• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 2011

In an effort to isolate novel bacteria for the bioremediation of over-fertilized soils, we identified 135 denitrifying cells out of 3,471 oligotrophic bacteria pools (3.9%) using a denitrification medium supplemented with potassium nitrate as the sole nitrogen source. Soil samples were taken from ecologically well-conserved areas, including a mountain swamp around the demilitarized zone (Yongneup), two ecoparks (Upo and the Mujechi bog), and ten representative islands around the Korean peninsula (Jejudo, Daecheongdo, Socheongdo, Baekryeongdo, Ulrungdo, Dokdo, Geomundo, Hongdo, Huksando and Yeonpyeongdo). All of the 135 bacteria produced nitrogen gas from the denitrification medium, and were proved to be nitrate reductase positive by API-BioLog tests. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rDNA sequences revealed that the 135 bacteria consisted of 44 different genera. Along with the most prominent, Proteobacteria (87.4%), we identified denitrifying bacteria from Firmicutes (9.4%), Actinobacteria (2.4%), and Bacteroidetes (0.8%). Physiological analyses of the 44 representative denitrifying bacteria, under various pH levels, growth temperatures and salt stresses, revealed 12 favorable denitrifying strains for soil bioremediation.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.61-67
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• 2010

In this study, Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with GC/FID was studied as a possible alternative to liquid-liquid extraction for the analysis of chlorinated solvents (PCE and TCE) and these by-products (cis-DCE, VC, and Ethylene). Experimental parameters affecting the SPME process (such as kind of fibers, adsorption time, desorption time, volume ratio of sample to headspace, salt addition, and magnetic stirring) were optimized. Experimental parameters such as CAR/PDMS, adsorption time of 20 min, desorption time of 5 min at $250^{\circ}C$, headspace volume of 50mL, sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration of 25% combined with magnetic stirring were selected in optimal experimental conditions for analysis of chlorinated solvents and these by-products. The general affinity of analytes to CAR/PDMS fiber was high in the order PCE>TCE>cis-DCE>VC>Ethylene. The linearity of $R^2$ for chlorinated solvents and these by-products was from 0.912 to 0.999 when analyte concentrations range from $10{\mu}g/L$ to $500{\mu}g/L$, respectively. The relative standard deviation (% RSD) were from 2.1% to 3.6% for concentration of $500{\mu}g/L$ (n=5), respectively. Finally, the limited of detection (LOD) observed in our study for chlorinated solvents and these by-products were from $0.5{\mu}g/L$ to $10{\mu}g/L$, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.166-174
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• 2016

In order to find an efficient bacterial strain that can carry out nitrification and denitrification simultaneously, we isolated many heterotrophic nitrifying bacteria from wastewater treatment plant. One of isolates NS13 showed high removal rate of ammonium and was identified as Alcaligenes faecalis by analysis of its 16S rDNA sequence, carbon source utilization and fatty acids composition. This bacterium could remove over 99% of ammonium in a heterotrophic medium containing 140 mg/L of ammonium at pH 6-9, $25-37^{\circ}C$ and 0-4% of salt concentrations within 2 days. It showed even higher ammonium removal at higher initial ammonium concentration in the medium. A. faecalis NS13 could also reduce nitrate and nitrous oxide by nitrate reductase and nitrous oxide reductase, respectively, which was confirmed by detection of nitrate reductase gene, napA, and nitrous oxide reducase gene, nosZ, by PCR. One of metabolic intermediate of denitrification, $N_2O$ was detected from headspace of bacterial culture. Based on analysis of all nitrogen compounds in the bacterial culture, 42.8% of initial nitrogen seemed to be lost as nitrogen gas, and 46.4% of nitrogen was assimilated into bacterial biomass which can be removed as sludge in treatment processes. This bacterium was speculated to perform heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification simultaneously, and may be utilized for N removal in wastewater treatment processes.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.573-580
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• 2006

A sediment core from the Cheollipo arboretum ($36^{\circ}$ 47' 57'N, $126^{\circ}$ 09' 04') was studied for pollen analysis in order to reconstruct postglacial vegetational change and environmental changes around the central western region of the Korean Peninsula. The record shows four pollen assemblage zones: Zone CHL-I, Quercus stage (ca. 9,300$\sim$6,200 yr BP): zone CHL-II, Quercus-Pinus stage (ca. 6,200$\sim$4,600 yr BP); zone CHL- III, Pinus-Quercus stage (ca. 4,600$\sim$1,160 yr BP): zone CHL-IV and Pinus stage (ca. 1,160 yr BP-present). During the 9,300$\sim$8,500 yr BP, the early Holocene, researchers have guessed a piece of cool-temperate norihern/altimontane mixed coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved forest. Between 8,500$\sim$4,600 yr BP the Quercus dominated the landscape of study area and the established dates of this typical cool-temperate central/montane deciduous broad-leaved forest vegetation might be ca. 6500 yr BP, and then the Pinus developed around the site at ca. 5,700 yr BP. The abrupt increase of Pinus and NAP (non-arboreal pollen) after ca. 1,100 yr BP indicates the vegetation changes due to human activities. From the dynamics of the Chenopodiaceae pollen indicating salt marsh and freshwater pollen flora such as Typha, Trapa, Nymphoides and so forth, we suggest that the tidal flat was altered into freshwater lake around 6,500 yr BP.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.56-65
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• 2017

This study is an experimental study on the corrosion protection performance according to the configuration ratio of the Zn and Al. A metal spraying was used as the arc metal spraying method, a specimen was produced by varying the proportion ratio and coating thickness of the Zn and Al. Experimental methods visually observed to corrosion of the specimen for 1, 3, 7, 15 days was conducted in accordance with the CASS salt spray test. This study has confirmed that the performance of the corrosion protection improved against the increase in the Al content. Further, it was confirmed that excellent perfomance is exhibited when the coating thickness is secured over $80{\mu}m$. In addition, the SEM analysis was performed to observe the cross-sectional shape of the metal spraying specimen after CASS testing. The analysis result showed that the deterioration of the metal spraying coating layer was reduced as the Al content increases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.387-395
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• 2014

A highly sensitive analytical method based on stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) technique and gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) has been developed, allowing the simultaneous multi-analyte determination of 11 synthetic fragrances (SFs) in water samples. The stir bar coated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was added to 40 mL of water sample at pH 3 and stirred at 1,100 rpm for 120 min. Other SBSE parameters (salt effect and presence of organic solvent) were optimised. The method shows good linearity (coefficients > 0.990) and reproducibility (RSD < 10.9%). The extraction efficiencies were above 83% for all the compounds. The limits of detections (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) were 2.1~4.1 ng/L and 6.6~12.9 ng/L, respectively. The developed method offers the ability to detect 11 SFs at ultra-low concentration levels with only 40 mL of sample volume. Matrix effects in tap water, river water, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) final effluent water and seawater were investigated and it was shown that the method is suitable for the analysis of trace level of 11 SFs. The method developed in the present study has the advantage of being rapid, simple, high-sensitive and both user and environmentally friendly.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.406-414
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• 2015

In this study, partially fluorinated cation exchange membranes were prepared by direct sulfonation of Poly(VDF-co-hexafluoropropylene) copolymers (PVDF-co-HFP) followed by a casting method for application in the Membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI). The structure of sulfonated PVDF-co-HFP (SPVDF) was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and $^1H$ Nuclear magnetic resonance ($^1H$ NMR) analysis. For quantitative analysis of the chemical composition, the X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was used. The membrane properties such as water uptake, ion exchange capacity and electrical resistance were measured. It was suggested that the optimum direct sulfonation condition of PVDF-co-HFP ion exchange membranes was $60^{\circ}C$ and 7 hours for temperature and duration of sulfonation, respectively. The water uptake of the SPVDF ion exchange membrane was 21.5%. The ion exchange capacity and electrical resistance were 0.89 meq/g and $3.70{\Omega}{\cdot}cm^2$, respectively. It was investigated that if it is feasible to apply these membranes in MCDI at various cell potentials (0.9~1.5 V) and initial flow rates (10~40 mL/min). In the MCDI process, the maximum salt removal rate was 62.5% in repeated absorption-desorption cycles.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.194-200
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• 2014

Monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) is an important enzyme that plays a role in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by maintaining reduced pool of ascorbate through recycling the oxidized form of ascorbate. In this study, we isolated a PagMDHAR1 gene from Populus alba ${\times}$ P. glandulosa, and investigated its expression characteristics. The PagMDHAR1 cDNA encodes a putative 434 amino acids containing FAD- and NAD(P)H-binding domains. Southern blot analysis indicated that a single nuclear gene encodes this enzyme. Northern hybridization analysis revealed that PagMDHAR1 is highly expressed in both suspension cells and flower tissues, while its expression levels were enhanced by drought, salt, cold, wounding and ABA. Therefore, PagMDHAR1 might be expressed in response to abiotic stress through the ABA-mediated signaling pathway in this poplar species, suggesting that the PagMDHAR1 plays an important role in the defense mechanisms against oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1034-1042
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate preparation of reconstructed red peppers, effects of pungency and redness of red peppers on the Kimchi quality using central composite design and response surfaces methodology. Capsaicinoids and ASTA (American Spice Trading Association) value put in X$_1$, X$_2$ of independent variable. The result of response surface regression analysis of reconstructed red peppers, correlation coefficient ($R^2$) of overall pungency intensity, persistence and degree of redness was 0.935, 0.935 and 0.821, respectively. After it was made Kimchi samples with reconstructed red peppers, it was examined pH, titratable acidity and lactic acid bacteria of its during fermentation. In the initial fermentation period of Kimchi, it showed pH of 5.46∼5.78, titratable acidity of 0.27∼0.31%, salt content of 2.26∼2.48% and lactic acid bacteria of 4.05${\times}$10$^{5}$ ∼6.23${\times}$10$^{5}$ , respectively. And it showed traditional fermentation pattern in the pH, titratable acidity and microbes of the middle (appropriate fermentation) and last (excessive) fermentation period. While capsaicinoids content in the Kimchi decreased a little according to extend fermentation period, ASTA value showed low correlation reconstructed red pepper and fermentation period. Also, it was analyzed correlation coefficient ($R^2$) of independent variables (capsaicinoids, X$_1$; ASTA value, X$_2$) between sensory attribute in the Kimchi during fermentation. The result of regression analysis, $R^2$ in the overall pungency intensity, persistence and degree of redness showed 0.515, 0.675, 0.784, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.45-65
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• 2022

In this paper, a diaphragm wall that supports soils and rock was modeled using FLAC, a finite difference analysis program, to evaluate the seismic behavior of temporary retaining structures in a deep excavation. The appropriateness of the numerical model was verified by comparing its results with those of the centrifuge test performed in a similar condition. The bending moment distribution along the diaphragm wall shows a very similar tendency, and the maximum acceleration obtained at the backfill and top of the wall shows a difference within 5%. Based on the developed model, a parametric study was conducted in various input earthquake, ground, and excavation conditions. The maximum structural forces and bending moment under earthquake loading were compared with the maximum values during excavation, from which the critical condition that requires a seismic design was roughly sorted out. The maximum bending moment of a wall that retains soil layers increased 17%. Particularly, the axial force of struts located in loose soils increased 32% under 100 years return period of an earthquake event, which strongly is estimated to require seismic design for structural safety.