• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.244-248
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• 2017

The effects of ultrasonic (1.2~1.7 kJ/g TS) pretreatment on the solubilization of dairy and livestock sludge were separately evaluated to investigate the possibility of recycling dairy sludge as a potential source of organic carbon. Compared to other industrial wastewater and sewage sludge, dairy sludge has higher organic matter content and no toxic materials. The solubilization rates of dairy and livestock sludge, at a specific energy input of 1.7 kJ/g TS, were 14.5% and 10.6%, respectively. After the 90-minute ultrasonic treatment, the soluble COD (chemical oxygen demand) increased about 7.1 times that of the initial SCOD, at an increase rate of $0.022m^{-1}$. In comparison, the increase in soluble nitrogen, which was ~3.4 times that of the initial soluble nitrogen concentration, was much smaller than the increase in SCOD; thus, the C/N ratio increased from 4.0 to 8.7.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.424-431
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Tributyltin chloride is among the most toxic compounds known for aquatic ecosystems. Microorganisms are responsible for removal of TBTCl. Nevertheless, only a limited number of marine bacteria were investigated for biodegradation of TBTCl in Korea. METHODS AND RESULTS: The number of TBTCl resistant bacteria ranged from $2.5{\times}10^3$ to $3.8{\times}10^3$ cfu/mL in the seawater, and ranged from $3.2{\times}10^5$ to $9.1{\times}10^5$ cfu/g in the surface sediment, respectively. The morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of TBTCl resistant bacteria were investigated by API 20NE and other tests. The most abundant species of TBTCl resistant bacteria were Vibrio spp. (19.2%), Bacillus spp. (16.2%), Aeromonas spp. (15.2%), and Pseudomonas spp. (13.1%), etc. Eleven TBTCl resistant isolates also had a resistance to heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, and Zn). Among them, isolate T7 showing the strong TBTCl-resistance was selected. This isolate was identified as the genus Pantoea by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and designated as Pantoea sp. T7. In addition, this bacterium was cultivated up to the growth of 50.7% after 60 hrs at TBTCl concentration of $500{\mu}M$. TBTCl-degrading activity of Pantoea sp. T7 was measured by GC-FPD analysis. As a result of biological TBTCl-degradation at TBTCl concentration of $100{\mu}M$, TBTCl-removal efficiency of Pantoeasp. T7 was 62.7% after 40 hrs. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that Pantoea sp. T7 is potentially useful for the bioremediation of TBT contamination.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 1998

Chitosan is a nontoxic natural chealtor which was made by chitin, and reduced a contamination of radiostrontium in animals. In this experiment, A different molecular weight of C-14 chitosan was intravenously administered to mice, and then the distribution of C-14 chitosan in the body was observed. Male mice (8 to 10 weeks, body weight of 30 to 35g) of ICR strain were used. C-14 chitosan was diluted with saline and then given intravenously in mice. After the administration of C-14 chitosan, mice was sacrificed at the 6th hour, 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th day. Beta radioactivities in the blood, liver, kidney, liver, muscle, testis, and urine was measured using a liquid scintillation analyzer. Most of the C-14 chitosan was excreted through urine within 6 hours. Biodistribution of C-14 chitosan was similar despite the difference of moleclar weight. Higher distributions of radioactivities were found in the liver, kidney, spleen. The relative concentration in tissue increased for the 6 hours and then decreased. In conclusion, most of C-14 chitosan was excreted through urine despite the difference of molecular weight. and, low molecular weight of C-14 chitosan showed higher distribution than high molecular weight of C-14 chitosan in tissues.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.28-39
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• 2016

Struvite (MgNH₄PO₄ ⋅ 6H₂O) and hydroxyapatite (HAP, Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂) precipitation in urine-separating toilets (NoMix toilets) causes severe maintenance problems and also reduce the phosphate and calcium content. Application of urine separating technique and extraction of by-products from human urine is a cost effective technique in waste water treatment. In this study, we extract urine calcite from human urine by batch scale method, using urease producing microbes to trigger the precipitation and calcite formation process. Extracted urine calcite (calcining at 800℃) is a potential adsorbent for removal of heavy metal(loid)s like (Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺ and As³⁺) along with additional leaching analysis of total nitrogen (T-N), phosphate (T-P) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The transformations of calcite during synthesis were confirm by characterization using XRD, SEM-EDAX and FT-IR techniques. In additional, the phosphate leaching potential and adsorbate (nitrate) efficiency in aqueous solution was investigated using the calcinedurine calcite. The results indicate that the calcite was effectively remove heavy metal(loid)s lead up to 96.8%. In addition, the adsorption capacity (q_e) of calcite was calculated and it was found to be 203.64 Pb, 110.96 Cd, 96.02 Zn, 104.2 As, 149.54 Cu and 162.68 Ni mg/g, respectively. Hence, we suggest that the calcite obtain from the human urine will be a suitable absorbent for heavy metal(loid)s removal from aqueous solution.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2021

Azolla is a genus of small aquatic ferns native to Asia, Africa, and America. Azolla is potentially significant as a nitrogen source in agriculture, particularly in conjunction with rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation. In addition, Azolla may either control weeds or act as a weed depending on management; therefore, we aimed to determine the effect of Azolla incorporation on weed (e.g., Monochoria vaginalis, Rotala indica, Aeschynomene indica, and Cyperus amuricus) control and its other benefits during rice cultivation. The effects of Azolla on weed emergence were evaluated based on plot area coverage by the Azolla mat, which appears as a green sheet over water, and the rate of weed emergence in paddy field. Weed occurrence was investigated 40 days after Azolla inoculation. Soil samples from the experimental plots were collected following harvest in 2014-2015, and analyzed. Moreover, rice growth, yield, and grain quality were measured. Azolla suppressed weed growth by 72%. Azolla mat incorporation in rice fields suppressed weed growth by over 60%. In addition, Azolla promoted nitrogen fixation. Compared with nitrogen management using chemical fertilizers, Azolla incorporation showed the potential for various positive effects, including the improvement of soil fertility by increasing total nitrogen, and organic matter content. Rice grown with Azolla maintained its yield without additional herbicide treatment. Moreover, the palatability of cooked rice was better when grown with Azolla.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.81-87
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• 2008

In accompany with the transfer of US army bases, recent surveys reported serious contamination of soils by the release of petroleum from storage facilities and heavy metals accumulated in rifle-ranges. These problems have made an increased concerns of cleanup technology for contaminated soils. In this study, a full-scale soil washing process improved by multistage continuous desorption and agitational desorption techniques was examined for petroleum-contaminated soils obtained from three different remedial sites that contained 29.3, 16.6, and 7.8% of silt and clay, respectively. The initial concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) were 5,183, 2,560, and 4,860 mg/kg for each soil. Pure water was applied to operate washing process, in which water used for washing process was recycled 100% for over 6 months. The results of full-scale washing tests showed that the TPH concentrations for soils (> 3.0 mm) were 50${\sim}$356 mg/kg (85.2${\sim}$98.2% removal rates), regardless of the contents of silt and clay from in A, B and C soil, when the soils were washed at 3.0 kg/$cm^2$ of injection pressure with the method of wet particle separation. Based on the initial TPH concentration, the TPH removal rates for each site were 85.2, 98.2 and 89.9%. For soils in the range of 3.0${\sim}$0.075 mm, the application of first-stage desorption technique as a physical method resulted 834, 1,110, and 1,460 mg/kg of TPH concentrations for each soil, also additional multi-stage continuous desorption reduced the TPH concentration to 330, 385, and 245 mg/kg that were equivalent to 92.4, 90.6, and 90.1% removal rates, respectively. The result of multi-stage continuous desorption for fine soil (0.075${\sim}$0.053 mm) were 791, 885, and 1,560 mg/kg, and additional agitation desorption showed 428, 440, and, 358 mg/kg of TPH concentrations. Compared with initial concentration, the removal rates were 92.0, 93.9 and 92.9%, respectively. These results implied we could apply strategic process of soil washing for varies types of contaminated soils to meet the regulatory limit of TPH.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.336-344
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• 1996

The extraction of trace cobalt, copper, nickel, cadmium, lead and zinc in urine samples of organic and alkali metal matrix into chloroform by the complex with a dithizone was studied for graphite furnace AAS determination. Various experimental conditions such as the pretreatment of urine, the pH of sample solution, and dithizone concentration in a solvent were optimized for the effective extraction, and some essential conditions were also studied for the back-extraction and digestion as well. All organic materials in 100 mL urine were destructed by the digestion with conc. $HNO_3$ 30 mL and 30% $H_2O_2$ 50 mL. Here, $H_2O_2$ was added dropwise with each 5.0 mL, serially. Analytes were extracted into 15.0 mL chloroform of 0.1% dithizone from the digested urine at pH 8.0 by shaking for 90 minutes. The pH was adjusted with a commercial buffer solution. Among analytes, cadmium, lead and zinc were back-extracted to 10.00 mL of 0.2 M $HNO_3$ from the solvent for the determination, and after the organic solvent was evaporated, others were dissolved with $HNO_3-H_2O_2$ and diluted to 10.00 mL with a deionized water. Synthetic digested urines were used to obtain optimum conditions and to plot calibration-eurves. Average recoveries of 77 to 109% for each element were obtained in sample solutions in which given amounts of analytes were added, and detection limits were Cd 0.09, Pb 0.59, Zn 0.18, Co 0.24, Cu 1.3 and Ni 1.7 ng/mL, respectively. It was concluded that this method could be applied for the determination of heavy elements in urine samples without any interferences of organic materials and major alkaline elements.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 1996

Intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) may play a crucial role in a variety of neuronal functions. Here we report that in primary culture of mouse cerebellar granule cells nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are expressed in a specific developmental stage and involved in the regulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis. Nicotine-mediated calcium responses were measured using $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ or fluorometrically using the calcium-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2. Maximal uptake of $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ evoked by nicotine in mouse cerebellar granule cells were revealed $8{\sim}12$ days in culture. In contrast, nicotine did not alter the basal $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake in cultured glial cells. In cerebellar granule cells nicotine-evoked $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake was largely blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonists. Glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT). which removes endogenous glutamate, also prevented nicotine effects, implying the indirect involvement of glutamate in nicotine-mediated calcium responses. Fluorometric studies using fura-2 showed two phases of nicotine-evoked $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ rises: the initial rising phase and the later plateau phase. Interestingly, the NMDA receptor antagonists and GPT appeared to inhibit only the later plateau phase of nicotine-evoked $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ rises. The present results imply that nicotine mediated $^{45}Ca^{2+}$ uptake and $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ rises are attributed to the calcium fluxes through both nAchRs and NMDA receptors in a time-dependent manner. Consequently, nAChRs may play an important role in neuronal development by being expressed in a specific developmental stage and regulating the intracellular calcium homeostasis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Food Science of Animal Resources Conference
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• 1999.06a
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• pp.97-117
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• 1999

This study was performed to investigate the effect of pork on the cadmium detoxification in rats. Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $125.3{\pm}1.4g$ were divided into five groups based on cadmium treatment(0, 25, 50, 100, 250ppm) and five levels of Cd in AIN-76 purified diet had been fed for 8 weeks. Cadmium was supplemented with a form of $CdCl_2$.. During following 8 weeks of intoxication, casein was replaced by pork and the effect of pork on cadmium- detoxification was compared with casein. After 8 weeks of Cd intake had resulted in apparent cadmium intoxication; reduced growth rate, enlarged kidney and testis, decreased hematocrit value and hemoglobin content in response to the supplemented Cd levels in the diets. Discontinuing cadmium feeding, the body weights were relieved. Pork-fed groups seemed to have higher body weight than casein-fed groups. Hemoglobin content and hematocrit value became normal range at detoxification stage. The weights of liver, kidney, and testis were decreased along with cadmium intake. However, organ weight ratio was not affected by cadmium. Cadmium accumulation in liver and kidney showed a tendency to increase in the cadmium-exposed groups. The levels of metallothionein were also significantly elevated in the tissues of liver in response to the levels of Cd supplemented(p<0.05). Cadmium concentration in kidney was two times higher than that in liver. Cadmium removal rate of liver was higher than that of kidney. Cadmium accumulation of the pork-fed group was lower than that of casein. Especially, the factors which affected the cadmium contents in kidney were $Cd^{***}$ and $Cd{\times}pork^{***}$. Metallothionein(MT) was increased with cadmium, and MT was not likely to be affected by pork. Based on the findings from gross lesion, rats fed 250ppm of Cd were externally emaciated, had exposed penis and observed atrophies of kidney and testis. Histopathological observation seemed that the liver of groups feeding Cd supplemented diets showed cellular degeneration and accumulation of eosinophilic materials in the capillaries. In kidney, rats fed Cd diets had shown tubular epithelium degeneration and lesions of basophilic materials, while testis were weakened in numbers of spermatid and sporadically enlarged of giant cells. But the rats administered cadmium-detoxified diet supplemented pork for 7 weeks were shown individually decreased lesions compared with the rats supplied with casein diet.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.651-660
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• 2007

Acid drainage has been recognized as an environmental concern in abandoned mine sites for long time. Recently, the environmental and structural damage by acid drainage is a current issue in construction sites in Korea. Here, the author introduces the type of damages by acid drainage in construction sites and emphasizes the importance of geoscience discipline in solving the problem. Metasedimentary rock of Okcheon group, coal bed of Pyeongan group, Mesozoic volcanic rock. and Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic rocks are the major rock types with a high potential for acid drainage upon excavation in Korea. The acid drainage causes the acidification and heavy metal contamination of soil, surface water and groundwater, the reduction of slope stability, the corrosion of slope structure, the damage on plant growth, the damage on landscape and the deterioration of concrete and asphalt pavement. The countermeasure for acid drainage is the treatment of acid drainage and the prevention of acid drainage. The treatment of acid drainage can be classified into active and passive treatments depending on the degree of natural process in the treatment. Removal of oxidants, reduction of oxidant generation and encapsulation of sulfide are employed for the prevention of acid drainage generation.