• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.31
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• pp.27-56
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• 2006

Today's financial institutions usually take environmental issues seriously into consideration as they could not evade lender liability in an increasing number of cases. On the international scene, a brand-new concept of the "Equator Principles" in the New Millenium has driven more and more international banks to adopt these Principles in project financing. Sustainable development has been a key word in understanding new trends of the governments, financial institutions, corporations and civic groups in the 21st century. The Equator Principles are a set of voluntary environmental and social guidelines for sustainable finance. These Principles commit bank officers to avoid financial support to projects that fail to meet these guidelines. The Principles were conceived in 2002 on an initiative of the International Finance Corporation(IFC), and launched in June 2003. Since then, dozens of major banks, accounting for up to 80 percent of project loan market, have adopted the Principles. Accordingly, the Principles have become the de facto standard for all banks and investors on how to deal with potential social and environmental issues of projects to be financed. Compliance with the Equator Principles facilitates for endorsing banks to participate in the syndicated loan and help them to manage the risks associated with large-scale projects. The Equator Principles call for financial institutions to provide loans to projects under the following circumstances: - The risk of the project is categorized in accordance with internal guidelines based upon the environmental and social screening criteria of the IFC. - For Category A and B projects, borrowers or sponsors are required to conduct a Social and Environmental Assessment, the preparation of which must meet certain requirements and satisfactorily address key social and environmental issues. - The Social and Environmental Assessment report should address baseline social and environmental conditions, requirements under host country laws and regulations, sustainable development, and, as appropriate, IFC's Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines, etc. - Based on the Social and Environmental Assessment, Equator banks then make agreements with borrowers on how they mitigate, monitor and manage the risks through a Social and Environmental Management System. Compliance with the plan is included in the covenant clause of loan agreements. If the borrower doesn't comply with the agreed terms, the bank will take corrective actions. The Equator Principles are not a mere declaration of cautious banks but a full commitment of lenders. A violation of the Principles in the process of project financing, which led to an unexpected damage to the affected community, would not give rise to any specific legal remedies other than ordinary lawsuits. So it is more effective for banks to ensure consistent implementation of the Principles and to have them take responsible measures to solve social and environmental issues. Public interests have recently mounted up with respect to environmental issues on the occasion of the Supreme Court's decision (2006Du330) on the fiercely debated reclamation project at Saemangeum. The majority Justices said that the expected environmental damages like probable pollution of water and soil were not believed so serious and that the Administration should continue to implement the project seeking ways to make it more environment friendly. In this case, though the Category A Saemangeum Project was carried out by a government agency, the Supreme Court behaved itself as a signal giver to approve or stop the environment-related project like an Equator bank in project financing. At present, there is no Equator bank in Korea in contrast to three big banks in Japan. Also Korean contractors, which are aggressively bidding for Category A-type projects in South East Asia and Mideast, might find themselves in a disadvantageous position because they are generally ignorant of the environmental assessment associated with project financing. In this regard, Korean banks and overseas project contractors should care for the revised Equator Principles and the latest developments in project financing more seriously. It's because its scope has expanded to the capital cost of US$10 million or more across all industry sectors regardless of developing countries or not. It should be noted that, for a Korean bank, being an Equator bank is more or less burdensome in a short-term period, but it must be conducive to minimizing risks and building up good reputation in the long run.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.406-410
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• 2005

This study was conducted to establish the efficient protocols of the germination and cryopreservation of dehisced Korean ginseng seeds for long-term germ­plasm conservation. $GA_3$ and BA treated on seed for 24 hr facilitated germination at 5 and $10^{\circ}C$. Germination percentage of desiccated seeds was decreased under moisture content (MC) of below $7.2\%$. Dehisced ginseng seeds were dried under airflow of laminar floor cabinet and seed drying room. The high levels (more than $90\%$) of germination after cryogenic exposure were obtained after drying under vertical airflow of laminar floor for 12-30 hours (MC $10.6{\~}7.2\%$). Decrease in germination percentage of ginseng seeds due to desiccation damage and freezing injury was observed at MC of below $7.2\%$ and of above $12.1\%$, respectively. Therefore, MC of ginseng seeds need to be controlled with a range of $8{\~}10\%$ to avoid damages from both desiccation and freezing.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.401-410
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• 2016

Purpose: Water is magnetically charged upon contact with a magnet. Although magnetic water products have been promoted since the 1930's, they have not received wide acceptance since their effectiveness is still in question; however, some have reported their therapeutic effects on the body, especially the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. Methods: In this study, the effect of magnetized water on glycemic control of 14 diabetic mice (CB57BK/KsJ-db/db) in comparison with 10 control mice (CB57BK/KsJ-db/+(db/+)) was investigated. Seven diabetic control (DMC) mice and seven diabetic mice + magnetized water (DM+MW) were kept for 16 weeks, followed by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT). Weekly blood glucose was measured from tail veins. Blood obtained from heart puncture was used for HbA1c analysis. Results: Blood glucose level showed a significant difference starting from the $10^{th}$ week of study ($496.1{\pm}10.2mg/dl$ in DMC vs. $437.9{\pm}76.9mg/dl$ in DM+MW). Blood glucose followed by IPGTT showed no significant difference between groups at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min, although glucose level at 180 min was significantly reduced in DM+MW mice. Plasma insulin level in DM+MW groups was only 39.5% of that of DMC groups ($5.97{\pm}1.69ng/ml$ in DMC vs. $2.36{\pm}0.94ng/ml$ in DM+MW). Levels of HbA1c were 12.4% and 9.7% in DMC and DM+MW groups, respectively. Conclusion: These results show the promising therapeutic effect of magnetized water in regulating blood glucose homeostasis; however, long-term supplementation or mechanistic study is necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.121-129
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• 2015

The platinum anode for the electrolytic reduction process is generally surrounded by a nonporous ceramic shroud with an open bottom to offer a path for $O_2$ gas produced on the anode surface and prevent the corrosion of the electrolytic reducer. However, the $O^{2-}$ ions generated from the cathode are transported only in a limited fashion through the open bottom of the anode shroud because the nonporous shroud hinders the transport of the $O^{2-}$ ions to the anode surface, which leads to a decrease in the current density and an increase in the operation time of the process. In the present study, we demonstrate the electrolytic reduction of 1 kg-uranium oxide ($UO_2$) using the porous shroud to investigate its long-term stability. The $UO_2$ with the size of 1~4mm and the density of $10.30{\sim}10.41g/cm^3$ was used for the cathode. The platinum and 5-layer STS mesh were used for the anode and its shroud, respectively. After the termination of the electrolytic reduction run in 1.5 wt.% $Li_2O-LiCl$ molten salt, it was revealed that the U metal was successfully converted from the $UO_2$ and the anode and its shroud were used without any significant damage.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.324-336
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• 2004

This study was achieved to present ecological administration plan by analyzing vegetation structure and condition rating class(environmental damage degree) of Sangnim Woods Natural Monument in Hamyang-gun, Korea. In vegetation structure part, actual vegetation was classified by 22 patterns and Quercus serrata Carpinus tschonoskii community(31.8％), Quercus serrata community(14.6％) ranged extensively. Main plant community was 8 types, and is fractionated by 13 plant communities according to stratigraphy development degree it is Quercus serrata community, Quercus serrata Carpinus tschonoskii community, Quercus aliena community, Quercus acutissima community, Carpinus tschonoskii community, Carpinus tschonoskii Quercus serrata community, Zelkova serrata-Quercus serrata community, and Planted area with korean landscape woody plants. Age of old growth trees that diameter of breast height over 38cm was 61∼77years. In condition rating class, area of class 3 was 51,960$m^2$(32.8％), area of class 4 was 6,583$m^2$(3.5％), and area of class 5 was 4,086$m^2$(2.6％) and gross area of class 3∼6 need artificial restoration was 61,619$m^2$(38.9％). Considering actual vegetation, plant community structure, and condition rating class biotope was classified by total 14 types. While distribution area of Queens spp. old growth forest of shrub damaged(51,246$m^2$, 32.4％) and deciduous broad leaved old growth forest of simple-layer structure(19,906$m^2$, 12.6％) is large and that of deciduous broad-leaved old growth forest of multi-layer structure(2,085$m^2$, 1.3％) and Queens spp. old growth forest of multi-layer structure may have to manage with user control by administration plan for stabilization of Sangnim Woods ecosystem for long-term. Also, both vegetation of shrub damaged and simple-layer structure as negative restoration area should be restored for ecological succession and both grassland and planted area with korean woody plants as positive restoration area should be revegetated by using ecological planting model of native vegetation structure in Sangnim Woods.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.353-364
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• 2009

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of erosion control works on the stream ecosystem in a mountain torrential stream. The species composition of benthic macroinvertebrates and biological water quality were investigated before and after construction of erosion control works at 5 sites. The total number of benthic macroinvertebrates before construction was 3,086 individuals including 4 phyla, 6 classes, 11 orders, 22 families, and 25 species, but after construction it has decreased to 1,208 individuals including 4 phyla, 6 classes, 10 orders, 17 families, and 19 species. Especially, the diversity, richness, and evenness indices, which were calculated based on existing number of biological species, have decreased or not produced at the erosion control sites, where biological species were not found or the minimum number of species were found. The results of community analysis of benthic macroinvertebrates and ESB(Ecological Score of Benthic macroinvertebrate community) indicated that the environmental qualities of the stream based on saprobity, environmental condition, and water quality decreased after the construction at all sites: before construction, the top of the stream was satisfactory and some satisfactory, the middle was some defectiveness, and the lower was defectiveness and very defectiveness; after construction, all parts of the stream except some parts of the top were very defectiveness. Moreover, the water quality of torrential stream was rated between I to III before construction, but after construction, it declined to $IV{\sim}V$ except control. The habitat damage of benthic macro invertebrates occurred at all investigation sites after the construction of erosion control works led to reduction of the number of biological species and water quality deterioration. The results reported in this study were collected directly after the construction of erosion control works. Therefore, additional studies are needed to further explore the effect of disaster-prevention of erosion control works and the recovery process of stream ecosystem through long term monitoring.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.135-145
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• 2020

Wave observation is widely used to direct observation method for observing the water surface elevation using wave buoy or pressure gauge and remote-sensing wave observation method. The wave buoy and pressure gauge can produce high-quality wave data but have disadvantages of the high risk of damage and loss of the instrument, and high maintenance cost in the offshore area. On the other hand, remote observation method such as radar is easy to maintain by installing the equipment on the land, but the accuracy is somewhat lower than the direct observation method. This study investigates the data quality of MIROS Wave and Current Radar (MWR) installed at Dokdo and improve the data quality of remote wave observation data using the wave buoy (CWB) observation data operated by the Korea Meteorological Administration. We applied and developed the three types of wave data quality control; 1) the combined use (Optimal Filter) of the filter designed by MIROS (Reduce Noise Frequency, Phillips Check, Energy Level Check), 2) Spike Test Algorithm (Spike Test) developed by OOI (Ocean Observatories Initiative) and 3) a new filter (H-Ts QC) using the significant wave height-period relationship. As a result, the wave observation data of MWR using three quality control have some reliability about the significant wave height. On the other hand, there are still some errors in the significant wave period, so improvements are required. Also, since the wave observation data of MWR is different somewhat from the CWB data in high waves of over 3 m, further research such as collection and analysis of long-term remote wave observation data and filter development is necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.561-568
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• 2009

To investigate the effects of garlic and medicinal plants extracts (GP) on liver function and lipid metabolism of rat administered with ethanol chronically, Sprague-Dawly male rats were fed with a basial diet (Normal), a basial diet plus ethanol (Control, 10 mL of 20% ethanol/kg b.w/day), a control diet plus 0.5% garlic and 1.0% medicinal plants extracts (GP-I), and a control diet plus 1.0% garlic and medicinal plants extracts (GP-II) for 4 weeks. Blood glucose in GP group was significantly decreased, but not significantly different between GP-I and GP-II group. Albumin content of serum was significantly increased in GP groups, while total lipid, cholesterol and triglyceride of serum were significantly decreased in GP group. Total cholesterol and triglyceride were not significantly different between GP-I and GP-II group. LDL-cholesterol in blood was decreased to 58% in GP-I group and 73% in GP-II group compared to the control group, it's contents were the lowest amounts among the normal, control and experimented groups. Lipid levels in liver of rat administered with alcohol were decreased in GP group and significantly different in GP-II group. GOT and r-GTP activities were significantly higher in control than normal group, while GPT and ALP activities were not significant in groups administered with alcohol. Activities of GOT, GPT and r-GTP were significantly lower in GP group than control group, while ALP activity was not significant in all groups. TBARS contents were not significant in serum, but it's contents in liver were significantly decreased in GP groups than control group. DPPH radical scavenging ability in serum and liver was significantly increased in GP groups. These results indicate that garlic and medicinal plants extracts were effective in improving and protecting liver disorder induced from long-term alcohol consumption.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2013

Purpose: Pediatric urolithiasis is uncommon in children but is a cause of significant morbidity and damage to the kidney. Although much information on adult urolithiasis is available in the literature, large studies on the pediatric population are still scarce. In this report, we review our experience with pediatric urolithiasis over 22 years at a tertiary referral center. Method: We retrospectively reviewed the records of children with newly diagnosed urolithiasis between January 1991 and May 2013. We assessed the age, sex, family history, initial symptoms, location of stones, underlying cause, stone analysis, treatment, and recurrence among the patients. Results: In total, 137 patients (96 male, 41 female) were assessed. The age range was 0-17 years (mean age, 6.0 years). Forty-three (31%) children were aged <1 year, and 37% (16/43) had a history of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Thirteen patients (9.5%) had a family history of stones. The most common symptoms at presentation among the patients were gross hematuria (56/137, 41%) and flank or abdominal pain (46/137, 34%). The stones were located in the kidney (85/137, 62%), ureter (29/137, 21%), bladder (2/137, 1.4%), and multiple locations (20/137, 15 %). Congenital abnormalities of the genitourinary (G-U) tract, with or without metabolic abnormality, or urinary tract infection (UTI) was detected in 26 children (19%). Ninety-one patients (66%) underwent metabolic examination, and 38% of these patients exhibited an abnormality. UTI, with or without abnormalities of the G-U tract, or metabolic abnormality was detected in 26 children (19%). Of the 35 stones analyzed, the majority were calcium stones (20/35, 57%), followed by infected stones (5/35, 14%), uric acid stones (4/35, 11%), carbonate apatite stones (3/35, 7%), cystine stones (2/35, 6%), and phosphate stones (1/35, 3%). Five patients (4%) required open procedures, with or without non-open procedures, whereas 77 patients (56%) were managed conservatively; the remaining 55 patients (40%) received some other form of intervention. Eighteen patients (13%) had stone recurrence during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Pediatric urolithiasis is commonly associated with abnormalities of the G-U tract and/or metabolic disorders and/or UTI. Half of the patients will pass their stones spontaneously, and all the techniques of minimally invasive surgery are applicable in the treatment of children with stones. As the recurrence rates are high among this population, long-term follow-up is recommended and the complete clearance of stones is important.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2010

This study is aimed at reviewed and analyzed in order to suggest the improved plans related to natural monuments. The summary of this study is as followings; First, Replacing the current term 'cultural properties', which denotes the meaning of 'goods', we need to devise an new categorization that separates such properties into cultural heritage and natural heritage under the national heritage framework. Second, the designation criteria for natural monuments should be divided into the individual realm for animals and plants respectively, since they are not divided in the current Act. Third, the guidelines for naming of natural monuments should be established with the following new categories in accordance with the clear standards. Fourth, such imbalances require us to give priority to the relatively neglected types and areas. Fifth, as the big and old trees account for more than a half of the designated plants, it is necessary to search out new resources(wet plant communities, seashores, sand dune plant communities, etc.) such as geological resources, mineral springs, hot springs, and fossils that are in danger of completely being exploited and exhausted. While most of the designated animals are protected nationally, the existing designation system is required to protect habitats and breeding places for the systematic and efficient conservation. Sixth, as long as we need to preserve those historical and cultural resources for the future generations from national and global perspectives, we should enhance their values by designating them as natural monuments even though they are protected by other regulations such as the natural environment area. Seventh, as a result of the survey, we found that more budgets and experts in the local governments, more empowered organizations, more active public participation should be provided for the better Natural Monument management in Korea. Eighth, the Lap of Natural Heritage in the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage needs to be developed to the Natural Heritage Institute to conduct the diverse activities such as researches, restoration, exhibition and education programs in a systematic and efficient way. Ninth and the last, major damages to natural monuments can be generally categorized into the artificial one and natural one, respectively. The artificial damages include toxics, soil covering, excessive humidity, fire, construction and management works, unlawful damages, fishing, oil spillage, etc, and the natural ones include lightning, storms(typhoons), heavy snowfalls, damage by insects and diseases, lack of prey, etc. This study will become meaningful in that it proposes specific measures for the improvement of the institutions, designation, and management of natural monuments on the basis of the comprehensive analysis on natural monuments. We wish to leave the other subjects related with this study to the future researches.