• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.604-619
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• 2012

According to the concept of woodland aesthetic in Germany and forest design in United Kingdom, artificial forest should be restore ecologically step by step in National Park, Korea. This study was carried out to provide the density criterion of thinning for the inducement of the ecological succession by analysing of vegetational structure in Artificial Forest, National Parks. Eleven plots(size is $20m{\times}20m$) were set up in the artificial forest such as Pinus koraiensis forest, Abies holophylla forest, Chamaecyparis obtusa forest, Populus tomentiglandulosa forest, and Larix kaempferi forest and in the natural forest such as Pinus densiflora community, Pinus densiflora-Quercus serrata community, and Quercus serrata community in Chiaksan, Songnisan, Deogyusan, and Naejangsan National Parks, Korea. We classified the artificial forest into undeveloped type of succession, type of alien young trees developing, and early phase type of succession based on the vegetational structure. According to the index of Shnnon's diversity(unit: $400m^2$), undeveloped type of succession was ranged from 0.9681 to 1.1323, type of alien young trees developing was ranged from 1.0192 to 1.1870, early phase type of succession was ranged from 1.3071 to 1.3892, and natural vegetation was ranged from 1.2202 to 1.3428, therefore early phase type of succession forest and natural vegetation are more higher than simple-layered artificial forest with one needle leaf tree species. The limit for the step-by-step thinning was in the range of 30~60%. In case of undeveloped type of succession, we should thin out from large trees throughout three phases, because alien species dominated high value 88~90% in canopy layer. In case of type of alien young trees developing, we should thin out from alien young trees such as Populus tomentiglandulosa throughout one or two phases, because alien species dominated high value 60~97% and young trees with saplings growing up in understory and shrub layer. In case of early phase type of succession, we should thin out from alien trees that compete with native species throughout one or two phases, because alien species dominated less than value 30%.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.99-112
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• 2013

This study aims to show the changes of characteristics of vegetation structure for 20 years(1991~2010) in Naejangsan National Park. As a result of analysis of actual vegetation, the mixed community of Quercus variabilis and Quercus serrata was distributed with 56.1%, and Q. variabilis community showed in southern steep slope with 17.6%. Pinus densiflora community(5.8%) was observed on the ridge and Carpinu tschonoskii community distributed in the slope of the valley with 6.6%. Zelkova serrata and Prunus sargentii community were distributed in valley. The classification by TWINSPAN, ordination by DCA considering importance percentage and property of vegetation class were divided into 4 communities, which are community I(P. densiflora-Q. variabilis community), community II(Q. variabilis community), community III(C. tschonoskii community) and community IV(Mixed deciduous broad-leaved trees community). The age of Pinus densiflora was 32years old and Q. serrata was 36 years old in the community I, that of Q. variabilis was 64 years old in the community II, Q. serrata was 46 years old and C. tschonoskii was 45 years old in the community III, and Acer palmatum was 54 years old and Cornus controversa was 47 years old in the community IV. As the result of Shannon's index of species diversity, the community Iwas ranged from 0.9751 to 1.4199, community II was ranged from 1.0765 to 1.3278, community III was ranged from 1.0353 to 1.2881, and community IV was ranged from 1.1412 to 1.3807. The change of vegetation structure analyzed through the comparison with results of studies carried out 20 years ago were natural selection of P. densiflora, expansion of Quercus spp. and increase of C. tschonoskii. Especially, A. palmatum is dominated by Q. variabilis in canopy layer like the result of study 20 years ago. A. palmatum was analysed by 14.6% in the canopy layer of only mixed deciduous broad-leaved trees community. As a result of analysis of habitat property of Q. variabilis and A. palmatum, Q. variabilis was distributed in dry area with the low value of pH, O.M., exchangeable cations and Avail. P, and A. palmatum was located in the wet valley with huge value of nourishment. The tendency of reduction of bio-diversity by Sasa borealis is same as previous study but, the distributed areas were reduced in Naejangsan area.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2011

To find the preliminary environmental conditions for a short-time transport of living olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, the stress response and physiological metabolic activity of the cultured fish to feed deprivation and slow temperature descending ($15.8^{\circ}C{\rightarrow}13.3^{\circ}C$) were monitored for 8 days. The monitored variables were the plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glucose (GLU), total protein (TP), electrolytes ($Na^+$, $K^+$, $Cl^-$) and thyroid hormones ($TT_4$, $TT_3$, $FT_4$ and $FT_3$). In food deprivation experiment for 8 days, we did not find any statistical change of level in AST, ALT and electrolytes ($Na^+$, $K^+$, $Cl^-$), but found a significant decrease in TP and GLU. In thyroid hormones, the levels of four hormones in plasma were all showing a tendency to decrease. Especially, $FT_4$ and $TT_3$ were significantly decreased, indicating a withering of physiologic activity. In the temperature test, although no any significant change in AST, TP and electrolytes ($Na^+$, $K^+$, $Cl^-$), we observed a significant decrease of ALT and GLU following to temperature descending from $15.8^{\circ}C$ to $13.3^{\circ}C$ (P<0.05). In the levels of thyroid hormones, any significant change was not observed for experimental period. We conclude that the stress response and physiological activity of olive flounder were more influenced by feed deprivation than slow temperature descending at a transport of living fish, and plasma GLU appears to be sensitive factor to physiological metabolic activity, indicating that it could be used as a monitering mark or index for a health inspection of the fish.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.101-112
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• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine arterial stiffness levels as measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and to identify the association between arterial stiffness and inflammatory markers, in healthy adults over 50 years old. Methods: The study population consisted of 4617 persons over the age of 50 years who participated in the baseline survey of the Dong-gu Study, which was conducted in 2007 and 2008. Arterial stiffness was measured using baPWV. A multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between conventional cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory markers, including white blood cell (WBC) counts, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT). Results: After adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors including sex, age, smoking status, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, hypertension or diabetic medication, total cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, and alanine aminotransferase, baPWV was significantly associated with WBC counts (${\beta}$=0.158, p<0.0001), hs-CRP (${\beta}$=0.244, p=0.026), and GGT (${\beta}$=0.003, p<0.0001). Conclusion: This study shows that arterial stiffness correlates with inflammatory markers. Arterial stiffness may be used as a composite risk factor to identify persons with higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Additionally, arterial stiffness may be a marker for future cardiovascular disease and a target for prevention.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2010

We investigated the growth of cucumber plants, the uptake and use of mineral nutrients, such as $NO_3$-N, $NH_4$-N, $K^+$, $Ca^{+}^{+}$, $Mg^{+}^{+}$ and $Na^+$, absorbed from media solution, and the synthesis and distribution of soluble sugars under nutrient-deficient condition. Difference in plant growth revealed after 20 days of treatment. Nitrate uptake in nutrient-deficient condition was significantly reduced compared with nutrient-normal treatment, and its distribution was primarily in petioles, stem, roots and less in leaves. In contrast, ammonium content was markedly predominated in fast growing organs, and it was significantly different in growing leaves, expanded leaves, and roots under similar growth conditions. $K^+$, lack by deficient nutrient condition, was found in growing leaves. The $Ca^{+}^{+}$ content did not show significant difference between treatments and a substantial portion of $Ca^{+}^{+}$ remained in petioles. The $Mg^{+}^{+}$ content was significantly higher in the leaves of nutrient-normal condition compared with nutrient-deficient condition while significantly lower in stem and roots. The behavior of $Na^+$ in plant was similar to $K^+$ although its content was relatively little. The highest $CO_2$ assimilation was observed in fully expanded leaves of nutrient-normal condition, which was 1.7 times higher compared with nutrient-deficient condition. The instantaneous water use efficiency (A/E) and the A/gsratio, which is an index of leaf intrinsic water use efficiency for individual leaves, was 1.2 and 1.1 times higher, respectively. The total soluble sugar (TSS) contents were highest in leaves followed by petioles, stems and roots, and in younger leaves. The growing leaves contained about 7,200 mg $kg^{-1}$ of TSS in nutrient-normal condition whereas the TSS contents in nutrient-deficient condition were not significantly different between leaves. The $Mg^{+}^{+}$ and $NH_4$- N were positively correlated with the TSS whereas $NO_3$ - N was negatively correlated.

• The Korean Journal of Soil Zoology
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• v.6 no.1_2
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• pp.25-31
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• 2001

Oribatid mite communities in the process of litter decomposition were analyzed In Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) forests of Namsan and Kwangreung, which were supposed to be under different environmental selective pressures. Oribatid mites were collected bimonthly from the litter bags (mesh size 0.4 mm, 1.7 mm) which was set up in the forest floor of study sites. This study had been carried out from Jan., 1997 to Sept., 1998. Species abundance of Kwangreung (mesh size 1.7 mm) was significantly higher than that of Namsan (mesh size 1.7 mm), but total no. of species did not exceed 30 species in all study sites. Concerning body length, medium sized oribatid mites (0.3-0.7mm) were more abundant than small ( < 0.3 mm) and large ( > 0.7 mm) sized mites. In Kwangreung, species whose body lengths were 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm were major group. However, a little larger species than Kwangreung's major group were dominant in Namsan. Sorenson similarity index and cluster analysis suggested that there were qualitative and quantitative differences in species composition in Namsan and Kwangreung. More species were collected in May through September than the other sampling times, but the pattern was rather different between first year and second year. Newly immigrant species were high in May in the first year and many of them regained on next year. Diversity indices suggested that species diversity of Kwangreung was higher than that of Namsan. Nearly 70% of total individual abundance was occupied by several dominant species in Namsan and Kwangreung . In the litter bags of mesh size 1.7 mm, the most dominant species was Trichogalumna nipponica in Namsan and Kwangreung, but in the litter bags of mesh size 0.4 mm in Kwangreung it was Ramusella sengbuschi which is smaller than T. nipponica. And important species related to litter decomposition were selected as follows; T. nipponica, Epidamaeus coreanus, Scheloribates latipes, Ceratozetes japonicus, Ramusella sengbuschi, Eohypochthonius crassisetiger, and Cultroribula lata.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.106-114
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• 2002

Objectives: Daytime sleepiness is a common symptom and is associated with sleep behavior, sleep deprivation, and night shift, etc. It is also one of the most important symptoms of sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). According to our survey on Korean literature, a few studies have dealt with daytime sleepiness, and we have not been able to locate any study comparing normal subjects with polysomnography-proven sleep disorder patients regarding daytime sleepiness. We aimed at comparing daytime sleepiness among normal healthy daytime workers, medical students being expected to have daytime sleepiness due to chronic sleep deprivation, and patients having sleep disorders diagnosed with polysomnography. We also studied the association between subjective daytime sleepiness and objective polysomnographic findings in patients with sleep disorders. Methods: One hundred three hospital workers, 137 medical students, and patients with sleep disorders were studied. Sleep disorders included OSA, periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS), insomnia, and narcolepsy. The degree of subjective sleepiness in each group was measured by the Korean version of Epworth sleepiness scale and compared. The relationship between polysomnographic findings reflecting severity of sleep disorder in each patient group and subjective sleepiness was analyzed. As for patients with narcolepsy, the relationship between the mean sleep latency and subjective sleepiness was studied. Results: There was a significant difference of ESS score (F=68.190, dF=5.752, p<0.001) among daytime workers, medical students, and sleep disorder patients. In OSA patient group, the degree of the sleepiness had no significant correlation either with mean O2 satuaration (p=0.062) or with RDI (p=0.807). In PLMS patient group, there was no correlation between periodic limb movement index (PLMI) and subjective sleepiness (p=0.761). In narcolepsy patient group, the subjective sleepiness had no correlation with mean sleep latency measured with MSLT (p=0.055). Conclusion: We found a significant difference of subjective sleepiness among daytime workers, medical students, and patients with sleep disorders. However, no consistent correlation was found between severity of subjective sleepiness and objective polysomnographic findings reflecting severity of each sleep disorder. This research confirms that the evaluation of subjective sleepiness is important clinically, but it cannot substitute the objective measures such as nocturnal polysomnography and MSLT.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.88-102
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• 1998

Objectives : We attempted to study obstructive sleep apnea symptoms prevalence and sleep apnea-associated factors in Korean rural adult population. Methods : In 1,441 adult subjects of three rural communities selected by cluster sampling, we administered an epidemiologic survey using questionnaire methods from July 14, 1996 to July 28, 1996. Results : 1) In 14.1% of the subjects, snoring was reported to occur almost daily and 2.9% of the subjects reported sleep apnea symptoms occurring almost daily. 2) Snoring and sleep apnea symptoms were found more frequently in males or in mid-aged group(45 - 64 years old) than in females or in younger- and older-aged groups, respectively. Compared with the subjects who have no snoring, the subjects who have snoring or sleep apnea symptoms had greater body mass index(BMI), waist-hip ratio, hemoglobin level, RBC count, and higher diastolic blood pressure. 3) Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking more than once a week were significantly associated with suffering from sleep apnea symptoms. 4) In multiple logistic regression analysis, being male, mid-aged, and greater BMI were independently associated with the presence of snoring and sleep apnea symptoms. Conclusion : We conclude that, in the Korean rural adult population, males or mid-aged group suffers more from snoring and sleep apnea symptoms than females or younger- and older-aged groups. In addition, being male, mid-aged, and greater BMI were significantly associated independently with the presence of snoring and sleep apnea symptoms.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.752-759
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• 1995

Background: Bronchial asthma is characterized by noctunal dyspnea, cough and wheezing because of airway hyperresponsiveness to nonspecific stimuli. These symptoms and signs are also observed in patients with congestive heart failure. Therefore, this is so called "cardiac asthma". There are lots of experimental and clinical datas to suggest that airway dysfunctions occur in acute and chronic congestive heart failure. However, it is still controversial whether bronchial hyperresponsiveness is present in patients with congestive heart failure. To assess whether bronchial hyperresponsiveness is present in patients with congestive heart failure and to demonstrate the relationship between bronchial responsiveness and vascular pressure, we performed methacholine provocation test in 11 patients with mitral valvular heart disease. Methods: All patients were in the New York Heart Association functional class II and treated continuously with digoxin and/or dichlozid and/or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor except one patient. All patients were undergone right and left side heart catheterization for hemodynamic measurements. A 20 percent fall of peak expiratory flow rate were considered as positive response to methacholine provocation test. Results: 1) Only one patient who has normal pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, cardiac index was positive in methacholine provocation test. 2) Their mean pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were $21.72{\pm}9.70mmHg$, $15.45{\pm}8.69mmHg$ respectively which were significantly higher. Conclusion: It is speculated that in stable congestive heart failure patients, bronchial responsiveness as assessed by methacholine provocation test may not be increased.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 2000

Background: To evaluate airway responses and inflammation to antigen in Sprague-Dawley rat asthma model, we examined airway responses, serial histologic changes of the lung, and the relationship between airway responses and airway inflammation after antigen airway challenge. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were sensitized with subcutaneous injection of 10 ${\mu}g$ ovalbumin(OA). Antigen airway challenges were done 14~16 days after sensitization and the sensitized rats were sacrificed 1h($A_E$), 6~8h($A_L$) and 1day($A_D$) after airway challenge, to examine the histologic changes of the lung. Airway responses were measured by body plethysmograph and recorded by enhanced pause(Penh) as an index of airway obstruction 6~8h after antigen challenges. Nonsensitized controls(10 rats) were also challenged with antigen and sacrificed 1 day later. Histopathologic examination of two trachea, large bronchi, small bronchi, and vessels was performed to evaluate the severity of inflammation and eosinophilic infiltration with H&E stain. Results: In 17 of 20 rats(85%) in both groups, we observed airway responses. Among them, an early response(ER) in 15 rats(75%), an dual response in 5(25%), and an late response(LR) only in 2 rats(10%) displayed. There were no significant differences in the severity of inflammation among the trachea, large bronchi, small bronchi and vessels in all groups after antigen challenge(p>0.05) and between early and late responders. The significant eosinophil infiltration was observed in 5 rats(50%) of AL(p<0.05) compared with in AE and controls. Also, eosinophil infiltration was observed in higher trend in LR(57.1%) compared to ER(40%)(p>0.05). Conclusion: Sprague-Dawley rats sensitized with subcutaneous injection of OA showed a significant airway responses to antigen challenge. But antigen challenges caused a little eosinophil infiltration and no significant airway inflammation. Asthma model of Sprague-Dawley rats could be useful for antigen-induced airway responses, but this model has a limitation for the study of human asthma because of no significant pathologic change.