• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.138-146
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• 2006

To understand the status of water quality and work out a suitable countermeasures in Seonakdong watershed which has poor agro- environmental condition because of severe point and non-point source pollution by popularized city and near sea, we investigated the pollution sources and water quality from '03 and '05 and the result were mapped with GIS and RS for end-users's convenient comprehense and conjunction of water quality and geological data. The most degraded tributary was Hogeo stream which was affected directly by highly popularized Gimhae city, the main pollution source of the watershed. The pollution of tributaries in watershed increased the T-N of main body that reached over 4 mg/L during dry season. Pyeonggang stream and the lower part of main water way were suffered from high salt contents induced near sea and the EC value of those area were increased to 2.25 dS/m. The delivered loads of T-N and T-P were largest in Joman river as 56% and 61% of total delivered loads 1mm tributaries because of lots of stream flow. When Management mandate for irrigation water in Seonakdong river watershed was mapped for estimating integrated water quality as the basis of classification of EC and T-N contents in water, Hogeo and Shineo catchments were showed the requiring countermeasures none against nutrients hazard and Pyeonggang catchment was the vulnerable zone against nutrients and salts hazard. As the result, Seonakdong watershed had very various status of water quality by characteristics of catchments and countermeasures for improving water quality and crop productivity safely should changed depend on that.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.79-95
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• 2017

Euiam and Paldang Reservoirs have often been facing water quality problems, such as eutrophication, algal blooms and off-flavors by treated wastewater effluent (TWE) in the North-Han and the Han River basins, but little is examined on the direct biological effect of TWE. This study tested algal growth potential (AGP) of four TWEs discharged into Euiam and Paldang Reservoirs to evaluate water fertility in September 2014 and March and September 2015. Test alga was used Anabaena circinalis isolated from Paldang Reservoir. Mean concentration of T-N and T-P in TWEs was $3,956.7{\mu}g\;N\;L^{-1}$ and $50.8{\mu}g\;P\;L^{-1}$, and the proportion of $NO_3-N$ and $PO_4-P$ to the total fraction was 72.1% and 40.8%, respectively. Both N and P were high in TWEs, but much higher N than P concentration indicates strong P-limitation. As a consequence, the maximum AGP was determined by $PO_4-P$ concentration (r=0.998, p<0.01). Mean AGP value was $15.4mg\;dw\;L^{-1}$ among four effluents indicating its eutrophic condition. Due to the establishment of tertiary (advanced T-P) treatment method in the studied plants recently, P concentration was significantly decreased in TWEs compared to the years prior to 2012. However, P concentration seems to be still high enough to cause eutrophication and algal blooms. Therefore, wastewater treatment to P-free level needs to be considered if effluents are directly discharged into the drinking water resources.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.137-147
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• 2017

The identity of toxin producers remains only hypothesis unless there were identified by strain isolation and analytical confirmation of both the cyanotoxin production and the genetic identity of the monoculture. The purposes of this study were to identify a morphologic and phylogenetic classification in Aphanizomenon flos-aquae strains isolated from the Nakdong River and to investigate the potential ability of the strains to produce toxins such as saxitoxin and cylindrospermopsin using target genes. The 16S rRNA and sxtA, sxtI, cyrA, cyrJ genes were analyzed on two strains (DGUC001, DGUC003) isolated from the Nakdong River. Morphological features of the strains were observed a shape of aggregated trichomes in parallel fascicles which can reach up to macroscopic size and a hyaline terminal cell without aerotope. In addition, the 16S rRNA phylogenetic analyses showed that the strains were identified as the same species with high genetic similarity of 98.4% and grouped within a monospecific andsupported cluster I of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae selected from GenBank of the NCBI. The cyrA and cyrJ genes encoding for the cylindrospermopsin-biosynthesis were not detected in the present study. The sxtA gene was in detected both the two strains, whereas the sxtI gene which had been suggested as a suitable molecular marker to detect saxitoxin-producing cyanobacteria was not found both the strains. Thus, the two strains isolated from Nakdong River were identified as the same species of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae Ralfs ex Bornet et Flahault 1888, the two strains were confirmed as potential non-producing strains of the saxitoxin and cylindrospermopsin.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.307-321
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• 2018

Fish fauna and lentic ecosystem health assessment in freshwater were analyzed in the two reservoirs (Uirim Reservoir(Ur) and Solbangjuk Reservoir(Sr)) of the Jecheon City during May-September 2017. Total numbers of the species and genus (7 family) sampled were 21 and 16, respectively. Cyprinidae was most dominant taxa, which accounted for 11 species (52.4%) of the total species, and the relative abundance, based on the number of individuals, was 318 individuals (46.2%). Subdominant families were taxa of Centrachidae (2 species; 264 ind. (38.4%). The dominant species, based on the relative abundance, were Squalidus chankaensistsuchigae(22.7%). Subdominant species were Lepomis macrochirus(19.5%, 134 ind.) and Micropterus salmoides(18.9%, 134 ind.). Trophic state index of Korea ($TSI_{KO}$), based on chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP) and chlorophyll-a (CHL),ranged mesotrophic state. The purpose of this study was to apply a multi-metric model of Lentic Ecosystem Health Assessments (LEHA) for environmental impact assessments of two reservoirs and assessed the ecological health model values. Trophic composition's metrics showed that tolerant species (56.8%, 98.3%) and omnivore species (43.9%, 65.6%) dominated the fish fauna in the two reservoirs (Ur and Sr) of Jecheon City, indicating a biological degradation in the aquatic ecosystem. The relative proportions of Micropterus salmoides, also showed greater than 16.3% (Ur), 31.1% (Sr) of the total, indicating a ecological disturbance. The average value of LEHA model was 22 (Ur) and 12 (Sr) in the reservoirs, indicating a "poor condition (Ur)" and "very poor condition (Sr)" by the criteria of MOE (2014).

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.167-175
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• 2014

This study was conducted to quantify a carbon budget of major vegetation types established in the campus of the National Institute of Ecology (NIE). Carbon budget was measured for Pinus thunbergii and Castanea crenata stands as the existing vegetation. Net Primary Productivity (NPP) was determined by applying allometric method and soil respiration was measured by EGM-4. Heterotrophic respiration was calculated as 55% of total respiration based on the existing results. Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) was determined by the difference between NPP and heterotrophic respiration (HR). NPPs of P. thunbergii and C. crenata stands were shown in $4.9ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$ and $5.3ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively. Heterotrophic respirations of P. thunbergii and C. crenata stands were shown in $2.4ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$ and $3.5ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively. NEPs of P. thunbergii and C. crenata stands were shown in $2.5ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$ and $1.8ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively. Carbon absorption capacity for the whole set of vegetation types established in the NIE was estimated by applying NEP indices obtained from current study and extrapolating NEP indices from existing studies. The value was shown in $147.6ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$ and it was calculated as $541.2ton\;CO_2ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$ converted into $CO_2$. This function corresponds to 62% of carbon emission from energy that NIE uses for operation of various facilities including the glass domes known in Ecorium. This carbon offset capacity corresponds to about five times of them of the whole national territory of Korea and the representative rural area, Seocheongun. Considered the fact that ongoing climate change was originated from imbalance of carbon budget at the global level, it is expected that evaluation on carbon budget in the spatial dimension reflected land use pattern could provide us baseline information being required to solve fundamentally climate change problem.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2007

Sawdust biofiltration is an emerging bio-technology for control of ammonia emissions including compost odors from composting of biological wastes. Although sawdust is widely used as a medium for bulking agent in composting system and for microbial attachment in biofiltration systems, the performance of agitated bed composting and sawdust biofiltration are not well established. A pilot-scale composting of hog manure amended with sawdust and sawdust biofiltration systems for practical operation were investigated using aerated and agitated rectangular reactor with compost turner and sawdust biofilter operated under controlled conditions, each with a working capacity of approximately $40m^3\;and\;4.5m^3$ respectively. These were used to investigate the effect of compost temperature, seed germination rate and the C/N ratio of the compost on ammonia emissions, compost maturity and sawdust biofiltration performance. Temperature profiles showed that the material in three runs had been reached to temperature of 55 to $65^{\circ}C$ and above. The ammonia concentration in the exhaust gas of the sawdust biofilter media was below the maximum average value as 45 ppm. Seed germination rate levels of final compost was maintained from 70 to 93% and EC values of the finished compost varied between 2.8 and 4.8 ds/m, providing adequate conditions for plant growth.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.510-518
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• 2003

Protective effects of natural components including genistein (4',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone) from Glycine max MERRILL on the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were investigated. Genistein $(10{\sim}100\;{\mu}m)$ suppressed photohemolysis in a concentration-dependent manner, and was more effective than the lipid peroxidation chain blocker, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol (Vit. E). Glycoside of genistein, genistin, the water-soluble antioxidant, L-ascorbate, and the iron chelator, myo-inositol hexaphosphoric acid dodecasodium salt (sodium phytate) did not exhibit protective effect against photohemolysis. L-Ascorbate and sodium phytate stimulated photohemolysis at high concentration $(500\;{\mu}m)$. ${\alpha}$-Carotene 3,3'-diol (lutein), a singlet oxygen $(^1O_2)$ quencher, exhibited pronounced protective effect, an indication that $^1O_2$ is important in photohemolysis sensitized by rose-bengal. Reactive oxygen scavenging activities $(OSC_{50})$ of natural antioxidants including genistein on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in $Fe^{3+}-EDTA/H_2O_2$ system using the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay were in the order of sodium phytate > L-ascorbate > ${\alpha}$-tocopherol > genistein > genistin. $OSC_{50}$ value of genistein, genistin, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, L-ascorbate, and sodium phytate were 41.0, 109.0, 9.0, 5.2, and $0.56{\mu}m$ respectively. The order of free radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) scavenging activity $(FSC_{50})$ was L-ascorbate > ${\alpha}$-tocopherol > genistein > genistin. These results indicate that genistein can function as an antioxidant in biological systems, particularly skin exposed to solar UV radiation by scavenging $^1O_2$ and other ROS, and to protect cellular membranes against ROS.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.533-538
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• 2013

Potatoes were first introduced outside the Andes region four centuries ago, and have become an integral part of much of the world's food. Potatoes were first introduced into Europe in the 16th century and Korea in the early 19th century. In the nutritional aspects, potatoes contain abundant vitamins and minerals, as well as an assortment of phytochemicals such as carotenoids and natural phenols. Chlorogenic acid constitutes up to 90% of potato natural phenols. Due to the high content of potato functional compounds, it has known that potatoes are effective in the prevention of various human diseases. Recently, color-fleshed potatoes 'Hongyoung' and 'Jayoung' were developed by RDA, and it has reported that they have high content of anthocyanin. Additionally they show higher radical scavenging activity compared to white or yellow fleshed potatoes. So it will be expected that the consumption of color-fleshed potatoes grandually increase by pre-peeled potatoes and color potato chips. This study was conducted to enhance the peel of color-fleshed potatoes utilization and to determine the biological activity of peel of color-fleshed potatoes extract. The anti-inflammatory effects on ethanol extract and its solvent fraction were also evaluated. The anti-inflammatory activities of $CHCl_3$ fraction was evaluated for inhibitory activities against lipopolysacchride(LPS) induced nitric oxide(NO) and prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ production as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and cyclo oxygenase-2(COX-2) protein expressions in RAW264.7 cell lines. The fraction inhibitory activity for both tests with $IC_{50}$ values showed in the ranges of $25{\sim}50{\mu}g/ml$. This result revealed that $CHCl_3$ fraction of Jayoung's peel is expected to be good candidate for development into source of anti-inflammatory agent.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.615-622
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• 2017

This study investigated the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of Stachys sieboldii Miq. extracts by solvents (water, ethanol, butanol, chloroform, and hexane). The contents of total polyphenols (7.18-37.25 mg/g) and flavonoids (0.21-5.21 mg/g) in extracts from Stachys sieboldii Miq. showed a significant difference dependent on the extraction solvents, butanol > ethanol > water > chloroform > hexane. Antioxidant activities by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging were increased in a dose-dependent manner. These activity trends associated with the extraction solvent were different at each concentration, but resembled phenolic compound contents trend, generally. FRAP value increased in a dose-dependent manner, but there was a difference in radical scavenging activities when comparing between extraction solvents by butanol > ethanol > hexane > chloroform > water on all concentrations. The trend of ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibition of extracts from $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ to $2,000{\mu}g/mL$ was not affected as enzyme activity is promoted and not inhibited. The inhibition of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase was increased in a dose-dependent manner without water extracts, the activity on hexane extracts was higher than others per the extraction solvent. ${\alpha}$-Glucosidase inhibition of hexane extracts showed 57.76% at $250{\mu}g/mL$, which is 2.8 times higher than the second highest chloroform extract (20.65%). From these results, we presume that the active ingredients of Stachys sieboldii Miq. is different according to the extraction solvent and also the activity is different by these major functional groups.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.111-118
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• 2015

Probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic substances as well as microorganisms were added to infant formula in an attempt to influence the intestinal microflora with an aim to stimulate the growth of lactic acid bacteria, especially bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Over the last 10 years, new synbiotic infant formulas containing probiotics and prebiotics have been proposed in order to simulate the effect of breast-feeding on the intestinal microflora. Owing to their synergistic effect, the new synbiotics are expected to be more helpful than using probiotics and prebiotics individually. Maintenance of the viability of the probiotics during food processing and the passage through the gastrointestinal tract should be the most important consideration, since a sufficient number of bacteria ($10^8cfu/g$) should reach the intended location to have a positive effect on the host. Storage conditions and the processing technology used for the manufacture of products such as infant formula adversely affect the viability of the probiotics. When an appropriate and cost-effective microencapsulation methodology using the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status and substances with high biological value are developed, the quality of infant formulas would improve. The effect of probiotics may be called a double-effect, where one is an immunomodulatory effect, induced by live probiotics that advantageously alter the gastrointestinal microflora, and the other comprises anti-inflammatory responses elicited by dead cells. At present, a new terminology is required to define the dead microorganisms or crude microbial fractions that positively affect health. The term "paraprobiotics" (or ghost probiotics) has been proposed to define dead microbial cells (not damaged or broken) or crude cell extracts (i.e., cell extracts with complex chemical composition) that are beneficial to humans and animals when a sufficient amount is orally or topically administered. The fecal microflora of bottle-fed infants is altered when the milk-based infant formula is supplemented with probiotics or prebiotics. Thus, by increasing the proportion of beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, prebiotics modify the fecal microbial composition and accordingly regulate the activity of the immune system. Therefore, considerable attention has been focused on the improvement of infant formula quality such that its beneficial effects are comparable to those of human milk, using prebiotics such as inulin and oligosaccharides and potential specific probiotics such as bifidobacteria, which selectively stimulate the proliferation of beneficial bacteria in the microflora and the indigenous intestinal metabolic activity of the microflora.