• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.72-81
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• 2024

Korea is surrounded by the sea on three sides, salt marshes and coastal sand dunes adjacent to them are developed. This study attempted to reveal the characteristics of the coastal ecosystem by investigating and analyzing the characteristics of plant communities and flora of 571stands of 48 sites in the salt marshes and coastal sand dunes on the western and southern coasts of Korea. As a result, in the salt marshes, 39 vegetation units appeared, with Phragmites australis community having the widest area and Chenopodium virgatum community having the narrowest area. Suaeda glauca community was distributed closest to the coastline, while Suaeda maritima community extended the farthest seaward. In the coastal sand dunes, 29 vegetation units were distributed with Elymus mollis community having the widest area and Salsola komarovii community having the narrowest area. Calystegia soldanella community was showed closest to the coastline, while Rosa rugosa community extended the farthest landward. The flora of the salt marshes consisted of 6 families, 14 genera, 17 species, 1 variant, and 18 taxa (floristic regional indicator score; 16) and the coastal sand dunes consisted of 11 families, 18 genera, 20 species, 1 variant, and 21 taxa (floristic regional indicator score; 34) appeared slightly higher than that of salt marshes. This result is interpreted that halophyte that are sensitive to salinity can grow on the coast of the west-south coast of Korea because coastal sand dunes are more indirectly affected by sea than salt marshes.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2024

Background: As pollutants caused by non-point sources flow into rivers, river water quality monitoring for fecal pollution is becoming increasingly important. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the distribution of microbial communities in the Yeongsangang River water system and sewage treatment plants in Gwangju and to evaluate their antibiotic resistance. Methods: In the experiment, samples were distributed to five selective media at each point and then cultured for 18 to 24 hours. When bacteria were observed, they were sub-cultured by size and shape and identified using MALDI-TOF MS equipment. When identification was completed, 17 types of antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using VITEK II equipment, focusing on gram-negative dominant species among the identified strains. Results: During the study period, a total of 266 strains were isolated from 39 samples. Gram-positive bacteria were 37 strains in four genera, or 13.9% of the total, and Gram-negative bacteria were 229 strains in 23 genera, or 86.1% of the total. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of 23 strains, the major dominant species, showed that one strain (4.3%) was resistant to only one antibiotic, and two strains (8.7%) were 100% susceptible to the 17 antibiotics tested. The other 20 strains (87.0%) were multidrug resistant bacteria resistant to two or more antibiotics. There were various types of multidrug resistance. Among them, penicillin and cephalosporin series showed the highest resistance. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, it was found that the bacterial community structure changed according to regional and environmental factors, and it was judged that continuous research such as genetic analysis of antibiotic-resistant bacteria present in natural rivers is necessary.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.282-288
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• 2023

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the immuneenhancing health functional food market that protects our bodies from pathogens such as viruses continues to grow. In this study, we aimed to prove the Cheonggukjang, a high-nutrient food with high protein, fat, and dietary fiber content, as an immuneenhancing nutraceutical. Cheonggukjang water extract (CWE) increased the production of nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, and cytokines such interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α without affecting viability in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, CWE significantly upregulated the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in RAW 264.7 cells. CWE enhanced the phosphorylation of I kappa B kinase α/β and I kappa B (IκB)α, as well as the degradation of IκBα. CWE also induced increased phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B p65 and facilitated the redistribution of p65 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus in RAW 264.7 cells. These findings suggest that CWE has potential as a health functional food material that can enhance the innate immune response.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.241-263
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• 2016

This study was carried out to survey the vascular plants on Mt. Seokbyeongsan (1,055 m) and provide a basis for the conservation and management of plant resources. The vascular plants were surveyed from March to October 2015. The flora on Mt. Seokbyeongsan was classified as follows: 102 families, 295 genera, 454 species, 4 subspecies, 51 varieties, 7 forms, and a total of 516 taxa. Endemic plants included 17 families, 24 genera, 25 species, 1 variety, and a total of 26 taxa. The Korea Forest Service assignment of rare plants, including 21 families, 33 genera, 33 species, 3 varieties, and a total of 36 taxa, was investigated. Moreover, the Ministry of Environment assignment of rare plants, including 13 families, 17 genera, 17 species, 1 variety, and a total of 18 taxa, was investigated. Floristic special plants in the surveyed area were divided into five classes (Classes I-V): 42 taxa of Class I, 26 taxa of Class II, 35 taxa of Class III, 20 taxa of Class IV, and 9 taxa of Class V for a total of 132 taxa. Naturalized plants were 18 taxa, and plants threatened by climate change were 48 taxa.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.203-211
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• 2015

Forest vegetation of Hwangjangsan (1,077.3 m) in Woraksan National Park is classified into mountain forest vegetation. Mountain forest vegetation is subdivided into deciduous broad-leaved forest, mountain valley forest, coniferous forest, riparian forest, afforestation and other vegetation. Including 55 communities of mountain forest vegetation and 4 communities of other vegetation, the total of 59 communities were researched; mountain forest vegetation classified by physiognomy classification are 28 communities deciduous broad-leaved forest, 12 communities of mountain valley forest, 3 communities of coniferous forests, 2 communities of riparian forest, 10 afforestation and 4 other vegetation. As for the distribution rate for surveyed main communities, Quercus mongolica and Quercus variabilis communities account for 65.928 percent of deciduous broad leaved forest, Fraxinus rhynchophylla - Quercus mongolica community takes up 41.459 percent of mountain valley forest, Pinus densiflora community holds 86.100 percent of mountain coniferous forest holds. In conclusion, minority species consisting of Quercus mongolica, Pinus densiflora, Quercus variabilis, Fraxinus rhynchophylla, and Quercus serrata are distributed as dominant species of the uppermost part in a forest vegetation region in Woraksan National Park. In addition, because of vegetation succession and climate factors, numerous colonies formed by the two species are expected to be replaced by Quercus mongolica, Quercus variabilis, and Fraxinus rhynchophylla which are climax species in the area.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2003

Nutritional compositions of three Tochukaso species (Paecilomyces tenuipes hosted by Larva and pupa, Cordyceps militaris, C. sinensis) were compared. Fruiting body and host fractions were separately analyzed. Fruiting body fraction of P. tenuipes (36.6%) hosted by larva was higher than that hosted by pupa (10.2%), an indication that the quality of the former is superior to the latter. Carbohydrate content of C. sinensis (39.6%) was $2.5{\sim}7$ times higher than those of others, probably due to the presence of polysaccharides. Protein and crude lipid contents of C. sinensis and C. militaris were 25.8 and 10.3%, and 75.1 and 3.9%, respectively. C. sinensis showed the lowest Ca content and $30{\sim}75$ times higher Fe content among the samples tested. Vitamin A content of C. militaris was 308.9 IU/100g, two fold higher than those of the other species. Saturated fatty acid content was the highest in P. tenuipes (pupa, 27.7%), whereas unsaturated fatty acid was the highest in P. tenuipes (larva, 83.3%). Aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and glycine were abundant in all species. Cordycepin content of C. militaris was $20{\sim}50$ times higher than those of the other species.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.129-138
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• 2015

Forest vegetation of Geumsusan (1,016.0 m) and Doraksan (964.4 m) in Woraksan National Park is classified into mountain forest vegetation. Mountain forest vegetation is subdivided into deciduous broad-leaved forest, mountain valley forest, coniferous forest, riparian forest, afforestation and other vegetation. Including 77 communities of mountain forest vegetation and 5 communities of other vegetation, the total of 82 communities were researched; mountain forest vegetation classified by physiognomy classification are 37 communities deciduous broad-leaved forest, 16 communities of mountain valley forest, 8 communities of coniferous forests, 1 community of riparian forest, 15 afforestation and 5 other vegetation. As for the distribution rate for surveyed main communities, Quercus variabilis and Quercus mongolica communities account for 33.031 percent of deciduous broadleaved forest, Cornus controversa community takes up 29.142 percent of mountain valley forest, Pinus densiflora community holds 64.477 percent of mountain coniferous forest holds. In conclusion, minority species consisting of Quercus variabilis, Quercus mongolica, Pinus densiflora, Quercus serrata and Cornus controversa are distributed as dominant species of the uppermost part in a forest vegetation region in Woraksan National Park. In addition, because of vegetation succession and climate factors, numerous colonies formed by the two species are expected to be replaced by Quercus variabilis, Quercus mongolica, Cornus controversa and Fraxinus mandshurica which are climax species in the area.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.416-424
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• 2008

In an effort to elucidate the differential actions of blueberry(BB) in both normal and cancer cells, we utilized human breast cell lines to assess the accumulation of radical oxygen species(ROS) and ROS-associated apoptosis in both human normal breast epithelial(MCF10A) and breast cancer(MCF7) cells. BB extract was added to the cultures at a final concentration of $20{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ for 0(control), 6, 12, and 24 hr intervals. The MCF10A cells evidenced no marked ROS accumulation in the presence of BB, whereas the MCF7 cells evidenced clear ROS accumulation upon BB treatment from 12 hours forward. The number of dying or dead cells did not increase in the BB-treated MCF10A cell groups, whereas that number increased profoundly from 12 hr forward. Furthermore, the expression levels of certain stress-related, and pro- and antiapoptotic gene products evidenced differential responses to BB treatment between the MCF10A and MCF7 cell groups. These results indicate that the components of BB extract differentiate cancer cells by not preventing ROS accumulation within cells and by inducing ROS-associated cell death in cancer cells. However, no marked ROS accumulation or induction of cell death was noted in the normal breast epithelial cells. The fact that BB extract exerted a differential effect on cancer cells opens further directions of research regarding the specific components that exert the differential BB-mediated effects in the selective prevention of normal cells and therapy for cancer tissues in the physiological body.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.200-205
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• 2004

The partial nucleotide sequences of the genomic dsRNA mycovirus infecting Pleurotus ostreatus isolates ASI2223 and Suhan were determined and compared with those of mycoviruses belonging to partitiviruses and totiviruses. Partial nucleotide sequences of the purified dsRNA from ASI2223 and Suhan showed RNA-dependent RNA polymerase sequences that are closely related to those of partitiviruses, including Fusarium poae virus 1, Fusarium solani virus, Rhizoctoniasolani virus, Discula destructiva virus 2, and Oyster mushroom isometric virus 2. Specific primers were designed for RT-PCR detection of dsRNA viruses from the P. ostreatus isolate ASI2223 and Suhan. Two virus specific primer sets were found to specifically detect each virus among six sets of designed oligonucleotide primers. Collectively, these results suggest that dsRNA mycoviruses from P. ostreatus isolates ASI2223 and Suhan belong to the family Partitiviridae, although, they are not the same virus species. Our results also suggest that these virus-specific primer sets can be employed for the specific detection of each viral sequence in infected tissues.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.123-133
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• 2007

The presence of antibiotics in the wastewater from livestock farm due to its over-application should be concerned because they could change microbial ecology, increase the proliferation of antibiotic resistant pathogens, provoke toxic effect on aquatic species. In addition, these antibiotics can cause negative effect on the performance of biological wastewater treatment due to its antibacterial properties. In this study, our aim is to evaluate the effect of some common used antibiotic in Korea piggery farm such as oxytetracycline (OTC) to nitrification efficiency as well as organic compounds removal rate in biological system for treating piggery wastwater. The experiment was conducted in aeration batch reactor and lab-scale $A_2/O$(Anoxic-Anoxic-Oxic) system. From this study, it would be suggested that the piggery wastewater characterization should be examined in order to assess the fraction of common used antibiotics. The alternative treatment processes for piggery wastewater having high-strength antibiotics might be suggested in the future work.