• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2022

Tilia amurensis is an important honey plant. As T. amurensis mainly distributes mountainous area with various elevations in Korea, accurate prediction of blooming time at the different elevation would benefit forest beekeepers. In this study, we measured time-dependent blooming progress of T. amurensis in Mt. Gariwang area ranging from 500-1500m. Additionally we collected blooming data from web and published literatures and estimated the variation of blooming time relative to the geographic locations. Flowers began to bloom from July 6 to July 22 with full blooming on July 14 in location where elevation is 638m in Mt. G ariwang area in 2021. Based on these databases, a growing degree day (G DD) model was developed for prediction of T. amurensis blooming progress using average daily temperatures. Using the starting date of G DD accumulation of January 1 and base temperature of 5 ℃, blooming period ranging from 10% to 90% of cumulative blooming rate was estimated as 860-1198 degree days (DD). This corresponded to the beginning to the end of July in Mt. Gariwaning area in 2021. This model could explain the phenological variations of T. amurensis flower blooming possibly affected by elevation within geographic area, latitude or year relative to the climate change, and aid forest beekeepers for better timing of nectar foraging by honey bees.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.561-571
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• 2022

Background: Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) is capable of regulating lipid and glucose metabolism through its action on adipocytes. However, the beneficial role of GRb1-induced up-regulation of adiponectin in liver steatosis remains unelucidated. Thus, we tested whether GRb1 ameliorates liver steatosis and insulin resistance by promoting the expression of adiponectin. Methods: 3T3-L1 adipocytes and hepatocytes were used to investigate GRb1's action on adiponectin expression and triglyceride (TG) accumulation. Wild type (WT) mice and adiponectin knockout (KO) mice fed high fat diet were treated with GRb1 for 2 weeks. Hepatic fat accumulation and function as well as insulin sensitivity was measured. The activation of AMPK was also detected in the liver and hepatocytes. Results: GRb1 reversed the reduction of adiponectin secretion in adipocytes. The conditioned medium (CM) from adipocytes treated with GRb1 reduced TG accumulation in hepatocytes, which was partly attenuated by the adiponectin antibody. In the KO mice, the GRb1-induced significant decrease of TG content, ALT and AST was blocked by the deletion of adiponectin. The elevations of GRb1-induced insulin sensitivity indicated by OGTT, ITT and HOMA-IR were also weakened in the KO mice. The CM treatment significantly enhanced the phosphorylation of AMPK in hepatocytes, but not GRb1 treatment. Likewise, the phosphorylation of AMPK in liver of the WT mice was increased by GRb1, but not in the KO mice. Conclusions: The up-regulation of adiponectin by GRb1 contributes to the amelioration of liver steatosis and insulin resistance, which further elucidates a new mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of GRb1 on obesity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.3
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• pp.345-356
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• 2022

Yokjido is a 15-km² inhabited island located at the tip of the southeastern coast of the Korean Peninsula. Its forest is mostly composed of substitutional vegetation. Our aim was to provide basic information necessary for the conservation and management of the forest vegetation in Yokjido. We classified the types of existing vegetation using methods of the Zurich-Montpellier school of phytosociology. The resulting vegetation map shows the dominant tree species in the top canopy-layer. A total of 8 vegetation types were identified, which were arranged into a vegetation unit hierarchy of 2 communities, 4 sub-communities, 6 variants, and 2 subvariants. Evaluations of each type showed large and small differences in floristic composition, which reflect anthropogenic influences, site conditions, succession stages, and the establishment period. Moreover, vegetation types differed significantly in terms of species diversity indices; in particular, overall species richness, species diversity, and species evenness tended to increase significantly as the elevation increased. The herbaceous plant species showed the highest positive (+) correlation to x. These results were consistent with those of McCain, who reported that species diversity increases in mountainous areas with relatively low elevations due to the mid-domain effect. The forest succession in Yokjido will potentially enter a mixed-forest stage and then proceed to become an all-evergreen broad-leaved forest.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.51-63
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• 2023

Riverine tree management is crucial in realizing a balance between flood control and ecological preservation, which requires an accurate assessment of the impact of trees on river water elevations. In this study, eight different formulas for evaluating vegetation roughness considering the drag force acting on trees, were reviewed, and the characteristics and applicability of these methods were evaluated from a practical engineering perspective. The study compared the characteristics of vegetation roughness measurement methods for calculated roughness coefficients at different water depths and analyzed factors such as effects of tree canopy width, tree density and diameter, and tree stiffness coefficient, and water level estimation results. A comparison of roughness coefficients at the same water depths revealed that the Kouwen and Fathi-Moghadam formulas and the Fischenich formula yield excessive drag coefficients compared to other formulas. Factors such as channel geometry, tree diameter, and tree density showed varying trends depending on the formula but did not exhibit excessive outliers. Formulas considering the tree stiffness coefficient, such as the Freeman et al.'s formula and the Whittaker et al.'s formula, showed significant variations in drag coefficients depending on the stiffness coefficient. When applied to small- and medium-sized virtual rivers in South Korea using the drag coefficient results from the eight formulas, the results indicated a maximum increase in water level of approximately 0.2 to 0.4 meters. Based on this review, it was concluded that the Baptist et al., Huthoff et al., Cheng, Luhar, and Nepf's formulas, which exhibit similar characteristics and low input data uncertainties, are suitable for practical engineering applications.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.13-26
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• 2023

Recently, as the development of underground spaces has become active due to rapid urbanization and population density, interest in the ground behavior according to the construction of underground spaces is increasing. In large cities with high population density and many buildings, ground subsidence has a great impact on structures and there may be a risk of collapse, so the analysis of ground behavior due to underground construction is essential. Previous studies have been conducted on the subsidence pattern of the surface and the deformation of the tunnel when constructing the tunnel, but analysis has rarely been conducted by using actual topographic information. Therefore, this study analyzed the difference in ground behavior between the actual topography and the flat topography. As a result, it was confirmed that ground settlement occurs at higher elevations, such as in mountainous topography, and when the numerical analysis is performed considering topographical information, the crown settlement of the tunnel is up to about approx. It showed a difference of 10 mm, and it was found that the sensitivity was less in the case of displacement of tunnel wall compared to the crown settlement and ground settlement. The numerical analysis considering the actual GIS-based topographic information presented in this study can be used to obtain more accurate surface subsidence data to understand the behavior of the upper structure due to tunnel excavation.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.6B
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• pp.635-642
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• 2008

The influence of unsubmerged resistance bodies in a channel turbulence flow on energy loss was investigated by hydraulic experiments. Square-shaped multi-piers were used for unsubmerged structure or rigid vegetation in an open channel. In experimental channel flows multi-piers were arranged in double or single row along the channel direction, and mean-concept uniform elevations were attained and measured with a set of discharges and channel slopes. Applying the experimental results to the Manning equation, the equivalent resistance coefficient n, which implicates flow resistance and energy loss due to bottom friction as well as drag, was evaluated with varying the interval of piers and the uniform water depth. And the experimentally evaluated n values were compared with the semi-theoretical formula of the equivalent resistance coefficient derived from momentum analysis including a drag interaction coefficient. From the comparisons it was found that the interaction effect of piers on flow resistance was significant for the overall energy losses in a channel flow. The n values decrease when the interval of piers in flow-direction is less than about 2.2 times of the pier width. And it was also found that the n values increase with the 2/3 power of water depth in the theoretical formula, since the drag interaction coefficient was found to be mostly dependent on the interval of piers.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.2B
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• pp.211-217
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• 2010

This paper presents numerical investigations of the physical habitat changes induced by the hydropeaking in the downstream river of dam. For the two-dimensional ecohydraulic simulations, River2D model is used. Pirami (Zacco platypus) is selected as the target fish for investigating the impact of the hydropeaking. For validation of the model, the water surface elevations are simulated with two different water discharges. The computed results are compared with field data in the literature, and the result shows that the model successfully simulates the water flows. The weight usable area (WUA) of Pirami with the life cycle and the composite suitability index with different water discharges are computed and discussed. The results show that habitat for Pirami appears to be best in the bend region downstream of the dam. The discharge of the maximum WUA for adult Pirami is computed to be about 9 $m^3/s$. Also, the WUA computed in a condition of hydropeaking during seven days are presented. The averaged discharge of the hydropeaking appears to be about 20% larger than the drought flow, but the WUA by the hydropeaking is computed to be 60-100% smaller. This result shows that the hydropeaking reduces quantity of habitat available to fish.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.40-48
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate safety of postpartum herbal medicine by assessing the effect of taking herbal medicine of postpartum period on liver function. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 167 mothers who underwent liver function tests (LFT) within 3 months before and after childbirth among mothers who gave birth at ○○ Hospital between January 1, 2016 and May 31, 2018. Mothers with abnormally elevated LFT during pregnancy were excluded. Among 167 women, 6 women are herbal-medicine-group took herbal medicine for 5-6 weeks during postpartum period, and 161 patients are general -group who did not take herbal medicine. LFT Variation of Subjects before and after childbirth were compared between the two groups. And subjects who had elevated liver levels above the normal range after delivery were classified separately, the characteristics and causes of changes in liver levels were analyzed, and the presence or absence of drug-induced liver damage was confirmed. Results: Among a total of 167 subjects, there were 5 women in the herbal-medicine-group and 150 women in the general-group who had changes in liver values within the normal range after childbirth. Aspartate transaminase (AST) change before and after childbirth in the herbal-medicine-group was 3.40±1.82, and AST change in the general-group was 2.92±8.59, showing no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.901). Increase of Alanine transaminase (ALT) before and after childbirth in the herbal-medicine-group was 5.60±3.65, and ALT change in the general-group was 8.01±11.81, showing no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.651). There were 12 subjects who had elevated AST, ALT above the normal range after delivery, including 1 in the herbal-medicine-group and 11 in the normal mothers group. Valuation of 1 Subject of the herbal-medicine-group before and after delivery was 17 IU/L of AST and 52 IU/L of ALT. Because results of AST, ALT is under the standard to diagnose to liver damage, she was observed without any treatment. However the cause of AST, ALT elevation was not found in the chart, she was receiving treatment for diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The general-group had an average increase of AST 35.64±22.67 IU/L and ALT 53.00±26.80 IU/L. As a result of analyzing the cause, there were direct causes such as autoimmune hepatitis, chronic hepatitis B, and acute pyelonephritis. Abnormal elevations in liver levels were also found in mothers with hypothyroidism, diabetes, and fever of unknown cause, although they were not direct causes. Conclusions: To investigate the safety of taking herbal medicines, we assess the variation in AST and ALT within 3 months before and after delivery in the herbal-medicine-group and general-group. There was no significant difference between two groups.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.473-487
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• 2023

Korea's multi-purpose dams, which were constructed in the 1970s and 1980s, have a single outlet located near the bottom for hydropower generation. Problems such as freezing damage to crops due to cold water discharge and an increase the foggy days have been raised downstream of some dams. In this study, we analyzed the effect of water intake depth on the reservoir's water temperature stratification structure and outflow temperature targeting Hapcheon Reservoir, where hypolimnetic withdrawal is drawn via a fixed depth outlet. Using AEM3D, a three-dimensional hydrodynamic water quality model, the vertical water temperature distribution of Hapcheon Reservoir was reproduced and the seasonal water temperature stratification structure was analyzed. Simulation periods were wet and dry year to compare and analyze changes in water temperature stratification according to hydrological conditions. In addition, by applying the intake depth change scenario, the effect of water intake depth on the thermal structure was analyzed. As a result of the simulation, it was analyzed that if the hypolimnetic withdrawal is changed to epilimnetic withdrawal, the formation location of the thermocline will decrease by 6.5 m in the wet year and 6.8 m in the dry year, resulting in a shallower water depth. Additionally, the water stability indices, Schmidt Stability Index (SSI) and Buoyancy frequency (N²), were found to increase, resulting in an increase in thermal stratification strength. Changing higher withdrawal elevations, the annual average discharge water temperature increases by 3.5℃ in the wet year and by 5.0℃ in the dry year, which reduces the influence of the downstream river. However, the volume of the low-water temperature layer and the strength of the water temperature stratification within the lake increase, so the water intake depth is a major factor in dam operation for future water quality management.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.537-546
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• 2023

For the purpose of fire delineation within buildings, steel walls in Korea are mandated to undergo rigorous certification as fire-resistant entities, substantiated via a series of qualitative assessments. Predominantly, these evaluations comprise the fire resistance test paired with supplementary examinations; specifically for steel walls, these encompass the gas hazard and panel bending strength tests. Given the prevalence of semi-noncombustible core materials, gas hazard tests are largely rendered superfluous, pivoting the focus solely onto the panel bending strength test during the certification trajectory. This particular test is designed to gauge the flexural robustness of individual wall panels. An enhanced bending strength is postulated to fortify both the structural integrity and thermal insulation of the wall by mitigating potential deformations. In this scholarly exploration, an analytical deep dive was undertaken into extant, valid certification test datasets. The endeavor aimed to ascertain the depth of correlation between the designated fire resistance metric and the bending strength, the latter being the sole supplementary assessment for steel walls. In distilling the findings, it was discerned that temperature elevations beyond baseline values exhibited no statistically salient linkage with the panel's bending strength.