• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2007

Metolachlor may pose a threat to surface and ground water qualities due to its high solubility in water, Zerovalent iron (ZVI) releases $e^-$ which can degrade the organochlorinated compounds. The objective of this research was to evaluate the kinetics of metolachlor degradation as affected by ZVI sources [Peerless unannealed (PU) and Peerless annealed (PA)] and ZVI levels (1 and 5%) under batch conditions at different metolachlor concentrations (200 and 1000 mg/l) and temperatures (15, 25, and $35^{\circ}C$). The effectiveness of ZVI on metolachlor degradation was assessed by characterizing the dechlorinated metolachlor byproduct molecules. Metolachlor degradation by ZVI followed the first-ordered kinetics with a higher rate constant at higher level of ZVI treatment. At 5% (w/v) of PU and PA treatment, the half-lives of metolachlor degradation were 9.93 and 6.51 h and all of the initial metolachlor were degraded in 72 and 48 h, respectively. Rate constants (k) of metolachlor degradation were higher at the lower initial metolachlor concentration. The metolachlor degradation by ZVI was temperature dependent showing that the rate constant (k) at 15, 25, and $35^{\circ}C$ were 0.0805, 0.1017, and 0.3116 /h, respectively. The ZVI-mediated metolachlor degradation yielded two byproduct molecules identified as dechlorinated metolachlor $(C_{13}H_{18}NO)$ and dechlorinated-dealkylated metolachlor $(C_{12}H_{17}NO)$. The PA ZVI was more effective than PU ZVI in metolachlor degradation.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this research was to develop and evaluate natural hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramics produced from the heat treatment of pig bones. Methods: The properties of natural HA ceramics produced from pig bones were assessed in two parts. Firstly, the raw materials were characterized. A temperature of $1,200^{\circ}C$ was chosen as the calcination temperature. Fine bone powders (BPs) were produced via calcinations and a milling process. Sintered BPs were then characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and a 2-year in vitro degradability test. Secondly, an indirect cytotoxicity test was conducted on human osteoblast-like cells, MG63, treated with the BPs. Results: The average particle size of the BPs was $20{\pm}5{\mu}m$. FE-SEM showed a non-uniform distribution of the particle size. The phase obtained from XRD analysis confirmed the structure of HA. Elemental analysis using XRF detected phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) with the Ca/P ratio of 1.6. Functional groups examined by FTIR detected phosphate ($PO{_4}^{3-}$), hydroxyl ($OH^-$), and carbonate ($CO{_3}^{2-}$). The EDX, XRF, and FTIR analysis of BPs indicated the absence of organic compounds, which were completely removed after annealing at $1,200^{\circ}C$. The BPs were mostly stable in a simulated body fluid (SBF) solution for 2 years. An indirect cytotoxicity test on natural HA ceramics showed no threat to the cells. Conclusions: In conclusion, the sintering temperature of $1,200^{\circ}C$ affected the microstructure, phase, and biological characteristics of natural HA ceramics consisting of calcium phosphate. The Ca-P-based natural ceramics are bioactive materials with good biocompatibility; our results indicate that the prepared HA ceramics have great potential for agricultural and biological applications.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2018

The ocean is a harsh environment and Korea Coast Guard officers often face the threat of death or going missing in the line of duty. In order to promptly identify unknown bodies during mishaps, Korea Coast Guard Research Center has established an identification system using the DNA of its officers. This collected DNA can also be entombed in National Cemeteries when the remains are not recovered. The storage, disposal and quality control of the materials are overseen by the Governing Committee according to the Enforcement Rules for the Human Biological Materials Storage Project for the Identification of Officers Killed or Gone Missing in Action. Approximately 700 bodies are found per year along the Korean coast. An alternative method should be put in place for when identification through fingerprints and teeth are not applicable due to severe decomposition or partial recovery. We believe it would greatly contribute to helping identify the unknown bodies if the storage project could expand its data to include marine industry workers, relevant researchers and those involved in marine leisure activities.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.110-126
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• 2024

This study conducted a classification of small-scale biological habitats created in Seoul to analyze and synthesize location characteristics, habitat structure, biological habitat functions, and threat factors of representative sites, as well as derive creation and management problems according to the ecological characteristics. The aim was to suggest improvement measures and management items. Data collected through a field survey was used to categorize 39 locations, and 8 representative sites were selected by dividing them into location, water system, and size as classification criteria for typification. Due to the characteristics of each type, the site was created in an area where amphibian movement was disadvantageous due to low or disconnected connectivity with the hinterland forest, and the water supply was unstable in securing a constant flow and maintaining a constant water depth. The habitat structure has a small area, an artificial habitat structure that is unfavorable for amphibians, having the possibility of sediment inflow, and damage to the revetment area. The biological habitat function is a lack of wetland plants and the distribution of naturalized grasses, and threats include the establishment of hiking trails and decks in the surrounding area. Artificial disturbances occur adjacent to facilities. When creating habitats according to the characteristics of each type, it was necessary to review the possibility of an artificial water supply and introduce a water system with a continuous flow in order to connect the hinterland forest for amphibian movement and locate it in a place where water supply is possible. The habitat structure should be as large as possible, or several small-scale habitats should be connected to create a natural waterfront structure. In addition, additional wetland plants should be introduced to provide shelter for amphibians, and facilities such as walking paths should be installed in areas other than migration routes to prevent artificial disturbances. After construction, the management plan is to maintain various water depths for amphibians to inhabit and spawn, stabilize slopes due to sediment inflow, repair damage to revetments, and remove organic matter deposits to secure natural grasses and open water. Artificial management should be minimized. This study proposed improvement measures to improve the function of biological habitats through the analysis of problems with previously applied techniques, and based on this, in the future, small-scale biological habitat spaces suitable for the urban environment can be created for local governments that want to create small-scale biological habitat spaces, including Seoul City. It is significant in that it can provide management plans.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.93-104
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• 1996

Ecological approach to conservation of Korea's National Parks (KNP) was reviewed. Four hundred twenty five reports on 15 national parks for 80 years (1915~1994) were analyzed in consideration of phytocoenotic information such as flora, plant community and landscape. Total species was recorded as 157 familles, 752 genera, and 2,369 species (64.3% of Korean flora), in which is included only 75 species of the protected plant species designated by the Ministry of EnvironMent. Occurrence patterns of plant species in national parks were quite similar to one another, but those of plant community were rather unique. Seventy-four of 97 plant communities were reported in only one of 15 national parks, which might be regarded as an endemic or local vegetetation type. These facts are far different from actual status of the KNP＇s ecosystem, which indicate that not only original data in previous reports are less informative, but also tools of investigation and description are too subjective, and thus these can never afford to monitor the ecosystem. From the correlation analysis between 10 ecological characteristics, the following results were obtained: (1) the species richness was positively associated with the area of national park, (2) the number of visitors was related to landscape diversity, (3) occurrence of the designated species was closely related to the vegetation diversity. Numerical analysis (cluster analysis and ordination) using dissimilarity ratio by ecological characteristics divided 15 national parks into 4 groups. The first group, composed of national parks of Chirisan, $S\v{o}laksan$, Sokrisan, Hallasan, $T\v{o}kyusan$, Odaesan, and Sobaeksan, is recognized as the best national parks in terms of ecological conservation values. Nevertheless, they have been faced with the threat of visitor stress. This study will contribute to the establishment of strategy for appropriate conservation and sustainable use of KNP.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1-11
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• 2015

Jeju Island is managed intensively in terms of environmental and ecological aspect because of its extraordinary ecosystem types comprising numerous rare, protected flora and fauna. To depict rapid change of habitat status in Jeju Island, the InVEST Habitat Quality model has been operated and compared analytically with the Eco-Natural map. The Habitat Quality map of Jeju Island is turned out to have similar inclination with Eco-Natural map. We compared the average habitat quality value in each Eco-natural map class in Jeju Island and the habitat quality value of first second third grade and non-included area decreased as 0.95 0.76, 0.53 and 0.37 in eco natural map respectively. Compared to biodiversity map based on biological investigation, the result of the InVEST habitat quality model can be simply obtained by land cover map with threat and sensitivity data. Further studies are needed to make explicit coefficients for Jeju Island and Korean peninsula, then the Habitat Quality model could be applied to past and future scenarios to analyze extent of habitat degradation in time series to help decision makers.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.223-230
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• 2012

The worldwide distribution and continuing genetic mutation of avian influenza virus (AIV) has been posed a great threat to human and animal health. A comparison of 3 isolates of AIV H9N2, A/chicken/Korea/KBNP-0028/00 (H9N2) (KBNP-0028), A/chicken/Korea/SNU8011/08 (H9N2) (SNU 8011) and an inactivated oil vaccine strain A/chicken/Korea/01310/01 (H9N2) (01310), was performed. The former 2 AIVs were isolated from field cases before and after the application of an inactivated H9N2 vaccine in 2007, respectively. The antigenic relationship, viral shedding, tissue tropism and genetic analysis were examined. The comparison of virus shedding from the cloaca and the oropharynx revealed that both isolates were more frequently isolated from the upper respiratory tract (90~100%) 1 day post inoculation (DPI) compared with isolation 5 DPI from gastrointestinal tracts (10~60%). Moreover, the isolate KBNP-0028 were recovered from all organs including bone marrow, brain and kidneys, indicating higher ability for broad tissue dissemination than that of SNU 8011. KBNP-0028 replicated earlier than other strains and with a higher titer than SNU 8011. In full-length nucleotide sequences of the NA gene and a partial sequence of the HA gene of SNU 8011, we found that there might be significant changes in tissue tropism, virus replication and genetic mutation in AIV H9N2 isolates.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.12-16
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• 2002

Soil, ground water and sea bed are exposed to continuous accumulation of polluted materials causing serious environmental damage. It has been reported that such pollution causes a massive mortality of fish stock in rivers by the resuspension of toxic chemicals during strong wind conditions. Therefore, it becomes apparent that there is an immediate demand for the restoration treatment of polluted river bed (or sea bed) sediment layers. Pollution levels of major rivers and ports such as Pal-dang, Kyung-an rivers, Ma-san port are becoming public concern and are posing a serious environmental threat. In particular, the pollution of Shi-hwa river has become a nation wide issue for last few years. In spite of such public concern, the pollution level of such rivers or port are getting worse everyday. In this study, an environmentally sound engineering package is introduced which helps to restore the polluted river bed or sea bed sediments. This engineering package is consisted of a suction facility followed by a series of mechanical, chemical as well as biological treatment units. The suction facility is designed to minimize the secondary pollution due to the resuspension of toxic materials during suction. The sea bed cleaning engineering package is designed to be installed on the top of a floating barge. Such combination of environmental plant and shipbuilding technology provides a cost-effective solution, minimizing the cost involved in the transportation between suction and treatment facilities.

• Clean Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2017

At high nitrate concentrations, water must be treated to meet regulated concentrations because it results in threat to human health and eutrophication of natural water. However, it is almost impossible to remove nitrate by conventional water treatment methods such as coagulation, filtration and precipitation, due to its high water solubility. Therefore, other technologies including adsorption, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, denitrification, and electrodialysis are required to effectively remove nitrate. Each of these technologies has their own strengths and drawbacks and their feasibility is weighted against factors such as cost, water quality improvement, residuals handling, and pre-treatment requirements. An adsorption technique is the most popular and common process because of its cost effectiveness, ease of operation, and simplicity of design. Surface modifications of adsorbents have been enhanced their adsorption of nitrate. The nitrate-selective membrane process of electrodialysis reversal and reverse osmosis have proven over time and at many locations to be highly effective in removing nitrate contaminating problems in aqueous solutions. Both electrodiaysis and reverse osmosis methods generate highly concentrated wastes and need careful consideration with respect to disposal.

• Convergence Security Journal
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• v.16 no.6_2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2016

Over recent years there has been considerable growth in interest in the use of biometric systems for personal authentication. Biometrics is a field of technology which has been and is being used in the identification of individuals based on some physical attribute. By using biometrics, authentication is directly linked to the person, rather than their token or password. Biometric authentication is a type of system that relies on the unique biological characteristics of individuals to verify identity for secure access to electronic systems. In 2013, Althobati et al. proposed an efficient remote user authentication protocol using biometric information. However, we uncovered Althobati et al.'s protocol does not guarantee its main security goal of mutual authentication. We showed this by mounting threat of data integrity and bypassing the gateway node attack on Althobati et al.'s protocol. In this paper, we propose an improved scheme to overcome these security weaknesses by storing secret data in device. In addition, our proposed scheme should provide not only security, but also efficiency since sensors in WSN(Wireless Sensor Networks) operate with resource constraints such as limited power, computation, and storage space.