• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2020

To investigate effect of variation in physiochemical conditions due to river discharge on phytoplankton, field surveys were conducted in the Seomjin and Yeongsan River estuaries from April to November 2016. The concentrations of DIN and DSi in Seomjin River estuary were gradually low as distance from upstream. On the other hands, the concentrations of DIN and DSi in Yeongsan River estuary were critically high at upstream, due to which is characterized as semi-enclosed eutrophic area. A total of 12 phytoplankton pigments were analyzed, and the distribution of each taxa was investigated using indicator for each phytoplankton taxa. Fucoxanthin, an indicator pigment of diatoms, showed an average of 0.61±1.00 ㎍ l^-1 and 0.76±1.22 ㎍ l^-1 in the Seomjin and Yeongsan River estuaries, respectively. Concentration of fucoxanthin was more than twice that of other pigments except chlorophyll a., indicating that diatoms were dominant taxa. Peridinin, an indicator pigment of dinoflagellate, showed some similar tendency to the microscopic observation, but mismatch results were also present, indicating a technical limitation of pigment analysis. Chlorophyll b, alloxanthin, and zeaxanthin, which are indicator pigments of green algae, cryptomonads, and cyanobacteria, were detected in both estuaries even though those taxa were not detected in microscopic observation. This indicates that the two estuaries were affected by freshwater species. Here, we can suggest that phytoplankton composition in estuary was directly influenced by the inflow from upstream. In particular, the phytoplankton population dynamics in Yeongsan River estuary was greatly associated with a large-scale artificial dyke, especially in summer rainy season. On the other hands, the seasonal and horizontal distribution of phytoplankton in Seomjin River estuary has changed along the salinity gradients and inflow-related changes.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.332-337
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• 2011

Physicochemical properties of hydroxypropylated and cross-linked (HPCL) rice starch were investigated. Dual modification of rice starch was carried out by hydroxypropylation using propylene oxide (2, 6, and 12%) and then crosslinking using phosphorus oxychloride (0.005% and 0.02%). Swelling power of dual-modified rice starch increased at lower temperature (60$^{\circ}C$) than that of native rice starch (70$^{\circ}C$). HPCL rice starch showed slightly lower solubility (1.6-6.1%) than native rice starch (2.2-13.8%). Solubility and swelling power tended to gradually increase with increasing phosphorus oxychloride contents. RVA pasting temperature (66.2-70.8$^{\circ}C$) and peak viscosity (160.6- 171.1 RVU) of HPCL rice starch were lower than that of those of native starch (71.3$^{\circ}C$, 190.4 RVU) and decreased with increasing propylene oxide concentration. DSC thermal transitions of HPCL rice starches shifted to lower temperature and show less amylopectin melting enthalpy (11.8-9.8 J/g) than that of native rice starch (11.9 J/g). Overall, physicohemical properties of HPCL rice starches were highly dependent on hydroxypropylation rather than crosslinking.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.163-173
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• 2018

This study was carried out to propose the baseline data for in situ conservation by analyzing environmental and growth characteristics in Pedicularis hallaisanenesis habitats. P. hallaisanensis habitats, according to investigations, were located on the slope of southwest at an elevation of 1,400 m in Mt. Gayasan and on the slope of southeast at an elevation of 1,500 m in Mt. Hallasan. Pedicularishallaisanensis habitats. Also, habitats were found at the grassland with no upper vegetation. In the study sites, soil pH and soil organic matter were 4.9-6.5 and 4.4-8.1%, respectively. A total of 55 vascular plants taxa were identified in ten quadrats in two habitats, of which 25 were inhabited in Mt. Gayasan and 37 in Mt. Hallasan. Current status of P. hallaisanensis habitats were very vulnerable with the pressure of the vegetation constantly threatening the species' survival. Thus, concrete conservation plans including diverse factors as light intensity, temperature and genetic analysis to protect natural habitats should be set up as soon as possible.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.204-215
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• 2019

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary energy and crude protein (CP) levels on growth performance, blood profiles, and carcass traits in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 180 crossbred pigs ([Yorkshire ${\times}$ Landrace] ${\times}$ Duroc) with an average body weight of $30.96{\pm}3.068kg$ were used for a 12-week feeding trial. Experimental pigs were allotted to a $2{\times}3$ factorial arrangement using a randomized complete block (RCB) design. The first factor was two levels of dietary metabolizable energy (ME) density (13.40 MJ/kg or 13.82 MJ/kg), and the second factor was three dietary CP levels based on subdivision of growing-finishing phases (high: 18%/16.3%/16.3%/13.2% middle: 17%/15.3%/15.3%/12.2% and low: 16%/14.3%/14.3%/11.2%). Average daily gain (ADG) and gain-feed ratio (G:F ratio) decreased as dietary CP level was decreased linearly (linear, p < 0.05; p < 0.05, respectively) in the early growing period, and G:F ration also decreased as dietary CP level was decreased linearly (linearly, p < 0.05) over the whole growing phase. Over the entire experimental period, G:F ratio decreased as dietary ME level decreased (p = 0.01). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration was increased as dietary energy level decreased in growing period (p < 0.01). During finishing period, total protein concentration was decreased by lower dietary energy level (p < 0.05). In this study, there were no significant differences in proximate factors, physiochemical properties, muscle TBARS assay results, pH changes, or color of pork by dietary treatments. However, saturated fatty acid (SFA) increased (p < 0.01) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) decreased (p < 0.05) when ME was decreased by 0.42 MJ/kg in growing-finishing pig diets. In addition, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) tended to increase when CP level was decreased in growing-finishing pig diets (p = 0.06). A growing-finishing diet of 13.82 MJ/kg diet of ME with the high CP level can improve growth performance and show better fatty acids composition of pork.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2022

Triclosan (TCS) is an antimicrobial agent used in various human personal care products against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of TCS-resistant bacteria in sewage water in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, for the first time. TCS-supplemented Luria Bertani (LB) agar was used to isolate TCS-tolerant bacteria. A total of 17 TCS-resistant isolates were randomly selected from a large pool of bacteria that showed growth on TCS-supplemented LB agar. Based on gram staining and physiochemical characteristics, the isolated strains were identified as Salmonella typhi (n = 6), Escherichia coli (n = 4), Citrobacter freundii (n = 4), Proteus mirabilis (n = 1), Enterobacter cloacae (n = 1), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 1). The Triclosan mean minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the isolates of Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter cloacae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 23.66 ㎍ ml^-1, 18.75 ㎍ ml^-1, 42 ㎍ ml^-1, 32 ㎍ ml^-1, 64 ㎍ ml^-1, and 128 ㎍ ml^-1, respectively. The antibiogram revealed that all isolates were resistant to penicillin G (100%) and linezolid (100%), followed by ampicillin (94%), tetracycline (76%), tazobactam (76%), sulbactam/cefoperazone (64%), polymyxin PB (58%), amikacin (29.41%), aztreonam (29.41%), imipenem (5%), and gentamicin (5%). This is the first known study regarding the isolation of TCS-tolerant bacteria from sewage water in Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan. It was concluded that all the TCS-resistant isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR) gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria, mostly belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.20-31
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• 2024

This study was conducted to investigate the changes in the structure of benthic communities resulting from aquaculture activities and to assess the benthic health status of surface sediment in Gangjin Bay, a region known for concentrated shellfish aquaculture on the southern coast of Korea. Survey stations were divided into longline culture, bottom culture, and non-cultivation areas. The spatiotemporal distribution of physiochemical factors such as the grain size, water temperature, salinity, and total organic carbon in Gangjin Bay showed no significant differences between sampling stations. However, the species number, density, and diversity were relatively lower at the sampling stations in the bottom culture areas than at the other stations throughout the entire survey period. Cluster analysis and principal coordinates analysis also clearly distinguished the benthic communities in the bottom culture areas from those in the other sampling areas. At the sampling stations in the longline culture and non-cultivation areas, Scolectoma longifolia and Sigambra tentaculata, which are indicator species of organically enriched areas, appeared as dominant species. However, excluding some stations influenced by physical factors such as the water depth and current speed, the occupancy rate was not high. The health assessment results, conducted using the fisheries environment assessment method, revealed good conditions with Grades 1 and 2 across the entire area. However, an examination of the spatiotemporal changes in benthic communities and the benthic health index indicated that the benthic environment in the bottom culture areas was affected by physical disturbances.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.854-862
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• 2013

We examined the quality characteristics and functionalities of Korean and Japanese spring Baechu cabbages and the kimchi prepared with them. To study the physiochemical properties of the cabbages and the kimchis, we measured their water content, pH, acidity, microbial counts, and springiness. On the third week of the kimchi fermentation at $5^{\circ}C$, their sensory properties and in vitro DPPH radical scavenging and anticancer activities using AGS human gastric cancer cells were determined. The Japanese Baechu contained 97.1% water, and the Korean Baechu, 92.4%. The comparison of the textures of the raw Baechu and the brined Baechu showed that the Korean Baechu had higher springiness scores than the Japanese Baechu. After four-week fermentation, the springiness score of the kimchi with Korean Baechu was 53.5%, significantly higher than the 41.4% of the kimchi with Japanese Baechu. The kimchi prepared with Korean Baechu had a low total bacterial count but higher Lactobacillus sp. and Leuconostoc sp. counts than the kimchi with Japanese Baechu. The kimchi prepared with Korean Baechu had the highest overall acceptability score in the sensory evaluation test. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the kimchi with Korean Baechu was 83.2%, and that of the kimchi with Japanese Baechu, 46.1%. When the AGS human gastric cancer cells were treated with the kimchis, the kimchi prepared with Korean Baechu showed a 45% cancer cell growth inhibition rate, and the kimchi with Japanese Baechu, 26%, at 1 mg/mL of methanol extracts. At the 2 mg/mL concentration, the kimchis with Korean Baechu and Japanese Baechu showed 97% and 74% inhibition, respectively. The Korean Baechu showed better quality than the Japanese Baechu, and the kimchi prepared with the Korean Baechu showed better kimchi quality and functionality than the Japanese Baechu.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.335-342
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• 2015

We conducted a study on mukeun (long-term fermented) kimchi ripened over one year in an attempt to develop an alternative salt and improve the quality of low-salt kimchi. However, few studies have focused on mukeun kimchi that has been fermented for a short time in different salinity conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the physicochemical characteristics that occur during the fermentation of mukeun kimchi samples produced with different conditions of salinity and fermentation temperature. Kimchi samples were produced at 3 different salinity levels: 1.6%, 2.4%, and 3.2%. Previous studies revealed that the optimum fermentation time at pH 4.1 was 128 hours at $18^{\circ}C$ and 417 hours at $12^{\circ}C$; furthermore, the samples were stored for 12 weeks under the condition of $-1^{\circ}C$ after fermentation. Total cell increased on week 0 of storage and decreased according to the storage period. Total cell was the highest at 3.2% salinity and had a high value at $18^{\circ}C$ temperature during the storage period. Based on the physiochemical results, mukeun kimchi at a salinity of 3.2% can be fermented for a short time, and low-salt kimchi at a salinity of 1.6% and fermented at $18^{\circ}C$, is similar to mukeun kimchi at 2.4% salinity.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.885-891
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• 2014

This study investigated the physiochemical properties of Kanjang (soy sauce) contaning Astragalus memyranaceus to improve the acceptability and functionalities of Kanjang during its six-month ripening period. Kanjang was fermented in the traditional manner, and then 5 and 10% Astragalus memyranaceus (AM) were added to two samples of it, respectively. The pH, salinity, sugar content, crude protein, amino nitrogen, optical density, total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, and sensory test results of Kanjang contaning Astragalus memyranaceus (AK) were then investigated. The pH remained the same in the two samples. The salinity was slowly increased, and the sugar content ($^{\circ}Brix$) was highest after 3 months. The crude protein and amino nitrogen contents increased with time. The optical density showed significant differences according to the rate of addition of AM. The total polyphenol contents were highest in the AK 5% sample aged for six months (up to 25.01 mg/mL). The flavonoid contents of the AK 5% sample was higher at five months (up to 200.15 mg/mL). Finally, the sensory test results of the AK 5% sample was higher than that of the other sample. These results suggest that Kanjang containing 5% Astragalus memyranaceus can be used as a functional Kanjang.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.34-63
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• 2003

Occupational and environmental exposure to manganese continue to represent a realistic public health problem in both developed and developing countries. Increased utility of MMT as a replacement for lead in gasoline creates a new source of environmental exposure to manganese. It is, therefore, imperative that further attention be directed at molecular neurotoxicology of manganese. A Need for a more complete understanding of manganese functions both in health and disease, and for a better defined role of manganese in iron metabolism is well substantiated. The in-depth studies in this area should provide novel information on the potential public health risk associated with manganese exposure. It will also explore novel mechanism(s) of manganese-induced neurotoxicity from the angle of Mn-Fe interaction at both systemic and cellular levels. More importantly, the result of these studies will offer clues to the etiology of IPD and its associated abnormal iron and energy metabolism. To achieve these goals, however, a number of outstanding questions remain to be resolved. First, one must understand what species of manganese in the biological matrices plays critical role in the induction of neurotoxicity, Mn(II) or Mn(III)? In our own studies with aconitase, Cpx-I, and Cpx-II, manganese was added to the buffers as the divalent salt, i.e., $MnCl_2$. While it is quite reasonable to suggest that the effect on aconitase and/or Cpx-I activites was associated with the divalent species of manganese, the experimental design does not preclude the possibility that a manganese species of higher oxidation state, such as Mn(III), is required for the induction of these effects. The ionic radius of Mn(III) is 65 ppm, which is similar to the ionic size to Fe(III) (65 ppm at the high spin state) in aconitase (Nieboer and Fletcher, 1996; Sneed et al., 1953). Thus it is plausible that the higher oxidation state of manganese optimally fits into the geometric space of aconitase, serving as the active species in this enzymatic reaction. In the current literature, most of the studies on manganese toxicity have used Mn(II) as $MnCl_2$ rather than Mn(III). The obvious advantage of Mn(II) is its good water solubility, which allows effortless preparation in either in vivo or in vitro investigation, whereas almost all of the Mn(III) salt products on the comparison between two valent manganese species nearly infeasible. Thus a more intimate collaboration with physiochemists to develop a better way to study Mn(III) species in biological matrices is pressingly needed. Second, In spite of the special affinity of manganese for mitochondria and its similar chemical properties to iron, there is a sound reason to postulate that manganese may act as an iron surrogate in certain iron-requiring enzymes. It is, therefore, imperative to design the physiochemical studies to determine whether manganese can indeed exchange with iron in proteins, and to understand how manganese interacts with tertiary structure of proteins. The studies on binding properties (such as affinity constant, dissociation parameter, etc.) of manganese and iron to key enzymes associated with iron and energy regulation would add additional information to our knowledge of Mn-Fe neurotoxicity. Third, manganese exposure, either in vivo or in vitro, promotes cellular overload of iron. It is still unclear, however, how exactly manganese interacts with cellular iron regulatory processes and what is the mechanism underlying this cellular iron overload. As discussed above, the binding of IRP-I to TfR mRNA leads to the expression of TfR, thereby increasing cellular iron uptake. The sequence encoding TfR mRNA, in particular IRE fragments, has been well-documented in literature. It is therefore possible to use molecular technique to elaborate whether manganese cytotoxicity influences the mRNA expression of iron regulatory proteins and how manganese exposure alters the binding activity of IPRs to TfR mRNA. Finally, the current manganese investigation has largely focused on the issues ranging from disposition/toxicity study to the characterization of clinical symptoms. Much less has been done regarding the risk assessment of environmenta/occupational exposure. One of the unsolved, pressing puzzles is the lack of reliable biomarker(s) for manganese-induced neurologic lesions in long-term, low-level exposure situation. Lack of such a diagnostic means renders it impossible to assess the human health risk and long-term social impact associated with potentially elevated manganese in environment. The biochemical interaction between manganese and iron, particularly the ensuing subtle changes of certain relevant proteins, provides the opportunity to identify and develop such a specific biomarker for manganese-induced neuronal damage. By learning the molecular mechanism of cytotoxicity, one will be able to find a better way for prediction and treatment of manganese-initiated neurodegenerative diseases.