• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.484-492
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• 2012

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of static magnetic field (SMF) on the growth and physiological characteristics of common indoor plant species. Five foliage plant species, Spathiphyllum spp., Ardisia pusilla DC., Syngonium podophyllum, Peperomia pereskiifolia, and Pilea cadierei were potted into plastic pot equipped with round type anisotropic sintered NdFeB permanent magnet inside the pot. The surface magnetic flux density of each magnet was 3,500 G. After 6 months of growth period, the biomass accumulations of Spathiphyllum, A. pusilla, and P. cadierei under SMF were statistically higher than those of controls. Tissue water content also increased under the influence of SMF in most species. The photosynthetic rate of Spathiphyllum under SMF significantly increased but other species showed no significant difference compared with control. Although there was no significant increase in the photosynthetic rates of A. pusilla, and P. cadierei, they showed remarkable increase in total fresh weight under SMF. This suggests that the demand of assimilates for normal metabolism could be decreased under magnetic influence and thereby biomass accumulation could be more favored. But this is not always true for all plant species because P. pereskiifolia in this experiment, showed no changes in both photosynthetic rate and biomass accumulation. Leaf nitrogen and chlorophyll contents were enhanced significantly in most plant species under influence of SMF. Chlorophyll a/b ratio also increased by SMF. Although there might be a limitation depending on plant species, these results suggest that long-term exposure to SMF might allow plant to have an enhanced acclimation capacity against environmental fluctuations and optimal application of SMF could increase the practical use of indoor plants such as an attempt to improve indoor air quality.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.206-214
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• 2005

Heterogeneously-catalyzed oxidation of aqueous phase trichloroethylene (TCE) over supported metal oxides has been conducted to establish an approach to eliminate ppm levels of organic compounds in water. A continuous flow reactor system was designed to effect predominant reaction parameters in determining catalytic activity of the catalysts for wet TCE decomposition as a model reaction. 5 wt.% $CoO_x/TiO_2$ catalyst exhibited a transient period in activity vs. on-stream time behavior, suggesting that the surface structure of the $CoO_x$ might be altered with on-stream hours; regardless, it is probable to be the most promising catalyst. Not only could the bare support be inactive for the wet decomposition reaction at $36^{\circ}C$, but no TCE removal also occurred by the process of adsorption on $TiO_2$ surface. The catalytic activity was independent of all particle sizes used, thereby representing no mass transfer limitation in intraparticle diffusion. Very low TCE conversion appeared for $TiO_2$-supported $NiO_x$ and $CrO_x$ catalysts. Wet oxidation performance of supported Cu and Fe catalysts, obtained through an incipient wetness and ion exchange technique, was dependent primarily on the kinds of the metal oxides, in addition to the acidic solid supports and the preparation routes. 5 wt.% $FeO_x/TiO_2$ catalyst gave no activity in the oxidation reaction at $36^{\circ}C$, while 1.2 wt.% Fe-MFI was active for the wet decomposition depending on time on-stream. The noticeable difference in activity of the both catalysts suggests that the Fe oxidation states involved to catalytic redox cycle during the course of reaction play a significant role in catalyzing the wet decomposition as well as in maintaining the time on-stream activity. Based on the results of different $CoO_x$ loadings and reaction temperatures for the decomposition reaction at $36^{\circ}C$ with $CoO_x/TiO_2$, the catalyst possessed an optimal $CoO_x$ amount at which higher reaction temperatures facilitated the catalytic TCE conversion. Small amounts of the active ingredient could be dissolved by acidic leaching but such a process gave no appreciable activity loss of the $CoO_x$ catalyst.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.243-251
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• 2012

Real-time monitoring for environmental factors(temperature, salinity, chlorophyll, etc.) and carbonate components( pH and $fCO_2$) was conducted during 5-6th of July, 2012 at a seaweeds farm in Gijang, Busan. Surface temperature and salinity were ranged from $12.5{\sim}17.6^{\circ}C$ and 33.7~34.0, respectively, with highly daily and inter-daily variations due to tide, light frequency(day and night) and currents. Surface $fCO_2$ and pH showed a range of $381{\sim}402{\mu}atm$ and 8.03~8.15, and chlorophyll-a concentration in surface seawater ranged 0.8~5.8 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$. Environmental and carbonate factors showed the highest/lowest values around 5 pm of 5th July when the lowest tidal height and strongest thermocline in the water column, suggesting that biological production resulted in decrease of $CO_2$ and increase of pH in the seaweed farm. Processes affecting the surface $fCO_2$ distribution were evaluated using a simple budget model. In day time, biological productions by phytoplankton and macro algae are the main factors for $CO_2$ drawdown and counteracted the amount of $CO_2$ increase by temperature and air-sea exchange. The model values were a little higher than observed values in night time due to the over-estimation of physical mixing. The model suggested that algal production accounted about 14-40% of total $CO_2$ variation in seaweed farm.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.217-222
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• 2010

Bark is a general medium for potted Cymbidium in Korea, but it is difficult to shake off or eliminate the medium from the roots before exporting the potted plants. This working process can injure the roots and then deteriorate plant marketability. This study was carried out to select the optimum medium easier to eliminate from the roots instead of bark and the optimum amount of applied fertilizer to improve the plant growth. Cymbidium young plants 'Honey Hot' and 'Desert Look' were planted in pots with bark, cocochip, and peatmoss. The plants were treated with 2, 4, and 6 g of slow release fertilizer. The plant growth characteristics were investigated in the first and second years during production period of three years. The medium characteristics and mineral nutrient content of the leaves were also examined in the second year. In the first year, the plant growth of 'Desert Look' was improved in all peatmoss treatments more than bark. 'Honey Hot' showed the highest plant growth values in the bark treatment. In the second year, the plant growth of the two cultivars was improved in peatmoss. Cocochip treatments showed the lower plant growth values than bark and peatmoss in the first and second year. There was no significant difference among fertilizer amounts in all the media. The higher CEC values of peatmoss medium resulted to higher capacity to hold more nutrients than bark, and the nutrient retention of the peatmoss improved the plant growth. The higher K and Ca contents in the leaves would contribute to improve the plant growth. Consequently, it would be possible to use peatmoss instead of bark for Cymbidium young plants, but there must be always attention to appropriately water the medium and manage the moisture.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.567-573
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• 2007

The crystal structure of ZnI2 molecule synthesized in zeolite A (LTA) has been studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. A single crystal of |Zn6|[Si12Al12O48]-LTA, synthesized by the dynamic ion-exchange of |Na12|[Si12Al12O48]-LTA with aqueous 0.05 M Zn(NO3)2 and washed with deionized water, was placed in a stream of flowing 0.05 M KI in CH3OH at 294 K for four days. The resulting crystal structure of the product (|K6Zn3(KI)3(ZnI2)0.5|[Si12Al12O48]-LTA, a = 12.1690(10) A) was determined at 294 K by single-crystal X-ray diffraction in the space group Pm3m. It was refined with all measured reflections to the final error index R1 = 0.078 for 431 reflections which Fo > 4σ (Fo). At four crystallographically distinct positions, 3.5 Zn2+ and nine K+ ions per unit cell are found: three Zn2+ and five K+ ions lie on the 3-fold axes opposite 6-rings in the large cavity, two K+ ions are off the plane of the 8-rings, two K+ ions are recessed deeply off the plane of the 8-rings, and the remaining a half Zn2+ ion lie on the 3-fold axes opposite 6-rings in the sodalite cavity. A half Zn2+ ion and an I- ion per unit cell are found in the sodalite units, indicating the formation of a ZnI2 molecule in 50% of the sodalite cavities. Each ZnI2 (Zn-I = 3.35(5) A) is held in place by the coordination of its one Zn2+ ion to the zeolite framework oxygens and by the coordination of its two I- ions to K+ ions through 6-rings (I-K = 3.33(8) A). Three additional I- ions per unit cell are found opposite a 4-ring in the large cavity and form a K3I2+ and two K2ZnI3+ ionic clusters, respectively.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2011

Composite membranes based on sulfonated poly(aryl ether) sulfone (SPAES) with different sulfated zirconia nanoparticles ($s-ZrO_2$) ratio are synthesized and investigated for the improvement of the hydration and the proton conductivity at high temperature and no humidification for fuel cell applications. X-ray diffraction technique is employed to characterize the structure and the size of $s-ZrO_2$ nanoparticles. The sulfation effect of $s-ZrO_2$ nanoparticles is verified by FT-IR analysis. The properties of the SPAES composite membranes with the various $s-ZrO_2$ ratio are evaluated by ion exchange capacity and water content. The proton conductivities of the composite membranes are estimated at room temperature with full hydration and at the various high temperature without external humidification. The composite membrane with 5 wt% $s-ZrO_2$ shows the highest proton conductivity. The proton conductivities are $0.9292\;S\;cm^{-1}$ at room temperature with full hydration and $0.0018\;S\;cm^{-1}$ at $120^{\circ}C$ without external humidification, respectively.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.338-341
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• 1988

Two crystal structures of fully dehydrated silver and potassium exchanged zeolite A, stoichiometries of $Ag_{9.3}K_{{2.7}^-}A$ (${\alpha}$ = 12.282(2) ${\AA}$) and $Ag_{10.7}K_{{1.3}^-}{\AA}$ (${\alpha}$ = 12.287(2) A) per unit cell, have been determined from 3-dimensional x-ray diffraction data gathered by counter methods. All structures were solved and refined in the cubic space group Pm3m at 21(1)$^{\circ}C$ . The crystals of $Ag_{9.3}K_{{2.7}^-}A$ and $Ag_{10.7}K_{{1.3}^-}A$ were prepared by flow method using exchange solutions in which mole ratios of $AgNO_3$ and $KNO_3$ were 1:10 and 1:5, respectively, with total concentration of 0.05M. The structures of the dehydrated $Ag_{9.3}K_{{2.7}^-}A$ and $Ag_{10.7}K_{{1.3}^-}A$ were refined to yield the final error indices $R_1$ = 0.037 and $R_2$ = 0.040 with 321 reflections, and $R_1$ = 0.042 and $R_2$ = 0.043 with 371 reflections, repectively, for which I > 3${\sigma}$(I). In both structures, eight $Ag^+$ ions are found nearly at 6-ring centers and each $Ag^+$ ion is nearly in the (1 1 1) plane at its O(3) ligands. The 8-ring sites are preferentially occupied by $K^+$ ions in both structures. 1.3 and 1.7 reduced silver atoms per unit cell were found inside of sodalite units of $Ag_{9.3}K_{{2.7}^-}A$ and that of $Ag_{10.7}K_{{1.3}^-}A$, respectively. These reduced silver species were presumably formed from the reduction of $Ag^+$ ions by oxide ions of residual water molecule or of the zeolite framework. These two crystals may be presented as hexasilver cluster in 21.7% and 28.3% of sodalite unit cells for $Ag_{9.3}K_{{2.7}^-}A$ and $Ag_{10.7}K_{{1.3}^-}A$, repectively.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.210-233
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• 1993

The herbicide has become indispensable as much as nitrogen fertilizer in Korean agriculture from 1970 onwards. It is estimated that in 1991 more than 40 herbicides were registered for rice crop and treated to an area 1.41 times the rice acreage ; more than 30 herbicides were registered for field crops and treated to 89% of the crop area ; the treatment acreage of 3 non-selective foliar-applied herbicides reached 2,555 thousand hectares. During the last 25 years herbicides have benefited the Korean farmers substantially in labor, cost and time of farming. Any herbicide which causes crop injury in ordinary uses is not allowed to register in most country. Herbicides, however, can cause crop injury more or less when they are misused, abused or used under adverse environments. The herbicide use more than 100% of crop acreage means an increased probability of which herbicides are used wrong or under adverse situation. This is true as evidenced by that about 25% of farmers have experienced the herbicide caused crop injury more than once during last 10 years on authors' nationwide surveys in 1992 and 1993 ; one-half of the injury incidences were with crop yield loss greater than 10%. Crop injury caused by herbicide had not occurred to a serious extent in the 1960s when the herbicides fewer than 5 were used by farmers to the field less than 12% of total acreage. Farmers ascribed about 53% of the herbicidal injury incidences at their fields to their misuses such as overdose, careless or improper application, off-time application or wrong choice of the herbicide, etc. While 47% of the incidences were mainly due to adverse natural conditions. Such misuses can be reduced to a minimum through enhanced education/extension services for right uses and, although undesirable, increased farmers' experiences of phytotoxicity. The most difficult primary problem arises from lack of countermeasures for farmers to cope with various adverse environmental conditions. At present almost all the herbicides have"Do not use!" instructions on label to avoid crop injury under adverse environments. These "Do not use!" situations Include sandy, highly percolating, or infertile soils, cool water gushing paddy, poorly draining paddy, terraced paddy, too wet or dry soils, days of abnormally cool or high air temperature, etc. Meanwhile, the cultivated lands are under poor conditions : the average organic matter content ranges 2.5 to 2.8% in paddy soil and 2.0 to 2.6% in upland soil ; the canon exchange capacity ranges 8 to 12 m.e. ; approximately 43% of paddy and 56% of upland are of sandy to sandy gravel soil ; only 42% of paddy and 16% of upland fields are on flat land. The present situation would mean that about 40 to 50% of soil applied herbicides are used on the field where the label instructs "Do not use!". Yet no positive effort has been made for 25 years long by government or companies to develop countermeasures. It is a really sophisticated social problem. In the 1960s and 1970s a subside program to incoporate hillside red clayish soil into sandy paddy as well as campaign for increased application of compost to the field had been operating. Yet majority of the sandy soils remains sandy and the program and campaign had been stopped. With regard to this sandy soil problem the authors have developed a method of "split application of a herbicide onto sandy soil field". A model case study has been carried out with success and is introduced with key procedure in this paper. Climate is variable in its nature. Among the climatic components sudden fall or rise in temperature is hardly avoidable for a crop plant. Our spring air temperature fluctuates so much ; for example, the daily mean air temperature of Inchon city varied from 6.31 to $16.81^{\circ}C$ on April 20, early seeding time of crops, within${\times}$2Sd range of 30 year records. Seeding early in season means an increased liability to phytotoxicity, and this will be more evident in direct water-seeding of rice. About 20% of farmers depend on the cold underground-water pumped for rice irrigation. If the well is deep over 70m, the fresh water may be about $10^{\circ}C$ cold. The water should be warmed to about $20^{\circ}C$ before irrigation. This is not so practiced well by farmers. In addition to the forementioned adverse conditions there exist many other aspects to be amended. Among them the worst for liquid spray type herbicides is almost total lacking in proper knowledge of nozzle types and concern with even spray by the administrative, rural extension officers, company and farmers. Even not available in the market are the nozzles and sprayers appropriate for herbicides spray. Most people perceive all the pesticide sprayers same and concern much with the speed and easiness of spray, not with correct spray. There exist many points to be improved to minimize herbicidal phytotoxicity in Korea and many ways to achieve the goal. First of all it is suggested that 1) the present evaluation of a new herbicide at standard and double doses in registration trials is to be an evaluation for standard, double and triple doses to exploit the response slope in making decision for approval and recommendation of different dose for different situation on label, 2) the government is to recognize the facts and nature of the present problem to correct the present misperceptions and to develop an appropriate national program for improvement of soil conditions, spray equipment, extention manpower and services, 3) the researchers are to enhance researches on the countermeasures and 4) the herbicide makers/dealers are to correct their misperceptions and policy for sales, to develop database on the detailed use conditions of consumer one by one and to serve the consumers with direct counsel based on the database.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.499-506
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• 2014

This research was conducted to develop root media containing ground and aged pine bark (GAPB) and ground and raw pine bark (GRPB). After analysis of physico chemical properties, the pine barks were blended with peat moss (PM) or coir dust (CD) in various ratios to formulate 12 root media. Then, two out of 12 root media were chosen based on the physical properties for further experiments. The pre-planting nutrient charge fertilizers (PNCF) were incorporated into two root media and chemical properties were analysed again. The total porosity (TP), container capacity (CC), and air-filled porosity (AFP) of GAPB were 78.7%. 39.4%, and 38.3%, respectively, while those of GRPB were 74.7%, 41.2%, and 33.4%, respectively. The percentage of easily available water (EAW, from CC to 4.90 kPa tension) and buffering water (BW, 4.91-9.81 kPa tension) in GAPB were 12.7% and 8.5%, respectively, which were a little lower than the 13.5% and 8.8% in GRPB. The pH and EC were not different significantly, but cation exchange capacity was different between the two pine barks (GAPB: pH 5.26, EC $0.61dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, CEC $15.7meq{\cdot}100g^{-1}$; GRPB: pH 5.19, EC $0.32dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, CEC $9.32meq{\cdot}100g^{-1}$). The concentrations of exchangeable cations in GAPB were Ca 0.32, K 0.05, Mg 0.27 and $0.12cmol+{\cdot}kg^{-1}$, whereas those in GRPB were Ca 0.28, K 0.08, Mg 0.25 and $0.09cmol+{\cdot}kg^{-1}$. The concentrations of $PO_4$-P, $NH_4$-N and $NO_3$-N were 485.8, 0.62 and $0.91mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in GAPB and 578, 1.00 and $0.82mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ in GRPB, respectively, when those were analyzed in the solution of the saturated paste. The TP, CC and AFP in the two selected media were 89.3 and 76.3, and 13.0% in PM+GAPB (8:2, v/v) and 88.2, 68.2 and 20.0% in CD+GRPB (8:2), respectively. The pHs and ECs were 3.8 and $0.24dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in PM+GAPB which were a little lower than 5.8 and $0.65dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ in CD+GRPB. However, the pHs analysed before and after incorporation of PNCF in the two root media did not show large differences. This is because the solubility of dolomitic lime is very low, and the pH it is expected to rise gradually when crops are cultivated int he root media. The information obtained in this study should facilitate effective formulation of root media containing pine bark.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.156-168
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• 2012

Chrysanthemum is a cut flower species that normally lasts for 1 to 2 weeks, in some cases 3-4 weeks. This has been attributed to low ethylene production during senescence. Reduction in cut flower quality has been attributed to the formation of air embolisms that partially or completely blocks the water transport from the vase solution to the rest of the cut flower stem, increasing hydraulic resistance which may cause severe water stress, yellowing, wilting of leaf, and chlorophyll degradation. Standard type chrysanthemum can be harvested when buds were still tightly closed and then fully opened with the simple bud-opening solution. Standard type chrysanthemum can also be harvested when the minimum size of the inflorescence is about 5-6 cm bud which opened into the first flower full-sized flower. While spray varieties can be harvested when 2-4 most mature flowers have opened (40% opening). Cut flowers are sorted by stem length, weight, condition, and so on. Standard chrysanthemum is 80 cm length for standard type and 70cm for spray type. Pre-treatment with a STS, plant regulator such as GA, BA, 1-MCP, chrysal, germicide, and sucrose, significantly improved the vase life and quality of cut flowers. It is well established that vase solutions containing sugar can improve the vase life of cut chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemum is normally packed in standard horizontal fiberboard boxes. Chrysanthemum should normally be stored at $5{\sim}7^{\circ}C$. Precooling resulted in reduction in respiration, decomposition, and transpiration activities as well as decoloration retardation. There was significant difference between "wet" storage in 3 weeks and "dry" storage in 2 weeks. In separate pulsing solution trials, various germicides were tested, as well as PGRs to maintain the green color of leaves and turgidity. Prolonging vase life was attained with the application of optimal solution such as HQS, $AgNO_3$, GA, BA and sucrose. This also retarded senescence in leaves of cut flower stems. Fresh cut chrysanthemum can be transported using a refrigerated van with $5{\sim}7^{\circ}C$. Increasing consumption and usage of cut chrysanthemum of various cultivars would require efficient transport system, and effective information exchange among producer, wholesaler, and consumer.