• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.119-127
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• 2014

The affiliations and physiological characteristics of culturable bacteria isolated from the sediments of Ross Sea, Antarctica were investigated. Sixty-three isolates obtained by cultivation were grouped into 21 phylotypes affiliated with the phyla Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes and with the classes Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria by phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. Based on phylogenetic analysis (<98.65% sequence similarity), approximately 49% of total isolates represented potentially novel species or genus. Among them, extracellular protease, lipase, and exopolysaccharide activities at $10^{\circ}C$ or $20^{\circ}C$ were detected in approximately 46%, 25%, and 32% of the strains, respectively. Forty-three isolates produced at least one type of extracellular material and 21 of them produced at least two extracellular protease, lipase, and/or exopolysaccharides. Our findings indicate that culturable bacterial diversity present within the marine sediments of Ross Sea, Antarctica may contribute to the hydrolysis of the major organic constituents which is closely related with carbon and nitrogen cycling in this environment.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2023

This study applied a metagenomic analysis of the penguins' gut microbiome from fecal samples of Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) and Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) living along the Ross Sea, Antarctica. As a result of taxonomic analysis, 7 phyla and 18 families were mainly present in the gut microbiome of Adélie and Emperor penguins. To assess microbial diversity, we performed alpha diversity and OTU abundance analyses. It was confirmed that the Adélie Penguin's gut microbial species had a higher diversity than Emperor Penguin's. Based on the Beta diversity analysis using PCoA, differences were observed in the clustering between Adélie and Emperor penguins, respectively. Through the KEGG pathway analysis using PICRUSt, the nucleoside and nucleotide biosynthesis pathway was the most prevalent in Adélie and Emperor penguins. This study enabled a comparison and analysis of the composition and diversity of the gut microbiome in Adélie and Emperor Penguins. It could be utilized for future research related to penguin feeding habits and could serve as a foundation for analyzing the gut microbiomes of various other Antarctic organisms.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.245-258
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• 2006

We investigated seasonal variations of the upper ocean temperature and the mixed layer depth (MLD) in an eddy-permitting global ocean general circulation model (OGCM) to assess the OGCM perfermance. The OGCM is based on the GFDL MOM3 which has a horizontal resolution of 0.5 degree and 30 vertical levels. The OGCM was integrated for 68 years using a monthly-mean climatological wind stress forcing. The model sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface salinity were restored to the Levitus climatology with a time scale of 30 days. Annual-mean model SST shows a cold bias $(<\;-2^{\circ}C)$ in the summer hemisphere and a warm bias $(>\;1^{\circ}C)$ in the winter hemisphere mainly due to the restoring boundary condition of temperature. The model MLD captures well the observed features in most areas, with a slightly deep bias. However, in the Ross Sea and Weddell Sea, the model shows significantly deeper MLD than the climatology-mainly due to weak salinity stratifications in the model. For amplitude of seasonal variation, the model SST is smaller $(1{\sim}3^{\circ}C)$ than the observation largely due to the restoring surface boundary condition while the model MLD has larger seasonal variation $({\sim}50m)$. It is suggested that for more realistic simulation of the upper ocean structure in the present eddy-permitting ocean model, more refinements in the surface boundary condition for the thermohaline forcing and parameterization for vertical mixing are required, together with the incorporation of a sea-ice model.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.92-99
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of a deep sea water (DSW) supplement on the quality characteristics of chicken meat. One-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were assigned to three groups and supplemented with water (control) or DSW diluted with deionized water at 1:40 (DSW1:40) and 1:20 (DSW1:20) ratios, respectively, for 28 d. The control was fed a basal diet containing 0.18% salt. Five birds were slaughtered from each group, and the breast meat was collected and stored at $4^{\circ}C$ for 9 d. The DSW supplementation did not affect cholesterol content in the chicken meat. The DSW 1:40 supplement decreased fat content (p<0.05), water-holding capacity (p<0.05), and sodium and potassium contents (p<0.05) but increased unsaturated fatty acid content (p<0.05) and the $L^*$ value (p<0.05) of the meat. The DSW 1:20 supplement increased the $a^*$ value (p<0.05) but decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substance inhibition, the $L^*$ value (p<0.05), and the $b^*$ value (p<0.05) in chicken meat. However, the DSW 1:20 supplement did not affect water-holding capacity, fatty acid composition, or mineral content. DSW supplementation at a higher concentration increased red color but decreased lipid oxidation stability. However, further studies are needed to support our findings.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.277-288
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• 2005

Spatial distribution and vertical structures of water masses around the Antarctic continental margin are described using synthesized hydrographic data. Antarctic Surface Water (AASW) over the shelf regime is distinguished from underlying other water masses by the cut-off salinity, varying from approximately 34.35 to 34.45 around Antarctica. Shelf water, characterized by salinity greater than the cut-off salinity and potential temperature less than $-17^{\circ}C$, is observed on the Ross Sea, off George V Land, off Wilkes Land, the Amery Basin, and the Weddell Sea, but in some shelves AASW occupies the entire shelf. Lower Circumpolar Deep Water is present everywhere around the Antarctic oceanic regime and in some places it mixes with Shelf Water, producing Antarctic Slope Front Water (ASFW). ASFW, characterized by potential temperature less than about $0^{\circ}C$ and greater than $-17^{\circ}C$, and salinity greater than the cut-off salinity, is found everywhere around Antarctica except in the Bellingshausen-Amundsen sector. The presence of different water masses over the Antarctic shelves and shelf edges produces mainly three types of water mass stratifications: no significant meridional property gradient in the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas, single property gradient where ASFW presents, and a V-shaped front where Shelf Water exists.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.32 no.1_2
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• pp.30-40
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• 2018

In response to the increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gases, the Arctic temperature is increasing rapidly by 2-3 times other regions. This larger Arctic warming than lower latitudes is called 'Arctic Amplification'(Overland et al., 2017; Goose et al., 2018). Associated with the Arctic Amplification, the Arctic sea ice is declining rapidly and Greenland ice sheet is melting rapidly, especially around the coastal margins (State of Climate, 2018). However, Antarctic climate change appears to be different from the Arctic. In the western part of Antarctica, surface temperature is rising rapidly with large sea and land ice melting, but in the eastern part, there is little temperature change with slight increase in sea ice extent. The contrasting east-west temperature response is illustrated by the deepening of the Amundsen Sea Low whose upstream brings warm maritime air to the Antarctic peninsula and Amundsen-Bellingshausen Seas, but downstream air provides cold air to the Ross Sea, increasing sea ice. Besides, the increase in Southern Annular Mode (SAM) phase due to stratospheric ozone reduction enhances westerly winds, pushing sea ice northward by Ekman divergence and cooling east Antarctica. In this study, we review the recent Antarctic climate change and its possible causes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1135-1145
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• 2024

When cells are exposed to freezing temperatures, high concentrations of cryoprotective agents (CPA) prevent ice crystal formation, thus enhancing cell survival. However, high concentrations of CPAs can also cause cell toxicity. Exopolysaccharides (EPSs) from polar marine environments exhibit lower toxicity and display effects similar to traditional CPA. In this study, we sought to address these issues by i) selecting strains that produce EPS with novel cryoprotective activity, and ii) optimizing culture conditions for EPS production. Sixty-six bacteria producing mucous substances were isolated from the Ross Sea (Antarctic Ocean) using solid marine agar plates. Among them, Pseudoalteromonas sp. RosPo-2 was ultimately selected based on the rheological properties of the produced EPS (p-CY02). Cryoprotective activity experiments demonstrated that p-CY02 exhibited significantly cryoprotective activity at a concentration of 0.8% (w/v) on mammalian cells (HaCaT). This activity was further improved when combined with various concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) compared to using DMSO alone. Moreover, the survival rate of HaCaT cells treated with 5% (v/v) DMSO and 0.8% (w/v) p-CY02 was measured at 87.9 ± 2.8% after freezing treatment. This suggests that p-CY02 may be developed as a more effective, less toxic, and novel non-permeating CPA. To enhance the production of EPS with cryoprotective activity, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was implemented, resulting in a 1.64-fold increase in production of EPS with cryoprotective activity.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.205-215
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of stocking density and strain on the performance and physiological adaptive responses including the plasma corticosterone content and the level of mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and antioxidant enzymes in broiler chicks. A total of 300 birds of two strains (150 Ross strain vs. 150 Cobb strain) aged 3-d old were allotted into two stocking densities (standard stocking density,$0.046m^2/bird$ vs. high stocking density, $0.023m^2/bird$) in battery cages by $2{\times}2$ factorial designs with ten replicates until 35 d of age. There was no significant strain effect on body weight, feed intakes and feed to gain ratio and the relative organ weights. However body weight, feed intakes and relative organ weight were found to be significantly (P<0.05) affected by the effect of stocking density. Plasma corticosterone level was not affected by both stocking density and strain effects. Hepatic mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), IL-6, IL-18 and interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) was not significantly changed by the effects of strain and stocking density. However, the mRNA expression of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) was affected by strain, showing that Ross strain decreased (P<0.05) the GPX expression. With respect to the effect of stocking density, there was a significant (P<0.05) increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and GPX mRNA expression in the liver from high stocking density group. Splenic pro-inflammatory cytokine expression was not also affected by stocking density and strain, except that IL-18 mRNA significantly (P<0.05) decreased in Cobb strain under high stocking density. The mRNA expression of SOD and CAT was significantly (P<0.05) affected by the effects of stocking density and strain. In conclusion, growth performance was not affected by strain but stocking density. Although mRNA expression of major pro-inflammatory cytokines was not changed by stocking density and strain, antioxidant enzyme was significantly affected by stocking density, strain or even organ in birds under summer conditions. More detailed studies still needed to be explored to elucidate the effects of environmental conditions and genetic background on physiological responses in birds.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.6_2
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• pp.1179-1192
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• 2018

In order to detect the Antarctic Polar Front (PF) among the main fronts in the Southern Ocean, this study is based on the combinations of satellite-based sea surface temperature (SST) and height (SSH) observations. For accurate PF detection, we classified the signals as front or non-front grids based on the Bayesian decision theory from daily SST and SSH datasets, and then spatio-temporal synthesis has been performed to remove primary noises and to supplement geographical connectivity of the front grids. In addition, sea ice and coastal masking were employed in order to remove the noise that still remains even after performing the processes and morphology operations. Finally, we selected only the southernmost grids, which can be considered as fronts and determined as the monthly PF by a linear smoothing spline optimization method. The mean positions of PF in this study are very similar to those of the PFs reported by the previous studies, and it is likely to be well represents PF formation along the bottom topography known as one of the major influences of the PF maintenance. The seasonal variation in the positions of PF is high in the Ross Sea sector (${\sim}180^{\circ}W$), and Australia sector ($120^{\circ}E-140^{\circ}E$), and these variations are quite similar to the previous studies. Therefore, it is expected that the detection approach for the PF position applied in this study and the final composite have a value that can be used in related research to be carried out on the long term time-scale.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.579-585
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• 2012

The proximate compositions and fatty acid profiles of Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni that was caught in the southern Ross Sea (J, L) of the Antarctic Ocean were studied. The lipid contents of samples from J and L were 18.2 and 21.1%, respectively. The protein and ash contents were similar for samples J and L. The prominent fatty acids in the total lipids of the fish muscle were 18:1n-9, 16:1n-7, 16:0, 14:0, 18:1n-7, 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA), and 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA). In addition, the total fatty acids of bycatch products in the toothfish stomachs (Pleuragramma antarcticum, Gerlachea australis, Pasiphaea sp., Trematomus eulepidotus, Chionodraco hamatus, Chionodraco myersi, and Neopagetopsis ionah) were determined. The prominent fatty acids in those species were 18:1n-9, 16:0, 14:0, DHA, EPA, and 18:1n-7.