• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

The production of high-value chemicals from natural resources as an alternative for petroleum-based products is currently expanding in parallel with biorefinery. The use of lignocellulosic biomass as raw material is promising to achieve economic and environmental sustainability. Filamentous fungi, particularly Aspergillus species, are already used industrially to produce organic acid as well as many enzymes. The production of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes opens the possibility for direct fungal fermentation towards organic acids such as itaconic acid (IA) and fumaric acid (FA). These acids have wide-range applications and potentially addressable markets as platform chemicals. However, current technologies for the production of these compounds are mostly based on submerged fermentation. This work showed the capacity of two Aspergillus species (A. terreus and A. oryzae) to yield both acids by solid-state fermentation and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. FA was optimally produced at by A. oryzae in simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (0.54 mg/g wheat bran). The yield of 0.11 mg IA/g biomass by A. oryzae is the highest reported in the literature for simultaneous solid-state fermentation without sugar supplements.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.91-95
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• 1999

The Streptomyces albulus broth, when the polylysine in the broth, that has powerful growth inhibiting effect far many microbes, is its maximum, had filtered off the cells, to use the broth as preservative for keeping favorable taste of Korean Kimchi. Some microorganisms in their specific growth medium, known to deteriorate the useful nutrient of the Kimchi, has grown with different amounts of the inhibiting broth, to determine the minimum growth inhibition concentration. The ${\varepsilon}$-poly-L-lysine had been identified from the IR spectroscopic analysis of the purified poly lysine of the broth from ion exchange chromatographic separation. The content of the polylysine had been determined by methyl orange decoloration effect. Though the minimum inhibition concentration, evaluated by the naked eye based on the conventional method measuring the turbid feature after 18 hours of culture, has different values each other, the observed effects confirmed that the crude broth could be used as a natural preservative for the Kimchi in extending the fair taste.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 1976

This experiment has been carried out for the removal of long-lived radioactive-nuclides (Sr-90, Ru-106, Cs-137 and Ce-144) contained in the low-level radioactive effluents from the spent fuel reprocessing plant and nuclear power plant, in order to determine the decontaminability of various chemical coagulants and domestic clay mineral (montmorillonite). Phosphate process showed prominent efficiency for the removal of Ce-144, and lime-soda process did good removal efficiency for Sr-90. About Cs-137 copper-ferrocyanide process is much desirable. In phosphate or lime-soda process, most favorable removal efficiency was obtained at more than pH 11. The montmorillonite treated with sodium chloride showed a considerable improvement in the removal of the radioactive-nuclides. By a combined chemicals-montmorillionite process, the radioactive-nuclides could be more effectively removed than by the only chemicals process.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.265-271
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• 2009

Concentrations of industrial, agricultural and natural chemicals have been increasing in secondary effluents without their combined sub-lethal effects having been elucidated. In this study, two assays (the comet and acetylcholinesterase assays) were combined to evaluate the genotoxic and neurotoxic effects of effluent from the Noksan wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) on two local marine fish species (flounder and sea eel). The fish were exposed to WWTP secondary effluent that had been diluted with filtered seawater to final concentrations of 1%, 10% and 50%. Analysis of fish samples collected 3 and 5 days after exposure showed that DNA damage occurred in flounder exposed to 50% effluent and in sea eels exposed to 10% or 50% effluent. Furthermore, it was found that acetylcholinesterase (EC:3.1.1.7, AChE) activity decreased in both species when exposed to 10% effluent, indicating the presence of large amounts of genotoxic and neurotoxic chemicals in the effluent. Our results indicate that the comet and AChE assays are promising tools for biomonitoring of secondary effluents.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.207-214
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• 2007

Chronic oxidative stress produced by exposure to environmental chemicals or pathophysiological states can lead animals to aging, carcinogenesis and degenerative diseases. Indirect antioxidative mechanisms, in which natural or synthetic agents are used to coordinately induce the expression of cellular antioxidant capacity, have been shown to protect cells and organisms from oxidative damages. Electrophile and free radical detoxifying enzymes, which were originally identified as the products of genes induced by cancer chemopreventive agents, are members of this protective system. The NFE2 family transcription factor Nrf2 was found to govern expression of these detoxifying enzymes, and screening for Nrf2-regulated genes has identified many gene categories involved in maintaining cellular redox potential and protection from oxidative damage as Nrf2 downstream genes. Further, studies using Nrf2-deficient mice revealed that these mutant mice showed more susceptible phenotypes towards exposure to environmental chemicals/carcinogens and in oxidative stress related disease models. With the finding that cancer chemopreventive efficacy of indirect antioxidants (enzyme inducers) is lost in the absence of Nrf2, a central role of Nrf2 in the antioxidative protective system has been firmly established. Promising results from cancer prevention clinical trials using enzyme inducers propose that pharmacological interventions that modulate Nrf2 can be an effective strategy to protect tissues from oxidative damage.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.402-406
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• 2006

New antibacterial Polyurethane foams for car seat with Urushiol extracted from a natural lacquer were prepared. Influences of antibacterial agent's concentration on the reactivity with isocyanate and the mechanical properties of foams were investigated. It was observed that the urethane formation reaction was delayed a little when the amount of Urushiol was increased. However, the foams made using Urushiol showed similar property to the neat polyurethane foam. In terms of antibacterial property, the foams prepared with Urushiol showed better performance than the neat polyurethane foam.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.893-904
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• 2006

To improve sensitivity of biosensor as yeast two-hybrid detection system for estrogenic activity of suspected chemicals, we tested effects of several combinations of the bait and fish components in the two-hybrid system on Saccharomyces cerevisiae inducted a chromosome-integrated lacZ reporter gene that was under the control of CYC1 promoter and the upstream Gal4p-binding element $UAS_{GAL}$. The bait components that were fused with the Gal4p DNA binding domain are full-length human estrogen receptor ${\alpha}$ and its ligand-binding domain. The fish components that were fused with the Gal4p transcriptional activation domain were nuclear receptor-binding domains of co-activators SRC1 and TIF2. We found that the combination of the full-length human estrogen receptor ${\alpha}$ with the nuclear receptor-binding domain of co-activator SRC1 was most effective for the estrogen-dependent induction of reporter activity among the two-hybrid systems so far reported. The relative strength of transcriptional activation by representative natural and xenobiotic chemicals was well correlated with their estrogenic potency that had been reported with other assay systems.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.37-49
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• 1999

The effect of fire-retardant treatment and redrying on the mechanical properties of radiata pine sapwood were evaluated. Small, clear specimens were treated with three different fire-retardant(FR) chemicals, borax-boric acid(BRX), minalith(MIN), and pyresote(PYR), with target retentions of 30 and 60kg/$m^3$, and then redried at maximum dry-bulb temperature of $25^{\circ}C$, $60^{\circ}C$, $80^{\circ}C$ or $110^{\circ}C$. Each specimen, including untreated and water-treated controls, was tested in static bending and in compression parallel to grain. The extent of strength reduction was dependent on the type of FR chemicals, retention, and redrying temperature, and a highly significant interaction existed between FR treatment and redrying temperature. Modulus of rupture(MOR) and work to maximum load(WML) were significantly decreased by FR treatment and redrying. None of three FR chemicals adversely affect modulus of elasticity (MOE) and maximum crushing strength(MCS). MOE of BRX treatment and MCS of both BRX and PYR treatment increased significantly compared to untreated controls. No significant differences existed between retention levels except for MOE and MCS of some combinations of FR chemicals and redrying temperatures. Although MOE and MCS was not significantly affected by any of the redrying temperatures, these properties were generally decreased with the increase in redrying temperature. The significant reduction in MOR and WML was observed in BRX treatment when dried at temperatures of $60^{\circ}C$ and above, and in MIN and PYR treatment when dried at temperatures of $80^{\circ}C$ and above. Consequently, BRX-treated radiata pine should not be redried at temperatures >$60^{\circ}C$, and MIN- and PYR-treated radiata pine should not be redried at temperatures > $80^{\circ}C$ where bending strength and energy-related properties are important design considerations.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.46-52
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• 2010

Acid mine drainage occurs when sulfide minerals are exposed to an oxidizing environment. The objective of this study was to inhibit the oxidation of pyrite by applying various coating agent such as $KH_2PO_4$, MgO and $KMnO_4$ over its surface as an oxidation inhibitors. Experiments were conducted for 8 days to test the feasibility of oxidation inhibitors. The optimal condition of coating agent for standard pyrite and IK mine was the combination of 0.01M $KH_2PO_4$, 0.01M NaOAc and 0.01M NaClO. Otherwise, for YD mine the combination of 0.01M $KMnO_4$, 0.01M NaOAc and 0.01M NaClO. The $SO_4^{2-}$ reduction efficiency of pyrite, IK and YD mine samples was 70, 92 and 84%, respectively. For 8 days, no significant increase of $SO_4^{2-}$ from pyrite sample coated with inhibitor was observed. The pH of solution remains in between 4 to 6 for the reaction conditions.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2018

To study the effect of natural anti-microbial chemicals on the growth and quality of chili peppers, chitosan ($100mg/L^{-1}$), stevia ($250mg/L^{-1}$), and the mixture of both chemicals at the same concentration were sprayed after planting at 1-week interval throughout the experimental period. Plant height was measured twice after the $3^{rd}$ and $4^{th}$ applications. Plant height was numerically reduced in all chemical treatments compared to that of untreated control; however, there was no statistical difference between treatments. The fruit quality was examined at commercial maturity, and only minor differences were found in fruit color, length, and dry matter content between the treatments. Although a statistical difference was not present for soluble sugars levels, total phenolics, and capsaicin contents, yield in all chemical treatments significantly increased compared to untreated control. The effect on yield increase was greater at the late harvest season regardless of treatments. Total yield of 4 harvests was higher for the chitosan treatment than other treatments. During the experiment, the entire experimental field was waterlogged for 1 day due to sudden heavy rainfall, which resulted in the occurrence of bacterial browning disease in all treatments. The rate of disease occurrence and the degree of severity, however, were much lower in the chitosan treatment. In conclusion, the potential of chitosan as an alternative antimicrobial agent was confirmed in chili peppers in this study. Further research is required on stevia as an alternative chemical for disease control in chili peppers.