• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2011

A multi-channel seismic reflection (MCS) survey was conducted in 2009 to explore the deep crustal structure of the Pacific Plate south of Hokkaido. The survey line happened to traverse a 250-km-wide Warm Core Ring (WCR), a current eddy that had been generated by the Kuroshio Extension. We attempted to use these MCS data to delineate the WCR fine structure. The survey line consists of two profiles: one with a shot interval of 200m and the other with a shot interval of 50 m. Records from the denser shot point line show much higher background noise than the records from the sparser shot point line. We identified the origin of this noise as acoustic reverberations between the sea surface, seafloor and subsurface discontinuities, from previous shots. Results showed that a prestack migration technique could enhance the signal buried in this background noise efficiently, if the sound speed information acquired from concurrent temperature measurements is available. The WCR is acoustically an assemblage of concave reflectors dipping inward, with steeper slopes (${\sim}2^{\circ}$) on th ocean side and gentler slopes (${\sim}1^{\circ}$) on the coastal side. Within the WCR, we recognised a 30-km-wide lens-shaped structure with reflectors on the perimeter.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.397-406
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• 2012

During the 2nd Ulleung Basin Gas Hydrate Drilling Expedition (UBGH2) in 2010, gas-hydrate-bearing sediment cores were recovered at 10 drill sites. Base, on Infrared (IR) thermal image and grain-size analysis of the cores, three distinct types of gas hydrate are classified: Type I (fracture-filling in mud layers), Type II (disseminated in mud layers), and Type III (pore-filling in sand layers). Types I and II gas hydrates occur in mud as discrete veins, nodules or disseminated particles. Type III fills the pore spaces of the sand layers encased in mud layers. In this case, the sand content of hosting sediments shows a general linear relationship with gas hydrate saturation. The degrees of temperature anomalies (${\Delta}T$) from IR images generally increase with gas hydrate saturation regardless of gas hydrate occurrence types. Type I is dominantly found in the sites where seismic profiles delineate chimney structures, whereas Type II where the drill cores are composed almost of mud layers. Type III was mainly recovered from the sites where hemipelagic muds are frequently intercalated with turbidite sand layers. Our results indicate that gas hydrate occurrence is closely related to sedimentological characteristic of gas hydrate-bearing sediments, that is, grain size distribution.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.370-375
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• 2016

Two xylanase genes were cloned into Escherichia coli from Bacillus sp. YB-1401 and B. amyloliquefaciens YB-1402, which had been isolated as mannanase producer from home-made doenjang, respectively, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. Both xylanase genes consisted of 642 nucleotides, encoding polypeptides of 213 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequences of the YB-1401 and YB-1402 xylanase, designated Xyn1401 and Xyn1402, differed from each other by single amino acid residue, Asn for Xyn1401 and Lys for Xyn1402, corresponding to amino acid position of 127. Their amino acid sequences were highly homologous to those of xylanases belonging to the glycosyl hydrolase family 11. The 28 amino acid stretch in the N-terminus of both enzymes was predicted as signal peptide by SignalP4.1 server. Both xylanases were localized at the level of 91−94% in culture filtrate of the recombinant E. coli cells, suggesting they were secreted efficiently in E. coli cells. The optimal reaction conditions were 50℃ and pH 6.0 for Xyn1401, and 55℃ and pH 6.5 for Xyn1402, respectively, indicating one amino acid difference from each other affected pH and temperature profiles of their activities. In addition, their thermostabilities were somewhat different from each other.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.693-712
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• 2006

A pre-feasibility test is done for renewable energy hybrid power systems at off~grid islands in which the current power supply is provided only by diesel generation. We apply Homer (Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables) which was developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for the analysis to identify the cost-minimizing combination of power generating facilities for the given load profiles. Chuja-Do, Geomun-Do and Youngsan-Do have been selected for our analysis considering the wind resources data of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER). Information on wind speed, solar radiation and temperature is also used for the analysis. System component cost information from overseas market has been used due to the lack of domestic information. Site specific Load profile for electricity demand for those islands are reconstructed based on the partial survey results obtained form other sources. The LCOE of the least cost hybrid power systems for Chuja-Do, Geomun-Do and Youngsan-Do are $0.278/kWh, $0.234/kWh and $0.353/kWh, respectively Considering the fact that diesel generation is being subsidized at the price of $0.300/kWh by the government, first 2 cases are economically feasible for the introduction of renewable energy hybrid systems to those islands. But the third case of Youngsan-Do does not meet the criteria. The basic differences of these pre-feasibility test results are from the differences of the site specific renewable energy conditions, especially wind resources. In summary, promoting hybrid systems in the off-grid remote island should be based on the economic feasibility test results. Not all the off-grid islands are feasible for introducing this renewable energy hybrid system.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2016

Objectives: This study examined the relative efficacies of a derivative of betulinic acid (dBA) and its poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nano-encapsulated form in A549 lung cancer cells in vivo and in co-mutagen [sodium arsenite (SA) + benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)]-induced lung cancer in mice in vivo. Methods: dBA was loaded with PLGA nanoparticles by using the standard solvent displacement method. The sizes and morphologies of nano-dBA (NdBA) were determined by using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and their intracellular localization was verified by using confocal microscopy. The binding and interaction of NdBA with calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (CT-DNA) as a target were analyzed by using conventional circular dichroism (CD) and melting temperature (Tm) profile data. Apoptotic signalling cascades in vitro and in vivo were studied by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the ability of NdBA to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was also examined. The stage of cell cycle arrest was confirmed by using a fluorescence-activated cell-sorting (FACS) data analysis. Results: The average size of the nanoparticles was ~ 110 nm. Confocal microscopy images confirmed the presence of NdBA in the cellular cytoplasm. The bio-physical properties of dBA and NdBA ascertained from the CD and the Tm profiles revealed that NdBA had greater interaction with the target DNA than dBA did. Both dBA and NdBA arrested cell proliferation at G0/G1, NdBA showing the greater effect. NdBA also induced a greater degree of cytotoxicity in A549 cells, but it had an insignificant cytotoxic effect in normal L6 cells. The results of flow cytometric, cytogenetial and histopathological studies in mice revealed that NdBA caused less nuclear condensation and DNA damage than dBA did. TEM images showed the presence of NdBA in brain samples of NdBA fed mice, indicating its ability to cross the BBB. Conclusion: Thus, compared to dBA, NdBA appears to have greater chemoprotective potential against lung cancer.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1519-1528
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• 2013

Bacillus pumilus SG2, a halotolerant strain, expresses two major chitinases designated ChiS and ChiL that were induced by chitin and secreted into the supernatant. The present work aimed to obtain a mutant with higher chitinolytic activity through mutagenesis of Bacillus pumilus SG2 using a combination of UV irradiation and nitrous acid treatment. Following mutagenesis and screening on chitin agar and subsequent formation of halos, the mutated strains were examined for degradation of chitin under different conditions. A mutant designated AV2-9 was selected owing to its higher chitinase activity. To search for possible mutations in the whole operon including ChiS and ChiL, the entire chitinase operon, including the intergenic region, promoter, and two areas corresponding to the ChiS and ChiL ORF, was suquenced. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the complete chitinase operon from the SG2 and AV2-9 strains showed the presence of a mutation in the catalytic domain (GH18) of chitinase (ChiL). The results demonstrated that a single base change had occurred in the ChiL sequence in AV2-9. The wild-type chitinase, ChiL, and the mutant (designated ChiLm) were cloned, expressed, and purified in E. coli. Both enzymes showed similar profiles of activity at different ranges of pH, NaCl concentration, and temperature, but the mutant enzyme showed approximately 30% higher catalytic activity under all the conditions tested. The results obtained in this study showed that the thermal stability of chitinase increased in the mutant strain. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to predict changes in the stability of proteins caused by mutation.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.187-193
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• 2011

RDA has been conducting soil survey for farmland all over the korean countries (1964-1999), including small islands and areas of the civilian passage restriction line (2000-present). We conducted a soil survey in Dokdo and Ulreungdo islands and found a new soil series "Dokdo" in Dokdo island. Soil properties of Dokdo were similar to those of Ulreungdo. Representative profiles of Dokdo soil was located at the south 20m of Daehan peak on Seodo (longitude $131^{\circ}$51'53", latitude $37^{\circ}$14'35"), Dokdo. The soil series "Dokdo" was interpreted as the soils were derived from trachyandesite, trachyte, rhyolite, and tuff. The soil properties of Dokdo series were classified as different ones from Korean soil series previously. The soil depth of Dokdo series was very shallow (0-20cm) and soil layer was consisted of very dark brown (10YR 2/2) rocky sandy loam and dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) gravelly silt loam in AC layer. The soils of Dokdo displayed characteristics of a mesic temperature regime, similar as Ulreungdo soils, which were classified as coarse loamy, mesic family of Lithic Udorthents. The total area of Dokdo soil was 18.7 ha, containing Dongdo (7.3 ha), Seodo (8.9 ha), and the others (2.6 ha). The area of Dokdo series in Dokdo was 10.47 ha (Dongdo 4.13 ha, Seodo 6.34 ha) and 808.56 ha in Ulreungdo, where the total soil area was 7,256 ha.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2012

The underwater glider using conception of Lagrangian method, is a new observation platform to understand the properties of the ocean vertically. In 2011 March, KORDI made a first successful autonomous trip from Hupo to west coast of Uleungdo piloting Littoral Glider of Alaska Native Technology LLC. The journey considered many environmental variables and route vigilantly selected, the glider covered 177 km horizontally and took approximately 6 days (153 hours). Despite the existence of 1 kt eddy current, Sound velocity sampling was conducted from 5 meters and reaching maximum of 200 meters depth at each dive. It successfully collected sound velocity and temperature profile at every 5 seconds totaling up to 1408 profiles using SVT&P sensor. During the flight it was also a mission to check the diverse modes of the glider i.e. spiral, waypoints, heading, drift and hover could function without a defect in a given situation. These modes were thoroughly monitored and it could be considered that the glider handled it well during the flight. As a result of this test flight, it was evident that the given underwater glider could operate under 2kt current environment with users defined heading and depth, also with the payload up to 5 kg without changing internal buoyancy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.898-903
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• 2013

This study was investigated the potential toxicity of gamma-irradiated chocolate ice cream for its future use in space. Chocolate ice cream was irradiated at a dose of 30 kGy at a temperature of $-20^{\circ}C$. For the animal study, AIN-93G was used as a control diet and irradiated and non-irradiated chocolate ice cream diets were administered to male and female ICR mice (ten mice per group) for three months. During the experimental period, the group fed irradiated chocolate ice cream did not show any changes in appearance, behavior, mortality, body weight, organ weight, or food consumption compared to the control. Also, all biochemical parameters, including hematology profiles, erythrocyte counts, and serum biochemical values were in normal ranges. In histopathological examinations of liver and kidney tissues, there were no significant differences between the control group and the group fed irradiated chocolate ice cream. These results indicate that chocolate ice cream irradiated at 30 kGy did not cause any toxic effects and could be applied for the development of safe and hygienic space food.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.174-183
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• 2001

During the rapid phase of gonadal development of the freshwater teleost, the catfish (Silurus asotus), the influence of hCG upon the inducement of final oocyte maturation and spawning was investigated electrophoretically and ultrastructurally. The electrophoretic patterns obtained were different in the presence and absence of some of the major or minor zones, because of the hormone level in catfish. The vitellogenin of hormone-treated fish was stained more intensively than that of sham-treated fish. These proteins showed some minor or main bands of egg extracts which migrated at positions corresponding to molecular weights of approximately 90,000. However, the thickness of electrophoretic band in molecular weight for hCG-treated fish was slightly lower than that for saline control. It seemed the plasma protein with molecular weight of approximately 45,000 in hCG-treated fish disappeared. In contrast to the control fish, the ovaries in the catfish treated with hCG shows a marked ultrastructural change under the electron microscope. No dilated profiles were seen in the granulosa cells of the mature oocyte before ovulation. After germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), the zona radiata interna (ZRI) becomes more compact, and there is a loss of all the processes from the pore canals. There is a wide space between the vitelline membrane and zona radiata. Also, during final maturation, the microvillar processes from the oocyte are seen no longer to penetrate deeply into the extracellular spaces of the overlying granulosa cells, and the reticulate patterns of the zona radiata interna becomes occluded, giving the zona radiata a more solid appearance. It has been possible to initiate 100% oocyte maturation in yolk granules and follicles in vivo by treatment with hCG and a high water temperature ($27^{\circ}C$). In hCG-treated fish, the percentages of successful artificial fertilization and hatching were maximal at 15 h after a single injection. It seems clear that a long acting preparation containing hCG can be successfully used in prespawning fish to advance the final events of gonadal maturation and initiate spawning. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the potential of hCG to either stimulate or inhibit the reproductive development of fish at other stages of the seasonal reproductive cycle.