• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.871-876
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• 2010

Seven native and four introduced herbs namely $Thymus$ $quinquecostatus$, $Chrysanthemum$ $zawadskii$ var. $latilobum$, $Rosmarinus$ $officinalis$, etc. were selected for analysis of the DPPH radical scavenging and anti-microbial activity of their extracts. These perennial herbs are classified as $Labiatae$ and $Compositae$ except for $Saururus$ $chinensis$ and can be propagated through seedling and cuttage. These edible herbs are used as medicinal as well as ornamental plants. Their extract has electron donating ability which ranges from 69.7 to 78.7% for native herbs and 67.4 to 75.4% for introduced herbs. Native herbs have higher (3.54%) average DPPH radical scavenging than introduced herbs. In native herbs, maximum DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed in $Agastache$ $rugosa$ (78.7%) followed by $Saururus$ $chinensis$ while $Chamaemelum$ $nobile$ showed highest activity among the introduced herbs. Many herbs viz. $Saururus$ $chinensis$, $Chrysanthemum$ $zawadskii$ var. $latilobum$ and $Solidago$ $virga-aurea$ var. $gigantean$ showed excellent anti-microbial activity against gram positive $Enterococcus$ $faecalis$, maximum (80.0%) by $Saururus$ $chinensis$. Other herbs viz. $Solidago$ $virga-aurea$ var. $gigantea$, $Chrysanthemum$ $zawadskii$ var. $latilobum$, $Salvia$Salvia $plebeia$, $Chrysanthemum$ $indicum$, $Rosmarinus$ $officinalis$, $Chamaemelum$ $nobile$ and $Lavandula$ $stoechas$ showed anti-microbial activity against gram negative $Citrobacter$ $freundii$. Especially, the inhibition of colony growth of $Citrobacter$ $freundii$ was highest in the extract of $Chrysanthemum$ $zawadskii$ var. $latilobum$, and $Chamaemelum$ $nobile$.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.628-635
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• 2014

The large amount of $CO_2$ emitted from mushrooms during incubation and developmental stages can be utilized in plant production systems as a $CO_2$ source. The objectives of this study were to measure the $CO_2$ emission and absorption rates of mushroom and lettuce, respectively, and to analyze the $CO_2$ concentrations at various ratios of mushroom and lettuce in a closed production system. The $CO_2$ emission rate of king oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus eryngii ( DC.) Qu$\acute{e}$l) and $CO_2$ absorption rate of lettuces (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Asia Heuk Romaine) were measured by using two closed acryl chambers ($1.0m{\times}0.8m{\times}0.5m$) in which indoor temperatures were maintained at $18^{\circ}C$ and $22^{\circ}C$, respectively. The lettuce was grown at a light intensity of PPF $340mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and with nutrient solution at EC $1.2dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. The air was periodically circulated between the two chambers using a diaphragm pump. The $CO_2$ emission rate of the mushroom increased until the $15^{th}$ day after scratching (DAS) and then decreased. The rate also increased with increased indoor temperature. In particular, the $CO_2$ emission rate per fresh weight of fruit body increased by about 3.1 times after thinning compared to before thinning. In terms of $CO_2$ balance, the $CO_2$ emission rates from a bottle (950 mL) of the mushroom at 9, 12, and 14 DAS were equivalent to those of 3, 4.5, and 5.5 lettuce plants at 7, 10, and 12 DAT (days after transplanting), respectively. This work shows that balance in $CO_2$ concentration could be achieved using an appropriate ratio of the two crops in a closed production system.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2015

As information technology fusion is accelerated, the researches to improve the quality and productivity of crops inside a plant factory actively progress. Advanced growth environment management technology that can provide thermal environment and air flow suited to the growth of crops and considering the characteristics inside a facility is necessary to maximize productivity inside a plant factory. Currently running plant factories are designed to rely on experience or personal judgment; hence, design and operation technology specific to plant factories are not established, inherently producing problems such as uneven crop production due to the deviation of temperature and air flow and additional increases in energy consumption after prolonged cultivation. The optimization process has to be set up in advance for the arrangement of air flow devices and operation technology using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) during the design stage of a facility for plant factories to resolve the problems. In this study, the optimum arrangement and air flow of air circulation fans were investigated to save energy while minimizing temperature deviation at each point inside a plant factory using CFD. The condition for simulation was categorized into a total of 12 types according to installation location, quantity, and air flow changes in air circulation fans. Also, the variables of boundary conditions for simulation were set in the same level. The analysis results for each case showed that an average temperature of 296.33K matching with a set temperature and average air flow velocity of 0.51m/s suiting plant growth were well-maintained under Case 4 condition wherein two sets of air circulation fans were installed at the upper part of plant cultivation beds. Further, control of air circulation fan set under Case D yielded the most excellent results from Case D-3 conditions wherein air velocity at the outlet was adjusted to 2.9m/s.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.317-324
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• 2012

In order to determine an authenticity of food ingredient, we used DNA barcode method by universal primers. For identification of animal food ingredients, LCO1490/HCO2198 and VF2/FISH R2 designed for amplifying cytochrome c oxidase subunit1 (CO1) region and L14724/H15915 for cytochrome b (cyt b) region on mitochondrial DNA were used. Livestock (cow, pig, goat, sheep, a horse and deer) was amplified by LCO1490/HCO 2198, VF2/FISH R2 and L14724/H15915 primers. Poultry (chicken, duck, turkey and ostrich) was amplified by LCO1490/HCO 2198 and VF2/FISH R2 primers. But, Fishes (walleye pollack, herring, codfish, blue codfish, trout, tuna and rockfish) were only amplified by VF2/FISH R2 primers. For plant food ingredients, 3 types of primers (trnH/psbA, rpoB 1F/4R and rbcL 1F/724R) have been used an intergenic spacer, a RNA polymerase beta subunit and a ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase region on plastid, respectively. Garlic, onion, radish, green tea and spinach were amplified by trnH/psbA, rpoB 1F/4R and rbcL 1F/724R. The PCR product sizes were same by rpoB 1F/4R and rbcL 1F/724R but, the PCR product size using trnH/psbA primer was different with others for plants each. We established PCR condition and universal primer selection for 17 item's raw materials for foods and determine base sequences aim to PCR products in this study. This study can apply to determine an authenticity of foods through making an comparison between databases and base sequences in gene bank. Therefore, DNA barcode method using universal primers can be a useful for species identification techniques not only raw materials but also processed foods that are difficult to analyze by chemical analysis.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.295-300
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to analyze microbiological hazards for plants, cultivation environments and personal hygiene of perilla leaf farms at the harvesting stage. Samples were collected from three perilla leaf farms(A, B, C) located in Gyeongnam, Korea and tested for sanitary indications, fungi and pathogenic bacteria(Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogens, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus). As a result, total bacteria and coliform in perilla leaf were detected at the levels of 4.4~5.2 and 3.4~4.3 log CFU/g, respectively, but E. coli was not detected in all samples. Among the pathogenic bacteria, B. cereus(perilla leaf: 2.0~2.4 log CFU/g, stem: 1.4~2.1 log CFU/g, water: 0.7 log CFU/ml, soil: 4.2~5.0 log CFU/g, hands: 3.0 log CFU/ hand, gloves: 2.1~2.4 log CFU/100 $cm^2$, glothes: 1.5~2.8 log CFU/100 $cm^2$) and S. aureus(3.4 log CFU/hand) were detected in all samples and worker's hand from farm A, respectively. However, other pathogenic bacteria were not detected. This study demonstrates that perilla leaf at the harvesting stage was significantly contaminated with microbial hazards.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.330-336
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• 2013

Rheum tanguticum has long been used in oriental medicine as antipyretics, analgesics, anti-inflammation, aperient, hypertension medicine and medicine for skin disease. This study has investigated the effectiveness of defense for gastritis making use of Rheum tanguticum and its similar plants, Rumex cripus, Rheum officinale, Rhem palmatum and Rheum undulatum. Chysophanol, chrysophanol-8-O-glc, Desoxyrhaponticin desoxyrhaponti-genin, emodin, isorhaponticin, 2-methoxy-4-hydroxyanthraquinone-5-O-glc, physcion, pirace-tannol-3'-O-glc, resveratrol, rhaponticin and rhapontigenin are used as the components of Rheum tanguticum. In HCl ethanol-induced gastritis in rat, the most effective extract was 70 percent ethanol which is of Rheum tanguticum, showing the inhibition of 91.8 percent to the gastric lesions. 70% ethanol extract of Rhem palmatum and Rumex cripus shown inhibition of 75.6 percent and 73.2 percent, respectively. This effectiveness is considered as acid-neutralizing capacity, anti-H.pylori and anti-oxidant activity. 70% ethanol extract of Rheum tanguticum and its component, piracetannol-3'-O-glc exhibited higher free radical scavenging activity than others. These results suggest that Rheum species extracts and their active components could be utilized for the treatment of gastritis. Furthermore, these results are expected to contribute the standardization with objectivity and reliability for Rheum species, medicinal herbs. In addition, it can contribute to the prevention of indiscriminate distribution of imitation, and the rising rate of dependence on imports of medicinal herbs, and mixing prevention of low-quality goods.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.253-260
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• 2005

Salt accumulation in the plastic film house soils under continuous cultivation condition causes problems such as salt damages to plants, nitrate accumulation in vegetables, groundwater contamination, etc. due to excess application of fertilizers. Objective of this research was to find an optimum adsorbent to reduce salt concentration in the soil solution of plastic film house soils, where crop injuries have been observed due to the salt accumulation. The soils were significantly high in available P $(1,431{\sim}6,516mg\;kg^{-1}),\;NO_3-N\;(117.60{\sim}395.73mg\;kg^{-1})$, exchangeable Ca $(4.06{\sim}11.07\;cmol_c\;kg^{-1})$ and Mg $(2.59{\sim}18.76\;cmol_c\;kg^{-1})$, as compared to those of the average upland soils in Korea. Soils were treated with each of adsorbent such as ion-exchange resin, zeolite, rice bran, etc. at 2% level and prepared into saturated-paste samples. After equilibrium, soil solution was vacuum-extracted from the soil and measured for changes of the pH, EC, and concentrations of $Ca^{2+},\;Mg^{2+},\;K^+,\;Na^+,\;{NH_4}^+,\;{PO_4}^{3-}\;and\;{NO_3}^-$. Rice bran effectively removed ${PO_4}^{3-}\;and\;{NO_3}^-$ in the soil solution up to 100%. Efficiency was decreased in the orders of rice bran > ion-exchange resin > zeolite. Removal efficiencies of zeolite and ion-exchange resin for $Ca^{2+}$ were ranged from 1 to 65% and from 7 to 61%, respectively. Ion-exchange resin was also effective for removing $Mg^{2+},\;K^+,\;Na^+,\;and\;{NH_4}^+$. Overall results demonstrated that rice bran and ion-exchange resin could be applicable for salt accumulated soil to remove the respective anion and cation.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.141-147
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• 2001

To compare to the optical and physical properties of covering materials for plastic greenhouse, EVA(ethylene vinyl acetate, 0.08 mm), polyorefine antifog (0.1 mm), fluoric (0.06 mm), diffused (0.15 mm), polyorefine antidrop (0.15 mm) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate, 0.5 mm) films were used. The small greenhouse (5.4$\times$18.5$\times$2.9 m, W$\times$L$\times$H) investigated during 3 years form 1997 to 1999. After covering materials were used for greenhouse covering during 30 months, UV (300-400 nm) transmittances of diffused film and PET were appeared from 25 to 26%, while those of fluoric film and the other films were 76% and from 63 to 67%. For PAR (photosynthetically active radiation, 400-700 nm), the transmittances of fluoric, antidrop, PET, antifog, EVA, and diffused film were 86.5%, 80.5%, 76.3%, 75.5%, 74.1% and 61.9% respectively. The losses of PAR transmittance of EVA and the antidrop film during period between 7 days and 30 months were higher value 12% and lower value 6% than any other film. Under the canopy of tomato plants, light intensities of the diffused film and the antifog film were 2.5 times and 1.4 times higher than those of PET. Tensile resistances of fluoric film at the break point were the higher than those of antifog film and diffused film. While impact resistance of the antidrop film was the highest value, but the fluoric film was the lowest. Air temperature inside the greenhouse for the day showed to be changed the similar light transmittance of the films. But the increasing order of air temperature for the night was PET, fluoric, antidrop, diffused, antifog and EVA film. Especially, air temperature in the PET was 4$^{\circ}C$ higher than that in the EVA. Solar radiations of the fluoric film, the antidrop film, PET and antifog film in the greenhouse were 32%, 15%, 11% and 4% higher than those of PET. However, those of the diffused film was 7% less than PET.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.263-270
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• 2010

This is a research on development of water purification equipment called artificial floating island (=AFI) for the stagnant water area which can secure exuberant landscape and water-friendility. The equipment devised in this study is designed to make up the weakness of conventional AFIs and improves the removal efficiency of pollutants using the mixture of media and plants. The air compressor positioned at the inlet releases air with inflow continuously, the water pump at the outlet sprays as a form of fountain with causing a disturbance on stable water column, then, both of them contribute improvement of water quality over a large area. We applied Bio-stone as a media in this system and performed an experiment of pre-efficiency test, and we concluded that the higher pollutants concentration of inflow, the higher removal efficiency we obtained. At the result of lab-scale experiment, in the case of high-concentration inflow, in the removal efficiency of SS is 62.2%, BOD is 50.2%, COD is 55.1%, T-N is 31.6%, T-P is 38.4%. In addition, to evaluate the field application, we set up the facilities in Sin-gal lake located in Yongin-Si Gyeonggi-Do, and researched on the removal efficiency of outflow relative to the inflow. As a result, SS is 53.5%, BOD is 32.8%, COD is 36.9%, T-N is 22.6%, T-N is 33.2%.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1256-1261
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• 2017

${\beta}$-glucan is a constituent of the cell wall of fungi, yeast and plants. It plays an important role in the immune system such as activation of immunocyte, release of pro-inflammatory and anti-cancer effect. The immune system maintains a healthy immune homeostasis. However, when pathogenic substances enter the body, immune homeostasis can break down and disease can be triggered. Therefore, we studied a substance that regulates immune homeostasis. The purpose of the study we demonstrated whether the ${\beta}$-glucan can be applied to the immune-modulation effects in human monocytic THP-1 cells. ${\beta}$-glucan was incubated in THP-1 cells at various concentrations. The $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA expression and protein levels were analyzed by ELISA and Real-time PCR. Additionally, the expression of MAPKs (p38 and JNK), $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$ and $NF-{\kappa}B$ p50 were analyzed by western blot. ${\beta}$-glucan enhanced the production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ mRNA expression and protein levels in human monocytic THP-1 cells. In addition, activation of MAPKs (p38 and JNK) and $NF-{\kappa}B$ p50 induced by ${\beta}$-glucan were increased. The study suggests that ${\beta}$-glucan contributes to immune-stimulation effect by production $TNF-{\alpha}$ in human monocytic THP-1 cells, and that MAPKs and $NF-{\kappa}B$ p50 are involved in the process. Synthetically, we have suggested ${\beta}$-glucan may be improved to immune system effect in human monocytic THP-1 cells.