• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.799-808
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• 2021

This study was performed to investigate the extent of microbial contamination, the presence of enterotoxin genes, and the antibiotic susceptibility of Bacillus cereus in 58 red pepper plants and 43 environmental samples (soil, irrigation water, and gloves) associated with the plant cultivation. The detected counts of total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus were lower in these samples, as compared to the regulations of standards for foods; moreover, pathogens, such as E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp., were not detected. Genes encoding hemolysin BL enterotoxins (hblA, hblC, and hblD) as well as non-hemolytic enterotoxins (nheA, nheB, and nheC) were detected in 23 B. cereus specimens that were isolated from the test samples and had β-hemolytic activity. Interestingly, B. cereus is resistant to β-lactam and susceptible to non-β-lactam antibiotics. However, in this case, the isolated B. cereus specimens exhibited a shift from resistant to intermediate in response to cefotaxime and from susceptible to intermediate in case of rifampin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, vancomycin, clindamycin, and erythromycin. Therefore, the levels of B. cereus should be monitored to detect changes in antibiotic susceptibility and guarantee their safety.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.328-334
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• 2021

This study was conducted to analyze the effect of fog cooling during daytime and heatpump cooling at night in greenhouses in summer. During daytime, the average temp. and RH of the control greenhouse which had shading screen were 32.1℃ and 59.4%. and the average temp. and RH of the test greenhouse which had fog cooling were 30.0℃ and 74.3%. At this time, the average outside temp. and RH were 31.4℃ and 57.7%. So, the temp. of the control was 0.7℃ higher than outside temp., but the temp. of the test was 1.4℃ lower than outside and 2.1℃ lower than control. The average RH was 74.3% in the test and 59.4% in control. The average temp. and RH of the control greenhouse which had natural ventilation at night were 25.2℃ and 85.1%, and the average temp. and RH of the test greenhouse which had heat pump cooling were 23.4℃, 82.4%. The average outside temp. and RH at night were 24.4℃ and 88.2%. The temp. of the control was 0.8℃ higher than outside temp., but the temp. of the test was 1.0℃ lower than outside and 1.8℃ lower than control. The average RH was 82.4% in test and 85.1% in control greenhouse. There was no significant difference between the plants growth eight weeks after planting. But after the cooling treatment, the values of stem diameter, plant height, chlorophyll in test were higher than control. The total yield was 81.3kg in test, 73.8kg in control, so yield of test was 10.2% higher than control. As a result of economic analysis, 142,166 won in profits occurred in control greenhouse, but 28,727 won in losses occurred in test greenhouse, indicating that cooling treatment was less economical.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.401-409
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• 2021

This study aimed to estimate the photosynthetic capacity of tomato plants grown in a semi-closed greenhouse using temperature response models of plant photosynthesis by calculating the ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase maximum carboxylation rate (V_cmax), maximum electron transport rate (J_max), thermal breakdown (high-temperature inhibition), and leaf respiration to predict the optimal conditions of the CO₂-controlled greenhouse, for maximizing the photosynthetic rate. Gas exchange measurements for the A-C_i curve response to CO₂ level with different light intensities {PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) 200µmol·m^-2·s^-1 to 1500µmol·m^-2·s^-1} and leaf temperatures (20℃ to 35℃) were conducted with a portable infrared gas analyzer system. Arrhenius function, net CO₂ assimilation (A_n), thermal breakdown, and daylight leaf respiration (R_d) were also calculated using the modeling equation. Estimated J_max, A_n, Arrhenius function value, and thermal breakdown decreased in response to increased leaf temperature (> 30℃), and the optimum leaf temperature for the estimated J_max was 30℃. The CO₂ saturation point of the fifth leaf from the apical region was reached at 600ppm for 200 and 400µmol·m^-2·s^-1 of PAR, at 800ppm for 600 and 800µmol·m^-2·s^-1 of PAR, at 1000ppm for 1000µmol of PAR, and at 1500ppm for 1200 and 1500µmol·m^-2·s^-1 of PAR levels. The results suggest that the optimal conditions of CO₂ concentration can be determined, using the photosynthetic model equation, to improve the photosynthetic rates of fruit vegetables grown in greenhouses.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.154-163
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• 2021

This study was carried out to present the habitat distribution status and the habitat distribution prediction of Sophora koreensis, which is the Korean Endemic Plant included in the EN (Endangered) class of the IUCN Red List. The habit distribution survey of Sophora koreensis confirmed 19 habitats in Gangwon Province, including 13 habitats in Yanggu-gun, 3 habitats in Inje-gun, 2 habitats in Chuncheon-si, and 1 habitat in Hongcheon-gun. The northernmost habitat of Sophora koreensis in Korea was in Imdang-ri, Yanggu-gun; the easternmost habitat in Hangye-ri, Inje-gun; the westernmost habitat in Jinae-ri, Chuncheon-si; and the southernmost habitat in Sungdong-ri, Hongcheon-gun. The altitude of the Sophora koreensis habitats ranged from 169 to 711 m, with an average altitude of 375m. The area of the habitats was 8,000-734,000 m², with an average area of 202,789 m². Most habitats were the managed forests, such as thinning and pruning forests. The MaxEnt program analysis for the potential habitat of Sophora koreensis showed the AUC value of 0.9762. The predictive habitat distribution was Yanggu-gun, Inje-gun, Hwacheon-gun, and Chuncheon-si in Gangwon Province. The variables that influence the prediction of the habitat distribution were the annual precipitation, soil carbon content, and maximum monthly temperature. This study confirmed that habitats of Sophora koreensis were mostly found in the ridge area with rich light intensity. They can be used as basic data for the designation of protected areas of Sophora koreensis habitat.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.4
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• pp.504-515
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• 2021

To examine the relationship between environmental factors influencing the habitat of Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz., this study employed the MexEnt model to evaluate 21 environmental factors. Fourteen environmental factors having an AUC of at least 0.6 were found to be the age of stand, growing stock, altitude, topography, topographic wetness index, solar radiation, soil texture, mean temperature in January, mean temperature in April, mean annual temperature, mean rainfall in January, mean rainfall in August, and mean annual rainfall. Based on the response curves of the 14 descriptive factors, Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz. on the Baekun Mountain were deemed more suitable for sites at an altitude of 600 m or lower, and habitats were not significantly affected by the inclination angle. The preferred conditions were high stand density, sites close to valleys, and distribution in the northwestern direction. Under the five-age class system, the species were more likely to be observed for lower classes. The preferred solar radiation in this study was 1.2 MJ/m². The species were less likely to be observed when the topographic wetness index fell below the reference value of 4.5, and were more likely observed above 7.5 (reference of threshold). Soil analysis showed that Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz. was more likely to thrive in sandy loam than clay. Suitable conditions were a mean January temperature of - 4.4℃ to -2.5℃, mean April temperature of 8.8℃-10.0℃, and mean annual temperature of 9.6℃-11.0℃. Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz. was first observed in sites with a mean annual rainfall of 1,670- 1,720 mm, and a mean August rainfall of at least 350 mm. Therefore, sites with increasing rainfall of up to 390 mm were preferred. The area of potential habitats having distributive significance of 75% or higher was 202 ha, or 1.8% of the area covered in this study.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.50
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• pp.77-101
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• 2018

Even in our modern era, the projection of monsters in the recent literature contains the critical imagination of human existence for the posthuman age. The meaning of the monster-abject, especially as from the perspective of feministic criticism, contains criticism of the violent and oppressive patriarch as observed in the modern times. This article focuses on the gendered imagination of the discussions of the "abject" discussed by Julia Kristeva, and the "monstrous femine" discussed by Barbara Creed. Kim Eon-Hee's poems and Han Kang's novels, which have been examined extensively for analysis, show that the practical strategy of abject that goes beyond hate and sublime, wonder and joy through the imagination and concepts of monsters. The monster-abject strategy of Kim Eon-Hee's poem can be summarized by the narrative method of mirroring and the imagination of the truncated body. Mirroring falsification, which mimics the male speaker, is a method that some feminists strategically utilize in relation to the problem of female aversion in recent years as noted in the literature. In Kim Eon-Hee's poem, "becoming a man" and "imitating a man," through the method of mirroring appear as an image of cutting to dismantle the body. In that way, the narrative strategy of the abject that draws out abominations and bizarre effects which contains a strong critique of the patriarchal dominant ideology. The monster-abject strategy of Han-Kang's novel is embodied through the being of plants and the process of vegetarian-anorexia process. The world of the adject which was oppressed in the Han-Kang's novel, returns to the senses of the body through the symbol of the body. It is noted that the fictional characters who realize the repressed desire through the pathological symptom expressed by the female, go on to body perform active transformation. The sense of a body in a novel is not only a rejection of the world of animalman-civilization, but also a radically questioning of the noted and recognized boundaries between human beings and non-human being entities. The two writer's works show that the imagination of the monster-adject is not limited to rejecting the existing gender categories, but also goes in the direction of exploring the possibilities of various associated gender actions.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.68-80
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate characteristics and variations of rice panicle traits for breeding temperate japonica varieties adapted to tropical environment. Eleven panicle traits were investigated from nine Korean rice varieties cultivated in Korea and wet season of the Philippines. Tested cultivars were composed of six temperate japonica varieties, three Tongil-type varieties, and one indica variety bred in the Philippines. The number of spikelets on secondary rachis branches (SRBs) was the most variable trait in both environments, while the mean number of spikelets on a primary rachis branch (PRB) was the least variable. Compared with PRB-related traits, SRB traits showed higher correlation with the number of spikelets per panicle. Compared with the plants grown in Korea, the number of spikelets on SRBs, the number of SRBs, spikelets, and rachis branches per panicle were decreased more than other traits in the Philippines. According to path analysis, the number of spikelets on SRBs per panicle affects the number of spikelets per panicle more than the number of spikelets on PRBs per panicle. Climatic factors such as growth duration, cumulative mean temperature, and integrated solar radiation were highly correlated with the relative rate of number of spikelets per panicle. To breed temperate japonica rice varieties adapted to tropical environment, it would be important to select lines which maintain proper growth duration and spikelets on SRBs in target region.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.44
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• pp.411-430
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• 2016

One of central issues in the Literature and Science discourses during the Victorian era is the relation of physiology to psychology. Many thinkers tackle the question of whether or not psychic phenomena can be reducible to their physiological bases. For instance, Victorian physiologist William Benjamin Carpenter claims that there should be a boundary between physiological and psychological qualities. Yet, his contemporary writer Grant Allen contends for the reduction of psychology into physiology. In the essay, I discuss Grant Allen's work Physiological Aesthetics (1877) so as to eventually problematize his physiological reductionism. I especially highlight the paradox of his physiological aesthetics. In order to clarify my argument, I introduce two concepts: evolutionary aesthetics and physiological reductionism. On the one hand, Allen argues for the development of aesthetic appreciation. The gradual evolution from gaudy to serene colors, for instance, reflects the fine differentiation of sensory organs. He believes that the existence of varied aesthetic pleasures corresponds to the evolution of sensory nerve structures. Nonetheless, Allen ironically gives more weight to the commonality of aesthetic experiences than to this teleological ordering of aesthetic experiences. He argues that there is no fundamental difference among humans in terms of their aesthetic assessments. Furthermore, there is even no essential distinction among plants, animals, and humans in light of their aesthetic appraisals, he states firmly. Although he asserts the gradual advance of aesthetic feelings caused by the intricacy of nervous systems, he simultaneously trivializes the evolution of aesthetic appraisal. In the essay, I highlight this paradox in Allen's physiological aesthetics. It should be underscored, lamentably enough, that Allen seeks biological purity by erasing fine lines among physiology, psychology, and sociality. He estranges aesthetic experiences from subjective variations and their socio-cultural contexts. He makes great efforts to eliminate individual differences and socio-cultural specificities in order to extremely biologize aesthetic experiences. Hence, Allen's physiological aesthetics is marked as the politics of physiological purification.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.28-51
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to analyze forest vegetation structure in Marugeum (the ridge line) area between Dakmokryeong and Daetjae in Baekdudaegan through vegetation classification, importance value, species diversity, and CCA using the data that were collected from 245 quadrates through Braun-Blanquet vegetation survey method from May to September in 2017. The results of the forest vegetation classification identified 8 vegetation units with Quercus mongolica community group at the highest level. Q. mongolica community group was classified into the Cornus controversa community, Buxus koreana community, Sasa borealis community, Abies nephrolepis community, and Q. mongolica typical community. C. controversa community was further classified into Quercus dentata group, Filipendula glaberrima group, Larix kaempferi group, and C. controversa typical group. The result of the important value analysis showed that Q. dentata had the highest importance value at 19.1% in vegetation unit 1 while Q. mongolica had the highest importance value at 22.7%, 38.3%, 25.6%, 41.3%, 27.9%, and 41.6% in vegetation unit 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively, and L. kaempferi had the highest importance value at 27.6% in vegetation unit 3. As such, Q. mongolica species generally represented the communities of Marugeum (the ridge line) area of Dakmokryeong to Daetjae in Baekdudaegan. The results of species diversity showed that vegetation unit 1 and 2 were 3.305 and 3.236, respectively, which were relatively higher than other vegetation units. It was considered that this result was due to the influence of high emergence of present species. The results of the CCA analysis of the correlations between biotic environmental factors and vegetation types showed that vegetation unit 1 was mainly correlated with the megaphanerophyte ratio and vine plant ratio. In the correlations between abiotic environmental factors and vegetation types, vegetation unit 7 was significantly correlated with altitude. From the perspective of ecological management, vegetation unit 5 represented by B. koreana community was inhabited by a variety of plants due to the species composition and location environment due to the geological characteristics that are typical of limestone area. Vegetation unit 7 represented by A. nephrolepis community was typified as subalpine vegetation widely distributed by relict species and endemic species. We concluded that it is necessary to manage these vegetation units with an ecologically differentiated approach.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.975-984
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• 2018

Fast pyrolysis bio-oil has unfavorable properties that restrict its use in many applications. Among the main issues are high acidity, instability, and water and oxygen content, which give rise to corrosiveness, polymerization during storage, and a low heating value. Esterification and azeotropic water removal can improve all of these properties. A 500 g of Quercus mongollica which grounded 0.8~1.4 mm was processed into bio-oil via fast pyrolysis for 2 seconds at $550^{\circ}C$. The esterification consists of treating pyrolysis oil with a high boiling alcohol like n-butanol at $70^{\circ}C$ under reduced pressure (100 hPa). All products are analyzed for water mass fraction, viscosity, higher heating value, pH, FT-IR and GC/MS. The water mass fraction can be reduced by 91.4 % (from 31.5 % to below 2.7 %), the viscosity by 65.8 % (from 36.5 to 12.5 cP) and the higher heating value can be increased by 96.8 % (from 3,918 to 7,712 kcal/kg), the pH by 1.3 (from 2.7 to 4.0). FT-IR and GC/MS analysis indicated that labile acids, aldehydes, ketones and lower alcohols were transformed to stable target products. Using this approach, the water content of the pyrolysis oil is reduced significantly. These improvements should allow the utilization of upgraded pyrolysis liquids in standard boilers and as fuel in CHP (Combined heat and power) plants.