• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2008

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of probiotics as a feed additive for juvenile Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegeli. Four experimental diets supplemented with no probiotic(Control), Bacillus polyfermenticus(BP), Bacillus licheniformis(BL) or Bacillus polyfermenticus plus Saccharomyces cerevisiae(BP+SC) at $1.0{\times}10^7$ CFU/kg diet as a dry-mater(DM) basis were prepared by mixing with a basal diet. After 12 weeks of the feeding trial, fish fed BP+SC diet showed significantly higher weight gain(WG), feed efficiency(FE), specific growth rate(SGR) and protein efficiency ratio(PER) than those of fish fed control diet(P<0.05), however there were no significant differences in WG, FE, SGR and PER among fish fed the BP, BL and BP+SC diets. Fish fed BP and BP+SC diets showed significantly higher condition factor(CF) than that of fish fed control and BL diets. Fish fed BP, BL, BP+SC diets showed significantly higher hepatosomatic index(HSI) than that of fish fed control diet, however there was no significant difference in HSI among fish fed BP, BL and BP+SC diets. Fish fed BP+SC diet showed significantly lower serum glucose than that of fish fed control diet, however there was no significant difference in serum glucose among fish fed BP, BL and BP+SC diets. Fish fed BP+SC diet showed significantly higher respiratory burst activity(NBT assay) than that of the fish fed control and BL diets, however there was no significant difference in NBT assay between fish fed BP and BP+SC diets. Fish fed BP and BL diets showed significantly higher lysozyme activity than that of the fish fed control diet, however there was no significant difference in lysozyme activity among fish fed BP, BL and BP+SC diets. Fish fed BP and BP+SC diets showed significantly lower cumulative mortality than that of the fish fed control diet, however there was no significant difference in cumulative mortality among fish fed BP, BL and BP+SC diets after the challenge test. From these results, dietary B. polyfermenticus, B. licheniformis and B. polyfermenticus plus S. cerevisiae supplementation in juvenile Korean rockfish diet could enhance growth performances, non-speicific immunities and a higher resistance against the specific pathogen.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.242-248
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• 1992

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of root-zone temperature in hydroponics on the plant growth and nutrient uptake of lettuce(Lactuca sativa L), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill), and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L). Respiration rate in roots increased with increase in root-zone temperature. At $10^{\circ}C$ of root-zone temperature, respiration rate in lettuce root was higher than those in tomato and cucumber. Increasing rate of root respiration in tomato with increase in root-zone temperature was greater than those in lettuce and cucumber. The lowest dry weight and leaf area of the crops studied were obtained at $10^{\circ}C$ of root-zone temperature, but they were not different between 20 and $30^{\circ}C$. Increase in root-zone temperature generally resulted in increase in T/R ratio and net assimilation rate. At the low root-zone temperature, root growth and leaf area of tomato and cucumber were severely affected. Relative growth rates of lettuce and cucumber were also greatly reduced by the low root-zone temperature. Contents of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in the crops increased as root-zone temperature increased from 10 to $20^{\circ}C$, whereas only Ca content in tomato and cucumber increased with increase in root-zone temperature to $30^{\circ}C$. Remarkably low contents of P and Mg in the crops were found at the low root-zone temperature. Inhibition of plant growth and nutrient uptake due to low root-zone temperature was much greater in cucumber than in lettuce and tomato.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.845-855
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• 2013

Requirements of dietary chloride (dCl) and chloride salts were determined by using $4{\times}2$ factorial arrangement under four phase feeding program. Four levels (0.31, 0.45, 0.59 and 0.73%) and two sources ($NH_4Cl$ and $CaCl_2$) of the dCl were allocated to 1,472 chicks in eight dietary treatments in which each treatment was replicated four times with 46 birds per replicate. The four phase feeding program was comprised of four dietary phases: Prestarter (d 1 to 10), Starter (d 11 to 20), Grower (d 21 to 33) and Finisher (d 34 to 42); and diets were separately prepared for each phase. The cations, anions, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS) and salinity were analyzed in drinking water and were not affected by dietary treatments. BW gain (BWG; $p{\leq}0.009$) and feed:gain (FG; $p{\leq}0.03$) were improved in $CaCl_2$ supplemented diets during d 1 to 10. The maximum response of BWG and FG was observed at 0.38% and 0.42% dCl, respectively, for d 34 to 42. However, the level of dCl for BWG during d 21 to 33 ($p{\leq}0.04$) and d 34 to 42 ($p{\leq}0.009$) was optimized at 0.60% and 0.42%, respectively. The level of dCl for optimized feed intake (FI; $p{\leq}0.006$), FG ($p{\leq}0.007$) and litter moisture (LM; $p{\leq}0.001$) was observed at 0.60%, 0.38% and 0.73%, respectively, for d 1 to 42. Water intake (DWI) was not affected by increasing dCl supplementation (p>0.05); however, the ratio between DWI and FI (DWI:FI) was found highest at 0.73% dCl during d 1 to 10 ($p{\leq}0.05$) and d 21 to 33 ($p{\leq}0.009$). Except for d 34 to 42 ($p{\leq}0.006$), the increasing level of dCl did not result in a significant difference in mortality during any phase. Blood pH and glucose, and breast and thigh weights (percentage of dressed weight) were improved while dressing percentage (DP) and gastrointestinal health were exacerbated with $NH_4Cl$ as compared to $CaCl_2$ supplemented diets ($p{\leq}0.001$). Higher plasma $Na^+$ and $HCO_3{^-}$ and lower $Cl^-$ and $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ were observed in $NH_4Cl$ supplemented diets ($p{\leq}0.001$). Increasing supplementation of dCl increased plasma $Cl^-$ ($p{\leq}0.04$; quadratically) and linearly reduced plasma $K^+$ ($p{\leq}0.001$), $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ ($p{\leq}0.003$), $HCO_3{^-}$ ($p{\leq}0.001$), and $Na^+$ ($p{\leq}0.001$; quadratically). Consequently, higher requirements of dietary chloride are suggested for feed intake; nevertheless, lower levels of dietary chloride are sufficient to support optimal BWG and FG with increasing age. The $NH_4Cl$ supplemented diets ameliorate breast and thigh meat yield along with overall energy balance (glucose).

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.34-34
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• 1978

To find out the power tiller's travel and tractive characteristics on the general slope land, the tractive p:nver transmitting system was divided into the internal an,~ external power transmission systems. The performance of power tiller's engine which is the initial unit of internal transmission system was tested. In addition, the mathematical model for the tractive force of driving wheel which is the initial unit of external transmission system, was derived by energy and force balance. An analytical solution of performed for tractive forces was determined by use of the model through the digital computer programme. To justify the reliability of the theoretical value, the draft force was measured by the strain gauge system on the general slope land and compared with theoretical values. The results of the analytical and experimental performance of power tiller on the field may be summarized as follows; (1) The mathematical equation of rolIing resistance was derived as $$Rh=\frac {W_z-AC \[1+ \frac{sl}{K} \(\varrho ^{-\frac{sl}{K}-1\)\] sin\theta_1}} {tan\phi \[1+ \frac{sl}{K} \(\varrho ^{-\frac{sl}{K}-1\)\]+\frac{tan\theta_1}{1}$$ and angle of rolling resistance as $$\theta _1 - tan^1\[ \frac {2T(AcrS_0 - T)+\sqrt (T-AcrS_0)^2(2T)^2-4(T^2-W_2^2r^2)\times (T-AcrS_0)^2 W_z^2r^2S_0^2tan^2\phi} {2(T^2-W_z^2r^2)S_0tan\phi}\] $$and the equation of frft force was derived as$$P=(AC+Rtan\phi)\[1+ \frac{sl}{K} \(\varrho ^{-\frac{sl}{K}-1\)\]cos\phi_1 ? \frac {W_z ?{AC\[ [1+ \frac{sl}{K} \(\varrho ^{-\frac{sl}{K}-1\)\]sin\phi_1 {tan\phi[1+ \frac{sl}{K} \(\varrho ^{-\frac{sl}{K}-1\]+ \frac {tan\phi_1} { 1} ? W_1sin\alpha $$The slip coefficient K in these equations was fitted to approximately 1. 5 on the level lands and 2 on the slope land. (2) The coefficient of rolling resistance Rn was increased with increasing slip percent 5 and did not influenced by the angle of slope land. The angle of rolling resistance Ol was increasing sinkage Z of driving wheel. The value of Ol was found to be within the limits of Ol =2? "'16?. (3) The vertical weight transfered to power tiller on general slope land can be estim ated by use of th~ derived equation: $$R_pz= \frac {\sum_{i=1}^{4}{W_i}} {l_T} { (l_T-l) cos\alpha cos\beta ? \bar(h) sin \alpha - W_1 cos\alpha cos\beta$$The vertical transfer weight $R_pz$ was decreased with increasing the angle of slope land. The ratio of weight difference of right and left driving wheel on slop eland,$\lambda= \frac { {W_L_Z} - {W_R_Z}} {W_Z} $, was increased from ,$\lambda$=0 to$\lambda$=0.4 with increasing the angle of side slope land ($\beta = 0^\circ~20^\circ) (4) In case of no draft resistance, the difference between the travelling velocities on the level and the slope land was very small to give 0.5m/sec, in which the travelling velocity on the general slope land was decreased in curvilinear trend as the draft load increased. The decreasing rate of travelling velocity by the increase of side slope angle was less than that by the increase of hill slope angle a, (5) Rate of side slip by the side slope angle was defined as $ S_r=\frac {S_s}{l_s} \times$ 100( %), and the rate of side slip of the low travelling velocity was larger than that of the high travelling velocity. (6) Draft forces of power tiller did not affect by the angular velocity of driving wheel, and maximum draft coefficient occurred at slip percent of S=60% and the maximum draft power efficiency occurred at slip percent of S=30%. The maximum draft coefficient occurred at slip percent of S=60% on the side slope land, and the draft coefficent was nearly constant regardless of the side slope angle on the hill slope land. The maximum draft coefficient occurred at slip perecent of S=65% and it was decreased with increasing hill slope angle $\alpha$. The maximum draft power efficiency occurred at S=30 % on the general slope land. Therefore, it would be reasonable to have the draft operation at slip percent of S=30% on the general slope land. (7) The portions of the power supplied by the engine of the power tiller which were used as the source of draft power were 46.7% on the concrete road, 26.7% on the level land, and 13~20%; on the general slope land ($\alpha = O~ 15^\circ ,\beta = 0 ~ 10^\circ$) , respectively. Therefore, it may be desirable to develope the new mechanism of the external pO'wer transmitting system for the general slope land to improved its performance.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.328-336
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• 1997

The CdSe thin films were grown on the Si(100) wafers by a hot wall epitaxy method (HWE). The source and substrate temperature are $600^{\circ}C$ and $430^{\circ}C$ respectively. The crystalline structure of epilayers was investigated by double crystal X-ray diffraction(DCXD). Hall effect on the sample was measured by the van der Pauw method and studied on the carrier density and mobility dependence on temperature. From Hall data, the mobility was increased in the temperature range 30K to 150K by impurity scattering and decreased in the temperature range 150k to 293k by the lattice scattering. In order to explore the applicability as a photoconductive cell, we measured the sensitivity(${\gamma}$), the ratio of photocurrent to darkcurrent(pc/dc), maximum allowable power dissipation(MAPD), spectral response and response time. The results indicated that the photoconductive characteristic were the best for the samples annealed in Cu vapor compare with in Cd, Se, air and vacuum vapour. Then we obtained the sensitivity of 0.99, the value of pc/dc of $1.39{\times}10^{7}$, the MAPD of 335mW, and the rise and decay time of 10ms and 9.5ms, respectively.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.385-396
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• 2007

The aims of this study were to compare the shaping effect and safety between single length technique recommended by manufacturer and crown-down technique using Mtwo rotary file and to present a modified method in use of Mtwo file. Sixty simulated root canal resin blocks were used. The canals were divided into three groups according to instrument and the manner of using methods. Each group had 20 specimens. Group MT was instrumented with single length technique of Mtwo, group MC was instrumented with crown-down technique of Mtwo and group PT was instrumented with crown-down technique of ProTaper. All of the rotary files used in this study were operated by an electric motor. The scanned canal images of before and after preparation were superimposed. These superimposed images were evaluated at apical 1 to 8 mm levels Angle changes were calculated. The preparation time, weight loss, instrument failure and binding, canal aberrations, and centering ratio were measured. Statistical analysis of the three experimental groups was performed with ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range tests for post-hoc comparison and Fisher's exact test was done for the frequency comparison. In total preparation time, group MT and group MC were less than group PT. In the aberrations, group MT had more elbows than those of group MC and group PT. The binding of group MC was least and group MT was less than group PT (P < 0.05). Under the condition of this study, crown-down technique using Mtwo rotary file is better and safer method than single length technique recommended by the manufacturer.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.317-343
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• 1977

This study was carried out to obtain the informations about evaporation from pot, soil temperature and soil atmosphere composition in pot, and the effect on the growth of nine ornamental species using seven different containers. The investigated containers were clay pot(CP), clay pot painted in green(CP-P), varnished clay pot(CP-V), polyethylene film inserting in clay pot(CP-PI), clay pot mulched with black polyethylene film(CP-PM), porcelain pot(POP), and plastic pot(PLP). Nine ornamental species were balsam(Impatiens balsamina), chrysanthemum(Chrysanthemum morifolium), cosmos(Cosmos bipinatus), English ivy(Hedera helix), geranium(Pelargonium zonale), kochia(Kochia scoparia var. trichophila), marigold(Tagetes patula), ornamental kale(Brassica oleraceae var. acephala), and salvia (Salvia splendens). The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Dry weight of all tested species grown in PLP, POP, CP-P, CP-V and CP-PI was heavier than that of CP. 2. Plant height in nine tested species grown in PLP, POP, CP-P, CP-V, and CP-PI was taller than that of CP. 3. Geranium grown in PLP, POP, CP-P, and CP-V gave more number of leaf than that of CP. 4. The number of flower in balsam grown in PLP, POP, CP-P, CP-V and CP-PI was more than that of CP. The result from marigold was very similar to this tendency. Spike length and floret number in salvia gave the same tendency, but its spike number was not different among containers used. 5. The average diurnal evaporation from PLP and POP was about 43% of that of CP. About two third of total evaporation from CP was through pot wall. 6. The evaporation rate from the slowest to the highest was PLP, POP, CP-P, CP-V, CP-PI, CP-PM and CP. Containers inhibiting evaporation through pot wall hold more soil moisture than CP from one day after water supply. 7. The more evaporative water-loss from containers gave the lower soil temperature. The variation of soil temperature among containers was higher during the day than the night. 8. The $O_2$ concentration of soil atmosphere in CP was higher than that of nonporous containers, and the difference between them was 0.40-1.12%. The range of the $O_2$ concentration 17.95~19.62%. The $CO_2$ concentration of soil atmosphere in CP was lower than that of nonporous containers, and its range was 0.59-1.76%. This deviation in soil atmosphere composition did not influenced on the growth of plants. 9. There was a possitive correlation between the amount of soil water and the plant growth. 10. Plant grown on CP gave more total nitrogen content in top growth than that on PLP. C/N ratio was somewhat low in plant on CP. From the above results, $O_2$ and $CO_2$ concentration in soil atmosphere did not gave enough deviation to the extent which affect the plant growth. The effect of soil moisture on the plant growth using different containers was the far-most significant factor from this investigation. Therefore, it was obious that the utilization of the nonporous container might save the cost for water supply and reduce the production cost of the pot-grown ornamental plant in Korea eventually.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.15-15
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• 1976

In analyzing the operational characteristics of a rice whitening machine, the internal radial pressure of the machine was measured using strain gage equipment. Changes in cylinder and feed screw configurations, screen type, cylinder speed and counter-pressure levels were examined to determine their impact on the quality and quantity of milled rice and the performance of the machine. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The internal radial pressure in the whitening chamber varied with the surface condition of the grain being processed. During the first or second pass through the machine, pressure was relatively low, reached a maximum after two to three passes with combinations I and II, three to six with combination III and then began to fall. 2. The pitch of the feed screw and the size of the feed gate opening which determine the rate of entry of grain into the whitening chamber, appeared to be the most important factor aff-::cting the degree of radial pressure, quality and quantity of milled rice and the efficiency of the machine. Using a feed screw with a wide pitch (4.8cm), radial pressure was relatively high and head rice recovery ratio \vere quite low. In this case capacity and machine effic?iency were much higher than obtained when using a feed screw with a narrow pitch (2.3cm). Very significant responses in radial pressure, head rice recovery rates and machine capacity were observed with changes in cylinder speed and counter-pressure levels when using the wide pitch feed screw. 3. The characteristics of the screen which surrounds the whitening chamber had an important effect on whitening efficiency. The existence of small protuberances on the original screen resulted in significant increases in both machine capacity and efficiency but without a significant decrease in head rice recovery or development of excessive radial pressure. Further work is required to determine the effects of screen surface conditions and the shape of the cylinderical steel roller on the rate of bran removal, machine efficiency and recovery rates. The size of the slotted perforations 0:1 the screen affects total milled rice recovery. The opening size on the original screen was fabricated to accommodate the round shape of Japonica rice varieties but was not suitable for the more slender Indica type. Milling Indica varieties with this screen resulted in a reduction in total milled rice recovery. 4. An increase in cylinder speed from 380 to 820 rpm produced a positive effect on head rice recovery for all machine combinations at every level of counter-pressure used in the tests. Head rice recovery was considerably lower at 380rpm using a wide screw pitch when compared to the results obtained at speeds from 600 to 820 r.p.m. The effects of cylinder speed On radial pressure, capacity and machine efficiency showed contrasting results, depending on the width of the feed screw pitch. With a narrow feed screw pitch (2.3cm), a direct proportional relationship was observed bet?ween cylinder speed and both radial pressure and machine efficiency. In contrast, using a 4.8 centimeter pitch feed roller produced a series of inverse relationships between the above variables. Based on the results of this study it is recommended when milling Indica type long grain rice varieties that the cylinder speed of the original machine be increased from 500-600 rmp up to a minimum of 800 rpm to obtain a greater abrasive effect between the grain and the screen. The pitch of the feed screw should be also reduced to decr?ease the level of internal radial pressure and to obtain higher machine efficiency and increased quality of milled rice with increased cylinder speeds. Further study on the interaction between cylinder speed and feed screw pitch is recommended. 5. An increase in the counter pressure level produced a negative effect On the head rice recovery with an increase in radial pressure, capacity, and machine efficiency over all combinations and at every level of cylinder speed. 6. Head rice recovery rates were conditioned primarily by the pressure inside the whitening chamber. According to the empirical cha racteristics curve developed in this study, the relationships of head rice recovery ($Y_h$) and machine capacity ($Y_c$/TEX>) to internal radial pressure ($X_p$) followed an inverse quadratic function and a linear function respectively: $$Y_h^\Delta=\frac{1}{{1.4383-0.2951X_p^\ast+0.1425X_p^{\ast\ast}}^2} , (R^2=0.98)$$$$Y_c^\Delta=-305.83+374.37X_p^{\ast\ast}, (R^2=0.88)$$The correlation between capacity and power consumption per unit of brown rice expressed in the following exponential function: $$Y_c^\Delta=1.63Y_c^{-0.7786^\{\ast\ast}, (R^2=0.94)$$These relationships indicate that when radial pressure increases above a certain range (1. 6 to 2.0 kg/$cm^2$ based On the results of the experiment) head ricerecovery decrea?ses in a quadratic relation with a inear increase in capacity but without any decrease in power consump tion per unit of brown rice. On the other hand, if radial pressure is below the range shown above, power consumption increases dramatically with a lin?ear decrease in capacity but without significant increases in head rice recovery. During the operation of a given whitening machine, the optimum radial pressure range or the correct capacity range should be selected by controlling the feed rate and/or counter-pressure keeping in mind the condition of the grain, particulary the hardness. It was observed that the total number of passes is related to radial pessure level, feed rate and counter-pressure level. The higher theradial pressure the fewer num?ber of pass required but with decreased head rice recovery. In particular, when using high feed rates, the total number of passes should be increased to more than three by reducing the counter-pressure level to avoid decreaseases in head rice recovery (less than 65 percent head rice recovery on the basis of brown rice) at every cylinder speed. 7. A rapid rise in grain temperature seemed to have a close relationship with the pressure generated inside the whitening chamber and, subsequently with head rice reco?very rates. The higher the rate of increase, the lower were the resulting head rice recoveries.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 1983

A series of laboratory experiment was conducted to find out the chemical composition, characterization of humic substances by physical and chemical methods and reaction of Na-pyrophosphate, $Ca(OH)_2$ and rice straw with albumin on the degradation of soil organic matter in the volcanic ask soils of the Jeju Island. Results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The contents of organic matter, available silicon, active iron and aluminum concentration in volcanic ash the soils were remarkably higher but available phosphorous was comparatively lower than the mineral soils. In volcanic ash soil, the contents of potassium, calcium and magnessium were higher in upland soil than that of forest soil. The ratios of active $Al^{{+}{+}{+}}/Fe^{{+}{+}}$, C/P and $K/Ca^+$ Mg were apparently high in volcanic ash soils while that of $SiO_2$/O.M. was high in mineral soil. 2. The carbon/nitrogen ratio in humin, humic acid content in organic matter, and carbon contents of humin in total carbon of soil organic matter were apparently higher in the volcanic ash soils than in the mineral soils, The total nitrogen and fractions of acid or alkali soluble nitrogen were remarkably high in volcanic ash soils while mineralizable nitrogen ($NH_4$-N and $NO_3$) contents were high in mineral soils. 3. The values of K600, RF and log K were also higher in volcanic ash soils than those in mineral soils, and the absorbance in the visible range were high and color was dark in the soil of which humification was progressed Extracted humic acid from volcanic ash soil was less reactive to the oxidizing chemical reagent and was persistance to the acid or alkali hydrolysises. 4. The major oxygen-containing functional groups in humic substances of volcanic ash soils were phenolic-OH alcoholic-OH and carboxyl groups while those in mineral soil were methoxyl and carbonyl groups. 5. Absorption spectra of alkaline solution of humic acid ranged from 200 nm to maxima 500 nm. Visible spectra peaks of from humic substances in the visible region were recognized at 350, 420, 450 and 480 nm. Only one single absorbance peak was observed in the visible region at 362 nm for Heugag series and two absorbance Peak were also at 360 nm and 390 nm for Yeungrag series. 6. Evolution of carbon as $Co_2$ was increased with addition of Na-pyrophosphate in Namweon and Heugag series, and "priming effects" took place on the soil organic matter decomposition by addition of rice straw with albumin in Ido series.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.380-387
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• 1998

Background: Minimal pressure support(PSmin) is a level of pressure support which offset the imposed work of breathing(WOBimp) developed by endotracheal tube and ventilator circuits in pressure support ventilation While the lower applied level of pressure support compared to PSmin could induce respiratory muscle fatigue, the higher level than PSmin could keep respiratory muscle rest resulting in prolongation of weaning period during weaning from mechanical ventilation PSmin has been usually applied in the level of 5~10 cm$H_2O$, but the accurate level of PSmin is difficult to be determinated in individual cases. PSmin is known to be calculated by using the equation of "PSmin = peak inspiratory flow rate during spontaneus ventilation$\times$total ventilatory system resistance", but correlation of calculated PSmin and measured PSmin has not been known. The objects of this study were firstly to assess whether customarily applied pressure support level of 5~10 cm$H_2O$ would be appropriate to offset the imposed work of breathing among the patients under weaning process, and secondly to estimate the correlation between the measured PSmin and calculated PSmin. Method : 1) Measurement of PSmin : Intratracheal pressure changes were measured through Hi-Lo jet tracheal tube (8mm in diameter, Mallinckroft, USA) by using pulmonary monitor(CP-100 pulmonary monitor, Bicore, USA), and then pressure support level of mechanical ventilator were increased until WOBimp was reached to 0.01 J/L or less. Measured PSmin was defined as the lowest pressure to make WOBimp 0.01 J/L or less. 2) Calculation of PSmin : Peak airway pressure(Ppeak), plateau airway pressure(Pplat) and mean inspiratory flow rate of the subjects were measured on volume control mode of mechanical ventilation after sedation. Spontaneous peak inspiratory flow rates were measured on CPAP mode(O cm$H_2O$). Thereafter PSmin was calculated by using the equation "PSmin = peak inspiratory flow rate$\times$R, R = (Ppeak-Pplat)/mean inspiratory flow rate during volume control mode on mechanical ventilation". Results: Sixteen patients who were considered as the candidate for weaning from mechanical ventilation were included in the study. Mean age was 64(${\pm}14$) years, and the mean of total ventilation times was 9(${\pm}4$) days. All patients except one were males. The measured PSmin of the subjects ranged 4.0~12.5cm$H_2O$ in 14 patients. The mean level of PSmin was 7.6(${\pm}2.5\;cmH_2O$) in measured PSmin, 8.6 (${\pm}3.25\;cmH_2O$) in calculated PSmin Correlation between the measured PSmin and the calculated PSmin is significantly high(n=9, r=0.88, p=0.002). The calculated PSmin show a tendancy to be higher than the corresponding measured PSmin in 8 out of 9 subjects(p=0.09). The ratio of measured PSmin/calculated PSmin was 0.81(${\pm}0.05$). Conclusion: Minimal pressure support levels were different in individual cases in the range from 4 to 12.5 cm$H_2O$. Because the equation-driven calculated PSmin showed a good correlation with measured PSmin, the application of equation-driven PSmin would be then appropriate compared with conventional application of 5~10 cm$H_2O$ in patients under difficult weaning process with pressure support ventilation.