• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1692-1697
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• 2012

We report a glycoside hydrolase (GH)-118 ${\beta}$-agarase from a strain of Agarivorans, in which we previously reported recombinant expression and characterization of the GH-50 ${\beta}$-agarase. The GH comprised an open reading frame of 1,437 base pairs, which encoded a protein of 52,580 daltons consisting of 478 amino acid residues. Assessment of the entire sequence showed that the enzyme had 97% nucleotide and 99% amino acid sequence similarities to those of GH-118 ${\beta}$-agarase from Pseudoalteromonas sp. CY24, which belongs to a different order within the same class. The gene corresponding to a mature protein of 440 amino acids was inserted, recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified to homogeneity with affinity chromatography. It had maximal activity at $35^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0 and had 208.1 units/mg in the presence of 300 mM NaCl and 1 mM $CaCl_2$. More than 80% activity was maintained after 2 h exposure to $35^{\circ}C$; however, < 40% activity remained at $45^{\circ}C$. The enzyme hydrolyzed agarose to yield neoagarooctaose as the main product. This enzyme could be useful for industrial production of functional neoagarooligosaccharides.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.219-231
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the levels of body image, sexual intimacy, and sexual satisfaction, and to explore factors affecting sexual intimacy and satisfaction among women within one year of mastectomy. Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional survey and involved 101 women who had undergone mastectomy at a University hospital of D city, Korea. Measurement included the scales of body image, sexual intimacy, and sexual satisfaction. Results: Mean age of the subjects was 51 years. Scores of the body image, sexual intimacy, and sexual satisfaction were 59.62, 90.69, and 69.04, respectively. Body image, sexual intimacy, and sexual satisfaction were significantly related to each other. Sexual intimacy was higher when women were of young age (${\beta}=-.32$), had a shorter period since surgery (${\beta}=-.24$), and with higher levels of body image (${\beta}=.37$). Sexual satisfaction was higher when women had higher levels of body image (${\beta}=.19$) and greater levels of sexual intimacy (${\beta}=.74$). Conclusion: Higher levels of body image and greater levels of sexual intimacy were identified as the significant factors influencing sexual satisfaction among these women. Future research with a mixed-method research is needed to gain a deep understanding of the sexuality between women and their husbands.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2005

To determine the prevalence and genotypes of $\beta$-lactamases among clones of a metagenomic library from the cold-seep sediments of Edison seamount (10,000 years old), we performed pulse-field gel electrophoresis, antibiotic susceptibility testing, pI determination, and DNA sequencing analysis. Among the 8,823 clones of the library, thirty clones produced $\beta$-lactamases and had high levels of genetic diversity. Consistent with minimum inhibitory concentration patterns, we found that five ($167\%$) of thirty clones produced an extended-spectrum $\beta$-lactamase. 837- and 259-bp fragments specific to bla$_{TEM}$ genes were amplified, as determined by banding patterns of PCR amplification with designed primers. TEM­1 was the most prevalent $\beta$-lactamase and conferred resistance to ampicillin, piperacillin, and cephalothin. TEM-116 had a spectrum that was extended to ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and aztreonam. The resistance levels conferred by the pre-antibiotic era alleles of TEM-type $\beta$-lactamases were essentially the same as the resistance levels conferred by the TEM-type alleles which had been isolated from clinically resistant strains of bacteria of the antibiotic era. Our first report on TEM-type $\beta$-lactamases of the pre-antibiotic era indicates that TEM-type $\beta$-lactamases paint a picture in which most of the diversity of the enzymes may not be the result of recent evolution, but that of ancient evolution.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.437-448
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to test a path model for the factors related to undergraduate nursing students' clinical practicum stress, based on Lazarus and Folkman's stress-coping model. Methods: This study utilized a path analysis design. A total of 235 undergraduate nursing students participated in this study. The variables in the hypothetical path model consisted of clinical practicum, emotional intelligence, self-efficacy, Nun-chi, and nursing professionalism. We tested the fit of the hypothetical path model using SPSS/WIN 23.0 and AMOS 22.0. Results: The final model fit demonstrated a satisfactory statistical acceptance level: goodness-of-fit-index=.98, adjusted goodness-of-fit-index=.91, comparative fit index=.98, normed fit index=.95, Tucker-Lewis index=.92, and root mean square error of approximation=.06. Self-efficacy (${\beta}=-.22$, p=.003) and Nun-chi behavior (${\beta}=-.17$, p=.024) were reported as significant factors affecting clinical practicum stress, explaining 10.2% of the variance. Nursing professionalism (${\beta}=.20$, p=.006) and self-efficacy (${\beta}=.45$, p<.001) had direct effects on emotional intelligence, explaining 45.9% of the variance. Self-efficacy had indirect effects on Nun-chi understanding (${\beta}=.20$, p<.001) and Nun-chi behavior (${\beta}=.09$, p=.005) through emotional intelligence. Nursing professionalism had indirect effects on Nun-chi understanding (${\beta}=.09$, p=.005) and Nun-chi behavior (${\beta}=.09$, p=.005) through emotional intelligence. The variables for self-efficacy and nursing professionalism explained 29.1% of the Nun-chi understanding and 18.2% of the Nun-chi behavior, respectively. Conclusion: In undergraduate nursing education, it is important to identify and manage factors that affect clinical practicum stress. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of Nun-chi, self-efficacy, emotional intelligence, and nursing professionalism in the development of an educational strategy for undergraduate nursing students.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.302-308
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• 1997

${\beta}-Cyclodextrin\;({\beta}-CD)$ polymers were prepared using epichlorohydrin as a cross linking agent. The polymers were separated into ${\beta}-CD$ soluble polymer $({\beta}-CD\;SP)$ and ${\beta}-CD$ insoluble polymer $({\beta}-CD\;ISP)$ on a 10,000 molecular weight cut-off membrane (YM 10). Optimum separation conditions in the YM 10 were: transmembrane pressure 51.7 kPa, separation temperature $35^{\circ}C$, and volume concentration ratio 10. The flux was $0.025\;mL/cm^{2}/min$ under the optimum conditions. Gel permeation chromatography indicated that ${\beta}-CD\;SP\;and\;{\beta}-CD\;ISP$ had a degree of polymerization of $2{\sim}8$ and over 10, respectively. The formation of an inclusion complex with hydrophobic compounds such as 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene, methyl red, and naringin was compared among ${\beta}-CD,\;{\beta}-CD\;SP\;and\;{\beta}-CD\;ISP$. The molar absorptivity for the two chromatic compounds was increased and the absorption peak was shifted in the presence of ${\beta}-CD$ polymers. Naringin, the principal flavonoid bitter tasting component of citrus fruit, had a low water solubility. The solubility of naringin was increased through the formation of an inclusion complex with ${\beta}-CD$ polymers. There was no significant difference in the formation of an inclusion complex between ${\beta}-CD\;SP\;and\;{\beta}-CD\;ISP$. Reduction of the bitter components from citrus products was shown to be possible when employing ${\beta}-CD\;SP$, while the usage of ${\beta}-CD$ monomer has been limited due to the low water solubility.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.1143-1150
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to determine the chemical and intracellular antioxidant activities of ${\beta}$-carotene and lycopene and to compare their quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR). In our previous study, the second ionization energy of lycopene was higher than that of ${\beta}$-carotene, as calculated by QSAR. Chemical antioxidant activities of ${\beta}$-carotene, lycopene, and Trolox were examined by measuring ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Intracellular antioxidant activities were evaluated by intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA fragmentation. The FRAP of lycopene was higher than that of ${\beta}$-carotene (P<0.05), and the two carotenoids had similar antioxidant activities in DPPH radical scavenging activity assay. Trolox had the greatest chemical antioxidant activities (P<0.05). When RAW264.7 cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (100 ng/mL) for 20 h, intracellular ROS and DNA fragmentation significantly increased (P<0.05). RAW 264.7 cells pretreated with ${\beta}$-carotene ($4{\mu}M$) and lycopene ($0.4{\sim}2{\mu}M$) for 4 h formed significantly less intracellular ROS than LPS-treated control cells (P<0.05), whereas cells with Trolox did not reduce production of intracellular ROS. In addition, cells pretreated with $2{\mu}M$ lycopene produced less intracellular ROS than those treated with ${\beta}$-carotene (P<0.05). DNA fragmentation of cells with ${\beta}$-carotene and lycopene was similar to that of LPS-treated control cells as measured by Hoechst staining. The antioxidant ability of lycopene was greater than that of ${\beta}$-carotene in the QSAR, FRAP, and intracellular ROS assays (P<0.05). ${\beta}$-Carotene and lycopene had lower antioxidant activities as measured by FRAP (P<0.05) but higher intracellular protective effects against LPS-induced oxidative stress in comparison with Trolox.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.201-206
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to understand the influence of professionalism on job satisfaction and job performance of the physical therapist. Methods: Subjects were 148 physical therapists. We conducted a questionnaire survey on professionalism, job satisfaction, and job performance. Professionalism questions were 'Compliance of professional organization', 'Beliefs about public service', 'Autonomy', 'Beliefs about self-regulation', and 'Vocation awareness of the profession'. A regression analysis was then performed. Results: The subjects' average score for professionalism was $3.18{\pm}0.31$ points. The lowest score for satisfaction was observed for 'Compliance of professional organization'. Professionalism had an effect on job satisfaction. 'Vocation awareness of the profession (${\beta}=0.44$, p<0.001)', 'Beliefs about public service (${\beta}=0.25$, p<0.01)', and 'Autonomy (${\beta}=0.17$, p<0.05)' had an effect on job satisfaction. R square=0.46 (adjusted R square=0.45). Professionalism had an effect on job performance. 'Autonomy (${\beta}=0.29$), p<0.001)', 'Vocation awareness of the profession (${\beta}=0.22$, p<0.05)', and 'Beliefs about self-regulation (${\beta}=0.18$, p<0.05)' had an effect on job performance. R square=0.25 (adjusted R square=0.22). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that in order to improve job satisfaction and job performance, it is necessary to improve professionalism. Therefore physical therapists should improve their professionalism ('Compliance of professional organization', 'Beliefs about public service', 'Autonomy', 'Beliefs about self-regulation', and 'Vocation awareness of the profession') in order to improve their job satisfaction and job performance. In addition, research to improve professionalism of the physical therapist should be continued.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to analyze the effects of ethical decision making factors on vocational ethics and job satisfaction of firefighters and to provide basic data to promote appropriate vocational ethics and improve job satisfaction. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was filled out by firefighters in D metropolitan area from May 7 to 15, 2017. A total of 410 data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 program. Results: Among influential factors of ethical decision making, "ethical environment of organization"(${\beta}=.266$), "coworkers' influence" (${\beta}=.216$), and "managers' ethical competence" (${\beta}=.148$), 'compensation and punishment'(${\beta}=.097$) had a positive effect on vocational ethics, while "coworkers' influence" (${\beta}=.281$), "ethical environment of organization" (${\beta}=.274$), and "managers' ethical competence" (${\beta}=.143$) had a positive effect on job satisfaction. Vocational ethics was found to have a significantly positive effect on job satisfaction (B=.657, t=8.802, p=.000). Conclusion: It is necessary to promote vocational ethics for improvement of firefighters' job satisfaction, and appropriate ethics education should be provided. It is important to actively manage the factors affecting ethical decision making.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.290-303
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• 1989

The activities of $\beta$-glucosidase, $\beta$-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-$\beta$-glucosaminidase were measured to investigate the relationships of them to sexual maturity. Peritoneal injections of testosterone and dibutyryl cAMP to rats were carried out. As a result, the activities of $\beta$-glucosidase and N-acetyl-$\beta$-glucosaminidase were significantly decreased from the third day and that of P -glucurondiase on the seventh day in the castrated groups. In addition, ihe activities of these three enzymes were significantly increased in the testosterone treated groups for 7 days. In case of dbcAMP injection, the activities of these three enzymes were similar to those of castrated groups or had a tendency to be decreased. On electron microscopic examination, principal cells, basal cells and narrow cells were observed in all regions of epididymis. Principal cells were general forms of columnar epithelial cells. Narrow cells had a number of small vesicles and light cells showed low electron density in comparison to other epithelial cells in cauda epididymis. Halo cells were migrating leucocytes btween epithelial cells.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 2007

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with progressive loss of cognitive function and memory. Amyloid beta peptide ($A{\beta}$) is the major component of senile plaques and is known to exert its cytotoxic effect mainly by producing $H_2O_2$. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain of AD patients, and $H_2O_2$ is one of the factors that induce VEGF. Therefore, we tested whether $A{\beta}$ might be responsible for the increased VEGF synthesis. We found that $A{\beta}$ induced the production of $H_2O_2$ in vitro. Comparison of the amount of $H_2O_2$ required to induce VEGF synthesis in HN33 cells and the amount of $H_2O_2$ produced by $10{\mu}M\;A{\beta}_{1-42}$ in vitro suggested that a toxic concentration of $A{\beta}$ might induce VEGF synthesis in these cells. However, toxic concentrations of $A{\beta}$ failed to induce VEGF synthesis in several cell systems. They also had no effect on antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and peroxiredoxin in HN33 cells. $Cu^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$ and $Fe^{3+}$ are known to accumulate in the brains of AD patients and promote aggregation of $A{\beta}$, and $Cu^{2+}$ by itself induces synthesis of VEGF. However, there was no synergistic effect between $Cu^{2+}$ and $A{\beta}_{1-42}$ in the induction of VEGF synthesis and $Zn^{2+}$ and $Fe^{3+}$ also had no effect on the synthesis of VEGF, alone or in combination with $A{\beta}$.