• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2014

Periodically, harmful algal blooms (HABs) have occurred, with impacts on various areas including public health, tourism, and aquatic ecosystems, especially aquacultured and caged fisheries. To prevent or manage invasions of HABs into fish farms on an emergency basis, many methods have been proposed. Frequently over the past 30 years in coastal countries, treatments of clay and clay mixed with polyaluminum chloride (PAC) and chitosan have been tested for HAB-removal effectiveness in both the laboratory and the field. In Korea, yellow loess clay (hwangto) has been dispersed using electrolytic clay dispensers, both to decrease the amount of yellow loess clay's usage in containers and enhance HAB-removal efficiency. However, this emergency method has limitations, among which is the requirement for more effective controlling agents for field applications. Thus, in this paper, we review technologies for clay-based red tides prevention and control and their limitations, and, further, introduce next-generation algicidal technologies for the emergency protection of fish farms.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.219-222
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• 2000

The purpose of this research was to investigate the general properties and main ingridients of Hwangtoh, which is the Korean loess. It is well known as a raw material of pottery shown to be widely scattered on the earth, especially in Korea. It belongs to primary clay that was found to be rich on mountain surface or field. In this study, XRF Spectral method was employed to analyze the chief ingredients of Hwangtoh, being found to consist of $43{\sim}50%\;SiO_2,\;2{\sim}34%\;Al_2O_3,\;2{\sim}3%\;Mg,\;2{\sim}3%\;Na\;and\;1{\sim}2%\;K$. The ferric oxide contents of Hwangtoh from San Chung, Ha Dong, Ko Ryung, Ouk Chong, Bang Gae and Song Kwang were 6.46, 7.96, 11.26, 9.36, 9.06 and 9.28 %, respectively. The general characteristics of Hwangtoh from different places were studied by determining the content of water and the capacity to maintain temperature. Based on the above results, Hwangtoh could be said to have better quality than primary clay of Kaolin dose, and also would be able to find an application in construction formulations.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2018

Amorphous silica ($SiO_2$) silt grains were found in some soils of Korean Peninsula. Scanning electron microscopy of polished section of soils revealed ellipsoidal amorphous $SiO_2$ grains with numerous submicron pores concentrated in the interior. Their amorphous structure was confirmed by lattice imaging and electron diffraction under transmission electron microscope. Amorphous $SiO_2$ grains were not found in the eolian sediment of the Chinese loess plateau. Although the origin of the amorphous $SiO_2$ grain is uncertain, they are likely either phytolith or weathering product of volcanic ash. The amorphous $SiO_2$ silt grains are not useful as a tracer of long-range transport mineral dust in soils.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.141-151
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• 2010

Harmful algal blooms (HABs), commonly known as red tides, are aquatic phenomena caused by the rapid growth and accumulation of certain microalgae, which can lead to marked discoloration of surface waters, and severe impacts on public health, commerce, and the environment. In South Korea, the red tides have been a serious and recurrent problem, especially along the south coast. Plenty of yellow loess was used to control an outbreak of the red tides for 15 years from 1996 until now. Yellow loess was almost sprayed in the vicinity of a large fish farming industry. In this research, the distribution characteristics and density distribution of zooplankton were investigated in autumn (Oct. 2008) and spring (Apr. 2009) using volume backscattering strength (SV) calculated by the zooplankton collected with north pacific standard (NORPAC) net and the echo intensity measured with ADCP at stations on the study area in the spraying ocean of yellow loess (SOYL), and the non-spraying ocean of yellow ocean (NOYL) by the red tide generating every year. The species number and the individuals per unit volume of the zooplankton collected in NOYL was high and it which was collected in SOYL was low. As a result of comparing the volume backscattering strength ($SV_c$) calculated by species and length of the zooplankton collected with NORPAC net with the volume backscattering strength ($SV_m$) calculated by the echo intensity measured with ADCP at stations on the study area, although $SV_c$ and $SV_m$ of NOYL were generally in agreement, $SV_m$ of SOYL was higher than $SV_c$ 4.3dB, i.e. ADCP is greatly influenced by suspended solid in SOYL. The horizontal distribution map of $SV_m$ at the study area in autumn (Oct. 2008) and spring (Apr. 2009) was drawn. $SV_m$ of SOYL is higher than NOYL and autumn is higher than spring. $SV_m$ can suppress the overestimate or underestimate of $SV_c$.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.919-929
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• 2016

This study investigated the effect of organic materials (Bordeaux, Loess-sulfur) and the removal of apical shoot against downy mildew disease on cucumber cultivated in greenhouse. Five kinds of Bordeaux were made by adjusting mixing ratio of lime and copper sulfate in order to elucidate the optimal combination. The 4-6type Bordeaux was selected as the most effective combination for controlling cucumber downy mildew. Loess-sulfur showed inhibitory activity against cucumber downey mildew, but it was less effective than Bordeaux. It was confirmed that apical shoot cutting could reduce the incidence of cucumber downy mildew disease by 56.3%. When apical shoots of susceptible cucumber variety were cut at different leaf stages, disease incidence by early apical shoot cutting treatment was lower than that of late apical shoot cutting treatment. However in a resistant variety, 'Heukryungsamcheok', disease incidences of all cucumber apical shoot cutting treatments were lower than that of non-cutting treatment, but there was no differences between apical shoot cutting treatments due to low disease incidences. In addition, when organic materials and apical shoot cutting treatment were carried out in parallel, the combined treatments of organic materials and apical shoot cutting showed low disease incidence of cucumber downy mildew compared to untreated control. The lowest disease incidence of cucumber downy mildew was recorded in the combined treatment of 4-6type Bordeaux and apical shoot cutting. This study confirmed that apical shoot cutting can reduce the disease incidence of cucumber downy mildew and the combined treatment of apical shoot cutting and organic materials showed higher suppressive effect against cucumber downy mildew.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.4
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• pp.703-708
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate effects of soil amendments on survival rate and growth of seedlings in a semi-arid region, Mongolia. 2-year-old Populus sibirica and Ulmus pumila seedlings were planted in alkaline sandy soils and treated with 2 levels of nitrogen, elemental sulfur, artificial moisture retention and converted loess. After 4 months, the seedling survival rate of both species decreased as the amount of nitrogen increased. Nitrogen has been generally known to increase seedling survival rate and growth by supplying nutrients, however, reduced survival rate in this study might be affected by consequential increase in soil osmotic pressure, which was caused by excessive nitrogen fertilization. The root collar diameter (RCD) growth of both species increased significantly by the treatment of converted loess, and only RCD growth of P. sibirica increased by the artificial moisture retention treatment. Although P. sibirica is drought-tolerant, it is in the group of Populus spp. which requires a high capacity of available water. Conversely, the elemental sulfur treatment showed no effect on survival rate and RCD growth for both species due to the low oxidation of sulfur in arid soils. The extended monitoring of seedling growth and soil characteristics is required to elucidate the long-term effects of soil amendments in the semi-arid region, and the further studies are also needed to examine the appropriate amount of fertilizers for both species.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.277-286
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• 2003

Nitrification performance of fixed film biofilters using coarse sand, loess bead, or styrofoam beads in biofilter columns 1 meter high and 30cm in diameter were studied at different hydraulic and organic matter loading rates. Synthetic wastewater was supplied to the culture tank in order to maintain desired TAN concentrations in inlet water to biofilters. All the biofilters were conditioned 5 months before start of sampling. TAN and $NO_2-N$ conversion rates increased with an increase in the hydraulic loading rate (HLR). However, the improvement in biofilter performance was not linearly correlated to HLR in styrofoam bead filters. This is mainly due to the characteristics of the styrofoam beads used. TAN conversion rates of sand filters increased with the increase of HLR up to $200m^3/m^2$. per day. No increase in the TAN conversion rate was observed at the highest HLR since flooding on the media surface took place. HLR had a significant impact on the TAN conversion rates in loess bead filter up to the highest HLR tested (P<0.05). TAN conversion rates were much less at organic matter loading rates of 9 and 18kg $O_2/m^3$ per day than those without the addition of organic matter in styrofoam bead filters. The addition of glucose resulted in a reduction of the TAN conversion rate from 540 to 284g $TAN/m^3$ per day. No significant difference of TAN conversion rates between the two organic matter loading rates was found (p<0.05). This indicates that the impact of organic matter on nitrification becomes less and less sensitive with an increase in the COD/TAN ratio. At an organic matter loading rate of 9kg $O_2/m^3$. per day, a great reduction of TAN conversion rates was observed in sand filters and loess bead filters. Clearly, organic matter can be one of the most Important Impacting factors on nitrification. $NO_2-N$ conversion rates showed a similar trend for TAN. Based on the TAN and nitrite conversion rates, styrofoam beads showed the best performance among the three filter media tested. Also, the low gravity and price of styrofoam beads make the handling easier and more cost-effective for commercial application. The results obtained at the highest organic matter loading rates can be used in the biofilter design in recirculating aquaculture system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2015

This research was conducted to compare the effect of soil amendment and loess on physial and chemical properties of dredged soil and primary height growth of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica. Three types of research plots: control plot (Dredged soil only), DC treatment plot (Dredged soil + soil amendment) and DCL treatment plot (Dredged soil + soil amendment + Loess) were set at Okgu research site in Saemanguem. 32 trees of U. davidiana var. japonica were planted in each plots after 14 months from the construction. Soil texture, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), available P, exchangeable cation ($K^+$, $Na^+$, $Mg^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$) and sodium chloride were measured after 3 years from the construction. Also, survival rate and height of U. davidiana var. japonica were measured 22 months after planting, and the correlation between height of trees and the physico-chemical properties of soil were analyzed. Even though pH in both DC and DCL treatment plots are lower than control plot, they are still alkaline (> pH 8). OM, TN and available P in both DC and DCL treatment were higher than the control. Particularly, the content of available P in both DC and DCL treatment plots are 1.4~5.1 times and 2.0~3.1 times higher than the control respectively. The concentration of exchangeable Mg in DCL treatment plot was 1.1~5.5 times higher than the control (p < .05). The survival rate of the species was the highest in DCL treatment plot (98%) followed by DC treatment plot and the control. The average height of the trees in both DC and DCL treatment plots is 1.1m while the control is 0.8m. OM, TN, available P, K+ were significantly related to the height of U. davidiana var. japonica(p < .01). The results indicate that soil amendment affects on soil physial and chemical properties of dredged soil and height growth of U. davidiana var. japonica.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2001

We investigated the capability of the phosphate-solubilizing fungus, Penicillium sp. GL-101, to solubilize in vitro some insoluble rock phosphate via possible mechanisms: acidification of the medium, production of chelating metabolites, redox activity, and so on. GL-101 was able to solubilize rock phosphate (mostly calcium phosphate) in a liquid potato dextrose broth(PDB) medium, as determined by spectrophotometric analyses. Acidification was the major mechanism of solubilization since the pH of cultures fell below 4.0 and in cultures containing 1.0%(w/v) loess the pH dropped from 7.0 to 3.2. More than 10 mg/mL concentrations of citric acids were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) in the culture supernatants. Also this fungus showed the phosphatase activity (over 1.3 unit) to contribute partially releasing phosphate from rock phosphate, when supplemented with 1.0% loess in culture broth. The chelating activity of GL-101 in culture supernatants was not present because 2-ketogluconic acid, a chelating agent for the phosphate, was produced only a basal level. Therefore, the solubilization mechanism of rock phosphate by Penicillium sp. GL-101 involves both acidification due to citric acid production and phosphatase activity.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.221-231
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• 2010

A simple extraction method was applied to control four selected cyanobacteria, solitary (SMA) and colonial Microcystis aeruginosa (CMA), and green algae, Scenedesmus quadricauda and Chlorella vulgaris using a domestic plant and mineral. Three kinds of concentrations (1, 5, and 10 mg $L^{-1}$) of three fresh plants Camellia sinensis, Quercus acutissima, and Castanea crenata, three minerals loess, quartz porphyry, and natural zeolite, and plant-mineral composite, totally seven materials were prepared with the simple extraction processes: drying and grinding of material, water-extraction by high temperature-sonication and filtering. Cyanobacteria SMA and CMA (over 60% of control) were effectively inhibited with the low concentration (1 mg $L^{-1}$) of plants Q. acutissima and C. crenata and natural zeolite, while green alga S. quadricauda (below 50% of control) also retarded in growth. Low concentrations (1 mg $L^{-1}$) of C. sinensis effectively increased the growth of C. vulgaris, while loess also induced the algal growth of S. quadricauda. Therefore, our results indicate that crude extract of domestic plants, Q. acutissima and C. crenata can be also useful to control the cyanobacterial bloom in eutrophic lake, whereas C. sinensis and loess may be a good growth factor or useful media for the algal mass culture.