• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.390-397
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• 2023

Introduction: Biological risks are a major global problem in the workplace. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the biological risks at work. This study presents data on both communicable infectious biological agents and noncommunicable factors leading to death and disability for the year 2021. Methods: We followed the methodology established by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in their past global estimates on occupational accidents and work-related diseases. We used relevant ILO estimates for hazardous substances and related population attributable fractions derived from literature, which were then applied to World Health Organization mortality data. The communicable diseases included in the estimates were tuberculosis, pneumococcal diseases, malaria, diarrheal diseases, other infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases, influenza associated respiratory diseases and COVID-19. Noncommunicable diseases and injuries considered were Chronic Obstructive Diseases (COPD) due to organic dusts, asthma, allergic reactions and risks related to animal contact. We estimated death attributable to biological risk at work and disability in terms of disability adjusted life years (DALYs). Results: We estimated that in 2022, 550,819 deaths were caused by biological risk factors, with 476,000 deaths attributed to communicable infectious diseases and 74,000 deaths caused by noncommunicable factors. Among these, there were 223,650 deaths attributed to COVID-19 at work. We calculated the rate of 584 DALYs per 100,000 workers, representing an 11% increase from the previous estimate of the global burden of work-related disabilities measured by DALYs. Conclusion: This is a first update since previous 2007 ILO estimates, which has now increased by 74% and covers most biological risks factors. However, it is important to note that there may be other diseases and deaths are missing from the data, which need to be included when new information becomes available. It is also worth mentioning that while deaths caused by major communicable diseases including COVID-19 are relatively rare within the working population, absences from work due to these diseases are likely to be very common within the active workforce.

• Mycobiology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2020

During an investigation of fungi of the order Mucorales from freshwater and sediment samples in Korea, we isolated six strains, NNIBRFG6649, NNIBRFG6255, NNIBRFG1498, CNUFC-YJ13, CNUFC-YR7, and NNIBRFG2739. The morphology and phylogeny of these strains were analyzed. Based on the morphological characteristics and molecular data from internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the isolates NNIBRFG6649 and NNIBRFG6255 were identified as Mucor abundans, and M. aligarensis, respectively. The isolates NNIBRFG1498 and CNUFC-YJ13 were identified as M. moelleri, whereas the isolates CNUFC-YR7 and NNIBRFG2739 were identified as M. heterogamus. To the best of our knowledge, M. abundans, M. aligarensis, M. moelleri, and M. heterogamus have not yet been reported in Korea.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.48-52
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• 2005

Six stains of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria were selected through germinating seed assay and root colonization assay. Among them, SKU-78 strain induced significant suppression of bacterial wilt disease in tomato and pepper plants. Seed treatment followed by soil drench application with this strain resulted in over 60% reduction of bacterial wilt disease compared with the control. It was suggested that SKU-78 strain activated the host defense systems in plants, based on lack of direct antibiosis against pathogen. According to Bergey's Manual of Systemic Bacteriology and 16S rDNA sequence data, SKU-78 stain was identified as Bacillus sp. SKU-78.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1998 no.11
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• pp.243-244
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• 1998

The second telemetry is designed for supplying additional function which the first telemetry system doesn't have and as a part system of the External Management System (EMS). It makes a patient and an animal move more freely with wireless communication at a distance of free activity from the PC and can get most data from the first telemetry to send to the PC. Recently, our laboratory is developing a RF system for the second telemetry.

• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.402-407
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• 2015

Two new fungal species of the genus Talaromyces, Talaromyces purpurogenus and Talaromyces trachyspermus from the Trichocomaceae family, were recovered during an investigation of fungal communities in soil collected from the Gangwon-do and Jeollanam-do provinces of Korea. These two species have not been previously officially reported from Korea. In this study, detailed descriptions of internal transcribed spacer rDNA and beta-tubulin gene regions of these two fungi are presented. Morphological features of the two fungi in five agar media, potato dextrose, oatmeal, malt extract, czapek yeast extract, and yeast extract sucrose, are also reported. The species were identified on the basis of molecular and morphological analysis, and herein we present data with detailed descriptions and figures.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2018

Seven unrecorded species in the phylum Ascomycota, Emericellopsis pallida (KNU16-167), Scedosporium aurantiacum (KNU16-190), Duddingtonia flagrans (KNU16-279), Bionectria rossmaniae (KNU16-309), Exophiala xenobiotica (KNU16-79), Pseudocercosporella fraxini (KNU16-102), and Stachybotrys sansevieriae (KNU16-141), were isolated in 2016 from field soils collected from various locations in Korea. All of the species were identified and described based on morphological characteristics and rDNA internal transcribed spacer sequence data. Morphological features of these fungi were examined on potato dextrose agar, oatmeal agar, malt extract agar, Czapek yeast extract agar, and yeast extract sucrose agar. Full descriptions and illustrations of their morphological characteristics are provided.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.269-275
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• 2006

A recent report of the Korean Intellectual Property Office(KIPO) showed that the number of biological sequence-based patents is rapidly increasing in Korea. We present biological features of Korean patented sequences though bioinformatic analysis. The analysis is divided into two steps. The first is an annotation step in which the patented sequences were annotated with the Reference Sequence (RefSeq) database. The second is an association step in which the patented sequences were linked to genes, diseases, pathway, and biological functions. We used Entrez Gene, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Ontology (GO) databases. Through the association analysis, we found that nearly 2.6% of human genes were associated with Korean patenting, compared to 20% of human genes in the U.S. patent. The association between the biological functions and the patented sequences indicated that genes whose products act as hormones on defense responses in the extra-cellular environments were the most highly targeted for patenting. The analysis data are available at http://www.patome.net

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2003

The Master Plan of Natural Environment Conservation in Korea by Ministry of Environment has been carried out since 1986. The 2nd 10-year survey started in 1997, and there are three major parts in the Master Plan : First, the basic natural environment survey, second, sites in special features of ecological characteristics such as uninhabitable islands, wetlands, etc, and third, biological species featuring status of habitat, and population dynamics. However the information in the Master Plan is very fragmented and collected data are not so abundant due to insufficient man-power and unsynchronized survey time/season. In this regard this paper examined the similar National Biological Survey in USA and compared the differences with the Master Plan in Korea. The Master Plan in Korea should separate the management zone based on hydrological characteristics, and in each zone we should set a management goal in the long term basis. Secondly the species list is not so meaningful that we must concentrate more on research activities. In each taxonomical group we set up hypotheses and research goals. Thirdly local residents and communities should be involved in research so that enhanced biological diversity should benefit people in areas. Lastly legislation and laws should be reexamined and rectified to provide information to the managers that deals with natural resources, expecially when conflicting with economic matters.

• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.327-337
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• 2017

Three new records of Ascomycota species (Chaetomium acropullum, Phialemonium globosum, Phialemonium atrogriseum) from field soils in Korea are presented in this study. These newly discovered fungal isolates were isolated from field soils from various places across Gyeongnam, Korea in 2016. All the isolates were identified and described based on morphological characteristics, and rDNA internal transcribed spacer and ${\beta}$-tubulin gene sequence data. Morphological features of these fungal species were studied on different agar media: potato dextrose agar, oatmeal agar, malt extract agar, Czapek yeast extract agar, and yeast extract sucrose agar. Full description and illustrations of their morphological characters are provided. These fungal species have not officially been previously reported in Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.45-49
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• 2000

Long terminal repeat (LTR) of human endogenous retrovirus K family (HERV-K) has been found to be coexpressed with sequences of closely located genes. We examined the transcribed HERV-K LTR elements in human liver and kidney tissues. Using the cDNA synthesized from mRNA of human liver and kidney, we performed PCR amplification and identified six HERV-K LTR elements. Those LTR elements showed a high degree of sequence similarity (93.3∼96.6%) with human-specific LTR. A phylogenetic tree obtained by the neighbor-joining method revealed that HERV-K LTR elements (Liv-1, 2, 3 and Kid-1, 2, 3) were belonged to group I. Our data suggests that HERV-K LTR elements are active on human liver and kidney tissues and may represent a source of genetic variation connected to human disease.