• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.325-333
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• 2016

The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) introduced its new Mission Oriented Evaluation System (MOES) for government affiliated research institutes and Government Supported Research Institutes (GSRI) on science and technology in 2013. The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) is the first MOES applied Science and Technology (S&T) GSRI, that has research divisions focusing on geoscience and geological surveys, mineral resources extraction and utilization, petroleum extraction and marine mineral research, and geological applied and environment research. In appling the final evaluation of MOES on KIGAM, we found difficulty classifing the concepts of research excellence and risk (innovativeness) in guidelines of Research Evaluation Indicators (REIs) of MSIP. We have developed quantitative and qualitative indicators that can present research excellence and risk (innovativeness) through the KIGAM World Class Laboratory (WCL) strategy and related studies, innovative research and development guidelines of MSIP (2013a) and honorable R&D failure guidelines of MSIP (2013b). We have applied our developed REIs in KIGAM which handles basic research, applied and development research and public services. Therefore, our developed REIs can be effectively applied in every S&T GSRI.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.368-372
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• 2008

Composting is a good strategy for management of livestock manure. However, it leads to large ammonia emissions and has a potential phosphorus runoff due to high content of soluble phosphorus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of alum on reducing ammonia emissions and stabilizing phosphorus during composting of pig manure. For this study, alum was applied at rates of 0 (No-Alum), 1.0 (Alum-L), and 3.0 (Alum-H) g Al $kg^{-1}$ pig manure and sawdust mixture (fresh matter basis). The thermophilic stage was quickly achieved in Alum-L and No-alum treatment, but it was delayed to 5 days in Alum-H treatment. The thermophilic stage was maintained for 2 weeks in all treatment. The pH of compost treated with alum remained below 8.0 for the 35 d but it was above 8.0 in No-Alum treatment. For the first 15 days of composting process, 93, 87, and 58% of total ammonia emissions were occurred in No-Alum-L and Alum-H, respectively. The Alum-H and Alum-L treatments reduced $NH_3$ volatilization by 31 and 78% compared with No-Alum treatment. Alum treatments shifted manure P form $H_2O$ and $NaHCO_3$ extractable P into NaOH extractable P which is very stable under acid and alkaline condition. Therefore, alum is a good chemical amendment for reducing ammonia emission during composting and potential losses of P following compost applications.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.382-388
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• 2014

Shortfin eel (Anguilla bicolor pacifica) is a species of commercial importance and its production is greatly affected due to the infection by Heterosporis anguillarum. In this study, we evaluated the effect of H. anguillarum infection on the growth of Shortfin eel. A disease that trunk muscle of cultured shortfin eel, Anguilla bicolor pacifica, were irregular and resulted in death, breakout of the commercial eel culture farm. We observed that the trunk muscle of infected eels were irregular and represented white or yellowish externally. Histopathologically, a great numbers of large or small spores and sporophorocysts were also observed in degenerated muscle layer. The cloning of specific gene of H. anguillarum, encoding small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA) was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction(PCR) from the muscle lesion of diseased eel. The size of clone gene is well matched with the size of small subunit ribosomal RNA of H. anguillarum and thus confirming the infection by H. anguillarum.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2014

In order to establish fundamental data for stream restoration and environmental flow, we investigated optimal ecological flowrate (OEF) and riverine health condition in the Chogang Stream, a tributary to Geum River, Korea. The number of fish individuals sampled in this period were 4,669 in 36 species of 9 families. The most abundant species was Korean chub (Zacco koreanus, 34.0%) followed by pale chub (Z. platypus, 22.6%) and Korean shinner (Coreoleuciscus splendidus, 13.3%). Index of biological integrity (IBI) and qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI) values decreased from upstream to downstream along the stream. The estimated IBI value ranged from 27.9 to 38.6 with average 32.2 out of 50, rendering the site ecologically fair to good health conditions. OEF was estimated by the physical habitat simulation system (PHABSIM) using the habitat suitability indexes (HSI) of three fish species Z. koreanus, C. splendidus and Pseudopungtungia nigra selected as indicator species. In Z. koreanus, HSI for flow velocity and water depth were estimated at 0.1 to 0.4 m/s and 0.2 to 0.4 m, respectively. In P. nigra, HSI for flow velocity, water depth and substrate size were estimated at 0.2 to 0.5 m/s and 0.4 to 0.6 m and fine gravel to cobbles, respectively. OEF values increasing from up to downstream was found to increase, weighted usable area (WUA) values increased accordingly.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.385-403
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• 2017

This study showed the national ecosystem classification for the spatial standards of ecosystems-based approaches to the risk assessments and adaptation plan. The characteristics of climate change risk assessment, implement national adaptation plans, and ecosystem/habitat classification status was evaluated. Focusing on the land cover classification widely utilized as spatial data for the assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the UK and other countries in Europe, the applicability of the national land cover classification for climate change risk assessments was reviewed. Considering the ecosystem classification for climate change risk assessment and establishing adaptation measures, it is difficult to apply rough classification method to the land cover system because of lack of information on habitat trend by categorization. The results indicated that forest ecosystems and agro-ecosystem occupied 62.3% and 25.0% of land cover, respectively, of the entire country. Although the area is small compared with the land area, wetland ecosystem (2.9%), marine ecosystem (0.4%), coastal ecosystem (0.6%), and urban ecosystem (6.1%) can be included in the risk assessments. Therefore, it is necessary to subdivide below the medium classification for the forest and agricultural land, as well as Inland wetland, which has a higher proportion of habitat preference of taxa than land area, marine/coastal habitat, and transition areas such as urban and natural ecosystem.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.389-400
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• 2017

In December 2015, 195 nations agreed to cut green house gas emissions in the Paris Climate Convention, and all over the world showed their willingness to participate in greenhouse gas mitigation. Accordingly, various technologies related to greenhouse gas reduction are being considered, among which carbon dioxide capture, storage, utilization (CCUS) technologies are attracting attention as an unique technology capable of directly removing greenhouse gases. However, CCUS technologies are still costly and have low efficiency. It is still more important to analyze the level of CCUS technology before commercialization and to understand trends and to predict future direction of technology. Therefore, this study analyzes the patent trends of CCUS technology and derives implications for future directions. As a result of country analysis, the United States had the highest number of applications, and sectoral analysis shows that 64% of total patents are from capture sector. Companies such as Alstom technology, Toshiba Corp, and Mitsubishi Heavy are focusing on capturing carbon dioxide. In Korea, government research institutes have focused on storage and utilization technologies. In addition, since the late 2000s, patent applications have increased rapidly, and many countries have been interested in the development of the technology and have made efforts to reduce greenhouse gas.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.308-312
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: The nutrient balance in Korea during 1985-2006 had continually increased and maintained the highest levels among OECD countries. The use of green manure crops such as barley and hairy vetch is common practice for reducing chemical fertilizer application and maintaining soil fertility. However, green manure crops can also be used as a livestock feeding material which may reduce nutrient balance in the national scale. We calculated nitrogen and phosphate balance under green manure-rice cultivating system where all green manure was removed and used for feeding livestock. METHODS AND RESULTS: The barley and hairy vetch grown in pure stands or in mixtures with different sowing rates were tested for rice cultivation without chemical fertilization. The conventional fertilization (NPK) for rice cultivation was selected to compare nutrient balance with green manure-rice cultivation. Nitrogen and phosphate balance were calculated according to the surface balance method of the PARCOM guidelines. Total aboveground biomass of mixture (barley and hairy vetch) was higher compared to that of pure barley or hairy vetch. Among the mixture with barley and hairy vetch, the highest aboveground biomass was observed in B75H25 (barley 75%+hairy vetch 25%). The nitrogen and phosphate balance in the B75H25 mixture was-104 kg N/ha and-50.3 kg P/ha, respectively. CONCLUSION(S): The barley and hairy vetch mixture proved to be a very effective strategy for biomass production of green manure. The amount of nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer to be applied is estimated to be 104 kg N/ha and 50.3 kg P/ha in order to maintain soil fertility if all green manure and rice straw were removed from rice field for livestock feeding.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2014

This is to study the effects of various pretreatment methods of agricultural residue, corn stover, and to compare the feature and pros and cons of each method including dilute sulfuric acid (DSA), soaking in aqueous ammonia (SAA), and ammonia recycle percolation (ARP). In order to convert corn stover to ethanol, various pretreatments followed by simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF) were tested and evaluated in terms of ethanol yield. With 3%, w/w of glucan loading using ARP-, DSA-, and SAA-treated solids, SSCFs using recombinant E. coli strain (ATCC$^{(R)}$ 55124) with commercial enzymes (15 FPU of Spezyme CP/g-glucan and 30 CBU/g-glucan enzyme loading) were tested. In the SSCF tests, 87, 90, and 78% of theoretical maximum ethanol yield were observed using ARP-, DSA-, and SAA-treated solids, respectively, which were 69, 58, and 74% on the basis of total carbohydrates (glucan + xylan) in the untreated corn stover. Ethanol yield of SAA-treated solid was higher than those of ARP- and DSA-treated solids. In addition, SSCF test using treated solids plus pretreated hydrolysate indicated that the DSA-treated hydrolysate showed the strongest inhibition effect on the KO11 strain, whereas the ARP-treated hydrolysate was found to have the second strongest inhibition effect. Bioconversion scheme using SAA pretreatment and SSCF can make the downstream process simple, which is suggested to produce ethanol economically because utilization of hemicellulose in the hydrolysate is not necessary.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.92-97
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• 2014

Perchlorate ($ClO_4^-$) is an emerging contaminant of soil/groundwater and surface water. $ClO_4^-$ has been shown to inhibit iodide uptake into the thyroid gland and cause a reduction in thyroid hormone production. $ClO_4^-$ is highly soluble and very stable in water. Biodegradation by $ClO_4^-$-reducing bacteria (PRB) is considered the most important factor in natural attenuation of $ClO_4^-$. Rivers in an industrial complex have potential to be contaminated with $ClO_4^-$ discharged from point or non-point sources. In this study, water samples were taken from the rivers running through the Gumi industrial complexes and used for batch test to analyze $ClO_4^-$-degradation potential of river microorganisms. The results of 83-h batch culture showed that $ClO_4^-$-removal efficiency of all samples was 0.77% or less without addition of an external electron ($e^-$) donor. However $ClO_4^-$-removal efficiency was higher when an $e^-$ donor (acetate, thiosulfate, $S^0$, or $F^0$) was added into the batch culture, showing up to 100% removal efficiency. The removal efficiency was various depending on type of $e^-$ donor and site of sampling. When acetate was used as an $e^-$ donor, the highest $ClO_4^-$-removal efficiency was observed among the $e^-$ donors used in this study, suggesting that activity of heterotrophic PRB was dominant. The results of this study provide basic information on natural attenuation of $ClO_4^-$ by river microorganisms. The information can be useful to prepare a strategy to enhance efficiency of $ClO_4^-$ biodegradation for in situ bioremediation.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.25-52
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• 2012

In order to solve the current problems and inefficiencies within the Port Authorities(PA) in Korea, this study introduces the concept of the integration of PA and analyses the intention of integration. This study is based on analysing the surveys participated by the members of PA. The surveys consist of six main factors which could influence the intention of integration of PA; contribution, autonomy, strategic factor, financial factor, marketing factor and environmental factor. The two main implications from this study can be categorised as follows. First, this study identifies the structural problems such as regional self-centredness of PA, obscurity of organisations' roles and their rights, limitations on diversification of business and restrictions within PA. Second, this study extensively discusses the option of improving the inefficiency whilst maintaining the current system or to switch to the integration of PA. In addition, it has been found that individual PA recognise the little need for integration. Since the results show that the strategic, financial, marketing and environmental factors would cause both significant and little significant impacts, it would be too haste to decide on a conclusion. However, it is possible to say that the rapid integration of PA can neither improve the efficiency nor improve the characteristics of each region. Therefore, the significance of integration of PA must be further discussed from many different perspectives. The results of this research will serve as a basic literature for further studies on the integration of PA in Korea. Moreover, the problems that have been identified and analysed in this study will contribute to establishing the strategy for further development of PA in Korea.