• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Applied Microbiology Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.129-131
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• 2003

Recombinant bioluminescent bacteria and cultured human cells were applied for toxicogenomic analysis of environmentally hazardous chemicals. Recombinant bioluminescent biosensing cells were used to detect and classify the toxicity caused by various chemicals. Classification of toxicity was realized based upon the chemicals' mode of action using DNA-, oxidative-, protein, and membrane-damage sensitive strains. As well, a simple double-layered cell culture system using Caco-2 cells and Hep G2 cells, which mimic the metabolic processes occurring in humans, such as adsorption through the small intestine and biotransformationin both the small intestine and the liver, was developed to investigate the toxicity of hazardous materials to humans. For a more in-depth analysis, a DNA microarray was used to study the transcriptional responses of Caco-2 and Hep G2 cells to benzo〔a〕pyrene.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.186-189
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• 2019

Polypyrrole is a typical electrical conducting polymer, which has an excellent charge transport property. Cyclodextrins are a group of toxic-free and cyclic oligosaccharide molecules, capable of capturing low molecular weight chemicals. Considering these advantages, hybrid materials of polypyrrole and cyclodextrin can be used to detect hazardous compounds. Cyclodextrin molecules can accommodate toxic chemicals by the formation of host-guest complexes and generate electric signals, which are effectively delivered by polypyrrole backbone. In this study, the polypyrrole/cyclodextrin hybrid material was prepared using a facile wet method and included into a hydrogel. Subsequently, it was applied to a simple sensor system with a gold-patterned electrode for the detection of potentially hazardous material, methyl paraben. Compared with pristine polypyrrole, it was found that the polypyrrole/cyclodextrin hybrid showed an improved performance. This study can be an example of using environmentally benign conducting polymer/cyclodextrin hybrids as sensing media.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.71-74
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• 2009

Electroplated Cu is a cost efficient metallization method in microelectronic packaging applications. Typically in 3-D chip staking technology, utilizing through silicon via (TSV), electroplated Cu metallization is inevitable for the throughput as well as reducing the cost of ownership (COO).To achieve a comparable film quality to sputtering or CVD, a pre-cleaning process as well as plating process is crucial. In this research, atmospheric plasma is employed to reduce the usage of chemicals, such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and sodium hydroxide (NaHO), by substituting the chemical assisted organic cleaning process with plasma surface treatment for Cu electroplating. By employing atmospheric plasma treatment, marginally acceptable electroplating and cleaning results are achieved without the use of hazardous chemicals. The experimental results show that the substitution of the chemical process with plasma treatment is plausible from an environmentally friendly aspect. In addition, plasma treatment on immersion Sn/Cu was also performed to find out the solderability of plasma treated Sn/Cu for practical industrial applications.

• Clean Technology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.6-23
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• 1998

Recently, semiconductor industry has grown rapidly because of the large demand for electronic devices and equipment. The semiconductor industries have also played an important role on the economic growth in Korea. As the environmental regulations become strict, the proper environmental management and the well-developed waste minimization technologies in semiconductor industries are two of urgent problems to be solved. The semiconductor manufacturing process consists of a series of continuous chemical processes, such as cleaning, oxidation, diffusion, photolithography, etching and film deposition. During the processes, various environmentally hazardous wastes are produced. The wastes may be classified as wastewater, gaseous pollutants, and solid wastes. For waste minimization, the substitution of raw materials and process optimization techniques are used, while the selective destruction technologies of toxic chemicals contained in the wastes have been reported. Also, new technologies have been developed for source reduction and waste reduction, such as reduction of toxic chemical use and substitution of hazardous liquids with gaseous reactants or solvent.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.250-256
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• 2009

Toxicogenomics using microarray technology offers the ability to conduct large-scale detections and quantifications of mRNA transcripts, particularly those associated with alterations in mRNA stability or gene regulation. In this study, we developed the HazChem Human Array V2 using the Agilent Sure-Print technology-based custom array, which is expected to facilitate the identification of environmental toxicants. The array was manufactured using 600 VOCs and PAHs-specific genes identified in previous studies. In order to evaluate the viability of the manufactured HazChem human array V2, we analyzed the gene expression profiles of 9 environmental toxicants (6 VOCs chemicals and 3 PAHs chemicals). As a result, nine toxicants were separated into two chemical types-VOCs and PAHs. After the chip validations with VOCs and PAHs, we conducted an expression profiling comparison of additional chemical groups (POPs and EDCs) using data analysis methods such as hierarchical clustering, 1-way ANOVA, SAM, and PCA. We selected 58 genes that could be classified into four chemical types via statistical methods. Additionally, we selected 63 genes that evidenced significant alterations in expression with all 13 environmental toxicants. These results suggest that the HazChem Human Array V2 will expedite the development of a screening system for environmentally hazardous materials at the level of toxicogenomics in the future.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.25-32
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• 1996

The Bioconcentration factor(BCF) is used as an important criterion in the risk assessment of environmental contaminants. Also it can be used as indicator of biomagnification of environmentally hazardous chemicals through food-chain as well as a tool for ranking the bioconcentration potential of the chemicals in the environment. This paper reports the measured BCF value on carbofuran in Carassius auratus(goldfish), under steady state, and examined corelation between the BCF value and the depuration rate constant. Carassius auratus(goldfish) was chosen as test organism and test periods were 1-day, 3-day and 5-day. Experimental concentrations were 0.05, 0.10 and 0.50 ppm. Carbofuran in fish tissue and in test water was extracted with n-hexane and acetonitril. GC-ECD was used to detect and quantitate carbofuran. The depuration rate of carbofuran from the whole body of goldfish is determined over the 24-h period after treatment. The obtained results were as follows: 1. It was possible to determine short term BCFs of carbofuran through relatively simple procedure in environmental concentrations. 2. $BCF_1$ of carbofuran in concentration of 0.05, 0.10 and 0.50 ppm were 1.66, 1.64 0.61, $BCF_3$ were 2.08, 2.14, 0.66 and $BCF_5$ were 2.21, 2.57, 0.86, respectively. 3. Carbofuran concentration in fish extract was increased as increasing test concentration and prolonging test period, but $BCF_s$ in concentration of 0.50 ppm was greately decreased. 4. Determined deputation rate constants of carbofuran in concentration of 0.05, 0.10, 0.50 ppm were 0.076, 0.082 and 0.089, respectively. 5. It is considered that great decrease of $BCF_s$ in concentration of 0.50 ppm is due to high water solubility and stability of carbofuran in testwater. 6. It is suggested that low BCF of carbofuran is due to its relatively high water solubility and depuration rate, compared to BPMC, carbaryl and chlorothalonil.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.27.1-27.12
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• 2023

Background: Environmental exposure is characterized by low concentration, chronic, and complex exposure. Traditional epidemiological studies show limitations in reflecting these characteristics since they usually focus on a single or very limited number of exposure factors at a time. In this study, we adopted the methodology of environment-wide association study (EWAS) to figure out the association of human liver function with various environmentally hazardous substances. Methods: We analyzed 2,961 participants from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey Cycle 4 (2018-2020). Using generalized linear model (GLM) analysis, we analyzed the association of 72 variables with 3 liver function indices (aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], and gamma glutamyl transferase [GGT]). Finally, we visualized our results with Manhattan plot. Results: In GLM analysis, perfluorooctanesulfonate were positively associated with ALT (odds ratio [OR]: 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39-3.46; p_adjusted = 0.0147) and perfluorodecanoic acid showed positive association with GGT (OR: 2.73; 95% CI: 1.36-5.5; p_adjusted = 0.0256). Plasma mercury showed positive association with GGT (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.14-1.84; p_adjusted = 0.0315). Using a plastic container while keeping food in the refrigerator was associated with elevated GGT compared to using a glass container (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.16-1.95; p_adjusted = 0.0153). 2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate, showed a negative trend with all 3 indices, with AST (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.39-0.73; p_adjusted = 0.00357), ALT (OR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.34-0.75; p_adjusted = 0.036), GGT (OR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.4-0.76; p_adjusted = 0.00697). Bisphenol S and frequent use of sunblock cream showed negative association with ALT (OR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.66-0.89), and GGT (OR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.11-0.55), respectively. Conclusions: We conducted an exploratory study on environmental exposure and human liver function. By using EWAS methodology, we identified 7 factors that could have potential association with liver function.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.357-364
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• 2010

Kjeldahl method used in many materials from various plant parts to determine protein contents, is laborious and time-consuming and utilizes hazardous chemicals. Near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy, a rapid and environmentally benign technique, was investigated as a potential method for the prediction of protein content. Near-infrared reflectance spectra(1100-2400 nm) of coarse cereal grains(n=100 for each germplasm) were obtained using a dispersive spectrometer as both of grain itself and flour ground, and total protein contents determined according to Kjeldahl method. Using multivariate analysis, a modified partial least-squares model was developed for prediction of protein contents. The model had a multiple coefficient of determination of 0.99, 0.99, 0.99, 0.96 and 0.99 for foxtail millet, sorghum, millet, adzuki bean and mung bean germplasm, respectively. The model was tested with independent validation samples (n=10 for each germplasm). All samples were predicted with the coefficient of determination of 0.99, 0.99, 0.99, 0.91 and 0.99 for foxtail millet, sorghum, millet, adzuki bean and mung bean germplasm, respectively. The results indicate that NIR reflectance spectroscopy is an accurate and efficient tool for determining protein content of diverse coarse cereal germplasm for nutrition labeling of nutritional value. On the other hands appropriate condition of cereal material to predict protein using NIR was flour condition of grains.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.346-356
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Chemical fungicides not only may pollute the ecosystem but also can be environmentally hazardous, as the chemicals accumulate in soil. Biological control is a frequently-used environment-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides in phytopathogen management. However, the use of microbial products as fungicides has limitations. This study isolated and characterized a three-antifungal-enzyme (chitinase, cellulase, and ${\beta}$-1,3-glucanase)-producing bacterium, and examined the conditions required to optimize the production of the antifungal enzymes. METHOD AND RESULTS: The antifungal enzymes chitinase, cellulase, and ${\beta}$-1,3-glucanase were produced by bacteria isolated from an sawmill in Korea. Based on the 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis, the bacterial strain AM50 was identical to Streptomyces sp. And their antifungal activity was optimized when Streptomyces sp. AM50 was grown aerobically in a medium composed of 0.4% chitin, 0.4% starch, 0.2% ammonium sulfate, 0.11% $Na_2HPO_4$, 0.07% $KH_2PO_4$, 0.0001% $MgSO_4$, and 0.0001% $MnSO_4$ at $30^{\circ}C$. A culture broth of Streptomyces sp. AM50 showed antifungal activity towards the hyphae of plant pathogenic fungi, including hyphae swelling and lysis in P. capsici, factors that may contribute to its suppression of plant pathogenic fungi. CONCLUSION(S): This study demonstrated the multiantifungal enzyme production by Streptomyces sp. AM50 for the biological control of major plant pathogens. Further studies will investigate the synergistic effect, to the growth regulations by biogenic amines and antifungal enzyme gene promoter.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.355-366
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• 2023

Biological corrosion, a crucial aspect of metal degradation, has received limited attention despite its significance. It involves the deterioration of metals due to corrosion processes influenced by living organisms, including bacteria. Soil represents a substantial threat to pipeline corrosion as it contains chemical and microbial factors that cause severe damage to water, oil, and gas transmission projects. To combat fouling and corrosion, corrosion inhibitors are commonly used; however, their production often involves expensive and hazardous chemicals. Consequently, researchers are exploring natural and eco-friendly alternatives, specifically nano-sized products, as potent corrosion inhibitors. This study aims to environmentally synthesize silver nanoparticles using an extract from Lagoecia cuminoides L and evaluate their effectiveness in preventing biological corrosion of buried pipes in soil. The optimal experimental conditions were determined as follows: a volume of 4 ml for the extract, a volume of 4 ml for silver nitrate (AgNO3), pH 9, a duration of 60 minutes, and a temperature of 60 degrees Celsius. Analysis using transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of nanoparticles with an average size of approximately 28 nm, while X-ray diffraction patterns exhibited suitable peak intensities. By employing the Scherer equation, the average particle size was estimated to be around 30 nm. Furthermore, antibacterial studies revealed the potent antibacterial activity of the synthesized silver nanoparticles against both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. This property effectively mitigates the biological corrosion caused by bacteria in steel pipes buried in soil.