• Advances in nano research
• /
• 제4권1호
• /
• pp.15-29
• /
• 2016

A low cost environmentally benign surface coating binder is highly desirable in the field of material science. In this report, castor oil based hyperbranched polyester/bitumen modified fly ash nanocomposites were fabricated to achieve the desired performance. The hyperbranched polyester resin was synthesized by a three-step one pot condensation reaction using monoglyceride of castor oil based carboxyl terminated pre-polymer and 2,2-bis (hydroxymethyl) propionic acid. Also, the bulk fly ash of paper industry waste was converted to hydrophilic nano fly ash by ultrasonication followed by transforming it to an organonano fly ash by the modification with bitumen. The synthesized polyester resin and its nanocomposites were characterized by different analytical and spectroscopic tools. The nanocomposite obtained in presence of 20 wt% styrene (with respect to polyester) was found to be more homogeneous and stable compared to nanocomposite without styrene. The performance in terms of tensile strength, impact resistance, scratch hardness, chemical resistance and thermal stability was found to be improved significantly after formation of nanocomposite compared to the pristine system after curing with bisphenol-A based epoxy and poly(amido amine). The overall results of transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis and performance showed good exfoliation of the nano fly ash in the polyester matrix. Thus the studied nanocomposites would open up a new avenue on development of low cost high performing surface coating materials.

• 접착 및 계면
• /
• 제15권1호
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2014

이온 교환막은 전기투석, 확산투석, Redox flow 전지, 연료전지 등 다양하고 넓은 분야에서 사용되고 있다. 초음파를 이용하여 만들어진 PVC 양이온 교환막을 시간을 변화시켜 가면서 술폰화 반응에 의해 제조하였다. 술폰화제로 황산을 사용하였으며, 술폰화 PVC 양이온 교환막의 기본구조와 특성을 FT-IR, EDX, Water uptake, 이온교환용량(IEC), 전기저항(ER), 전도도, 이온수송수 및 표면 morphology를 SEM 분석하였다. FT-IR 스펙트럼 분석결과 술폰화 PVC 양이온 교환막에 술폰산기가 도입되었음을 확인하였으며 멤브레인의 Water uptake, IEC, 전기 저항 및 ion transport number의 최대값은 각각 40.2%, 0.87 meq/g, $35.2{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$ 및 0.88이었다.

• 한국의류산업학회지
• /
• 제23권4호
• /
• pp.527-535
• /
• 2021

In this study, electroconductive textiles were developed by screen-printing technology using a complex solution of PEDOT:PSS/AgNW on a polylactic acid nanofiber web. A performance evaluation was then conducted to utilize this electroconductive textile as a signal transmission line. To obtain highly conductive electroconductive textiles, this study sought to determine the optimal mixing ratio of PEDOT:PSS/AgNW. Sheet resistance was measured to evaluate the electrical properties of electroconductive textiles, Finite element-scanning electron microscopy images were then used to examine surface properties, and Fourier transform-infrared analysis was performed to evaluate chemical properties. The signal waveform characteristics of the electroconductive textile were observed using a signal generator and an oscilloscope. Radio-frequency characteristics were then evaluated to confirm frequency range, and bending tests were conducted to evaluate durability. The signal transmission lines produced in this study had a sheet resistance value of 3.30 ?/sq, and signal transmission performance was evaluated to observe that the input value of the voltage was nearly identical to the output value. In addition, S21 analysis confirmed that it was available in the frequency domain up to 35 MHz. The performances of the transmission lines were maintained after 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 repeated bending tests, and sufficient durability was confirmed.

• 한국의류산업학회지
• /
• 제21권3호
• /
• pp.363-369
• /
• 2019

This study developed electroconductive textiles by coating polypyrrole to PET nonwoven-based Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) nanoweb made by electrospinning and applying the developed electrotextiles as ECG Electrodes. To find the optimum coating conditions for high electrical conductivity, the ratios of 2.6-Naphthalenedisulfonic acid with Disodium Salt (NDS) vs Ammonium Persulfate (APS) as an oxidant and a doping agent in the solution were changed from 3:7 to 7:3; the immersion time of the specimen in the solution was 1 hour. PVA nanowebs coated with polypyrrole under various conditions were filmed with FE-SEM. FT-IR analysis was also performed to examine the presence of polypyrrole nanoparticles in the PVA nanoweb. The electrical resistance of the treated specimens were measured with a Multimeter. Consequently, the PVA Nano Web was undamaged even after heat treatment that allowed for coating. Uniform polypyrrole nanoparticles then formed on the surface of the PVA nanoweb after coating. The measured electrical resistance was shown to be at least $12K{\Omega}/{\Box }$ from a maximum of $3,456K{\Omega}/{\Box }$. The proper amount of NDS content had a positive effect on the conductivity improvement of electroconductive textiles; in addition, the highest electrical conductivity was achieved with a ratio of 3:7 between NDS and APS.

• 전기화학회지
• /
• 제22권3호
• /
• pp.122-127
• /
• 2019

유기이차전지가 가지고 있는 전극 내 낮은 접합력과 높은 계면저항의 단점을 해결하기 위하여 본 연구에서는 흑연 코팅 처리된 집전체를 사용하여 lithium terephthalate (LTA)전지의 전기화학적 특성 변화를 분석하였다. LTA 음극 활물질은 산의 이온 치환반응에 의하여 불순물 없이 합성되어 졌다. 막대 형태의 LTA 활물질로 제작된 전극과 흑연 코팅 처리된 집전체와의 접합특성은 SEM 단면과 EIS를 통하여 확인하였다. 흑연 코팅된 집전체를 사용한 LTA전지의 계면저항은 현저히 감소되었다. 순수한 금속 집전체 LTA 전지와 흑연 코팅 처리된 금속 기판 LTA 전지는 0.1C의 두 번째 사이클에서 107.6 mAh/g와 148.8 mAh/g의 방전 용량을 보인다. 흑연 코팅된 집전체를 사용한 LTA 전지는 순수한 LTA 전지에 비하여 우수한 수명 특성과 높은 방전 용량, 그리고 높은 고율 특성을 가진다.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
• /
• 제47권1호
• /
• pp.25-33
• /
• 2019

Lactobacillus rhamnosus BFE5264, isolated from a Maasai fermented milk product ("kule naoto"), was previously shown to exhibit bile acid resistance, cholesterol assimilation, and adhesion to HT29-MTX cells in vitro. In this study, we re-annotated and analyzed the previously reported complete genome sequence of strain BFE5264. The genome consists of a circular chromosome of 3,086,152 bp and a putative plasmid, which is the largest one identified among L. rhamnosus strains. Among the 2,883 predicted protein-coding genes, those with carbohydrate-related functions were the most abundant. Genome analysis of strain BFE5264 revealed two consecutive CRISPR regions and no known virulence factors or antimicrobial resistance genes. In addition, previously known highly variable regions in the genomes of L. rhamnosus strains were also evident in strain BFE5264. Pairwise comparison with the most studied probiotic strain L. rhamnosus GG revealed strain BFE5264-specific deletions, probably due to insertion sequence-mediated recombination. The latter was associated with loss of the spaCBA pilin gene cluster and exopolysaccharide biosynthetic genes. Comparative genomic analysis of the sequences from all available L. rhamnosus strains revealed that they were clustered into two groups, being within the same species boundary based on the average nucleotide identities. Strain BFE5264 had a sister group relationship with the group that contained strain GG, but neither ANI-based hierarchical clustering nor core-gene-based phylogenetic tree construction showed a clear distinctive pattern associated with the isolation source, implying that the genotype alone cannot account for their ecological niches. These results provide insights into the probiotic mechanisms of strain BFE5264 at the genomic level.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• 제23권1호
• /
• pp.29-35
• /
• 2019

Purpose: We aimed to determine characteristics of host, causative organisms, and antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria in pediatric patients with UTI living in metropolitan area of Korea. Methods: Retrospective investigation was done for the causative organisms of UTI in 683 pediatric cases treated at Ajou University Hospital from 2012 to 2017. Patients were classified into Escherichia coli and non-E. coli group, where E. coli group was subdivided into ESBL(+) and ESBL(-) groups based on whether the bacteria could produce extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL). Antibiotic susceptibility of the causative organism was also determined. Results: A total of 683 UTIs occurred in 550 patients, of which 463 (67.8%) were first-time infection and 87 (32.2%) were recurrent ones (2-7 recurrences, 2.52 average), and 64.9% were male and 35.1% were female. The most common causative organism was E. coli (77.2%) and ESBL(+) E. coli was found in 126 cases. The susceptibility of E. coli to 3rd or 4th generation cephalosporin was relatively higher than that to ampicillin or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. ESBL(+) E. coli showed higher resistance rate to 3rd or 4th generation cephalosporin than ESBL(-) E. coli. Conclusion: New treatment guideline should be considered due to the incidence of ESBL(+) E. coli increased up to one quarter of UTI cases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제31권5호
• /
• pp.659-666
• /
• 2021

After Candida albicans, Candida glabrata is one of the most common fungal species associated with candidemia in nosocomial infections. Rapid acquisition of nutrients from the host is important for the survival of pathogens which possess the metabolic flexibility to assimilate different carbon and nitrogen compounds. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, nitrogen assimilation is controlled through a mechanism known as Nitrogen Catabolite Repression (NCR). NCR is coordinated by the action of four GATA factors; two positive regulators, Gat1 and Gln3, and two negative regulators, Gzf3 and Dal80. A mechanism in C. glabrata similar to NCR in S. cerevisiae has not been broadly studied. We previously showed that in C. glabrata, Gln3, and not Gat1, has a major role in nitrogen assimilation as opposed to what has been observed in S. cerevisiae in which both factors regulate NCR-sensitive genes. Here, we expand the knowledge about the role of Gln3 from C. glabrata through the transcriptional analysis of BG14 and gln3Δ strains. Approximately, 53.5% of the detected genes were differentially expressed (DEG). From these DEG, amino acid metabolism and ABC transporters were two of the most enriched KEGG categories in our analysis (Up-DEG and Down-DEG, respectively). Furthermore, a positive role of Gln3 in AAA assimilation was described, as was its role in the transcriptional regulation of ARO8. Finally, an unexpected negative role of Gln3 in the gene regulation of ABC transporters CDR1 and CDR2 and its associated transcriptional regulator PDR1 was found. This observation was confirmed by a decreased susceptibility of the gln3Δ strain to fluconazole.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• 제35권6호
• /
• pp.791-803
• /
• 2022

Genome/gene-editing (GE) techniques, characterized by a low technological barrier, high efficiency, and broad application among organisms, are now being employed not only in medical science but also in agriculture/veterinary science. Different engineered CRISPR/Cas9s have been identified to expand the application of this technology. In pig production, GE is a precise new breeding technology (NBT), and promising outcomes in improving economic traits, such as growth, lean or healthy meat production, animal welfare, and disease resistance, have already been documented and reviewed. These promising achievements in porcine gene editing, including the Myostatin gene knockout (KO) in indigenous breeds to improve lean meat production, the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) gene knock-in to enhance piglet thermogenesis and survival under cold stress, the generation of GGTA1 and CMP-N-glycolylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH) gene double KO (dKO) pigs to produce healthy red meat, and the KO or deletion of exon 7 of the CD163 gene to confer resistance to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection, are described in the present article. Other related approaches for such purposes are also discussed. The current trend of global regulations or legislation for GE organisms is that they are exempted from classification as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) if no exogenes are integrated into the genome, according to product-based and not process-based methods. Moreover, an updated case study in the EU showed that current GMO legislation is not fit for purpose in term of NBTs, which contribute to the objectives of the EU's Green Deal and biodiversity strategies and even meet the United Nations' sustainable development goals for a more resilient and sustainable agri-food system. The GE pigs generated via NBT will be exempted from classification as GMOs, and their global valorization and commercialization can be foreseen.

• 한국축산식품학회지
• /
• 제43권3호
• /
• pp.512-530
• /
• 2023

The present study evaluated the effects of fermented whey protein using kimchi lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus casei DK211 on skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in healthy middle-aged males performing regular resistance exercises. Effective protein supplementation and regular exercise are two important factors for improving muscle health. Therefore, in this study, the effects of consuming fermented whey protein twice a day were investigated and compared with that of non-fermented supplementation. Forty-eight males (average age 44.8) were randomly assigned to two groups: Fermented whey protein supplementation (FWPS) and non-fermented whey protein concentration supplementation (WPCS) groups. Each group ingested 37 g of FWPS or WPCS twice a day for eight weeks. Body composition, muscle strength, and physical performance were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Independent t-tests or chi-square tests for the categorical variables were performed for analyzing the observations. FWPS was effective in promoting the physical performance in dynamic balance measurement and muscle health, indicated through the increment in grip strength (left), upper arm circumference, and flat leg circumference from the baseline. However, similar improvements were not observed in the WPCS group. These results imply that whey protein fermented by L. casei DK211 is an effective protein supplement for enhancing muscle health in males performing regular resistance exercises.