• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.193-206
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• 2024

This study aimed to quantify changes in forest cover and carbon storage of Korean Peninsular during the last two decades by integrating field measurement, satellite remote sensing, and modeling approaches. Our analysis based on 30-m Landsat data revealed that the forested area in Korean Peninsular had diminished significantly by 478,334 ha during the period of 2000-2019, with South Korea and North Korea contributing 51.3% (245,725 ha) and 48.6% (232,610 ha) of the total change, respectively. This comparable pattern of forest loss in both South Korea and North Korea was likely due to reduced forest deforestation and degradation in North Korea and active forest management activity in South Korea. Time series of above ground biomass (AGB) in the Korean Peninsula showed that South and North Korean forests increased their total AGB by 146.4Tg C (AGB at 2020=357.9Tg C) and 140.3Tg C (AGB at 2020=417.4Tg C), respectively, during the last two decades. This could be translated into net AGB increases in South and North Korean forests from 34.8 and 29.4 Mg C ha^-1 C to 58.9(+24.1) and 44.2(+14.8) Mg C ha^-1, respectively. It indicates that South Korean forests are more productive during the study period. Thus, they have sequestered more carbon. Our approaches and results can provide useful information for quantifying national scale forest cover and carbon dynamics. Our results can be utilized for supporting forest restoration planning in North Korea

• Korean Journal of Cognitive Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.133-164
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• 2012

Paul Churchland(1989) suggests the theory of representation from the results of cognitive biology and connectionist AI studies. According to the theory, our representations of the diverse phenomena in the world can be represented as the positions of phase state spaces with the actions of the neurons or of the assembly of neurons. He insists connectionist AI neural networks can have the semantical category systems to recognize the world. But Fodor and Lepore(1996) don't look the perspective bright. From their points of view, the Churchland's theory of representation stands on the base of Quine's holism, and the network semantics cannot explain how the criteria of semantical content similarity could be possible, and so cannot the theory. This thesis aims to excavate which one is the better between the perspective of the theory and the one of Fodor and Lepore's. From my understandings of state space theory of representation, artificial nets can coordinates the criteria of contents similarity by the learning algorithm. On the basis of these, I can see that Fodor and Lepore's points cannot penetrate the Churchlands' theory. From the view point of the theory, we can see how the future's artificial systems can have the conceptual systems recognizing the world. Therefore we can have the perspectives what cognitive scientists have to focus on.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.36-44
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• 2015

The spatial and temporal distribution of dissolved trace metals has been studied to identify trends in space and time and to evaluate the pollution status in a semi-closed bay (Gohyun bay), Korea. Surface seawater samples were collected over four seasons at 18 stations in the bay between 2003 and 2004 and once at 7 stations around a large shipyard in May 2004. The concentration of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in seawater in February and May were highly variable in space, showing the higher value relative to other season. Those metals concentrations were decreased from inner-to outer-stations. In around the shipyard, Cu, Pb and Zn showed the higher variability depending on time. Cu and Zn concentrations at the sites around the shipyard had 2 times higher values compared with the average of inner stations in Gohyun bay. The very high correlations between salinity and either Cu and Zn has been showed. Especially, there was a significant relationship between Cu and Zn. We recognize that the shipyard is major source of Cu and Zn in seawater. Therefore, marine environment management policy such as the prevention and control of heavy metal input from a shipyard is required.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2007

In case of missing tooth caused by dental caries or periodontal disease, it can be restored by various methods, and there has been much interest in implant and tooth transplantation. The success of tooth transplantation is going to be attained through the knowledge of growth, development and calcification of tooth. Tooth transplantation has been experimented in vivo and in vitro. Many animals such as rats, mice, cats and dogs are used for tooth transplantation experiment in vivo. In most experiments, tooth was transplanted into the extraoral site, but rare into the intraoral site In this study, to observe the capacity of formation and mineralization of tooth germ, first molar of a matured white rat was extracted and the cap stage tooth germ of a 13.5 Embryonic day embryo rat was transplanted into the extracted socket. The rats were killed 6 months later and the radiographical and histological results are as followings. 1. Tooth germ transplanted for 2 and 6 months are developing calcified tooth material such as dentin, cementum, pulp tissue, and epithelium around enamel space in the maxilla was seen. 2. The epithelium around enamel space was located beneath the oral epithelium and contained connective tissue and periodontal ligament. 3. Tooth formation was progressed as transplantation period but the size of newly formed tooth was small and the shape of tooth was incomplete.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.353-361
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• 2015

Spatio-temporal variation in fruit set in orchids would affect long-term population viability and will influence genetic diversity over many generations. The aim of this study was to examine the breeding system of the nectariferous terrestrial orchid Epipactis thunbergii, to specifically determine levels of fruit set in terms of time and space under natural conditions. We examined pollination under natural conditions and conducted hand pollination experiments during a 2-year survey in four populations located along 1.5 km of coastal line in Jinguiri (rual village) [Jeollanam-do (province), southern Korea]. We found that, over a 2-year period, levels of percentage of fruit set were similar within patches of the four populations. By contrast, we detected significant differences in the percentage of fruit set among patches. We also found that plants with larger inflorescence size produced significantly more fruits than plants with fewer flowers. Over a 2-year period, the percentage of fruit set for E. thunbergii was similar but low (14.1%) compared to that averaged for eighty-four rewarding species (37.1%). However, an increase in fruit set was achieved by hand-pollinations: artificial self-pollination (90.5-95.2%), artificial geitonogamy (94.7-95.0%), and cross-pollination (artificial xenogamy, 91.3-91.4%). No emasculated flowers produced fruits and no automatic pollination was found in E. thunbergii. Our findings suggest that E. thunbergii is a self-compatible terrestrial orchid that depends on pollinators (insects) to achieve fruit set in natural habitats, and that local environmental conditions were similar over a period of 2 years in the study area. Our results also highlight the cryptic variation of fruit production in time, but more pronounced variability in space.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.403-407
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• 2000

Ultrastructure and function of testis somatic cells in freshwater prawns Macrobrachium nipponense were studied. The paired testes of the prawn were elongated, united at their anterior end, which lay between the dorsal surface of the hepatopancreas and the heart. Each testis consisted of a large number of seminiferous cords compactly held together by connective tissue. A seminiferous cord was composed of an outer layer of simple squamous epithelium, a basement membrane, the closely packed germ cells and sustentacular cells of the germinal ridge, and an inner layer of simple cuboidal epithelial cells. Leydig cell-like cells in an angular areas filling the space of the seminiferous cords were observed. The nuclei of leydig cell-like cells were characterized by a distinct nucleolus. The simple squamous epithelial layer was composed of flattened cells tying on a basement membrane. The nuclei of the flattened cells were often overlapped in a layer, and the cytoplasm of the cells was observed just near the nuclei. The sustentacular cells were complex in morphology. These cells had relatively small cell bodies from which long cytoplasmic extensions ramified reached the space of germ cells in the germinal ridge. The nuclei of sustentacular cells usually exhibited angular profiles and located most commonly at the periphery of the cords. Cells of simple cuboidal epithelium located between germinal ridge and lumen of seminiferous cord, and part of the cells were adjacent to basal lamina, The cuboidal epithelial cells contained numerous mitochondria, the well-developed rER, the well-developed Golgi complex, and irregularly shaped nuclei. Transition vesicles appeared on the cis side of the Golgi complex. The large vesicles on the trans side of the complex appeared to fuse to form a membrane-bound structure. A number of pits on the cell apex suggested exocytotic activity for secretion of the sperm supporting matrix.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.87-101
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• 1975

Electron microscopic studies on the ultrastructure of the mouse oocyte were made to investigate the inhibition of germinal vesicle breakdown by dibutyryl cAMP. The nuclear membrane of the dibutyryl cAMP-treated oocyte is characterized by a decreased degree of folding, maintains the normal double membrane structure, and shows an increased occurrence of the nuclear pore. It is suggested that these may be related to the suppression of the maturation of oocytes at the germinal vesicle. Mitochondria in the control cell were shown to be spread evenly throughout the cytoplasm and structurally underdeveloped or transitionary having little cristae development. On the contrary, mitochondria in the treated oocyte were found to be localized mainly around the nucleus and to show a greater extent of cristae development. The oocyte treated with dibutyryl cAMP appears to have fewer and structurally simpler lysosomes as compared to the control. The Golgi complex in the control oocyte exhibits the typical granular and lamellar structure, whereas that in the treated cell is poorly developed. Many multivesicular bodies, tonofilaments, and free ribosomes were observed in the control as well as in treated cells. The microvilli become structurally irregular, and a development of the perivitelline space is apparent in the treated oocyte. It is concluded that there is no basic difference in the ultrastructure between the oocytes treated with dibutyryl cAMP for 24 hours in the medium and those collected directly from the follicle. However, the finding that dibutyryl cAMP induces a development of more pores along the nuclear membrane strongly suggests the possibility that this compound inhibits the maturation of oocytes by influencing the permeability of the nuclear membrane.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.426-433
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• 2024

The environmental stress that plants are most susceptible to is water stress. Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant hormone synthesized by plants to counteract environmental stress. The role of stomata in plants is to allow the synthesis of sucrose by absorbing CO₂, which greatly affects photosynthetic activity. In addition, stomata are pathways for transpiration, which releases H₂O and help establish a water potential gradient that allows plant roots to continuously absorb water and inorganic substances from the soil. Plants have a mechanism to minimize water loss by closing their stomata when exposed to water-stressed environments. The most well-studied hypothesis concerning the mechanism of stomatal closure is the response to water stress. When a plant receives sufficient water, its stomata open during the day and close at night due to its circadian rhythm. In addition, stomatal closure occurs when the concentration of CO₂ in the intercellular space increases. However, the mechanism of stomatal closure due to circadian rhythm and increased CO₂ concentration in the intercellular space is not well understood. When plants undergo water stress, the increased concentration of ABA in the guard cell cytoplasm induces an increase in Ca²⁺ concentration, resulting in cytoplasmic depolarization. As a result, the outward K⁺-channel of the tonoplast and the slow-type anion channels SLAC1 and SLAH3 are activated, releasing K⁺, Cl^-, and malate^2-, causing the stomata to close. Therefore, in this paper, the mechanism of stomatal closure caused by water stress was investigated.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.685-694
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• 2018

We measured ecological niche space (ENS) using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of benthic macroinvertebrates to estimate its applicability for large river assessment. In particular, we compared ENSs of selected macroinvertebrates between upper and lower area of Seungchon Weir in Yeongsan River to estimate the impact of weir on biological community. We also measured basic water quality and community indices including benthic macroinvertebrates index (BMI) to estimate their correlations with calculated ENS. ENS was calculated using the Bayesian Stable Isotope in R statistics (package "SIBER"). The results showed that seasonal variations in water quality and community indices were found, but there was no apparent tendency between upper and lower area of the Seungchon Weir in June (before rainy season) and August (after rainy season). However, ENS of benthic macroinvertebrates markedly decreased across the weir in both June and August regardless of changes in water quality. This means the physical change of the stream due to the weir cause decrease of ecological isotopic niche space of benthic macroinvertebrates regardless of water quality, suggesting physical modification by the weir can affect the interaction between habitat condition and macroinvertebrates. Therefore, the ecological isotopic niche space can be a useful supplementary indicator for the river ecosystem assessment.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2009

Soil $CO_2$ efflux can vary markedly in magnitude over both time and space, and understanding this variation is crucial for the correct measurement of $CO_2$ efflux in ecological studies. Although considerable research has quantified temporal variability in this flux, comparatively little effort has focused on its spatial variability. To account for spatial heterogeneity, we must be able to determine the number of sampling points required to adequately estimate soil $CO_2$ efflux in a target ecosystem. In this paper, we report the results of a study of the number of sampling points required for estimating soil $CO_2$ efflux using a closed-dynamic chamber in young and old Japanese cedar plantations in central Japan. The spatial heterogeneity in soil $CO_2$ efflux was significantly higher in the mature plantation than in the young stand. In the young plantation, 95% of samples of 9 randomly-chosen flux measurements from a population of 16 measurements made using 72-$cm^2$ chambers produced flux estimates within 20% of the full-population mean. In the mature plantation, 20 sampling points are required to achieve means within $\pm$ 20% of the full-population mean (15 measurements) for 95% of the sample dates. Variation in soil temperature and moisture could not explain the observed spatial variation in soil $CO_2$ efflux, even though both parameters are a good predictor of temporal variation in $CO_2$ efflux. Our results and those of previous studies suggest that, on average, approximately 46 sampling points are required to estimate the mean and variance of soil $CO_2$ flux in temperate and boreal forests to a precision of $\pm$ 10% at the 95% confidence level, and 12 points are required to achieve a precision of $\pm$ 20%.