• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.186-192
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• 2022

This study examined the utility of pine (Pinus densiflora) pollen cones as an environmentally friendly material with sound-absorbing properties. Pine pollen cone samples with widths of 0.8-1.2 cm and lengths of 3.5-4.5 cm were prepared. After filling impedance tubes to heights of 6, 8, 10, or 12 cm with the pine pollen cones, the sound absorption coefficient of the pine pollen cones was investigated. The peak sound absorption frequency of the samples with a thickness of 6 cm was reached at 1,512 Hz; however, this value shifted to 740 Hz in samples with a thickness of 12 cm. Therefore, the sound-absorbing performance of pine pollen cones at low frequencies improved as the material thickness increased. According to KS F 3503 (Korean Standards Association), the sound absorption grade of pine pollen cones ranges from 0.3 to 0.5 M, depending on the material thickness of the pine pollen cones. In conclusion, the pine pollen cones demonstrated good sound absorption properties. They, thus, may be considered an environmentally friendly sound-absorbing material.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.39-46
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• 2023

Pine trees, which account for 23% of the forested area of the Republic of Korea, are highly vulnerable to fire in comparison to broad-leaved trees due to the presence of consistent water tube sections throughout the year and resin that is composed of approximately 20% oil. In addition, the pattern of forest fires is determined by weather, topographic conditions, and fluctuation in moisture content. Therefore, when fire breaks out in pine tree forests during the dry season (January to March), it is difficult to extinguish, and it quickly spreads. In this study, the combustion characteristics of pine needles, pine cones, and pine branches in the water tube sections of living pine trees were compared and analyzed in accordance with the moisture content as per the ISO 5660-1. The monthly moisture content was analyzed from January to March, and it was found to be the lowest in March, with 53.6% for pine needles, 51.9% for pine branches, and 10.9% for pine cones. In particular, pine cones were more vulnerable to fire as compared to pine needles and pine branches because their moisture content was more than five times lower than that of pine needles and branches. The ignition time, which affects the speed of flame propagation, was the most rapid in March, and the fastest ignition time was for pine cones, at 19 seconds, followed by 34 seconds for pine needles, and 256 seconds for pine branches. The pine branches were the last to be ignited due to the effect of density, according to the thickness and specific gravity of the specimen. The peak heat release rate, which is a measurable index of fire intensity, was analyzed for pine cones and found to be 184.28 kW/m² , while the mean effective heat of combustion was 19.79 MJ/kg, and the total heat release rate was 39.7 MJ/m² , and these values were higher than those of pine branches and pine needles. Thus, we determined that the flame propagation speed and fire intensity according to the moisture content can be used to evaluate the risk of fire to the water tube section of pine trees. It is suggested that because of the combustion characteristics of the pine cone in March, that is when the forest is most vulnerable to fires.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.119-119
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• 2019

Pinus densiflora, the Korean Red Pine, is the predominant tree species of the cool, temperate forests of northeast Asia, occurring in pure stands across Korea, Japan, and parts of northern China and Russia. Pinus densiflora leaves, pollen, and bark have been widely used for traditional medicine, or edible purposes. However, pine cones contain many bioactive phytochemicals, but they are rarely used as natural raw materials. This study was conducted to evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of pine cone extracts and its possbility of natural sources were evaluated. Pine cones were extracted with 80% methanol, concentrated and then partitioned with ethyl acetate, and the organic layer was used as a sample. The Pine cone Ethyl acetate Fraction (PEF) showed no toxicity to RAW 264.7 cells at a concentration of less than $50{\mu}g/ml$. PEF inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Also, It suppressed the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and transcription of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$). These results suggest that pine cones can be used as an effective natural material for anti-inflammatory agent.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 1994

135 and 136 pine cones were sampled from age class of II to VI Korean pine trees for the study of their physical properties in 1991 and 1992, respectively. The length, width, weight, volume, and the largest projected area of cones were measured, and the specific gravity, apparent volume ratio sphericity, and roundness were calculated. Regression analysis were performed for the weight, volume, and projected area to the cone length and width. The length, and major and minor diameters of the cone stalks were measured and analyzed. 1. The range of the length of cone stalks was 0 to 47.3mm. The average length of stalks were 9mm ('91) and 10mm('92), respectively. Cross section of the stalks was ellipse with average major and minor diameters of 9.1mm and 10.1mm, and 8.6 and 8.7mm in 91 and 92, respectively. 2. The length of pine cones distributed from 8cm to 17cm and the average length were about 13cm('91, '92). The width varied from 5cm to 9.5cm and the average width were 6.7cm('91) and 6.9cm('92). The ratios of the length to the width were 0.56('91) and 0.65('91) and the shape of the cones were found to be ellipse with minor diameter of 1/2 to 2/3 of the major diameter. 3. The roundnesses and sphericity of cones were 0.74 and 0.75('91), 0.63 and 0.67('92), respectively. The average of the largest projected area of cones were $85.3cm^2$('91) and $93.1cm^2$('92) and the criterion areas were $71.0cm^2$ and $74.5cm^2$, respectively. 4. Cone weights were from 83g to 467g('91 and '92) and averages were 186g('91) and 220g('92). The average specific gravities were 0.89 and 0.96('91 and '92). The true volumes were $212cm^2$('91) and $230cm^2$('92), and the average bulk volume was $321cm^2$('91, '92). The average apparent volume ratios of cones were 35% ('91) and 28% ('92), respectively. 5. The weight and the volume were proportional to the length of the cone multiplied by the width squred and the largest projected area was proportional to the length multiplied by the width of cones.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2019

The pathological condition of excessive melanogenesis causing freckles, melasma, senile lentigo, pigmented acne scars, and cancer has a critical impact on the wellness of individuals. The mechanism of melanogenesis is related to the expression of melanogenic enzymes. Here, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of pine cone (Pinus densiflora) extracts on melanogenesis. P. densiflora, the Korean Red Pine, is the predominant tree species in the cool, temperate forests of northeast Asia, occurring in pure stands across Korea, Japan, and parts of northern China and Russia. P. densiflora leaves, pollen, and bark have been widely used for traditional medicine, or edible purposes. However, pine cones are rarely used as natural raw materials, although they contain many bioactive phytochemicals. The pine cone ethyl acetate fraction (PEF) showed no toxicity to B16F10 cells at a concentration of less than $100{\mu}g/mL$. PEF inhibited the expression of microphthalmiaassociated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related factors in B16F10 cells treated with 3-Isobutyl1-methylxanthine (IBMX). These results suggest that pine cones can be used as an effective natural melanogenesis inhibitory agent.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 1999

Current data on reproductive characters of endemic and native species are essential to provide a strategy for the conservation of these species. Red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. & Zucc.) is one of the dominant, native tree species in Korea, but its reproductive ecology is not well-known. In 1997, the pattern of variation in cone and seed yields contributing to the conservation of declining populations of red pines was examined. Plant height and dbh were measured, and several new cones were collected from each tagged tree after counting the number of cones on each tree. For a subset of cones sampled, the number of fertile scales, the number of seeds at three development stages (early/late aborted, and filled seed), seed wing size, wing color, and individual filled seed mass were measured. The three sites which differed significantly in mean plant size also differed in mean cone and seed production per plant. However further analyses showed that most variation in characters examined occurred among plants within sites, but not among sites. An average of 90% of the potential seeds on the cones aborted at an early developmental stage, demonstrating that early abortion is a major factor affecting the number of filled seeds per cone. Individual seed mass was the only character which exhibited significant variations among sites as well as among trees within sites. Individual seed mass was overall negatively correlated with both the percentage of late abortion and the number of old cones per plant, suggesting that both the past and current years' reproductive activities have caused variations in seed mass. The potential dispersal distance of red pine seeds is quite large. However, wing loading was correlated with seed mass and number in a complex pattern across the sites. Distribution of seeds with varied colored wings differed among sites and among trees within sites. These results suggest that red pines at different sites might possess different strategies to cope with selection pressures acting during the final phase of reproduction, from seed dispersal to establishment. Then the ‘fitted’ red pine trees at each site should be identified and managed to conserve or restore populations.

• 한국생태학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.08a
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• pp.79-82
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• 2002

Main attackers on pine seeds on the forest floor were investigated in Korea. Damage on pine cones begins in early stage of cone formation, especially by squirrel and Korean squirrel. The above animals left Kayak-like hulls of seed on rocks and fallen tree trunk. Field mice also left the same shape of Kayak-like hulls. But birds including doves and peasants left large shreds with longitudinal cracks or seed cup trace. Most of seeds on the leaf litters as well as under the fallen leaf were consumed by fold mice and birds. Especially fold mice found the seeds under fallen leaves and consumed all of them.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.213-216
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• 2002

Main attackers on pine seeds on the forest floor were investigated in Korea. Damage on pine cones begins in early stage of cone formation, especially by squirrel and Korean squirrel. The above animals left Kayak-like hulls of seed on rocks and fallen tree trunk. Field mice also left the same shape of Kayak-like hulls. But birds including doves and peasants left large shreds with longitudinal cracks or seed cup trace. Most of seeds on the leaf litters as well as under the fallen leaf were consumed by field mice and birds. Especially field mice found the seeds under fallen leaves and consumed all of them.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.361-370
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• 1991

The cone and seed production of pitch pine were investigated at two areas(songtan and yangdong) located in kyounggi province. Bymeans of formulas derived from both the regression analysis between the number of seeds and cone length, and between d2·h and number of cones, cone and seed production were estimated. The correlation coefficient value between the number of seeds and cone length was high(r=0.6134). The cone and seed production of pitch pine has a high relationship to the variables-dbh, tree aga , and height of tree. The cone production of pitchpine forest estimated by the formula log(o+s+y+c)=0.581 log(d2·h)-1.317 was 965,832/ha in 1985∼1986, 850,852/ha in 1986∼1987 at songtan, and 462,794/ha in 1985∼1986,916,965/ha in 1986∼1987 at yangdong.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2020

This study analyzed the components contained in the pine needles of first and second-year-olds to analyze the factors that the in vivo content of inorganic elements affects the sex determination of pine trees. In response, the plan for pine tree plant and maintenance was intended to be presented in consideration of the reproductive environment and physiological characteristics. The results are as follows. First, last year, when there were many encyclopedias, the analyzed N(%) content was found to be high. The nitrogen content of the previous year's soil was found to affect the production of the spheres the following year. This is believed to be possible to reduce the rate of Pine pollen produced in the new plant in the following year through a dispute over quality consumption in the spring of the previous year. Second, the weapons elements involved in the Pine cones and the generation of the Pine pollen in the new plant appeared to be P(%), K(%), Ca(%), and Fe(%). However, the nutrients from the previous year's leaves of Ca(%) and Fe(%) were found to have a low influence on the sex determination of first-year pine trees. Because Ca(%) and Fe(%) are not able to move nutrients accumulated in aging organs due to the nature of the components, feeding nutrients in the fall when the growth of the previous year's branches is reduced is expected to affect oral generation. Third, pine trees are extremely positive and Pine pollen is related to the time of the northeast wind. Therefore, it is believed that it would be good to be located in the northern direction, where the sunlight is good, in an outdoor space. In addition, it is important to use vaginal consumer products in spring and carry out a quarrel involving Mg and Fe during fall to reduce the effect of the Pine pollen, which is an outdoor plant. This is an important part of maintaining and managing pine trees in outdoor spaces as well as the sex determination of pine trees. This study suggested that plant planning, which derives the correlation between pine inorganic element content on sexual determination and takes into account the physiological characteristics of pine trees, is an important issue in the creation of outdoor space. Follow-up research on other factors affecting pine tree sex determination is expected.