• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.976-982
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• 2016

Seaweed has high growth rate, low land usage, high CO₂ absorption and no competition for food resources. Therefore, the use of lignin-free seaweed as a raw material is arising as a third generation biomass for bioethanol production. Various pretreatment techniques have been introduced to enhance the overall hydrolysis yield, and can be categorized into physical, chemical, biological, enzymatic or a combination. Thermal acid hydrolysis pretreatment is one of the most popular methods to attain high sugar yields from seaweed biomass for economic reasons. At thermal acid hydrolysis conditions, the 3,6-anhydro-galactose (AHG) from biomass could be converted to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which might inhibit the cell growth and decrease ethanol production. AHG is prone to decomposition into HMF, due to its acid-labile character, and subsequently into weak acids such as levulinic acid and formic acid. These inhibitors can retard yeast growth and reduce ethanol productivity during fermentation. Thus, the carbohydrates in seaweed require effective treatment methods to obtain a high concentration of monosaccharides and a low concentration of inhibitor HMF for ethanol fermentation. The efficiency of bioethanol production from the seaweed biomass hydrolysate is assessed by separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF). To improve the efficiency of the ethanol fermentation of mixed monosaccharides, the adaptation of yeast to high concentration of sugar could make simultaneous utilization of mixed monosaccharides for the production of ethanol from seaweed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.973-980
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• 2014

This study was conducted to explore new nutraceutical resources from the plant kingdom possessing biological activities. To fulfill this purpose, the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of Decaisnea insignis ethanol extract (DIEE) were evaluated. First, DIEE possessed potent scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), similar to ascorbic acid used as a positive control. Moreover, DIEE inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, DIEE induced the expression of an anti-oxidative enzyme, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and its upstream transcription factor, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), in a dose-dependent manner. The modulation of the HO-1 and Nrf2 expressions might be regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and their upstream signaling pathways. On the other hand, DIEE suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) formation without cytotoxicity. The inhibition of the NO formation was the result of the downregulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) by DIEE. The suppression of NO and iNOS by DIEE might be modulated by their upstream transcription factors, nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ($NF-{\kappa}B$), and activator protein 1 (AP-1) pathways. Taken together, these results provide important new insights that D. insignis possesses anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, it might be utilized as a promising material in the field of nutraceuticals.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2002

This study is carried out to make the environmentally affinitive porous planting block for revegetation and to make a effective program for greening plans. The summary is shown below. 1. In order to get stronger intensity and distribute proper porosity in the block for planting, the cements mixed with fine soil were used and the finer in soil grains gives the stronger in intensity of the cements. Use of the furnace slag cements instead of the portland cements showed relatively stronger in intensity of the block. The intensity of the block became stronger when the mixed ratio of the cements to soil is 5 : 1, but the pore space ratio was lower. The percolate pH of the portland cements after one month of treatment was 13.1 but the percolate pH of the furnace slag cements was shown lower. To mold proper porous planting blocks, the proper combination of additives such as the dehydrating agent, elastic agent and adhesives into the mixture of cements and soil gives better effectives. 2. After molding the porous planting blocks, it gave a better result when the grains of the filler made of peat moss, upland soil and compound fertilizer were smaller than 2 mm in size. Shaking of the filling materials also gave the better result, but it took more time and cost much more. Therefore, it was better when the filling materials were mixed with water first then flew down for stuffing. 3. It was necessary to cover with soil after seeding or planting on the porous planting blocks. The proper thickness of the soil to help root development and keep moisture is about 3~5 cm. 4. The plants for planting on the porous planting block were required stronger in the growth condition of their roots and their environmental adaptability. The average germination percentage and rate of Platycodon grandiflorum on the porous planting block were 88.8% and 85% accordingly and their rate is very uniform. The germination rates of Dianthus superbus var. longicalycinus and Taraxacum officinale were more than 50%. These grass species, Chelidonium majus var. asiaticum, Lysimachia mauritiana and Scabiosa mansenensis were the suggested biennial grasses in the planting area where exchanging of the seedling or nursery plants was not necessary because their germination rates were 59.3, 45.6 and 40.3% accordingly. Viola kapsanensis, Chrysanthemum sp., Taraxacum sp. and Iris ensata var. spontanea are the grass species that could be used by seeding for greening. However, the germination rate of Solidago virga-aurea var. asiatica, Aster scaber and Lythrum anceps were lower than 10%. The coverage ratio of Ixeris stolonifera is more than 80% after 60 days seeding and the root length of most of species are more than 10 cm except Iris ensata var. spontanea and Platycodon grandiflorum because their root developed thicker than other species.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.28-44
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• 1998

This study was conducted to suggest the ecological restoration strategies for the disturbed landscapes by theoretical study. Especially, it is aimed to suggest three objectives for restoration by using native plants ; (1) prevention or reduction of wind and water erosion, (2) provision of food and cover for variety of animal species, (3) improvement of the visual or aesthetic quality of disturbed sites. The main results were summarized as follows. 1. Cooperation between restoration ecologists and restoration practitioners is needed to delineate a scientific approach to restoration ; (1) Being aware of published literature that describes similar work and/or establish general principles. (2) Preparedness to carry out proper experiments to test ideas. (3) Preparedness to monitor fundamental parameters in a restoration scheme. (4) Providing information about the behavior of species. (5) Publish results. 2. There are three models of succession in theories of plant succession. The tolerance and facilitation models were recommended to ecological restoration. The inhibition model applies in most secondary succession, but the actual species which are introduced first may inhibit the germination and growth of slower-growing species, or they may prevent the growth of other species whose propagules arrive later. 3. The objectives of erosion control, wildlife habitat provision, and visual quality improvement are not mutually exclusive. However, many revegetation practices in the past have emphasized one of these aspects at the expense of the others. 4. A native plant community can be the model of ecological restoration. By stylization/abstraction of native plant community, trying to learn the most essential characteristics of community types - environmental factors ; dominant, prevalent, and "visual essence" species composition - in order to use such information in restoration. 5. After developing mass/spaces plan, match plant communities to the mass/space plan. In utilizing community grouping, there needs aesthetic ability to understand design elements. 6. Several hydrophytes such as Pennisetum saccharifluous, Themeda triandra, Cirsium pendulum show relatively good germination rates. In case of mesophytes and xerophytes, Arundinella hina, Artemisia princeps, Oenothera odorata and legumes seem to have quick-germinating abilities at barren sites. Pinus thunbergii, Rhus chinensis, Evodia daniellii, Alnus firma and Albizzia julibrissin can be considered as "late succession" woody plants because they show low germinating rates and slow growing habitat. 7. The seeds used for restoration should be collected within a certain radius of where it will be planted. Consideration in genetic issues in the collection and use of germplasm can increase the odds for successful restoration efforts. 8. The useful model in the "drift" pattern occurs so abundantly in naturally evolving landscapes. As one species diminishes in density, a second or third species are increased. Thus, dynamic interactions between species are created. Careful using of "drift phenomenon" in planting was recommended. 9. Virtually no stand of vegetation today is immune from the introduction and/or spreading of exotic species. Therefore, the perpetuation of a restored sites requires conscious monitoring and management. Thus, management would be the most important process in ecological restoration. 10. In order to keep the sites "natural", alternative management strategies would be applied in management ; Atenative management strategies are decelerating successional process, accelerating successional processes or modifying species composition. As management tools, mechanical, chemical, biological or environmental factor manipulation, e.g., fire could be used.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.253-261
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• 2007

Molecular and cultivation techniques were used to characterize the bacterial communities of biobead reactor biofilms in a sewage treatment plant to which an Aerated Up-Flow Biobead process was applied. With this biobead process, the monthly average values of various chemical parameters in the effluent were generally kept under the regulation limits of the effluent quality of the sewage treatment plant during the operation period. Most probable number (MPN) analysis revealed that the population of denitrifying bacteria was abundant in the biobead #1 reactor, denitrifying and nitrifying bacteria coexisted in the biobead #2 reactor, and nitrifying bacteria prevailed over denitrifying bacteria in the biobead #3 reactor. The results of the MPN test suggested that the biobead #2 reactor was a transition zone leading to acclimated nitrifying biofilms in the biobead #3 reactor. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequences cloned from biofilms showed that the biobead #1 reactor, which received a high organic loading rate, had much diverse microorganisms, whereas the biobead #2 and #3 reactors were dominated by the members of Proteobacteria. DGGE analysis with the ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) gene supported the observation from the MPN test that the biofilms of September were fully developed and specialized for nitrification in the biobead reactor #3. All of the DNA sequences of the amoA DGGE bands were very similar to the sequence of the amoA gene of Nitrosomonas species, the presence of which is typical in the biological aerated filters. The results of this study showed that organic and inorganic nutrients were efficiently removed by both denitrifying microbial populations in the anaerobic tank and heterotrophic and nitrifying bacterial biofilms well-formed in the three functional biobead reactors in the Aerated Up-Flow Biobead process.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.347-355
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• 1997

For the selection of plants contained pesticidal active conpounds, 31 families 59 species of native plants were collected and biological activites of their crude extracts against brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens), Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and allelopathy were examined. Among the screened plants, the crude extracts from the leaves of Ricinus communis and Sophora angustifolia showed 100% and 82% of mortality on brown planthopper at the concentration of 1% (w/v) respectively. Mixed crude extracts of Sophora angustifolia root and Melia azedarach seed exhibited 128${\sim}$155% of synergistic effects on the mortality of brown planthopper. In case of fungicidal activity, the crude extracts from the leaves of 8 plants including Chrysanthemum indicum were inhibitory of the growth of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae at 1%(w/v) soluction. Seed germination of radish (Raphanus sativas) and barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) was inhibited by 0.5%(w/v) leaf extracts of Pinus densiflora and Quercus acutissima. MeOH extracts of Pinus denislora leaves gave 100% inhibition in seed germintion of radish at 2%(w/v) soluction and showed a complete inhibition in seedling growth of barnyardgrass as well as radish at 5% solution.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.424-431
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Tributyltin chloride is among the most toxic compounds known for aquatic ecosystems. Microorganisms are responsible for removal of TBTCl. Nevertheless, only a limited number of marine bacteria were investigated for biodegradation of TBTCl in Korea. METHODS AND RESULTS: The number of TBTCl resistant bacteria ranged from $2.5{\times}10^3$ to $3.8{\times}10^3$ cfu/mL in the seawater, and ranged from $3.2{\times}10^5$ to $9.1{\times}10^5$ cfu/g in the surface sediment, respectively. The morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of TBTCl resistant bacteria were investigated by API 20NE and other tests. The most abundant species of TBTCl resistant bacteria were Vibrio spp. (19.2%), Bacillus spp. (16.2%), Aeromonas spp. (15.2%), and Pseudomonas spp. (13.1%), etc. Eleven TBTCl resistant isolates also had a resistance to heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, and Zn). Among them, isolate T7 showing the strong TBTCl-resistance was selected. This isolate was identified as the genus Pantoea by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and designated as Pantoea sp. T7. In addition, this bacterium was cultivated up to the growth of 50.7% after 60 hrs at TBTCl concentration of $500{\mu}M$. TBTCl-degrading activity of Pantoea sp. T7 was measured by GC-FPD analysis. As a result of biological TBTCl-degradation at TBTCl concentration of $100{\mu}M$, TBTCl-removal efficiency of Pantoeasp. T7 was 62.7% after 40 hrs. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that Pantoea sp. T7 is potentially useful for the bioremediation of TBT contamination.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.100-109
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• 2009

Korean Plecopteran research was started in 1921, and it has advanced greatly during last 20 years. Among families the family Nemouridae and Chloroperlidae are composed of plentiful species. Since North Korean Plecopteran research was begun in 1938, it made good progress by foreigners not North Korean in the 1970's. Subsequently a few species has been added up recently, and among families the family Perlidae and Nemouridae contain most abundant species. Totally Korean Plecoptera consists of 43 species in 25 genera in 10 families, and North Korean 37 species in 26 genera in 10 families. Among them 13 species are common in both. And Korean names of Plecopteran species were mixed in Hangeul-type and Chinese-type, on the other hand in North Korean names there were some cases of Hangeul-type, but most of species have no Korean names. In Korea, particularly Ministry of Environment designated and controlled domestic biological resources as Korean Species that Require Approval when shipping abroad and Korean endemic species, which include 9 species and 11 species in Plecoptera respectively. Finally two genera and four species gained new Korean names as follows: genus Megaleuctra (Keun-Kkoma-Gang-Do-Rae-Sok), genus Haploperla (Han-Nok-Saek-Gang-Do-Rae-Sok), Nemoura brevicercia (Min-Gang-Do-Rae), Nemoura espera (Kkot-Min-Gang-Do-Rae), Amphinemura baei (Je-Ju-A-Ga-Mi-Min-GangDo-Rae) and Amphinemura rai (A-Ga-Mi-Min-Gang-Do-Rae).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.331-335
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• 2011

A tick survey was conducted to determine the relative abundance and distribution of ticks associated with selected mammals in the Republic of Korea (ROK) during 2008-2009. A total of 918 ticks were collected from 76 mammals (6 families, 9 species) captured at 6 provinces and 3 Metropolitan Cities in ROK. Haemaphysalis longicornis (54.4%) was the most frequently collected tick, followed by Haemaphysalis flava (28.5%), Ixodes nipponensis (7.6%), Ixodes pomerantzevi (4.8%), Ixodes persulcatus (4.6%), and Haemaphysalis japonica (0.1%). Adults (57.0%) and nymphs (28.7%) of Ixodes and Haemaphysalis spp. were collected most frequently from medium or large mammals in this survey, while few larvae (14.3%) were collected. Hydropotes inermis was the most frequently captured mammal (52.6%), with a 16.4 tick index and 5 of 6 species of ticks collected during this survey. H. longicornis (69.7%) was the predominant tick collected from H. inermis, followed by H. flava (22.2%), I. persulcatus (6.1%), I. nipponensis (1.8%), and H. japonica (0.2%).

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.749-757
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• 2016

This study was carried out to reveal the genetic population structure of the Jeju Island population and the phylogenetic relationship of East Asian populations of the large-footed bat (Myotis macrodactylus) based on the genetic polymorphisms of mitochondrial cytochrome B (CYTB) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1) gene sequences. A total of fourteen and nine haplotypes were found in the CYTB and ND1 sequences from East Asian bats, respectively. Haplotype distribution showed locality specific patterns. The results from ND1 haplotype analysis showed that the Jeju Island population has four haplotypes: the Mt. Halla and Western subpopulations have three ND1 haplotypes, but the Eastern subpopulation has just a single haplotype Nd03, which is commonly found on this island. The neighbor-joining (NJ) tree showed the closer relationship between Jeju Island and Japan rather than that between Jeju and Gangwon-do Province. The divergence time between the maternal ancestor lineages of Japanese and Chinese populations was estimated to be 0.789±0.063 MYBP. The secondary divergence between Jeju and Japanese bats was calculated about to be 0.168±0.013 MYBP. The Jeju population has immigrated to the island at least fifty thousand years ago. In addition, ND1 haplotype analysis suggested that the insular bats have experienced at least two further genetic differentiation events within this island. Consequently, these findings suggested that the results of this study may play a critical role in understanding the phylogenetic relationship among East Asian bat populations of M. macrodactylus. To prepare more explainable information on evolutionary correlation, analysis is still required to examine using expanded samples from China, Russia, and southern parts of the Korean Peninsula.