• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.158-169
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• 2012

Sabah has experienced a rapid decline in the extent of forest cover. The precise impact of habitat loss on the conservation status of the plants of Sabah is uncertain. In this study we use the niche modelling algorithm MAXENT to construct preliminary, revised and final ecological niche models for Dipterocarpus lamellatus and Dipterocarpus ochraceus and combined these models with data on current land-use to derive conservation assessments for each species. Preliminary models were based on herbarium data alone. Ground surveys were conducted to evaluate the performance of these preliminary models, and a revised niche model was generated from the combined herbarium and ground survey data. The final model was obtained by constraining the predictions of the revised models by filters. The range overlap between the preliminary and revised models was 0.47 for D. lamellatus and 0.39 for D. ochraceus, suggesting poor agreement between them. There was substantial variation in estimates of habitat loss for D. ochraceus, among the preliminary, revised and constrained models, and this has the potential to lead to incorrect threat assessments. From these estimates of habitat loss, the historic distribution and estimates of population size we determine that both species should be classified as Critically Endangered under IUCN Red List guidelines. Our results suggest that ground-truthing of ecological niche models is essential, especially if the models are being used for conservation decision making.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.8-13
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• 2003

Soil, ground water, and sea bed are exposed to a continuous accumulation of polluted materials, causing serious environmental damage. It has been reported that such pollution causes a massive mortality of fish stock in rivers due to the resuspension of toxic chemicals, occurring during strong wind conditions. Therefore, it becomes apparent that there is an immediate demand for the restoration treatment of polluted river bed (or sea bed) sediment layers. Pollution levels of major rivers and ports, such as Paldang, Kyungan rivers, and Masan port, are becoming of great public concern, and are posing a serious environmental threat. In particular, the pollution of the Shi-hwa river has become a nation wide issue for the last few years. In spite of such public concern, the pollution levels of such rivers or ports are worsening everyday. In this study, an environmentally sound engineering package is introduced that helps to restore the polluted river bed or sea bed sediments. This engineering package consists of a suction facility, followed by a series of mechanical, chemical, and biological treatment units. The suction facility is designed to minimize secondary pollution that occurs from the resuspension of toxic materials during suction. The sea bed cleaning engineering package is designed to be installed on the top of a floating barge. Such a combination of environmental plant and shipbuilding technology provides a cost-effective solution, minimizing the transportation between suction and treatment facilities.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.175-183
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• 2014

In spite of international efforts to control nuclear weapons and chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) weapons, North Korea obtains and sells CBR weapons illegally. As a result, the worldwide threat of CBR weapons is increasing. Unfortunately, civil defense education and training for CBR weapons have not been adopted for real situations because of the long period of absence of an actual combat. In this study, virtual training scenarios that are applied to the simulation were made in 5 steps to cope with CBR situations. These scenarios are expected to have three effects. First, trainings can be improved with experience and education. Second, the problems and health hazards of CBR weapons and supplies can be solved with CBR virtual training simulation experience. Finally, corresponding effects can be recognized and predicted in real situations through roles and mission procedures of simulation scenario.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Agricultural Machinery Conference
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• 1996.06c
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• pp.701-710
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• 1996

Composting has gained rapid acceptance as a method of recyling relatively dry organic materials such as leaves and brush and , when alternative disposal costs are high, even moist materials such as grass clippings and dewatered sewage sludges. However, as moisture contents rise above 60% , the need for a dry bulking amendment increase the costs of composting , both by direct purchases of amendment and though increased reactor capacity and materials handling requirements. High moisture materials also present increased risks of anaerobic odor formation through reduced oxygen transport (Miller , 1991) . These costs and operational challengers often constrain the opportunities to compost high moisture materials such as agricultural manures. During the last several decades economies of scale in livestock production have been increasing livestock densities and creating manure management challenges throughout the world. This issue is particularly pressing in Korea, where livestock arms typically manage little or no cropland, and the nutrients and boichemical oxygen demand in manure pose a serious threat to water quality. Composting has recently become popular as a means of recycling manure into products for sale off the farm, but bulking amendments (usually sawdust) are expensive designed to minimize bulking agent requirements by using the energy liberated by decompostion. In this context the composting reactor is used as a biological dryer, allowing the repeated use of bulking amendment with several batches of manure.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2001

The depletion of stratospheric ozone is regarded as a major environmental threat to plant growth and ecosystem. The ozone depletion has caused plants to be exposed to an increased penetration of solar ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation in the 280-320 nm wavelength range. Enhanced UV-B radiation may have influence on plants biological functions in many aspects including inhibition of photosynthesis, DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, changes in morphology, phenology, and biomass accumulation. To cope with the damage by UV radiation, plants have evolved to have protective mechanisms, such as photorepair, accumulation of UV-absorbing compounds, leaf thickening and activation of antioxidative enzymes. The objective of this review is to address the effects of enhanced UV-B on plant growth, UV-B action mechanisms and protection and protection mechanisms in plants.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.10-16
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• 2021

Background: Ranavirus is an emerging infectious disease which has been linked to mass mortality events in various amphibian species. In this study, we document the first mass mortality event of an adult population of Dybowski's brown frogs (Rana dybowskii), in 2017, within a mountain valley in South Korea. Results: We confirmed the presence of ranavirus from all collected frogs (n = 22) via PCR and obtained the 500 bp major capsid protein (MCP) sequence from 13 individuals. The identified MCP sequence highly resembled Frog virus 3 (FV3) and was the same haplotype of a previously identified viral sequence collected from Huanren brown frog (R. huanrenensis) tadpoles in South Korea. Human habitat alteration, by recent erosion control works, may be partially responsible for this mass mortality event. Conclusion: We document the first mass mortality event in a wild Korean population of R. dybowskii. We also suggest, to determine if ranavirus infection is a threat to amphibians, government officials and researchers should develop continuous, country-wide, ranavirus monitoring programs of Korean amphibian populations.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.66-75
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• 2024

Heavy metals are naturally found in the ecosystem, and their presence in the freshwater river is increasing through anthropogenic activities which pose a threat to living beings. In this study, heavy metal concentrations (Zn, Mn, Cu, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Ni) in different organs (muscle, skin, and gill) of fish from the Padma River were evaluated to quantify, and compare the contamination levels and related human health risks. The results revealed that the heavy metal concentrations in the water, surface sediments, and fish taken from the Padma River were far below the WHO/USEPA's permitted limits. The estimated daily intake (EDI) value in muscle was less than the tolerable daily intake (TDI). The target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard indexes (HI) were less than 1, showing that consumers face no non-carcinogenic risk (CR). CR values of Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni ranged from 4.00 × 10^-8 to 6.35 × 10^-6, less than 10^-4, and total carcinogenic risk (CRt) values ranged from 9.85 × 10^-6 to 1.10 × 10^-5, indicating some pose a CR from consumption of those fish from the Padma River. To establish a more accurate risk assessment, numerous exposure routes, including inhalation and cutaneous exposure, should be explored.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.189-196
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• 2020

Mosquitos serve as vectors for diseases, causing inconvenience as well as a threat to human life and health. Concern about mosquitos introducing and spreading new diseases has been intensifying. We observed a variety of mosquito habitats based on land cover classification from Korea's Ministry of Environment, and the mosquito species that could appear were classified according to the each habitat type. Finally, we suggested the best control methods for each type of habitat considering habitat characteristics and the ecological traits of mosquitos. Urban areas harbor various habitats for pests, contributing significantly to mosquito habitats. Control must be performed regarding larva and adults because various sources for habitats exist. Public mosquito control programs such as educational training, as well as information brochures can be effective in managing mosquito populations and public health. Agricultural areas show high densities of mosquito larva to lentic zones such as reservoirs, wetlands, paddy fields. So, biological control using natural predators may be effective in controlling mosquito populations. Forests are major habitats for Aedes albopctus, so physical controls should be deployed for residents living nearby, and excessive deforestation should be minimized. Other areas including aquatic ecosystems should be adopted regarding biological control using Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis) and chemical control for eradicating mosquitos. We classified habitats into four types of land cover patterns considering ecological traits and habitat preference, and suggest adequate control methods for each habitat type. Our suggestion can be used to positively contribute toward effective managing mosquito's density and reducing the damage to public health.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.294-303
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• 2014

The state has the constitutional duty to secure the safety of its citizens and provide protection against any physical dangers. The Republic of Korea has a high threat of nuclear, biological and or chemical(hereafter referred to as NBC) attack from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Thus, the state has a responsibility to form a legislation to provide the protection for its citizens and implement duty to guarantee the human rights. Under the current legislation, the 'United Defense Act', 'Framework Act on Civil Defense' that are applied under wartime conditions are insufficient in providing the protection of the citizens of the state in the occurrence of NBC attack. Therefore, it is necessary that the 'Act for the Protection of Citizens in the occurrence of NBC Attack' is legislated to provide a system that protects the nation's citizens under the wartime conditions mentioned above. This paper incorporates a theoretical analysis of the need for the constitutional responsibility of the state to provide protection for its citizens under wartime conditions, the necessity of a specific measure to protect citizens during NBC attack, the relationship between 'Act for the Protection of Citizens in the occurrence of Nuclear, Chemical and or Biological Attack' and current legislations that are applied under wartime conditions, and the particulars of the proposed act.

• Journal of Korean Society of Archives and Records Management
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.231-243
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• 2001

The sterilization method of records by fumigation using mixed gas of methyl bromide(MB) and ethylene oxide(ETO) has been generally used as a way to protect biological deterioration by microorganisms and insects. In this study, we confirmed sterilization effect of MB and ETO [86 : 14(Vol.%)] on and analyzed toxicity on microorganisms isolated from records. To analyze sterilization effect of fumigation on microorganisms and insect, we have fumigated microorganisms and insect with a various amounts mixed gas of MB and ETO, and various exposure time. Insect was sterilized at all experimental conditions. In microorganisms, sterilization effect was detected only when the mixed gas was treated at $120g/m^3$ concentration for at least 24 hrs. To test the possibility of isolated microorganisms as a threat to human health, it was investigated that toxicity test using yeast, radish and cancer cells on microorganisms. Only Aspergillus oryzae had an inhibition effect on growth of yeast. radish and cancer cells, respectively. These results demonstrate that sterilization effect can occur at low concentrations of the mixed gas on insect but requires higher concentrations of the mixed gas on microorganisms. In addition to, it is suspected that the possibility of the microorganism as a threat to human health is little.