• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2008.11a
• /
• pp.189-189
• /
• 2008

Due to the environmental issue vast research is going on to replace the widely used lead contented piezoelectric materials. Bismuth sodium titanate (abbreviated as BNT) based bismuth sodium titanate-barium titanate (abbreviated as BNBT) ceramic was prepared by using modified method rather than conventional mixed oxide method. This modification was made to improve the properties of BNT based ceramic. In this procedure $BaTiO_3$ (abbreviated as BT) was prepared using conventional mixed oxide method. Analytical grade raw materials of $BaCO_3$ and $TiO_2$ were weighted and ball milled using ethanol medium. The mixed slurry was dried and sieved under 80 mesh. Then the powder was calcined at $1100^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours. This calcined BT powder was used in the preparation of BNBT. Stoichiometric amount of $Bi_2O_3$, $Na_2CO_3$, $TiO_2$ and BT were weighted and mixed by using ball mill. The used calcination temperature was $850^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours. Calcined powder was taken for another milling step. BNBT disks were pressed to 15 mm of diameter and then cold isostatical press (CIP) was used. Pressed samples were sintered at $1150^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours. The SEM microstructure analysis revealed that the grain shape of the sintered ceramic was polyhedral and grain boundary was well matched where as the sample prepared by conventional method showed irregular arrangement and grain boundary not well matched. And sintered density was better (5.78 g/cc) for the modified method. It was strongly observed that the properties of BNBT ceramic near MPB composition was found to be improved by the modified method compare to the conventional mixed oxide method. The piezoelectric constant dB of 177.33 pC/N, electromechanical coupling factor $k_p$ of 33.4%, dielectric constant $K_{33}^T$ of 688.237 and mechanical quality factor $Q_m$ of 109.37 was found.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.54 no.6
• /
• pp.725-732
• /
• 2016

Plasmodium vivax produces numerous caveola-vesicle complex (CVC) structures beneath the membrane of infected erythrocytes. Recently, a member helical interspersed subtelomeric (PHIST) superfamily protein, $PcyPHIST/CVC-81_{95}$, was identified as CVCs-associated protein in Plasmodium cynomolgi and essential for survival of this parasite. Very little information has been documented to date about $PHIST/CVC-81_{95}$ protein in P. vivax. In this study, the recombinant $PvPHIST/CVC-81_{95}$ N and C termini were expressed, and immunoreactivity was assessed using confirmed vivax malaria patients sera by protein microarray. The subcellular localization of $PvPHIST/CVC-81_{95}$ N and C termini in blood stage parasites was also determined. The antigenicity of recombinant $PvPHIST/CVC-81_{95}$ N and C terminal proteins were analyzed by using serum samples from the Republic of Korea. The results showed that immunoreactivities to these proteins had 61% and 43% sensitivity and 96.9% and 93.8% specificity, respectively. The N terminal of $PvPHIST/CVC-81_{95}$ which contains transmembrane domain and export motif (PEXEL; RxLxE/Q/D) produced CVCs location throughout the erythrocytic-stage parasites. However, no fluorescence was detected with antibodies against C terminal fragment of $PvPHIST/CVC-81_{95}$. These results suggest that the $PvPHIST/CVC-81_{95}$ is localized on the CVCs and may be immunogenic in natural infection of P. vivax.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.69-74
• /
• 2009

In Korea, large amounts of chestnut shell as by-products are produced from food industries. However, most of the by-products exist with no disposal options. Biosorption uses biomass that are either abundant or wastes from industrial operations to remove toxic metals from water. Objective of this research was to evaluate the feasibility of using chestnut shell as by-products for removal of metal ions(Pb, Cu and Cd) from aqueous solution. The chestnut shell was tested for its efficiency for metal removal by adopting batch-type adsorption experiments. The adsorption selectivity of chestnut shell for metals was Pb > Cu > Cd at solution pH 5.5. The Langmuir isotherm adequately described the adsorption of chestnut shell for each metal. Using The maximum adsorption capacity predicted using Langmuir equation was 31.25 mg $g^{-1}$ 7.87 mg $g^{-1}$ and 6.85 mg $g^{-1}$ for Pb, Cu and Cd, respectively. Surface morphology, functional group and existence of metals on chestnut shell surface was confirmed by FT-IR, SEM and EDX analysis. The chestnut shell showed an outstanding removal capability for Pb compared to various adsorbents reported in the literatures. The overall results suggested that chestnut shell might can be used for biosorption of Pb from industrial wastewater.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
• /
• v.19 no.12
• /
• pp.1339-1349
• /
• 2008

In this paper, a nonlinear relationship between an input complex envelope and an output complex envelope of m-th harmonic zone is theoretically analyzed, and AM/$AM_m$ and AM/$PM_m$ are defined. A scheme to extract these characteristics from measured in-phase and quadrature-phase data is suggested. The proposed analysis is verified with a fundamental-fundamental and fundamental-third harmonic measurements for a InGaP power amplifier(PA). Based on the harmonic-band nonlinear analysis and extraction scheme, a new technique to send a signal in m-th harmonic band with a harmonic signal Linearization Digital Predistortion(DPD) scheme is presented. A numerical analysis and a Look-Up Table(LUT) based DPD algorithms to linearize output signal on m-th harmonic zone are developed. For a 16- and a 64-QAM input signals, a DPD for third harmonic signal linearization is implemented, and output spectrum and signal constellation are measured. The wholly distorted signals are linearized, and thus the measured Error Vector Magnitudes (EVM) are 6.4 % and 6.5 % respectively. The results show that a proposed scheme linearizes a nonlinearly distorted harmonic band signals. The proposed nonlinear analysis and predistortion scheme can be applied to multiband transmitter in next generation software defined radio(SDR)/cognitive radio(CR) wireless system.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.25 no.8
• /
• pp.1089-1095
• /
• 2012

Neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) gene encodes a receptor that binds the Fc region of monomeric immunoglobulin G (IgG) and is responsible for IgG transport and stabilization. In this report, the 8,900 bp porcine FcRn genomic DNA structure was identified and putative FcRn protein included 356 amino acids. Alignment and phylogenetic analysis of the porcine FcRn amino acid sequences with their homologies of other species showed high identity. Tissues expression of FcRn mRNA was detected by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), the results revealed FcRn expressed widely in ten analyzed tissues. One single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (HQ026019:g.8526 C>T) in exon6 region of porcine FcRn gene was demonstrated by DNA sequencing analysis. A further analysis of SNP genotypes associated with serum Classical Swine Fever Virus antibody (anti-CSFV) concentration was performed in three pig populations including Large White, Landrace and Songliao Black pig (a Chinese indigenous breed). Our results of statistical analysis showed that the SNP had a highly significant association with the level of anti-CSFV antibody (At d 20; At d 35) in serum (p = 0.008; p = 0.0001). Investigation of expression and polymorphisms of the porcine FcRn gene will help us in further understanding the molecular basis of the antibody regulation pathway in the porcine immune response. All these results indicate that FcRn gene might be regarded as a molecular marker for genetic selection of anti-CSFV antibody level in pig disease resistance breeding programmes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.1801-1810
• /
• 2016

Recent discovery showing the presence of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the circulation sparked interest in their use as potential biomarkers. Our previous studies showed the diagnostic potential of miR-451 as a serological marker for inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), miR-337-5p and miR-30b for non-inflammatory breast cancer (non-IBC). The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic values of circulating miRNAs by comparing the amounts of 12 circulating miRNAs in the serum of IBC and non-IBC from Tunisian breast cancer patients, and by determinating whether correlated pairs of miRNAs could provide useful information in the diagnosis of IBC and non-IBC patients. TaqMan qPCR was performed to detect circulating expression of miRNAs in serum of 20 IBC, 20 non-IBC and 20 healthy controls. Nonparametric rank Spearman rho correlation coefficient was used to examine the prognostic value of miRNAs and to assess the correlation profile between miRNAs expression. Further, a large number of miRNAs were highly correlated (rho>0.5) in both patients groups and controls. Also, the correlations profiles were different between IBC, non-IBC and healthy controls indicating important changes in molecular pathways in cancer cells. Our results showed that miR-335 was significantly overexpressed in premenopausal non-IBC patients; miR-24 was significantly overexpressed in non-IBC postmenopausal patients. Patients with previous parity had higher serum of miR-342-5p levels than those without. Furthermore, patients with HER2+ IBC present lower serum levels of miR-15a than patients with HER2-disease. Together, these results underline the potential of miRNAs to function as diagnostic and prognostic markers for IBC and non-IBC, with links to the menopausal state, Her2 status and parity.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.397-402
• /
• 1985

The fermentation of various sugars by C. thermosaccharolyticum was examined under pH controlled, anaerobic condition. The kinetic model for Product formation at various sugars was the combination of growth and non-growth associated mode. In the utilization of a single sugar, glucose was the best carbon source for growth. The specific growth rate of glucose, xylose and cellobiose were 0.363 h$^{-1}$, 0.242 h$^{-1}$ and 0.144 h$^{-1}$ respectively. The production of ethanol from glucose showed a negatively growth associated mode, so the higher growth rate decreased the productivity of ethanol. The maximum concentrations of the produced ethanol were 2.42 g/l, 3.76 g/l, and 3.4 g/l on glucose, xylose, and cellobiose. No glucose was detected during cellobiose fermentation. Sequential utilization of sugars was observed in the mixtures of glucose, xylose and cellobiose. It preferred glucose, followed by xylose and then cellobiose. The presence of other sugars had little or no effect on the rate of another sugar utilization. Cell lysis at the end of fermentation occured more slowly in the mixtures of sugars than a single sugar.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.17-25
• /
• 1994

We evaluated the effect of nicotinamide on cellular $O_{2}$ consumption and metabolic status i.e., adenylate phosphates and $NAD^{+}$in-vitro, and changes in blood flow in-vivo, to determine whether changes in cellular metabolism or increased oxygen availability, was responsible for increased tumor oxygenation. Thirty min, pre-incubation of cells with$\∼$4mM (= 500mg/kg) nicotinamide resulted in no change in cellular $O_{2}$ consumption. Similarly neither the adenylate Phosphates nor the cellular $NAD^{+}$levels were altered in the presence of $\∼$4mM nicontinamide. In-vivo, nicotinamide (500mg/kg) increased $O_{2}$ availability as estimated by changes in relative tumor blood flow (RBC flux). The changes in RBC flux measured by the laser Doppler method, were tumor volume dependent and increased from$\∼$35$ \% $ in$\∼$ 150$mm_{3}$tumors to$\∼$~75$ \% $ in$\∼$500$mm^{3}$ tumors. In conclusion, these observations indicate a reduction in local tissue $O_{2}$ consumption is not a mechanism of improved tumor oxygenation by nicotinamide in FSa II murine tumor model. The primary mechanism of increased $pO_{2}$ appears to be an increased local tumor blood flow.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.845-852
• /
• 2014

Among various abiotic stress factors, soil salinity decreases the photosynthetic rate, growth, and yield of plants. Recently, many genes have been reported to enhance salt tolerance. The objective of this study was to characterize the Brassica rapa Salt Stress Resistance (BrSSR) gene, of which the function was unclear, although the full-length sequence was known. To characterize the role of BrSSR, a B. rapa Chinese cabbage inbred line ('CT001') was transformed with pSL94 vector containing the full length BrSSR cDNA. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that the expression of BrSSR in the transgenic line was 2.59-fold higher than that in the wild type. Analysis of phenotypic characteristics showed that plants overexpressing BrSSR were resistant to salinity stress and showed normal growth. Microarray analysis of BrSSR over-expressing plants confirmed that BrSSR was strongly associated with ERD15 (AT2G41430), a gene encoding a protein containing a PAM2 motif (AT4G14270), and GABA-T (AT3G22200), all of which have been associated with salt tolerance, in the co-expression network of genes related to salt stress. The results of this study indicate that BrSSR plays an important role in plant growth and tolerance to salinity.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.716-722
• /
• 2006

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is physiologically important in regulating cellular homeostasis and apoptotic cell death, and its mutations are the cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS). Mitochondrial serine protease HtrA2 has a pro-apoptotic function and has known to be associated with neurodegenerative disorders. To investigate the relationship between genes associated with apoptotic cell death, such as HtrA2 and SOD1, we utilized the pGEX expression system to develop a simple and rapid method for purifying wild-type and ALS-associated mutant SOD1 proteins in a suitable form for biochemical studies. We purified SOD1 and SOD1 (G93A) proteins to approximately 90% purity with relatively high yields (3 mg per liter of culture). Consistent with the result in mammalian cells, SOD1 (G93A) was more insoluble than wild-type SOD1 in E. coli, indicating that research on the aggregate formation of SOD1 may be possible using this pGEX expression system in E. coli. We investigated the HtrA2 serine protease activity on SOD1 to assess the relationship between two proteins. Not only wild-type SOD1 but also ALS-associated mutant SOD1 (G93A) were cleaved by HtrA2, resulting in the production of the 19 kDa and 21 kDa fragments that were specific for anti-SOD1 antibody. Using protein gel electrophoresis and immunoblot assay, we compared the relative molecular masses of thrombin-cleaved GST-SOD1 and HtrA2-cleaved SOD1 fragments and can predict that the HtrA2-cleavage sites within SOD1 are the peptide bonds between leucine 9-lysine 10 (L9-K10) and glutamine 23-lysine 24 (Q23-K24). Our study indicates that SOD1 is one of the substrate for HtrA2, suggesting that both HtrA2 and SOD1 may be important for modulating the HtrA2-SOD1-mediated apopotic cell death that is associated with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorder.