• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 2015

Changes in land-use type can affect soil and water properties in stream ecosystems. This study examined the effects of different land-use types on biogeochemical properties and microbial activities of a stream. We collected water and sediment samples in a stream at three different sites surrounded by varying land-use types; a forest, a radish field and a rice paddy. Nitrogen contents, such as nitrate, nitrite and total nitrogen in the stream water body, showed significant differences among the sampling sites. The highest nitrogen values were recorded at the site surrounded by cropland, as fertilizer runoff impacted the stream. Soil organic matter content in the sediment showed significant differences among sites, with the highest content exhibited at the forest mouth site. These differences might be due to the organic matter in surrounding terrestrial ecosystems. Microbial activities determined by extracellular enzyme activities showed similar values throughout all sites in the water body; however, the activities in the sediments exhibited the highest values near the forest site and mirrored the soil organic matter content values. From these results, we conclude that different land-use types are important factors affecting water and sediment properties in stream ecosystems.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.46-50
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• 2011

Phytoplankton forms the base of sea ecosystems. Various environmental factors and anthropogenic pollution, primarily, affect the concentration and photosynthetic activity algal cells, and the changes in the phytoplankton photosynthesis influence other elements of aquatic ecosystems. The increase in anthropogenic pollution markedly damages natural aquatic ecosystems, particularly, in the coastal zones, where an intense blooming of microalgae occurs, including the release of highly dangerous ecotoxic substances of various chemical natures (red tides). In this study, we tried to apply as a parameter for the algal blooming prediction in the ocean from fluorescence values in the taken samples around Busan coastal area. F0 value was almost constant but Fv/Fm value showed the irregular pattern. We presume that these results are due to the changes of the ocean environment and climate. To predict or give early warning the algal blooming, we need to investigate the specific area or fixed area through real-time monitoring. Especially, algal blooming prediction or warning can be achieved via continuously monitoring and interpretation of fluorescence changes.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.103-118
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• 2015

Smart tourism is a social phenomenon arising from the convergence of information technology with the tourism experience. New ways of doing business, new patterns of experience and new problems concerning tourism destination image management and marketing are emerging due to the ubiquitous presence and influence of the internet and mobile devices. New conceptual tools are also available to enable researchers to further understand the social implications as well as the practical implementation of these new virtual and augmented smart tourism ecosystems. To this effect this paper introduces the constructivist paradigm and associated research methodologies as another toolbox for interpreting how smart tourism works as a form of soft power. The implications revealed by constructivism are that through smart tourism ecosystems, destination commodification and commoditization, experience and image formation are increasingly self-perpetuating, autonomous and organic social constructions. Researchers in information technology can use constructivist research to further explore these dynamic developments in smart tourism.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.176-185
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• 2021

This paper aims to develop a new paradigm for groundwater management which is compatible with integrated water management policies in Korea. Three key roles of groundwater are defined for addressing water cycle distortion, high water stress, water quality degradation, aquatic ecosystems deterioration, and water-related hazards. Firstly, groundwater plays an important role in contributing soundness of water cycle as a component of water cycle. Secondly, it is a local water resource to ensure water supply sustainability. Thirdly, groundwater is an essential water resource for drought and emergencies. In order to support the groundwater roles, we propose a paradigm shift for groundwater management and policy directions towards integrated water management. The new paradigm consists of managements for sound water cycle on a watershed scale and groundwater environment(quantity, quality, and groundwater dependent ecosystems) managements for both human and nature. A prospective management also constitutes the new paradigm. In addition, this paper proposes four policy directions in groundwater management. The policies emphasize the integrated management of groundwater and surface water, management of groundwater environment(quantity, quality, and groundwater dependent ecosystems), management of groundwater uses for water sustainability and security, and enhancement of groundwater publicity.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.373-382
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of various prophylactic treatments of titanium implants on bacterial biofilm formation, correlating surface modifications with the biofilms produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, Staphylococcus aureus, and bacteria isolated from saliva. Methods: Pure titanium disks were treated with various prophylactic procedures, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to determine the degree to which surface roughness was modified. To evaluate antibiofilm activity, we used P. aeruginosa PAO1, S. aureus, and saliva-isolated Streptococcus spp., Bacteroides fragilis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Results: AFM showed that the surface roughness increased after using the air-polishing device and ultrasonic scaler, while a significant reduction was observed after using a curette or polishing with Detartrine ZTM (DZ) abrasive paste. In addition, we only observed a significant (P<0.01) reduction in biofilm formation on the DZ-treated implant surfaces. Conclusion: In this study, both AFM and antibiofilm analyses indicated that using DZ abrasive paste could be considered as the prophylactic procedure of choice for managing peri-implant lesions and for therapy-resistant cases of periodontitis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.629-636
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• 2019

Objective: The study was designed to determine the cytotoxic effect of gallic acid (GA), obtained by the hydrolysis of tannins, on mice TM4 Sertoli cells apoptosis. Methods: In the present study, non-tumorigenic mice TM4 Sertoli cells were treated with different concentrations of GA for 24 h. After treatment, cell viability was evaluated using WST-1, mitochondrial dysfunction, cells apoptosis and necrosis was detected using JC-1, Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide staining. The expression levels of Cyclin B1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX), and Caspase-3 were also detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western-blotting. Results: The results showed that 20 to $400{\mu}M$ GA inhibited viability of TM4 Sertoli cells in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with $400{\mu}M$ GA significantly inhibited PCNA and Cyclin B1 expression, however up-regulated BAX and Caspase-3 expression, caused mitochondrial membrane depolarization, activated Caspase-3, and induced DNA damage, thus, markedly increased the numbers of dead cells. Conclusion: Our findings showed that GA could disrupt mitochondrial function and caused TM4 cells to undergo apoptosis and necrosis.

• Mycobiology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.559-581
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• 2021

The coastal marine ecosystems of Vietnam are one of the global biodiversity hotspots, but the biodiversity of marine fungi is not well known. To fill this major gap of knowledge, we assessed the genetic diversity (ITS sequence) of 75 fungal strains isolated from 11 surface coastal marine and deeper waters in Nha Trang Bay and Van Phong Bay using a culture-dependent approach and 5 OTUs (Operational Taxonomic Units) of fungi in three representative sampling sites using next-generation sequencing. The results from both approaches shared similar fungal taxonomy to the most abundant phylum (Ascomycota), genera (Candida and Aspergillus) and species (Candida blankii) but were different at less common taxa. Culturable fungal strains in this study belong to 3 phyla, 5 subdivisions, 7 classes, 12 orders, 17 families, 22 genera and at least 40 species, of which 29 species have been identified and several species are likely novel. Among identified species, 12 and 28 are new records in global and Vietnamese marine areas, respectively. The analysis of enzyme activity and the checklist of trophic mode and guild assignment provided valuable additional biological information and suggested the ecological function of planktonic fungi in the marine food web. This is the largest dataset of marine fungal biodiversity on morphology, phylogeny and enzyme activity in the tropical coastal ecosystems of Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Biogeographic aspects, ecological factors and human impact may structure mycoplankton communities in such aquatic habitats.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.33-42
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• 2023

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is a crucial parameter for assessing environmental conditions in aquatic ecosystems. However, commercial in situ dataloggers for oxygen optodes can be relatively expensive and limited in their specifications. In this paper, we present a novel design for a DO datalogger system based on the control boards family with RP2040 MCU chipset. Our design includes two types of dataloggers: a simple logging system and a programmable system for sampling rates via magnetic switches underwater for divers. We provide detailed descriptions of the system, including the MicroPython source code and drawings to aid in construction. We also discuss the various applications of our DO datalogger system in monitoring dissolved oxygen concentration in coastal waters and assessing the benthic metabolism of aquatic ecosystems. Our DO datalogger system provides an affordable and flexible option for researchers to accurately monitor DO concentrations in aquatic environments, and thereby improve our understanding of these complex ecosystems.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.326-344
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• 2022

The fungal-like family Saprolegniaceae (Oomycota), also called "water mold," includes mostly aquatic saprophytes as well as notorious aquatic animal pathogens. Most studies on Saprolegniaceae have been biased toward pathogenic species that are important to aquaculture rather than saprotrophic species, despite the latter's crucial roles in carbon cycling of freshwater ecosystems. Few attempts have been made to study the diversity and ecology of Saprolegniaceae; thus, their ecological role is not well-known. During a survey of oomycetes between 2016 and 2021, we investigated the diversity and distribution of culturable Saprolegniaceae species in freshwater ecosystems of Korea. In the present study, members of Saprolegniaceae were isolated and identified at species level based on their cultural, morphological, and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Furthermore, substrate preference and seasonal dynamics for each were examined. Most of the species were previously reported as animal pathogens; however, in the present study, they were often isolated from other freshwater substrates, such as plant debris, algae, water, and soil sediment. The relative abundance of Saprolegniaceae was higher in the cold to cool season than that in the warm to hot season of Korea. This study enhances our understanding of the diversity and ecological attributes of Saprolegniaceae in freshwater ecosystems.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.808-831
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• 2020

The business world has been undergoing a digital transformation. The adoption of multi-sided digital platform across the world has sped up this transformation. Multi-sided digital platforms create value by mediating interactions and transactions of distinct groups of users. A platform and its stakeholders need to be considered as a business ecosystem. Elements or components in the ecosystem exchange values and together form a network of exchange values. The objective of this paper is to construct a framework for crafting and observing digital business ecosystems. The foundation theories used to construct the framework are transaction cost economy (TCE), multi-sided markets, and value network. This paper uses Go-Jek, a growing ride-hailing platform from Indonesia, as a case to discuss how the framework works in mapping Go-Jek's digital business ecosystem, and then explain its expansion strategy. This paper has both theoretical and managerial contributions. It provides a formal definition of digital business ecosystems as a network of exchange values. The framework does not only help studies the existing business ecosystems but also can be used to craft a new business ecosystem. It can also be used to study value exchanges within the ecosystem, assessing or crafting ecosystem expansion strategies.