• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.261-263
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• 2015

The metallicity distribution of globular clusters (GCs) provides a crucial clue for the star formation history of their host galaxy. With the assumption that GCs are generally old, GC colors have been used as a proxy for GC metallicities. Bimodal color distributions of GCs observed in most large galaxies have, for decades, been interpreted as bimodal metallicity distributions, indicating the presence of two populations within a galaxy. However, the conventional view has been challenged by a new theory that non-linear GC color-metallicity relations can cause a bimodal color distribution even from a single-peaked metallicity distribution. Using photometric and spectroscopic data of NGC 5128 GCs in combination with stellar population simulation models, we examine the effect of non-linearity in GC color-metallicity relations on transformation of the color distributions into the metallicity distributions. Although in some colors offsets are present between observations and models for the color-metallicity relations, their overall shape agrees well for various colors. After the offsets are corrected, the observed spectroscopic metallicity distribution is well reproduced via modeled color-metallicity relations from various color distributions having different morphologies. We discuss the implications of our results.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.63-69
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• 2010

Monofunctional biosynthetic peptidoglycan transglycosylase (MBPT) catalyzes the formation of the glycan chain in bacterial cell walls from peptidoglycan subunits: N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and acetylmuramic acid (NAM). Bifunctional glycosyltransferases such as the penicillin binding protein (PBP) have peptidoglycan glycosyltransferase (PGT) on their C terminal end which links together the peptidoglycan subunits while transpeptidase (TP) on the N terminal end cross-links the peptide moieties on the NAM monosaccharide of the peptide subunits to create the bacterial cell wall. The singular function of MBPT resembles the C terminal end of PBP as it too contains and utilizes a similar PGT domain. In this article we analyzed the infectious and non infectious protein sequences of MBPT from 31 different strains of bacteria using a variety of bioinformatic tools. Motif analysis, dot-plot comparison, and phylogenetic analysis identified a number of significant differences between infectious and non-infectious protein sequences. In this paper we have made an attempt to explain, analyze and discuss these differences from an evolutionary perspective. The results of our sequence analysis may open the door for utilizing MBPT as a new target to fight a variety of infectious bacteria.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.161-167
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• 2019

Impact toughness and fracture behavior were studied in five kinds of non-heat treating steels containing bainite; standard(0.25C-1.5Mn-0.5Cr-0.2Mo-0.15V), high V(0.3V), Ni(0.5Mn-2Ni), W(0.4W instead of Mo), and high C-Ni(0.35C-0.5Mn-2Ni) steels. The good hardness and impact toughness balance was exhibited in the $1100^{\circ}C$-rolled condition, while the impact toughness was deteriorated due to coarse grained microstructure in the $1200^{\circ}C$-rolled condition. The impact toughness decreased with increasing the hardness in all steels studied. The fracture behavior was also basically identical, that is, the fracture area was divided into 3 zones; shear and fibrous zone, fracture transition zone with ductile dimples and cleavage cracks, where the cracks initiate and grow to critical size, unstable cleavage fracture propagation zone. The energy absorbed for the critical crack formation through the plastic deformation inside the plastic zone in front of the notch root contributed to a mostly significant portion of the total impact energy.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.393-399
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• 2022

The Segregation Potential (SP) is one of the most widely used predictors of frost heave in cold regions. Laboratory step-freezing tests determining a representative SP at the onset of the formation of the last ice lens (near the thermal steady state condition) can predict susceptibility to frost heave. Previous work has proposed empirical semi-log fitting for determination of the representative SP and applied it to several fine-grained soils, but considering only frost-susceptible soils. The presence of fines in coarse-grained soil affects frost susceptibility. Therefore, it is required to evaluate the applicability of the empirical semi-log fitting for both frost-susceptible and non-frost-susceptible soils with fines content. This paper reports laboratory frost heave tests for fines contents of 5%-70%. The frost susceptibility of soil mixtures composed of sand and silt was classified by the representative SP, and the suitability of the empirical semi-log fitting method was assessed. Combining semi-log fitting with simple laboratory frost heave testing using a temperature-controllable cell is shown to be suitable for both frost-susceptible and non-frost-susceptible soils. In addition, initially non-frost-susceptible soil became frost susceptible at a 10%-20% weight fraction of fines. This threshold fines content matched well with transitions in the engineering characteristics of both the unfrozen and frozen soil mixtures.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.110-118
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• 2020

The non-ablative fractional dual laser is equipped with two types of lasers, 1550 nm and 1927 nm in one device, and was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2013. The advantages of the non-ablative fractional laser (NAFL) include fewer side effects such as erythema, edema, post-laser pigmentation, and scab formation. Thus, the NAFL is preferred by both practitioners and consumers because it is convenient and safe for use. The 1550 nm erbium glass and 1927 nm thulium lasers are representative NAFLs that have been developed separately and are often used as a single-wavelength laser with proven clinical efficacy in various indications. The 1550 nm wavelength laser penetrates the dermis layer and the 1927 nm wavelength laser is effective for epidermal lesions. Therefore, targeting the skin layer can be easily achieved with both the 1550 and 1927 nm lasers, respectively, or in combination. Clinically, the 1550 nm laser is effective in the treatment of mild to moderate sagging and wrinkles, scars, and resurfacing. The 1927 nm laser improves skin texture and treats skin pigmentation and wounds. It can also be used for drug delivery. The selection and utilization rate of NAFL has been increasing in recent times, due to changes in lifestyle patterns and the need for beauty treatments with fewer side effects and short downtime. In this study, we present a plan for safe and effective laser therapy through a review of literature. Clinical applications of the multifunctional NAFL are also described.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.3983-3995
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• 2023

In fast reactors, restructuring of the fuel micro-structure driven by high temperature and high temperature gradient can cause the formation of columnar grains. The non-spheroidal shape and the non-uniform temperature field in such columnar grains implies that standard models for fission gas diffusion can not be applied. To tackle this issue, we present a reduced order model for the fission gas diffusion process which is applicable in different geometries and with non-uniform temperature fields, maintaining a computational requirement in line with its application in fuel performance codes. This innovative application of reduced order models as meso-scale tools within fuel performance codes represents a first-of-a-kind achievement that can be extended beyond fission gas behaviour.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5897-5901
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• 2012

The aim of the study was to clarify the role of gastrokine 1 in the process of formation and development of gastric cancer. The expression of gastrokine 1 in gastric cancer and corresponding non-cancerous gastric tissues of 52 gastric cancer patients was assessed with the real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. We also analyzed the relationship between the expression level and clinicopathological characteristics. Gastrokine 1 gene and protein expression in gastric cancer tissues was in both cases significantly lower than in corresponding non-cancerous gastric tissues (both P<0.01), but no significant relationship was found with clinicopathological parameters including tumor location, depth of invasion, differentiation, lymph node metastasis, stage, gender, age and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) level in peripheral blood preoperation of patients (P>0.05, respectively). Furthermore, gastrokine 1 gene expression was markedly lower in gastric cancer tissues of Helicobacter pylori (HP)-positive patients than negative ones (P<0.05). The result of the study showed that gastrokine 1 might play a significant role in the process of formation and development of gastric cancer as an anti-oncogene. Its effect might be weakened by HP infection.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.84.2-85
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• 2003

Magnaporthee grisea causes the devastating blast disease of rice. Entensive research has been conducted on infection mechanisms, particularly on appressorium formation and penetration, of this fungus during the last decade. However, the role(s) of cell-wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs) on pathogenesis is not clearly demonstrated at molecular level. Many CWDES in plant pathogenic fungi including M. grisea are redundant; that is, there are multiple genes encoding enzymes with a similar or overlapping spectrum of activities. It is laborious to isolate all of the genes encoding related enzymes and to construct mutants lacking all 9f them. Thus, we considered alternative strategies to address the role of CWDEs in pathogenesis. Since expression of CWDE genes Is repressed by a simple sugar, as the first step, we cloned a Snfl (sucrose non-fermenting) gene (MgSnf1) from M. grisea. The predicted amino acid sequence showed a high identity with other Snf1 genes from various fungi. To elucidate molecular function of MgSnf1, a transformant lacking MgSnf1 was created by targeted gene replacement. En glucose, sucrose, and xylan the MgSnf1 mutant grew normally but in pectin and complex media, it grew slower than wild type. Expression of various CWDEs in MgSnf1 mutant was investigated and found that expression of some CWDEs is repressed. However, no significant difference was observed in conidial germination, appressorium formation, and pathogenicity in MgSnf1 mutant. However, MgSnf1 functionally complemented a yeast MgSnf1 mutant. These results suggest that MgSnf1 is involved in regulation of CWDEs and MgSnf1 is dispensable in pathogenicity of M. grisea.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.314-319
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• 1999

The solid state reaction by mechanical alloying(MA) generally proceeds by lowering the free energy as the result of a chemical reaction at the interface between the two adjacent layers. However, Lee et $al.^{1-5)}$ reported that a mixture of Cu and Ta, the combination of which is characterized by a positive heat of mixing of +2kJ/mol, could be amorphized by mechanical alloying. This implies that there exists an up-hill process to raise the free energy of a mixture of pure Cu and la to that of an amorphous phase. It is our aim to investigate to what extent the MA is capable of producing a non-equilibrium phase with increasing the heat of mixing. The system chosen was the ternary $Cu_{30}Ta_{ 70-x}Mo_ x$ (x=35, 10). The mechanical alloying was carried out using a Fritsch P-5 planetary mill under Ar gas atmosphere. The MA powders were characterized by the X-ray diffraction with Cu-K $\alpha$ radiation, thermal analysis, electron diffraction and TEM micrographs. In the case of x=35, where pure Cu powders were mixed with equal amount of pure Ta and Mo powders, we revealed the formation of bcc solid solution after 150 h milling but its gradual decomposition by releasing fcc-Cu when milling time exceeded 200 h. However, an amorphous phase was clearly formed when the Mo content was lowered to x=10. It is believed that the amorphization of ternary $Cu_{30}Ta_{60}Mo_{10}$ powders is essentially identical to the solid state amorphization process in binary $Cu_{30}Ta_{70}$ powders.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Systems Engineering
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.59-71
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• 2016

The Nuclear and Fossil Steam Turbines record a considerable number of failures annually. Some of these failures reported are as result of blade failure. The failure of the L-0 blade in a Steam Turbine is one of the most reported blade failure in Nuclear and Fossil steam turbines. This paper seeks to identify the best Non Destructive Evaluation (NDE) method or methods to be used in the steam turbine L-0 blades inspection process. The development of systems engineering processes presents an opportunity to apply NDE inspection to the L-0 blades. This process apply computer modelling of the L-0 using ANSYS and by simulating the stresses experienced by the L-0 blade during operation it is possible to identify the most susceptible areas for crack formation and growth. The results from these models compared to industry data for validation. The analysis of these results used to predict the most probable failure location and failure modes. Therefore NDE inspection can be applied to these areas with greater degree of accuracy. This would be beneficial in the increasing the accuracy in the detection of cracks and hence save inspection time and the overall inspection cost. Furthermore, not only the location for crack formation and NDE inspection determined but also best the NDE inspection technique/techniques to be applied appropriately on the L-0 blade are prescribed.