• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.453-460
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• 2000

The forest vegetation of Mt. seondal was classified into eight communities and one afforestation by the phytosocialogical method (Z-M method). In general, Quercus mongolica trees occupied most of the area, while afforestation forest was distributed on the lower slope, cultivated land, and at the vicinity of village. The vegetation on the top part of Mt. Seondal was comparatively well preserved, but that in the lower areas has been disturbed heavily by human activity and some had mixed forests composed of pine trees, oaks, ashes, and Rhododendron micrantum shrub. By cluster analysis method. nine groups were identified as follows : Quercus mongolica group, Q. mongolica - Pinus densiflora group, Q. mongolica - Rhododendron schlipen - bachii group, Q. mongolica - Symplocos chinensis for. pilosa group, P. densiflora group, Juglans mandshurica group, Fraxinus mandshurica group, Betula costata group and Larix leptolepis group. These groups showed differences in species composition, but Quercus mongolica, Q. mongolica - P. densiflora, Q. mongolica - R. schlippenbachii and Q. mongolica - S. chinensis for. pilosa groups among them showed very similar floristic composition to each other. In the relationship between polar ordination axes and environmental variables, altitude was the environmental factor determining variation in species composition along axis X and soil moisture was the environmental along axis Y. They were the main factors in determining forest vegetation. The result of cluster analysis and polar ordination for the forest vegetation were corresponded to those of phytosocialogical classification in classifying vegetation.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2017

Forest bathing has beneficial effects on human health via showering of forest aerosols as well as physical relaxation. Terpenes that consist of multiple isoprene units are the largest class of organic compounds produced by various plants, and one of the major components of forest aerosols. Traditionally, terpene-containing plant oil has been used to treat various diseases without knowing the exact functions or the mechanisms of action of the individual bioactive compounds. This review categorizes various terpenes easily obtained from forests according to their anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic, or neuroprotective activities. Moreover, potential action mechanisms of the individual terpenes and their effects on such processes, which are described in various in vivo and in vitro systems, are discussed. In conclusion, the studies that show the biological effectiveness of terpenes support the benefits of forest bathing and propose a potential use of terpenes as chemotherapeutic agents for treating various human diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.3
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• pp.469-479
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• 2012

Trail is a main infrastructure for various forest recreational activities. In this study, the recreational supply (trail) and demand (trail program according to visitor characteristics, preferred forest activities) were studied. Through the application of a multiple correspondence analysis and cross tabulation analysis, 3 trails (Bukhansan trail, Uljin trail, Jirisan trail) were identified. On this study, visitor demands for trail program participation, preferred forest recreational activities, program contents and program operations. Visitors expressed positive attitude toward trail program participating and showed characteristics with the differences. Young visitors preferred active experience program and middle aged visitors more liked health program such as forest therapy. On site program and self guided interpretation were preferred for program operation. In Bukhansan trail, continuous health program (1~2 hours) would be proper and it needs to adapt various nature activities in the Uljin trail. For the Jirisan trail, self guided program would be developed in many ways.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.117-127
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• 2015

This study evaluated properties and items for selecting on a forest healing village. In order to assign a weight value-between factors, this study was conducted the primary survey first and then the secondary survey for measuring the importance of items. Experts'surveys were conducted on 3 items on level 1, 9 items on level 2, 35 items on level 3 with use of AHP technique. In level 1, the main analysis result was that physical resource properties(0.387) indicated the highest importance. in level 2, healing resources of physical properties(0.402), community participation of human resource properties(0.425), and business competency in part of vision(-.438) showed the highest importance. The analysis result of 35 items on level 3 was that in physical resources properties, securing public land in the village(0.220), possessing recreation space(0.440) and resources available for link with healing(0.413) showed the highest importance. In part of human resources properties, the average age of residents(0.465), commitment to the promotion of the villagers(0.367) and support of local leaders(0.318) showed the highest importance. Adequacy of development plan(0.274), forest work experience-related(0.293), and building profit sharing system(0.282) were also evaluated to have a relatively high importance.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.245-254
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• 2020

Patients diagnosed with cancer face mental problems such as alienation, isolation, anxiety about death and fear, recovering from psychological difficulties. In this study, a forest healing program was provided for cancer patients to recover from psychological stress, depression, social isolation and self-esteem caused by cancer and changes in salivary cortisol through psychological and emotional recovery were measured. From September 19 to November 28, 2017, a forest healing program composed of a total of 10 sessions, two hours per session was provided for 12 cancer patients in the Forest of Taegyo located in Yongin. Psychological tests were performed with Social Adaptation Self-evaluation Scale (SASS), Korean-version Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the collected data were analyzed with the SPSS 18.0. The salivary cortisol level was measured along with the psychological tests and were analyzed by a specialized testing agency. The results of the analysis showed that the pre- and post-assessment score of SASS was 29.17 and 25.92, respectively, and that the pre- and post-assessment score of PSS was 30.50 and 23.92, respectively. The pre- and post-assessment score of BDI was 41.00 and 34.83, respectively, which showed significant differences. In addition, the pre- and post-assessment level of saliva cortisol was 3.13 and 1.68, respectively, showing a significant decrease. In short, the forest healing program was found to be effective in reducing physiological changes caused by social isolation and stress due to the emotional and psychological difficulties that the subjects who were diagnosed with cancer and were recovering from it have. In the future, it will be necessary to develop and implement a forest healing program by conducting a forest healing requirement survey on cancer patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.34-40
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• 2014

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the demand for natural environment therapy among parents of patients with atopic dermatitis. Methods: The questionnaire-based survey was conducted on the parents of 310 patients with atopic dermatitis (158 male and 152 female, median age 8 years, ranging from 2 to 21 years). The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions including demographic information, preference of environmental therapy and related choices. Results: Regardless of illness severity or gender, parents agreed with the importance of environmental therapy in treatment for atopic dermatitis. 55.2% of parents had considered moving to the countryside for their children with atopic dermatitis. 74.5% of parents answered positively to the possibility of movement to an atopy-free village, and this rate was significantly higher in parents of patients with severe symptoms (p < 0.05). Educational facilities and eco-environment were considered to be the most important factors in their decision. In addition, parents opted for organic food cooperatives, which was also felt necessary for their children suffering from atopic dermatitis. Conclusions: This study is the first report suggesting the extent of demand for environmental therapies among patients with atopic dermatitis. This information will be helpful in developing therapeutics using the natural environment in Korean medicine.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.341-353
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of urban forest and school forest experience programs on attitude toward the forest, psychological well-being, and stress of high school students. The subjects of this study were 26 students from a high school located in B-dong in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. They were divided into the experimental groups participating in urban forest experience and the control groups participating in school forests experience. Each group participated in the five weekly two-hour long forest experience program. We conducted a pre- and post-experience questionnaire surveys using the scale of environmental attitude toward the forest, the scale of psychological well-being, and the scale of academic stress to observe mental and psychological changes of the high school students. Data were analyzed by SPSS 23.0 program and a Wilcoxon sign rank test. There was a significant increase in the attitude toward forests of high school students participating in the forest experience programs. The groups participating in the school forest experience showed an increase in the psychological well-being although it was not statistically significant, and the groups participating in the urban forest experience showed a statistically significant increase, indicating that the forest experience affected the psychological well-being of the high school students. The groups participating in the school forest experience showed a decrease in the academic stress although it was not statistically significant, and the groups participating in the urban forest experience showed a statistically significant decrease, indicating that the forest experience affected the academic stress of the high school students.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.420-427
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the indirect effects of forest using the forest healing factors such as landscape and hearing factors on mood improvement. The experiment was conducted for about 2 months from October 5, 2016 to November 30, 2016 targeting 30 healthy college students ($23.6{\pm}1.7$ years old). After making 3 factors(image factor, sound factor and image+sound factor) using scenery and sound of both forest and urban space, participants undergone the test in a room. And the effects of these 3 factors on the mood improvement were compared and analyzed using SPSS 18.0 program. Profile of Mood State test (POMS) and Semantic Differential method (SD) were used to measure mood improvement as a psychological test. As a result, indirect forest stimulation showed effects of suppressing tension, fatigue, anger, confusion, depression, and enhancement of vitality. No significant difference was observed in the comparison between forest stimuli. However, Compared with the urban stimuli, the stimulation of the forests has the effect of enhancing pleasant, natural feeling and calmness.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.1
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• pp.88-93
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• 2009

The overall purpose of this study was to figure out psycho-physiological variations in human bodies according to observing visual images of forests. To collect data, the authors employed 9 views each in three different environments such as cities, forests, and landscape which combines a forest with water. The experiment was conducted by showing total 27 images to 30 visitors to measure the subjects' changes of alpha waves of EEG(electroencephalogram). As measures of psychological impact of the views, PRS(Perceived Restorativeness Scale) and PANAS(Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) were used. The results of the data analyses indicated that the views of landscape with a forest and water influenced most highly on subjects' psycho-physiological responses.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.277-289
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• 2020

Purpose : This study aims to confirm the clinical usefulness of computerized cognitive therapy program for patients with brain diseases in Korea and to present basic data that can confirm the effectiveness of computerized cognitive therapy program to experts related to rehabilitation in the future. Methods : A systematic review and meta-analysis research method was used to confirm the clinical effectiveness of computerized cognitive therapy applied to patients with brain diseases in Korea. Based on the national institute of health and medical colleges association (NECA) systematic literature manual and preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines for conducting research through systematic review and meta-analysis methods. Systematic review was PICOST-SD was used to research and select papers. For meta-analysis, the data was input and analyzed separately by literature result using the revman manager 5.3 program and the results were presented visually through tables and forest, funnel plot figure. Results : As a result of comprehensive analysis of the contents of the finally selected literature, it as found that studies on stroke and dementia were mainly conducted. In addition, through the evaluation of the quality of the literature, most of the existing computerized cognitive therapy studies were identified as high-quality studies, but the results were insufficient for randomization and blinding. And through meta-analysis, the clinical effectiveness of computerized cognitive therapy on cognitive function, activities of daily living, and visual perception function of patients with brain disease was found. Conclusion : The research literature that applied computerized cognitive therapy to brain disease subjects was comprehensively analyzed and identified. It is thought that this could be used as basic data on the characteristics of cognitive therapy that should be applied to patients with brain diseases in the future and the usefulness of computerized cognitive therapy program in actual clinical practice.