• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.134-141
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• 2015

An agarolytic marine bacterium (H9) was isolated from the coastal seawater of the West Sea, South Korea. The isolate, H9, was gram-negative and rod-shaped with a smooth surface and polar flagellum. Cells grew at 20-30℃, between pH 5.0 and 9.0, and in ASW-YP (Artificial Sea Water-Yeast extract, Peptone) media containing 1-5% (w/v) NaCl. The G+C content was 41.56 mol%. The predominant isoprenoid quinone in strain H9 was ubiquinone-8. The major fatty acids (>10%) were C_16:1ω7c (34.3%), C_16:0 (23.72%), and C_18:1ω7c (13.64%). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and biochemical and chemotaxonomic characterization, the strain was designated as Pseudoalteromonas sp. H9 (=KCTC23887). In liquid culture supplemented with 0.2% agar, the cell density and agarase activity reached a maximum level of OD = 4.32 (48 h) and OD = 3.87 (24 h), respectively. The optimum pH and temperature for the extracellular crude agarases of H9 were 7.0 and 40℃, respectively. Thin-layer chromatography analysis of the agarase hydrolysis products revealed that the crude agarases hydrolyze agarose into neoagarotetraose and neoagarohexaose. Therefore, the new agar-degrading strain, H9, can be applicable for the production of valuable neoagarooligosaccharides and for the complete degradation of agar in bio-industries.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 1998

The present study was performed to observe characteristics of the lifE history of Echinoparvphium recunpatum under both natural and laboratory conditions in Korea. A batch of Rcnix aunculnria corecna was collected from Sunamchon, one of the stream of West Naktonggang (River), in Kangso-gu, Pusan during August and September 1992. Out of 106 snails examined by crushing,52 (49.0%) were infected with larval E. recurvaum i.e. rediae, cercariae and metacercariae. Cercariae naturally shed from snails encysted in the snails of same species and loaches, but not in mud-snails. Adult worms were detected from chicks and ducks experimentally infected with metacercariae, but not from rats and mice. The average recovery rate of adults from chicks was 13.1%. Rediae were sac-like, $2.437{\;}{\times}{\;}0.317{\;}mm$ in average size, with a muscular pharynx and a brownish cecum which reached the anterior half of the body. Cercariae consisted of a spindle-shaped body ($0.262{\;}{\times}{\;}0.129{\;}mm$ in average) and a rod-like tail ($0.528{\;}{\times}{\;}0.056{\;}mm$ in average). In the cercarial body, 45 collar spines were observed on the head crown, and double rows of excretory ducts with fine granules were laterally arranged between the pharynnx and the ventral sucker. Metacercariae were spherical, $0.144{\;}{\times}{\;}0.142{\;}mm in average size, with thick hyaline outer and thin elastic inner walls, and many excretory granules. Adults were slender and more attenuated in the anterior end, $0.2760{\;}{\times}{\;}0.550{\;}mm$ in average size, and had 45 collar spines including four end group spines on both ventral corners. From the above results, it was confirmed that R. auriculnna corennc plays a pivotal role in the life cycle of 5. recuwatum as the first and/or second intermediate hosts in Korea.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.84-96
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• 1992

This study was carried out to examine the $H^+$ transport mechanism by observing the properties of cellular membrane having an ${\alpha}$ type of carbonic anhydrase (CA)-containing cells in turtle urinary bladder. The urinary bladder consists of a heterogenous population of cells. As a result of fine observation with traditional thin-section electron microscopy. the bladder epithelium has three different cell types on mucosal surface. They are a basal cell, a granular cell and a third type of CA-rich cell. The CA-rich cells are divided into two distinct smaller groups within them and called them ${\alpha}$ type and ${\beta}$ type of CA cells. The ${\alpha}$ type of CA cells are responsible for the proton secretion using the proton pumps on the apical plasma membrane, while the ${\beta}$ type of CA cells secrete bicarbonate via an oppositely-directed proton pumps in their basolateral plasma membrane. After performing the freeze-fracture technique, it was shown that there were distributed a large number of intramembranous particles having a special structure on the apical membrane of ${\alpha}$ type of CA-rich cells in the process of their $H^+$ secretion. In turtle bladder ${\alpha}$ type of CA-rich cells, this particle was the only prominent structure in the apical membrane. These intramembrane rod-shaped particles probably represent the integral membrane components of the proton pump. This result may explain that carbonic anhydrase within epithelial cell of urinary bladder takes part in formation of $H^+$ and bicarbonate, that active transport of $H^+$ is done, and that the reabsorption of bicarbonate suggests transport mechanism containing $H^+$ secretion. However, it seems that more studies are required for considering their regular transport pathway.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.212-218
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• 1998

An obligately methylotrophic bacterium which produces extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) was isolated through methanol-enrichment culture technique. The isolate was aerobic, nonmotile, and gram negative rod and exibited catalase, but no oxidase, activity. Plasmid, carotenoid, and poly-${\beta}$-hydroxybutyric acid were not found. The guanine plus cytosine content of DNA was 52-56%. The isolate was found to grow only on methanol and monomethylamine. Growth was optimal ($t_d=2.4h$) at $35^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.5 in a mineral medium containing 0.5% (v/v) methanol, 25 mM phosphate, and 0.212% ammonium sulfate. Methanol was assimilated through the ribulose monophosphate pathway. Maximun amount of EPS was produced in cells growing at the mid-stationary growth phase at $30^{\circ}C$ in a mineral medium (PH 6.5) containing 1.0% (v/v) methanol in the CIN ratio of 54.7. Thin-layer chromatographic and high performance liquid chromatographic analysis revealed that the EPS was composed of glucose and galactose. EPS which was not treated with ethanol (Pbe) exhibited stable viscosity under various concentrations of salts and temperatures hut showed high viscosity at low pH. EPS precipitated with ethanol (Pae) was found to be more stable in viscosity than the Pbe at various salt concentrations, temperatures, and pH. The Pae also exhibited higher viscosity than the Pbe and xanthan gum. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the lyophilized Pbe and Pae have a multi-layered structure and a structure of thick fibers, respectively.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.26
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• pp.143-160
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• 2021

The Seoul Baekje Museum has been conducting excavations at the Ancient Tomb Complex in Seokchon-dong, Seoul (Historic Site No. 243), known to be tombs of the royal family and the ruling class during the Hanseong period of the Baekje Kingdom. In this study, gold earrings that were revealed during the excavation underwent scientific analysis and conservation treatment. Stereo microscopy, SEM, X-ray imaging, CT, and XRF were applied in the analysis, and the characteristics, internal structure, and composition of the earrings as well as their production method were investigated. The results confirmed that the main hoops of the gilt-bronze earrings were made of copper cores gilt using mercury amalgamation. The findings also revealed that the hexahedron in the middle pendant was made by connecting small rings using molten gold powder, and the pendant sphere at the end was formed by soldering two hemispheres. As for the two thin-hoop earrings, they showed similar surface compositions but were made using different methods, with one made from a copper core wrapped with a gold plate and the other made by bending a gold rod. The gold content varied depending on the item and the place of measurement, but overall the earrings showed a relatively high gold content of approximately 19 to 21K. The purity of the golden earrings and the sophisticated manufacturing techniques applied indicate the high status of the buried person and of the tomb complex in Seokchong-dong.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.6-21
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• 2022

This paper examines the material culture of the Goryeo-Joseon Period through changes in the design and crafting of the earpick. In Chapter 2, terminology regarding earpicks is presented, and the culture of using earpicks is examined through fragmentary literature of the late Joseon Dynasty. Earpicks were first a personal hygiene tool, and, secondly, they played a symbolic role as a style accessory used by men, analogous to the fan carried by women of the time. In Chapter 3, earpick form are classified by period, and characteristic decorative techniques for each form are examined. During the Goryeo Dynasty, earpicks were sanitary tools, and, according to their form, they were classified into single and complex types. From Unified Silla to Goryeo, there is an angled type of connecting rod, and in the Goryeo period, there appeared earpicks with colorful decorations on the handle, completely forged earpicks with a thin and long shape, and earpicks which were part of multitools. Common decorative techniques include line expression, gold plating, cheophomun on the background, and inlay. Earpicks of the Joseon Dynasty are classified into sanitary tools or ornaments, according to their purpose of use. Sanitary tools are divided into single type and complex type, and earpicks used as ornaments include headdress, norigae, and sunchu. For earpick accessories, headdresses and norigae were used for women, and sunchu was used for men. The decorative techniques of earpicks during the Joseon Dynasty were mainly seen in the headdress earpicks. They were decorated with various colors in the Cloisonné method or bejeweled. Research on everyday tools among crafts is lacking; greater attempts to read the flow of time and approaches to material culture through everyday tools should be made.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.19-35
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• 2001

Outlines for plasma $estradiol-17\beta$, components, electrophoretic patterns, and ultrastructural changes were obtained in female rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during the seasonal reproductive cycles. Plasma $estradiol-17\beta$ under the natural conditions, exhibited distinct seasonal variation, peaking very late in vitellogenic season during September, decreasing gradually the halt of spawning in December, and ultimately falling during the early stages of seasonal ovarian recrudescence in February and March. This change in $estradiol-17\beta$ appeared to stimulate vitellogenin production as evidenced by increases in plasma calcium, phosphorus, glucose, albumin and total protein levels. The electrophoretic patterns of late maturing or spawning oocytes were stained more intensively than those of late perinucleolus oocytes (molecular weights of approximately 70,000 and 200,000). Two protein bands were found in the SDS-PAGE separation, coincident with the $estradiol-17\beta$ hormone peak. Gonadosomatic indices (GSI) significantly increased from October to January, and showed the highest peak in January, coinciding with the numerically abrupt increase of ripe ova in female. A positive correlation (r=0.701, p<0.01) was established between plasma $estradiol-17\beta$ levels and the gonadosomatic index during the prespawning. The highest level of hepatosomatic index (HSI) observed in December. During the breeding season (December), the gonadotropes were large and filled with GTH-containing inclusions such as granules and globules. The vitellogenic phase began as late perinurleolus oocytes became transformed into early maturing oocytes through the accumulation of yolk, and oocytes reached the late maturing stages as the ooplasm was completely packed with yolk. Marked ultrastructural changed in the granulosa cells during nuclear migration involve the dilation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the appearance of the rod-shaped mitochondria with tubular cristae. Microvilli (finger-like projections), from the zona radiata and from the oocyte grew, and made contact with each other in the pore canals of the zona radials during vitellogenesis, but were withdrawn as the zona radiata became more compact and devoid of pore canals during oocyte maturation. The zona radiata grew to a tripartite structure such as an outer thin homogeneous layer, and two inner thick helicoidal layers (zona radials interna and zona radiata externa). Under the normal conditions, the ovarian follicle influenced the histological development and periodical secretion of the hormones , sufficient for a oogenesis and gonadal steroid production.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.4-21
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• 2019

In this paper, 23 Silla gold earrings from the sixth and seventhand centuries, excavated from the Yeongnam region, were analyzed. Based on the silver content of the gold plate, they were classified into three types. The classifications included type I(20-50wt%), type II(10-20wt%) and type III (less than 10wt%). In the analysis process, the composition and morphological differences were identified on the surface of the gold plate. In the case of type I and II earrings, it was observed that the fine holes were concentrated in a relatively higher part of the gold content. The causes of the difference in the surface composition of the gold plate were divided into four categories: 1) surface treatment, 2) thermal diffusivity in the manufacturing process, 3) differences in composition of alluvial gold, and 4) the refining method of gold. It is possible that depletion gilding was attempted to increase the gold content while intentionally removing the other metals from the surface of the gold alloy in the portion where the gold deposit is relatively concentrated on the surface of the gold plating. The highest copper content was detected in the earring with the highest gold content of the analyzed earrings, and it was assumed that thermal diffusion had occurred between the gold plate and the metal rod during the manufacturing process rather than intentional addition. Copper was detected only in the thin ring earring type, and copper was not detected in the thick ring earring type or pendant type. It also proves that this earring has a high degree of tightness at higher temperatures, as there was an invisible edge finish on other earrings and horizontal wrinkles on the gold plate surface. In terms of the material of the gold plate, we examined whether the silver content of the gold plate was natural gold or added by alloy through analyzing the alluvial gold collected in the region. As a result of the analysis, it was found that on average about 13wt% of silver is included. This suggests that type II is natural gold, type III is refined gold, and type I seems to have been alloyed with natural gold. Here, we investigated the refining method introduced in the ancient literature, both at home and abroad, about the possibility of alloying silver after the refining process of type III earrings and then making pure gold. It was found that from ancient refining methods, silver which had been present in the natural gold was removed by reacting and combining with silver chloride or silver sulfide, and long-term efforts and techniques were required to obtain pure gold through this method. Therefore, it was concluded that the possibility of adding a small amount of silver in order to increase strength after making pure gold through a refining process is low.