• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.209-217
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• 2002

There have been many studies on the application of the reciprocal advantages of multimodality image to define accurate target volume in the Process of radiation treatment planning. For the proper use of the multimodality images, the registration works between different modality images should be performed in advance. In this study, we selected chamfer matching method and mutual information method as most popular methods in recent image registration studies considering the registration accuracy and clinical practicality. And the two registration methods were analyzed to deduce the optimal registration method according to the characteristics of images. Lung phantom of which multimodality images could be acquired was fabricated and CT, MRI and SPECT images of the phantom were used in this study. We developed the registration program which can perform the two registration methods properly and analyzed the registration results which were produced by the developed program in many different images' conditions. Although the overall accuracy of the registration in both chamfer matching method and mutual information method was acceptable, the registration errors in SPECT images which had lower resolution and in degraded images of which data were removed in some part were increased when chamfer matching method was applied. Especially in the case of degraded reference image, chamfer matching methods produce relatively large errors compared with mutual information method. Mutual information method can be estimated as more robust registration method than chamfer matching method in this study because it did not need the prerequisite works, the extraction of accurate contour points, and it produced more accurate registration results consistently regardless of the images' characteristics. The analysis of the registration methods in this study can be expected to provide useful information to the utilization of multimodality images in delineating target volume for radiation treatment planning and in many other clinical applications.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2008

The study was carried out to estimate runoff loads of heavy metals in the valley watershed at the middle of South Korea, during farming season. There were no other pollution sources except agricultural activity. From 27 April 2006 to 31 October 2007, water samples were collected using two methods. The first method was regular sampling wherein water samples were taken every two weeks; and the other method was through regular sampling when water were collected during each rainfall event. Results showed that heavy metals were found in the water from the regular samples, and were highest during May and June. It was presumed that this might have been contributed by farming activities. Heavy metal concentration of the irregular samples was lower than regular samples. The correlation coefficient between each heavy metal of the regular samples were as follows: Fe-Al>Cr-Al>Fe-Cr>Mn-Fe. The correlation coefficient of the irregular samples were the following: Fe-Al>Fe-Cu is positive; and Pb-Cu>Ni-Al is negative. Measured pollutant loads of heavy metals in the valley watershed were : 2.047 kg $day^{-1}$ of Al, 0.008 kg $day^{-1}$ of Cd, 0.034 kg $day^{-1}$ of Cr, 0.311 kg $day^{-1}$ of Cu, 0.601 kg $day^{-1}$ of Fe, and 0.282 kg $day^{-1}$ of Zn in 2006; while in 2007, the following were observed: 2.535 kg $day^{-1}$ of Al, 0.026 kg $day^{-1}$ of Cd, 0.055 kg $day^{-1}$ of Cu, 0.727 kg $day^{-1}$ of Fe, and 0.317 kg $day^{-1}$ of Zn. In the analysis of data gathered, the loading rates of effluents from the valley watershed during the rainy season were : 79.8% of Al, 69.1% of Cu, 82.5% of Fe, and 69.1% of Zn in 2006; while 69.9% of Al, 67.5% of Cu, 70.4% of Fe, and 67.5% of Zn in 2007.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.1 s.115
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• pp.138-144
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• 2006

Algal growth potential test (AGPT) has been used as a tool for assessing biological productivity potential in the aquatic ecosystems. This study was conducted to compare the productivity potentials of large reservoirs (Lakes Andong, Hapchon and Jinyang, and Naktong estuarine dam) and river sites (Sangju, Koryung, and Samlangjin) located in the Naktong River watershed. AGPT was conducted in both non-monsoon and mosoon season (February, April, July and September) of 2003, using Microcystis aeruginosa as a test alga. The AGPs in the reservoirs were relatively much lower than those of river sites. The river AGPs increased towards upstream close to the influent streams, while it generally decreased towards downstream. Immediately after the abrupt increase in influent discharge in summer, the AGP became similar between midstream and downstream sites. The water quality of river and reservoirs deteriorated during the drought period in accordance with AGP: it was the highest during this period. The AGPs showed the closest correlation with the P concentration, leading to the conclusion that bioavailable P is highly influential to the algal growth in both lentic and lotic ecosystems in the Naktong River watershed. Based on the AGPs, the water quality of tested sites was likely eutrophic. Our results suggest that AGPT be a useful tool in evaluating the productivity potential and trophic state of the water body as well as determining the nutrients that limit the growth of algae.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.84 no.4
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• pp.465-478
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• 1995

The objective of this study was to investigate the impacts of large-scale timber harvesting on the environment of a mature hardwood forest. To achieve the objective, the effects of harvesting on forest environmental factors were analyzed quantitatively using the field data measured in the study sites of Seoul National University Research Forests [(Mt.) Paekunsan] for two years(1993-1994) following timber harvesting. The field data include information on vegetation, soil mesofauna, physicochemical characteristics of soil, surface water runoff, water quality in the stream, and hillslope erosion. For comparison, field data for each environmental factor were collected in forest areas disturbed by logging and undisturbed, separately. The results of this study were as follows : The diversity of vegetational species increased in the harvested sites. However, the similarity index value of species between harvested and non-harvested sites was close to each other. Soil bulk density and soil hardness were increased after timber harvesting, respectively. The level of organic matter, total-N, avail $P_2O_5$, CEC($K^+$, $Na^+$, $Ca^{{+}{+}}$, $Mg^{{+}{+}}$) in the harvested area were found decreased. While the population of Colembola spp., and Acari spp. among soil mesofauna in harvested sites increased by two to seven times compared to those of non-harvested sites during the first year, the rates of increment decreased in the second year. However, those members of soil mesofauna in harvested sites were still higher than those of non-harvested sites in the second year. The results of statistical analysis using the stepwise regression method indicated that the diversity of soil mesofauna were significantly affected by soil moisture, soil bulk density, $Mg^{{+}{+}}$, CEC, and soil temperature at soil depth of 5(0~10)cm in the order of importance. The amount of surface water runoff on harvested sites was larger than that of non-harvested sites by 28% in the first year and 24.5% in the second year after timber harvesting. The level of BOD, COD, and pH in the stream water on the harvested sites reached at the level of the domestic use for drinking in the first and second year after timber harvesting. Such heavy metals as Cd, Pb, Cu, and organic P were not found. Moreover, the level of eight factors of domestic use for drinking water designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea were within the level of the first class in the quality of drinking water standard. The study also showed that the amount of hillslope erosion in harvested sites was 4.77 ton/ha/yr in the first year after timber harvesting. In the second year, the amount decreased rapidly to 1.0 ton/ha/yr. The impact of logging on hillslope erosion in the harvested sites was larger than that in non-harvested sites by seven times in the first year and two times in the second year. The above results indicate that the large-scale timber harvesting cause significant changes in the environmental factors. However, the results are based on only two-year field observation. We should take more field observation and analyses to increase understandings on the impacts of timber harvesting on environmental changes. With the understandings, we might be able to improve the technology of timber harvesting operations to reduce the environmental impacts of large-scale timber harvesting.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.243-255
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• 2014

This study was investigated to estimate the relations between benthic environments and benthic polychaetous community from April 2012 to February 2013. Twenty four stations were selected sequentially with Seomjin River Estuary from the northern part of Gwangyang Bay. The study area could be divided into three characteristic zones based on salinity, water temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH such as Saline Water Zone (SWZ), Brackish Water Zone (BWZ), and Fresh Water Zone (FWZ). Salinity was above 30.0 psu in SWZ, drastically decreased toward inland in BWZ, and nearly zero psu in FWZ. SWZ showed its specific environmental characters like that water temperature fluctuated with little seasonal change and DO showed the lowest values among three zones, and pH maintained as consistent value without seasonal fluctuation. In FWZ, on the other hand, water temperature showed high seasonal fluctuation, DO showed the highest values among three zones, and pH fluctuated greatly. In sedimentary environment, mud, sand and sand/gravel were found as dominant sedimentary deposits in SWZ, BWZ and FWZ, respectively. Organic matter content and AVS in surface sediment were high in SWZ, while Chl-a content high in FWZ. This study area showed a marked environmental difference between FWZ and SWZ as follows: FWZ has coarse sediment and low salinity, low organic matter content, low AVS in FWZ but SWZ has fine sediment and high salinity, high organic matter content and AVS. Species number and mean density of benthic polychaete community was highest in Saline Water Zone (SWZ), drastically decreased in Brackish Water Zone (BWZ), and lowest in Fresh Water Zone (FWZ). Dominant polychates above 5.0% of individual numbers were 6 taxa. Lumbrineris longifolia, Prionospio cirrifera, Tharyx sp. occurred as main dominant species of all study periods, and Hediste sp., Praxillella affinis, Tylorrhynchus sp. dominantly occurred at some seasons. Inhabiting areas of dominant species were separated characteristically. Representative species in SWZ were Lumbrineris longifolia, Tharyx sp., Mediomastus sp.. Wide-appearing species between SWZ and BWZ were Prionospio cirrifera, Heteromastus filiformis, Aricidea sp.. Characteristic species in FWZ were Tylorrhynchus sp. and Hediste sp.. As the results of cluster analysis and nMDS based on the species composition of polychaetous community, unique station groups were established in SWZ and FWZ. Stations in BWZ were sub-divided into several groups with season. Pearson's correlation analysis and PCA between benthic environments and ecological characteristics of polychaetous community showed that salinity, sediment composition, organic content and dissolved oxygen played a role to determine the temporal and spatial distribution of the ecological characteristics as species number, mean density, abundance of main species, and ecological indices.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.252-263
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to determine trophic state, based on nutrients (TN, TP), transparency (SD), and chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ (Chl) and identify their empirical relations of TN-Chl, TP-Chl and Chl-SD depending on the dataset used along with dynamics of conductivity and suspended solids. Analysis of trophic states showed that more than half of 36 reservoirs were judged as eutrophic-hypertrophic conditions depending on the trophic variables. Seasonal values of TP varied by nearly 500% and showed greater in August than any other months. In contrast, TN varied within less than 90% and all monthly mean values of TN were never fall less than 1.2 mg L$^{-1}$ indicating low seasonal variations and high ambient concentrations (eutrophic-hypertrophic state). Analysis of empirical relations in the trophic variables showed that transparency had greater functional relations with Chl (R$^2$=0.31, p<0.001) than TP (R$^2$=0.15, p<0.001) and TN (R$^2$=0.20, p<0.001). Ratios of TN : TP in the ambient water indicated that most reservoirs showed a potential phosphorous limitation on the algal growth. Thus, algal biomass, based on Chl values, was more regulated by phosphorous than nitrogen. Analysis of linear regression model, based on log-transformed annual mean values, showed that only 30% in the variation of Chl was explained by TP (R$^2$=0.295, p=0.001, n=36) and 15% by TN (R$^2$=0.151, p=0.019, n=36). However, linear regression model, based on individual system, showed that Chl-TP model had strong positive relations (R$^2$=0.62, p=0.002, n=12), whereas the model had no any relations (p=0.892, n=12). Overall, our data suggested that averaging effect in the empirical model developments may influence the significance in the statistical analysis.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.27-38
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• 2018

Groundwaters in different rock types (Mesozoic granite, Precambrian gneiss, and schist) of Ganghwa island, Incheon City were characterized by using naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) and hydrogeochemical constituents. For the study, groundwater samples from 69 wells had been collected over eight years. Statistical methods were applied to relate hydrogeochemical components and NORM in the groundwater samples. The groundwater samples belonged to $Ca(Na)-HCO_3$ types. The uranium concentrations in three groundwater samples exceeded 30 ug/L of United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) maximum contaminant level (MCL). The radon concentrations in 28 groundwater samples exceeded 4,000 pCi/L (picocuries per Liter) of US EPA alternative maximum contaminant level (AMCL). Gross-alpha in all the groundwater samples did not exceed 15 pCi/L of US EPA MCL. The average concentrations of uranium and radon in groundwater were the highest in granite area, and then gneiss, schist areas in order. In schist area, the correlation coefficient (R) between radon and $HCO_3$ is -0.40 and R between uranium and $SO_4$ is 0.54. In gneiss area, the R between radon and uranium is 0.55 and the R between uranium and $SO_4$ is 0.41. According to factor analysis, each geological area shows different chemical characteristics. The statistical analysis of whole groundwater resulted in nearly no significant relationship among uranium, radon and chemical constituents. Subsequently, more detailed studies on hydrogeological, geochemical, and geological characteristics related to NORM are required to better understand the behavior and fate of NORM.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.23-40
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• 2022

Many constructed wetlands have been installed in dam reservoirs nationwide for ecological purification of watershed pollutants, but aging and reduced efficiency are becoming issues. To improve the management of constructed wetlands, an objective evaluation of structural suitability is required. This study evaluated 39 constructed wetlands of 15 dams. First, through fogus group interview(FGI), survey analysis, and analytic hierarchy process(AHP), eight evaluation items in the physical and vegetative aspects were selected and the evaluation criteria applied with weights were prepared. Second, as a result of the structural suitability evaluation, the average score of the overall constructed wetlands was 80.8, with 10 sites rated as 'good grade(91~100)', 22 sites rated as 'normal grade(71~90)' and 7 sites rated as 'poor grade(70 or less)'. The average score of physical structure evaluation was 52.6, with 14 sites rated as 'good', 21 sites as 'normal' and 4 sites as 'poor'. The suitability of location was good level in most constructed wetlands, but the water supply system, depth of water, ratio of length-to-width, and slope of flow channel were evaluated as 'normal' or less in constructed wetlands of 50% or more. Therefore, it was found that overall improvement was necessary for stable flow supply and flow improvement in the constructed wetland. The average score of vegetative structure evaluation was 28.2, and about 84% of them were identified as 'normal' or lower. As a result of analyzing the Spearman's correlation coefficient between the physical structure evaluation score and the vegetation structure evaluation score, there was a significant correlation(r = 0.728, p < 0.001), and it was found that each evaluation factor also influences each other. As a result of the case review of 6 constructed wetlands, the appropriateness of the evaluation results was confirmed, and it was found that the location, flow rate supply, and type of wetland had a great influence on the efficiency and operation of the wetland. Through this study, it will be possible to derive structural weaknesses of constructed wetlands in dam reservoirs as a nature-based solution, to prepare types and practical alternatives for improved management of each constructed wetland in the future, and to contribute to enhancing various environmental functions.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2002

Numerous hormones are involved in the regulation of reproduction. Among them, estrogen and progesterone are the most important ovarian steroid hormones regulating female fertility. On the other hand, diverse stressors impede female receptivity and fertility. Since norepinephrine(NE) and epinephrine(E) are released from the adrenal during stress, it might play a role in stress-induced disruptions of fEmale reproductive parameters. The present study was performed to analyze the changes in adrenal catecholaminergic activities in cycling rats. The tissue content and secretion level of catecholamines were determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detector(HPLC-ECD). Adrenomedullary content of norepinephrine(NE) was increased on proestrus stage (59.47 $\pm$ 6.86 ug/gland), peaked on diestrus I stage(65.22 $\pm$ 5.99 ug/gland), and was nadir on diestrus II stage(41.63 $\pm$ 1.33 ug/gland). The highest E content was observed on proestrus stage(361.86 $\pm$ 15.58 ug/gland) while the lowest level was on diestrus II stage(285.58 $\pm$ 12.25 ug/gland). In addition to these observations, a significant reduction of the NE : E ratio was observed (1 : 4.81 on diestrus I vs 1 : 6.13～7.02 on other stages). In vitro secretion of adrenal NE and E was increased on proestrus stage, peaked on estrus stage, and decreased on diestrus II stage. Interestingly, the NE : E ratio in conditioned media was significantly increased on estrus stage (1 : 3.32 vs 1 : 2.34～2.65 on other stages. The biosynthesis of NE and E is mediated by tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase(PNMT) which acts conversion of tyrosine into DOPA and NE into E, respectively. These finding demonstrated that sex steroids, during setrous cycle, seem to be able to modify the adrenal catecholamines biosynthesis and secretion with stage-specific manner by modulation of the enzyme activities.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2002

Dopamine(DA), norepinephrine(NE), and epinephrine(E) belong to a class of neurotransmitters known as catecholamine (CA) which are synthesized and secreted by mammalian brain and adrenal medulla. CA regulate several behavior patterns connected with breeding, and regulate GnRH-gonadotropin hormone axis' vitality between hypothalamus-pituitary gland linking with reproduction freeze. The present study examined effects of sex steroid hormone on the transcriptional activities of CA biosynthesis enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase(TH), dopamine $\beta$ -hydroxylase(DBH), and phenylethaolamine-N-methyl transferase(PNMT). Mature female rats were ovariectomized(OVX) and implanted with 17 $\beta$-estradiol(E$_2$: 500 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) or sesame oil. Forty-eight hours after implantation all the animals were sacrificed. Total RNAs were extracted immediately and were applied to semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The expression level of TH was appeared by hypothalamus > SNc> adrenal medulla orders in OVX＋Oil group, and by SNc > hypothalamus) adrenal medulla orders in OVX+E$_2$ group. Treatment with E$_2$ significantly increased TH expression in SNc and adrenal medulla but in hypothalamus, the reduced TH expression was observed. The expression level of DBH was appeared by adrenal medulla > SNc > hypothalamus orders in OVX＋Oil group and in OVX＋E$_2$ group. Administration of E$_2$ significantly reduced DBH expression in SNc, and increased in adrenal medulla. Two cDNA products, large(PNMT1) and small(PMNTs) species of 110bp difference, were amplified in SNc and hypothalamus, but only PNMTs was observed in adenal medulla. The PNMTs expression level was in the order of adrenal medulla > hypothalamus > SNc in both OVX＋Oil and OVX＋E$_2$ group. The PNMTs expression in SNc and adrenal medulla was significantly increased byE$_2$. The present report demonstrated that estrogen effects on transcriptional activities for CA biosynthethic enzymes were tissue specific in adrenal medulla as well as different region of brain. These results suggest that it might be crucial relationship between the type of estrogen receptor and CA enzyme gene expression.