• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.32 no.8
• /
• pp.795-801
• /
• 2010

The acute toxicity of arsenic compounds was assessed and compared using following four bioassays; bioluminescence activity of the recombinant strain RB1436, germination of four different seeds, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity produced by Bacillus lichemiformis, acute genetic revertant mutation using mutant strain Salmonella typhimurium. Different sensitivities were observed among tested bioassays, but generally the toxicity by arsenite was greater than that of arsenate. Among tested four seeds, sensitivities of Lactucus and Raphanus were greater than others, and these two seed types were appeared as proper type for bioassay. High revertant mutation ratio (5.1) was observed with 1 mg/L arsenite, indicating high mutagenicity. The sensitivity of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity on arsenic compounds was much lower than other methods. The evaluation of interactive toxic effects using various bioassays may comprise a useful tool for the bioassessment of environmental pollutants.

• Journal of Satellite, Information and Communications
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.39-47
• /
• 2012

Currently, most of the frequency spectrum resources are allocated and due to the lack of frequency, low frequency band, optimal for wireless communication environment is not used. Therefore, Cognitive Radio (CR) is a critical issue to solve the spectrum scarcity and to improve frequency spectrum utilization in wireless communication. In this paper, we implement data transmission and receive in a real CR system using the USRP(Universal Software Radio Peripheral) board and GNU Radio package of an open source development kit. Concretely, we detect the Primary User by spectrum sensing, and then we send Primary User information to the database. After receiving the information, because the database already sent optimal transmit power, bandwidth and channel information to CR equipment, CR can communicate without any interference to Primary User.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.179-185
• /
• 2021

BACKGROUND: Tomato genome editing using CRISPR-Cas9 is being actively conducted in recent days, and lots of plant researches have been aiming to develop high valued crops by editing target genes without inserting foreign genes. Many researchers have been involved in the manipulation of the crop ripening process because fruit ripening is an important fruit phenotype for increasing fruit shelf life, taste, and texture of crops. This paper intends to evaluate target sgRNA to edit the two ripening-related genes encoding pectate lyase (PL) and phytoene synthase (Psy) with the CRISPR-Cas9 system. METHODS AND RESULTS: The CRISPR-Cas9 expression vector was cloned to target the PL (Solyc03g111690), Psy1 (Solyc03g031860), and Psy2 (Solyc02g081330) genes, which are the ripening genes of tomatoes. Tomatoes injected with Agrobacterium containing the CRISPR-Cas9 expression vector were further cultured for 5 days and used to check gene editing efficiency. As a result of the target gene sequence analysis by the next generation sequencing method, gene editing efficiency was calculated, and the efficient target location was selected for the PL and Psy genes. CONCLUSION: Therefore, this study was aimed to establish target sgRNA data that could have higher efficiency of the CRISPR-Cas9 system to obtain the delayed ripening phenotype of tomato. The developed method and sgRNA information is expected to be utilized in the development of various crops to manage its ripening processes.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.324-332
• /
• 2018

BACKGROUND: Insects are ectothermic organisms in terrestrial ecosystems and play various roles such as controlling plant biomass and maintaining species diversity. Because insects are ectothermic, their physiological responses are very sensitive to environmental temperature which determines survival and distribution of insect population and that affects climate change. This study aimed to identification of genes contributing to fitness under high temperature. METHODS AND RESULTS: To identify genes contributing to fitness under high temperature, the transcriptomes of fat body in Plutella xyostella larva have been analyzed via next generation sequencing. From the fat body transcriptomes, structure-related proteins, heat shock proteins, antioxidant enzymes and detoxification proteins were identified. Genes encoding proteins such as structural proteins (cuticular proteins, chitin synthase and actin), stress-related protein (cytochrome P450), heat shock protein and antioxidant enzyme (catalase) were up-regulated at high temperature. In contrast expression of glutathione S transferase was down-regulated. CONCLUSION: Identifications of temperature-specific up- or down-regulated genes can be useful for detecting temperature adaptation and understanding physiological responses in insect pests.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.97-110
• /
• 2012

The sharp decline of fertility in industrialized countries since the 19th century constitutes a major problem for evolutionary approaches to human behavior. Why would people voluntarily reduce their total number of offspring, despite the fact that resources are so abundant in modern times? Here I review three evolutionary hypotheses for low fertility in modern societies, and discuss how the evolutionary perspective could shed new light on solving the problem of low fertility in Korea. Low fertility may be 1) a maladaptive outcome from the mismatch between our ancestral environments and evolutionarily novel environments, 2) a consequence of gene-culture coevolution where traits that reduce genetic fitness can still spread through a population as a result of imitation, especially if the traits are expressed by high-status people, or 3) an adaptation that maximize parents' long-term genetic fitness in knowledge-based industrialized societies where high parental investment is required for rearing competitive offspring. Based on these considerations, I suggest how the evolutionary explanations of low fertility can be applied to increasing the birth rate in Korea.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2022.09a
• /
• pp.37-37
• /
• 2022

밀은 세계 3대 작물로 국내 1인당 소비량은 지속적으로 증가하고 있다. 하지만 국내 밀의 유전적 배경 확대와 기후변화 신속 대응을 위한 국내 밀 유전자 풀의 확장은 밀의 질적 향상을 위해 매우 중요한 목표이다. 국내 자생 갯그령(Leymus mollis)은 해안가에서 번식하는 영년생 식물로 뿌리줄기를 이용한 왕성한 번식력을 가지고 있다. 또한, 해안가의 뜨겁고 염에 대한 적응성과 저항성을 가지고 있다. 이러한 특성은 밀 유전자 풀의 확장에 매우 유용할 것이다. 국내 밀 재배지 한계 극복을 위한 간척지 재배가 가능한 내염성 강화 밀 자원 개발을 위하여 모본인 보통 밀(Triticum aestivum L., Chinese Spring)과 부본인 갯그령을 원연교배하였다. 갯그령과 보통 밀의 원연 교배를 통한 종자 형성은 매우 어려우나 불가능한 것은 아니며, 최종적으로 10개의 교배 종자를 얻어 F₁ 식물체로 생장하는 과정에서 5 식물체는 고사하였고, 나머지 5 식물체는 영년생 특성인 뿌리줄기에 의해 새로운 줄기가 출현하는 것을 확인하였다. 또한, 갯그령의 DNA를 이용한 genomic in situ hybridization 방법으로 F₁ 식물체에서 갯그령의 염색체가 밀의 유전적 배경에 이입된 것을 확인하였다. F₂ 식물체는 모본인 보통 밀보다 긴 수장과 간장을 나타내고 이삭 수는 많았지만, 출수기는 보통 밀보다 3주 이상 늦어지는 것을 확인하였다. 내염성 평가를 위하여 F₂ 종자를 2% 소금물에서 발아시켜 생육이 좋은 식물체를 선발하여 50 cm 투명 아크릴 원통에 이식하고 2% 소금물을 지속적으로 관개하였다. 내염성 강화 F₂ 식물체는 염에 감수성을 보인 식물체에 비하여 상대적으로 긴 이삭과 종자 형성을 보였으며, 감수성 식물체는 종자 형성이 이루어지지 않았다. 또한, 내염성 강화 F₂ 식물체는 감수성 식물체에 비하여 좋은 뿌리의 신장과 천근성을 보였다. 이러한 갯그령의 식물학적 특성이 이입된 계통은 기후변화 대응, 환경 적응성 강화, 및 근권 강화에 좋은 작물 소재로 이용할 수 있다고 생각한다.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.217-227
• /
• 2023

The consumption of ready-to-eat side dishes is rapidly growing in South Korea. These foods are particularly vulnerable to microbiological contamination as they are often cooked without any treatment, such as heating or stored at room temperature after cooking. Hence, in 2022, we analyzed the ready-to-eat side dishes sold in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea for microbiological contamination. We collected 100 samples from supermarkets in 7 cities, and then examined them for presence of food-borne pathogens and sanitary indicator bacteria. In the analysis of the food-borne pathogens, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens were isolated from 51 samples (51.0%) and 3 samples (3.0%), respectively. However, both quantitatively met the Korean Food Standards Codex. Genes of five different enterotoxins and one emetic toxin were analyzed from the 51 isolated B. cereus strains. We detected enterotoxin entFM (100.0%), nheA (94.1%), hblC (58.8%), cytK (56.9%), and bceT (41.2%) in 51 isolates, and emetic toxin gene, CER, in only one (2.0%) isolate. We did not detect C. perfringens toxin gene (cpe) that causes food poisoning in any one of the three C. perfringens isolates. In the case of sanitary indicator bacteria, Kimchi had the highest levels of total aerobic bacteria and coliforms, followed by Saengchae, Jeotgal, Jeolim, Namul, and Jorim, respectively. We counted total aerobic bacteria at two different storage temperatures (4℃ and 20℃) to determine the effect of storage temperature. When stored at 20℃, total aerobic bacteria count increased in most of the ready-to-eat side dishes, except for Jeotgal. This result conclusively shows the need for refrigerating the ready-to-eat side dishes after purchase. Further research is needed to assess the risk and safety of the ready-to-eat side dishes available in the market and determine appropriate safety management practices.

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

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.147-153
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this study was to isolate Escherichia coli from flies and to assess pathogenic genes and antibiotic resistance of the isolates. A total of 188 flies were captured in agricultural environment including fruits farms (n = 19), fermented soybean farms (n = 9), municipal waste (n = 46), livestock farms (n = 66), slaughterhouses (n = 38), and manure ground (n = 10). E. coli isolates of captured flies were tested for pathogenic gene and antibiotic resistance using PCR methods and VITEK2 systems. As a result, E. coli from 63% (119/188) of the captured flies has been detected, and the detection rate of E. coli was the highest (89%, 31/34) in flies captured at particular slaughterhouse. Of the 34 isolates, 94% (32/34) were pathogenic gene (ST gene) positive. Twenty-six percent (31/119) of the E. coli isolates were observed being resistant to one or more antibiotics. Markedly, one of E. coli isolates from Livestock farms was resistant to 7 antibiotics including ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, cefazolin, cefotaxime, gentamicin, levofloxacin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. In addition, it was ESBL positive. The results of the present study may suggest a risk of transmission of pathogenic and antimicrobial resistant bacteria from flies to livestock environment Therefore, it may need to prevent introducing flies into the agricultural production environment for safe food production.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.94-103
• /
• 2023

Cyanobacterial resting cells, such as akinetes, are important seed cells for cyanobacteria's early development and bloom. Due to their importance, various methods have been attempted to isolate resting cells present in the sediment. Ludox is a solution mainly used for cell separation in marine sediments, but finding an accurate method for use in freshwater is difficult. This study compared the two most commonly used Ludox methods (direct sediment treatment and sediment distilled water suspension treatment). Furthermore, we proposed a highly efficient method for isolating cyanobacterial resting cells and eDNA amplification from freshwater sediments. Most of the resting cells found in the sediment were akinete to the Nostocale and were similar to those of Dolichospermum, Cylindrospermum, and Aphanizomenon. Twenty times more akinetes were found in the conical tube column using the sediment that had no treatment than in the sample treated by suspending the sediment in distilled water. Akinete separated through Ludox were mainly spread over the upper and lower layers in the column rather than concentrated at a specific depth in the column layer. The mibC, Geo, and 16S rDNA genes were successfully amplified using the sediment directly in the sample. However, the amplification products of all genes were not found in the sample in which the sediment was suspended in distilled water. Therefore, 5 g to 10 g of sediment is used without pretreatment when isolating cyanobacterial resting cells from freshwater sediment. Cell isolation and gene amplification efficiency are high when four times the volume of Ludox is added. The Ludox treatment method presented in this study isolates cyanobacterial resting cells in freshwater sediment, and the same efficiency may not appear in other biotas. Therefore, to apply Ludox to the separation of other biotas, it is necessary to conduct a pre-experiment to determine the sediment pretreatment method and the water layer where the target organism exists.