• Title/Summary/Keyword: Dry climate

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Microbe Hunting: A Curious Case of Cryptococcus

  • Bartlett Karen H.;Kidd Sarah;Duncan Colleen;Chow Yat;Bach Paxton;Mak Sunny;MacDougall Laura;Fyfe Murray
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.31 no.3
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    • pp.199-206
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    • 2005
  • C. neoformans-associated cryptococcosis is primarily a disease of immunocompromised persons, has a world-wide distribution, and is often spread by pigeons in the urban environment. In contrast, C. gattii causes infection in normal hosts, has only been described in tropical and semi-tropical areas of the world, and has a unique niche in river gum Eucalyptus trees. Cryptococcosis is acquired through inhalation of the yeast propagules from the environment. C. gattii has been identified as the cause of an emerging infectious disease centered on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. No cases of C. gattii-disease were diagnosed prior to 1999; the current incidence rate is 36 cases per million population. A search was initiated in 2001 to find the ecological niche of this basidiomycetous yeast. C. gattii was found in the environment in treed areas of Vancouver Island. The highest percentage of colonized-tree clusters were found around central Vancouver Island, with decreasing rates of colonization to the north and south. Climate, soil and vegetation cover of this area, called the Coastal Douglas fir biogeoclimatic zone, is unique to British Columbia and Canada. The concentration of airborne C. gattii was highest in the dry summer months, and lowest during late fall, winter, and early spring, months which have heavy rainfall. The study of the emerging colonization of this organism and subsequent cases of environmentally acquired disease will be informative in planning public health management of new routes of exposure to exotic agents in areas impacted by changing climate and land use patterns.

Review of the Study on Mechanical Properties of Rock Under the Polar Climate Condition (극지 암석의 역학적 특성 분석에 관한 연구 동향)

  • Ryu, Sung-Hoon;Song, Jae-Joon
    • Tunnel and Underground Space
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.241-251
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    • 2010
  • The polar region is in the limelight for an academic worth as well as plenty of natural resources. The study on the polar region was reviewed for better understanding of the polar region and its rock properties. The antarctica has a windy and dry climate along with the lowest temperature on the earth. The thermal distribution according to depth in the area was reported: The freezing-thawing process was repeated in shallow depth, and the temperature falls down below zero under the specific depth. There is a great temperature difference between the atmosphere and rock. A research reported for the degree of weathering of the antarctic slope by using Schmidt hammer and Taffoni test. The rock specimens weathered by repeated freezing-thawing process were tested of the shore hardness and uniaxial compressive strength: The rock strength gradually decreased as the freezing-thawing process was repeated. The comprehensive mechanical properties of the polar region rocks and the relationship between the laboratory weathering test result and the real rock property change in the site remain as future research topics.

A Study on the Thermal Environment Evaluation of 'Hanok' considering Solid Model of Building Elements (한옥의 건축요소 솔리드 모델링을 통한 열환경 평가에 관한 연구)

  • Park, Tong-So;Sheen, Dong-Jin
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.14 no.2
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    • pp.955-961
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    • 2013
  • This study aimed for the scientific approach of Korean traditional house, so called Hanok, by analyses of structural elements and thermal environmental performance. Hanok is a very unique vernacular architectural style of the Middle East Asia that fits with climate conditions of the Korean Peninsular, designed to withstand high temperature and humidity in summer and cold and dry in winter seasons. In order to evaluate thermal environment of Hanok, its sectional structure such as floor, wall, roof structure and Ondol which is Korean traditional floor heating system, was built in 3D, as well as heat transfer mechanism of its composing elements was analyzed through 3 dimensional steady state analysis. The results of the thermal environmental performance of Hanok will be used as a basic datum of design guidelines for accomplishing ecologic housing fitted with local climate.

Evaluation of Reproduced Precipitation by WRF in the Region of CORDEX-East Asia Phase 2 (CORDEX-동아시아 2단계 영역 재현실험을 통한 WRF 강수 모의성능 평가)

  • Ahn, Joong-Bae;Choi, Yeon-Woo;Jo, Sera
    • Atmosphere
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    • v.28 no.1
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    • pp.85-97
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    • 2018
  • This study evaluates the performance of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in reproducing the present-day (1981~2005) precipitation over Far East Asia and South Korea. The WRF model is configured with 25-km horizontal resolution within the context of the COordinated Regional climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) - East Asia Phase 2. The initial and lateral boundary forcing for the WRF simulation are derived from European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast Interim reanalysis. According to our results, WRF model shows a reasonable performance to reproduce the features of precipitation, such as seasonal climatology, annual and inter-annual variabilities, seasonal march of monsoon rainfall and extreme precipitation. In spite of such model's ability to simulate major features of precipitation, systematic biases are found in the downscaled simulation in some sub-regions and seasons. In particular, the WRF model systematically tends to overestimate (underestimate) precipitation over Far East Asia (South Korea), and relatively large biases are evident during the summer season. In terms of inter-annual variability, WRF shows an overall smaller (larger) standard deviation in the Far East Asia (South Korea) compared to observation. In addition, WRF overestimates the frequency and amount of weak precipitation, but underestimates those of heavy precipitation. Also, the number of wet days, the precipitation intensity above the 95 percentile, and consecutive wet days (consecutive dry days) are overestimated (underestimated) over eastern (western) part of South Korea. The results of this study can be used as reference data when providing information about projections of fine-scale climate change over East Asia.

The Estimation of Water Balance at Regional Upland According to RCP8.5 Scenario from 2011 to 2020

  • Shin, Kook-Sik;Cho, Hyun-Sook;Seong, Ki-Young;Park, Tae-Seon;Kang, Hang-Won;Seo, Myung-Chul
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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    • v.47 no.1
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    • pp.48-58
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    • 2014
  • In order to evaluate water balance at upland according to RCP8.5 climate change scenario distributed by Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA), we simulated soil moisture using estimation model, called AFKAE0.5 for 66 sites from 2011 to 2020, and established the water balance maps. The amount of annual average precipitation by RCP8.5 scenario was highest in 2016 as recorded 2,062 mm and lowest in 2011 with 1,134 mm. As result of analysis for monthly precipitation and runoff, the amounts of precipitation and runoff have been especially intensive in July in 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2020. Overall, the area of Kyeongbuk and Gyeonggi was estimated more dried status of soil compared with precipitation. Except 2015 and 2020, soil water balance was recorded as negative value in other years which was calculated by subtracting output from input. The status of soil moisture was the most dry in 2020 among those in other years.

Effect of Ondol on physiological Responses during Sleep (I) -On the focus of Bedclimate in Autumn and Winter- (온돌환경이 수면시의 생리반응에 미치는 영향(제1보) -가을, 겨울철 수면시 침실내 온열환경과 침상기후-)

  • Lee, Sun-Won;Gwon, Su-Ae;Choe, Jeong-Hwa
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.697-706
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    • 1996
  • The actual conditions of bed climate are investigated depending on the regions and housing styles used on ondol in autumn and winter. Sixty healthy men and women (30 of them live in apartmrnt and 30 of them live in detached house, 20 of them live in Wonju, 20 of them live in Wonju, 20 of them live in Cheongju and 20 of them live in Pusan) The results are as follows: 1) No significant differences was shown between the seasons of bedclothes thickness. 2) In the autumn, the temperature and humidity of bedroom, on the mattress, inside the bedquilt, and inside the sleep-wear were higher than those in the winter. The temperature of ondol floor and under the mattress in winter were higher than those in the autumn. 3) The differences of the temperature and humidity of bedroom, the bed climate, and the clothing microclimate were significant by the regions and housing styles in both seasons. In both seasons, the temperature of bedroom, on the mattress, inside sleep-wear in the apartment were higher than those in the detached house. 4) The differences of subjective sensation on the bedroom conditions were not significant by the sextons, the regions, and the housing styles. Most subjects perceived that the conditions of bedroom were somehow hot and dry, but comfortable.

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A Yield Estimation Model of Forage Rye Based on Climate Data by Locations in South Korea Using General Linear Model

  • Peng, Jing Lun;Kim, Moon Ju;Kim, Byong Wan;Sung, Kyung Il
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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    • v.36 no.3
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    • pp.205-214
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    • 2016
  • The objective of this study was to construct a forage rye (FR) dry matter yield (DMY) estimation model based on climate data by locations in South Korea. The data set (n = 549) during 29 years were used. Six optimal climatic variables were selected through stepwise multiple regression analysis with DMY as the response variable. Subsequently, via general linear model, the final model including the six climatic variables and cultivated locations as dummy variables was constructed as follows: DMY = 104.166SGD + 1.454AAT + 147.863MTJ + 59.183PAT150 - 4.693SRF + 45.106SRD - 5230.001 + Location, where SGD was spring growing days, AAT was autumnal accumulated temperature, MTJ was mean temperature in January, PAT150 was period to accumulated temperature 150, SRF was spring rainfall, and SRD was spring rainfall days. The model constructed in this research could explain 24.4 % of the variations in DMY of FR. The homoscedasticity and the assumption that the mean of the residuals were equal to zero was satisfied. The goodness-of-fit of the model was proper based on most scatters of the predicted DMY values fell within the 95% confidence interval.

The Natural Environment during the Last Glacial Maximum Age around Korea and Adjacent Area

  • Yoon, Soon-Ock;Hwang, Sang-Ill
    • The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.33-38
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    • 2003
  • This study is conducted to examine the data of climate or environmental change in the northeastern Asia during the last glacial maximum. A remarkable feature of the 18,000 BP biome reconstructions for China is the mid-latitude extention of steppe and desert biomes to the modem eastern coast. Terrestrial deposits of glacial maximum age from the northern part of Yellow Sea suggest that this region of the continental shelf was occupied by desert and steppe vegetation. And the shift from temperate forest to steppe and desert implies conditions very much drier than present in eastern Asia. Dry conditions might be explained by a strong winter monsoon and/or a weak summer monsoon. A very strong depression of winter temperatures at LGM. has in the center of continent has influenced in northeast Asia similarly. The vegetation of Hokkaido at LGM was subarctic thin forest distributed on the northern area of middle Honshu and cool and temperate mixed forest at southern area of middle Honshu in Japan. The vegetation landscape of mountain- and East coast region of Korea was composed of herbaceous plants with sparse arctic or subarctic trees. The climate of yellow sea surface and west region of Korea was much drier and temperate steppe landscape was extended broadly. It is supposed that a temperate desert appeared on the west coast area of Pyeongan-Do and Cheolla-Do of Korea. The reconstruction of year-round conditions much colder than today right across China, Korea and Japan is consistent with biome reconstruction at the LGM.

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Physical, Chemical and Optical Properties of Fine Aerosol as a Function of Relative Humidity at Gosan, Korea during ABC-EAREX 2005

  • Moon, Kwang-Joo;Han, Jin-Seok;Cho, Seog-Yeon
    • Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.7 no.3
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    • pp.129-138
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    • 2013
  • The water uptake by fine aerosol in the atmosphere has been investigated at Gosan, Korea during ABC-EAREX 2005. The concentration of inorganic ion and carbon components, size distribution, and light scattering coefficients in normal and dry conditions were simultaneously measured for $PM_{2.5}$ by using a parallel integrated monitoring system. The result of this study shows that ambient fine particles collected at Gosan were dominated by water-soluble ionic species (35%) and carbonaceous materials (18%). In addition, it shows the large growth of aerosol in the droplet mode when RH is higher than 70%. Size distribution of the particulate surface area in a wider size range ($0.07-17{\mu}m$) shows that the elevation of RH make ambient aerosol grow to be the droplet mode one around $0.6{\mu}m$ or the coarse mode one, larger than $2.5{\mu}m$. Hygroscopic factor data calculated from the ratio of aerosol scattering coefficients at a given ambient RH and a reference RH (25%) show that water uptake began at the intermediate RH range, from 40% to 60%, with the average hygroscopic factor of 1.10 for 40% RH, 1.11 for 50% RH, and 1.17 for 60% RH, respectively. Finally, average chemical composition and the corresponding growth curves were analyzed in order to investigate the relationship between carbonaceous material fraction and hygroscopicity. As a result, the aerosol growth curve shows that inorganic salts such as sulphate and nitrate as well as carbonaceous materials including OC largely contribute to the aerosol water uptake.

Dietary Supplementation of Fat Increased Milk Fat Percentage without Affecting Ruminal Characteristics in Holstein Cows in a Warm Tropical Environment

  • Wang, A.S.;Jan, D.F.;Chen, K.J.;Yang, D.W.;Fan, Y.K.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.213-220
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    • 2004
  • The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effect of the diets supplemented with lard or prilled fat ($Carolac^{(R)}$) on lactation performance, plasma constituents and ruminal characteristics of Holstein cows under a warm climate. In trial 1, 18 Holstein cows, 14 primiparas at 43 DIM and 4 multiparas at 55 DIM, were randomly assigned into six $3{\times3}$ Latin squares, in which three dietary treatments were isoproteinous but varying in energy contents and three 21 d periods. The treatments were basal diet (Control), basal diet supplemented with 2.5% lard (LD), and basal diet supplemented with 2.5% commercial Prilled fat (PF). In trial 2, three rumen canulated pregnant nonlactating Holstein cows with 550 kg average body weight were allotted into a $3{\times}3$ Latin square design with diets same as in trial 1 were fed to the cows at the level of 1.5% body weight on dry matter (DM) basis. The results indicated that the DM intake did not differ among the treatments. Milk yield and 4% FCM yield were greater (p<0.05) in PF than in Control. LD and PF resulted in greater milk fat percentage. Protein, lactose and solid contents in milk were not different among the three dietary treatments. The concentration of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) in plasma was significantly greater in LD and PF than that in Control. However, the concentrations of triglycerides, urea nitrogen, and cholesterol in plasma were not significantly different among the three treatments. Although the ruminal molar percentage of isobutyrate in LD and PF was greater, no significant difference was observed in ruminal pH, NH3-N concentration and VFA production among the three treatments. Diet supplemented with fat can improve milk yield and milk fat percentage without resulting in disadvantages of ruminal characteristics in cows at early lactation and under warm climate.