• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.379-392
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• 2014

This study was performed to predict the future climate envelope of Pinus pumila, a subalpine plant and a Climate-sensitive Biological Indicator Species (CBIS) of Korea. P. pumila is distributed at Mt. seorak in South Korea. Suitable habitat were predicted under two alternative RCPscenarios (IPCC AR5). The SDM used for future prediction was a Maxent model, and the total number of environmental variables for Maxent was 8. It was found that the distribution range of P. pumila in the South Korean was $38^{\circ}7^{\prime}8^{{\prime}{\prime}}N{\sim}38^{\circ}7^{\prime}14^{{\prime}{\prime}}N$ and $128^{\circ}28^{\prime}2^{{\prime}{\prime}}E{\sim}128^{\circ}27^{\prime}38^{{\prime}{\prime}}E$ and 1,586m~1,688m in altitude. The variables that contribute the most to define the climate envelope are altitude. Climate envelope simulation accuracy was evaluated using the ROC's AUC. The P. pumila model's 5-cv AUC was found to be 0.99966. which showed that model accuracy was very high. Under both the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, the climate envelope for P. pumila is predicted to decrease in South Korea. According to the results of the maxent model has been applied in the current climate, suitable habitat is $790.78km^2$. The suitable habitats, are distributed in the region of over 1,400m. Further, in comparison with the suitable habitat of applying RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 suitable habitat current, reduction of area RCP8.5 was greater than RCP4.5. Thus, climate change will affect the distribution of P. pumila. Therefore, governmental measures to conserve this species will be necessary. Additionally, for CBIS vulnerability analysis and studies using sampling techniques to monitor areas based on the outcomes of this study, future study designs should incorporate the use of climatic predictions derived from multiple GCMs, especially GCMs that were not the one used in this study. Furthermore, if environmental variables directly relevant to CBIS distribution other than climate variables, such as the Bioclim parameters, are ever identified, more accurate prediction than in this study will be possible.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.73-83
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• 2016

This study modified and applied the ecological network(Indicator 2) from the City Biodiversity Index(CBI) to be tailored to Korea. It is calculated by utilizing a biotope map and a land cover map. The ecological network of Gyeryong-Si was 13,713,703(33.8%) with the biotope map and 17,686,966(37.9%) with the land cover map. The result of the biotope map was lower than the land cover map. The ecological network of Goyang-Si was 4,961,922(4.9%) with the biotope map and 4,383,207(3.7%) with the land cover map. The result of the land cover map was lower than the biotope map. As a main result of the research, an error was discovered in which, when calculating the ecological network, the types of the military unit facilities were distinguished into a special area on the biotope map and into an urbanization promotion area and a forest area on the land cover map. In the case of a middle-classified, land cover map, the land use in the surroundings of the forest area was not subdivided. An error in the development area expressed as a forest green was discovered. When selecting the natural elements, too, regarding the types of artificially-created rivers, artificial ponds, and artificial grasslands, etc. on a biotope map, the exclusions were necessary. Regarding the natural, bare ground on a land cover map, there was a need to calculate by including the natural elements. It was judged that, in the future, the ecological network in the unit of the entire nation can be analyzed roughly by utilizing a land cover map. It was judged that, in a city having a biotope map, the calculation of the ecological network utilizing a map of the present situation of the urban ecology will be a more accurate diagnosis of the present situation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.203-210
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• 2001

Here, we compared the effectiveness of 50 MeV($p{\to}RBe^+$) cyclotron fast neutrons versus $^{60}Co$ ${\gamma}$-rays by the apoptotic fragment frequency in both rat peripheral lymphocytes and crypt cells to check a radiobiological endpoint. The incidence of apoptotic cell death was increased in all irradiated groups, and radiation at all doses trigger rapid changes in both crypt cells and peripheral lymphocytes. These data suggest that apoptosis may play an important role in homeostasis of damaged radiosensitive target organ by removing damaged cells. The curve of dose-effect relationship for these data of apoptotic fragments frequencies was $y=0.3+(6.512{\pm}0.279)D(r^2=0.975)$ after neutrons, while $y=0.3+(4.435{\pm}0.473)D+(-1.300{\pm}0.551)D^2(r^2=0.988)$ after ${\gamma}$-rays. In addition, $y=3.5+(118.410{\pm}10.325)D+(-33.548{\pm}12.023)D^2(r^2=0.992)$ after ${\gamma}$-rays in rat lymphocytes. A significant dose-response relationship was found between the frequency of apoptotic cell and dose. These data show a trend towards increase of the numbers of apoptotic cells with increasing dose. Dose-response curves for high and low linear energy transfer (LET) radiation modalities in these studies were different. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) value for crypt cells was 1.919. In addition, there were significant peaks on apoptosis induction at 4 and 6h after irradiation, and the morphological findings of the irradiated groups were typical apoptotic fragments in crypt cells that were hardly observed in the control group. Thus, apoptosis induction in both crypt cells and peripheral lymphocytes could be a useful endpoint of rat model for studying screening test and microdosimetic indicator to evaluate the biological effects of radiation-induced cell damage.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.1
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• pp.129-136
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• 2014

This study aims to investigate the effect of frequency of using forest environment on workers' stress. Workers in medical and counseling industry, which is recently known to require heavy emotional burden and thus cause a lot of stress and burnout syndrome, participated in the study. We classified 370 subjects, who were working at medical and counseling service institutions in Seoul metropolitan area, into two groups according to frequency of using forest environment by conducting a screening survey. 69 subjects submitted written consent and were recruited for either forest therapy program or control-group test; the "high" group (n=27) at the high frequency of using forest environment and the "low" group (n=42) at the low level. We measured the level of stress by using psychosocial indicators such as Worker's Stress Response Inventory (WSRI), Recovery Experience Questionnaire (REQ), and Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) and biological ones such as heart rate variability (HRV), cortisol, and Natural Killer cell (NK cell). The results suggested that the level of stress differed by frequency. The "high" group showed significantly low scores in the depression and work sub-scale and the total score of WSRI, emotional exhaustion, professional efficacy and total score of MBI-GS, and high scores in the total score of REQ. Similar tendencies were observed in the most of other indicators of psychosocial measures. Regarding the biological indicators, the "high" group showed the highest SDNN, RMSSD and TP measures of HRV and NK Cell activity and the low cortisol, although the statistical power did not reach the significant level. Our results suggest that the subjects who use forest environment frequently show favorable stress level both psychologically and biologically.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.71-84
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• 2017

Hot pepper growth in no-tillage cultivation on recycled ridge was increased by 22% compared with tillage cultivation. At 3 years after no-tillage cultivation, hot pepper growth was increased by 12% compared with tillage cultivation. Dry weight of unripe hot pepper at 2 years of no-tillage cultivation was 348.4 kg/10a increasing 16% compared with tillage cultivation while dry weight of unripe hot pepper was decreased at 3 years of no-tillage cultivation. Bacteria flora at 2 years of no-tillage cultivation was significantly increased compared with tillage cultivation. Bacteria flora was not significantly different at 3 years of no-tillage cultivation. Actinomyces flora at 2 years of no-tillage cultivation was significantly increased compared with tillage cultivation. Actinomyces flora was decreased at 3 years of no-tillage cultivation. Fungi flora at 2 and 3 years of no-tillage cultivation was increased by 1.3 and 1.7 times respectively, compared with tillage cultivation. Generation amount of carbon dioxide at no-tillage cultivation soil was remarkably decreased by 41% compared with tillage cultivation. Population of animalcule in early stage of hot pepper soil was 2 species and 6 individuals on Collembola and Acari at tillage cultivation. Population of animalcule in hot pepper soil was 5 species and 11 individuals including Chilopode at one year of no-tillage cultivation. Population of animalcule in hot pepper soil was 3 species and 5 individuals including Coleoptera and Chilopode at 2 years of no-tillage cultivation. Population of animalcule was 4 species and 40 individuals including Hypogastrurigae and 8 species and 97 individuals including Earwig (Labidura japornica) at 46 days after transplanting on tillage cultivation. Population of animalcule was 9~10 species and 101~107 individuals on no-tillage cultivation. Nature status for environmental change as index organism was 19 points and 33 points, at tillage and no-tillage cultivation, respectively. These results indicate that no-tillage agriculture of korean-style on recycled ridge plays a very important roles on pepper growth, biodiversity of animalcule, and greenhouse gases at plastic film greenhouse soil in no-tillage systems.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.121-132
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• 2010

Soybean farms in Changnyeong were selected for hazard analysis to establish the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) model of soybean, and physical, chemical(heavy metal) and biological(sanitary indications, foodborne pathogens) hazard analysis for cultivation environment (soil, water) was carried out. First, bow which is able to be mixed in soil and water was confirmed as physical hazard. Levels (Cd:0.01~0.103, Cu:0.001~6.036, As:0.006~3.045, Hg:ND~0.041, Pb:0.003~3.952, $Cr^{+6}$:0.007~0.496, Zn:0.001~66.500, Ni:0.003~18.010) of heavy metals in soil and water were appropriate for GAP criteria. In biological hazard, APC and coliform in soil were detected at the levels of $6.0{\pm}0.3$ and $3.6{\pm}1.6$ log CFU/g, and levels of water were $3.5{\pm}0.7$ and $1.9{\pm}0.7$ log CFU/mL, while E. coli wasn't detected in all sample. However, coliform in water wasn't appropriate for criteria, and E. coli O157 was detected about 22% in some farms, so it needs ways to prevent contamination by human and animals excrements. In conclusion, it needs proper management to prevent cross-contamination of hazards although physical and chemical hazard level were appropriate for GAP criteria while biological hazard wasn't.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.320-329
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• 2023

Cadmium (Cd), a heavy metal found in the aquatic environment, accumulates in organisms through the food chain. In the study, we investigated the survival rates, measurement of body Cd levels, and expression analysis of the stress response genes (Heat shock protein 70: HSP70 and Heat shock protein 60: HSP60) and antioxidant enzyme Glutathione S-Transferases (GST) on benthic oligochaete worm Tubifex tubifex exposed three concentrations of Cd, to analyze the bioaccumulation and changes of stress gene expressions to exposure toxicity of the Cd-spiked sediment. Survival rates of T. tubifex exposed to the Cdspiked sediment were 93% at 0.4 mg kg^-1 Cd, 96% at 1.87 mg kg^-1 Cd, and 93% at 6.09 mg kg^-1 Cd for 10 days. Cd concentration in the body of T. tubifex was higher than that in the sediment. After Cd exposures for 10 days, the body Cd levels were 18.4 mg kg^-1, 13.06 mg kg^-1, and 79.11 mg kg^-1 at exposed three concentrations of Cd, respectively. Upregulation of HSP70 gene expression was observed at all concentrations of exposed Cd as a time-dependent manner, whereas transcriptional expression of the HSP60 gene increased as a timedependent manner in T. tubifex exposed to the relative high concentration (6.09 mg kg^-1) of Cd. However, GST gene expression increased on day 1 at all concentrations after Cd exposures, and then downregulated until 10 days. These results indicate to ecotoxicological and molecular effects in benthic oligochaete worm T. tubifex to Cd-spiked sediment and provide the basic information for the utilization of environmental toxicity assessment using the T. tubifex as a aquatic pollution indicator species.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.508-519
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• 2017

There have been many studies on monitoring of biodiversity changes and preservation of Gwangneung Forest Biosphere Reserve (GFBR) in South Korea in recognition of the rare ecosystem that has been preserved for a long period. However, there are few studies on diversity and community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates as an indicator of stream health of GFBR. The purpose of this study was to assess the water quality of Bongseonsa Stream that penetrated through Gwangneung Forest and the nearby torrents by analyzing the benthic macroinvertebrates community during April to September 2016. The investigation collected a total of 114 species of benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 56 families, 17 orders, 8 classes, and 5 phyla from the Bongseonsa Stream and Kwangneung Stream. Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera were the largest groups in species diversity with 30 species (32.3%) and 16 species (17.2%), respectively, and Tubificidae sp., Baetis fuscatus, Antocha KUa, and Cheumatopsyche brevilineata, which usually habit in contaminated streams, appeared frequently. Among the feeding function groups, the gatherers and hunters appeared relatively frequently, and the shredders and scrapers appeared frequently in the torrents. Among the habitat oriented groups, the clingers and burrower appeared more frequently and represented the microhabitats in the shallow areas. The result of the analysis of benthic macroinvertebrates community showed that the dominant index was $0.48{\pm}0.10$ in average while it was lowest with 0.33 in GS 8 of the Gwangneung Forest torrent and highest in BS 1 of Bongseonsa Stream. The diversity and richness indices were inversely proportional to the dominant index and were 2.53 and 4.22, respectively, in GS 8 where the dominant index was low. The result of the analysis of community stability showed that area I, which had high resistance and restoration, was high in Bongseonsa Stream while the area III, which had low resistance and restoration, was high in Gwangneung Forest, indicating that the water system in Gwangneung Forest had a wider distribution of specifies sensitive to agitation. The biological water quality assessment showed ESB of $50.88{\pm}17.69$, KSI of $1.11{\pm}0.57$, and BMI of $78.55{\pm}11.05$. GS 8 of Gwangneung Forest torrent was judged to be the highest priority protective water area with the best water environment and I class water quality with ESB of 63, KSI of 0.55, and BMI of 89.9. On the contrary, BS 1 of Bongseonsa Stream was judged to be the high priority improvement area that had the lowest water quality rating of III with ESB of 25, KSI of 2.13, and BMI of 62.7. Although the diversity of water beetle was higher in the water system of nearby Bongseonsa Stream than the water system inside the Gwangneung Forest, the annual community structure appeared to have distinct differences.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.83-96
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• 2017

A constructed sea stream in Yeongdo, Busan, Republic of Korea is mostly static due to the lifted stream bed and tidal characters, and receives domestic wastewater nearby, causing a consistent odor production and water quality degradation. Bioaugmentation of a microbial consortium was proposed as an effective and economical restoration technology to restore the polluted stream. The microbial consortium activated on site was augmented on a periodic basis (7~10 days) into the most polluted site (Site 2) which was chosen considering the pollution level and tidal movement. Physicochemical parameters of water qualities were monitored including pH, temperature, DO, ORP, SS, COD, T-N, and T-P. COD and microbial community analyses of the sediments were also performed. A significant reduction in SS, COD, T-N, and COD (sediment) at Site 2 occurred showing their removal rates 51%, 58% and 27% and 35%, respectively, in 13 months while T-P increased by 47%. In most of the test sites, population densities of sulfate reducing bacterial (SRB) groups (Desulfobacteraceae_uc_s, Desulfobacterales_uc_s, Desulfuromonadaceae_uc_s, Desulfuromonas_g1_uc, and Desulfobacter postgatei) and Anaerolinaeles was observed to generally decrease after the bioaugmentation while those of Gamma-proteobacteria (NOR5-6B_s and NOR5-6A_s), Bacteroidales_uc_s, and Flavobacteriales_uc_s appeared to generally increase. Aerobic microbial communities (Flavobacteriaceae_uc_s) were dominant in St. 4 that showed the highest level of DO and least level of COD. These microbial communities could be used as an indicator organism to monitor the restoration process. The alpha diversity indices (OTUs, Chao1, and Shannon) of microbial communities generally decreased after the augmentation. Fast uniFrac analysis of all the samples of different sites and dates showed that there was a similarity in the microbial community structures regardless of samples as the augmentation advanced in comparison with before- and early bioaugmentation event, indicating occurrence of changing of the indigenous microbial community structures. It was concluded that the bioaugmentation could improve the polluted water quality and simultaneously change the microbial community structures via their niche changes. This in situ remediation technology will contribute to an eco-friendly and economically cleaning up of polluted streams of brine water and freshwater.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.799-808
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• 2021

This study was performed to investigate the extent of microbial contamination, the presence of enterotoxin genes, and the antibiotic susceptibility of Bacillus cereus in 58 red pepper plants and 43 environmental samples (soil, irrigation water, and gloves) associated with the plant cultivation. The detected counts of total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus were lower in these samples, as compared to the regulations of standards for foods; moreover, pathogens, such as E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp., were not detected. Genes encoding hemolysin BL enterotoxins (hblA, hblC, and hblD) as well as non-hemolytic enterotoxins (nheA, nheB, and nheC) were detected in 23 B. cereus specimens that were isolated from the test samples and had β-hemolytic activity. Interestingly, B. cereus is resistant to β-lactam and susceptible to non-β-lactam antibiotics. However, in this case, the isolated B. cereus specimens exhibited a shift from resistant to intermediate in response to cefotaxime and from susceptible to intermediate in case of rifampin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, vancomycin, clindamycin, and erythromycin. Therefore, the levels of B. cereus should be monitored to detect changes in antibiotic susceptibility and guarantee their safety.