• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.59-75
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• 2012

The species composition of plankton is essential to understand the material and energy cycling within marine ecosystem. It also provides the useful information for understanding the properties of marine environments due to its sensitivity to the physicochemical characteristics and variability of water masses. In this study we adopted metagenomics to evaluate eukaryotic plankton species diversity from coastal waters off Busan. Characteristics of water masses at sampling sites is expected to be very complex due to the mixing of various water masses; Nakdong River runoff, Changjiang diluted water (CDW), South Sea coastal water, and Tsushima warm current. 18S rDNA clone libraries were constructed from surface waters at the three sites off Busan. Clone libraries revealed 94 unique phylotypes from 370 clones; Dinophyceae(42 phylotypes), Ciliophora(15 phylotypes), Bacillariophyta(7 phylotypes), Chlorophyta(2 phylotypes), Haptophyceae(1 phylotype), Metazoa(Arthropoda( 17 phylotypes), Chaetognatha(1 phylotypes), Cnidaria(2 phylotypes), Chordata(1 phylotype)), Rhizaria (Acantharea(2 phylotypes), Polycystinea(1 phylotype)), Telonemida(1 phylotype), Fungi(2 phylotypes). The difference in species diversity at the closely located three sites off Busan may be attributed to the various physicochemical properties of water masses at these sites by the mixture of water masses of various origins. Metagenomic study of species composition may provide useful information for understanding marine ecosystem of coastal waters with various physicochemical properties in the near feature.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.273-282
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• 2008

Increasing demand for timber and the depletion of natural forest have encouraged utilization of many non-popular species. The understanding of wood properties and behavior is important to evaluate the potential of these species to produce high quality end products. This study determines the anatomical and physical properties of Hevea species viz Hevea pauciflora, Hevea guianensis, Hevea spruceana, Hevea benthamiana and Hevea brasiliensis. Each sample tree was cut into three different portions along the height (bottom- B, middle- M and upper -T parts) and two radial samples (outer- O and inner- I parts). H. brasiliensis clone RRIM 912 exhibited the longest fibre with $1214{\mu}m$, followed by H. benthamiana (HB, $1200{\mu}m$), H. pauciflora (HP, $1189{\mu}m$), H. spruceana (HS, $1158{\mu}m$) and H. guianensis (HG, $1145{\mu}m$). Fibre length has a positive correlation with specific gravity. The largest fibre diameter ($24.9{\mu}m$) and lumen diameter ($12.5{\mu}m$) were recorded in H. guianensis. The highest moisture content was obtained from H. spruceana (64.34%) compared to the lowest with 60.01% (Clone RRIM912). The higher moisture content is normally associated with lower strength. Overall, the properties of clone RRIM 912 is found to be comparatively better because of higher strength due to longer fibre length, thicker cell walls and higher specific gravity than the other Hevea species. Therefore, this species can be used as a general utility timber.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2008

In order to investigate whether or not CCD-986sk cell line can be affected by Korean Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura, we examined the MTT assay when we treated Korean Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura extract in CCD-986sk human fibroblast cell line. The sample were tested for cell proliferation activity by means of a modification of the MTT assay. Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura extract showed significantly strong cell proliferation activity at the range of from 6.25 mg $mL^{-1}$ to 1.56 mg $mL^{-1}$ compared with control group. And in order to search for inhibition agents of skin melanin formation, we tested for inhibition effect of melanin pigmentation of Korean Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura using Clone M-3 mouse melanocyte cell lines. when we treated the extracts of Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura to the mouse melanocyte cell lines, the sample showed a significantly little formation of melanin pigments compared with control group at the only range of 200 mg $mL^{-1}$. These results suggest that extract of Korean Ecklonia stolonifera Okamura may represents an excellent candidate for inhibition of melanin pigmentation and for protection of human skin aging at in vitro level.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2000

We performed the cloning of a chalcone synthase (CHS) gene, the key enzyme in the anthocyanin biosynthesis, from the cDNA library constructed with grape suspension cells irradiated UV-B. The PCR fragment was used to cloning the CHS gene. One CHS cDNA clone containing an open reading frame and a partial stilbene synthase (STS)cDNA, the stilbene-type phytoalexin, were isolated. The CHS cDNA clone (VCHS) showed 87% sequence homology with VvCHS (V.vinifea) and 72.3% identity with VSTSY(V.vinifea). its amino acid sequences were longer than any other CHS genes as 454 residues. Two genes were weakly expressed in white light irradiated cells, but highly induced in UV-B irradiated condition during 32 hours. Interestingly, the STS was quickly and abundantly expressed from 2 hours when supplemented with jasmonic acid (JA) and the maximum expression was observed at 4 hours and then gradually decreased. But, the additional UV-B or white light quickly degraded the STS expression than only JA treated grape suspension cells. The CHS also was rapidly induced with JA and the synergistical effect was observed at the addigional light treatment of UV-B or white light. These results are indicated that CHS and STS have different response mechanisms against the environmental stresses.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.521-529
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• 2016

Extensive use of antibiotics over recent decades has led to bacterial resistance against antibiotics, including gentamicin, one of the most effective aminoglycosides. The emergence of resistance is problematic for hospitals, since gentamicin is an important broad-spectrum antibiotic for the control of bacterial pathogens in the clinic. Previous study to identify gentamicin resistance genes from environmental samples have been conducted using culture-dependent screening methods. To overcome these limitations, we employed a metagenome-based culture-independent protocol to identify gentamicin resistance genes. Through functional screening of metagenome libraries derived from soil samples, a fosmid clone was selected as it conferred strong gentamicin resistance. To identify a specific functioning gene conferring gentamicin resistance from a selected fosmid clone (35-40 kb), a shot-gun library was constructed and four shot-gun clones (2-3 kb) were selected. Further characterization of these clones revealed that they contained sequences similar to that of the RNA ligase, T4 rnlA that is known as a toxin gene. The overexpression of the rnlA-like gene in Escherichia coli increased gentamicin resistance, indicating that this toxin gene modulates this trait. The results of our metagenome library analysis suggest that the rnlA-like gene may represent a new class of gentamicin resistance genes in pathogenic bacteria. In addition, we demonstrate that the soil metagenome can provide an important resource for the identification of antibiotic resistance genes, which are valuable molecular targets in efforts to overcome antibiotic resistance.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 1987

A study was carried out to determine the adequacy of springs as drinking water in summer and in winter separately. In this study, environmental sanitation, physio-chemical examination, bacteriologic contamination and the content of heavy metal were included. For this study, samples were collected from 8 springs which were located in the suburbs of Chunchon city. The following results were obtained. 1. There was the covering system in 1 out of 8 springs. 6 out of 8 springs showed contaminating source within lorn. 2. In physio-chemical test, six out of 8 springs were found to be unsafe for the legitimate standard of safty water. 3. Bateriologic examination clone during summer showed the evidence of coilform group at 7 out of 8 springs and during winter showed positivity at 3 out of 8 springs. 4. In the study for heavy metal content, all places showed high iron level beyond the standard level of salty water, and 4 places showed high contents of fluorine, mangan and lead.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Biology Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.119-122
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• 2002

Soil contaminants are common in industrialized sites, They can affect directly soil and indirectly ground water and food. Soil mutagens and carcinogens are of great interest due to their potentially hazardous effects on human health. The aim of this study was to monitor the genotoxicity of contaminated soils, Soil leachates were collected from two polluted sites and one control site in Cheongju. Tradescantia BNL 4430 clone was used as experimental matierials. Chromosomal damages induced by soil leachates were detected by the Tradescantia-micronucleus assay. It is known from the result that Tradescantia-micronucleus assay is an excellent botanical tool for detection of biological risk due to environmental toxicants.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2010

The biodiversity of eukaryotic plankton has commonly been used to evaluate the status of aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, an accurate and rapid method for species identification is needed to reveal the biodiversity of environmental water samples. To date, molecular methods have provided a great deal of information that has enabled identification of the hidden biodiversity in environmental samples. In this study, we utilized environmental polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and constructed the 18S nuclear ribosomal RNA clone library from environmental water samples in order to develop more efficient methods for species identification. For the molecular analysis, water samples were collected from the Seonakdong River (Gimhae Bridge) and the coast of Namhae，(Namhaedo). Colony PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism of PCR (PCR-RFLP) were then adopted to isolate unique clones from the 18S rDNA clone library. Restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern analysis of the Gimhae Bridge sample revealed 44 unique clones from a total of 60 randomly selected clones, while analysis of the Namhae sample revealed 27 unique clones from 150 clones selected at random. A BLAST search and subsequent phylogenetic analysis conducted using the sequences of these clones revealed hidden biodiversity containing a wide range of taxonomic groups (Heterokontophyta (7), Ciliophora (23), Dinophyta (1), Chytridiomycota (1), Rotifera (1) and Arthropoda (11) in the Gimhae Bridge samples Ciliophora (4), Dinophyta (3), Cryptophyta (1), Arthropoda (19) in the Namhae samples). Therefore, the molecular monitoring method developed here can provide additional information regarding the biodiversity and community structure of eukaryotic plankton in environmental samples and helps construct a useful database of biodiversity for aquatic ecosystems.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.231-237
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• 2007

The microbial eco-physiology has been the vital key of microbial ecological research. Unfortunately, available methods for direct identity of microorganisms and for the investigation of their activity in complicated community dynamics are limited. In this study, metagenomics was considered as a promising functional genomics tool for improving our understanding of microbial eco-physiology. Its potential applications and challenges were also reviewed. Because of tremendous diversity in microbial populations in environment, sequence analysis for whole metagenomic libraries from environmental samples seems to be unrealistic to most of environmental engineering researchers. When a target function is of interest, however, sequence analysis for whole metagenomic libraries would not be necessary. For this case, nucleic acids of active populations of interest can be selectively gained using another cutting-edge functional genomic tool, SIP (stable isotope probing) technique. If functional genomes isolated by SIP can be transferred into metagenomic library, sequence analysis for such selected functional genomes would be feasible because the reduced size of clone library may become adequate for sequencing analysis. Herein, integration of metagenomics with SIP was suggested as a novel functional genomics approach to study microbial eco-physiology in environment.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.384-391
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• 1998

Nutrient removal during stem harvest was evaluated in a one-year rotation willow bioenergy plantation. For the stem nutrient content, the stem biomass and stem nutrient concentration were collected in the winter of 1987-1993 from the established willow plantation at Tully, New York, U.S.A. in 1987. Five willow clones and one hybrid poplar clone were planted. Half of the plots were fertilized annually with $336kg\;ha^{-1}$ N, $112kg\;ha^{-1}$ P, and $224kg\;ha^{-1}$ K. All trees were harvested annually. Mean annual nutrient removals of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg by annual stem harvesting over seven years were respectively 30-70, 4-10, 14-40, 19-59 and $3-5kg\;ha^{-1}$. Fertilized plants exported higher quantities of nutrients than non-fertilized ones. Nontheless, quantities of nutrients exported were well below the quantities supplied by fertilization suggesting that nutrients removal by stem harvesting is not likely to cause a decrease in soil fertility. However, in non-fertilized plots, the amount of nutrients removed could result in decrease of nutrient availability and soil fertility over the long-term. An evaluation of the clones revealed that clone SV1 is the most nutrient efficient.