• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 2017

This study investigated the prevalence of scoliosis among undergraduate students who were in early adulthood, and to examine its relationship with body mass index (BMI), which has been associated with scoliosis in previous studies. A descriptive survey of 158 students of universities based in Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, and Gyeonggi Province was conducted. A structured questionnaire comprising items pertaining to general features, postural features, and BMI was used, and the angle of the trunk rotation (ATR) was measured directly with a scoliometer to assess the spinal angle. Participants with an ATR of greater than $6^{\circ}$ were classified into the scoliosis group. Data were collected for three weeks from November 7, 2014. Scoliosis and BMI were analyzed for their frequencies and percentages, and their relationships were analyzed using the ${\chi}^2$-test and Logistic regression. Overall, 114 (72.2%) participants had an ATR of smaller than $5^{\circ}$, while 44 (27.8%) had an ATR of greater than $6^{\circ}$. After excluding the confounding variables, the overweight group was 2.63 times more likely than the normal BMI group to have an ATR of greater than $6^{\circ}$ which was statistically significant. However, the underweight group was 0.24 times less likely than the normal BMI group to have an ATR of greater than $6^{\circ}$, but this difference was not statistically significant. Although early examination and management of scoliosis in South Korea is generally performed on children and adolescents, the high prevalence of scoliosis among university students found in this study calls for aggressive early examination and management for this age group as well.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.9-24
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• 2009

We compare the relation among the annual distribution of sunspots: coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and geomagnetic storms and North-South asymmetry during solar cycle 23. For this purpose, we calculate correlation coefficients between (i) annual distribution and N-S asymmetry of CMEs - sunspots (ii) distribution of CMEs - occurrence number of geomagnetic storms (iii) distribution of sunspots - occurrence number of geomagnetic storms. We find that (i) the annual distribution of total CMEs has good correlation with distribution of annual average of sunspots but poor correlation with N-S asymmetry of sunspots, N-S asymmetry of CMEs has good correlation with N-S asymmetry of sunspots: (ii) total and N-S asymmetry of CMEs have poor correlation with occurrence number of geomagnetic storms, it's, however, well correlated with the classified groups of CMEs (Ap, Dst and an indices vs. fast CMEs($\upsilon$ > $1000kms^{-1}$), Dst index vs. Halo CMEs), and (iii) sunspot numbers and area are correlated with occurrence number of geomagnetic storms. We conclude that annual distribution of CMEs and sunspots have well correlated with geomagnetic storms, N-S asymmetry of CMEs and sunspots have poor correlated with the geomagnetic storms.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.48-59
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• 2014

This study was carried out to present raw data on managing the restored urban stream by studying the naturalized plants distributed in Gaeumjeong Stream, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. The results were as follows. The numbers of naturalized plants were summarized as 45 taxa including 17 families, 36 genera, 43 species and 2 varieties. The invasive alien plants were 2 taxa including Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Lactuca sativa. The following summarizes the attributes of the naturalized plants. Most of the plants commonly originated from Europe and North America. The 5 naturalized degree that was widely distributed and had many individual was the most common. Until 1921, after the opening of 1 period was the most common in the introduced period. Section 12 had the highest NI at 41.9%, and the lowest, at 20.5%, in sections 9 and 19 were analyzed. Section 1 had the highest UI at 6.2%, whereas, the lowest, at 2.5%, was calculated in sections 19 and 20. Section 2 showed the highest DI at 16.7%. The first results of the analysis of the causes for the invasion of naturalized plants on the riverside and waterways, and physical factors and maintenance are directly affected. Second, sewage, muddy water and sediment deposits this naturalized plant caused by a chemical factor. Third, it is thought that invasive alien plants are irregular as it happens in biological factor. The proposed management plan naturalized plants, the first, disturbance caused by species management is a young object is removed immediately before flowering scape to eliminate or suppress the propagation of physical methods will be needed. Second, the fact that the national spread of native plant species and planting management does not provide space for the growth is very important. Third, agricultural land is disturbed by agricultural practices by interfering with the action of naturalized plants because the source of the river should be prohibited in agriculture. In the future, if we studied the naturalized plants distributed in restored streams located in Changwon-si, the characteristics of change in the ecosystem impact is expected to be beneficial.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.315-330
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• 2017

The aim of this study is to examine the damage of plants in the islands due to the habitat and feeding of European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and to suggest future management plan. The survey area Beomseom Island is found to be a vegetation distribution type that was formed secondary by the exposure of artificial interference except for evergreen vegetation distribution and European rabbit showed high habitat track density mainly in the lumbering area. Kkamakseom Island was identified as a severe vegetation distribution area due to interference, and European rabbit showed high habitat track density around deciduous broad leaved forests. Feeding plants of European rabbit was identified as a total of 12 families 17 breeds. Total 9 families 11 breeds were found in Beomseom Island while 5 families 6 breeds were found in Kkamakseom where most available food resources were loss to European rabbit. As for vegetation index of Beomseom Island, about 6.6% of total island area was declined and the vegetation index of Kkamakseom Island was reduced at most area of the island. In Kkamakseom Island, the area where EVI decreased to less than -0.008 unit/yr was reduced to 5.2%, and the area where it was reduced to -0.008 to -0.006 unit/yr in total was 13.32% of the total area. Thus, it was estimated to be seriously damaged by vegetation. Therefore, immediate management is required.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.207-216
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• 2003

To evaluate the smear zone caused by the drain installation, 10 piezometers were installed in the typical soft ground in the western coastal area of Korea. The dynamic pore water pressure developed during the drain installation was monitored using piezometers installed at a distance of 10cm, 20cm, 30cm, 40cm and 50cm from the location of the drain. The decay of pore pressure with time after pushing piezometers to depths of 5 meters and 7 meters during the drain installation was monitored to assess flow and consolidation characteristics of the soil after disturbance of the soil due to the drain installation. The drain installation results in shear strain and displacement of the soil and it decreases the permeability of the soil. Hence, the comparison between dissipation of the pore water pressure process in 10 pieszometers before as well as after installation of the drain indicated the diameter of disturbance zone and smear zone, which is related to the cross-sectional dimension of the mandrel. In addition, Cone-pressuremeter(CPM) tests were performed to obtain rigidity index of the soil for an interpretation of the dissipation processes. It has been evaluated by in-situ tests that the smear zone is from 3.0 to 3.6 times of the cross-sectional dimension of the mandrel. The hydraulic conductivity expressed in terms of the coefficient of consolidation after the drain installation was calculated from 3 to 8 times decrease evaluated by Teh & Houlsby equation and CPM test results.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.285-297
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• 2002

This study was carried out to prove the factor properties of the soil affected by a forest fire through the physical and chemical analysis and the data from the conclusion of those analysis are applied to the development of technics that reduces a forest fire-induced 2nd damage. The forest fire was in December 2000 at Gangreung city and Donghae city, Gangwon provinces, Korea. Soil samples were collected at upper layers (0-5 cm) and bottom layers (5-40 cm) in November 2001 from the burned and control sites. Values of pH in burned soils of the upper layers affected by forest fire are higher than those in control soils. Both the fragments of fire-burned plant and differences of geological properties are resulted in a class of soil. Contents of organic matters in burned soils are higher than those in control soils, exceptionally the contents of organic matters in burned soils that contain coaly shale are lower than those in control soils. Weathering indices in burned soils are higher than those in control soils and it concerned with loss of soil. Iron ions Fe(Fe$^{2+}$ or Fe$^{3+}$) are easily extracted from the burned soils by rainfall, but Mn ions are straightly exist in the burned soils by physiochemical adsorption of colloid. Through the sequential extraction in the burned soils and control soils, we are certificate the extraction of Fe ions and the disturbance of Mn ions from the burned soils. As a consequence of factor analysis in burned soil and control soil, we are certificate that the influence of forest fire results in a disturbance of positive correlation factors.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.714-723
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• 2020

This study was conducted to investigate the community stability and similarity of benthic macroinvertebrates in the Giran stream between August and September 2018, and compare results to those reported by Lee (2004). As relates to the total number of species in each taxon in 2018, 45 species were additionally discovered compared to the 2003 study; the number of EPT taxa increased by 14 species and OCH taxa increased by 18 species. The diversity and richness indexes increased while the dominance index tended to decrease. According to analysis of functional feeding groups, 11 more Gathering-collector species were found, making it the highest functional feeding group with 24 species. According to analysis of functional habitat groups, 15 more clinger species were found than in the past, making it the highest functional habitat group with 41 species. A community stability comparison showed that species belonging to 'Stability Group I' had the highest stability rate at 57.1% in 2003 and 61.5% in 2018. According to the biological water quality assessment, in 2018, the average water quality level at each survey site was 'Ia' and 'Very Good' in terms of environmental conditions. As a result of the similarity analysis between the survey points for the species that appeared, two large groups of similarities were classified (similarity group 1: 2003 sites, similarity group 2: 2018 sites).

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.129-144
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• 2006

Small-scale effects of sand mining on macrobenthic communities have been reported previously. However, little information is available as to how dredging affects the macrobenthic community structure. The objective of this study was to determine the impacts of large-scale exhibition dredging on the macrobenthic community of Gyeonggi Bay, Korea, where sand mining has continued for 20 years. Prior to dredging, the macrobenthic species composition was similar to that of areas near the dredging site, with several common dominant species found before dredging. After dredging, the number of species, density, and diversity (H') in the experimental area (sites 0 and 1) decreased significantly, but no difference was observed at other sites. Multivariate analysis (multidimensional scaling) revealed significant differences in community structure before and after dredging. The amphipod Urothoe grimaldii japonica, which was the most dominant species at sites 0,1, and 2, decreased rapidly at sites 0 and 1 after dredging, but no difference was observed at site 2. In addition, the index of multivariate dispersion (IMD) and the relative IMD (r. IMD) were large at sites 0 and 1, suggesting that the effects of dredging were direct at site 0 and 1, but indirect at site 2. The macrobenthic communities at sites 3 and 4 were not affected by dredging, but they were affected by physical conditions and biological interactions. We suggest that benthic biotope indices such as the IMD and r.IMD may constitute a valid tool for assessing the effects of dredging on the macrobenthic community; long-term monitoring is required to verify this.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.73-84
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• 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate biodiversity and natural habitat environment of freshwater ecosystem. Our aim was therefore to produce a set of biodiversity and habitat indicators based on multi-parameters of water quality and biodiversity by analyzing the characteristics of the results by indicators. We selected four indicators a) anthropogenic disturbance, b) habitat diversity, c) biodiversity, d) ecosystem structure. The fishes cohabiting with Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis were Rhynchocypris kumgangensis and Zacco koreanus. As a result of the anthropogenic disturbance evaluation, it was analyzed that vegetation embankment showed a more stable environment in the tributary than the main stream, and other disturbance was not confirmed As a result of the habitat diversity evaluation, it was analyzed that habitat evaluation index showed a high score of 200 more on average, showing an optimal habitat condition. As a result of the biodiversity evaluation, it was analyzed as a clean habitat condition with a high proportion of sensitive species, abundant dissolved oxygen, and little pollutants. As a results of the ecosystem structure, the ecological health condition metrics and appearance of endangered species showed large score deviation, but it was analyzed that the stream ecosystem health was generally excellent. There was a slight correlation between the habitat environment and the results of the nature habitat evaluation according to the appearance of the B. lenok tsinlingensis.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.254-263
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to evaluate biological water quality using fish assemblages in Nakdong River watershed. We selected 6 sites along the main axis of the river and evaluated the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI), Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) and chemical water quality during July 2004${\sim}$March 2006. For the study, we applied the 10 metric IBI model, which was developed for national biological water quality criteria. Nakdong River's IBI value averaged 20.8 (n=14) during the study which means poor biological water quality. Physical habitat health at all sites, based on QHEI model, was measured as 110, indicating fair${\sim}$good condition. The habitat health varied depending on the locations sampled. Habitat health in sites 1 and 6 was judged as good, while the health in sites 3 and 4 was $poor{\sim}fair$. Especially, we found the metric values of $M1{\sim}M5$, M7, M10 were low in sites 3 and 4 compared to other sites. In these sites, thus, habitat restoration of substrate composition, riffles, and bank vegetation may be necessary. In the mean time, chemical water quality, based on BOD, COD, TSS, and nutrients, had no large spatial and temporal variations. Overall data analysis indicated that site 3 was largely impacted by the polluted-tributary, Keumho River and the downstreams showed better water quality due to the dilution of the polluted river water by Nam River and Hwang River.