A novel CO2 soluble azide cross-linker was used for fabrication of cross-linked 6FDA-durene membrane (AIM-PIs) and studied along the cross-linking density changed for high performance CO2-separation. The synthesis, characterization of these materials, together with the properties of the corresponding polymer membranes, including gas separation properties, will be discussed in detail.

고농도의 MBR처리공정에서 물리적 세정방법인 공기폭기(Aeration)는 장기간 막성능을 유지시키는기 위한 주요 방법으로, 기존의 연구들은 산기관의 성능을 극대화시켜 공기세정을 최적화시키는 연구를 주로 하였다. 효율적인 슬러지 탈리를 위해 폭기위치⋅시간⋅균일 배출성 및 데드존(Dead Zone) 감소 등 다양한 연구들이 진행되어 왔으며, 이를 통한 더 이상의 성능향상은 기대하기 어려운 상황이다. 산기관 최적화 이외에 막성능을 장기간 유지하기 위해서는 막모듈 전체에 공기에 의한 슬러지 탈리가 일어나야 하며, 이는 모듈의 구조적인 문제를 개선함으로써 해결책을 찾을 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 기존의 분리막 모듈과 구조가 변경된 모듈의 오염(fouling)에 따른 분리막 성능을 비교하고자 한다.

이 연구는 양이온 불균질막을 제조하기 위해 PVdF와 상용 양이온교환수지를 배합하여 제조하고 최적의 조건제시 및 기존 상용화막과 비교 평가하였다. 연구결과 불균질막이 기존의 상용화막보다 이온교환용량, 전기저항, 함수율 부분에서 높은 물성을 나타내기 위해서는 이온교환수지의 무게 비율을 40% 이상 첨가해야 한다는 것을 확인하였다. 인장강도가 상용화 막보다 높기 위해서는 이온교환수지의 무게 비율을 50% 이하로 첨가해야 한다는 것을 확인하였다. 따라서 화학적 특성과 기 계적 특성을 고려했을 때, PVdF와 이온교환분말의 최적 비율은 60 : 40이며, 이때의 전기저항 1.82 Ω⋅cm-1, 함수율 79%, 이 온교환용량 1.60 meq/g으로 측정되었고 기계적 강도는 0.97 MPa로 측정되었다. 이때, TDS 제거율은 약 40%로 측정되었다.

Recently, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cry genes encoding insecticidal Cry proteins have been widely applied for the construction of transgenic crops resistant to insect pests. This study aimed to construct novel mutant cry1Ac genes for genetically modified crops with enhanced insecticidal activities. Using multi-site directed mutagenesis, 34 mutant cry1Ac genes were synthesized and converted at 24 amino acid residues, located on domain I (8 residues) and domain II (16 residues). These mutant genes were expressed as a fusion protein with polyhedrin using the baculovirus expression system. The expressed proteins were occluded into polyhedra and activated stably to 65 kDa by trypsin. Among these, Mut-N04, N06, and N16 showed high levels of insecticidal activites against larvae of Plutella xylostella, Spodoptera exigua, and Ostrinia furnacalis. Mut-N16, which showed the highest insecticidal activity, is expected to be a desirable cry gene for introduction into transgenic crops. This study could provide useful means to construct mutant cry genes with improved insecticidal activities and expanded host spectrum for transgenic crops.

We analyzed 0.5-45 keV data of NGC 3227 observed by Suzaku six times between 2008 October 28 and December 2. The count-count plot between the 0.5-3 keV and 3-10 keV bands exhibits a clear break, separating the data into bright and faint phases. Applying the difference spectrum method and time-averaged spectral fits to the phase data, we found the presence of two kinds of variable primary X-rays, (1) a hard primary component with Γ 1.7 dominating in the faint phase and (2) a soft primary continuum with Γ ~ 2.4 appearing in the bright phase, both affected by partial absorption. Considering their timing and spectral characteristics, component (1) is presumably identical to a Compton continuum in the low/hard state, while component (2) may correspond to the hard tail emission in the high/soft state, or compact-jet emission. In that case, an accretion ow onto the central super massive black hole in NGC 3227 can be interpreted to include the two different states.

An investigation was carried out to evaluate the potential role of Lactobacillus Plantarum KCC-10 and KCC-19 on the quality and fermentation characterization of Italian ryegrass (IRG) silages. The physiochemical properties of IRG silage such as crude protein content, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, total digestible nutrient and in vitro dry matter digestibility were not affected by KCC-10 and KCC-19. The pH of IRG silage in KCC-10 and KCC-19 treatments decreased compared to the control (p<0.05), while the lactic acid content in KCC-10 and KCC-19 treatments increased compared to the control (p<0.05). In addition, the number of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the KCC-10 treatment increased compared to the control (p<0.05). The number of lactic acid bacteria in KCC-19 increased, but there was no significant difference in all treatments. Therefore, we recommend L. plantarum KCC-10 and KCC-19 as potential additive candidates in IRG silage with lots of advantages.

본 연구에서는 알팔파를 이용하여 사일리지 제조시 L. plantarum KCC-10 및 KCC-19를 접종하여 사일리지의 사료가치, 품질 및 미생물상의 변화를 조사하였다. 알팔파 사일리지 제조시 조단백질, ADF, NDF, TDN 함량 그리고 in vitro 건물소화율은 무접종구와 비슷하였다. L. plantarum KCC-10 및 KCC-19 접종구는 무접종구에 비해 알팔파 사일리지의 pH는 감소 되었으나 (p>0.05), 젖산함량은 L. plantarum KCC-10 및 KCC-19 접종구에서 증가하였다(p<0.05). 그러나 초산 및 낙산 함량은 젖산균 접종구에서는 증가하였으나 통계적인 차이는 보이지 않았다 (p>0.05). 알팔파 사일리지 젖산균 단독 처리구의 젖산균 수는 무접종구에 비해 현저하게 증가하였다 (p<0.05). 이상의 결과를 요약해 보면 알팔파 사일리지 제조시 L. plantarum KCC-10 및 KCC-19 접종에 의해 사일리지의 젖산함량과 젖산균수가 증가되었다.

The spinal cord is highly complex, consisting of a specialized neural network that comprised both neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Any kind of injury and/or insult to the spinal cord leads to a series of damaging events resulting in motor and/or sensory deficits below the level of injury. As a result, muscle paralysis (or paresis) leading to muscle atrophy or shrinking of the muscle along with changes in muscle fiber type, and contractile properties have been observed. Traditionally, histology had been used as a gold standard to characterize spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced adaptation in spinal cord and skeletal muscle. However, histology measurements is invasive and cannot be used for longitudinal analysis. Therefore, the use of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is promoted to be used as an alternative non-invasive method, which allows the repeated measurements over time and secures the safety against radiation by using radiofrequency pulse. Currently, many of pathological changes and adaptations occurring after SCI can be measured by MRI methods, specifically 3-dimensional MRI with the advanced diffusion tensor imaging technique. Both techniques have shown to be sensitive in measuring morphological and structural changes in skeletal muscle and the spinal cord.

A novel poly (ethylene glycol)-imidazolium-functionalized 6FDA-durene polyimides (PEG-Im-PIs) with various PEG chain lengths and PEG-IM contents have been developed as novel polymer membranes for high performance CO2-separation. The synthesis, characterization of these materials, together with the properties of the corresponding polymer membranes, including gas separation properties, will be discussed in detail.

Cabbage is one of the major vegetable crops especially in Korea. Various insect pests intimidate the cabbage production. Moreover, an excessive spray of chemical insecticides leads to development of insecticide resistance as well adverse effects on environment and humans. The brassica leaf beetle, Phaedon brassicae, is a coleopteran pest. Both larval and adult stages feed cabbage. This study aimed to develop an effective microbial biopesticide against P. brassicae by adding immunosuppressive agent to Bacillus thurigiensis (Bt). To determine an optimal immunosuppressive agent, two bacterial species of Photorhabdus temperata subsp. temperata (Ptt) and Xenorhabdus nematophila were compared in their insecticidal activity against P. brassicae, and Ptt was selected. Among four subspecies of Bt, B. thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis (Btt) was selected. Ptt bacterial culture broth possessed immunosuppressive agent(s) because the bacterial culture broth significantly increased other bacterial growth in P. brassicae hemolymph. When the Ptt broth was added to Btt, it significantly increased the insecticidal activity of Btt. Bt-Plus was prepared by mixing Btt and Ptt bacterial culture and sprayed the cabbage infested by P. brassicae. The Bt-Plus was much more effective than Btt treatment. This study reports a novel Bt insecticide to control P. brassicae.

본 연구는 S. aureus을 신속하게 검출할 수 있는 PCR primer를 개발하고자 실시되었다. S. aureus를 포함한 Clostridium, Escherichia, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio, Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus 등 그람 양성 및 그람 음성 균주 17 종의 genomic DNA를 대상으로 20종의 랜덤 primer들을 사용하여 PCR을 실시하였다. S. aureus의 특이적 밴드를 선발하여 DNA 염기 서열을 분석하였고 이를 바탕으로 5쌍의 primer를 제작하였으며 그 중 primer SYU-5를 사용하여 PCR을 실시할 경우, 단일 밴드로 나타나는 다른 균주들에 비해 S. aureus 균주에서 약 250, 550 및 850 bp 크기의 세 개 밴드들이 검출되었다. 또한, S. aureus가 첨가된 8종 균주들의 genomic DNA 혼합 용액과 각종 유제품 및 분쇄육을 대상으로 primer SYU-5의 특이적 검출능을 확인하였다. 본 연구에서 사용한 PCR 기법은 기존의 선택배지 배양법과 비교하여 시간 및 노동력 측면에서 식중독 유발 S. aureus의 검출에 보다 효과적인 방법으로 사용 가능하였다. 또한, 본 연구의 결과는 다양한 병원균들의 특이적 검출을 위한 PCR 기법 개발에 기초 자료를 제공할 수 있다.

Pyrolized fuel oil (PFO) was reformed by novel electron beam (E-beam) radiation, and the elemental composition, chemical bonds, average molecular weight, solubility, softening point, yields, and density of the modified patches were characterized. These properties of modified pitch were dependent on the reforming method (heat or E-beam radiation treatment) and absorbed dose. Aromaticity (Fa), average molecular weight, solubility, softening point, and density increased in proportion to the absorbed dose of E-beam radiation, with the exception of the highest absorbed dose, due to modification by free radical polymerization and the powerful energy intensity of E-beam treatment. The H/C ratio and yield exhibited the opposite trend for the same reason. These results indicate that novel E-beam radiation reforming is suitable for the preparation of aromatic pitch with a high β-resin content.

Biological properties of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of hemimetabolous insect are poorly characterized in innate immunity field. To investigate the biochemical properties of hemimetabolous insect’s AMPs, we purified the pyrrhocoricin-like AMP from the hemolymph of Riptortus pedestris and then named as riptocin. We successfully determined the primary protein structure and its cDNA sequence. Interestingly, the determined cDNA revealed that riptocin precursor is composed of 12 repeating units of active riptocins, which implied that riptocin precursor might require to be processed to generate active riptocins by several unidentified processing enzymes. In order to characterize the bio-processing mechanisms of riptocin precursor, we generated the antibody against active riptocin. Using quantitative PCR and Western blot analyses, we showed that gene of riptocin was started to express from the fatbody after three hours post bacterial infection. To address our hypothesis that active riptocin is generated from riptocin precursor by several processing enzymes, we need to obtain the riptocin precursor. Currently, we are expressing the recombinant riptocin precursor using in vitro translation system. Meanwhile, we investigated whether naive hemolymph (naive HL), which may contain precursor riptocin, can generate active riptocin when riptocin precursor was co-incubation with bacteria-challenged hemolymph (active HL), which may contain all processing enzymes. Actually, when naive HL was incubated with active HL, antimicrobial activity was dramatically increased, suggesting that processing enzymes in active HL may induce processing of riptocin precursor to generate active riptocins.

A novel oxidant fumigation (NOF) is a commercial bleaching and disinfection agent. Recent study indicates its insecticidal activity. However, its exact mode of action to kill insects is not known. This study sets up a hypothesis that reactive oxygen species released from NOF is a main factor to kill insects. Plodia interpunctella is a lepidopteran insect pest infesting various stored grains. Both larvae and adults were susceptive to NOF. To test the hypothesis, we needed to identify antioxidant genes in P. interpunctella. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and thioredoxin-peroxidase (Trx) were identified from P. interpunctella EST library using ortholog sequences of Bombyx mori. Both SOD and Trx were expressed in larvae of P. interpunctella expecially against oxidative stress induced by bacterial challenge. The bacterial challenge also induced some heat shock protein (HSP) genes. Similarly, different doses of NOF significantly induced both SOD and Trx genes. There results suggest that NOF at sublethal doses releases reactive oxygen species, which may be detoxified by the antioxidant activities of SOD and Trx of P. interpunctella.

Crystals of proteinaceous insecticidal proteins, Cry proteins, produced by Bacill us thuringiensis (Bt) have been generally used used to control insect pests. In this st udy, through the 3D structure prediction and accompanying mutagenesis study for the Mod-Cry1Ac, 7 and 16 amino acid residues from domain I and II, respectively, responsible for its insecticidal activity against larvae of Plutella xylostella, Spodopt era exigua and Ostrinia furnacalis were identified. To construct novel cry genes wi th enhanced insecticidal activity, we randomly mutated these 24 amino acid sequen ces by in vitro muti site-directed mutagenesis, resulting in totally 34 mutant cry gen es. For further characterization, these mutant cry genes were expressed as a fusion protein with polyhedrin using baculovirus expression system. SDS-PAGE analysis of the recombinant polyhedra revealed that expressed Cry proteins was occluded in to polyhedra and activated stably to 65 kDa by trypsin. When the insecticidal activit ies of these mutant Cry proteins against to larvae of P. xylostella, S. exigua, and O. furnacalis were assayed, they showed higher or similar insecticidal activity compar ed to those of Cry1Ac and Cry1C. Especially, among them Mutant-N16 showed th e highest insecticidal activity against to both of P. xylostella, S. exigua and Ostrinia furnacalis. Therefore, Mutant-N16 is estimated to have the potential for the efficac ious bioagent.

A novel oxidant fumigation (NOF) has been considered as alternative fumigant to replace methyl bromide that is a serious ozone depleter. Its high oxidative activity has been used as a bleaching or sanitary agent. Though some reports an insecticidal activity of NOF, its insecticidal action is yet to be understood. This study was conducted with an observation of an insecticidal activity of NOF against Plodia interpunctella, which is a stored grain insect pest. Cytotoxicity test was performed by using MTT assay, NOF gave a significant cytotoxicity on both Sf9 cells and HiFive insect cell lines. Sf9 cells were higher susceptible (IC50 = 43.2+ 3.5 ppm) to chloride dioxide than HiFive cells (IC50 = 174.6 + 5.9 ppm). To understand its cytotoxic effect on P. interpunctella, the larval hemocytes were incubated in vitro with different doses of NOF for 40 min at room temperature. In a dose-dependent manner, NOF gave a significant toxicity to the hemocytes. When NOF was injected to larvae of P. interpunctella, it significantly reduced total hemocyte counts compared to control. These results indicate that NOF has cytotoxic effect against hemocytes of P. interpunctella. This hemolytic activity of NOF can be regarded as a lethal factor to the stored grain insect pest.