• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2000

Dimension stability was examined after PEG pretreatment and post freeze-drying treatment in order to determine the PEG(#3350) concentration and solvent for pre-treatment of freeze-drying of highly-degraded waterlogged ash woods(Fraxinus spp.; ca. 5,700 BP) excavated from peat lands at Pyungtack, Kyounggi-do. At the low concentration (<30-40%) of PEG soaking in both water and t-butanol, the weight increases abruptly, but at high concentration (>50%) gradually, consequently, taking longer treatment time. PEG loading was higher in t-butanol solution than in water. However, the best dimesional stability was obtained from freeze-drying after lower PEG solution (40% in water) soaking. Low dimensional stability, found in the samples treated with higher PEG solutions (60%-70% in t-butanol), might come from incomplete freezing and excess PEG absorbing moisture. The samples air-dried after 70% PEG treatment had collapse defects. In conclusion, the use of low concentration (about 40% in water) PEG solution was the most suitable pretreatment for freeze drying of highly-degraded waterlogged ash woods.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 2018

Quercus floribunda (Tilonj oak) is among the five species of Quercus and an evergreen tree found in Kumaun Himalayan region. Timing of germination is a crucial event determining the success of seedling establishment and survival. The aims of the study were to investigate the effect of sowing date on the germination and morphological responses of Tilonj oak (Quercus floribunda), cultivated during the month of August-September, with supplementary irrigation. The experiment was conducted by sowing seeds at two dates with one month interval in glass house conditions at DSB Campus, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. Present study revealed that higher germination percentage (46.67 %) was recorded at sowing time $S_2$ as compared to the sowing time $S_1$ (32.86 %). Germination percentage as well as seedling growth were affected by sowing date though the differences were insignificant. At both the sowing dates, highest germination percentage was recorded for large seeds (32.86-46.67 %) followed by medium (31.43-33.33 %) and lowest germination (6.67-7.14 %) was recorded for small size seeds. In all parameters assessed, sowing time $S_2$ had the best performance in combination with large seed size. Thus, September is suitable month for best germination, growth and seedling vigour and large seed size is recommended to silviculturists and tree planters. The information on seed germination and seedling growth is vital both for conservation and rehabilitation of degraded lands.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.817-819
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• 2003

Land degradation is a crucial issue in mountainous areas and is manifested in a variety of processes. For its assessment, application of existing models is not straightforward. In addition, data availability might be a problem. In this paper, a procedure for land degradation assessment is described, which follows a four-step approach: (1) detection, inventory and mapping of land degradation features, (2) assessing the magnitude of soil loss, (3) study of causal factors, and (4) hazard assessment by applying decision trees. This approach is applied to a case study in the Middle Mountain region of Nepal. The study shows that individual mass movement features such as debris slides and slumps can be easily mapped by photo interpretation techniques. Application of soil loss estimation models helps get insight on the magnitude of soil losses. In the study area soil losses are higher in rainfed crops on sloping terraces (highest soil loss is 32 tons/ha/yr) and minimal under dense forest and in irrigated rice fields (less than 1 ton/ha/yr). However there is high frequency of slope failures in the form of slumps in the rice fields. Debris slides are more common on south-facing slopes under rainfed agriculture or in degraded forest. Field evidences and analysis of causal factors for land degradation helps in building decision trees, the use of which for modelling land degradation has the advantage that attributes can be ranked and tested according to their importance. In addition, decision trees are simple to construct, easy to implement and very flexible in adaptations.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.71-80
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• 2003

The lignin degrading fungi were isolated from decayed woods and fruiting bodies gathered in forest area. Lignin degradation ability was investigated by Klason lignin of microbial treated pine wood. Among selected fungi, CJ-6 had 49.48% Klason lignin loss which was greater than 40.58% shown by Trametes versicolor that it is known as a typical lignin degrading fungus. Also, the biodegradation process and morphological features of degraded pine wood by selected fungi were observed with the scanning electron microscope. At the stage of 20 days incubation, mycelia invasion was observed without any failure of wood structure. At 60 days, wood decay was gone in some degree and one part of tracheid and ray wall was destroyed. At 100 days, tracheid wall was severely destroyed, and distinction between ray cell was difficult as cell wall was decayed much.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.171-178
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• 2009

A comparative analysis of the hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) and UV abosrber (UVA) and their respective photostabilizing effect on wood plastic composites (WPCs) are reported in this study. The influence of accelerated weathering on the mechanical properties of the composites and the microscopic morphology of a degraded layer on the cross section and the surface were studied. UV absorbers were more efficient at preventing composite lightening than was UV stabilizer. The amount of whitening decreased with the increase of photostabilizers. With the addition of a UV absorber (Tinuvin360), the tensile modulus and strength of the composites increased slightly. However, the addition of a light stabilizer (Tinuvin770) and a UV absorber decreased the tensile modulus and strength of the composites. After 250 and 500 hr exposure, tensile modulus and strength of the un stabilized and stabilized composites decreased. The tensile strength of UV absorber (Chimassorb81)-stabilized composites was significantly greater than that of control and light stabilizer (Tinuvin770)- and UV absorber (Tinuvin360)-stabilized composites. UV absorber-stabilized samples showed less whitening and photodegradation than control and light stabilizer-stabilized samples.

• Proceedings of the Korea Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry Conference
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• 2006.06b
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• pp.257-263
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• 2006

This paper examines the physico-chemical properties and structural features of thio lignin and alcohol lignin preparations extracted from fast-growing poplar wood. The lignin preparations were characterized using UV, IR and alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation methods. The yield was higher in thiolignin due to its preparation from wood under drastic alkaline conditions and almost the total amount of alkaline degraded lignin was precipitated except acid soluble lignin. In case of ethanol lignin, structural modifications were comparatively less and form a cream colored lignin more or less similar to its original natural color. The methoxyl values were higher due to syringyl unit present in hard wood lignin in addition to guaicyl unit present in soft wood. The higher values of methoxyl content of isolated lignin revealed that it was built up of high syringyl units. The elementary analysis, methoxyl group and hydroxyl groups were presented by $C_{9}$ formula indicated that it was made up of phenyl propane monomers. Nitrobenzene oxidation of thio lignin and ethanol lignin yield more or less the chromatograms of similar pattern, except difference in relative percentage. The ultra violet spectra of lignins were quite similar, irrespective of the source and method of isolation. Infrared spectroscopy studies of poplar deltoides, thio and ethanol lignin shown different absorption bands which have been utilized for structural investigations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.106-115
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• 2009

Knowledge about how to stabilize soil structure is essential to conserve soil systems and maintain various biogeochemical processes through soil. In urban area, soil structural systems are degraded with inappropriate management and land use and become vulnerable to erosion. We analyzed the structural changes of surface soils with different land uses, i.e., forests, parks, roadside green area, riparian area, and farmlands (soybean fields), in the Anyang Stream Watershed in order to find the factors influencing the stability of soil structure and the implication for better management of surface soil. Soil organic matter contents of other land use soils were only 18~52% of that in forest soils. Soil organic matter increased the stability of soil aggregates in the order of soybean fields < roadsides < riparian < parks < forests and also reduced soil bulk density (increased porosity). The lowest stability of soybean field soils was attributed to the often disturbance like tillage and it was considered that higher stability of park soils comparing to other land use soils except forests was owing to the covering of soil surface with grass. These results suggest that supply of soil organic matter and protection of soil surface with covering materials are very important to increase porosity and stability of soil structure.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1424-1433
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• 2019

DDT is a hydrophobic organic pollutant, which can be bio-accumulated in nature and have adverse consequences on the physical condition of humans and animals. This study investigated the relationship between the white-rot fungus Pleurotus eryngii and biosurfactant-producing bacterium Ralstonia pickettii associated with the degradation of DDT. The effects of R. pickettii on fungal development were examined using in vitro confrontation assay on a potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. R. pickettii culture was added to the P. eryngii culture at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 ml ($1ml{\approx}1.44{\times}10^{13}CFU$). After 7 d incubation, about 43% of the initial DDT ($12.5{\mu}M$) was degraded by the P. eryngii culture only. The augmentation of 7 ml of R. pickettii culture revealed a more highly optimized synergism with DDT degradation being approximately 78% and the ratio of optimization 1.06. According to the confrontational assay, R. pickettii promoted the growth of P. eryngii towards the bacterial colony, with no direct contact between the bacterial cells and mycelium (0.71 cm/day). DDD (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) ethane), DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) ethylene), and DDMU (1-chloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) ethylene) were identified as metabolic products, indicating that the R. pickettii could enhance the DDT biodegradation by P. eryngii.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.109 no.2
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• pp.157-168
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• 2020

The sensitivity of forest soil to acidification in the Republic of Korea (ROK) was evaluated based on pH_H2O, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and base saturation (BS). Sensitivity to acidification was categorized into three grades: adequate level (AL, pH ≧ 4.2, CEC ≧ 15cmol/kg, BS ≧ 15%), caution level (CL, at least one indicator is below AL), and severe Level (SL, all three indicators are below AL). Soil samples were collected from the 65 stationary monitoring plots (40 × 40 ㎢), distributed throughout ROK. Only 19% of soil samples were classified as AL, while 66% and 15% were CL and SL, respectively. The median of pH_H2O, CEC, BS, and Ca/Al indicator in AL soils was pH 4.64, 20.7cmol/kg, 29%, and 6.3, respectively. Moreover, BC_ex (K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺) and available phosphorus (AP) concentration compared with a threshold value and molar ratio of BC_ex and AP to total nitrogen (TN) was high. This indicates that AL soils have a good nutrient condition. The molar Ca/Al ratio, an indicator for toxicity of exchangeable aluminum (Al_ex), was more than 1, indicating no negative impact of Al_ex on plant growth. On the contrary, the median of pH_H2O, CEC, and BS in SL soils was pH 4.02, 13.2cmol/kg, and 10%, respectively. The Ca/Al index was less than 0.6, which indicates that negative impacts of Al_ex on plants were high. Furthermore, both the concentration of BC_ex in SL soils and the BC_ex/TN ratio were the lowest among the three acidity degrees. This shows that SLsoils can be degraded by soil acidification compared with less acidic soils.

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2005

In this study, the possibility of sugar conversion of poplar wood(Populus $alba{\times}rglandulosa$) and their degradation features of major wood components were characterized using flow type supercritical water treatment system. The finely ground poplar wood meals were treated for 2min. under subcritical condition$(23MPa,\;275^{\circ}C\;and\;325^{\circ}C)$ and supercritical condition $(23MPa,\;375^{\circ}C\;and\;415^{\circ}C)$. respectively. The degradation products of poplar wood meals appeared brownish colors, including undegraded solids. Increasing the temperature of the system, the degradation rate of poplar wood meals was accelerated and reached up to $94\%\;at\;375^{\circ}C$. The total amount of reducing sugars in degradation products determined by DNS method were gradually lowered when the temperature condition became severe. This indicated that the reducing sugars formed were further degraded to kan derivatives by certain side reaction such as pyrolysis under higher temperature. In order to characterize degradation features of lignin, the degradation products were extracted with ethylacetate and the organic phases were subjected to GC-MS analysis. Main lignin degradation products were identified to vanillin, guaiacol, syrinaldehyde, 4-prophenyl syringol and dihydrosinapyl alcohol, which could be formed by the cleavage of ether linkages in lignin polymers by high temperature condition.