• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1708-1716
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• 2016

Glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) is an oxidoreductase enzyme and is used as a biocatalyst to regenerate NAD(P)H in reductase-mediated chiral synthesis reactions. In this study, the glucose 1-dehydrogenase B gene (gdhB) was cloned from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, and wild-type (GDH-BT^WT) and His-tagged (GDH-BT^N-His, GDH-BT^C-His) enzymes were produced in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). All enzymes were produced in the soluble forms from E. coli. GDH-BT^WT and GDH-BT^N-His showed high specific enzymatic activities of 6.6 U/mg and 5.5 U/mg, respectively, whereas GDH-BT^C-His showed a very low specific enzymatic activity of 0.020 U/mg. These results suggest that the intact C-terminal carboxyl group is important for GDH-BT activity. GDH-BT^WT was stable up to 65℃, whereas GDH-BT^N-His and GDH-BT^C-His were stable up to 45℃. Gel permeation chromatography showed that GDH-BT^WT is a dimer, whereas GDH-BT^N-His and GDH-BT^C-His are monomeric. These results suggest that the intact N- and C-termini are required for GDH-BT to maintain thermostability and to form its dimer structure. The homology model of the GDH-BT^WT single subunit was constructed based on the crystal structure of Bacillus megaterium GDH (PDB ID 3AY6), showing that GDH-BT^WT has a Rossmann fold structure with its N- and C-termini located on the subunit surface, which suggests that His-tagging affected the native dimer structure. GDH-BT^WT and GDH-BT^N-His regenerated NADPH in a yeast reductase-mediated chiral synthesis reaction, suggesting that these enzymes can be used as catalysts in fine-chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.937-945
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• 2020

N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)-mediated quorum sensing (QS) plays a major role in development of biofilms, which contribute to rise in infections and biofouling in water-related industries. Interference in QS, called quorum quenching (QQ), has recieved a lot of attention in recent years. Rhodococcus spp. are known to have prominent quorum quenching activity and in previous reports it was suggested that this genus possesses multiple QQ enzymes, but only one gene, qsdA, which encodes an AHL-lactonase belonging to phosphotriesterase family, has been identified. Therefore, we conducted a whole genome sequencing and analysis of Rhodococcus sp. BH4 isolated from a wastewater treatment plant. The sequencing revealed another gene encoding a QQ enzyme (named jydB) that exhibited a high AHL degrading activity. This QQ enzyme had a 46% amino acid sequence similarity with the AHL-lactonase (AidH) of Ochrobactrum sp. T63. HPLC analysis and AHL restoration experiments by acidification revealed that the jydB gene encodes an AHL-lactonase which shares the known characteristics of the α/β hydrolase family. Purified recombinant JydB demonstrated a high hydrolytic activity against various AHLs. Kinetic analysis of JydB revealed a high catalytic efficiency (k_cat/K_M) against C4-HSL and 3-oxo-C6 HSL, ranging from 1.88 x 10⁶ to 1.45 x 10⁶ M^-1 s^-1, with distinctly low K_M values (0.16-0.24 mM). This study affirms that the AHL degrading activity and biofilm inhibition ability of Rhodococcus sp. BH4 may be due to the presence of multiple quorum quenching enzymes, including two types of AHL-lactonases, in addition to AHL-acylase and oxidoreductase, for which the genes have yet to be described.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.562-570
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• 2018

New physical properties of polymer materials were obtained by blending two or three different type of polymers. TPE is used widely in the display, automotive and electronics industries. Consumers have sought emotionally more sensitive and advanced interior automotive parts. A polymer with high foamibility (Ed note: Please check this.) and flowability would be more plausible. TPE composed of foam is a good polymer material to satisfy these trends. In this research, two different TPE were tested, focusing on foamibility and flowability. Two type of TPE were prepared. The first was blended Homo-PP, oil and SEBS. The second was Co-PP, oil and SEBS. The blending temperatures were $180^{\circ}C$, $190^{\circ}C$, and $260^{\circ}C$(second one). The blending speed was 50rpm and blending time was 5 min. The MI of the blended material was affected by the MI of PP and not affected by the blending temperature. The hardness and tensile elasticity were less affected by the MI of PP and blending temperature. The hardness and tensile elasticity were lower at a higher SEBS/Oil content ratio. The soft touch feel was higher with high SEBS/Oil contents. The IPN (Interpenentration polymer network) structure was observed by dissolving the SEBS/Oil layer in xylene. Strain-hardening phenomena also was observed. TPE behaves in a rubber and foamed closed-cell improved its stability.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.679-689
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• 2009

Light olefins are very important hydrocarbons widely used as the raw materials of the most petrochemicals including plastics and medicines. In addition, the nation's olefin production capacity is regarded as one of the key indicators to predict the nation's economic scale and growth. Steam cracking of naphtha (or called "NCC (Naphtha Cracking Center) technology"), the traditional process to produce light olefins, is one of the most consuming energy processes among the chemical industries. Therefore, this process causes tremendous $CO_2$ emission. To reduce the energy consumption and $CO_2$ emission from NCC process, the present paper, firstly, investigates and analyses some alternative technologies which can be potentially substituted for traditional process. Secondly, applying the alternative technologies to NCC process, their effects such as energy savings, $CO_2$ emission reduction and CER (Certified Emission Reduction) were estimated. It is found that the advanced NCC process can reduce approximately 35% of SEC (Specific Energy Consumption) of traditional NCC process. This effect can lead to the reduction of 3.3 million tons of $CO_2$ and the acquisition of the 128 billion won of CER per year. Catalytic cracking of naphtha technology, which is other alternative processes, can save up to approximately 40% of SEC of traditional NCC process. This value equates to the 3.8 million tons of $CO_2$ mitigation and 147 billion won of CER per year.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.308-319
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• 2018

This study is intended to develop evaluation indicators for the improvement and operation of R&D project management process. To achieve this, an empirical survey was carried out to small companies specializing in technology-centered R&D. First, 12 evaluation indicators showed that there was a deviation of more than 2 times from the highest score of 60.77 to the lowest score of 30 in integrated management, which the R&D project management process needs to be selectively used for the improvement and operation. Second, the difference in industry showed that the biotech industry was the highest, while the chemical, electrical and electronic industries were the lowest. Third, the difference in the number of employees showed that companies with 50~100 employees were relatively high, while small companies with more than 100 employees were somewhat low. Fourth, the difference in career showed that 5~7-year career was relatively high, while 7~10-year career was somewhat high. Overall, evaluation indicators for the improvement and operation of R&D project management processor showed that integrated management was the most important, followed by communication management, risk management, and time management. This implies that small companies specializing in technology-centered R&D need to concentrate on the importance of efficient integrated management and rapid decision-making and risk management among individual participation subjects.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.469-475
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• 2016

The study is the result of an practical operation analysis for the full scale fishery product wastewater treatment plant with immersed MBR (iMBR) process. Since fishery product industries show a wide range of wastewater generation by the season, design and operation of the equalization basin are very important factor. The aeration system for the equalization basin mixing can save the chemical consumption for followed system through the restriction of acid fermentation. The concentrations of wastewater primary DAF process treated were BOD 2,291 mg/L, $COD_{Mn}$ 530 mg/L, SS 256.8 mg/L, T-N 38 mg/L, T-P 13.5 mg/L respectively. It was considered that iMBR is the most efficient biological process for high salinity content wastewater since It is irrelevant to the capability of the sludge precipitation. SADp and SADm were 0.31, $26.5m^3/hr{\cdot}m^3$ respectively. In iMBR process, the critical F/M ratio was derived at 0.08~0.10 gBOD/gMLSS by analysing the correlations between MLSS, normalized TMP and temperature. The effluent concentrations were BOD 1.8 mg/L, $COD_{Mn}$ 12.4 mg/L, SS 1.0 mg/L, T-N 7.85 mg/L, T-P 0.1 mg/L and removal efficiencies were 99.9%, 97.6%, 96.3%, 95.7%, 97.8% respectively.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.367-384
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• 2014

This study addresses an empirical issue which has been received little attention in the contemporary finance literature: To identify any financial determinants of the profitability indices for the firms belonging to the Korean chaebol. Three hypotheses of concern were postulated and tested for the sample firms covering the periods of the pre-and post-financial global crises. Regarding the results on the 1st hypothesis test of characterizing any financial profiles for the firms (belonging to the chaebols) by estimating a legitimate panel data model: the present study found the statistically significant relationships of the explanatory variables (BVLEVl, MVLEVl, MV/BV, RISK, FCFF and FOS) with the book-value based profitability ratio: while the market-valued profitability index was explained only by BVLEV2. Regarding the 2nd hypothesis test for the profitability of the sample firms at the industry level: the chaebol firms in the chemical and the food industries overall positioned themselves into the top ranks in order, which was tested by the ANCOVA and the Tukey multiple comparison procedure. Finally: on the 3rd hypothesis test for the 'adjusted' Dupont system, only two such as the 'operating margin' and the 'asset turnover' showed their significant effects between the chaebol firms and their counterparts in both the (parametric) independent samples t-test and the (nonparametric) Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney statistics.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.206-229
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• 2007

This study draws on a sociopolitical perspective to investigate the possible impact of champion leadership by project leaders on project viability(resource supply and organizational support) and team members' team efficacy by analyzing the empirical data of 92 ongoing projects collected from 22 public and private R&D institutes in the electronics, telecommunication, machinery, and chemical industries. Results revealed that higher level of project championing by project leader tended to positively related to a high level of organizational support and resource supply. It was also found that teams members who experienced higher level of project championing by project leader tended to have higher team efficacy. Furthermore, project type and innovative climate moderate the champion leadership-project performance relationships. The results found in this study offer several theoretical and managerial implications. First, champion leadership by project leaders is quite helpful to get more moral support and legitimacy of the organization for the project, and thus for acquisition of more tangible and intangible resources required for successful implementation of the R&D project. Champion leadership by project leaders also impacts the morale and self-confidence of the team members. Project leaders gives a sense of purpose and meaning to project members by actively and enthusiastically promoting the project, and by expressing confidence in team members' capabilities to perform a given task. In addition, his or her soliciting assistance and additional resources can contribute the building the confidence of members that the project can be performed well. Second, the relationship between champion leadership and project performances is context-specific (i.e., project type and innovative climate). This study is one of the few to have tested the moderating effects between champion leadership and project performances with a empirical research design. This study extends the current knowledge on champion leadership in the innovation process by generalizing their importance in R&D projects to a new industrializing context, Korea, and further sheds light on the contingent relationship between champion leadership and project performances in the innovation process. Based on these findings, some areas for future research are discussed.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.344-350
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• 2012

New pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) for polarizer film were prepared by electron beam (e-beam) radiation to acrylic copolymers, and their adhesive properties were investigated. The acrylic copolymers were synthesized by free radical polymerization of $n$-butylacrylate (BA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and acrylic acid (AA). The acrylic copolymers were coated on PET release films to a thickness of 25 ${\mu}m$, laminated to polarizer films, and then radiated with e-beam at room temperature. Gel fractions of all the acrylic copolymers after e-beam radiation at 50 kGy were higher than 93%, and their crosslinking densities were increased with increasing the content of HEMA units. PSA prepared by e-beam radiation of acrylic copolymer synthesized with a feed ratio of BA/HEMA/AA = 89.5/10/0.5 (w/w/w) at a dose of 50 kGy exhibited the best adhesion performances in terms of peel strength, creep resistance, durability and reliability, and light leakage. It is expected that the preparation method of PSAs via e-beam irradiation will improve the producibility and workability of polarizer film for liquid crystal display.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.260-265
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• 2002

Microbiologically influenced Corrosion (MIC) is one of the most deleterious effects of metal microbe interactions. When a fresh metal surface comes in contact with a non-sterile fluid, biofilm formation is ensued. This might result in the initiation of corrosion. The sites and materials where MIC is implicated are versatile. Industries such as shipping, power generation, chemical etc are reported to be affected. The rapid and unexpected failure of AISI type 304 stainless steel was investigated in the laboratory by simulation studies for a period of 4 months. Slime and water samples from the failure site were screened for corrosion causing bacteria. Both aerobic and anaerobic nora were enumerated and identified using PCR techniques. Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus sp. were the most common aerobic bacteria isolated from the water and slime samples, whilst sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) were the major anaerobic bacteria. The aerobic bacteria were used for the corrosion experiments in the laboratory. Coupon exposure studies were conducted using a very dilute (0.1%V/V) nutrient broth medium. The coupons after retrieval were observed under a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for the presence of MIC pits. Compared to sterile controls, metal coupons exposed to Pseudomonas sp and Bacillus sp. showed the initiation of severe pitting corrosion. However, amongst these two strains, Psudomonas sp. caused pits in a very short span of 14 days. Towards the end of the experiment, severe pitting was observed in both the cases. The detailed observation of pits showed they vary both in number and shapes. Whilst the coupons exposed to Bacillus sp. showed widely spread scales like pits, those exposed to Pseudomonas sp. showed smaller and circular pits, which had grown in number and size by the end of the experiment. From these results it is inferred that the rapid and unexpected failure of 304 SS might be due to MIC. Pseudonwnas sp. could be considered as the major responsible bacteria that could initiate pits in the metallic structures. As the appearance of pits was different in both the tested strains, it was thought that the mechanisms of pit formation are different. Experiments on these lines are being continued.