• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.10
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• pp.2990-2996
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• 2009

S. mutans, one of a major causal agents of dental caries, is component of the dental plaque and produces various organic acids such as lactic acid as the end-product of glycolysis. In this study, we are interested in comparing the gene expression of acid-shocked and control cells of S. mutans isolated from Korean with caries. Expression levels of gtfB, gtfC, gtfD and ftf were analyzed by Real-time PCR, when the cells were grown under 20 mM lactic acid stress in the exponential phase. The data showed reduced expression of these genes. S. mutans is known to have developed a variety of mechanisms to tolerate acid sterss. A more detailed analysis of the functions and interactions of acid stress proteins connecting the growth, stress tolerance, biofilm formation is under way.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.411-424
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• 2018

This study explores the inelastic behavior of systems with flexible base. The use of a single degree of freedom system (ESDOF) with equivalent ductility to represent the response of flexible base systems is discussed. Two different equations to compute equivalent ductility are proposed, one which includes the contribution of rigid body components, and other based on the overstrength of the structure. In order to asses the accuracy of ESDOF approach with the proposed equations, the behavior of a 10-story regular building with reinforced concrete (RC) moment resisting frames is studied. Local and global ductility capacity and demands are used to study the modifications introduced by base flexibility. Three soil types are considered with shear wave velocities of 70, 100 and 250 m/s. Soil-foundation stiffness is included with a set of springs on the base (impedance functions). Capacity curves of the building are computed with pushover analysis. In addition, non linear time history analysis are used to asses the ductility demands. Results show that ductility capacity of the soil-structure system including rigid body components is reduced. Base flexibility does not modify neither yield and maximum base shear. Equivalent ductility estimated with the proposed equations is fits better the results of the numerical model than the one considering elastoplastic behavior. Modification of beams ductility demand due to base flexibility are not constant within the structure. Some elements experience reduced ductility demands while other elements experience increments when flexible base is considered. Soil structure interaction produces changes in the relation between yield strength reduction factor and structure ductility demand. These changes are dependent on the spectral shape and the period of the system with fixed and flexible base.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.804-807
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• 2006

Bacterial serine proteases, especially those from Bacillus, have been extensively studied. Intracellular serine protease 1 (Isp1) is responsible for most of the proteolytic activity in B. subtilis. To identify Isp1 substrates and study its physiological functions, a mutant of Isp1, which has lost the enzymatic activity, was constructed. Through a GST affinity chromatographic method, several Bacillus proteins that specifically interacted with S246A mutant Isp1 protein were isolated and then identified by MALDI-TOF analysis. ClpC and elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) were among those proteins specifically bound to mutant Isp1. In addition, several proteins involved in stationary phase adaptive response (such as RNA polymerase sigma factor, spoIIIE) were also identified. These findings led us to suggest that the major function of this serine protease, whose expression is greatly increased during the stationary phase, is to mediate transition of the cell into the stationary phase in a proper and timely manner.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.35-47
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• 2003

Seismic ground motion can vary significantly over distances comparable to the length of a majority of highway bridges on multiple supports. This paper presents results of fragility analysis of two actual highway bridges under ground motion with spatial variation. Ground motion time histories are artificially generated with different amplitudes, phases, as well as frequency contents at different support locations. Monte Carlo simulation is performed to study dynamic responses of the bridges under these ground motions. The effect of spatial variation on the seismic response is systematically examined and the resulting fragility curves are compared with those under identical support ground motion. This study shows that ductility demands for the bridge columns can be underestimated if the bridge is analyzed using identical support ground motions rather than differential support ground motions. Fragility curves are developed as functions of different measures of ground motion intensity including peak ground acceleration(PGA), peak ground velocity(PGV), spectral acceleration(SA), spectral velocity(SV) and spectral intensity(SI). This study represents a first attempt to develop fragility curves under spatially varying ground motion and provides information useful for improvement of the current seismic design codes so as to account for the effects of spatial variation in the seismic design of long-span bridges.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.240-248
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• 2013

Torsional vibrations, such as the gear rattle of the manual transmission in vehicle systems, are correlated with the firing stroke from the engine. These vibro-impacts can be examined based upon linear time-invariant analysis. In order to understand the gear dynamics, a specific manual transmission with a front-engine front-wheel drive configuration is investigated. A method to reduce the degrees of freedom is suggested based upon the eigensolutions and frequency response functions, which will lead to the development of an efficient matrix size. The dynamic characteristics of single- and dual-mass flywheels are then compared. The effect of the dual-mass flywheel is investigated based upon the mobility analysis, which will lead to understanding of the concepts for avoiding vibro-impacts. A linear time-invariant system model is examined by employing the effective clutch stiffness from a two-stage clutch damper. Thus, the relationship between the dynamic characteristics and the clutch damper can be predicted by assuming a combination of different stage stiffness levels.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2011

This study was aimed to investigate the memory enhancing effect of Jeongjihwan against scopolamine-induced amnesia in C57BL/6 mice. To determine the effect of Jeongjihwan on the memory and cognitive function, we have injected scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) into C57BL/6 mice 30 min before beginning of behavior tests. We have conducted Y-maze, Morris water-maze, passive avoidance and fear conditioning tests to compare learning and memory functions. Scopolamine-induced behavior changes of memory impairment were significantly restored by oral administration of Jeongjihwan (100 or 200 mg/kg/day). To elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the memory enhancing effect of Jeongjihwan, we have examined the antioxidant defense system and neurotrophic factors. Jeongjihwan treatment attenuated intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species and up-regulated mRNA and protein expression of antioxidant enzymes as assessed by RT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Jeongjihwan also increased protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) compared with those in the scopolamine-treated group. Furthermore, as an upstream regulator, the activation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) via phosphorylation was assessed by Western blot analysis. Jeongjihwan elevated the phosphorylation of CREB (p-CREB), which seemed to be mediated partly by extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) and protein kinase B/Akt. These findings suggest that Jeongjihwan may have preventive and therapeutic potential in the management of amnesia.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.155-159
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• 2016

Previous research showed that resveratrol (trans-3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene) and pinostilbene (trans-3-methoxy-4',5-dihydroxystilbene) were able to inhibit tyrosinase directly; however, anti-melanogenic effects of pterostilbene (trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4'-hydroxystilbene) and resveratrol trimethyl ether (RTE) have not been compared. To investigate the hypopigmentation effects of pterostilbene and RTE, melanin contents and intracellular tyrosinase activity were determined by western blot analysis. Firstly, pterostilbene showed the inhibitory effects on ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH)-induced melanin synthesis stronger than RTE, resveratrol, and arbutin. Pterostilbene inhibited melanin biosynthesis in a dose-dependent manner in ${\alpha}$-MSH-stimulated B16/F10 murine melanoma cells. Specifically, melanin content and intracellular tyrosinase activity were inhibited by 63% and 58%, respectively, in response to treatment with $10{\mu}m$ of pterostilbene. The results of western blot analysis indicated that pterostilbene induced downregulation of tyrosinase protein expression and suppression of ${\alpha}$-MSH-stimulated melan-A protein expression stronger than RTE or resveratrol. Based on these results, our study suggests that pterostilbene can induce hypopigmentation effects more effectively than resveratrol and RTE, and it functions via downregulation of protein expression associated with hyperpigmentation in ${\alpha}$-MSH-triggered B16/F10 murine melanoma cells.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.72-81
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• 2014

In this study, we perform the optimization of trailing arm bush in a vehicle rear suspension to improve the ride and handling performance. A design problem was formulated considering 2 objective functions and 7 constraints related to vehicle ride and handling performance. PIAnO, one of the PIDO (Process Integration and Design Optimization) tool, was used to automate analysis procedures and perform a design optimization. In order to assess relation between performances and design variables, we perform the DOE (Design of Experiments). To find the optimal solution, we used Progressive quadratic response surface method (PQRSM), one of the design optimization techniques equipped in PIAnO. As an optimization result, we got an optimal solution and could improve lateral force steer off-center by 43.0% while decreasing brake compliance at wheel center by 8.1%.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.65-77
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• 2015

The urban park has important functions as a habitat for wildlife as well as open space of rest and community for people. This study was carried out to find what factors of structure and vegetation of urban parks could affect forest bird species diversity in Cheonan city. The study surveyed bird and vegetation species in 26 urban parks, Cheonan city. A correlation analysis and multiple linear regressions were performed to test whether habitat structure and vegetation were the major correlate with species diversity. The results showed the Dujeong park was the most high bird species diversity (H' = 2.13), and the Dujeong-8 park (H' = 2.02) and the Cheongsa park (H' = 1.73) were considerably higher than the other urban parks. The variables that were strongly correlated with bird species diversity were park area, number of subtree species, canopy of shrub, number of shrub species, shape index, canopy of subtree, canopy of tree, and impervious surface ratio. The regression of bird species diversity against the environmental variables showed that 3 variables of park area, canopy of subtree, and canopy of tree were included in the best model. Model variable selection was broadly similar for the 5 optimal models. It means park area and multi-layer vegetation were the most consistent and significant predictor of bird species diversity, because urban parks were isolated by built-up areas. Especially the subtree coverage that provides shelter and food for forest birds was an important variable. Therefore, to make parks circular-shaped and abundant multi-layer vegetation, which could be a buffer to external disturbances and improve the quality of habitats, may be used to enhance species diversity in creation and management of urban parks.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.172-179
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• 1988

A cartridge type hydraulic logic valve consists of simple two port valve whose poppet is closed or opened by means of pressure signal of a pilot line. Accordingly, the logic valve can be used not only for direction, flow and pressure control purpose but also for versatile function valve which enables all above mentioned functions. In addition, the valve has little internal leakage and pressure loss, superior response characteristics and easiness in making small block type valve. The above mentioned good performances being recognized recently, the logic valve has been used widely in the large scale hydraulic system such as a hydraulic press system, for the performance requirements of high speed operation and precise control characteristics. However, there are scarce reports until now, except for a few ones from Aachen Institute of Technology in West Germany, so it is necessary to be studied on development and investigation for practical application. This paper showed that the static and dynamic characteristics of a logic valve when the logic valve is used for directional control, to investigate the relations between the valve operating characteristics and the valve design conditions. From the above mentioned procedure, it was ascertained that the valve operation characteristics obtained by numerical analysis showed good agreements with experimental results. The representative results obtained are as follows; 1. During the valve is closing, the poppet velocity is almost constant in the logic valve. 2. The pilot pressure P sub(3) and the resistance R in the pilot line have much influences on the valve operation time. 3. Spring strength have not such a severe influence on the valve operating time. 4. The operation characteristics of the logic valve can be estimated with good accuracy comparatively by numerical analysis with the equations describing poppet motion.