• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.1080-1088
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• 2013

Our previous results showed that kisspeptin-10 (Kp-10) injections via intraperitoneal (i.p.) once daily for three weeks notably promoted the egg laying rate in quails. In order to investigate the mechanism behind the effects of Kp-10 on enhancing the egg laying rate in birds, this study focused on the alternations of lipids synthesis in liver after Kp-10 injections. 75 female quails (22 d of age) were allocated to three groups randomly, and subjected to 0 (control, Con), 10 nmol (low dosage, L) and 100 nmol (high dosage, H) Kp-10 injections via i.p. once daily for three weeks, respectively. At d 52, quails were sacrificed and sampled for further analyses. Serum $E_2$ concentration was increased by Kp-10 injections, and reached statistical significance in H group. Serum triglyceride (TG) concentrations were increased by 46.7% in L group and 36.8% in H group, respectively, but did not reach statistical significance, and TG contents in liver were significantly elevated by Kp-10 injections in a dose-dependent manner. Serum total cholesterol (Tch) concentrations significantly decreased in H group, while in H group the hepatic Tch content was markedly increased. The level of non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), apolipoprotein A1 and B (apoA1 and apoB) were not altered by Kp-10 injections. The genes expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), fatty acid synthetase (FAS), apolipoprotein VLDL-II (apoVLDL-II), cholesterol $7{\alpha}$-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and vitellogenin II (VTG-II) were significantly up-regulated by high but not low dosage of Kp-10 injection compared to the control group. However, the expression of SREBP-2, acetyl-CoA carboxylase ($ACC_{\alpha}$), malic enzyme (ME), stearoyl-CoA (${\Delta}9$) desaturase 1 (SCD1), apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1), fatty acid binding protein 2 (FABP2), 3-hydroxyl-3-methyl glutaryl-coenzyme A reductases (HMGCR), estrogen receptor ${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$($ER{\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$) mRNA were not affected by Kp-10 treatment. In line with hepatic mRNA abundance, hepatic SREBP1 protein content was significantly higher in H group. Although the mRNA expression was not altered, the content of $ER{\alpha}$ protein in liver was also significantly increased in H group. However, SREBP-2 protein content in liver was not changed by Kp-10 treatment. In conclusion, exogenous Kp-10 consecutive injections during juvenile stage significantly advanced the tempo of egg laying in quails, which was associated with the significant elevation in hepatic lipids synthesis and transport.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2015

This paper investigated far-infrared emission characteristics of ZrC imbedded heat storage knitted fabrics for emotional garment. For this purpose, ZrC imbedded heat storage PET was spun with high viscosity PET imbedded ZrC powder on the core part and low viscosity PET on the sheath part by conjugated spinning method. Ingredient analysis and far-infrared emission characteristics assessment of spun filament were carried out by EDS and FT-IR spectrometer. Two kinds of knitted fabrics were made using texturized ZrC imbedded PET for measuring thermal characteristics of ZrC imbedded heat storage PET. Zr peak was certified by EDS measurement and it was confirmed that content of Zr was 19.29%. Far-infrared analysis revealed that emission power at the range of wavelength, $5{\sim}20{\mu}m$ was $3.65{\times}10^2W/m^2$, and emissivity was 0.906. Heat storage analysis by KES-F7 system revealed that $Q_{max}$ of ZrC imbedded PET knitted fabric was lower than that of regular PET one and warmth keepability rate was higher than that of regular one, which means that ZrC imbedded PET knitted fabric has heat storage property. Thermal conductivity of ZrC imbedded PET knitted fabric was higher than that of regular PET one which was caused by high thermal conductivity of Zr itself. Hand property of ZrC imbedded knitted fabric was not inferior compared to regular PET knitted fabric, which preferably was found to be dependent on knit structure and surface property.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.26-50
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• 1982

In order to obtain more detailed information concerning the degradation of lignin in the oxygen alkali pulping single stage isothermal delignification of pine wood meal (Pinus koraiensis S. et Z.) was studied in the oxygen alkali system at five temperature level ($110^{\circ}C$, $120^{\circ}C$, $130^{\circ}C$, $140^{\circ}C$, $150^{\circ}C$) for 60 min.. The rate constant, activation energy, oxygen and alkali consumption during the oxygen alkali delignification were determined by the kinetic method. The 2/5 of total lignin was eliminated at the start of the reaction. The delignification rate constant was about 3 times that of caustic soda pulping. The activation energy was about 1/3 lower than in caustic soda pulping. Like oxygen consumption, alkali consumption was also rapid early at the reaction and almost ceased after about 10 min.. The degradation reaction of lignin was strongly dependent upon the pH decrease of the cooking liquor by organic acid generated in pulping. The lignin in the oxygen alkali pulping degraded into lover molecular weight and had more hydrophillic properties. The methoxyl group decreased considerably at the first of oxygen alkali delignification, while the carbonyl, carboxyl and phenolic hydroxyl group increased rapidly.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.180-180
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• 2012

Heteroepitaxial GaN nano- and micro-rods (NMRs) are one of the most promising structures for high performance optoelectronic devices such as light emitting diodes, lasers, solar cells integrated with Si-based electric circuits due to their low dislocation density and high surface to volume ratio. However, heteroepitaxial GaN NMRs growth using a metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) machine is not easy due to their long surface diffusion length at high growth temperature of MOVPE above $1000^{\circ}C$. Recently some research groups reported the fabrication of the heteroepitaxial GaN NMRs by using MOVPE with vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) technique assisted by metal catalyst. However, in the case of the VLS technique, metal catalysts may act as impurities, and the GaN NMRs produced in this mathod have poor directionallity. We have successfully grown the vertically well aligned GaN NMRs on Si (111) substrate by means of self-catalystic growth methods with pulsed-flow injection of precursors. To grow the GaN NMRs with high aspect ratio, we veried the growth conditions such as the growth temperature, reactor pressure, and V/III molar ratio. We confirmed that the surface morphology of GaN was strongly influenced by the surface diffusion of Ga and N adatoms related to the surrounding environment during growth, and we carried out theoretical studies about the relation between the reactor pressure and the growth rate of GaN NMRs. From these results, we successfully explained the growth mechanism of catalyst-free and mask-free heteroepitaxial GaN NMRs on Si (111) substrates. Detailed experimental results will be discussed.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.253-266
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• 2020

The extended slip-weakening model was investigated by using a compiled set of source-spectrum-related parameters, i.e. seismic moment M_o, S-wave velocity V_s, corner-frequency f_c, and source-controlled high-cut frequency fmax, for 113 shallow crustal earthquakes (focal depth less than 25 km, M_W 3.0~7.5) that occurred in Japan from 1987 to 2016. The investigation was focused on the characteristics of stress drop, radiation energy-to-seismic moment ratio, radiation efficiency, and fracture energy release rate, G_c. The scaling relationships of those source parameters were also investigated and compared with those in previous studies, which were based on generally used singular models with the dimensionless numbers corresponding to f_c given by Brune and Madariaga. The results showed that the stress drop from the singular model with Madariaga's dimensionless number was equivalent to the breakdown stress drop, as well as Brune's effective stress, rather than to static stress drop as has been usually assumed. The scale dependence of stress drop showed a different tendency in accordance with the size category of the earthquakes, which may be divided into small-moderate earthquakes and moderate-large earthquakes by comparing to M_o = 10¹⁷~10¹⁸ Nm. The scale dependence was quite similar to that shown by Kanamori and Rivera. The scale dependence was not because of a poor dynamic range of recorded signals or missing data as asserted by Ide and Beroza, but rather it was because of the scale dependent V_r-induced local similarity of spectrum as shown in a previous study by the authors. The energy release rate G_c with respect to breakdown distance D_c from the extended slip-weakening model coincided with that given by Ellsworth and Beroza in a study on the rupture nucleation phase; and the empirical relationship given by Abercrombie and Rice can represent the results from the extended slip-weakening model, the results from laboratory stick-slip experiments by Ohnaka, and the results given by Ellsworth and Beroza simultaneously. Also the energy flux into the breakdown zone was well correlated with the breakdown stress drop, ${\tilde{e}}$ and peak slip velocity of the fault faces. Consequently, the investigation results indicate the appropriateness of the extended slip-weakening model.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.17
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• pp.107-133
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to analyze a trend of profitability classified by characteristics of hospitals and to analyze related factors. The data for this study were derived from survey material conducted by the Korean Hospital Association on 33 hospitals in Korea between 1993 and 2002. Profitability was measured in the aspect of investment profit rate and operation profit rate with net profit to total assets, normal profit to total assets and operating margin to gross revenue as dependent variables. Independent variables were classified by general factors (ownership, number of beds, period of establishment, region), financial factors (total asset turnover, liabilities to total assets, current ratio, fixed ratio, inventories turnover, personnel costs per operation profit, material costs per operation profits), composition of manpower and facilities(personnel and area per beds), productivity index(the number of daily patients per medical doctor, the number of daily patients per nurse), the score of quality assurance activities. First, Concerning the specialists per beds or area per beds and profitability of hospitals there was not statistically significant. Second, Those hospitals having the most daily patients per nurse had significantly higher profitability than the others, but the number of daily patients per medical doctor had little effect on the profitability. Thirds, Those hospitals having a higher proportion total asset turnover tended to show significantly higher profitability compared to other hospitals, but the liabilities to total assets and liquidity ratio had a little difference to the profitability. Those hospitals having a higher proportion personnel costs per operation profit and material costs per operation profits tended to show significantly lower hospital profitability compared to other hospitals. Fourth, In regression analysis, hospital profitability had negative relationship with personnel costs per operation profit or material costs per operation profits. While it had positive relationship with total asset turnover, the number of daily patients per nurse. In conclusion, private hospitals had higher profitability than that of public hospitals. Though factors related to profitability of hospital were different according to ownership, it is important for securing appropriate profitability by operating appropriate number of nurse, raising total asset turnover, and reducing personnel costs, material costs per operation profits. This study can be used as a baseline data for planning of hospital management. But the study may be limited in that the results cannot be generalized due to its small sample size. However, this longitudinal observation of 33 hospitals over ten year period has significant merit alone.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.2119-2128
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• 2017

Citrinin (CIT) is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by fungi belonging to the Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Monascus spp. This toxin has been detected in many agricultural products. In this study, a strain Y3 with the ability to eliminate CIT was screened and identified as Cryptococcus podzolicus, based on the sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region. Neither uptake of CIT by cells nor adsorption by cell wall was involved in CIT elimination by Cryptococcus podzolicus Y3. The extracellular metabolites of Cryptococcus podzolicus Y3 stimulated by CIT or not showed no degradation for CIT. It indicated that CIT elimination was attributed to the degradation of intracellular enzyme(s). The degradation of CIT by C. podzolicus Y3 was dependent on the type of media, yeast concentration, temperature, pH, and initial concentration of CIT. Most of the CIT was degraded by C. podzolicus Y3 in NYDB medium at 42 h but not in PDB medium. The degradation rate of CIT was the highest (94%) when the concentration of C. podzolicus Y3 was $1{\times}10^8cells/ml$. The quantity of CIT degradation was highest at $28^{\circ}C$, and there was no degradation observed at 3$5^{\circ}C$. The study also showed that acidic condition (pH 4.0) was the most favorable for CIT degradation by C. podzolicus Y3. The degradation rate of CIT increased to 98% as the concentration of CIT was increased to $20{\mu}g/ml$. The toxicity of CIT degradation product(s) toward HEK293 was much lower than that of CIT.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2015

Acute toxicity tests for 5 organic solvents were conducted using Euglena agilis carter (E. agilis), a Korean domestic organism. Organic solvents decreased the growth rate of E. agilis in a dose dependent manner. The toxicity to E. agilis was increased in the order of chloroform>acetone${\geq}$ethanol${\geq}$methanol>DMSO based on $EC_{50}$ values from growth test. Organic solvents also induced cell motility and morphological changes of E. agilis. Especially significant effects on the cell swimming velocity, motility, and compactness were observed for chloroform at the concentration of $EC_{50}$ calculated from 96 hr growth test. Overall, toxic responses of E. agilis to test substances are comparable to or more sensitive than D. magna, M. macrocopa and V. fischeri. Our study demonstrates that E. agilis can be a putative ecotoxicity test model organism to assess domestic water quality. Results obtained from this study can be applied to establish the standard test guidelines for ecotoxicity test using E. agilis.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.81-88
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• 2000

Composting of N-rich wastes such as food waste and wastewater sludges can be associated loss of with substantial gaseous N, which means loss of an essential plant nutrient but may also lead to environmental pollution. We investigated the behavior of nitrogenous materials during the first high-rate phase in composting of food waste. Air dried food waste was mixed with shredded waste paper or wood chip and reacted in a bench scale composting reactor. Samples were analyzed for pH, ammonia, oxidized nitrogen and organic nitrogen. The volatilized ammonia nitrogen was also analyzed using sulfuric acid as an absorbent solution. Initial progress of composting reaction greatly influenced the ammonification of organic nitrogen. A well-balanced composting reaction with an addition of active compost as an inoculum resulted in the promoted mineralization of organic nitrogen and volatilization of ammonia. The prolongation of initial low pH period delayed the production of ammonia. It was also found that nitrogen loss was highly dependent on the air flow supplied. With an increase in input air flow, the loss of nitrogen as an ammonia also increased, resulted in substantial reduction of ammonia content in compost. The conversion ratio of initial nitrogen into ammonia was in the range of 28 to 38% and about 77~94% of the ammonia produced was escaped as a gas. Material balance on the nitrogenous materials was demonstrated to provide an information of importance on the behavior of nitrogen in composting reaction.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 1999

This study was carried out to investigate the production of C$_2$H$_4$ and CO$_2$, and the change of flesh firmness and peel color in 'Fuji' apples during CA storage. ACC oxidase activity was more inhibited by the low O$_2$ concentration, and the low level of internal C$_2$H$_4$ in apples was maintained under the low O$_2$ conditions during 8 months storage. Especially, the level of internal C$_2$H$_4$ in apples was maintained below 1 ppm during storage under 1% O$_2$+1% CO$_2$ at 0$^{\circ}C$, and not much changed for 7 days in air at 20$^{\circ}C$ after storage. The influence of CO$_2$ on the C$_2$H$_4$ production was dependent on the O$_2$ concentration. Increasing of CO$_2$ concentration with 3% O$_2$ decreased the C$_2$H$_4$ Production during storage, but that with 1% O$_2$increased. Internal C$_2$H$_4$ concentration and the rate of CO$_2$ evolution in apples showed the close correlation. Internal CO$_2$ concentration of apples was positively related to the rate of CO$_2$ evolution and maintained the lower level in 1% O$_2$+1% CO$_2$ than the other conditions during storage but nu different in the increment after storage. The relationship between C$_2$H$_4$ and CO$_2$ production was exhibited in CA and the short-term air stored apples, but not in the long-term air stored apples. Loss of flesh firmness and green color in apples was more less in storage condition retarded effectively the production of C$_2$H$_4$ and CO$_2$.