• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.279-287
• /
• 2010

This study was to evaluate ecological conditions of Hyeongsan River watershed from April to September 2009. The ecological health assessments was based on Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI), water chemistry during 2000~2009, and the fish multi-metric model, Index of Biological Integrity (IBI). For the study, the models of IBI and QHEI were modified as 8 and 11 metric attributes, respectively. Values of IBI averaged 25.4 (n=6), which is judged as a "fair" condition (C) after the criteria of Barbour et al. (1999). The distinct spatial variation was found in the IBI. Physical habitat health, based on the values of QHEI, varied from 76 in the downriver (H6) to 150.5 in the headwater (H1) and was evidently more disturbed in the downriver reach. Values of BOD and COD averaged 2.4 $mgL^{-1}$ (range: 0.3~13.8 $mgL^{-1}$) and 4.3 $mgL^{-1}$ (scope: 0.6~12.8 $mgL^{-1}$), respectively during the study period. Total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) averaged 3.0 $mgL^{-1}$ and 103.5 ${\mu}gL^{-1}$, respectively, indicating a severe eutrophication, and the nutrients increased more in the downriver than the headwater. Overall, physical, chemical and IBI parameters showed a typical downriver degradation along main axis of the river from the headwater-to-the downriver. This was mainly attributed to livestock waste and residential influences along with industrial discharge from the urban region.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.63-70
• /
• 2017

A functional screen of 60,672 fosmid metagenomic clones amplified from marine sediment obtained from the Dokdo islets in Korea identified the gene EstES1, whose product, EstES1, displayed lipolytic properties on tributyrin-supplemented media. EstES1 is a 576 amino acid protein with a predicted molecular weight of 59.4 kDa including 37 N-terminal leader amino acids. EstES1 exhibited the highest sequence similarity (44%) to a carboxylesterase found in Haliangium ochraceum DSM14365. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that EstES1 belongs to a currently uncharacterized family of lipases. Within the conserved domain, EstES1 retains the catalytic triad that consists of the consensus penta-peptide motif, GESAG. EstES1 demonstrated a broad substrate specificity toward the long acyl group of ethyl esters (C2-C12), and its optimal activity was recorded toward p-Nitrophenyl butyrate (C4) at pH 9.0 and $40^{\circ}C$ (specific activity of 255.4 U/mg). The enzyme remained stable in the ranges of $60-65^{\circ}C$ and pH 9.0-10.5 and in the presence of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and dimethyl sulfoxide. Therefore, EstES1 has potential for use in industrial applications involving high temperature, organic solvents, and/or alkaline conditions.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.497-503
• /
• 2007

In order to develop a new rice bran danmooji, changes in physicochemical characteristics and texture of danmooji treated with rice bran, Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaf powder, succinic acid, or yeast extract were investigated during salting for 90 days. The PH of rice bran danmooji decreased from PH6.41 initially to pH 4.09 (control group), pH 4.10 (S. rebaudiana treatment S1), pH 3.84 (S. rebaudiana + succinic acid treatment S2), and pH 3.90 (S. rebaudiana+succinic acid+yeast extract treatment S3) after 90 days of salting. At this time, the salinities of rice bran danmooji of the S1, S52, and S3 groups were 2.32%, 1.94% and 2.15% respectively. The hardness of all groups decreased rapidly in the first 30 days of salting, and thereafter showed no changes. After 90 days of salting, the hardness of all groups was $1,186-1,368\;g/cm^2$ with no significant differences between groups. Redness, the a value, of the S2 and S3 groups treated with succinic acid, was lower than that of S3, whereas yellowness, the b value, of S3 treated with succinic acid and yeast extract was the highest of the three groups. Sensory evaluation of rice bran danmooji after 90 days of salting resulted in S3 attaining the highest scores for flavor, taste, texture, and overall acceptability. These results indicate nut high-quality rice bran danmooji may be prepared by addition of S. rebaudiana leaf powder, succinic acid and yeast extract to rice bran.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.413-419
• /
• 2012

Fermentation of ice apple wine from freeze-concentrated Fuji apple juice to 36 $^{\circ}Brix$ was carried out using Saccharomyces cerevisiae SS89, a sugar-tolerant wine yeast strain. The characteristics of the fermentation and the properties of ice apple wine were compared with those of S. cerevisiae W-3, an industrial wine yeast that was used as a control in this study. During the fermentation, the alcohol content increased more rapidly by S. cerevisiae SS89 together with the decrease of the soluble solid content, compared to S. cerevisiae W-3. It reached 12% (v/v) after 15 days of fermentation by S. cerevisiae SS89 (12.4%, v/v) and 21 days by S. cerevisiae W-3 (12.6%, v/v). The soluble solid contents of the SS89 and W-3 wines were 24.0 and 23.6 $^{\circ}Brix$, respectively. Lactic acid was detected at the highest level, followed by malic aid, among the organic acids in both wines. No big differences in the organic acid contents were observed based on the strains. In the SS89 wine, higher levels of methanol, propanol, butanol, and isoamyl alcohol were detected, together with a lower isobutanol content, compared with the W-3 wine. The SS89 wine showed higher level of intensity as well as higher Hunter's L and b color values compared to the W-3 wine. In the sensory evaluation, similar scores in color, flavor, taste, and overall preference were obtained in the two wines. Therefore, S. cerevisiae SS89 was thought to be useful for the rapid fermentation of ice apple wine.

• Food Engineering Progress
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.299-306
• /
• 2010

This study was performed to develop new functional red ginseng drinks with Astragali Radix and Opuntia humifusa. Optimum extraction conditions such as solvent property and temperature for Astragali Radix were determined by distilled water vs. ethanol (95%) ratio (0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25) and 60 vs. $80^{\circ}C$. Water-soluble extracts at $80^{\circ}C$ showed higher antioxidant activities than fat-soluble extracts at $60^{\circ}C$. Viscosities of 1-2% (w/v) of Opuntia humifusa solution were similar to that of the 0.1% guar gum solution. Addtion of Astragali Radix (3% and 5%, w/v) and Opuntia humifusa (1.2%, w/v), especially, had effect on the changes of pH of the red ginseng solution(5%, w/v) during storage for 7 days. A significant difference during the storage was shown in total plate counts by addition of Opuntia humifusa (1.2%, w/v) and microorganisms were reduced by six log cycles. Significant antiproliferation effects of red ginseng (5%, w/v) solution with Astragali Radix (3% & 5%, w/v) and Opuntia humifusa (1.2%, w/v) on Colon26m-3.1 carcinoma (colorectal carcinoma) cell and U87-MG neuronale glioblastoma (brain carcinoma) cell were not observed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of International Agriculture
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.8-16
• /
• 2019

Alternatives for increasing the competitiveness of locally manufactured agricultural machinery in domestic and foreign markets has been proposed. This was done by analyzing the major agricultural machinery's price and market share as well as their performance and quality. In the Korean domestic market, the market share of Japanese agricultural machinery has been identified to be 14.5% for tractors, 31.1% for combine harvesters, and 35.8% for rice transplanters, and on track for further increase. Japanese manufacturers' domestic patent shares are 58.5% for tractors, 79.9% for combine harvesters, and 69.8% for rice transplanters, showing the dire need for Korean domestic firms to expand their technological rights. To strengthen the industrial competitiveness of agricultural machinery, therefore, researches that develop the fundamental and elemental technology to reduce the frequency of breakdown should be needed in the short term. To achieve this, it is imperative to establish technology roadmap, promote greater cooperation between academia and industry, and systematically increase research funding. In addition, as a long-term solution for enhancing the competitiveness, an establishment of Agricultural Equipment Technology Institute is strongly recommended to systematically support R&D for developing core technologies, particularly high-quality components that guarantee durability and quality.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.474-478
• /
• 2005

Because it possesses anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral, and tissue regenerative properties, propolis has been used for thousands of years in folk medicine for multiple purposes. Although the antimicrobial activity of propolis has already been demonstrated, very few studies have been conducted on bacteria of clinical relevance in dentistry. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative activities of 0.1% and 1.0% propolis, both of water-extracted (proAQ) and ethanol-extracted (proAL) propolis, for industrial applications. In studies of antimicrobial activity, the growth of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 35556, Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 12021, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Candida parapsilosis KCCM 35428, all general food or clinical pathogens, were tested. The culture medium used was trypticase soy broth including 0.6% yeast extract; after 6 hr of incubation, the turbidities were measured at 620 nm with a spectrophotometer. The results indicate that the antimicrobial effects of both 1.0% proAQ and 1.0% proAL were greater against the growth of S. aureus ATCC 35556 and C. parapsilosis KCCM 35428 rather than those of S. enteritidis ATCC 12021 and E. coli O157:H7. Additionally, it appears that the anti-inflammatory effects of proAL are greater than those of proAQ. The anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated by measurement of the inhibition of hyaluronidase activity in vitro. At a 1% concentration, the anti-inflammatory effects of proAL were greater than those of proAQ. Finally, the anti-oxidative effects of 1% and 10% solutions of each extract sample were measured according to the TBA method at $40^{\circ}C$ for 1, 2, 3, and 5 days and were compared with 1.0% BHT. The results indicate that the anti-oxidative effects at 0.1% for both proAQ and proAL were not significantly different than the anti-oxidative effects at 1.0% BHT (p<0.05). Thus, it appeared that the alcohol-extracted propolis had greater antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects than the water-extracted propolis. This is based on the presumption that major biofunctional components were fat-soluble, rather than water-soluble.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.128-136
• /
• 2014

Acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) lactonase has been proved to be the AHL-degrading enzyme with the highest substrate specificity for AHL molecules and has shown a considerable potential as low-cost and efficient quorum quenching (QQ) technique. However, few studies focused on its inhibitory effect on biofilm formation which is also a quorum sensing (QS)-regulated phenomenon. In this study, QQ activity of six isolates from biofouled reverse osmosis membranes was studied using Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 and Agrobacterium tumefaciens NTL4 as biosensors under various conditions. All of the isolates belonged to the genus Bacillus and showed QQ activity regardless of the acyl chain length or substitution of AHL molecule. The isolates were capable of significantly inhibiting biofilm formation (46.7-58.3%) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and produced heat-sensitive extracellular QQ substances. The LC-MS analysis of the QQ activity of a selected isolate, RO1S-5, revealed the degradation of N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C12 AHL) and the production of corresponding acyl homoserine (3-oxo-C12-HS), which indicated the activity of AHL lactonase. The broad AHL substrate range and high substrate specificity suggested that the isolate would be useful for the control of biofilm-related pathogenesis and biofouling in industrial processes.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.363-394
• /
• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the vascular flora of the Hongcheon-gun area in Gangwon Province. The vascular plants were collected 13 times(from April 2008 to May 2009), and 1,055 taxa in total were identified, including 43 orders, 118 families, 443 genera, 903 species, 6 subspecies, 125 varieties, 18 form and 3 hybrids. Among them, 37 taxa of Korean endemic plants and the Office of Forestry-designated rare & endangered plants were identified as 35 taxa. Based on the list of plants which have been approved for overseas delivery, 61 taxa were recorded in the investigated area. The Ministry of Environment-designated plants, which should be protected by the wildlife protection law, were identified as four taxa and 224 taxa of specially designated plants by the Ministry of Environment. The naturalized plants were identified as 45 taxa, and their naturalization ratio and urban index were found to be 4.3%, and 16.1% respectively. 1,055 taxa listed consists of 359 taxa(34%) of edible plants, 293 taxa(27.7%) of medicinal plants, 166 taxa(15.7%) of pasture plants, 143 taxa(13.5%) of ornamental plants, 41 taxa(3.9%) of timber plants, 25 taxa(2.3%) of fiber plants and 3 taxa(0.2%) of industrial plants.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.360-365
• /
• 2006

The objectives of this study were to develop nano-pore silica particles and to modify its surface for use as an enzyme immobilization matrix. Sol-gel reaction was used to produce silica particles of various nano pore sizes with hydroxyl groups on their surfaces. The surface was modified with aldehyde that was confirmed by fluorescence imaging. Trypsin was covalently immobilized by reductive amination. Surface density of the immobilized trypsin was ca. $350{\mu}g/m^2$, which was approximately 17- and 35-fold higher than those from the surfaces with hydroxyl and amine group, respectively. About 90% of the initial enzyme activity was maintained after the 12th use of repeated use. When compared with the commercial matrices, the nano-pore silica particle was superior in terms of immobilization yield and specific activity. This study suggests the nano porous silica particles can be used as enzyme immobilization matrix for industrial applications.