• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1208-1217
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• 2019

Saposhnikovia has been used as a traditional medicinal herb in Asia because of the reported anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic rhinitis, pro-whitening, anti-atopy, anti-allergy, and anti-dermatopathy effects of the phytochemical compounds it contains. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant effects of a Saposhnikovia extract after fermentation by Lactobacillus plantarum BHN-LAB 33. Saposhnikovia powder was inoculated with L. plantarum BHN-LAB 33 and fermented at $37^{\circ}C$ for 72 hr. After fermentation, the total polyphenol content of the Saposhnikovia extract increased by about 14%, and the total flavonoid content increased by about 9%. The superoxide dismutase-like activities, DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, reducing power activity, and tyrosinase inhibition activity also increased after fermentation by approximately 70%, 80%, 45%, 39%, and 44%, respectively. The results confirmed that fermentation of a Saposhnikovia extract by L. plantarum BHN-LAB 33 is an effective way to increase the antioxidant effects of the extract. The bioconversion process investigated in this study may have the potential to produce phytochemical-enriched natural antioxidant agents with high added value from Saposhnikovia matrices. These results can also be applied to the development of improved foods and cosmetic materials.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.404-410
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• 2019

This study was performed to investigate the seed morphological characteristics and dormancy type of Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara that high valued medicinal crop and to select the disinfectants and light quality for germination rate improvement. The seed disinfection was carried out using distilled water (control), NaClO 4%, $H_2O_2$ 4%, and benomyl $500mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. The light quality treatments were set to dark condition (control I), fluorescent lamp (control II), LEDs [red, blue, green, and combined RB LEDs (red:blue = 8:2, 6:4, 4:6, 2:8)] with a photoperiod of 12/12 (light/dark) and light intensity $150{\pm}10{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ photosynthetic photon flux density. Although the Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara seed was an underdeveloped embryo (E) and seed (S) with an embryo (E):seed (S) ratio of 0.4, it is germinated within 30 days, and seed moisture saturation was reached within 6 hours after immersion. After seed disinfection, the mold incidence rate was significantly inhibited, and the final germination rate was the highest at 87% in the benomyl seed disinfection. The final germination rate was the highest at 92% in the red light, and the mean daily germination was the lowest in the R2B8. Therefore, there is almost no dormancy in the Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara seed, and benomyl seed disinfectant and red light were effective in the improvement of germination rate. So it is considered to the high value of use for medicinal crop Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara cultivation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.229-236
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• 2021

This study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant properties of the dried leaves and branches of Stewartia koreana Nakai. The dried leaf and branch of S. koreana were extracted with 70% ethanol at 80℃. The antioxidant activities of ethanol extracts of S. koreana leaf (EESL) and S. koreana branch (EESB) were analyzed. The total polyphenol contents in EESL and EESB were 162.57±0.9 mg of GAEs/extract g and 59.1±0.9 mg of GAEs/extract g, respectively. The flavonoid contents in EESL and EESB were 59.1±0.9 mg of QEs/extract g and 4.7±0.1 mg of QEs/extract g, respectively. EESL showed a better scavenging ability with DPPH and ABTS than EESB, at 0.4 mg/ml. Moreover, EESL were more effective according to ORAC values than EESL. The toxicity of EESL was investigated using a WST-1 assay on the human skin fibroblast cell line CCD-986sk. Therefore, EESL can be used as a potential source of functional, naturally-sourced material in cosmetics as well as food.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.85-93
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• 2021

In hydroponic cultivation, in order to investigate the change of lettuce growth and physiologically active substances through CO2 tablet treatment in nutrient solution, we used a solid carbonated tablets commercially available in the Netherlands. The experiment consisted of 0.5-fold, 1-fold, and 2-fold treatment groups with no treatment as a control. As a result, the atmospheric CO2 concentration in the chamber after CO2 tablet treatment showed the highest value at 472.2 µL·L-1 in the 2-fold treatment zone immediately after treatment, and the pH in the nutrient solution decreased the most to pH 6.03 in the 2-fold treatment zone. After that, over time, the CO2 concentration and pH recovered to the level before treatment. Leaf width and leaf area of lettuce showed the highest values of 17.1cm and 1067.14 ㎠ when treated 2-fold with CO2 tablet, while fresh weight and dry weight of the above-ground part were highest at 63.87 g and 3.08 g in 0.5-fold treatment. The root length of lettuce was the longest (28.4 cm) in the control, but there was no significant difference in the fresh weight and the dry weight among the treatments. Apparently, it was observed that the root length of the lettuce was shortened by CO2 tablet treatment and a lot of side roots occurred. In addition, there was a growth disorder in which the roots turned black, but it was found that there was no negative effect on the growth of the above-ground part. As a result of analyzing the bioactive compounds of lettuce by CO2 tablet treatment, chlorogenic acid and quercetin were detected. As a result of quantitative analysis, chlorogenic acid increased by 249% compared to the control in 1-fold treatment, but quercetin decreased by 37%. As a result of comparing the DPPH radical scavenging ability showing antioxidant activity, the control and 0.5-fold treatment showed significantly higher values than the 1-fold and 2-fold treatments. This suggests that carbonated water treatment is effective in increasing the growth and bioactive compounds of hydroponic lettuce.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.398-402
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• 2020

This study was conducted to set up a proper replacement cycle of High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters by observing the microbial populations in the air of the cultivation house of Pleurotus eryngii, before and after HEPA filter replacement at different periods. The density of bacteria and fungi in the air during each cultivation stage was measured using a sampler before the replacement of the HEPA filter. The results showed that airborne microorganisms had the highest density in the mushroom medium preparation room, with 169.7 CFU/㎥ of bacteria and 570 CFU/㎥ of fungi, and the removed old spaun had 126.3 CFU/㎥ of bacteria and 560 CFU/㎥ of fungi. The density of bacteria and fungi in the air at each cultivation stage before the replacement of the HEPA filter was 169.7 CFU/㎥ and 570 CFU/㎥, and 126.3 CFU/㎥ and 560 CFU/㎥, during the medium production and harvesting processes, respectively. After the replacement of the HEPA filter, the bacterial density was the lowest in the incubation room and the fungal density was the lowest in the cooling room. The microbial populations isolated at each period consisted of seven genera and seven species before the replacement, including Cladosporium sp., six genera and six species after 1 month of replacement, including Penicillium sp., 5 genera and 7 species after 3 months of replacement, including Mucor plumbeus, and 5 genera and 12 species, 5 genera and 10 species, and 5 genera and 10 species, 4, 5, and 6 months after the replacement, respectively, including Penicillium brevicompactum. During the period after replacement, the species were diversified and their number increased. The density of airborne microorganisms decreased drastically after the replacement of the HEPA filter. Its lowest value was recorded after 2 months of replacement, and it increased gradually afterwards, reaching a level similar to or higher than that of the pre-replacement period. Therefore, it was concluded that replacing the HEPA filter every 6 months is effective for reducing contamination.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.488-495
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• 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible antioxidant effect of Spirodela polyrhiza (SP) on rats fed a high fat and high cholesterol diet supplemented with either 5% (SPA group) or 10% (SPB group) SP for 4 weeks. The hepatic SOD activity of the HF group significantly decreased compared to that of the N group, but that of the SPA and SPB groups significantly increased. The GPx activity of the SPA and SPB groups in the liver was significantly greater than that of the HF group, and the hepatic catalase activity of the SPA and SPB groups significantly increased compared to the HF group. The hepatic superoxide radical content of the mitochondria and microsomes of the HF group significantly increased compared to that of the N group, but the contents were reduced in the group that took SP powder. The hepatic hydrogen peroxide content in the cytosol and mitochondria of the SP powder group was lower than in the HF group. The carbonyl content in the mitochondria and microsomes of the SPA and SPB groups was significantly lower than in the HF group. The TBARS values in the liver significantly decreased in the SPA and SPB groups. Spirodela polyrhiza was thus effective in reducing oxidative stress by regulating the hepatic antioxidant enzymes and the free radicals in rats fed high fat and high cholesterol diets.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.617-634
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of between earthquakes and fluctuation of water level in a groundwater well of the active-fault zone and 124 national groundwater monitoring wells in Gyeongju area. The spatial and temporal relationships between the fluctuation of water level and the earthquake were analyzed by the calculation of earthquake effectiveness (ε) and q-factor which are the function of earthquake magnitude and distance from epicenter. Two earthquake events of E1 (April 22, 2019, M 3.8) and E2 (June 11, 2019, M 2.5) show a close relationship with a post-seismic 83 cm decrease and a pre-seismic 76 cm increase in water level at the active fault zone of Dangu-ri, respectively. The spatial analysis of water level fluctuation data in National Groundwater Monitoring Networks caused by earthquake events shows a more distinct response in deep groundwater around fault zones than other area, and a greater change in deep groundwater than shallow groundwater. It's inferred that the decrease and increase in groundwater level are affected by the expansion of fractures and compression of rock mass due to seismic stress, respectively. The effective ranges of ε-value and q-factor of the monitoring well in Dangu-ri were calculated as 2.70E-10~5.60E-10 and 14.4~18.0, respectively.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.33
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• pp.79-88
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• 2021

Objectives: Bolus, which combines 3D-bolus and Step-bolus, was produced and its usefulness is evaluated. Materials and Methods: A Bolus was manufactured with a thickness of 10mm and 5mm using a 3D printer (3D printer, USA), and a Step Bolus of 5mm was bonded to a 5mm thick bolus. In order to understand the characteristics of Step bolus and 3D bolus, the differences in relative electron density, HU value, and mass density of the two bolus were investigated. These two Bolus were applied to anthropomorpic phantom to confirm its effectiveness. After all contouring of the phantom, a treatment plan was established using the computed treatment planning system (Eclipse 16.1, Varian medical system, USA). Treatment plan was performed using electron beam 6MeV, nine dose measurement points were designated on the phantom chest, air-gap was measured at that point, and dose evaluation was performed at the same point for each bolus applied using a glass dosimeter (PLD). Results: Bolus, which combines 3D-bolus 5mm and Step-bolus 5mm, was manufactured and evaluated compared with 3D-bolus 1cm. The relative electron density of 3D Bolus was 1.0559 g/cm2 and the step Bolus was 1.0590 g/cm2, which was different by 0.01%, so the relative electron density was almost the same. In the lightweight measurement of air-gap, the combined bolus was reduced to 54.32% for all designated points compared to 3D-bolus. In the dose measurement using a glass dose meter (PLD), the consistency was high in phantom using combined bolus at most points except the slope point. Conclusion: Combined bolus made by combining 3D-bolus and Step-bolus has all the advantages of 3D-bolus and Step-bolus. In addition, by dose inaccuracy due to Air-gap, more improved dose distribution can be shown, and effective radiation therapy can be performed.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.578-587
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• 2022

Korea, as the world's 7^th largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has raised the national greenhouse gas reduction target as international regulations have been strengthened. As it is possible to utilize coastal and marine ecosystems as important nature-based solutions (NbS) for implementing climate change mitigation or adaptation plans, the blue carbon ecosystem is now receiving attention. Blue carbon refers to carbon that is deposited and stored for a long period after carbon dioxide (CO₂) is absorbed as biomass by coastal ecosystems or oceanic ecosystems through photosynthesis. Currently, there are only three blue carbon ecosystems officially recognized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses. However, the results of new research on the high CO₂ sequestration and storage capacity of various new blue carbon sinks, such as seaweeds, microalgae, coral reefs, and non-vegetated tidal flats, have been continuously reported to the academic community recently. The possibility of IPCC international accreditation is gradually increasing through scientific verification related to calculations. In this review, the current status and potential value of seaweeds, seagrass fields, and non-vegetated tidal flats, which are sources of blue carbon on the east coast, are discussed. This paper confirms that seaweed resources are the most effective NbS in the East Sea of Korea. In addition, we would like to suggest the direction of research and development (R&D) and utilization so that new blue carbon sinks can obtain international IPCC certification in the near future.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.481-495
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• 2022

This study was designed to identify the actual state of naturalized plants and invasive alien species that cause disturbances to the ecosystem, plants which are introduced after forest restoration, and explore the implications resulting from the project. Onsite examination included 29 sites which have been subjected to forest restoration by the Korea Forest Service. Once these were chosen, activity took place twice a year in the spring (May-June) and in the summer (August-September) in 2020 and 2021. Areas not relevant to the project sites were excluded from this activity so that we could identify the plants that could be understood to have been introduced or brought into the site after the actual forest restoration. And the correlation was analyzed, between the naturalized flora within the project sites and the working types applied to the site through confirmation of completion of the restoration project. The naturalized plants appearing on the entire site cover a total of 109 taxa, which includes 29 families, 80 genera, 108 species and 1 subspecies, while invasive plants included 3 families, 7 genera and 8 species. The number of classifications and the naturalization rate gradually decreased over time, after the project. While there was no significant difference between the number of classification groups and the naturalization rate for naturalized plants between project sites, given the number of taxa of naturalized plants, organized by type of damage, there were relatively more naturalized plants that appeared in the severed section of the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range, as well as at quarry and facility sites. Seeding apparently results in naturalization rates as high as 15.545%, on average, based on comparisons of naturalization rates by sowing, seeding, planting, herb planting, and sod pitching channels, all of these being methods of vegetation for planting/greening of bareland and slopes within the project areas. With no seeding, it was 9.167%, higher than the average. As for other vegetation, there was no significant difference depending on application of the working type. This means that unlike the plants subjected to planting, the working type of seed planting which makes it difficult to identify whether a certain plant is a naturalized plant greatly affects the introduction of naturalized plants to the restoration sites, even when using herb planting and sod pitching to control plants and results. Therefore the study suggests that there be inspection by experts of seeds when sowing within restoration sites. The results of this study suggest good practices that will help to direct effective vegetation restoration and follow-up management.