• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.799-809
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• 2018

This study was performed to compare the physicochemical characteristics between imported dry-cured Hams from black and white pigs available in the domestic market. The black dry-cured hams contain higher moisture and ash contents than that of white hams, whereas the black dry-cured hams had lower fat contents than that of the black ones (p < 0.05). The hams from black ones had lower lightness ($L^*$) and yellowness ($b^*$) values than those from the white ones (p < 0.05). Moreover, the pH values and salt contents of the hams from the black ones were higher than those from the white ones (p < 0.05). Moreover, the black ones had a higher water holding capacity (WHC) than that of the white ones (p < 0.05). The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values of the black ones were lower than those of the white ham samples (p < 0.05). For texture profile analysis, hardness, gumminess, chewiness, cohesiveness and shear force values were significantly lower in the black ones than in the white samples (p < 0.05). Saturated fatty acids in the white ones were higher than in the black ones, whereas unsaturated fatty acids in the black ones were higher (p < 0.05). Free amino acids such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid in the black ones were higher than in the white ones (p < 0.05). The shrinkage of muscle fiber was stronger in the white ones. Considering the meat quality parameters of ham, the black ones showed a superior meat quality. In general, this research can be used as fundamental information for the mass production of dry-cured hams in Korea.

• Mycobiology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.230-241
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• 2019

The Great Sebkha of Oran is a closed depression located in northwestern of Algeria. Despite the ranking of this sebkha among the wetlands of global importance by Ramsar Convention in 2002, no studies on the fungal community in this area have been carried out. In our study, samples were collected from two different regions. The first region is characterized by halophilic vegetation and cereal crops and the second by a total absence of vegetation. The isolated strains were identified morphologically then by molecular analysis. The biotechnological interest of the strains was evaluated by testing their ability to grow at different concentration of NaCl and to produce extracellular enzymes (i.e., lipase, amylase, protease, and cellulase) on solid medium. The results showed that the soil of sebkha is alkaline, with the exception of the soil of cereal crops that is neutral, and extremely saline. In this work, the species Gymnoascus halophilus, Trichoderma gamsii, the two phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium brachygibbosum and Penicillium allii, and the teleomorphic form of P. longicatenatum observed for the first time in this species, were isolated for the first time in Algeria. The halotolerance test revealed that the majority of the isolated are halotolerant. Wallemia sp. and two strains of G. halophilus are the only obligate halophilic strains. All strains are capable to secrete at least one of the four tested enzymes. The most interesting species presenting the highest enzymatic index were Aspergillus sp. strain A4, Chaetomium sp. strain H1, P. vinaceum, G. halophilus, Wallemia sp. and Ustilago cynodontis.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.198-204
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• 2019

Background: Oxidative stress is a known to be associated with in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases, including periodontitis. Ursolic acid is a pentacyclic triterpenoid with has antimicrobial, antioxidative, and anticancer properties. However, the role of ursolic acid in the regulating of osteogenesis remains undetermined. This study was aimed to elucidate the crucial osteogenic effects of ursolic acid and its ability to inhibit oxidative stress by targeting the immediate early response 3 (IER3)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. Methods: Cell proliferation was determined using water-soluble tetrazolium salt assay, cell differentiation was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and formation of calcium nodules was detected using alizarin red S stain. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was determined using by DCFH-DA fluorescence dye in hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-treated MG-63 cells. Expression levels of IER3, Nrf2, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were analyzed using western blot analysis. Results: Our results showed that ursolic acid up-regulated the proliferation of osteoblasts without any cytotoxic effects, and promoted ALP activity and mineralization. $H_2O_2$-induced ROS generation was found to be significantly inhibited on treatment with ursolic acid. Furthermore, in $H_2O_2$-treated cells, the expression of the early response genes: IER3, Nrf2, and Nrf2-related phase II enzyme (HO-1) was enhanced in the presence of ursolic acid. Conclusion: The key findings of the present study elucidate the protective effects of ursolic acid against oxidative stress conditions in osteoblasts via the IER3/Nrf2 pathway. Thus, ursolic acid may be developed as a preventative and therapeutic agent for mineral homeostasis and inflammatory diseases caused due to oxidative injury.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2019

This paper presents a method to deice concrete pavement with carbon nanotube(CNT) as an heating material so as to avoid the adverse effects of conventional deicing method such as salt on the structure, function and environment. To this end, laboratory tests integrated with numerical simulations were conducted. In the laboratory tests, the CNT was embedded inside the concrete slab and generated the heat up to the target temperature of $60^{\circ}C$ in the freezer at temperature of $-10^{\circ}C$. Then, the surface temperature was measured to investigate how far the heat transfers on the surface at temperature of above $0^{\circ}C$. Also, three different spacings of 15, 20 and 30cm between CNTs were conducted to determine the maximum allowable spacing of CNT. Along with these experimental tests, heat transferring analysis conducted to validate the test results.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.418-424
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• 2019

In this study, $TiO_2$ nanotubes with different morphologies were prepared in the electrolyte consisting of ethylene glycol, ammonium fluoride($NH_4F$), and deionized water($H_2O$) by controlling the voltage and time in the anodization method. Thicknesses and pore sizes of these $TiO_2$ nanotubes were measured to interpret the relationship between anodization conditions and $TiO_2$ nanotube morphologies. Element contents in the $TiO_2$ nanotubes were detected for further analysis of $TiO_2$ nanotube characteristics. Photoelectrolyticdecolorization efficiencies of the $TiO_2$ nanotube plates with various morphologies were tested to clarify the morphology that a highly active $TiO_2$ nanotube plate should have. Influences of applied voltage in photoelectrolysis processes and sodium sulfate($Na_2SO_4$) concentration in wastewater on the decolorization efficiency were also studied. To save the equipment investment cost in photoelectrolysis methods, a two-photoelectrode system that uses the $TiO_2$ nanotube plates as photoanode and photocathode instead of adding other counter electrodes was studied. Compared with single-photoelectrode system that uses the $TiO_2$ nanotube plate as photoanode and titanium plate as cathode on the view of the treatment of dye wastewater containing different amounts of salt. As a result, a considerably suitable voltage was strictly needed for enhancing the photoelectrolyticdecolorization effect of the two-photoelectrode system but if salts exist in wastewater, an excellent increase in the decolorization efficiency can be obtained.

• ALGAE
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.361-373
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• 2020

The community dynamics of benthic diatoms in the hypersaline environment are investigated to advance our understanding how salinity impacts marine life. Diatoms were sampled in the two salterns encompassing salt Ponds, ditches, and seawater reservoirs (n = 11), along the salinity gradient (max = 324 psu), and nearby tidal flats (n = 2). The floral assemblages and distributions across sites and stations showed great variations, with a total of 169 identified taxa. First, not surprisingly, higher diversity of benthic diatoms was found at natural tidal flats than salterns. The saltern diatoms generally showed salinity dependent distributions with distinct spatial changes in species composition and dominant taxa. Biota-environment and principal component analysis confirmed that salinity, mud content, and total nitrogen were key factors influencing the overall benthic community structure. Some dominant species, e.g., Nitzschia scalpelliformis and Achnanthes sp. 1, showed salinity tolerance / preference. The number of diatom species at salinity of >100 psu reduced over half and no diatoms were found at maximum salinity of 324 psu. The highest salinity for the observed live diatoms was 205 psu, however, a simple regression indicated a theoretical salinity threshold of ~300 psu on the survival. Finally, the indicator species were identified along the salinity gradient in salterns as well as natural tidal flats. Overall, high species numbers, varying taxa, and euryhaline distributions of saltern diatoms collectively reflected a dynamic saltern ecosystem. The present study would provide backgrounds for biodiversity monitoring of ecologically important microalgal producers in some unique hypersaline environment, and elsewhere.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2019

BACKGROUND: Measurement of electrical conductivity of saturated soil paste ($EC_e$) for assessment of soil salinity is time-consuming, and thus conversion of EC of 1:5 soil-water extract ($EC_{1:5}$) to $EC_e$ using a dilution factor may be of help to monitor salinity of huge number of soil samples. This study was conducted to evaluate the dilution factor for reclaimed tideland (RTL) soils of South Korea. METHODS AND RESULTS: Soil samples (n=40) were collected from four RTLs, and analyzed for $EC_{1:5}$, $EC_e$, and cation compositions of 1:5 soil-water extract. The dilution factor (8.70) was estimated by regression analysis between $EC_{1:5}$ and $EC_e$, and the obtained dilution factor was validated by applying to an independent data set (n=96) of $EC_{1:5}$ and $EC_e$. The $EC_e$ measured and predicted was strongly correlated ($r^2=0.74$, P<0.001), but $EC_e$ was overestimated by 16% particularly for the soils with high clay content and low sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that using the dilution factor to convert $EC_{1:5}$ to $EC_e$ is feasible method to monitor changes in the soil salinity of the study RTL. However, overestimation of $EC_e$ should be cautioned for the soils with high clay content and low SAR.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2010

This study investigated how the surface of Al-12wt.%Si alloy modified by the plasma electrolytic oxidation process (PEO). The PEO process was performed in an electrolyte with sodium hexametaphsphate as a conducting salt, and the effect of ammonium metavanadate on variations in the morphology of electrochemically generated oxide layers on the alloy surface was investigated. It is difficult to form a uniform passive oxide layer on Al alloys with a high Si content due to the differences in the oxidation behavior of the silicon-rich phase and the aluminum-rich phase. The oxide layer covered the entire surface of the Al-12WT.%Si alloy uniformly when ammonium metavanadate was added to the electrolyte. The oxide layer was confirmed as a mixture of $V_2O_3$ and $V_2O_5$ by XPS analysis. In addition, the oxide layer obtained by the PEO process with ammonium metavanadate exhibited a black color. Application of this surface modification method is expected to solve the problem of the lack of uniformity in the coloring of oxide layeres caused by different oxidation behaviors during a surface treatment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.710-716
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• 2021

A risk analysis of Shiga toxin (Stx)-encoding bacteriophage was carried out by confirming the transduction phage to non-Stx-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and subsequent expression of the Shiga toxin genes. The virulence factor stx1 was identified in five phages, and both stx1 and stx2 were found in four phages from a total of 19 phage isolates with seven non-O157 STEC strains. The four phages, designated as ϕNOEC41, ϕNOEC46, ϕNOEC47, and ϕNOEC49, belonged morphologically to the Myoviridae family. The stabilities of these phages to temperature, pH, ethanol, and NaClO were high with some variabilities among the phages. The infection of five non-STEC strains by nine Stx-encoding phages occurred at a rate of approximately 40%. Non-STEC strains were transduced by Stx-encoding phage to become lysogenic strains, and seven convertant strains had stx1 and/or stx2 genes. Only the stx1 gene was transferred to the receptor strains without any deletion. Gene expression of a convertant having both stx1 and stx2 genes was confirmed to be up to 32 times higher for Stx1 in 6% NaCl osmotic media and twice for Stx2 in 4% NaCl media, compared with expression in low-salt environments. Therefore, a new risk might arise from the transfer of pathogenic genes from Stx-encoding phages to otherwise harmless hosts. Without adequate sterilization of food exposed to various environments, there is a possibility that the toxicity of the phages might increase.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.228-234
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• 2020

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. SPIONs are used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as contrast agents and targeted delivery in nanomedicine using external magnet sources. SPIONs act as an artificial peroxidase (i.e., nanozyme), and these reactions were highly stable in various pH conditions and temperatures. In this study, we report a nanozyme ability of the clustered SPIONs (CSPIONs) synthesized by the oil-in-water (O/W) method and coated with biocompatible poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). We hypothesize that the CSPIONs can have high sensitivity toward H2O2 derived from the reaction between a fixed amount of glucose and glucose oxidase (GOX). As a result, CSPIONs oxidized a 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) commonly used as a substrate for hydrogen peroxidase in the presence of H2O2, leading to a change in the color of the substrate. We also utilized a colorimetric assay at 417 nm using various glucose concentrations from 5 mM to 1.25 μM to validate β-D-glucose detection. This study demonstrated that the absorbance value increases along with increasing the glucose level. The results were highly repeated at concentrations below 5 mM (all standard deviations < 0.03). Moreover, the sensitivity and limit of detection were 1.50 and 5.44 μM, respectively, in which CSPIONs are more responsive to glucose than SPIONs. In conclusion, this study suggests that CSPIONs have the potential to be used for glucose detection in diabetic patients using a physiological fluid such as ocular, saliva, and urine.