• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2016

Objectives: Microcystin (MC) produced during cyanobacterial blooms is a worldwide problem presenting a serious health threats to humans and ecosystems. During July through October of 2013, the Ilwol Reservoir experienced a high biomass of phytoplankton (maximum $211.7mg/m^3$ of Chlorophyll-a) containing the toxigenic cyanobacterium Oscillatoria sp. The aim of this study is to analyze MC concentration in the reservoir water, as well as in representative fish species (Carassius cuvieri, Carassius auratus, Channa argus). We also evaluated the human health risk of exposure to MCs accumulated in the fish. Methods: Concentrations of MCs in the water and fish samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography with a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer (LC/MS/MS) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The total levels of four MC variants, including MC-LR, MC-RR, MC-YR and MC-LA were below the WHO drinking water guideline limit (1 ug MC-LR per liter) both for the dissolved and particulate fraction present in the water samples. The mean MC concentrations in the livers of all species were significantly higher than in the gills (p < 0.01) and muscles (p < 0.05). The values of estimated daily intake of MCs in muscles, the edible part of the fish, would be only $0.005-0.015{\mu}g/kg{\cdot}day$, much lower than WHO's provisional tolerable daily intake of $0.04{\mu}g/kg{\cdot}day$. Conclusion: This study suggests that, owing to the spatial distribution or temporal variation of MC, there is a need for careful monitoring of cyanotoxin in reservoir water and aquatic animals to protect public health.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.275-288
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• 2009

The Korean government strengthened the environmental polices to manage and enhance Metropolitan Area air quality, and also has enforced "Special Act on Seoul Metropolitan Air Quality Improvement (SASMAQI)" issued in Dec. 2004. Recently government expanded the Seoul Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) to the outskirts satellite cities of Seoul area through the "Revised Law Draft of SASMAQI". The SMAQMD has been alloted the allowable emission loads to the local governments on the basis of the carrying $PM_{10}$ capacity. However, in order to establish the effective air quality control strategy for $PM_{10}$, it is necessary to understand the corresponding sources which have a potential to directly impact ambient $PM_{10}$ concentration. To deal with the situations, many receptor methodologies have been developed to identify the origins of pollutants and to determine the contributions of sources of interests. The objective of this study was to extensively identify $PM_{10}$ sources and to estimate their contributions at the metropolitan area. $PM_{10}$ samples were simultaneously collected at the 3 semi-industrialized local cities in the Seoul metropolitan area such as Hwasung-si, Paju-si, and Icheon-si sites from April 15 to May 31, 2007. The samples collected on the teflon membrane filter by one $PM_{10}$ cyclone sampler were analyzed for trace metals and soluble ions and samples on the quartz fiber filter by another sampler were analyzed for OC and EC. Source apportionment study was then performed by using a positive matrix factorization (PMF) receptor model. A total of 6 sources were identified and their contributions were estimated in each monitoring site. Contribution results on Hwasung, Paju, and Icheon sites were as follows: 33%, 27%, and 27% from soil source, 26%, 26%, and 21% from secondary aerosol source, 11%, 11%, and 12% from biomass burning, 12%, 6%, and 5% from sea salt, 7%, 15%, and 19% from industrial related source, and finally 11%, 15%, and 16% from mobile and oil complex source, respectively. This study provides information on the major sources affecting air quality in the receptor sites and thus it will help to manage the ambient air quality in the metropolitan area by establishing reasonable control strategies, especially for the anthropogenic emission sources.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.548-561
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• 2015

Atmospheric concentrations of polychlorinated dibezo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) were investigated at urban-residential (Group I: Suwon, Guri and Goyang), industrial (Group II: Ansan, Siheung and Bucheon), urban-rural mixed (Group III: Yangju, Pocheon and Dongducheon) and rural regions (Group IV: Yangpyeong) in Gyeonggi-do from February 2012 to November 2012 quarterly. The concentrations of PCDD/Fs ranged from 0.018 to $0.109pgTEQm^{-3}$ in Group I (mean value: $0.061pgTEQm^{-3}$), 0.059 to $0.367pgTEQm^{-3}$ in Group II (mean value: $0.179pgTEQm^{-3}$), 0.072 to $0.836pgTEQm^{-3}$ in Group III (mean value: $0.334pgTEQm^{-3}$) and 0.014 to $0.066pgTEQm^{-3}$ in Group IV (mean value: $0.034pgTEQm^{-3}$), respectively. In spite of the less PCDD/F emission sources than Group II (industrial regions), the level of PCDD/Fs in urban-rural mixed area showed the highest values with high fluctuation. It's likely that the Group III was affected by fugitive emissions such like biomass burning and unregulated open burning. The mean contribution of particle phase to total PCDD/F concentration was above 83% because most of PCDD/F congeners were partitioned into particle phase. We evaluated their gas-to-particles equilibriums with the regression between the particle-gas partition coefficient, $K_P(m^3{\mu}g^{-1})$ and corresponding subcooled liquid vapor pressure ($P_L$). The logarithm-$K_P$ of PCDD/Fs was poorly correlated with $P_L$ at low ambient temperature (below $10^{\circ}C$) and the slope (m) values for log-log plots of the $K_P$ vs. $P_L$ was steeper in the Group 2 and Group 3 than residential area. It implies that the slope values were likely influenced by both the direct emission source of PCDD/Fs and ambient temperature.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.97 no.3
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• pp.249-254
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• 2008

This study was carried out to investigate the dose-dependent effect of jasmonic acid on both the adventitious root growth and the accumulation of various eleutherosides in the Eleutherococcus senticosus bioreactor culture. The highest biomass production (4.6 g DW/L) was observed in the absence of jasmonic acid and the root growth was significantly decreased by increasing the jasmonic acid concentration. However, jasmonic acid stimulated the production of both eleutheroside B, E and $E_1$. The highest level of eleutheroside B and E ($476.3{\mu}g/g\;DW$ and $676.0{\mu}g/g\;DW$) was obtained by 0.5 mg/L jasmonic acid treatment, while eleutheroside $E_1$ was accumulated at the highest level by 0.01 mg/L jasmonic acid treatment. The highest content of total eleutheroside was $2468.6{\mu}g/L$ when 0.01 mg/L jasmonic acid was applied. In addition, when the adventitious roots were cultured with 0.01 mg/L jasmonic acid, the highest levels of eleutheroside B, E and $E_1$ were observed at the 6th, 8th and 4th day of culture, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.88 no.4
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• pp.469-476
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• 1999

This study was carried out to investigate the growth and physiological response of shade intolerant and intermediate tree seedlings to enhanced UV-$B_{BE}$(biologically effective UV-B) radiation. The seedlings of Betula platyphylla var. japonica Hara(shade intolerant species) and Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hance(shade intermediate species) were treated with one of the three levels of UV-$B_{BE}$ dosages - ambient UV-$B_{BE}$, ambient+3.2, and ambient+$5.2\;KJ\;m^{-2}day^{-1}$) for 14 weeks in the field condition. Height and root collar diameter growth, leaf area, and biomass production of the seedlings of two species were reduced by enhanced UV-B radiation. Leaf stomatal resistance to water vapor of the F. rhynchophylla seedling was increased by the UV-B increment. The reductions in total chlorophyll and carotenoid were more apparent in the F. rhynchophylla than B. platyphylla seedling. There was no statistically significant changes in the concentration of UV-B absorbing compound($A_{300}$) in the leaves of the two species among the UV-B treatment. However the $A_{300}$ tented to be increased in F. rhynchophylla by enhanced UV-B radiation. These results indicate that the growth and the physiological and biochemical responses between B. platyphylla and F. rhynchophylla were different to enhanced UV-B environment.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.97-106
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• 1996

Macroalgal community was analysed from December 1993 to October 1994 in Yonggwang vicinity, western coast of Korea. A total 51 species (12 green, 11 brown and 29 red algae) of marine algae were identified. Among four localities, the number of species observed was the highest as 34 species at Shimwon and the least as 31 species at Sunchanggum and Gamakdo. Seasonally, the number of species observed was the highest as 42 species in winter and the least as 18 species in summer. The species showing relatively high important value were Enteromorpha compressa, Sargassum thunbergii, Corallina pilulifera and Carpopeltis affinis, which were all common to four investigated localities. Seasonal and regional fluctuations of mean biomass was $66.0\~820.0\;g-wet\;wt/m^2$ at Hyanghado, $248.3\~886.3\;g-wet\;wt/m^2$ at Sunchanggum, $154.5\~510.2\;g-wet\;wt/m^2$ at Gamakdo and $85.0\~451.9\;g-wet\;wt/m^2$ at Shimwon, respectively. The flora investigated could be classified into six functional groups such as coarsely branched form $(41.2\%)$, sheet form $(25.5\%)$, filamentous form $(19.6\%)$, thick leathery $(7.8\%)$, crustous form $(3.9\%)$ and jointed calcarious form algae $(2.0\%)$. At the effluent area of the nuclear power plants, the algal composition of functional groups may affect species composition due to thermal pollution.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1199-1208
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• 2005

Abatement of greenhouse gas emitted from ruminants and promotion of biogas energy from animal effluent were comprehensively examined in each anaerobic fermentation reactor and animal experiments. Moreover, the energy conversion efficiency of biomass energy to power generation were evaluated with a gas engine generator or proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). To mitigate safely rumen methanogenesis with nutritional manipulation the suppressing effects of some strains of lactic acid bacteria and yeast, bacteriocin, $\beta$1-4 galactooligosaccharide, plant extracts (Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponarea), L-cysteine and/or nitrate on rumen methane emission were compared with antibiotics. For in vitro trials, cumulative methane production was evaluated using the continuous fermented gas qualification system inoculated with the strained rumen fluid from rumen fistulated Holstein cows. For in vivo, four sequential ventilated head cages equipped with a fully automated gas analyzing system were used to examine the manipulating effects of $\beta$1-4 galactooligosaccharide, lactic acid bacteria (Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides), yeast (Trichosporon serticeum), nisin and Yucca schidigera and/or nitrate on rumen methanogenesis. Furthermore, biogas energy recycled from animal effluent was evaluated with anaerobic bioreactors. Utilization of recycled energy as fuel for a co-generator and fuel cell was tested in the thermophilic biogas plant system. From the results of in vitro and in vivo trials, nitrate was shown to be a strong methane suppressor, although nitrate per se is hazardous. L-cysteine could remove this risk. $\beta$1-4 galactooligosaccharide, Candida kefyr, nisin, Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponarea are thought to possibly control methanogenesis in the rumen. It is possible to simulate the available energy recycled through animal effluent from feed energy resources by making total energy balance sheets of the process from feed energy to recycled energy.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.303-307
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• 2006

We describe here an efficient in vitro propagation method of Silene acaulis subsp. arctica (Caryophyllaceae), one of the higher arctic angiosperms, through the multiple shoot regeneration after callus induction from the radicle. The seeds of S. acaulis subsp. arctica collected from Svalbard, the Norwegian Arctic, were germinated and calli were induced from the radicle on solid MS media supplemented with 0.25mg/L 2,4-D and 1mg/L $GA_3$ at both $10{\pm}1^{\circ}C\;and\;23{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ Two weeks after callus induction, the multiple shoots were efficiently regenerated on the MS media supplemented with 0.25 g/L BA and 0.05mg/L HPh. The total biomass increment of regenerated shoots increased most efficiently of S. acaulis subsp. afctica was showed the maximum efficiency in at $23{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ on 1/2 MS salt strength. The multiple regenerated plantlets of S. acaulis subsp. arctics were grown to normal plants on soil.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.34-44
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• 1990

This paper describe on the target strengths for the dorsal and the side aspects of swimbladdered fishes, Mullet Mugil cephalus, Flounder Pleuronichthys cornutus and Rock trout Hexagrammos otakii two frequencies of 50KHz and 200KHz in the experimental water tank in order to improve the biomass estimation by the scientific fish finder. The results obtained are as follows: 1. The average of maximum target strength normalized by squared total length in cm unit are almost ranging from -70.9 dB to -66.8 dB regardless of species or frequencies. 2. The average of maximum target strength normalized by two-thirds squared body weight in g unit are almost ranging from -57.1 dB to -54.1 dB regardless of species or frequencies. 3. In comparison with target strength for 50KHz and 200KHz the former is more strong than the latter.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.44-49
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• 2008

Sufficient inorganic nitrogen supply for crop growth is crucial for economically sustainable organic farming. The effects of an application of cover crop biomass on crop growth, nitrogen utilization and carbohydrate composition were investigated during early stage. Short-term changes in soil nitrogen after incorporating fresh hairy vetch and rye shoots were measured. The inorganic nitrogen from cover crops reached the peak at 15 ($NH_4-N$) and 24 ($NO_3-N$) days after incorporation, and then decreased rapidly. The highest concentration of soil nitrate showed at 27 days of incorporation in hairy vetch and at 18 days in rye, and three fold differences exhibited between two treatments. Crop growth under hairy vetch or rye incorporation significantly differed. At 20 DAT, dry matter production in NPK and hairy vetch was about two fold greater than that in rye. Difference in decomposing rates of hairy vetch and rye had also influence on nitrogen status in leaves and roots of pepper plants. Total nitrogen was greater in NPK and hairy vetch than in rye until 20 DAT, whereas inorganic nitrogen (nitrate and nitrite) concentration was higher in rye. Temporal changes in soluble sugars and starch in pepper plants among treatments were similar, although difference in the amount existed. It was suggested that hairy vetch as an alternative nitrogen source promoted crop growth and mineral utilization during early growth stage, whereas an obvious effect in rye was not found.