• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.597-604
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• 2014

$\small{D}$-Phenylglycine aminotransferase ($\small{D}$-PhgAT) from Pseudomonas stutzeri ST-201 is useful for enzymatic synthesis of enantiomerically pure $\small{D}$-phenylglycine. However, its low protein solubility prevents its application at high substrate concentration. With an aim to increase the protein solubility, the N-terminus of $\small{D}$-PhgAT was genetically fused with short peptides ($A_1$ ${\alpha}$-helix, $A_2$ ${\alpha}$-helix, and ALAL, which is a hybrid of $A_1$ and $A_2$) from a ferredoxin enzyme of a halophilic archaeon, Halobacterium salinarum. The fused enzymes $A_1$-$\small{D}$-PhgAT, $A_2$-$\small{D}$-PhgAT, and ALAL-$\small{D}$-PhgAT displayed a reduced pI and increased in solubility by 6.1-, 5.3-, and 8.1- fold in TEMP (pH 7.6) storage, respectively, and 5-, 4.5-, and 5.9-fold in CAPSO (pH 9.5) reaction buffers, respectively, compared with the wild-type enzyme (WT-$\small{D}$-PhgAT). In addition, all the fused $\small{D}$-PhgAT displayed higher enzymatic reaction rates than the WT-DPhgAT at all concentrations of L-glutamate monosodium salt used. The highest rate, $23.82{\pm}1.47$ mM/h, was that obtained from having ALAL-$\small{D}$-PhgAT reacted with 1,500 mM of the substrate. Moreover, the halophilic fusion significantly increased the tolerance of $\small{D}$-PhgAT in the presence of NaCl and KCl, being slightly in favor of KCl, where under the same condition at 3.5 M NaCl or KCl all halophilic-fused variants showed higher activity than WT-$\small{D}$-PhgAT.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.211-215
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• 2014

Opuntia humifusa, also called as Cheonnyuncho, is a cactus widely cultivated in southern regions of Korea. It has been known to have diverse biological activities, but most of the studies were performed with the MeOH extracts or solvent-partitioned fractions. Furthermore, the efforts to identify the responsible compounds for the biological activities are very limited. In this study, we tested the inhibitory effect of extracts and solvent-partitioned fractions of O. humifusa against LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in Raw264.7 cells. The butanol fractions of O. humifusa efficiently inhibited the production of NO in Raw264.7 cells, but it was not due to the reduction of cell viability. Bioassay-guided isolation of butanol fractions of O. humifusa allowed the isolation of three flavonoids isorhamnetin 3-O-${\beta}$-$\small{D}$-galactosyl-4'-O-${\beta}$-$\small{D}$-glucoside (1), isorhamnetin 3,4'-di-O-${\beta}$-$\small{D}$-glucoside (2) and isorhamnetin 3-O-${\beta}$-$\small{D}$-(6-O-${\alpha}$-$\small{L}$-rhamnosyl)glucoside (3), and one lignan syringaresinol O-${\beta}$-$\small{D}$-glucopyranoside (4). Among them, isorhamnetin 3-O-${\beta}$-$\small{D}$-galactosyl-4'-O-${\beta}$-$\small{D}$-glucoside (1) and isorhamnetin 3,4'-di-O-${\beta}$-$\small{D}$-glucoside (2) exhibited the moderate inhibitory effects against LPS-induced NO production. This is the first time to report anti-inflammatory effects of these compounds.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.303-309
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• 2021

In this study, we intended to describe an unrecorded species of heterophyid trematode recovered from the small intestine of a Korean raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis, in Korea. A total of 13 small flukes were collected from a deceased Korean raccoon dog which was found in Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, Korea in May 2017. The trematode body were covered with many small spines, rectangular, broader than long, 807-1,103 ㎛ long and 1,270-1,550 ㎛ wide. Oral sucker in the anterior end slightly smaller than acetabulum. Pharynx muscular and well developed. Esophagus relatively long and sigmoid. Acetabulum small and located at median in anterior 2/5 portion. Ceca bifurcated at the anterior of genital pore and acetabulum and terminated at testis level. Testes larger, deeply lobed and located at the near of posterior end of body. Ovary small, triangular and located at the slight left of median and the anterior of left testis. Vitelline follicles dendritic and extend from the middle level of esophagus to the posterior portion of body. Eggs embryonated, operculated, small and 33-35×15-16 ㎛ in size. Based on the morphological characteristics, the small heterophyid flukes recovered from the small intestines of Korean raccoon dog, N. procyonoides koreensis, were identified as Euryhelmis squamula (Digenea: Heterophyidae). Accordingly, this species of heterophyid flukes is to be a new trematode fauna in Korea by this study.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.182-182
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• 2017

Many small island nations rely on groundwater as their only other source of freshwater in addition to rainwater harvesting. The volume of groundwater resource of small island nations are further limited by their smaller surface area and specific hydrogeology. The rapid growth of population and tourism has led to increasing water demands and pollution of available groundwater resources. The predicted climate change effects pose significant threats to the already vulnerable freshwater lens of small islands in the form of rise in sea level, coastal inundation, saltwater intrusion, varied pattern of precipitation leading to droughts and storm surges. The effects of climate change are further aggravated by manmade stresses like increased pumping. Thus small island water resources are highly threatened under the effects of climate change. But due to the limited technical and financial capacity most of the small island developing states were unable to conduct detailed technical investigations on the effects of climate change on their water resources. In this study, we investigate how well small island countries are preparing for climate change. The current state of freshwater resources, impacts of predicted climate change along with adaptation and management strategies planned and implemented by small island countries are reviewed. Proper assessment and management practices can aid in sustaining the groundwater resources of small islands under climate change.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.168-172
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• 2008

T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare, mature T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder with a post-thymic mature T-cell phenotype. The disease is characterized by rapidly rising lymphocytosis, lym-phadenopathy, and splenomegaly. The clinical course is usually aggressive and progresses with frequent skin lesions and serous effusions. In 25% of cases, leukemic cells are small and tumor cells may not have a discrete nucleolus under light microscopy. Although the presence of characteristic cytoplasmic protrusions or blebs in tumor cells is a common morphologic finding in the peripheral blood film irrespective of the nuclear features, small cell variants lacking the typical nuclear features can cause diagnostic problems in clinical cytology. Furthermore, the small leukemic cells can share some cytologic findings with lymphocyte-rich serous effusions caused by non-neoplastic reactive lymphocytosis as well as other small lymphocytic lymphoproliferative disorders. Here, we describe the cytological findings of ascitic fluid complicated by small cell variant T-PLL in a 54-year-old man, the cytology of which was initially interpreted as small lymphocytic malignancy such as small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Educational Facilities
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.62-72
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• 2008

The purpose of this research is to make a basic study of a small theater planned to be built on the university campus for the exclusive use of performing arts. For this, the documents and records of small theaters in Seoul was first reviewed. And then, some selected theaters among small theaters opened since 2000 was examined and analyzed by their blueprints, design maps and actual measurement on the spot. Since 1990s, the increase in per capital income, the advancement of culture and arts, and the accompanying increase in demand have prompted universities to open performing arts courses. Going beyond the concept of a multipurpose auditorium a space devoted to professional performances has been increasingly needed by many universities. Small theaters that have been the subjects of study have become extinct or changed for other uses due to the rapid changes in the performing environment. This research examined theaters that have opened since 2000 and analyzed the data on their stages and seats. This study is intended for providing preliminary data for building of a small theater on the university campus.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.11 no.9
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• pp.4220-4241
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• 2017

For the downlink energy-harvesting small cell network, this paper proposes an interference management algorithm based on distributed coalitional game. The cooperative interference management problem of the energy-harvesting small cells is modeled as a coalitional game with transfer utility. Based on the energy harvesting strategy of the small cells, the time sharing mode of the small cells in the same coalition is determined, and an optimization model is constructed to maximize the total system rate of the energy-harvesting small cells. Using the distributed algorithm for coalition formation proposed in this paper, the stable coalition structure, optimal time sharing strategy and optimal power distribution are found to maximize the total utility of the small cell system. The performance of the proposed algorithm is discussed and analyzed finally, and it is proved that this algorithm can converge to a stable coalition structure with reasonable complexity. The simulations show that the total system rate of the proposed algorithm is superior to that of the non-cooperative algorithm in the case of dense deployment of small cells, and the proposed algorithm can converge quickly.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.1976-1997
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• 2016

This paper investigates the problem of co-tier interference mitigation for dynamic small- cell networks, in which the load of each small-cell varies with the number of active associated small-cell users (SUs). Due to the fact that most small-cell base stations (SBSs) are deployed in an ad-hoc manner, the problem of reducing co-tier interference caused by dynamic loads in a distributed fashion is quite challenging. First, we propose a new distributed channel allocation method for small-cells with dynamic loads and define a dynamic interference graph. Based on this approach, we formulate the problem as a dynamic interference graph game and prove that the game is a potential game and has at least one pure strategy Nash equilibrium (NE) point. Moreover, we show that the best pure strategy NE point minimizes the expectation of the aggregate dynamic co-tier interference in the small-cell network. A distributed dynamic learning algorithm is then designed to achieve NE of the game, in which each SBS is unaware of the probability distributions of its own and other SBSs' dynamic loads. Simulation results show that the proposed approach can mitigate dynamic co-tier interference effectively and significantly outperform random channel selection.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1493-1500
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• 2001

Recently small punch creep testing (or miniature disc bend creep test) has received much attention through European collaborative research projects. This method was considered as a substitute for the conventional creep rupture testing by which the residual creep life is measured from the specimen taken out from serviced components of high temperature plants. It would be beneficial if the material creep properties such as power law creep constants as well as the creep rupture life can be measured from the small punch creep test. In this paper a method of assessing creep constants from the small punch creep testing is proposed. Finite element analyses were performed to investigate evolution of stress and strain rate at the weakest locations of the small punch creep specimen. Elastic-plastic-secondary creep analyses were carried out. The estimation equations for creep constants by the small punch creep testing are proposed based on the finite analysis results. Small punch creep tests were also performed with 9Cr steel and the accuracy of the proposed equation was verified by the experimental results.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.285-292
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• 2023

Small-scale ground mobile robots can access confined spaces where people or larger robots are unable. As the scale of the robot decreases, the relative size of the environment increases; therefore, maintaining the mobility of the small-scale robot is required. However, small-scale robots have limitations in using a large number of high-performance actuators, powerful computational devices, and a power source. Insects can effectively navigate various terrains in nature with their legged motion. Discrete contact with the ground and the foot enables creatures to traverse irregular surfaces. Inspired by the leg motion of the insect, researchers have developed small-scale robots and they implemented swing and lifting motions of the leg by designing leg linkages that can be adapted to small-scale robots. In this paper, we propose a leg linkage design for insect-inspired small-scale ground mobile robots. To use minimal actuation and reduce the control complexity, we designed a 1-DOF 3-dimensional leg linkage that can generate a proper leg trajectory using one continuous rotational input. We analyzed the kinematics of the proposed leg linkage to investigate the effect of link parameters on the foot trajectory.