• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.125-147
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• 2009

The Basic Environmental Policy Act (BEPA) (Law No. 4257 effective 1. August 1990) sets forth the basic policies and administrative framework for environmental preservation, leaving more detailed regulations, and emission controls to separate laws targeting air, water, and solid waste, etc. The BEPA Article 31 adopts an unprecedented strict liability standard for damages as an absolute liability. The BEPA Article 31 provides for liability as follows. If a company is alleged to have caused damage through pollution of the environment, it will be liable for damages unless it can show that the pollution did not cause damages, or that it did not actually cause pollution. If the company did cause pollution, and if the pollution is the cause for the damages in question, the company will be liable irrespective of whether it was negligent or otherwise at fault. If there are two or more companies involved in the pollution, but it is unclear which company caused the damages, all of the companies will be jointly and severally liable for the damages. In this paper, the author attempts to uncover the problems of BEPA Article 31 and then seeks desirable amendments by comparing it to the German Environmental Liability Act. First, it will be necessary to provide definitions of 'companies etc.'. Second, it will be necessary to enumerate the kinds of company facilities. Third, it will be necessary to provide exclusionary clauses on material damages. Fourth, it will be necessary to show 'presumption of cause and effect'. Fifth, it will be necessary to provide a clause on 'right to information'. Sixth, it will be necessary to provide a clause for force majeure. Seventh, it will be necessary to take measures to secure abundant liability for damages which can be caused by the owner of the facility, the potential polluter. Finally, it is appropriate that Korea now legislate an Environmental Liability Act akin to the German Environmental Liability Act.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.109 no.3
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• pp.259-270
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• 2020

Extreme weather events, such as heat and drought, have occurred frequently over the past two decades. This has led to continuous reports of cases of forest damage due to physiological stress, not pest damage. In 2014, pine trees were collectively damaged in the forest genetic resources reserve of Sogwang-ri, Uljin, South Korea. An investigation was launched to determine the causes of the dieback, so that a forest management plan could be prepared to deal with the current dieback, and to prevent future damage. This study aimedto 1) understand the topographic and structural characteristics of the area which experienced pine tree dieback, 2) identify the main causes of the dieback, and 3) predict future risk areas through the use of machine-learning techniques. A model for identifying risk areas was developed using 14 explanatory variables, including location, elevation, slope, and age class. When three machine-learning techniques-Decision Tree, Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machine (SVM) were applied to the model, RF and SVM showed higher predictability scores, with accuracies over 93%. Our analysis of the variable set showed that the topographical areas most vulnerable to pine dieback were those with high altitudes, high daily solar radiation, and limited water availability. We also found that, when it came to forest stand characteristics, pine trees with high vertical stand densities (5-15 m high) and higher age classes experienced a higher risk of dieback. The RF and SVM models predicted that 9.5% or 115 ha of the Geumgang Pine Forest are at high risk for pine dieback. Our study suggests the need for further investigation into the vulnerable areas of the Geumgang Pine Forest, and also for climate change adaptive forest management steps to protect those areas which remain undamaged.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.1197-1206
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• 2014

This study compared and analyzed the physiochemical and quality characteristics of young radish kimchi made with YR-FNC or YR-GC cultivated by organic farming as well as kimchi made with young radish cultivated by chemical composting/general farming (YR-Control). YR-Control showed higher contents of water and crude protein than YR-FNC and YR-GC kimchi but lower contents of crude ash, dietary fiber, and vitamin C. YR-FNC and YR-GC kimchi also showed higher contents of P and Cu than YR-Control but lower contents of N, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn. YR-Control fermentation progressed faster than that of YR-FNC or YR-GC after 24 days, and YR-Control more rapidly reached an appropriate pH. On the other hand, YR-FNC and YR-GC kimchi fermentation progressed slow and did not reach a pH level below 5.3. For period of fermentation, YR-Control and YR-FNC kimchi showed no significant difference in reducing sugar content, whereas that of YR-GC kimchi decreased significantly after 24 days of fermentation (P<0.002). YR-FNC and YR-GC kimchi showed 1.5~3 times higher total polyphenol and flavonoid contents than YR-Control at the beginning of fermentation, whereas YR-Control and YR-FNC kimchi showed a significant increase in total polyphenol and flavonoid contents during the fermentation period. By day 7 of fermentation, YR-FNC kimchi showed higher contents of lactic acid bacteria and total microbes than YR-Control. In the sensory evaluation, YR-FNC and YR-GC kimchi showed higher preference values than YR-Control. Therefore, kimchi made from young radish cultivated by organic farming has a longer freshness period than control kimchi and is characterized by excellent sensory quality, increased physiological contents, and improved beneficial health effects.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.210-214
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• 2008

Chemical pneumonitis is an occupational lung disease that's caused by the inhalation of chemical substances. Its severity depends on the characteristics of the substances, the exposure time and the susceptibility of the patients. Hydrogen sulfide is not only emitted naturally, but it also frequently found in industrial settings where it is either used as a reactant or it is a by-product of manufacturing or industrial processes. Inhalation of hydrogen sulfide causes various respiratory reactions from cough to acute respiratory failure, depending on the severity. Two pharmaceutical factory workers were admitted after being rescued from a waste water disposal site that contained hydrogen sulfide. In spite that they recovered their consciousness, they had excessive cough and mild dyspnea. The simple chest radiographs and high resolution computed tomography showed diffuse interstitial infiltrates, and hypoxemia was present. They were diagnosed as suffering from chemical pneumonitis caused by hydrogen sulfide. After conservative management that included oxygen therapy, their symptoms, hypoxemia and radiographic abnormalities were improved.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.232-237
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• 1994

Changes of volatile components in modified oleoresin red pepper during cooking at high temperature were investigated. Dried red pepper was milled to 100mesh of size particle and oily compounds were extracted by reduced pressure steam distrillation. The rest part was reextracted and concentrated. The extracts were combined. The same volume of water and 4% of polyglycerol condensed ricinoleate (PGDR) were added to the combined extract, and emulsified to make oleoresin red pepper 119 volatile compounds were separated from the dried red pepper and oleoresin and 35 components were identified in both samples. The major flavor compounds were identified to be 2-methoxy-phenol, 2, 6-bis(1, 1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl-phenol, 1, 4-dimethylbenzene, thylbenzene, 1, 2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 2-methoxyl-4-methylphenol, 4-ethyl-2-methoxy-phenol, and 5- methyl-2-furancarboxyaldehyde, and their transferal from raw red pepper to oleresin was low. 93 voltilie compounds were isolated after 3 hours cooking at 100 and 82 volitile compounds were separated after that at $150^{\circ}C$. Degeneration of volatile compounds was peculiarly proportional to the temperature of cooling. Capsaicin was relatively stable during cooking and remaining ratio after cooking at 100 and $150^{\circ}C$ was 84.7% and 73.3%. respectively. Oleoresin from red pepper had a little antioxidation effect at $100^{\circ}C$ cooking, but, antioxidation effect at $150^{\circ}C$ cooking was not shown due to degradation of capsaicin.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.486-492
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• 2011

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of hot water extract (ESW) and 70% ethanol extract (ESE) from Euphorbia supina Rafin on LPS-stimulated inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Upon investigation at concentrations up to $1000\;{\mu}g$/mL, ESW and ESE did not have any cytotoxic effects on RAW 264.7 macrophages. ESW induced inhibition of 21.6%~54.8% of nitric oxide (NO) production at 100~1000${\mu}g$/mL, and $PGE_2$ production was inhibited up to 25.7%~38.2% at 250~1000${\mu}g$/mL, proportional to the ESW concentrations. ESW induced inhibition of 66.1% and 54.3% of IL-6 production at 250 and $1000\;{\mu}g$/mL, respectively. ESE (100~1000${\mu}g$/mL) induced inhibition of 38.3%~77.5% of NO, 40%~94.7% of $PGE_2$, and 43.9%~89.4% of IL-6 production, proportional to the ESE concentrations. Only 44.1% of IL-10 production was inhibited at a concentration of $500\;{\mu}g$/mL. ESE induced an increase in TNF-${\alpha}$ production at a concentration of 100 and $250\;{\mu}g$/mL, whereas at high concentrations (500 and $1000\;{\mu}g$/mL), ESE induced inhibition of 19.2% and 92.4% of TNF-${\alpha}$ production, respectively. In conclusion, concentrations of more than $500\;{\mu}g$/mL ESE demonstrated effective immune-modulating activity through inhibition of NO, $PGE_2$, IL-6, IL-10, or TNF-${\alpha}$ production, as it relates to the macrophage's immuno-activity; therefore, ESE has potential as a good candidate substance for reduction of inflammatory responses.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.348-356
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• 2008

For the effective use of rainbow trout, the seasoned and dried rainbow trout slice (SR) was prepared and its characterization was compared with the commercial skipjack tuna (CSS) and pork products (CSP) by determining chemical components and sensory evaluation. The moisture content of SR, 20.5%, was lower, and the lipid content of SR, 7.5%, was higher than those of commercial products, CSS and CSP. The protein content of SR (41.4%) was higher than that of CSS (28.6%), but lower than that of CSP (50.1%). The water activity of SR was 0.654, which was lower than those of CSS and CSP, 0.724 and 0.771, respectively. According to the results, the color of SR was lower in lightness and redness and higher in browning index and ${\Delta}$E value than that of commercial products. The texture of SR was harder than that of CSS, but softer than that of CSP. According to the result of taste value, the taste of SR was stronger than that of CSP, while weaker than that of CSS. The mineral (Ca, P, and Fe), total amino acid contents, and the n-3/n-6 of SR showed significant levels in nutrition and health functional senses.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.418-425
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• 2013

The catalytic conversion of ethanol to aromatic compounds ETA was studied over ZSM-5 heterogeneous catalysts. The effect of reaction temperature, weight hourly space velocity (WHSV), and addition of water and methanol, which are the potential impurities of bio-ethanol, on the catalytic performance was investigated in a fixed bed reactor. Commercial ZSM-5 catalysts having different Si/$Al_2$ ratios of 23 to 280 and modified ZSM-5 catalysts by addition of metal (Zn, La, Cu, and Ga) were used for the activity and stability tests in ETA reaction. The catalysts were characterized with ammonia temperature programmed desorption ($NH_3$-TPD) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption techniques. The results of catalytic performance revealed that the optimal Si/$Al_2$ ratio of ZSM-5 is about 50~80 and the selectivity to aromatic compounds decreases in the order of Zn/La > Zn > La > Cu > Ga for the modified ZSM-5 catalysts. Among these catalysts from the ETA reaction, Zn-La/ZSM-5 showed the best catalytic performance for the ETA reaction. The selectivity to aromatic compounds was 72% initially and 56% after 30 h over the catalysts at reaction temperature of $437^{\circ}C$ and WHSV of $0.8h^{-1}$.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.93-97
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• 2004

We investigate the effect of enzyme pretreatment using protease, carbohydrase, and lipase on improvement of sludge treatment efficiency by measuring SCOD and TCOD. The enzyme-pretreatment increases SCOD of excess sludge. In addition, the amount of sludge reduction during digestion, in terms of SCOD and TCOD, are enhanced by enzyme-pretreatment. Among pretense, carbohydrase, and lipase, pretense showed the best enhancement of the sludge treatment efficiency. Sludge digestion followed by ozone and enzyme treatments showed more effective sludge treatment when compared with ozone treatment alone. Therefore, we expect that enzyme pretreatment can be used as a useful tool for enhancing the sludge treatment efficiency.

• Clean Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.102-110
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• 2012

In this study, the production of bio-diesel from animal oil by esterification and trans-esterification was investigated. There were three different extraction methods for oil extraction from raw animal fat. Heterogeneous catalysts such as Amberlyst-15 and Amberlyst BD-20 and a homogeneous catalyst such as sulfuric acid were used for esterification. Among three catalysts, the removal efficiency of Free Fatty Acid (FFA) was the highest in sulfuric acid. Response surface method was carried out to find the optimal esterification condition of sulfuric acid and methanol. After the esterification under the optimal condition, this animal fat was used for the trans-esterification. Animal oil used for trans-esterification was below 1% of FFA content and 0.09% of water content. The catalysts for trans-esterification were KOH, NaOH and $NaOCH_3$. To investigate the effects of catalyst type and amount on trans-esterification, The amount of catalyst were changed with 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 wt%. The molar ratio of methanol/oil was changed with 4, 6, 9 and 12. The amount of catalyst was fixed to 0.8 wt%. The KOH catalyst showed the highest FAME conversion for trans- esterification, and the optimal methanol/oil weight ratio was 6. In the experiments of various catalysts and methanol molar ratios, the highest content of FAME is 96%. However, this FAME content was below Korean bio-diesel standard which is 96.5% of FAME content. After distillation, FAME content increased to 98%.