• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.270.1-270.1
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• 2013

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is one of the most powerful materials for purifying organic pollutants using photocatalytic activity. In this study, we have introduced a novel method to design highly photoreactive flexible 3 dimensional (3D) ZnO nanocomposite [F-ZnO-m (m: reaction time, min)] by electrospinning and simple-step ZnO growth processing (one-step ZnO seed coating/growth processing). Significantly, the F-ZnO-m could be a new platform (or candidate) as a photocatalytic technology for both morphology control and largearea production. The highest photocatalytic degradation rate ([k]) was observed for F-ZnO-m at 2.552 h-1, which was 8.1 times higher than that of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs; [k] = 0.316 h-1). The enhanced photocatalytic activity of F-ZnO-m may be attributed to factors such as large surface area. The F-ZnO-m is highly recyclable and retained 98.6% of the initial decolorization rate after fifteen cycles. Interestingly, the F-ZnO-m samples show very strong antibacterial properties against both Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) after exposure to UV-light for 30 min. The antibacterial properties of F-ZnO-m samples are more effective than those of ZnO NPs. More than 96.6% of the E. coli is sterilized after ten cycles. These results indicate that F-ZnO-m samples might have utility in several promising applications such as highly efficient water/air treatment and inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.109-119
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• 2015

In recent years, a rapid growth in the population and urbanization led to an increasing industrial growth. The inadequate treated-wasted water from industry and various non-point sources causes significant negative effects on the stream water. For past few decades, extensive researches have been performed on water purification process. The purpose of this study is to investigate mechanical performance and water purification properties of porous concrete by using effective microorganisms through the site assessment test. The mechanical performance evaluation results showed that the increase void ration caused an decrease in the strength. The optimal mix rate was found to be 15% void rate From the site assessment, it was evaluated that the porous concrete improved the quality of the water and the purification ratios are 34.1 for SS, 14.6% for BOD, 34.9% for COD, 11.4% for T-N, and 12.6% for T-P. The porous concrete and the related purification technique can reduce the non-point pollution sources flowing into the river.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.12
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• pp.4527-4542
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• 2023

The present microbial reinforcement of rock and soil exhibits limitations, such as uneven reinforcement effectiveness and low calcium carbonate generation rate, resulting in limited solidification strength. This study introduces electroosmosis as a standard microbial grouting reinforcement technique and investigates its solidification effects on microbial-reinforced uranium tailings. The most effective electroosmosis effect on uranium tailings occurs under a potential gradient of 1.25 V/cm. The findings indicate that a weak electric field can effectively promote microbial growth and biological activity and accelerate bacterial metabolism. The largest calcium carbonate production occurred under the gradient of 0.5 V/cm, featuring a good crystal combination and the best cementation effect. Staged electroosmosis and electrode conversion efficiently drive the migration of anions and cations. Under electroosmosis, the cohesion of uranium tailings reinforced by microorganisms increased by 37.3% and 64.8% compared to those reinforced by common microorganisms and undisturbed uranium tailings, respectively. The internal friction angle is also improved, significantly enhancing the uniformity of reinforcement and a denser and stronger microscopic structure. This research demonstrates that MICP technology enhances the solidification effects and uniformity of uranium tailings, providing a novel approach to maintaining the safety and stability of uranium tailings dams.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.800-806
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• 2015

We investigated the effects of a pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment on microbial inactivation and the physical properties of low-fat milk. Milk inoculated with Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or Lactobacillus brevis was supplied to a pilot-scale PEF treatment system at a flow rate of 30 L/h. Pulses with an electric field strength of 10 kV/cm and a pulse width of 30 µs were applied to the milk with total pulse energies of 50-250 kJ/L achieved by varying the pulse frequency. The inactivation curves of the test microorganisms were biphasic with an initial lag phase (or shoulder) followed by a phase of rapid inactivation. PEF treatments with a total pulse energy of 200 kJ/L resulted in a 4.5-log reduction in E. coli, a 4.4-log reduction in L. brevis, and a 6.0-log reduction in S. cerevisiae. Total pulse energies of 200 and 250 kJ/L resulted in greater than 5-log reductions in microbial counts in stored PEF-treated milk, and the growth of surviving microorganisms was slow during storage for 15 d at 4℃. PEF treatment did not change milk physical properties such as pH, color, or particle-size distribution (p<0.05). These results indicate that a relatively low electric-field strength of 10 kV/cm can be used to pasteurize low-fat milk.

• Mycobiology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.368-375
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• 2014

Red ginseng (Panax ginseng), a Korean traditional medicinal plant, contains a variety of ginsenosides as major functional components. It is necessary to remove sugar moieties from the major ginsenosides, which have a lower absorption rate into the intestine, to obtain the aglycone form. To screen for microorganisms showing bioconversion activity for ginsenosides from red ginseng, 50 yeast strains were isolated from Korean traditional meju (a starter culture made with soybean and wheat flour for the fermentation of soybean paste). Twenty strains in which a black zone formed around the colony on esculin-yeast malt agar plates were screened first, and among them 5 strains having high ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity on p-nitrophenyl-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside as a substrate were then selected. Strain JNO301 was finally chosen as a bioconverting strain in this study on the basis of its high bioconversion activity for red ginseng extract as determined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis. The selected bioconversion strain was identified as Candida allociferrii JNO301 based on the nucleotide sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene. The optimum temperature and pH for the cell growth were $20{\sim}30^{\circ}C$ and pH 5~8, respectively. TLC analysis confirmed that C. allociferrii JNO301 converted ginsenoside Rb1 into Rd and then into F2, Rb2 into compound O, Rc into compound Mc1, and Rf into Rh1. Quantitative analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography showed that bioconversion of red ginseng extract resulted in an increase of 2.73, 3.32, 33.87, 16, and 5.48 fold in the concentration of Rd, F2, compound O, compound Mc1, and Rh1, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2022

This study was undertaken to examine the quality characteristics of nonblanched carrots (CON) and carrots blanched in distilled water, 2% NaCl water and 2% citric acid at 100℃ for 3 minutes. This moisture contents of CON was the highest at 85.91%, whereas NT had the lowest moisture at 83.92% (p<0.01). Compared to CON values the L values of pretreatment groups were decreased whereas the b values were increased (p<0.001) A comparison of true retention (TR), revealed that NT had the highest TPC TR 101.04% and TFC TR 91.59% (p<0.001). β-Carotene contents were determined to be higher in NT (1.98 mg/100 g) and CT (1.94 mg/100 g) than in other groups, with highest levels obtained in NT (106.64%) (p<0.001). Examination of the DPPH and ABTS+ radical scavenging activities revealed that the NT group had maximum scavenging activity. The total bacterial count was determined to be 3.37 log CFU/g in the CON, whereas no microorganisms were observed in all the pretreatment groups. Our study indicates that blanching in 2% NaCl water is the most desirable in order to increase the biochemical content and nutrient preservation rate of carrots, and to inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2007

Two feeding experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of fermented cactus fruit (Opuntia ficusindica) fluid (FCFF) as a feed additive to a commercial diet on the growth of red sea bream, Pagrus major, and to determine an effective dose. FCFF was prepared by mixing crushed cactus fruit with a starch solution and commercially available microorganisms for 2 weeks at room temperature. Three triplicate groups of red sea bream had initial mean weights of 84.1 g (Exp-1) and 5.1 g (Exp-2) and were fed experimental diets containing 0%, 1%, and 5% FCFF for 2 months (Exp-1) and 0%, 0.2%, 0.5%, and 1% FCFF for 3 months (Exp-2), respectively. In experiment 1, the mean body weight of fish fed the diet containing 1% FCFF was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of fish fed the diet without FCFF. The survival rate was highest in fish fed the diet containing 1% FCFF, although the difference was not statistically significant. The feed gain ratio (FGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and condition factor (CF) values of fish fed the diet containing 1% FCFF were higher than those of fish in the other dietary groups that received lower levels of FCFF. The daily feeding rate (DFR) of fish fed the diet containing 1% FCFF was slightly lower but not statistically different than the DFR values of fish in the other dietary groups. In experiment 2, the final mean body weight of fish fed the diet containing 1% FCFF was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the mean weight of fish in the control group. The FGR, SGR, and CF values of fish fed the diet containing 1% FCFF were better than the values from fish in the other dietary groups that received lower levels of FCFF, although the differences were not statistically significant. However, the DFR of fish fed the diet containing 1% FCFF was lower than those of fish in the other groups. These results suggest that FCFF could be used as a feed additive in commercial fish food and a preferable level of supplementation is at least 1.0% in fingerling and young red sea bream.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.30-35
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• 2008

Mixed acidophilic bacteria were approached for leaching of cobalt and lithium from wastes of lithium ion battery industries. The growth substrates for the mixed mesophilic bacteria are elemental sulfur and ferrous ion. Bioleaching of the metal was due to the protonic action of sulfate ion on the metals present in the waste. It was investigated that bioleaching of cobalt was faster than lithium. Bacterial action could leach out about 80 % of cobalt and 20 % of lithium from the solid wastes within 12 days of the experimental period. Higher solid/liquid ratio was found to be detrimental for bacterial growth due to the toxic nature of the metals. At high elemental sulfur concentration, the sulfur powder was observed to be in undissolved form and hence the leaching rate also decreased with increase of sulfur amount.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.105-112
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• 1987

Some anatomical characterisitcs of Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.) collected from pollution-exposed areas in Korea were investigated. These sites were reportedly the most severe air polluted areas in Korean peninsular. A decline in overall growth rate was apparent since the late 10-year period of growth. P. densiflora in Onsan and in Yeochon recorded in the radial growth reduction of approximately 70 and 60% respectively. The formation of earlywood in the period of air pollution was restricted, whereas the percentage of latewood increased. The maximum wood density was lower in xylem rings formed during a period of air-pollution than in rings found without pollution. Most of pine trees damaged by air pollution showed the classical type of length-on-age curve for tracheids. However, reduction in cell wall-thickness and diameter was revealed in the wood exposed to air pollutants. Nor anomalies in microstructures nor microorganisms in wood structures were found in the damaged trees.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.58-65
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• 2007

The role of soil microorganisms, specifically rhizobacteria, in the development of rhizoremediation techniques is important to speed up the process and to increase the rate of mobilization or absorption of heavy metals to the plant. In this study, Methylobacterium sp. SY-NiR1 was isolated from the rhizosphere soils of plants in oil and heavy metal-contaminated soil. Based on its pink pigmented colony, rod-shape cells, and belonging in $\alpha-Proteobacteria$, Methylobacterium sp. SY-NiR1 is considered a pink-pigmented facultative methylotroph. SY-NiR1 had the ability to produce indole acetic acid which is one of phytohormones. This bacterium showed resistance against multiple heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, Zn, and the order of its resistance based on $EC_{50}$ was Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb > Cd > Cr. Therefore, Methylobacterium sp. SY-NiR1 can stimulate seed germination and plant growth in soil contaminated with heavy metals.