• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.335-343
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• 2012

Mercury is emitted to the atmosphere from various natural and anthropogenic sources, and degrades with difficulty in the environment. Mercury exists as various species, mainly elemental ($Hg^0$) and divalent ($Hg^{2+}$) mercury depending on its oxidation states in air and water. Mercury emitted to the atmosphere can be deposited into aqueous environments by wet and dry depositions, and some can be re-emitted into the atmosphere. The deposited mercury species, mainly $Hg^{2+}$, can react with various organic compounds in water and sediment by biotic reactions mediated by sulfur-reducing bacteria, and abiotic reactions mediated by sunlight photolysis, resulting in conversion into organic mercury such as methylmercury (MeHg). MeHg can be bioaccumulated through the food web in the ecosystem, finally exposing humans who consume fish. For a better understanding of how humans are exposed to mercury in the environment, this review paper summarizes the mechanisms of emission, fate and transport, speciation chemistry, bioaccumulation, levels of contamination in environmental media, and finally exposure assessment of humans.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.80-84
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• 2001

Vertical and temporal variations of active and total bacterial abundance were monthly estimated in Lake Soyang from April 1999 to January 2000. The number of total and respiring bacteria was determined directly under microscope by AODC and CTC methods, respectively. The number of total and active bacteria varied from $2.1{\times}10^5 to 3.1{\times}10^6 $,$cells{\cdot}ml^{-1}$ and $1.8{\times}10^4 to 8.0{\times}10^5 $,$cells{\cdot}ml^{-1}$, respectively. The proportions of respiring bacteria to total cell ranged from 3.7 to 44.2% : The proportions was the highest in November 1999 and the lowest in December 2000. The specific activity of${\beta}$-glucosidase divided by total bacteria was$1.6{\times}10^5\;amol{\cdot}cell^{-1}{\cdot}hr^{-1}$in August and$1.4{\times}10^5\;amol{\times}cell^{-1}{\times}hr^{-1}$in September while the specific activity divided by CTC active bacteria was about$3.6{\times}10^5\;amol{\cdot}cell^{-1}{\cdot}hr^{-1},\;24.0{\times}10^5\;amol{cdot}cell^{-1}{cdot}hr^{-1}$. The specific activity of active bacteria in September was 6.7 times higher than that of August. By these data of active bacteria, the new information of aquatic ecosystem was unveiled.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2024

Background: Honey bees play a crucial role in pollination and ecological balance. Apis mellifera L. colonies, especially those located in specific geographic regions, such as the palm garden in Eastern Thailand, are susceptible to potential threats from microbial contaminants. Understanding and detecting microbial organisms in these beehives is essential for the preservation of bee health, honey production, and the broader ecosystem. However, the problem of microbial infection and antibiotic-resistant bacteria is more severe and continuously increasing, resulting in a health, economic, and social crisis. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of microorganisms in A. mellifera beehives in palm gardens in Rayong province, Eastern Thailand. Results: Ten swabs in transport media were swabbed and obtained from different parts of each beehive (1 swab per beehive), for a total of 10 hives. Traditional microbial culture-based methods, biochemical tests, and antimicrobial susceptibility (disc-diffusion) tests were used to detect microbial organisms and antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The swab tests from nine beehives resulted in the detection of Gram-positive bacteria (63.64%), Gram-negative bacteria (27.27%), and fungi/yeast (9.09%). These microorganisms are classified as a group of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. and made up 40.91% of the bacteria discovered. Other bacteria found were Coryneform bacteria (13.64%), Pantoea spp. (13.64%), Bacillus spp. (9.09%), yeast (9.09%), glucose non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli (9.09%), and Pseudomonas spp. (4.55%). However, due to the traditional culture-based and 0biochemical tests usually used to identify the microbial organisms in clinical specimens and the limitation of identifying some environmental microbial species, the results of the antimicrobial susceptibility test cannot reveal if the organism is resistant or susceptible to the drug. Nevertheless, drug-sensitive inhibition zones were formed with each antibiotic agent. Conclusions: Overall, the study supports prevention, healthcare, and public health systems. The contamination of microorganisms in the beehives may affect the quality of honey and other bee products or even the health of the beekeeper. To avoid this kind of contamination, it is therefore necessary to wear personal protective equipment while harvesting honey and other bee products.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.115-126
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• 1983

The results that the effect of 6 detergents on the structural changes and biochemical composition of bacterial membrane of Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus are as follows ; 1. Population growth of the bacteria was increased in case of the treatment with palmitoyl carnitine and sodium deoxy cholate but was increased in case of the treatment with palmitoyl carnitine and sodium deoxy cholate but was decreased by sodium dodecyl sulfate and palmitoyl choline, in E.coli and was decreased by palmitoyl carnitine and palmitoyl choline at the low concentration, in B. cereus. 2. The electron micrograph showed that cell wall lysis or cell collapse were observed in the treatment of sodium dodecyl sulfate and palmitoyl choline, and also cell wall was condensed by triton X-100 and sodium deoxy cholate, in E.coli. And in B. cereus, endospore formation of the bacteria was stimulated by palmitoyl choline, and cell lysis or structural changes of the membrane were observed in the treatment of sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium cholate, and triton X-100, respectively. 3. As to the effect of detergent on the biochemical composition of biomembrane, the content of carnitine, in E.coli, and B.cereus, the content of structural protein and phospholipid were decreased by treatment of sodium dodecyl sulfate and structural protein was denatured by palmitoyl choline. 4. The profile of membrane protein revealed that the bacterial membrane were composed of various proteins. By dint of this result, some of membrane proteins were solubilized or changed to small molecules by the treatment of sodium dodecyl sulfate and palmitoyl choline, in E.coli and membrane protein of the biomembrane by treatment of sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium deoxy cholate, palmitoyl choline, and palmitoyl carnitine were confirmed to be different profile as compared with those of the control, in B. cereus. Therefore, it is suggested that sodium dfodecyl sulfate and palmitoyl choline soulbilized biomembranes or inhibited membrane transport and that palmitoyl carnitine and sodium deoxy cholate were used as an energy source or stimulating the membrane transport, in E.coli. And, it is suggested that all of detergents were inhibited biomembrane synthesis, expet saponin, in B.cereus.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.141-146
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• 2008

Transport of Escherichia coli ATCC 11105 through porous media was investigated in this study using two sets of column experiments to quantify the attachment-related parameters (sticking efficiency, attachment rate coefficient and filter factor). The first set of experiments was performed in quartz sand under different ionic strength conditions (1, 20, 100, 200 mM) while the second experiments were carried out in quartz sand mixed with metal oxyhydroxide-coated sand (0, 5, 10, 25%). The breakthrough curves of bacteria were obtained by monitoring effluent, and then bacterial mass recovery and attachment-related parameters were quantified from these curves. The first experiments showed that the mass recoveries were in the range of 13.3 to 64.7%, decreasing with increasing ionic strength. In the second experiments, the mass recoveries were in the range of 15.0 to 43.4%, decreasing with increasing coated sand content. The analysis indicated that the sticking efficiency, attachment rate coefficient and filter factor increased with increasing ionic strength and coated sand content. The value of filter factor in the first experiments ranged from 1.45 e-2 to 6.72 e-2 1/cm while in the second experiments it ranged from 2.78 e-2 to 6.32 e-2 1/cm. Our filter factor values are one order of magnitude lower than those from other studies. This discrepancy can be attributed to the size of sand used in the experiment. The analysis demonstrated that the travel distance of bacteria estimated using the filter factor can be varied greatly depending on the solution chemistry and charge heterogeneity of porous media.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2001

To ensure the safety of domestic livestock products, the government made it obligatory to enforce the hazard analysis critical control point(HACCP) in all domestic slaughterhouses. Under the HACCP, most of the hazards generated in slaughterhouses are bio-hazards, especially pathogenic bacteria. In order to reduce to the pathogenic bacteria, critical control point (CCP) is established and controled in the process of slaughter. A study was carried out to measure the level of bacterial contamination of swine carcass in 6 slaughterhouses selected. As a result, the aerobic plate counts(cfu/$\textrm{cm}^2$) of all samples was $10^2$-10 in average, except slaughterhouse C. The level of the aerobic plate counts on the surface of lower loin in slaughterhouse C was $10^4$ and it was considered that slaughterhouse C should set the process of manual transport of carcass as the CCP. Escherichia coli level was the highest in middle line cut surface. Especially, E coli level of slaughterhouses C and D were about 6.5- and 3.0-fold higher than that of other 4 slaughterhouses. Thus, it was considered that the slaughterhouses C and D should set the process of the entrails treatment as the CCP. The air contamination was measured at two point in a slaughterhouse. The air contamination level was 4-13 times higher than that of the standard Japanese slaughterhouses.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.271-276
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• 2003

The inoculation of some microorganisms into a microcosm containing soil from a barren lakeside area at Lake Paro in Kangwon-do enhanced plant growth significantly. The direct and viable counts of soil bacteria and soil microbial activities measured by electron transport system assay and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis assay were higher in inoculated soil. The plant growth promoting effect of this inoculation may be caused by phytohormone production and the solubilization of insoluble phosphates by the inoculated bacteria. Three inoculated strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens produced several plant growth promoting phytohormones, including indole-3-acetic acid (auxin), which was confirmed by thin layer chromatography and GC/MS. P. fluorescens strain B16 and M45 produced 502.4 and 206.1 mg/l of soluble phosphate from Ca3(PO4)2 and hydroxyapatite, respectively. Bacillus megaterium showed similar solubilization rates of insoluble phosphates to those of Pseudomonas spp. We believe that this plant growth promoting capability may be used for the rapid revegetation of barren or disturbed land.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.140-152
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• 1993

This study was attempted to investigate the effect of Ganoderma lucidum extract on digestive system in experimental animals. Ganoderma lucidum water extract (GWE) was found to be promoted the charcol transport rate in the small intestine of mice. GWE exhibited the augmentation of spontaneus movement(motility) and contractile response(tension) in the ileum and colon strips of rabbit, and these action were inhibited by atropine. GWE given intraduodenaly(i.d.) exhibited the significant increase of gastric acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. GWE inhibited the formation of some experimental gastric ulcers(pylorus ligation ulcer i.d., indomethacin-induced ulcer p.o., i.d. and aspirin-induced ulcer p.o.) in rats, which are considered to relate to a protective action. GWE and EtOH extract(water soluble phase) were remarkably increase of bile excretion, when administration of i.d., intravenation(i.v.) and per os (p.o.) compared with normal-control group. GWE was observed antibacterial activity aginst several intestinal microoganisms and others bacteria in vitro test.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.278-292
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• 1994

This study was attempted to investigate the effect of Machili Cortex extract(Machilus thunbergii Sieb. et Zucc. ) on digestive system in experimental animals. EtOH and MeOH extracts(E.E. and M.E.) were found to inhibit the charcoal transport rate in the small intestine of mice. E.E. exhibited the inhibition of spontaneous movement(motility) and tension in the ileum and colon strips of rabbit, and these actions were inhibited by action of acetylcholine. E.E. and M.E. given intraduodenaly(i.d.) exhibitied the significant decrease of gastric acid secretion in pylorus-ligated rats. E.E. and M.E. inhibited the formation of some experimental gastric ulcers(pylorus ligation-ulcer i.d., indomethacin-induced ulcer p.o. and aspirin-induced ulcer p.o. ) in rats, which are considered to relate to a protective action. E.E. and M.E. caused remarkable increase of bile excretion, compared with normal-control group, when adminstered through i.d., i.v. and p.o. The antibacterial activity against several intestinal microorganisms and other bacteria in vitro test was observed in the administration of E.E. and M.E.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.19 no.4 s.54
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• pp.19-24
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to develop a mechanistically based mathematical model that would consider the interdependence of VOCs transport, microbial activity, and sorptive interactions in a moist, unsaturated soil. Because the focus of the model was on description of natural attenuation, the advective VOCs transport that is induced in engineered remediation processes such as vapor extraction was not considered. The utility of the model was assessed through its ability to describe experimental observations from diffusion experiments using toluene as a representative VOCs in well-defined soil columns that contained a toluene degrading bacterium, Pseudomonas putida G7 md Fl, as the sole active microbial species. The gas-liquid mass-transfer was found to be a key parameter controlling the ability of bacteria to degrade VOCs. This finding indicates that soil size and geometry are likely to be important parameters in assessing the possible success of natural attenuation of VOCs in contaminated unsaturated soils. Therefore we found that Pseudomonas putida G7 and Fl were very effective to remove of refractory pollutants such as toluene in soil by Bio-filter