• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1094-1099
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• 2021

Hermetia illucens (Black soldier fly) is attracting attention as an environmental purification insect because it can supply a wide range of by-products of the agricultural food industry. Also, it has a potential feed for fish, birds, and pets due to a short life cycle and excellent nutritional components. Several pharmacological effects, including antimicrobial, of H. illucens have been reported. However, no study has focused on antiobesity effects of ethanol extract of H. illucens. In this study, we aimed to assess the anti-obesity effects of ethanol extract of H. illucens larvae (HIE) through inhibition of differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes. The amount of lipid accumulated in adipocytes was measured by oil red-O staining, and the inhibitory effect on adipogenesis was confirmed. The expression levels of factors related to adipocyte differentiation and fat synthesis were determined using Western blot analysis. Lipid droplet formation in adipocytes was remarkably inhibited by HIE. In addition, treatment with 400 ㎍/ml of HIE significantly reduced the expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α-transcription factors involved in adipocyte differentiation. Therefore, the results of this study indicate that HIE is a potential anti-obesity agent because it inhibits adipocyte differentiation.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.196-204
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• 2022

This study observed changes in survival, growth performance and water quality for 90 days to confirm the possibility of Leiocassis ussuriensis farming using Biofloc technology (BFT) using Bacillus subtilis. Feed and molasses were added to the experimental tank to produce BFT water before planting the experiment, and B. subtilis was inoculated to stabilize the water quality for 40 days. The survival rate of the experimental fish was 92.7±3.2% in the control group and 95.8±3.3% in the BFT group. The Weight gain (WG) was 118.1±9.0% of the control and 197.7±15.6% of the BFT, and the Specific growth rate (SGR) was 0.87±0.5% of the control and 1.21±0.06% of the BFT. As for the feed efficiency, the control was 43.7±2.6% and the BFT was measured at 70.1±4.1%, indicating that the feed efficiency of the BFT was higher. As a result of measuring the water quality change during the experimental period, pH was reduced in both the control and the BFT, and Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids (MLSS) did not show any change in the control, but the BFT showed a significant increase at 90 days. NH₄⁺-N and NO₂^--N showed a significant increase from the 30 days of the experiment in the control, but showed no change in the BFT. In conclusion, as a result of applying the BFT system using B. subtilis to the process of cultivating Leiocassis ussuriensis, the water quality tended to stabilize, and the growth rate and feed efficiency were found to be higher than those of the control, confirmiWng that it had a positive effect.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.226-239
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• 2021

Sebastes minor, Sebastes trivittatus, Sebastes owstoni, and Sebastes steindachneri are indigenous fish species inhabiting the central part of the East Sea, Korea. In order to understand the molecular evolution of these four rockfishes, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of S. minor and S. trivittatus. To further analyze the phylogeny of Sebastes species, the mitogenomes of 16 rockfishes were comparatively investigated. The complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) nucleotide sequences of S. minor and S. trivittatus were 16,408 bp and 16,409 bp in length, respectively. A total of 37 genes were found in mtDNA of S. minor and S. trivittatus, including 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes, which exhibited similar characters with other Sebastes species in the East Sea, Korea. In addition, we detected a conserved motif "ATGTA" in the control region of the four Sebastes species, but no tandem repeat units. Comparative analyses of the congeneric mitochondrial genomes were performed, which showed that control regions were more variable than the concatenated protein-coding genes. As a result of analysing phylogenetic relationships of four Sebastes species by using concatenated nucleotide sequences of 13 protein-coding genes, S. minor, S. trivittatus, S. owstoni and S. steindachneri were clustered into three clades. The phylogenetic tree exhibited that S. minor and S. steindachneri shared a closer relationship, whereas S. trivittatus and S. vulpes formed another distinct clade. Our results contribute to a better understanding of evolutionary patterns of Sebastes species inhabiting the middle East Sea, Korea.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.85-100
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• 2023

In this study, in order to improve the installation periodical inspection method of waste treatment facilities, we conducted on-site surveys of waste treatment facilities classified into six fields, grasped the problems of inspection methods, and made improvements accordingly. And revised the inspection method for waste treatment facilities. As a result, in the field of incineration and incineration heat recovery, inspection methods such as total temperature measurement and one-year TMS data comparison using a thermal imaging camera were established. And for the safety of the inspected person, it was applied so that the waste can be replaced with a document without opening it. In the case of landfill facilities, the details regarding the use of video information processing equipment and the management of facilities covering the upper part of the landfill facility are presented in the law, but the items that do not have a inspection methods were applied to the inspection method. In the case of Food Waste Treatment Facility, inspection methods were put in place to ensure compliance with standards for foul-smelling fish in odor control, a major cause of complaints. As a result, 10 out of 18 improvement proposals were reflected in the incineration and sterilization grinding, cement kiln, and incineration heat recovery facilities, and 11 out of 12 improvement proposals were reflected in the landfill facility. In the case of food distribution waste treatment facilities, 10 out of 12 improvement proposals were reflected, and a total of 31 inspection methods were improved.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.122-131
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• 2023

This study was aimed to determine the effects of grow media on the mineral contents of the leaves and growth characteristics of strawberry grown under aquaponics system in a plant factory. For aquaculture, 12 fish (Cyprinus carpio) (total weight, 2.0 kg) were raised in an aquaponics tank (W 0.7 m × L 1.5 m × H 0.45 m, 472.5 L) filled with 367.5 L of water at a density of 5.44 kg·m^-3 and total 34 of strawberry seedlings were transplanted in the pots filed with 200 g of orchid stone, hydroball or polyurethane sponge in the growing bed (W 0.7 m × L 1.5 m × H 0.22 m) laid out with holly acrylic sheet (140×60 mm, Ø80) on the top of the system. The pH and EC of the aquaponic solution was ranged from 7.6 to 4.9 and 0.24-0.91 dS·m^-1, respectively. The concentration of NO_3-N was about 28% lower than that of the hydroponic standard solution, and K, Fe and B were 10, 27 and 3.8 times lower, respectively; however, the mineral contents of strawberry leaves were in the appropriate ranges with lower contents in the leaves grown with sponge media. The organic content (OM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) of the sludge were 61.5, 5.72, 8.92, and 0.24%, respectively. The leaf area, leaf number, and dry and fresh weights of shoot at 81 DAT were significantly higher in the hydroball, and the average number of fruits per plant was significantly higher in both the orchid stone and hydroball. There was no significant difference in the fresh and dry weights of fruits. Integrated all the results suggest that the orchid stone and hydroball media are more effective to utilize nutrients in solid particles of aquaponic solution, compared to the polyurethane sponge.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

An estuary is an area where a freshwater river or stream meets the ocean. Even before the importance of the value of estuaries was recognized, the estuary was lost because of large-scale conversion by draining, filling, damming, and dredging. In South Korea, 643 estuaries are located, and the total area is 3,248,300 ha, accounting for 32.5% of the total area of South Korea. Over 35% of Korean estuaries are closed estuaries which are only temporally connected with the sea, either permanently or periodically. Since 2008, in order to preserve the estuary ecosystem and solve major issues in the estuary by accumulating knowledge about the estuarine ecosystem, the Ministry of Environment of Republic of Korea has been conducting the "Estuarine Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment Project". At 668 sites of 325 estuaries, epilithic diatom, benthic macroinvertebrate, fish, and vegetation are investigated, and the habitat condition of each site is evaluated using the newly developed biotic index. More than 100 researchers annually record 2,097 species of estuaries according to the standardized survey guidelines over the past 14 years and provide strictly managed data necessary for establishing estuaries conservation policies. As a result of bibliometric analysis of 1,195 research articles related to the monitoring and assessment of the estuarine ecosystem, research on pollutants such as heavy metals and sediment control have recently been conducted. "Estuarine Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment Project" is an ecological monitoring type of long-term mandated monitoring that is usually focused on identifying trends. Although it is difficult to identify the mechanism influencing a change in an ecosystem through long-term mandated monitoring, providing empirical data for supporting evidence-based policy, decision-making, and the management of ecosystems. In order to increase the efficiency of the project, research to investigate the relationship between sediments and pollutants and organisms can be conducted at specific estuaries or sites to compensate for the shortcomings of mandatory monitoring.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.91-100
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• 2023

The early life history of Silurus microdorsalis living in Jahocheon Stream was studied by observing egg and morphological development. Live fish were captured in June 2018, then reared in a circulating filtration system under a 14L : 10D photoperiod with a water temperature of 18℃. To artificially induce spawning, females were injected with 0.5 mL of Ovaprim (Syndel, Nanaimo, BC, Canada) per kg of body weight, and males were injected with 10,000 IU/kg body weight of human chorionic gonadotropin. Approximately 15 h later, eggs were artificially inseminated by the dry method. Mature eggs were light pale yellow, which separated them from immature eggs. Fertilized eggs were 2.16±0.06 mm (n=8) in diameter and fully hatched at 181 h after fertilization. The fertilization rate was 63.1±2.2%, and 10.0±3.7% of the embryos were malformed at 18℃. The rates of development were 181 h at 18℃, 109 h at 21℃, and 76 h at 24℃. The larval size immediately after hatching was 4.64±0.22 mm (n=8), and the larvae displayed negative phototaxis at 1 day after hatching. The total larval length on 7 days after hatching was 12.47±0.53 mm, with 25~30 basal anal fin rays and 14~16 basal caudal fin rays observed. The total larval length was 14.13±0.51 mm on 9 days after hatching, and approximately 90% of the black endoplasmic reticulum was deposited on the head and body. The dorsal fin had formed, and a single basal body was observed. On 15 days after hatching, the total larval length was 16.69±0.31 mm; the number of basal caudal fin rays (18 poles) was an integer because 2 dorsal fin basal rays and 60~63 anal fin basal rays were observed. The total larval length was 28.96±1.10 mm on 50 days after hatching; the numbers of caudal fins (n=18), dorsal fins (n=3), pectoral fins (n=11), and anal fin basal rays (n=67~73) were integers.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.179-185
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• 2022

The feeding habits of Largehead hairtail Trichiurus japonicus was studied using 377 specimens collected in the Yellow Sea of Korea. The specimens ranged from 4.5 to 33.7 cm in Anal length (AL). T. japonicus consumed mainly a piscivore, such as Engraulis japonicus [percent index of relative importance (%IRI) =74.1%]. We calculated the trophic level as 3.84 for T. japonicus. Fishes were the main prey items for all seasons. The main fish prey during autumn and winter was E. japonicus, whereas those during spring and summer was Larimichthys polyactis. Fishes were the main prey items for all size groups (<15 cm, 15~20 cm, 20~25 cm, ≥25 cm). T. japonicus also showed size-related dietary shift from Spratelloides gracilis and E. japonicus to L. polyactis and T. japonicus. As the anal length of T. japonicus increased, the mean number of preys per stomach (mN/ST) and the mean weight of preys per stomach (mW/ST) tended to increased (One-way ANOVA, P<0.05). Seasonal and size-related shifts in dietary composition were investigated by PERMANOVA analysis, which showed significant variations among size classes and seasons.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.186-200
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• 2022

In order to understand the species composition and distribution characteristics of larval assemblages in the East Sea, Korea, larvae were collected at 13 stations every other month from February to December 2018. Fish larvae were identified through DNA barcoding along with morphological methods, and as the result, a total of 104 taxonomic groups appeared during the survey. Among these, Engraulis japonicus, which accounted for 76.2% of the total population, was the most dominant species, followed by Maurolicus japonicus, which accounted for 15.0%. In addition, Ammodytes personatus, Champsodon snyderi, Scomber japonicus and Echelus uropterus appeared more frequently than other taxa. The above six species accounted for 93.2% of the total catch. The number of taxa and the amount of larvae collected in the survey area were higher during the high water temperature periods (June to October) than during the low water temperature periods (February, April and December). Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) showed a statistically significant difference in monthly larval assemblages. The results of the canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) show that the distributions of larval community were mainly affected by sea surface temperature during low water temperature periods, and various environmental factors such as salinity, dry weight of zooplankton, and the concentrations of nutrients during high water temperature periods.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.489-495
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• 2023

In this study, we detected the presence of residual pesticides in 341 agricultural products collected from local food outlets in western Gyeonggi Province. Residual pesticides were detected in 105 (30.8%) samples. Six samples exceeded the legal limits for residual pesticides, resulting in a non-compliance rate of 1.8%, which was slightly higher than the average non-compliance rate of 1.4% in the last three years. Among the tested agricultural products, only fruits and vegetables were found to have pesticide residues, with 24 of 34 fruits (a detection rate of 70.6%) and 81 of 277 vegetables (a detection rate of 29.2%) testing positive. In total, 59 types of pesticides, including acetamiprid, which was detected 208 times, were detected and had a detection range of 0.01-2.38 mg/kg. Among the 105 agricultural products containing pesticide residues, a single pesticide was detected in 62 samples (59%) and two or more pesticides were detected in 43 samples (41%). In particular, 14 pesticides were detected in the same sample of peaches; dinotefuran was detected 21 times. Upon examining the toxicity of the detected pesticides, Class III pesticides (moderate toxicity) were detected 44 times (21.2%) and Class IV pesticides (low toxicity) were detected 164 times (78.8%). Class I, II, and III pesticides with fish toxicity were detected 68 (32.7%), 14 (6.7%), and 126 times (60.6%), respectively. Upon examining the exposure to high-frequency pesticide components detected five or more times, the hazard index was found to be ≤2.8%. Accordingly, the hazard of residual pesticides based on dietary intake was deemed insignificant.