• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.2
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• pp.147-167
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• 2019

This study was conducted to analyze forest vegetation structure in the Marugeum (Ridge) area of Gitdaebaegibong to Jukryeong, Baekdudaegan. Data were collected in 298 quadrates through a Braun-Blanquet vegetation survey from April, 2018 to October, 2018. Forest vegetation was classified into 13 vegetation units. A Quercus mongolica community was divided into Morus bombycis, Filipendula glaberrima, Fraxinus sieboldiana, Prunus maackii unit and Q. mongolica typical unit. The M. bombycis unit was further classified into a Deutzia glabrata group and M. bombycis typical group. The F. glaberrima unit was subdivided into a Veratrum oxysepalum group, Arundinella hirta group, and F. glaberrima typical group. The F. sieboldiana unit was divided into a Pinus densiflora group, Larix kaempferi group, and F. sieboliana typical group. The relationship between vegetation units and environmental factors was studied through coincidence analysis and CCA. The F. glaberrima unit (VU 6~8) was distributed by elevation above 1,200 m and other vegetation units were distributed below 1,200 m. Results of the CCA analysis showed that the F. glaberrima unit distribution is positively correlated with elevation. As a result of species diversity, the F. glaberrima unit was higher than other vegetation units. A similarity index analysis revealed that the F. sieboldiana unit (VU 9~11) was relatively homogeneous, and the M. bombycis unit (VU 1~5) and A. girta group (VU 7) were relatively heterogeneous. A detrended correspondence analysis determined that the distance between the statistical axes of the M. bombycis and F. glaberrima units was the greatest, which is consistent with the analysis of the similarity index. As a result of interspecific correlation of major woody plants, hydrophilic species were positively correlated, and a negative correlation was found between Q. mongolica and intolerant species such as P. densiflora and L. kaempferi.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.208-220
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• 2019

The seasonality of leaf fall has important implications for understanding the response of trees' phenology to climate change. In this study, we quantified the leaf fall pattern with a model to estimate the timing and speed of leaf litter according to species and considered the nutrient use strategy of canopy species. In the autumns of 2015 and 2016, leaf litter was collected periodically using 36 litter-traps from the deciduous forests in Gwangneung and sorted by species. The seasonal leaf fall pattern was estimated using the non-linear regression model of Dixon. Additionally, the resorption rate was calculated by analyzing the nitrogen concentration of the leaf litter at each collection time. The leaf litter generally began in early October and ended in mid-November depending on the species. At the peak time (T50) of leaf fall, on average, Carpinus laxiflora was first, and Quercus serrata was last. The rate of leaf fall was fastest (18.6 days) for Sorbus alnifolia in 2016 and slowest (40.8 days) for C. cordata in 2015. The nitrogen resorption rates at T50 were 0.45% for Q. serrata and 0.48% for C. laxiflora, and the resorption rate in 2015 with less precipitation was higher than in 2016. Since falling of leaf litter is affected by environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation, photoperiod, and $CO_2$ during the period attached foliage, the leaf fall pattern and nitrogen resorption differed year by year depending on the species. If we quantify the fall phenomena of deciduous trees and analyze them according to various conditions, we can predict whether the changes in leaf fall timing and speed due to climate change will prolong or shorten the growth period of trees. In addition, it may be possible to consider how this affects their nutrient use strategy.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.513-521
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• 2019

The purpose of this research is to find out the preference of users on the characteristics of the subway sign blank. In detail, The purpose is to introduce the concept of designing various characteristics of the subway sign blank according to characteristics such as gender and age, etc. The methodology of this study is to investigate the preference of the characteristics of the characteristics of the subway sign blank space and analyze the preference of the whole group and the cluster group. A survey was conducted to investigate preferences. A cluster analysis was conducted to analyze the preferences. And a demographic and conjoint analysis was conducted for whole group and the cluster group. The attributes of the subway sign blank space for preference survey are as follow : top and bottom blank, side blank, border line blank, arrow thickness, 'station name' and 'line number' order. The results of the preference analysis are as follows. The importance of the attributes in the whole group is shown in the order of the border line blank, 'station name' and 'line number' blank, side blank, top and bottom blank, and arrow thickness. The cluster group is composed of 3 groups, 1 cluster is a woman who uses the subway almost every day, three to four times a week, and seems to prefer half the side blank. 2 crowd is the user who thinks that 60 or more subway signs are uncomfortable, and preferring the order of 'station name' + 'line number' order without border. The 3 clusters were men in their 20s and 30s, with a preference for 1/5 border line blank and thin arrow thickness. The conclusion is as follows. First, the characteristics of the subway sign blank must be designed consistently. However, it is necessary to consider various factors according to gender, age, and frequency of subway use for specific regions or routes. Secondly, It has been shown that, depending on the specific area or route, it is possible to design two or more types of design, not one type of standardized marking of the characteristics of the subway sign blank.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.92-105
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• 2019

Spatial and temporal characteristics of phytoplankton communities around the coastal waters of Jeju Island were investigated with environmental factors such as water temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. Monthly samples were collected at 0 and 30 m depths of 10 stations from March 2015 to February 2016. During the survey period, water temperature ranged in 13.7~25.9 and $13.6{\sim}20.8^{\circ}C$ at 0 and 30 m, salinity in 31.51~34.47 and 33.03~34.47 psu at 0 and 30 m, and dissolved oxygen in 6.12~8.10 and $5.73{\sim}7.88mg\;L^{-1}$ at 0 and 30 m, respectively. Chlorophyll-a ranged in 0.28~2.48 and $0.44{\sim}1.01{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ at 0 and 30 m, respectively. Phytoplankton abundance fluctuated in the range of $5,300{\sim}639,900cells\;L^{-1}$ during the year, showing the lowest in February at all stations, and the highest in July at the northern and western sea as well as in August at the southern and eastern sea of Jeju Island. A total of 362 species were occurred including 181 spp. of Bacillariophyta, 147 spp. of Dinophyta and 34 spp. of other phytoflagellates. Dominant species with occupancy rate over 20 percent of phytoplankton abundance showed apparent seasonal succession such as Paralia sulcata and Skeletonema costatum in spring and autumn, 6 spp. of genus Chaetoceros in summer, and 2 spp. of genus Chaetoceros and Thalassionema frauenfeldii in winter. Monthly abundance in the northern and western sea fluctuated with similar tendency, and the southern and eastern sea also showed similar pattern of monthly abundance variation. Species composition and dominant species succession mentioned above were quite different from previous studies, so some physical changes such as water temperature, salinity and current pattern might cause the changes of phytoplankton assemblages around Jeju Island.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.173-180
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• 2019

Amyloid ${\beta}$-protein ($A{\beta}$) is the principal component of senile plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and elicits a toxic effect on neurons in vitro and in vivo. Many environmental factors, including antioxidants and proteoglycans, modify $A{\beta}$ toxicity. It is worthwhile to isolate novel natural compounds that could prove therapeutic for patients with AD without causing detrimental side effects. In this study, we investigated the in vitro neuroprotective effects of the ethyl acetate fraction of methanol extract of Ophiophogon japonicas (OJEA fraction). We used an MTT reduction assay to detect protective effects of the OJEA fraction on $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced cytotoxicity to PC12 cells. We also used a cell-based ${\beta}$-secretase assay system to investigate the inhibitory effect of the OJEA fraction on ${\beta}$-secretase activity. In addition, we performed an in vitro lipid peroxidation assay to evaluate the protective effect of the OJEA fraction against oxidative stress induced by $A{\beta}_{25-35}$ in PC12 cells. The OJEA fraction had strong protective effects against $A{\beta}_{25-35}$-induced cytotoxicity to PC12 cells and was strongly inhibitory to ${\beta}$-secretase activity, which resulted in the attenuation of $A{\beta}$ generation. In addition, the OJEA fraction significantly decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content, which is induced by the exposure of PC12 cells to $A{\beta}_{25-35}$. Our results suggested that the OJEA fraction contained active compounds exhibiting a neuroprotective effect on $A{\beta}$ toxicity.

• Journal of Rhinology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2018

Background and Objectives: The present study evaluated the results of skin prick test using 55 allergens at 20 centers in the Republic of Korea in 2006, 2010, and 2014-2015. The aim was to assess changes in the positive rate of allergens according to temporal, regional, and environmental factors. Materials and Method: In total, 20 hospitals were selected based on the population distribution in the Republic of Korea. A skin prick test panel comprising 55 aeroallergens was distributed to 18 hospitals for this prospective study. The 2006 and 2010 skin prick test results were collected and analyzed retrospectively from 20 hospitals, while the 2014/2015 skin prick test results (from June 2014 to May 2015) were collected prospectively from 18 hospitals. Results: A total of 14,897 SPT test results were analyzed: 4,319 in 2006, 7,431 in 2010, and 1,852 in 2014/2015. The overall rate of skin prick test positivity to more than two allergens was significantly higher in males than females. The positive rates of alder pollens and birch, oak and ragweed pollen positivity were increased in older patients. Several positive rates were increased according to the temperature in spring. The positive rates for beech pollen, birch pollen, hazel pollen, oak pollen, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, mugwort, cat, Acarus siro, Lepidoglyphus destructor and Tyrophagus putrescentiae were significantly increased, while those of Cult rye pollen and dandelion were significantly decreased over the three test periods. The overall positive rate for allergens in Jeju province varied significantly from Seoul and other cities. Conclusion: Change in the positive rate of multiple aeroallergens was evaluated in the Republic of Korea over time. Our findings can be used to recommend aeroallergens suitable for inclusion in skin prick test panels in the Republic of Korea and will facilitate further investigation of changes in the patterns of allergic diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.89-100
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• 2021

This study evaluated the degree of interaction between the people and the environment using perceived naturalness measure. The seventh-grade index of Hemeroby was divided into subclasses of land cover according to degrees of human influence. The grade was standardized for each indicator to evaluate the current state of urban parks in Seoul by applying probability density function and weight. User evaluation was conducted on six distinctive parks selected. In the results, three implications were found between spatial evaluation according to the perceived naturalness. First, park users evaluated highly for the spaces such as broad-leaved forest, coniferous forest and mixed forest evaluated highly in the Hemeroby grade index. Park users generally recognized that various types of trees in the area had high naturalness. The density of trees is one of the factors in perceived naturalness. Second, water spaces were highly evaluated for naturalness in the Hemeroby grade index. However, the perceived naturalness of water spaces such as inland wetlands, pond and reservoir evaluated in various ways depending on environmental conditions around the park. Third, perceived naturalness is easily evaluated through vertical landscape elements such as trees rather than horizontal landscapes such as grassland. The perceived naturalness is similar to the naturalness evaluation using land cover. However the study found the perceived naturalness for a specific space was different from the Hemeroby index. Perceived naturalness by the user includes the content that the individual sees, hears, and experiences. Park users are usually structuring naturalness through evaluating the value of urban green spaces based on personal perception. Therefore there is no absolute standard criterion for evaluating the naturalness of urban green spaces. A deeper study is needed that considers user bundles or user groups with conflicting interests on the perceived naturalness in urban parks. These studies will be essential data on the direction of naturalness urban park service should provide.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.2
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• pp.165-178
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• 2021

Owing to the lack of consistent research on endangered plant species in Korea, there are insufficient data to preservespecies and expand habitats. This study analyzed the preferred habitat and threats to the survival of Aconitum austrokoreense, found on Baekwun Mountain in Gurye-gun, Gwangyang-si, Jeollanam-do Province, and classified as a level two endangered wild plant by the Ministry of Environment, by investigating major environmental factors such as climate, location, soil, and stand structure. By examining five selected sites inhabited by Aconitum austrokoreense on BaekwunMountain, this study found that the habitat had an altitude of 420 to 675 m above sea level and showed a northeast tendency, spreading over a range of inclination angles between 15° and 37°. The average number of plants across the five sites was 156. Site 4 (550 m) had the highest density of 372 plants, with an average height of 0.6 m. The average soil moisture and relative light intensity were 20.48% and 7.34%, respectively. Layer soil was presumed to be sandy loam, characterized by high sand content and good drainage. The habitat had average soil pH of 5.2, average organic matter of 16.46%, average nitrogen of 0.86%, average available phosphate of 11.86 mg/kg, average electrical conductivity of 0.44 dS/m, and average cation exchange capacity of 37.04 cmolc/kg. The total carbon in soil averaged 10.68%. From the analysis of the vegetation structure of sites inhabited by Aconitum austrokoreense, the dominant populations were Pinus koraiensis and Lindera erythrocarpa in Site 1, Magnolia obovata and Carpinus laxiflora in Site 2, Zelkova serrate and Quercus variabilis in Site 3, Staphylea bumalda and Lindera erythrocarpa in Site 4, and Morus bombycis,Styrax japonicus, and Carpinus laxiflora in Site 5. With most habitats located near trails and sap collection sites of Acer pictum, the species were exposed to artificial damage and interference threats.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.525-538
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to analyze the habitat status and species diversity of benthic diatoms and estimate the applicability of TDI (Trophic Diatom Index) to obtain the basic data for the identification and management of created wetlands in the Nakdong River. We observed a total of 38 families and 173 species of benthic diatom during the survey period, and spring and autumn showed a similar number of species of 156 and 154, respectively. The result of the SOM (Self-Organizing Map) analysis showed that the distribution of benthic diatom was sensitive to environmental factors such as nutrient concentration and rainfall in each wetland. The cluster 1 was characterized by the survey sites of autumn mostly and consisted of points of high TDI, although the nutrients such as total phosphorus and total nitrogen were low, and the species number and abundance of diatoms were low. Conversely, cluster 4 was characterized by the survey sites of spring mostly and consisted of points of low TDI, even though total nitrogen was high. Considering that most of the created wetlands had the reduced inflow and outflow, the increased flow rate in the summer lowers nutrient values in autumn, and the species number and abundance of benthic diatom decreases due to the increase of turbidity, which reduces the light penetrations to the substrates. On the contrary, the TDI value is low in spring because the low water level causes insufficient substrate surface to the benthic diatoms, and it is too early for the establishment and development of saprophilous species. Although various studies have used TDI as an indicator for evaluating the habitat environment and water quality, it is not a good evaluation indicator in this study since the nutrient concentration in the wetlands mostly high as they have a low flow rate and are close to the stagnant area. Nevertheless, additional periodic surveys that comprehensively reflect the fact that the summer rainfall and inflow/outflow regulating function might affect the species diversity and distribution of benthic diatoms are necessary.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.314-320
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• 2021

With the increasing age of motherhood in recent years, attributed to late marriages due to social or environmental factors, the Down's syndrome screening test using biochemical markers has become essential for pregnant women. The process of diagnosing Down's syndrome pregnancy in the high-risk group subjects involves chromosomal analysis, which is performed on samples obtained through invasive procedures such as chorionic biopsy or amniotic fluid. Thus, to reduce unnecessary invasive tests and lower the risk to mother and fetus, it is important to identify a screening test with low risk and high Down's syndrome detection rate. Recently, as the average age of mothers has increased, numerous inspection agencies have classified high-risk mothers as women over the age of 35 years. This study evaluated a total of 36,436 pregnant women aged between 17 to 46 years, and who requested prenatal screening at an inspection agency in Yongin in 2018. Test (13,690 people) Four tests were conducted by applying the time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay method using the direct sandwich and indirect sandwich technology, and the immunoassay method using the sandwich method. We aimed to confirm the difference in positivity rate with increasing age of the subjects. We believe that in future, data obtained from this study will be very useful for the prevention and treatment of Down's syndrome risk at varied inspection institutions, and for prospective mothers.