• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.36-43
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• 2003

This study was carried out to evaluate the fungicidal, anti-sapstain and termiticidal efficacy of commercial Dan-Chung which are currently being used for painting to decorate and to provide durability with structures of temples. Two binders (Polysol and Gelatine), and eleven pigments (Iron Oxide Red, Lead Red, Toluidine Red, Chrome Yellow, Titanium Dioxide, Ultramarine Blue, Chrome Oxide Green, Permanent Black, Cyanine Green and Ho-bun(Chalk)) were applied for the evaluation. The fungicidal and anti-sapstain activity of each pigment were depended on the types of binders. When the Polysol was used as a binder, the fungicidal efficacy of Toluidine Red treated specimen was close to the standard value (above 80) with grater than 70 against to two wood decay fungi (T. palustris and T. versicolor). The anti-sapstain efficacy of Lead Red treated specimens was excellent against to three sapstain fungi (P. funiculosum, T. viride and R. nigricans), and that of Ultramarine Blue treated specimens was also excellent to T. viride. The other pigments had little efficacy to these micro-organisms. Although there were some different trends of the effectiveness depending on the types of binders, the anti-termite effectiveness of Chrome Oxide Green and Chrome Yellow was outstanding to termite tests.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.246-255
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• 2022

The need for non-destructive testing and evaluation of Korean traditional wooden buildings is increasing because of their widespread deterioration. Among all types of deterioration, termite damage in wooden columns is the most difficult to detect with the naked eye because it starts inside the wood, and the initial deterioration is small. X-ray computed tomography (CT) is the best technology to investigate the inner state of wood that has less damage, but applying it to wooden columns between walls is challenging. Therefore, the feasibility of tomosynthesis, which is a method to reconstruct a coronal section of a subject with a few X-ray projections from a limited angle of rotation, was studied as an alternative to CT. Pine (P. densiflora) with three artificial holes was prepared as a specimen to evaluate the quality of reconstructed tomosynthesis images according to the different number of projections. The quality of the tomosynthesis images in the in-focus plane was evaluated using the contrast-to-noise ratios, while a vertical resolution between the images was assessed by determining the artificial spread function. The quality of the tomosynthesis image in the in-focus plane increased as the number of projections increased and then remained constant as the number of projections reached 21 or over. In the case of vertical resolution, there was no significant difference when 21 projections or more were used to reconstruct the images. A distinct difference between coronal section images was found when the distance was more than 10 mm from one plane to another plane.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2008

Subsocial behavior of the genus Cryptocercus cockroaches has been believed as primitive traits of termite eusociality. Thus, it has been believed that understanding Cryptocercus subsociality is a pre-requisite stage to infer evolutionary route of the eusociality in termites. Woodroaches of Cryptocercus are also well known because of its peculiar characteristics including adults living monogamously in pairs, semelparous reproduction, xylophagy, obligatory association between adults and their offspring, slow development, and anal trophallaxis by adults. Based on the previously accumulated data, we try to understand two major components of Cryptocercus life history, development and reproduction. We hypothesize that harsh winter and length of winter might be one of the main causes driving the appearance of the delayed development and semelparous reproduction in Cryptocercus life history.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.122-129
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• 2017

Termites are destructive to agriculture, forestry, and buildings, but they can also promote agro-ecosystem balance through the degradation of lignocellulose. Termite-triggered cellulose digestion may be clarified through microbial metabolism of cellulose products. In the present study, we characterized the activities of cellulase and its three components synthesized by the cellulase-producing fungal strain HDZK-BYTF620 isolated from the gut of Odontotermes formosanus. The protein components of cellulases were synthesized by strain HDZK-BYTF620, which were isolated and characterized using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the expression of the cellulases was studied at the proteome level.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.28
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• pp.59-73
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• 2007

Wooden artifacts are biologically damaged by animals, insects, and micro-organisms. We focused on the evaluation of the antifungal and insecticidal activities of tree extracts to control deterioration of wooden cultural properties. 12 kinds of methanol extracts from 9 species of tree were investigated for their biocidal activities against two micro-organisms and two spices of insect. Most tree extracts showed fungicidal activities to Tyromyces palustris and Trametes versicolor. Among 12 different tree extracts, the strongest antifungal activity against T.palustris and T.versicolor was observed from the extracts of Pinus densiflora stem-bark extract and Pinus koraiensis leaf extracts. However, in the insecticidal activity test, Pinus densiflora stem-bark extracts against termite was relatively effective. Chemical compositions of methanol extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. As a result, it was confirmed that development of biocide based on the natural extracts can be expected to conservate of wooden cultural properties.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.281-287
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• 2023

The symbiotic association between fungus-gardening termites Macrotermes and its fungal symbiont has a moderate degree of specificity-although the symbiotic fungi (Termitomyces) form a monophyletic clade, there is not a one-to-one association between termite species and their fungus-garden associates. Here, we aim to determine the origin and phylogenetic relationships of Termitomyces in Oman. We used sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and the nuclear large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU rRNA, 25S) gene and analyzed these with sequences of Termitomyces from other geographic areas. We find no evidence for more than a single colonization of Oman by Termitomyces. Unexpectedly, we find Termitomyces in Oman is most closely related to the symbiont of M. subhyalinus in West Africa rather than to those of geographically closer populations in East Africa.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.188-197
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• 2020

Termites play an important role as decomposers of the forest ecosystem, while simultaneously causing enormous damage to wooden structures. Currently, two species of subterranean termites have been reported in Korea, and termite damage to historical wooden buildings is occurring nationwide due to climate change, forest fertility, and the locational characteristics of historical wooden buildings. Subterranean termites make their nests underground or inside timber. Termites move underground and access wooden structures through the lower parts of the buildings, adjacent to the ground. Once termites attack the wooden structures, it not only spoils the authenticity of cultural heritage structure, but also hampers structural stability due to the decrease in the strength of the material. Therefore, it is important to prevent termite damage before it occurs. Chemical treatments are mainly used in Korea to control and prevent the damage. In foreign countries, physical barriers are also used to prevent entry to wooden buildings, along with chemical treatments. Physical barriers involve installing nets or particles that termites cannot pass through in the lower part of the building, around the pipes, and between the edges of the building or exterior walls and interior materials. Advantages of a physical barrier are that it is an eco-friendly method, maintains long-term effect after installation, and does not require the use of chemical treatments. Prior to applying physical barriers, studies into the characteristics of termite species must be undertaken. In this study, we evaluated the minimum passage size that each caste of Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis can move through. We found that workers, soldiers, and secondary reproductive termites were able to pass through diameters of 0.7mm, 0.9mm, and 1.1mm respectively. Head height of termites was an important factor in determining the minimum passing size. Results from the current study will be used as a basis to design the mesh size for physical barriers to prevent damage by termites in historical wooden buildings in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.497-510
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• 2018

In this study, the decay resistance of larch wood, which was heat treated by superheated steam, was evaluated by the field decay test. During the field decay test of 12 months, non-treated wood has been severely damaged by termite, however, no visible damage has occurred in the preservative-treated wood and superheated steam heat-treated wood. Results of field decay test showed approximately 5% mass loss of the non-treated wood and the preservative-treated wood, and approximately 1% mass loss of the superheated steam heat-treated wood. After the field decay test for 12 months, the residual amount of preservatives remaining in the preservative-treated wood was lower than that before the field decay test. It was considered that the preservative was partially eluted during the field decay test, and the mass loss of the preservative-treated wood was thought to be similar to that of the non-treated wood. Through this study and additional long-term monitoring test, superheated steam heat treatment can be considered to be an environmental-friendly method to enhance the decay resistance of wood against rot fungi and/or insect without chemical treatment such as preservative injection.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 2010

We separated the bacteria showing protease activity from Reticulitermes speratus which is known as the only termite species in Korea. Then, we collected the best activated strain and studied the optimal culture condition for producing the enzyme. According to the results of observing morphological and physiological characteristics, and the type of 16S rRNA of the strain, it was identified as Serratia marcescens and named S. marcescens strain TM-3215. This strain showed the best activity under conditions of 0.8% (w/v) starch, 0.4% (w/v) peptone, 0.08% (w/v) $MgSO_4{\cdot}7H_2O$, $30^{\circ}C$ and pH 8.0. After being cultivated under optimal conditions for 9 hr, the strain produced 19.8 U/ml of enzyme, an amount 1.8 times greater than the control.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.679-688
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated the applicability of a termiticide based on metofluthrin for termite control on traditional wooden buildings. To evaluate their mortality, termites were exposed to the agent, diluted to various concentrations, for seven days; it was found that it had a sufficient insecticidal effect although there was a difference depending on the degree of agent dilution. Next, the effect on Dancheong, used in traditional wooden structures, was measured based on the color change according to the number of agent treatments. The results showed that only the color difference value of two pigments (i.e., Bun and Juhong) was measured as 3.0 or higher. However, there this varied according to the dilution ratio. Thus, it was found that most pigments had little effect on the color of Dancheong. Finally, the termiticidal efficacy of the agent when applied to wood was evaluated. We found that the specimens coated with 10-fold and 20-fold dilutions exhibited 2.83 and 6.28% mass loss, respectively. The 10-fold dilution satisfied the performance of termiticide as a mass loss of less than 3%. In conclusion, the metofluthrin-based agent used in this study has little effect on various Dancheong pigments and has a termiticidal effect against termites; it is therefore suggested that it may be used in preserving traditional wooden cultural properties in Korea.