• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.226-236
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• 2020

Antibiotic resistance by pathogenic bacteria and fungi is one of the most serious global public health problems in the 21^st century, directly affecting human health and lifestyle. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus with strong resistance to the common antibiotics have been isolated from Intensive Care Unit patients at Zagazig Hospital. Thus, in this study we assessed the biocidal activity of nanoparticles of silver, copper and zinc synthesized by Fusarium solani KJ 623702 against these multidrug resistant-bacteria. The synthesized Metal Nano-particles (MNPs) were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Zeta potential. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) result showed the presence of different functional groups such as carboxyl, amino and thiol, ester and peptide bonds in addition to glycosidic bonds that might stabilize the dispersity of MNPs from aggregation. The antimicrobial potential of MNPs by F. solani against the multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa and S. aureus in addition to the mycotoxigenic Aspergillus awamori, A. fumigatus and F. oxysporum was investigated, based on the visual growth by diameter of inhibition zone. Among the synthesized MNPs, the spherical AgNPs (13.70 nm) displayed significant effect against P. aeruginosa (Zone of Inhibition 22.4 mm and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration 21.33 ㎍/ml), while ZINC oxide Nano-Particles were the most effective against F. oxysporum (ZOI, 18.5 mm and MIC 24.7 ㎍/ml). Transmission Electron Microscope micrographs of AgNP-treated P. aeruginosa showed cracks and pits in the cell wall, with internalization of NPs. Production of pyocyanin pigment was significantly inhibited by AgNPs in a concentration-dependent manner, and at 5-20 ㎍ of AgNPs/ml, the pigment production was reduced by about 15-100%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.21-29
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• 2002

In the present study, a passive control method, using a porous wall and cavity system, is applied to the shock wave/boundary layer interactions in transonic moist air flow. The two-dimensional, unsteady, compressible, Navier-Stokes equations, which are fully coupled with a droplet growth equation, are solved by the third-order MUSCL type TVD finite difference scheme. Baldwin-Lomax model is employed to close the governing equations. In order to investigate the effectiveness of the present control method, the total pressure loss of the flow and the time-dependent behaviour of shock motions are analyzed in detail. The computed results show that the present passive control method considerably reduces the total pressure losses due to the shock wave/boundary layer interaction in transonic moist air flow and suppresses the unsteady shock wave motions over the airfoil as well. It is also found that the location of the porous ventilation significantly affects the control effectiveness.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.213-222
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• 2019

Milk and dairy products are the high value foods for the elderly population. In particular, fermented milk is the best source of calcium for people in the specific age group of over 79 years. It provides a good source of protein. Regular exercise and active lifestyle are recommended to slow down the muscle loss. However, exercising without proper nutrient intake is simply not sufficient at this age. Milk and dairy products provide the iron and protein content required for effective exercise-assisted growth. Milk nutrients have the advantage of being produced in various food forms, such as liquid, semi-solid, and powder types. Fat-soluble vitamins such as retinol and vitamin K can be encapsulated using various technologies for milk and dairy products. Using the encapsulation method, spray drying and fluidized-bed coating have been used for adding the micro-nutrients to the food. Microencapsulation technology is being applied in case of the fermented dairy products too. In particular, various wall materials are being developed to enhance the viability of probiotics. In the near future, advanced high-efficiency technologies that can effectively nourish the dairy products with nutrients will be developed to produce targeted high-nutrition value food for the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.67-77
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• 2017

Demands for housing has diversified recently due to low birth rate and the growth of aging population. Also, a share of idle houses and obsolete houses over 20 years old is gradually rising. Therefore, there is a need for a sustainable, environment-friendly improvement policy that is in line with a new housing paradigm and avoids full-scale new construction, such as a customized housing renovation plan considering local economic circumstances. Therefore, afforestation system applicable to buildings are assessed positively, but lack objective performance evaluation. Through one-year, long-term monitoring of replicated obsolete buildings that have poor insulation performance, this study calculated monthly average power consumption and analyzed power charges by applying pricing plans before and after the revision of progressive tax in order to examine economic effects expected by applying the afforestation system. In the obsolete buildings, the study showed that monthly average power consumption was reduced by 16.6kWh with 5.2% average reduction rate. Highest reduction was made in July at 11.3%. Aggregate monthly power consumption charges were relatively high in winter before and after the revision of progressive tax. Power charges reduction effect was highest in March when monthly power consumption was reduced to 300kWh level by applying the afforestation system.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.242-248
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• 2013

Endotoxins are part of the outer membrane of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria and are continuously released during bacterial growth. Endotoxins typically induce severe sepsis and septic shock, which cause more than 50% of mortalities. Endotoxins are easily measured in the serum by the limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test. However, a nonspecific result is obtained, because the high concentration of serum proteins disturbs the enzyme reaction of the LAL test. In order to solve this problem, the LAL test was performed in this study after the centrifugation of the boiled serum samples to remove the impurities. As a result, among the various conditions examined, endotoxin measurement with the LAL test was the most accurate and repeatable after centrifugation of the boiled serum at $100^{\circ}C$. Moreover, the endotoxin was accurately and repeatedly measured from the prepared sera of mice that had been administered an intraperitoneal injection of purified lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or E. coli. Therefore, the application of centrifugation to remove impurities from boiled serum gives an accurate measurement of endotoxins in the sera of normal subjects or patients, and this will lead to the improved diagnosis and prevention of diseases caused by endotoxins. In addition, the centrifugation of boiled serum samples should be considered and included in the development of endotoxin test kits.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.404-410
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• 2009

This study was carried out to develop a self-propelled type explosive subsoiler for improving the root zone soil conditions in orchard and other forest fields. Prototype was designed to be able to inject air and other soil improving material such as lime into soil at the same time, and thus improve the air permeability and drainage of orchard soils to promote the root growth of tree for high quality fruit production. Soil penetration device of explosive subsoiler is composed of air hammer, penetration rob and air injection nozzle. To support the soil penetration device of explosive subsoiler to penetrate vertically, modified Scott-Russel mechanism was used. Timing control device for simultaneous injection of soil improving material with air was attached to the out side wall of air cylinder and as the cylinder move, the soil improving material was injected into soil at the same time. Turning radius of prototype was 2.2-2.3 m with good mobility in sloped land. It took approximately 1 minute for lime injection system to reach the optimum pressure of 9.9 kg/$cm^2$, average 10-20 seconds were required to rupture soil with the depth of 50 cm and 2-3 seconds were required for explosion, so all in all about 1 minute and 20 seconds were required for one cycle of explosion. Maximum soil rupture depth and diameter were 50 cm and 3-4 m respectively depending on the soil type and soil moisture content. For final design of explosive subsoiler inclination angle of lime hopper was increased from 60 degree to 70 degree and the shape of hopper was changed from rectangular cone to circular cone to solve the clogging problem of lime at out let. Agitating system operated by compressed air was attached to the metering device of the prototype, thus more than 90 cc of lime was discharged per cycle from metering device without clogging problems.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.252-257
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• 2007

This study was carried out to clarify the effects of antifungal Streptomyces sp. isolated from the soil grown kiwifruit on the growth inhibition of fruit rot (Botryosphaeria dothidea) infected in kiwi fruit plants in the southwestern districts of Jeonnam. Two hundred and fifty microorganisms were isolated and examined into the antifungal activity against Botryosphaeria dothidea. We screened and isolated six bacterial strains which have a strong inhibition against Botryosphaeria dothidea. And the best antifungal strain designated as the strain #120 showing 96.0% antifungal activity against Botryosphaeria dothidea was finally selected. The strain #120 was identified as Streptomyces sp. #120 based on its morphological, physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.153-159
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• 2009

We investigated whether deficiency of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) could prevent isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy in iNOS knockout (KO) mice. Isoproterenol was continuously infused subcutaneously (15 mg/kg/day) using an osmotic minipump. Isoproterenol reduced body weight and fat mass in both iNOS KO and wild-type mice compared with saline-infused wild-type mice. Isoproterenol increased the heart weight in both iNOS KO and wild-type mice but there was no difference between iNOS KO and wild-type mice. Posterior wall thickness of left ventricle showed the same tendency with heart weight. Protein level of iNOS in the left ventricle was increased in isoproterenol-infused wild-type mice. The gene expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$) in isoproterenol-infused wild-type was measured at 2, 4, 24, and 48-hour and isoproterenol increased both IL-6 (2, 4, 24, and 48-hour) and TGF-${\beta}$ (4 and 24-hour). Isoproterenol infusion for 7 days increased the mRNA level of IL-6 and TGF-${\beta}$ in iNOS KO mice, whereas the gene expression in wild-type mice was not increased. Phosphorylated form of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (pERK) was also increased by isoproterenol at 2 and 4-hour but was not increased at 7 days after infusion in wild-type mice. However, the increased pERK level in iNOS KO mice was maintained even at 7 days after isoproterenol infusion. These results suggest that deficiency of iNOS does not prevent isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy and may have potentially harmful effects on cardiac hypertrophy.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.43-59
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• 2007

Purpose : Astragalus membranaceus is a herb which has effectiveness of energy increase, protection against pathogenic and organ immune response control. Endometriosis has been thought to be related with immune response in uterus. Therefore in this study, the effects of Astragalus membranaceus on endometriosis were investigated. Methods : The endometrial tissue was autografted to rat's small intestine. Rats with surgically induced endometriosis was administerd with Astragalus membranaceus extracts for 40 days orally or rectally. We observed the size of ectopic uterine implants at the mesenteric with the naked eye and examined the concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 in serum. Also, we inquired out the efficiency between oral and rectal administration groups. Results : The size of ectopic uterine implants of oral and rectal treated groups were much smaller than those of control groups. The concentration of estradiol, progesterone. $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-2 were significantly decreased in oral administration experimental group compared with the control group. The concentration of progesterone were significantly decreased in rectal administration experimental group compared with the control group. The efficiency of oral administration group was better than that of rectal administration group in the serum concentration of estradiol, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-2. Conclusion : Our data suggest that Astragalus membranaceus reduce the size of ectopic uterine implants at the mesenteric wall and inhibit the growth of ectopic uterine implants. Judging from the above results, it can be suggested that Astragalus membranaceus should be a useful agent for inhibiting the proliferation of uterine endometrial tissue. May be, oral administration of Astragalus membranaceus is more effective than rectal administration for inhibiting the proliferation of endometriosis.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2016

This study investigated several anatomical characteristics of Paulownia tomentosa roots. The root wood was separated into three parts from stem base (top, middle, and base) at different positions below ground. Qualitative anatomical data suggested that the growth rings in earlywood and latewood were structurally different. Furthermore, the root wood vessels were found having 2 to 3 radial multiples and they were appeared in the form of clusters. In addition, some sheath cells and septate axial parenchyma were observed. Regarding the quantitative anatomical characteristics, vessel and ray numbers per $mm^2$, as well as ray width and height differed significantly among the top, middle, and base rood wood parts. However, there were no significant differences in vessel diameters, cell wall thickness, and width and length of wood fibers among those parts. The crystallinity of the root top part was slightly higher than that of the middle and base parts. Furthermore, the vessel numbers, ray numbers, and ray width and height in the near pith (NP) area were higher compared to those in the near bark (NB) area. However, the fiber width and fiber length at NP were lower than those at NB. Overall, this study demonstrated some significant differences in the anatomical characteristics of the top, middle, and base parts of root wood from Paulownia tomentosa.