• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.530-539
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• 2021

Background: In South Korea, areas around abandoned metal mines are designated as regions with high arsenic (As) contamination. However, studies assessing urinary As exposure, As metabolism, and relevant genetic polymorphisms in residents of these metal mine areas are lacking. Objectives: To identify factors associated with As exposure and evaluate the effects of MTHFR, As3MT, and GSTO1 genetic polymorphisms on As metabolism in residents of abandoned metal mine areas by measuring urinary As species. Methods: Urinary As species (arsenite [As³⁺], arsenate [As⁵⁺], monomethyl arsonic acid, and dimethylarsinic acid) were isolated using high-performance liquid chromatography in combination with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS). Four genetic polymorphisms (MTHFR A222V, MTHFR E429A, GSTO1 A140D, As3MT M287T) were analyzed in 144 residents of four areas around abandoned metal mines. Results: The study sample was comprised of 34.7% men and 65.3% women, with a mean age of 70.7±10.9 years. The urinary inorganic As concentration was higher among those consuming more than half locally produced rice (0.31 ㎍/L) than those consuming less than half such rice (0.18 ㎍/L). The urinary dimethylarsinic acid concentration was higher in the group that had consumed seafood in the past day (31.68 ㎍/L) than in those who had not (22.37 ㎍/L). Furthermore, individuals heterozygous in the MTHFR A222V and GSTO1 A140D polymorphism had higher urinary arsenic species concentrations than did individuals with a wild type or homozygous for the variant allele. Conclusions: Consumption of locally produced rice was associated with inorganic As exposure, whereas seafood consumption was associated with organic As exposure among residents of abandoned metal mine areas. There was no clear association between MTHFR A222V and GSTO1 A140D polymorphisms and As metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.245-253
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• 2022

Objectives: This study was conducted to find out if the dietary iron intake of Koreans estimated by 2 different methods (iron content sources) using the food intake data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) are comparable. One method was based on the KNHANES's Food & Nutrient Database (FND) derived mainly from the Korean Food Composition Table and the other used the iron content (IC) of food samples processed in the Korean Total Diet Study (KTDS). Methods: Dietary intake data from the 2013-2016 KNHANES was used to select representative foods (RFs) in KTDS for iron analysis. Selection of the RFs and cooking methods for each RF (RF × cooking method pair) was performed according to the 'Guidebook for Korean Total Diet Studies' and resulted in a total of 132 RFs and 224 'RF × cooking method' pairs. RFs were collected in 9 metropolitan cities nationwide once or twice (for those with seasonality) in 2018 and made into 6 composites each, based on the origin and season prior to cooking. Then, the RF composites prepared to a 'table ready' state for KTDS were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Dietary iron intake of the Korean population was estimated using only RFs' intake data based on the 2 sources of iron content, namely FND-KNHANES and IC-KTDS. Results: RFs in KTDS covered 92.0% of total food intake of Koreans in the 2016-2018 KNHANES. Mean iron intake of Koreans was 7.77 mg/person/day by IC-KTDS vs 9.73 mg/person/day by FND-KNHANES. The major food groups contributing to iron intake were meats (21.7%), vegetables (20.5%), and grains & cereals (13.4%) as per IC-KTDS. On the other hand, the latter source (FND-KNHANES) resulted in a very different profile: grains & cereals (31.1%), vegetables (16.8%), and meats (15.3%). While the top iron source was beef, accounting for 8.6% in the former, it was polished rice (19.2%) in the latter. There was a 10-fold difference in the iron content of polished rice between 2 sources that iron intakes excluding the contribution by polished rice resulted in very similar values: 7.58 mg/person/day by IC-KTDS and 7.86 mg/person/day by FND-KNHANES. Conclusions: This study revealed that the dietary iron intake estimated by 2 different methods were quite comparable, excluding one RF, namely polished rice. KTDS was thus proven to be a useful tool in estimating a 'closer-to-real' dietary intake of nutrients for Koreans and further research on various nutrients is warranted.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.4
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• pp.490-501
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• 2022

In this study, the isoprene and terpene emissions from 32 major urban tree species were investigated. We conducted sampling using a dynamic enclosure system between June and July 2021. Seedlings aged < three years were enclosed in a chamber consisting of a 400 L transparent Tedlar bag. The air flow from the outlet of the chamber was sampled using Tenax-filled sorbent tubes under standard conditions (temperature: 30°C; PAR: 1,000 μmol/m²/sec). A thermal desorption gas chromatography/mass spectrometry system was used to analyze the following 38 biogenic volatile organic compounds: isoprene, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, oxygenated monoterpenes, and oxygenated sesquiterpenes. Isoprene emitters included Quercus mongolica, Salix koreensis, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Salix chaenomeloides. Monoterpene emitters included Pinus strobus, Cedrela sinensis, and Cercis chinensis. The monoterpene emission profiles were dominated by á-pinene, myrcene, camphene, and limonene. The predominant oxygenated monoterpene and oxygenated sesquiterpene were eucalyptol and caryophyllene oxide, respectively. For all species, the contributions of sesquiterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes were relatively low.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.124-132
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• 2022

Through scientific analysis, this study identified the material characteristics of metal foil decorating the border line and knotting of the National Folklore Cultural Heritage 'Pouch for the Sutra Embroidered with a Sun and Moon Design'. Through Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy results, it was estimated that silver (Ag) and sulfur (S) were present in the metal foil, and silver leaf was also attached to the medium. S may discolor Ag from yellow to black depending on its concsentration and contact time. Yellow color could not be identified in metal foil at present. But there existed an example of the preparation of a gold-colored flat silver thread; therefore, further research is needed to estimate the original color. The lamella was reddish brown on the back. Aluminum, silicon, and iron were also detected and were the main components found in red soil. This is believed to be the red adhesive in traditional flat gold thread and is considered to be an adhesive-related component of the metal foil. From the gas chromatography mass spectrometry results, the adhesive component was confirmed to be animal glue.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.207-215
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• 2022

The intensity of fishy odor in eggs, which differs depending on the poultry type and individual perception, can be due to many factors including trimethylamine (TMA) which has been identified as the main. Notably, riboflavin can increase the activity of flavin-containing monooxygenase 3, the enzyme responsible for converting TMA into odorless trimethylamine-N-oxide. This study aimed to analyze the TMA content in egg yolk, evaluate its contribution to fishy odor, and develop a method to prevent this undesired odor. Solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to detect and quantify volatile compounds in egg yolk from hens fed a standard TMA-rich diet and hens fed a riboflavin-supplemented diet. To compare the relative content of volatile substances between eggs, a correlation study was performed using an electronic nose. Higher concentration of TMA (1.06 ± 0.12 mg/kg) was detected in egg yolks obtained from hens fed a normal diet than those fed a riboflavin-supplemented diet. Overall, this study suggests that riboflavin affects the quantity and quality of volatile substances, including TMA, present in eggs and we expect these findings to improve the quality and reduce the fishy odor of eggs.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.445-451
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• 2021

In this study, we described the production of an antibody to living modified organisms (LMOs) containing the gene encoding for 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) from Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain CP4 EPSPS provides resistance to the herbicide glyphosate (N- (phosphonomethyl) glycine). These LMOs were approved and have recently been used in the feed, food production, and processing industries in South Korea. Highly efficient monoclonal antibody (mAb) production is crucial for developing assays that enable the proper detection and quantification of the CP4 EPSPS protein in LMOs. This study describes the purification and characterization of recombinant CP4 EPSPS protein in E. coli BL21 (DE3) based on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and matrixassisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The production of mAbs was undertaken based on the standard operating procedure of Abclon, Inc.(South Korea), and the purity of the mAbs was assessed using SDS-PAGE. The following five mAb clones were produced: 2F2, 4B9, 6C11, 10A9, and 10G9. To verify the efficiency and specificity of the five developed mAbs, we performed Western blotting analysis using the LM (living modified) cotton crude extracts. All mAbs could detect the CP4 EPSPS protein in the LM cotton traits MON1445 and MON88913 with high specificity, but not in any other LM cottons or non-LM cottons. These data indicate that these five mAbs to CP4 EPSPS could be successfully used for the further development of antibody-based detection methods to target CP4 EPSPS protein in LMOs.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.459-473
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• 2008

Antifouling agents including tributyltin (TBT) compound and its derivatives have been used for many years, but the usage of TBT in Korea was legally restricted in 2003, due to its significant environmental impact. Following this, many new alternative antifouling agents have been used. In this experiment, four major antifouling agents were selectively analyzed to study their release in seawater and tidal flats on the Korean Peninsula. These new antifouling agents were extracted from the seawater and tidal flats using a liquid-liquid extraction method and microwave extraction, respectively. The measured concentrations of Irgarol 1051, Sea-Nine 211, Dichlofluanid and Chlorothalonil ranged from N.D.$-23.80ng/{\ell}$, N.D.$-15.30ng/{\ell}$, N.D.$-61.69ng/{\ell}$ and N.D.$-4.19ng/{\ell}$ in the seawater samples and from N.D.-159.45 ng/g, N.D.-476.57 ng/g, N.D.-59.79 ng/g and N.D.-21.27 ng/g in the tidal flat samples, respectively. Interestingly, these new antifouling agents were not detected in any area in the tidal flats at Pusan, whereas a certain amount of them was found in the seawater.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.179-190
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• 2024

Cannabis sativa is a plant widely cultivated worldwide and has been used as a material for food, medicine, building materials and cosmetics. In this study, we assessed the functional effects of C. sativa stem and root extracts using network pharmacology and confirmed their novel functions. The components in stem and root ethanol extracts were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, and networks between the components and proteins were constructed using the STICHI database. Functional annotation of the proteins was performed using the KEGG pathway. The effects of the extracts were confirmed in lysophosphatidylcholine-induced THP-1 cells using real-time PCR. A total of 21 and 32 components were identified in stem and root extracts, respectively, and 147 and 184 proteins were linked to stem and root components, respectively. KEGG pathway analysis showed that 69 pathways, including the MAPK signaling pathway, were commonly affected by the extracts. Further investigation using pathway networks revealed that terpenoid backbone biosynthesis was likely affected by the extracts, and the expression of the MVK and MVD genes, key proteins in terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, was decreased in LPC-induced THP-1 cells. Therefore, this study determined the diverse function of C. sativa extracts, providing information for predicting and researching the effects of C. sativa.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1409-1416
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• 2007

Seven selected commercial pure or refined olive oils were obtained from the market, and their physicochemical properties and volatile characterizations were investigated. Fatty acid profiles of the analyzed olive oils showed oleic $(61.2{\sim}74.7mole%)$, palmitic $(10.2{\sim}16.8mole%)$, linoleic $(9.4{\sim}18.0mole%)$, stearic $(1.9{\sim}3.0mole%)$, palmitoleic $(0.7{\sim}2.4mole%)$ and linolenic acid $(0.5{\sim}0.9mole%)$. According to Hunter#s color measurement, pure or refined olive oils showed $L^*$ value of $92.2{\sim}99.0$, $a^*$ value of $-22.2{\sim}-3.2$, and $b^*$ value of $18.5{\sim}55.0$. Their total phenol contents ranged from 1.9 to $13.3mg/100g$ while ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ content showed $7.91{\sim}13.88mg/100g$. Oxidation stability of the pure or refined olive oils were observed by Rancimat. The induction period ranged from 17.37 to 34.72 hr while their POV were $6.83{\sim}20.31meq/kg$ oil. Electronic nose and gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry with head-space solid phase microextraction were applied to identify and discriminate the volatile compounds and flavors in pure or refined olive oils, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.903-911
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• 2011

In this study, Bacillus polyfermenticus CJ6 harboring antibacterial activity was isolated from meju. The antibacterial activity of Bacillus polyfermenticus CJ6 was stable in the pH range of 3.0~9.0, but it disappeared after culture at $70^{\circ}C$ for 24 hr. Antibacterial activity was inactivated by proteinase K, protease, and ${\alpha}$-chymotrypsin, indicating its proteinaceous nature. The growth inhibitory effects of B. polyfermenticus CJ6 culture on food-borne pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhi, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 were examined in this study. Approximately 6~6.2 log CFU/mL of each pathogen was co-cultured with B. polyfermenticus CJ6 in a 50 mL culture volume for 24 hr. Growth of S. aureus and L. monocytogenes was completely inhibited after 3 hr of incubation. Growth of S. Typhi and E. coli O157:H7 was also completely inhibited after 6 hr of incubation. The antibacterial compounds from B. polyfermenticus CJ6 were purified by solid phase extraction (C18 Sep-pak cartridge), recycling preparative HPLC, and analytical HPLC. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry analysis were used to identify the purified antibacterial compounds, which were confirmed to be five peptides (757.4153 Da, 750.3444 Da, 1024.5282 Da, 1123.6083 Da, and 1617.8170 Da).