• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.1032-1038
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• 2011

Recently identified Ciona intestinalis voltage sensor-containing phosphatase (Ci-VSP) consists of an ion channel-like transmembrane domain (VSD) and a phosphatase-like domain. Ci-VSP senses the change of membrane potential by its VSD and works as a phosphoinositide phosphatase by its phosphatase domain. In this study, we present the construction of His-tagged phosphatase-like domain of Ci-VSP, its recombinant expression and purification, and its enzymatic activity behavior in order to examine the biochemical behavior of phosphatase domain of Ci-VSP without interference. We found that Ci-VSP(248-576)-His can be eluted with an elution buffer containing 25 mM NaCl and 100 mM imidazole during His-tag purification. In addition, we found the proper measurement condition for kinetics study of Ci-VSP(248-576)-His against p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP). We measured the kinetic constant of Ci-VSP(248-576)-His at $37^{\circ}C$, pH 5.0 or 5.5, under 30 min of reaction time, and less than $2.0\;{\mu}g$ of protein amount. With these conditions, we acquired that Ci-VSP(248-576)-His has $K_m$ of $354{\pm}0.143\;{\mu}M$, $V_{max}$ of $0.0607{\pm}0.0137\;{\mu}mol$/min/mg and $k_{cat}$ of $0.359{\pm}0.009751\;min^{-1}$ for pNPP dephosphorylation. Therefore, we produced a pure form of Ci-VSP(248-576)-His, and this showed a higher activity against pNPP. This purified protein will provide the road to a structural investigation on an interesting protein, Ci-VSP.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to examine the improvement of endurance exercise performance by taking mixtures of Ginseng Radix rubra and Paeonia Radix. For this purpose, time of exhaustion, $V0_2max$, heart rate, and blood lactate was used as improvement index. The experiments were executed to thirty eight men in their twenties. They were randomly assigned into four groups[CG: control group(n=10), IG: ingestion mixtures group(n=9), TPG: ingestion placebo+training group(n=9), TIG: ingestion mixtures+training group(n=10)]. IG and TIG took mixtures of Ginseng Radix rubra and Paeonia Radix for four weeks, and TPG and TIG exercised once a day, three times a week, exercised for 25 minutes during the first week and added 2 minutes by week during four weeks up to 75% of their maximum heart rate. Time of exhaustion showed statistically significant increase for IG, TPG and TIG. TIG had the longest time of exhaustion and IG the shortest. In case of $VO_2max$, no statistically significant change was found among four groups. However, IG, TPG, TIG showed small increase in $VO_2max$. Similarly, no significant change was found for heart rate in rest even though TIG and TPG appear to have decreasing trend. For maximum heart rate, no significant change was found either, but IG, TPG and TIG showed increase. In case of blood lactate from rest to exercise until 18 minutes, no group had significant decrease. In case of blood lactate in exhaustion, IG, TPG and TIG had significant increase. Blood lactate recovery volume at 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes showed no significant results for all four groups, but TIG and TPG had a small increase.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.10-18
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• 2009

Dyeing process of the natural indigo powder onto ramie and silk fabrics was investigated by using glucose and calcium hydroxide as a reducing system. Effect of reduction and dyeing conditions such as temperature and time of reduction/dyeing, and concentrations of glucose and calcium hydroxide on the dyeing process were explored. Indigo powder was obtained by drying the conventional niram paste in an oven at $50^{\circ}C$. Color strength of the dyed fabrics was evaluated by K/S value measured at the wavelength of maximum absorption(${\lamda}$max). Munsell color coordinates(H V/C) were used to compare fabric colors of ramie and silk. Ramie fabric showed purple-blue color for all the temperature and time. On the contrary, silk fabric showed wide range of color including brown, brown-green, green at the different temperature. With the increase of K/S value, the coordinate of value(lightness) decreased for both of ramie and silk fabrics. The coordinate of hue(shade) changed drastically with the increase of K/S value for silk fabric, compared with that of ramie fabric which showed nearly constant value at the whole range of K/S value. Optimum concentrations of calcium hydroxide were for 6 g/L for ramie and 4 g/L for silk at $60^{\circ}C$ and 50 min. K/S value increased with the indigo concentration. Maximum K/S value was shown at $10{\sim}12$ g/L of glucose concentration. For both of ramie and silk fabrics, the colorfastness of washing and light was lower than that of rubbing. All the colorfastness values were improved with the increase of color strength.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.63-66
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• 2009

Purpose: ACR (American College of Radiology) offers variable parameters to PET/CT quality control by using ACR Phantom. ACR Phantom was made to evaluate parameters which are uniformity, attenuation, scatter, contrast and resolution. Manual analysis method wasn't good for the use of QC because values of parameter were changed as it may user and it takes long time to analysis. Ki-Chun Lim, a nuclear scientist in AMC, developed program that automatically analysis values of parameter by using ACR Phantom to overcome above problems. In this study, we evaluated automatic analysis program's usability, through the comparing SUV of each method, reproducibility of SUV when repeated analysis and the time required. Materials and Methods: Using Flangeless Esser PET Phantom, the ideal ratio of 4 : 1 hot cylinder and BKG but it actually showed a ratio of 3.89 to 1 hot cylinder and BKG. SIEMENS Biograph True Point 40 was used in this study. We obtained images using ACR phantom at Fusion WB PET Scan condition (2 min/bed) and 120 kV, 100 mAs CT condition. Using True X method, 3 iterations, 14 subsets, Gaussian filter, FWHM 4 mm and Zoom Factor 1.0, $168{\times}168$ image size. We obtained Max. & Min. SUV and SUV Mean values at Cylinder (8, 12, 16, 25 mm, Air, Bone, Water, BKG) by automatic program and obtained SUV by manual method. After that, we compared manual and automatic method. we estimate the time required from opened the image data to final work sheet was completed. Results: Automatic program always showed same result and same the time required. At 8, 12, 16 and 25 m cylinder, manual method showed 6.69, 3.46, 2.59, 1.24 CV values. The larger cylinder size became, the smaller CV became. In manual method, bone, air, water's CV were over 9.9 except BKG (2.32). Obtained CV of Mean SUV showed BKG was low (0.85) and bone was high (7.52). The time required was 45 second, 882 second respectably. Conclusions: As a result of difference automatic method and manual method, automatic method showed always same result, manual method showed that the smaller hot cylinders became, the lager CV became. Hot cylinders mean region size, the smaller hot cylinder size becomes we had some trouble in doing ROI poison setting. And it means increase in variation of SUV. The Study showed the time required of automatic method was shorten then manual method.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.311-318
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• 2002

Planting date of soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is one of production components in cultural systems. The objective of the current study was to identify the components of soybean production and cultural practices encompassing planting dates and cultivars that respond to dry matter accumulation, harvest index and yield components. Three determinate soybean cultivars were planted on May 13 (early), June 3 (mid), and June 24 (late). Planting density was 60$\times$15cm with 2 seeds (222,000 plants per ha). Soybean plants were sampled every 10 days interval from the growth stages of V5 to R8 and separated into leaves including petioles, stems, pods, and seeds. Dry matter accumulations, harvest indices, and yield components were measured. Early planting had taken 55 days from VE to R2 and late planting taken 39 days indicating reduced vegetative growth. Early planting showed higher leaf, stem, pod and seed dry weights than late planting. However, late planting appeared to be higher harvest index and harvesting rate. Vegetative mass including leaf and stem increased to a maximum around R4/R5 and total dry weight increased to a maximum around R5/R6 and then declined slightly at R8. The highest seed yield was obtained with mid planting and no difference was found between early and late plantings. Cultivar differences were found among planting dates on growth characteristics and yield components. The results of this experiment indicated that soybean yield in relation to planting dates examined was mainly associated with harvest index and harvesting rate, and planting date of cultivars would be considered soybean plants to reach the growth stage of R4/R5 after mid August for adequate seed yield.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.513-519
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• 1999

Direct exposure of renal tubular brush-border membranes (BBM) to free cadmium (Cd) causes a reduction in phosphate (Pi) transport capacity. Biochemical mechanism of this reduction was investigated in the present study. Renal proximal tubular brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were isolated from rabbit kidney outer cortex by Mg precipitation method. Vesicles were exposed to $50{\sim}200\;{\mu}M\;CdCl_2$ for 30 min, then the phosphate transporter activity was determined. The range of Cd concentration employed in this study was comparable to that of the unbound Cd documented in renal cortical tissues of Cd-exposed animals at the time of onset of renal dysfunction. The rate of sodium-dependent phosphate transport $(Na^+-Pi\;cotransport)$ by BBMV was determined by $^{32}P-Iabeled$ inorganic phosphate uptake, and the number of $Na^+-Pi$ cotransporters in the BBM was assessed by Pi-protectable $^{14}C-labeled$ phosphonoformic acid $([^{14}C]PFA)$ binding. The exposure of BBMV to Cd decreased the $Na^+-Pi$ cotransport activity in proportion to the Cd concentration in the preincubation medium, but it showed no apparent effect on the Pi-protectable PFA binding. These results indicate that an interaction of renal BBM with free Cd induces a reduction in $Na^+-Pi$ cotransport activity without altering the carrier density in the membrane. This, in turn, suggest that the suppression of phosphate transport capacity $(V_{max})$ observed in Cd-treated renal BBM is due to a reduction in $Na^+-Pi$ translocation by existing carriers, possibly by Cd-induced fall in membrane fluidity.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2012

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of weed interference and starter fertilizer on subsequent soybean seed quality at the Agricultural Research Farm and Laboratory of Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. Two factorial experiment was laid-outon a randomized complete block design with four replications. First factor was starter fertilizer levels (0 and 25 kg $ha^{-1}$) applied in the forms of monoammonium phosphate, the second factor was different weed interference periods consisted of five initial weed-free periods (in which, plots were kept free of weeds for 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after crop emergence (DAE) and then weeds were allowed to grow until harvest) and five initial weed-infested periods (in which, weeds were allowed to grow for 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60DAE, after which the plots were kept free of weeds until harvest). Full season weedy condition reduced 100-seed weight, seed germination percentage and seedling dry weight by 25.9, 13.3 and 22.5%, respectively and increased mean germination time and seed electrical conductivity by 55.8 and 24.3%, respectively as compared with full season weed-free control. However, the traits under study were not significantly influenced when field was kept free of weeds for at least 45 DAE (R1) or weedy condition was continued for less than 30 DAE (V8). There was a significant and negative correlation between weed biomass and seed weight (r = -0.93), so that when weed free condition was less than 45 DAE or weed infested period was continued for at least 30 DAE, soybean plants produced wrinkled and underdeveloped seeds with lower weights and qualities. Moreover, soybean seed quality reduction due to weed interference was more evident when starter fertilizer was applied and weeds interfered with soybean from the beginning of the growing season. Information from the present study is beneficial in soybean seed production systems and where farmers use the harvested seeds for the following planting.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.245-256
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• 1996

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) have been developed as a new drug delivery system. Although many particulate drug carriers, such as microsphere, liposome, niosome, emulsion, etc. have been introduced, they have some disadvantage; low efficiency of incorporation and stability, lack of reproducibility, and so on. Meanwhile, SLN as a new drug delivery system is known to entrap rugs with a high efficiency and a good reproducibility. Moreover, small size SLN can circulate in blood for a prolonged time. Although many preparation methods were introduced, microfluidization method is recommended to be the most useful. This study was attempted to prepare and evaluate ketoprofen-incorporated SLNs (keto-SLN), which were prepared by two methods, ultrasonication and microfluidization. Keto-SLN was evaluated by measurement of particle size and zeta potential, efficacy of entrapment, sedimentation volume, in virto release pattern. The mean particle size was about $0.1\;{\mu}m$, and the size was dependent on the type and the amount of emulsifier. Zeta potential was negative, $-9{\sim}-13mV$ and entrapment efficacy was very high and stability was good for at least 60 days in the respect of particle size and sedimentation volume ratio. Analgesic effect was also determined as well as pharmacokinetic parameters. The former was comparable to that of that of ketoprofen loaded suspension (keto-sus) and the latter revealed that consistent with the delayed release of keto-SLN. $T_{max}$ was longer than keto-sus. Therefore, keto-SLN was favourable dosage forms in the field of drug delivery system such as anti-cancer, analgesics and anti-inflammatory agents.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.53-72
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• 2019

Safety measures for tower cranes are extremely important among the seismic countermeasures at high-rise building construction sites. In particular, the collapse of a tower crane from a high position is a very serious catastrophe. An example of such an accident due to an earthquake is the case of the Taipei 101 Building (the author was the project director), which occurred on March 31, 2002. Failure of the bolted joints of the tower-crane mast was the direct cause of the collapse. Therefore, it is necessary to design for this eventuality and to take the necessary measures on construction sites. This can only be done by understanding the precise dynamic behavior of mast joints during an earthquake. Consequently, we created a new hybrid-element model (using beam, shell, and solid elements) that not only expressed the detailed behavior of the site joints of a tower-crane mast during an earthquake but also suppressed any increase in the total calculation time and revealed its behavior through computer simulations. Using the proposed structural model and simulation method, effective information for designing safe joints during earthquakes can be provided by considering workability (control of the bolt pretension axial force and other factors) and less construction cost. Notably, this analysis showed that the joint behavior of the initial pretension axial force of a bolt is considerably reduced after the axial force of the bolt exceeds the yield strength. A maximum decrease of 50% in the initial pretension axial force under the El Centro N-S Wave ($v_{max}=100cm/s$) was observed. Furthermore, this method can be applied to analyze the seismic responses of general temporary structures in construction sites.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.1081-1090
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• 1999

To establish the protocol of a standardized exercise test for evaluating exercise intolerance and degree of fitness in Thoroughbred racehorses, we examined serum lactate concentrations related to exercise intensities using the high speed treadmill. Twelve clinically healthy Thoroughbred racehorses with or without previous training or racing history were assigned to two gorups, fit and unfit group, respectively. The protocol used for the standardized exercise test was consisted of two stages : stage of warm-up and that of acceleration. During the warm-up, the horses exercised 5 min at 1.8m/s and 3 min 3.4m/s without inclination. At the acceleration stage, exercise test was performed at 10% slope and the speed was increased from the initial 5m/s to the maximal speed which each tested horse could keep up with. The speed was increased with incremental steps of 1 m/s every minute. During the last 15 sec of each step, blood samples were collected for serum lactate determination. $V_{max}$(maximal treadmill speed which tested horses could keep up with) of the fit group ($10.93{\pm}0.33m/s$, mean${\pm}$SE, n = 6) was higher than that of the unfit group ($9.52{\pm}0.23m/s$, mean${\pm}$SE, n = 6). Serum lactate concentrations increased exponentially according to exercise intensities. $V_{La4}$(speed producing a serum lactate concentration of 4mmol/l) of the fit group, $6.45{\pm}0.26m/s$, was higher than that of the unfit group, $5.45{\pm}0.23m/s$. $La_{peak}$(peak plasma lactate concentration during the exercise test) was lower in the fit group ($20.34{\pm}1.62mmol/l$ at 1 min after maximal intensity exercise) than in the unfit group ($24.78{\pm}1.09mmol/l$ at 2 min after maximal exercise step). $t_{50%}$(time required for the recovery of lactate concentration to be one-half of $La_{peak}$ after maximal exercise) of the unfit group and the fit group were 40.0 and 18.0 min, respectively. Therefore, the protocol of the incremental standardized exercise test utilized in this study seems to be reliable for the assessment of fitness and exercise intolerance for the Thoroughbred racehorses.