• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1002-1011
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the composition and diversity of the fungal flora at various control points in cheese ripening rooms of 10 dairy farms from six different provinces in the Republic of Korea. Methods: Floor, wall, cheese board, room air, cheese rind and core were sampled from cheese ripening rooms of ten different dairy farms. The molds were enumerated using YM petrifilm, while isolation was done on yeast extract glucose chloramphenicol agar plates. Morphologically distinct isolates were identified using sequencing of internal transcribed spacer region. Results: The fungal counts in 8 out of 10 dairy farms were out of acceptable range, as per hazard analysis critical control point regulation. A total of 986 fungal isolates identified and assigned to the phyla Ascomycota (14 genera) and Basidiomycota (3 genera). Of these Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium were the most diverse and predominant. The cheese ripening rooms was overrepresented in 9 farms by Penicillium (76%), while Aspergillus in a single farm. Among 39 species, the prominent members were Penicillium commune, P. oxalicum, P. echinulatum, and Aspergillus versicolor. Most of the mold species detected on surfaces were the same found in the indoor air of cheese ripening rooms. Conclusion: The environment of cheese ripening rooms persuades a favourable niche for mold growth. The fungal diversity in the dairy farms were greatly influenced by several factors (exterior atmosphere, working personnel etc.,) and their proportion varied from one to another. Proper management of hygienic and production practices and air filtration system would be effective to eradicate contamination in cheese processing industries.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2003

Indoor air quality(IAQ) in workplace and residential environments has been concern of people. Recently, Ministry of Environment in Korea has recognized the potential risk on the healthy effect related to indoor air pollution at home. Therefore, the purpose of this study was performed to measure the indoor air pollutants of IAQ at different homes and investigate to compare the perception of IAQ recognition at home from questionnaire survey in Seoul. We estimated the IAQ of selected 6 homes based on site region and housing type. The indoor air pollutants and parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, respirable suspended particulate matter($PM_{10}$), formaldehyde(HCHO), total bacteria counts, carbon monooxide(CO) and carbon dioxide($CO_2$) were monitored for summer and winter. In monitoring results, the respirable suspended particulate matter(($PM_{10}$) and indoor airborne bacteria level of home 5 and 6 were higher than the standard of the public $150{\;}{\mu}g/m^3$ and $500{\;}{\mu}g/m^3$, the level formaldehyde(HCHO) was exceed 0.1 ppm of the standard of Korea at all monitored homes. In statistics analysis, we could find a correlation between the building age and the concentration of CO, TBC were significant at 0.01 level and Relative Humidity was significant at 0.05 level for summer. Finally, the important air pollutants of IAQ in home were HCHO and total bacteria counts(TBC). And we performed a questionnaire survey of 500 people about their awareness for the importance of IAQ in our home during same period. In results, all most response of occupant has recognized the importance of IAQ at home. Therefore, it can be concluded that the IAQ of selected 6 home studied was perceived as acceptable, it is recommended that the government related IAQ was suggested the guideline and control of IAQ problems, and the occupants need to be effort to reduce the exposure of sources to undesirable pollutants.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1215-1224
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• 2009

This study evaluated the applicability of visible-light-driven N- and S-doped titanium dioxide($TiO_2$) for the control of low-level dimethyl sulfide(DMS) and dimethyl disulfide(DMDS). In addition, a photocatalytic unit(PU)-adsorption hybrid was evaluated in order to examine the removal of DMS and DMDS which exited the PU and a gaseous photocatalytic byproduct($SO_2$) which was generated during the photocatalytic processes. Fourier-Tranform-Infrared(FTIR) spectrum exhibited different surface characteristics among the three-types of catalysts. For the N- and S-doped $TiO_2$ powders, a shift of the absorbance spectrum towards the visible-light region was observed. The absorption edge for both the N- and S-doped $TiO_2$ was shifted to $\lambda$ 720 nm. The N-doped $TiO_2$ was superior to the S-doped $TiO_2$ in regards to DMS degradation. Under low input concentration(IC) conditions(0.039 and 0.027 ppm for DMS and DMDS, respectively), the N-doped $TiO_2$ revealed a high DMS removal efficiency(above 95%), but a gradual decreasing removal efficiency under high IC conditions(7.8 and 5.4 ppm for DMS and DMDS, respectively). Although the hybrid system exhibited a superior characteristic to PU alone regarding the removal efficiencies of both DMS and DMDS, this capability decreased during the course of a photocatalytic process under the high IC conditions. The present study identified the generation of sulfate ion on the catalyst surface and sulfur dioxide(maximum concentrations of 0.0019 and 0.0074 ppm for the photocatalytic processes of DMS and DMDS, respectively) in effluent gas of PU. However, this generation of $TiO_2$ would be an insignificant addition to indoor air quality levels.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.149-163
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• 2021

In this study, the changes in ozone (O3) concentrations due to the removal of power plant emissions were analyzed using a community multi-scale air quality (CMAQ) model. Two different CMAQ model simulations, one considering the emissions from the Hadong power plant and one without considering the emissions, were conducted to investigate the effect of the emissions on the changes in the O3 concentrations in the surrounding areas. Subsequently, the CMAQ simulations exhibited an increase in the O3 concentration (25.24%) despite a decrease in the NOx (-18.87%) and volatile organic carbon (VOC, -11.27%) concentrations, which are major O3 precursors. The changes in the NO and O3 concentrations due to the removal of power plant emissions presented a strong negative correlation (r= -0.72). This indicated that the increase in the O3 concentration was mainly attributed to the significantly decreased NO concentration, thus, mitigating the O3 titration reaction (NO+O3→NO2+O2). Additionally, due to the VOC-limited (i.e., NOx-saturated) conditions in the study region, NO affected the O3 concentration, indicating that the O3 concentrations in a particular region are not only proportional to the increase or decrease in emissions. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the chemical O3 production and loss in a particular region is necessary to accurately evaluate the effect of emission control on the changes in the O3 concentration.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.423-437
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• 2008

Until comparatively lately, the annual time series of the $SO_2$ concentration had been shown in a decreasing trend in Ulsan as well as other Korean cities. However, the high concentration of $SO_2$ was frequently found in the specific countermeasure region including the national industrial complex such as Mipo and Onsan in the Ulsan city for the period of $2001{\sim}2004$. There are many conditions that can influence the high concentration of $SO_2$ at monitoring sites in Ulsan, such as: First, annual usage of the fuel including sulfur increased in comparison with the year before in spite of the fuel conversion policy which wants to use low sulfur oil less than 3% and LNG. Second, point source, such as the power plants and the petroleum and chemistry stacks, was the biggest contributor in $SO_2$ emission, as a analyzed result of both the air quality modeling and the stack tole-monitoring system (TMS) data. And third, the air pollutants that occurred in processes of homing and manufacturing of the fuel including sulfur were transported slow into a special monitoring site by accumulating along the frontal area of see-breeze. It was concluded that Ulsan's current environmental policy together with control methods should be changed into the regulation on total amount of emission, including a market-based emission trading with calculating of atmospheric environmental critical loads, for the $SO_2$ reduction like the specific countermeasure for the $O_3$ and PM10 reduction in the Seoul metropolitan area. And this change should be started in the big point sources of $1{\sim}3$ species because they are big contributors of Ulsan's $SO_2$ pollution. Especially it is necessary to revitalize of the self-regulation environmental management. Other control methods for sustaining the $SO_2$ reduction are as follows: maintenance of the fuel conversion policy, reinforcement of the regional stationary source emission standard, and enlargement of the stack TMS.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.453-463
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• 2004

The Antarctic Peninsula is important in terms of global warming research due to pronounced increase of air temperature over the last century. The first eddy covariance system was established at King Sejong Station located in the northern region of the Antarctic Peninsula in December of 2002 and has been operated over one year. Here, we analyze turbulent characteristics to determine quality control criteria for turbulent sensible heat flux data as well as to diagnose the possibility of long term eddy covariance measurement under extreme weather conditions of the Antarctic Peninsula. We also report the preliminary result on sensible heat flux. Based on the analyses on turbulent characteristics such as integral turbulence characteristics of vertical velocity (w) and heat (T), stationarity test and investigation of correlation coefficient, they fallow the Monin-Obukhov similarity and eddy covariance flux data were reliable. ${\sim}47%$ of total retrieved sensible heat flux data could be used for further analysis. Daytime averaged sensible heat flux showed a pronounced seasonal variation, with a maximum of up to $300Wm^{-2}$ in summer. In conclusion, continuous and long-term eddy covariance measurement may be possible at the study site and the land surface may influence the atmosphere significantly through heat transport in summer.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.549-566
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• 2022

Mining of ore minerals (sfalerite, cinnabar, and chalcopyrite) from the old mine has led in significant environmental effects as contamination of soils and plants and acidification of water. Also, nanoparticles (NP) have obtained global importance because of their widespread usage in daily life, unique properties, and rapid development in the field of nanotechnology. Regarding their usage in various fields, it is suggested that soil is the final environmental sink for NPs. Nanoparticles with excessive reactivity and deliverability may be carried out as amendments to enhance soil quality, mitigate soil contaminations, make certain secure land-software of the traditional change substances and enhance soil erosion control. Meanwhile, there's no record on the usage of Nano superior substances for mine soil reclamation. In this study, five soil specimens have been tested at 4 sites inside the region of mine (<100 m) to study zeolites, and iron sulfide nanoparticles. Also, through using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Extreme Learning Machine (ELM), this study has tried to appropriately estimate the mechanical properties of soil under the effect of these Nano particles. Considering the RMSE and R2 values, Zeolite Nano materials could enhance the mine soil fine through increasing the clay-silt fractions, increasing the water holding capacity, removing toxins and improving nutrient levels. Also, adding iron sulfide minerals to the soils would possibly exacerbate the soil acidity problems at a mining site.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.63-75
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• 2015

Atmospheric environment in Korea is influenced by outside, especially China. The concentrations of air pollutants in China have showed decreasing trends since 2000. However, these concentration levels in China are still higher than other developed countries. The Chinese Government has tried several measures to control the air pollution. In this study, the details of the amendments and smog reduction strategies in China, especially for Beijing are reviewed and the strategies for Korean side to promote cooperation in Northeast Asia are suggested and discussed. The Chinese State Council amended the Environmental Protection Provisions and Clean Air Act and announced The Action Plan for Air Pollution Control (2013-2017), focusing on three key regions, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area (Jing-Jin-Ji), Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and Pearl River Delta (PRD). These policy actions and plan are mainly for the reducing coal usage and emissions from vehicles. It is suggested that, Korea should actively promote multi-national cooperation in the region to take an initiative role in environmental areas.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.120-129
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• 2020

In Yesan-gun, Korea's main apple-producing region, the area of apple cultivation and yield are declining. In particular, the worsening quality of fruits due to unusually high temperatures amid recent climate change has also become a major challenge for apple orchards located on flatlands. The objective of this research is to investigate quality changes of apples according to different growing environments, depending on the shade of the sun, by covering the trees with different colors of wind nets. A white and blue wind nets with a hole size of 2 × 2 mm is installed on two experimental trees, 17-year-old 'Fuji' and 'Hongro', which are planted 1.5 m × 3.5 m in the north-south direction. Treatment of wind nets effectively lowered fruit surface temperature regardless of apple variety. When measuring the temperature of the fruit surface at 2 pm, the temperature of the air was 34.8℃, but the 'Fuji' of the untreated blocks was the highest at 40.0℃, while the blue wind net and the white wind net were significantly lower at 34.9℃ and 36.6℃, respectively. In 'Hongro', the results showed that the surface temperature was effectively lowered by recording 38.3℃ for the blue wind net and 38.5℃ for the white wind net treatment when the untreated one was 44.2℃. According to the color difference in 'Fuji', the skin redness (a^⁎) was the lowest with untreated control at 16.5, but the blue and white wind net treatment higher at 18.0 and 19.3, respectively. In 'Hongro', the white wind net treated fruit also showed a much higher skin redness than the untreated control of 28.1, showing much higher a^⁎ of 34.9. Sunburn damage in 'Fuji' apples amounted to 9.4% in untreated control. However, the blue and white wind net treatment revealed to 3.8% and 4.2%, respectively. In 'Hongro', those damage in the fruits treated with blue or white wind net, accounted for only 8.8% and 12.4%, respectively, significantly lower than 28.8% occurrence of untreated one. And, these results were understood to be the result of low UV radiation being blocked by the treatment of wind nets.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.63-66
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• 2009

Purpose: ACR (American College of Radiology) offers variable parameters to PET/CT quality control by using ACR Phantom. ACR Phantom was made to evaluate parameters which are uniformity, attenuation, scatter, contrast and resolution. Manual analysis method wasn't good for the use of QC because values of parameter were changed as it may user and it takes long time to analysis. Ki-Chun Lim, a nuclear scientist in AMC, developed program that automatically analysis values of parameter by using ACR Phantom to overcome above problems. In this study, we evaluated automatic analysis program's usability, through the comparing SUV of each method, reproducibility of SUV when repeated analysis and the time required. Materials and Methods: Using Flangeless Esser PET Phantom, the ideal ratio of 4 : 1 hot cylinder and BKG but it actually showed a ratio of 3.89 to 1 hot cylinder and BKG. SIEMENS Biograph True Point 40 was used in this study. We obtained images using ACR phantom at Fusion WB PET Scan condition (2 min/bed) and 120 kV, 100 mAs CT condition. Using True X method, 3 iterations, 14 subsets, Gaussian filter, FWHM 4 mm and Zoom Factor 1.0, $168{\times}168$ image size. We obtained Max. & Min. SUV and SUV Mean values at Cylinder (8, 12, 16, 25 mm, Air, Bone, Water, BKG) by automatic program and obtained SUV by manual method. After that, we compared manual and automatic method. we estimate the time required from opened the image data to final work sheet was completed. Results: Automatic program always showed same result and same the time required. At 8, 12, 16 and 25 m cylinder, manual method showed 6.69, 3.46, 2.59, 1.24 CV values. The larger cylinder size became, the smaller CV became. In manual method, bone, air, water's CV were over 9.9 except BKG (2.32). Obtained CV of Mean SUV showed BKG was low (0.85) and bone was high (7.52). The time required was 45 second, 882 second respectably. Conclusions: As a result of difference automatic method and manual method, automatic method showed always same result, manual method showed that the smaller hot cylinders became, the lager CV became. Hot cylinders mean region size, the smaller hot cylinder size becomes we had some trouble in doing ROI poison setting. And it means increase in variation of SUV. The Study showed the time required of automatic method was shorten then manual method.