• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.24-36
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• 2021

Countries around the world, including the Republic of Korea, are participating in efforts to preserve biodiversity. Concerning species, in particular, studies that aim to find potential habitats and establish conservation plans by conducting habitat suitability analysis for specific species are actively ongoing. However, few studies on mid- to long-term changes in suitable habitat areas are based on accumulated information. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the time-series changes in the habitat suitable area and examine the otters' changing pattern (Lutra lutra) designated as Level 1 endangered wildlife in Gangwon-do. The time-series change analysis used the data on otter species' presence points from the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th national natural environment surveys conducted for about 20 years. Moreover, it utilized the land cover map consistent with the survey period to create environmental variables to reflect each survey period's habitat environment. The suitable habitat area analysis used the MaxEnt model that can run based only on the species presence information, and it has been proven to be reliable by previous studies. The study derived the habitat suitability map for otters in each survey period, and it showed a tendency that habitats were distributed around rivers. Comparing the response curves of the environmental variables derived from the modeling identified the characteristics of the habitat favored by otters. The examination of habitats' change by survey period showed that the habitats based on the 2nd National Natural Environment Survey had the widest distribution. The habitats of the 3rd and 4th surveys showed a tendency of decrease in area. Moreover, the study aggregated the analysis results of the three survey periods and analyzed and categorized the habitat's changing pattern. The type of change proposed different conservation plans, such as field surveys, monitoring, protected area establishment, and restoration plan. This study is significant because it produced a comprehensive analysis map that showed the time-series changes of the location and area of the otter habitat and proposed a conservation plan that is necessary according to the type of habitat change by region. We believe that the method proposed in this study and its results can be used as reference data for establishing a habitat conservation and management plan in the future.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.36 no.6_3
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• pp.1669-1679
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• 2020

This study examines the washing effect of precipitation on particulate matter (PM) and the rainwater quality (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), water-soluble ions concentration). Of six rain events in total, rainwater samples were continuously collected every 50 mL from the beginning of the precipitation using rainwater collecting devices at Pukyong National University, Busan, South Korea, from March 2020 to July 2020. The collected rainwater samples were analyzed for pH, EC, and water-soluble ions (cations: Na+, Mg2+, K+, Ca2+, NH4+, and anions: Cl-, NO3-, SO42-). The concentrations of particulate matter were continuously measured during precipitation events with a custom-built PM sensor node. For initial rainwater samples, the average pH and EC were approximately 4.3 and 81.9 μS/cm, and the major ionic components consisted of NO3- (5.4 mg/L), Ca2+ (4.2 mg/L), Cl- (4.1 mg/L). In all rainfall events, rainwater pH gradually increased with rainfall duration, whereas EC gradually decreased due to the washing effect. When the rainfall intensities were relatively weak (<5 mm/h), PM10 reduction efficiencies were less than 40%. When the rainfall intensities were enhanced to more than 7.5 mm/h, the reduction efficiencies reached more than 60%. For heavy rainfall events, the acidity and EC, as well as ions concentrations of initial rainwater samples, were higher than those in later samples. This appears to be related to the washing effect of precipitation on PM10 in the atmosphere.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.36 no.6_3
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• pp.1653-1667
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• 2020

In this study, we coupled a computation fluid dynamics (CFD) model to the local data assimilation and prediction system (LDAPS), a current operational numerical weather prediction model of the Korea Meteorological Administration. We investigated the characteristics of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) distributions in a building-congested district. To analyze the effects of road emission on the PM2.5 concentrations, we calculated road emissions based on the monthly, daily, and hourly emission factors and the total amount of PM2.5 emissions established from the Clean Air Policy Support System (CAPSS) of the Ministry of Environment. We validated the simulated PM2.5 concentrations against those measured at the PKNU-AQ Sensor stations. In the cases of no road emission, the LDAPS-CFD model underestimated the PM2.5 concentrations measured at the PKNU-AQ Sensor stations. The LDAPS-CFD model improved the PM2.5 concentration predictions by considering road emission. At 07 and 19 LST on 22 June 2020, the southerly wind was dominant at the target area. The PM2.5 distribution at 07 LST were similar to that at 19 LST. The simulated PM2.5 concentrations were significantly affected by the road emissions at the roadside but not significantly at the building roof. In the road-emission case, the PM2.5 concentration was high at the north (wind speeds were weak) and west roads (a long street canyon). The PM2.5 concentration was low in the east road where the building density was relatively low.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.630-636
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• 2020

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) was responsible for several recall cases owing to its incidence in mushrooms exported from the Republic of Korea. In this study, we investigated the survival of L. monocytogenes in enoki mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) at different temperatures and the antilisterial effect of its organic acids. Enoki mushrooms were innoculated with L. monocytogenes (initial concentration 4.5 log CFU/g) and stored at 1-35℃, No growth of L. monocytogenes in enoki mushrooms was observed at 1℃ for 30 days. 3.0 log CFU/g growth of L. monocytogenes was also achieved after 36 h and 24 h at 30℃ and 35℃, respectively. To evaluate the antilisterial effect of the organic acids (acetic acid, lactic acid, malic acid), enoki mushrooms were treated with 1-3% of each acid for 10-30 min. The efficacy of malic acid and lactic acid was significantly higher than that of acetic acid. Over 3.0 log reductions were observed when L. monocytogenes in enoki mushrooms was immersed in 3% lactic acid and malic acid over 10 minutes or more. Therefore, it is necessary to keep enoki mushrooms at 1℃ during the export process and treat them with 3% lactic acid and malic acid for 10 min prior to consumption.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.383-397
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the change in the use of home meal replacement (HMR) and delivered foods and food habits of college students due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: A survey was conducted on 460 male and female college students in Chungcheong province in December 2020. Results: The methods of participation in classes in the 2nd semester of 2020 were 40.2% for '100% non-face-to-face' and 40.4% for 'more than 70.0% of non-face-to-face classes'. 52.8% of the subjects responded that their physical activity had decreased, while 36.1% of the subjects responded that their body weight had increased over the past 6 months. Regarding the use of HMR, 62.7% of the male students and 69.6% of the female students responded with '1-2 times a week or less' before the outbreak of COVID-19. After the outbreak, 57.4% of males and 46.7% of females responded with '3-4 times a week or more' (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). As for the use of delivered food, 58.3% of the females responded with '2-3 times a month or less' before the outbreak, whereas the rate of responding with '1 or more times a week' after the outbreak was 64.6% (p < 0.001). Negative changes in food habits caused by COVID-19 were in the order of irregular meals (56.7%), increased intake of delivered food (42.2%), increased intake of snacks (33.3%), and increased intake of processed foods such as HMR (30.4%). Conclusion: As mentioned above, many college students had non-face-to-face classes due to COVID-19. During this period, they experienced decreased physical activity, weight gain, and undesirable eating habits such as irregular meal time, and increased intake of processed foods, delivery foods, and snacks. Therefore, there is a high need for nutrition education and policy support for the prevention and management of health and nutrition problems of college students, which can be caused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.377-386
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• 2021

This study was conducted to provide basic data for habitat management and preservation of Jeongmaek. A total of 18 priority research areas were selected with consideration to terrain and habitat environment, and 54 fixed plots were selected for three types of habits: development, valley, and forest road and ridge. The survey was conducted in each season (May, August, and October), excluding the winter season, from 2016 to 2018. The distribution analysis of birds observed in each habitat type using a self-organizing map (SOM) classified them into a total of four groups (MRPP, A=0.12, and p <0.005). The comparative analysis of the number of species, the number of individuals, and the species diversity index for each SOM group showed that they were all the highest in group III (Kruskal-Wallis, the number species: x² = 13.436, P <0.005; the number of individuals: x² = 8.229, P <0.05; the species diversity index: x² = 17.115, P <0.005). Moreover, the analysis by applying the land cover map to the random forest model to examine the index species of each group and identify the characteristics of the habitat environment showed a difference in the ratio of the habitat environment and the indicator species among the four groups. The index species analysis identified a total of 18 bird species as the indicator species in three groups except for group II. When applying the random forest model and indicator species analysis to the results of classification into four groups using the SOM, the composition of the indicator species by the group showed a correlation with the habitat characteristics of each group. Moreover, the distribution patterns and densities of observed species were clearly distinguished according to the dominant habitat for each group. The results of the analysis that applied the SOM, indicator species, and random forest model together can derive useful results for the characterization of bird habitats according to the habitat environment.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.199-210
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• 2021

Purpose: This study investigated the food consumption behaviors in Korean adults, according to the agrifood consumer competency index (ACCI). Methods: Data obtained from the 2019 Consumption Behaviors Survey for Food were analyzed. A total of 6,176 adults (2,783 males, 3,393 females) aged ≥ 19 years, were included in the study. Based on the score of agrifood consumer competency index, the subjects were classified into three groups. The dietary habits, eating-out and food-delivery/take-out behaviors, opinion of food labeling, and concerns for domestic products were compared among the 3 groups. Results: The ACCI scores of the male and female subjects were 63.6 and 64.8, respectively. Subjects of both genders in the highest tertile of the ACCI were more likely to have a higher education level and higher health concerns, as compared to subjects in the lowest tertile (p < 0.05). Male subjects having highest tertile of the ACCI reported significantly more exercise and alcohol consumption, as compared to subjects in the lowest tertile (p < 0.05). A higher score of the ACCI also portrayed a higher satisfaction in own diet and greater checking of the food label. Moreover, subjects with a higher score of the ACCI showed greater satisfaction and reliability in the food label, as well as increased concerns for domestic agrifoods, local foods, and eco-friendly foods. Subjects in the lowest tertile of the ACCI acquired their dietary information from acquaintances, whereas subjects in the highest tertile of the ACCI learnt the information from food labels themselves. Conclusion: These results are indicative of the food consumption and behaviors of Korean adults according to their ACCI scores, and provide basic data that will be useful for implementing an effective food policy.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.441-456
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• 2021

The Cretaceous Duwon Formation was studied on the basis of sedimentologic analysis in order to unravel geologic conditions for the development of the streamflow-dominated alluvial fan under arid to semi-arid climatic conditions. The Duwon Formation unconformably overlies the Paleoproterozoic gneiss (basement). Based on the sedimentologic analysis, the Duwon Formation is interpreted to have been deposited in gravelly braided stream (FA-1) near the basement, laterally transitional to sandy braided stream (FA-2) and floodplain environments (FA-3) with distance (< 7 km) from the basement. Lateral changes in sedimentary facies and the well development of calcrete nodules in FA-3, together with radial paleocurrent directions measured in FA-1, are suggestive of the deposition of the Duwon Formation in streamflow-dominated alluvial fan under arid to semi-arid climatic conditions. Recent analysis of detrital zircon chronology suggests that sediments of the Duwon Formation were derived from the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula, including the western part of Yeongnam Massif and the southwestern part of Okcheon Belt. This implies the alluvial fan where the Duwon Formation accumulated had the large drainage basin. Because the large drainage basin can supply the significant amounts of water and temporarily store the sediments within the basin, watery floodwater carried sediments to the alluvial fan rather than the debris flows. Furthermore, the drainage basin largely composed of coarse-grained metamorphic and igneous rocks produced sand-grade sediments, preventing evolution of floodwater into debris flows. We suggest that combined effects of the large drainage basin and its coarse-grained metamorphic and igneous rocks provided favorable conditions for the development of streamflow-dominated alluvial fan, despite arid to semi-arid climatic conditions during sedimentation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.409-425
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• 2021

Carbon dioxide has been known to be a typical greenhouse gas causing global warming, and a number of efforts have been proposed to reduce its concentration in the atmosphere. Among them, carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) has been taken into great account to accomplish the target reduction of carbon dioxide. In order to commercialize the CCS, its safety should be secured. In particular, if the stored carbon dioxide is leaked in the arable land, serious problems could come up in terms of crop growth. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of carbon dioxide leaked from storage sites on soil fertility. The leakage of carbon dioxide was simulated using the facility of its artificial injection into soils in the laboratory. Several soil chemical properties, such as pH, cation exchange capacity, electrical conductivity, the concentrations of exchangeable cations, nitrogen (N) (total-N, nitrate-N, and ammonia-N), phosphorus (P) (total-P and available-P), sulfur (S) (total-S and available-S), available-boron (B), and the contents of soil organic matter, were monitored as indicators of soil fertility during the period of artificial injection of carbon dioxide. Two kinds of soils, such as non-cultivated and cultivated soils, were compared in the artificial injection tests, and the latter included maize- and soybean-cultivated soils. The non-cultivated soil (NCS) was sandy soil of 42.6% porosity, the maize-cultivated soil (MCS) and soybean-cultivated soil (SCS) were loamy sand having 46.8% and 48.0% of porosities, respectively. The artificial injection facility had six columns: one was for the control without carbon dioxide injection, and the other five columns were used for the injections tests. Total injection periods for NCS and MCS/SCS were 60 and 70 days, respectively, and artificial rainfall events were simulated using one pore volume after the 12-day injection for the NCS and the 14-day injection for the MCS/SCS. After each rainfall event, the soil fertility indicators were measured for soil and leachate solution, and they were compared before and after the injection of carbon dioxide. The results indicate that the residual concentrations of exchangeable cations, total-N, total-P, the content of soil organic matter, and electrical conductivity were not likely to be affected by the injection of carbon dioxide. However, the residual concentrations of nitrate-N, ammonia-N, available-P, available-S, and available-B tended to decrease after the carbon dioxide injection, indicating that soil fertility might be reduced. Meanwhile, soil pH did not seem to be influenced due to the buffering capacity of soils, but it is speculated that a long-term leakage of carbon dioxide might bring about soil acidification.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2021

Purpose Brown fat, or brown adipose tissue (BAT), is involved in non-shivering thermogenesis and creates heat through glucose metabolism. BAT activation occurs stochastically by internal factors such as age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) and external factors such as temperature and environment. In this study, as a retrospective, electronic medical record (EMR) observation study, statistical analysis is conducted to confirm BAT activation and various factors. Materials and Methods From January 2018 to December 2019, EMR of patients who underwent PET/CT scan at the National Cancer Center for two years were collected, a total of 9155 patients were extracted, and 13442 case data including duplicate scan were targeted. After performing a univariable logistic regression analysis to determine whether BAT activation is affected by the environment (outdoor temperature) and the patient's condition (BMI, cancer type, sex, and age), A multivariable regression model that affects BAT activation was finally analyzed by selecting univariable factors with P<0.1. Results BAT activation occurred in 93 cases (0.7%). According to the results of univariable logistic regression analysis, the likelihood of BAT activation was increased in patients under 50 years old (P<0.001), in females (P<0.001), in lower outdoor temperature below 14.5℃ (P<0.001), in lower BMI (P<0.001) and in patients who had a injection before 12:30 PM (P<0.001). It decreased in higher BMI (P<0.001) and in patients diagnosed with lung cancer (P<0.05) In multivariable results, BAT activation was significantly increased in patients under 50 years (P<0.001), in females (P<0.001) and in lower outdoor temperature below 14.5℃ (P<0.001). It was significantly decreased in higher BMI (P<0.05). Conclusion A retrospective study of factors affecting BAT activation in patients who underwent PET/CT scan for 2 years at the National Cancer Center was conducted. The results confirmed that BAT was significantly activated in normal-weight women under 50 years old who underwent PET/CT scan in weather with an outdoor temperature of less than 14.5℃. Based on this result, the patient applied to the factor can be identified in advance, and it is thought that it will help to reduce BAT activation through several studies in the future.