• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2021

Objectives: This study evaluated the odor around an industrial complex area (#1-#5) and the operational effects of the Odor Monitoring System in Seo-gu in Daegu City. Methods: Samples were collected from November 2012 to December 2018 and were analyzed for complex odor. The odor occurrence rate and the odor reduction rate were calculated. Results: In 2018, the mean concentration of complex odor decreased 20.9% and the odor occurrence rate decreased from 65.0 to 27.5% around the industrial complex area (#1-#5) in Seo-gu compared to 2013. After the operation of the Odor Monitoring System, the standard excess rate (3.0%→40.8%) and the excess concentration of complex odor (1,442→4,304) increased at odor-emitting workplaces. In addition, the mean concentration of complex odor (15.9%) and the odor occurrence rate (60.6%→32.9%) around the industrial complex area (#1-#5) and the number of odor complaints (23.4%) in Seo-gu decreased. Conclusion: In order to reduce the odor around the industrial complex area, it is important to improve the odor emitting facilities. The Odor Monitoring System uses scientific and systematic monitoring methods that can help control and manage the odor emission facilities.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.637-648
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• 2021

In order to support the establishment of a farming plan, it is important to preemptively evaluate crop changes and to provide precise information. Therefore, it is necessary to provide customized information suitable for decision-making by farming stage through scientific and continuous monitoring using drones. This study was carried out to support the establishment of the farming plan for ground vegetable. The cultivation management map of each information was obtained from preliminary study. Three cultivation management maps include 'field emergence map', 'stress map' and 'productivity map' reflected spatial variation in the plantation by providing information in units of plants based on 3-dimensions. Application fields of the cultivation management map can be summarized as follows: detect miss-planted, replanting decision, fertilization, weeding, pest control, irrigation schedule, market quality evaluation, harvest schedule, etc.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.311-323
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• 2020

We analyzed food sources of 45 fish species in 28 genera of 12 families based on literature data in freshwater ecosystems of South Korea. The food sources of 45 fish species included in a total of 26 phyla, 42 classes, 94 orders, 189 families and 294 genera. Among them, animal food sources were 16 phyla, 24 classes, 54 orders, 126 families and 212 genera, whereas plant food sources were relatively small with 10 phyla, 18 classes, 42 orders, 63 families and 82 genera. The animal food sources were classified into Arthropod, Insecta, Diptera and Chironomidae according to taxa. Meanwhile, Bacillariophyta, Bacillariophyceae, Cymbellales and Cymbellaceae were the most abundant among the plant sources. Self-Organized Map (SOM) and network analysis were conducted the food sources were classified into taxonomic groups and the feeding types of fish : 45 fish species were divided into five groups, characterizing 1) fishvores, 2) invertebratevores, planktivores including 3) zooplankton and 4) phytoplankton, and 5) omnivores. The network analysis presented link association between fishes and food sources. Macroinvertebrate including diptera and ephemeroptera were revealed as hub food sources based on network analysis. This literature study would expect that the application model with the food source of fish could be utilized for the evaluation of the food network or chain in freshwater ecosystems.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2021

The phylogenetic relationships among thirty-two strains (P1~P32; including Cordyceps sp., Paecilomyces sp., Beauveria sp., Aranthomyces sp., Isaria sp. and Himenostilbe sp.) in Miryang region located in the southern part of Korea, were investigated based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of ribosomal DNA. A fragment of ITS region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the specific primer pairs ITS1 and ITS4. After obtained same size of PCR products from various strains, we cloned them into a pGEM-T easy vector to determine their sequences. BLAST analyses of the nucleotide sequence ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2 gene fragments revealed the identity and their phylogenetic relationship. Among 32 strains isolated from Miryang region, Cordyceps militaris was shared 100% sequences with Genbank (AY49191, EU825999, AY491992), while some species are not shared perfectly with reported sequences. For example, strain P17 (P. tenuipes in Ulju-gun Gaji Mountain) has some differences among the other strains of P. tenuipes (Miryang-si Jocheon-eup, Miryang-si Gaji Mountain) and those of gene bank. We conclude that ITS analyses with strains in the suburbs of Miryang in this study can be effectively used as a tool for classification, evaluation and collection of the natural eco-type genetic resources.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.106-113
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• 2022

Objectives: Herbal medicine is a worldwide health topic. Vitex agnus-castus L. (VAC) is a popular plant used for gynecologic problems due to its hormonal effects. The aim of this study is to reveal VAC extract effect on fetus when this herb is used started from antenatal period or during pregnancy. Methods: Performed from starting day of January 2019 till February 2019, 48 rats were assigned in randomly divided eight-member six groups: control (C1), treated group with 365 mg/kg VAC from initiation of insemination (T1) and 30 days prior to pregnancy (T2), control that underwent caesarean section on 15^th day of gestational age (C2) and treated group with 365 mg/kg VAC from initiation of insemination (T3) and 30 days prior to pregnancy (T4) that underwent caesarean section. Weight, sex and number of fetuses, abortion and still birth rate and estradiol level were evaluated using t-test by SPSS software. Results: We showed increased weight among T1 group considering totally and sex-dependent which is significant (all p-value < 0.05). We also detected significantly decreased weight in T2 in total (p-value < 0.0001) and when considering female fetuses (0.043) but not males (0.17). Although the results showed slightly non-significant increased weight among fetuses of T3 (totally or based on the fetus sex) compared to the control group (C2), T4 group had statistically decreased weight compared to control group. Pregnancy rate and pregnancy outcome were affected by VAC usage. The time of VAC initiation also affected live birth and abortion rates. Conclusion: VAC extract may affect pregnancy rate, live birth rate, abortion and stillbirth rates. Its effect on the weight and the sex showed dual pattern depends on the time of initiation and pregnancy trimester of evaluation. Prescribing this medicinal plant for patients being prone to pregnancy should be with caution. Further study is recommended.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.40-52
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• 2022

This study analyzed the amount of carbon dioxide reduction and economic benefits of detailed processes of CO₂ 6,000 tons plant facilities with mineral carbonation technology using carbon dioxide and coal materials emitted from domestic circulating fluidized bed combustion power plants. Coal ash reacted with carbon dioxide through carbon mineralization facilities is produced as a complex carbonate and used as a construction material, accompanied by a greenhouse gas reduction. In addition, it is possible to generate profits from the sales of complex carbonates and carbon credits produced in the process. The actual carbon dioxide reduction per ton of complex carbonate production was calculated as 45.8 kgCO₂eq, and the annual carbon dioxide reduction was calculated as 805.3 tonCO₂, and the benefit-cost ratio (B/C Ratio) is 1.04, the internal rate return (IRR) is 10.65 % and the net present value (NPV) is KRW 24,713,465 won, which is considered economical. Carbon mineralization technology is one of the best solutions to reduce carbon dioxide considering future carbon dioxide reduction and economic potential.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.303-309
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• 2022

Dystaenia takesimana is an endemic plant found only in Korea, especially on Ulleung Island. The leaves and roots of D. takesimana have been used as food, forage, and oriental medicine. Anti-bacterial, anti-inflammation, antioxidant, and α-glucosidase inhibition biological activities have been reported in the plant's root extract. However, studies concerning the anti-thrombosis activities of D. takesimana are still in the rudimentary stage. In this study, the extracts of the leaf (DT-L), stem (DT-S), and root (DT-R) of D. takesimana were prepared using 70% ethanol, and their anti-thrombosis activities were evaluated. DT-L extracts (0.25 mg/ml) showed strong inhibitions against platelet aggregation, comparable to aspirin, with strong radical scavenging activities. Furthermore, the DT-L extract did not show any RBC hemolysis up to 1 m/ml. The ant-coagulation and antioxidant activities of the DT-S extract were ignorable. While the DT-R extract showed inhibitions against thrombin and blood coagulation factors, it also showed strong platelet aggregation. This is a first report of the anti-thrombosis activities of D. takesimana, and our results suggest that DT-L could be developed as a valuable bioresource for high value-added products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.15-31
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• 2022

The Green Purification Unit System (GPUS) is a green infrastructure facility applicable to the roadside to reduce particulate matter from road traffic. This study introduces two types of GPUS (type1 and type2) and assesses the performance and maintenance costs of each of them. The GPUS's performance analysis used the data collected in November 2021 after the installation of the GPUS type1 and type2 at the study site in Suwon. The changes in the particulate matter concentration near the GPUS were measured. The maintenance cost of GPUS type1 and type2 was assessed by calculating the initial installation cost and the management and repair cost after installation. The results of the performance analysis showed that the GPUS type1, which was manufactured by combining plants and electric dust collectors, had a superior particulate matter reduction performance. In particular, type1 produced a greater effect of particulate matter reduction in the time with a high concentration (50㎍/m³ or higher) of particulate matter due to the operation of electric dust collectors. GPUS type2, which was designed in the form of a plant wall without applying an electric dust collector, showed lower reduction performance than type1 but showed sufficiently improved performance compared to the existing band green area. Meanwhile, the GPUS type1 had three times higher costs for the initial installation than GPUS type2. In terms of costs for managing and repairing, it was evaluated that type1 would be slightly more costly than type2. Finally, this study discussed the applicability of two types of GPUS based on the result of the analysis of their particulate matter performance and maintenance cost at the same time. Since GPUS type2 has a cheaper cost than type1, it could be more economical. However, in the area suffering a high concentration of particulate matter, GPUS type1 would be more effective than type2. Therefore, the choice of GPUS types should rely on the status of particulate matter concentration in the area where GPUS is being installed.

• Clean Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2022

This study developed and tested an ultra-low NO_x burner in an 80 kW combustion furnace. The experiment was conducted in an 80 kW single burner combustion furnace with changing the swirl numbers, total equivalence ratios, and primary/secondary oxidizer ratios. In this study, liquefied natural gas (LNG) was used as an auxiliary fuel to significantly reduce NO_x production. In a thermal power plant, the amount of NO_x generated during coal combustion is about 300 ppm. However, using the burner tested in this study, it was possible to reduce the amount of NO_x generated via LNG co-firing to 40 ppm. If the input amount of the primary oxidizer is enough for the gas to be completely combusted and the gas and coal are added simultaneously, the combusted gas forms a high-temperature region at the burner outlet and volatilizes the coal. As a result, the N contained in the devolatilized coal is discharged. Therefore, when the coal is subsequently burned, the amount of NO_x produced decreases because there is almost no N remaining in the coal. If a thermal power plant burner is developed based on the results of this study, it is expected that the NO_x generation will be significantly lower in the early stage of combustion.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.62-69
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• 2023

For the nuclear power concrete plant structures in the UAE, it is necessary to consider the deterioration from high sulfate ions in the atmosphere and high chloride ions from the coast. In this study, two strength grade concrete mixture (40 MPa and 27 MPa) and two curing/diffusion temperatures (20 ℃ and 50 ℃) were considered for evaluating the temperature effects on diffusion and strength due to high average temperature above 38 ℃ a year in UAE. When the initial curing temperature was high, the compressive strength increased in high-temperature curing to 7 days, but the strength slightly increased in the 20 ℃ curing condition at 28 days. Regarding diffusion test, unlike the compressive test results, reduced chloride diffusion coefficients were evaluated both in 40 MPa and 27 MPa grade at 28 days. In the case of 91 days of curing, an increase in diffusivity due to high temperature and a decrease in diffusivity due to age effect occur simultaneously. Compared to the results of the curing and diffusion tests at 20 ℃ and 28 days, when the curing and diffusion tests were conducted at 50 ℃ in 91 days, the diffusion coefficients decreased to 76.2 % in 40 MPa grade and 85.4 % in 37 MPa grade with increasing curing period, respectively.