• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.213-225
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• 2018

Trichoderma (Hypocreaceae) is one of the most ubiquitous genera worldwide. This genus has an excellent ability to adapt to diverse environments, even under poor nutritional conditions, such as in freshwater. However, little is known about the diversity of Trichoderma species in freshwater environments. In this study, we isolated diverse fungal strains from algae, plant litter, and soil sediment in streams in Korea. The strains were identified based on molecular phylogenetic analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA and translation elongation factor 1 ($TEF1{\alpha}$) sequences. We also investigated their morphological characteristics by microscopic observation and determination of cultural features on different media. As a result, six Trichoderma species were found in Korea: T. afroharzianum, T. capillare, T. guizhouense, T. paraviridescens, T. reesei, and T. saturnisporum. Interestingly, T. paraviridescens showed both cellulose activity and hypoxia stress tolerance phenotypes, indicating its role as a decomposer in freshwater ecosystems. Our study revealed that freshwater environment could be a good candidate for investigating the species diversity of Trichoderma.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2017

As a subset study to discover indigenous prokaryotic species in Korea in 2014, a total of 34 bacterial strains assigned to the phylum Actinobacteria were isolated from various environmental samples collected from activate sludge, biotite, freshwater, gut of marine organisms, mud flat, sediment, soil, spent mushroom compost and sea water. On the basis of high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and a tight phylogenetic association with the closest species, it was revealed that each strain was assigned to independent and previously described bacterial species, with the exception of one isolate. There is no official report that these 34 species included in the phylum Actinobacteria have been described in Korea: 6 species of 5 genera in the order Corynebacteriales, 1 species of 1 genus in the order Frankiales, 2 species of 2 genera in the Micromonosporales, 14 species of 10 genera in Micrococcales, 2 species of 2 genera in the Propionibacteriales, 1 species of 1 genus in the Pseudonocardiales, 4 species of 2 genera in the Streptomycetales, 2 species of 2 genera in the Streptosporangiales and 1 species of 1 genus in the Solirubrobacterales. Gram reaction, cell and colony morphology, pigmentation, physiological characteristics, isolation sources and strain IDs are described in the section of species description.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.884-892
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• 2001

Biodegradable wafers were prepared with poly (L-lactide-co-glycolide) (50 : 50 mole ratio of lactide to glycolide, molecular weight:5000 g/mole) by direct compression method for the sustained release of nifedipine to investigate the possibility of the treatment of hypertension. PLGA wafers were prepared by altering initial drug/polymer loading ratio, wafer thickness, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) content. These wafers showed new zero-order release patterns for 11 days, and various biphasic release patterns could be obtained by altering the composition of wafers such as addition of matrix binder as HPMC to the PLGA wafer to reduce release rate of initial phase. The onset of polymer mass loss only occured after 4 days and about 40% of mass loss was observed after 11 days nifedipine release. This system had advantages in terms of simplicity in design and obviousness of drug release rate and may be useful as an implantable dosage form.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.281-286
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• 2000

A series of amorphous polyesters were synthesized from amorphous polyether and sebacoyl chloride. The structure and competition of the obtained aliphatic polyester were confirmed by $^1$H-NMR and FT-IR. The number average molecular weights (M$_{n}$) of the obtained polymer were ranging from 8000 ~ 15000. These polyesters showed no crystallinity and their glass transition temperatures (T$_{g}$) were around -77$^{\circ}C$. For comparison, aliphatic polyesters were also synthesized from poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with M$_{n}$ of 200, 400, and 1000. As the M$_{n}$ of PEG increased, the melting point of the obtained polyester increased, and the crystallinity of the obtained polyester increased showing 8.8%, 16.2%, and 46.7%, respectively.ively.y.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.240-248
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• 2002

$Fe_xTi_{l-x}O_2$ films (x=0.07 and 0.16) were grown by oxygen-plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy on rutile $TiO_2$(110). The same growth conditions were applied for both films in order to determine surface characteristics of grown films as a function of Fe composition. The films were characterized by several surface analysis techniques. The oxidation states of Ti and Fe in $Fe_xTi_{l-x}O_2$ films were found to be +4 and a mixture of +2 and +3, respectively. More $Fe^{3+}$ species exist in higher Fe doped film of $Fe_{0.16}Ti_{0.84}O_2$. The morphology of $Fe_{0.07}Ti_{0.93}O_2$ film shows tall rectangular and cylinderical islands growth on flat substrate-like surface. On the other hand, $Fe_{0.16}Ti_{0.84}O_2$ film consists of round shaped small islands showing somewhat rougher surface compared to the surface of $Fe_{0.16}Ti_{0.84}O_2$ film.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.146-159
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• 2011

The continuous increase in the production of metals and their subsequent release into the environment has lead to increased concentration of these elements in agricultural soils. Because microbes are involved in almost every chemical transformations taking place in the soil, considerable attention has been given to assessing their responses to metal contaminants. Short-term and long-term exposures to toxic metals have been shown to reduce microbial diversity, biomass and activities in the soil. Several studies show that microbial parameters like basal respiration, metabolic quotient, and enzymatic activities, including those of oxidoreductases and those involved in the cycle of C, N, P and other elements, exhibit sensitivity to soil metal concentrations. These have been therefore, regarded as good indices for assessing the impact of metal contaminants to the soil. Metal contamination has also been extensively shown to decrease species diversity and cause shifts in microbial community structure. Biochemical and molecular techniques that are currently being employed to detect these changes are continuously challenged by several limiting factors, although showing some degree of sensitivity and efficiency. Variations and inconsistencies in the responses of bioindicators to metal stress in the soil can also be explained by differences in bioavailability of the metal to the microorganisms. This, in turn, is influenced by soil characteristics such as CEC, pH, soil particles and other factors. Therefore, aside from selecting the appropriate techniques to better understand microbial responses to metals, it is also important to understand the prevalent environmental conditions that interplay to bring about observed changes in any given soil parameter.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2005

Silica membranes were prepared on a porous metal sheet by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method for gas separation at high temperatures. In order to improve the permselectivity, silica was deposited in the sol-gel derived $silica/\gamma-alumina$ intermediate layer by pyrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) at 873 K. The pyrolysis with forced cross flow through the porous wall of the support was very effective in plugging mesopores, Knudsen diffusion regime, that were left unplugged in the membranes. At permeation temperature of 523 K, the silica/alumina composite membrane showed $H_2/N_2$ and water/methanol selectivity as high as 17 and 16, respectively, by molecular sieve effect.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.291-299
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• 2003

Polymer membranes such as poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne)-polyetherimide (PTMSP-PEI) and poly(dimethylsiloxane)- polyetherimide (PDMS-PEI) composite membrane were prepared by solution casting method. To investigate the characteristics of these membranes, the analytical methods such as FT-IR, $^1H-NMR,$ DSC, TGA, GPC, and SEM have been utilized. The number-average (equation omitted) and weight-average (equation omitted) molecular weight of PTMSP were 477,920 and 673,329 respectively. The glass transition temperature ($T_g$) of PTMSP was $224^{\circ}C.$ The separation of the gas mixture ($H_2/N_2$) through the composite membranes were studied as a function of pressure. The separation factor (${\alpha}, {\beta},$ quation omitted) of the composite membranes used in this work increased as the pressure of permeation cell increased. The real separation factor (${\alpha}$), head separation factor (${\beta}$), and tail separation factor (equation omitted) of PTMSP-PEI composite membrane were 2.28, 1.17, and 1.96 respectively at ${\Delta}P$ 30psi and $25^{\circ}C.$ (${\alpha}, {\beta}$ and equation omitted of PDMS-PEI composite membrane were 3.70, 1.53, and 2.42 respectively at ${\Delta}P$ 30psi and $25^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.331-336
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• 2007

A bacterium producing the alkaline pretense was isolated from Chungkookjoug, and was identified as Bacillus subtilis JK-1 based on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, as well as phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequence. The optimum pH and temperature of the pretense activity were pH 9.0 and $55^{\circ}C$, respectively. This enzyme was stable at the temperatures $40{\sim}80^{\circ}C$. The maximum alkaline pretense production was obtained when 1.0% (w/v) xylose, 1.0% (w/v) yeast extract and 0.3% (w/v) $CuSO_4$ were used as carbon source, nitrogen source and mineral source. Under the optimal condition, growth of the isolate was reached at stationary phase after 12 hr followed by incubation, the alkaline pretense production reached a maximum level with $16{\sim}20$ hr cultivation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.216-221
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• 2011

Objective: To differentiate the human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the defined culture condition and determine its therapeutic potential for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases. Methods: The embryoid bodies were formed from hESCs and attached on the matrigel coated culture dishes. The neural structures consisting neural precursors were selected and expanded to form rosette structures. The mechanically isolated neural rosettes were differentiated into pigmented cells in the media comprised of N2 and B27. Expression profiles of markers related to RPE development were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining. Dissociated putative RPE cells ($10^5$ cells/5 ${\mu}L$) were transplanted into the subretinal space of rat retinal degeneration model induced by intravenous sodium iodate injection. Animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after transplantation, and immnohistochemistry study was performed to verify the survival of the transplanted cells. Results: The putative RPE cells derived from hESC showed characteristics of the human RPE cells morphologically and expressed molecular markers and associated with RPE fate. Grafted RPE cells were found to survive in the subretinal space up to 4 weeks after transplantation, and the expression of RPE markers was confirmed with immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: Transplanted RPE cells derived from hESC in the defined culture condition successfully survived and migrated within subretinal space of rat retinal degeneration model. These results support the feasibility of the hESC derived RPE cells for cell-based therapies for retinal degenerative disease.