• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2014.10a
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• pp.32-32
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• 2014

Meju is a brick of dried fermented soybeans and is the core material for Jang such as Doenjang and Ganjang. Jang is produced by addition of salty water to Meju and is considered the essential sauces of authentic Korean cuisine. Meju is fermented by diverse microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and yeasts. It is known that fungi play an important role in the Meju fermentation and they degrade macromolecules of the soybeans into small nutrient molecules. In previous study, 26 genera and 0 species were reported as Meju fungi. However, it is not comprehensively examined where the fungi present on the Meju are originated. In order to elucidate the origin of the fungi present on the Meju, the mycobiota of 500 samples soybean kernels, 296 rice straw pieces and air samples of Jang factories was determined in 0, 2 and 7 Jang factories respectively. Forty-one genera covering 86 species were isolated from the soybeans and 33 species were identical with the species from Meju. From sodium hypochlorite untreated soybeans, Eurotium herbariorum, Eurotium repens, Cladosporium tenuissimum, Fusarium fujikuroi, Aspergillus oryzae/flavus and Penicillium steckii were the predominant species. In case of sodium hypochlorite-treated soybeans, Eurotium herbariorum, E. repens and Cladosporium tenuissimum were the predominant species. Of the 4 genera and 86 species isolated from soybeans, 3 genera and 33 species were also found in Meju. Thirty-nine genera and 92 species were isolated from the rice straws and 40 species were identical with the species from Meju. Fusarium asiaticum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Aspergillus tubingensis, A. oryzae, E. repens and Eurotium chevalieri were frequently isolated from the rice straw obtained from many factories. Twelve genera and 40 species of fungi that were isolated in the rice straw in this study, were also isolated from Meju. Especially, A. oryzae, C. cladosporioides, E. chevalieri, E. repens, F. asiaticum and Penicillium polonicum that are abundant species in Meju, were also isolated frequently from rice straw. C. cladosporioides, F. asiaticum and P. polonicum that are abundant in low temperature fermentation process of Meju fermentation, were frequently isolated from rice straw incubated at $5^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$, while A. oryzae, E. repens and E. chevalieri that are abundant in high temperature fermentation process of Meju fermentation, were frequently isolated from rice straw incubated at $25^{\circ}C$ and $35^{\circ}C$. This suggests that the mycobiota of rice straw have a large influence in mycobiota of Meju. Thirty-nine genera and 92 species were isolated from the air of Jang factories and 34 species were identical with the species from Meju. In outside air of the fermentation room, Cladosporium sp. and Cladosporium cladosporioides were the dominant species, followed by Cladosporium tenuissimum, Eurotium sp., Phoma sp. Sistotrema brinkmannii, Alternaria sp., Aspergillus fumigatus, Schizophyllum commune, and Penicillium glabrum. In inside air of the fermentation room, Cladosporium sp., Aspergillus oryzae, Penicillium chrysogenum, A. nidulans, Aspergillus sp., C. cladosporioides, Eurotium sp., Penicillium sp., C. tenuissimum, A. niger, E. herbariorum, A. sydowii, and E. repens were collected with high frequency. The concentrations of the genus Aspergillus, Eurotium and Penicillium were significantly higher in inside air than outside air. From this results, the origin of fungi present on Meju was inferred. Of the dominant fungal species present on Meju, Lichtheimia ramosa, Mucor circinelloides, Mucor racemosus, and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis are thought to be originated from outside air, because these species are not or are rarely isolated from rice straw and soybean; however, they were detected outside air of fermentation room and are species commonly found in indoor environments. However, A. oryzae, P. polonicum, E. repens, P. solitum, and E. chevalieri, which are frequently found on Meju, are common in rice straw and could be transferred from rice straw to Meju. The fungi grow and produce abundant spores during Meju fermentation, and after the spores accumulate in the air of fermentation room, they could influence mycobiota of Meju fermentation in the following year. This could explain why concentrations of the genus Aspergillus, Eurotium, and Penicillium are much higher inside than outside of the fermentation rooms.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.237-242
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• 2015

The use of calcite-forming bacteria (CFB) in crack remediation and durability improvements in construction materials creates a permanent and environmentally-friendly material. Therefore, research into this type of application is stimulating interdisciplinary studies between microbiology and architectural engineering. However, the mechanisms giving rise to these materials are dependent on calcite precipitation by the metabolism of the CFB, which raises concerns about possible hazards to cement-based construction due to microbial metabolic acid production. The aim of this study was to determine target microorganisms that possibly can have bio-corrosive effects on cement mortar and to assess multi-functional CFBs for their safe application to cement structures. The chalky test was first used to evaluate the $CaCO_3$ solubilization feature of construction sites by fungi, yeast, bacterial strains. Not all bacterial strains are able to solubilize $CaCO_3$, but C. sphaerospermum KNUC253 or P. prolifica KNUC263 showed $CaCO_3$ solubilization activity. Therefore, these two strains were identified as target microorganisms that require control in cement structures. The registered patented strains Bacillus aryabhatti KNUC205, Arthrobacter nicotianae KNUC2100, B. thuringiensis KNUC2103 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KNUC2106, reported as multifunctional CFB (fungal growth inhibition, crack remediation, and water permeability reduction of cement surfaces) and isolated from Dokdo or construction site were unable to solubilize $CaCO_3$. Notably, B. aryabhatti KNUC205 and A. nicotianae KNUC2100 could not hydrolyze cellulose or protein, which can be the major constituent macromolecules of internal materials for buildings. These results show that several reported multi-functional CFB can be applied to cement structures or diverse building environments without corrosive or bio-deteriorative risks.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.297-304
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• 2018

Coptis chinensis is used in oriental medicine for soothing, anti-inflammation, antimicrobial and antipyretic properties, and its main ingredient berberine is known to have strong antibacterial activity. In this study, we investigated the anti-microbial effect of hot water extract of Coptis chinensis (CW) on skin related microorganism and the airborne microbe, the antifungal effects of fungi, which are frequently detected in residential environments. CW showed antibacterial effect against Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, against the airborne microbe, which was collected in four different places. At the concentration of 100 mg/mL, the antimicrobial activity continued for 42 days, showed heat stability without change in the antimicrobial activity even after heat treatment. The MIC and MBC of CW against S. aureus was 0.03, 0.05 mg/mL, against S. epidermidis was 0.50, 0.75 mg/mL and against P. acne was 0.10, 0.15 mg/mL. As a result of measuring the MIC of four kinds of fungi with high detection frequency in the surrounding environment, Gliocladium virens was 65 mg/mL by determined as MIC which can inhibit one hundred percent of mycelial growth. The concentration 90 mg/mL was determined as MIC against Aureobasidium pullulans and 100 mg/mL against Penicilium pinophilum and Chaetomium globosum. CW was considered a safe extract that showed no irritation even in the ocular mucous membrane irritation evaluation test, a patch test. Therefore, these results suggest that Coptis chinensis has antimicrobial, antifungal and safety on human body and can be applied to the development of materials for cosmetic and residential environment industries.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.107-119
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• 1996

To understand vegetation changes along environmental gradients in the natural forests in the east side of the Cascade Range in Washington state, USA, line transects were used to sample six different forest environments in the Wenatchee National Forest in the north-facing and south-facing sites at 975, 1280 and 1700m elevation. Data were analyzed using ordination by detranded correspondence analysis. Pseudotsuga menziesii was found as one of the dominant species on all the six sites regardless of elevation or aspect, while Pinus ponderosa was dominant on south slopes only. Abies grandis and A. lasiocarpa were dominant species on north slopes at elevations of 1280 and 1700m, respectively. Moisture, as it related to aspect, was identified as one of the most important environmental gradients for explaining the variation of vegetation types. On north-facing slopes, compared to south-facing slopes, where moisture was not as limiting and canopies could grow denser, probably, elevation or competitive interaction was more important. Species diversity tended to decrease with increasing environmental severity, with south slopes having less diversity than north slopes due to extended water stress and harsher temperature extremes on south slopes. The age structure on north-facing and south-facing slopes was different. Light intensity, moisture and climate were different between these two slopes. Large scale disturbances(e.g., big fire or insects) were major causes in changing age structure. Younger trees showed a closer relationship between size and age than adult trees. DBH values of shade intolerant species in south-facing slope were bigger than those of north-facing slope, which suggested that aspect of stands be the most important factor for age and size.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.21-37
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• 1989

Environmental design pattern of the nine Small Urban Spaces at C.B.D. in City of Seoul are surveyed and analyzed for user's satisfaction and behavior under the environmental design evaluation by using Christopher Alexander's Pattern Language. Small Urban Spaces as a part of streetscape are formed by physical factors as well as visual environment and interacting user's behavior. Therefore, user's satisfaction and behavior at the nine Urban Small Spaces were investigated under the further search for some possibilities of application of those Pattern Languages. A pattern language has a structure of a network. It is used in sequence, going through the patterns, moving always from large patterns to smaller, always from the ones which create comes simply from the observation that most of the wonderful places of the city were not blade by architects but by the people. It defines the limited number of arrangements of spaces that make sense in any given culture. And it actually gives us the power to generate these coherent arrangement of space. As a results, 'Plaza', 'Seats'and 'Aecessibility' related design Patterns are highly evaluated by Pattern Frequency, Pattern Interaction and their Composition ranks, thus reconfirm Whyte's Praise of urban Small Spaces in our inner city design environments. According to the multiple regression analysis of user's evaluation, the environmental functions related to the satisfaction were 'Plaza', 'Accessibility' and 'Paving'. According to the free response, user's prefer such visually pleasing environmental design object as 'Waterscape' and 'Setting'. In addition to, the basic needs in Urban Small Spaces are amenity facilities as bench, drinking water and shade for rest.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.612-619
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• 2011

Cronobacter sakazakii has been isolated from a wide range of environmental sources and from several foods of animal and plant origin. The objective of this study was to determine the resistance of C. sakazakii (ATCC 12868, ATCC 29004, and ATCC 29544) in cold, cold-freeze thaw, cold-acid, and cold starvation-freeze thaw stress. The number of C. sakazakii decreased to 1 log CFU/mL at $5^{\circ}C$ (cold storage) for 10 days. When C. sakazakii was cultivated at a low temperature ($13^{\circ}C$), the population of C sakazakii ATCC 12868 and 29004 increased to $10^9$ CFU/mL, and the population of C. sakazakii ATCC 29544 increased to $10^8$ CFU/mL. For C. sakazakii ATCC 12868 and 29004, the cold-adapted cells ($5^{\circ}C$ 24 hr) decreased by 4 log CFU/mL, and the low-temperature-cultivated cells ($13^{\circ}C$) decreased by 0.5 log CFU/mL. In this study, low-temperature cultivation enhanced the freeze-thaw cross-resistance due to the metabolic changes in the cells. Cold stress ($5^{\circ}C$ 48 hr, $13^{\circ}C$ cultivation) enhanced the cold-acid cross-resistance. The cold-starved cells in the sterilized 0.1% peptone water enhanced the freeze-thaw cross-resistance with significant differences (p<0.05). Therefore, the increased tolerance of the cold-adapted or low-temperature-cultivated C. sakazakii cells to freeze-thaw, acid, or starvation suggests that such environments should be considered when processing minimally processed foods or foods with extended shelf life.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2012

We investigated environmental characteristics of the tidal flat oyster aquafarms to clarifyeffects of the tidal flat environmental factors on growth and mortality of the tidal flat oyster Crassostrea gigas by the Net Bag Rack Culture System in two districts in Western Korea. In this study, we have carried out the basic environmental investigation on growth of the single tidal flat, water quality and sediments, etc. in Taean and Seosan districts, Choongcheongnam-do, where the single tidal flat oyster aquaculture have been performed by the net bag rack culture system. In June 2011 when the final survey carried out at the two districts in western Korea, the mortality in Seosan district was higher than that in Tae-an district. Judging from the results of growth and mortality of the single tidal flat oysters investigated at two sites of Jinsan-ri in Taean and Chang-ri in Seosan districts, two results of Taean district showed higher growth and lower mortality than those of Seosan district. It is assumed that the proper acceptable density possible for growth of the tidal flat seeds and the secure of economics, in case of plastic cultivate net with the size of $50{\times}80cm$, are about 200 individuals. In this study, It was clarified that selection of the suitable sites, the input into the net bag of high quality oyster seeds and selective dispersion in the optimal density of the single tidal flat oyster have an effect on growth and mortality of the tidal flat oyster.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.257-271
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• 2002

One of the main interests in relation to heavily contaminated gully-pot sediment in urban area is the short term mobility of heavy metals, which depends on the pH of acidic rainwater and on the buffering effects of carbonate minerals. The buffering effects of carbonates are determined by titration (acid addition). Leaching experiments are carried out in solutions with variable initial HN03 contents for 24h. The gully-pot sediment appears to be predominantly buffered by calcite and dolomite. In case of sediment samples, which highly contain carbonates, pH decreases more slowly with increasing acidity. On the other hand, for the sediment samples, which less contain carbonate minerals, pH rapidly drops until it reaches about 2 then it decreases slowly. The leaching reactions are delayed until more acid is added to compensate for the buffering effects of carbonates. The Zn, Cu, Pb and Mn concentrations of leachate rapidly increase with decreased pH, while Cd, Co, Ni, Cr and Fe dissolutions are very slow and limited. The solubility of heavy metals depends not only on thc pH values of leachatc but also on the speciation in which metals are associated with sediment particles. In slightly to moderately acid conditions, Zn, Cd, Co, Ni and Cu dissolutions become increasingly important. As deduced from leaching runs, the relative mobility of heavy metals at pH of 5 is found to be: Zn > Cd > Co > Ni > Cu » Pb > Cr, suggesting that moderately acid rainwater leach Zn, Cd, Co, Ni and Cu from thc contaminated gully-pot sediment, while Pb and Cr would remain fixed. The buffering effects of Ca- and Mg-carbonates play an important role in delaying as well as limiting the leaching reactions of heavy metals from highly contaminated gully-pot sediment. The extent of such a secondary environmental pollution will thus depends on how well the metals in sediment can be leached by somewhat acidic rain water. Changes in the physicochemical environments may result in the severe environmental pollution of heavy metals. These results are to be taken into account in the management of contaminated sediments during rainstorms.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.149-159
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• 2017

We investigated the mineralogical and chemical characteristics of oyster shell as the possible substitute for the limestone used as an absorbent of $SO_2$ gas. The oyster shells from Taean and Tongyeong were used for the comparison with limestone and those from Boyreong and Yeosu were additionally investigated. XRD results show that all shells are composed of calcite with the exception of the myostracum layer attached to adductor muscle and ligament, which is composed of aragonite. The marine sediments as impurities exist on the surface of shells or as inclusions in the shells. Calcite is the main mineral composition of the shell of barnacle which is also one of the impurities. The oyster shell is composed of three main layers; prismatic, foliated, and chalk. The oyster shell from Tongyeong with the largest shell size, has the smallest thickness of prismatic and foliated layers which contain protein called conchiolin, whereas that from Taean with the smallest shell size has the largest prismatic and foliated layers. The sizes of those two layers of the shells from Boryeong and Yeosu are larger than that from Tongyeong but smaller than Taean. Those differences are supposed to be due to the different growth environments because the oysters from Tongyeong are cultured under the sea while those from Taean are in the tidal zone. The oyster shells generally show higher amount of sulfur and phosphorus than limestone, mainly due to the composition of protein. Some elements such as Mg show significant variations in different layers. As for trace elements, Li shows much higher amount in oyster shells than limestone, suggesting the influence of the composition of the sea water on the formation of the oyster shells.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.97-108
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• 2012

Physical, chemical and biological hazards of strawberry farms at the cultivation stage were analyzed to establish the GAP(Good Agricultural Practice) system. Samples were collected from the plants, cultivation environments(water, soil and air), and personal hygiene (hand, glove, and clothes) of three strawberry farms(A, B, and C) and were tested to analyze physical, chemical (heavy metals and pesticide residues), and biological(sanitary indications and foodborne pathogens) hazards. Physical hazards such as insects and pieces of metal and glass were found in the strawberry farms and can be potential bow for strawberry products. Heavy metal and pesticide residue as chemical hazards were detected at levels lower than the regulation limit. In case of biological hazards, total bacteria and coliform were detected at the levels of 1.6~7.3 and 1.3~5.6 log CFU/g, leaf, mL, hand or $100cm^2$. However, Escherichia coli was not detected in all samples. Bacillus cereus and Staphylococuus aureus were detected at levels of ${\leq}$ 1.1~6.1 log CFU and 4.7~5.4 log CFU/g, mL, hand or $100cm^2$, whereas Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157 and Salmonella spp. were not detected in all samples. This study demonstrates that various harzards were in strawberry farms at the growing stage. Therefore proper management such as GAP is needed to prevent the occurrence of food poisoning associated with the hazards revealed in this study.