• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.209-216
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• 2017

One of the important considerations in structural designing the flat plate system is ensuring the resistance to punching shear caused by axial loads and the ductile ability to follow horizontal deformation under earthquake. In this study, the ECC (Engineered Cementitious Composite) has been placed in the critical section zone of punching shear at slab-column joint to improve ductility and the advanced details of shear reinforced area nearby critical section zone has been developed using stud and steel fiber. The shear performance tests were performed on the specimens with parameters of fiber type mixed with ECC, stud and steel fiber set into the shear reinforced area in which the failure pattern, joint strength, displacement and strain of the specimen were compared and analyzed. The test results showed that the strength and ductility of specimens with ECC applied to joint were better than those of RC flat plate system. Also, the shear reinforcement effect of stud and the ductility improvement of steel fiber concrete were confirmed in the shear reinforcement area.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 2015

Background: Recent studies have shown that the nontuberculosis mycobacterium (NTM) recovery rate in clinical cultures has increased within Korea. However, another study conducted by a secondary hospital within Daegu reported different results. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand and evaluate the microbiological distribution and clinical features of NTM in Daegu. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 11,672 respiratory specimens undergoing acid fast bacilli (AFB) culture from 6,685 subjects who visited Yeungnam University Respiratory Center from January 2012 to December 2013. Results: Of the 11,672 specimens undergoing AFB culture, 1,310 specimens (11.2%) showed positive results. Of these specimens, NTM was recovered from 587 specimens, showing a recovery rate of 44.8%. Identification test for NTM was performed on 191 subjects; the results were as follows: M. avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) 123 (64.4%), M. abscessus 20 (10.5%), M. kansasii 12 (6.3%), and 33 other NTM germ strains. Of the 382 subjects with NTM, 167 were diagnosed with pulmonary NTM disease (43.7%), however virulence differed depending on NTM strain. Multivariate analysis showed that nodular bronchiectasis, the nodules, and finding consistent with cavity under imaging study were statistically significant for triggering pulmonary NTM disease. AFB culture showing MAC and M. abscessus was statistically significant as well. Positive predictive value for NTM polymerase chain reaction (NTM-PCR) was 88.6%. Conclusion: Results for NTM recovery rate within the Daegu area were similar to those for the Seoul metropolitan area. We can assume that NTM infection is increasing in our community, therefore AFB-positive subjects (1) should undergo NTM-PCR, (2) should have their culture results checked for differentiation of mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB) from NTM, and (3) undergo NTM identification test to confirm its type. Administration of treatment with the above results should be helpful in improving the patients' prognosis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.555-563
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• 2016

Purple rice is a strain of glutaneous rice rich in anthocyanins and ${\gamma}$-oryzanol. Both types of compounds are involved in antioxidant and lipid metabolism of mammals. Three experimental diet types were used which consisted approximately by half either of purple rice, white rice or corn. Diets were fed to $3{\times}10$ pigs growing from about 30 to 100 kg. Meat samples were investigated either as raw or cured loin chops or as smoked bacon produced from the belly. Various physicochemical traits were assessed and data were evaluated by analysis of variance. Traits describing water-holding capacity (drip, thaw, and cooking losses) and tenderness (sensory grading, shear force) of the meat were mostly not significantly affected by the diet type. However, purple rice feeding of pigs resulted in lower fat and cholesterol contents of loin and smoked bacon compared to white rice, but not compared to corn feeding except of the fat content of the loin. The shelf life of the raw loin chops was improved by purple rice as well. In detail, the occurrence of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances after 9 days of chilled storage was three to four times higher in the white rice and corn diets than with purple rice. The n-6:n-3 ratio in the raw loin chops was 9:1 with purple rice and clearly higher with 12:1 with the other diets, meat lipids. Level and kind of effect of purple rice found in raw meat was not always recovered in the cured loin chops and the smoked bacon. Still the impression of flavor and color, as well as overall acceptability were best in the smoked bacon from the purple-rice fed pigs, whereas this effect did not occur in the cured loin chops. These findings suggest that purple rice has a certain, useful, bioactivity in pigs concerning meat quality, but some of these effects are of low practical relevance. Further studies have to show ways how transiency and low recovery in meat products of some of the effects can be counteracted.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.15-29
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• 1992

Vibrio vuln$cus has been recognized as a pathogen of septicemia and wound infection, when the organism attacks high-risk persons with a history of hepatic disease. alcohol abuse. diabetes or any debilitative disease. Forty six strains of K vulnzjicus. isolated from 1025 marine specimens from May to Novemver for three years. from 1985 to 1987. were studied for their biochemical properties. growth requirements, serotype and drug susceptibilities. The isolates were different in their various biochemical reactions. Ninety-five percent of isolated strains were able to ferment lactose, while most strains didn't utilize sucrose in their biochemical test, for example ornithine, gelatin and mannitol were quite dit'ferent composition than those described in other reports. It was found that the biochemical test wasn't useful for identifying strain. The type of somatic 0 antiserum was determined in isolates from marine sources and in patients with Vibrio septicemia. In patient isolates. 1-2 group were 24% and 1-4 group were 42%. However. 02 group(33%) were more abundant in isolates from marine sources. Minimal inhibitory concentrations(M1Cs) of chloramphenicol, tetracycline. erythromycin and ampicillin were determinef for V vuln~ficus by broth dilution method. MIC90 was I , 0.25, :! and 4,ug/ml in patient isolates. 1, 0.25, 2 and 2 ,ug/ml in marine isolates. The divalent chelating agent, IDTA. inhibited the growth of V. vuln!'ficus at 6.25 mMlml of MIC90.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.165-178
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• 1979

Phages of Lactobaciilus casei (PLC) isolated from plant drainage were classified and characterized. The results are as follows : 1. On the basis of host range pattern, phages could be divided into 2 groups (PLC-B and PLC-C). PLC-B group phages could be further divided into 5 sub-groups $(B_1, \;B_2, \;B_3, \;B_4, \;and\;B_5)$. Although PLC-C group phages had the same host range, they could be also divided into 2 sub-groups $(C_1\;and\;C_2)$ by morphlogical type. 2. It was $B_3$ group phages that represented a major proportion (44.4%) of phages tested. However, $B_1$ group phages were shown to have the widest host range. 3. Electron micrographs revealed that the phages fell into three different morphological types. $(B_1, \;B_2, \;and\;B_3)$ group phages hd a hexagonal head (52nm in diameter) and a sheathless noncontractile (245 nm in length). $B_4\;and\;C_2$ group phages had a hexagonal head (56 nm) and a short flexible tail (169nm) having no sheath. $B_5\;and\;C_1$ group phages were shown to have a hexagonal head (81 nm) and a contractile tail (140 nm) having a sheath, a base plate and tail fibers. 4. The inactivation of the phages by antisera indicated that serological relationships correlated completely with morphological types. 5. $B_1, \;C_1\;and\;C_2$ group phages produced a large (1, 2 mm in diameter) plaque with a clear ring. The morphology of plaques of $B_3\;and\;B_5$ group phages was the same as those produced by the above, but the average plaque sizes for $B_3\;and\;B_5$ were 0.8 mm abd 0.5 mm, respectively. $B_2\;and\;B_4$ group phages produced a small (0.5 mm) turbid plaque with an irregular edge. 6. The latent period and the average burst size of $B_1\;and\;B_3$ group phages were 90 min and 100, respectively. These phages reuqired calcium ions for their miltiplication. 7. $B_3$ group phages could not be absrobed to R-variant $KC_1$. 8. The order of resistance of phages to heat was $B_2\;>\;B_1, B_4\;and\;B_5\;>\;B_3\;and\;C_2, \;B_5$ group phages were more stable than $B_3$ in various pH values. $C_2$ group phages were more sensitive to UV irradiation than $B_1\;and\;B_3$ group phages. 9. Strains YIT9018 and IAM 1043 were induced by mitomycin C treatment. Phage particles detected in the lysates had a hexagonal head (38 and 49 nm, respectively), but no tail. Any sensitive indicator strain could not be isolated in spite of repaeated trials.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.587-598
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• 2000

Urea in the oral cavity is hydrolyzed mainly by bacterial ureases to ammonia, which in turn, raises pH of the oral environment, maintaining oral pH homeostasis, thereby inhibiting dental caries. Streptococcus salivarius has been shown to be a major contribution to oral ureolysis. Synthesis of urease by S. salivarius appears to be constitutive, but can be greatly enhanced in the acidic environment. It has been presumed that ureolytic activity of S. salivarius strains isolated from caries-active site is greater than that of strains from caries-free site. However, no in vivo study has supported the presumption. The present study was performed to observe the ureolytic activity of S. salivarius strains isolated from different environments in the same individual, finding out whether the ureolytic activity is related to dental caries. For the purpose, S. salivarius strains were isolated from caries-active site (>C2), a caries-free site of the tooth, and the dorsum of the tongue of each of 50 patients having decayed teeth. The strains isolated from the patients who harbored S. salivarius in more than two sites were selected and then their ureolytic activities were measured. In order to examine clonal diversity of the strains, their ureC genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then restricted with EcoRV, and the protein profiles of the strains were compared by SDS-PAGE. The results were as follows: 1. Of 50 patients, 13 patients harbored S. salivarius in more than two sites; a total of 61 S. salivarius strain were isolated from the patients and selected for the study. 2. Of 17 isolates from the caries-active site of 9 patients harboring S. salivarius in more than two sites including carious lesion, 10 (58.8%) showed a high ureolytic activity (> 200 ${\mu}mol/min/mg$). While, 19 out of 44 isolates (43.2%) from the caries-free site of the teeth and the dorsum of the tongues of 13 patients were the strains with a high ureolytic activity. 3. Of 9 patients harboring S. salivarius in more than two sites including caries-active site. 6 patients were found to have the strains in the caries-active site showing a lower ureolytic activity than the strains in the other sites. 4. Of 34 isolates with ureolytic activity higher than 40 ${\mu}mol/min/mg$, 32 isolates produced 0.54-Kbp PCR products regardless of the sites of bacterial collection. In contrast, of 27 isolates with ureolytic activity lower than 40${\mu}mol/min/mg$, 26 isolates yielded 1.3-Kbp PCR products or none regardless of the sites. 5. Different clonal types of S. salivarius with relatively higher and lower ureolytic activities were found in the same individuals and even in the same sites. 6. None of strains showing different ureolytic activity appeared to be the same clonal type. The overall results suggest that ureolytic activity of the isolates does not appear to be related to differences of the environments but related to their own genetic traits.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.555-562
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• 2012

PCR was performed to analyze the ${\beta}$-lactamase genes carried by ampicillin-resistant Vibrio spp. strains isolated from marine environments in Korea between 2006 and 2009. All 36 strains tested showed negative results in PCR with the primers designed from the nucleotide sequences of various known ${\beta}$-lactamase genes. This prompted us to screen new ${\beta}$-lactamase genes. A novel ${\beta}$-lactamase gene was cloned from Vibrio alginolyticus KV3 isolated from the aquaculture water of Geoje Island of Korea. The determined nucleotide sequence (VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase) revealed an open reading frame (ORF) of 852 bp, encoding a protein of 283 amino acids (aa), which displayed low homology to any other ${\beta}$-lactamase genes reported in public databases. The deduced 283 aa sequence of VAK-3, consisting of a 19 aa signal peptide and a 264 aa mature protein, contained highly conserved peptide segments specific to class A ${\beta}$-lactamases including the specific amino acid residues STFK (62-65), SDN (122-124), E (158), and RTG (226-228). Results from PCR performed with primers specific to the VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase gene identified 3 of the 36 isolated strains as V. alginolyticus, Vibrio cholerae, and Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae, indicating the utilization of various ${\beta}$-lactamase genes including unidentified ones in ampicillin-resistant Vibrio spp. strains from the marine environment. In a mating experiment, none of the isolates transfered the VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase gene to the Escherichia coli recipient. This lack of mobility, and the presence of a chromosomal acyl-CoA flanking sequence upstream of the VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase gene, led to the assumption that the location of this new ${\beta}$-lactamase gene was in the chromosome, rather than the mobile plasmid. Antibiotic susceptibility of VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase was indicated by elevated levels of resistance to penicillins, but not to cephalosporins in the wild type and E. coli harboring recombinant plasmid pKV-3, compared with those of the host strain alone. Phylogenetic analysis showed that VAK-3 ${\beta}$-lactamase is a new and separate member of class A ${\beta}$-lactamases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.2159-2170
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• 2016

Many plant-pathogenic bacteria are dependent on quorum sensing (QS) to evoke disease. In this study, the population of QS and quorum quenching (QQ) bacteria was analyzed in a consecutive monoculture system of Pseudostellaria heterophylla. The isolated QS strains were identified as Serratia marcescens with SwrIR-type QS system and exhibited a significant increase over the years of monoculture. Only one QQ strain was isolated from newly planted soil sample and was identified as Bacillus thuringiensis, which secreted lactonase to degrade QS signal molecules. Inoculation of S. marcescens to P. heterophylla root could rapidly cause wilt disease, which was alleviated by B. thuringiensis. Furthermore, the expression of lactonase encoded by the aiiA gene in S. marcescens resulted in reduction of its pathogenicity, implying that the toxic effect of S. marcescens on the seedlings was QS-regulated. Meanwhile, excess lactonase in S. marcescens led to reduction in antibacterial substances, exoenzymes, and swarming motility, which might contribute to pathogensis on the seedlings. Root exudates and root tuber extracts of P. heterophylla significantly promoted the growth of S. marcescens, whereas a slight increase of B. thuringiensis was observed in both samples. These results demonstrated that QS-regulated behaviors in S. marcescens mediated by root exudates played an important role in replanting diseases of P. heterophylla.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 1998

Heavy metal removal by Z. ramigera 115 and soluble slime polymer producing mutant Z. ramigera 115SLR was investigated. Both strains showed similar tolerance against $Cd^{2+}$, $Co^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, $Ni^{2+}$ and $Fe^{2+}$. When cells were cultivated in the presence of 500 ppm $Cd^{2+}$, the mutant strain removed 1.5 fold more metal than the wild type did at same biomass. Metal adsorption capacities were in the order of Z. ramigera l15SLR polymer > Z. ramigera 115 polymer > Z. ramigera 115 cell >Z. ramigera l15SLR cell. The optimum pH for metal adsorption was 7.5. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms indicated that Qmax and 1/n of Z. ramigera l15SLR polymer were 164.2 mg $Cd^{2+}$/g dw and 0.496, respectively. These results showed that the polymer of Z. ramigera l15SLR could be used as an effective metal adsorbate.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 1999

Transient transfection assay has been done to evaluate whether the c-jun activation would be prerequisite to the induction of permissiveness against human cytomegalovirus using in vitro cell model in which U937 has been induced to express CD11b and CD14 to become potential monocyte/macrophage cells by TPA treatment. U937 cells were treated with $10\;{\mu}M$, $50\;{\mu}M$ or $100\;{\mu}M$ of TPA. The cell morphology change was observed and the expression of the CD11b and CD14 was confirmed by FACS. Differentiated cells were transfected with pJLuc reporter vector which contained the wild type murine c-jun promoter spanning the SP1, CTF, ATF/CREB and MEF-2 binding sites upstream of the firefly luciferase gene. After 48 hrs of transfection, the cells were infected with HCMV Towne strain and the luciferase activity was assessed at 1 hand 4 h pi. The transfection assay showed no activation of the c-jun promoter at 1 h pi, instead, it showed 2 times increase of the its activity at 4 h pi. There was no difference of the c-jun promoter activation between TPA treated and untreated U937 cells, implying that c-jun activation might not be prerequisite for allowing cells to be premissive to HCMV, although HCMV infection itself could activate c-jun promoter.