• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.491-498
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• 2011

We investigated the ranges of total cellular microcystins content of cyanobacterial blooms collected in Korean lakes and rivers from 2005 to 2009. The amount and composition of microcystins of Korean cyanobacteria varied depending on the sampling water bodies and dominant cyanobacterial genera. Toxic cyanobacterial cell numbers equivalent to $1{\mu}g$ MCYSTs/L using total cellular microcystin content of Korean cyanobacteria were in the range of 2,348 to 66,980,638 cells/mL. Only four samples among forty nine samples showed less cell numbers than current criterion of Harmful Algae Alert System, 5,000 cells/mL indicating current criterion do not reflect properly the microcystins content of Korean cyanobacteria. Anabaena and Aphanizomenon spp. showed three to six times higher cell numbers equivalent to $1{\mu}g$ MCYSTs/L than Microcystis spp. To propose criteria of Harmful Algae Alert System for Korean toxic cyanobacteria, we calculated about 50% selective geometrical means of cyanobacterial cell numbers equivalent to $1{\mu}g$ MCYSTs/L in order of toxic content. The proposed criteria for Microcystis, Oscillatoria, Anabaena, and Aphanizomenon spp., are 10,000, 20,000, 40,000, and 80,000 cells/mL, respectively.

• MARITIME LAW REVIEW
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.115-144
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• 2017

The impact of the global financial crisis, which began in the United States in 2007, had a major impact on the domestic shipping and shipbuilding industries. In this regard, the domestic shipyard has established an order-taking strategy in several ways as an alternative to lowering the amount of construction of commercial vessels due to deterioration of the shipping industry, and selected industrial sector was the offshore plant sector. However, the domestic shipyard has under performed the offshore plant in order to just increase sales and secure work without any risk analysis for EPC contracts. As a result, the shipyard has been charged more than the initial contract price with the offshore plant contractor, or the shipyard has become a legal issue requiring payment of liquidated damages due to delays in delivery of the product. The main legal disputes are caused by the thorough risk analysis and the inexperience of process control that can occur during offshore plant construction. and In particular, there is no sufficient review of the unequivocal provisions in the contract as an element of risk management. There is no human resource to review these contractual clauses. Therefore, this study identifies the existence of specific risks that could lead to delays in offshore plant construction, and examined the existence of any unequivocal clauses in contracts for offshore plant construction. and also discussed how the toxic clause applies to the actual parties and how the concrete risk factors in the construction contracts are transferred and expressed by referring to the interviews with the project manager of the domestic shipyard and the previous research. As a result, This paper examined the legal liability of the contracting parties regarding delayed delivery of the products due to the offshore plant construction contract. And to improve the domestic shipbuilding industry.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.755-760
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• 2021

Swine diarrhea is a livestock disease that causes huge economic losses to pig farms. In general, diarrhea occurs because of the proliferation of pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli). The toxins produced by the proliferated E. coli cause edema in pigs. Although the proliferation of these coliforms can be prevented by using a vaccine, the vaccines containing chemically produced dead bacteria are not very effective, making it difficult to control the proliferation of E. coli. Therefore, there is a need to develop new, more effective vaccines. In this study, we prepared killed F4+ and F18ab+ E. coli, which induce diarrhea and edema in pigs, using the extracts of immune-induced silkworms containing antimicrobial peptides and examined their availability as a killed-bacteria vaccine. First, the antimicrobial activity analysis of the prepared immune-induced silkworm extract was conducted using the radial diffusion assay. The results showed high activity against both F4+ and F18ab+ E. coli. The production efficiency of E. coli dead cells was determined using the colony-counting method. The concentration of the E. coli dead cells was the highest (50 mg/ml) when treated at 4℃. In addition, the analysis of the prepared dead cells using a transmission electron microscope confirmed that E. coli leaked out of the cytoplasm and the cell membrane remained intact. Therefore, F4+ and F18ab+ E. coli produced using immune-induced silkworms extract are considered to be highly available as bacterial ghost vaccines that can help prevent swine diarrhea and the resulting edema.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.135-141
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• 2021

Background and Objectives Vocal process granulomas (VPGs) are benign lesions of the larynx, typically contact granulomas (CG) and intubation granulomas (IG). The two diseases are known to have different clinical manifestations despite having the same pathological features. The purpose of this study was to analyze the treatment results for CG and IG and to obtain clinical information. Materials and Method We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with VPG between January 2015 and December 2018. The patient's age, sex, medical history, lesion size, lesion type, reflux finding score, response to treatment, duration of treatment, and follow-up period were compared. Results In total, 32 patients were included in the study, of which 18 were CG and 14 were IG. In the CG group, males were dominant (n=15, 83.3%), whereas in the IG group, females were dominant (n=11, 78.6%) (p=0.0009). The response to medical treatment using proton pump inhibitor and steroid inhaler was better in the IG group (11/14, 78.6%) than in the CG group (7/18, 38.9%) (p=0.036). Of the 14 patients who did not respond to medical treatment, 5 received botulium toxin injections, and all 5 had complete remission. The duration of medical treatment was significantly longer in the IG group (p=0.0029). Conclusion IG was more common in female, and CG was more dominant in male. IG had better response to medical treatment using proton pump inhibitor and steroid inhaler than CG.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.162-169
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• 2022

This study investigated the mycotoxins (aflatoxin B₁, B₂, G₁, G₂, fumonisin B₁, B₂, ochratoxin A and zearalenone) contained in edible and medicinal plants in Seoul Yangnyeong market during 2020-2021. We analyzed contamination of mycotoxins using LC-MS/MS and evaluated risk assessment. The method was validated by assessing matrix effects, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification(LOQ) and recovery. Matrix-matched standard calibration was used for calibration curves showed good linearity (r²>0.999). The LOD, LOQ and recovery were 0.01-0.23 ㎍/kg, 0.04-0.71 ㎍/kg and 75.5-117.9% respectively. Mycotoxins were detected in 22 of 171 samples; aflatoxin B₁ (6.66 ㎍/kg), fumonisin (7.54-64.68 ㎍/kg), ochratoxin A (4.21-10.56 ㎍/kg) and zearalenone (7.31-60.76 ㎍/kg). In the risk assessment, the MOE (Margine of Exposure) of aflatoxin B₁ and ochratoxin A were in the range of 1.48×10³-2.36×10⁵. No items exceeded 100% in %TDI (Tolerable Daily Intake) of fumonisin (B₁+B₂) and zearalenone.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2022

Ginseng is an important medicinal plant cultivated in East Asia for thousands of years. It is typically cultivated in the same field for 4 to 6 years and is exposed to a variety of pathogens. Among them, ginseng root rot is the main reason that leads to the most severe losses. In this study, endophytic bacteria were isolated from healthy ginseng, and endophytes with antagonistic effect against ginseng root rot pathogens were screened out. Among the 17 strains, three carried antagonistic effect, and were resistant to radicicol that is a mycotoxin produced by ginseng root rot pathogens. Finally, Bacillus velezensis CH-15 was selected due to excellent antagonistic effect and radicicol resistance. When CH-15 was inoculated on ginseng root, it not only inhibited the mycelial growth of the pathogen, but also inhibited the progression of disease. CH-15 also carried biosynthetic genes for bacillomycin D, iturin A, bacilysin, and surfactin. In addition, CH-15 culture filtrate significantly inhibited the growth and conidial germination of pathogens. This study shows that endophytic bacterium CH-15 had antagonistic effect on ginseng root rot pathogens and inhibited the progression of ginseng root rot. We expected that this strain can be a microbial agent to suppress ginseng root rot.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2023

Targeting Microcystin (MC), which is most abundantly detected in the North-Han River water area, we analyzed the relationship between the MC biosynthesis gene (mcyA gene), cyanobacteria cell density, and MC concentration, derived an RNA-MC conversion formula, and derived the cyanobacteria. The concentration of MC present in cells was predicted. In the North-Han River waters, the mcyA gene was found mainly at downstream sites of the North-Han River after Muk-Hyeon Stream junction, and higher copy numbers were found on average than other sites. In the Uiam Lake waters upstream of the North-Han River, the mcyA gene copy number increased at the Kong-Ji Stream point, and after September, the mcyA gene copy number decreased throughout the North-Han River waters. The expression of the mcyA gene was concentrated in the short period of summer due to the spatio-temporal difference between upstream and downstream water bodies. The mcyA gene expression level was not only highly correlated with MC concentration, but also correlated with the cell density of Microcystis aeruginosa and Dolichospermum circinale, which are known to biosynthesize MC. Six conversion formulas derived based on the RNA-MC relationship showed statistical significance (p<0.05) and exhibited high correlation coefficients (r) of 0.9 or higher. The expression level of MC biosynthesis gene present in eRNA determines the synthesis of cyanotoxin substances in water, quickly quantifies gene activity, and can be fully utilized for early warning of MC development.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2022.05a
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• pp.50-50
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• 2022

한국농어촌공사 산하의 농업용저수지 중 3786개소에 대한 수질조사를 '19년도에 실시한 결과, TOC 기준 4등급 초과 저수지 비율은 약 20%로써, 도심 근교 저수지에서 녹조현상 빈발로 인해 수질, 악취, 미관 등의 환경문제 개선 민원이 다수 발생하고 있다. 현재 녹조 발생 사후관리를 위해 주로 사용되고 있는 대형 조류제거선은 저수심 수변부에서의 적용성에 한계가 있고, Al 기반의 응집제를 사용하여 조류를 수거해서 폐기하고 있는 실정이다. (주)이엔이티는 농어촌연구원, (주)코레드, (주)삼호인넷과 함께 호소나 정체하천의 수변지역에 적용될 수 있는 저에너지형 유해조류 포집시스템 개발과, 수거된 조류부산물을 무독화하여 농업재료로 재활용하는 방안을 연구하고 있다. 저수지나 정체수역의 녹조는 바람, 수면유동 등에 의해 수변에 집적되는 특성이 있어, 인공지능 기술로 녹조현상을 감시하여 조류 밀집구간에 접근할 수 있는 자율이동식 수상이동장치를 개발 중이다. 수상이동장치는 조류포집장치를 탑재하기 위한 부력체, 원격 운전이 가능한 무인항법장치, 수변식생대 및 저수심지역 이동을 고려한 수차방식 추진체, 전체 장치의 전원 공급을 위한 고성능 배터리 등으로 구성하여 상세 도면 설계를 진행하고 있다. 조류포집장치에는 표층에 주로 분포하는 남조류를 선택 흡입하는 포집 부표를 적용하였고, Al계 응집제 사용을 배제한 분리막 실험을 통해 침지형 막분리조 및 가압형 농축조를 설계하였다. 유해조류 포집 및 농축은 수상에서 이동체에 탑재하여 이뤄지고, 육상에서는 자원 회수가 가능하도록 회분식 응집공정으로 구분하였다. 조류 밀집지역에서 수거된 조류의 무독화 및 농업재료 자원화 타당성 평가를 위해 특용 버섯균주를 활용한 시료별 분석항목을 선정하고 실험 매트릭스에 따라 실증실험을 수행하였다. 수거조류를 전처리하여 성분 및 발열량을 분석하고 버섯재배 전후의 마이크로시스틴 독소(LR, RR, LR)를 포함한 성분 분석을 수행하여, 고체연료, 비료 및 사료로 활용방안을 검토하였다. 무인자율이동 조류포집장치는 실증화 규모로 제작하여 기선정된 테스트베드에서 현장적용성 평가를 수행할 예정이다. 본 연구를 통해 개발된 유해조류 포집 시스템은 기존의 녹조제거 방안을 보완하여 정체수역의 생태계 복원 및 친수공간의 환경개선 등에 적용되며, 무독화가 입증된 유해조류의 농업재료 자원화 기술은 고부가 상품 개발 및 환경폐기물 감축에 활용될 것이다.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.297-304
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• 2023

Domoic acid (DA), a neurotoxin produced naturally by diatoms, is responsible for incidents of amnesic shellfish poisoning. In this study, a modified analytical method was established to determine domoic acid in seafood using solid phase extraction cleanup and optimizing the amount of sample and extraction solvent to reduce interference effects. The modified method using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection was validated using three seafood matrices (mussel, red snow crab, and anchovy) at three concentrations (1, 2, and 4 mg/kg) and compared to the Food Code method. Compared to the Food Code method, the modified method showed better performance in terms of linearity (R²>0.999), detection limit (0.02-0.03 mg/kg), quantification limit (0.05-0.09 mg/kg), intra-/inter-day accuracy (86.2-100.4%), and intra-/inter-day precision (0.2-4.0%). Furthermore, the method was successfully applied for the analysis of 87 seafood samples marketed in Korea, and DA was detected at a low concentration of 140 ㎍/kg in one anchovy sample. These results suggest that the modified method can be used for routine determination of DA in seafood.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2024

This study was performed to establish the epidemiological features of a food poisoning outbreak that occurred in the cafeteria of a company in Chungcheongnam-do Province, Korea, in October 2020, and to recommend measures to prevent similar outbreaks. Twenty-one patients with acute gastroenteritis, three food handlers, seven cooking utensils, and 12 preserved food samples were subjected to viral and bacterial analyses based on procedures described in the "Manual for Detection of Foodborne Pathogens at Outbreaks". Among 135 individuals who had been served the meals, 21 (15.6%) showed symptoms of nausea and vomiting within an hour of consuming the food. Bacillus cereus were isolated from 11 (52.4%) of the 21 patients, one food service employee, one item of cooking ware, and 12 preserved food samples. In addition, we confirmed the toxin genes CER, nheA, and entFM from the isolated B. cereus strains. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis results indicated that all of the isolated B. cereus strains were closely related, with the exception of strains obtained from one patient and one sample of preserved food. These findings provide evidence to indicate that the isolated B. cereus originated from preserved foods and an unhygienic eating environment. This outbreak highlights that the provision of food in non-commercial food systems must be thoroughly managed. In addition, it emphasizes the necessity for the correct and timely identification of causal pathogens for tracing the cause of food poisoning outbreaks, and the need to preserve food under appropriate conditions. To prevent similar cases of food poisoning, it is necessary to investigate cases based on an epidemiological approach and share the findings.