• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 1998

Most of total nitrogen in the surface soil exists in organic forms, of which amino acid-N is the major fraction. By-product fertilizers provide soil with humic substances, and humic acid is an essential component of humus. Amino acids(AAs) are easily converted to inorganic-N forms and thus play an important role in N fertility. This experiment was conducted to investigate the contents and distributions of AAs in humic acids which were extracted from the commercial by-product fertilizers of different composting materials. Total contents of AAs in humic acids ranged from 1.2 to 5.6%, of which neutral AAs were the highest with ranges of 0.8~4.5%. AAs contents in fertilizers composted from the plant residues such as leaf litter, sawdust and bark were in an order of neutral>acidic>basic AAs. In contrast, those from animal wastes, such as poultry and pig manures, were in an order of neutral>basic>acidic AAs. Distributions of total, acidic and neutral AAs were in the respective order of leaf litter>sawdust>pig manure>poultry manure>peat, bark>sawdust>leaf litter>peat and leaf litter>sawdust>bark>peat. Distributions of the basic AAs were in the reversed order of the acidic AAs. In bark fertilizer with increasing compost maturity, contents of the acidic AAs were increased in compensation for the decreases in those of neutral and basic AAs. Results demonstrated that distributions of amino acids in humic acid of by-product fertilizers were different from composting raw materials and degrees of humification.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2009

To understand contribution of thermophilic microorganisms in decomposition of litter deposits on shore of lakes, we surveyed a lakeshore litter deposit for bacteria growing at $60^{\circ}C$. Ten thermophilic isolates were selected for in-depth characterization, based on their high capacity to degrade high molecular weight organic compounds. Based on phylogenetic analysis on their 16S rRNA gene sequences, all isolates were identified as Geobacillus. The optimal growth temperature and pH of the strains ranged $55{\sim}60^{\circ}C$ and 6.0${\sim}$8.0, respectively. Salinity was inhibitory to the growth of the isolates, showing marked decrease of growth rates at 3% salinity. Based on activities of hydrolytic enzymes and profiles of carbohydrate utilization (determined by API 50 CHB kit), three G. stearothermophilus strains showed patterns clearly distinctive from other isolates. Two G. kaustophilus strains also demonstrated distinctiveness in their metabolic pattern and ecological parameters. However, ecological and metabolic profiles of the other five isolates were more variable and showed some degree of digression from their phylogenetic classification. Therefore, it could be concluded that endospore-forming thermophilic bacteria in lakeshore litter deposits contribute to degradation of organic materials with diverse ecological niches while having successions similar to microbial flora in compost. We propose that the thermophilic isolates and/or their thermo-tolerant enzymes can be applied to industrial processes as appropriate mixtures.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.115-123
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• 2008

We describe plant biomass in the grasslands of the Mongolian steppe obtained using a quadrat sampling technique. Four sites were studied in the northeastern Mongolia located between $47^{\circ}12'N$ and $47^{\circ}40'N$ and $102^{\circ}22'E$ and $112^{\circ}24'E$, which were typical grasslands of the steppe. Biomass, carbon and nitrogen content were determined for the plants collected from the grazed and ungarazed stands. With the measurements above, we expect to obtain information on grazing effects on the grasslands and carbon sequestration of the grassland from the air. In order to estimate the biomass without destroying the stands, we derived an equation to describe the relationship between plant biomass and v-value using plant height and species coverage within the stand. Estimated plant biomass in the ungrazed and grazed stands ranged between $108.0\;g\;m^{-2}$ and $13.4\;g\;m^{-2}$ and between $97.5\;g\;m^{-2}$ and $14.1\;g\;m^{-2}$ in late June 2005, respectively. Litter in the ungrazed and grazed stands ranged from $330.3\;g\;m^{-2}$ to $78.4\;g\;m^{-2}$ and from $188.0\;g\;m^{-2}$ to $20.3\;g\;m^{-2}$, similarly. Average carbon and nitrogen contents in plants and in litter were 43.0% and 1.9% and 33.7% and 1.4%, respectively. In study sites at Baganuur, the carbon and nitrogen content of plant materials (plant plus litter) was $118.4\;g\;m^{-2}$ and $4.7\;g\;m^{-2}$ on 30 June 2005.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.101-108
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• 2019

The domestic duck industry is the sixth-largest among the livestock industries. However, 34.3% of duck houses were the duck houses arbitrarily converted from plastic greenhouses. This type of duck house was difficult to properly manage internal air temperature and humidity environment. Humidity environment inside duck houses is an important factor that directly affects the productivity and disease occurrence of the duck. Although the humidity environments of litters (bedding materials) affect directly the inside environment of duck houses, there are only few studies related to humidity environment of litters. In this study, evaporation rates from litters were evaluated according to air temperature, relative humidity, water contents of litters, and wind speed. The experimental chamber was made to measure evaporation rates from litters. Temperature and humidity controlled chamber was utilized during the conduct of the laboratory experiments. Using the measured data, a multi linear regression analysis was carried out to derive the calculation formula of evaporation rates from litters. In order to improve the accuracy of the multi linear regression model, the partial vapor pressure directly related to evaporation was also considered. Variance inflation factors of air temperature, relative humidity, partial vapor pressure, water contents of litters, and wind speed were calculated to identify multicollinearity problem. The Multiple $R^2$ and adjusted-$R^2$ of regression model were calculated at 0.76 and 0.71, respectively. Therefore, the regression models were developed in this study can be used to estimate evaporation rates from the litter of duck houses.

• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.17-27
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• 1999

As a countermeasure to reach self-sufficiency for wood supply and demand, we have to develop wood substitutes. Rice hull is the cheapest fiber material we can get in Korea, What is better the yield of rice hull amounts to 1 million tons per year. Before carrying out this study, new ecomaterial rice hull board for housing materials was developed successfully. In order to evaluate whether the rice hull board with or without bioceramic treatment is suitable for housing materials, we studied the environmental effect of the above materials in comparison with the polycarbonate, stainless, or concrete on the adaptation (body weight, water/feed consumption, general signs, urinalysis, autopsy, etc) and the reproduction(litter size, newborn adaptation, etc)of mice. In conclusion, the concrete cage was the worst in the adaptation and so was the stainless steel cage in the reproduction. The rice hull board cage with or without bioceramic treatment was superior or equivalent to other material cages from the standpoints of the adaptation and reproduction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 1998

Objectives : To compare the objective differences in voice quality and voice problems between clergies and normal male control group. Materials and Methods : The sustained vowel sound of 46 clergies and 40 normal persons were analyzed, using a videostroboscopy and acoustic analyzer. Together with these analyses, a questionnaire associated with current and past voice problems was handed over to the patients. Results : The most common symptom in subjective group was the voice fatigue. Stroboscopic findings in subjective group were as following 23 cases(50%) of pachydermia, 17 cases(37%) of phase difference, 12 cases(25%) of anterior-posterior contracture, 6 cases(13%) of vocal polyp and 3 cases(7%) of vocal nodule. The mean maximal phonation time in clergies was 17.8 seconds and in control group was 19 seconds. litter, pitch perturbation quotient and shimmer were significantly increased in subjective group than in control group(p<0.05), but there were no significant differences between two groups in fundamental frequency, vFo, amplitude perturbation quotient and noise to harmonic ratio. Conclusion : In the clergies using loud and forceful voice, vocal polyp and functional voice disorder findings were frequently noted in stroboscopic examination. litter and shimmer, reflecting the roughness of voice, were increased in acoustic analysis. Therefore, clergies, classified into untrained professional voice users, need professional career guidance and counseling.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.47-62
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• 2001

An experimental study was peformed to provide the numerical models to predict the physical fate of marine debris with the key information concerning their trifling and sinkage on the sea. For hygroscopic materials their floating times in a pseudo ocean environment were measured, and for non-hygroscopic objects their drifting limes in a certain wave condition were measured. For sinking materials or objects became to be sinkable free falling experiment was performed to evaluate their falling speed. Summarized information was condensed into a numerical model to predict the most possible region of a significant marine debris accumulation, and the seas connected to the Han river and the Nak-Dong river were considered for the simulation.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.262-269
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• 2010

To investigate a quantitative evaluation of the actinobacteria, we have collected samples from various kinds of bamboo forest soil. Each different layers contained $2.7{\times}10^6-2.7{\times}10^8$ CFU/g of actinobacteria which was the highest in litter layers of Sasa boreali forest soil. We obtained 330 actinobacteria from different layers of bamboo forest soil; litter (100 strains), humus (70 strains), and rhizosphere soil (160 strains). Based on the colony morphology (aerial mycelium, substrate mycelium, and soluble pigment), isolates were divided into thirty-six groups and we selected 50 representative isolates. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed Streptomyces was major actinobacteria (94%) and they were categorized as cluster I (2 strains), II (35 strains), III (6 strains), and IV (7 strains), respectively. The diversity index of 50 Streptomyces collected from the bamboo forest soil was calculated with the Shannon-Wiener method. Bamboo litter showed higher diversity index level of 3.33 than that of humus and rhizosphere soil. Also, antibiotic activities of our isolates were investigated against Botrytis cinerea, Xanthomonas campestris, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria, and Bacillus cereus and found in 74, 16, 25, and 24 strains, respectively.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.139-145
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• 2014

Denitrification permanently removes nitrate from aquatic ecosystems, so construction of denitrification walls to enhance denitrification activity is often suggested to reduce the nitrate levels from tributary ecosystems. However, little information is available to guide the choice of appropriate organic materials for increasing denitrification rates in the walls. This study investigated how differences in organic substrates originating from litter and organic materials affected denitrification and carbon mineralization rates in riparian sediments. Potential denitrification rates were highest in riparian sediments that contained large quantities of extractable organic carbon (Ext. Org C) and that had high anaerobic carbon mineralization rates, but they were negatively correlated with C:N ratios. Therefore, this research suggested that the both carbon quantity and quality should be considered when assessing the efficiency of organic substrates to remove nitrate from tributary ecosystems.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.16-25
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• 2020

Background: To investigate radiological effects on biota, it is necessary to assess radiation dose for flora and fauna living in a terrestrial ecosystem. This paper presents a dynamic model to assess radioactivity concentration and radiation dose of terrestrial flora and fauna after a nuclear accident. Materials and Methods: Litter, organic soil, mineral soil, trees, wild crops, herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores are considered the major components of a terrestrial ecosystem. The model considers the physicochemical and biological processes of interception, weathering, decomposition of litter, percolation, root uptake, leaching, radioactive decay, and biological loss of animals. The predictive capability of the model was investigated by comparison of its predictions with field data for biota measured in the Fukushima forest area after the Fukushima nuclear accident. Results and Discussion: The predicted radioactive cesium inventories for trees agreed well with those for evergreens and deciduous trees sampled in the Fukushima area. The predicted temporal radioactivity concentrations for animals were within the range of the measured radioactivity concentrations of deer, wild boars, and black bears. The radiation dose for the animals were, for the whole simulation time, estimated to be much smaller than the lower limit (0.1 mGy·d^-1) of the derived consideration reference level given by the International Commission on Radiological Protection for terrestrial flora and fauna. This suggested that the radiation effect of the accident on the biota in the Fukushima forest would be insignificant. Conclusion: The present dynamic model can be used effectively to investigate the radiological risk to terrestrial ecosystems following a nuclear accident.