• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.43-60
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• 2019

Background: Tropical montane forests played an important role in the provision of ecosystem services. The intense degradation and deforestation for the need of agricultural land expansion result in a significant decline of forest cover. However, the expansion of agricultural land did not completely destruct natural forests. There remain forests inaccessible for agricultural and grazing purpose. Studies on these forests remained scant, motivating to investigate biomass and soil carbon stocks. Data of biomass and soils were collected in 80 quadrats ($400m^2$) systematically in 5 forests. Biomass and disturbance gradients were determined using allometric equation and disturbance index, respectively. The regression modeling is employed to explore the spatial distribution of carbon stock along disturbance and environmental gradients. Correlation analysis is also employed to identify the relation between site factors and carbon stocks. Results: The result revealed that a total of 1655 individuals with a diameter of ${\geq}5cm$, representing 38 species, were measured in 5 forests. The mean aboveground biomass carbon stocks (AGB CS) and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks at 5 forests were $191.6{\pm}19.7$ and $149.32{\pm}6.8Mg\;C\;ha^{-1}$, respectively. The AGB CS exhibited significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation with SOC and total nitrogen (TN) stocks, reflecting that biomass seems to be a general predictor of SOCs. AGB CS between highly and least-disturbed forests was significantly different (P < 0.05). This disturbance level equates to a decrease in AGB CS of 36.8% in the highly disturbed compared with the least-disturbed forest. In all forests, dominant species sequestrated more than 58% of carbon. The AGB CS in response to elevation and disturbance index and SOC stocks in response to soil pH attained unimodal pattern. The stand structures, such as canopy cover and basal area, had significant positive relation with AGB CS. Conclusions: Study results confirmed that carbon stocks of studied forests were comparable to carbon stocks of protected forests. The biotic, edaphic, topographic, and disturbance factors played a significant variation in carbon stocks of forests. Further study should be conducted to quantify carbon stocks of herbaceous, litter, and soil microbes to account the role of the whole forest ecosystem.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.435-447
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• 2021

Purpose: Body adiposity is negatively correlated with hepatic iron status, and Korean pine nut oil (PNO) has been reported to reduce adiposity. Therefore, we aimed to study the effects of PNO on adiposity, hepatic mineral status, and the expression of genes and proteins involved in iron absorption. Methods: Five-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed a control diet containing 10% kcal from PNO (PC) or soybean oil (SBO; SC), or a high-fat diet (HFD) containing 35% kcal from lard and 10% kcal from PNO (PHFD) or SBO (SHFD). Hepatic iron, copper, and zinc content; and expression of genes and proteins related to iron absorption were measured. Results: HFD-fed mice had a higher white fat mass (2-fold; p < 0.001), lower hepatic iron content (25% lower; p < 0.001), and lower hepatic Hamp (p = 0.028) and duodenal Dcytb mRNA levels (p = 0.037) compared to the control diet-fed mice. Hepatic iron status was negatively correlated with body weight (r = -0.607, p < 0.001) and white fat mass (r = -0.745, p < 0.001). Although the PHFD group gained less body weight (18% less; p < 0.05) and white fat mass (18% less; p < 0.05) than the SHFD group, the hepatic iron status impaired by the HFD feeding did not improve. The expression of hepatic and duodenal ferroportin protein was not affected by the fat amount or the oil type. PNO-fed mice had significantly lower Slc11a2 (p = 0.022) and Slc40a1 expression (p = 0.027) compared to SBO-fed mice. However, the PC group had a higher Heph expression than the SC group (p < 0.05). The hepatic copper and zinc content did not differ between the four diet groups, but hepatic copper content adjusted by body weight was significantly lower in the HFD-fed mice compared to the control diet-fed mice. Conclusion: HFD-induced obesity decreased hepatic iron storage by affecting the regulation of genes related to iron absorption; however, the 18% less white fat mass in the PHFD group was not enough to improve the iron status compared to the SHFD group. The hepatic copper and zinc status was not altered by the fat amount or the oil type.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.552-560
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• 2020

Listeria monocytogenes is a highly pathogenic gram-positive bacterium that is easily isolated from cheese, meat, processed meat products, and smoked salmon. A zero-tolerance (n=5, c=0, m=0/25 g) criteria has been applied for L. monocytogenes in cheese meaning that L. monocytogenes must not be detected in any 25 g of samples. However, there was a lack of scientific information behind this criteria. Therefore, in this study, we conducted a risk assessment based on literature reviews to provide scientific information supporting the baseline and to raise public awareness of L. monocytogenes foodborne illness. Quantitative risk assessment of L. monocytogenes for cheese was conducted using the following steps: exposure assessment, hazard characterization, and risk characterization. As a result, the initial contamination level of L. monocytogenes was -4.0 Log CFU/g in cheese. The consumption frequency of cheese was 11.8%, and the appropriate probability distribution for amount of cheese consumed was a Lognormal distribution with an average of 32.5 g. In conclusion, the mean of probabilities of foodborne illness caused by the consumption of cheese was 5.09×10-7 in the healthy population and 4.32×10-6 in the susceptible population. Consumption frequency has the biggest effect on the probability of foodborne illness, but storage and transportation times have also been found to affect the probability of foodborne illness; thus, management of the distribution environment should be considered important. Through this risk assessment, scientific data to support the criteria for L. monocytogenes in cheese could be obtained. In addition, we recommend that further risk assessment studies of L. monocytogenes in various foods be conducted in the future.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.77-86
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• 2022

The Republic of Korea is a country in which coastal surveillance is an imperative national task as it is surrounded by seas on three sides under the confrontation between South and North Korea. However, due to Defense Reform 2.0, the number of R/D (Radar) operating personnel has decreased, and the period of service has also been shortened. Moreover, there is always a possibility that a human error will occur. This paper presents specific guidelines for developing an AI learning model for the intelligent coastal surveillance system. We present a three-step strategy to realize the guidelines. The first stage is a typical stage of building an AI learning model, including data collection, storage, filtering, purification, and data transformation. In the second stage, R/D signal analysis is first performed. Subsequently, AI learning model development for classifying real and false images, coastal area analysis, and vulnerable area/time analysis are performed. In the final stage, validation, visualization, and demonstration of the AI learning model are performed. Through this research, the first achievement of making the existing weapon system intelligent by applying the application of AI technology was achieved.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.810-816
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• 2009

To identify effective food packaging compounds that could significantly affect the freshness of stored food, the efficiency and performance of porous polypropylene film containing mustard oil as a freshness maintenance ingredient was studied by GC-MS analysis and storage testing of bread. AITC (allyl-isothiocyanate)-emitting properties of films impregnated with mustard oil were evaluated by GC-MS. AITC was extracted from mustard oil, and used as a vapor as an effective antimicrobial agent. Films were prepared under four different conditions (the film types were abbreviated 25SF1, 25SF2, 50LF, and IAF) and the amounts of AITC inside vinyl packs constructed using the four films were measured. The results showed that the 25SF2 film (width 25 mm, length 20 cm) yielded a greater amount of AITC than did the 50LF film (width 50 mm, length 20 cm). We confirmed that the amount of gas emission showed better between layer and layer of the film side than the internal film. In storage testing using various films at $35^{\circ}C$ for 25 days, 25SF2 film provided excellent preservation of bread compared with 50LF film. This was in line with the fact that 25SF2 film yielded the highest amount of AITC. Emission capacities AITC of 2 cm film were measured using bottles various volumes (43 mL, 500 mL, 1000 mL) and both closed and open systems. The AITC content of the film in 43 mL bottle was much higher than that yielded by other films in the closed system, and AITC was rapidly emitted, with relatively low residual gas emission after 4 days in an open system. Mustard oil is a useful freshness maintenance ingredient hence, analysis of AITC emission kinetics from various films were helpful to develop films with optimal antimicrobial effects, and will allow application of such films in food packaging systems.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.6973-6979
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• 2014

To mitigate global warming and climate change, many countries are investing massively on the development of CCS technology, which is assumed to be the key technology to reduce $CO_2$ emissions. CCS technology is comprised of the capture, transport, and storage processes. During the capture process, impurities other than $CO_2$ are inevitably flowed into the $CO_2$ stream. In the present study, corrosion characteristics of a phosphate coated tube for $CO_2$ transportation was investigated with a $CO_2$ stream composed of $CO_2$, $H_2O$, $SO_2$, and $NO_2$. The test specimen was a phosphate coated steel tube, which was filled with $CO_2$ stream with the impurities mentioned above. SEM-EDS analysis is conducted to investigate the corrosion behavior. The results showed that although the H2O concentration did not exceed the solubility limit, corrosion occurred in the specimen, which has an inflow of $SO_2$ or $NO_2$. This suggests that the $SO_2$, $NO_2$ and $H_2O$ concentration should be strictly controlled. These results suggest that the $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ concentration should be controlled below 175ppm and 65ppm, respectively.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.61-69
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• 2009

Statement of problem: Porcelain veneers have become a popular treatment modality for aesthetic anterior prosthesis. Fitting porcelain veneers in the mouth usually involve a try-in appointment, which frequently results in salivary contamination of fitting surfaces. Purpose: An in vitro study was carried out to investigate the effect of silane treatment timing and saliva contamination on the resin bond strength to porcelain veneer surface. Material and methods: Cylindrical test specimens (n=360) and rectangular test specimens (n=5) were prepared for shear bond test and contact angle analysis. Whole cylindrical specimens divided into 20 groups, each of which received a different surface treatment and/or storage condition. The composite resin cement stubs were light-polymerized onto porcelain adherends. The shear bond strengths of cemented stubs were measured after dry storage and thermocycling (3,000 cycles) between 5 and $55^{\circ}C$. The silane and their reactions were chemically monitored by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis (FTIR) and contact angle analysis. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Dunnett's multiple comparison were used to analyze the data. Results: FT-IR analysis showed that salivary contamination and silane treatment timing did not affect the surface interactions of silane. Observed water contact angles were lower on the saliva contaminated porcelain surface and the addition of 37% phosphoric acid for 20 seconds on saliva contaminated porcelain increased the degree of contact angle. Silane applied to the porcelain, a few days before cementation, resulted in increasing the bond strength after thermocycling. Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, it can be concluded that it would be better to protect porcelain prosthesis before saliva contamination with silane treatment and to clean the contaminated surface by use of phosphoric acid.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.321-331
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• 2009

In this study, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge(Danshen) powder was extracted with ethanol, and its antimicrobial activity was investigated. The ethanol extract of the Danshen had antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The inhibition zones of the Danshen extract(3 mg/disc) against B. subtilis, E. coli and S. aureus were 13, 12 and 8.5 mm, respectively. To test the food preservation effect of Danshen and determine the optimal ratio of the Danshen extract in a formulation, Sulgidduk samples were prepared with substitutions of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1% Danshen extract, and then their quality characteristics were investigated over 4 days of storage. According to the results, total cell counts showed a decreasing trend with an increasing amount of added Danshen extract. Moisture contents were not significantly different among the Sulgidduk samples. As the content of Danshen extract increased, the L-values of samples decreased and the a- and b- values increased. For the textural characteristics, the hardness, gumminess, and chewiness of the Sulgidduk samples decreased as the amount of Danshen extract increased; however, they increased with the progression of storage time. In the sensory evaluation, the control group had significantly higher scores for color, flavor and after-taste as compared to the Danshen extract-added groups. With increasing Danshen extract contents, flavor and overall acceptability decreased, while Danshen flavor, bitterness and off-flavor increased. Chewiness was not significantly different among the samples. In conclusion, the results indicate that substituting 0.5% Danshen extract in Sulgidduk is optimal for quality and provides a product with reasonably high overall acceptability.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.39 no.4 s.165
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• pp.299-311
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• 2006

In this paper it is outlined the methodology of estimating the parameters of water balance analysis method for calculating recharge, using ground water level rises in monitoring well when values of specific yield of aquifer are not available. This methodology is applied for two monitoring wells of the case study area in northern area of the Jeiu Island. A water balance of soil layer of plant rooting zone is computed on a daily basis in the following manner. Diect runoff is estimated by using SCS method. Potential evapotranspiration calculated with Penman-Monteith equation is multiplied by crop coefficients($K_c$) and water stress coefficient to compute actual evapotranspiration(AET). Daily runoff and AET is subtracted from the rainfall plus the soil water storage of the previous day. Soil water remaining above soil water retention capacity(SWRC) is assumed to be recharge. Parameters such as the SCS curve number, SWRC and Kc are estimated from a linear relationship between water level rise and recharge for rainfall events. The upper threshold value of specific yield($n_m$) at the monitoring well location is derived from the relationship between rainfall and the resulting water level rise. The specific yield($n_c$) and the coefficient of determination ($R^2$) are calculated from a linear relationship between observed water level rise and calculated recharge for the different simulations. A set of parameter values with maximum value of $R^2$ is selected among parameter values with calculated specific yield($n_c$) less than the upper threshold value of specific yield($n_m$). Results applied for two monitoring wells show that the 81% of variance of the observed water level rises are explained by calculated recharge with the estimated parameters. It is shown that the data of groundwater level is useful in estimating the parameter of water balance analysis method for calculating recharge.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.881-891
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• 2003

Paenibacillus polymyxa is a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) which can be used for biological control of plant diseases. Several bacterial strains were isolated from rotten roots of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) that were in storage. These strains were identified as P. polymyxa, based on a RAPD analysis using a P. polymyxa-specific primer, cultural and physiological characteristics, an analysis utilizing the Biolog system, gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters (GC-FAME), and the 16S rDNA sequence analysis. These strains were found to cause the rot in stored ginseng roots. Twenty-six P. polymyxa strains, including twenty GBR strains, were phylogenetically classified into two groups according to the ERIC and BOX-PCR analyses and 16S rDNA sequencing, and the resulting groupings systematized to the degrees of virulence of each strain in causing root rot. In particular, highly virulent GBR strains clustered together, and this group may be considered as subspecies or biovar. The virulence of the strains seemed to be related to their starch hydrolysis enzyme activity, but not their cellulase or hemicellulase activity, since strains with reduced or no starch-hydrolytic activity showed little or no virulence. Artificial inoculation of the highly virulent strain GBR-1 onto the root surfaces of Korean ginseng resulted in small brown lesions which were sunken and confined to the outer portion of the root. Ginseng root discs inoculated in vitro or two-year-old roots grown in soil drenched with the inoculum developed significant rot only when the inoculum density was $10^{6}-10^{7}$ or more colony-forming units (CFU) per ml. These results suggest that P. polymyxa might induce ginseng root rot if their population levels are high. Based on these results, it is recommended that the concentration of P. polymyxa should be monitored, when it is used as a biocontrol agent of ginseng, especially in the treatment of stored roots.