• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.19-26
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• 2013

This study was carried out to provide preliminary data for increasing biodiversity in agricultural ecosystem and investigate availability of using Tubificidae spp. for environment-friendly agriculture through the survey of growth of Tubificidae spp. in flooded paddy fields during winter. We estimated the number of Tubificidae spp. in rice paddy where had been flooded during the previous winter in Ganghwa-gun, Suwon-si, and Hwaseong-si (Bongdam-eup and Paltan-myeon) between March and April from 2010 to 2012. During growing period of rice, the number of Tubificidae spp. was compared between flooded and non-flooded paddy field in Ganghwa-gun. As results, mean density of Tubificidae spp. in winter flooded paddy field was 7,235.5 $ind./m^2$ in Ganghwa-gun, 14,347.5 $ind./m^2$ in Suwon-si, 59,989.9 $ind./m^2$ in Bongdam-eup, and 2,610.6 $ind./m^2$ in Paltan-myeon. Mean density of Tubificidae spp. was the highest in flooded paddy fields of Bongdam-eup that was kept wet until rice harvest time and had shallow water. While mean density was the lowest in Paltan-myeon where had deep water and later flooded paddy field than others. In Ganghwa-gun, during growing period of rice, mean density of Tubificidae spp. in flooded paddy fields (171,109.0 $ind./m^2$) and flooded fallow paddy fields (321,084.2 $ind./m^2$) was much higher than non-flooded paddy fields (1,006.6 $ind./m^2$). Flooded paddy field during winter can help increase the number of Tubificidae spp. which can control weeds and enhance biodiversity in paddy fields for environment-friendly agriculture. Early flooding and shallow water of paddy fields could be a good agriculture practice to encourage the growth of Tubificidae spp..

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.366-372
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• 2019

The PRISM model has been used to estimate precipitation in South Korea where observation data are readily available at a large number of weather station. However, it is likely that the PRISM model would result in relatively low reliability of precipitation estimates in North Korea where weather data are available at a relatively small number of weather stations. Alternatively, a hybrid method has been developed to estimate the precipitation distribution in area where availability of climate data is relatively low. In the hybrid method, Regression coefficients between the precipitation-terrain relationships are applied to a low-resolution precipitation map produced using the PRISM. In the present study, a hybrid approach was applied to North Korea for estimation of precipitation distribution at a high spatial resolution. At first, the precipitation distribution map was produced at a low-resolution (2,430m) using the PRISM model. Secondly, a deviation map was prepared calculating difference between altitudes of synoptic stations and virtual terrains produced using 270m-resolution digital elevation map (DEM). Lastly, another deviation map of precipitation was obtained from the maps of virtual precipitation produced using observation data from the synoptic weather stations and both synoptic and automated weather station (AWS), respectively. The regression equation between precipitation and terrain was determined using these deviation maps. The high resolution map of precipitation distribution was obtained applying the regression equation to the low-resolution map. It was found that the hybrid approach resulted in better representation of the effects of the terrain. The precipitation distribution map for the hybrid approach had similar spatial pattern to that for the existing method. It was estimated that the mean annual cumulative precipitation of entire territory of North Korea was 1,195mm with a standard deviation of 253mm.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 1991

The distribution of cryophilous arctic-alpine and alpine plants in Korea is reviewed in connection with palaeoenvironment, along with a discussion to their origins, patterns of migration, and their refugia. At present, the estimated number of Korean arctic-alpine and alpine species is 419, and this includes 75 arctic-alpine species, 239 alpine species and 105 Korean endemic alpine species. The disjunctive distribution of cryophilous arctic-alpine and alpine plants is likely to be due to first, the downslope and southward expansion of those species towards the Korean peninsula as a primary refugia from the arctic region as the Pleistocene glacial phases approached, and then their subsequent isolation upslope in mountain areas toward a secondary refugia as the interglacial and post-glacial climatic ameliorations followed; secondly, the expansion of forest tree communities on lowland and montane areas subsequent to the end of the Pleistocene has had the effect of dividing formerly high mountains as a result of the increased competition; and thirdly, the general disapperance or restriction of available habitats for arctic-alpine and alpine species because of post-glacial climatic amelioration. The existence of 139 alpine species exclusively in the north of Korea may be due to the following reasons; first, frequent exchanges of alpine floras with other neighbouring East Asian regions would have been facilitated; secondly, there are numerous high mountains available for the alpine plants to survive and prosper during the post-glacial period; thirdly, the existence of easy accesses between mountains within the north, which has enabled alpine floras to migrate when necessary; and finally, the availability of diverse environments and habitats for the alpine flora of the north. However, the continued survival of those species in Korea at the world's or East Asia's southernmost limits of their distribution for many species is in danger if global warming associated with the greenhouse effect takes place.

• Clean Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.439-448
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• 2014

The potential mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) is studied in the Pohang steel industrial complex (PHSIC). The total GHG emission in 2010 is estimated to be in the range from 4,174,000 to 4,574,000 $tCO_2-eq$ in PHSIC. To meet the target proposed by the government, it is needed to reduce 552,000 $tCO_2-eq$ at minium by 2020. To estimate the potential amount of GHG reduction, the technologies used in the voluntary carbon reduction projects are applied to 51 companies which are subject to GHG target management. From the viewpoint of technological availability and payback period, the fuel conversion and waste heat recovery have an advantage in the short term with a possibility to reduce 160,000 $tCO_2-eq$. In the mid term, the thermal technologies in steel and iron industry have the potential to cut 229,000 $tCO_2-eq$, while the electrical technologies have the potential of 125,000 $tCO_2-eq$ reduction. The gap between the target GHG mitigation and potential reduction using the short and mid term technologies is about 38,000 $tCO_2-eq$, which should be compensated by the fundamental process innovation and the implementation of the most cutting-edge technologies including renewable energy.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.57-67
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• 2010

Specific yield is an essential parameter of the water table fluctuation method for recharge calculation. Specific yield is not easily estimated because of limited availability of aquifer test data and soil samples at National Groundwater Monitoring Stations in South Korea. The linear relationship between rainfall and water level rise was used to estimate the specific yields of aquifer for 34 shallow monitoring wells which were grouped into three clusters. In the case of Cluster-1 and Cluster-2, this method was not applicable because of low cross correlation between rainfall and water level rise and also a long lag time of water level rise to rainfall. However, the specific yields for 19 monitoring wells belonging to Cluster-3, which have relatively high cross correlation and short lag time, within 2 days after rainfall, range from 0.06 to 0.27 with mean value of 0.17. These values are within the general range for sand and gravel sediments and similar to those from aquifer test data. A detailed field survey is required to identify monitoring sites that are not greatly affected by pumping, stream flow, evapotranspiration, or delayed response of water levels to rainfall, because these factors may cause overestimation of specific yield estimates.

• Journal of Animal Environmental Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.63-74
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• 2012

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different stocking rate on growth, cast production and conversion efficiency of organic matter to tissues of earthworm. The carbon and nitrogen ratio (C/N) of tested Korean cow manure was 25.1, it was estimated an adequate ratio as feed for earthworms. The different stocking rates were 1:8(S-1), 1:16(S-2), 1:32(S-3) 1:64(S-4) 1:128(S-5) and 1:256 (S-6) as the ratios of earthworm fresh weight to biomass of Korean cow manure, respectively. A stocking rate of 1:32(S-3) was obtained a significantly highest values of increasing rate and conversion efficiency of organic matter to earthworm tissues. The mean values of increasin g rate of fresh weight and conversion efficiency of organic matter to earthworm tissues were 10.63 mg/day and 6.65% at the ratio of 1:32(S-3) with a rearing volume was $56.6cm^3$. A stocking rate of 1:8(S-1) was obtained a highest ratio of vermicasts, but showed a negative values of increasing rate and conversion efficiency of organic matter to earthworm tissues, it may due to severely food competition between individuals during the rearing periods. The pH, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, cation exchange capacity and exchangeable cations of vermicasts tended to increase with stocking rate. Especially, available phosphorus, cation exchange capacity and exchangeable cations of vermicasts tended to increase with rearing progressed. Vermicasts have the potential for improving plant growth when amended to container medium and soil according to increased availability of nutrients and improved physicochemical properties.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.651-657
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• 2019

Although smallpox was eradicated in 1980, it is still considered a potential agent of biowarfare and bioterrorism. Smallpox has the potential for high mortality rates along with a major public health impact, eventually causing public panic and social disruption. Passive administration of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is an effective intervention for various adverse reactions caused by vaccination and the unpredictable nature of emerging and bioterrorist-related infections. Currently, vaccinia immune globulin (VIG) is manufactured from vaccinia vaccine-boosted plasma; however, this production method is not ideal because of its limited availability, low specific activity, and risk of contamination with blood-borne infectious agents. To overcome the limitations of VIG production from human plasma, we isolated two human single-chain variable fragments (scFvs), (SC34 and SC212), bound to vaccinia virus (VACV), from a scFv phage library constructed from the B cells of VACV vaccine-boosted volunteers. The scFvs were converted to human IgG1 (VC34 and VC212). These two anti-VACV mAbs were produced in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) DG44 cells. The binding affinities of VC34 and VC212 were estimated by competition ELISA to $IC_{50}$ values of $2{\mu}g/ml$ (13.33 nM) and $22{\mu}g/ml$ (146.67 nM), respectively. Only the VC212 mAb was proven to neutralize the VACV, as evidenced by the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) result with a $PRNT_{50}$ of ~0.16 mg/ml (${\sim}1.07{\mu}M$). This VC212 could serve as a valuable starting material for further development of VACV-neutralizing human immunoglobulin for a prophylactic measure against post-vaccination complications and for post-exposure treatment against smallpox.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.36.2-36.2
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• 2018

Cosmic reionization era in the early universe was playing a leading part on making the present universe we know. However, we have not been able to reveal the main contributor to the cosmic reionization to date. Faint quasars have been mentioned as the alternative due to the uncertainty of the faint end slope of the quasars luminosity function. With the availability of the deep (~25mag) images from Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) Strategic Program survey, we have tried to find more quasar with low luminosity in the ELAIS-N1 field. Faint quasar candidates were selected from several multi-band color cut criteria based on the track of the simulated quasar at z ~ 5. The Infrared Medium-deep Survey (IMS) and The UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) - Deep Extragalactic Survey (DXS) provide J band information which is used to cover the relatively long wavelength range of quasar spectra. To search the reliable candidates with possible Lyman break, medium-band observation was performed by the SED camera for QUasars in EArly uNiverse(SQUEAN) in the McDonald observatory and Seoul National University 4k Camera(SNUCAM) in the Maidanak observatory. Photometric redshifts of the observed candidates were estimated from chi-square minimization. Also, we predicted the importance of the faint quasar to the cosmic reionization from the expected number density of the faint quasar.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.94-102
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• 2020

Renewable energy (RE) is essential to comprise sustainable societies, especially, in rural villages of developing countries. Furthermore, application of off-grid RE systems to health care can improve the quality of life. In this research, a RE-based vaccination supply management system was constructed to enlarge the cold-chain in developing countries for the safe storage and delivery of vaccines. The system was comprised of the construction of RE plants and development of vaccine carriers. RE plants were constructed and connected to health posts in local villages. The cooling mechanism of vaccine carriers was improved and monitoring devices were installed. The effect of the system on vaccine cold-chain was evaluated from the field test and topographical analysis in the southern village of Nepal. RE plants were normally operated for the vaccine refrigerator in the health post. The modified vaccine carriers had a longer operation time and better temperature control via monitoring and RE-based recharging functionality. The topographical analysis estimated that the system can cover larger region. The system prototype showed great potential regarding the possibility of a sustainable and enlarged cold-chain. Thus, RE-based vaccine supply management is expected to facilitate vaccine availability while minimizing waste in the supply chain.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.729-744
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) is a biomarker for oxidative stress to induce inflammation. Methionine is an essential sulfur-containing amino acid with antioxidative activity. On the other hand, the evidence on whether and how methionine can depress HNE-derived inflammation is lacking. In particular, the link between the regulation of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway and methionine intake is unclear. This study examined the link between depression from HNE accumulation and the anti-inflammatory function of ⳑ-methionine in rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male Wistar rats (3-week-old, weighing 70-80 g) were administered different levels of ⳑ-methionine orally at 215.0, 268.8, 322.5, and 430.0 mg/kg body weight for two weeks. The control group was fed commercial pellets. The hepatic HNE contents and the protein expression and mRNA levels of the inflammatory mediators were measured. The interleukin-10 (IL-10) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) levels were also estimated. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, hepatic HNE levels were reduced significantly in all groups fed ⳑ-methionine, which were attributed to the stimulation of GST by ⳑ-methionine. With decreasing HNE levels, ⳑ-methionine inhibited the activation of NF-κB by up-regulating inhibitory κBα and depressing phosphoinositide 3 kinase/protein kinase B. The mRNA levels of the inflammatory mediators (cyclooxygenase-2, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrotic factor alpha) were decreased significantly by ⳑ-methionine. In contrast, the protein expression of these inflammatory mediators was effectively down regulated by ⳑ-methionine. The anti-inflammatory action of ⳑ-methionine was also reflected by the up-regulation of IL-10. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a link between the inhibition of HNE accumulation and the depression of inflammation in growing rats, which was attributed to ⳑ-methionine availability. The anti-inflammatory mechanism exerted by ⳑ-methionine was to inhibit NF-κB activation and to up-regulate GST.