• Genes and Genomics
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.1199-1211
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• 2018

Soil acidification is one of major problems limiting crop growth and especially becoming increasingly serious in China owing to excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer. Only the STOP1 of Arabidopsis was identified clearly sensitive to proton rhizotoxicity and the molecular mechanism for proton toxicity tolerance of plants is still poorly understood. The main objective of this study was to investigate the transcriptomic change in plants under the low pH stress. The low pH as a single factor was employed to induce the response of the wheat seedling roots. Wheat cDNA microarray was used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A total of 1057 DEGs were identified, of which 761 genes were up-regulated and 296 were down-regulated. The greater percentage of up-regulated genes involved in developmental processes, immune system processes, multi-organism processes, positive regulation of biological processes and metabolic processes of the biological processes. The more proportion of down-regulation genes belong to the molecular function category including transporter activity, antioxidant activity and molecular transducer activity and to the extracellular region of the cellular components category. Moreover, most genes among 41 genes involved in ion binding, 17 WAKY transcription factor genes and 17 genes related to transport activity were up-regulated. KEGG analysis showed that the jasmonate signal transduction and flavonoid biosynthesis might play important roles in response to the low pH stress in wheat seedling roots. Based on the data, it is can be deduced that WRKY transcription factors might play a critical role in the transcriptional regulation, and the alkalifying of the rhizosphere might be the earliest response process to low pH stress in wheat seedling roots. These results provide a basis to reveal the molecular mechanism of proton toxicity tolerance in plants.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.533-541
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• 2018

Chloride attack, one of the major deterioration phenomena in RC(Reinforced Concrete) structure, causes corrosion of reinforcement, and this leads degradation of serviceability and structural problems. The application of silicate based impregnant to concrete surface are known for excellent constructability and cost-benefit for the maintenance of RC structure. In the work, the compressive strength and resistance of chloride diffusion for concrete were evaluated after improving property of concrete surface through two types of silicate based impregnant. Furthermore, based on the previous research and the result from the work, service life analysis was performed. After impregnating of silicate, strength and resistance of chloride diffusion were remarkably improved, and the service life increase to 159% for silicate A impregnation and 304% for silicate B impregnation, respectively.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.895-908
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• 2023

Disposal of waste containing heavy metals into the environment is a major threat to human health and can result in toxic or chronic poisoning in aquatic life. In the current study, metal-resistant Raoultella ornithinolytica was isolated from metal-contaminated samples collected from the Tanjaro River, located southwest of Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. R. ornithinolytica was identified by partial amplification of 16S rRNA. The uptake potency of heavy metals was assessed using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and indicated that R. ornithinolytica removed 67, 89, 63.4, 55.6, 56.5, 65, and 61.9% of Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, Co, and Fe, respectively. These removal rates were influenced by temperature, pH, and contact time; at 35℃ and pH 5 with a change in the incubation time, the reduction rate improved from 89 to 95% for Pb, from 36.4 to 45% for Cu, and from 55.6 to 64% for Ni. Gene analysis indicated that R. ornithinolytica contained pbrT, chrB, nccA, iroN, and czcA genes, but the pcoD gene was absent. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) images showed evidence of metal ion binding on the cell wall surface with different rates of binding. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) detected different mechanisms for metal particle localization; cell surface adsorption was the main mechanism for Pb, Zn, and Co uptake, while Cd, Ni, and Fe were accumulated inside the cell. The current study describes, for the first time, the isolation of R. ornithinolytica from metal-contaminated water, which can be used as an eco-friendly biological expedient for the remediation and detoxification of metals from contaminated environments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.27 no.2_2
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• pp.475-485
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• 2024

In many regions of Korea, including the Four Major Rivers, the seriousness of the problem of algal blooms due to eutrophication of water quality is being raised.In this study, in order to solve these social problems, we manufactured a filter using natural mineral fusion (red illite, zeolite, germanium ceramic, selenium ceramic, carbon ceramic) and independently developed a tank system for green algae experiments to observe and determine the stages of change in water quality. In order to study ways to improve water quality through quantitative analysis, 1 ton of severely polluted green algae water from the Nak dong River region was stored in a water tank and exposed to ultraviolet rays in the same environment as the Nak dong River. Then, the same environment as the Nak dong River was created. The results were derived from a 5-week water quality test. The results of this experiment confirmed that green-colored cyano bacteria were significantly reduced just by the turbidity results. The results were obtained through a request to the Korea Testing & Research Institute located in Changwon-si, Gyeong sang nam-do. CI-(chlorine ion) and NH3-N(ammonia nitrogen) had the effect of saving every week. The device used in this study was made of natural minerals free of heavy metals that are harmless to the human body and nature through long-term consideration and exploration to kill and prevent various strains living in water. Green purification system using natural hydrogen generating mineral filter were effective a non-chemical and physical methods. The results of this study are one way to contribute to the serious problems caused by green algae in many countries, and will contribute to the water quality environment by preventing the waste of environmental resources, improving the health of the people, and increasing the ability to purify environmental water quality at home and abroad.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.366-372
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• 2024

Background: The biological activity and pharmacological effects of rare ginsenosides have been proven to be superior to those of the major ginsenosides, but they are rarely found in ginseng. Methods: Ginsenoside Rb1 was chemically transformed with the involvement of methanol molecules by a synthesized heterogeneous catalyst 12-HPW@MeSi, which was obtained by the immobilization of 12-phosphotungstic acid on a mesoporous silica framework. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used to identify the transformation products. Results: A total of 18 transformation products were obtained and identified. Methanol was found to be involved in the formation of 8 products formed by the addition of methanol molecules to the C-24 (25), C-20 (21) or C-20 (22) double bonds of the aglycone. The transformation pathways of ginsenoside Rb1 involved deglycosylation, addition, elimination, cycloaddition, and epimerization reactions. These pathways could be elucidated in terms of the stability of the generated carbenium ion. In addition, 12-HPW@MeSi was able to maintain a 60.5% conversion rate of Rb1 after 5 cycles. Conclusion: Tandem and high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis allowed rapid and accurate identification of the transformation products through the characteristic fragment ions and neutral loss. Rare ginsenosides with methoxyl groups grafted at the C-25 and C-20 positions were obtained for the first time by chemical transformation using the composite catalyst 12-HPW@MeSi, which also enabled cyclic heterogeneous transformation and facile centrifugal separation of ginsenosides. This work provides an efficient and recyclable strategy for the preparation of rare ginsenosides with the involvement of organic molecules.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.140-146
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• 2017

It is laser induced breakdown spectroscopy(LIBS) that enables qualitative and quantitative analysis of the elements contained in unknown specimen by comparing the wavelength characteristics of each element obtained from the spectral analysis of the standard specimen with the wavelength analysis results from unknown specimens. In this study, the applicability of LIBS to the analysis of major deterioration factors affecting concrete durability was experimentally analyzed. That is, the possibility of applying LIBS to the diagnosis of concrete deterioration by studying the quantitative detection of harmful deteriorating factors on chloride, sulfate and carbonated mortar specimens using LIBS was studied. As a result of LIBS test for each chloride and sulfate specimen, the LIBS spectral wavelength intensity of chlorine and sulfur ions increased linearly with increasing concentration. Carbon ion LIBS spectral wave intensities of carbonated specimens increased nonlinearly over the duration of carbonation exposure. From the above results, it can be partially confirmed that LIBS can be applied to the diagnosis of concrete deterioration. In case of concrete carbonation, it is presumed that carbon content is contained in the cement itself and is different from the detection of chloride and sulfate specimen. Therefore, it is considered that more various parameter studies should be performed to apply LIBS to concrete carbonation.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.27 no.2 s.89
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• pp.170-174
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• 1999

Water-soluble polysaccharides from the fruiting bodies of Agaricus blazei Murill were extracted with 0.9% sodium chloride and hot water, successively. The purified polysaccharides showed a potent immunostimulating activity. Eight major polysaccharides, which were named from AG-l to AG-8, were fractionated and purified by ethanol precipitation, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration on Toyopearl HW 65F. These polysaccharides were identified to be homogeneous by analysis of HPLC. Three major active polysaccharides (AG-2, -3, and -6) showed relatively strong immunostimulating activity. AG-2 and -3 were composed of glucose, galactose and mannose in the molar ratios of 74.0:15.3:10.7 and 63.6:17.6:12.7, respectively. AG-6 was composed of glucose and ribose in the molar ratios of 81.4:12.6.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.475-485
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• 2001

The presence of airborne particles in the earth atmosphere expert important controls on the global climate because of their effects on the radiative balance. However, there are major uncertainties associated with the direct and indirect radiative effects of aerosols. In addition, their physicochemical properties cannot only the decline of air quality but also damage human health. Airborne particles were collected by two different commercial air samples, high volume sampler(for TSP) and low volume sampler(for P $M_{10}$ ) at the campus of Kunsan National University during February to September, 2000. In most cases, TSP and P $M_{10}$ were sampled once a week for the duration of 24 hours from 9:00 a.m. In addition samples were collected more intenisve, when the yellow dust was expected. Each sample was analyzed for pH and major ions concentration (C $l^{[-10]}$ , S $O_4$$^{2-}$, N $O_3$$^{[-10]}$ , N $a^{+}$, N $H_4$$^{+}$, $K^{+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$) by ion chromatography and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Acidity (pH) of TSP and P $M_{10}$ ranged from 5.09 to 8.51 and from 6.22 to 7.54, respectively. The concentrations of airborne particles were found to satisfy both the short and long-term air quality standards during the sampling period. If the ratio of ionic concentrations originating from None sea salt(Nss) to sea salt(ss) in aerosol samples was concerned, it was found that the ionic concentrations from marine environment contributed dominantly in total mass concentration in the airborne particles. When seasonal trends were examined, the TSP concentrations in spring were higher than those of other seasons. It may result form frequent occurrences of yellow dust and during the spring season. The concentration ratio of P $M_{10}$ to TSP ranged from 0.78 to 1 during the sampling period. pH in the airborne particle was highest during spring, but the other seasons maintained almost same level. These results suggest that alkaline species in yellow dust can directly neutralize aerosol acidity. During spring season, yellow dust could be a positive factor that can defer the acidification of surface soil and water by neutralizing acidic aerosols in the atmosphere.osphere.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.318-325
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• 1999

Sludges from the wastewater of hanji production were analysed to see that sludges from the bleaching process, the bleach washing process, and the paper preparation process were fibrous, while sludges from the process cooking with NaOH and the process of final chemical and microbiological treatment were non-fibrous. Sludge solution from the bleaching process had the most amount of solid matters. Sludges from the bleaching process, the bleach washing process, and the final chemical and microbiological treatment process contained about 80-90 %(w/w) moisture. Owing to hypochlorite ion, pH of sludge from the bleaching process was higher than any other sludge samples. The inorganic components of sludges were determined by ICP-AES. The major inorganic component of sludge from the process cooking with NaOH was Na, while the sludge from the bleaching process had Na and Ca, major components in the final chemical and microbiological treatment process were Ca and Al. Trace amount of Mg, Fe, K, P, Mn and Ti were observed in sludges. Sludge from the bleaching process had ashes more than any other sludges. Shape of sludges observed by SEM was appeared to fibrous or crystalline, and the breadth of fibrous sludge was $5{\sim}50{\mu}m$. The sludge from the bleaching process had the most amount of matters soluble by cold and hot water and by alcohol-benzene.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.325-333
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• 2017

This study aimed to investigate the various biological activities of Geranium thunbergii such as antimicrobial activity and protective effect against oxidative damage. To evaluate its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, we first performed methanol extraction; this methanol extract was further partitioned using various solvents. And then, its antioxidant activity was measured using various assays including total phenolic content and protection against oxidative DNA damage, and antimicrobial activities were examined using minimum inhibiting concentration (MIC) test, and paper disc method. In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography was performed to analyze the major chemical components of ethyl acetate fraction. The G. thunbergii fraction with ethyl acetate exhibited higher antioxidant and antimicrobial activities than the other fractions. The results showed that G. thunbergii ethyl acetate fraction at $50{\mu}g/mL$ had strong DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of 80.88% and 80.12%, respectively. In addition, the ethyl acetate fraction protected DNA from the oxidative damage induced by ferrous ion and hydroxyl radicals and showed high antimicrobial activity with diameter of inhibition zones ranging from 13.33 to 15.67 mm. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the major phenolic compounds of G. thunbergii to be ellagic acid and gallic acid. These results suggest that G. thunbergii might protect DNA against oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species and can be utilized as a natural source of antioxidant and antimicrobial agent in the food industry.