• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.339-345
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• 2009

We evaluated the activity and abundance of the crude-oil-degrading bacterium Nocardia sp. H17-1 during bioremediation of oil-contaminated soil, using real-time PCR. The total petroleum hydrocarbon(TPH) degradation rate constants(k) of the soils treated with and without H17-1 were $0.103\;d^{-1}$ and $0.028\;d^{-1}$ respectively. The degradation rate constant was 3.6 times higher in the soil with H17-1 than in the soil without H17-1. In order to detect and quantify the Nocardia sp. H17-1 in soil samples, we quantified the genes encoding 16S ribosomal RNA(16S rRNA), alkane monooxygenase(alkB4), and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase(23CAT) with real-time PCR using SYBR green. The amounts of H17-1 16S rRNA and alkB4 detected increased rapidly up to 1,000-folds for the first 10 days, and then continued to increase only slightly or leveled off. However, the abundance of the 23CAT gene detected in H17-1-treated soil, where H17-1 had neither the 23CAT gene for the degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons nor the catechol 2,3-dioxygenase activity, did not differ significantly from that of the untreated soil($\alpha$=0.05,p>0.22). These results indicated that H17-1 is a potential candidate for the bioaugmentation of alkane-contaminated soil. Overall, we evaluated the abundance and metabolic activity of the bioremediation strain H17-1 using real-time PCR, independent of cultivation.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.138-141
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• 2012

We measured physiological functionalities, including antihypertensive angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity and immun-stimulating ${\beta}$-glucan content for sixty kinds of Makgeolli that is commercially available from the market. As a result, we selected R-12 commercial raw Makgeolli, with a high content of immuno-stimulating ${\beta}$-glucan, and R-14 commercial raw Makgeolli, exhibiting high antihypertensive activity. Due to the similarities in their overall physicochemical properties and raw materials used for fermentation, we compared the microbial flora in order to investigate the reason for the differences in their functionalities. Nested PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis for yeasts and bacteria were performed for analysis of microbial diversity of two different kinds of Makgeolli (i.e., R-12, R-14), which showed immuno-stimulating ${\beta}$-glucan content and exhibited a very high level of antihypertensive activity, respectively. Analysis of the 18S rDNA amplicon revealed a major presence of the yeast strain Pichia burtonii in every Makgeolli sample. Analysis of the 16S rDNA amplicon revealed a predominance of lactic acid bacteria, and the most frequent lactic acid bacteria were Lactobacillus ingluviei, L. fermentum, and L. harbinensis, and Lactobacillus sp. Among these, L. harbinensis was detected only in R-12 and L. ingluviei was found only in R-14. Different functionalities from the individual commercially available Makgeolli may be attributed to actions of different microbial flora during fermentation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.745-752
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• 2015

Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common mycobacterial infection in developing countries, requiring a rapid, accurate, and well-differentiated detection/diagnosis. For the rapid detection and discrimination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) from non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), a novel, simple, and primer-combined single-step multiplex PCR using three primer pairs (6110F-6110R, 1081F-1081R, and 23SF-23SR; annealing on each of IS6110, IS1081, and 23S rDNA targets), hereafter referred to as a triplex PCR, has been developed and evaluated. The expected product for IS6110 is 416 bp, for IS1081 is 300 bp, and for 23S rDNA is 206 bp by single PCR, which was used to verify the specificity of primers and the identity of MTC using DNA extracted from the M. tuberculosis H37Rv reference strain (ATCC, USA) and other mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT) templates. The triplex PCR assay showed 100% specificity and 96% sensitivity; the limit of detection for mycobacteria was ~100 fg; and it failed to amplify any target from DNA of MOTT (50 samples tested). Of 307 blinded clinical samples, overall 205 positive M. tuberculosis samples were detected by single PCR, 142 by conventional culture, and 90 by AFB smear methods. Remarkably, the triplex PCR could subsequently detect 55 positive M. tuberculosis from 165 culture-negative and 115 from 217 AFB smear-negative samples. The triplex PCR, targeting three regions in the M. tuberculosis genome, has proved to be an efficient tool for increasing positive detection/discrimination of this bacterium from clinical samples.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2015

In order to breed new strains of oak mushroom, Lentinula edodes, on the sawdust cultivation, we collected 10 from Korea, Taiwan and China respectively and examined somatic incompatibility, morphological features of fruiting body and productivity. Four strains(SANJO701HO, FMRI2534, FMRI2337 and FMRI2613) shown remarkable results, were confirmed with parental strains. 80 monokaryotic strains derived from the selected 4 parental strains, were selected and 117 hybrid strains were made by mono-mono mating. Aslo, Physiological characteristics were investigated. Average of the mycelial growth of hybrid strains of mating combination SANJO701HO-FMRI2337 was approximately 10% lower than other mating combinations. Overall, This study was founded to develop new varieties of L. edodes. The productivity of new 117 strains on sawdust cultivation needs continued research.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.103-107
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• 2015

'Heukhyang', a new variety with dark brown color, short cultivaltion period, and good taste in Flammulina velutipes, was bred by crossing between monokaryons isolated from 'Garlmoe' and wild strain 'CBMFV-10'. In bottle cultivation, the period of mycelial growth, primordia1 formation, and growth of fruit body was required 23 days, 6 days, and 17 days, respectively. Total culvivation period was 46 days, showing 8 days shorter than that of 'Garlmoe'. Pileus diameter and thickness were greater than those of 'Garlmoe', and pileus color showed dark brown. Fruit body production per 850 ml bottle was 135 g, which was 10% lower than that of 'Garlmoe'. However, the overall acceptance was most excellent in sensory evaluation, and 'Heukhyang' has an advantage to target a niche market of white ones due to differentiated color and taste.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.142-150
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• 2001

Automotive manufactures have taken more interests in tailored sheet metals for improving the rigidity, weight reduction, crash durability, and cost savings so that their application to auto-bodies has been increased. However, since the tailored sheet metals do not behave like un-welded sheet metals in press forming operations, the stamping engineers no longer rely only on conventional forming techniques. Futhermore, there is no clear understanding of the characteristics of welded metal which influence the overall press formability of tailored sheet metals. Recently, the computer simulations are prevailing for the evaluation of the formability. Unfortunately, the mechanical property of tailored sheet metal has to be quantitatively defined in the simulation. In this study, the analytical equations are formulated in order to find the mechanical properties of the welded metal in the tailored sheet metal welded by co$_2$laser. Based on force distribution assumption, the constitutive behavior of the welded metal is investigated using uniaxial tensile test results of base metals and tailored sheet metal. Then, the strength coefficient, work-hardening exponent, and plastic strain ratio of laser-welded metal are calculate from those of base metals and tailored sheet metal. In addition, the existence of weld defects in the welded metal is indirectly detected by examining the slop of strength coefficient of the welded metal.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.190-195
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• 2006

A simple and effective analysis method is presented for gaining a complete transient temperatures on the internal and external surfaces of a 40 mm gun tube subjected to a series of rapid firings. Two series of temperature data for both Hs and As were measured by using two rapid response k-type surface thermocouples near the firing origin and the muzzle. With other available temperature data, patterns of temperature variations of the gun tube as a function of time variable were driven through complete evaluations of the data. It is found that overall temperature gradients which increase exponentially toward saturation temperature, actually consist of a series of linear temperature gradients corresponding to the firing sequences. Under the similar firing sequences, patterns of temperature variations fur both the surface temperatures near the chamber and those near the muzzle were found to have linear temperature gradients with different values and the same response frequencies, i.e. they had peaks and lows in temperatures at the same time. The resultant complete temperature data can be used as the fundamental bases for analysis of thermoelastic properties of the materials such as thermal strain and stress, and f3r the prediction of cannon tube life-time through calculation of wear rate.

• ALGAE
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.101-108
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• 2018

Saccharina japonica was introduced to both Korea and China from Hokkaido, Japan, and it has become an economically important species in both nations. After a long period of cultivation, several varieties of S. japonica have been developed in Korea and China. In this study, we conducted aquacultural research on the persistence of thalli from two kelp cultivars, one from China (Huangguan No. 1) and one from Korea (Sugwawon No. 301), between December 2015 and November 2016 in Haenam, Korea. The maximum length was $247.8{\pm}13.0$ and $227.5{\pm}42.0cm$, respectively, which were significantly longer in Sugwawon No. 301 than in Huangguan No. 1. The maximum width was $29.9{\pm}5.4$ and $23.2{\pm}1.9cm$, respectively, which were significantly wider in Huangguan No. 1 than in Sugwawon No. 301. The mean biomass obtained from the culture ropes was for Sugwawon No. 301 was $3.5{\pm}0.3kg\;wet\;wt\;m^{-1}$ and for while Huangguan No. 1 was $3.1{\pm}1.0kg\;wet\;wt\;m^{-1}$ of culture rope. After August, the persistence of the thalli of Sugwawon No. 301 was two months longer than that of Huangguan No. 1. We found that the Sugwawon No. 301 performed as well as the Huangguan No. 1 in Korean waters possibly due to increased flexibility as a result of the different cell arrangements of the two cultivars. Overall, the use of the Sugwawon No. 301 cultivar rather than the Huangguan No. 1 cultivar of S. japonica appears the best alternative to help to ensure a stable year round algal feed supply for the Korean abalone industry.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.279-288
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• 2006

Saemangeum reclamation project was started in 1991 with the purpose of eco-friendly reclamation, but without clear definition of eco-friendliness. This study was carried out to find out the environmental indicators to define and evaluate the eco-friendliness of Saemangeum project. The methodology to identify the indicators included the analysis of similar reclamation projects, professional discussions, and Delphi survey. The eco-friendly indicators are theoretically based on the five elements of eco-friendliness; 1) resource consumption, 2) energy consumption, 3) pollution emission, 4) bio-diversity, 5) social amenity. The 69 indicators were explained in detail for the convenient use of the indicators by the potential users. The 69 indicators were classified into three categories such as pre-evaluation, process evaluation, and post-evaluation. In terms of spatial consideration, the 69 indicators were classified into two categories such as direct influence area and indirect influence area. Also the 69 indicators were classified into 7 categories: 1) sea, 2) lake, 3) agricultural land use, 4) industrial land use, 5) residential land use, 6) tourism land use, and 7) environmental land use. Twenty core indicators were selected from the 69 indicators by surveying the importance of each indicator. The core indicators are recommended in case of time and budget strain. When there are few quantitative data accumulated for the reclamation project, 5 macro indicators are recommended to be used. Macro indicators are qualitative in nature, and may be used in order to evaluate the overall eco-friendliness of a reclamation project.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.1132-1138
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• 2006

Three types of xylanases (EC 3.2.1.8) were detected in the strain Aspergillus niger A-25, one of which, designated as XynIII, also displayed ${\beta}-(l,3-1,4)-glucanase$ (EC 3.2.1.73) activity, as determined by a zymogram analysis. XynIII was purified by ultrafiltration and ion-exchange chromatography methods. Its apparent molecular weight was about 27.9 kDa, as estimated by SDS-PAGE. The purified XynIII could hydrolyze birchwood xylan, oat spelt xylan, lichenin, and barley ${\beta}-glucan$, but not CMC, avicel cellulose, or soluble starch under the assay conditions in this study. The xylanase and ${\beta}-(l,3-1,4)-glucanase$ activities of XynIII both had a similar optimal pH and pH stability, as well as a similar optimal temperature and temperature stability. Moreover, the effects of metal ions on the two enzymatic activities were also similar. The overall hydrolytic rates of XynIII in different mixtures of xylan and lichenin coincided with those calculated using the Michaelis-Menten model when assuming the two substrates were competing for the same active site in the enzyme. Accordingly, the results indicated that XynIII is a novel bifunctional enzyme and its xylanase and ${\beta}-(l,3-1,4)-glucanase$ activities are catalyzed by the same active center.