• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.15-29
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• 2024

Background: This study investigated the effects on the range of motion, pain, disability index, and quality of life when applying thoracic mobility exercise in middle-aged women with chronic back pain. Design: pretest-posttest control group design Methods: The study subjects were 32 patients with chronic back pain of 3 months or more among middle-aged women divided 2 groups. All groups were tested thrice a week for 30 minutes per session for four weeks. Each subject was evaluated using the thoracic rotation Range of Motion, the numerical pain rating scale and pressure pain threshold, Disability Index(Oswestry Disability Index), the Quality of Life(SF-36) before and after treatment. Results: As a result of the study, the range of motion at T1 and T2 of the exercise group to which thoracic mobility exercise was applied was significantly increased in both left and right rotations(p<0.05). In the evaluation of pain, the number pain rating scale(NPRS) score decreased significantly(p<0.05), and the pressure pain threshold was significantly increased (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference from the control group. In the evaluation of the disorder index, the Oswestry disorder index decreased significantly after the experiment (p<0.05), and there was a significant difference in group comparison with the control group (p<0.05). In quality of life, there was a significant increase in PCS of SF-36(p<0.05), but there was no significant difference from the control group. Conclusion: Through this study, thoracic mobility exercise can be used as an effective exercise therapy intervention method to improve and promote physical factors of range of motion, pain and disability index, and physical components of quality of life when treating middle-aged women with chronic back pain in the future.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.511-519
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• 2022

In order to develop an air-stripping based remediation process to remove the TOC (Total Organic Carbon) in groundwater around the underground LPG storage cavern, the laboratory scale experiments at various conditions (change of air injection volume and temperature, the application of ultrasonic treatment, etc.) for two types of groundwater (initial TOC concentration of 608 mg/L and 153 mg/L, respectively). From results of experiment, as the air injection rate for stripping into groundwater increased from 2 L/min to 11 L/min and as the air-stripping time increased from 1 hour to 24 hour, the TOC removal efficiency of air-stripping increased. However, the TOC concentration of treated groundwater was higher than the discharge tolerance limit (100 mg/L) even after 24 hour stripping at the maximum air injection rate of 11 L/min. The main compounds of the TOC in groundwater were identified as methanol and propane and the long stripping time (more than 24 hour) was needed to separate the methanol from groundwater because of the affinity between water and methanol. At 20℃ and 4 L/min of air injection, the TOC removal efficiency increased to 59.1% after 24 hour air-stripping. When the temperature of groundwater increased to 30℃ and 40℃, the TOC removal efficiency increased up to 80.0% and 82.8%, suggesting that more than 24 hour air-stripping at 40℃ is needed to lower the TOC concentration to below 100 mg/L and the additional TOC removal process as well as the air-stripping is necessary. When the temperature increased to 60℃ and the ultrasonic treatment was conjugated with the air-stripping, the TOC removal efficiency increased to 87.8% within 5 hour stripping and the final TOC concentration (72.4 mg/L) was satisfied with the TOC discharge tolerance limit. The TOC removal efficiency for groundwater having low TOC concentration (153 mg/L) also showed similar removal efficiency of 89.7% (the final TOC concentration: 18.9 mg/L). Results in this study supported that the air-stripping conjugated with the ultrasonic treatment could remove successfully the TOC in groundwater around the underground LPG strorage cavern.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 2023

This study was conducted to discover substances that regulate skin surface acidification using human epidermal keratinocyte cell lines, and to investigate their effects on the moisturizing ability and skin barrier function of the stratum corneum. Prunella vulgaris (P. vulgaris) is an herb widely distributed in Northwest Africa and North America that has been studied for its anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, research on the regulation of NHE1 expression and the restoration of skin barrier function has not been conducted. Analysis of P. vulgaris revealed the presence of rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid as active ingredients, which were tested for toxicity in human epidermal keratinocyte cell lines (HaCaT), and showed no toxic effects were observed at high concentarion (100 ㎍/mL or 100 µM). It is known that sodium-hydrogen ion exchange pumps (NHE1) decrease in expression in aging skin to maintain the acidic pH of the stratum corneum, and it is hypothesized that this decrease plays an important role in the impaired restoration of skin barrier function in aging skin. P. vulgaris extract and caffeic acid increased the expression of NHE1 in keratinocytes, increased the expression of natural moisturizing factor (NMF) precursor filaggrin and ceramide synthesis enzyme serine palmitoyl transferase (SPT). In addition, P. vulgaris and caffeic acid decreased the extracellular pH of keratinocytes, indicating a direct effect on skin pH regulation. Taken together, these results suggest that P. vulgaris and caffeic acid can regulate skin pH through NHE1 modulation, and may help to restore skin barrier function by increasing NMF and ceramide synthesis. These results show the possibility that honeysuckle and caffeic acid can have a positive effect on skin health, and can be the basis for the development of new skin protection products using them.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.74-79
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• 2017

Purpose Proton therapy can deliver an optimal dose to tumor while reducing unnecessary dose to normal tissue as compared the conventional photon therapy. As proton beams are irradiated into tissue, various positron emitters are produced via nuclear fragmentation reactions. These positron emitters could be used for the dose verification by using PET. However, the short half-life of the radioisotopes makes it hard to obtain the enough amounts of events. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of off-line PET imaging scan time on the PET image quality. Materials and Methods The various diameters of spheres (D=37, 28, 22 mm) filled with distilled water were inserted in a 2001 IEC body phantom. Then proton beams (100 MU) were irradiated into the center of the each sphere using the wobbling technique with the gantry angle of $0^{\circ}$. The modulation widths of the spread out bragg peak were 16.4, 14.7 and 9.3 cm for the spheres of 37, 28 and 22 mm in diameters respectively. After 5 min of the proton irradiation, the PET images of the IEC body phantom were obtained for 50 min. The PET images with different time courses (0-10 min, 11-20 min, 21-30 min, 31-40 min and 41-50 min) were obtained by dividing the frame with a duration of 10 min. In order to evaluate the off-line PET image quality with the different time courses, the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the PET image calculated for each sphere. Results The CNRs of the sphere (D=37 mm) were 0.43, 0.42, 0.40, 0.31 and 0.21 for the time courses of 0-10 min, 11-20 min, 21-30 min, 31-40 min and 41-50 min respectively. The CNRs of the sphere (D=28 mm) were 0.36, 0.32, 0.27, 0.19 and 0.09 for the time courses of 0-10 min, 11-20 min, 21-30 min, 31-40 min and 41-50 min respectively. The CNR of 37 mm sphere was decreased rapidly after 30 min of the proton irradiation. In case of the spheres of 28 mm and 22 mm, the CNR was decreased drastically after 20 min of the irradiation. Conclusion The off-line PET imaging time is an important factor for the monitoring of the proton therapy. In case of the lesion diameter of 22 mm, the off-line PET image should be obtained within 25 min after the proton irradiation. When it comes to small size of tumor, the long PET imaging time will be beneficial for the proton therapy treatment monitoring.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2008

Bus stops are places that a variety of things happen including waiting, meeting and taking breaks. Therefore, these locations need to be made to meet the usage demands. They should be landscaped to provide a comfortable and satisfying environment for users. At present, bus stops are made with artificial materials and are all unified in form without consideration to landscape, ecology and other characteristics. Users are exposed to the poor surroundings. However, if small urban parks, which are of vital importance as well as extremely convenient, were connected to bus stops, the results would be a quantitative increase in the leisure locations and a qualitative change in the form of improved landscape and various forms of parks. The research was carried out to determine the effects of connecting bus stops and small parks, and the results are as follows. First, small parks provide resting areas for waiting passengers and buses. Second, it provides presently insufficient rest areas with convenience facilities and makes it more comfortable to take buses and use the park. Third, it provides a multi-functional efficient use of space that functions as both bus stop and park. Fourth, it can be a symbolic landmark that can represent the color of the area by adding a cultural element. Fifth, the existing green space in the park can contribute to the natural environment of the city. This study deduced general problems surrounding bus stops on the basis of selected indices and researched bus stops which are being used as parks and the places which have the potential for such purposes, in order to suggest a plan of attack. In addition, this proposal can create a new form of space, the bus stop park, and try to create a module of cases to establish it.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.62-68
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• 2018

This study investigated the effect of light intensity on the removal of particulate matter by Dieffenbachia amoena 'Marianne' and Spathiphyllum spp.. An acrylic chamber ($600{\times}800{\times}1200mm$, $L{\times}W{\times}H$) modeled as an indoor space and a green bio-filter ($495{\times}495{\times}1000mm$, $L{\times}W{\times}H$) as an air purification device were made of acrylic. The removal of particulate matter PM10 and PM1, the photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and number of stomata of Dieffenbachia amoena 'Marianne' and Spathiphyllum spp. were measured according to three different levels of light intensity (0, 30 and $60{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}PPFD$). Regarding the length of time taken for PM10 to reach $1{\mu}g$, the Dieffenbachia amoena 'Marianne' showed a significant difference according to the presence or absence of light, and there was no significant difference shown between light intensity of 30 and $60{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}PPFD$. As for the Spathiphyllum spp., there was no significant difference between 0 and $30{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}PPFD$, while a significant difference was shown at $60{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}PPFD$. After 90 minutes, the PM1, PM10, and $CO_2$ residuals of the Spathiphyllum spp. were lowest at $60{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}PPFD$. The remaining amount of PM1 and PM10 was lower with the Spathiphyllum spp. than with the Dieffenbachia amoena 'Marianne', even at $0{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}PPFD$. With both plants, the higher the light intensity, the higher the photosynthetic rate, while the stomatal conductance did not show any significant difference. Spathiphyllum spp. showed a higher photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance and a greater number of stomata than Dieffenbachia amoena 'Marianne', and stomata were observed in both the front and back sides of the leaves. The air purification effect of Spathiphyllum spp. is considered to be better than Dieffenbachia amoena 'Marianne' at the same light intensity due to such plant characteristics. Therefore, in order to select effective indoor plants for the removal of particulate contamination in an indoor space, the characteristics of plants such as the photosynthetic rate and the number and arrangement of stomata according to indoor light intensity should be considered.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.796-805
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• 2002

This study examined the knowledge structure constructed by children before formal instruction, and successive changes in the structural complexity of knowledge during and after the learning of 'Structure and Function of Plant' unit. It also investigated how those changes were affected by children's learning modes. The researchers made the 5th graders draw the first draft of their concept map to see the pre-existing knowledge structure concerned with the unit and four more concept maps after completing every fourth lesson. And to see how long their knowledge structures were preserved, the researchers made children draw additional concept maps in 3 days, 3 months, and 7 months after completing the unit. Children drew their current concept maps on the basis of the previous one while learning the unit and without the previous one after completing the unit. Each concept map drawn by children showed the degree of their current understanding on the structures and functions of plants. The results revealed that only two levels of hierarchy and five relationships among the components of the first concept map(relationship, hierarchy, cross link and example) were proven to be valid in terms of conceptual relevance. Growth in the structural complexity of knowledge took place progressively throughout the unit and the effects of learning mode on the growth were favorably reflected in concept map scores of meaningful learners over time(relationship, cross link, example: p<.01, hierarchy: p<.05). Although there were some differences on the concept map scores between two types of learners, they commonly showed that knowledge restructuring had occurred apparently in the early periods from the 1st to the 6th lesson and had not occurred at all in the last period of the unit. The frequency of tuning was higher in rote learners than in meaningful learners throughout the unit, but the frequency of accretion was reverse. Concept map scores of rote learners constructed in the course of learning of the unit decreased little by little gradually in all the categories after completing the unit. However, the average total map score of meaningful learners increased a little more in 7 months than in 3 months after completing the unit. Therefore it can be inferred that meaningful learners construct more stable and well-differentiated knowledge structures than the rote learners.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2006

Many soil amendments have been used nowadays to improve physical and chmical condition of turf soil, which might ultimately optimize turfgrass growth in golf courses. This study was carried out to Investigate the effects of new organic soil amendment containing pig excreta 50% and sawdust 50% on growth of zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica L.) and kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) in greenhouse. Three applicable treatments with soil mixtures of 10, 20, and 30% (v/v) animal organic soil amendment (AOSA) with sand, were tested for chemical property, physical property, visual quality and root length of zoysiagrass and Kentucky bluegrass. As results, application of $10{\sim}30%$ AOSA mixtures were proper to grow turfgrass in soil nutrition. Especially, the treatment with 20% AOSA mixtures showed 0.7% in organic matter, which meets to green standard of USGA. Also, 30% AOSA mixtures was 1.1% in organic matter, which might be desirable for zoysiagrass-planted golf courses in Korea. It was turned out that addition of AOSA decreased the hydraulic conductivity in soil physical property Because the sand possess high hydraulic conductivity, it is recommended to combine $10{\sim}30%$ AOSA with sand in order to sustain soil balance. The treatment with $10{\sim}30%$ AOSA noticeably increased visual quality of both zoysiagras and Kentucky bluegrass during 90 days. However, treatments with either 20% or 30% AOSA were effective to develop root length of zoysiagrass but treatments with 20% AOSA were more effective than that of 30% AOSA mixtures to promote root length of Kentucky bluegrass at 60 days. In conclusion, considering all vital factors such as visible quality, root growth, organic matter content, and economical efficiency, was taken, it is recommended that a $20{\sim}30%$ mixture of AOSA with sand is good for the growth of zoysiagrass and 20% mixture for Kentucky bluegrass.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.605-617
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• 2015

The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a botanical biofiltration system that combines a green interior, biofiltering, and automatic irrigation to purify indoor air pollutants according to indoor space and the size of biofilter. This study was performed to compare the stability of air flow characteristics and removal efficiency (RE) of fine dust within a wall-typed (vertical) botanical biofilter depending on humidifying cycle and to investigate RE of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by the biofilter. The biofilter used in this experiment was designed as an integral form of water metering pump, water tank, blower, humidifier, and multi-level planting space in order to be suitable for indoor space utilization. As a result, relative humidity, air temperature, and soil moisture content (SMC) within the biofilter showed stable values regardless of three different humidifying cycles operated by the metering pump. In particular, SMCs were consistently maintained in the range of 27.1-29.7% during all humidifying cycles; moreover, a humidifying cycle of operating for 15 min and pausing for 45 min showed the best horizontal linear regression (y = 0.0008x + 29.09) on SMC ($29.0{\pm}0.2%$) during 120 hour. REs for number of fine dust (PM10) and ultra-fine dust (PM2.5) particles passed through the biofilter were in the range of 82.7-89.7% and 65.4-73.0%, respectively. RE for weight of PM10 passed through the biofilter was in the range of 58.1-78.9%, depending on humidifying cycle. REs of xylene, ethyl benzene, total VOCs (TVOCs), and toluene passed through the biofilter were in the range of 71.3-75.5%, while REs of benzene and formaldehyde (HCHO) passed through the biofilter were 39.7% and 44.9%, respectively. Hence, it was confirmed that the wall-typed botanical biofilter suitable for indoor plants was very effective for indoor air purification.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2008

Recently irregular dark-colored patches were found on the Kentucky teeing ground in a golf course in Gyunggi providence. Interestingly, blue-green algae from the leaf tissue sample containing black spot-stained symptoms were largely observed through microscopic study. In general, algae present on the upper soil surface or in the upper layer of root zone form dark brown layers of scum or crust, which invoked harmful effects to turf growth such as poor drainage, inhibition of new root development. In this observation, unlike the algae were sometime found in senescing leaves on contacted soil in July and August, the blue-green algae were detected within black spot-stained Kentucky bluegrass leaf tissues including leaf blade, ligule, auriclea as well as leaf sheath. The blue-green algae were also detected on the leaf and stem tissue adjacent to the symptomatic leaf tissues. Two species of blue-green algae, Phomidium and Oscillatoria, were greatly observed. Oscillatoria species was more commonly notified in all samples. In addition, the two species were found on a putting green showing yellow spot disease at another golf course in Gyunggi providence. The data from chemical control assay revealed that chemicals such as propiconazole, iprodione, and azoxystrobin decreased blue-green algae population and leaf spots, which finally resulted in enhanced leaf quality. All taken together, we strongly suggested that the disease-like phenomenon by blue-green algae might be very closely mediated with infection/translocation process in relation with turfgrass. It indicates that blue-green algae in turf management may play an adverse role as a secondary barrier as well as a pathogenic agent. This report may be helpful for superintendents to recognize and understand the fact that algae control should be provided more cautiously and seriously than we did previously in upcoming golf course management.