Earticle

현대 사회는 스트레스 증가와 생활 환경 변화로 인해 심리적 안정과 웰니스 중심의 라이프스타일에 대한 관심이 확대되고 있다. 이에 따라 향기를 활용한 아로마테라피 산업이 성장하고 있으며, 아로마 디퓨저는 실내 환경 개선과 정서적 안정 효과를 제공하는 대표적인 향기 확산 도구로 활용되고 있다. 최근에는 기존의 고정형 디퓨저에서 나아가 사용자의 이동성과 개인화된 향기 경험을 고려한 착용형 디퓨저 제품에 대한 관심이 증가하고 있다. 특히 목걸이형 디퓨저는 장신구 기능과 향기 확산 기능을 동시에 수행할 수 있어 웨어러블 향기 디바이스로서 활용 가능성이 높아지고 있다. 이에 본 연구는 착용형 아로마 디퓨저의 구조와 기능적 특성을 분석하고, 기존 특허 사례를 통해 적용 기술과 구조적 특징을 비교·분석하여 목걸이형 발향 제어 구조 기반의 특허 개발 방향을 제시하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 연구 방법으로는 첫째, 선행연구와 특허자료를 기반으로 아로마 디퓨저의 발향 원리와 착용형 디퓨저의 구조적 특성을 고찰하였다. 둘째, 기존 착용형 디퓨저 관련 특허 사례를 분석하여 향 확산 구조와 제어 방식의 특징 및 한계점을 도출하였다. 셋째, 사례분석 결과를 기반으로 착용형 환경에 적합한 목걸이형 아로마 디퓨저의 기능 구조를 설계하고 특허 개발 방향을 제안하였다. 연구 결과, 기존 착용형 디퓨저 구조의 한계를 보완하기 위하여 이중 확산 구조, 회전형 발향 제어 메커니즘, 방향성 차단 구조 및 교체형 카트리지 시스템을 적용한 목걸이형 디퓨저의 기능 구조를 제안하였으며, 이를 통해 향기 확산의 효율성, 사용자 제어성 및 안전성을 향상시킬 수 있는 기능 구조 기반의 특허 개발 방향을 도출할 수 있었다.

Modern society has seen a growing interest in psychological stability and wellness-oriented lifestyles due to increasing stress and changes in living environments. Accordingly, the aromatherapy industry utilizing fragrance has continued to expand, and aroma diffusers have been widely used as representative fragrance diffusion tools that improve indoor environments and provide emotional stability. Recently, interest in wearable diffusers has increased beyond conventional stationary diffusers, reflecting the demand for mobility and personalized fragrance experiences. In particular, necklace-type diffusers have shown high potential as wearable fragrance devices because they can simultaneously perform decorative accessory functions and fragrance diffusion functions. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the structural and functional characteristics of wearable aroma diffusers and to propose a patent development direction based on a necklace-type fragrance emission control structure through comparative analysis of existing patent cases and applied technologies. As for the research methods, first, the fragrance emission principles of aroma diffusers and the structural characteristics of wearable diffusers were examined based on previous studies and patent documents. Second, existing patent cases related to wearable diffusers were analyzed to identify the characteristics and limitations of fragrance diffusion structures and control methods. Third, based on the case analysis results, a functional structure suitable for wearable environments was designed, and a patent development direction for a necklace-type aroma diffuser was proposed. As a result of the study, a functional structure for a necklace-type diffuser applying a dual diffusion structure, a rotary fragrance emission control mechanism, a directional blocking structure, and a replaceable cartridge system was proposed to overcome the limitations of existing wearable diffuser structures. Through this approach, a functional structure-based patent development direction capable of improving fragrance diffusion efficiency, user controllability, and safety was derived.

현대인들은 빠른 생활 속도와 스트레스, 불규칙한 생활 습관으로 인해 정신적, 신체적 건강에 많은 어려 움을 겪고 있다. 아로마테라피는 자연적인 방법으로 심 신의 안정과 치유를 도모하며, 현대인들에게 필요한 휴 식과 회복을 제공하여 일상의 삶에서 중요한 역할을 할 수 있는 대안으로 주목받고 있다. 특히, 아로마 디퓨저는 공기의 질을 개선하고 쾌적 한 환경을 조성하여 기분을 좋게 하고 건강에도 도움이 되므로 전 세계적으로 소비량이 늘어나고 있다. 이와같 이 소비자들의 아로마 디퓨저에 대한 관심과 수요의 급 증에 따라 실용적인 디퓨저 기능과 도구에 관한 발명 디자인과 특허도 중요시되고 있다. 아로마 디퓨저를 통한 아로마테라피의 접근성이 용 이하고 기능적이고 효율적인 요소들이 필요해지면서 보다 높은 효능을 지닌 디퓨저 도구의 개발이 요구되고 있다. 본 연구는 아로마테라피에 사용되는 아로마 디퓨저의 구조를 파악하고 이에 대한 특허 사례분석을 통해 아이디어 적용사례를 분석하며, 신기능 디퓨저 특허 개 발을 통한 아로마테라피 도구의 발명 아이디어 도출에 대해 연구하고자 하였다. 이에 기존 아로마 디퓨저 토출 과정의 단점을 보완 하여 기능성과 편리성을 높인 아로마 디퓨저의 구조에 관한 특허 개발을 진행하였다. 연구의 결과, 기존 제품의 문제점을 파악하여 해결 책으로써 차별화된 효능적인 아이디어에 의한 아로마 디퓨저 구조와 기능을 개발하여 효율성과 편리성을 제 공하는 독창적인 특허 개발 방안을 제시할 수 있었다.

Modern individuals are facing many challenges to their mental and physical health due to the fast pace of life, stress, and irregular lifestyle habits. Aromatherapy is gaining attention as an alternative that promotes mental and physical stability and healing through natural methods, providing the necessary rest and recovery for modern people, and playing an important role in daily life. In particular, aroma diffusers are increasingly consumed worldwide as they improve air quality, create a pleasant environment, enhance mood, and contribute to health. With the surge in consumer interest and demand for aroma diffusers, the invention design and patents related to practical diffuser functions and tools are also becoming important. As the accessibility of aromatherapy through aroma diffusers becomes easier, there is a growing need for functional and efficient elements, leading to the demand for the development of diffusers with higher efficacy. This study aims to understand the structure of aroma diffusers used in aromatherapy, analyze patent cases related to them, and derive inventive ideas for aromatherapy tools through the development of new functional diffuser patents. We conducted patent development on the structure of aroma diffusers that enhance functionality and convenience by addressing the shortcomings of existing aroma diffuser discharge processes. As a result of the research, we were able to identify the problems of existing products and present a unique patent development plan that offers efficiency and convenience through a differentiated and effective idea for the structure and function of aroma diffusers.

Background: Heat shock proteins play an important role in protection from stress stimuli and metabolic insults in almost all organisms. Methods: In this study, computational tools were used to deeply analyse the physicochemical characteristics and, using homology modelling, reliably predict the tertiary structure of the blunt snout bream (Ma-) Hsp70 and Hsc70 proteins. Derived three-dimensional models were then used to predict the function of the proteins. Results: Previously published predictions regarding the protein length, molecular weight, theoretical isoelectric point and total number of positive and negative residues were corroborated. Among the new findings are: the extinction coefficient (33725/33350 and 35090/34840 - Ma-Hsp70/ Ma-Hsc70, respectively), instability index (33.68/35.56 ? both stable), aliphatic index (83.44/80.23 ? both very stable), half-life estimates (both relatively stable), grand average of hydropathicity (?0.431/-0.473 ? both hydrophilic) and amino acid composition (alanine-lysine-glycine/glycine-lysine-aspartic acid were the most abundant, no disulphide bonds, the N-terminal of both proteins was methionine). Homology modelling was performed by SWISS-MODEL program and the proposed model was evaluated as highly reliable based on PROCHECK’s Ramachandran plot, ERRAT, PROVE, Verify 3D, ProQ and ProSA analyses. Conclusions: The research revealed a high structural similarity to Hsp70 and Hsc70 proteins from several taxonomically distant animal species, corroborating a remarkably high level of evolutionary conservation among the members of this protein family. Functional annotation based on structural similarity provides a reliable additional indirect evidence for a high level of functional conservation of these two genes/proteins in blunt snout bream, but it is not sensitive enough to functionally distinguish the two isoforms.

본고는 일본어 원어민의 음성 자료가 첨부된 자연담화 데이터를 가지고 화자와 청자의 상호 작용에 의해 이루어지는 공화(共話)의 전개 형식과 기능을 분석했다. 그 결과, 화자에 의한 선행 발화의 표현 형식은 「중도발화중지형(言いさし)」，「말주저형(言いよどみ)」，「차단에 의한 중지형(遮られ中止)」의 3가지로, 청자에 의한 공화적 반응형은 「선취완결형(先取り)」，「바꿔말하기형(言い換え)」，「되묻기형(問い返し)」，「차단형(遮り)」，「반복형(繰り返し)」의 5가지로, 그리고 기능으로는 「확인(確認)」，「상대돕기(相手助け)」，「동의(同意)」，「보충(補足)」，「공감(共感)」，「반론(反論)」，「이해표명(理解の表明)」의 7가지로 각각 분류 할 수 있었다. 분석 결과에 따라 선행 발화를 이어받는 「선취완결형」의 공화적 반응형에 대해， 화자의 「중도발화중지형」의 경우는 「확인」의 기능, 「말주저형」의 경우는 「상대돕기」의 기능, 「차단에 의한 중지형」의 경우는 「보충」의 기능을 주로 수행하는 것으로 나타났다. 선행 발화에 명시되지 않은 부분 또는 명시되어있는 부분에 대한 공화적 반응은, 선행 발화의 이해 표시를 위해 행해지는 경우가 많고, 예측 표시를 위해 행해지는 것은 「중도발화중지형」이 「확인」의 기능을 수행하는 경우에 한정되는 것을 지적했다.

This paper analyses the expanded form of co-construction and its functions by using natural conversations as data. As a result, speakers’ preceding speech expressions are divided into unfinished sentences, hesitation, and interruptions. Listeners’ co-construction responses are categorized into anticipation, paraphrasing, counter-questioning, interruption, and repetition. Moreover, their functions are grouped into confirmation, assistance, agreement, supplements, sympathy, counterarguments, and expressions of understanding. Our analysis of anticipation co-construction responses found that unfinished sentences functioned as confirmations, hesitation functioned as assistance, and interruption functioned as supplements. We found that the co-construction responses of speakers’ preceding speech for omitted or explicit parts often indicate an understanding of speakers’ utterances and also that prediction occurs only when anticipation functions as confirmation.

The wide area of the capital region is generally expedited by the changes of business distribution that is related changes such as population, expansion of traffic infra, and so on. The logistics condition changes according to the change of consumer, industrial structure, and industry and distribution structure. The quantities of commodity transported and trips of freight automobile are greatly increased with changes of logistics conditions and capital region. But, logistics facilities in recent is behind of changes of logistics conditions, besides, it is non-efficient, and is on situation of reduction and insufficiency of the function because of stiffness of land use. It is requested solutions for common problems that have their facilities, and then needs really functional improvement and supplementation for activation of main facilities. Therefore, after facilities such as freight terminal, distribution complex, collection and delivery complex that is planning and managing in the capital region were named as complex logistics center. This study suggested a adequate direction of construction after establishment of the function in the aspect such as location, scale, active function about them, For this, first, we established a ranking for spacial structure and changes of logistics demand in the capital region, and investigated problems for relative facilities.

It is a sense of security and happiness that characterize a healthy family. This paper examines the methods that facilitate healthy family relationships in the perspective of family structure therapy. In a healthy family, the relational structure is established by systematizing the process of interaction, promoting strict yet flexible family rules. A healthy family hierarchy progresses from grandparental subsystem, parental subsystem, child subsystem to a sibling subsystem - while boundary and rules are clear, the interaction remains flexible. Healthy family members have clear boundaries that are neither detached nor adhesive. They do not cross each other's boundaries to excessively adhere to one another nor become segregated to the point of detachment. The key factor is clear boundaries with flexibility. Healthy families demonstrate an appropriate level of cohesiveness in accordance with the family members’ life cycles. Also, they possess a high level of adaptability in times of crises or emergencies. In communication between married couples as well as other family members, they clearly express their feelings while demonstrating a sense of mutual respect. Each member acts under their clearly defined roles within the family while their interactions hold a great level of flexibility and plausibility. The triangular relationships formed among family members continue to progress, and well-formed detriangling facilitates the development of an optimal state where the individuals undergo differentiation and also remain intimate with each other. In summation, family structure can preserve order yet permit intimacy in the familial relationships, ultimately resulting in family peace and stability.

In drawing area, aiming at the problems of drawing breadth and angle cannot be adjusted individually and not convenient to carry, a kind of multi-functional folding drawing board is designed by us. The appearance of the multi-functional folding drawing board is kind of drawing board, some light materials like basswood and rigid plastics are used in main structure of the drawing board to make it light and convenient to carry. The main structure can be folded and it is suitable for A1 and A2 drawings. In the designing procedure, dip angle adjusted mechanism by worm wheel and gear, magnetic pull-in mechanism, leading rail, slide-way, drawer, tool library, paper bag and horn locks are applied based on modularity designing theory. Finite element analysis of key components of drawing board is analyzed.

The discovery of biochemical and cellular functions of unannotated gene products begins with a database search of proteins with structure/sequence homologues based on known genes. Very recently, a number of frontier groups in structural biology proposed a new paradigm to predict biological functions of an unknown protein on the basis of its three-dimensional structure on a genomic scale. Structural proteomics (genomics), a research area for structure-based functional discovery, aims to complete the protein-folding universe of all gene products in a cell. It would lead us to a complete understanding of a living organism from protein structure. Two major complementary experimental techniques, X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy, combined with recently developed high throughput methods have played a central role in structural proteomics research; however, an integration of these methodologies together with comparative modeling and electron microscopy would speed up the goal for completing a full dictionary of protein folding space in the near future.

Xylose isomerase (XI; E.C. 5.3.1.5) catalyzes the isomerization of xylose to xylulose, which can be used to produce bioethanol through fermentation. Therefore, XI has recently gained attention as a key catalyst in the bioenergy industry. Here, we identified, purified, and characterized a XI (PbXI) from the psychrophilic soil microorganism, Paenibacillus sp. R4. Surprisingly, activity assay results showed that PbXI is not a cold-active enzyme, but displays optimal activity at $60^{\circ}C$. We solved the crystal structure of PbXI at $1.94-{\AA}$ resolution to investigate the origin of its thermostability. The PbXI structure shows a $({\beta}/{\alpha})_8$-barrel fold with tight tetrameric interactions and it has three divalent metal ions (CaI, CaII, and CaIII). Two metal ions (CaI and CaII) located in the active site are known to be involved in the enzymatic reaction. The third metal ion (CaIII), located near the ${\beta}4-{\alpha}6$ loop region, was newly identified and is thought to be important for the stability of PbXI. Compared with previously determined thermostable and mesophilic XI structures, the ${\beta}1-{\alpha}2$ loop structures near the substrate binding pocket of PbXI were remarkably different. Site-directed mutagenesis studies suggested that the flexible ${\beta}1-{\alpha}2$ loop region is essential for PbXI activity. Our findings provide valuable insights that can be applied in protein engineering to generate low-temperature purpose-specific XI enzymes.

Bacterial cytochrome P450 (CYP) steroid hydroxylases are effectively useful in the pharmaceutical industry for introducing hydroxyl groups to a wide range of steroids. We found a putative CYP steroid hydroxylase (BaCYP106A2) from the bacterium Bacillus sp. PAMC 23377 isolated from Kara Sea of the Arctic Ocean, showing 94% sequence similarity with BmCYP106A2 (Bacillus megaterium ATCC 13368). In this study, soluble BaCYP106A2 was overexpressed to evaluate its substrate-binding activity. The substrate affinity ($K_d$ value) to 4-androstenedione was $387{\pm}37{\mu}M$. Moreover, the crystal structure of BaCYP106A2 was determined at $2.7{\AA}$ resolution. Structural analysis suggested that the ${\alpha}8-{\alpha}9$ loop region of BaCYP106A2 is intrinsically mobile and might be important for initial ligand binding. The hydroxyl activity of BaCYP106A2 was identified using in vitro enzyme assays. Its activity was confirmed with two kinds of steroid substrates, 4-androstenedione and nandrolone, using chromatography and mass spectrometry methods. The main products were mono-hydroxylated compounds with high conversion yields. This is the second study on the structure of CYP106A steroid hydroxylases, and should contribute new insight into the interactions of bacterial CYP106A with steroid substrates, providing baseline data for studying the CYP106A steroid hydroxylase from the structural and enzymatic perspectives.

The genome sequencing has revealed a large number of proteins of unknown or little characterized functions that have been well conserved during evolution. It remains a great challenge to decipher the molecular and physiological functions of these proteins. One example of the evolutionarily conserved protein family with little understood function is the surE family.(omitted)

Objective This study aimed to investigate the association between changes in brain volumes and memory task-based functional connectivity (FC) patterns in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to healthy controls (HCs).Methods This study employed voxel-based morphometry and task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging using memory task to examine alterations in brain volume density and FC within and between relevant brain regions involved in memory processes such as encoding and retrieval.Results PTSD patients exhibited increased brain volumes in the right cerebellum (Cb) in the gray matter (GM) region compared to HCs. Analysis of FC patterns revealed that both groups exhibited similar connectivity patterns, but PTSD patients displayed higher and more extensive interregional connectivity relative to HCs. During the memory encoding process, PTSD patients exhibited higher FC linked to the Cb in the right postcentral gyrus, left precentral gyrus (PrCG), left orbito frontal gyrus (OFG), and superior frontal gyrus, while demonstrating lower connectivity in the right hippocampus. In the memory retrieval period, PTSD patients showed higher FC in the right middle frontal gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus, left OFG, right inferior parietal gyrus, and right PrCG, along with lower FC in the right/left inferior frontal gyrus and right superior parietal gyrus. Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between PTSD symptom severity and local GM volumes in the right Cb. However, no significant correlation was found with FC.Conclusion Our findings provide insights into the specific alterations in brain structure and connectivity associated with PTSD, contributing to a better understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms of PTSD.

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most prevalent organisms associated with foodborne illness across the globe causing campylobacteriosis and gastritis. Many proteins of C. jejuni are still unidentified. The purpose of this study was to determine the structure and function of a non-annotated hypothetical protein (HP) from C. jejuni. A number of properties like physiochemical characteristics, 3D structure, and functional annotation of the HP (accession No. CAG2129885.1) were predicted using various bioinformatics tools followed by further validation and quality assessment. Moreover, the protein-protein interactions and active site were obtained from the STRING and CASTp server, respectively. The hypothesized protein possesses various characteristics including an acidic pH, thermal stability, water solubility, and cytoplasmic distribution. While alpha-helix and random coil structures are the most prominent structural components of this protein, most of it is formed of helices and coils. Along with expected quality, the 3D model has been found to be novel. This study has identified the potential role of the HP in 2-methylcitric acid cycle and propionate catabolism. Furthermore, protein-protein interactions revealed several significant functional partners. The in-silico characterization of this protein will assist to understand its molecular mechanism of action better. The methodology of this study would also serve as the basis for additional research into proteomic and genomic data for functional potential identification.

Background: Heat shock proteins play an important role in protection from stress stimuli and metabolic insults in almost all organisms. Methods: In this study, computational tools were used to deeply analyse the physicochemical characteristics and, using homology modelling, reliably predict the tertiary structure of the blunt snout bream (Ma-) Hsp70 and Hsc70 proteins. Derived three-dimensional models were then used to predict the function of the proteins. Results: Previously published predictions regarding the protein length, molecular weight, theoretical isoelectric point and total number of positive and negative residues were corroborated. Among the new findings are: the extinction coefficient (33725/33350 and 35090/34840 - Ma-Hsp70/ Ma-Hsc70, respectively), instability index (33.68/35.56 - both stable), aliphatic index (83.44/80.23 - both very stable), half-life estimates (both relatively stable), grand average of hydropathicity (-0.431/-0.473 - both hydrophilic) and amino acid composition (alanine-lysine-glycine/glycine-lysine-aspartic acid were the most abundant, no disulphide bonds, the N-terminal of both proteins was methionine). Homology modelling was performed by SWISS-MODEL program and the proposed model was evaluated as highly reliable based on PROCHECK's Ramachandran plot, ERRAT, PROVE, Verify 3D, ProQ and ProSA analyses. Conclusions: The research revealed a high structural similarity to Hsp70 and Hsc70 proteins from several taxonomically distant animal species, corroborating a remarkably high level of evolutionary conservation among the members of this protein family. Functional annotation based on structural similarity provides a reliable additional indirect evidence for a high level of functional conservation of these two genes/proteins in blunt snout bream, but it is not sensitive enough to functionally distinguish the two isoforms.

Soil is a dynamic biological system, in which it is difficult to determine the composition of microbial communities. Knowledge of microbial diversity and function in soils are limited because of the taxonomic and methodological limitations associated with studying the organisms. In this review, approaches to measure microbial diversity in soil were discussed. Research on soil microbes can be categorized as structural diversity, functional diversity and genetic diversity studies, and these include cultivation based and cultivation independent methods. Cultivation independent technique to evaluate soil structural diversity include different techniques such as Phospholipid Fatty Acids (PLFA) and Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) analysis. Carbon source utilization pattern of soil microorganisms by Community Level Physiological Profiling (CLPP), catabolic responses by Substrate Induced Respiration technique (SIR) and soil microbial enzyme activities are discussed. Genetic diversity of soil microorganisms using molecular techniques such as 16S rDNA analysis Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) / Temperature Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (TGGE), Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP), Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP), Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) / Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis (ARDRA) and Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (RISA) are also discussed. The chapter ends with a final conclusion on the advantages and disadvantages of different techniques and advances in molecular techniques to study the soil microbial diversity.