• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.389-398
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• 2009

Development of expression vectors is important for the basic and applied researches on kimchi LAB (lactic acid bacteria). An expression vector, pSJE6c was constructed by inserting P6C promoter sequence from Lactococcus lactis into pSJE, a shuttle vector for E. coli and Leuconostoc species. To test the efficiency of pSJE6c, aga ($\alpha$-galactosidase) and lacZ ($\beta$-galactosidase) genes were expressed in Lactobacillus brevis 2.14. Compared to the pSJE, expression levels of both genes were increased, indicating P6C promoter was better than indigenous promoters. Enzyme activities of L. brevis cells harboring pSJE6caga (pSJE6c with aga) or pSJE6Z (pSJE6c with lacZ) were 1.5-2 fold higher than those with pSJEaga (pSJE with aga) or pSJEZ (pSJE with lacZ). More RNA transcripts were detected in cells harboring pSJE6c based recombinant plasmid. The results indicated that heterologous gene expressions in kimchi LAB could be improved significantly by use of efficient expression vectors.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.779-795
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• 2002

Internet, a world wide network of computers, is considered as a sea of information because it allows people to share information beyond the barriors of time and space. However, in spite of the unmeasurable potential applications of the internet, its use in the field of biology education has been extremely limited mainly due to the scarcity of good biology-related sites. In order to provide useful guidelines for constructing user-friendly study sites, which can help high school students with different intellectual levels to study biology, comparative studies were performed on selected educational sites. Initially, hundreds of related sites were examined, and, subsequently, four distinct sites were selected not only because they are well organized, but also because each is unique in its contents. Also, a survey was carried out against the users of each site. The survey results indicated that the high school students regard the web-based biology study tools as effective teaching methods although there might be some bias in criteria for selecting target sites. In addition to the detailed biology topics and the related biology informations, multimedia data including pictures, animations and movies are found to be one of the important ingredients for desirable biology study sites. Thus, the inclusion of multimedia components should also be considered when developing a systematic biology study site. Overall, the role of the cyber space is expected to become more and more important. Since the development of the user-satisfied and self-guided sites require interdisciplinary collaborational efforts which should be made to promote extensive communication among teachers, education professionals, and computer engineers. Furthermore, the introduction of good biology study sites to the students by their teachers is also important factor for the successful web-based education.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1411-1416
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• 2002

Purpose : Although the use of intravenous gamma-globulin(IVGG) in Kawasaki disease(KD) is effective in reducing clinical symptoms and coronary artery complications, 20-30% of patients have persistent or recrudescent fever and ongoing clinical symptoms. In these patients, the additional infusion of IVGG is considered. The authors studied the characteristics of patients who received IVGG retreatment, and compared them with the patients who did not need IVGG retreatment, for determination of IVGG retreatment. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 117 KD patients who could be followed up at least six months. We studied the conventional laboratory findings, electrocardiogram(EKG), signal averaged ECG(SAECG) and echocardiogram. Results : Twenty three patients had early cardiac complications during the six months of follow-up. Four patients had late cardiac complications after six months. The early cardiac complication rate was higher in the IVGG retreatment group than the single infusion group(P<0.0001). The late complication rate was also higher in the retreatment group(P<0.0001). The patients who received methyl-prednisolone(m-PD) pulse therapy had much higher rates of early and late cardiac complications than those who received a single IVGG infusion. Among the clinical data and laboratory findings, only CRP increased significantly in patients who have had the cardiac complications. The IVGG retreatment group had increased CRP than the single infusion group. Conclusion : The patients with increased initial CRP may have an increased incidence of complications and an increased possibility of IVGG retreatment. We thought that retreated KD patients might have inflammations severe enough to need high dose IVGG as shown by high CRP levels, and IVGG retreatment could not prevent coronary artery lesions sufficiently.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.73-86
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• 2007

Risk-based remediation strategy (RBRS) is a consistent decision-making process for the assessment and response to chemical release based on protecting human health and the environment. The decision-making process described integrates exposure and risk assessment practices with site assessment activities and remedial action selection to ensure that the chosen actions are protective of human health and the environment. The general sequences of events in Tier 1 is as follows: initial site assessment, development of conceptual site model with all exposure pathways, data collection on pollutants and receptors, and identification of risk-based screening level (RBSL). If site conditions do not meet RBSL, it needs further site-specific tier evaluation, Tier 2. In most cases, only limited number of exposure pathways, exposure scenarios, and chemicals of concern are considered the Tier 2 evaluation since many are eliminated from consideration during the Tier 1 evaluation. In spite of uncertainties due to the conservatism applied to risk calculations, limitation in site-specific data collections, and variables affecting the selection of target risk levels and exposure factors, RBRS provides us time- and cost-effectiveness of the remedial action. To ensure reliance of the results, the development team should consider land and resource use, cumulative risks, and additive effects. In addition, it is necessary to develop appropriate site assessment guideline and reliable toxicity assessment method, and to study on site-specific parameters and exposure parameters in Korea.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.181-187
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• 2002

The overall objective of this study was to improve tomato fruit quality, while maximizing yield. The variety of 'Momotaro' was grown in the basic nutrient solution of 1.6 dS.m$^{[-10]}$ which was supplemented by three levels of seawater with EC 1.0, 2.0 or 3.0 dS.m$^{[-10]}$ . Tomato plants were cultivated in cool seasons. Plant growth characteristics were compared between treatments, and fruits were classified to analyse fruit quality characteristics according to ripening stages： MG, Br, Br＋3, Br＋5, Br＋7 and Br＋10. Adding seawater generally did not affect the shoot growth parameters such as plant height, leaf length, leaf width, internode length and chlorophyll content. Adding seawater negatively affected yield parameters such as the height and weight of fruit, marketable fruit weight per plant and marketable fruit yield. Therefore, the more yield reduction was obtained with the increasing level of seawater treatment. Fruit quality was improved by seawater treatment. The degree of the effect for $^{\circ}$Bx degree and sugars were the highest with the EC of seawater 2.0~3.0 dS.m$^{[-10]}$ , and at the Br＋5~Br＋7 of ripening stages. The relative abundance of tomato flavor, volatile components, was not generally affected by the seawater treatment with an exception of 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one. The relative abundance of most volatile components increased as ripening progressed. The increment began at the Br stage and showed the highest increment at the Br＋5~Br＋7 stages. The results from these experiments suggest that seawater treatment of EC 3.6 dS.m$^{[-10]}$ for hydroponics is good for improving tomato quality. Fruit quality is the best at the Br＋5~Br＋7 ripening stages. It is considered that these results may be applied far use in hydroponic culture to improve fruit quality with minimum yield reduction.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 2008

The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of pork patties supplemented with medicinal herb extract mix were investigated. The medicinal herb extract powder was mixed at a ratio of 48.5:48.5:3.0 for Morus alba L, Lonicera flos, and Coptis chinensis, respectively. The pork was prepared and supplemented with medicinal herb extract mix (0, 0.5, 1, or 2%) and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were tested during storage at $4^{\circ}C$. The pH value decreased during cold storage at $4^{\circ}C$ for allsamples, however the pH of samples supplemented with herb extract mix rapidly decreased by days 5 and 10 ($p{\leq}0.05$). The total phenol content in the pork patties with herb extract mix was higher than in the control patties. The ABTS+ radical scavenging activities increased with increasing concentrations of herb extract mix from 0.5% to 2%. In addition, pork patties supplemented with herb extract mix showed an approximately 1 decimal reduction in total aerobic counts. Therefore, the addition of herb extract mix into pork patties increased the antioxidant activity and slightly improved the antimicrobial activity of pork patties during cold storage. However, the levels of added medicinal herb extract mix should be considered prior to its use in order to maintain proper sensory acceptance.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to examine physical properties of the addition of green tea powder on bread flour and dough rheology of white pan bread. Three levels(0.1, 0.5 and 1.0% ) of each green tea powder with bread flour were tested for their effects in dough mixing using rapid disco analyzer, alveogram and farinogram. Addition of green tea powder tended to reduce initial pasting temperature and increase peak viscosity, break down and set back. L(extensibility) and G(swelling index) value in alveogram showed decrement with increasing green tea powder. These meant that the volume of white pan bread would show same tendency. The use of green tea powder increased consistency and water absorption of the bread flour but decreased development time, salability and degree of softening on farinogram. White pan bread with green tea powder had higher value of hardness and springness than without it. Sensory evaluation determined that the white pan bread with 0.5% green tea powder had the highest score.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2012

The open-top chamber (OTC) system is designed for long term studies on the climate change impact on the major tree species and their community in Korea. In Korea Forest Research Institute (KFRI), the modified OTC system has been operating since September 2009. The OTC facility consists of six decagon chambers (10 meters in diameter by 7 meters high) with controlled gas concentration. In each chamber, a series of vertical vent pipes are installed to disperse carbon dioxide or normal air into the center of the chamber. The OTC is equipped with remote controlled computer system in order to maintain a stable and elevated concentration of carbon dioxide in the chamber throughout the experimental period. The experiment consisted of 4 treatments: two elevated $CO_2$ levels ($1.4{\times}$ and $1.8{\times}$ ambient $CO_2$) and two controls (inside and outdoors of the OTC). Average operational rate was the lowest (94.2%) in June 2010 but increased to 98% in July 2010 and was 100% during January to December 2011. In 2010~2011, $CO_2$ concentrations inside the OTCs reached the target programmed values, and have been maintained stable in 2011. In 2011, $CO_2$ concentrations of 106%, 100% and 94% of target values has been recorded in control OTC, $1.4{\times}$ $CO_2$-enriched OTC and $1.8{\times}$ $CO_2$-enriched OTC, respectively. With all OTC chambers, the difference between outside and inside temperatures was the highest ($1.2{\sim}2.0^{\circ}C$) at 10 am to 2 pm. Temperature difference between six OTC chambers was not detected. The relative humidity inside and outside the chambers was the same, with minor variations (0~1%). The system required the highest amount of $CO_2$ for operation in June, and consumed 11.33 and 17.04 ton in June 2010 and 2011, respectively.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.188-195
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• 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the growth and quality characteristics of melon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars and the irrigation requirements for cultivars. In our previous study in 2019, twelve melon cultivars including 'Dalgona' were examined for their cultivar characteristics under the same irrigation condition for all cultivars, and sorted into several groups based on different growth condition; for the internode length (from 0 to 20th node), leaf area, and fruit weight, 'Kingstar' belonged to the largest group, 'Worldstar' the middle group, and 'Dalgona' the smallest group. After analyzing the results of the previous experiment, 'Dalgona', 'Worldstar', 'Kingstar', and 'Rubyball' were selected as test cultivars for the growth group in 2020, and irrigated according to different irrigation levels for each cultivar. The control of the irrigation volume for each melon cultivar by monitoring the drainage rate during the cultivation periods showed that all four cultivars required a similar amount of irrigation in the 'early growth' stage where crops grew at about the same rate. From 'flowering time', however, the change in irrigation requirements showed a similar tendency for 'Worldstar' and 'Kingstar' and for 'Rubyball' and 'Dalgona' respectively. A sudden change in each irrigation volume was observed from the fruit set; 'Dalgona' began first to decline and 'Rubyball' was second, followed by 'Worldstar' and 'Kingstar'. In conclusion, the irrigation volume was the largest in 'Kingstar', followed by 'Worldstar', 'Rubyball', and 'Dalgona' in the same order as the growing amount of plant length, leaf area, and fruit weight. Therefore, it is necessary to control exactly the irrigation volume by reflecting the unique growth characteristics of each cultivar for the production of high-quality fruit in melon hydroponics, and especially to use great care when different cultivars are cultivated together.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.265-271
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• 2019

In general, specific gravity (SG) and urinary creatinine (CR) have been used to adjust urinary cadmium (Cd) concentrations. However, the validity of correction methods has been controversial. We compared the two adjustments to evaluate associations between urinary Cd and various renal damage markers and to evaluate the relationship between urinary Cd concentration and renal disease markers, such as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), in a relatively large general population sample. Among the 1,086 volunteers who were enrolled in this study, 862 healthy volunteers who did not have kidney disease were included in the final analysis. Urinary Cd, malondialdehyde (MDA), and N-acetyl-${\beta}$-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) concentrations were measured, the creatinine-based eGFR was calculated, and the relationships between these markers were subsequently analyzed. This study showed the use of urinary Cd concentration adjusted with SG rather than with urinary creatinine may be appropriate in studies evaluating renal function based on Cd exposure. Urinary Cd concentration adjusted with SG had a positive correlation with urinary MDA levels and a negative correlation with eGFR. This relationship was relatively stronger in women than in men. This study showed that urinary Cd level was associated with decreased eGFR in the general population, and oxidative stress was likely to act as an intermediator in this process. These results suggest that eGFR can be a very good indicator of kidney damage caused by Cd exposure in the general population.