PURPOSES : This study aimed to develop a quantitative structure property relationships (QSPR) model to predict the density from the molecular structure information of the asphalt binder AAA1, a non-full connected structure mixed with a total of 12 molecules. METHODS : The partial least squares regression (PLSR) model, which models the relationship between predictions and responses and the structure of these variables, was applied to predict the density of a binder with molecule descriptors. The PLSR model could also analyze data with collinear, noisy, and multiple dimensional independent variables. The density and additive-free AAA1 binder’s molecule systems generated by an asphalt binder’s molecules-related study were used to fit the PLSR model with the molecular descriptors produced using alvaDesc software. In addition to developing the relationship, a systematic feature selection framework (i.e., the V-WSP- and PLSR-modelbased genetic algorithm (GA)) was applied to explore sets of predictors which contributed to predicting the physical property. RESULTS : The PLSR model accurately predicted the density for the AAA1 binder’s molecules using the condition of the temperature and aging level (R2 was 0.9537, RMSE was 0.00424, and MAP was 0.00323 for the test data) and provided a set of features which correlated well to the property. CONCLUSIONS : Through the establishment of the physical property prediction model, it was possible to evaluate the physical properties of construction materials without limited experiments or simulations, and it could be used to comprehensively design the modified material composition.

The genus Acronicta Ochsenheimer, 1816 is known as a forest pest. The acronictine species is widely distributed across the Afrotropical, Oriental, Australian, and Neartic regions. This study presents a new record of an acronictine species from Korea, including descriptions, illustrations, and diagnostic characteristics. Additionally, the CO1 barcode data of the newly recorded species is compared with the global barcode reference at the species level. New data on the recently recorded species has been obtained from this study. This information will aid in the prompt identification and preparation for potential pest outbreaks.

Laurencia is a red algal genus that was described by J.V. Lamouroux in 1813. The main characteristics of this genus have been known as the presence of four pericentral cells in an axial segment, secondary pit connections between adjacent epidermal cells, and the presence of corps en cerise in both epidermal and trichoblast cells. Additionally, the tetrasporangia are arranged in a parallel manner, and male branches feature terminal cup-shaped spermatangial pits. Currently, sixteen Korean Laurencia species have been reported based on their morphological characteristics. In this study, Laurencia decussata and L. pacifica have been added as new records to the Korean algal flora based on a combination of morphological observations and molecular analyses of rbcL sequences. Laurencia decussata has expanded from Australia and New Zealand to Korea, while the distribution of L. pacifica has expanded from USA and Mexico to Korea.

The root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus spp. is the most important plantparasitic nematode due to its worldwide distribution, wide host ranges, and migratory endoparasitic characteristics. One population of Pratylenchus collected from the giant pussy willow (Salix chaenomeloides Kimura) in the Andong area as part of a nematode survey in Korea was characterized morphologically and by molecular methods. The analysis of morphological measurements and morphometric characteristics, as well as DNA sequencing of the rRNA large subunit (LSU) D2/D3 expansion segments and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene sequence, confirmed the identity of this population as P. hippeastri. This study is the first report of P. hippeastri associated with Salix chaenomeloides in Korea and worldwide. Further studies on distribution and pathogenicity in different P. hippeastri host crops, such as grapevines, strawberries, and apples, are necessary. The taxonomic keys to 16 Pratylenchus species in Korea are provided.

The morphological features of germling cells were examined to identify an unspecified resting cyst (described as Cochlodinium cf. polykrikoides-like resting cyst) in the Korean coastal area. LSU rRNA gene sequences were also obtained from a strain established from the germling cells. The resting cysts isolated from Korean coastal sediment were characterized as being brown in color, having a large dark-red body, and fibrous lobed ornaments. The germling cells were ellipsoidal with an irregular outline and had an open comma-shaped ASC (apical structure complex), a wide and deep cingulum, and a deep sulcus. These morphological features were consistent with those of previously described harmful dinoflagellate Pseudocochlodinium profundisulcus. The molecular phylogeny revealed that the germling cells and P. profundisulcus were conspecific. Based on these morphological and phylogenetic data, this study documents the occurrence of P. profundisulcus in a Korean coastal area for the first time.

Rotylenchus pini Mamiya, 1968 was reported from rhizospheric soils of Zoysia japonica in Korea. Females and males of the characterized population conform to the original species description from Japan and also to other subsequent species descriptions with variations in a few details in morphometrics including the existence of pharyngeal gland overlap in some specimen. Bayesian analysis of all the three DNA markers consistently grouped R. pini together with Rotylenchus species including R. zhongshanensis, a morphologically close species. Additionally, the newly obtained sequences of R. pini were found to be almost identical to the sequences assigned to Rotylenchus aff. devonensis in GenBank. These Rotylenchus aff. devonensis isolates might be representatives of R. pini populations. The current and previous phylogenetic studies supported by the recorded morphological plasticity within populations of the genus validate the proposed synonymy of Pararotylenchus with Rotylenchus.

V. parahaemolyticus causes waterborne and foodborne disease such as acute diarrhea. In this study, V. parahaemolyticus isolates from seawater, fish tanks, and distributed fishery products in Jeju were investigated for potential toxin or species-specific genes (tdh, trh, tlh, and toxR) using RT-PCR and their genetic characteristics were analyzed using Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Overall, V. parahaemolyticus of 90 strains (36.7%), including 33 strains from seawater, 8 strains from fish tanks, and 50 strains from fishery products, were isolated from 245 samples. All V. parahaemolyticus strains did not detect the tdh gene, whereas all strains detected tlh or toxR genes. In addition, trh genes were detected in 3 strains from seawater and 1 strain from fishery products. Monthly quantitative testing of seawater revealed that V. parahaemolyticus was positively correlated with water temperature. The 90 strains of V. parahemolyticus obtained in this study showed by gene homology between types, ranging from 64.0–97.3%. Among these, thirteen types showed 100% homology between genes. These results indicate that continuous monitoring is needed to facilitate food poisoning epidemiological investigations because some isolated V. parahaemolyticus strains harbored toxin genes and V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated from seawater, fish tanks, and distributed fishery products showed genetic similarity.

Although probiotics have been shown to improve health when consumed, recent studies have reported that they can cause unwanted side effects due to bacterial-human interactions. Therefore, the importance of prebiotics that can form beneficial microbiome in the gut has been emphasized. This study isolated and identified bacteria capable of producing biopoymer as a candidate prebiotic from traditional fermented foods. The isolated and identified strain was named WCYSK01 (Wissella sp. strain YSK01). The composition of the medium for culturing this strain was prepared by dissolving 3 g K2HPO4, 0.2 g MgSO4, 0.05 g CaCl2, 0.1 g NaCl in 1 L of distilled water. The LMBP(low molecular weight biopoymers) produced when fermentation was performed with sucrose and maltose as substrates were mainly consisted of DP3 (degree of polymer; isomaltotriose), DP4 (isomaltotetraose), DP5 (isomaltopentaose), and DP6 (isomaltoheptaose). The optimization of LMBP (low molecular weight of biopolymer) production was performed using the response surface methodology. The fermentation process temperature range of 18 to 32oC, the fermentation medium pH in the range of 5.1 to 7.9. The yield of LMBP production by the strain was found to be significantly affected by q fermentation temperature and pH. The optimal fermentation conditions were found at the normal point, and the production yield was more than 75% at pH 7.5 and temperature of 23oC.

This study is intended to determine the antimicrobial resistance properties and class 1 integrons of 30 Citrobacter freundii strains isolated from pet turtles in order to determine their threat to human health. Citrobacter freundii isolates were isolated and identified by employing biochemical tests and 16SrRNA gene sequencing. Disc diffusion test and PCR amplification were employed to detect antimicrobial resistance patterns and genes, respectively. Ampicillin, amoxicillin, cephalothin and nalidixic acid resistance were observed among all isolates. Rifampicin and cefoxitin resistance was the second most prevalent and observed in 97% of the isolates, respectively. All isolates scored multiple antimicrobial resistance (MAR) indices ≥ 0.2. Aminoglycoside resistant genes were the most prevalent. aac(3')-IIa was detected in 80% of the isolates followed by aphAI-IAB and strA-strB genes in 33% and 50% of the isolates, respectively. β-lactamase encoding blaTEM, blaCTX and blaSHV genes were detected in 53%, 43% and 17% of the isolates, respectively. tetA and tetB genes were the only tetracycline resistance genes detected in 17% and 10% of the isolates, respectively. Class 1 integron integrase encoding intI1 gene (47%) and dfrA17-aadA5 gene cassette array (7%) were also detected. Pet turtle-borne multidrug-resistant C. freundii is a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance determinants in the domestic environment which poses a risk of infection.

An estuary is a water ecosystem with a high abundance of the species diversity, due to a variety of complex physicochemical factors of the area where freshwater and ocean mixed. The identification of Corbicula species in the estuary environments is difficult because of various morphological characteristics. In this study, we provide taxonomic information on Corbicula species with taxonomic difficulties using morphological and genetic analysis. This study was conducted on clams from the Seomjin River-Gwangyang Bay, one of the major production area of marsh clam in Korea. As a result, we characterized Cytocrome C Oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of the Corbicula. The 636 bp nucleotide sequences of COI have 98% homology among Corbicula species collected from 2 sites of Seomjin River-Gwangyang Bay. The phylogenetic analysis with 17 species of Corbicula indicated that most of the species collected from Seomjin River-Gwangyang Bay were brackish water clam (Corbicula japonica), and only one Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea). The evolutionary distance between C. japonica and C. fluminea was less than 0.003. Therefore, it was confirmed that C. japonica is phylogenetically closely related to C. fluminea. In 9 species of Cyrenidae, phylogenetic tree was classified into three lineages. These results will be used as an important data for an identification of clam species by providing genetic information for Corbicula species with a morphological diversity. Key words: Corbicula japonica, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (

99Tc is a long-lived radioactive fission product whose mobility in the subsurface is largely governed by its oxidation state. Migration of Tc from a waste repository may be prevented by immobilizing Tc(IV) in durable glass forms. Thus, efficient incorporation and high retention of Tc by glasses is very important for radioactive waste management and environmental remediation. Tc(IV) oxidation to higly volatile Tc(VII) (TcO4 −) at glass vitrification temperatures results in poor Tc retention in the final waste glass. Retention of Tc in the glass is generally improved by reducing conditions since Tc(IV) is not volatile. However, experiments with Tc-magnetite under high temperature and oxic conditions showed re-oxidation of Tc(IV) to volatile pertechnetate. To understand this phenomenon, we employed ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to study structural and electronic properties of Tc-incorporation in magnetite. The study provides the ramification of high temperature on Tc mobilization and changes of Tc retention in magnetite. Theory predictions also indicated enhanced Tc retention in the presence of 1st row transition metal dopants in Tc-incorporated magnetite that was confirmed by experiments. Furthermore, the overwhelming concentration of Cr(VI) co-mingled with Tc(VII) within the secondary waste form where Cr(VI) is more readily reduced than Tc(VII) by reduction potential metrics. Experiments with Tc-magnetite under high temperature and oxic conditions showed re-oxidation of Tc(IV) to volatile pertechnetate. Experiments also showed that magnetite transforms to maghematite resulting in disproportionation and re-oxidation of Tc. This transformation can be suppressed through incorporation of trace elements such as Co, Ni, Zn into magnetite forming spinel. In this talk, I will present results from ab initio molecular dynamics simulations and experiments on the structural and electronic properties of Tc and/or Cr incorporation in magnetite. I will also discuss the temperature effect on Tc/Cr mobilization and changes of Tc/Cr retention in magnetite. In addition, I will discuss the effect of Tc/Cr concentration and 1st row transition metal dopants on their incorporation in magnetite.

A single postlarva (9.72 mm in standard length) specimen of Crossorhombus azureus (Alcock, 1889) belonging to the family Bothidae, was collected using a bongo net from the southern sea of Korea on December 10, 2019. This species is characterized by having spines on post basipterygial processes. It has two eyes located at the opposite side in head, which accordingly belongs to pre-metamorphosis stage. Melanophores are distributed on the dorsal and anal fin base on the right side (blind side), which is regarded as a useful identification key distinguishing C. azureus from congeneric species in their postlarval stage. A molecular analysis based on mitochondrial DNA COI sequences showed that our specimen was closely matched to adult C. azureus (K2P distance = 0.017). As there is no Korean name for the genus Crossorhombus in spite of presence of Crossorhombus kobensis and its Korean name “Go-be-dung-geul-neob-chi” in Korea, we proposed a new Korean name “Dung-geul-neob-chi-sog” for the genus Crossorhombus and “Pa-lang-dung-geul-neob-chi” for the species C. azureus.