• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.94-102
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• 2020

Renewable energy (RE) is essential to comprise sustainable societies, especially, in rural villages of developing countries. Furthermore, application of off-grid RE systems to health care can improve the quality of life. In this research, a RE-based vaccination supply management system was constructed to enlarge the cold-chain in developing countries for the safe storage and delivery of vaccines. The system was comprised of the construction of RE plants and development of vaccine carriers. RE plants were constructed and connected to health posts in local villages. The cooling mechanism of vaccine carriers was improved and monitoring devices were installed. The effect of the system on vaccine cold-chain was evaluated from the field test and topographical analysis in the southern village of Nepal. RE plants were normally operated for the vaccine refrigerator in the health post. The modified vaccine carriers had a longer operation time and better temperature control via monitoring and RE-based recharging functionality. The topographical analysis estimated that the system can cover larger region. The system prototype showed great potential regarding the possibility of a sustainable and enlarged cold-chain. Thus, RE-based vaccine supply management is expected to facilitate vaccine availability while minimizing waste in the supply chain.

• Journal of Life Science
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• 제31권12호
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• pp.1142-1148
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• 2021

As the average human lifespan has been extended, there has been a lot of interest in the quality of life of women after menopause. It is known that the average age of menopause among Korean women is 49.7 years, and the post-menopausal life of a woman takes up more than one third of her life. L-ascorbic acid (AsA) is known to be involved in the synthesis and maturation of collagen, a bone constituent protein. The aim of this review is to discuss the potential of AsA in bone health in postmenopausal women. AsA plays an important role in collagen biosynthesis, and collagen is a protein constituting bone and is a necessary material for calcification of the bone matrix. Collagen crosslinking is necessary for the stabilization and elasticity of collagen fibers during growth and matruation of animals, but an excessive increase is likely to lead to further aging because the movement of intercellular nutrients or waste is suppressed. AsA acts as a reducing agent to stabilize the immature collagen crosslinking and suppress pyridinoline production, a mature crosslinking. Therefore, AsA participates in collagen biosynthesis and helps bone tissue health, while regulating the excessive maturation of collagen crosslinking, it is expected to play an important role in bone-related problems that may occur in postmenopausal women.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.15-25
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• 2023

Since the COVID-19 crisis, the use of disposable packaging materials and delivery services, which raise environmental and social issues with waste disposal, has significantly increased. Antimicrobial active packaging has emerged as a viable solution for extending the shelf-life of foods by minimizing microbial growth and decomposition. In this review article, we provide a comprehensive overview of current research trends in antimicrobial active film and coating published over the last five years. First, we introduced various polymer materials such as film and coating that are used in active packaging. Next, various types of antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral) packaging including essential oil, extracts, biological material, metal, and nanoparticles were introduced and their activities and mechanisms were discussed. Finally, the current challenges and prospects were discussed. Overall, this review provides insights into the recent advancements in antimicrobial active packaging research and highlights the potential of the technology to enhance food safety and quality.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.47-56
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• 1999

$^{15}N$-Isotope concentrations of groundwater from l4 wells with different land-use types in Kyonggi Province were measured to investigate the nitrate contamination sources. Water samples were collected monthly from January to December 1997 and analyzed for pH. PC, anions (fluoride, chloride, nitrate, sulfate, inorganic phosphate, and bicarbonate), and canons (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium). For the analysis of the $^{15}N/^{14}N$ ratio as ${\delta}^{15}N$, $N_2$ samples were prepared through Kjeldahl-Rittenberg method and were analyzed using an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (VG Optima IRMS). Reproducibility of the method and precision of the IRMS were below 1.0‰ and 0.1‰, respectively. The ionic composition of each groundwater sample was only slightly different according to the land-use type. The nitrate concentrations of groundwater in cropland or livestock farming areas were higher than those in the residential area. The percentages of nitrate to total anions of groundwater samples from the livestock farming area were higher than those of other areas. The ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of ammonium sulfate, urea, groundwater sample in the non-contaminated area, and water from the animal manure septic tank were -2.7, 1.4, 5.5, and 27.2‰, respectively. Based on the ${\delta}^{15}N$ values, the sources of nitrate could be classified as originated from chemical fertilizers with ${\delta}^{15}N$ values below 5% and as from animal manure or municipal waste with ${\delta}^{15}N$ values over 10‰. In most cases, contamination sources investigated from ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of groundwater samples were correlated with the specific sources according to the land-use types. However, some ${\delta}^{15}N$ values did not matched the apparent land-use types, and there were seasonal variations of ${\delta}^{15}N$ values within the same well. These results suggest that the groundwater quality was affected by two or more contamination sources and the contribution of each source to the groundwater quality varied depending on the sampling season.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.19-24
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• 1997

This studies was carried out to investigate the soil contamination and water quality affected by agricultural activities in the Keum river Districts. Soil pH of the Keum river districts were $5.56{\sim}7.09$ in Keum river headwater and Namdae-cheon but that of Keumgang-lake were $5.07{\sim}7.21$ because of the cattle shed and industrial complex around. Total nitrogen contents of soils were found difference as period of fertilizer application. Total phosphorous content of soils no difference were found between the headwater and Keumgang-lake. Heavy metal contents of soils were natural background level. Water pH of the Keum river districts ranged from 6.59 to 7.80 and COD was maintain below 1.0 mg/L. Total nitrogen content affected by a livestock wastes and sewage water were the higher than that of others and total phosphorous content showed below 0.5 mg/L. Nitrate nitrogen and ortho-phosphate contents were very high according to the influence a livestock waste and sewage water in headwater region of the Keum river partly. Chlorine and sulfate contents were high according to the influence of sea water invasion. Heavy metal contents of waters were natural background level.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.202-208
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• 1995

Puksin Bay located in the northwestern pan of Tongyeong, Korea has been contaminated by municipal wastewaters. In Puksin Bay, red tides have occured almost every year since the early 1980's. This experiment was carried out two times in a month in the winter in 1990, the summer' 1991, and the winter in 1994 so as to clarify the distribution marine bacteria and coliform groups in Puksin Bay. The water quality of Puksin Bay was not only move polluted than that of any other costal area around Tongyeong, but also its water quality was investigated to keep going bad. Viable cell counts in Puksin Bay were $4.9\times10^3/ml$ in 1990's winter, $3.6\times10^6/ml$ in 1991's summer, and $2.1\times10^4/ml$ in 1994's winter. The variation of seasonal total and fecal coliform MPN/100ml in Puksin Bay were $6.7\times10^2\;and\;2.6\times10^2$ in 1990's winter, $1.5\times10^4$ and $5.4\times10^3$ in 1991's summer, and $1.5\times10^3$ and $5.6\times10^2$ in 1994's winter, respectively. The changes of stational total coliform MPN/100m1 from station 1 to station 8 in Puksin Bay were 95,000, 1600, 1,000, 182, 151, 94, 43 and 13 in winter, and 110,000, 29,000, 2,400, 4,100, 1,700, 1,700, 810 and 150 in 1991's summer, and 3,381, 1928, 1582, 256, 161, 59 and 23 in 1994's winter. During the study period, the number of viable cell was ranged from $10^4\;to\;10^7/ml$ and 307 bacteria strains were isolated from Puksin Bay. The dominant species were Acinetobacter spp. 86 $(28.3\%)$, Pseudomonas spp. 51 $(16.6\%)$, Flavobacterium spp. 41 $(13.4\%)$, Escherichia coli 36 $(11.7\%)$, and Vibrio spp. 27$(8.8\%)$. The results obtained in this study indicate that this bay is getting to contaminate far more with municipal wastewaters and cultivation of the shellfish and finfish in this bay is not proper. When municiple wastewaters keep flowing into this bay, any other coastal area around Tongyeong may be contaminated.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.21-27
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• 2014

Pig slurry has been considered as environmental waste to be treated in an appropriate manner. Moreover, water-born pollution loads by agricultural non-point source(NPS) pollution are expected to become intensified due to ongoing precipitation change. This study was conducted to develop a best management practice to reduce NPS pollution load by agricultural activity with pig manure compost. An eco-friendly way, small drainage pond, was suggested in this study to avoid direct drainage of agricultural runoffs and eventually reduce the amount of pollutants discharged into the surrounding aqua-environment. A small pond($12m^2$) was constructed at the corner of a rice paddy field($17,15m^2$) located in Suwon, Korea. Water was allowed to drain only via a small drainage pond. Sampling was repeatedly made at two locations, one from an entrance and the other from an exit of a pond, during the rice cultivation period(May to October, 2013). Generally, sampling was made only when runoff water drained through a pond, such as during and/or after rain(irrigation). The water quality analysis showed that all quality parameters(SS, $COD_{Mn}$, T-N, and T-P) were improved as water passed through the pond. The amount of runoff water was reduced by 67.8%. Suspended solids and $COD_{Mn}$ concentrations were reduced by 79.8% and 71.9%, respectively. In case of T-N and T-P amounts, the reduction rates were 73.6% and 74.9%, respectively. Our data implies that agricultural NPS pollution from rice paddy fields with pig manure-based fertilizer can be effectively managed when an appropriate drainage water management practice is imposed.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• 제38권6호
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• pp.307-312
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• 2005

Since alpine upland in Pyungchang-gun has been typically applied every two or three years with saprolite, agricultural by-products are inputted to raise soil properties. Therefore, the effect of saprolite application on water quality in runoff and leachate should be monitored. To investigate water quality in runoff and leachate with various treatments of agricultural by-product, lysimeter with dimension of $0.85m{\times}1.75m{\times}0.30m$ was installed in Kangwon National University. Control, mixed compost with cow, chicken and sawdust by-product (CCSC), chicken manure by-product compost (CC), food waste by-product compost (FWC), and beer sewage sludge by-product compost (BSSC) at the rate of $10Mg\;ha^{-1}$ were mixed with soil in 25 cm depth, and water qualities in runoff and leachate were monitored from Jun. 4, 2004 to Oct. 18, 2004. EC ($0.8-2.2dS\;m^{-1}$) and concentrations of total N ($25-75mg\;L^{-1}$) and total P ($0.12-0.43mg\;L^{-1}$) were highest in both runoff and leachate of CC treatment. EC values in CC and FWC treatments continuously increased during lysimeter experiment, while total N and total P concentrations continuously decreased. Average total N concentrations in runoff taken from CCSC, FWC and BSSC treatments were 41, 34 and $37mg\;L^{-1}$, and in leachate were 35, 28 and $34mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. Average total P concentrations were not different with different treatments. EC values in leachate were higher than those in runoff, and total N concentrations in runoff were higher than those in leachate.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.279-287
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• 2010

This study was to evaluate ecological conditions of Hyeongsan River watershed from April to September 2009. The ecological health assessments was based on Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI), water chemistry during 2000~2009, and the fish multi-metric model, Index of Biological Integrity (IBI). For the study, the models of IBI and QHEI were modified as 8 and 11 metric attributes, respectively. Values of IBI averaged 25.4 (n=6), which is judged as a "fair" condition (C) after the criteria of Barbour et al. (1999). The distinct spatial variation was found in the IBI. Physical habitat health, based on the values of QHEI, varied from 76 in the downriver (H6) to 150.5 in the headwater (H1) and was evidently more disturbed in the downriver reach. Values of BOD and COD averaged 2.4 $mgL^{-1}$ (range: 0.3~13.8 $mgL^{-1}$) and 4.3 $mgL^{-1}$ (scope: 0.6~12.8 $mgL^{-1}$), respectively during the study period. Total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) averaged 3.0 $mgL^{-1}$ and 103.5 ${\mu}gL^{-1}$, respectively, indicating a severe eutrophication, and the nutrients increased more in the downriver than the headwater. Overall, physical, chemical and IBI parameters showed a typical downriver degradation along main axis of the river from the headwater-to-the downriver. This was mainly attributed to livestock waste and residential influences along with industrial discharge from the urban region.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제36권2호통권103호
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• pp.181-190
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• 2003

An investigation was conducted on the aquatic environment of the Okchon Stream watershed six times from May to September 2002. The results of investigation revealed that variation of environmental factors were quite significant for each stream and reach, showing a significant difference between running water and stagnant water. Aquatic nutrients were relatively low in the upstream, gradually increasing as the influx of treated wastewater into the stream increased. This suggests that the point source definitely affected the nutrient content of the stream. In particular, the variations of SRP and $NH_4$ were very distinct in the watershed compared to other nutrients. Thus, it can be considered as a major factor in evaluating the effect of treated wastewater. Immediately after the influx of treated waste-water, the average content of SRP rose to 919.3 ${\mu}g$ P/l. This was a very effective level in the watershed, suggesting that the percentage of the nutrients in the water was controlled by the content of P. The constant supply of treated wastewater was found to be a critical factor in triggering the increase in chl-a in the embayment of the stream. With the proliferation of the blue-green algae, the content of chl- a ranged 234.5${\sim}$1,692.2 ${\mu}g/l$. The maximum standing crops exceeded $1.0{\times}10^6$ cells/ml in August, which was more than 200 times the level for red tide in the freshwater. This result was well reflected in other environmental factors, with 100% of AFDM/TSS reflecting the severity of water pollution by algae. Therefore, the reduction of P and N con-tents in the treated wastewater is critical in improving the aquatic environment of the stream as well as water quality management for the reservoir.