• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.222-230
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate water quality in terms of microorganisms and identify the antibiotic resistance of Enterococci isolated from the recycling water in floor fountains at three parks and one reservoir in the Gwangju area. Methods: Water samples were analyzed for Enterococci using membrane Enterococcus indoxyl ${\beta}$ d glucoside agar (mEI) as described in USEPA Method 1600. The vancomycin-resistant Enterococci with VanA and VanB were identified by PCR. An examination of the antibiotic resistance of isolates against 14 antibiotics was performed by the disk diffusion method. Results: The drinking water quality criterion was exceeded for total colony counts in 68% of all recycling water samples. The average concentration of total califorms and fecal coliforms was 139,325 and 413 CFU/100 mL, respectively. VanA and VanB were not detected from the isolates. We found the antibiotic resistant Enterococci strains to be E. faecalis, E. faecium, E. durans, E. mundtii, E. hirae, and E. thailandicus. The isolates were resistant to Rifampin (50%), Erythromycin (25.8%), Tetracycline (10.2%), Nitrofurantoin (8.1%), Minocycline (3.1%), Erythromycin (1.2%), Penicillin (0.7%), Norfloxacin (0.5%), and Teicoplanin (0.5%) among the 14 antibiotics tested. Antibiotic resistance tests for Enterococci from the recycling water of floor fountains resulted in 30.2% showing resistance to two or more antibiotics. Conclusions: These results showed that the multi-antibiotic resistance of Enterococci, E. coli, and others should be investigated continuously in each environment field.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.107-113
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• 2019

The flood forecasting model currently used in Korea calculates the runoff of basin using the lumped rainfall-runoff model and estimates the river level using the river and reservoir routing models. The lumped model assumes homogeneous drainage zones in the basin. Therefore, it can not consider various spatial characteristics in the basin. In addition, the rainfall data used in lumped model also has the same limitation because of using the point scale rainfall data. To overcome the limitations as mentioned above, many researchers have studied to apply the distributed rainfall-runoff model to flood forecasting system. In this study, to apply the Grid-based Rainfall-Runoff Model (GRM) to the Korean flood forecasting system, the optimal resolution is determined by analyzing the difference of the results of the runoff according to the various resolutions. If the grid size is to small, the computation time becomes excessive and it is not suitable for applying to the flood forecasting model. Even if the grid size is too large, it does not fit the purpose of analyzing the spatial distribution by applying the distributed model. As a result of this study, the optimal resolution which satisfies the accuracy of the bsin runoff prediction and the calculation speed suitable for the flood forecasting was proposed. The accuracy of the runoff prediction was analyzed by comparing the Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient (NSE). The optimal resolution estimated from this study will be used as basic data for applying the distributed rainfall-runoff model to the flood forecasting system.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.428-435
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• 2018

In this study, we isolated and identified bacteria from freshwater and soil collected from Osang reservoir, to screen antimicrobial bacteria against various pathogenic bacteria. 38 strains were isolated and assigned to the class Proteobacteria (22 strains), Actinobacteria (7 strains), Bacteroidets (6 strains), and Firmicutes (3 strains) based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Among them, strain OS17 showed a good growth inhibition against 5 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus strains and Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Filobasidium neoformans. As a result of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain OS17 show the high similarity with Burkholderia ambifaria $AMMD^T$, B. diffusa $AM747629^T$, B. tettitorii $LK023503^T$ 99.8%, 99.7%, 99.6%, respectively. We investigated cell growth and antimicrobial activity according to commercial culture medium, temperature, pH for culture optimization of strain OS17. Optimal conditions for growth and antimicrobial activity in strain OS17 were found to be: YPD medium, $35^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.5. When the strain was cultured in LB, NB, TSB, R2A media at $20^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$, the antimicrobial activity did not show. Culture filtrate of strain OS17 showed antimicrobial activity against 5 MRSA strains, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, and Filobasidium neoformans with inhibition zones from 2 to 8 mm. Optimal reaction time was 48 h in YPD medium, 100 rpm and 0.3 vvm in 2 L-scale fed-batch fermentation process for antimicrobial activity. Culture optimization of strain OS17 can be improved on antimicrobial activity. Therefore, the antimicrobial activity of Burkholderia sp. OS17 had potential as antibiotics for pathogens including MRSA.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.201-206
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• 2019

Alien invasive species are introduced with or without intent and spreading all over Korea. They are known to have negative effects on biodiversity such as economic and environmental damage and causing decrease or loss of native species. The habitats like wetland, reservoir and riverside are especially in danger of being invaded by alien species due to stress and disturbance. Therefore, Korea National Arboretum is steadily working on research and studies on managing alien invasive species. This research aims to collect basic information of Ludwigia peploides subsp. montevidensis (Spreng.) P.H. Raven which was found near riverside in Suwon-si and is concerned to become an invasive alien species. We expect the description, diagram and pictures of this taxon will be helpful for early detection and effective management.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.354-366
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• 2022

To analyze the distribution of plant communities growing in river wetlands and the relationship between biotic and abiotic environmental factors, plant communities and environmental factors were investigated in river wetlands in the Boseong River. The Boseong River Wetland, the research site, consists of Hwapyeong Wetland, Bangujeong Wetland, and Seokgok Wetland. From June to September 2022, a plant community survey was conducted from the perspective of physiognomical vegetation, and the coverage of the emerging species followed the Braun-Blanquet scale. Plant species and the coverage of each species were recorded in the quadrant for plant community survey, and the cover of the quadrant, the total number of species, and the number of exotic species were measured as biological factors. As abiotic factors, altitude, orientation, inclination, soil texture, litter layer depth, dominant species diameter at breast height, and topography were recorded. In a total of 50 square plots, the most common Salix koreensis and Phragmites japonicus communities were found, and the community with the highest Shannon species diversity index was Phragmites japonicus-Echinochloa caudata community. As a result of ordination analysis by DCCA, the most significant clusters were separated according to topographic factors such as leeve, leeve slope, upper floodplain, lower floodplain, upper waterside, middle waterside, lower waterside, river island and opem water. As rare plants that need to be preserved in river wetlands, Hydrocharis dubia and Penthorum chinense were found in lower waterside, and it was found that the management of the river in the reservoir is necessary in line with the topographical distribution of ecosystem-disrupting plants, such as Paspalum distichum var. indutum.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.413-419
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability to treat and prevent infection by multiple Gram-negative bacterial pathogens as a last choice option in the treatment of serious infections in clinical settings. The global spread of extended-spectrum 𝛽-lactamases (ESBLs) and/or carbapenemases in microorganisms are of enormous concern to health services because they are often associated with multi-drug resistance which significantly restricts the antibiotic treatment options. In this study, the antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from South Korean market-derived meat samples were determined by the disc diffusion method. PCR was used to detect the presence of antibiotic resistance genes and ESBL producing genes. In total, we tested 181 isolated colonies from 36 market-derived meat samples. Single PCR and DNA sequencing results revealed that genes blaVIM, blaBIC, blaKPC, and blaSIM were present in the bacteria isolated from retail meat. The bacteria in the meat were separately sequenced and based on alignment, four different bacteria were identified. These findings suggest that bacteria found in retail meats are a reservoir for the spreading of ESBL blaVIM, blaBIC, blaKPC, and blaSIM resistance genes and bacteria strains.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.44-53
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• 2021

The flood prevention capacity of drainage facilities in urban areas has weakened because of the increase in impervious surface areas downtown owing to rapid urbanization as well as localized heavy rains caused by climate change. Detention can be installed in trunk sewers and linked to existing drainage facilities for the efficient drainage of runoff in various urban areas with increasing stormwater discharge and changing runoff patterns. In this study, the concept of detention in trunk sewers, which are storage facilities linked to existing sewer pipes, was applied. By selecting a virtual watershed with a different watershed shape, the relationship between the characteristic factors of detention in the trunk sewer and the design parameters was analyzed. The effect of reducing stormwater runoff according to the installation location and capacity of the reservoir was examined. The relationship between the installation location and the capacity of the detention trunk sewer in the Dowon district of the city of Yeosu, South Korea was verified. The effects of the existing water runoff reduction facility and the detention trunk sewer were also compared and analyzed. As a result of analyzing the effects of reducing internal inundation, it was found that the inundation area decreased by approximately 66.5% depending on the installation location of the detention trunk sewer. The detention trunk sewer proposed in this paper could effectively reduce internal inundation in urban areas.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.563-573
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• 2022

This work aimed to develop a new equation for turbidity (Turb) simulation and prediction using statistical methods based on principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression (MLR). For this purpose, water samples were collected monthly over a five year period from Cheurfa dam, an important reservoir in Northwestern Algeria, and analyzed for 12 parameters, including temperature (T°), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity (Turb), dissolved oxygen (DO), ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrate (NO₃^-), nitrite (NO₂^-), phosphate (PO₄^3-), total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The results revealed a strong mineralization of the water and low dissolved oxygen (DO) content during the summer period. High levels of TSS and Turb were recorded during rainy periods. In addition, water was charged with phosphate (PO₄^3-) in the whole period of study. The PCA results revealed ten factors, three of which were significant (eigenvalues >1) and explained 75.5% of the total variance. The F1 and F2 factors explained 36.5% and 26.7% of the total variance, respectively and indicated anthropogenic pollution of domestic agricultural and industrial origin. The MLR turbidity simulation model exhibited a high coefficient of determination (R² = 92.20%), indicating that 92.20% of the data variability can be explained by the model. TSS, DO, EC, NO₃^-, NO₂^-, and COD were the most significant contributing parameters (p values << 0.05) in turbidity prediction. The present study can help with decision-making on the management and monitoring of the water quality of the dam, which is the primary source of drinking water in this region.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.23-38
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• 2022

This study investigates the characteristics and physical habitat requirements for each Bufo gargarizans life history through a literature survey. After deriving variables for each component of Bufo gargarizans, in order to reduce regional deviations from eight previously studied literature research areas for deriving the criteria for variables, a total of 12 natural habitats of Bufo gargarizanss are selected as spatial ranges by selecting four additional sites such as Umyeonsan Ecological Park in Seoul, Wonheungibangjuk in Cheongju in the central region, Changnyeong Isan Reservoir in the southern region, and Mangwonji in Daegu. This study presents Bufo gargarizans SI, a species endemic to Korea, whose population is rapidly declining due to large-scale housing site development and road development, and develops a Bufo gargarizans HSI model accordingly to improve the function of the damaged Bufo gargarizans habitat and to present an objective basis for site selection of alternative habitat. At the same time, it provides basic data for adaptive management and follow-up monitoring. The three basic habitat requirements of amphibians, the physical habitat requirements of Bufo gargarizans, synthesized with shelter, food, and water, and the characteristics of each life history, are classified into five components by adding space and threats through literature research and expert advice. Variables are proposed by synthesizing and comparing the general characteristics of amphibians, among the previously studied single species of amphibians, the components of HSI of goldfrogs and Bufo gargarizans, and the ecological and physical environmental characteristics of Bufo gargarizans. Afterwards, through consultation with an amphibian expert, a total of 10 variables are finally presented by adjacent forest area(ha), the distance between spawning area and the nearest forest land(m), the soil, the distance from the wetland(m), the forest layered structure, the low grassland space, the permanent wetland area(ha), shoreline slope(%), PH, presence of predators, distance from road(m), presence or absence of obstacles. n order to derive the final criteria for each of the 10 variables, the criteria(alternative) for each variable are presented through geographic information analysis of the site survey area and field surveys of the previously studied literature research area. After a focus group interview(FGI) of 30 people related to the Bufo gargarizans colony in Cheongju, a questionnaire and in-depth interviews with three amphibians experts are conducted to verify and supplement the criteria for each final variable. Based on the finally developed Bufo gargarizans HSI, the Bufo gargarizans habitat model is presented through the SI graph model and the drawing centering on the Bufo gargarizans spawning area

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.56 no.9
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• pp.529-541
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• 2023

Due to the growing concern over forecasting extreme weather events such as droughts caused by climate change, there has been a rising interest in seasonal meteorological forecasts that offer ensemble predictions for the upcoming seven months. Nonetheless, limited research has been conducted in South Korea, particularly in assessing their effectiveness at the catchment-scale. In this study, we assessed the accuracy of ECMWF's seasonal forecasts (including precipitation, temperature, and evapotranspiration) for the period of 2011 to 2020. We focused on 12 multi-purpose reservoir catchments and compared the forecasts to climatology data. Continuous Ranked Probability Skill Score method is adopted to assess the forecast skill, and the linear scaling method was applied to evaluate its impact. The results showed that while the seasonal meteorological forecasts have similar skill to climatology for one month ahead, the skill decreased significantly as the forecast lead time increased. Compared to the climatology, better results were obtained in the Wet season than the Dry season. In particular, during the Wet seasons of the dry years (2015, 2017), the seasonal meteorological forecasts showed the highest skill for all lead times.