• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.518-524
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• 2013

A pilot-scale test-bed was operated employing three soils with different grain sizes dredged from the Nakdong River to obtain the design and operation parameters of the multi-purpose filtration pond, such as the filtrate productivity of the filter sand, the appropriate removal period of the surface clogging and the contaminant removal efficiency. The cross-flow velocities were applied stepwise ranging from 0 to 40 cm/sec in order to simulate the various velocities in the artificial stream of the pond. Results showed that a filtrate production rate of 5~3 $m^3/m^2-day$ was maintained by removing the surface clogging every 7 to 13 days and that the filtrate quality was not affected by the factors of the filtrate production rate, the grain size of the filter sand and the cross-flow velocity. Results also showed that most of the removal occurred within 50 cm of the top soil and that the removal efficiencies with the filtration distance of 2.4 m were 80~95% for turbidity, 20~30% for COD, 75~90% for BOD, 5~20% for total nitrogen and 20~60% for total phosphorus, which suggested that particulate matters had a high removal efficiency.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.75-83
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• 2004

Temperature-phased anaerobic digestion (TPAD), anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR), and co-digestion technologies were combined together in order to overcome low efficiencies of conventional anaerobic sewage sludge digestion processes. In the performance, TPAD-ASBR process showed high VS removal efficiency over 60% up to the organic loading rate (OLR) of 2.7 g VS/L/d. The first-stage of TPAD-ASBR and control system played a most significant role in VS destruction and methane production. Methane production rate (0.79 l $CH_4/L/d$) of the system was higher than that (0.59 l $CH_4/L/d$) of the control system. The substrate characteristics of the sewage sludge, such as low VS concentration (1.5%, w/w) and biodegradability, were properly improved by the addition of food waste as a co-substrate, leading to more efficient VS removal and methane production. With several track studies, it was revealed that the independent solid retention time (SRT) of those systems prevented untreated particles from outflowing and also, extended the retention time of the active biomass for further degradation. Consequently, it was confirmed that the sequencing batch operation of the TPAD process using co-substrate was a promising alternative for the recycling of sewage sludge with low VS content.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.163-177
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• 2008

Periodontal disease, a form of chronic inflammatory bacterial infectious disease, is known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Porphyromonas gingivalis has been implicated in periodontal disease and widely studied for its role in the pathogenesis of CVD. A previous study demonstrating that periodontopathic P. gingivalis is involved in CVD showed that invasion of endothelial cells by the bacterium is accompanied by an increase in cytokine production, which may result in vascular atherosclerotic changes. The present study was performed in order to further elucidate the role of P. gingivalis in the process of atherosclerosis and CVD. For this purpose, invasion of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) by P. gingivalis 381 and its isogenic mutants of KDP150 ($fimA^-$), CW120 ($ppk^-$) and KS7 ($relA^-$) was assessed using a metronidazole protection assay. Wild type P. gingivalis invaded HASMCs with an efficiency of 0.12%. In contrast, KDP150 failed to demonstrate any invasive ability. CW120 and KS7 showed relatively higher invasion efficiencies, but results for these variants were still negligible when compared to the wild type invasiveness. These results suggest that fimbriae are required for invasion and that energy metabolism in association with regulatory genes involved in stress and stringent response may also be important for this process. ELISA assays revealed that the invasive P. gingivalis 381 increased production of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and the chemotactic cytokines (chemokine) IL (interleukin)-8 and monocyte chemotactic (MCP) protein-1 during the 30-90 min incubation periods (P<0.05). Expression of RANTES (regulation upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted) and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, a pattern recognition receptor (PRR), was increased in HASMCs infected with P. gingivalis 381 by RT-PCR analysis. P. gingivalis infection did not alter interferon-$\gamma$-inducible protein-10 expression in HASMCs. HASMC nonspecific necrosis and apoptotic cell death were measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and caspase activity assays, respectively. LDH release from HASMCs and HAMC caspase activity were significantly higher after a 90 min incubation with P. gingivalis 381. Taken together, P. gingivalis invasion of HASMCs induces inflammatory cytokine production, apoptotic cell death, and expression of TLR-4, a PRR which may react with the bacterial molecules and induce the expression of the chemokines IL-8, MCP-1 and RANTES. Overall, these results suggest that invasive P. gingivalis may participate in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, leading to CVD.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.705-714
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• 2008

Three Mesh Screenning Reactors (MSRs) were operated in three different modes to investigate the effect of the mesh opening size and the filtrate flux on the removal of particulate matters and the production of soluble organic matters. The mesh opening size was $82{\mu}m$ (Mode 1), $61{\mu}m$ (Mode 2) and $38{\mu}m$ (Mode 3), respectively, and each mode has three different filtrate flux; $0.47m^3/m^2/d$, $0.95m^3/m^2/d$ and $1.42m^3/m^2/d$, respectively. TSS removal efficiency of mode 1, 2, and 3 fed with 191 mgTSS/L was 27%, 36%, and 60%, respectively. The SCOD concentration of 91mg/L in influent for the mode 1, 2, and 3 increased to 117 mg/L, 127 mg/L, and 155 mg/L, respectively. For the all MSRs, there was no significant effect of filtrate flux on the removal of particulate matters and the production of soluble organic matters. However, the mesh opening size greatly affected the removal of particulate matters and the production of soluble organic matters in wastewater. Three parallel A2O processes consisting of anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic reactors maintaining mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) of 3,000 mg/L were operated to investigate the effectiveness of MSR on the removal efficiencies of the organic matters, nitrogen, and phosphorus; MSR influent was introduced to System 1 (183 mgTSS/L, 324 mgTCOD/L, 87 mgSCOD/L, 45.2 mgTKN/L, and 6.6 mgTP/L) and MSR efluent was introduced to System 2 and 3(72 mgTSS/L, 289 mgTCOD/L, 141 mgSCOD/L, 40.2 mgTKN/L, and 4.2 mgTP/L). HRTs of the anaerobic reactors in systems 1, 2 and 3 were 1 h, 1 h and 0.6 h, respectively and anoxic reactors were 2 h in all systems. HRTs of the aerobic reactors in systems 1, 2 and 3 were 5 h, 3 h and 3 h, respectively. TSS concentration in effluent of both system 2 and 3 is about 8 mg/L and lower than that of system 1 effluent. Despite higher TCOD loading and SCOD loading, both Systems 2 and 3 had a greater TCOD and SCOD removal efficiency at 91% and 92% than System 1 was at 88% and 82%, respectively. The nitrification efficiency for system 2 was greater than observed for System 1 (99% verses 97%). The denitrification efficiency for systems 1, 2 and 3 was 78%, 88% and 87%, respectively. System 2 and 3 showed about 12% higher TN removal efficiency than system 1 (85% verses 73%). The effluent TP concentration for system 2 was less than observed for system 1 and 3.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.915-922
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• 2017

This study aimed in onion production by evaluating cost and labor efficiencies of onion storage methods using either a ton-bag or a wire-steel pallet. New methods using ton-bag and wire-steel pallets were developed and applied to postharvest tasks, such as harvest packaging, transportation, and storage. The storage parameters evaluated for their effect on the logistics of onion production were: working duration, working hours, and cost expenditure. The longitudinal tensile strength of the ton-bag developed in this study was 16% higher than that of the conventional ton-bag. The wire-steel pallet developed in this study had 10% more storage capacity in a low-temperature storage room, and its truck loading capacity was more than doubled compared to that of the conventional steel pallet. There was no difference in the wasting rate during bulk storage between the newly developed wire-steel pallet and the conventional steel pallet, for 500 kg of onions. However, the bulk storage of 1,000 kg of onions using the wire-steel pallet was not found to be suitable, because the wasting rate of onions stored using the wire-pallet was 3.7% higher than that of onions stored using a conventional steel pallet. The time and the total investing costs for the bulk method decreased by 50.1% and 46.1%, respectively, compared to those for conventional harvest. In the bulk storage using the wire-steel pallet, the total storage cost decreased by 28.8%. Thus, it is estimated that we could have saved 18.3 billion won if the wire-steel pallet method about 30% of the total onion production (1,298,749 M/T) in 2016.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: Globally, large amounts of phosphogypsum (PG), which is a by-product of the phosphate fertilizer production, is deposited in open areas. As PG contains calcium, phosphate, and sulphate, it can be used as a soil amendment in farmlands. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of PG application on properties of field soil and yield and quality of garlic (Allium sativum L.), and to seek appropriate level of PG application into the field. METHODS AND RESULTS: This experiment was conducted by applying PG at four different levels that were adjusted based on 65% calcium base saturation in the field soil: 0% (control), 50% (PG50, 100 kg/10a), 100% (PG100, 200 kg/10a), and 150% (PG150, 300 kg/10a). Following cultivation, soil electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter, available P and exchangeable Ca increased, whilst soil pH decreased. With increase in PG application level, soil EC and exchangeable Ca increased. PG application increased concentrations of water soluble Ca and SO4 across the soil profile, especially in PG150. The highest yield of garlic was found in PG100 treatment. The plant's uptake for N, P, Ca, and S increased by PG applications, but that for K decreased. Moreover, concentrations of S-related amino acids such as cysteine and methionine in garlic increased by PG applications. The increased content of nutrients and amino acids with PG supply might improve yield, quality, and favor of the crop. CONCLUSION: Overall, PG application at 200 kg/10a into a field had the best effect on improving soil fertility as well as yield and quality of garlic. Further studies are required to maximize efficiencies of PG supply in soil management and production of various crops.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.41-49
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• 2023

This study examined the effect of input substrate concentration on hydrogen production of microbial electrolysis cells. To compare the performance of MEC according to the input substrate concentration, six laboratory-scale MEC reactors were operated by sequentially increasing the input substrate concentration from 2 g/L of sodium acetate, to 4 g/L, and 6 g/L. The current density, hydrogen production, and SCOD removal rate were analyzed, and energy efficiency and cathodic hydrogen recovery were calculated to compare the performance of MEC. The maximum volumetric current density was obtained at 4 g/L condition (76.3 A/m³) and it decreased to 19.0 A/m³, when the input concentration was increased to 6 g/L, which was a 75% decrease compared to the 4 g/L input condition. Maximum hydrogen production was obtained also at 4 g/L condition (47.3 ± 16.8 mL), but maximum hydrogen yield was obtained at 2 g/L input condition (1.1 L H₂/g COD_in). Energy efficiencies were also highest in 2 g/L condition; the lowest result was observed at 6 g/L condition. Maximum electrical energy efficiency was 76.4%, and the maximum overall energy efficiency was 39.7% at 2 g/L condition. However, when the substrate concentration increased to 6 g/L, the performance was drastically decreased. Cathodic hydrogen recovery also showed a similar tendency with energy efficiency, with the lowest concentration condition showing the best performance. It can be concluded that operating at low input substrate concentration might be better when considering not only hydrogen yield but also energy efficiency.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.113-132
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• 2003

Using nonradial data envelopment analysis(DEA) under assumptions of strong disposability and variable returns scale, this paper annually estimates productive. technical and allocative efficiencies of three publicly-owned rail transit properties which are different in terms of organizational type: Seoul Subway Corporation(SSC, local public corporation), the Seoul Metropolitan Electrified Railways sector (SMESRS) of Korea National Railroad(the national railway operator controlled by the Ministry of Construction and Transportation(MOCT)), and Busan Urban Transit Authority (BUTA, the national authority controlled by MOCT). Using the estimation results of Tobit regression analysis. the paper next computes their true productive, true technical and true allocative efficiencies, which reflect only the impacts of internal factors such as production activity by removing the impacts of external factors such as an organizational type and a track utilization rate. And the paper also computes an organizational efficiency and annually gross efficiencies for each property. The paper then conceptualized that the property produces a single output(car-kilometers) using four inputs(labor, electricity, car & maintenance and track) and uses unbalanced panel data consisted of annual observations on SSC, SMESRS and BUTA. The results obtained from DEA show that, on an average, SSC is the most efficient property on the productive and allocative sides, while SMESRS is the most technically-efficient one. On the other hand. BUTA is the most efficient one on the truly-productive and allocative sides, while SMESRS on the truly-technical side. Another important result is that the differences in true efficiency estimates among the three properties are considerably smaller than those in efficiency estimates. Besides. the most cost-efficient organizational type appears to be a local public corporation represented by SSC, which is also the most grossly-efficient property. These results suggest that a measure to sort out the impacts of external factors on the efficiency of rail transit properties is required to assess fairly it, and that a measure to restructure (establish) an existing(a new) rail transit property into a local public corporation(or authority) is required to improve its cost efficiency.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.483-491
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• 2014

In this study, a thermodynamic analysis was carried out for a combined power generation system using a low-temperature heat source in the form of sensitive energy and liquefied natural gas cold energy. An ammonia-water mixture, which is a zeotropic mixture, was used as the working fluid, and systems with and without a regenerator were comparatively analyzed. The effects of the mass fraction of ammonia and the condensation temperature of the working fluid on the system variables, including the net work production, exergy destruction, and thermal and exergy efficiencies, are analyzed and discussed. The results show that the performance characteristics of the system varied sensitively with the ammonia concentration or condensation temperature of the working fluid. The system without regeneration was found to be better in relation to the net work per unit mass of the source fluid, whereas the system with regeneration was better in relation to the thermal or exergy efficiency.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.401-410
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• 1993

Day-old male and female broilers obtained from commercial strain (Hubbard) were used in this study. At 7 days of age, all chicks were weighed individually (female 0.11 kg and male 0.12 kg in average) and divided into 5 group of 45 birds each group with no replicate in each treatment group as follows: 1. fed ad libitum; 2. fed 75% ad libitum; 3. fed 65% ad libitum; 4. fed 55% ad libitum; 5. fed 45% ad libitum. Chicks were restricted for 10 days (d 7 through 17) of a 56-day trial. Chicks were fed a commercial starter diet (crude protein (CP) 23.8% and metabolizable energy (ME) 3,070 kcal/kg) for 21 days, and commercial finisher diet (CP 20% and ME 3,160 kcal/kg) from 22 to 56 days of age. When chicks were feed-restricted at an early age, compensatory growth did not immediately occur following refeeding. Body weights of restricted chicks were not equal to the ad libitum chicks before 49 days of age. At 56 dyas of age, body weights of restricted chicks were heavier (p<0.01). Abdominal fat values of female chicks fed ad libitum was not significantly different from those fed 45% to 75% ad libitum. Carcass fat values of restricted female chicks were lower than those of control chicks when female chicks were fed either 55% or 45% ad libitum. Furthermore, feed efficiencies of restricted chicks were better. The response of chicks to early feed restriction might depend on the degree of feed restriction, and sex. Factors contributing carcass fat included energy loss, fat protein ratio of carcass, fatty acid synthesis in the liver and triglyceride content of the liver. The heavier body weights in the restricted chicks might be correlated with the lower growth rate during period of feed restriction.