• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.683-689
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• 2006

This study was established to investigate the effect of germanium-fortified yeasts on the serum lipid composition and immune system of human body. All 50 subjects with the age range of $50{\sim}75$ were entered in this clinical trial for 6 months. The effects were determined by the proliferative responses of immune-mediated cells, T-cell, B-cell and NK-cell during daily supplementation with/without germanium-fortified yeast. The results of hematology and blood chemistry didn't show any significant differences during administration periods. Serum lipid compositions also didn't show any significant differences during administration periods except triglyceride (TG) and VLDL-cholesterol. TG and VLDL-cholesterol levels were increased significantly by the consumption of germanium-fortified yeast (p<0.05). Immune mediated T-celt and NK-cell didn't increased in both control and test group supplemented with germanium fortified yeast, while B-cell increased in the germanium fortified yeast group after 8 week (p<0.05). Also $TNF-{\alpha}$ increased in the group of germanium fortified yeast after 8 week (p<0.05) but not in the control group. From the above results, germanium fortified yeast is expected to be useful on the improvement of the cellular immune response and protection of organs from various chronic diseases.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.238-252
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• 2015

The effect of weir construction (2009~2011) was investigated on algal bloom dynamics and surrounding conditions in the Youngsan River by analyzing the long-term (2001~2014) data provided by the Water Information System, Ministry of Environment. The data include chlorophyll a and water properties such as total suspended solids (TSS), ammonium ($NH_4{^+}$), nitrate ($NO_3{^-}$), orthophosphate ($PO{_4}^{3-}$), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and DIN/DIP molar ratio collected from 12 stations along the channel of the river. Temporal variations were examined using data collected monthly from 2001~2014 and Box-Whisker plot was used to examine the difference in algal bloom dynamics between before (2006~2008) and after (2012~2014) the weir construction. Pearson's correlation analysis was also used to analyze the correlation of parameters. The results showed that TSS affecting water turbidity increased during the construction but decreased especially at the stations located in the upper and middle regions of the river after the construction. Ammonium concentrations increased whereas the concentrations of other nutrients decreased after the construction inducing an increase in N:P molar ratio. Chlorophyll a decreased suddenly during the construction but increased clearly after the construction at the stations where TSS decreased. This indicates that algal blooms can develop in the Youngsan River due to a decrease in turbidity that increases light penetration in water column although the concentrations of nutrients such as orthophosphate were reduced after the weir construction.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2007

This study was carried out to develop a water quality simulation model for the evaluation of an ungauged watershed. For this purpose, the WASP5 model was selected and modified. The model consists of three sub-models, LOAD-M, DYN-M, and EUT-M. LOAD-M, an empirical model, estimates runoff loadings using point and non-point source data of villages. The Geum River Estuary watershed was selected to calibrate and verify the Modified-WASP5. The LOAD-M model was established using field data of water quality and quantity at the gauging stations of the watershed and was applied to the ungauged watersheds, taking the watershed properties into consideration. The result of water quality simulation using Modified-WASP5 shows that the observed average BOD data from Gongju and Ganggyeong were 2.6 mg/L and 2.8 mg/L, and the simulated data were 2.5 mg/L and 2.4 mg/L, respectively. Generally, simulation results were in good agreement with the observed data. This study focused on formulating an integrated model for evaluating ungauged watersheds. Even though simulation results varied slightly due to limited availability of data, the model developed in this study would be a useful tool for the assessment and management of ungauged watersheds.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.166-171
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• 2003

A total of 498 agricultural reservoirs ranging from $164{\times}10^3\;m^3$ to $253{\times}10^6\;m^3$ in storage volume were investigated from 1990 to 2001 with respect to Chl-${\alpha}$, COD concentration and pollutant loading of BOD, TN, and TP. The lakes and reservoirs could be classified to 4 types using the relationships between the ratio of storage volume per water surface area(ST/WS) and Chl-${\alpha}$ concentration. It is recommended that the improvement of polluted lakes should be performed in the order of integrated consolidation type ${\rightarrow}$ watershed consolidation type ${\rightarrow}$ in-lake consolidation type ${\rightarrow}$ Management type and reservoir should be constructed to be over $5{\sim}6\;m$ in depth(ST/WS ratio) for preventing the eutrophication of agricultural reservoirs. We propose that water quality criteria for agricultural water is changed from less than 8 mg/L to less than 6 mg/L for safety value, $6{\sim}10\;mg/L$ for concern value, and more than 10 mg/L for countermeasure value in COD concentration, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: Along with the surplus rice production, introduction of upland crop cultivations into newly reclaimed tidal areas has gained public attentions in terms of farming diversification and farmers income increase. However, its impacts on the surroundings have not been well studied yet, especially associated with nutrient balance from reclaimed upland cultivation. The objective of this study was to investigate water and nutrient balance during winter barley cultivation as affected different fertilization methods. METHODS AND RESULTS: TN and TP balance for three different plots treated by livestock compost, chemical fertilizer, and no application were monitored during winter green barley cultivation (2010-2011) at the NICS Kyehwa experimental field in Jeonbuk, Korea. Nutrient content in soil and pore water near soil surface appeared to increase, while sub-soil layer remained similar with no fertilization plot. Livestock compost application appeared to increase organic matter content in surface soil compared to chemical fertilization. Crop yield was the greatest with livestock compost application (10.6 t/ha) followed by chemical fertilization (6.9 t/ha) and no application (1.8 t/ha). The nitrogen uptake rate was also greater with livestock compost (52.4%) than chemical fertilizer (48.1%). Phosphorus uptake rate was much smaller (about 7.0%) compared to nitrogen. Nutrient loss by surface and subsurface runoff seemed to be minimal primarily due to small rainfall amount during the winter season. Most of the remaining nutrients, particularly phosphate seemed to be stored in soil layer. Phosphate accumulation appeared to be more phenomenal in the plot applied by livestock compost with higher phosphorus content. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that livestock compost application to tidal upland may increase barley crop production and also improve soil fertility by supplying organic content. However, excessive phosphorus supply with livestock compost seems likely to cause a phosphate accumulation problem, unless the nitrogen-based fertilization practice is adjusted.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2009

Characterization of the analysis of forest vegetation, soil environmental conditions and water quality were performed from March 2003 to March 2007. The two basins were characterized by cultivated area (Kaesim reservoir) and mountain area (Jangchan reservoir), and divided into eleven small basins, where dynamics of pollutants, forest vegetation and soil environmental conditions were surveyed. The vegetation can be divided into 10 types by $Z\ddot{u}rich$-Montpellier school's method. Pearson coefficients between vegetation type and water quality were correlated with dissolved oxygen (DO) in the Quercus variabilis community at the 5% level and total phosphorus (TP) in the Larix leptolepis plantation at the 1% level. Especially total phosphorous and total nitrogen increased in small basins where the proportion of cultivated and residential area increased. The analysis of influences of pollutant discharge on water quality showed that pollutant charge was very low in forest land area ($Y_{T-P}$=-0.0017X+0.2215, r=0.16, $Y_{COD}$=- 0.0395X+8.5051 r=0.47). The soil types of western area were comparatively simple, but those of eastern area were complicated with regosols, red-yellow soils, lithosoles, etc. The pH, total solid (TS) and volatile substance (VS) of the forest and agricultural land soils collected in each site were 5.4~6.9, 75.8~80.2%, and 3.80%~5.80%, respectively. According to the analytical result of soil environmental conditions, heavy metal contents fell short to the mean value of natural conditions. Runoff amount (Y) and depth of topsoil (X) were negatively correlated, $Y_{ron}=-1.0088X_{top}+35.378$ (r=0.68). The correlation was much lower in up-stream but much higher in down-stream, because permeation into soil particle was larger on down-stream due to its more or less gentle slope. Pearson coefficients between soil pH and water pH were statistically significant at 1% level.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.237-246
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• 2008

Filtration rates and fecal production of freshwater bivalve, Unio douglasiae on two kinds of hibernal diatom communities were measured simultaneously in a laboratory. One community is the Han River (HAN), which dominated by Asterionella Formosa. Stephanodiscus hantzschii (ca. 98% of total phytoplankton). The other community is the Ilgam Lake (IL), which dominated by Synedra ulna, Scenedesmus sp. Microcystis aeruginosa (ca. 82%). The HAN water has higher concentrations of nutrient (TN and TP) and chlorophyll $\alpha$ (Chl-$\alpha$), lower turbidity and conductivity than the IL water. Water sampling for the feeding experiment was conducted in the same day (Jan 15, 2008) and similar time (AM 10:00 for HAN, AM 11:00 for IL). Mussels with the similar size ($0.0{\pm}0.5\;cm$) were collected from the Gunsan and Okgu district (Jeonbuk), and starved in a laboratory for 2 days before the experiment. The experiment comprised CON (no addition of mussel), LOW (addition of mussel at 0.3 indiv. $L^{-1}$), MID (1.0 indiv. $L^{-1}$) and HIGH (2.0 indiv. $L^{-1}$), respectively. With the increment of mussel density and time, the concentration of Chl-$\alpha$ in two diatom communities were clearly decreased; Chl-$\alpha$ of HAN gradually decreased after 1 hour of mussel treatment, while that of IL decreased as soon as mussel introduction. In 7 hours of treatment, the former was removed finally up to about 90% of control, while the later was remained as about 50%. Under the presence of mussel, total phytoplankton density was shifted as the similar patterns to that of Chl-$\alpha$ (r=0.705, P<0.0001), however, there showed the drastic differences following a species. Based on the concentration of Chl-$\alpha$, filtration rate of U. douglasiae averaged 0.266 $L\;g^{-1}\;h^{-1}$ (0.115 to 0.442) on HAN and $0.577\;L\;g^{-1}\;h^{-1}$ (0.146 to 1.428) on IL water, respectively. There were no differences in feces production among the mussel density in the HAH water (ANOVA, P>0.5), while in IL water, including lots of seston, the HIGH mussel produced the higher fecal materials, over one hundred times of LOW. These results suggest that freshwater bivalve Unio douglasiae have the alternative potential, as a filter-feeder of seston in turbid lake, and a biological controller of diatom bloom in cold stream.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.750-756
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• 2014

This study was performed to understand the effect of cultivation periods on the physicochemical characteristics of the starch of five sweetpotato cultivars, cultivated in Muan, Korea. Starch, protein, and ash contents increased with increased cultivation period, whereas amylose content decreased. Rapid viscosity analysis showed that the pasting temperature, peak viscosity, breakdown, setback and final viscosity increased with increased cultivation period. However, trough and final viscosity decreased. Although the onset temperature and peak temperature values increased, the conclusion temperature did not show any consistent patterns by differential scanning calorimetry. X-ray diffraction showed that the starch samples had C-type crystallinity irrespective of the cultivation period and cultivar. The starch granules were dominantly round and oval, or polygonal irrespective the cultivation period. The bigger the particle size was, the longer the cultivation period was.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.307-316
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• 2010

Complex terrain refers to irregular surface properties of the earth that influence gradients in climate, lateral transfer of materials, landscape distribution in soils properties, habitat selection of organisms, and via human preferences, the patterning in development of land use. Complex terrain of mountainous areas represents ca. 20% of the Earth's terrestrial surface; and such regions provide fresh water to at least half of humankind. Most major river systems originate in such terrain, and their resources are often associated with socio-economic competition and political disputes. The goals of the TERRECO-IRTG focus on building a bridge between ecosystem understanding in complex terrain and spatial assessments of ecosystem performance with respect to derived ecosystem services. More specifically, a coordinated assessment framework will be developed from landscape to regional scale applications to quantify trade-offs and will be applied to determine how shifts in climate and land use in complex terrain influence naturally derived ecosystem services. Within the scope of TERRECO, the abiotic and biotic studies of water yield and quality, production and biodiversity, soil processing of materials and trace gas emissions in complex terrain are merged. There is a need to quantitatively understand 1) the ecosystem services derived in regions of complex terrain, 2) the process regulation occurred to maintain those services, and 3) the sensitivities defining thresholds critical in stability of these systems. The TERRECO-IRTG is dedicated to joint study of ecosystems in complex terrain from landscape to regional scales. Our objectives are to reveal the spatial patterns in driving variables of essential ecosystem processes involved in ecosystem services of complex terrain region and hence, to evaluate the resulting ecosystem services, and further to provide new tools for understanding and managing such areas.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.2 s.116
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• pp.198-208
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• 2006

This research was to apply a multi-metric approach, so called the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) as a tool for biological evaluations of water environments, to a wadable stream. For the study, we surveyed 5 sampling locations in Kap Stream during August 2004 ${\sim}$ September 2005. We also compared the biological data with long-term water quality data, obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Korea and physical habitat conditions based on the Quantitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI). We used ten metric systems for the IBI model to evaluate biological stream health. Overall IBI values in Kap Stream averaged 24 (range: 20${\sim}$30, n=5), indicating a "fair ${\sim}$ poor" conditions according to the modified criteria of Karr (1981) and US EPA(1993). Exclusive of 4th survey, average IBI values at the upstream reach (S1 ${\sim}$ S3)and downstream reach (S4 ${\sim}$ S5) were 20 and 24, respectively. However, in 4th survey the averages were 21 and 20 in the upstream and downstream reaches, respectively. This difference was larger in the upstream than in the downstream because of physical condition disturbed during summer monsoon. Values of the QHEI varied from 75(fair condition) to 148 (good condition) and values of QHEI in the S3 were significantly (P=0.001, n=5) lower than other sites. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were greater by 3 ${\sim}$ 8 fold in the downstream than in the upstream reach. We believe that present IBI approach applied in this study may be used as a key tool to set up specific goals for restoration of Kap Stream.