• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.143-151
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• 2024

Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) have shown great potential as a new generation of energy harvesters because they possess many unique properties, including mechanical flexibility, lightweight, semi-transparency, and low-fabrication costs. Recent advancements in molecular structure and device engineering have led to achieving power conversion efficiency (PCE) exceeding 19%. However, these highly efficient active layer materials have been hampered in their commercialization by complex synthesis steps that result in high manufacturing costs. To address this issue, research is actively underway on low-cost active layer materials with simple structures. This paper introduces such cost-effective active layer materials and strategies for their synthesis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1543-1551
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• 2023

The recently published high-resolution R388 T4SS structure provides exciting new details about the complete complex of T4SS, including the components making up the stalk and arches, numerous symmetry mismatches between regions of the complex, and an intriguing interpretation of the closed stalk and radial symmetry of the inner membrane complex, which is related to pilus biogenesis assembly. However, there are a few unidentified densities in the electron microscopy map and portions of the identified component sequences for which the structure is not yet known. It is also unclear how well this minimized DNA-transporting T4SS predicts the structure of other T4SSs, such as expanded systems and those that transport proteins rather than DNA. In this review, we evaluate what can be inferred from the recent high-resolution structure of the R388 T4SS with respect to the Cag and Dot/Icm systems. These systems were selected because, given what is currently known about these systems, we expect them to present most structural differences compared to the R388 T4SS structure. Furthermore, we discuss bacterial physiology and diversity, the T4SS structures and their variations between different bacterial species. These insights may prove beneficial for researchers who elucidate the structure and functions of T4SS in different bacterial species.

• International Journal of Molecular Medicine
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.2230-2240
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• 2019

Hair follicles (HFs) are a well-characterized niche for adult stem cells (SCs), and include epithelial and melanocytic SCs. HF cells are an accessible source of multipotent adult SCs for the generation of the interfollicular epidermis, HF structures and sebaceous glands in addition to the reconstitution of novel HFs in vivo. In the present study, it was demonstrated that HF cells are able to be induced to differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells in vitro under specific conditions. It was determined that HF cells cultured on OP9 feeder cells in KnockOut-Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium/B27 in the presence of vascular endothelial growth factors differentiated into cardiomyocyte-like cells that express markers specific to cardiac lineage, but do not express non-cardiac lineage markers including neural stem/progenitor cell, HF bulge cells or undifferentiated spermatogonia markers. These cardiomyocyte-like cells exhibited a spindle- and filament-shaped morphology similar to that presented by cardiac muscles and exhibited spontaneous beating that persisted for over 3 months. These results demonstrate that SC reprogramming and differentiation may be induced without resulting in any genetic modification, which is important for the clinical applications of SCs including tissue and organ regeneration.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.1581-1585
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• 2012

Two pyridinecarboxamide dicyanidecobalt(III) building blocks and two mononuclear seven-coordinated macrocycle manganese(II) compounds have been rationally selected to assemble cyanide-bridged heterobimetallic complexes, resulting in three cyanide-bridged $Co^{III}-Mn^{II}$ complexes. Single X-ray diffraction analysis show that these complexes $\{[Mn(L^1)][Co(bpb)]\}ClO_4{\cdot}CH_3OH{\cdot}0.5H_2O$ ($\mathbf{1}$), $\{[Mn(L^2)][Co(bpb)]\}ClO_4{\cdot}0.5CH_3OH$ ($\mathbf{2}$) and ${[Mn(L^1)][Co(bpb)]\}ClO_4{\cdot}H_2O$ ($\mathbf{3}$) ($L^1$ = 3,6-diazaoctane-1,8-diamine, $L^2$ = 3,6-dioxaoctano-1,8-diamine; $bpb2^{2-}$ = 1,2-bis(pyridine-2-carboxamido)benzenate, $bpmb2^{2-}$ = 1,2-bis(pyridine-2-carboxamido)-4-methyl-benzenate) all present predictable one-dimensional single chain structures. The molecular structures of these one-dimensional complexes consists of alternating units of $[Mn(L)]^{2+}$ ($L=L^1$ or $L^2$) and $[Co(L^{\prime})(CN)2]^-$ ($L^{\prime}=bpb2^{2-}$, or $bpmb2^{2-}$), forming a cyanide-bridged cationic polymeric chain with free $ClO_4{^-}$ as the balance anion. The coordination geometry of manganese(II) ion in the three one-dimensional complexes is a slightly distorted pentagonal-bipyrimidal with two cyanide nitrogen atoms at the trans positions and $N_5$ or $N_3O_2$ coordinating mode at the equatorial plane from ligand $L^1$ or $L^2$. Investigation over magnetic properties of these complexes reveals that the very weak magnetic coupling between neighboring Mn(II) ions connected by the diamagnetic dicyanidecobalt(III) building block. A best-fit to the magnetic susceptibility of complex ${\mathbf}{1}$ leads to the magnetic coupling constants $J=-0.084(3)cm^{-1}$.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.7-10
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• 2007

Plant regeneration system from floral stem of Mymphoides indica via somatic embryogenesis was established. After four weeks of culture onto 1/2MS medium containing 2,4-D, pale-yellow globular structures and calluses were formed on the cut surface of floral stem explants. Upon transfer to 1/2MS basal medium, pale-yellow globular structures were developed into somatic embryos and normal plantlets. These results indicated that pale-yellow globular structures and calluses from floral stem were globular embryos and embryogenic calluses, respectively. The frequency of embryogenic callus formation from floral stem was reached to nearly 100% when floral stem was cultured onto 1/2Ms medium supplemented with low concentration of 2,4-D (0.1 to 0.3 mg/L). However, the higher concentration of 2,4-D resulted in decrease of the frequency of embryogenic callus formation. In this study, low concentration of 2,4-D had a stimulative role in embryogenic callus formation, whereas BA showed inhibitory role in callus formation. In comparison to floral stem, leaf explants showed low frequency of embryogenic callus formation. The highest frequency of embryogenic callus formation from leaf explants was 9.5% when leaf explants were cultured onto 1/2MS medium supplemented with 0.3 mg/L of 2,4-D. The plant regeneration system of Nymphoides indica established in this study, might be applied to mass proliferation, conservation of genetic resources and genetic transformation for molecular breeding.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.726-737
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• 2017

Carotenoids are isoprenoids with a long polyene chain containing 3 to 15 conjugated double bonds, which determines their absorption spectrum. They typically consist of a $C_{40}$ hydrocarbon backbone often modified by different oxygen-containing functional groups, to yield cyclic or acyclic xanthophylls. Much work has also been focused on the identification, production, and utilization of natural sources of carotenoid (plants, microorganisms and crustacean by-products) as an alternative to the synthetic pigment which currently covers most of the world markets. Nevertheless, only a few carotenoids (${\beta}-carotene$, lycopene, astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, and lutein) can be produced commercially by fermentation or isolation from the small number of abundant natural sources. The market and demand for carotenoids is anticipated to increase dramatically with the discovery that carotenoids exhibit significant anti-carcinogenic activities and play an important role in the prevention of chronic diseases. The increasing importance of carotenoids in the feed, nutraceutical food and pharmaceutical markets has renewed by efforts to find ways of producing additional carotenoid structures in useful quantities. Because microorganisms and plants synthesize hundreds of different complex chemical carotenoid structures and a number of carotenoid biosynthetic pathways have been elucidated on a molecular level, metabolic and genetic engineering of microorganisms can provide a means towards economic production of carotenoid structures that are otherwise inaccessible. The aim of this article is to review our current understanding of carotenoid formation, to explain the perceived benefits of carotenoid in the diet and review the efforts that have been made to increase carotenoid in certain microorganisms.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.221-232
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• 2018

The silica containing carbon ($C-SiO_2$) membranes were fabricated using poly(imide siloxane)(Si-PI) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) blended polymer. The characteristics of porous carbon structures prepared by the pyrolysis of polymer blends were related with the micro-phase separation behaviors of the two polymers. The glass transition temperatures ($T_g$) of the mixed polymer blends of Si-PI and PVP were observed with a single $T_g$ using differential scanning calorimetry. Furthermore, the nitrogen adsorption isotherms of the $C-SiO_2$ membranes were investigated to define the characteristics of porous carbon structures. The $C-SiO_2$ membranes derived from Si-PI/PVP showed the type IV isotherm and possessed the hysteresis loop, which was associated with the mesoporous carbon structures. For the molecular sieving probe, the $C-SiO_2$ membranes were prepared with the ratio of Si-PI/PVP and the pyrolysis conditions, such as the pyrolysis temperature and the isothermal times. Consequently, the $C-SiO_2$ membranes prepared by the pyrolysis of Si-PI/PVP at $550^{\circ}C$ with the isothermal time of 120 min showed the $O_2$ permeability of 820 Barrer ($1{\times}10^{-10}cm^3(STP)cm/cm^2{\cdot}s{\cdot}cmHg$) and $O_2/N_2$ selectivity of 14.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.167-181
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• 2017

Graphene-based materials have been considered as a promising membrane material, due to its easy processability and atomic thickness. In this study, we studied on gas permeation behavior in few-layered GO membranes prepared by spin-coating method. The GO membrane structures were varied by using different GO flake sizes and GO solutions at various pH levels. The GO membranes prepared small flake size show more permeable and selective gas separation properties than large one due to shortening tortuosity. Also gas transport behaviors of the GO membranes are sensitive to slit width for gas diffusion because the pore size of GO membranes ranged from molecular sieving to Knudsen diffusion area. In particular, due to the narrow pore size of GO membranes and highly $CO_2$-philic properties of GO nanosheets, few-layered GO membranes exhibit ultrafast and $CO_2$ selective character in comparison with other gas molecules, which lead to outstanding $CO_2$ capture properties such as $CO_2/H_2$, $CO_2/CH_4$, and $CO_2/N_2$. This unusual gas transport through multi-layered GO nanosheets can explain a unique transport mechanism followed by an adsorption-facilitated diffusion behavior (i.e., surface diffusion mechanism). These findings provide the great insights for designing $CO_2$-selective membrane materials and the practical guidelines for gas transports through slit-like pores and lamellar structures.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.521-529
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• 2009

Molecular structures of the various conformers for the 1,3-dimethoxy-p-tert-butylthiacalix[4] crown-5-ether (3) were optimized by using DFT B3LYP/6 - 31 + G(d,p) and mPW1PW91/6 - 31 + G(d,p) (hybrid HF-DF) calculation methods. We have analyzed the energy differences and structures of eight in/out orientations (cone_oo, cone_oi, pc_oo, pc_io, pc_oi, pc_ii, 13a_oo, 13a_io) of two methoxy groups in three major conformations (cone, partial-cone and 1,3-alternate). The 13a_oo (out-out orientation of the 1,3-alternate conformer) is calculated to be the most stable among eight different conformations of 3, and in accord with the experimental result. The ordering of relative stability resulted from the mPW1PW91/6 - 31 + G(d,p) calculation method is following: 13a_oo > 13a_io$\sim$pc_io$\sim$cone_oo > cone_oi$\sim$pc_oo$\sim$pc_oi > pc_ii.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.947-955
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• 2020

The foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), a member of the Aphthovirus genus in the Picornaviridae family, affects wild and domesticated ruminants and pigs. During replication of the FMDV RNA (ribonucleic acid) genome, FMDV-encoding RNA polymerase 3D acts in a highly location-specific manner. This suggests that specific RNA structures recognized by 3D polymerase within non-coding regions of the FMDV genome assist with binding during replication. One such region is the cis-acting replication element (CRE), which functions as a template for RNA replication. The FMDV CRE adopts a stem-loop conformation with an extended duplex stem, supporting a novel 15-17 nucleotide loop that derives stability from base-stacking interactions, with the exact RNA nucleotide sequence of the CRE producing different RNA secondary structures. Here, we show that CRE sequences of FMDVs isolated in Korea from 2010 to 2017 exhibit A and O genotypes. Interestingly, variations in the RNA secondary structure of the Korean FMDVs are consistent with the phylogenetic relationships between these viruses and reveal the specificity of FMDV infections for particular host species. Therefore, we conclude that each genetic clade of Korean FMDV is characterized by a unique functional CRE and that the evolutionary success of new genetic lineages may be associated with the invention of a novel CRE motif. Therefore, we propose that the specific RNA structure of a CRE is an additional criterion for FMDV classification dependent on the host species. These findings will help correctly analyze CRE sequences and indicate the specificity of host species for future FMDV epidemics.