• Title/Summary/Keyword: Q-Factor

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Effect of micro-environment in ridge and southern slope on soil respiration in Quercus mongolica forest

  • Lee, Jae-Seok
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.42 no.4
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    • pp.210-218
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    • 2018
  • Background: Soil respiration (Rs) is a major factor of the absorption and accumulation of carbon through photosynthesis in the ecosystem carbon cycle. This directly affects the amount of net ecosystem productivity, which affects the stability and sustainability of the ecosystem. Understanding the characteristics of Rs is indispensable to scientifically understand the carbon cycle of ecosystems. It is very important to study Rs characteristics through analysis of environmental factors closely related to Rs. Rs is affected by various environmental factors, such as temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, litter supply, organic matter content, dominant plant species, and soil disturbance. This study was conducted to analyze the effects of micro-topographical differences on Rs in forest vegetation by measuring the Rs on the ridge and southern slope sites of the broadly established Quercus mongolica forest in the central Korean area. Method: Rs, Ts, and soil moisture data were collected at the southern slope and ridge of the Q. mongolica forest in the Mt. Jeombong area in order to investigate the effects of topographical differences on Rs. Rs was collected by the closed chamber method, and data collection was performed from May 2011 to October 2013, except Winter seasons from November to April or May. For collecting the raw data of Rs in the field, acrylic collars were placed at the ridge and southern slope of the forest. The accumulated surface litter and the soil organic matter content (SOMC) were measured to a 5 cm depth. Based on these data, the Rs characteristics of the slope and ridge were analyzed. Results: Rs showed a distinct seasonal variation pattern in both the ridge and southern slope sites. In addition, Rs showed a distinct seasonal variation with high and low Ts changes. The average Rs measurements for the two sites, except for the Winter periods that were not measured, were $550.1\;mg\;CO_2m^{-2}h^{-1}$ at the ridge site and $289.4\;mg\;CO_2m^{-2}h^{-1}$ at the southern slope, a difference of 52.6%. There was no significant difference in the Rs difference between slopes except for the first half of 2013, and both sites showed a tendency to increase exponentially as Ts increased. In addition, although the correlation is low, the difference in Rs between sites tended to increase as Ts increased. SMC showed a large fluctuation at the southern slope site relative to the ridge site, as while it was very low in 2013, it was high in 2011 and 2012. The accumulated litter of the soil surface and the SOMC at the depth range of 0~5 cm were $874g\;m^{-2}$ and 23.3% at the ridge site, and $396g\;m^{-2}$ and 19.9% at the southern slope site. Conclusions: In this study, Rs was measured for the ridge and southern slope sites, which have two different results where the surface litter layer is disturbed by strong winds. The southern slope site shows that the litter layer formed in autumn due to strong winds almost disappeared, and while in the ridge site, it became thick due to the transfer of litter from the southern slope site. The mean Rs was about two times higher in the ridge site compared to that in the southern slope site. The Rs difference seems to be due to the difference in the amount of litter accumulated on the soil surface. As a result, the litter layer supplied to the soil surface is disturbed due to the micro-topographical difference, as the slope and the change of the community structure due to the plant season cause heterogeneity of the litter layer development, which in turn affects SMC and Rs. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce and understand these micro-topographical features and mechanisms when quantifying and analyzing the Rs of an ecosystem.

Association between frequency of convenience foods use at convenience stores and dietary quality among high school students in Incheon (인천지역 일부 고등학생의 편의점 편의식 이용빈도와 식사의 질과의 관련성)

  • Kim, Eun-Mi;Choi, Mi-Kyeong;Kim, Mi-Hyun
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.52 no.4
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    • pp.383-398
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    • 2019
  • Purpose: This study investigated an association between dietary quality and use of convenience foods at convenience stores among high school students. Methods: A total of 474 high school students (225 boys and 249 girls) residing in Incheon participated in this questionnaire survey in June 2018. The subjects were divided into three groups according to the frequency of consumption of convenience foods at convenience stores; less than once a week, 1 ~ 2 times a week, and more than 3 times a week. Dietary quality was assessed using a nutrient quotient for adolescents (NA-Q). Logistic regression was used to investigate an association between dietary quality and use of convenience foods at convenience stores among high school students. Results: For boys and girls, higher monthly allowance was significantly associated with the higher frequency of consumption of convenience foods at convenience stores, whereas school grade, mother's occupational status, family size, extracurricular study, and eating speed were not significantly associated with the frequency of consumption of convenience foods. Higher intake frequency of cookies or sweet and greasy bread, processed beverage, Ramyon, night-time snack, and street food was significantly associated with the higher frequency of consumption of convenience foods for boys or girls. Boys and girls, who had a higher frequency of consumption of convenience foods at convenience stores had significantly greater odds for being in the low grade of dietary quality, especially in the moderation factor. Conclusion: The students who used convenience stores more often appeared to have more monthly allowance and to consume undesirable foods more often. Higher frequency of using convenience foods at convenience stores among high school students was associated with lower dietary quality. These study results can support efforts to provide nutrition education programs and guidelines to students who frequently use convenience foods at convenience stores.

An Exploratory Study on Social Presence in Synchronous Distance Course : Focused on the Cases of Christian Education Classes (실시간 화상 수업에서의 사회적 실재감 탐색 : 기독교교육 수업 사례를 중심으로)

  • Park, Eunhye;Sung, Jihoon
    • Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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    • v.64
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    • pp.203-235
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    • 2020
  • The purpose of this study is to identify the degree of social presence perceived by students and to explore the factors that have affected it after practicing Christian Education classes as synchronous distance course due to Covid-19. It is also to suggest effective ways in the aspects of the design and operation to improve social presence. In order to measure social presence and derive influencing factors, research related to synchronous distance class and social presence is summarized through literature review. The researchers also surveyed 58 students in three courses of Christian education major at a University in Gyeonggi-do and conducted in-depth interviews with 6 students. The main findings are as follows: First, the sense of social presence was moderate, the emotional bond was the lowest by sub-factor, the open communication, the sense of community was moderate, and the mutual support and concentration were the highest. Second, factors that had a positive impact on the sense of social reality were group activities, selfintroduction activities, active participation in classes, mutual communication such as Q & A or response to peer learners' opinions during lectures by professors, questions, feedback, etc, and having a smaller number of students. Factors that had a negative impact on the perception of social presence were lack of private conversations, poor participation in classes, lack of communication with each other, and difficulty concentrating. The causes of these negative factors were technical problems and limitations arising from zoom, inconvenience and distracting surroundings, lack of time, and psychological awkwardness. Reflecting the results of the study, orientation to effective synchronous distance course, guidance on smooth communication methods, strengthening the role of professors to promote learning, strengthening group activities and learner-centered activities, and proposing a smaller scale of students were ways that are offered to improve the sense of social presence in synchronous distance courses.