• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2019

The development of reliable and objective definitions as well as automated processes for the detection of health care-associated infections (HAIs) is crucial; however, transformation to an automated surveillance system remains a challenge. Early outbreak identification usually requires clinicians who can recognize abnormal events as well as ongoing disease surveillance to determine the baseline rate of cases. The system screens the laboratory information system (LIS) data daily to detect candidates for health care-associated bloodstream infection (HABSI) according to well-defined detection rules. The system detects and reserves professional autonomy by requiring further confirmation. In addition, web-based HABSI surveillance and classification systems use discrete data elements obtained from the LIS, and the LIS-provided data correlates strongly with the conventional infection-control personnel surveillance system. The system was timely, acceptable, useful, and sensitive according to the prevention guidelines. The surveillance system is useful because it can help health care professionals better understand when and where the transmission of a wide range of potential pathogens may be occurring in a hospital. A national plan is needed to strengthen the main structures in HAI prevention, Healthcare Associated Prevention and Control Committee (HAIPCC), sterilization service (SS), microbiology laboratories, and hand hygiene resources, considering their impact on HAI prevention.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 2019

Bisphenol A (BPA), a representative endocrine disrupting chemicals, has adverse effects on growth, development and reproduction in aquatic organisms. The object of this study was to investigate the modulation of antioxidant enzyme-coding genes using quantitative real time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), enzyme activity and total protein content, to understand oxidative stress responses after exposure to BPA for 48 h in brackish water flea Diaphanosoma celebensis. The BPA ($3mg\;L^{-1}$) significantly upregulated the expression of Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, and catalase (CAT) mRNA. Three GST isoforms (GST-kappa, GST-mu, and GST-theta) mRNA levels significantly increased at the rate of $0.12mg\;L^{-1}$ of BPA. In particular, GST-mu showed the highest expression level, indicating its key role in antioxidant response to BPA. SOD activity was induced with a concentration-dependent manner, and total protein contents was reduced. These findings indicate that BPA can induce oxidative stress in this species, and these antioxidants may be involved in cellular protection against BPA exposure. This study will provide a better understanding of molecular mode of action of BPA toxicity in aquatic organisms.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.198-201
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• 2019

Recently, it has been reported that Bacillus mojavensis possesses antifungal properties and plant growth-promoting activities, which are similar to the characteristics of siderophore. In this study, the siderophore produced by B. mojavensis was assessed using a solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge and liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (Q-TOF MS/MS). After B. mojavensis was incubated in phenol medium for 16 hr and lyophilized, the sample was dissolved in water and loaded to an SPE cartridge to remove interferences. The cartridge was washed with 5% methanol in water and eluted with 2% formic acid in methanol sequentially. The eluted solution was evaporated under a stream of nitrogen gas and reconstituted in methanol. The reconstituted sample was filtered, and $1{\mu}l$ of the sample was assessed using Q-TOF MS/MS. The mass spectrometer was operated using the positive electrospray ionization mode. Based on the mass spectrum and tandem mass spectrum, the siderophore produced by B. mojavensis was bacillibactin, one of the catechol types of siderophore with a molecular weight of 882.2556. This siderophore analysis could provide a justification for the study of B. mojavensis as a functional food and for pharmaceutical applications.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.173-177
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• 2011

In this study, the formation of $AlPO_4$-type porous materials from alum sludge was investigated. The materials were synthesized by the reaction of aluminum hydroxide and phosphoric acid with an organic template. Cationic surfactant, natural humic acid, and amino acids were used for the organic template. The residual organic templates were removed by calcination at $600^{\circ}C$ in the air. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns showed the charicteristic patterns of the $AlPO_4$-type porous materials. The morphology of the material was examined using a scanning electron microscopy. The coordination environment of $Al^{3+}$ ion was investigated by $^{27}Al$ MAS NMR technique. Both tetrahedrally and octahedrally coordinated$Al^{3+}$ ions were found in the as-synthesized samples while all $Al^{3+}$ ions were tetrahedrally coordinated in the calcined products. The development of mesopore in the solid material was confirmed by the measurement of BET specific surface area. Finally, they were used for removal of toxic formaldehyde from the air and the formaldehyde molecules were adsorbed on the surface of pores. In conclusion, $AlPO_4$-type porous materials from alum sludge might be applicable in the removal of toxic volatile organic compounds from the air.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.98-105
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• 2022

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/graphene oxide (GO)/iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) magnetic microgels were prepared using a microfluidic approach and the dye adsorption capacity of the microgels was confirmed. The adsorption capacity (q_e) of the gels was evaluated by varying the dye concentration, pH, and contact time with the microgels. The dyes used in this work were methylene blue (MB), crystal violet (CV), and malachite green (MG), and microgels showed the highest adsorption capacity (191.1 mg/g) in methylene blue. The microgels exhibited the highest adsorption capacity in the dye aqueous solution at pH 10 due to the presence of atomic nitrogen ions (N⁺) on the dye molecules. The adsorption isotherm studies revealed that the Langmuir isotherm is the best fit isotherm model for the dye adsorption on the microgels, indicative of monolayer adsorption. The kinetic analysis exhibited that the pseudo-second order model fits better than the pseudo-first order model, confirming that the adsorption process is chemisorption. In addition, the magnetic microgels showed good reusability and recovery efficiency. It was confirmed that the adsorption capacity of the gels maintains more than 70% of the initial capacity after 5 times of cycle experiments.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 2022

Boron(B) is a rare resource used for various purposes such as glass, semiconductor materials, gunpowder, rocket fuel, etc. However, Korea depends entirely on imports for boron. Considering the global boron reserves and its current production rate, boron will be depleted on earth in 50 years. Thus, a process including proper adsorbent materials recovering boron from seawater is demanded. This research proposed carbonized nanofibers prepared from electrospun PAN(polyacrylonitrile) mats as promising materials to adsorb boron in aqueous solution. First, the mechanism of boron adsorption on carbonized nanofibers was investigated by DFT(density functional method)-based molecular modeling and the calculated energetics demonstrated that the boron chemisorption on the nitrogen-doped graphene surface by a two-step dehydration is possible with viable activation energies. Then, the electrospun PAN mats were stabilized in air and then carbonized in an argon atmosphere before being immersed in the boric acid aqueous solution. Analytically, SEM(scanning electron microscopy) and Raman measurements were employed to confirm whether the electrospinning and carbonization of PAN mats proceeded successfully. Then, XPS(X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) peak analysis showed whether the intended nitrogen-doped carbon nanofiber surface was formed and boron was properly adsorbed on nanofibers. Those results demonstrated that the carbonized nanofibers prepared from electrospun PAN mats could be feasible adsorbents for boron recovery in seawater.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.433-440
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• 2021

Surfactants are organic compounds that have both hydrophilic and non-polar parts in one molecule, classified as non-ion, anion, cation, and amphoteric surfactants according to the charge of hydrophilic parts in aqueous state. A trace amounts may remain when vegetables and fruits are washed using type1 detergent (Vegetable and fruit detergent), and there is a possibility of exposure to the human body through ingestion. This study developed the simultaneous analysis method for 5 surfactants with LC-MS/MS for analysis of detergent residues after washing vegetables and fruits with detergent. The mobile phase used distilled water and acetonitrile containing 50 mM ammonium formate and 0.1% formic acid and was analyzed using a gradient method using XBridge BEH C8 column. The accuracy of the established method was 83.9-112.1%, and the precision was less than 20%. The detection limit was 7.0 (SLS) to 29.0 (SLES-N3) ㎍/L, and the correlation coefficient (r²) of calibration line regression was greater than 0.99, it is considered suitable for the analysis of trace amounts of surfactant components remaining in vegetables and fruits.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 2009

Ethane 1,2-dimethane sulfonate (EDS) is a well-known alkylating agent used as selective Leydig cell (LC) toxicant to create a testicular dysfunction model. Previous studies including our own clearly demonstrated the dramatic weight loss of the androgen dependent accessory sex organs such as epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate gland in this 'LC knock-out' rats. The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of EDS administration on histological changes of the epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate in adult rats. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (350$\sim$400 g B.W.) were injected with a single dose of EDS (75 mg/kg, i.p.) and sacrificed on weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Tissue weights (testis, epididymis, seminal vesicle and prostate gland) were measured. The histological changes of tissue were observed by a light microscopy using hematoxylin & eosin staining. Weights of the reproductive and accessory organs progressively declined after the EDS treatments (weeks 1, 2 and 3). After this, the decrease was stopped, then gradually returned to the normal levels. There was a partial (about 60%) recovery of the epididymis weight during weeks $6{\sim}7$. The cross section of epididymis revealed an increase in thickness of the epithelium during weeks $1{\sim}3$. In contrast, considerable reduction of epithelial thickness in seminal vesicle was observed during same period. Similarly, a reduction in thickness of prostate epithelial layer was found during weeks $1{\sim}3$, then it was back to normal thickness after week 4. Taken together, the present study demonstrated that the temporally induced androgen-deficiency by EDS treatment could result the prominent alterations in histology of the accessory sex organs. Further studies on the physiological and molecular regulation of these androgen-sensitive organs using EDS model will be helpful to understand the normal and pathological development and differentiation mechanism of these organs.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.520-527
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• 1988

The crystal structures of $Co^{2+}\;and\;Ag^+\;exchanged\;zeolite\; A,\; Ag_6Co_3$-A(a = 12.131(5)$\AA$) and $Ag_3Co_{4.5}$-A(a = 12.145(1)$\AA$), have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Both structures were solved and refined in the cubic space group Pm3m at 21(1)$^{\circ}C$. Full-matrix leastsquares refinement converged to the final error indices of R1 = 0.045 and R2 = 0.041 for $Ag_3Co_{4.5}-A,\; and\; R1 = 0.066\; and\; R2 = 0.076\; for\; Ag_6Co_3$-A using the 258 and 189 reflections, respectively, for which I > 3$\sigma$(I). Both structures indicate that CO(Ⅱ)ions are coordinated by three framework oxygens; the Co(II) to O(3) distances are 2.118(4)$\AA$ for $Ag_3Co_{4.5}$-A and 2.106(1)$\AA$ for $Ag_6Co_3-A$, respectively. In each structure, the angle substended at Co(II), O(3)-Co(II)-O(3) is ca 120°, close to the idealized trigonalplanar value. $Co^{2+}$ ions prefer to 6-ring sites and $Ag^+$ ions prefer to 8-ring site when total number of cations is more than 8. The crystals of hydrated and dehydrated $Ag_{12-2x}Co_x-A (x > 4.5)$ had no crystalline diffraction pattern, indicating the apparent exchange limit of $Co^{2+}\; into\; Ag_{12}-A\; is\; 4.5 Co^{2+}$ ions per unit cell. $Co^{2+}$ ions hydrolyze $H_2O$ molecules and $H_3O^+$ concentraction is accumulating. These $H_3O^+$ ions destroy the zeolite structures.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2008

Three isolates of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) were isolated from weed hosts showing typical mosaic symptoms, and some properties of the viruses were investigated. CMV isolates, designated as Is-CMV, Jd-CMV and Pla-CMV from Isodon inflexus, Jeffersonia dubia and Phryma leptostachya var. asiatica, respectively, were identified and characterized by biological reaction in several host plants, serological property, dsRNA analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP). All isolates systemically infected in Nicotiana benthamiana, Cucurbita pepo cv. Black beauty and Cucumis sativus, and did not reveal any differences in these host plants between the isolates. However, remarkable difference in the symptoms was found between the CMVs in Capsicum annuum. Is-CMV induced an asymptomatic symptoms, while Jd-CMV and Pla-CMV produced severe mosaic symptoms in C. annuum plants. In dsRNA analysis, all isolates revealed four major bands with estimated molecular size of 3.4, 3.2, 2.1 and 1.0 kbp. The cDNAs of coat protein gene of the isolates were amplified by RT-PCR using a genus-specific single pair primers that designed to amplify a DNA fragment of approximately ranging from 938 to 966 bp. By restriction mapping analysis using RFLP of the RT-PCR products as well as by serological properties of gel diffusion test, the CMV isolates belong to a typical members of CMV subgroup IA. This is the first report on the occurrence of CMV in the three weed hosts.