• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.100-107
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• 2021

Along with an increase in the frequency of high-concentration fine particulate matter in Korea, interest and research on ammonia (NH₃) are actively increasing. It is obvious that agriculture has contributed significantly to NH₃ emissions. However, studies on the long-term effect of fertilizer use on the ambient NH₃ concentration of agricultural land are insufficient. Therefore, in this study, NH₃ concentration in the atmosphere of agricultural land was monitored for 11 months using a passive sampler. The average ambient NH₃ concentration during the total study period was 2.02 ㎍ m^-3 and it was found that the effect of fertilizer application on the ambient NH₃ concentration was greatest in the month immediately following fertilizer application (highest ambient NH₃ concentration as 11.36㎍ m^-3). After that, it was expected that the NH₃ volatilization was promoted by increases in summer temperature and the concentration in the atmosphere was expected to increase. However, high NH₃ concentrations in the atmosphere were not observed due to strong rainfall that lasted for a long period. After that, the ambient NH₃ concentration gradually decreased through autumn and winter. In summary, when studying the contribution of fertilizer to the rate of domestic NH₃ emissions, it is necessary to look intensively for at least one month immediately after fertilizer application, and weather information such as precipitation and no-rain days should be considered in the field study.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2022

The proper estimation of physical and chemical properties of Earth materials and their structures at high pressure and high temperature conditions is key to the full understanding of diverse geological processes in Earth and planetary interiors. Multi-anvil press - high-pressure generating device - provides unique information of Earth materials under compression, mainly relevant to Earth's upper mantle. The quantitative estimation of the relationship between the oil load within press and the actual pressure conditions within the sample needs to be established to infer the planetary processes. Such pressure-load calibration has often been based on the phase transitions of crystalline earth materials with known pressure conditions; however, unlike at high temperature conditions, phase transitions at low (or room) temperatures can be sluggish, making the calibration at such conditions challenging. In this study, we explored the changes in Al coordination environments of permanently densified pyrope glasses upon the cold compression using the high-resolution ²⁷Al MAS and 3QMAS NMR. The fractions of highly coordinated Al in the cold compressed pyrope glasses increase with increasing oil load and thus, the peak pressure condition. Based on known relationship between the peak pressure and the Al coordination environment in the compressed pyrope glasses at room temperature, we established a room temperature pressure-load calibration of the 14/8 HT assembly in 1,100-ton multi-anvil press. The current results highlight the first pressure-load calibration of any high pressure device using high-resolution NMR. Irreversible structural densification upon cold compression observed for the pyrope glasses provides insights into the deformation and densification mechanisms of amorphous earth materials at low temperature and high pressure conditions within the subducting slabs.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.111-123
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• 2022

Carbonate green rust (CGR) and sulfate green rust (SGR) commonly occur in nature. In this study, CGR and SGR were synthesized through co-precipitation, and their formation mechanisms and physicochemical properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement showed both CGR and SGR with layered double hydroxide structure were successfully synthesized without any secondary phases under each synthetic condition. Refined structural parameters (unit cell) for two green rusts were a (=b) = 3.17 Å and c = 22.52 Å for CGR and a (=b) = 5.50 Å and c = 10.97 Å for SGR with the crystallite size 57.8 nm in diameter from (003) reflection and 40.1 nm from (001) reflections, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) results showed that both CGR and SGR had typical hexagonal plate-like crystal morphologies but their chemical composition is different in the content of C and S. In addition, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy analysis revealed that carbonate (CO₃^2-) and sulfate (SO₄^2-) molecules were occupied as interlayer anions of CGR and SGR, respectively. These SEM/EDS and FT-IR results were in good agreement with XRD results. Changes in the solution chemistry (i.e., pH, Eh and residual iron concentrations (Fe(II):Fe(III)) of the mixed solution) were observed as a function of the injection time of hydroxyl ion (OH^-) into the iron solution. Three different stages were observed in the formation of both CGR and SGR; precursor, intermediator, and green rust in the formation of both CGR and SGR. This study provides co-precipitation methods for CGR and SGR in a way of the stable synthesis. In addition, our findings for the formation mechanisms of the two green rusts and their physicochemical properties will provide crucial information with researches and industrials in utilizing green rust.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.709-716
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• 2021

In this study, an adsorbent prepared by natural drying of iron hydroxide-based sludge collected from settling basin at a mine drainage treatment facility located in Gangneung, Gangwon-do was used to remove fluoride in an artificial fluoride solution and mine drainage, and the adsorption characteristics of the adsorbent were investigated. As a result of analyzing the chemical composition, mineralogical properties, and specific surface area of the adsorbent used in the experiment, iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) occupies 79.2 wt.% as the main constituent, and a peak related to calcite (CaCO₃) in the crystal structure analysis was analyzed. It was also identified that an irregular surface and a specific surface area of 216.78 m²·g^-1. In the indoor batch-type experiment, the effect of changes in reaction time, pH, initial fluoride concentration and temperature on the change in adsorption amount was analyzed. The adsorption of fluoride showed an adsorption amount of 3.85 mg·g^-1 16 hours after the start of the reaction, and the increase rate of the adsorption amount gradually decreased. Also, as the pH increased, the amount of fluoride adsorption decreased, and in particular, the amount of fluoride adsorption decreased rapidly around pH 5.5, the point of zero charge at which the surface charge of the adsorbent changes. Meanwhile, the results of the isotherm adsorption experiment were applied to the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm adsorption models to infer the fluoride adsorption mechanism of the used adsorbent. To understand the thermodynamic properties of the adsorbent using the Van't Hoff equation, thermodynamic constants 𝚫H° and 𝚫G° were calculated using the adsorption amount information obtained by increasing the temperature from 25℃ to 65℃ to determine the adsorption characteristics of the adsorbent. Finally, the adsorbent was applied to the mine drainage having a fluoride concentration of about 12.8 mg·L^-1, and the fluoride removal rate was about 50%.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.98-102
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• 1995

Popped popcorn generally have a regular popping direction and typical shape. But the reason and mechanism are not clear yet. This experiment was carried out to investigate the shape moulding factor of popped popcorn. Pericarp thickness of tip-cap section of kernels is slightly thicker than that of top section and this fact provides the important information to the reason. Popping starts when the moisture pressure of heated popcorn is increased and reaches at the critical pressure. Therefore, in the same moisture pressure conditions, top sections are bursted first because their pericarp section is thinner than that of tip-cap section. At the very moment tip-cap sections pull down the top sections of peri carp as bi-metal does. So kernels which removed tip-cap section showed the irregular popping shape because they lost the tip-cap pericarp function. How-ever, kernels which removed embryo showed the typical popping shape but their popping volume was small due to emition and shortage of critical moisture pressure. But kernels which removed the whole pericarp and top pericarp were not popped at all because moisture was entirely emitting out of kernels. These results suggest that the shape moulding factor of popped popcorn is the pericarp thickness differences between the top and tip-cap section of kernels.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 1988

This study was carried out with two cultivars under two levels of pH and four levels of nitrogen fertilization in a field and nutri-culture experiments to obtain the information about the effects of pH and nitrogen fertilization on the growth and yield of soybean. Acidic condition suppressed the growth of soybean plants, and thus yield and yield components of soybean decreased under acidic condition. But they increased with increased nitrogen fertilization. Especially, these respones were more remarkable under acidic condition and in the variety Jangbaegkong. Grain yield of soybean were highly correlated with the content of allantoin and total nitrogen of soybean plants in the variety Jangbaegkong, but this was not in the variety Danyeobkong. The content of protein and fat of soybean seeds decreased under acidic condition, and more nitrogen fertilization increased the protein content, but decreased the fat content.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.68 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2023

Fiber content in the storage roots of sweetpotato varies between different varieties. For examples, the high fiber content of certain types has a poor texture when steamed or roasted. This study was conducted to evaluate the optimal sieve mesh size for separating fibers, the chemical composition of fibers and differences in fiber content among different varieties. We found that the separated fiber content (dry weight) of mashed and steamed sweetpotato was higher after washing three times (143.3 mg/100 g) compared with that washed five times (128.4 mg/100 g). The Hogammi variety remained 85.9% of total fiber content at 10 mesh (2,000 ㎛) and 9.6% of total fiber content at 30 mesh (600 ㎛), and Jinyulmi remained 74.9 and 16.7% of total fiber content , respectively. Therefore, a 30 mesh sieve was considered the most suitable for fiber separation. Among the 10 studied cultivars, Jinhongmi showed the lowest amount of fiber (24.8 mg/100 g) and Hogammi had the highest amount (111.4 mg/100 g), which was 4.5 times larger than that of Jinhongmi. Cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content of separated fibers showed no difference between the viscous-type Hogammi and powdery-type Jinyulmi varieties, with averages of 32.5, 22.3 and 29.6%, respectively. Correlation results using the Image J program showed a significant correlation between the distribution of the stained area and the fiber content (R = 0.74, p < 0.05). Staining distribution differed among varieties, suggesting that a simple fiber content test could be performed using the staining method on raw sweetpotato. These results provide useful information to help inform farmers on the fiber content of different sweetpotato varieties.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.35-48
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• 2022

Fish assemblage of total 325 of Korean peninsula estuaries were surveyed to analyze the characteristics of community structure and diversity by sea areas for three years from 2016 to 2018. The scale (stream width) of Korean estuaries were various (14~3,356 m), and 68.9% of all estuaries showed salinity of less than 2 psu. Total 149 species classified into 52 families of fish were identified, and the dominant and sub-dominant species were Tribolodon hakonensis (relative abundance, RA, 12.5%) and Mugil cephalus (RA, 9.5%), respectively. The estuary of the Korean Peninsula had different physical and chemical habitat environments depending on the sea area, and accordingly, fish community structure also showed statistically significant differences (PERMANOVA, Pseudo-F=26.69, P=0.001). In addition, the NMDS (nonmetric multidimensional scaling) results showed the patterns that indicating fish community difference by sea areas, even though low community similarity within sea area (SIMPER, 21.79~26.39%). The estuaries of east sea areas were distinguished from the others in the aspects of which, the higher importance of migratory fishes and endangered species, and that of brackish species were characterized at south sea estuaries. However, the estuaries of west sea showed higher importance of species that have a relation with freshwater (primary freshwater species, exotic species), which is the result that associating with the lower salinity of west sea estuaries because of the high ratio of closed estuaries(78.2%). The SIMPER analysis, scoring the contribution rates of species to community similarity, also showed results corresponding to the tendency of different fish community structures according to each sea area. So far, In Korea, most studies on fish communities in estuaries have been conducted in a single estuary unit, which made it difficult to understand the characteristics of estuaries at the national level, which are prerequisite for policy establishment. In present study, we are providing fish community structure characteristics of Korean estuaries in a national scale, including diversity index, habitat salinity ranges of major species, distribution of migratory species. We are expecting that our results could be utilized as baseline information for establishing management policies or further study of Korean estuaries.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.430-441
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• 2023

Velvet antler is widely used as a traditional medicine, and numerous studies have demonstrated its tremendous nutritional and medicinal values including immunity-enhancing effects. This study aimed to investigate different deer velvet extracts (Sample 1: raw extract, Sample 2: dried extract, and Sample 3: freeze-dried extract) for proximate composition, uronic acid, sulfated glycosaminoglycan, sialic acid, collagen levels, and chemical components using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-light mass spectrometry. In addition, we evaluated the cytotoxic effect of the deer velvet extracts on BV2 microglia, HT22 hippocampal cells, HaCaT keratinocytes, and RAW264.7 macrophages using the cell viability MTT assay. Furthermore, we evaluated acute toxicity of the deer velvet extracts at different doses (0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg) administered orally to both male and female ICR mice for 14 d (five mice per group). After treatment, we evaluated general toxicity, survival rate, body weight changes, mortality, clinical signs, and necropsy findings in the experimental mice based on OECD guidelines. The results suggested that in vitro treatment with the evaluated extracts had no cytotoxic effect in HaCaT keratinocytes cells, whereas Sample-2 had a cytotoxic effect at 500 and 1000 ㎍/mL on HT22 hippocampal cells and RAW264.7 macrophages. Sample 3 was also cytotoxic at concentrations of 500 and 1000 ㎍/mL to RAW264.7 and BV2 microglial cells. However, the mice treated in vivo with the velvet extracts at doses of 500-2000 mg/kg BW showed no clinical signs, mortality, or necropsy findings, indicating that the LD50 is higher than this dosage. These findings indicate that there were no toxicological abnormalities connected with the deer velvet extract treatment in mice. However, further human and animal studies are needed before sufficient safety information is available to justify its use in humans.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.175-181
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• 2024

The U.N. Security Council's North Korea Sanctions Committee estimated that the amount of North Korea's cyberattacks on virtual asset-related companies from 2017 to 2023 was about 4 trillion won. North Korea's cyberattacks have secured funds through cryptocurrency hacking as it has been restricted from securing foreign currency due to economic sanctions by the international community, and it also shows the form of technology theft against defense companies, and illegal assets are being used to maintain the Kim Jong-un regime and develop nuclear and missile development. When North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test on September 3, 2017, and declared the completion of its national nuclear armament following the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on November 29 of the same year, the U.N. imposed sanctions on North Korea, which are considered the strongest economic sanctions in history. In these difficult economic situations, North Korea tried to overcome the crisis through cyberattacks, but as a result of analyzing the changes through the North's cyber attack cases, the strategic goal from the first period from 2009 to 2016 was to verify and show off North Korea's cyber capabilities through the neutralization of the national network and the takeover of information, and was seen as an intention to create social chaos in South Korea. When foreign currency earnings were limited due to sanctions against North Korea in 2016, the second stage seized virtual currency and secured funds to maintain the Kim Jong-un regime and advance nuclear and missile development. The third stage is a technology hacking of domestic and foreign defense companies, focusing on taking over key technologies to achieve the five strategic weapons tasks proposed by Chairman Kim Jong-un at the 8th Party Congress in 2021. At the national level, security measures for private companies as well as state agencies should be established against North Korea's cyberattacks, and measures for legal systems, technical problems, and budgets related to science are urgently needed. It is also necessary to establish a system and manpower to respond to the ever-developing cyberattacks by focusing on cultivating and securing professional manpower such as white hackers.