• Electrical & Electronic Materials
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.3-6
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• 2001

In common globular proteins, the native form is n its most stable state. However, the native form of inhibitory serpins (serine protease inhibitors) and some viral membrane fusion proteins is in a metastable state. Metastability in these proteins is critical to their biological functions. Our previous studies revealed that unusual interactions, such as side-chain overpacking, buried polar groups, surface hydrophobic pockets, ad internal cavities are the structural basis of the native metastability. To understand the mechanism by which these structural defects regulate protein functions, cavity-filling mutations of $\alpha$1-antitrypsin, a prototype serpin, were characterized. Increasing conformational stability is correlated with decreasing inhibitory activity. Moreover, the activity loss appears to correlate with the decrease in the rate of the conformational switch during complex formation with a target protease. We also increased the stability of $\alpha$1-antitrypsin greatly via combining various stabilizing single amino acid substitutions that were distributed throughout the molecule. The results showed that a substantial increase of stability, over 13 kcal/mol, affected the inhibitory activity with a correlation of 11% activity loss per kcal/mol. The results strongly suggest that the native metastability of proteins is indeed a structural design that regulates protein functions and that the native strain of $\alpha$1-antitrypsin distributed throughout the molecule regulates the inhibitory function in a concerted manner.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.44 no.3 s.153
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• pp.305-313
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• 2007

The aim of present paper is to investigate the dynamic strength characteristics of LNG cargo containment system under sloshing impact loads numerically. The dynamic stress transmission mechanism under the impact load was analyzed based on the dynamic Finite Element Analysis. Based on the insights obtained from the numerical studies, the characteristics of internal stress distribution and stress concentration have been reported. The material option including anisotropic material features required for the commercial FEA code application were suggested based on the comparison with the experimental results.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 2018

In this study the performance and humidity variation for 2 unit cells connected in series were experimentally measured. The relative flow direction of hydrogen and air was changed from parallel flow to counter flow. Internal humidity distribution was then measured by 5 embedded sensors on each channel. In all experimental conditions, the former unit cell showed a better performance and the gap is noted to be higher when counter flow is applied. The performance was noted to be higher at high humidification case in the parallel flow. However, in the counter flow, the difference of performance according to the humidification is negligible. Hydrogen and air are discharged from the PEMFC unsaturated with water vapor at parallel flow/low humidification condition, which explains lower performance of the PEMFC than other conditions. The humidities in hydrogen and air streams of counter flow were noted to increase rapidly even at low humidification condition and the consequential even hydration of membrane is the reason of higher performance.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.1209-1215
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• 2017

Microwave sterilization was performed to inactivate the spores of biofilms of Bacillus cereus involved in foodborne illness. The sterilization conditions, such as the amount of water and the operating temperature and treatment time, were optimized using statistical analysis based on 15 runs of experimental results designed by the Box-Behnken method. Statistical analysis showed that the optimal conditions for the inactivation of B. cereus biofilms were 14 ml of water, $108^{\circ}C$ of temperature, and 15 min of treatment time. Interestingly, response surface plots showed that the amount of water is the most important factor for microwave sterilization under the present conditions. Complete inactivation by microwaves was achieved in 5 min, and the inactivation efficiency by microwave was obviously higher than that by conventional steam autoclave. Finally, confocal laser scanning microscopy images showed that the principal effect of microwave treatment was cell membrane disruption. Thus, this study can contribute to the development of a process to control food-associated pathogens.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.12 no.3_4
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• pp.55-59
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• 1997

Furfural, an organic solvent, is widely used as synthetic component material in producing chemical products. However, furfural has been reported that it shows strong toxicities to human being showing intense stimulus to skin, eyes, mucous membrane and nerve system. It is also known to cause anemia, liver cirrhosis, kidney failure and genetic toxicity in the human being working in the exposed area. LD$_{50}$ of furfural for peritoneal injected mouse has been known around 20mg/kg, but the acute toxicity on aquatic organisms such as fish, daphnid or algae are not well known, compared to those on rodents. In this experiment, we studied on the fish toxicity of furfural using Japanese Medaka (Orvzias latipes) and Common Carp (Cvprinus carpio). We also observed histological changes in the fish organs. The LC$_{50}$ were 12. Smg/L in Japanese Medaka and 21.8 mg/L in Common Carp, respectively. When Common Carps were exposed to 120mg/L of furfural concentration for 30 minutes, blood congestion in gills and lysis of secondary lamella were shown. Though the muscle of caudal fin was not completely eroded, its epidermic cells were shown to be necrotic in various parts. Tissue atrophy and cell necrosis were also shown in the liver of Common Carps exposed to furfural. From these results, furfural seems to cause histological damages on liver, an internal organ as well as on external organs such as gills and fins eventhough the fish were exposed for a short-term.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 1979

Mycoplasma pneumoniae strain CL-s attached to broth-covered surfaces was examined sequentially during growth from single cells for morphologic and ultrastructural changes using several different electron microscopic techniques. Changes in morphology revealed both round and spindle shapes and observation of cell transitions suggested some type of morphological cycle. The round to-ovoid cells observed in the early stages of growth appeared to be viable, and morphologically and ultrastructurally different from the spherical fors which were produced during the latter stage of growth. The spindle segments were detected appeared to be structurally the same as the terminal cored structure seen in thin sections and may be a growing point or an attachment site of the cell. A tubular structure was observed in the core of the terminal structure and a microtubule-like element appeared to bridge between some spindle segments. A matrix sunstance was observed around single cells as well in the intercellular space of the colonies prepared by critical point metrical triple-layered cytoplasmic mermbranes, surfaces, of which appeared to be structurally different each other, were observed in young cells, whereas symmetrical and thicker membranes were seen in older cells. Small bodies were found in 4d or older cultures and did not appear to contain any internal structures or an easily detectable unit membrane.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.57-82
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• 2014

The heritage value of the mixed wood-masonry 18th century Pombalino buildings of downtown Lisbon is recognized both nationally and internationally. The present paper focuses on the seismic assessment of global response and retrofitting of a typical Pombalino building by nonlinear static analyses, performed by the research software Tremuri, which is able to model 3D configurations. The structure is modelled using nonlinear beams for masonry panels, while in case of the internal walls (frontal walls) an original formulation has been developed in order to take into account their specific seismic behaviour. Floors are modelled as orthotropic membrane finite elements: this feature allows to simulate the presence of both flexible and rigid diaphragms, being the first ones more representative of the original state while the second ones of retrofitted configurations. Seismic assessment has been evaluated by applying nonlinear static procedure and comparing the performance of different configurations (by considering various retrofitting strategies). Finally, assuming a lognormal cumulative distribution, fragility curves are obtained to be representative of Pombalino buildings: the most important application of such curves is for seismic risk and loss estimation analyses.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.113-121
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• 2012

Up-flow multi-layer bioreactor (UMBR) is a hybrid system using dual sludge that consists of an up-flow multi-layer bioreactor as anaerobic/anoxic suspended growth microorganisms followed by an aeration tank. The UMBR acts as a primary settling tank, anaerobic/anoxic reactor, thickener which requires low energy due to mixing by up-flow stream. This study focused on using a pilot UMBR plant with capacity of 20-30 $m^3$/day for domestic wastewater in HCMC. HRTs of UMBR and aeration tank were 4.8 h and 7.2 h, respectively. The average MLSS of UMBR ranged from 10,000-13,600 mg/l SS. Internal recycle rate and sludge return were 200-300% and 150-200%, respectively. The results obtained from this study at flow rate of 20 $m^3$/day showed that removal of COD, SS, TKN, N-$NH_4$, T-N, and color were 91%, 87%, 86%, 80%, 91% and 91%, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.3-6
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• 2001

In common globular proteins, the native form is in its most stable state. However, the native form of inhibitory serpins (serine protease inhibitors) and some viral membrane fusion proteins is in a metastable state. Metastability in these Proteins is critical to their biological functions. Our previous studies revealed that unusual interactions, such as side-chain overpacking, buried polar groups, surface hydrophobic pockets, and internal cavities are the structural basis of the native metastability. To understand the mechanism by which these structural defects regulate protein functions, cavity-filling mutations of ${\alpha}$1-antitrypsin, a prototype serpin, were characterized. Increasing conformational stability is correlated with decreasing inhibitory activity. Moreover, the activity loss appears to correlate with the decrease in the rate of the conformational switch during complex formation with a target protease. We also increased the stability of ${\alpha}$1-antitrypsin greatly via combining various stabilizing single amino acid substitutions that were distributed throughout the molecule. The results showed that a substantial increase of stability, over 13 kcal/mol, affected the inhibitory activity with a correlation of 11% activity loss per kcal/mol. The results strongly suggest that the native metastability of proteins is indeed a structural design that regulates protein functions and that the native strain of e 1-antitrypsin distributed throughout the molecule regulates the inhibitory function in a concerted manner.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.77-89
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• 1985

The agar gel precipitation(AGP), indirect hemagglutination(IHA) and indirect enzyme immunoassay(IEIA) tests were used to detect antibodies in pigs naturally infected with Cysticercus cellulosae in Jeju. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. Sera collected from pigs naturally infected with Cysticcrcus cellulosae did not react in AGP test. 2. In the IHA test for swine cysticercosis, the peak titers observed were between 1:20 and 1:160 and non-specific reaction was recognized with a few samples among control sera. 3. In the IEIA test, optical density(OD) values were obtained the best results under the condition of OPD-substrats are reacted at room temperature for 5minutes. The OD values of greater than 0.2 were determined as positive and the high titers in positive sera ranged from 1:40 to 1:1,080. 4. Antibodies to swine cysticercosis were detected by IHA and IEIA tests but the latter was more sensitive and specific than the former. 5. In the preparation of Cystisercus antigens, saline extract which was prepared the precipitate of internal membrane treated ultrasonicator were better results than other antigens for serological tests. 6. Amounts of protein in antigens was not related in direct proportion to results of serological reaction.