• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.172-182
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• 2022

Background: The coronavirus problem is an ecological problem stemming from a sudden change in the relationship between parasites and hosts. Ecologists judge organisms that are established out of their original territory as exotic species. Unlike in their original habitat, these exotic species become very aggressive in their newly settled habitat. Coronavirus infection damage was bigger in Europe or the United States than that in the country of its origin, China, and its neighboring countries. Therefore, coronavirus infection damage resembles the damage due to the invasive species. Results: Exotic species are found in places with similar environmental conditions to those of their origin when introduced to other ecological regions. However, there are few ecological ill effects in their place of origin, while the damage is usually severe in the ecological regions in which it is introduced. According to historical records, exotic infectious diseases, such as European smallpox and measles, also showed a similar trend and caused great damage in newly established places. Therefore, it is expected that measures to manage exotic species could be used for the prevention of exotic infectious diseases such as the coronavirus. Conclusions: Prevention comes first in the management of exotic species, and in order to come up with preventive measures, it is important to collect information on the characteristics of related organisms and their preferred environment. In this respect, ecosystem management measures such as exotic species management measures could be used as a reference to prevent and suppress the spread. To put these measures into practice, it is urgently required to establish an international integrated information network for collecting and exchanging information between regions and countries. Furthermore, a systematic ecosystem-management strategy in which natural and human environments could continue sustainable lives in their respective locations may serve as a countermeasure to prevent infectious diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.95-109
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• 2022

This study attempted to suggest the factors that facilities that aim to exchange urban-rural coexistence base spaces with urban-rural areas should have. In order to derive factors, 15 literatures preceded by similar studies were investigated, and systematic classification was attempted. Finally, the factors for activating urban and rural base facilities were organized into 3 categories, 9 sectors, and 30 activation factors. The three major categories consisted of resources and facilities, content and programs, operational status. As a result of the AHP survey, in the survey area, which is a categories, resources and facilities composed of hardware factors originally possessed by the facility showed the highest score of 48.9. In the sectors, the convenience of facility use was 25.7 points, and the rich state of tangible and intangible resources was 13.3 points in order. In the sectors, income from paid experience programs at facilities was 8.3 points, physical accessibility to facilities was 8.2 points, and the type of areas where the facilities were located was 7.7 points in order. It showed high importance in the order of resources and facilities composed of hardware factors, content and programs composed of software factors, and manpower and operation composed of humanware factors. In general, it was shown that the physical factors of the place when using urban and rural base facilities were judged as the main factors.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.749-760
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• 2022

Omics-driven synthetic biology is a multidisciplinary research field that creates new artificial life by employing genetic components, biological devices, and engineering technique based on genetic knowledge and technological expertise. It is also utilized to make valuable biomaterials with limited production via current organisms faster, more efficient, and in huge quantities. As the bioeconomic age begins, and the global synthetic biology market becomes more competitive, investment in research and development (R&D) and associated sectors has grown considerably. By overcoming the constraints of present biotechnologies through the merging of big data and artificial intelligence technologies, huge ripple effects are envisaged in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and energy industries. In agriculture, synthetic biology is being used to solve current agricultural problems and develop sustainable agricultural systems by increasing crop productivity, implementing low-carbon agriculture, and developing plant-based, high-value-added bio-materials such as vaccines for diagnosing and preventing livestock diseases. As international regulatory debates on synthetic biology are now underway, discussions should also take place in our country for the growth of bioindustries and the dissemination of research findings. Furthermore, the system must be improved to facilitate practical application and to enhance the risk evaluation technology and management system.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제33권9호
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• pp.1170-1178
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• 2023

Food allergy represents a severe problem for many societies, including sensitive populations, academies, health authorities, and the food industry. Peanut allergy occupies a special place in the food allergy spectrum. To prevent consumption by consumers suffering from a peanut allergy, a rapid and sensitive detection method is essential to identify unintended peanut adulteration in processed foods. In this study, we produced four monoclonal antibodies (MAbs; RO 3A1-12, PB 4C12-10, PB 5F9-23, and PB 6G4-30) specific to thermo-stable and soluble proteins (TSSPs) of peanut and developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the MAbs. Among them, PB 5F9-23 MAb was firmly bound to Ara h 1, and other MAbs strongly reacted to Ara h 3 in the Western blot analysis. An antibody cocktail solution of the MAbs was used to enhance the sensitivity of an indirect ELISA, and the limit of detection of the indirect ELISA based on the antibody cocktail solution was 1 ng/ml and improved compared to the indirect ELISA based on the single MAb (11 ng/ml). The cross-reaction analysis revealed the high specificity of developed MAbs to peanut TSSPs without cross-reaction to other food allergens, including nuts. Subsequently, analyzing processed foods by indirect ELISA, all foods labeled as containing peanuts in the product description were confirmed to be positive. The results indicate that the developed antibodies exhibit high specificity and sensitivity to peanuts and can be used as bio-receptors in immunoassays or biosensors to detect intentional or unintentional adulteration of peanuts in processed foods, particularly heat-processed foods.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• 제53권5호
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• pp.388-401
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the accuracy of free-hand implant surgery performed by an experienced operator compared to static guided implant surgery performed by an inexperienced operator on an anterior maxillary dental model arch. Methods: A maxillary dental model with missing teeth (No. 11, 22, and 23) was used for this in vitro study. An intraoral scan was performed on the model, with the resulting digital impression exported as a stereolithography file. Next, a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan was performed, with the resulting image exported as a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine file. Both files were imported into the RealGUIDE 5.0 dental implant planning software. Active Bio implants were selected to place into the model. A single stereolithographic 3-dimensional surgical guide was printed for all cases. Ten clinicians, divided into 2 groups, placed a total of 60 implants in 20 acrylic resin maxillary models. Due to the small sample size, the Mann-Whitney test was used to analyze mean values in the 2 groups. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS version 9.4. Results: The accuracy of implant placement using a surgical guide was significantly higher than that of free-hand implantation. The mean difference between the planned and actual implant positions at the apex was 0.68 mm for the experienced group using the free-hand technique and 0.14 mm for the non-experienced group using the surgical guide technique (P=0.019). At the top of the implant, the mean difference was 1.04 mm for the experienced group using the free-hand technique and 0.52 mm for the non-experienced group using the surgical guide technique (P=0.044). Conclusions: The data from this study will provide valuable insights for future studies, since in vitro studies should be conducted extensively in advance of retrospective or prospective studies to avoid burdening patients unnecessarily.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.1017-1028
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• 2024

Lignocellulolytic enzymes play a crucial role in efficiently converting lignocellulose into valuable platform molecules in various industries. However, they are limited by their production yields, costs, and stability. Consequently, their production by producers adapted to local environments and the choice of low-cost raw materials can address these limitations. Due to the large amounts of olive stones (OS) generated in Morocco which are still undervalued, Penicillium crustosum, Fusarium nygamai, Trichoderma capillare, and Aspergillus calidoustus, are cultivated under different fermentation techniques using this by-product as a local lignocellulosic substrate. Based on a multilevel factorial design, their potential to produce lignocellulolytic enzymes during 15 days of dark incubation was evaluated. The results revealed that P. crustosum expressed a maximum total cellulase activity of 10.9 IU/ml under sequential fermentation (SF) and 3.6 IU/ml of β-glucosidase activity under submerged fermentation (SmF). F. nygamai recorded the best laccase activity of 9 IU/ml under solid-state fermentation (SSF). Unlike T. capillare, SF was the inducive culture for the former activity with 7.6 IU/ml. A. calidoustus produced, respectively, 1,009 ㎍/ml of proteins and 11.5 IU/ml of endoglucanase activity as the best results achieved. Optimum cellulase production took place after the 5th day under SF, while ligninases occurred between the 9th and the 11th days under SSF. This study reports for the first time the lignocellulolytic activities of F. nygamai and A. calidoustus. Furthermore, it underlines the potential of the four fungi as biomass decomposers for environmentally-friendly applications, emphasizing the efficiency of OS as an inducing substrate for enzyme production.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.10-17
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• 2001

Purpose: We measured anti-H. pylori IgG in Korean elementary school children living in Shinchon area of Seoul, Korea to evaluate the influence of environmental living standards on H. pylori infection. Methods: IgG antibodies to H. pylori were measured in plasma using a commercial ELISA kit (GAP IgG Helicobacter pylori, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Hercules, CA, USA). Information on environmental status such as place of birth, parental income, type of housing, number of persons in the household, parents' occupation, family history of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer was obtained. Statistical analysis was done by Chi-square and logistic regression test using SPSS $7.0^{TM}$ for Windows. Results: Study subjects consisted of 571 children, and the age distribution ranged from 6.0 to 13.6 years with a mean of $9.6{\pm}1.8$ years. Male-to-female ratio was 1.1:1. The seropositive rates of H. pylori infection ranged from 10.4% in children aged 6 years to 30.9% in 12 year-old group, overall 16.8%. The prevalence of H. pylori infection progressively increased with age, but there was no significant difference in seropositive rates among children in different age groups (p=0.06). Seropositive rates of anti-H. pylori IgG on the basis of gender, place of birth, parental income, type of housing, parents' occupation, family history of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer showed no statistically significant difference. Interestingly, however, seropositive rate of anti-H. pylori IgG showed statistical significance in relation to number of persons in the household (p=0.003; Odds ratio 1.50 by logistic regression test). Conclusion: These results suggest that number of persons in the household is the most important factor among environmental living standards, and that risk of H. pylori infection increases by increment of 1.5 times as the number of persons in the household increases by one.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.67-82
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate changes in benthic environment and macrobenthic polychaete communities in Gamak Bay where various environmental quality improvement projects have been implemented in recent years. Field surveys were carried out in February, 2005 and February, 2006 and twenty stations were selected to explore whether or not there were between-year differences in biotic and abiotic variables. Of 10 environmental variables measured, only three variables including dissolved oxygen (DO), total ignition loss (IL), acid volatile sulfide (AVS) showed significant between-year differences. Specifically, IL and AVS were, on average, 1.5 and 3 times lower in 2006 compared to those in 2005, respectively, which was more pronounced in the northern part of the bay. A total of 95 polychaete species was sampled from the two sampling occasions. Between-year differences in the number of species, abundance, and diversity were varied from place to place. In the northern part of the bay, fewer species were found in 2006 rather than in 2005, but diversity increased in 2006 due to the reduction in dominance of a few species. On the contrary, in the central part of the bay, the number of species, abundance and diversity prominently increased in 2006. In the southern part of the bay, all the biological indices maintained similarly during the two years. Dominant species in 2005 were such opportunistic or organic pollution indicator species as Lumbrineris longifolia, Capitella capitata, Mediomastus californiensis, Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata, etc. and most of them were mainly distributed in the northern part of the bay and in the proximity of it. In 2006, however, Euchone alicaudata, L. longifolia, Paraprionospio pinnata, Flabelligeridae sp., etc. were dominant and distributed mainly in the central part of the bay. Multivariate analyses showed that the whole polychaete community could be divided into 5 groups reflecting the geographical positions of the sampling stations and temporal variation particularly in the northern part of the bay. According to the results of BIO-ENV procedure, TOC (${\rho}=0.52$) and AVS (${\rho}=0.49$) as a single variable best explained the polychaete community structure. The best combination was made by such variables as TOC, AVS, sorting coefficient, and water temperature (${\rho}=0.60$). In conclusion, between-year differences in biotic and abiotic variables imply that recent efforts for the environmental improvement produced positive influences on the benthic environment of Gamak Bay, particularly the northern part of the bay.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.79-87
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• 2012

This research was conducted to obtain basic data with regard to the heating performance that would be produced by installing an aluminum hot water pipe inside the greenhouse with the goal of reducing the heating energy in greenhouse. The research results are summarized as follows. The degree of difference in relation to the temperature by height within the greenhouse during the entire experiment was significant - within the range of 4.0~$7.0^{\circ}C$. The temperature difference between incoming and outgoing water was about $3.3^{\circ}C$ greater when FCU was activated compared to when it was not activated. Meanwhile, the amount of energy consumed increased about 36.2~40.1%. The amount of pyrexia per hour also increased by 44.6~52.0%. During the experiment period, circulated flux was within the range of 0.48~$0.49L{\cdot}s^{-1}$ while average fluid speed was 1.53~$1.56m{\cdot}s^{-1}$. The average temperature difference between incoming and outgoing water was 6.24~$11.50^{\circ}C$. The amount of heating value by each set temperature within the minimum outdoor temperature range of -14.0~$-0.6^{\circ}C$ was 135,930~307,150 kcal, and the range was within the 9,610~$19,630kcal{\cdot}h^{-1}$ per hour. This demonstrated that about 23~53% heating energy of the maximum heating load could be supplied. Total radiating value and amount of energy consumed were 2,548,306 kcal and 3,075.7 kWh, respectively. When heating takes place using oil, which is a fossil fuel, the total amount of light oil consumed was 281.6 L while the cost was 321,000 won. When the electricity cost for farms is applied, the total cost was about 110,730 won, which is about 33.5% of the cost required compared to oil consumption. The temperature at in the experiment area was about 8.3~$14.6^{\circ}C$ higher compared to that of the control area.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.175-183
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• 2010

To understand the variation of macro benthos community according to the installation of structure and topographic placement in the shellfish farm on tidal flat, the practical example of the tidal shellfish growing area at Namsung-ri Goheung was observed. The results of the research for the field observation were summarized as follows. (1) The ground gradient of the shellfish farm was very flat below about $1^{\circ}$. The shellfish farm ground took the shape of $\sqcup$ from the shoreline to the place of 150 m seawards, and the shape of $\sqcap$ from there to the low tide line. During ebb tide, the $\sqcup$ shape ground stored the sea water, and the $\sqcap$ shape ground was supposed to act as the effect factor to leak slowly or to prevent the outflow. (2) The oyster shell bag or the type of riprap wall as the boundary in the shellfish farm was classified into five types. The air exposure time and flooding time were 181 and 434 minutes, respectively. (3) In the numerical experiment, the deep-sea water wave coming in the study area had 0.5 m of maximum wave height to show the very stable conditions and the wave direction pattern of S-direction was dominant at Naro great ridge, and SE, SSW and S-direction were distributed strongly around the shellfish farm. (4) By the grain size analysis, the sediment around tidal flat consisted of gravel 0.00~5.81(average 1.70)%, sand 14.15~18.39(average 13.23)%, silt 27.59~47.15(average 30.84)% and clay 35.79~55.73(average 36.19)%, and the sediment type was divided into (g)M(lightly gravelly mud), sM(sandy mud) and gM(gravelly mud) by Folk's diagram. (5) The macro benthos community survey conducted in this site in January, 2010 showed that 1 species of Mollusca, 8 species of Polychaeta and 2 species of Crustacea appeared, and 11 species occupying over 1% of total abundance were dominant.