• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.438-446
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• 2020

Meju and nuruk (respectively soybean and malt) are traditional Korean fermentation starters that are vulnerable to contamination by harmful microorganisms such as aflatoxigenic fungi and their associated aflatoxins (AFs). In this study, Aspergillus spp. were isolated and identified from a total of 57 meju and 18 nuruk samples collected from Korean markets. Their potential aflatoxigenicity was investigated by examining the presence of three aflatoxin biosynthetic genes (aflO, aflP, and aflR) using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) assays. Thereafter, aflatoxin production of isolates and the natural occurrence of AFs in meju and nuruk samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A total of 177 Aspergillus isolates were identified and 130 isolates were obtained from meju samples. Of these, 25 isolates (19.2%) contained all three aflatoxin biosynthetic genes, and five (20%) of these isolates produced aflatoxins. Forty-seven of the Aspergillus isolates were obtained from nuruk samples, five of which (10.6%) expressed all three AF biosynthetic genes; however, none of these strains produced AFs. HPLC analysis showed that 88% (51/58) of the meju samples and 39% (7/18) of nuruk samples were not contaminated with AFs (below limit of detection). Among the isolates isolated from meju and nuruk, there were aflatoxigenic strains containing all three aflatoxin biosynthetic genes or producing aflatoxin in medium, but the frequency of aflatoxin contamination was low in the meju and nuruk samples.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.650-656
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• 2004

Oryza grandiglumis (CCDD, 2n=48), one of the wild rice species, has been known to possess fungal-,bacterial-, and insect-resistance against sheath blight, rice blast, bacterial leaf blight and brown plant hopper (Nilaparvata lugens). To rapidly isolate differentially expressed genes responding to fungal and wounding stress, wounding and yeast extract were treated to O. grandiglumis for 24 hrs. Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) method was used to obtain differentially expressed genes from yeast extract and wounding treated plants. Seven hundreds and seventy six clones were obtained by subcloning PCR product, and colony array and screening were carried out using radio-isotope labeled cDNA probes prepared from the wounding and yeast extract treated plants. One hundred and fifteen colonies were confirmed as true positive ones. Average insert size of the clones were ranged from 400 bp to 700 bp and all the inserts were sequenced. To decide the identity of those clones, sequences were analyzed by sequence homology via GenBank database. The homology search result showed that 68 clones were matched to the genes with known function; 16 were related to primary metabolism, 5 to plant retrotransposons, 5 to defense related metallothionein-like genes. In addition to that, others were matched to various genes with known function in amino acid synthesis and processing, membrane transport, and signal transduction, so on. In northern blot analysis, induced expressions of ogwfi-161, ogwfi-646, ogwfi-663, and ogwfi-695 by wounding and yeast extract treatments were confirmed. The result indicates that SSH method is very efficient for rapid screening of differentially expressed genes.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.263-271
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was undertaken to compare ability of frozen-thawed sperm characteristics between two strains (miniature pig and Duroc). The semen was collected by gloved-hand method into a pre-warmed ($37^{\circ}C$) thermos bottle. The semen was diluted with same volume extender and added to LEY solution for freezing. The diluted semen was placed in 0.5 ml straws, and freezing was initiated by exposing the straws to liquid nitrogen ($LN_2$) vapours for 10 min before placing them into $LN_2$ for cryopreservation. The frozen-semen straw were thawed at 20, 37 and $50^{\circ}C$ for 1 min, 45 sec and 10 sec within water-bath. The semen sample were evaluated at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 h after incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ for analysis of sperm ability. Abnormality of spermatozoa in miniature pig was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in Duroc at 0, 9 and 12 h of post-thawing incubation after frozen-thawing. The percentage of F-patterned spermatozoa in miniature pig was significantly (p<0.05) lower, while the percentage of AR (acrosome reacted spermatozoa) pattern was higher in the miniature than in the Duroc. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in the viability of spermatozoa thawed at different temperature ($20^{\circ}C\;and\;37^{\circ}C$) between two species, but the viability in miniature pig was higher (p<0.05) than in Duroc when sperm was thawed at $50^{\circ}C$. In conclusion, this study suggest that suitable freezing method for miniature pig semen is required for increasing post-thawing viability and fertilization capacity.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.524-531
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• 2017

The study aimed to investigate the antioxidant activity and neuroprotective effect of the ethyl acetate fraction from Orostachys japonicus A. Berger extract (EFOJ) and its main constituent compounds. Among all fractions, the highest content of total phenolics was found in EFOJ. The antioxidant activity of EFOJ was confirmed through the 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), 1-1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays and the inhibitory effect of malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, we ascertained that EFOJ not only decreased the intracellular ROS level, but also protected the neuronal cells against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress. In liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, the following were found to be the main compounds of EFOJ: quercetin-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, and kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside. Consequently, these results suggested that the protective effect on neuronal cells was based on the antioxidant activities of the physiologically active compounds of Orostachys japonicus A. Berger extract, which could therefore help to mitigate neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.317-324
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• 2012

In order to determine an authenticity of food ingredient, we used DNA barcode method by universal primers. For identification of animal food ingredients, LCO1490/HCO2198 and VF2/FISH R2 designed for amplifying cytochrome c oxidase subunit1 (CO1) region and L14724/H15915 for cytochrome b (cyt b) region on mitochondrial DNA were used. Livestock (cow, pig, goat, sheep, a horse and deer) was amplified by LCO1490/HCO 2198, VF2/FISH R2 and L14724/H15915 primers. Poultry (chicken, duck, turkey and ostrich) was amplified by LCO1490/HCO 2198 and VF2/FISH R2 primers. But, Fishes (walleye pollack, herring, codfish, blue codfish, trout, tuna and rockfish) were only amplified by VF2/FISH R2 primers. For plant food ingredients, 3 types of primers (trnH/psbA, rpoB 1F/4R and rbcL 1F/724R) have been used an intergenic spacer, a RNA polymerase beta subunit and a ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase region on plastid, respectively. Garlic, onion, radish, green tea and spinach were amplified by trnH/psbA, rpoB 1F/4R and rbcL 1F/724R. The PCR product sizes were same by rpoB 1F/4R and rbcL 1F/724R but, the PCR product size using trnH/psbA primer was different with others for plants each. We established PCR condition and universal primer selection for 17 item's raw materials for foods and determine base sequences aim to PCR products in this study. This study can apply to determine an authenticity of foods through making an comparison between databases and base sequences in gene bank. Therefore, DNA barcode method using universal primers can be a useful for species identification techniques not only raw materials but also processed foods that are difficult to analyze by chemical analysis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.739-745
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• 2017

In all mammalian species, progesterone is essential in the preparation for and maintenance of pregnancy. $20{\alpha}$-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase ($20{\alpha}$-HSD) predominantly converts progesterone into its biologically inactive form $20{\alpha}$-hydroxyprogesterone ($20{\alpha}$-OHP), and plays a crucial role in the termination of pregnancy and initiation of parturition. In this study, we characterized the expression and localization of $20{\alpha}$-HSDinthe testis of MediKinetics $Micropigs^{(R)}$. The testes were collected at days 6, 9, 12, 18, and 21 after birth. The $20{\alpha}$-HSD mRNA was found to be expressed in the testis at day 6 after birth by RT-PCR. The highest level of mRNA expression in the testis was detected on day 21 after birth. However, the mRNA was not detected in the placenta after parturition. Western blot for $20{\alpha}$-HSD reveal that the specific 37-kDa band was detected in immature pig testis. However, this band was not detected in testis tissue at day 6 after birth. In the immunohistochemical analysis of the testis, $20{\alpha}$-HSD was detected in the Sertoli cells and Leydig cells. Taken together, our study shows for the first time that the $20{\alpha}$-HSD mRNA and protein are expressed in pig testis after birth. Further investigation is required to elucidate the functional mechanisms of $20{\alpha}$-HSD in pig testis after birth.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.203-214
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• 2018

Ballast water treated by sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) injection method in ballast water management system (BWMS) contains reactive bromine, chlorine species and disinfection by-products (DBPs). In this study, we conducted whole effluent toxicity (WET) testing and ecological risk assessment (ERA) to investigate its ecotoxicological effects on the marine environment. WET testing was carried out for eight marine and fresh water organisms, i.e. diatom, Skeletonema costatum, Navicula pelliculosa, green algae, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, Brachionus calyciflorus and fish, Cyprinodon variegatus, Pimephales promelas. The WET test revealed that diatom and green algae were the only organisms that showed apparent toxicity to the effluent; it showed no observed effect concentration (NOEC), lowest observable effect concentration (LOEC) and effect concentration of 50 % (EC50) values of 25.0 %, 50.0 % and over 100.0 %, respectively, in seawater conditions. In contrast, rotifer and fish showed no toxicities to the effluent in the all salinity conditions. Meanwhile, chemical analysis revealed that the BWMS effluent contained total of 25 DBPs such as bromate, isocyanuric acid, formaldehyde, chloropicrin, trihalomethanes (THMs), halogenated acetonitriles (HANs) and halogenated acetic acids (HAAs). Based on ERA, the 25 DBPs were not considered to have persistency, bioaccumulation and toxicity (PBT) properties. The ratio of predicted environmental concentration (PEC) to predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) of the all DBPs did not exceed 1.0 for general harbour environments, but isocyanuric acid, tribromomethane, chloropicrin and monochloroacetic acid exceed 1.0 for near ship environments. However, when NOEC (25.0%) of the WET test results where actual effluent was applied, it was concluded that the NaDCC injection method did not have unacceptable ecological risks to the general harbor including near ship environments.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.42-52
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to propose the change of green area and green structure according to the change of the Floor Area Ratio(FAR) of apartment complex. The survey site was selected two each of apartment complex after due consider three type that is, the FAR below 100％, the FAR below 250％ and the FAR over 250％. Green rate is 40.23～44.23％, green width is 3～15m, green volume is 1.06～1.71㎥／$m^2$, planting density of cannopy layer is 0.04～0.06tree／$m^2$, planting density of understory layer is 0.06～0.20tree／$m^2$ in case of Hwagok 2nd Jugong apartment(FAR 99％) and Gaepo Jugong apartment(FAR 73％) constructed in the 1970～1980. Green rate is 24.16～26.16％, green width is 3～7m, green volume is 0.84～1.54㎥／$m^2$, planting density of cannopy layer is 0.18～0.31tree／$m^2$, planting density of understory layer is 0.15～0.35tree／$m^2$ in case of Deungchon Jugong aparment(FAR 226％) and Gaehwa apartment(FAR240％) construsted in the mid-1990's. Green rate is 23.47～25.53％, green width is 2～6m, green volume is 1.06～2.12㎥／$m^2$, planting density of cannopy layer is 0.25tree／$m^2$, planting density of understory layer is 0.22～0.37tree／$m^2$ in case of Hanbo Guam apartment(FAR 269％) and Donga 3rd apartment(FAR 376％) constructed in the last-1990's. As the results of analysis of green structure according to changes of the Floor Area Ratio(FAR), the greater the FAR, the higher the rate of green area. The green volume and planted density is low without the change of the FAR and planted structure was simple-layer structure composed of alien woody species.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.333-343
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• 2015

This research aims at identifying the goshawk's possible and replaceable breeding ground by using the MaxEnt prediction model which has so far been insufficiently used in Korea, and providing evidence to expand possible protection areas for the goshawk's breeding for the future. The field research identified 10 goshawk's nests, and 23 appearance points confirmed during the 3rd round of environmental research were used for analysis. 4 geomorphic, 3 environmental, 7 distance, and 9 weather factors were used as model variables. The final environmental variables were selected through non-parametric verification between appearance and non-appearance coordinates identified by random sampling. The final predictive model (MaxEnt) was structured using 10 factors related to breeding ground and 7 factors related to appearance area selected by statistics verification. According to the results of the study, the factor that affected breeding point structure model the most was temperature seasonality, followed by distance from mixforest, density-class on the forest map and relief energy. The factor that affected appearance point structure model the most was temperature seasonality, followed by distance from rivers and ponds, distance from agricultural land and gradient. The nature of the goshawk's breeding environment and habit to breed inside forests were reflected in this modeling that targets breeding points. The northern central area which is about $189.5 km^2$(2.55 %) is expected to be suitable breeding ground. Large cities such as Cheongju and Chungju are located in the southern part of Chungcheongbuk-do whereas the northern part of Chungcheongbuk-do has evenly distributed forests and farmlands, which helps goshawks have a scope of influence and food source to breed. Appearance point modeling predicted an area of $3,071 km^2$(41.38 %) showing a wider ranging habitat than that of the breeding point modeling due to some limitations such as limited moving observation and non-consideration of seasonal changes. When targeting the breeding points, a specific predictive area can be deduced but it is difficult to check the points of nests and it is impossible to reflect the goshawk's behavioral area. On the other hand, when targeting appearance points, a wider ranging area can be covered but it is less accurate compared to predictive breeding point since simple movements and constant use status are not reflected. However, with these results, the goshawk's habitat can be predicted with reasonable accuracy. In particular, it is necessary to apply precise predictive breeding area data based on habitat modeling results when enforcing an environmental evaluation or establishing a development plan.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.13-25
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• 2016

This study aims to analyze the change process in order to set the improvement strategies for the zoo in the Seoul Children's Grand Park. The zoo can be reviewed through three significant time periods with noticeable changes. As a framework to analyze the major changes that happened in the zoo, this study looks at the changes in terms of the planning aspect as well as the animal welfare and program operation aspect. The findings are as follows: first, the era of general theme park turned out to have focused on exhibiting animals to meet visitor demands by expanding the zoo area of the zoo without enlarging stockyards for the animals. Second, the environmental park era created a zoo having entertaining and educational functions by arranging animal houses with the concept of zoological taxonomy and introducing animal behavioral enrichment, animal welfare programs and visitor participatory programs. The era of the zoo as an Urban Cultural Park improved old animal houses and facilities for the welfare of the animals and increased educational programs to preserve species and provide environmental education. The current status of the zoo turns out not to meet the conditions for creating an ecological zoo, which is the overall goal for contemporary zoos. The improvement strategies based on the analysis through three different eras are three-fold. First, the zoo needs to improve the boundary conditions of the animals to showcase animal wildness through landscape immersion. Second, the zoo should provide a shared environment for animals from the same habitats by changing the classification methods from the existing polyphyletic taxon to a classification that considers ecological habitat. Third, the zoo needs to develop various ecological education programs by supplementing specialists in professional education.