• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.296-300
• /
• 2002

Bacterial cell surface components are the major factors responsible for pathogenesis and bioremediation. In particular, the surface of a Gram-negative bacterium cell has a variety of components compared to that of a Gram-positive cell. In our previous study, we isolated an isogenic mutant of Bradyrhizobium japonicum, which exhibited altered cell surface characteristics, including an increased hydrophobicity. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the mutant demonstrated that the O-polysaccharide part was completely absent. Meanwhile, a gel permeation chromatographic analysis of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) in the mutant demonstrated that it was unaltered. Since LPSs are known to have several anion groups that interact with various cation groups and metal ions, the mutant provided an opportunity to examine the direct role of LPS in metal binding by B. japonicum. Using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, it was clearly demonstrated that LPS was involved in metal binding. The binding capacity of the LPS mutant to various metal ions $(Cd^{2+},\;Cu^{2+},\;Pb^{2+},\;and\;Zn^{2+})$ was 50-70% lower than that of the wild-type strain. Also, through an EPS analysis and desorption experiment, it was found that EPS and centrifugal force had no effect on the metal binding. Accordingly, it would appear that LPS molecules on B. japonicum effect the properties, which precipitate more distinctly metal-rich mineral phase.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.7-18
• /
• 1988

In 1987, the level of heavy metals were determined ina total of 200 samples of 9 species of shellfish of Korea. The samples were collected at the fish. markets by 10 Public Institute of Health. The samples were whelk (Buccinum striatiBBimum), oyster (Crassostrea gigas), ark shell(Tegillarca granesa), shartnecked clam (Venerupis semidecussta), hard clam (Meretrix lusoria), top shell (Turbo cornutus), abalone (Haliotis gigantea), ark shell (Scapharea broughtonii), sea-mussel (Mytilus conuscus gould), respectively. The levels of total mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, copper, zinc and manganese were determined. The total mercury levels were determined by mercury analyzer using the combustion gold amalgamation method. The arsenic level were determined by spectrophotometry using colorimetric sil ver diethyldithiocarbamate method after dry ash dige8tion of the samples with magnesium oxide and magnesium nitrate. The levels of other metals were determined by inductively coupled pluma spectrophotometry after wet digestion of the samples with nitric acid and su1furic acid. The results were summerized as follows; 1. The overallranges and mean(ppm) were; Hg, ND-O.221 (0.036); Pb, 0.05-1.51 (0.37); Cd, 0.02-1.86 (0.61); As, 0.5-3.97 (1.22); Cu, 0.14-54.16 (4.93); Zn, 7.40-207.17 (30.09); Mn, 0.13-s.72 (3.40). 2. The levels of all 6 metals were found to be below the maximum permissible Iimits set by the Japan lor mercury, the Netherland for lead the Hong Kong for cadmium. The Finland for Arsenic no statutory Iimits for Zn and Mn in shellfish in any countries. 3. The results show that all the 9 species of shellfish studied, none have accumulated levels dangerous enough to pose a health problem.roblem.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2014.02a
• /
• pp.463-463
• /
• 2014

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have generated a strong interest in the development of solid-state devices owing to their low cost and simple preparation procedures. Effort has been devoted to the study of electrolytes that allow light-to-electrical power conversion for DSSC applications. Several attempts have been made to substitute the liquid electrolyte in the original solar cells by using (2,2',7,7'-tetrakis (N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamine)-9-9'-spirobi-fluorene (spiro-OMeTAD) that act as hole conductor [1]. Although efficiencies above 3% have been reached by several groups, here the major challenging is limited photoelectrode thickness ($2{\mu}m$), which is very low due to electron diffusion length (Ln) for spiro-OMeTAD ($4.4{\mu}m$) [2]. In principle, the $TiO_2$ layer can be thicker than had been thought previously. This has important implications for the design of high-efficiency solid-state DSSCs. In the present study, we have fabricated 3-D Transparent Conducting Oxide (TCO) by growing tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) nanowire (NWs) arrays via a vapor transport method [3] and mesoporous $TiO_2$ nanoparticle (NP)-based photoelectrodes were prepared using doctor blade method. Finally optimized light-harvesting solid-state DSSCs is made using 3-D TCO where electron life time is controlled the recombination rate through fast charge collection and also ITO NWs length can be controlled in the range of over $2{\mu}m$ and has been characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Structural analyses by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal that the ITO NWs formed single crystal oriented [100] direction. Also to compare the charge collection properties of conventional NPs based solid-state DSSCs with ITO NWs based solid-state DSSCs, we have studied intensity modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS), intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) and transient open circuit voltages. As a result, above $4{\mu}m$ thick ITO NWs based photoelectrodes with Z907 dye shown the best performing device, exhibiting a short-circuit current density of 7.21 mA cm-2 under simulated solar emission of 100 mW cm-2 associated with an overall power conversion efficiency of 2.80 %. Finally, we achieved the efficiency of 7.5% by applying a CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite sensitizer.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.108-114
• /
• 2014

To analyze the hazards associated with cucumber and hot pepper cultivation areas, a total of 72 samples were obtained and tested to detect the presence of biological (sanitary indicative, pathogenic bacteria and fungi) and chemical hazards (heavy metals and pesticide residues). The levels of sanitary indicative bacteria (aerobic plate counts and coliforms) and fungi were ND-7.2 and ND-4.8 log CFU/(g, mL, hand, or $100cm^2$) in cucumber cultivation areas, and ND-6.8 and 0.4-5.3 log CFU/(g, mL, hand, or $100cm^2$) in hot pepper cultivation areas. More specifically, the soil of hot pepper cultivation areas was contaminated with coliforms at a maximum level of 5.6 log CFU/g. Staphylococcus aureus was detected only in glove samples at a level of 1.4 log CFU/$100cm^2$ and Bacillus cereus was detected in the majority of samples at a level of ND-4.8 log CFU/(g, mL, hand, or $100cm^2$). Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Salmonella spp. were not detected. Heavy metal (Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Hg) chemical hazards were detected at levels lower than the regulation limit. Residual insecticides were not detected in cucumbers; however, hexaconazole was detected at a level of 0.016 mg/kg (maximum residue limit: 0.3 mg/kg) in hot peppers.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.323-332
• /
• 2003

This study was carried out to provide information for the present status of soil pollution near abandoned old-zinc mining area through analysis of bound form and 0.1 N-HCl extractable concentrations of heavy metals in soils and plants. Feasibility of endemic plants for phytoremediation was evaluated by the investigation of vegetation in soils. Cd contents of the selected samples near old-zinc mining soils ranged from 0.2 to $42mg\;kg^{-1}$. Nonagricultural soils near the mining area contained great amounts of Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cu than the paddy and upland soils. Some Korean wild plants, Artemisia princeps, Artemisia montana, Erigeron canadensis, and Pueraria thunbergiana, were found to grow vigorously in the studied area. Among them, Artemisia princeps was selected as a possible phytoremediator for cleaning heavy metal contaminated soils. Artemisia princeps contained about 43 and $52mg\;kg^{-1}$ of Cd in their root and shoot as dry weight, respectively. Average contents of Cd in the rhizosphere soil, $15.68mg\;kg^{-1}$, was slightly higher than the soil-root interface soils, $14.1mg\;kg^{-1}$. Sequential extraction of Cd contaminated soils showed that average $2.4mg\;kg^{-1}$ (about 7%) of cadmium existed as exchangeable form and the average amounts increased as follows : adsorbed < organically bound < exchangeable << oxide carbonate << sulfide residual fractions. Amendment of organic by-product fertilizer in metal-contaminated soils promoted the growth of roots significantly as compared with the other treatments containing chemical fertilizer.

• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 1976

This study was carried out to investigate the formation of precipitates between lead ion and the essential anions of plants, the effects of lead concentration on seed germination and plant growth in water and soil culture, and the germinating and growing recovery of inhibited seed germination and plant growth by lead. Four kinds of the seeds (Glycine max M., Triticum vulgare V., Setaria viridis (L) P. De Beauvois, and Digitoria sanguinalis (L) Scopoli var) were germinated and growth in water and soil culture included the different concentrations of lead for five days. The seeds and plants inhibited germination and growth by lead were transferred to lead free Hoagland solution and the growing recovery was observed. The precipitates of lead ion were observed in the solution of both acidity and alkalinity included each anion of $H_2PO_4^-, HPO_4^{2-}, PO_4^{3-}, SO_4^{2-} and MoO_4^{2-}$ in a room temperature, whereas the precipitates between lead ion and other anions were observed largely in the solution of alkalinity, so that it seemed that lead could be remained in the state of non-soluble in plant and soil. The inhibition of germination and growth in the water culture was observed in 100ppm of lead, whereas the inhibition in the case of the soil culture was observed in 10000ppm of lead. The difference of the effected concentration between water and soil culture in germination and the growth was 100 times. When the seed and plant inhibited the growth in 5000ppm or 10000ppm of lead for five days were transferred to lead free Hoagland solution, the recovery of germination and growth was observed in three days. This growing recovery was different according to the kinds of plant and concentrations of lead. It seemed that plant growth could be inhibited by the inhibition of the metabolism concerned with the precipitates between lead iion and other anions.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.131-137
• /
• 1982

For the purpose of the curative effects of oral D-penicillamine in lead poisoning, D-penicillamine was orally administered to 7 lead poisoned workers which were employed in glaze product industry dealing with the lead oxide ($Pb_3O_4$). The doses of D-penicillamine was 1,200mg per day which was administered by oral 7days schedules, taking for 5 days and stopping for the following 2days, repeatedly during 3 months period. (All the poisoned workers started working again in that industry after 1 month treatment, and were treated by oral D-penicillamine for 2 months still being exposed to contaminated environment.) In order to evaluate the curative effects of D-penicillamine, 10gm of whole blood and 24 hours urine were collected every 14 days during the curative period for laboratory analysis(hemoglobin, blood lead, urine $\sigma$-aminolevulinic acid, urine coproporphyrin, and urine lead levels) with the observation of the clinical symptoms. The results were as follows; 1. Oral D-penicillamine effected good curative results as that hemoglobin, blood lead, urine $\sigma$-aminolevulinic acid, and urine coproporphyrin levels were decreased below the critical level within 1 month treatment. 2. After re-exposure, oral D-penicillamine effected to some extent as that urine lead level was decreased below the critical level after 3 months treatment with disappearence of the clinical symptoms after 2 months treatment. However, the curative effects of oral D-penicillamine in the lead exposure state is questionable since increasement of blood lead level and remarkable decreasement of urine lead level after 3 months treatment can be observed.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.139-150
• /
• 1996

The Yucheon Bi deposits at Cheongha, Gyeongsangbugdo, is of a middle Paleogene (49 Ma) vein type, and is hosted in sandstone and shale of Banyawal formation in Cretaceous age. Based on mineral paragenesis, vein structure and mineral assemblages, two minera1ization stages were distinguished. The stage I consists of quartz with small amount of chlorite, pyrite, epidote, hal1oysite, vermiculite, serpentine and rutile associated with sericitization. The stage II is characterized by Bi minera1ization such as bismuthinite, Bi-Cu-Pb-S mineral, tetradymite, native gold, pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, wolframite, rutile, hematite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena with alteration of sericite, chlorite, K-feldspar, albite and epidote. Fluid inclusion data indicate that fluid temperature and NaCl equivalent wt.% salinity range from 431 to $150^{\circ}C$ and from 19.2 to 0.18wt.% in the stage II. Evidence of boiling during the base-metal minera1ization indicates pressures 241 to 260 bars. Sulfur fugacity($-log\;f_{S2}$) deduced by mineral assemblages and compositions ranges from 5.1 to 5.7atm in early stage, from > 8.4 atm in middle stage and from 13.5 to 19.3 atm in late stage. It suggests that complex histories of progressive coo1ing, dilution and boiling were occurred by the mixing of the fluids. The ${\delta}^{34}S$, ${\delta}^{18}O$ and ${\delta}D$ data range from 2.5 to 3.9%, -0.5 to -4.1% and -29.7 to -47%, respectively. It indicated that hydrothermal fluids may be magmatic origin with boiling and mixing of meteoric water increasing paragenetic time.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.203-212
• /
• 2013

The tooth morphology and qualitative mineral contents on enamel surface using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, (EDX) were examined in the white-toothed shrew (genus Crocidura ) Crocidura lasiura and C. suaveolens and the red-toothed shrew (genus Sorex) Sorex caecutiens. In the case of C. lasiura and C. suaveolens, dental formula was found I 3/1 C1/1 P1/1 M3/3=28. The upper 1st and 2nd molars had an unequal W-shape formed by 5 cusps on the crown. The 3rd molar was found one-third the size of those of 1st and 2nd molars. The upper 1st incisor had two different sized hook-shapes and the lower 1st incisor was even. In the case of S. caecutiens, dental formula was found to be I3/1 C1/1 P3/1 M3/3=32. The upper 1st and 2nd molars had an equal W-shape on crown. The upper 3rd molar was half the size of those of the other molars. The upper 1st incisor possessed two similar sized hook-shapes and the lower 1st incisor had an uneven and serrated form. A comparison with the dental and cranial measurements revealed C. lasiura to be the largest of the three species (p<0.001) and C. suaveolens and S. caecutiens were similar in size (p>0.05). A qualitative analysis of mineral contents on enamel surface of the lower 1st incisor and lower 1st molar using EDX revealed C, O, P, Ca and Cu in all specimens and Pb was detected in several enamel specimens. No significant differences in the mineral contents (% weight) were observed among the three species (p>0.05). Fe was only detected on enamel surface of S. caecutiens with red pigmented teeth. Therefore, Fe is responsible for the red tip of the teeth. These results suggest that tooth morphological characteristics including the color of the tooth tip might be used as the key classifying species belonging to Crocidura and Sorex.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.146-158
• /
• 2010

In order to evaluate the characteristics of sediments and pollution by organic matter and metallic elements in intertidal sediments along the southwestern coast of Korea, we measured various geochemical parameters, including the mean grain size (Mz), water content (WC), ignition loss (IL), chemical oxygen demand (COD), acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and metallic elements (Al, Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Mn, Hg, As), in intertidal surface sediments. The Mz of the surface sediments ranged from 2.1 to 8.3$\phi$, indicating that the surface sediments consist of various sedimentary facies, such as sand, slightly gravelly mud, sandy mud, and silt. The IL and COD in surface sediment ranged from 0.8 to 5.5% (mean $2.9\pm1.2%$) and from 3.9 to $13.8\;mgO_2/g{\cdot}dry$ (mean $8.5\pm2.6\;mgO_2/g{\cdot}dry$), respectively, which were lower than the values for surface sediment in areas near fish and shellfish farms or industrial complexes. No AVS was detected at any sampling station, despite various sedimentary facies. Most of metallic elements in surface sediments showed relatively good positive correlations with Mz and IL, which imply that the concentrations of metallic elements are mainly controlled by grain size and the organic matter content. The concentrations of metallic elements, except As, at some stations were considerably lower than those in the Sediment Quality Guideline (Effect Range Low, ERL) proposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States. Similarly, the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) class indicated that pollution by metallic elements in intertidal surface sediment, except As, was moderate or non-existent. Our results imply that the intertidal surface sediments along the southwestern coast of Korea are not polluted by organic matter and metallic elements and are healthy for benthic organisms.