• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of Chungkookjang depending on different soybeans and fermentation temperatures using Bacillus amyloliquefaciens C2 isolated from homemade Chungkookjang. The highest protease activity was 854 U/g in yellow soybean Chungkookjang and 847 U/g in black soybean Chungkookjang at $35^{\circ}C$. The highest amylase activity was 3.87 U/g at $40^{\circ}C$ in yellow soybean Chungkookjang and 4.96 U/g at $45^{\circ}C$ in black soybean Chungkookjang. The highest reducing sugar content was 16.11 mg/g at $40^{\circ}C$ in yellow soybean Chungkookjang and 19.08 mg/g at $45^{\circ}C$ in black soybean Chungkookjang. The highest amino type nitrogen content was 420 mg%/g in yellow soybean Chungkookjang and 194 mg%/g in black soybean Chungkookjang at $40^{\circ}C$. The highest pH was 7.92 at $40^{\circ}C$ in yellow soybean Chungkookjang and 7.59 at $45^{\circ}C$ in black soybean Chungkookjang. The highest number of viable cell was 9.3 log CFU/g at $40^{\circ}C$ in yellow soybean Chungkookjang and at $35^{\circ}C$ in black soybean Chungkookjang. On the other hand, the lowest ammonia type nitrogen content was 225 mg%/g at $45^{\circ}C$ in yellow soybean Chungkookjang and 80 mg%/g at $40^{\circ}C$ in black soybean Chungkookjang. Yellow soybean Chungkookjang showed high protease activity, pH and amino type nitrogen, whereas black soybean Chungkookjang showed high amylase activity and reducing sugar.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1227-1234
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• 2019

Prunus mume, also known as maesil, is a popular fruit consumed in East Asia (Korea, Japan, and China). It contains high amounts of organic acids, minerals, and polyphenols and has been used as a medication for fever, vomiting, and detoxification. In this study, the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of solvent fractions from maesil were evaluated using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assays, morphological evaluations, Hoechst 33258 staining, and western blotting. Addition of the maesil methanol fraction (MMF) and the maesil butanol fraction (MBF) significantly and dose-dependently decreased the cell viability of HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Colony-forming assays confirmed that the MMF and MBF treatments decreased colony numbers when compared with untreated control cells. Treatment of HT-29 cells with MMF and MBF caused a distortion of the cell morphology to a shrunken cell mass. Treatment with MMF and MBF also dose-dependently increased nuclear condensation and the formation of apoptotic bodies in HT-29 cells. Treatment with MMF and MBF significantly and dosedependently increased the expression of Bax (a pro-apoptotic protein), caspase-3, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptotic protein). MMF significantly and dose-dependently inhibited cell proliferation induced by bisphenol A, an environmental hormone. Therefore, MMF may have potential use as a functional food and as a possible therapeutic agent for the prevention of colon cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.808-819
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• 2023

This study was conducted to develop a selection marker for the identification of the Bacillus licheniformis K12 strain in microbial communities. The strain not only demonstrates good growth at moderate temperatures but also contains enzymes that catalyze the decomposition of various polymer materials, such as proteases, amylases, cellulases, lipases, and xylanases. To identify molecular markers appropriate for use in a microbial community, a search was conducted to identify variable gene regions that show considerable genetic mutations, such as recombinase, integration, and transposase sites, as well as phase-related genes. As a result, five areas were identified that have potential as selection markers. The candidate markers were two recombinase sites (BLK1 and BLK2), two integration sites (BLK3 and BLK4), and one phase-related site (BLK5). A PCR analysis performed with different Bacillus species (e.g., B. licheniformis, Bacillus velezensis, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus cereus) confirmed that PCR products appeared at specific locations in B. licheniformis: BLK1 in recombinase, BLK2 in recombinase family protein, and BLK3 and BLK4 as site-specific integrations. In addition, BLK1 and BLK3 were identified as good candidate markers via a PCR analysis performed on subspecies of standard B. licheniformis strains. Therefore, the findings suggest that BLK1 can be used as a selection marker for B. licheniformis species and subspecies in the microbiome.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.78-88
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate health risk awareness pertaining to fine dust exposure and the use of face masks in farmers, as well as their attitude toward education regarding fine dust-related respiratory disease prevention. Methods: In total, 295 farmers were interviewed in a survey using a structured questionnaire to obtain data on general characteristics, farming-related characteristics, health risk awareness pertaining to fine dust exposure, attitude toward education on fine dust-related respiratory disease prevention and the use of face masks. This study was analyzed the correlation between the perceived susceptibility to fine dust exposure and willingness to participate in education on fine dust-related respiratory disease prevention. Results: The mean score for perceived susceptibility to fine dust exposure was 3.8 (out of 5), and the participants were highly willing to receive education on fine dust-related respiratory disease prevention. In Multiple response analysis of reactions to exposure to fine dust generated during work, 221 participants responded that they practiced at least one preventive action; participants gave a positive response to "wearing masks" (56.1%), "personal hygiene, such as hand washing." (52.9%). In terms of education methods, 94 (33.6%) participants preferred to learn online or via text messages. Conclusions: The significant correlation between the perceived susceptibility to fine dust exposure and willingness to participate in education on fine dust-related respiratory disease prevention shows the importance of promoting education on prevention. The results of this study can help understand as reference for education on fine dust-related respiratory disease prevention.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.335-342
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of mugwort powder on the quality characteristics and antioxidant activity of Maejakgwa. Maejakgwa were prepared with mugwort powder at levels 0%, 1%, 3% and 5% ($60{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, 14 days). The lightness, redness, and yellowness values of Maejakgwa significantly reduced depending on mugwort powder. The hardness of Maejakgwa was decreased with the increase of storage period and increased with the increase of mugwort powder. In the sensory evaluations, the Maejakgwa prepared with 3% added mugwort powder received higher acceptance scores for the properties of color, taste, hardness, crispiness, adhesiveness and overall acceptability. As the mugwort powder content increased, acid value and peroxide value were decreased. With the increase of storage period, acid value and peroxide value of all sample increased but growth rate of these values decreased with the addition of the mugwort powder. DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity was improved significantly via the addition of mugwort powder and decreased as storage period increased. During storage period, Maejakgwa with mugwort powder showed a stronger antimicrobial effect in yeasts and molds than in total aerobic bacteria. Coliform bacteria were not detected in all samples. Also the antimicrobial activity was increased with the addition of the mugwort powder and decreased as storage period increased. The results show that addition of the mugwort powder to foods with fat such as Maejakgwa would be a useful way to enhance the antioxidant quality, sensory characteristics and shelf life.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2005

Agricultural sciences field in South Korea has many strong points such as numerous researchers, establishment of research infra-structure, excellence in research competitiveness and high technological level. However, there are also many weaknesses including insufficient leadership at related societies and institutes, deficiency of the next generation research group, and insufficiency in research productivity. There are many opportunities including increasing the importance of the biotechnological industry, activating international cooperation researches, and exploring the multitude of possible research areas to be studied. However, some threats still exist, such as pressure from the government of developed countries to open the agricultural market, the decrease of specialized farms, and intensification for researches to gratify economic and social demands. To encourage research activities in the agricultural sciences field in Korea, the following actions and systems are required: 1) formulation of a mid- and a long-term research master plan, 2) development of a database on the man power in related fields, 3) activation of top-down research topics, and associated increase of individual research grants, 4) development of special national programs for basic researches in agricultural sciences, 5) organization of a committee for policy and planning within the related societies, and 6) system development for the fair evaluation of the research results.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.188-198
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• 2017

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) spears were treated with white (color temperature 4,500 k), blue (peak 450 nm), and red (peak 660 nm) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of $200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ for 12 h, and UV-B (280 nm) at 0.5 kJ or 1.0 kJ to determine the effect on agronomic characteristics, antioxidant phytochemicals, and antioxidant activity. The fresh weight, length, and width of spears were not affected by light quality treatments. The free sugars and chlorophyll contents were increased by 9 and 41%, respectively in the UV-0.5 kJ treatments. Among the antioxidant phytochemicals (vitamin C, total phenol, rutin, and total flavonoid), vitamin C was most greatly affected by the light treatments. Vitamin C content was significantly increased in asparagus spears subjected to the white (114%), red (137%), and UV-0.5 kJ(127%) treatments compared to the control. By contrast, rutin, total phenol, and total flavonoid content were increased only in samples subjected to the red and UV-0.5 kJ treatment. Furthermore, antioxidant activity, as measured by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, increased in white, red, and UV-0.5 kJ treatments by about 43, 41, and 43%, respectively, compared to the control. These results suggest that postharvest treatment of asparagus spears with red light at $200{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ for 12 h or with UV-B (280 nm) at 0.5 kJ could enhance the functional quality of the asparagus spears by increasing the content of phytochemicals like vitamin C, rutin, total phenolics, and total flavonoids.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.31-39
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• 2017

From July to August 2013, liquid fertilizers produced at 180 liquid manure public resource centers and liquid fertilizer distribution centers were collected. The maturity of liquid fertilizers was measured using the mechanical maturity measurement device. The nutrient contents (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), physicochemical properties, and heavy metal content of 46 liquid fertilizers were investigated in this study. We used a matured liquid fertilizer with a total number of 46, with number of 7 for Gyeonggi-do, 3 for Chungcheongbuk-do, 2 for Chungcheongnam-do, 13 for Jeollabuk-do, 5 for Jeollanam-do, 3 for Gyeongsangbuk-do, 11 for Gyeongsangnam-do, 1 for Daejeon, and 1 for Jeju-do. The physicochemical properties were as follows: pH 8.0, EC 11.6 mS/cm, SS 5,188 mg/L, TKN 847mg/L, ${{NH_4}^+}-N$ 317 mg/L, ${{NO_3}^-}-N$ 170 mg/L, Org-N 360 mg/L, TP 193 mg/L, and TK 2,557 mg/L. The total amount of NPK was 3,596 mg/L. The total amount of N-P-K was as follows: a number of 2 at 1,000-2,000 mg/L (4%), a number of 17 at 2,000-3,000mg/L (37%), a number of 11 at 3,000-4,000mg/L (24%), and a number of 16 at 4,000mg/L or more (35%). Thus, 41% of the mature liquid fertilizers were below the official standard of commercial fertilizer (livestock manure liquid fertilizer) (0.3% of the total amount of N-P-K). Most of the N-P-K total amount showed non-uniform characteristics of low nitrogen and low phosphoric acid due to the potassium concentration. The average heavy metal content in the matured liquid fertilizer was as follows: As, not detected; Cd, 0.01 mg/kg; Hg, not detected; Pb, 0.02 mg/kg; Cr, 0.14 mg/kg; Cu, 6.89 mg/kg; Ni, 0.44 mg/kg; and Zn, 20.70 mg/kg. Thus, the official standard of commercial fertilizer was satisfied in all categories, indicating a safe level.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2011

The solvent extracts of Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus Hara, which were extracted by using several solvents with different polarities, were performed to investigate the antioxidant activities, whitening effect and antimicrobial activity. The content of total polyphenol of fractions from Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus Hara extract showed the highest value ($335.88{\pm}2.26$ mg/g GAE) on ethyl acetate fraction. The ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions were 0.06 mg/mL and 0.25 mg/mL as $IC_{50}$ values on DPPH radical scavenging, and $99.16{\pm}0.09%$ and $89.29{\pm}0.64%$ on ABTS radical scavenging activity, respectively. Also, reducing power and FRAP value were significantly higher on ethyl acetate fraction. The SOD like activity showed $80.76{\pm}0.61%$ on ethyl acetate and $72.34{\pm}0.79%$ on n-butanol. Tyrosinase inhibition activities (at 5 mg/mL) were $59.08{\pm}0.98%$ on ethyl acetate fraction. The chloroform fraction showed the strongest antimicrobial activities against B. cereus (14 mm), B. subtilis (12.5 mm), S. aureus (10.8 mm), E. coli (20.7 mm) at 0.1 mg/disc and the inhibition zone diameter of ethyl acetate fraction was 17.2 mm against E. coli at 0.5 mg/disc. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of chloroform fraction against B. cereus and E. coli were 50 and $25{\mu}g$/mL, respectively. From these results, it is suggested that ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus Hara could be used as functional material for food additive ingredient and chloroform fraction could be suitable for the development of a food preservative.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.195-203
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• 2021

Aureobasidium pullulans, a black yeast, produces pullulan, a linear α-glucan composed of maltotriose repeating units linked by α(1→6)-glycosidic linkages. Pullulan can be widely used in food, cosmetic, and biotechnology industries. In this study, we isolated eight strains of A. pullulans from Forsythia koreana, Magnolia kobus DC., Spiraea prunifolia var. simpliciflora, Cornus officinalis, Cerasus, and Hippophae rhamnoides. Among them, A. pullulans MR was selected as the best pullulan producer. The effects of a carbon source, a nitrogen source, and pH on pullulan production were examined. The optimal cultivation conditions for pullulan production by A. pullulans MR were determined by response surface methodology as 15% sucrose, 0.4% soy peptone, and an initial pH of 7 at 26℃. Under these conditions, the predicted pullulan production was 47.6 g/L, which was very close to the experimental data (48.9 g/L).