• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2020

The skin is colonized by a large number of microorganisms with a stable composition of species. However, disease states of skin such as acne vulgaris, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis have specific microbiome compositions that are different from those of healthy skin. The target modulation of the skin microbiome can be a potential treatment for these skin diseases. Quorum sensing (QS), a bacterial cell-cell communication system, can control the survival of bacteria and increase cell density. Also, QS affects the pathogenicity of bacteria such as biofilm formation and protease production. In this study, we confirmed anti-QS activity of Amorepacific patented ingredients, which are Lactobacillus ferment lysate (using Lactobacillus plantarum APsulloc 331261, KCCM 11179P) through bio-reporter bacterial strain Chromobacterium violaceum. The purple pigment production of C. violaceum controlled by QS was reduced 27.3% by adding 10 ㎍/mL of Lactobacillus ferment lysate (freeze dried). In addition, the Lactobacillus ferment lysate increased growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis 12% and decreased growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 38.5% and its biofilm formation 17.7% at a concentration of 10 ㎍/mL compared to the untreated control group. Moreover, S. epidermidis was co-cultured with the representative dermatological bacterium Staphylococcus aureus in the same genus, the growth of S. epidermidis was increased 134 % and the growth of S. aureus was decreased 13%. These results suggest that fermented lysate using Lactobacillus plantarum APsulloc 331261 may be useful as a cosmetic ingredient that can control the balance of skin microbiome.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.40-49
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• 2019

Seasonal succession of zooplankton community and species composition was studied from 2003 to 2014 in a deep reservoir, Lake Soyang, in monsoon climate region, Korea. Annual precipitation was concentrated more than 70% between June and September and it showed remarkably that seasonal variation in water quality. Seasonal variation of water quality in Lake Soyang appeared to be more significant than annual variations, and the inflow of turbid water during the summer rainfall was the most important environmental factor. Zooplankton sepecies composition in Lake Soyang showed obvious tendency through two periods (May to June and August to October) every year. Small zooplankton (rotifer; Keratella cochlearis, Polyarthra vulgaris) dominated in spring and mesozooplankton such as copepods and crustaceans were dominant in summer and fall. Zooplankton biomass showed the maximum in September after monsoon rainfall, and chlorophyll showed a similar seasonal variation and it showed a high correlation (r=0.45). The increase of zooplankton biomass is considered to be a bottom-up effect due to the increase of primary producers and inflow of nutrients and organic matter from rainfall. In this study, we found that the variation of zooplankton community was affected by rainfall in monsoon climate region and inflow of turbid water was an important environmental factor, which influenced the water quality, zooplankton seasonal succession in Lake Soyang. It was also considered to be influenced by hydrological characteristics of lake and environment of watershed. In conclusion, seasonal succession of zooplankton species composition was the same as the PEG model. But seasonal succession of zooplankton biomass differed not only in the temperate lake but also in the monsoon region.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 1997

To develop novel cephem antibiotics, We have synthesized a new compound, named YH-487, by attaching the thiol and aminothiazole residue to $C_3$ and $C_7$ position of 7-ACA, respectively. Several characteristics such as structure, antibiotic spectrum, action mechanism, stability against ${\beta}-lactamase$ and synergistic effect were investigated. Anti-bactericidal activity of YH-487 against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were superior to that of the other cephem antibiotics. We have examined the action mechanisms of YH-487 using penicillin binding protein (PBP) assay, and found that the bactericidal activity was obtained by inhibiting PBP-1A, PBP-1B and PBP-3. YH-487 showed synergistic effect with gentamicin, tobramycin, and amikacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In addition, YH-487 was effective against Enterobacter cloacae in combination with amikacin. Based on the above observations, YH-487 was classified as a novel third-generation ${\beta}-lactam$ antibiotics.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2016

Roads are widely accepted to be as a major cause of habitat fragmentation. The wildlife road-crossing structure is one of the most acceptable alternatives among the solutions to provide connectivity between patches isolated by roads. We investigated noise disturbance, vegetation structure and wildlife crossing and habitation at a wildlife road-crossing structure located at the Jingmaei-Pass in Incheon, Korea, to monitor and evaluate its conservation value and ecological performance and to propose measures for their adaptive management. From the result of noise measurement, the noise disturbance from the road traffic was not properly blocked out at the wildlife crossing structure. The survey results of vegetation structure showed that the early-successional plant species such as Ambrosia trifida, Erigeron annuus, Pueraria lobata, Rosa multiflora invaded widely on the crossing structure. An efficient management of the vegetation should be necessarily considered for the facilitation of vegetation succession and the improvement of animal habitat. The crossing structure was used by limited mammal species: Apodemus agrarius, Nyctereutes procyonoides, Mogera wogura and Sciurus vulgaris coreae as the results of the monitoring using footprints and closed-circuit television. In conclusion, The Jingmaei-Pass wildlife crossing structure is unable to function properly as a biological corridor because of the interference of noise and flourishing disturbed vegetation. Therefore, proper alternatives are required for improving animal habitats and mobile environments to enhance the ecological function of a wildlife corridor.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1081-1086
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the medicinal effects of the herbal combination extracts-2 (HCE-2), consisting of Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Lonicera japonica Thunb., Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, and Hovenia dulcis Thunb. on the alcohol-induced liver injury in rats. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group (n =6), non-treated control group (n =6), saline-treated group (n =6) and the herbal combination extract (HCE-2)-treated group (n =6). The rats in the alcohol-loaded groups were orally administered with ethanol at a daily dose of 4 g/kg-body weight for 5 weeks. Thirty minutes before the ethanol injection, saline or herbal combination extracts was administered by using a gastrogavage. Blood and liver tissue samples were taken out from the hearts and livers of the rats, respectively, on 15th and 38th days. The activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We also investigated the protective effect of the herbal combination extracts by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining on histological sections of rat liver. In this study, the oral administration of the herbal combination extracts significantly reduced the serum levels of AST and ALT, which had been raised by alcohol-induced liver injury. Histological analysis and apparent observation of liver also showed the preventive effect of the herbal combination extracts in a chronic alcohol-induced rat model. Theses results revealed that the herbal combination extracts effectively prevented hepatic damage consequent to the chronic exposure to repetitive administration of ethanol and could be used as a primary resource of a health beverage or herbal medicine, alleviating the alcohol-induced hepatic injury and hangover symptoms.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.427-432
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• 1999

For the development of a multifunctional biocontrol agent, the siderophore-producing strain GL7 was isolated from a rhizosphere on chrome azurol S agar. The GL7 was identified as a strain of Pseudomonas fluorescents on the basis of their reactions to standard physicochemcial tests from Bergey's manual, API diagnostic test, and fatty acid analysis. P. fluorescents GL7 considerably inhibited spore germination and hyphal growth of phytopathogenic fungus Funsarium solani in a dual culture. In pot trials of bean with P. fluorescens GL7, the disease incidence was significantly reduced down to 5% from 70% of incidence in the untreated control. P. fluorescens GL7 also enhanced plant growth to nearly 1.5 times than that of the untreated control, promoting elongation and development of the roots. These results suggest that the plant growth-promoting P. fluorescens GL7 can play an important role in the biological control of soil-borne plant disease in a rhizosphere.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.207-214
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• 2013

A concerted effort to develop alternative forms of energy is underway due to fossil fuel shortages and its deleterious effects. Recently, bioenergy from microalgae has gained prominence and the use of municipal wastewater as a low cost alternative for a nutrient source has significant advantages. In this study, we have employed municipal wastewater directly after primary treatment (primary settling basin) in a small scale raceway pond (SSRP) for microalgal growth. Indigenous microalgae in the wastewater were encouraged to grow in the SSRP under optimal conditions. The mean removal efficiencies of TN, TP, and $NH_3-N$ after 6 days were 77.77%, 63.55%, and 89.02%, respectively. The average lipid content of the microalgae was 19.51% of dry cell weight, and linolenate and linoleate (18:n) were the predominant fatty acids. The 18S rRNA gene analysis and microscopic observations of the indigenous microalgae community revealed the presence of Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus as the dominant microalgae. These results indicate that untreated municipal wastewater, serving as an excellent nitrogen and phosphate source for microalgal growth, could be treated using microalgae in open raceway ponds. Moreover, microalgal biomass could be further profitable by the extraction of biodiesel.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.903-910
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• 2016

In this study, the expression level of estrogen receptor in an ovariectomized rat model was effectively enhanced by MS-10, Cirsium japonicum and Thymus vulgaris extract complex, in a reversible manner. MS-10 plays a positive role in enhancing estrogen activity at low concentrations, leading to improved women's health. In order to determine whether or not MS-10 improves menopausal symptoms clinically, a randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled clinical study was carried out on 62 middle-aged women treated with 500 mg of MS-10 or placebo daily for 12 weeks. Clinical menopausal symptoms were evaluated by Kupperman's index (KI) detecting various menopausal symptoms, including hot flushes, parenthesis, insomnia, nervousness, melancholia, dizziness, fatigue, rheumatic pain, palpitations, formication, and headaches. Total KI score decreased significantly by about 18% upon ingestion of MS-10. Colpoxerosis, a main symptom of menopause, was significantly reduced by about 21% upon ingestion of MS-10 in contrast to placebo. In addition, reduction of insulin-like growth factor-1 with age was improved by over 10% upon ingestion of MS-10, whereas there were no significant difference with placebo. No side effects appeared after treatment with MS-10. Thus, MS-10 can be suggested as a plausible natural substance for improving women's health.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

Watermelons (Citrulus vulgaris Schrad) are usually sorted manually by weight, appearance, and acoustic impulse, so grading of maturity and internal quality is subject to inaccuracies. It was necessary to develop a nondestructive evaluation technique of internal watermelon quality to reduce human error. Thus, acoustic characteristics related to internal quality factors were analyzed. Among these factors, three (ripeness, presence of an internal cavity, and blood-colored flesh) were selected for evaluation. The number of peaks and the sum of peak amplitudes for watermelons with blood-colored flesh were lower than for normal fruits. The portable evaluation system has an impact mechanism, a microphone sensor, a signal processing board, an LCD panel, and a battery. A performance test was conducted in the field. The internal quality evaluation model showed 87% prediction accuracy. Validation was conducted on 72 samples. The accuracy of quality evaluation was 83%. The quality of samples was evaluated by an inspector using conventional methods (hitting the watermelon and listening to the sounds), and then compared with prototype results. The quality evaluation accuracy of the prototype was better than that of the inspector. This nondestructive quality evaluation system could be useful in the field, warehouse, and supermarket

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.285-293
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• 2009

This research had been executed to find out the structure of Magnolia obovata community, a dispersal range and characteristics of scatter investigation, and to prepare management measure of it. In the result of this study, Magnolia obovata was distributed in a native plant community from planting trees of UNESCO Peace Center. The maximum numbers of Magnolia obovata were found in $20{\sim}100m$ from trees of mother. Seed of Magnolia obovata has a characteristics of gravity dispersal. But some individuals was found in 420m from its tree of mother. Seeds of Magnolia obovata has a characteristics of animal dispersal, too. Major species of animal dispersal are Garrulus glandarius, Ciurus vulgaris coreae, and Tamias sibiricus asiaticus in the study site. The importance value between native plants and Magnolia obovata had a negative relation. Because Magnolia obovata is more shade tolerant than other trees. Also, the growth of Magnolia obovata is faster than other trees. And so if the influence of Magnolia obovata reduce, it is necessary to expand native plant community, and to cut Magnolia obovata over 10m of the height and over 10cm of the DBH, for preventing influence of Magnolia obovata.