• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to investigate the sterilization effect of Er:YAG laser against the intraoral acid producing bacterium, S. mutans, by irradiating the culture solution containing S. mutans KCTC 3065 with Er:YAG laser having a $650{\mu}m$ diameter beam through the non-contact method. We obtained the following results after examining the temperature changes of the culture solution, numbers of bacterial colonies, and acid-producing ability and attaching ability on teeth by measuring the amount of extracellular polysaccharide produced by S. mutans. The number of bacterial colony was decreased in $10{\mu}l$ culture solution irradiated with laser in overall compared to the control solution. The number decreased as the irradiation intensity and pulse repetition rate were larger and as the exposure time was increased. However, it did not change significantly in $100{\mu}l$ culture solution compared to the control solution. Although the acid-producing ability of S. mutans was inhibited for a certain duration after laser irradiation in 10r1 bacterial culture solution, it did not change in $100{\mu}m$ solution compared with the control solution. The amount of extracellular polysaccharide synthesized by S. mutans was partially decreased through laser irradiation in $10{\mu}m$ culture solution but did not change in $100{\mu}m$ culture solution. Based on these findings, we concluded that Er:YAG laser has an sterilization effect on S. mutans in which we presume that the mechanism is through the heat effect rather than the mechanical effect from development of ultrasound.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.103-115
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• 2014

Forest vegetation of Noinbong (1,338 m) in Odaesan National Park is classified into mountain forest vegetation. Mountain forest vegetation is subdivided into deciduous broad-leaved forest, mountain valley forest, coniferous forest, subalpine coniferous forest, subalpine deciduous forest, shrub forest, riparian forest, afforestation and other vegetation. Including 196 communities of mountain forest vegetation and 7 communities of other vegetation, the total of 203 communities were researched; mountain forest vegetation classified by physiognomy classification are 62 communities deciduous broad-leaved forest, 85 communities of mountain valley forest, 18 communities of coniferous forests, 3 communities of subalpine coniferous forests, 4 communities of subapine deciduous forests, 2 communities of shrub forests, 1 communities of riparian forests, 21 afforestation and 7 other vegetation. As for the distribution rate for surveyed main communities, Quercus mongolica, Quercus serrata, Quercus variabilis communities account for 54.856 percent of deciduous broad-leaved forest, Fraxinus mandshurica - Cornus controversa community takes up 15.482 percent of mountain valley forest, Pinus densiflora community holds 78.091 percent of mountain coniferous forest holds. In conclusion, minority species consisting of Quercus mongolica, Pinus densiflora, Tilia amurensis, Fraxinus mandshurica, Cornus controversa, Quercus serrata, and Quercus variabilis are distributed as dominant species of the uppermost part in a forest vegetation region in Odaesan National Park. In addition, because of vegetation succession and climate factors, numerous colonies formed by the two species are expected to be replaced by Quercus mongolica, Carpinus laxiflora and Fraxinus mandshurica which are climax species in the area.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.642-649
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• 2012

The southern coast of Korea is important for the ark shell ($Scapharca$ $broughtonii$) aquaculture, but the productivity was rapidly reduced during the previous decade by mass mortality. To overcome this economic loss, investigations only focused on environmental factors, and microbiological researches were performed insufficiently. In this study, two sites (Gangjin and Jinhae bay) were selected for their high and low rate of mortality, respectively, and the existence of microflora from underwater sediments in the bodies of $S.$ $broughtonii$ was analyzed. We screened the whole body of each sample and chose unique colonies, which exhibit alpha- and beta-hemolytic activity, for identification. The microflora in $S.$ $broughtonii$ was less variable than sediments, and restricted species were isolated. We identified 17 genera of 88 species and 16 genera of 64 species from the two bays, respectively. A major proportion was comprised of $Bacillus$ species, with the $Bacillus$ $cereus$ group being the most common species among the $Bacillus$ strains, while $Paenibacillus$, $Lynsilbacillus$, and $Vibrio$ species were the second most abundant species. At the genus level, there were no significant microbial differences between the two coastal regions. 64 species were isolated from rare site (Jinhae bay), but more species (88) with greater variety were isolated from the frequent site (Gangjin bay). Therefore, it was assumed that the cause of mass mortality lay in the difference in specie-level diversity, and conducting investigations on the diagnosis of pathogenic species by challenging tests using isolated unique species.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2017

The majority of freshwater ornamental fish are imported and distributed domestically, causing high risk of exposure to exotic pathogens and drug resistant bacteria in Korea. Aeromonas hydrophila is known as a common species of fresh water bacteria and opportunistic fish pathogen, as well as a species causing zoonotic infection. In this study, we isolated motile aeromonads from various imported freshwater ornamental fish and studied the characters of the isolates. Imported freshwater ornamental fish were purchased on day 1 after the fish were deposited in the aquarium. Bacteria were isolated from the liver, kidney and spleen of fish using 0.5% NaCl containing tryptic soy agar medium. Bacteria were grouped on the basis of their morphological characteristics. The colonies with clear zone on starch-ampicillin agar (SA agar) were tentatively identified as Aeromonas spp. Two hundred and twenty-six strains, about 70% of total isolates were assumed to be Aeromonas spp. Nine isolates were further identified based on the result of the API 20E test and PCR using primers specific for A. hydrophila 16S rRNA gene. The isolates were identified as A. hydrophila and the API 20E test showed differences in trisodium citrate, D-sucrose, D-melibiose, amygdalin and L-arabinose availability between the nine isolates and standard A. hydrophila. The susceptibilities of the isolated bacteria to 10 antibacterial agents were confirmed by the disk diffusion method. Isolated strains were found to be resistant to amoxicillin and ampicillin and sensitive to florfenicol. However, 7 isolates showed multiple drug resistances to erythromycin, oxytetracycline, nalidixic acid etc. Pathogenicity of the isolates was determined by the artificial challenge test on goldfish (Carassius auratus). Three isolates caused 60 ~ 80% mortality in goldfish within 5 days after the initiation of challenge. These results indicate that multiple drug resistant, highly pathogenic and exotic A. hydrophila can spread to domestic aquarium and the preventive treatment of fish before sale is necessary.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2004

This study was performed to examine the effects of catalase and $\beta$-mercaptoethanol ($\beta$ME) on the establishment of clonal lines from porcine fetal fibroblast cells. Fibroblasts derived from a pig fetus (Day 50) were passaged two times before use. A single cell was seeded in 96-well plates and cultured in medium supplemented with or without catalase or $\beta$ ME. Cell colonies were passaged two times into 4-well dish. Cell lines with proliferating potential were classified as an established clonal cell line. In experience 1, the establishment efficiencies were examined by addition of catalase (100ng/$m\ell$) or $\beta$ME (100 uM) in culture medium. The establishment efficiency of $\beta$ME-added group (8.3％) was significantly higher than that of control group (3.2％, P<0.05). However, catalase did not have a positive efffct on the establishment efficiency. In experience 2, the establishment efficiencies were examined by addition of different concentrations of catalase (0-1,000 ng/$m\ell$) in culture medium. However, establishment efficiencies were not different among the different concentrations of catalase (0-2.6％). In experience 3. the establishment efficiencies were examined by addition of different concentrations of $\beta$ME(0-1,000 uM) in culture medium. The establishment efficiency was significantly higher in 100 uM $\beta$ME-added group (9.4％) compare to others (0-1.6％). The result of present study shows that the establishment efficiency of clonal cell lines can be enhanced by the culture in media supplemented with 100uM $\beta$ME. However, catalase did not have a positive effect on the establishment efficiency.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.346-350
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• 2009

Purpose : Since children under two years with suspected urinary tract infections (UTIs) cannot control urination, urine cultures in such children are usually performed via urine bags. This method is noninvasive but has a high contamination rate. We studied the contamination rate of bag urine culture in diagnosing UTI in infants under two years and the factors responsible for contamination. Methods : We examined patients under 2 years in whom urine culture through the urine bag method yielded over 105 colonies of a single pathogen. We defined UTI by referring to the guidelines of The Korean Society of Pediatric Nephrology, 2005. We examined the factors responsible for contamination according to sex, duration of urine collection, and whether diarrhea took place with contamination rate. Results : We examined 717 patients (412 males and 305 females). The contamination rate of one bag urine culture was 37.9%. Gender was not related to the contamination rate (P>0.05). Duration of urine collection showed an association with the contamination rate. The longer the duration of collecting urine, the higher was the contamination rate. Duration of urine collection was divided into three groups: first group, <2 hours; second group, 24 hours; and third group, ${\geq}4$ hours. Contamination rates were 30.0%, 42.2%, and 43.7% for the first, second, and third groups, respectively, with statistical significance (P=0.001). Diarrhea at admission had no impact on the contamination rate (P>0.05). Conclusion : The contamination rate of urine culture in the examined patients was 37.9%. Gender and diarrhea symptoms were not responsible for contamination. In infants with a suspected UTI, urine should be collected within 2 hours through the urine bag method. If urine collection takes >2 hours, the urine bag should be resterilized and reattached to the patient.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.285-296
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• 2014

Although the problems of the algal blooms have been world-widely observed in freshwater, estuary, and marine throughout the year, it is not yet certain what are the basic causes of such blooms. Consequently, it is very difficult to predict when and where algal blooms occur. The constituents of the Asian dust are in a good agreement with the elements required for the algal growth, which suggests some possible relationship between the algal blooms and the Asian dust. There have been frequently algal blooms in drinking water from rivers or lakes. However, there is no any algal blooms in upwelling waters where the Asian dust cannot penetrate into the soil due to its relatively weak settling velocity (size of particles, $4.5{\pm}1.5{\mu}m$), which implies the possible close relationship of the Asian dust with algal blooms. The present initiative study is thus intended firstly in Korea to illustrate such a relationship by reviewing typical previous studies along with 12 years of weekly iron profiles (2001~2012) and two slant culture experiments with the dissolved Asian dust. The result showed bacterial suspected colonies in the slant culture experiment that are qualitatively in a good agreement with the recent Japanese studies. Since the diatoms require cheap energy (8%) compared to other phytoplankton (100%) to synthesize their cell walls by silicate, the present results can be used to predict algal blooms by diatoms if the concentrations of iron and silicate are available during spring and fall. It can be postulated that the algal blooms occur only if the environmental factors such as light, nutrients, calm water surface layer, temperature, and pH are simultaneously satisfied with the requirements of the micronutrients of mineral ions supplied by the Asian dust as enzymatic cofactors for the rapid bio-synthesis of the macromolecules during algal blooms. Simple eco-friendly methods to regulate the algal blooms are suggested for the initial stage of blooming with limited area: 1) to cover up the water surface with black curtain and inhibit photosynthesis during the day time, 2) to blow air (20.9%) or pure oxygen into the bottom of the water and inhibit rubisco for carbon uptake and nitrate reductase for nitrogen uptake activities in algal growth during the night, 3) to eliminate the resting spores or cysts by suction of bottom sediments as deep as 5 cm to prevent the next year germinations.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.109-121
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• 2010

The bioleaching experiment under $42^{\circ}C$ was effectively carried out to leach the more valuable element ions from the pyrite in the Gangyang mine waste. Bacteria can survive at this temperature, as indigenous acidophilic bacteria were collected in the Hatchobaru acidic hot spring, in Japan. To enhance the bacterial activity, yeast extract was added to the pyrite-leaching medium. The indigenous acidophilic bacteria appeared to be rod-shaped in the growth-medium which contained elemental sulfur and yeast extract. The rod-shaped bacteria ($0.7\times2.6\;{\mu}m$, $0.6\times7\;{\mu}m$, $0.8\times5\;{\mu}m$ and $0.7\times8.4\;{\mu}m$) were attached to the pyrite surface. The colonies of the rod-shaped bacteria were selectively attached to the surroundings of a hexagonal cavity and the inner wall of the hexagonal cavity, which developed on a pyrite surface. Filament-shaped bacteria ranging from $4.92\;{\mu}m$ to $10.0\;{\mu}m$ in length were subsequently attached to the surrounding cracks and inner wall of the cracks on the pyrite surface. In the XRD analysis, the intensity of (111), (311), (222) and (320) plane on the bacteria pyrite sample relatively decreased in plane on the control pyrite sample, whereas the intensity of (200), (210) and (211) increased in these samples. The microbiological leaching content of Fe ions was found to be 3.4 times higher than that of the chemical leaching content. As for the Zn, microbiological leaching content, it was 2 times higher than the chemical leaching content. The results of XRD analysis for the bioleaching of pyrite indicated that the indigenous acidophilic bacteria are selectively attacked on the pyrite specific plane. It is expected that the more valuable element ions can be leached out from the mine waste, if the temperature is increased in future bioleaching experiments.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.321-326
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• 2015

This study was performed to analyze the resident microbial flora and the effects of probiotic inoculation on the fermentation characteristics of whole grain naked barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) with the goal of evaluating the possibility of utilization as fermented feedstuff. Naked barley grains were harvested 35 days after heading, and the microbial flora was analyzed using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer. After inoculation of commercial microbes to the naked barley grain (BT), the pH and number of bacteria, such as aerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeast and E. coli, were measured and compared with the non-inoculated control (BC). A total of 122 colonies was isolated from the naked barley grain and the most popular bacteria species was Staphylococcus xylosus (n = 30, 24.59%). The pH value decreased more rapidly in BT than in BC, and was significantly lower after 7 days of fermentation at $4.33{\pm}0.02$ and $4.83{\pm}0.01$, respectively. The number of aerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and yeast showed an increasing trend within the first 7 days of fermentation, however, their numbers decreased at 28 and 42 days of fermentation. The population of lactic acid bacteria in BT was higher than in BC, but there was no significant different at 7 days of fermentation, with respective levels of $9.24{\pm}0.20$ and $9.01{\pm}0.10logCFU/g$ (p>0.05). The initial number of E. coli was very high in the naked barley grain but subsequently decreased significantly. After 7 days of fermentation, E. coli was not detected in either BT or BC samples. From these results, it appears that the fermentation of naked barley grain proceeded adequately after 7 days, and that fermentation contributes to the safety of naked barley grain during storage.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.3 s.91
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• pp.187-196
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• 2000

This paper describes a simple method that uses differences among Carlson's (1977) trophic state index (TSI) values based on total phosphorus (TP), chlorophyll a (CHL) and Secchi depth (SD) to draw inferences regarding the factors that are limiting to phytoplankton growth and the composition of lake seston. Examples are provided regarding seasonal and spatial patterns in a large subtropical lake (Lake Okeechobee, Florida, USA) and inter- and intra-lake variations from a multilake data set developed from published studies. Once an investigator has collected routine water quality data and established TSI values based on TP, CHL, and SD, a number of inferences can be made. Additional information can be provided where it also is possible to calculate a TSI based on total nitrogen (TN). Where TSI (CHL)<>TSI (SD), light attenuating particles are large (large filaments or colonies of algae), and the phytoplankton may be limited by zooplankton grazing. Other limiting conditions are inferred by different relationships between the TSI values. Results of this study indicate that the analysis is quite robust, and that it generally gives good agreement with conclusions based on more direct methods (e.g., nutrientaddition bioassays, zooplankton size data, zooplankton removal experiments). The TSI approach, when validated periodically with these more costly and time-intensive methods, provides an effective, low cost method for tracking long-term changes in pelagic structure and function with potential value in monitoring lake ecology and responses to management.