• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 2016

Purpose: In-situ water quality monitoring based on ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) is a promising technique because ISEs can be used directly in the medium to be tested, have a compact size, and are inexpensive. However, signal drift can be a major concern with on-line management systems because continuous immersion of the ISEs in water causes electrode degradation, affecting the stability, repeatability, and selectivity over time. In this study, a computer-based nitrate monitoring system including automatic electrode rinsing and calibration was developed to measure the nitrate concentration in water samples in real-time. Methods: The capabilities of two different types of poly(vinyl chloride) membrane-based ISEs, an electrode with a liquid filling and a carbon paste-based solid state electrode, were used in the monitoring system and evaluated on their sensitivities, selectivities, and durabilities. A feasibility test for the continuous detection of nitrate ions in water using the developed system was conducted using water samples obtained from various water sources. Results: Both prepared ISEs were capable of detecting low concentrations of nitrate in solution, i.e., 0.7 mg/L $NO_3-N$. Furthermore, the electrodes have the same order of selectivity for nitrate: $NO_3{^-}{\gg}HCO_3{^-}$ > $Cl^-$ > $H_2PO_4{^-}$ > $SO{_4}^{2-}$, and maintain their sensitivity by > 40 mV/decade over a period of 90 days. Conclusions: The use of an automated ISE-based nitrate measurement system that includes automatic electrode rinsing and two-point normalization proved to be feasible in measuring $NO_3-N$ in water samples obtained from different water sources. A one-to-one relationship between the levels of $NO_3-N$ measured with the ISEs and standard analytical instruments was obtained.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2023

To understand salinity status of fresh water and paddy soils and the susceptibility of rice to salinity stress of Gunnae reclaimed tidelands, salinity monitoring was conducted in rainy and dry seasons. For fresh water, a high salinity was observed at the sampling location near the sluice gate and decreased with distance from the gate. This spatial pattern of fresh water salinity indicates the necessity of spatial distribution of salinity in the assessment of salinity status of fresh water. Interestingly, there was significant correlation between rainfall amount and salinity, implying that salinity of fresh water varies with rainfall and thus it may be possible to predict salinity of water using rainfall. Soil salinity also higher near the gate, reflecting the influence of high saline water. In addition, the groundwater salinity also high to threat rice growth. Though soil salinity status indicated low possibility of sodium injury, there was changes in soil salinity status during the course of rice growth, suggesting that more intensive monitoring of soil salinity may be necessary for soil salinity assessment. Our study suggests the necessity of intensive salinity monitoring to understand the spatio-temporal variations of salinity of water and soil of reclaimed tideland areas.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.128-135
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• 2008

A total of 142 samples comprising vegetables, soil, and water collected from different agricultural farms (five provinces) were analyzed for total aerobic bacteria (aerobic plate count [APC]), Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus. The average of total APC in all the samples ranged from $4.72{\times}10^5$ to $8.62{\times}10^8\;CFU/g$ (mL). The prevalence of B. cereus, E. coli, L. monocytogenes, S. spp., and S. aureus for all samples was 17.60%, 2.11 %, 1.4%, 0%, and 2.11 % respectively, and their counts averaged to $4.87{\times}10^4\;CFU/g$ (mL), $4.34{\times}10^3\;CFU/g$ (mL), $2.15{\times}10^2\;CFU/g$, 0 CFU/g, and $3.12{\times}10^3\;CFU/g$ respectively. Among the 3 different types of samples, 6 vegetables (10.34%), 24 soil (38.70%), and 3 water (13.64%) samples were found to be positive for bacterial pathogens. The result showed that the occurrence of bacterial pathogen in the samples analyzed was low. Further time to time monitoring and need to wash of raw agricultural products is recommended.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.1511-1520
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• 2019

Objective: The present study was conducted to select a plant oil without inhibitory effects on rumen fermentation and microbes, and to determine the optimal supplementation level of the selected oil in a series of in vitro studies for dietary application. Then, the selected oil was evaluated in a feeding study using Thai crossbred beef cattle by monitoring growth, carcass, blood and rumen characteristics. Methods: Rumen fluid was incubated with substrates containing one of three different types of plant oil (coconut oil, palm oil, and soybean oil) widely available in Thailand. The effects of each oil on rumen fermentation and microbes were monitored and the oil without a negative influence on rumen parameters was selected. Then, the dose-response of rumen parameters to various levels of the selected palm oil was monitored to determine a suitable supplementation level. Finally, an 8-month feeding experiment with the diet supplemented with palm oil was carried out using 12 Thai crossbred beef cattle to monitor growth, carcass, rumen and blood profiles. Results: Batch culture studies revealed that coconut and soybean oils inhibited the most potent rumen cellulolytic bacterium Fibrobacter succinogenes, while palm oil had no such negative effect on this and on rumen fermentation products at 5% or higher supplementation level. Cattle fed the diet supplemented with 2.5% palm oil showed improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) without any adverse effects on rumen fermentation. Palm oil-supplemented diet increased blood cholesterol levels, suggesting a higher energy status of the experimental cattle. Conclusion: Palm oil had no negative effects on rumen fermentation and microbes when supplemented at levels up to 5% in vitro. Thai crossbred cattle fed the palm oil-supplemented diet showed improved FCR without apparent changes of rumen and carcass characteristics, but with elevated blood cholesterol levels. Therefore, palm oil can be used as a beneficial energy source.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 2000.11c
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• pp.593-599
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• 2000

Accurate quantification of plant physiological properties is often necessary for optimal control of an automated greenhouse production system. Conventional crop growth monitoring systems are usually burdensome, inaccurate, and harmful to crops. A thermal image analysis system was used to accomplish rapid and accurate measurements of physiological-property changes of water-stressed crops. Thermal images were obtained from several species of plants that were placed in a growth chamber. Analyzing the images provided the pattern of temperature changes in a leaf and the amount of differences in the temperature of stressed plants and non-stressed plants.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.280-293
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• 2018

The conversion of an invisible thermal radiation pattern of an object into a visible image using infrared (IR) thermal technology is very useful to understand phenomena what we are interested in. Although IR thermal images were originally developed for military and space applications, they are currently employed to determine thermal properties and heat features in various applications, such as the non-destructive evaluation of industrial equipment, power plants, electricity, military or drive-assisted night vision, and medical applications to monitor heat generation or loss. Recently, IR imaging-based monitoring systems have been considered for application in agricultural, including crop care, plant-disease detection, bruise detection of fruits, and the evaluation of fruit maturity. This paper reviews recent progress in the development of IR thermal imaging techniques and suggests possible applications of thermal imaging techniques in agriculture.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.26 no.4 s.73
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• pp.273-275
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• 1987

Changes in the numbers of air-borne spores of Alternaria mali causing the Alternaria leaf spot of apple were investigated in apple orchards, by monitoring their AM- toxin(host-specific toxin) producing ability. Most of the air-borne Alternaria in apple orchards were not AM-toxin producers. In culture, only about 2% of Alternaria isolates from a commercially managed apple orchards produced the toxin that was highly toxic only to susceptible leaves.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.37-45
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• 2003

To investigate the influence of the design and operating parameters of the headbox on hydrodynamics, a pilot headbox system and pressure monitoring apparatus were constructed. The pilot headbox system consisted of a circulating water reservoir, centrifugal pump, distributor, turbulence generator and slice. The distributor was designed to function as a pressure attenuator. Flow rate to the headbox and MD and CD velocity profiles in the slice zone were monitored using an ultrasonic flowmeter and Pitot tubes, respectively. As the distance from the step diffusor increased, evener CD velocity profile was observed. Wall effect increased with the increase of the velocity. Flow stability in the headbox was evaluated by injecting a dye at the outlet of the distributor. Application of theoretical analysis based on CFD in designing headboxes is briefly discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.401-404
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• 2002

Two irrigation districts, Maekok and Byungjum 1 which are irrigated with polluted stream flow, and one control district Kichun, that is supplied from a reservoir complying with the water quality standard are selected for water quality monitoring to identify the effects of polluted irrigation on crop yields, environments, and health hazards for farmers. The water quality at Maekok and Byungjum 1 districts are worse than the control district, and continuous water quality monitoring are needed for the wastewater reuse for agriculture.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.248-252
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• 2010

This study presented a development of a phototactic apparatus for pest monitoring. We carried out behavioral experiment against various pest species by using the phototactic chamber. Consequently, the phototactic apparatus was confirmed suitable result of behavioral experiment. Therefore, we believed that the test apparatus help to understand the phototactic responses of various pests.