• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 2006

As one of the $CO_2$ reduction strategies, a biological method was proposed to convert $CO_2$ to useful biomass with antioxidant carotenoids by photosynthetic microorganisms. One of the photoautotrophs, Haematococcus pluvialis is a freshwater green microalga and accumulates the secondary carotenoid astaxanthin during induction of green vegetative cells to red cyst cells. In this study, $CO_2$ fixation and astaxanthin production using H. pluvialis was conducted by photoautotrophic culture in the $CO_2$ supplemented photo-incubator. Maximum growth rate of H. pluvialis was obtained at a 5％ $CO_2$ environment on basic N and P conditions of NIES-C medium. The photoautotrophic induction consisted of 5％ $CO_2$ supply and high light illumination promoted astaxanthin synthesis in H. pluvialis, yielding an astaxanthin productivity of $9.6mg/L{\cdot}day$ and a $CO_2$ conversion rate of $27.8mg/L{\cdot}day$ to astaxanthin. From the results the sequential photoautotrophic culture and induction process using H. pluvialis is expecting an alternative $CO_2$ reduction technology with a function of valuable biosubstance production.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2020

BACKGROUND: Recently, biomass conversion from agricultural wastes to carbon-rich materials such as biochar has been recognized as a promising option to maintain or increase soil productivity, reduce nutrient losses, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from the agro-ecosystem. This experiment was conducted to select an optimum conditions for enhancing the NH₄-N adsorption capacity of rice hull activated biochar. METHODS AND RESULTS: For deciding the proper molarity of KOH for enhancing its porosity, biochars treated with different molarity of KOH (0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8) were carbonized at 600℃ in the reactor. The maximum adsorption capacity was 1.464 mg g^-1, and an optimum molarity was selected to be 6 M KOH. For the effect of adsorption capacity to different carbonized temperatures, 6 M KOH-treated biochar was carbonized at 600℃ and 800℃ under the pyrolysis system. The result has shown that the maximum adsorption capacity was 1.76 mg g^-1 in the rice hull activated biochar treated with 6 M KOH at 600℃ of pyrolysis temperature, while its non-treated biochar was 1.17 mg g^-1. The adsorption rate in the rice hull activated biochar treated with 6 M KOH at 600℃ was increased at 62.18% compared to that of the control. Adsorption of NH₄-N in the rice hull activated biochar was well suited for the Langmuir model because it was observed that dimensionless constant (R_L) was 0.97 and 0.66 at 600℃ and 800℃ of pyrolysis temperatures, respectively. The maximum adsorption amount (q_m) and the bond strength constants (b) were 0.092 mg g^-1 and 0.001 mg L^-1, respectively, for the rice hull activated biochar treated with 6 M KOH at 600℃ of pyrolysis. CONCLUSION: Optimum condition of rice hull activated biochar was 6M KOH at 600℃ of pyrolysis temperature.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.205-214
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• 2020

In this study, we performed to evaluate the water balance during the cultivation of Chinese cabbage and maize according to the soil type and water management method using weighable lysimeters, and to estimate the crop water stress coefficient and minimal water requirement by considering crop productivity and water deficiency. In 2018, Chinese cabbage cultivation period was not irrigated due to frequent rainfall two weeks after planting, so there was no difference in irrigation amount between the non-irrigated and the irrigated and little difference in crop yield. Excluding the Chinese cabbage cultivation in 2018, in the cultivation of Chinese cabbage and maize, the crop yield of irrigated plots was higher than that of non-irrigated plots. The evapotranspiration of irrigated plots was also generally higher than non-irrigated plots. Crop yield and evapotranspiration are closely related, and transpiration is active as biomass increases. The crop water stress coefficients in the middle and the late stage were 0.8 and 0.8 for Chinese cabbage and 0.8 and 0.5 for maize, respectively. The minimal water requirements for Chinese cabbage and maize were 82.0% and 68.8%, respectively, compared to the optimal water requirements (239.4 mm for Chinese cabbage and 466.9 mm for maize). These results can be used as basic data for water management for crop cultivation by securing the minimum amount of irrigation in case of water deficiency.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.247-259
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• 2007

In this study, we examined the flux of carbon and water using an eco-hydrological model, Regional Hydro-Ecologic Simulation System (RHESSys). Our purposes were to develop a set of parameters optimized for a well-designed experimental watershed (Gwangneung Research Watershed, GN) and then, to test suitability of the parameters for predicting carbon and water fluxes of other watershed with different regimes of climate, topography, and vegetation structure (i.e Gangseonry Watershed in Mt. Jumbong, GS). Field datasets of stream flow, soil water content (SWC), and wood biomass product (WBP) were utilized for model parameterization and validation. After laborious parameterization processes, RHESSys was validated with the field observations from the GN watershed. The parameter set identified at the GN watershed was then applied to the GS watershed in Mt. Jumbong, which resulted in good agreement for SWC but poor predictability for WBP. Our study showed that RHESSys simulated reliable SWC at the GS by adjusting site-specific porosity only. In contrast, vegetation productivity would require more rigorous site-specific parameterization and hence, further study is necessary to identify primary field ecophysiological variables for enhancing model parameterization and application to multiple watersheds.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.492-502
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• 2010

The study objects were to analyze long-term and seasonal variations of nutrients (N, P), suspended solids, N:P ratios, algal chlorophyll, and trophic state along with general water quality parameters in four sampling sites including two intake tower sites supplying drinking water in Daechung Reservoir. For the analysis, we used water quality long-term data sampled during 1998~2007 by the Ministry of Environment, Korea. Interannual and seasonal trends in inflow and discharge near the intake tower facilities over the ten years were directly influenced by rainfall pattern. The distinct difference between wet year (2003) and dry year (2001) produced marked differences in water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, organic matter contents, nutrients, and these variables influenced algal biomass and trophic state. Values of TP varied depending on the year and locations sampled, but monthly mean TP always peaked during July~August when river inflow and precipitation were maxima. In contrast, TN varied little compared to TP, indicating lower influence by seasonal flow compared to phosphorus. The number of E. coli were highest in Site 2 (Chudong intake tower) and varied largely, whereas at other sites, the numbers were low and low variations. Contents of chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ (CHL), as an estimation of primary productivity, varied largely depending on the year and season. The maximum of CHL occurred at Muneu intake tower (S4) during 2006 when the precipitation and inflow were lowest. In contrast, another CHL peak was observed in Site 2 (Chudong intake tower) in 2006 when one of the largest typoons (Ewinia) occurred and river runoff were maximum. So the CHL maxima were associated with both wet year (high flow, high nutrient supply) and dry year (low flow, nutrient supply by littoral zone). Such conditions influenced trophic states, based on Trophic State Index of nutrients and CHL. Based on all analyses, we can provide some clues for management and protection strategies of two intake tower sites.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.106-112
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• 2014

Very few plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are known to produce gibberellins (GAs). The current study aimed to isolate a phytohormone-producing PGP rhizobacterium from soil and assess its potential to enhance plant growth. The newly isolated bacterium was identified as Leifsonia soli sp. SE134 on the basis of partial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. Application of L. soli culture filtrate significantly increased the biomass, hypocotyl, and root lengths of cucumber seeds as compared with non-inoculated sole medium and distilled water treated controls. Furthermore, the PGPR culture was applied to the GA-deficient mutant rice cultivar Waito-C. Treatment with L. soli SE134 significantly increased the growth of Waito-C rice seedlings as compared with controls. Upon chromatographic analysis of L. soli culture, we isolated, detected and quantified different GAs; namely, $GA_1$ ($0.61{\pm}0.15$), $GA_4$ ($1.58{\pm}0.26$), $GA_7$ ($0.54{\pm}0.18$), $GA_8$ ($0.98{\pm}0.15$), $GA_9$ ($0.45{\pm}0.17$), $GA_{12}$ ($0.64{\pm}0.21$), $GA_{19}$ ($0.18{\pm}0.09$), $GA_{20}$ ($0.78{\pm}0.15$), $GA_{24}$ ($0.38{\pm}0.09$), $GA_{34}$ ($0.35{\pm}0.10$), and $GA_{53}$ ($0.17{\pm}0.05$). Plant growth promotion in cucumber, tomato, and young radish plants further evidenced the potential of this strain as a PGP bacterium. The results suggest that GA secretion by L. soli SE134 might prove advantageous for its ameliorative role in crop growth. These findings can be extended for improving the productivity of different crops under diverse environmental conditions.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.216-233
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• 2003

This study delineates the phenomena related with global environmental changes such as global warming, ozone depletion, and El Ni${\tilde{n}}$o/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) noted in the Antarctic. Retreat of ice cliffs, glaciers, and calving of ice shelves indicate the effects of recently aggravated global warming. The ice cliff located at Marian Cove, King George Island, South Shetland Islands off the Antarctic Peninsula has been observed to be retreating faster in the last 7 years than in the previous 38 years since 1956. There are some indications of temperature and precipitation changes associated with ENSO around King Sejong Station. The regression analyses indicate significant trends such as a decrease in the total amount of ozone and an increase in ultraviolet radiation which was seen by a satellite (TOMS-EUV) in September and October which correspond to ozone-hole season over King Sejong Station. Increase of UV radiation due to the ozone depletion in the Antarctic has changed the growth rate of marine organisms. It may also result in changes to the productivity, biomass, and species composition of marine organisms which can affect the whole marine ecosystem. The recent ice-core drilling over Lake Vostok has been reviewed with emphasis on the four cycles of glacial stages over the past 420,000 years. It is time to show more interest in mainland Antarctica through investigations of the coring and vast ice sheet, terrestrial geology, and upper atmospheric sciences in order to understand the past environmental changes and to predict possible changes to the environment in the future.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.195-200
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• 2009

The effect of nitrogen source on cell growth and benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids production by modifying $NO_3\;^-:NH_4\;^+$ ratio in cell suspension culture of Eschscholtzia califarnica was investigated. When total nitrogen concentration is maintained (60 mM), maximum benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids production is about 60.72 mg/L at 50:10 (mol/mol). This productivity was 3.8 times higher than that obtained when cells were grown instandard MS medium. The decrease of $NO_3\;^-:NH_4\;^+$ ratio at 60 mM of total nitrogen caused the decline of both growth and benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids production. Under the same concentration of $N0_3\;^-$ (50 mM), higher concentration of $NH_4\;^+$ inhibited cell growth strongly but induced alkaloids production slightly. Also, under the same concentration of $NH_4\;^+$ (25 mM), higher concentration of $N0_3\;^-$ induced alkaloids production strongly but high concentration of $N0_3\;^-$ (${\geq}$100 mM) interfered alkaloids instead. Maximum benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids production is about 62.71 mg/L at 50:25 (mol/mol). These results suggest that higher biomass and higher alkaloids production could be obtained by optimizing each nitrogen concentration as well as $NO_3\;^-:NH_4\;^+$ ratio in the culture medium. Nitrate and ammonium in culture medium have distinct role in the regulation of growth and alkaloids production; ammonium had a strong influence on growth while nitrate had an influence on alkaloids production.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.499-503
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• 2008

The bioethanol for use as a liquid fuel by fermentation of renewable biomass as an alternative to petroleum is important from the viewpoint of global environmental protection. Recently, many scientists have attempted to increase the productivity of bioethanol process by developing specific microorganism as well as optimizing the process conditions. In the present study, which is based on our previous investigation on the pretreatment process, theproductivity of bioethanol obtained from simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process was compared between various domestic materials including barley, brown rice, corn and sweet potato. Additionally, Solid glucoamylase (SGA; developed in Changhae Co.), from modified strain with UV, was used. The result was compared to commercial glucoamylase (GA). It was observed that the fermentation rate was increased together with the yield which can be derived from the final ethanol concentration. Especially, in the case of brown rice, compared to the experimental results using GA, the final ethanol concentration was 1.25 times higher and 18.4 g/L of the yield was increased. Also, the time required for reaching 95% of the maximum ethanol concentration is significantly reduced, which is approximately 36 hours, compared to 88 hours using GA. It means that SGA has excellent saccharogenic power.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2014

Due to the rapid energy consumption and fossil fuel abundance reduction, the world is progressively in need of alternative and renewable energy sources such as biodiesel. Biodiesel from microalgae offers high hopes to the scientific world for its potential as well as its non-competition with arable lands. Taking consideration to reduce the cost of production as well as to attain twin environmental goals of treatment and use of animal waste material the microalgal cultivation using piggery manure has been tested in this study. Unialgal strains such as Chlorella sp. JK2, Scenedesmus sp. JK10, and an indigenous mixed microalgal culture CSS were cultured for 20 days in diluted piggery manure using Small Scale Raceway Pond (SSRP). Biomass production and lipid productivity of CSS were $1.19{\pm}0.09gL^{-1}$, $12.44{\pm}0.38mgL^{-1}day^{-1}$, respectively and almost twice that of unialgal strains. Also, total nitrogen and total phosphorus removal efficiencies of CSS was 93.6% and 98.5% respectively and 30% higher removal efficiency compared to the use of unialgal strains. These results indicate that the piggery manure can provide microalgae necessary nitrogen and phosphorus for growth thereby effectively treating the manure. In addition, overall cost of microalgal cultivation and subsequently biodiesel production would be significantly reduced.