• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.34-45
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• 2016

Global warming and climate change have been caused by combustion of fossil fuels. The greenhouse gases contributed to the rise of temperature between $0.6^{\circ}C$ and $0.9^{\circ}C$ over the past century. Presently, fossil fuels account for about 88% of the commercial energy sources used. In developing countries, fossil fuels are a very attractive energy source because they are available and relatively inexpensive. The environmental problems with fossil fuels have been aggravating stress from already existing factors including acid deposition, urban air pollution, and climate change. In order to control greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO2, fossil fuels must be replaced by eco-friendly fuels such as biomass. The use of renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly necessary. The biomass resources are the most common form of renewable energy. The conversion of biomass into energy can be achieved in a number of ways. The most common form of converted biomass is pellet fuels as biofuels made from compressed organic matter or biomass. Pellets from lignocellulosic biomass has compared to conventional fuels with a relatively low bulk and energy density and a low degree of homogeneity. Thermal pretreatment technology like torrefaction is applied to improve fuel efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass, i.e., less moisture and oxygen in the product, preferrable grinding properties, storage properties, etc.. During torrefacton, lignocelluosic biomass such as palm kernell shell (PKS) and empty fruit bunch (EFB) was roasted under an oxygen-depleted enviroment at temperature between 200 and $300^{\circ}C$. Low degree of thermal treatment led to the removal of moisture and low molecular volatile matters with low O/C and H/C elemental ratios. The mechanical characteristics of torrefied biomass have also been altered to a brittle and partly hydrophobic materials. Unfortunately, it was much harder to form pellets from torrefied PKS and EFB due to thermal degradation of lignin as a natural binder during torrefaction compared to non-torrefied ones. For easy pelletization of biomass with torrefaction, pellets from PKS and EFB were manufactured before torrefaction, and thereafter they were torrefied at different temperature. Even after torrefaction of pellets from PKS and EFB, their appearance was well preserved with better fuel efficiency than non-torrefied ones. The physical properties of the torrefied pellets largely depended on the torrefaction condition such as reaction time and reaction temperature. Temperature over $250^{\circ}C$ during torrefaction gave a significant impact on the fuel properties of the pellets. In particular, torrefied EFB pellets displayed much faster development of the fuel properties than did torrefied PKS pellets. During torrefaction, extensive carbonization with the increase of fixed carbons, the behavior of thermal degradation of torrefied biomass became significantly different according to the increase of torrefaction temperature. In conclusion, pelletization of PKS and EFB before torrefaction made it much easier to proceed with torrefaction of pellets from PKS and EFB, leading to excellent eco-friendly fuels.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.288-295
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• 2010

Metal exposure experiments using polychaete (Perinereis nuntia) as a bio-indicator of trace metals contamination were conducted to evaluate the bioaccumulation and the biomarkers responses such as metallothionein-like protein (MTLPs) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) which was simultaneously exposed to Cadmium (Cd) and Copper (Cu). Cu and Cd concentrations in polychaete were enhanced with increasing exposure time and their concentrations of aqueous medium. Initial accumulation of Cd was higher than that of Cu. Our results showed that the bioaccumulation of Cu and Cd were prohibited, especially at higher Cu levels, suggesting the different cellular uptake mechanisms when Cu and Cd are co-exist. Net accumulation rate of Cu was declined with exposure time but it did not show any significant change for Cd. Although the highest MTLPs concentration was observed at 6 hr of exposure time, it did not show any significant change related to exposure times and metals concentrations. An increase of GST activity tended to increase as a function of exposure time and metals concentrations. And GST activities in P. nuntia have similar tendency with bioconcentration factors in high concentration of Cu (treatment group IV) at post 24 h of exposure. Our results provide new information of the bioaccumulation and biomarker responses to understand the effects of co-existing contaminants (Cu and Cd) using polychaete. Further studies are required to elucidate the bioaccumulation and biomarkers responses for various contaminants.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.254-267
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• 2011

In order to assess structure changes of marine benthic communities in the Youngsan River Estuarine Bay for this 10-year period, we sampled macrobenthos in 2006 using the van Veen grab at the same 40 stations where a previous benthic community survey was conducted in 1995. The number of species and mean density of macrobenthos in 2006 decreased significantly than those of 1995. There were no significant differences in both the number and the density of polychaetous species between the two sampling periods, while both number and den-sity of molluscan species decreased significantly. Although the first two density-dominant species, semelid bivalve Theora fragilis and polychaete Tharyx sp. occurred as most dominant species, but the density of T. fragilis decreased significantly in many stations between 1995 and 2006. However, polychaete Tharyx sp. showed increment in density and percentage composition within community. The area dominated by T. fragilis was replaced by Tharyx sp.. Also, polychaete Poecilochaetus johnsoni and bivalve Raetellops pulchella which were pre-dominant in 1995 decreased significantly by 2006. Bivalve Yoldia johanni decreased its density and reduced its distribution area by 2006. Species diversity and rarefaction curves also revealed that overall species richness decreased. These results confirmed that the dominant species and species diversity of macrobenthic communities in the area should be changed due to anthropogenic stresses during 10 years.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.95 no.1
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• pp.102-112
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• 2006

The change of species composition and stand structure along altitudinal gradients in different aged stands was studied in five natural stands located each at 400 m, 800 m, 1,000 m, and two at 1,300 m above sea level (asl) in the western part of Mt. Chiri in Korea. Trees larger than 2.5 cm DBH were inventoried in 3 to 8 $20m{\times}20m$ quadrats in each study site. Stand ages were estimated based on the ages of Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc. and Abies koreana Wilson, and used to analyze the changes in species composition and stand structure including diameter and height distributions. Species composition was changed along altitudinal gradients as P. densiflora dominated stands at 400 m asl while A. koreana dominated stands at 1,300 m asl. Major species of Quercus also changed along altitudinal gradients as Quercus variabilis Blume at 400 m asl, Quercus serrata Thunb. ex Murray at 800 m asl, and Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb. at higher than 1,000 m asl. The diameter distribution did not show significant differences among stands of different altitudes. However, the height distributions of upper crown layers were significantly different among stands at below and above 1,000 m as) (P < 0.0001). Trees taller than 20 m rarely appeared in stands over 1,000 m asl. P. densiflora dominant stands at 400 m asl developed two clumped age groups as one in 30-40 ages and the other around 70 years old. Q. serrata dominant stands at 800 m asl, Q. mongolica dominant stands at 1,300 m asl and A. koreana dominant stands at 1,300 m asl were estimated to be around 30, 70, and over 140 years old after major disturbances, respectively. The diameter distribution with age structure indicated that P. densiflora at 1,300 m asl might be replaced by Q. mongolica, and Q. mongolica might be replaced by A. koreana and Pinus koraiensis later. A. koreana dominant stand seemed to stay its dominance quite long if the large disturbance would be absent.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2020

This study investigated the radiation protection of therapeutic radiologists. Based on the change in X-ray energy and MU value, the space dose rate in the treatment room after the irradiation was measured. 6MV, 10MV and 15MV photon beams were exposed to radiation inside the treatment room based on 300MU, 600MU and 1000MU using a linear accelerator. And repeated 10 times under the same conditions. As a result of the experiment, 0.1555 μSv/h for 6MV 300MU, 0.157 μSv /h for 300sec, 0.152 μSv/h, 0.156 μSv/h for 600MU, and 0.157 μSv/h 0.152 μSv/h for 1000MU. 300MU of 10MV was 0.49 μSv/h, 0.309 μSv/h, and 0.69 μSv/h, 0.416 μSv/h for 600MU, respectively, and 1000MU was 0.977 μSv/h and 0.478 μSv/h, respectively. The 300MU of 15MV was 3.02 μSv/h, 1.2 μSv/h, 5.459 μSv/h at 600MU, 7.34 μSv/h at 1.836 μSv/h 1000MU, and 2.709 μSv/h. The average spatial dose rate of 6MV was not significantly different from the natural spatial dose rate in the treatment room. High spatial dose rates were measured at 10 MV and 15 MV and were attenuated over time. Therefore, entering the treatment room after a certain period of time (more than 60 seconds) is considered to be effective to prevent the exposure dose of radiation workers.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.432-445
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• 2000

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of various kinds of composts on the change of nutrition loss in upland soils. Field experiments were conducted in the loam and sandy loam soils, while the clay loam and sandy loam soils were used for laboratory experiments. Various kinds of composts such as poultry manure compost(PMC), cow manure compost(CMC), human excrement sludge(HES), and food industrial sludge compost(FISC) were applied annually at rates of 0, 40, and $80mg\;ha^{-1}$ to soils grown with soybean and maize plants for 4 years during 1994 to 1997. The results of this study were as follows : The loss of nutrients in the form of cation and anion by run-off water increased with the increase of compost application rate. Compared with bare soils, maize cultivation decreased the nutrient loss by run-off from soils by 43% in anionic form and 32% in cationic form. Amount of cation loss were ordered $K^+$ > $Ca^{2+}$ > $Na^+$ > $Mg^{2+}$ > $NH_4{^+} $ and that of anion loss were ordered $SO_4{^{2-}}$ > $NO_3{^-}$ > $Cl^-$ > $PO_4{^{3-}}$. Nutrient loss of sand loam soil in the cation and anion by percolation water increased 1.7 times compared with loam soil. $NO_3{^-}-N$ contents in percolated water were high at the initial stage after compost application, and the amounts were higher in sandy loam soil than loam soil. The maize cultivation also decreased the $NO_3{^-}-N$ contents in percolated water by 82% in loam soil, and 58% in sand loam soil. Soil pH of composts determined by laboratory incubation test increased pH 6.1~6.8 application with poultry and cow manure compost but application with human excrement sludge decreased pH 4.5~4.7. Soil EC were increased initially composts application and decreased up to 2 weeks, thereafter kept a certain level. Nitrogen mineralization rates of composts determined by laboratory incubation test at $25^{\circ}C$ were 39~76% in sandy loam soil, and 16~48% in clay loam soil.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.215-231
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• 2020

Forest landscape models (FLMs) can be used to investigate the complex interactions of various ecological processes and patterns, which makes them useful tools to evaluate how environmental and anthropogenic variables can influence forest ecosystems. However, due to the large spatio-temporal scales in FLMs studies, parameterization and validation can be extremely challenging when applying to new study areas. To address this issue, we focused on the parameterization and application of a spatially explicit forest landscape model, LANDIS-II, to Mt. Gyebang, South Korea, with the use of the National Forest Inventory (NFI) and long-term ecological research (LTER) site data. In this study, we present the followings for the biomass succession extension of LANDIS-II: 1) species-specific and spatial parameters estimation for the biomass succession extension of LANDIS-II, 2) calibration, and 3) application and validation for Mt. Gyebang. For the biomass succession extension, we selected 14 tree species, and parameterized ecoregion map, initial community map, species growth characteristics. We produced ecoregion map using elevation, aspect, and topographic wetness index based on digital elevation model. Initial community map was produced based on NFI and sub-alpine survey data. Tree species growth parameters, such as aboveground net primary production and maximum aboveground biomass, were estimated from PnET-II model based on species physiological factors and environmental variables. Literature data were used to estimate species physiological factors, such as FolN, SLWmax, HalfSat, growing temperature, and shade tolerance. For calibration and validation purposes, we compared species-specific aboveground biomass of model outputs and NFI and sub-alpine survey data and calculated coefficient of determination (R²) and root mean square error (RMSE). The final model performed very well, with 0. 98 R² and 8. 9 RMSE. This study can serve as a foundation for the use of FLMs to other applications such as comparing alternative forest management scenarios and natural disturbance effects.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 2010

Fibroblasts are the most common cells in connective tissue and are responsible for the synthesis of extracellular matrix components. The fibrosis associated with chronic inflammation and injury may contribute to cholangiocarcinoma pathogenesis, particularly through an increase in extracellular matrix components, which participate in the regulation of bile duct differentiation during development. Mitochondria produce ATP through oxidative metabolism to provide energy to the cell under physiological conditions. Also, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress have been implicated in cellular senescence and aging. Alternations in mitochondrial structure and function are early events of programmed cell death or apoptosis and mitochondria appear to be a central regulator of apoptosis in most somatic cell. Clonorchis sinensis, one of the most important parasite of the human bile duct in East Asia, arouses epithelial hyperplasia and ductal fibrosis. Isolated fibroblast from the bile ducts of rats infected by C. sinensis showed increase of cytoplasmic process. In addition, decrease of cellular proliferation was observed in fibroblasts which was isolated from normal rat bile duct and then cultured in media containing C. sinensis excretory-secretory product. However, the effects of C. sinensis infection on the mitochondrial enzyme distribution is not clearly reported yet. Therefore, we investigated the structural change of C. sinensis infected bile duct and mitochondrial enzyme distribution of the cultured fibroblast isolated from the C. sinensis infected rat bile duct. As a result, C. sinensis infected SD rat bile ducts showed the features of chronic clonorchiasis, such as ductal connective and epithelial tissue dilatation, or ductal fibrosis. In addition, fibroblast in ductal connective tissue was damaged by physical effect of fibrotic tissue and chemical stimulation. Immunohistochemically detected mitochondrial electron transferase (ATPase, COXII, Porin) was decreased in C. sinensis infected rat bile duct and cultured fibroblast from infected rat bile duct. It can be hypothesized that the reason why number of electron transferase decrease in fibroblast isolated from the rat bile duct infected with C. sinensis is because dysfunction of electron transport system is occurred mitochondrial dysfunction, increase of ROS (reactive oxygen species) and apoptosis after chemical damage on the cell caused by C. sinensis infection. Overall, C. sinensis infection induces fibrotic change of ductal connective tissue, mutation of cellular metabolism in fibroblast and mitochondrial dysfunction. Consequently, ductal fibrosis inhibits fibroblast proliferation and decreases mitochondrial electron transferase on fibroblast cytoplasm. It was assumed that the structure of bile duct could not normalized and ductal fibrosis was maintained for a long period of time according to fibroblast metamorphosis and death induced by mitochondrial dysfunction.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.93-104
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• 2010

In this study, we investigated the effects of frankincense essential oil (BSEO) on the immune cell change in the lung, BALF and PBMC using a mouse model of asthma. BALB/c mice after intraperitoneal OVA sensitization (day 1) were challenged intratracheally with OVA on day 14. Then, the asthma was induced by repeated OVA inhalation challenged. The asthma induced mice group inhaled 0.3% BSEO for 30 minutes per trial, three times a week, for 8 weeks using the nebulizer. After 12 weeks from the experiment, the mice was killed and the lung, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) were obtained. Next, the change of immune cells inside the separated tissues was observed to identity the effects of BSEO on the allergic asthma mice. In conclusion, the hypersensitive reaction of airway to the bronchoconstrictor in the allergic asthma induced mice was effectively suppressed in Frankincense group, in Bermagot, Eucalyptus, Chamomile, Marjoram and Frankincense groups, the natural aromatic essential oil groups. Furthermore, it was also confirmed that the weight of lung, total number of alveolus cells and the number of BALF, MNL and DLN increased after inducing allergic asthma were reduced. BSEO suppressed the percentage of $CD3e^+/CD19^-$, $B220^+/CD23^+$ and $CD11b^+/Gr-1^+$ cells in the lung tissue of allergic asthma mice. Moreover, BSEO also reduced the percentage of $CD4^+/CD8^-$, $B220^+/CD23^+$ and $CD3^+/CCR3^+$ cells in BALF. In addition, the percentage of $CD3e^+/CD19^-$, $CD3^+/CD69^+$ and $B220^+/CD23^+$ cells in PBMC was reduced. The results of this study indicate that BSEO would be effective to treat allergic asthma by the immune control suppressing the activity of immune cells in each tissue.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.65-78
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• 1998

This study was conducted to find out the factors which have an effect on the rural aged's natural history by disability in Activities of Daily Living(ADL) and ADL decline with 475 old people which were chosen except the dead 90 and unconfirmable 56 old people by performing follow-up survey for 4 years since 1993 on the basis of presurveyed data about 621 home old people over 60 years residing in 13 villages at Kangdong-myon, Kyongju-city, Kyongsangbuk-do Province, Korea. Such activities of daily living as bathing, dressing, going to toilet, transfer, feeding and continence were examined. 1. In the follow-up survey for 4 years, the ADL distribution of the dead was remarkably lower than the subject group. 2. It was also shown in the 4-year follow-up survey that 82.1% of high ADL group maintained high ADL while 77.8% of low ADL group died within 4 years. 3. The occurrence percentage of disabilities of each group by ADL item for 4 years appeared high in such an order as bathing, continence, dressing, going to toilet, transfer and feeding. 6.7%(8.1% for female and 4.6% for male) of the old people who were the high ADL group at the time of the first survey had disabilities that occurred after 4 years. 4. In the change of ADL according to general characteristics used to analyse the factors which have an effect on ADL decline, there was a significant difference in age and job, that is, the jobless old people had the higher degree of ADL decline. In the change of ADL according to behavioral pattern, for the male old people there was a significant difference in support of living expenses and subjective health condition. In this case, the degree of ADL decline was higher if they depended on their sons & daughters or spouses and felt that they were not healthy.