• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.1461-1471
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• 2017

Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) and its non-toxic mutant (LTm) are well-known powerful mucosal adjuvants and immunogens. However, the yields of these adjuvants from genetically engineered strains remain at extremely low levels, thereby hindering their extensive application in fundamental and clinical research. Therefore, efficient production of these adjuvant proteins from genetically engineered microbes is a huge challenge in the field of molecular biology. In order to explore the expression bottlenecks of LTm in E. coli, we constructed a series of recombinant plasmids based on various considerations and gene expression strategies. After comparing the protein expression among strains containing different recombinant plasmids, the signal sequence was found to be critical for the expression of LTm and its subunits. When the signal sequence was present, the strong hydrophobicity and instability of this amino acid sequence greatly restricted the generation of subunits. However, when the signal sequence was removed, abundantly expressed subunits formed inactive inclusion bodies that could not be assembled into the hexameric native form, although the inclusion body subunits could be refolded and the biological activity recovered in vitro. Therefore, the dilemma choice of signal sequence formed bottlenecks in the expression of LTm. These results reveal the expression bottlenecks of LTm, provide guidance for the preparation of LTm and its subunits, and certainly help to promote efficient preparation of this mucosal adjuvant protein.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 2018

Thermal stress of livestock has been issued due to recent climate change trends and this causes reproductive disorders, decreased feed consumption, immunosuppression, and increased mortality of animals. Concept of THI has been widely used to quantitatively evaluate the degree of thermal stress for animals, however use of this concept is restricted for animals living in the enclosed facilities such as mechanically ventilated broiler houses. In this study, time-based internal energy flow and variation trends of temperature and humidity were analyzed based on BES technique. Local weather data, insulation characteristics of building materials, heat and moisture generation rate from broilers according to age, algorithm of ventilation operation were adopted for boundary condition of the model to accurately compute THI values inside the mechanically ventilated broiler house. From the BES computation, excess frequency of THI threshold in Jeju city was highest on the assumption that air conditioning equipments were not installed. When general raising density ($39kg\;m^{-2}$) was adopted, total 2,191 hours were exceeded. Excess hours of THI threshold were strongly related to the cumulative air temperature ($R^2=0.87$).

• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2020

In this study, the fatigue behavior and fatigue life characteristics of PA2200 specimens fabricated by SLS 3D printer were studied. Fatigue tests were performed according to the standard specification (ASTM E468) and fatigue life curves were obtained. In order to perform the fatigue test, mechanical properties were measured according to the test speed of the simple tensile test, and the self-heating temperature of the specimen according to the test speed was measured using an infrared temperature measuring camera in consideration of heat generation due to plastic deformation. There was no significant difference within the set test speed range and the average self-heating temperature was measured at 38.5 ℃. The mechanical strength at the measured temperature showed a relatively small difference from the mechanical strength at room temperature. Fatigue test conditions were established through the preceding experiments, and the loading conditions below the tensile strength at room temperature 23 ℃ were set as the cyclic load. The maximum number of replicates was less than 100,000 cycles, and the fracture behavior of the specimens with the repeated loads showed the characteristics of Racheting. It was confirmed that SLS 3D printing PA2200 material could be applied to the Basquin's S-N diagram for the fatigue life curve of metal materials. SEM images of the fracture surface was obtained to analyze the relationship between the characteristics of the fracture surface and the number of repetitions until failure. Brittle fracture, crazing fracture, grain melting, and porous fracture surface were observed. It was shown that the larger the area of crazing damage, the longer the number of repetitions until fracture.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.586-591
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• 2010

Solar cells have been more intensely studied as part of the effort to find alternatives to fossil fuels as power sources. The progression of the first two generations of solar cells has seen a sacrifice of higher efficiency for more economic use of materials. The use of a single junction makes both these types of cells lose power in two major ways: by the non-absorption of incident light of energy below the band gap; and by the dissipation by heat loss of light energy in excess of the band gap. Therefore, multi junction solar cells have been proposed as a solution to this problem. However, the $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ generation solar cells have efficiency limits because a photon makes just one electron-hole pair. Fabrication of all-silicon tandem cells using an Si quantum dot superlattice structure (QD SLS) is one possible suggestion. In this study, an $SiO_x$ matrix system was investigated and analyzed for potential use as an all-silicon multi-junction solar cell. Si quantum dots with a super lattice structure (Si QD SLS) were prepared by alternating deposition of Si rich oxide (SRO; $SiO_x$ (x = 0.8, 1.12)) and $SiO_2$ layers using RF magnetron co-sputtering and subsequent annealing at temperatures between 800 and $1,100^{\circ}C$ under nitrogen ambient. Annealing temperatures and times affected the formation of Si QDs in the SRO film. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that nanocrystalline Si QDs started to precipitate after annealing at $1,100^{\circ}C$ for one hour. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images clearly showed SRO/$SiO_2$ SLS and Si QDs formation in each 4, 6, and 8 nm SRO layer after annealing at $1,100^{\circ}C$ for two hours. The systematic investigation of precipitation behavior of Si QDs in $SiO_2$ matrices is presented.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.13-29
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• 2016

In this study, we analyzed the causes of major faults in the biogas plant through the case of gas engine failure when cogenerating electricity and heat using biogas as a fuel in the actual sewage treatment plant and suggested countermeasures. Hydrogen sulfide in the biogas entering the biogas engine and water caused by intermittent malfunction of the water removal system caused intercooler corrosion in the biogas engine. In addition, the siloxane in the biogas forms a silicate compound with silicon dioxide, which causes scratches and wear of the piston surface and the inner wall of the cylinder liner. The substances attached to the combustion chamber and the exhaust system were analyzed to be combined with hydrogen sulfide and other impurities. It is believed that hydrogen sulfide was supplied to the desulfurization plant for a long period of time because of the high content of hydrogen sulfide (more than 50ppm) in the biogas and the hydrogen sulfide was introduced into the engine due to the decrease of the removal efficiency due to the breakthrough point of the activated carbon in the desulfurization plant. In addition, the hydrogen sulfide degrades the function of the activated carbon for siloxane removal of the adsorption column, which is considered to be caused by the introduction of unremoved siloxane waste into the engine, resulting in various types of engine failure. Therefore, hydrogen sulfide, siloxane, and water can be regarded as the main causes of the failure of the biogas engine. Among them, hydrogen sulfide reacts with other materials causing failure and can be regarded as a substance having a great influence on the pretreatment process. As a result, optimization of $H_2S$ removal method seems to be an essential measure for stable operation of the biogas engine.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2010

Purpose: Recently, the performance of the X-ray tube was very much improved by the power generation of the technology. However, the overload of equipment is occurred by the increment of the equipment operating time according to the increment of the examination number of cases. The X-ray dose can change by heat occurrence of the X-ray tube due to this. Moreover, the change of the bone mineral density value is possible to occur. Therefore, We tries to whether the change of the bone mineral density value of each equipment according to the difference of the examination number of cases and operating time occur or not. Materials and Methods: The BMD value was measured by the Aluminum Spine Phantom and the European Spine Phantom in each equipment, in order to find out about the difference of the time general classification bone mineral density value by using the Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. And after scanning each phantom by using X-ray dose meter (Unfors Mult-O-Meter), a dose was measured by the same condition. As to, an average and standard deviation were found and the change of each equipment much BMD value was compared and it evaluated. Results: $Mean{\pm}SD$ of each equipment by using the Aluminum Spine Phantom, A equipment was $1.174{\pm}0.002$, $1.171{\pm}0.005$, $1.173{\pm}0.005$, B equipment was $1.186{\pm}0.003$, $1.187{\pm}0.003$, $1.185{\pm}0.003$, C equipment was $1.180{\pm}0.003$, $1.182{\pm}0.004$, $1.183{\pm}0.002$, D equipment was $1.188{\pm}0.004$, $1.185{\pm}0.003$, $1.185{\pm}0.004$. By using the European Spine Phantom, A equipment was $1.143{\pm}0.006$, $1.153{\pm}0.009$, $1.161{\pm}0.003$, B equipment was $1.134{\pm}0.004$, $1.13{\pm}0.008$, $1.127{\pm}0.015$, C equipment was $1.143{\pm}0.006$, $1.134{\pm}0.01$, $1.133{\pm}0.006$, D equipment was $1.14{\pm}0.001$, $1.122{\pm}0.002$, $1.131{\pm}0.008$, altogether included in the normal range. Conclusion: There was no significant change of the BMD value of using a phantom by time zones. Therefore, if the quality control is made to use the extent management method of the equipment for beginning in the present application, the reliability of the BMD equipment will be able to be enhanced.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.207-215
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• 2012

As one of photo dynamic therapies, the existing LED photo irradiation method with 635 nm continuous wave has most frequently been used for acne treatment, it suffered from a low energy efficiency and generation of a large amount of heat in tissues requiring improvement measures. In this thesis, a LED photo irradiation system for acne treatment has been designed using PWM(Pulse Width Modulation) mode to enhance the energy efficiency and prevent thermal destruction in tissues. System configuration consisting largely of timer module, PWM module, and photo transfer device has been designed with the use of 1 W LED at a wavelength of 660 nm for the photo transfer device to increase skin penetration depth for treatment of acne. Frequency and wave form generated by using PWM control was verified along with confirmation of output energy of 660 nm LED and surface temperatures of tissues, followed by evaluation of stable energy outputs and stability of tissues. The results indicated that whereas power loss was high and thermal destruction in tissues was exhibited when C.W mode was used to obtain the optical energy of 1 W LED at a wavelength of 660 nm for acne treatment, realization of PWM mode allowed lowering of power consumption for LED through pulse width modulation, and no occurrence of thermal destruction in tissues, suggesting that PWM mode is safer and more effective for treatment of acne than C.W mode.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2014.10a
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• pp.15-15
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• 2014

Fusarium graminearum (teleomorph Gibberella zeae) is an important plant pathogen that causes head blight of major cereal crops such as wheat, barley, and rice, as well as causing ear and stalk rot on maize worldwide. Plant diseases caused by this fungus lead to severe yield losses and accumulation of harmful mycotoxins in infected cereals [1]. Fungi utilize spore production as a mean to rapidly avoid unfavorable environmental conditions and to amplify their population. Spores are produced sexually and asexually and their production is precisely controlled. Upstream developmental activators consist of fluffy genes have been known to orchestrate early induction of condiogenesis in a model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying conidiogenesis in F. graminearum, we characterized functions of the F. graminearum fluffy gene homologs [2]. We found that FlbD is conserved regulatory function for conidiogenesis in both A. nidulans and F. graminearum among five fluffy gene homologs. flbD deletion abolished conidia and perithecia production, suggesting that FlbD have global roles in hyphal differentiation processes in F. graminearum. We further identified and functionally characterized the ortholog of AbaA, which is involved in differentiation from vegetative hyphae to conidia and known to be absent in F. graminearum [3]. Deletion of abaA did not affect vegetative growth, sexual development, or virulence, but conidium production was completely abolished and thin hyphae grew from abnormally shaped phialides in abaA deletion mutants. Overexpression of abaA resulted in pleiotropic defects such as impaired sexual and asexual development, retarded conidium germination, and reduced trichothecene production. AbaA localized to the nuclei of phialides and terminal cells of mature conidia. Successful interspecies complementation using A. nidulans AbaA and the conserved AbaA-WetA pathway demonstrated that the molecular mechanisms responsible for AbaA activity are conserved in F. graminearum as they are in A. nidulans. F. graminearum ortholog of Aspergillus nidulans wetA has been shown to be involved in conidiogenesis and conidium maturation [4]. Deletion of F. graminearum wetA did not alter mycelial growth, sexual development, or virulence, but the wetA deletion mutants produced longer conidia with fewer septa, and the conidia were sensitive to acute stresses, such as oxidative stress and heat stress. Furthermore, the survival rate of aged conidia from the F. graminearum wetA deletion mutants was reduced. The wetA deletion resulted in vigorous generation of single-celled conidia through autophagy-dependent microcycle conidiation, indicating that WetA functions to maintain conidia dormancy by suppressing microcycle conidiation in F. graminearum. In A. nidulans, FlbB physically interacts with FlbD and FlbE, and the resulting FlbB/FlbE and FlbB/FlbD complexes induce the expression of flbD and brlA, respectively. BrlA is an activator of the AbaA-WetA pathway. AbaA and WetA are required for phialide formation and conidia maturation, respectively [5]. In F. graminearum, the AbaA-WetA pathway is similar to that of A. nidulans, except a brlA ortholog does not exist. Amongst the fluffy genes, only fgflbD has a conserved role for regulation of the AbaA-WetA pathway.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.331-342
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• 2022

Obesity is one of the metabolic diseases caused by excessive differentiation and accumulation of adipose tissue due to an imbalance between energy intake and consumption. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of SliMax, a natural-derived 6 compounds mixture, by using 3T3-L1 cells. As a result, SliMax showed the inhibitory effect on adipocyte differentiation through down-regulation of the PPARγ and C/EBPα expression, which are known to regulate the late adipogenesis stage. In the process of lipolysis on differentiated 3T3-L1 cells, SliMax accelerated decomposition of large-sized unilocular lipid droplet into numerous small-sized multilocular lipid droplets through up-regulation of the expression of lipolysis-related proteins ATGL and HSL. Finally, in order to confirm the effect of SliMax on induction of brown adipocyte, the expression of UCP-1 and the amount of mitochondria were confirmed by immunofluorescent staining, and as a result, SliMax increased the expression of UCP-1 and the amount of mitochondria in fat cells. Taken together, those results suggest that SliMax, a naturally-derived mixture, have a potential to be anti-obesity agent through exerting inhibitory effect on the formation of lipid droplet by suppression of adipogenesis and stimulation of lipolysis, and browning effect associated with generation of heat energy and energy consumption.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.141-153
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• 1992

Excess tritium analysis was peformed to verify whether or not cold fusion occurs during electrolysis of heavy water in the current density range of 83~600 mA/$\textrm{cm}^2$ for a period of 24 ~ 48 hours with use of palladium electrodes of seven different processing treatments and geometries. The extent of recombination of D$_2$ and $O_2$gases in the electrolytic cell was measured for the calculation of accurate enthaplpy values. The behavior and interaction of hydrogen atoms with defects in Pd electrodes were examined using the Sieverts gas charging and the positron annihilation(PA) method. Slight enrichment of tritium observed was attributed to electrolytic enrichment but not to the formation of a by-product of cold fusion. The extent of recombination of D$_2$and $O_2$gases was 32%. Hence the excess heat measured during the electrolysis was considered to be due to the exothermic reaction of recombination but not to nuclear fusion. Lifetime results from the PA measurements on the Pd electrodes indicated that hydrogen atoms could be trapped at dislocations and vacancies in the electrodes and that dislocations were slightly more preferred sites than vacancies. It was also inferred from R parameters that the formation of hydrides was accompanied by generation of mostly dislocations. Doppler broadening results of the Pd electrodes indicated that lattiec defect sites where positrons were trapped first increased and then decreased, and this cycle was repeated as electrolysis continued. It can be inferred from PA measurements on the cold-rolled Pd and the isochronally annealed Pd hydride specimens that microvoid-type defects existed in the hydrogen-charged electrode specimen.