• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2001

N fertilizer recommendations to optimize with consideration to maximum crop yields, maximum profits, and minimum N losses to ground or runoff water, an advisory system. Nitrogen Expert System (NES), was developed. The system was to estimate the optimal rate of N fertilizer application cornfields in Illinois. NES was constructed using Smart Elements, a knowledge-based system that manages the expertise of human experts. NES was reinforced by addition of the effect of a productivity index (PI), soil organic matter content (SOM), and pre-sidedressing of nitrate concentration (PSNT) to the optimal N fertilizer recommendation. NES contains 49 rules, 1 class, 14 objects, and 2 properties. NES was successfully operated, showing N recommendations with inputs of three soil properties including PI, SOM, and PSNT. NES can reduce N loss to the environment, but adherence to the recommendations may also reduce farmers income. Therefore, NES will be more effective by evaluating both environmental damage assessment and other economic agricultural management parameters and other soil physico-chemical parameters.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.864-871
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• 2010

At the current situation of continuous utilization of heavy metal contaminated upland for agricultural purpose in Korea, minimizing transport of heavy metals from soil to crops is important for securing safety of human health. The present study (in field scale) examined the efficiency of several soil amendments (dolomite, steel slag, lime, zeolite, and compost) on reduction of phytoavailable heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in soil through comparison with no amendment treatment and clean soil cover treatment. For determination of the phytoavailability, 1 M $NH_4NO_3$ extraction and red pepper cultivation were introduced. Among the amendments, in general, dolomite and steel slag were the most effective in reduction of metal (Cd, Pb, and Zn) phytoavailability resulting in less accumulation of these metals in shoot and fruit of red pepper. However, dolomite and steel slag treatment was not as effective as clean soil cover treatment which showed the least metal accumulation in red pepper fruit. Nevertheless, with taking into account the cost, treatment of dolomite or steel slag can be competitive method because the current study showed that dolomite or steel slag treatment reduced accumulated heavy metal concentration effectively in both shoot and fruit of red pepper compared to those from control soil and the concentration in fruit was within the standard value (<0.2 mg $kg^{-1}$ for both Cd and Pb).

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.495-500
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• 2007

Recently we are interest in organic farming of rice. The technology of paper mulching was practised without herbicide in machine transplanting cultivation of paddy. A field experiment was conducted in Gangseo series (coarse loamy, mixed, nonacid, mesic family of Aquic Fluventic Eutrochrepts) at the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), RDA, Suwon, Gyeonggi province, Republic of Korea in 2004. This experiment was carried out to evaluate soil redox potential, weed control and rice growth by the different organic matter in paper mulching transplanting. Compost, rice straw and soiling rye were incorporated as organic matter. The nitrogen amount of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) plot was 80% compared with nitrogen amount ($110kg\;ha^{-1}$) of conventional fertilization. Mulching paper consisted of recycled paper which was coated with biodegradable plastics. There were no difference between conventional rice transplanting and paper mulching on missing hills after organic matter application. Weed control were the highest at added soiling rye plot. The redox potential of soil was the lowest in rice straw + CRF 80% plot at tillering stage. The $NH_4{^+}-N$ in soil was the highest at soiling rye + CRF 80% tillering stage. There was no difference in yield between soiling rye + CRF 80%, compost + CRF 80% and conventional fertilization plot.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.634-643
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• 2017

No-tillage is an effective practice to save labor input and reduce methane emission from the paddy. Effects of tillage and cultivation methods on carbon accumulation and soil properties were investigated in the treatments of tillage-transplanting (T-T), tillage-wet hill seeding (T-WS), minimum tillage-dry seeding (MT-S) and no-tillage dry seeding (NT-S) of rice. Soil carbon was higher in NT-S and MT-S, compared to T-T and T-WS. In NT-S and MT-S, soil carbon contents were the highest in the top soil (5 cm depth) and decreased with soil depth. In T-T and T-WS, however soil carbon contents showed no significant difference up to soil depth of 15 cm from the top. Carbon content was the highest in the soil particle size under $106{\mu}m$ and decreased as the soil particle size increased. Contents of water-stable aggregates in NT-S and MT-S were higher than those of T-T and T-WS. In NT-S and MT-S, contents of water-stable aggregates were the highest in the top soil and significantly decreased with soil depth while no significant difference up to the soil depth of 15 cm in T-T and T-WS. Available $SiO_2$ contents in the top soil were the highest in NT-S and MT-S while the lowest in T-T and T-WS. It is concluded that minimum or no disturbance of soil in rice cultivation can increase carbon accumulation in the soil, especially in the top layer, and subsequently contribute to the formation of the water-stable soil aggregates.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.144-156
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• 2021

This study examined hydrogeological characteristics of groundwater and surface water interaction in the fresh-saline water mixed zone of East Coast lagoon area, Korea, using several technical approaches including hydrological, lithological, and isotopic methods. In addition, the fresh-saline water interface was evaluated using vertical electrical conductivity (EC) data. For this purpose, three monitoring wells (SJ-P1, SJ-P2, and SJ-P3) were installed across the Songji lagoon at depths of 7.4 to 9.0 m, and water level, EC, and temperature at the wells and in the lagoon (SJ-L1) were monitored using automatic transducers from August 1 to October 21, 2021. Isotopic composition of the groundwater, lagoon water, and sea water were also monitored in the mid-September, 2013. The mixing ratios calculated from oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition decreased with increasing depth in the monitoring wells, indicating saline water intrusion. In the study area, the interaction of groundwater-surface water-sea water was evident, and residual salinity in the sedimentary layers created in the past marine environment showed disorderly characteristics. Moreover, the horizontal flow at the lagoon's edge was more dominant than the vertical flow.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.761-767
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• 2021

Strawberries fermented with Acetobacter pasteurianus SRCM60009 were prepared, and the quality characteristics and physiological activity were measured. As the fermentation period increased, viable cell counts increased, pH decreased, and total acidity increased from 1.09% to 4.20%. The organic acid content of strawberry through acetic acid fermentation was confirmed in the following order: acetic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, and lactic acid. Measurement of α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitory activity showed significantly increased physiological activity owing to fermentation. The use of strawberry vinegar as a functional material was confirmed by measuring the anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, and anti-hypertensive physiological activities through acetic acid fermentation of strawberry. Thus, fermented strawberry vinegar can be used as a functional material in vinegar and other foods.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 2021

The venom of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) is used to treat many diseases because of its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Bee venom consists of several biologically active molecules and exhibits remarkable anti-cancer effects. However, biological amines, which exhibit diverse functionality such as anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, have not been previously reported in bee venom. In this study, we determined the content of putrescine in bee venom by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography. The specificity, accuracy, and precision of the assay were assessed, and the assay validated. The linearity of the putrescine assay was r ≥ 0.99, indicating a moderate level of putrescine in the bee venom. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were both 0.9 ㎍/mL, while the rate of recovery was 96.4%-99.9%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the intra-day precision and inter-day precision of the putrescine assay were 0.16% - 0.23% and 0.09% - 0.36%, respectively, with the RSD ≤ 5% indicating excellent precision. Thus, the linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, and recovery rate of the putrescine assay were satisfactory. The analysis of the bee venom showed that the putrescine content was 3.1 ± 0.09 mg/g. This study provides fundamental data on putrescine content in bee venom, which will prove useful in further studies of its bioactivity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.323-334
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• 2021

Pilot-scale coagulation and sedimentation processes were operated to investigate the T-P (Total phosphorus) removal efficiency. A multiple regression model was also derived to predict the water quality improvement effect with river water characteristics. The inflow rates for the pilot-scale facility were 157-576 m³/day, and the coagulant doses were in the range of 13.7-58.5 mg/L (average 38.9 mg/L) for PAC (Poly alum chloride) and 16.5-62.1 mg/L (average 36.0 mg/L) for alum. The results found that the influent BOD (Biochemical oxygen demand) and T-P concentrations were 4.9 mg/L and 0.115 mg/L, and the removal efficiencies were 52.7% and 59.4%, respectively. T-P removal efficiencies on wet weather days were higher by 10% than dry weather days because influent solids influenced T-P's coagulation process. The pH of river water was 6.9-7.8, and the average pH was 7.3. Although the pH variation was not significant, the trend showed that the treatment efficiency of T-P and PO₄-P removal increased. Thus, the pH range considered in this study seems to be appropriate for the coagulation process, which is essential for phosphorous removal. The T-P removal efficiencies were 19.6-93.3% (average 59.2%) for PAC and 16.4-98.5%(average 55.9%) for alum; thus, both coagulants showed similar results. Furthermore, the average coagulant doses were similar at 42.4 mg/L for PAC and 41.3 mg/L for alum. When the T-P concentration of the effluent was compared by the [Al]/[P] ratio, the phosphorus concentration of the treated water decreased with an increasing [Al]/[P] ratio, and the lowest T-P concentration range appeared at the [Al]/[P] ratio of 10-30. A seasonal multiple regression analysis equations were derived from the relationships between 10 independent and dependent variables (T-P concentration of effluent). This study could help lake water quality maintenance, reduce eutrophication, and improve direction settings for urban planning, especially plans related to developing waterfront cities.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.410-418
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• 2021

This study was conducted in 8.2m wide single-span greenhouse to investigate the effect of presence or absence of rafter steel pipe joint and foundation conditions on greenhouse structural performance. Structural performance was evaluated by static loading test using the structural performance evaluation system for single-span greenhouse. The measured displacement was compared with the predicted result by numerical analysis. The displacement of each measurement location showed a significant difference regardless of the conditions of the foundation and presence or absence of rafter steel pipe joint. Compared to the hinge conditions, the difference in structural performance of the greenhouse in the fixed conditions was seen to be relatively large. The difference in structural performance according to presence or absence of rafter steel pipe joints, the lateral stiffness of the joint was 8.1% greater.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.117-127
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• 2021

Objectives Previously, we demonstrated that a 5% ethanol extract of unripe Rubus coreanus (5-uRCK) and ellagic acid has hypocholesterolemic and antiobesity activity in high-fat diet-fed animals. Therefore, we conducted a clinical study on the anti-obesity effect of 5-uRCK in 140 Korean adults (aged 19-70 years, body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m²). Methods The participants were randomly assigned to two groups and were administered the placebo (n=70) or 5-uRCK extract (800 mg, n=70) daily for 12 weeks. The subjects were instructed to maintain their usual dietary intake and normal physical activity. Anthropometrics, body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and blood parameters were compared between the two groups. Results Average body weight and BMI did not show any significant changes; however, changes in upper body fat mass between the two groups was significantly different, as determined using analysis of covariance adjusted for baseline of percent body fat and drinking units. Moreover, Although not significant, the trunk fat mass and percent trunk fat tended to decrease after 5-uRCK supplementation. There was no significant difference in other laboratory biomarkers between the two groups. All safety parameters were within normal ranges in the both group. Conclusions In the present study, 5-uRCK significantly reduced upper body fat in obese subjects after 12 weeks, which indicates that it may help improve android-type obesity. Furthermore, the supplement is safe and well tolerated.