• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.666-672
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• 2024

Plants recognize pathogens through intracellular receptors that trigger defense signaling. Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins within a cell specifically recognize pathogenic molecules (effectors), leading to signal transduction that ultimately triggers the cell death pathway, thereby inducing effector-triggered immunity in plants. NLR proteins are broadly categorized into two types based on their N-terminal domains: coiled-coil domain NLRs (CNLs) and toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain NLRs (TNLs) are defined by their unique N-terminal domains. The TIR domain, which is responsible for activates nicotinamide adenine dinucleoside hydrolases (NADases), is crucial for the degradation of the NAD+ cofactor. TNL-dependent immune signaling involves lipase-like proteins known as Enhanced Disease Susceptibility 1 (EDS1) and its partners Phytoalexin Deficient 4 (PAD4) and Senescence-Associated Gene 101 (SAG101). This immune system also requires helper NLR subfamilies, such as activated disease resistance 1 (ADR1) and N requirement gene 1 (NRG1). The catalytic activity of TIR domain proteins generates various small molecules reported to activate plant's immune responses. These small molecules bind to specific sites on EDS1-PAD4 and EDS1-SAG101, inducing structural changes in the EP domain, and subsequently enabling interaction with ADR1 or NRG1. Here, we will discuss the characteristics of these small molecules and describe their relationships with protein complexes based on their structural and biochemical characteristics. We will also discuss how these small molecules can activate immune pathways.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1218-1225
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• 2009

Difractose anhydrides (DFAs) is studied as a sweetener for diabetics because of its structural property. DFAs have four types: DFA I, III, IV (degradation of levan) and V (degradation of inulin). Especially, DFA IV has been shown to enhance the absorption of calcium in experiments using rats. Levan fructotransferase is an enzyme for producing di-d-fructose-2,6':6,2-dianhydride (DFA IV). To identify structural characterization, we purified wild-type and mutants (D63A, D195N and N85S) of levan fructotransferase (LFTase) from Microbacterium sp. AL-210. These proteins were purified to apparent homogeneity by Ni-NTA affinity column, Q-sepharose ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography and detected by SDS-PAGE. They were also analyzed by circular dichroism (CD) measurements, JNET secondary structure prediction, activity measurements at various temperatures, and pH analysis. The optimum pH for the enzyme-catalyzed reaction was pH 7.5 and optimum temperature was observed at $55^{\circ}C$. Along with wild-type LFTase, mutants were analyzed by CD measurement, fluorescence analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). N85S showed less $\alpha$-helix and more $\beta$ strand than others. Also, N85S showed almost the same curve as wild-type in their steady-state fluorescence spectra, whereas mutant D63A and D195N showed higher intensity than wild-type. The amino acid sequence of wild-type LFTase was compared to the sequences of exo-inulinase from Aspergillus awamori, a plant fructan 1-exohydrolase from Cichorium intybus, and Thermotogo maritime (Tm) invertase and showed a high identity with Exo-inulinase from Aspergillus awamori.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2002

To compare the Carbon metabolic response to high temperature stress in Zoysiagrass [Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr.] and Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds) with respect to heat tolerance, C metabolites were determined from April to September. Sampling was carried out on an established golf course (Muan Country Club, Chonnam, Korea). Shoot mass(g Dry weight per hole cup) of creeping bentgrass started to decrease from June and recovered from August whereas that of zoysiagrass was less varied. Chlorophyll content in creeping bentgrass was significantly higher than zoysiagrass until July, and then decreased by 43% from July to August. Zoysiagrass contained higher soluble sugar than creeping bentgrass throughout experimental period. Soluble sugar in zoysiagrass increased about 58% from April to May, and less varied until August. Soluble sugar in creeping bentgrass slightly increased until July and sharply decreased at August. Starch concentration in zoysiagrass continuously decreased to September after a significant increase from April to May. A remarkable fluctuation in both starch and fluctuation concentration was observed between June and August showing high accumulation for June to July and high degradation for July to August. These results suggest that through creeping bentgrass suffers much severely from high temperature stress than zoysiagrass especially June to August. An active accumulation and degradation in nonstructural carbohydrate in creeping bentgrass during this period might be associated with heat stress.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.154-155
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• 2012

The promise of nano-crystalites (nc) as a technological material, for applications including display backplane, and solar cells, may ultimately depend on tailoring their behavior through doping and crystallinity. Impurities can strongly modify electronic and optical properties of bulk and nc semiconductors. Highly doped dopant also effect structural properties (both grain size, crystal fraction) of nc-Si thin film. As discussed in several literatures, P atoms or radicals have the tendency to reside on the surface of nc. The P-radical segregation on the nano-grain surfaces that called self-purification may reduce the possibility of new nucleation because of the five-coordination of P. In addition, the P doping levels of ${\sim}2{\times}10^{21}\;at/cm^3$ is the solubility limitation of P in Si; the solubility of nc thin film should be smaller. Therefore, the non-activated P tends to segregate on the grain boundaries and the surface of nc. These mechanisms could prevent new nucleation on the existing grain surface. Therefore, most researches shown that highly doped nc-thin film by using conventional PECVD deposition system tended to have low crystallinity, where the formation energy of nucleation should be higher than the nc surface in the intrinsic materials. If the deposition technology that can make highly doped and simultaneously highly crystallized nc at low temperature, it can lead processes of next generation flexible devices. Recently, we are developing a novel CVD technology with a neutral particle beam (NPB) source, named as neutral beam assisted CVD (NBaCVD), which controls the energy of incident neutral particles in the range of 1~300eV in order to enhance the atomic activation and crystalline of thin films at low temperatures. During the formation of the nc-/pm-Si thin films by the NBaCVD with various process conditions, NPB energy directly controlled by the reflector bias and effectively increased crystal fraction (~80%) by uniformly distributed nc grains with 3~10 nm size. In the case of phosphorous doped Si thin films, the doping efficiency also increased as increasing the reflector bias (i.e. increasing NPB energy). At 330V of reflector bias, activation energy of the doped nc-Si thin film reduced as low as 0.001 eV. This means dopants are fully occupied as substitutional site, even though the Si thin film has nano-sized grain structure. And activated dopant concentration is recorded as high as up to 1020 #/$cm^3$ at very low process temperature (＜ $80^{\circ}C$) process without any post annealing. Theoretical solubility for the higher dopant concentration in Si thin film for order of 1020 #/$cm^3$ can be done only high temperature process or post annealing over $650^{\circ}C$. In general, as decreasing the grain size, the dopant binding energy increases as ratio of 1 of diameter of grain and the dopant hardly be activated. The highly doped nc-Si thin film by low-temperature NBaCVD process had smaller average grain size under 10 nm (measured by GIWAXS, GISAXS and TEM analysis), but achieved very higher activation of phosphorous dopant; NB energy sufficiently transports its energy to doping and crystallization even though without supplying additional thermal energy. TEM image shows that incubation layer does not formed between nc-Si film and SiO2 under later and highly crystallized nc-Si film is constructed with uniformly distributed nano-grains in polymorphous tissues. The nucleation should be start at the first layer on the SiO2 later, but it hardly growth to be cone-shaped micro-size grains. The nc-grain evenly embedded pm-Si thin film can be formatted by competition of the nucleation and the crystal growing, which depend on the NPB energies. In the evaluation of the light soaking degradation of photoconductivity, while conventional intrinsic and n-type doped a-Si thin films appeared typical degradation of photoconductivity, all of the nc-Si thin films processed by the NBaCVD show only a few % of degradation of it. From FTIR and RAMAN spectra, the energetic hydrogen NB atoms passivate nano-grain boundaries during the NBaCVD process because of the high diffusivity and chemical potential of hydrogen atoms.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.138-146
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• 1994

The structural characteristics of Antheraea yamamai and Antheraea pernyi silk were investigated by using x-ray diffraction method, IR spectroscopy and polarizing microscopy. The amino acid composition, fiber density, thermal decomposition temperature and glass transition temperature were also measured for relating these physical properties to the structure in comparison with those of Bombyx mori silk fiber. There was no significant structural difference between A. yamamai and A. pernyi silk fiber on an examination of x-ray diffraction curve and IR spectrum. Both of these wild silk fibers showed double diffraction peaks at the Bragg angle 2Θ16.7˚ and 20.5˚by x-ray diffraction analysis as well as IR absorption peaks for the bending vibration of specific groups related to ala-ala amino acid sequence. On the other hand, the x-ray diffraction curve and IR spectrum of Bombyx mori silk fiber are different from those of wild silk fibers, indicating different crystal structure as well as amino acid sequences. It showed under the polarizing microscope examination that the birefringence and optical orientation factor of wild silk fibers are much lower than those of B. mori silk. Also, the surface of degummed wild silk fibers was characterized by the longitudinal stripes of microfibrils in the direction of fiber axies. The amino acid composition, which is strongly related to the fine structure and properties, was not significantly different between these two wild silk fibers. However, the alanine content was somewhat less and polar amino acid content more for A. yamamai. As a result of fiber density measurement, the specific gravities of B. mori, A. pernyi and A. yamamai were 1.355~1.356, 1.308~1.311, 1.265~1.301g/㎤ in the order, respectively. The calculated crystallinity(%) was 64% for B. mori and 51~52% for wild silk fibers, which showed same trend by IR method in spite of somewhat higher value. The thermal decomposition behaviour was examined by DSC and TGA, showing that the degradation temperature was in the order of B mori, A. prernyi and A. yamamai at around 350$^{\circ}C$. It was also observed by TGA that the decomposition seems to proceed step by step according to their specific regions in the fiber structure, resulting the difference in their thermal stabilities. The glass transition temperature was turned out to be 220$^{\circ}C$ for B. mori, 240$^{\circ}C$ A. yamamai and 255$^{\circ}C$ A. pernyi by the dynamic mechanical analysis. It is expected that the chemical properties are affected by the dynamic mechanical behavior in accordance with their structural characters.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.279-287
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• 2018

Sealants are an important element of modern architecture and serve as a building protection against weathering by providing barriers against ingress of moisture, air, and other materials. Exposure to a variety of environments often reduces lifespan due to changes in physical, chemical and mechanical characteristics, and UV, humidity, and temperature expansion are important issues that are directly related to durability. In this study, a combined deterioration test chamber was developed to simulate the environment of the open air as an instrument for verifying the durability of structural sealing materials indoors. In order to replicate special weather conditions, such as yellow dust, acid rain, and contamination by microorganisms, it was deemed impossible to replicate the outdoor environment by 100 %, and the results of the results of the results of the external exposure test of the structural sealant and the combined deterioration testing device. As a result of the displacement test of the outdoor exposure test, it was determined that the sealant was breaking apart and that it would be smooth, and the displacement would be up to three times greater than the initial material value of 1 year. The displacement test results of the combined deterioration test device show the tendency to deteriorate, decreasing the elasticity and tensile characteristics. In the case of denatured silicon, the current 400 cycles have been completed to confirm 12 months of degradation of the external exposure. The deformation of the test specimen cannot be verified with the naked eye, so it is considered that the conditions of the specimen are more stable than the silicon sealant. As a result of the outdoor exposure test, if the combined deterioration test device is structured and proposed in the relevant guidance or specification, the anticipated lifespan of 12 months in the actual use environment can be verified indoors and below 3 months later, economically.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1105-1112
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• 1997

By sequential degradation using partial acid hydrolysis of a weakly acidic polysaccharide (GL-4IIb2'), two acidic oligosaccharide fragments, PA-2' and PA-1-III were isolated and their structures were characterized. PA-2' consisted of almost equal proportion of a rhamnose (Rha) and an unusual sugar, 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octurosonic acid (Kdo). When permethylated oligosaccharide-alditol derived from PA-2' was analyzed by GC-MS, the peak gave the fragment ions at m/z 189 $(bA_1,\;6-deoxyhexose)$ and at m/z 308 $(aJ_2,\;alditol\;from\;Kdo)$. The peak also gave the characteristic ion at m/z 162 but it did not give the fragment ion at m/z 177, suggesting that Kdo is substituted at C5 but not at C4. Methylation analysis also indicated that PA-2' was composed mainly of terminal Rhap and 5-substituted Kdo. When the reduced product from PA-2' was analyzed by $^1H-NMR$, it gave a signal at 5.09 ppm due to an anomeric proton of ${\alpha}-L-Rha$. These results indicated that PA-2' mainly contained ${\alpha}-L-Rhap-(1{\rightarrow}5)-Kdo$. On the other hand, PA-1-III mainly comprised Rha and Kdo in addition to small proportions of arabinose (Ara) and 3-deoxy-D-lyxo-2-heptulosaric acid (Dha). MS analysis of permethylated oligosaccharide-alditols from PA-1-III suggested that the major peak 1P was $Rhap-(1{\rightarrow}5)-Kdo$ whereas the minor peaks 2P and 3P possessed $Araf-(1{\rightarrow}5)-Dha$ unit and these peaks were produced as epimers during reduction of carbonyl groups in Dha.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.1-11
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• 2015

In recent high performance computing system, GPGPU has been widely used to process general-purpose applications as well as graphics applications, since GPU can provide optimized computational resources for massive parallel processing. Unfortunately, GPGPU doesn't exploit computational resources on GPU in executing general-purpose applications fully, because the applications cannot be optimized to GPU architecture. Therefore, we provide GPU research guideline to improve the performance of computing systems using GPGPU. To accomplish this, we analyze the negative factors on GPU performance. In this paper, in order to clearly classify the cause of the negative factors on GPU performance, GPU core status are defined into 5 status: fully active status, partial active status, idle status, memory stall status and GPU core stall status. All status except fully active status cause performance degradation. We evaluate the ratio of each GPU core status depending on the characteristics of benchmarks to find specific reasons which degrade the performance of GPU. According to our simulation results, partial active status, idle status, memory stall status and GPU core stall status are induced by computational resource underutilization problem, low parallelism, high memory requests, and structural hazard, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.734-741
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• 2002

An experimental study was carried out for beam-column joints composed of RC column and RS beams. The purpose of this study is to examine the inelastic seismic behavior for the RC-RS connection. Two interior and one exterior beam-column assemblies with variable moment ratios were tested. Experimental results showed that strength and deformability except stiffness were satisfactory. It is considered that the lack of stiffness was due to the slipping of steel beam from RS beam. The behavioral characteristics of the RC-RS connection were evaluated according to the quideline suggested by Hawkins et al. Nominal strength at 5 ％ joint distortion was not satisfactory, but all the other requirements, such as strength preserving capability, energy dissipation, and initial stiffness and strength ratios after peak load were satisfactory compared with the guideline. Thus it was concluded that the RC-RS connections can maintain ductility with excellent energy-dissipating capacity if being provided with appropriate reinforced structural system such as RC core wall for the initial lateral stiffness.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.175-180
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• 2007

Toll-like receptors induce innate immune responses recognizing conserved microbial structural molecules that are known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Ligand-induced homotypic oligomerization was found to proceed in LPS-induced activation of TLR4 signaling pathways. TLR2 is known to heterodimerize with TLR1 or TLR6 and recognize diacyl- or triacyl-lipopeptide, respectively. These results suggest that ligand-induced receptor dimerization of TLR4 and TLR2 is required for the activation of downstream signaling pathways. Therefore, receptor dimerization may be one of the first lines of regulation in the activation of TLR-mediated signaling pathways and induction of subsequent innate and adaptive immune responses. Here, we report biochemical evidence that curcumin from the plant Curcuma longa inhibits activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$, expression of COX-2, and dimerization of TLRs induced by TLR2, TLR3 and TLR4 agonists. These results imply that curcumin can modulate the activation of TLRs and subsequent immune/inflammatory responses induced by microbial pathogens.