PURPOSES : Snow-removal performance is performed in this study to assess the feasibility of replacing calcium-chloride solution with sodium chloride solution at the minimum temperature of -5 ℃ during snowfall. METHODS : The atmospheric temperature distribution in Seoul was analyzed. The manufacturing, storage, and indoor melting performance of calcium-chloride and sodium-chloride solutions were evaluated, and on-site snow-removal performance was evaluated based on the solution type. RESULTS : According to the results of the melting performance test at -5°C, the melting capacity of the sodium chloride solution was expressed at a level exceeding 90% of that of the calcium chloride solution, indicating a similar melting performance between the two solutions. Additionally, based on the snow removal performance test using aqueous solutions, the snow removal performance of the sodium chloride solution was found to be approximately 96% compared to that of the calcium chloride solution, indicating minimal differences in snow removal performance due to changes in the type of solution. CONCLUSIONS : Similar snow-removal performance was achieved when the sodium chloride solution was used instead of calciumchloride aqueous solution at temperatures exceeding -5 ℃.

This study investigated the effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum JSA22-fermented rice drinks on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Twenty-four mice were randomly assigned; No colitis (Con), colitis with tap water (DSS-only), colitis with unfermented rice (DSS-UFR), and colitis with fermented rice (DSS-FR). After inducing colitis with 2% DSS for 5 days, they were given Tap water, UFR drink, or FR drink for an additional 6 days. The DSS-FR group had significantly lower Disease Activity Index (DAI) scores compared to the DSS-only group, but no significant difference with the DSS-UFR group. Colon length was reduced in the DSS-only group. The DSS-only group had significantly higher IL-6 mRNA levels compared to the Con group, while the DSS-FR groups showed significantly lower IL-6 mRNA levels compared to the DSS-only group. These results suggest that rice drinks fermented with Lactiplantibacillus Plantarum JSA22 ameliorate the severity of DSS-colitis, by potentially reducing proinflammatory cytokines.

As a promising anode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), cobalt sulfide ( CoS2) has attracted extensive attention due to its high theoretical capacity, easy preparation, and superior electrochemical activity. However, its intrinsic low conductivity and large volume expansion result in poor cycling ability. Herein, nitrogen-doped carbon-coated CoS2 nanoparticles (N–C@ CoS2) were prepared by a C3N4 soft-template-assisted method. Carbon coating improves the conductivity and prevents the aggregation of CoS2 nanoparticles. In addition, the C3N4 template provides a porous graphene-like structure as a conductive framework, affording a fast and constant transport path for electrons and void space for buffering the volume change of CoS2 nanoparticles. Benefitting from the superiorities, the Na-storage properties of the N–C@CoS2 electrode are remarkably boosted. The advanced anode delivers a long-term capacity of 376.27 mAh g− 1 at 0.1 A g− 1 after 500 cycles. This method can also apply to preparing other metal sulfide materials for SIBs and provides the relevant experimental basis for the further development of energy storage materials.

We produced an activated carbon using sodium-lignosulfonate, in which we investigated how the sodium salt in lignin served as the activating agent during heat treatment. Our process resulted in a product with a high specific surface area of 1324 m2/ g at 800 °C and microporous structure. During the activation process, we observed the consumption of carbon due to the dehydration reaction of NaOH and the reduction of Na2CO3 to metallic Na, which created pores through oxidation/ reduction reactions. The intercalation of metallic Na between the lattices at high temperatures formed additional pores and increased the specific surface area. Our proposed mechanism holds promise for enhancing the control of the microstructure and porosity of activated carbons through the thermal treatment of biomass.

The effects of exogenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP, nitric oxide donor) on the growth, yield, photosynthetic characteristics, and antioxidant enzyme activity of kimchi cabbage (Brassica rapa L. subsp. pekinensis (Lour.) Hanelt) was studied under the low temperature conditions. Kimchi cabbages were treated with SNP of three concentrations (7.5, 15, 30 mg·L-1) for three times at four-day intervals and exposed to low temperature (16/7°C) stress for seven days. SNP treatment induced increases of net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), intracellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and transpiration rate (Tr) under the stress condition with the highest level after the third treatment. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 were significantly lower in the treatment of SNP compared to the non-treated control. The activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), increased in treated plants by up to 38, 187, 24 and 175%, respectively compared to the non-treated control. SNP-treated and untreated plants had similar growth characteristics. Compared to the control group, SNP-treatment increased fresh weight and leaf area by 5%. Overall, our findings suggest that the application of sodium nitroprusside to the leaves contributes to reducing physiological damage and enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes, thereby improving low temperature stress tolerance in kimchi cabbage.

Transition metal chalcogenides are promising cathode materials for next-generation battery systems, particularly sodium-ion batteries. Ni3Co6S8-pitch-derived carbon composite microspheres with a yolk-shell structure (Ni3Co6S8@C-YS) were synthesized through a three-step process: spray pyrolysis, pitch coating, and post-heat treatment process. Ni3Co6S8@C-YS exhibited an impressive reversible capacity of 525.2 mA h g-1 at a current density of 0.5 A g-1 over 50 cycles when employed as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries. However, Ni3Co6S8 yolk shell nanopowder (Ni3Co6S8-YS) without pitch-derived carbon demonstrated a continuous decrease in capacity during charging and discharging. The superior sodium-ion storage properties of Ni3Co6S8@C-YS were attributed to the pitchderived carbon, which effectively adjusted the size and distribution of nanocrystals. The carbon-coated yolk-shell microspheres proposed here hold potential for various metal chalcogenide compounds and can be applied to various fields, including the energy storage field.

Ethyl formate (EF) is a naturally occurring insecticidal compound and is used to control pests introduced from abroad, in quarantine, by a fumigation method. In particular, it is mainly used as a substitute for methyl bromide and is less toxic to humans and less harmful to plants. This study aimed to investigate the possible acute toxicity of EF to useful organisms, and how to reduce phytotoxicity in watermelon, zucchini, and oriental melon. After fumigation with EF for 2 h, the LC50 values for earthworms, honey bees, and silkworms were 39.9, 7.09, and 17.9 g m-3, respectively. The degree of susceptibility to EF was in the order of earthworms, silkworms, and honey bees based on the LC50 value, and EF fumigation induced stronger acute toxicity to honey bees. Phytotoxicity was observed in watermelon leaves treated with a concentration of 7.5 g m-3 EF, and when treated with a concentration of 10.0 g m-3, it was confirmed that the edges of watermelon leaves were charred and seemed to be damaged by acids. Zucchini and melon, and other cucurbits, showed strong damage to the leaves when treated with a concentration of 10 g m-3, and sodium silicate, at concentrations of 10% and 20%, was used to reduce phytotoxicity. Therefore, acute toxicity towards nontarget organisms and phytotoxicity during the fumigation of EF should be reduced for efficient agricultural pest control.

This study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Auricularia auricula-judae ethanol extract (AEE) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis mice. The highest levels of total polyphenols and DPPH radical scavenging activity were observed in AEE. Also, NO production was reduced in a dose-dependent manner in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). AEE was suspended in distilled water and administration per oral at different doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg body weight every day with 3% DSS in drinking water for 7 days. The sample AEE 100 and 300 mg/kg significantly increased body weight, colon length and decreased disease activity index (DAI) score. Histological features showed that 100 and 300 mg/kg of AEE suppressed edema, mucosal damage and the loss of crypts induced by DSS. The serum levels of TNF- and IL-6 were measured in acute colitis mice using ELISA kits. Levels of TNF- and IL-6 in serum were significantly decreased by topical application of AEE. Therefore, AEE increases antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and it is thought that it can effectively help prevent colitis.

As the demand for ready-to-eat foods continues to grow, concerns about the sodium in processed foods are also growing. In this study, a survey was conducted on the perception of low-sodium products and diffusion plans according to the type of employee (manufacturer, retailer, distributor). Of the 191 responses collected, 189 valid responses (98.9%) were analyzed. The results showed that the employees were aware of the health contribution of a low-sodium diet, labeling for low-sodium, and the promotion of low-sodium food to increase its consumption. Furthermore, retailers recognized the positive contribution of low-sodium products in terms of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) management. The use of sodium substitutes was preferred as the best way to reduce sodium in ready-to-eat foods. With regard to sodium reduction in readyto- eat foods, we found that the technical factors involved were clustered by the type of business. Specifically, distributors showed a similar performance but had a lower perception of importance than retailers. Manufacturers had a lower perception of both importance and performance. In this study, we collected perceptions from employees who were working at food companies, which differed from previous research. We sought to examine the differences in the perception of sodium reduction and consumption of ready-to-eat foods across various types of employment. Furthermore, we provided specific approaches to reduce perception gaps and enhance understanding among employees.

The operation of nuclear power plants, nuclear waste depositories, and the decontamination and decommissioning of nuclear power plants all have the possibility of generating various kinds of radionuclides that can be formed as gaseous or liquid phases. Among the radionuclides, strontium is considered as most harmful substance due to its abundance in nuclear accident effluent, long half-life, high fission yield, high water solubility, and high mobility in aquatic environment. To remove strontium from aquatic environment, adsorption technique is mainly used with high economic feasibility, efficiency, and selectivity. Previously, we synthesized sodium titanates with mid-temperature hydrothermal method as selective strontium adsorbent in aqueous solution. Moreover, it was demonstrated that synthesized sodium titanates show high strontium adsorption rate with high selectivity with high surface area, pore diameter and volume. Herein, we investigated the surface structure of synthesized sodium titanates before and after strontium adsorption in aqueous solution using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. According to SEM and EDS experimental results, aquatic strontium can be adsorbed as surface precipitation with formation of cube-shaped structure, which is quite similar strontium titanate structure crystals onto the surface of sodium titanates. In addition, XPS experimental results revealed that the titanium ions on the surface of sodium titanates were oxidized during strontium surface precipitation process, and the sodium ion on the surface of sodium titanates were exchanged with aquatic strontium ions via ion exchange process during strontium adsorption process.

본 연구는 집단급식소에서 제공되는 빈도수가 높은 비 가열 및 가열조리 엽경채류에 사용되는 차아염소산나트륨 수에 대하여 미생물적 안전성을 평가하고자 수행되었다. 비병원성 대장균과 장출혈성 대장균의 칵테일(E. coli O157:H7)을 엽경채류(초기 균수 7-8 log CFU/g)에 인위적 으로 오염시킨 후 차아염소산나트륨을 5분간 침지 후 흐 르는 물에 3번 씻어서 생균수를 측정하였다. 실험 결과 초 기 오염물질에 비해 살균효과가 1-2 log CFU/g 저감화하 여 대조군에 대해 유의적인 차이가 있었다(P<0.05). 잎채 소의 특성에 따라 약간의 차이가 있었는데 표면적이 클수 록, 덜 거칠고 잎이 부드러울수록 살균효과가 높았다. 200 mg/kg으로 처리하였을 때 100 mg/kg에 비해 0.1-0.3 log CFU/g만큼 효과가 더 감소하였으나 농도 증가에 따 른 유의적 차이는 없었다(P>0.05). 그러므로 학교급식위생 관리지침에서 제시한 기준 이상으로 차아염소산나트륨 농 도를 높이는 것은 불필요하다고 판단된다. 그러나 잎채소 는 일반적으로 미생물의 초기 오염도가 높기 때문에 차아 염소산나트륨 처리만으로는 안전한 수준의 저감을 달성하 기 어려워 생물학적 위험이 잔존한다. 따라서 여름철에 가 열하지 않은 잎채소의 대체 조리방법을 개발하는 것이 안 전성에 보다 효과적인 것으로 판단된다.

생물환경조절학회지 30권 3호에 게재된 논문의 그래프를 수정합니다.

High-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps have been widely used as a useful supplemental light source to emit sufficient photosynthetically active radiation and provide a radiant heat, which contribute the heat requirement in greenhouses. The objective of this study to analyze the thermal characteristics of HPS lamp and thermal behavior in supplemented greenhouse, and evaluate the performance of a horizontal leaf temperature of sweet pepper plants using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. We simulated horizontal leaf temperature on upper canopy according to three growth stage scenarios, which represented 1.0, 1.6, and 2.2 plant height, respectively. We also measured vertical leaf and air temperature accompanied by heat generation of HPS lamps. There was large leaf to air temperature differential due to non-uniformity in temperature. In our numerical calculation, thermal energy of HPS lamps contributed of 50.1% the total heat requirement on Dec. 2022. The CFD model was validated by comparing measured and simulated data at the same operating condition. Mean absolute error and root mean square error were below 0.5, which means the CFD simulation values were highly accurate. Our result about vertical leaf and air temperature can be used in decision making for efficient thermal energy management and crop growth.

This study was conducted to provide basic data on the amount of sodium and the setting of permissible error range of actual measurement, which is a problem for cabbage kimchi nutrients subject to labeling. The sample targeted was baechu (Kimchi cabbage) kimchi, which might have a large variation in sodium content by part of kimchi. Kimchi samples were collected twice from eight companies by season (spring, summer, fall, and winter). The average sodium content in kimchi samples was 619±87 mg/100 g (range, 534±63 mg/100 g to 783±40 mg/100 g). The error in average annual sodium content of abandonment kimchi (maximum value difference compared to the minimum value) was 26.8 to 64.3%. Sodium contents in kimchi produced in spring and summer were relatively low. However, deviation between individuals was large. It was found that cases exceeding the permissible error (120%) standard varied depending on the criteria for setting the amount of sodium. In addition, due to seasonal differences, sodium content in kimchi exceeded 120% of the labeling value. Thus, it is necessary to set standards suitable for characteristics of kimchi to prevent unintentional violations of labeling standards by raw materials and manufacturing processes.

Tin-antimony sulfide nanocomposites were prepared via hydrothermal synthesis and a N2 reduction process for use as a negative electrode in a sodium ion battery. The electrochemical energy storage performance of the battery was analyzed according to the tin-antimony composition. The optimized sulfides exhibited superior charge/discharge capacity (770 mAh g-1 at a current density of 100 mA g-1) and stable lifespan characteristics (71.2 % after 200 cycles at a current density of 500 mA g-1). It exhibited a reversible characteristic, continuously participating in the charge-discharge process. The improved electrochemical energy storage performance and cycle stability was attributed to the small particle size, by controlling the composition of the tin-antimony sulfide. By optimizing the tin-antimony ratio during the synthesis process, it did not deviate from the solubility limit. Graphene oxide also acts to suppress volume expansion during reversible electrochemical reaction. Based on these results, tin-antimony sulfide is considered a promising anode material for a sodium ion battery used as a medium-to-large energy storage source.

The effect of permanganate oxidation was investigated as water treatment strategy with a focus on comparing the reaction characteristics of NaOCl and sodium permanganate (NaMnO4) in algae (Monoraphidium sp., Micractinium inermum, Microcystis aeruginosa)-contained water. Flow cytometry explained that chlorine exposure easily damaged algae cells. Damaged algae cells release intracellular organic matter, which increases the concentration of organic matter in the water, which is higher than by NaMnO4. The oxidation reaction resulted in the release of toxin (microcystin-LR, MC-LR) in water, and the reaction of algal organic matter with NaOCl resulted in trihalomethanes (THMs) concentration increase. The oxidation results by NaMnO4 significantly improved the concentration reduction of THMs and MC-LR. Therefore, this study suggests that NaMnO4 is effective as a pre-oxidant for reducing algae damage and byproducts in water treatment process.