, the performance and emissions characteristics of developed spray-guided type GDI combustion system were evaluated at various excess air ratio conditions. The specific fuel consumption and nitrogen oxides ($NO_x$) emissions were reduced due to the achievement of stable lean combustion under flammability limit. Multiple injection strategy was not helpful to improve fuel consumption while further reduction of $NO_x$ emissions was possible.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.522-525
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• 2002

A very rapid and efficient separation technique for cellular rhizobial cyclosophoraoses was developed based on fractional precipitation and partition chromatography. Cyclosophoraoses are known to function in the osmotic regulation and root nodule formation of legumes during the nitrogen fixation process. Cyclosophoraoses are produced as unbranched cyclic (1longrightarrow12)-${\beta}$-D-glucans in Agrobacterium or Rhizobium species. Recent research has shown that cyclosophoraoses can form inclusion complexation with various unstable or insoluble guest chemicals, thereby implying great potential for industrial application. Typical separation of pure cellular cyclosophoraoses has been so far carried out by several time-consuming steps, including size exclusion, anion exchange, and desalting liquid chromatographies, with a relatively poor recovery. However, the proposed method demonstrated that the successive application of fractional ethanol precipitation and one step of silica gel-based flash column chromatography was enough to simultaneously purify neutral or anionic forms of cyclosophoraoses. This novel technique is very rapid and provides a high recovery.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.119-136
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• 2000

Being autotrophic, algae occupy a trategic place in the biosphere. They produce oxygen both directly and indirectly through the chloroplasts of all green plants. The chloroplasts are believed to have originated from archaic prokaryotic algae through endosymbiosis with primitive eukaryotic cells. Phytoplankton and other algae regulate the global environment not only by releasing oxygen but also by fixing carbon dioxide. They affect water quality, help in the treatment of sewage, and produce biomass. They can be used to produce hydrogen which is a clean fuel, and biodiesel, and fix $N_2$ for use as a biofertilizer. Some other services of algae to the environment include restoration of metal damaged ecosystems, reducing the atmospheric $CO_2$ load and citigating global warming, reclamation of saline-alkaline unfertile lands, and production of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) involved in the regulation of UV radiation. ozone concentration, and global warming. Algae can be valuable in understanding and resolving certain environmental issues.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.275-282
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• 2016

MILD (Moderate and Intense Low-oxygen Dilution) combustion using oxygen as an oxidizer is considered as one of the most promising combustion technologies for high energy efficiency and for reducing nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide emissions. In order to investigate the effects of nozzle angle and oxygen velocity conditions on the formation of oxygen-MILD combustion, numerical and experimental approaches were performed in this study. The numerical results showed that the recirculation ratio ($K_V$), which is an important parameter for performing MILD combustion, was increased in the main reaction zone when the nozzle angle was changed from 0 degrees to 15 degrees. Also, it was observed that a low and uniform temperature distribution was achieved at an oxygen velocity of 400 m/s. The perfectly invisible oxy-MILD flame was observed experimentally under the condition of a nozzle angle of $10^{\circ}$ and an oxygen velocity of 400 m/s. Moreover, the NOx emission limit was satisfied with NOx regulation of less than 80 ppm.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.416-419
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• 2001

Hypernodulation soybean mutant, SS2-2, is characterized with greater nodulation and nitrogen fixing ability in the root nodule than its wild type, Shinpaldalkong 2. The present study was performed to identify a genetic locus conferring hypernodulation in soybean mutant SS2-2 and to determine whether the gene controlling the hypernodulation of SS2-2 is allelic to that controlling the supernodulation of nts382 mutant. Hybridization studies between SS2-2 and Taekwangkong revealed that the recessive gene was responsible for the hypernodulation character in soybean mutant SS2-2. Allelism was also tested by crossing supernodulating mutant nts382 and hypernodulating mutant SS2-2 that both hypernodulation and supernodulation genes were likely controlled by an identical locus. Molecular marker mapping of hypernodulation gene in SS2-2 using SSR markers confirmed that the gene conferring hypernodulation was located at the same loci with the gene conferring supernodulation. It is interesting to note that the same gene controlled the super- and hyper-nodulation characters, although SS2-2 and nts 382 exhibited differences in the amount of nodulation in the root system. Further genetic studies should be needed to clarify the genetic regulation of super- and hyper-nodulation in soybean.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.158-165
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• 1996

The signal transduction pathways through the RAS gene product and adenyl cyclease play a critical role in regulation of the cell cycle in yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We examined the genetic relationship between the spt3 gene and ras/cAMP pathway. A mutation in the SPT3 gene suppressed cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase caused by either an inactivation of the RAS or CYR1 gene which encodes a yeast homologue of human ras proto-oncogene or adenyl cyclase, respectively. The phenotypes such as sporulation and heat shock resistancy, that resulted from a partial inactivation of the RAS or CYR1 genes, were also suppressed by the spt3 mutation. Expression of the SSA1 gene encoding one of th heat shock proteins (Hsp70) can be induced by heat shock or nitrogen starvation. Expression of this gene is derepressed in cry1-2 and spt3 mutants. The bcy 1 mutation repressed by the bcy1 mutation, but not in spt3 mutants. These results suggest that the SPT gene is involved in expression of genes that are affected by the RAS/cAMP pathway.