• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.83-92
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• 2023

Excess N and P from the livestock manure applied to farmlands, have entered the water systems and poses a serious threat to the natural environment. Consequently, there has been recent awareness towards the management of livestock manure and its related fields. In this study, piggery wastewater was collected from a piggery in Pohang city, Korea. At 800℃, thermal decomposition of a natural stone, magnesite (MgCO₃), yielded powered MgO with particle sizes ranging between 10 to 100 ㎛. Furthermore, NH₄⁺-N and PO₄^3--P were recovered as struvite precipitates from the piggery wastewater, by adjusting the pH with MgO and H₃PO₄. At pH 10, the recovery efficiencies of NH₄⁺-N and PO₄^3--P were found to be 86.1% and 94.1%, respectively. Using an X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), the struvite in the precipitate was confirmed to be consistent with standard pure struvite. Further, the purity of the struvite precipitate was analyzed using an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and thermal gravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), and found to be between 79.2% and 93.0%. Additionally, struvite-containing piggery wastewater and sawdust were mixed in a weight ratio of 2.5:1 and processed into a mature compost. The newly manufactured compost passed all quality standards required for first-class graded livestock composts. Moreover, this compost was sprayed directly onto the soil at the test site, and various parameters of the soil's effluent, such as total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (T-N), total phosphorus (T-P), and dissolved oxygen (DO), were analyzed and measured. Based on these results, it is determined that the newly manufactured compost can more significantly reduce water pollution than commercial compost.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.582-587
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• 2015

This study was conducted to compare the plant growth and fruit quality of blueberries grown in different soil textures of Korea, in order to utilize the results for stable production and soil improvement. Rabbiteye blueberry cultivars 'Tifblue' and 'Baldwin' were planted and grown for three years from 2013 in wagner pot (1 $2000a^{-1}$) in a greenhouse of Namhae Sub-station, Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science. The plants were grown in four soil textures, sand, sandy loam, loam and silt loam, and nutrient uptake and growth characteristics of plants were investigated. Leaf nitrogen and phosphorus contents of two cultivars grown in different soil textures ranged between 8.6 to $10.5gkg^{-1}$, which was lower than appropriate level for rabbiteye blueberry. However, the contents of potassium, calcium and magnesium in leaves were appropriate levels as $2.29{\sim}3.62gkg^{-1}$, $4.46{\sim}5.46gkg^{-1}$ and $1.45{\sim}2.12gkg^{-1}$, respectively. Nitrogen and phosphate contents in leaves were higher in the two cultivars grown in silt loam soil. There was no significant difference in plant volume and root dry weight among four soil textures in two cultivars. However, dry weight of leaves and branches were highest in loam soil. Fruit production was highest in loam and silt loam soil in two cultivars, showing negative correlation with the amount of sand in soil. However, sugar and acidity showed no correlation with sand content in soil. These results show the limit to the blueberry growth in soil that has no nutrient holding capacity; however, most of Korean soils that have good nutrient holding capacity can produce competitive fruits if the drainage is improved.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2012

To study the difference in growth characteristics between intertidal and subtidal eelgrass Zostera marina populations, environmental factors and changes in tissue carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents in eelgrass from the lower intertidal and upper subtidal zones were surveyed monthly in the Seomjin Estuary from May 2003 to December 2004. Water temperatures, water column nutrient concentrations, sediment pore water, and ammonium and phosphate concentrations showed no significant differences between intertidal and subtidal zones. Sediment pore water nitrate+nitrite concentrations were slightly higher in the intertidal zone than in the subtidal zone. Average monthly exposure times in the intertidal and subtidal zones were $42.4{\pm}5.8h\;month^{-1}$ and $15.3{\pm}3.5h\;month^{-1}$, respectively. Eelgrass leaf N content decreased from March to August and increased from September to February in the subtidal zone, whereas these trends were not observed in the intertidal zone. Eelgrass rhizome C content increased from April to September and decreased from October to March in the subtidal zone, whereas those tendencies were not recorded in the intertidal zone. Eelgrass rhizome C:N ratios showed a strong reverse trend to leaf C:N ratios in the subtidal zone, but these tendencies were not observed in the intertidal zone. The effects of exposure appeared to cause no seasonal trend in eelgrass tissue C and N content or C:N ratios in the intertidal zone in the Seomjin Estuary.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.141-147
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• 2016

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS) are both important signaling molecules involved in pain transmission in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Xanthine oxidase (XO) is a well-known enzyme for the generation of superoxide anions ($O_2^{\bullet-}$), while S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP) is a representative nitric oxide (NO) donor. In this study, we used patch clamp recording in spinal slices of rats to investigate the effects of $O_2^{\bullet-}$ and NO on the excitability of substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons. We also used confocal scanning laser microscopy to measure XO- and SNAP-induced ROS and RNS production in live slices. We observed that the ROS level increased during the perfusion of xanthine and xanthine oxidase (X/XO) compound and SNAP after the loading of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate ($H_2DCF-DA$), which is an indicator of intracellular ROS and RNS. Application of ROS donors such as X/XO, ${\beta}-nicotinamide$ adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), and 3-morpholinosydnomimine (SIN-1) induced a membrane depolarization and inward currents. SNAP, an RNS donor, also induced membrane depolarization and inward currents. X/XO-induced inward currents were significantly decreased by pretreatment with phenyl N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN; nonspecific ROS and RNS scavenger) and manganese(III) tetrakis(4-benzoic acid) porphyrin (MnTBAP; superoxide dismutase mimetics). Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NAME; NO scavenger) also slightly decreased X/XO-induced inward currents, suggesting that X/XO-induced responses can be involved in the generation of peroxynitrite ($ONOO^-$). Our data suggest that elevated ROS, especially $O_2^{\bullet-}$, NO and $ONOO^-$, in the spinal cord can increase the excitability of the SG neurons related to pain transmission.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.713-721
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• 2023

Soil acidification challenges global food security by adversely influences soil fertility and agricultural productivity. Carbonized agricultural residues present a sustainable and ecofriendly way to recycle agricultural waste and mitigate soil acidification. We evaluated the effects of organic amendments on lettuce growth and soil chemical properties in two soils with different pH levels. Carbonized rice husk was produced at 600℃ for 30 min and rice husk was treated at 1% (w·w^-1). Carbonized rice husk increased soil pH, electrical conductivity, total carbon content, and nitrogen content compared with untreated and rice husk treatments. Furthermore, this study found that lettuce growth positively correlated with soil pH, with increasing soil pH up to pH 6.34 resulting in improved lettuce growth parameters. Statistical correlation analysis also supported the relationship between soil pH and lettuce growth parameters. The study findings showed that the use of carbonized rice husk increased the constituent elements of lettuce, such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphate content. The potassium content of lettuce followed a similar trend; however, was higher in acidic soil than that in non-acidic soil. Therefore, improving the pH of acidic soil is essential to enhance agricultural productivity. It is considered advantageous to use agricultural residues following pyrolysis to improve soil pH and agricultural productivity.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.516-524
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• 2017

Objectives: The annual catch of the common squid Todarodes pacificus in Korean coastal waters has gradually increased since the late 1980s. We investigated the long-term effects of climate variability on the variation in catches of the squid in the offshore fisheries of Korea. Methods: Moving average method, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were used to determine the relationship between the environmental factors and fluctuation in the catch of the squid during the past 30 years (1981- 2010). A ten-year moving average was calculated and used for each variable. Results: Squid catches in Korean coastal waters increased over time, and there were significant variations within every ten years (p < 0.001). Air temperature, atmospheric pressure, and wind grade among the meteorological factors, alongside sea surface temperature (SST) and concentrations of phosphate phosphorous, and nitrite/nitrate nitrogen in the sea water increased and were positively related with the catch size of squid (p < 0.001). However, salinity decreased and was negatively related with the catch size (p < 0.001). The increase in air temperature and SST was almost parallel, although there was a time lag between the two factors. Conclusion: These results suggest that there is a causal association between climate change and squid populations. Climate change, especially ocean warming, appears to have been largely favorable for squid range expansion into Korean seas. Although the expansion may be helpful for the human food supply, the safety of the squid caught should be monitored since the concentrations of phosphorous and nitrogen in the sea water increased, which indicates that Korean seas have grown gradually more polluted.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.607-615
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• 2010

We investigated the temporal variations of heterotrophic dinoflagellates (hereafter HDNF) and photosynthetic dinoflagellates (hereafter PDNF) from 14 June to 4 September 2003 at a single station in Jangmok Bay. We took water samples 47 times from 2 depths (surface and bottom layers) at hide tide. A total of 63 species were encountered and in general the most abundant genera were Prorocentrum and Protoperidinium. The abundance of PDNF and HDNF was in the range of $0.04{\sim}55.8{\times}10^4$ cells/L and in the range of $0.01{\sim}4.35{\times}10^4$ cells/L, respectively. The mean abundance of PDNF was approximately 7 times higher than that of HDNF, and was higher in the surface layer where has enough irradiance for photosynthesis than in the bottom layer. The total dinoflagellate abundance was higher in the NLP (nitrogen limitation period) than in the SLP (silicate limitation period), and the abundance in the hypoxic conditions was similar to that in the normal conditions. The Shannon-Weaver species diversity index were slightly higher in the bottom layer, the SLP and the hypoxic conditions. The PDNF abundance were correlated with temperature, DO, total inorganic nitrogen and phosphate in the whole water column, and the HDNF abundance was significantly correlated with temperature, salinity and DO. This study shows that the dinoflagellate abundance might be affected by abiotic factors such as irradiance, temperature, salinity, DO and the concentrations of inorganic nutrients, and provides baseline information for further studies on plankton dynamics in Jangmok Bay.

• Mycobiology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2008

Schizophyllum commune is an edible and medicinal mushroom widely distributed in the world. The optimal growth conditions for the mycelia of 10 strains of the fungus were investigated. The temperature suitable for the mycelial growth and density was obtained at $30{\sim}35^{\circ}C$. Among the tested conditions, the minimum mycelial growth was found at $15^{\circ}C$. In case of pH, the most favorable growth was found at pH 5. The results indicated that this mushroom well adapted to high temperature and low pH for its mycelial growth. Considering growth phenotype of mycelia, Hamada, Hennerberg, PDA and YM were the most suitable and Lilly, Glucose triptone, Glucose peptone and Hoppkins were the most unfavorable among tested media for the mycelial growth of S. commune. Out of tested carbon sources, dextrin and fructose were the most suitable and lactose, mannose and sorbitol were the unsuitable for the fungus. Compact mycelial density was obtained from most of the carbon sources. Among used nitrogen sources, calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate and alanine were the most appropriate and the most incompatible were ammonium phosphate, histidine, urea and arginine for mycelial growth of S. commune on the culture media. Calcium nitrate, histidine and potassium nitrate showed moderately thin or thin, and rest of nitrogen sources showed compact or moderately compact mycelial density.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the changes of water quality, the pollutant loading by population, livestock, and land use at the Namdae-cheon in Keum river districts. Water samples were taken at the four sites of watershed, the nutrients of which were analyzed periodically from July, 1995 to April, 1998. Content of nutrients in water samples ranged from 1.8 to 5.8 mg/L for total nitrogen, from 0.01 to 0.08 mg/L for total phosphorus and from 0 to 0.007 mg/L for ortho-phosphate respectively. Nitrogen loading by pollutant unit was investigated 550.4 ton/yr as 358.1 ton/yr by livestock, 129.3 ton/yr by land use and 63.0 ton/yr by population. Phosphorus loading by pollutant unit was investigated 79.1 ton/yr as 60.6 ton/yr by livestock, 5.2 ton/yr by land use and 13.3 ton/yr by population. The loading of measured pollutant was investigated 452.5 ton/yr of nitrogen and 5.4 ton/yr of phosphorus in Namdae-cheon watershed.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 1997

Dietary peptides have recently received attention regarding their beneficial effects on nutrient metabolism since the caseinphosphoptides obtained from casein hydrolysate are generally believed to enhance the intestinal absorption of Ca. The two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of various hydrolyzed fractions of gluten on Ca bioavailability. The gluten hydrolysate of dietary components was produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of gluten whereas gluten hydrolysate supernationt and its precipiate resulted from centrifugation. In experiment I, the rats were for 4 weeks fed the 4 kinds of diets containing same amount of nitrogen and calories and diffeing only in the forms of nitrogen sources. The diets were gluten (G), gluten hydrolysat(GH), gluten hydrolysate supernatant(GHS) and gluten hydrolysate precipitatie(GHP). Determination was made for the body weight gain, serum Ca concentration, Ca solubility in small intestinal contents, bone weight, length and stength, bone ash and Ca content, and Ca balance, respectively. No significant difference was noticed as regards growth, serum Ca, and bone dimension and Ca content among rat groups. More significant increase was observed with regard to Ca absorption and intestinal solubility in the rats receiving the GH or GHS diet which containe crude gluten peptides, than in those subjected to G or GHP diet. In experiment II, in vitro determination for Ca solubility was made to ascertain the mechanism responsible for the effects of gluten peptides on Ca absorption. The 10mM Ca in potassium phosphate buffer solution(pH 7.0) incubated for 3 hours at 37$^{\circ}C$ by the GHS fraction, was observed to be capable of increasing the Ca solubility at 5-25mg/ml concentration of gluten peptides. These observations suggest that the gluten peptides from gluten hydrolysate may enhance the Ca absorption efficiency by increasing the solubility of Ca in small intestine.