• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.56 no.10
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• pp.631-639
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• 2023

Flash drought (FD), characterized by the rapid onset and intensification, can significantly impact ecosystems and induce immediate water stress. A more comprehensive understanding of the causes and characteristics of FD events is required to enhance drought monitoring. Therefore, we investigated the FD events took place over the Korean peninsula using Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) data from 2012 to 2022. We first detected FD events using the stress-based method (Standardized Evaporative Stress Ratio, SESR), and analyzed the frequency and duration of FDs. The FD events were classified into three cases based on the variations in Actual Evapotranspiration (AET) and potential Evapotranspiration (PET), and spatially analyzed. Results revealed that there are regional disparities in frequency and duration of FDs, with a mean frequency of 6.4 and duration of 31 days. When classified into Case 1 (normal condition), Case 2 (AET-driven), and Case 3 (PET-driven), we found that Case 2 FDs emerged approximately 1.5 times more frequently than those driven by PET (Case 3) across the Korean peninsula. Case 2 FDs were found to be induced under water-limited conditions, and led both AET and PET to be decreased. Conversely, Case 3 FDs occurred under energy-limited conditions, with increase in both. Case 2 FDs predominantly affected the northwestern and central-southern agricultural regions, while Case 3 occurred in the eastern region, characterized by forested land cover. These findings offers insights into our understanding of FDs over the Korean peninsula, considering climate factors, land cover, and water availability.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.133-141
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• 2023

We conducted a 5 × 5 diallel cross-combination test using 1,060 chickens from pure lines of Korean Rhode-C, -D, Korean Leghorn-F, -K, and Korean Native Yellowish-brown chicken (KNC-Y) to develop a new Korean native chicken layer breeder. The laying performance and combining ability, including livability, body weight, age of first egg-laying, hen-day egg production, and egg weight, were analyzed. The livability from birth to 48 weeks was 72.1±24.0%, with the highest observed in the YC and the lowest in the DK combination (P<0.01). The YC combination exhibited the highest general combining ability (GCA), while the YD combination showed the highest specific combining ability (SCA). Regarding body weight, combinations involving Leghorn showed lighter weights compared to combinations with Rhode and KNC-Y (P<0.01). Additionally, the offspring from the KNC-Y combination reached sexual maturity earlier than those from the Rhode combination. The hen-day egg production was 70.7±12.0%, with the highest seen in the CK combination at 86% (P<0.01). The effects of GCA and SCA on hen-day egg production were similar, with the SCA being highest in the YD combination and the GCA being highest in the Rhode-C. Significant differences in egg weight were observed among the combinations, with the eggs from Rhode and Leghorn combinations being heavier than those from combinations with KNC-Y (P<0.01). In conclusion, the YC and YD combinations, characterized by excellent livability, are highly desirable paternal strains, while the CF and CK combinations, with excellent laying performance and moderate egg weight, are preferred maternal strains for Korean native chicken layer breeders.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.203-212
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• 2023

This study conducted a diallel-crossbreeding test using four Korean native chicken parent stock lines (YC, YD, CK, and CF) to develop a native commercial layer with high egg-laying performance. A total of 312 chickens in six combinations were examined for various traits, including livability, body weight, age at first egg-laying, hen-day, and hen-housed egg production, egg weight, and egg quality, from hatching to 60 weeks of age. The results showed that the average survival rate was 77.1±18.8% with the YDYC combination having the highest survival rate along with excellent specific combining ability. The YDYC combination exhibited significantly higher body weight compared to the other combinations (P<0.01). The average age at first egg-laying was 121.3±2.5 days, with no significant difference between the combinations. The average hen-day egg production was 74.0±6.4%, and the hen-housed egg production was 181.4±33.8 eggs with the YDCF and YCCK combinations demonstrating the highest laying performance, while the YDYC and CKCF combinations had the lowest (P<0.05). Laying performance was more influenced by specific combining ability than general combining ability. The eggs from the YDYC combination were significantly lighter and had the darkest shell color (P<0.01), whereas the YDCF combination exhibited the thickest eggshells. There was no difference in internal egg quality among combinations, except the YDCF combination had the darkest yolk color. Overall, we concluded that the YCCK combination, characterized by high laying performance and livability, and the YDCF combination with high laying performance and good egg quality are the most desirable combinations for Korean native commercial layers.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.453-460
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• 2023

This study was conducted to confirm the growth performance of Hanwoo steers according to the crude protein and calcium levels and their effects on carcass characteristics. The experiment consisted of a total of 4 groups: HPHC (CP 15%, Ca 1.2%), HPLC (CP 15%, Ca 0.6%), LPHC (CP 12.5%, Ca 1.2%), LPLC (CP 12.5%, Ca 0.6%). In the feeding trial, Hanwoo steers (650.8±16.27 kg, n = 32, 24 months of age) were divided into four feeding groups (n = 8 each) with the same initial body weight. Animals were fed with each rice straw and concentrate (1:9) until the late fattening stage. Growth performance was measured by daily weight gain, feed conversion rate, and final weight. Carcass characteristics were measured carcass weight, loin area, back-fat thickness and marbling score. There was no significant difference in growth performance and carcass characteristics among the treatment groups. However, the ratio of meat quality grade 1⁺ or higher was 76% in LPLC, which was higher than other treatments (HPHC, 63%; HPLC, 63% and LPHC, 50%). Therefore, reducing crude protein in the feed did not affect growth and carcass characteristics. In addition, calcium control in the late fattening stage did not affect growth performance. In LPLC, the ratio of meat quality 1⁺ or higher was the highest, so additional research on calcium control in feed is thought to be necessary. However, there was no significant difference in the relationship between protein and calcium levels in feed in all study results, so the influence of the two factors on each other is thought to be low.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2024

Fishing net waste (FNW) constitutes over half of all marine plastic waste and is a major contributor to the degradation of marine ecosystems. While current treatment options for FNW include incineration, landfilling, and mechanical recycling, these methods often result in low-value products and pollutant emissions. Importantly, FNWs, comprised of plastic polymers, can be converted into valuable resources like syngas and pyrolysis oil through pyrolysis. Thus, this study presents a process for generating high-purity hydrogen (H₂) by catalytically pyrolyzing FNW in a CO₂ environment. The proposed process comprises of three stages: First, the pretreated FNW undergoes Ni/SiO₂ catalytic pyrolysis under CO₂ conditions to produce syngas and pyrolysis oil. Second, the produced pyrolysis oil is incinerated and repurposed as an energy source for the pyrolysis reaction. Lastly, the syngas is transformed into high-purity H₂ via the Water-Gas-Shift (WGS) reaction and Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA). This study compares the results of the proposed process with those of traditional pyrolysis conducted under N₂ conditions. Simulation results show that pyrolyzing 500 kg/h of FNW produced 2.933 kmol/h of high-purity H₂ under N₂ conditions and 3.605 kmol/h of high-purity H₂ under CO₂ conditions. Furthermore, pyrolysis under CO₂ conditions improved CO production, increasing H₂ output. Additionally, the CO₂ emissions were reduced by 89.8% compared to N₂ conditions due to the capture and utilization of CO₂ released during the process. Therefore, the proposed process under CO₂ conditions can efficiently recycle FNW and generate eco-friendly hydrogen product.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2024

The feather-sexing method is widely used commercially for chick sex identification. However, for feather-sexing to be industrially practical, the early-feathering (EF) and late-feathering (LF) genes must existed within the foundation stock, a suitable feather-sexing lines must be established, and the accuracy of sex identification by feather-sexing must be ensured. Therefore, this study introduces the method of constructing the Korean native chickens (KNC) feather-sexing lines using EF and LF genes and evaluates the effectiveness of feather sex determination on commercial chicks produced from the constructed KNC lines. The results showed that both EF and LF chickens existed within the foundation stock, with the frequency of LF genes ranging from 0 to 0.205. In feather-sexing line establishment, the paternal strain of the grandparent stock (GPS) was fixed as EF (kk) for both sexes, while the maternal strain was composed of males with LF homozygotes (Z^KZ^K) and females with EF (Z^kW). Thus, in the parent stock (PS), male breeder had EF (Z^kZ^k) and female breeder had LF (Z^KW), resulting in chicks produced from their crosses having LF (Z^KZ^k) for males and EF (Z^kW) for females, allowing sex determination based on feather development. Additionally, to evaluate the effectiveness of feather-sexing for the produced commercial chicks, a study was conducted on 1,000 samples of the produced chicks to investigate the concordance between vent-sexing and feather-sexing, showing a matching rate of 93.1%.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2024

This study utilized the non-invasive MyotonPRO^® device to analyze the stiffness in breast muscles of commercial broilers (Ross 308 and Arbor Acres) and compared these findings with data reported for Ross 708, where Woody Breast (WB) symptoms had been previously documented. The research revealed that Ross 308 and Arbor Acres displayed relatively lower stiffness values compared to Ross 708, suggesting a lack of WB expression. These results indicate differentiation in breast muscle traits across strains and underscore the necessity for further research into factors influencing WB manifestation. The study also measured additional muscle tone characteristics such as Frequency, Decrement, Relaxation, and Creep across various growth stages (2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks), finding significant variations with pronounced severity at weeks 2 and 8. An increase in stiffness was observed as the broilers aged, pointing to potential growth-related or stress-induced changes affecting WB severity. A strong positive correlation was established between increased breast meat weight and WB severity, highlighting that heavier breast meat could exacerbate the condition. This correlation is vital for the poultry industry, suggesting that weight management could help mitigate WB effects. Moreover, the potential for genetic selection and breeding strategies to reduce WB occurrence was emphasized, which could aid in enhancing management practices in commercial poultry production. Collectively, these insights contribute to a deeper understanding of WB in broilers and propose avenues for future research and practical strategies to minimize its impact.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.181-193
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• 2024

The increasing atmospheric imbalance caused by climate change leads to an elevation in precipitation, resulting in a heightened frequency of flooding. Consequently, there is a growing need for technology to detect and monitor these occurrences, especially as the frequency of flooding events rises. To minimize flood damage, continuous monitoring is essential, and flood areas can be detected by the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, which is not affected by climate conditions. The observed data undergoes a preprocessing step, utilizing a median filter to reduce noise. Classification techniques were employed to classify water bodies and non-water bodies, with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of each method in flood detection. In this study, the Otsu method and Support Vector Machine (SVM) technique were utilized for the classification of water bodies and non-water bodies. The overall performance of the models was assessed using a Confusion Matrix. The suitability of flood detection was evaluated by comparing the Otsu method, an optimal threshold-based classifier, with SVM, a machine learning technique that minimizes misclassifications through training. The Otsu method demonstrated suitability in delineating boundaries between water and non-water bodies but exhibited a higher rate of misclassifications due to the influence of mixed substances. Conversely, the use of SVM resulted in a lower false positive rate and proved less sensitive to mixed substances. Consequently, SVM exhibited higher accuracy under conditions excluding flooding. While the Otsu method showed slightly higher accuracy in flood conditions compared to SVM, the difference in accuracy was less than 5% (Otsu: 0.93, SVM: 0.90). However, in pre-flooding and post-flooding conditions, the accuracy difference was more than 15%, indicating that SVM is more suitable for water body and flood detection (Otsu: 0.77, SVM: 0.92). Based on the findings of this study, it is anticipated that more accurate detection of water bodies and floods could contribute to minimizing flood-related damages and losses.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.475-483
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• 2023

This study was conducted to determine the optimal irrigation starting point by analyzing tree growth, physiological responses, fruit quality, and productivity in peach orchards. Seven-year-old 'Kawanakajima Hakuto' peach trees were used in an experimental field (35°49'30.4"N, 127°01'33.2"E) located within the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science located in Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do. The irrigation starting point was set with four levels of -20, -40, -60, and -80 kPa from June to September 2022. While there were no significant differences in increase of trunk cross-section area and leaf area among treatments, shoot length and diameter decreased in the -80 kPa and -20 kPa treatments. The photosynthetic rate measured in August was highest for -60 kPa (17.7 μmol·m^-2·s^-1), followed by -40 kPa (15.6 μmol·m^-2·s^-1), -20 kPa (14.5 μmol·m^-2·s^-1) and -80 kPa (14.0 μmol·m^-2·s^-1). SPAD value measured in May and August was lower in the -80 kPa and -20 kPa treatments than in the -60 kPa and -40 kPa treatments. The harvest date reached three days earlier in the -20 kPa treatment compared to other treatments. The fruit weight was highest in the -60 kPa (379.1 g), followed by -40 kPa (344.0 g), -80 kPa (321.0 g) and -20 kPa (274.9 g). Firmness was the lowest in the -20 kPa treatment. The soluble solid content was highest in the -60 kPa treatment (13.3°Bx).The ratio of marketable fruits was highest in the -60 kPa treatment (50.7%) and lowest in the -80 kPa treatment (23.4%). In conclusion, we suggest that setting the irrigation starting point at -60 kPa could improve the fruit quality and yield in peach orchards.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.501-512
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• 2023

This study aimed to assess and determine the optimal model for predicting the full bloom date of 'Fuji' apples across South Korea. We evaluated the performance of four distinct models: the Development Rate Model (DVR)1, DVR2, the Chill Days (CD) model, and a sequentially integrated approach that combined the Dynamic model (DM) and the Growing Degree Hours (GDH) model. The full bloom dates and air temperatures were collected over a three-year period from six orchards located in the major apple production regions of South Korea: Pocheon, Hwaseong, Geochang, Cheongsong, Gunwi, and Chungju. Among these models, the one that combined DM for calculating chilling accumulation and the GDH model for estimating heat accumulation in sequence demonstrated the most accurate predictive performance, in contrast to the CD model that exhibited the lowest predictive precision. Furthermore, the DVR1 model exhibited an underestimation error at orchard located in Hwaseong. It projected a faster progression of the full bloom dates than the actual observations. This area is characterized by minimal diurnal temperature ranges, where the daily minimum temperature is high and the daily maximum temperature is relatively low. Therefore, to achieve a comprehensive prediction of the blooming date of 'Fuji' apples across South Korea, it is recommended to integrate a DM model for calculating the necessary chilling accumulation to break dormancy with a GDH model for estimating the requisite heat accumulation for flowering after dormancy release. This results in a combined DM+GDH model recognized as the most effective approach. However, further data collection and evaluation from different regions are needed to further refine its accuracy and applicability.