• Clean Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2017

Bio-based plastics containing the biomass content higher than 25 wt% have been considered as environment-friendly materials due to their effects on the reduction in the $CO_2$ emission and petroleum consumption as well as biodegradability after use. In this study, poly vinyl chloride, plant-derived plasticizers, by adding a biodegradable catalyst was observed a change in the biodegradability and physical properties. To produce the oxidative decomposition transparent bio film, which is broken down in the initial percent elongation and physical properties such as tensile strength, it was to test the safety of the product as a food packaging material. Poly vinyl chloride, primary plasticizer, secondary plasticizer, anti fogging agent, the combined stabilizer were mixed in a high speed mixer, then extruded using an extrusion molding machine, after cooling, winding, to produce a oxidative decomposition transparent bio film and the control film, with a thickness of $12{\mu}m$ through winder role. Mechanical properties tensile strength, elongation, and the maximum load elongation and biodegradation test. Transparent bio film produced by biodegradation catalyst is compared with the control film. Tensile strength and elongation of films were found to be no significant difference. Further, as a result of the biodegradation test for 45 days based on the ASTM D6954-04 method, biodegrability of film is 61.4%.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 2008

Rhizoctonia blight (large patch) caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG2-2 is one of the major diseases on zoysiagrass in golf courses. In this study, anatgonistic bacteria to R. solani AG2-2 were selected in vitro tests using confrontation bioassay and triple layer agar diffusion method. The most active bacteria, Bacillus subtilis CJ-9 were tested for controlling large patch in pots. Relative Performance Indies (RPI) was used as a criterion for the selection of potential biocontrol agent. B. subtilis CJ-9 showed resistance to major synthetic agrochemicals used in golf course. In field tests at golf course, B. subtilis CJ-9 was more effective in suppression of large patch severity and population development of R. solani AG2-2 in soil than chemical fungicides. B. subtilis CJ-9 could be an alternative to chemical fungicides for eco-friendly management of large patch on zoysiagrass.

• Biomaterials Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.328-336
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• 2018

Background: Biogenic fabrication of silver nanoparticles from naturally occurring biomaterials provides an alternative, eco-friendly and cost-effective means of obtaining nanoparticles. It is a favourite pursuit of all scientists and has gained popularity because it prevents the environment from pollution. Our main objective to take up this project is to fabricate silver nanoparticles from lichen, Usnea longissima and explore their properties. In the present study, we report a benign method of biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from aqueous-ethanolic extract of Usnea longissima and their characterization by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Silver nanoparticles thus obtained were tested for antimicrobial activity against gram positive bacteria and gram negative bacteria. Results: Formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed by the appearance of an absorption band at 400 nm in the UV-vis spectrum of the colloidal solution containing both the nanoparticles and U. longissima extract. Poly(ethylene glycol) coated silver nanoparticles showed additional absorption peaks at 424 and 450 nm. FTIR spectrum showed the involvement of amines, usnic acids, phenols, aldehydes and ketones in the reduction of silver ions to silver nanoparticles. Morphological studies showed three types of nanoparticles with an abundance of spherical shaped silver nanoparticles of 9.40-11.23 nm. Their average hydrodynamic diameter is 437.1 nm. Results of in vitro antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pyrogenes, Streptococcus viridans, Corynebacterium xerosis, Corynebacterium diphtheriae (gram positive bacteria) and Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneuomoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram negative bacteria) showed that it was effective against tested bacterial strains. However, S. mutans, C. diphtheriae and P. aeruginosa were resistant to silver nanoparticles. Conclusion: Lichens are rarely exploited for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles. In the present work the lichen acts as reducing as well as capping agent. They can therefore, be used to synthesize metal nanoparticles and their size may be controlled by monitoring the concentration of extract and metal ions. Since they are antibacterial they may be used for the treatment of bacterial infections in man and animal. They can also be used in purification of water, in soaps and medicine. Their sustained release may be achieved by coating them with a suitable polymer. Silver nanoparticles fabricated from edible U. longissima are free from toxic chemicals and therefore they can be safely used in medicine and medical devices. These silver nanoparticles were stable for weeks therefore they can be stored for longer duration of time without decomposition.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.325-333
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• 2017

This study aimed to investigate the various biological activities of Geranium thunbergii such as antimicrobial activity and protective effect against oxidative damage. To evaluate its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, we first performed methanol extraction; this methanol extract was further partitioned using various solvents. And then, its antioxidant activity was measured using various assays including total phenolic content and protection against oxidative DNA damage, and antimicrobial activities were examined using minimum inhibiting concentration (MIC) test, and paper disc method. In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography was performed to analyze the major chemical components of ethyl acetate fraction. The G. thunbergii fraction with ethyl acetate exhibited higher antioxidant and antimicrobial activities than the other fractions. The results showed that G. thunbergii ethyl acetate fraction at $50{\mu}g/mL$ had strong DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of 80.88% and 80.12%, respectively. In addition, the ethyl acetate fraction protected DNA from the oxidative damage induced by ferrous ion and hydroxyl radicals and showed high antimicrobial activity with diameter of inhibition zones ranging from 13.33 to 15.67 mm. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed the major phenolic compounds of G. thunbergii to be ellagic acid and gallic acid. These results suggest that G. thunbergii might protect DNA against oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species and can be utilized as a natural source of antioxidant and antimicrobial agent in the food industry.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2023

Because of the global pollution caused by plastic disposal, demand for eco-friendly transformation in the packaging industry is increased. As part of that, the utilization of polylactic acid (PLA) as a food packaging material is increased. However, it is necessary to improve the crystallinity of PLA by adding nucleating agents or to improve the modulus by adding fillers because of the excessive brittleness of the PLA matrix. Thus, the cellulose nanofiber (CNF) was fabricated and dried to obtain a powder form and applied to the CNF/PLA nanocomposite. The effect of CNF on the morphological, thermal, rheological, and dynamic mechanical properties of the composite was analyzed. We can confirm the impregnated CNF particle in the PLA matrix through the field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed that the crystallinity of not annealed CNF/PLA nanocomposite was increased approximately 2 and 4 times in the 1st and 2nd cycle, respectively, with the shift to lower temperature of cold crystallization temperature (T_cc) in the 2nd cycle. Moreover, the crystallinity of annealed CNF/PLA nanocomposite increased by 13.4%, and shifted T_cc was confirmed.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.395-412
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• 2023

The morphology and whole genome sequence of Hyphantria cunea nucleopolyhedrovirus W1 (HycuNPV-W1) isolated in Korea were analyzed for the use as an eco-friendly control agent against H. cunea. The HycuNPV-W1 had irregular tetrahedral polyhedra with a size of 1.5-2.2 ㎛ which is similar to that of previously reported HycuNPV isolated in Korea. As a result of whole viral genome analysis, HycuNPV-W1 was composed of 131,353 bp, which is 1,606 bp shorter than that of the previously reported HycuNPV. The G+C content was 45% and six of the homologous repeated regions were found, so there was no significant difference from the previous report. As a result of ORF analysis, HycuNPV-W1 contains total of 145 ORFs which is three ORFs less than the previous report, while two ORFs were exclusively found in HycuNPV-W1. The functions of these ORFs remains unclear and are not considered to have a significant influence on the characteristics of the HycuNPV. The genome vista analysis showed that the overall sequence identity between HycuNPV-W1 and the previously reported HycuNPV was very high. The whole genome of HycuNPV-W1 analyzed was found to be similar to those of the previously reported HycuNPV, however, it is supposed to be a novel resource in Korea with different isolate.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.66-77
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• 2024

Black wood ear mushroom (Auricularia auricula-judae) is one of the most economically important mushrooms in China, Japan, and Korea. The cultivation of wood ear mushrooms on artificial substrates is more efficient in terms of time and cost compared with their natural growth on trees. However, if the substrate cultivation is infected by fast-growing fungi, the relatively slow-growing ear mushroom will be outcompeted, leading to economic losses. In this study, we investigated the competitive fungal isolates from substrates infected with fast-growing fungi for the cultivation of ear mushrooms in Jangheung and Sunchon, Korea. We collected 54 isolates and identified them by sequencing their internal transcribed spacer region with morphological identification. Among the isolates, the dominant isolates were Trichoderma spp. (92.6%), Penicillium spp. (5.6%), and Talaromyces sp. (1.8%). To find an appropriate eco-friendly biocontrol agent, we used five Streptomyces spp. and Benomyl, as controls against Trichoderma spp. and Penicillium spp. Among the six Streptomyces spp., Streptomyces sp. JC203-3 effectively controlled the fungi Trichoderma spp. and Penicillium spp., which pose a significant problem for the substrates of black wood ear mushrooms. This result indicated that this Streptomyces sp. JC203-3 can be used as biocontrol agents to protect against Trichoderma and Penicillium spp.