• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.135-146
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• 2022

Obesity is closely associated with profound dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease. Recent reports have suggested that alterations in gut microbiota can be linked to diet-induced obesity. In this study, the anti-obesity effects of Weissella confusa WIKIM51 isolated from kimchi were investigated, as evidenced by: i) reduced lipid accumulation and downregulated adipogenesis-related genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes; ii) suppressed gains in body weight and epididymal fat mass; iii) reduced serum lipid levels, for example, triglyceride and total cholesterol; iv) increased serum adiponectin levels and reduced serum leptin levels; v) downregulated lipogenesis and upregulated β-oxidation-related genes in the epididymal fat; and vi) altered microbial communities. The collective evidence indicate the potential value of W. confusa WIKIM51 as a functional food supplement for the prevention and amelioration of obesity.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.540-547
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• 2021

Background: Indoor air pollutants are caused by a number of factors, such as coming in from the outside or being generated by internal activities. Typical indoor air pollutants include nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide from household items such as heating appliances and volatile organic compounds from building materials. In addition there is carbon dioxide from human breathing and bacteria from speaking, coughing, and sneezing. Objectives: According to recent research results, most indoor air pollution is known to be greatly affected by internal factors such as burning (biomass for cooking) and various pollutants. These pollutants can have a fatal effect on the human body due to a lack of ventilation facilities. Methods: We fabricated a polydopamine (PDA) layer with Ti substrates as a coating on supported glass fiber fabric to enhance its photo-activity. The PDA layer with TiO₂ was covalently attached to glass fiber fabric using the drop-casting method. The roughness and functional groups of the surface of the Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric were verified through infrared imaging microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The obtained hybrid Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric was investigated for photocatalytic activity by the removal of ammonia and an epidermal Staphylococcus aureus reduction test with lamp (250 nm, 405 nm wavelength) at 24℃. Results: Antibacterial properties were found to reduce epidermal staphylococcus aureus in the Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric under 405 nm after three hours. In addition, the Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric of VOC reduction rate for ammonia was 50% under 405 nm after 30 min. Conclusions: An electron-hole pair due to photoexcitation is generated in the PDA layer and transferred to the conduction band of TiO₂. This generates a superoxide radical that degrades ammonia and removes epidermal Staphylococcus aureus.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.spc
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• pp.51-63
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• 2022

In this study, the TPH(Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon) contamination and microbial ecological characteristics in petroleum-contaminated site were investigated through the correlation among the vertical TPH contamination distribution of the site, the geochemical characteristics, and the indigenous microbial ecology. The high TPH concentration showed in the vicinity of 3~4 m or less which is thought to be affected by vertical movement due to the impervious clay layer. In addition, the TPH concentration was found to have a positive correlation with Fe²⁺, TOC concentration, and the number of petroleum-degrading bacteria, and a negative correlation with the microbial community diversity. The microbial community according to the vertical distribution of TPH showed that Proteobacteria and Firmicutes at the phylum level were dominant in this study area as a whole, and they competed with each other. In particular, it was confirmed that the difference in the microbial community was different due to the difference in the degree of vertical TPH contamination. In addition, the genera Acidovorax, Leptolinea, Rugoshibacter, and Smithella appeared dominant in the samples in which TPH was detected, which is considered to be the microorganisms involved in the degradation of TPH in this study area. It is expected that this study can be used as an important data to understand the contamination characteristics and biogeochemical and microbial characteristics of these TPH-contaminated sites.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.101-105
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• 2022

Quercetin is a major flavonoid in onion and known to antimicrobial activity against several pathogenic bacteria. However, the antibacterial activity of quercetin had not been evaluated against plant pathogenic Xanthomonas campestris and Erwinia carotovora. In here, quercetin and the solvent extracts of onion were investigated their antibacterial activity. Quercetin showed a selective inhibitory activity against X. campestris, and the minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration of quercetin were 15.6 and 20.0 ㎍ mL^-1 respectively. Otherwise, it showed no inhibitory activity against E. carotovora, and no the additive and the synergistic effects with streptomycin on X. campestris. And the EtOAc extract from the peel of onion that contained quercetin showed 2-fold lower MIC (500 ㎍ mL^-1) than the EtOH extract, thus EtOAc was suggested as the extraction solvent for quercetin from onion peel.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.195-201
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• 2022

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of the disinfection of clinical ultrasound probes using the vapor fumigation method, which can quickly achieve high-level disinfection. Upon the inspection of the microbial contamination level of clinically used ultrasound probes, nine different types of bacteria were detected. The disinfection efficacy of 7.5% and 35% hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was comparatively tested for the detected microbes. The 35% H₂O₂ demonstrated superior efficacy per disinfection duration. No significant change was observed in the rubber component of the ultrasound probes as a result of the 35% H₂O₂ disinfection treatment. The probes were contaminated with the microbes detected in the microbial contamination level inspection and subsequently disinfected using the novel medical disinfector that utilizes the vapor fumigation method. As a result, the disinfection using the novel device achieved 100% eradication of the microbes from the probes.This study demonstrates that the novel vapor fumigation method-based disinfector provides a faster and more powerful means of disinfection than the conventional disinfection methods. Therefore, the novel disinfector has the potential to be used as a convenient ultrasound probe disinfector in clinical settings.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.327-335
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• 2021

Riemerella anatipestifer (RA) can cause septicemia, polyserositis, and ataxia in ducks. It can also colonize the upper respiratory tract of healthy ducks. These differences in pathogenicity are probably the result of diverse mechanisms of virulence in different strains. Since serum resistance is a feature frequently found in systemic pathogens, 130 RA strains having different clinical origins were tested. A variety of serum susceptibility levels were detected. Pharynx strains from healthy ducks were mainly susceptible to the bactericidal effect of the serum, while systemic strains were serum resistant. Heat-treatment of the sera abolished the bactericidal activity, indicating that complement is a key factor in this effect. In an attempt to associate serum-resistance to surface determinant genes of the bacteria, we screened for six genes involved in lipopolysaccharide synthesis and membrane proteins in RA. Of these, three genes (AS87_09335, AS87_00480, and AS87_05195) encoding outer membrane proteins might be implicated in serum resistance statistically. The results indicate that serum resistance is a virulence mechanism in RA.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.267-273
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• 2022

In this study, a quality evaluation was conducted to change the sell-by date of fish cakes to the use-by date. For product quality evaluation, storage conditions were set at 5, 10, and 15 ℃, and five tests of pH, acid value, volatile basic nitrogen, bacterial count, and coliform group were performed. As a result of the experiment, the quality safety limit period of fish cakes stored at 5 ℃ was 43 days, that of fish cakes stored at 10 ℃ were 30 days, and that of fish cakes stored at 15 ℃ was 7 days. Among the five test items used for quality evaluation, the quality-limit indicators were acid value, number of bacteria, and coliform groups. The index that determined the quality safety-limit period under the three storage conditions was the bacterial count. The sell-by date of the fish cake used in this experiment was 10 days. However, through quality evaluation, the use-by date at 10 ℃ was 28.5 days, which was calculated by multiplying the 30 days; the quality limit period, by a safety factor of 0.95. However, this study conducted a quality study on one item of fish cakes from a single company, and it was difficult to use the quality safety-limit period and use-by date set in this study universally. To change the sell-by date to the use-by date, extensive quality research on various products will be required. If this system is well established, it can help reduce food waste through proper consumption of food, and consumers will be able to consume food with confidence.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.187-195
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• 2022

Crucian carp, Carassius carassius (Weight 28.1±3.7 g, Length 10.0±1.0 cm) were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila at 0, 2.0×10⁴, 2.0×10⁵, 2.0×10⁶, 2.0×10⁷ CFU/ml for 2 weeks. The lethal concentration 50 (LC₅₀) at 2 weeks of C. carassius challenged with A. hydrophila was 19.776×10⁵ CFU/ml. In hematological parameters, the hemoglobin and RBC counts were significantly decreased by A. hydrophila challenge, whereas there was no significant change in hematocrit. The inorganic plasma components such as magnesium and calcium were significantly decreased. In organic plasma components, glucose and cholesterol were significantly increased by A. hydrophila challenge, whereas total protein was significantly decreased. In enzymatic plasma components, ALP (Alkaline phosphatase) were significantly increased by A. hydrophila challenge. The results of this study suggest that the A. hydrophila challenge to C. carassius induced the significant physiological changes in the hematological parameters and plasma components as deadly pathogenic bacteria.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2022

Volatiles exist ubiquitously in nature. Volatile compounds produced by plants and microorganisms confer inter-kingdom and intra-kingdom communications. Autoinducer signaling molecules from contact-based chemical communication, such as bacterial quorum sensing, are relayed through short distances. By contrast, biogenic volatiles derived from plant-microbe interactions generate long-distance (>20 cm) alarm signals for sensing harmful microorganisms. In this review, we discuss prior work on volatile compound-mediated diagnosis of plant diseases, and the use of volatile packaging and dispensing approaches for the biological control of fungi, bacteria, and viruses. In this regard, recent developments on technologies to analyze and detect microbial volatile compounds are introduced. Furthermore, we survey the chemical encapsulation, slow-release, and bio-nano techniques for volatile formulation and delivery that are expected to overcome limitations in the application of biogenic volatiles to modern agriculture. Collectively, technological advances in volatile compound detection, packaging, and delivery provide great potential for the implementation of ecologically-sound plant disease management strategies. We hope that this review will help farmers and young scientists understand the nature of microbial volatile compounds, and shift paradigms on disease diagnosis and management to aromatic (volatile-based) agriculture.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.605-616
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• 2022

We prepared two samples of ultrafine ferrihydrite (FH) nanoparticle ensembles of quite a different origin. First is the biosynthesized sample (as a product of the vital activity of bacteria Klebsiella oxytoca (hereinafter marked as FH-bact) with a natural organic coating and negligible magnetic interparticle interactions. And the second one is the chemically synthesized ferrihydrite (hereinafter FH-chem) without any coating and high level of the interparticle interactions. The interparticle magnetic interactions have been tuned by modifying the nanoparticle surface in both samples. The coating of the FH-bact sample has been partially removed by annealing at 150℃ for 24 h (hereinafter FH-annealed). The FH-chem sample, vice versa, has been coated (1.0 g) with biocompatible polysaccharide (arabinogalactan) in an ultrasonic bath for 10 min (hereinafter FH-coated). The changes in the surface properties of nanoparticles have been controlled by XPS. According to the electron microscopy data, the modification of the nanoparticle surface does not drastically change the particle shape and size. A change in the average nanoparticle size in sample FH-annealed to 3.3 nm relative to the value in the other samples (2.6 nm) has only been observed. The estimated particle coating thickness is about 0.2-0.3 nm for samples FH-bact and FH-coated and 0.1 nm for sample FH-annealed. Mössbauer and magnetization measurements are definitely shown that the drastic change in the blocking temperature is caused by the interparticle interactions. The experimental temperature dependences of the hyperfine field hf>(T) for samples FH-bact and FH-coated have not revealed the effect of interparticle interactions. Otherwise, the interparticle interaction energy E_int estimated from the hf>(T) for samples FH-chem and FH-annealed has been found to be 121k_B and 259k_B, respectively.