• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.311-320
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• 2023

Surfactin, one of the most powerful biosurfactants, can be widely applied in agriculture, food, and pharmaceutics. The purpose of the present study was to establish suitable indicators for a rapid detection method that can confirm the surfactin productivity of cheonggukjang. In the present study, changes in the total number of bacteria were quantified according to the fermentation time of chenggukjang. Furthermore, physicochemical factors, such as pH, color value, surface tension, refractive index, absorbance, and protein contents, were assessed in chenggukjang viscous substances, and a correlation analysis between the physicochemical factors and surfactin contents was performed. We found that the protein contents gradually increased up to 48 h (4.21±0.11 mg/mL) without a change in the surface tension. Furthermore, the refractive index, absorbance at 280 nm, and color value were significantly increased as the fermentation time increased; however, there were no statistically significant differences after 36 h of fermentation. Interestingly, this result exhibited a tendency similar to the surfactin content according to fermentation time. These findings suggest that surfactin can be used as a suitable quality indicator and may provide an experimental basis for the fermented food industry.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.146-159
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• 2014

In this study, we evaluated the temporal changes of water quality in the 90 reservoirs in Korea and the relationships between water quality and their environmental factors in the reservoirs for effective management of reservoirs. The majority of study reservoirs were categorized as the eutrophic state based on Carlson's trophic index. Among 90 reservoirs, more than 55.0% were nutrient-rich based on $TSI_{TP}$ in each month, where more than 50.0% were nutrient-rich based on $TSI_{Chl-a}$ from June to November. Seasonal Mann-Kendall test was used to analyze temporal variation of water quality in the selected 60 reservoirs using monthly data from 2004 to 2008. The results showed that 27 (45.0%) reservoirs showed the improvement of water quality based on TP and Chl-a concentrations, while 14 (23.3%) and 11 (18.3%) reservoirs displayed the degradation of water quality based on TP and Chl-a concentrations, respectively. Meanwhile, a self-organizing map classified the study reservoirs into five groups based on differences of hydrogeomorphology (altitude, catchment area, bank height, lake age, etc.). Physicochemical factors and land use/cover types showed clear differences among groups. Finally, hydrogeomorphology of reservoirs were related to water quality, indicating that the hydrogeomorphological characters strongly affect water quality of reservoirs.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.469-483
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• 2021

Background and objective: If the Nelumbo nucifera spreads in a wetland at a high density, it can have considerable positive and negative ecological effects on habitats. For this reason, it is necessary to precisely investigate the impacts of its rapid proliferation. This study was conducted to propose the distribution and management of N. nucifera, which can cause the degradation of wildlife habitats due to the rapid spread of internal and external environmental factors that may affect the Junam wetland ecosystem. Methods: For the investigation and analysis of physical and ecological characteristics, factors of the abiotic environment such as general weather conditions, topography and water depth structure, and soil and water quality analysis, and bioenvironment characteristics such as changes in the N. nucifera community distribution were evaluated. To assess whether the differences in the soil depth and physicochemical characteristics between the N. nucifera community and the aquatic plant community are statistically significant, a One-way ANOVA was executed. Results: N. nucifera was presumably introduced in approximately 2007 and observed at a prevalence of only 0.8% in 2009, but had expanded to 11.1% in 2014. After that, the area was increased to 19.3% in 2015 and 40.0% in 2017, about twice that of the previous survey year. The rapid diffusion of an N. nucifera colony can have adverse effects on wildlife habitats and biodiversity at Junam Wetland. To solve these problems, four management methods can be proposed; water level management, mowing management, installation of posts and removal of lotus roots. Control of the N. nucifera community using these methods was judged to be suitable for cutting and water level management when considering expansion rate, water level variation, and wildlife habitat impacts. Conclusion: As the biotic and abiotic environmental factors are different for each wetland, it is necessary to determine the timing and method of management through a detailed investigation.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.79-94
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• 2006

Spatio-temporal patterns in the zooplankton communities, physicochemical environmental factors, and dominant species were examined in Camak Bay from April, July, September, and November, 2003. A total of 40 taxa were sampled with a mean abundance of total zooplankton ranging from $270{\sim}1,803inds/m^3$. The most abundant species was Acartia erythraea, followed by Eurytemora pacifica, Podon polyphemoides, A. omorii, and Paracalanus parvus s. 1 during the study period. Multivariate analysis revealed significant differences in community structure among three regions: the middle part of the sampling area (B), sites 1, 2 (A) and other sites (C). The number of species and diversity (H') varied significantly among the three regions (p<0.05), but no differences in the mean abundances were observed (p>0.05). In order to investigate factors affecting the correlations between the abundance of dominant species, all zooplankton and environmental factors ware calculated using a correlation analysis. Of these, the abundance of dominant taxon showed positive correlation with seawater temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen (p<0.05). In statistical analysis showed that the environmental factors influencing the variation of the communities ere predominantly temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.60-75
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• 2022

The Bayesian algorithm model is a model algorithm that calculates probabilities based on input data and is mainly used for complex disasters, water quality management, the ecological structure between living things or living-non-living factors. In this study, we analyzed the main factors affected Korean Estuary Trophic Diatom Index (KETDI) change based on the Bayesian network analysis using the diatom community and physicochemical factors in the domestic estuarine aquatic ecosystem. For Bayesian analysis, estuarine diatom habitat data and estuarine aquatic diatom health (2008~2019) data were used. Data were classified into habitat, physical, chemical, and biological factors. Each data was input to the Bayesian network model (GeNIE model) and performed estuary aquatic network analysis along with the nationwide and each coast. From 2008 to 2019, a total of 625 taxa of diatoms were identified, consisting of 2 orders, 5 suborders, 18 families, 141 genera, 595 species, 29 varieties, and 1 species. Nitzschia inconspicua had the highest cumulative cell density, followed by Nitzschia palea, Pseudostaurosira elliptica and Achnanthidium minutissimum. As a result of analyzing the ecological network of diatom health assessment in the estuary ecosystem using the Bayesian network model, the biological factor was the most sensitive factor influencing the health assessment score was. In contrast, the habitat and physicochemical factors had relatively low sensitivity. The most sensitive taxa of diatoms to the assessment of estuarine aquatic health were Nitzschia inconspicua, N. fonticola, Achnanthes convergens, and Pseudostaurosira elliptica. In addition, the ratio of industrial area and cattle shed near the habitat was sensitively linked to the health assessment. The major taxa sensitive to diatom health evaluation differed according to coast. Bayesian network analysis was useful to identify major variables including diatom taxa affecting aquatic health even in complex ecological structures such as estuary ecosystems. In addition, it is possible to identify the restoration target accurately when restoring the consequently damaged estuary aquatic ecosystem.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.245-265
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• 2004

This study was to compare the geological occurrences and geneses of the Myogi, Tsukinuno, Dobuyama and Kawasaki bentonite deposits distributed in the Tertiary sedimentary basins of NE Japan, and to compare the mineralogical and physicochemical properties of their bentonites. The Japanese bentonite deposits are mainly distributed in the Green-tuff region which was formed in Neogene. The shape of ore body of the Myogi, Tsukinuno and Kawasaki deposits formed by the diagenesis are layered and stratiform. In contrast to this, the Dobuyama deposit formed by hydrothermal alteration shows the cone shape. The mineralization age of four deposits are 1.8 ～ 21 Ha from Early Miocene to Pliocene. The Dobuyama bentonite with the highest montmorillonite content shows the highest surface area, CEC, MB adsorption, and strengths. The Tsukinuno bentonite with a little high montmorillonite content is characterized by strong alkalinity, high viscosity and swelling. The Kawasaki bentonite, the Na-Ca mixed type, shows higher viscosity and swelling than the Ca-type Dobuyama bentonite. The Myogi bentonite with the lowest montmorillonite content shows the properties of low viscosity, In adsorption, strengths and a little high CEC and surface area. The high CEC and surface area of this deposit is due to the sufficient occurrence of zeolite. A strong dispersion in the Na-type bentonite and a strong flocculation in the Ca-type bentonite took place, and both the types show a slow flocculation with time. The physicochemical properties of the bentonite are mainly controlled by the montmorillonite content, interlayer cations, and impurity minerals such as zeolite. But bentonites inconsistent to this factors are sometimes occurred. This is maybe due to the crystal chemistry such as layer charge of montmorillonite and crystal morphology of montmorillonite such as aspect ratio.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.221-228
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• 2012

Physicochemical properties of liquid fertilizer samples of resource organization, which are domestically produced and distributed, are analyzed. Major contents of the research results are as follows. 1. The ratio of complete decomposition for liquid fertilizer is 49% at Public Resource Center and 33% at Liquid Fertilizer Supply Center. The combined ratio of both half-decomposed and un-decomposed liquid fertilizers is over 50% at both centers. 2. The ratio of complete decomposed liquid fertilizer, 67%, is the highest in Gangwon and Gyeonggi-do area. The ratio of un-decomposed liquid fertilizer is high in Chungbuk and Chungnam area. The sum of ratios of the half- and un-decomposed is over 60% in the areas except Gyeonnggi-do and Gangwon-do. 3. As a result of regional comparison of the physicochemical properties of liquid fertilizers, concentration variation in most of the items are large, and the degree of uniformity is found to be considerably low. In particular, concentration variation in T-N and $NH_4$-N is the most noticeable. 4. The items that physicochemically correlated to the degree of decomposition of liquid fertilizer are appeared to be T-N, $NH_4$-N, $NO_3$-N, EC, $SCOD_{Mn}$, and ORP. 5. The physicochemical average values of the liquid fertilizer estimated as "complete decomposed" are appeared to be T-N 829 mg/L,$NH_4$-N 517 mg/L, $NO_3$-N 151 mg/L, $SCOD_{Mn}$ 1,205 mg/L, EC 10.32 mS/cm, ORP -117.12 mV.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.216-222
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• 2015

Facilities processing raw materials containing naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) may give rise to enhanced radiation dose to workers due to chronic inhalation of airborne particulates. Internal radiation dose due to particulate inhalation varies depending on particulate properties, including size, shape, density, and absorption type. The objective of the present study was to assess inhalation dose sensitivity to physicochemical properties of airborne particulates. Committed effective doses to workers resulting from inhalation of airborne particulates were calculated based on International Commission on Radiological Protection 66 human respiratory tract model. Inhalation dose generally increased with decreasing particulate size. Committed effective doses due to inhalation of $0.01{\mu}m$ sized particulates were higher than doses due to $100{\mu}m$ sized particulates by factors of about 100 and 50 for $^{238}U$ and $^{230}Th$, respectively. Inhalation dose increased with decreasing shape factor. Shape factors of 1 and 2 resulted in dose difference by about 18 %. Inhalation dose increased with particulate mass density. Particulate mass densities of $11g{\cdot}cm^{-3}$ and $0.7g{\cdot}cm^{-3}$ resulted in dose difference by about 60 %. For $^{238}U$, inhalation doses were higher for absorption type of S, M, and F in that sequence. Committed effective dose for absorption type S of $^{238}U$ was about 9 times higher than dose for absorption F. For $^{230}Th$, inhalation doses were higher for absorption type of F, M, and S in that sequence. Committed effective dose for absorption type F of $^{230}Th$ was about 16 times higher than dose for absorption S. Consequently, use of default values for particulate properties without consideration of site specific physiochemical properties may potentially skew radiation dose estimates to unrealistic values up to 1-2 orders of magnitude. For this reason, it is highly recommended to consider site specific working materials and conditions and use the site specific particulate properties to accurately access radiation dose to workers at NORM processing facilities.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.246-250
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• 2017

This study was performed to investigate the quality characteristics of noodles made from four different potato varieties: Atlantic, Go-un, Sae-bong, Jin-sun, and wheat flour. Quality characteristics of five noodles were analyzed by general components analysis, cooking quality (rate of water absorption, cooking loss, and volume increase), and mechanical textural properties. Some variations existed in wheat- or potato-based noodles for the general components analysis, but no clear trend was observed. Higher values in the rates of water absorption, cooking loss, and volume increase were observed for the wheat flour noodle, while some variations were observed for potato noodles depending on the variety. The wheat flour noodles exhibited higher values of textural characteristics obtained from the texture profile analysis, except for adhesiveness. Higher gluten contents as well as lower ash contents in the wheat flour noodles compared to the potato noodles are thought to be the two key factors contributing to this finding.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2001

Various alkyl ester prodrugs of diclofenac were synthesized in order to investigate the relationship between their skin permeation characteristics and physicochemical properties. Solubility in various vehicles was measured at room temperature. 1-Octanol/water partition coefficients (Log P) and capacity factors (k') were measured to determine the lipophilicity of the prodrugs. Stability of prodrugs in the skin extract and homogenate was also investigated before conducting the skin permeation studies. Increases in the Log P and capacity factor values were observed when alkyl esters of diclofenac were prepared. Since the aqueous solubility of the prodrugs was not high enough, they were saturated in propylene glycol (PG) for skin permeation studies. Prodrugs were rapidly metabolized to diclofenac, both in skin homogenate and in dermal extract of skin. The skin permeation rate of alkyl ester prodrugs was significantly higher than diclofenac with shorter lag time. Moreover, a parabolic relationship was observed between the permeation rate and the log P values of prodrugs, and the maximum flux was achieved at a log P value of around 4.0.