We present the results of new multi-color CCD photometry for the contact binary XZ Leo, together with reasonable explanations for the period and light variations. Six new times of minimum light have been determined. A period study with all available timings confirms Qian's (2001) finding that the O-C residuals have varied secularly according to dP/dt = +8.20×10-8 d yr-l. This trend could be interpreted as a conservative mass transfer from the less massive cool secondary to the more massive hot primary in the system with a mass flow rate of about 5.37×10-8 M⊙ yr-l. By simultaneous analysis of our light curves and the previously published radial-velocity data, a consistent set of light and velocity parameters for XZ Leo is obtained. The small differences between the observed and theoretical light curves are modelled by a blue third light and by a hot spot near the neck of the primary component. Our period study does not support the tertiary light but the hot region which may be formed by gas streams from the cool secondary. The solution indicates that XZ Leo is a deep contact binary with the values of q=0.343, i=78°.8, Δ (T1-T2)=126 K, and f=33.6 %, differing much from those of Niarchos et al. (1994). Absolute parameters of XZ Leo are determined as follows: M1=1.84 M⊙, M2=0.63 M⊙, R1=1.75 R⊙, R2=1.10 R⊙, L1=7.19 L⊙, and L2=2.66 L⊙.

Lactobacillus sp., Acetobacter sp. and yeast were the most dominant organisms in the EM stock culture and subculture product. Lactic acid bacteria and yeast were able to grow in the fermentation process utilizing seawater. EM treatment of higher concentrations using EM stock culture and EM clay balls (1% or 4%) contributed to an early removal of malodor and an increase of DO in the polluted sediments, indicating an odor-removing activity of EM. The EM treatment of higher concentrations (1% or 4%) somewhat appeared to modify the microbial communities within the sediments, which was confirmed by existence of a few unique fragments from the stock culture based on PCR-DGGE. It still remains to be elucidated that EM cultures were directly involved in the malodor removal and potential sediment bioremediation.

Medicinal soybean, which has been proven to be effective in preventing cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, and renal failure, is drawing people’s attention among other beans in recent days. This experiment was to examine the concentration of phenolic compounds and isoflavone in 53 kinds of soybeans cultivated and collected in Yeo-Ju, Gyeonggi-do region. The total average content of phenol is 29424.34㎍/g and the most and least phenol were detected in No. 35(814.98㎍/g) and No. 28(353.66㎍/g) respectively. Myricetin was detected the most resveratrol whereas detected the least amount which was less than 0.2% of the total amount among all medicinal soybean samples. Total average isoflavone content was 35910.56㎍/g and the most and least isoflavone was detected in No. 15 (996.66 ㎍/g ) and No.9 (476.18㎍/g )respectively . Malonylgenistin was detecteded the most genistein whereas detected the least amount which was less than 0.02 % of the total amount in all medicinal soybean samples. The result of this experiment is considered to be the basic data of the functional food manufacturing by utilizing domestic medicinal soybean.