• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.339-345
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• 2017

Carotenoids are natural lipid-soluble pigments, which are produced primarily by bacteria, algae, and plants. Many studies have focused on the identification, production, and utilization of natural sources of astaxanthin from algae, yeast, and crustacean byproducts as an alternative to the synthetic pigment, which is mostly used today. The aim of the present study was to identify a mutant of Paracoccus haeundaensis by exposure to UV and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). The mutant was then exposed to nutrient stress conditions to isolate an astaxanthin-hyperproducing strain, followed by characterization of the mutant. The survival rate decreased in accordance with an increase in the UV exposure time and an increase in the EMS concentration. A mutant of the original P. haeundaensis strain was identified that showed hyperproduction of astaxanthin following exposure to UV irradiation (20 min) and EMS treatment (0.4 M concentration). The optimal culture conditions for the PUE mutant were $25^{\circ}C$, pH 7-8, and 3% NaCl. The effects of various carbon and nitrogen sources on the growth and astaxanthin production of PUE were examined. The addition of 1% raffinose and 3% potassium nitrate influenced cell growth and astaxanthin production. The selected mutant exhibited an increase of 1.58 folds in astaxanthin content compared to initial wild type strain. A genetically stable mutant strain obtained using mutagen (UV irradiation and EMS treatment) may be a suitable candidate for further industrial scale production of astaxanthin.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.585-592
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• 2011

The enhancement of the cold-start capability of polymer electrolyte fuel cells is of great importance in terms of the durability and reliability of fuel-cell vehicles. In this study, vanadium oxide films deposited onto the flat surface of metallic bipolar plates were synthesized to investigate the feasibility of their use as an efficient self-heating source to expedite the temperature rise during startup at subzero temperatures. Samples were prepared through the dip-coating technique using the hydrolytic sol-gel route, and the chemical compositions and microstructures of the films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the electrical resistance hysteresis loop of the films was measured over a temperature range from -20 to $80^{\circ}C$ using a four-terminal technique. Experimentally, it was found that the thermal energy (Joule heating) resulting from self-heating of the films was sufficient to provide the substantial amount of energy required for thawing at subzero temperatures.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.737-742
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• 2015

An environmentally favorable solid oxidizer, guanidine dinitramide ($H_2C(NH_2)NH_2N(NO_2)_2$), with high purity and synthesis yield was prepared using guanidine carbonate ($NH_2C(=NH)NH_2{\cdot}1/2H_2CO_3$). Two different crystalline forms (${\alpha}$-form and ${\beta}$-form) were obtained depending on the solvent used and synthesis process. Despite of the same chemical composition, Raman-IR and TGA-DSC revealed that different structures existed between them. In particular, the thermal analysis showed the exothermic temperature of ${\alpha}$-form at $155.7^{\circ}C$ while $191.6^{\circ}C$ for ${\beta}$-form. The caloric value of ${\alpha}$-form was 536.4 J/g which was 2.5 times larger than that of ${\beta}$-form, 1310 J/g. In addition, ${\alpha}$-form was steeply decomposed with one-step variation, but ${\beta}$-form followed a two-step thermal decomposition pattern.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.263-271
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• 2017

The application of mass spectrometry to polymer science has rapidly increased since the development of MALDI-TOF MS. This review summarizes current polymer analysis methods using MALDI-TOF MS, which has been extensively applied to analyze the average molecular weight of biopolymers and synthetic polymers. Polymer sequences have also been analyzed to reveal the structures and composition of monomers. In addition, the analysis of unknown end-groups and the determination of polymer concentrations are very important applications. Hyphenated techniques using MALDI-tandem MS have been used for the analysis of fragmentation patterns and end-groups, and also the combination of SEC and MALDI-TOF MS techniques is recommended for the analysis of complex polymers. Moreover, MALDI-TOF MS has been utilized for the observation of polymer degradation. Ion mobility MS, TOF-SIMS, and MALDI-TOF-imaging are also emerging technologies for polymer characterization because of their ability to automatically fractionate and localize polymer samples. The determination of polymer characteristics and their relation to the material properties is one of the most important demands for polymer scientists; the development of software and instrument for higher molecular mass range (> 100 kD) will increase the applications of MALDI-TOF MS for polymer scientists.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.137-145
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• 2017

High-grade limestone applied to various chemical industries is abundant within upper Pungchon formation in Taebaeksan basin, South Korea. Geophysical exploration is one of the most efficient methods to investigate subsurface geological structure in an extensive area. Since the geophysical exploration for the high-grade limestone has rarely been conducted in Korea, its appropriate strategy has not been set up yet. In this study, we focused on to suggest the reasonable strategy and accumulate geophysical databases which are essential for interpreting geophysical images by characterizing laboratory physical properties of in-situ rocks. Hence, rocks were obtained from drilled cores consisting of lower Hwajeol formation, Pungchon formation, and dykes in Jeongseon area, Gangwon province. Geophysical laboratory experiments and petrography of the rocks were conducted. Since susceptibility values of the rocks in Pungchon Formation were obviously lower than those of upper Hwajeol and dykes, it is considered that the lithological boundaries could be distinguished by magnetic survey. In addition, electrical properties of the rocks in middle Pungchon formation were relatively different compared with those of upper/lower Pungchon formations. Thus, induced polarization is shown to be able to detect the high-grade limestone in upper Pungchon formation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2018

Background: Ginsenoside F1 has been described to possess skin-whitening effects on humans. We aimed to synthesize a new ginsenoside derivative from F1 and investigate its cytotoxicity and melanogenesis inhibitory activity in B16BL6 cells using recombinant glycosyltransferase enzyme. Glycosylation has the advantage of synthesizing rare chemical compounds from common compounds with great ease. Methods: UDP-glycosyltransferase (BSGT1) gene from Bacillus subtilis was selected for cloning. The recombinant glycosyltransferase enzyme was purified, characterized, and utilized to enzymatically transform F1 into its derivative. The new product was characterized by NMR techniques and evaluated by MTT, melanin count, and tyrosinase inhibition assay. Results: The new derivative was identified as (20S)-$3{\beta},6{\alpha},12{\beta}$,20-tetrahydroxydammar-24-ene-20-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside(ginsenoside Ia), which possesses an additional glucose linked into the C-3 position of substrate F1. Ia had been previously reported; however, no in vitro biological activity was further examined. This study focused on the mass production of arduous ginsenoside Ia from accessible F1 and its inhibitory effect of melanogenesis in B16BL6 cells. Ia showed greater inhibition of melanin and tyrosinase at $100{\mu}mol/L$ than F1 and arbutin. These results suggested that Ia decreased cellular melanin synthesis in B16BL6 cells through downregulation of tyrosinase activity. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to report on the mass production of rare ginsenoside Ia from F1 using recombinant UDP-glycosyltransferase isolated from B. subtillis and its superior melanogenesis inhibitory activity in B16BL6 cells as compared to its precursor. In brief, ginsenoside Ia can be applied for further study in cosmetics.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.673-680
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• 2019

GAP or GAP-co-BO based energetic thermoplastic elastomers (ETPEs) were synthesized by changing the hard segment content percent in the range of 30~45% by 5% difference. Thermal and mechanical properties of GAP-co-BO based ETPEs were compared to those of GAP based ETPEs. FT-IR results showed that the capability of forming hydrogen bond increases with increasing the hard segment content in GAP/GAP-co-BO based ETPE, and also the GAP-co-BO based ETPEs are stronger than GAP based ETPEs in the hydrogen bond formation. DSC and DMA results showed that the glass transition temperature (T_g) of GAP based ETPEs increased with the increment of the hard segment content, while the T_g of GAP-co-BO based ETPEs was maintained even the hard segment content increased. The storage modulus at room temperature of the GAP-co-BO based ETPEs was higher than that of the GAP based ETPEs. This was due to the strong phase separation behavior of the hard and soft segment of GAP-co-BO based ETPEs, which further resulted in the stronger breaking strength and lower tensile elongation at break point for GAP-co-BO based ETPE than the GAP based one.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.235-240
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• 1999

Characterization of water quality was performed from March 1993 to March 1998, on the purpose of clarifying the relationships between water quality and land use types. The study sites were two reservoir basins; Kaesim and Jangchan in Iwon-myon, Okchon-gun, Chungcho'ngbukdo Province. The two basins were characterized by cultivated area (Kaesim reservoir) and mountain area (Jangchan reservoir), and divided into eleven small basins, where dynamics of pollutants, and the relationship between water quality and land use types were investigated. BOD, SS and TKN became lower and lower from up-stream to down-stream, except for the small basin G where self-purification limit was exceeded. And water quality of Jangchan reservoir basin was worse because of fish nursery. Area below altitude 200m occupied 56% in Kaesim and 44% in Jangchan reservoir basins. Especially total phosphorous (Y/sub T-P/=0.2023X＋0.0991, r=0.54) and total nitrogen increased in small basins where the proportion of cultivated and residential area was higher. The analysis of influences of pollutant discharge on water quality showed that pollution charge was very high in cultivated areas. The concentrations of pollutants were attenuated flowing into watersheds through physical, chemical, biochemical, and biological processes. The pollution level of mountain area was lower than that of cultivated areas.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.933-941
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• 2008

The formation of $Co_nTiO_{n+2}$ compounds, i.e., $CoTiO_3$ and $CO_2TiO_4$, in a 5wt% $CoO_x/TiO_2$ catalyst after calcination at different temperatures has been characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements to verify our earlier model associated with $CO_3O_4$ nanoparticles present in the catalyst, and laboratory-synthesized $Co_nTiO_{n+2}$ chemicals have been employed to directly measure their activity profiles for CO oxidation at $100^{\circ}C$. SEM measurements with the synthetic $CoTiO_3$ and $CO_2TiO_4$ gave the respective tetragonal and rhombohedral morphology structures, in good agreement with the earlier XRD results. Weak Raman peaks at 239, 267 and 336 $cm^{-1}$ appeared on 5wt% $CoO_x/TiO_2$ after calcination at $570^{\circ}C$ but not on the catalyst calcined at $450^{\circ}C$, and these peaks were observed for the $Co_nTiO_{n+2}$ compounds, particularly $CoTiO_3$. All samples of the two cobalt titanate possessed O ls XPS spectra comprised of strong peaks at $530.0{\pm}0.1$ eV with a shoulder at a 532.2-eV binding energy. The O ls structure at binding energies near 530.0 eV was shown for a sample of 5 wt% $CoO_x/TiO_2$, irrespective to calcination temperature. The noticeable difference between the catalyst calcined at 450 and $570^{\circ}C$ is the 532.2 eV shoulder which was indicative of the formation of the $Co_nTiO_{n+2}$ compounds in the catalyst. No long-life activity maintenance of the synthetic $Co_nTiO_{n+2}$ compounds for CO oxidation at $100^{\circ}C$ was a good vehicle to strongly sup port the reason why the supported $CoO_x$ catalyst after calcination at $570^{\circ}C$ had been practically inactive for the oxidation reaction in our previous study; consequently, the earlier proposed model for the $CO_3O_4$ nanoparticles existing with the catalyst following calcination at different temperatures is very consistent with the characterization results and activity measurements with the cobalt titanates.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.543-549
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• 2013

In this study, $La_{0.9}Sr_{0.1}Cr_{0.7}M_{0.3}O_{3{\pm}{\delta}}$ (M=Mn, Ru, Fe, Ni) were prepared by sol-gel method and water gas shift reaction with simulated coal-derived syngas between $400{\sim}650^{\circ}C$ was conducted to evaluate the catalytic activity of prepared catalysts. Physico-chemical properties were characterized by XRD, BET, SEM-EDS and TPR. The formation of perovskite crystallite, $LaCrO_3$ was confirmed and the highest surface area was measured with $La_{0.9}Sr_{0.1}Cr_{0.7}Mn_{0.3}O_{3{\pm}{\delta}}$. Equilibrium conversion of CO above $550^{\circ}C$ was achieved except $La_{0.9}Sr_{0.1}Cr_{0.7}Fe_{0.3}O_{3{\pm}{\delta}}$. and methanation reaction was carried out as side reaction of water gas shift reaction with $La_{0.9}Sr_{0.1}Cr_{0.7}Ni_{0.3}O_{3{\pm}{\delta}}$ and $La_{0.9}Sr_{0.1}Cr_{0.7}Ru_{0.3}O_{3{\pm}{\delta}}$. Conclusively, $La_{0.9}Sr_{0.1}Cr_{0.7}M_n{0.3}O_{3{\pm}{\delta}}$ was the most suitable catalyst of water gas shift reaction above $500^{\circ}C$ for CO conversion and hydrogen production.