• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2017

Background: Phosphate rock and its by-product are widely used in various industries to produce phosphoric acid, gypsum, gypsum board, and fertilizer. Owing to its high level of natural radioactive nuclides (e.g., $^{238}U$ and $^{226}Ra$), the radiological safety of workers who work with phosphate rock should be systematically managed. In this study, $^{238}U$, $^{232}Th$, $^{226}Ra$, and $^{40}K$ levels were measured to analyze the transport characteristics of these radionuclides in the production cycle of phosphate rock. Materials and Methods: Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and gamma spectrometry were used to determine the activity of $^{238}U$, $^{232}Th$, $^{226}Ra$, and $^{40}K$. To evaluate the extent of secular disequilibrium, the analytical results were compared using statistical methods. Finally, the distribution of radioactivity across different stages of the phosphate rock production cycle was evaluated. Results and Discussion: The concentration ratios of $^{226}Ra$ and $^{238}U$ in phosphate rock were close to 1.0, while those found in gypsum and fertilizer were extremely different, reflecting disequilibrium after the chemical reaction process. The nuclide with the highest activity level in the production cycle of phosphate rock was $^{40}K$, and the median $^{40}K$ activity was $8.972Bq{\cdot}g^{-1}$ and $1.496Bq{\cdot}g^{-1}$, respectively. For the $^{238}U$ series, the activity of $^{238}U$ and $^{226}Ra$ was greatest in phosphate rock, and the distribution of activity values clearly showed the transport characteristics of the radionuclides, both for the byproducts of the decay sequences and for their final products. Conclusion: Although the activity of $^{40}K$ in k-related fertilizer was relatively high, it made a relatively low contribution to the total radiological effect. However, the activity levels of $^{226}Ra$ and $^{238}U$ in phosphate rock were found to be relatively high, near the upper end of the acceptable limits. Therefore, it is necessary to systematically manage the radiological safety of workers engaged in phosphate rock processing.

• Mycobiology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.179-182
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• 2003

A total of 187 endophytic fungi were isolated from 11 plant species, which were collected from 11 locations in Korea. Their antifungal activities were screened in vivo by antifungal bioassays after they were cultured in potato dextrose broth and rice solid media. Antifungal activity against plant pathogenic fungi such as Magnaporthe grisea(rice blast), Corticium sasaki(rice sheath blight), Botrytis cinerea(tomato gray mold), Phytophthora infestans(tomato late blight), Puccinia recondita(wheat leaf rust), and Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei(barley powdery mildew) was determined in vivo by observing the inhibition of plant disease development. Twenty(11.7%) endophytic fungi fermentation broths were able to control, by more than 90%, at least one of the six plant diseases tested. Among 187 liquid broths, the F0010 strain isolated from Abies holophylla had the most potent disease control activity; it showed control values of more than 90% against five plant diseases, except for tomato late blight. On the other hand, fourteen(7.5%) solid culture extracts exhibited potent disease control values of more than 90% against one of six plant diseases. The screening results of this study strongly suggested that metabolites of plant endophytic fungi could be good potential sources for screening programs of bioactive natural products.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.12-20
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• 2024

This study found that the use of the metaverse enabled two-way communication online, regardless of time and place, making it possible to achieve teaching and learning goals. As applied subject (Occupational ethics in science and engineering) that allow for curriculum activities using the metaverse, team activities, and Problem Based Learning (PBL) selected. This study selected the teaching method that combines team activities of in-class and metaverse depending on the team projects and applies them appropriately according to the class procedure. Basic theoretical content learning and team activities related to the class content were conducted during class time. Also In Gathertown, team projects were carried out through team activities. As a result, this study confirmed that the PBL-subjects curriculum are definitely possible through the progress of the metaverse activities. If the educational environment for metaverse activities and the instructor's preparation and participation are supported, a very high learning effect is expected.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.495-501
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• 2011

Bacterial strains were isolated from forest soils of Halla mountain, Jeju island in Korea. The soil samples were collected at each altitude of 100m from 1,000 m above sea level. Total 398 strains were isolated and tested for their physiological characteristics of antagonistic and proteolytic activities, and auxin production. Among the isolates, 172 strains were selected as antifungal strains showing antagonistic activity against at least one of 8 plant fungal pathogens (Alternaria alternata, Botrytis cinerea, Collectotrichum acutatum, Fusarium oxysporum, Phytophthora capsici, Pythium ultimum and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum). In addition 203 strains for proteolytic activity and 26 strains for auxin production were characterized for further study. Je28-4 (Rhodococcus sp.) were showed 80% of control value against tomato gray mold in vivo. Thus, it is suggested that soil bacteria isolated from forest soils of Halla mountain can be important sources of bioactive compounds for improving plant growth or promising biocontrol agents.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.46-58
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• 2015

Informal engineering education program for high school students was developed to cultivate engineering literacy using the human resources and facilities of university. Plant factory, a smart farming technology, was selected as a main theme, and the novel engineering camp program involving engineering design activities and intra-linter-team works was planned. The camp program was applied to 38 high school students in an active learning classroom. Five teams were constructed according to elemental technologies such as biotechnology, information-communication technology, energy engineering, mechanical engineering and architectural engineering, and the students were participated in intra- and inter-team activities to achieve the final goal of 'the construction of a plant factory in school'. The team works were conducted according to the eight steps of engineering design process (identifying the problem and need, identifying criteria and constraints, brainstorming possible solutions, selecting the best possible solution, constructing a prototype, testing and evaluating the solution, communicating the solution, and refining design). Participants' satisfaction survey showed that the satisfaction on the contents of engineering design was 4.48 on 5-point Likert scale. The participants' satisfaction on creative activity and systematic methodology was 4.43 on 5-point Likert scale. 97% of participants responded positively to team works, and 92% of participants were satisfied with career mentoring activity supplied by undergraduate/graduate students. These results indicates that the engineering camp program involving engineering design activity and intra-/inter-team works can contribute to cultivate engineering literacy such as creativity, problem solving ability, collaboration, communication skills for high school students, and to increase their interests in engineering fields.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.191-208
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• 2018

This study explores the role of knowledge sharing activities among team members and performance in R&D setting. Knowledge sharing activities are classified into two : Knowledge sharing activity within/outside team. And the relationships between the knowledge activities and R&D performance are also examined according to three R&D stages : basic, applied, and developmental research. A empirical study was conducted at a research institute of large company that leads the advanced research and development of the domestic chemical industry. Data was collected 292 copies out of 500 copies (Response rate 58.4%). The result indicated that knowledge sharing within and outside the team has a positive effect on R&D Performance. In particular, knowledge sharing within the team has a greater effect on R&D outcomes in basic research stage. Knowledge sharing outside the team has a greater effect on R&D outcomes in the development research stage. In the R&D organization, it is important that members of the team are well-connected and understanding each other, but they should encourage positive relationships with external members of the team. Depending on the R&D field of the team, the basic research field should concentrate more on knowledge sharing within the team, while the development research field should focus more on knowledge sharing outside the team.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2014

Papenfussiella kuromo (PK) is a marine plant and an abundant ecological resource for the future; it is found in almost 80% of the terrestrial biosphere. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial activity of PK against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), multidrug-resistant pathogen. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of PK hexane fraction (PKH) against 7 strains of MRSA ranged from 1.0 to 2.0 mg/mL. In the checkerboard dilution method, a synergistic effect of the PKH and the antibiotics (oxacillin and norfloxacin) was seen. PKH markedly reduced the MIC of each of the 4 antibiotics against MRSA. The time-kill assay showed that the synergistic activity of PKH and an antibiotic reduced the bacterial counts below the lowest detectable limit after 24 h. These findings suggest that PKH has antibacterial activity, and may be important baseline data in future extensive studies of living marine resources as a source of compounds active against MRSA.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.664-670
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• 2016

Cheonggukjang (CKJ) is a Korean traditional food made of fermented soybeans. In comparison to normal intake of soybeans, Cheonggukjang has high digestibility with bioactive, antioxidant substances, and thrombolytic enzymes. Recent studies have reported anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity activities as well as inhibitory activities against osteoporosis for CKJ. In this study, we identified the effects of CKJ on osteoblast differentiation by increasing the polyglutamic acid (PGA) content of CKJ. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralization significantly increased in response to treatment with both natural CKJ (CKJ A) and PGA-increased CKJ (CKJ B). However, CKJ B exhibited higher ALP activity and mineralization than CKJ A. Real-time reverse transcription PCR demonstrated that mRNA expression of osteoblastic-associated genes such as type I collagen, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and osteopontin in C2C12 cells was significantly up-regulated by CKJ A or B treatment. These results indicate that treatment with CKJ has an anabolic effect on bone by increasing osteoblastic differentiation and ALP activity. Increasing PGA content in CKJ had a greater effect than CKJ A on up-regulation of osteoblastic gene expression in osteoblast cells.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.211-216
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• 2014

Bacillus cereus was isolated in 155 of 4,318 food samples from 2012 to 2013. Of the isolates, 140 isolates were performed antimicrobial disk test against garlic, cinnamon, ginger, and green tea extracted at two different temperature, $25^{\circ}C$ and $70^{\circ}C$. The isolates from Powdered Red Pepper showed frequently to 48.65%, and followed by Agriculture Products (31.08%) and Kimchi (25.61%). The isolation rate of Cooked Foods in the Restaurant supposed to causing food poison was 1.17%. Analysis of antimicrobial activity showed that $25^{\circ}C$ garlic extract, $25^{\circ}C$ green tea extract, and $70^{\circ}C$ green tea extract resisted against all 140 isolates and the others resisted against some isolates. Antimicrobial activity was depended on the temperature; garlic > green tea > cinnamon in $25^{\circ}C$ and green tea > garlic > cinnamon in $70^{\circ}C$. The correlation analysis of each extracts showed that geen tea extract was different significantly with garlic and cinnamon extracting in $25^{\circ}C$ and with only garlic extracting in $70^{\circ}C$ at p < 0.05.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2015

Vinegar is a widely used acidic seasoning and can be manufactured using various methods and bases, including cereals, wheat, and fruits. Most studies on vinegar have been conducted to evaluate its antioxidant activity. In the present study, fermented dark vinegar (FDV) produced from unpolished rice was examined for its antimicrobial activity, biochemical content, including the amounts of sugar, total soluble sugar, organic acid, and free amino acids, and pH and physiological activity. The antimicrobial efficiency of FDV was assessed using the paper disc-agar diffusion method. FDV exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against the pathogenic bacteria and yeast strains that were tested. In fact, the activity of FDV was shown to be higher than that of the commercial antibiotics carbenicillin (50 µg/ml) and tetracycline (50 µg/ml) against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Lodderomyces elongisporus. The antioxidant activity of FDV and ascorbic acid was evaluated. Using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method, we found that FDV has the highest activity of the antioxidants. After spreading FDV onto tryptic soy broth and yeast extract-peptone-dextrose agar media, the microbial strains were isolated and characterized through physiological and biochemical analysis. Based on 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, the isolated microorganisms exhibited a close similarity to Acetobacter papayae, Acetobacter pasteurianus, and Acetobacter peroxidans.