• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2010

The seed powder of Abrus precatorius L. has traditionally been used as oral contraceptive agent by the women in some rural areas in Bangladesh. The present study aimed to examine the antifertility activity of A. precatorius seed extracts in experimental female rats. Finely ground seeds were extracted with aqueous acetone followed by successive partitioning with n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), methanol (MeOH) and water. Water suspended crude seed powder, organic fractions of acetone extract and a standard contraceptive drug ($Nordette^{(R)}28$) were separately administered orally to the female rats for 30 days. n-Hexane, EtOAc and MeOH solubles at the doses of 2, 4 and 6 mg/rat/day, respectively and crude seed powder at 100 mg/rat/day exhibited 100% antifertility activity with lowest levels of serum luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and $17{\beta}$-estradiol. Histological study of ovary and uterus of these rats exhibited reduced number of developing follicles and increased number of atretic follicles in the ovary, and fewer uterine glands with shrunken morphology, reduced endometrial height, poor vascularity and compact stroma in uterus. However, the activities of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase and the body weight of the rats remained almost unaffected in all the seed extract treated rats compared to control. These results suggest that A. precatorius seed extracts reduced the levels of serum FSH, LH and $17{\beta}$-estradiol probably by affecting hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The reduced levels of these hormones might have affected the oestrous cycle, follicular development, and subsequently the establishment of pregnancy in treated rats.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.11-18
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• 2004

In this study, the measurement system was developed for the measurement of pollutants from building materials, and specimens were made with concrete, gypsum board, mortar and wall paper. Characteristics of VOCs and TVOC concentration and Emission Factor as a function of time were assessed, and the conclusion was drawn as follows. (1) From predicting TVOC concentration decrease of specimen 7 with the wall paper attached to the concrete, the graph may become linear by converting the value of y-axis into the log function, and the prediction equation can be expressed as $y=34906{\ast}e^{-0.0093{\ast}time}$. Moreover, chi-square value was 0.83 which is relatively high value, indicating that TVOC concentration can be properly predicted if the same materials are used indoors. (2) From predicting VOCs Emission Factor decrease of specimen 7, the prediction equation can be expressed as $EF=15111{\ast}e^{-0.0093{\ast}time}$, and chi-square value was 0.83. (3) From predicting TVOC concentration decrease of specimen 7, prediction equation can be considered to be $y=254323{\ast}(1-e^{-0.1046{\ast}time})$, and chi-square was 0.994 which is significantly high value, indicating that indoor TVOC concentration can be properly predicted if the same materials are used indoors. Furthermore, the prediction of concentration decrease using cumulative value of hourly measured concentration is considered to be more accurate than that using just hourly measured value directly. (4) From predicting Emission Factor decrease with cumulative hourly data of Emission Factor, chi-square appeared to be higher than that by just using hourly data of Emission Factor directly. Therefore, the prediction of Emission Factor with cumulative hourly data can provide more reliable prediction equation than the case by using just hourly concentration directly.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 1999

The measurement of pH in the rhizosphere soil was conducted to clarify whether the growth of pokeberry plants affect the acidity of rhizosphere soil in two environmentally contrasting area Ulsan and Chongju city. The rhizosphere pH between 5.25 and 5.33 was shown in the pokeberry stand at Mt. Boomo located at Chongju. The rhizosphere pH of pokeberry stands at Mt. Bongdae, Mt. Sinsun and Mt. Totchil was below 5.0, and did not differ with depth and distance from the main axis of root. At Mt. Bongdae, however, the pH in the rhizosphere soil was significantly changed with soil depths though that was not changed horizontally. The rhizosphere pH at top soil was lower than that at subsoil, which indicates the fact that soil acidification at Mt. Bongdae was not caused by pokeberry plants. Furthermore, the rhizosphere pH did not change with the growth of pokeberry plants. These results indicate that the hypothesis that pokeberry plants acidify local soil environment should be reconsidered.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.55-62
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• 2016

Purpose: Since the 19th century many concrete models and theories for the ideal city had been proposed and in some way had affected on the ideal urban plans in the 20th century. Modern cities in the 20th century faced a total chaos, due to the world war and new social paradigm came from the development of technology. These social context leads us to be interested in ideal city. And two planned cities; Chandigarh, India and Brasilia, Brasil, are meaningful as the result of the modern ideal city in the early 20th century even though they completed just in part. Method: This study is focused on the characteristics of the modern ideal city in the early 20th century based on comparison with two realized cities. There are similarities and differences in their background, concept, and the characteristics of form and space. Result: First, both cities are required to make monumental and symbolic images by political issues. For this, Le Corbusier proposed the grid system for a metaphorical city and L. Costa defined the urban form with abstract axis for a mythological city. Second, the administrative districts in both cities are planned as symbolic places by formative buildings and their hierarchical arrangement. For neighbourhood unit 'Sector' in Chandigarh and 'Superquadras' in Brasilia are used for the neighbourhood unit respectively. Third, the car-oriented road system and urban environment by population overcrowding in tow cities are criticized in common. Consequently, as we can see, the modern ideal city in the early 20th century succeeds in making symbolic urban image, but exposes the limitation of sustainability.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.135-142
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• 2007

This is an experimental study on the structural characteristics of reinforced concrete beams using of the oyster shells as a substitute fine aggregate of concrete. In this study, the main factors consist of the grain sizes and the percentage of substitution of oyster shells to fine aggregate in the equal water cement ratio. The results of the study showed as followed. The initial load value of them represented similar constant within 10% of the maximum load value in each test beam. But the maximum load value and the ultimate load value decreased with increased grain size and the rate of substitution. As the grain size of oyster shells became smaller, the load values of them were somewhat higher. The deflection among deformation properties of reinforced concrete beams with oyster shells represented typical curves like that of normal reinforced concrete. In the deformation of steel and concrete, the deformation was proportionated to the load till yield point and from yield point until approaching the ultimate load point. One type was typical curve of the load and the deformation and the other type irregularly was changed to very small deformation for the load increase centering around load axis. After the analyzing structural behaviors and the properties of reinforced concrete test beams with oyster shells, the most excellent grain size of oyster shells represented 1.0mm and less or 5.0mm and less with taking uniformly, and the percentage of practicable substitution of them to fine aggregate was about 30%.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.282-291
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• 2022

Background: The Arctic permafrost stores enormous amount of carbon (C), about one third of global C stocks. However, drastically increasing temperature in the Arctic makes the stable frozen C stock vulnerable to microbial decomposition. The released carbon dioxide from permafrost can cause accelerating C feedback to the atmosphere. Soil organic matter (SOM) composition would be the basic information to project the trajectory of C under rapidly changing climate. However, not many studies on SOM characterization have been done compared to quantification of SOM stocks. Thus, the purpose of our study is to determine soil properties and molecular compositions of SOM in four different Arctic regions. We collected soils in different soil layers from 1) Cambridge Bay, Canada, 2) Council, Alaska, USA, 3) Svalbard, Norway, and 4) Zackenberg, Greenland. The basic soil properties were measured, and the molecular composition of SOM was analyzed through pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (py-GC/MS). Results: The Oi layer of soil in Council, Alaska showed the lowest soil pH and the highest electrical conductivity (EC) and SOM content. All soils in each site showed increasing pH and decreasing SOC and EC values with soil depth. Since the Council site was moist acidic tundra compared to other three dry tundra sites, soil properties were distinct from the others: high SOM and EC, and low pH. Through the py-GC/MS analysis, a total of 117 pyrolysis products were detected from 32 soil samples of four different Arctic soils. The first two-axis of the PCA explained 38% of sample variation. While short- and mid-hydrocarbons were associated with mineral layers, lignins and polysaccharides were linked to organic layers of Alaska and Cambridge Bay soil. Conclusions: We conclude that the py-GC/MS results separated soil samples mainly based on the origin of SOM (plants- or microbially-derived). This molecular characteristics of SOM can play a role of controlling SOM degradation to warming. Thus, it should be further investigated how the SOM molecular characteristics have impacts on SOM dynamics through additional laboratory incubation studies and microbial decomposition measurements in the field.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.18-39
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• 2016

The study pertains to reviewing and discussing of the master plan of the main buildings in the palaces of Joseon Dynasty regarding on a Feng Shui concept that has been implemented on the palace axis that is originated from the main mountain. Gyeongbokgung (景福宮) Palace is located on the northwest coner of Hanyang (漢陽) and on the tip of the main mountain which is in contrast a quite distinguishable from the location of the Fobidden city in Beijing located in the middle of a vast basin. Changdeokgung (昌德宮) Palace as well is also located on the tip of Eungbong (鷹峯), a part of Samkaksan (三角山) mountain, of which the locations were designed for the palaces to receive the benevolent force from the main mountain. The same concept was also applied to appointing the ideal location of the maJor buildings such as Jungjeon (正殿: The throne hall), Pyunjeon (便殿: The king's office) and Chimjeon (寢殿: The king and queen's residence) in the palace that must receive the benevolent force from the qui stream also originated from the main mountain, as such that the buildings have in close relationship with the king. Amisa (蛾眉砂) had been considered as an important geographical milestone of the estate where the palace is located, especially as the guiding landmark for other buildings that must be on the land axis. The land axis with the Amisa as the starting point attributed the Feng Shui as an important measure that determines the location and the shape of other buildings. The buildings location was appeared as having the conceptual buildings location as 'front office-back bedroom building (前朝後寢)' and 'three gates-three sectors (三問三朝)' as per the Rites of Zhou (周禮). On both palaces, Amisa is located on the benevolent point of the land, and the king's bed room buildings are located near the Amisa. The main offices were located on the south of the king's bed room buildings. By practicing this type of concept, consequently the king can receive the pure benevolent force first. In the case of the clearly distinguished locations of the buildings in Gyeongbokgung Palace, Chimjeon, Pyunjeon and Jungjeon were located on the same main qui stream. However, in Changdeokgung Palace where scattered qui stream is observed, the buildings are located on the scattered qui stream. The study found that the type of location of Jungjeon receives least amount of benefit from the Feng Shui but reflects primarily the king's authority rather than order and formality of the space.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2024

Most wetlands worldwide have suffered from extensive human exploitation. Unfortunately they have been less explored compared to river and lake ecosystems despite their ecological importance and economic values. This is the same case in Korea. This study was aimed to estimate the assemblage attributes and distribution characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates for fifty wetlands distributed throughout subtropical Jeju Island in 2021. A total of 133 taxa were identified during survey periods belonging to 53 families, 19 orders, 5 classes and 3 phyla. Taxa richness ranged from 4 to 31 taxa per wetland with an average of 17.5 taxa. Taxa richness and abundance of predatory insect groups such as Odonata, Hemiptera and Coleoptera respectively accounted for 67.7% and 68.2% of the total. Among them Coleoptera were the most diverse and abundant. Taxa richness and abundance did not significantly differ from each wetland type classified in accordance with the National Wetland Classification System. There were three endangered species (Clithon retropictum, Lethocerus deyrolli and Cybister (Cybister) chinensis) and several restrictively distributed species only in Jeju Island. Cluster analysis based on the similarity in the benthic macroinvertebrate composition largely classified 50 wetlands into two major clusters: small wetlands located in lowland areas and medium-sized wetlands in middle mountainous regions. All cluster groups displayed significant differences in wetland area, long axis, percentage of fine particles and macrophyte composition ratio. Indicator Species Analysis selected 19 important indicators with the highest indicator value of Ceriagrion melanurum at 63%, followed by Noterus japonicus (59%) and Polypylis hemisphaerula (58%). Our results are expected to provide fundamental information on the biodiversity and habitat environments for benthic macroinvertebrates in wetland ecosystems, consequently helping to establish conservation and restoration plans for small wetlands relatively vulnerable to human disturbance.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.140-159
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to construct the information of natural resources and the basic data for assessing the Korean natural environment by objective surveying and analysing vascular plants distributed in the main survey sites of Hannam-Jeongmaek. The vascular plants were summarized, numbering 488 taxa including 102 families, 300 genera, 428 species, 4 subspecies, 50 varieties and 6 forms. The rare plants were 4 taxa including Aristolochia contorta(LC), Viola albida(LC), Chionanthus retusus(LC) and Tylophora floribunda(VU). The Korean endemic plants were 7 taxa including Salix koriyanagi, Clematis brachyura, Clematis trichotoma, Philadelphus schrenckii, Paulownia coreana, Weigela subsessilis and Cirsium setidens. The specific plants by floristic region were 29 taxa including 1 taxa of grade IV, 3 taxa of grade III, 5 taxa of grade II and 20 taxa of grade I. The naturalized plants were 52 taxa including Fallopia dentatoalata, Rumex obtusifolius, Helianthustuberosus, Dactylis glomerata, Phleum pratense and so forth. The invasive alien plants were 7 taxa including Rumex acetosella, Sicyos angulatus, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia trifida, Aster pilosus, Eupatorium rugosum and Lactuca scariola.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.259-269
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• 2014

Purpose: This preliminary study is aimed at developing standardized tools for psycho-social assessment of patients in needs for hospice/palliative care. To accomplish the purpose, investigators examined effects of perceptions of social workers on the importance of psycho-social domains of assessment in hospice/palliative care settings. Moreover, investigators paid attention to variances of perceptions of social workers' along with types of institution and credentials of those family settings. Methods: A form of questionnaire was first explored from an initial interview assessment of 10 government-certified hospice care providers and a literature review, second constructed with eight domains and 80 items, and sent by e-mail to 55 institutions and hospitals providing hospice/palliative cares in Korea. Lastly, a total of 31 agencies returned with a completed responses and consent form (56% response rate). SPSS program (version 18.0) was used for data analysis. Results: Study found that social workers perceived patients' family background (m=4.53, 5-point scale) as the most important assessment domain, whereas economic conditions (4.06 point) the least important. Social workers' perception varied by credentials (i.e., license types, training, full-time position, types of care facility). Conclusion: Based upon study findings, investigators can conclude strong needs for developing a assessment tool that measures multiple domains (i.e., psychological, social and ecological aspects) of patients. A standardized assessment tool should be structured with 2 axis (center/core and expanded/peripheral) and tailored for institution type. Second, professional trainings must be provided by strengthening legal institutionalization and fostering qualified social workers with full responsibilities of hospice and palliative care patients.