• Title/Summary/Keyword: Biological Engineering

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Effects of Antimicrobials on Methane Production in an Anaerobic Digestion Process (혐기소화공정에서 항생항균물질이 메탄생성에 미치는 영향)

  • Oh, Seung-Yong;Park, Noh-Back;Park, Woo-Kyun;Chun, Man-Young;Kwon, Soon-Ik
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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    • v.30 no.3
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    • pp.295-303
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    • 2011
  • BACKGROUND: Anaerobic digestion process is recently adapted technology for treatment of organic waste such as animal manure because the energy embedded in the waste can be recovered from the waste while the organic waste were digested. Ever increased demand for consumption of meat resulted in the excessive use of antimicrobials to the livestocks for more food production. Most antimicrobials administered to animals are excreted through urine and feces, which might highly affect the biological treatment processes of the animal manure. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of antimicrobials on the efficiency of anaerobic digestion process and to clarify the interactions between antimicrobials and anaerobes. METHODS AND RESULTS: The experiment was consisted of two parts 1) batch test to investigate the effects of individual antibiotic compounds on production of methane and VFAs(volatile fatty acids), and removal efficiency of organic matter, and 2) the continuous reactor test to elucidate the effects of mixed antimicrobials on the whole anaerobic digestion process. The batch test showed no inhibitions in the rate of methane and VFAs production, and the rate of organic removal were observed with treatment at 1~10 mg/L of antimicrobials while temporary inhibition was observed at 50 mg/L treatment. In contrast, treatment of 100 mg/L antimicrobials resulted in continuous decreased in the rate of methane production and organic removal efficiency. The continuous reactor test conduced to see the influence of the mixed antimicrobials showed only small declines in the methane production and organic matter removal when 1~10 mg/L of combined antimicrobials were applied but this was not significant. In contrast, with the treatment of 50 mg/L of combined antimicrobials, the rate of organic removal efficiency in effluent decreased by 2~15% and the rate of biogas production decreased by 30%. CONCLUSION(s): The antimicrobials remained in the animal manure might not be removed during the anaerobic digestion process and hence, is likely to be released to the natural ecosystem. Therefore, the efforts to decline the usage of antimicrobials for animal farming would be highly recommended.

Isotopic Evidence of Marine Yeast to Artificial Culture of Moina macrocopa (물벼룩(Moina macrocopa)배양을 위한 해양효모의 유효성에 대한 안전 동위원소의 증거)

  • Kim Mu-Chan;Kang Chang-Keun;Park Hye-Young;Lee Dae-Seong;Kim Yun-Sook;Lee Won-Jae
    • Korean Journal of Microbiology
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    • v.42 no.2
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    • pp.111-115
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    • 2006
  • A feeding trial was conducted to test the use of marine yeasts isolated from seawaters and sediments as a dietary source in cultivating a Cladocera, Moina macrocopa which is available as an alternative live food for fish larvae. The marine yeast-fed M. macrocopa had similar essential amino acid profiles to the documented values for Rotifers and Artemia enriched in microalgae and commercial diets. Erythrobacter sp. $S{\pi}-1$ lacked ${\omega}-3$ high unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs), $20:5{\omega}-3$ (EPA) and $22:6{\omega}-3$ (DHA), which were also poor but detected in both the marine yeasts. An increase in the $20:5{\omega}-3$ and $22:6{\omega}-3$ levels, compared with the levels in marine yeast strains themselves, was more pronounced in the $22:6{\omega}-3$ level of Moina fed the Candida sp. Y-16, resulting in a high DHA:EPA ratio. When the Moina diets were switched, their ${\delta}^{13}C$ values shifted gradually toward the values of the switched diets. Diet switch from Erythrobacter sp. $S{\pi}-1$to Candide sp. Y.16 resulted in a more rapid turnover of Moina tissue carbon than that in the inverse case. When fed a mixed diet, the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of Moina tissue approached the value of marine yeasts immediately. These temporal changes in the ${\delta}^{13}C$ values of Moina tissue indicate the preferential ingestion of marine yeasts and a selective assimilation of the carbon originated from marine yeasts. These findings suggest that marine yeasts, particularly Candida sp. Y-16, are highly available to mass cultures of M. macrocopa, providing better nutritional and dietaty values than the commercial diet (Erythrobacter sp. $S{\pi}-1$).

Developmental Abnormality in Agricultural Region and Toxicity of the Fungicide Benomyl on Korea salamander, Hynobius leechii (한국산 도롱뇽(Hynobius leechii)의 농경지에서의 배 발생 이상과 살균제 Benomyl의 독성효과)

  • Choi, Yeoung-Ju;Yoon, Chun-Sik;Park, Joo-Hung;Jin, Jung-Hyo;Cheong, Seon-Woo
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.35 no.3 s.99
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    • pp.198-212
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    • 2002
  • A numerical variation and abnormalities were studied on egg bags and embryos of Korean salamander, Hynobius leechii from agricultural habitat. The teratogenic and toxic effects of fungicide benomyl were also investigated with early embryos from non-agricultural habitat. We collected 144 egg bags from agricultural region, and 3418 of early embryos were contained. The lengths of egg bags were varied from 10 to 23 cm and the most frequent length was 19 cm. The number of embryos was varied from 7 to 43, and the most frequent range was 22 to 26. Spontaneous abnormalities were occurred in 406 embryos among 116 egg bags, and 24 kinds of external abnormalities were found. Individuals showing severe external defect were histologically studied and they showed optic dyspalsia, thyroid carcinoma, somatic muscular dysplasia, partial biaxial structure, decrease of red blood cells in the heart, cephalic degeneration and intestinal dysplasia. 385 embryos from non-agricultural region were exposed to 200 nM${\sim}$ 1 ${\mu}$M of benomyl at blastula or gastrula for 12 days. All embryo were dead in the concentration of 1 ${\mu}$M (LD$_{100}$) and 75% of embryos were dead in 800nM of benomyl. Speciflc effect due to benomyl was acrania or cephalic dysplasia and this restult suggests that the benomyl inhibit stongly to the development of neural tissue. These abnormal developments may be caused by antimitotic action, inhibition of tubulin complex, destruction of microtubule, inhibitions of neurulation and closing of neural fold, and by the inhibition of the movement of neural crest cells.

Analysis of Relationship between Spatial Distribution of Land Use and Water Quality in Agricultural Reservoirs (토지이용의 공간적 분포와 농업용저수지 수질 간의 상관분석)

  • Lee, Sae-Bom;Yoon, Chun-Gyeong;Jung, Kwang-Wook;Jang, Jae-Ho;Jeon, Ji-Hong
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.40 no.3
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    • pp.481-488
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    • 2007
  • This study covers the relationship between land use and water quality items. The kinds of land used in this study were almost agricultural areas with paddy fields and mountains. We set up zones at intervals of 200 m along 48 watersheds all over the country. The analysis showed high relationship between the water quality and the land use specially on the areas in the 400 m radius from the stream so that the areas needed to have strict managements. In the cases of residential area and upland, the positive correlation had a tendency to be lower when they were farther away from the stream. It depended on the increase of rainfall during July and August which affected on the water quality of reservoirs. The correlation analysis of paddy fields resulted in negative relationship, which indicated that paddy fields did not have negative effect on the quality of the stream. Through adequate irrigation and Management, paddy fields may be led to have positive effect on the quality of the reservoirs. In the case of forest, it also resulted in negative correlation so it was concerned as a positive factor which helped to improve water quality. Furthermore more than 00% of the land used in this study is comprised of forest so that it would have a positive effect on the reservoir management.

Studies on the Desertification Combating and Sand Industry Development(III) - Revegetation and Soil Conservation Technology in Desertification-affected Sandy Land - (사막화방지(沙漠化防止) 및 방사기술개발(防沙技術開發)에 관한 연구(硏究)(III) - 중국(中國)의 황막사지(荒漠沙地) 녹화기술분석(綠化技術分析) -)

  • Woo, Bo-Myeong;Lee, Kyung-Joon;Choi, Hyung-Tae;Lee, Sang-Ho;Park, Joo-Won;Wang, Lixian;Zhang, Kebin;Sun, Baoping
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.90 no.1
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    • pp.90-104
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    • 2001
  • This study is aimed to analyze and to evaluate the revegetation and soil conservation technology in desertification-affected sandy land, resulting from the project of "Studies on the desertification combating and sand industry development". Main native plants for combating desertification : The general characteristics of vegetation distribution in desertified regions are partially concentrated vegetation distribution types including the a) desert plants in low zone of desert or sanddune of depressed basin, b) salt-resistant plants around saline lakes, c) grouped vegetation with Poplar and Chinese Tamarix of freshwater-lakes, saline-lakes and river-banks, d) gobi vegetation of gravel desert and e) grassland and oasis-woods around the alluvial fan of rivers, etc. Generally, Tamarix ehinensis Lour., Haloxylon ammodendron Bunge., Calligonum spp., Populus euphratica Oliver., Elaeagnus angustifolia L., Ulmus pumila L., Salix spp., Hedysarum spp., Caragana spp., Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge., Nitraria tangutorum Bobr., Lespedeza bicolor, Alhagi sparsifolia Shap., Capparis spinosa L., Artemisia arenaria DC., etc. are widely distributed in desertified regions. It is necessary for conducting research in the native plants in desertified regions. Analysis of intensive revegetation technology system for combating desertification : In the wind erosion region, the experimental research projects of rational farming systems (regional planning, shelterbelts system, protection system of oasis, establishment of irrigation-channel networks and management technology of enormous farmlands, etc.), rational utilization technology of plant resources (fuelwood, medicinal plants, grazing and grassland management, etc.), utilization technology of water resources (management and planning of watershed, construction of channel and technology of water saving and irrigation, etc.), establishment of sheltetbelts, control of population increase and increased production technology of agricultural forest, fuelwood and feed, etc. are preponderantly being promoted. And in water erosion region, the experimental research projects of development of rational utilization technology of land and vegetation, engineering technology and protection technology of crops, etc. are being promoted in priority. And also, the experimental researches on the methods of utilization of water (irrigation, drainage, washing and rice cultivation, etc.), agricultural methods (reclamation of land, agronomy, fertilization, seeding, crop rotation, mixed-cultivation and soil dressing works, etc.) and biological methods (cultivation of salt-resistant crops and green manure and tree plantation, etc.) for improvement of saline soil and alkaline soil in desertified-lands are actively being promoted. And the international cooperations on the revegetation technology development projects of desertified-lands are sincerely being required.

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An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Human/Posthuman Discourses Emerging From Cybernetics and Artificial Intelligence Technology (4차 산업혁명 시대의 사이버네틱스와 휴먼·포스트휴먼에 관한 인문학적 지평 연구)

  • Kim, Dong-Yoon
    • Journal of Broadcast Engineering
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    • v.24 no.5
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    • pp.836-848
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    • 2019
  • This paper aims at providing a critical view over the cybernetics theory especially of first generation on which the artificial intelligence heavily depends nowadays. There has been a commonly accepted thought that the conception of artificial intelligence could not has been possible without being influenced by N. Wiener's cybernetic feedback based information system. Despite the founder of contemporary cybernetics' ethical concerns in order to avoid an increasing entropy phenomena(social violence, economic misery, wars) produced through a negative dynamics of the western modernity regarded as the most advanced form of humanism. In this civilizationally changing atmosphere, the newly born cybernetic technology was thus firmly believed as an antidote to these vices deeply rooted in humanism itself. But cybernetics has been turned out to be a self-organizing, self-controlling mechanical system that entails the possibility of telegraphing human brain (which are transformed into patterns) through the uploading of human brain neurons digitalized by the artificial intelligence embedded into computing technology. On this background emerges posthuman (or posthumanism) movement of which concepts have been theorized mainly by its ardent apostles like N. K. Hayles, Neil Bedington, Laurent Alexandre, Donna J. Haraway. The converging of NBIC Technologies leading to the opening of a much more digitalizing society has served as a catalyst to promote the posthuman representations and different narratives especially in the contemporary visual arts as well as in the study of humanities including philosophy and fictional literature. Once Bruno Latour wrote "Modernity is often defined in terms of humanism, either as a way of saluting the birth of 'man' or as a way of announcing his death. But this habit is itself modern, because it remains asymmetrical. It overlooks the simultaneous birth of 'nonhumaniy' - things, or objects, or beasts, - and the equally strange beginning of a crossed-out God, relegated to the sidelines."4) These highly suggestive ideas enable us to better understand what kind of human beings would emerge following the dazzlingly accelerating advancement of artificial intelligence technology. We wonder whether or not this newly born humankind would become essentially Homo Artificialis as a neuronal man stripping off his biological apparatus. However due to this unprecedented situation humans should deal with enormous challenges involving ethical, metaphysical, existential implications on their life.

Optimization of the Acetic Acid Fermentation Condition of Apple Juice (사과식초 제조를 위한 사과주스의 초산발효 최적화)

  • Kang, Bok-Hee;Shin, Eun-Jeong;Lee, Sang-Han;Lee, Dong-Sun;Hur, Sang-Sun;Shin, Kee-Sun;Kim, Seong-Ho;Son, Seok-Min;Lee, Jin-Man
    • Food Science and Preservation
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    • v.18 no.6
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    • pp.980-985
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    • 2011
  • This study was conducted to determine the acetic-acid fermentation properties of apple juice (initial alcohol content, apple juice concentration, acetic-acid content, and inoculum size) in flask scale. At the acetic-acid fermentation of apple juice with 3, 5, 7, and 9% initial alcohol content, the maximum acidity after 10-day fermentation was 5.88% when the initial alcohol content was 5%. The acetic-acid fermentation did not proceed normally when the initial alcohol content was 9%. When the initial Brix was $1^{\circ}$, the acidity gradually increased, and the acidity after 12-day acetic-acid fermentation was 4.48%. Above 4% acidity was attained faster when the apple juice concentration was 5 and 10 $^{\circ}Brix$ than when it was 1 and 14 $^{\circ}Brix$. When the initial acidity was 1% or above (0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0%), the acetic-acid fermentation proceeded normally. The acetic-acid fermentation also proceeded normally when the inoculum sizes were 10 and 15%, and the acidity after eight-day acetic-acid fermentation was 5.60 and 6.05%, respectively. Therefore, the following were considered the optimal acetic-acid fermentation conditions for apple cider vinegar: 5% initial alcohol content, 5 $^{\circ}Brix$ or above apple juice concentration, 1.0% or above initial acidity, and 10% or above inoculum size. Apple cider vinegar with above 5% acidity can be produced within 48 h under the following acetic-acid fermentation conditions: 7% initial alcohol content, about 1% initial acidity, and 10% inoculum volume at $30^{\circ}C$, 30 rpm, and 1.0 vvm, using 14 $^{\circ}Brix$ apple juice in a mini-jar fermentor as a pre-step for industrial-scale adaptation.

Prediction of Acer pictum subsp. mono Distribution using Bioclimatic Predictor Based on SSP Scenario Detailed Data (SSP 시나리오 상세화 자료 기반 생태기후지수를 활용한 고로쇠나무 분포 예측)

  • Kim, Whee-Moon;Kim, Chaeyoung;Cho, Jaepil;Hur, Jina;Song, Wonkyong
    • Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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    • v.9 no.3
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    • pp.163-173
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    • 2022
  • Climate change is a key factor that greatly influences changes in the biological seasons and geographical distribution of species. In the ecological field, the BioClimatic predictor (BioClim), which is most related to the physiological characteristics of organisms, is used for vulnerability assessment. However, BioClim values are not provided other than the future period climate average values for each GCM for the Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs) scenario. In this study, BioClim data suitable for domestic conditions was produced using 1 km resolution SSPs scenario detailed data produced by Rural Development Administration, and based on the data, a species distribution model was applied to mainly grow in southern, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gangwon-do and humid regions. Appropriate habitat distributions were predicted every 30 years for the base years (1981 - 2010) and future years (2011 - 2100) of the Acer pictum subsp. mono. Acer pictum subsp. mono appearance data were collected from a total of 819 points through the national natural environment survey data. In order to improve the performance of the MaxEnt model, the parameters of the model (LQH-1.5) were optimized, and 7 detailed biolicm indices and 5 topographical indices were applied to the MaxEnt model. Drainage, Annual Precipitation (Bio12), and Slope significantly contributed to the distribution of Acer pictum subsp. mono in Korea. As a result of reflecting the growth characteristics that favor moist and fertile soil, the influence of climatic factors was not significant. Accordingly, in the base year, the suitable habitat for a high level of Acer pictum subsp. mono is 3.41% of the area of Korea, and in the near future (2011 - 2040) and far future (2071 - 2100), SSP1-2.6 accounts for 0.01% and 0.02%, gradually decreasing. However, in SSP5-8.5, it was 0.01% and 0.72%, respectively, showing a tendency to decrease in the near future compared to the base year, but to gradually increase toward the far future. This study confirms the future distribution of vegetation that is more easily adapted to climate change, and has significance as a basic study that can be used for future forest restoration of climate change-adapted species.

A Protocol of Ludox Treatment for Physiological and Molecular Biological Research of Freshwater Cyanobacteria (퇴적층 남조류 휴면세포의 생리적-분자생물학적 연구를 위한 Ludox 처리법)

  • Keonhee Kim;Kyeong-eun Yoo;Hye-in Ho;Chaehong Park;Hyunjin Kim;Soon-Jin Hwang
    • Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.56 no.1
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    • pp.94-103
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    • 2023
  • Cyanobacterial resting cells, such as akinetes, are important seed cells for cyanobacteria's early development and bloom. Due to their importance, various methods have been attempted to isolate resting cells present in the sediment. Ludox is a solution mainly used for cell separation in marine sediments, but finding an accurate method for use in freshwater is difficult. This study compared the two most commonly used Ludox methods (direct sediment treatment and sediment distilled water suspension treatment). Furthermore, we proposed a highly efficient method for isolating cyanobacterial resting cells and eDNA amplification from freshwater sediments. Most of the resting cells found in the sediment were akinete to the Nostocale and were similar to those of Dolichospermum, Cylindrospermum, and Aphanizomenon. Twenty times more akinetes were found in the conical tube column using the sediment that had no treatment than in the sample treated by suspending the sediment in distilled water. Akinete separated through Ludox were mainly spread over the upper and lower layers in the column rather than concentrated at a specific depth in the column layer. The mibC, Geo, and 16S rDNA genes were successfully amplified using the sediment directly in the sample. However, the amplification products of all genes were not found in the sample in which the sediment was suspended in distilled water. Therefore, 5 g to 10 g of sediment is used without pretreatment when isolating cyanobacterial resting cells from freshwater sediment. Cell isolation and gene amplification efficiency are high when four times the volume of Ludox is added. The Ludox treatment method presented in this study isolates cyanobacterial resting cells in freshwater sediment, and the same efficiency may not appear in other biotas. Therefore, to apply Ludox to the separation of other biotas, it is necessary to conduct a pre-experiment to determine the sediment pretreatment method and the water layer where the target organism exists.

A study on γ-Al2O3 Catalyst for N2O Decomposition (N2O 분해를 위한 γ-Al2O3 촉매에 관한 연구)

  • Eun-Han Lee;Tae-Woo Kim;Segi Byun;Doo-Won Seo;Hyo-Jung Hwang;Jueun Baek;Eui-Soon Jeong;Hansung Kim;Shin-Kun Ryi
    • Clean Technology
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    • v.29 no.2
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    • pp.126-134
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    • 2023
  • Direct catalytic decomposition is a promising method for controlling the emission of nitrous oxide (N2O) from the semiconductor and display industries. In this study, a γ-Al2O3 catalyst was developed to reduce N2O emissions by a catalytic decomposition reaction. The γ-Al2O3 catalyst was prepared by an extrusion method using boehmite powder, and a N2O decomposition test was performed using a catalyst reactor that was approximately 25.4 mm (1 in) in diameter packed with approximately 5 mm of catalysts. The N2O decomposition tests were carried out with approximately 1% N2O at 550 to 750 ℃, an ambient pressure, and a GHSV=1800-2000 h-1. To confirm the N2O decomposition properties and the effect of O2 and steam on the N2O decomposition, nitrogen, air, and air and steam were used as atmospheric gases. The catalytic decomposition tests showed that the 1% N2O had almost completely disappeared at 700 ℃ in an N2 atmosphere. However, air and steam decreased the conversion rate drastically. The long term stability test carried out under an N2 atmosphere at 700 ℃ for 350 h showed that the N2O conversion rate remained very stable, confirming no catalytic activity changes. From the results of the N2O decomposition tests and long-term stability test, it is expected that the prepared γ-Al2O3 catalyst can be used to reduce N2O emissions from several industries including the semiconductor, display, and nitric acid manufacturing industry.