• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.851-861
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• 2019

In this study, we performed a sediment elution experiment to evaluate water quality in terms of phosphorus, as influenced by the dissolved oxygen consumed by sediments. Three separate model column treatments, namely, raw, calcined, and sonicated oyster shell powders, were used in this experiment. Essential phosphorus fractions were examined to verify their roles in nutrient release from sediment based on correlation analyses. When treated with calcined or sonicated oyster shell powder, the sediment-water interface became "less anaerobic," thereby producing conditions conducive to partial oxidation and activities of aerobic bacteria. Sediment Oxygen Demand (SOD) was found to be closely correlated with the growth of algae, which confirmed an intermittent input of organic biomass at the sediment surface. SOD was positively correlated with exchangeable and loosely adsorbed phosphorus and organic phosphorus, owing to the accumulation of unbound algal biomass-derived phosphates in sediment, whereas it was negatively correlated with ferric iron-bound phosphorus or calcium fluorapatite-bound phosphorus, which were present in the form of "insoluble" complexes, thereby facilitating the free migration of sulfate-reducing bacteria or limiting the release from complexes, depending on applied local conditions. PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis revealed that iron-reducing bacteria were the dominant species in control and non-calcined oyster shell columns, whereas certain sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were identified in the column treated with calcined oyster powder.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2021

Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) can be classified as a type of self-immobilized microbial aggregates measuring more than 0.2 mm. It offers the option to simultaneously remove COD, N, and P that occur in different zones inside a granule. Also, AGS is characterized by high precipitability, treatability with high organic loading, and high tolerance to low temperature. In this study, a sequencing batch reactor inoculated with AGS (AGS-SBR) is a new advanced wastewater treatment process that was proven to grow AGS with integrated nutrient removal and low C/N ratio. A pilot plant, AGS-SBR with a capacity of 225 ㎥/d was installed at an S sewage treatment plant in Gyeonggi-do. The results of the operation showed that the water quality of the effluent indicated that the value of BOD5 was 1.5 mg/L, CODMn was 11.4 mg/L, SS was 6.2 mg/L, T-N was 13.2 mg/L, and T-P was 0.197 mg/L, and all of these values reliably satisfied an effluent standard (I Area). In winter, the T-N treatment efficiency at a lower temperature of less than 11℃ also showed reliability to meet the effluent standard of the I Area (20 mg/L or less). Analysis of microbial community in AGS showed a higher preponderance of beneficial microorganisms involved in denitrification and phosphorus accumulation compared with activated sludge. The power consumption and sludge disposal cost were reduced by 34.7% and 54.9%, respectively, compared to the domestic SBR type sewage treatment plant with a processing capacity of 1,000 ㎥/d or less.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.381-389
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• 2019

Chlorella vulgaris was isolated from the Nile River, Qalubia Governorate, Egypt, for possible use in biodiesel production. BG-II nutrient growth media was used for isolation and laboratory growth. Identification was performed via 18S rRNA gene amplification, followed by sequencing. The alga was exposed to UV-C (254 nm) for 15, 30, and 45 s to improve dry weight accumulation and to increase the oil production. Daily measurements of dry weight ($g{\cdot}l^{-1}$) were performed; oil content and volumetric lipid productivity were also determined. UV-C exposure led to an increase in the volumetric lipid productivity by 27, 27.3, and $32.4mg{\cdot}l^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$ with 15, 30, and 45 s, respectively, as compared with the control, which resulted in $18mg{\cdot}l^{-1}{\cdot}d^{-1}$. Of the examined mutants, the one with the highest productivity was re-irradiated by UV-C (254 nm) for 15, 30, 45, and 60 s. For 15 s of exposure time, the oil content increased to 34%, while it was 31% at 30 s; further, it decreased to 22% at 45 and 60 s exposures. The fatty acid methyl ester profile was 82.22% in the first mutant at 45 s, compared with the wild strain that contained a total of 66.01% of FAs. Furthermore, the highest levels of polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl ester were observed in the mutant exposed for 45 s, and it reached 11.41%, which reduced the cetane number to 71.3.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2019

This study was conducted to analyse the application of pollutant build-up model on various urban landuses and to characterize pollutant build-up on urban areas as a source of stormwater runoff pollution. The monitored data from impervious surfaces in urban areas such as commercial (8 sites), industrial (10 sites), road (8 sites), residential (10 sites), recreational (5 sites) from 2008 to 2016 were used for the analysis of pollutant build-up model. Based on the results, the average runoff coefficients vary from 0.35 to 0.61. In all landuses except recreational landuse, the runoff coefficient is 0.5 or more, which is the highest in the commercial area. Commercial landuse where pollutants occur at the highest EMC in all landuse, and it is considered that NPS management is necessary compared with other landuses. The maximum build-up load for organic matter (BOD) was highest in the commercial area ($4.59g/m^2$), and for particular matter (TSS) in the road area ($5.90g/m^2$) while for nutrient (TN and TP) in the residential area ($0.40g/m^2$, $0.14g/m^2$). The rate constants ranged from 0.1 to 1.3 1/day depending on landuse and pollutant parameters, which means that pollutant accumulation occurs between 1 and 10 days during dry day. It is clear that these build-up curves can generally be classified based on landuse. Antecedent dry day (ADD) is a suitable and reasonable variable for developing pollutant build-up functions. The pollutant build-up curves for different landuse shows that these build-up curves can be generally categorized based on landuse.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.103-111
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• 2023

To evaluate the impact of effluents from land-based fish farms on the coastal ocean of Wando, Korea, we analyzed inorganic nutrients, particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the effluent and influent of land-based fish farms during the summer (July) of 2021. The average concentrations of nutrients (Dissolved inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus, and silicate; DIN, DIP, and DSi, respectively) in the effluents of this study area were 17±3.7 μM, 1.4±0.7 μM, and 14±1.6 μM, respectively. The average concentrations of POC and DOC were 37±22 μM and 81±13 μM, respectively, with POC accounting for about 30% for total organic carbon in effluents. The Reduced Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen/Total Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen ratio (0.7), potential short-period index, indicates that the discharge of nutrients excreted by the fish and unconsumed feed into coastal water results in such nutrients being deposited and accumulated in the sediment. Subsequently, this continuous accumulation triggers the release of ammonium ions during organic matter decomposition, and the ammonium-enriched waters that encroach on fish farms as influent seem to be due to the diffusion of high concentrations of ammonium from bottom sediment. Furthermore, we used fluorescence indices to examine the characteristics of organic matter sources, obtaining mean values of 1.54±0.19, 1.06±0.06, and 1.56±0.06 for the humification index, biological index, and fluorescence index, respectively, in the effluent. These results indicate that the organic matters had an autochthonous origin that resulted from microbial decomposition, and such organic matters were rapidly generated and removed by biological activity, likely supplied from the sediment. Our results suggest that the effluent from land-based fish farms could be a potential source of deoxygenation occurrence in coastal areas.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 1986

Nowadays, air pollution by increasing consumption of fossil fuels resulting from rapidly growing population and industrialization has caused the adverse effects on terrestrial ecosystems and become one of the most serious problems causing environmental discriptions. Air pollution such as $SO_2, HF, NO_X,$ fly ash, ozone and PAN might influence plant growth, reproduction, nutrient cycling, photosynthesis and predisposition to entomological and pathological stresses on plants. Furthermore, accumulation of those toxic substances in forests might cause subtle or serious changes in the structure and function of forest ecosystems. Since 1970s, a number of large industrial complexes had been constructed as a part of industrialization plan in Korea. Accordingly, the forest exosystems around them has been under chronic influences of air pollution and effects of air pollution on plants became a matter of concern. In Yocheon Industrial Complex which consisted of lots of petrochemical plants and a phosphatic fertilizer manufacturing plant, forests has been exposed to chronic air pollution, mainly HF and $SO_2$ gas, Various reports were available to investigate the potential effects of air pollution on crops and forest trees in Yocheon. Kim and Kim surveyed vegetation by naked eye method and reported 71 families, 150 genera and 158 species were growing within a 2 km from air pollution sources in 1981. Needle injuries on Pinus spp. in the polluted area water reported by Kim, et al. and Kim, et al. Kim, et al. investigated the primary production of Pinus thunbergii forests in the polluted area and verified that growth inhibition of Pinus thunbergii was attributable to air pollution. Thus, previous reports suggested that forest ecosystems around Yocheon Industrial Complex were influenced adversely by air pollution. The objective of this study was to investigate the subtle ecological changes in forest community exposed to chronic air pollution in Yocheon.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.9
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aims to correlate caries-causing microorganism load, lactic acid estimation, and blood groups to high caries risk in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals and low caries risk in healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: This study includes 30 participants divided into 3 groups: Group A, High-risk caries diabetic individuals; Group B, High-risk caries non-diabetic individuals; and Group C, Low-risk caries individuals. The medical condition, oral hygiene, and caries risk assessment (American Dental Association classification and International Caries Detection and Assessment System scoring) were documented. Each individual's 3 mL of saliva was analyzed for microbial load and lactic acid as follows: Part I: 2 mL for microbial quantity estimation using nutrient agar and blood agar medium, biochemical investigation, and carbohydrate fermentation tests; Part II: 0.5 mL for lactic acid estimation using spectrophotometric analysis. Among the selected individuals, blood group correlation was assessed. The χ² test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and post hoc analysis were done using Dunn's test (p < 0.05). Results: Group A had the highest microbial load and lactic acid concentration, followed by Groups B and C. The predominant bacteria were Lactobacilli (63.00 ± 15.49) and Streptococcus mutans (76.00 ± 13.90) in saliva. Blood Group B is prevalent in diabetic and non-diabetic high-risk caries patients but statistically insignificant. Conclusions: Diabetic individuals are more susceptible to dental caries due to high microbial loads and increased lactic acid production. These factors also lower the executing tendency of neutrophils, which accelerates microbial accumulation and increases the risk of caries in diabetic individuals.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.407-414
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• 2024

Phosphorus is an essential but non-renewable nutrient resource critical for agriculture. Luxury phosphorus uptake allows microalgae to synthesize polyphosphate and accumulate phosphorus, but, depending on the strain of algae, polyphosphate may be degraded within 4 hours of accumulation. We studied the recovery of phosphorus from wastewater through luxury uptake by an engineered strain of Synechocystis sp. with inhibited polyphosphate degradation and the effect of this engineered Synechocystis biomass on lettuce growth. First, a strain (∆phoU) lacking the phoU gene, which encodes a negative regulator of environmental phosphate concentrations, was generated to inhibit polyphosphate degradation in cells. Polyphosphate concentrations in the phoU knock-out strain were maintained for 24 h and then decreased slowly. In contrast, polyphosphate concentrations in the wild-type strain increased up to 4 h and then decreased rapidly. In addition, polyphosphate concentration in the phoU knockout strain cultured in semi-permeable membrane bioreactors with artificial wastewater medium was 2.5 times higher than that in the wild type and decreased to only 16% after 48 h. The biomass of lettuce treated with the phoU knockout strain (0.157 mg P/m²) was 38% higher than that of the lettuce treated with the control group. These results indicate that treating lettuce with this microalgal biomass can be beneficial to crop growth. These results suggest that the use of polyphosphate-accumulating microalgae as biofertilizers may alleviate the effects of a diminishing phosphorous supply. These findings can be used as a basis for additional genetic engineering to increase intracellular polyphosphate levels.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.351-356
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• 2006

A long-term experiment was initiated in 1979 at Experiment Farm of Honam Agricultural Research Institute, to investigate the effects of continued use of organic matter (rice straw and compost) along with different levels of nitrogen fertilizer in rice cultivation. The soils of experimental plots is classified as Jeonbug series developed on Fluvio-marine deposits. The application rates of rice straw and compost were 5 Mg/ha/year and 10 Mg/ha/per year, respectively. The fertilizer N application rates per season were 0, 100, 150, 200, and 250 kg/ha. In 2002, after 24 years of experiment, the effect of different treatments on soil pH, characteristics soil organic matter, soil N and P were investigated. The results of the study is summarized as following. The continue use of organic matter tended to lower the soil pH, to increase organic matter and available phosphate contents. The rice straw tended to lower soil pH more than compost, while the effect of compost was greater in increasing soil organic matter and available soil P then rice straw. The application of organic matter resulted in the increase in total organic N in the soil. Such effect was greater in compost application than in rice straw application. In organic N, greatest was amino acid-N, followed by unidentifiable organic N. The least was amino sugar-N. The application of organic matter with and without nitrogen fertilizer affected the in organic fractions of P, particularly Fe-P and Al-P. The application of rice straw tended to increase Ca-P.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.453-461
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• 1996

Three Phyllostachys stands of P. pubescens, P. bambusoides and P. nigra var, henonis in Sunchon were studied to investigate biomass, net production and nutrient distribution. Five $10m{\times}10m$ quadrats were set up and 20 sample culms of 2 years and over were harvested for dimension analysis in each stand. One year old culms and subterranean parts were estimated by the harvested quadrat method. The largest mean DBH, height and basal area were shown in P. pubescens stand, and followed by P. nigra var. henonis stand and P. bambusoides stand. There was little difference in accuracy among three allometric biomass regression models of logWt=A+B1ogD, $logWt=A+BlogD^2H$ and logWt=A+BlogD+ClogH, where Wt, D and H were dry weight, DBH and height, respectively. Analysis of covariance showed that there were significant differences in intercept among the linear allometric biomass regressons of three Phyllostachys species. Biomass included subterranean parts was the largest in P. pubescens stand(103.621t/ha), and followed by P. nigra var. henonis stand(86.447t/ha) and P. bambusoides stand(36.767t/ha). Leaf biomass was 6.3% to 7.8% of total biomass in each stands. The ratio of aboveground biomass and subterranean biomass in each stand was 1.87 to 2.26. Net production included subterranean parts was the greatest in P. pubescens stand(6.115t/ha/yr), and followed by P. nigra var. henonis stand(5.609t/ha/yr) and P, bambusoides stand(3.252t/ha/yr). The highest net assimilation ratio was estimated in P. pubescens stand(2.979), and followed by P. nigra var. henonis stand(2.752) and P. bambusoides stand(2.187). Biomass accumulation ratio of each stand was 2.679 to 5.358. Concentrations of N, P and Mg were the highest in leaves, and followed by subterranean parts, and culms+branches in all three species. Concentration of Ca was the highest in leaves, and followed by culms+branches, and subterranean parts in all three species. The difference in biomass among three species stands was caused by their culm size, leaf biomass, net assimilation ratio, and efficiency of leaves to produce culms.