• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2017

BACKGROUND: Miscellaneous cereal have been largely consumed in Korea as due to their physiological functions beneficial to human health. The cereals are currently a social concern because they have been found to contain heavy metals. Thus, monitoring heavy metals in the cereals is an important requirement for food safety analysis. In this study, we determined arsenic concentration in the cereals randomly harvested from different markets. METHODS AND RESULTS: Inorganic arsenic was determined by ICP-MS coupled with HPLC system. The HPLC-ICP-MS analysis was optimized based on the limit of detection and recover test to reach $0.13-1.24{\mu}g/kg$ and 94.3-102.1%, respectively. The concentrations of inorganic arsenic equivalent to daily exposure were levels of $19.91{\mu}g/day$ in mixed grain, $1.07{\mu}g/day$ in glutinous rice, $0.77{\mu}g/day$ in black brown rice, $0.13{\mu}g/day$ in barley and $0.11{\mu}g/day$ in soybeans. CONCLUSION: The levels of arsenic in miscellaneous cereals were found lower than the recommended The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) levels, suggesting that the cereals marketed in Korea are not potential concern in risk assessment.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to obtain the basic information for the improvement of dental environment by investigating the presence of methicillin- or vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA or VRSA) isolated from dental health care workers (DHCWs) and environment of the Chosun University Dental Hospital (CUDH) and a private dental clinic (control group). Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was isolated from anterior nares of 42 DHCWS and 38 sites, unit chairss, x-ray devices, computers, etc., at 10 departments of the CUDH and 20 DHCWs and 11 sites at the private dental clinic. S. aureus was isolated on mannitol salt agar plate and confirmed by PCR with S. aureus species-specific primer. Antimicrobial susceptibility test of clinical isolates of S. aureus against several antibiotics including methicillin (oxacillin) was performed by investigating minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using broth microdilution assay. In addition, PCR was performed to detect the methicillin- or vancomycin-resistant gene. The data showed that one strain of S. aureus was isolated from DHCWs of the CUDH and three strains of S. aureus was isolated from 3 samples of the private dental clinic, respectively. All of the isolates from the CUDH and the private dental clinic had resistance to penicillin G, amoxicillin and vancomycin and susceptibility to oxacillin and ciprofloxacin. The S. aureus strains were already obtained the resistance to penicillin G and amoxicillin. These results suggest that two dental clinics were under relatively safe environment.

• Clean Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 2020

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is one of the six greenhouse gases, and it is essential to reduce N₂O by showing a global warming potential (GWP) equivalent to 310 times that of carbon dioxide (CO₂). Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is a technology that converts ammonia into harmless N₂ and H₂O by using ammonia as a reducing agent to remove NOx, one of the air pollutants; the process also produces high denitrification efficiency. In this study, the Fe-BEA catalyst was steam-treated at 100 ℃ for 2 h before Fe ion exchange in the fixed bed reactor in order to investigate the effect of the steam-treated Fe-BEA catalyst on the NH₃-SCR reaction. NH₃-SCR reaction test of synthesized catalysts was performed at WHSV = 180 h^-1, 370 to 400 ℃ in the fixed bed reactor. The Fe-BEA(100) catalyst steam-treated at 100 ℃ showed a somewhat higher activity than the Fe-BEA catalyst at 370 to 390 ℃. The catalysts were characterized by BET, ICP, NH₃-TPD, H₂-TPR, and ²⁷Al MAS NMR in order to determine the cause affecting NH₃-SCR activity. The H₂-TPR result confirmed that the Fe-BEA(100) catalyst had a higher reduction of isolated Fe³⁺ than the Fe-BEA catalyst, and that the steam treatment increased the amount of isolated Fe³⁺ as an active species, thus increasing the activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.252-259
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• 2014

The leaves of Peatasites japonicus are a traditional oriental medicine with diverse biological activities. A simple and specific analytical method for the quantitative determination of bakkenolide B constituents from methanolic extract of the leaves of P. japonicus was developed. Bakkenolide B was isolated from the leaves of P. japonicus, and its structure was elucidated based on 1D, 2D NMR, and GC-MS spectral data. A liquid chromatographic method was developed to evaluate the quality of P. japonicus through determination of major active compound, bakkenolide B. The wavelengths at 254 and 215 nm were chosen to determine bakkenolide B. The recovery of the method was in the range of 98.6 to 103.1%, and bakkenolide B showed good linearity ($r^2$=0.999) within test ranges. The developed method was applied to the determination of bakkenolide B in the plant part and seasonal changes. The results showed that the content of bakkenolide B in the leaf was higher than in the petiole and rhizome. In this study, a simple, rapid, and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography method was used to determine the percentage and composition of bakkenolide B in P. japonicus procured from different Petasites species plants in South Korea. The method can be employed in routine quantitative analysis and quality control of different products in the market.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.307-313
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• 1997

Seed germination test done in laboratory does not coincide with field emergence in general. The experiments were carried out to examine the effect of priming and $GA_3$, treatment to seeds of Platycodon grandiflorum; Codonopsis lanceolata and C. pilosula on lapsed time to first seedling emergence, seedling emergence, morphological characters and growth and the cause of poor emergence of C. pilosula. No-treatment as Control (water), priming or $GA_3$ treatment was done with only distilled water for 2 days, $CA(NO_3)_2$ 150 mM for 2 days or $GA_3$ 0.1 mM for 3 days, respectively. Seedling emergence rate was counted every 2 days but morphological characters and dry weight of shoot and root were measured on 38 days after sowing. Their internal seed structures were examined with Scanning Electron Microscope. C. pilosula had poorer seedling emergence rate than P grandiflorum and C. lanceolata showing nearly same rate: Compared to the other treatment (s) P. grandiflorum displayed higher rate in priming and $GA_3$, treatments but C. lanceolata or C. pilosula did the greatest rate in only $GA_3$ or priming treatment, respectively. $GA_3$ treatment to seeds of P. grandiflorum and C. lanceolata shortened the lapsed time to seedling emergence in comparison with Control, 2-days water imbibition before sowing. In all the species plant height and number of leaves per seedling became shorter and less in priming treatment than the other treatments except plant height of C. Pilosula while their hypocotyl length was nearly same in all treatments. Although priming treatment had nearly similar effect to morphological characters, $GA_3$ treatment forced greater shoot, root and aftermath total dry weight per seedling. Poor seedling emergence of C. pilosula was caused by its seed defect like cleavage or lack of embryo, poor development of embryo and endosperm or their separation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.179-191
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• 2013

This study was conducted to comparatively assess quantitative indicating factor for biomineralization characterizing $CO_2$ mineralization on three type of minerals (i.e., $CaCl_2$, $MgCl_2$, $CaCl_2-MgCl_2$) in an aqueous solution amended with Bacillus pasteurii or indigenous microorganisms for a S landfill cover soil. For given three types of minerals, $NH_4{^+}$ (urease activity) was released at the highest of 88 mg/L for $MgCl_2$, then 85 mg/L for $CaCl_2$, and the lowest of 42 mg/L for $CaCl_2-MgCl_2$. $CO_2$ gas in the head space was completely removed after 12, 12, and 24 hr for $CaCl_2$, $MgCl_2$ and $CaCl_2-MgCl_2$, respectively. $Ca^{2+}$ concentration in $CaCl_2$ solution was the quickest and the greatest decreased 92% for 12 hr whereas that in $CaCl_2-MgCl_2$ solution was lower at 85% for 36 hr. $Mg^{2+}$ concentration in $MgCl_2$ was more efficiently decreased at 46% for 48 hr than that of $CaCl_2-MgCl_2$ solution of 38.5% for 72 hr. Regardless of types of minerals or their concentration, pH was changed from 5.5 to 9 by biomineralization being progressed. Microbial activity ($OD_{600}$) was also changed from 0 to 0.6. SEM images indicated that spheroidal and trapezoid shape crystal were formed, which were identified as of $CaCO_3$ (Calcite) and $MgCO_3$ (Magnesite) by X-ray diffraction. In the long run, $NH_4{^+}$ (urease activity), $CO_2$ gas, $OD_{600}$, pH, $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$ would be suitable for reasonable indicating factor in order to assess the degree of biomineralization efficiency.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.735-746
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• 1999

Background: As the prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacteriosis has been increasing rapidly, there has been recent advance in diagnostic methods and drug therapies for disease. Although the incidence of pulmonary disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria(NTM) has been increasing in Korea since 1990, detailed clinical description about the disease were very few. In this study we described the clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, and therapeutic outcomes of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease. Methods: Medical records and radiologic findings were retrospectively reviewed in 27 patients who were fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of ATS guideline for NTM pulmonary disease between January of 1990 and August of 1998 in Seoul National University Hospital(SNUH). Results: Of the 27 patients, 15 were male. The mean age was 51.5 yr($\pm$11.9). Twenty patients(74.1%) had preexisting pulmonary diseases. Among them, 19 patients had previous pulmonary tuberculosis. Sixteen patients(59.2%) had cavitary lesions and the majority showed slow progression over 1 yr during follow up period on radiography. Susceptibility test to standard antituberculous drugs showed 100% resistance to INH, 72.2% to RMP, 81.5% to EMB, 92.6% to PZA. The average resistance rate to 2nd-line antituberculous drugs was 66.1%. Among twenty-one patients(77.8%) who received drug therapy over 6 months, 11 subjects were improved and 10 subjects were aggravated. Of six subjects(22.2%) without therapy, 5 patients were aggravated. Presence of cavity and less than 3 sensitive drugs in the regimen were indicators for adverse outcome. Conclusion : The nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary diseases in our hospital developed predominantly in older patients with preexistent pulmonary disease. The results of antituberculous drug therapy has been frustrating and disappointing. To improve treatment response, different susceptibility tests and drug regimens for different species of NTM should be performed. Also, diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines of Korea should be made in the recent future.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.101-110
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• 2015

Parameters of mating system and pollen flow of a Pinus densiflora population in Buan, South Korea, were estimated using seven nuclear microsatellite markers. The expected heterozygosity ($H_e$) was 0.614 in mother trees and 0.624 in seeds. Fixation index (F) was 0.018 and 0.087 in each generation. There was no significant genetic difference between the generations (P > 0.05). From MLTR, the outcrossing rate ($t_m$), the biparental inbreeding ($t_m-t_s$), and the correlation of paternity ($r_p$) were 0.967, 0.057, and 0.012, respectively. tm was larger but $t_m-t_s$ and $r_p$ were smaller than those of allozyme markers in Pinus densiflora. These values were similar to those of microsatellite markers in other pine species. The optimal pollen dispersal model from TwoGener was the normal dispersal model with the effective density of 220 trees/ha and its level of genetic differentiation in pollen pool structure (${\Phi}_{ft}$) was 0.021. The average radial distance of pollen flow (${\delta}$) was calculated as 11.42 m, but no correlation between the pairwise-${\Phi}_{ft}$ and the geographical distance among mother trees was at Mantel test (r = -0.141, P > 0.05). Although the effective pollen dispersal in the population seems to be restricted, the amount of genetic variation might be maintained in each generation without a loss of genetic diversity. It might be because the genetic diversity in pollen pool was high but the genetic difference between pollen donors was small under the complete random mating condition in the Pinus densiflora population in Buan.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.58-66
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• 2015

This study was conducted to evaluate control efficacy of a fermented food 'Cheonggukjang' against cucumber powdery mildew caused by Sphaerotheca fuliginea in greenhouse. Sterilized Daepung beans were inoculated with the rice straw as natural inoculum and then incubated for 72 hrs at $42^{\circ}C$ in the household cheonggkjang maker. After 72 hrs of cheonggukjang fermentation, white zymogens were grown on the surface of a sterile Daepung beans. The pH of the 72 hrs fermented soybean was not significantly changed and electrical conductivity was found to increase by about 2 times than before fermentation. The population density of soybean zymogen showed a peak of growth at 60 hrs after fermentation and the concentration of zymogen was $8.2{\times}10^7cfu/ml$. Soybean zymogen form of the colony was divided into three kinds of bacteria and a white and a large colony (WL) was predominant bacteria among those up to 60 hrs of fermentation. To control the cucumber powdery mildew, diluted solutions of cheonggukjang was applied from 6.0% to 30.0% on cucumber leaves and they showed injury symptoms on cucumber leaves in more than 15% of them. However, more than 6.0% diluted cheonggukjang solutions showed more than 77.8% control effect of cucumber powdery mildew at 15 days after treatment. The fermented bacteria of Chenggukjang were well established in the cucumber leaf area at 15 days after treatment. The antifungal activity of 10% diluted cheonggukjang solutions was excellent for four species of plant fungal pathogens, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Sclerotinia cepivorum, Rhizoctonia sloani and Phytophthora capsici in the dual culture test. Results indicated that foliar application of Cheonggukjang solution could be used for the control of powdery mildews occurring on organically cultivated cucumber.

• Annals of Clinical Microbiology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.37-43
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• 2015

Background: Tuberculosis is globally the most important cause of death from single pathogen. Rapid and accurate identification of mycobacteria is essential for the control of tuberculosis. We evaluated a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method using peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes for the differentiation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in direct smears of sputum specimens. Methods: The cross-reactivity of MTB- and NTM-specific PNA probes was examined with reference strains of M. tuberculosis ATCC 13950, Mycobacterium kansasii ATCC 12479, Mycobacterium fortuitum ATCC 6841, several clinical isolates of mycobacteria (Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Mycobacterium gordonae and Mycobacterium chelonae), and 11 frequently isolated respiratory bacterial species other than mycobacteria. A series of 128 sputa (89 MTB culture positive, 29 NTM culture positive, and 10 under treatment culture negative) with grades of trace to 4+ were used to evaluate the performance of the method. Results: The MTB- and NTM-specific PNA probes showed specific reactions with the reference strains of MTB and M. kansasii and clinical isolates of mycobacteria except M. fortuitum ATCC 6841, and no cross-reactivity with other tested bacteria. The PNA probe-based FISH assay for detection of MTB had a sensitivity and specificity of 100%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the NTM-specific PNA probe was 100%. The smear grades of the PNA FISH test were same as with those of the fluorescence AFB stain in 2+ or higher grade. Conclusion: Detection and differentiation based on PNA FISH is sensitive and accurate for detecting mycobacteria and for differentiating MTB from NTM in clinical sputum smears.