• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.76-90
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• 2018

To determine the distribution of mercury (Hg) in the coastal surface sediments around the Korean peninsula, the baseline concentration of Hg was estimated, the extent of contamination was assessed, and the factors controlling the distribution were discussed. The concentrations of Hg in surface sediments were significantly high in Jinhae-Masan Bay in the South Sea, Ulsan-Onsan Bay and Yeongil Bay in the East Sea, but Hg in other sediments showed a similar distribution to Cs and relatively very low concentration between 0.21 and $39.5{\mu}g/kg$ ($13.6{\pm}7.80{\mu}g/kg$). Compared to the sediment quality guidelines in Korea, 8 % of the surface sediments (n=282) analyzed in this study exceeded the values of the threshold effects level (TEL), and six sediments collected around Onsan Port were higher than the value of the probable effects level (PEL). The contamination levels of Hg were assessed by the enrichment factors using the baseline concentration (2.06Cs+1.75) based on the residual analysis from the linear regression line for Cs, and further, factors controlling the distribution of Hg were discussed by the comparison with geochemical substances depending upon the Hg enrichment level. Hg concentrations were correlated well with Cs concentration in the range of less than 1.69 of EF implying grain size control, while in the range of 1.69 and 4.03 Hg concentrations were correlated well with Fe oxyhyroxide and organic carbon contents, which indicates Hg was enriched by superior sorption capability. On the meanwhile, samples with higher EFs (4.03 to 74.9) showed fairly positive correlations with other metals (Cu, Zn, Pb) rather than geochemical substances. For samples in Youngil Bay and Ulsan-Onsan Bay (n=30), Hg concentrations were correlated only with other metals rather than geochemical substances implying simultaneous supply of metal particles from metal refineries. But samples at Gosung, Sokcho and Uljin coast were correlated well with organic carbon even though they had high EFs. In addition, samples in Jinhae-Masan Bay with high contents of S were enriched by relatively high sulfide formation.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.347-353
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• 2018

Red pepper is widely used as a spicy flavor ingredient in the food industry and many households. The objective of this study was to assess the total aerobic bacteria count, coliforms count and incidence of Escherichiacoli, Salmonella spp., Escherichiacoli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Bacillus cereus in red pepper and red pepper cultivated soil. The total aerobic bacteria number in red pepper and soil were in the range of 2.97 to 8.13 and 5.91 to 7.65 log CFU/g, respectively. The coliforms in red pepper and soil were in the range of 1.87 to 6.71 and 0.67 to 6.16 log CFU/g, respectively. E. coli was detected in 3 of 54 soil samples. In 3 out 63 red pepper and 53 of 54 soil samples, B. cereus was detected, while Salmonella spp., E.coli O157:H7, and L.monocytogenes were not detected. The results from this study provide an important basic information associated with the microbiological safety of fresh vegetables. Continuous caution is needed to prevent the contamination of pathogenic microorganisms during its farming.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.797-803
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• 2016

In this study, we investigated the effect of fermentation conditions on the amylolytic and proteolytic activities of Aspergillus luchuensis strain 74-5 and Aspergillus oryzae strain 75-2, which are used in the preparation of the starter culture, for Takju (Korean traditional rice wine). The starter culture was optimized using different conditions, such as inoculum size, inoculation temperature, and incubation time. The enzyme activities under each condition were measured. In the A. luchuensis strain 74-5 starter culture, the ${\alpha}-amylase$ and glucoamylase activities increased, however the activity of acidic protease decreased as the diluent to starter culture ratio increased. In the A. oryzae 75-2 starter culture, all enzyme activities were maintained at a higher level even at 5% inoculation ratio. Higher enzyme activities were observed in the middle range of inoculation temperature (35, $40^{\circ}C$), than in the lower range (20, $30^{\circ}C$). Enzyme activity in the starter culture varied with incubation time, however it was the highest at 144 and 120 hr, respectively, for A. luchuensis strain 74-5 and A. oryzae strain 75-2. The spore count of the starter culture was approximately $2{\times}10^7$ during fermentation, out of which contamination by aerobic bacteria was about $3{\times}10^3$. The results suggested that the starter culture of each strain could be used as an inoculum for fermentation. However, we needs to conduct further research for the selection of suitable diluting agents as well as drying methods to reduce the contamination by aerobic bacteria, while retaining the enzyme activity.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.27-35
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• 2003

The study site located in an industrial complex has a Precambrian age gneiss as a bedrock. The poorly-developed, disturbed soils in the study site have loamy-textured surface soil (1 to 2 m) and gravelly sand alluvium subsurface (2 to 6 m) on the top of weathered gneiss bedrock. The depth of the groundwater table was about 3.5 m below ground surface and increased toward down-gradient of the site. The hydraulic conductivity of transmitted zone (gravelly coarse sand) was in the range of 5.0${\times}$10$\^$-2/∼1.85${\times}$10$\^$-1/ cm/sec. The fine sand layer was in the range of 1.5${\times}$10$\^$-3/ to 7.6${\times}$10$\^$-3/ cm/sec. and the reclaimed upper soil layer was less than 10$\^$-4/ cm/sec. Toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (TEX) was the major contaminant in the soil and groundwater. The average depth of the soil contamination was about 1.5 m in the gravelly sand alluvium layer. At the depth interval 2.4∼4.8 m, the highest contamination in the soil is located approximately 50 to 70 m from the suspected source areas. The concentration of TEX in the groundwater was highest in the suspected source area and a lesser concentration in the center and southwest parts of the site. The TEX distribution in the groundwater is associated with their distribution in the soil. Microbial isolation showed that Pseudomonas flurescence, Burkholderia cepacia, and Acinetobactor lwoffi were the dominant aerobic bacteria in the contaminated soils. The analytical results of the groundwater indicated that the concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate, and sulfate in the contaminated area were significantly lower than their concentrations in the none-contaminated control area. The results also indicated that groundwater at the contaminated area is under anaerobic condition and sulfate reduction is the predominant terminal electron accepting process. The total attenuation rate was 0.0017 day$\^$-1/ and the estimated first-order degradation rate constant (λ) was 0.0008 day$\^$-1/.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.158-167
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• 2013

This study was carried out to assess the safety of cereals and their products (20 species, 205 samples) distributed in Gyeonggi province by analyzing contamination levels such as exposure frequency of Aflatoxins and Deoxynivalenol (DON). Aflatoxins were detected in 16 (8%) samples in total with a range of 0.01~27.88 ${\mu}g/kg$, including 3 of 9 bake flour (33%), 2 of 6 dried corn (33%), 3 of 12 frying flour (25%) and 2 of 11 sorghum (18%). DON was found in 56 (27%) samples including 11 of 13 adlay (85%), 6 of 8 wheat (75%), 6 of 10 processed corn for popcorn (60%), 6 of 11 sorghum (55%) and 7 of 16 barley (44%) with a range of 2.2~754.4 ${\mu}g/kg$. In particular, both Aflatoxins and DON were detected in 8 samples (2 millet, 2 wheat, 1 sorghum, 1 adlay, 1 dried corn, 1 bake flour) simultaneously. As a result of this study, we found that an adult is exposed to Aflatoxins of $0.80({\times})10^{-3}{\mu}g/kg$ b.w./day and DON of 0.18 ${\mu}g/kg$ b.w./day. The quantity of exposure to DON amounted to 18.5 percentage level compared with PMTDI 1 ${\mu}g/kg$ b.w./day suggested on JECFA, therefore we can assess that the possibility of health risks by intake cereals distributed in Gyeonggi province is low. However the concentration of Aflatoxins in one dried corn was 27.88 ${\mu}g/kg$ which was over the maximum residue limits (MRL) suggested on internal and external level, the monitoring about mycotoxin should be conducted on continuously.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.333-345
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• 2007

As analyzed the estimated values of the daily delivery loads from thirteen major side streams such as Naesung-river, Keumho-river, Hwang-river, Nam-river during five years (from 1999 to 2003), the daily BOD inflow into the main stream of Nakdong river in 2003 shows the highest quantity as 31.1 ton and the daily BOD inflows in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 are 26.7 ton, 22.5 ton, 21.0 ton, 25.8 ton, respectively. The daily TN in-flow into the main stream of Nakdong river in 2003 shows also the highest quantity as 64.9 ton and the daily TN inflows in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 are 55.19 ton, 46.27 ton, 39.5 ton, 53.38 ton, respectively. The daily TP inflow into the main stream of Nakdong river in 2003 shows the highest quantity as 2.70 ton likewise and the daily TP inflows in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 are 2.17 ton, 1.87 ton, 1.60 ton, 2.10 ton, respectively The rate of BOD loads from each side main stream into the main stream of Nakdong river shows that the BOD loads of Keumho-river are the highest as the values range from 32.8 % (2002) ${\sim}$ 35.1 % (2003) and the BOD loads of Nam-river, Naesung-river, Hwang-river are high in the order named. The rate of TN loads to the main stream is also similar to the trend of BOD loads. The contribution of the TN loads of Geumho-river to the contamination of the main stream is also the highest having a range from 27.0 % (2002) to 28.8 % (1999) among the main side streams and the TN loads of Naesung-river, Nam-river, and Heachun-river are high in the order named. The rate of TP loads is quite different from the trend of BOD and TN loads. The TP rate of Keumho-river, however, is still the highest as ranging 58.6 % (2002) to 61.7 % (2003) and the river has the biggest portion (over 50%) of the entire pollution to the main stream of Nakdong river.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 1972

There are many kinds of microscopes suitable for general studies; optical microscopes(OM), conventional transmission electron microscopes (TEM), and scanning electron microscopes(SEM). The optical microscopes and the conventional transmission electron microscopes are very familiar. The images of these microscopes are directly formed on an image plane with one or more image forming lenses. On the other hand, the image of the scanning electron microscope is formed on a fluorescent screen of a cathode ray tube using a scanning system similar to television technique. In this paper, the features and some applications of the scanning electron microscope will be discussed briefly. The recently available scanning electron microscope, combining a resolution of about $200{\AA}$ with great depth of field, is favorable when compared to the replica technique. It avoids the problem of specimen damage and the introduction of artifacts. In addition, it permits the examination of many samples that can not be replicated, and provides a broader range of information. The scanning electron microscope has found application in diverse fields of study including biology, chemistry, materials science, semiconductor technology, and many others. In scanning electron microscopy, the secondary electron method. the backscattererd electron method, and the electromotive force method are most widely used, and the transmitted electron method will become more useful. Change-over of magnification can be easily done by controlling the scanning width of the electron probe. It is possible. to continuously vary the magnification over the range from 100 times to 1.00,000 times without readjustment of focusing. Conclusion: With the development of a scanning. electron microscope, it is now possible to observe almost all-information produced through interactions between substances and electrons in the form of image. When the probe is properly focused on the specimen, changing magnification of specimen orientation does not require any change in focus. This is quite different from the conventional transmission electron microscope. It is worthwhile to note that the typical probe currents of $10^{-10}$ to $10^{-12}\;{\AA}$ are for below the $10^{-5}$ to $10^{-7}\;{\AA}$ of a conventional. transmission microscope. This reduces specimen contamination and specimen damage due to heatings. Outstanding features of the scanning electron microscope include the 'stereoscopic observation of a bulky or fiber specimen in high resolution' and 'observation of potential distribution and electromotive force in semiconductor devices'.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.405-418
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• 2003

Measurements of volumetric water content and saturation of porous media are very important factors in understanding the physical characteristics of soil, groundwater recharge by rainfall, pollutant movement, and slope failure. To measure such physical parameters, a permittivity method using electromagnetic wave is applied and use is made of the special permittivity response of understand to water and ethanol. In particular, the estimation is required because permittivity is influenced by the nature of the underground environment. In this study, we carried out experiments on the relative dependency of soil density, temperature and salinity of standard sand and granitic weathered soil using FDR-V system (Frequency domain reflectometry with vector network analyzer) within a frequency range of 1 - 18 GHz. The results of the study showed that the dielectric constants of standard sand and granitic weathered soil increased with increased volumetric water content of soil. However, the dependency of soil density was found to be a little low. Changes of dielectric constant with temperature appeared definitely in the real part of 1 GHz. That is, the dielectric constant of real part at 1 GHz of water and standard sand increased with the rise of temperature. However, ethanol showed decreased tendency. The study also showed that dielectric constant increased with increase in salinity at imaginary part of 1 GHz. It could be concluded from this study FDR-V system can adequately measure the physical properties of soil and the degree of salinity concentration of porous media within 1 GHz frequency range using dielectric constant.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.170-180
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• 2022

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) contents were analyzed by measuring benz(a)anthracene(BaA), chrysene(Chr), benzo(b)fluoranthene(BbF) and benzo(a)pyrene(BaP), and the related risk characterization was conducted for 113 samples out of 14 different agricultural products used for food and medicine. Detection rate of PAHs was 90.3% as a whole, and the highest one was 80.5% for BaP. The detection rate of BaP exceeding the maximum permitted concentration of Rehmanniae Radix Preparata and Rehmanniae Radix, 5.0 ㎍/kg was 1.8%, and the detection rates of BaA, Chr and BbF were within the range of 2.7~10.6%. The highest average concentration of BaA was 3.41 ㎍/kg detected from Lycii Fructus, while those of Chr, BbF, BaP and PAH4(sum of detected BaA, Chr, BbF and BaP) were 5.00, 1.79, 2.36, 12.36 ㎍/kg, respectively, detected from Rehmanniae Radix Preparata. As for the risk characterization on PAHs, the overall MOE(Margin of Exposure) values were measured within the range of 10⁵~10⁷, which is unlikely to cause direct health concerns, but the worring values of MOE were measured 6.57×10⁴ for BaP and 6.10×10⁴ for PAH4 from Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, which may require an improvement plan to reduce BaP contents.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.385-398
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• 1999

The Narim gold mine is located approimately 200km southeast of Seoul within the Muju mineralized district of the Sobaegsan gneiss complex, Korea. Environmental geochemistry were undertaken for various kinds of water (surface, ground and mine water) collected of April, September and November in 1998 from the narim mine creek. Hydrogeochemical compositions of water samples are characterized by the relatively significant enrichment of Na+K, alkali ions, $HCO_{3}$, $NO_{3}$, Cl and F in groundwater, wheras the mine and surface waters are relatively enriched in Ca+Mg, hea표 metals and $SO_{4}$. Therefore, the groundwaters belong to the (Na+Ca)-( $HCO_{3}+SO_{4}$) type, respectively. The pH and EC values of the non-mining creek surfers are relatively lower compared with those of the surface water of the mine and ore dump area. The d values ($\delta$D-8$\delta^{18}$O) of all kinds of water from the Narim mine creek are 5.8 to 13.1 The range of $\delta$D and $\delta^{18}$O values (relative to SMOW) are shown in distinct two groups as follows: for the April waters of -64.8 to -67.8$\textperthousand$ and -9.6 to -10.0$\textperthousand$(d value=10.1 to 13.1), and for the November waters of -65.9 to -70.2$\textperthousand$ and -9.3 to -9.6$\textperthousand$ (d value=5.8 to 7.9), respectively. This range variation indicates that two group water were composed of distinct waters with seasonal difference. Geochemical modeling showed that mostly toxic metals (As, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) may exist largery in the from of metal $(M2^+)$ and metal-sulfate $(MSO_4\;^{2-$\mid$),\; and \;SO_4^{2-$\mid$}$ concentration influenced the speciation of heavy metals in the meteoric water. These metals in the groundwater could be formed of $CO_3 \;and \;(OH)_3$ complex ions. Using computer program, saturation index of albite, calcite, dolomite in meteoric water show undersaturated and progreddively evolved toward the saturation state, however, ground and mine water are nearly saturated. The gibbsited water-mineral reaction and stabilities suggest that the weathering of silicate minerals may be stable kaolinite, illite and Nasmectite. The clay minerals will be transformed to more stable kaolinite owing to the contiunous reaction.