• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.21-37
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• 2022

The present study was carried out to evaluate the chemical properties of soil in relation to forest structure and composition at different altitudes (900-2,600 m asl) in a part of Western Himalaya. The composite soil samples were taken from three (viz. upper, middle and lower) depths. The soils of the whole study area were acidic in nature (pH=4.90-5.51). Contents of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Carbon (C) and soil organic matter (SOM) showed much fluctuation during different seasons of year. Nitrogen content showed significant positive correlations with altitude (r=0.924, p<0.05) and different community parameters like species diversity (r=0.892, p<0.01) and species richness (r=0.941, p<0.05). Phosphorus exhibited direct correlations with carbon (r=0.637) while weak negative correlations with different community parameters like species richness & diversity, total basal cover (TBC), density and canopy cover. Carbon content and hence SOM showed direct correlations with Nitrogen (r=0.821, p<0.01); Phosphorus (r=0.637, ns) and Potassium (r=0.540, ns). But no significant relationship was observed between K content and species richness (p=0.30, r=-0.504); between K content and species diversity (p=0.14, r=-0.672); between P content and species diversity (p=0.29, r=-0.513) and species richness (p=0.23, r=-0.575). Among the different soil nutrients, only N showed a significant positive correlation with altitude while all others exhibited negative (but non-significant) correlation with it. The study revealed that the chemical properties affect and are reciprocally affected by forest structure and composition and that N rich soils of higher altitudes are best for the growth and development of forests.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.698-710
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• 2022

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different degrees of maternal dietary energy restriction on lipid deposition in embryonic tissues during the medium laying period (37 to 39 weeks) in Arbor Acres (AA) broiler breeders. Methods: A single factor design was adopted, and 400 AA broiler breeders (20 weeks of age) with a similar weight were randomly allocated into four groups. The birds in the control group were fed a corn-soybean meal based diet, and those in trial groups were fed diets with 80%, 70%, and 50% energy levels of the basal diet. Incubated eggs from the medium laying period were collected. Samples of developing embryos at various stages were prepared for composition analysis. Results: The embryo weight in the 80% energy group was higher than those of the other groups on embryonic day (E) 13, but at 21 E, they were significantly decreased with decreasing energy intake of the broiler breeders (p<0.05). Additionally, the levels of crude fat in tissues in the restriction groups were significantly decreased (p<0.05). The long axis and area of adipocytes in breast muscle, thigh muscle and the liver were significantly decreased (p<0.05) at 21 E in the 80%, 70%, and 50% energy groups. Conclusion: The effects of the 80% maternal dietary energy restriction energy affects egg production performance, egg quality, and nutrient deposition in egg weights, which then directly impacts on the developmental process of embryos, especially on fat utilization and deposition.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.204-217
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• 2022

Background: Increasing land demands for food production have led to biodiversity loss and land degradation in the Madhupur Sal forest. Reforestation activities such as agroforestry and woodlot plantation support the conservation of diversity, restoration of forest and prevention of soil erosion in degraded natural Sal forest. Knowing about these reforestation activities, this study is needed to compare the species composition, richness, and soil nutrients of these two plantation activities to the natural Sal forest in the degraded Madhupur Sal forest in Bangladesh. Results: The analysis showed that in between the reforestation activities, the highest Shannon-Wiener index (1.79), evenness (0.60) and Simpson's index (0.79) were found in the agroforestry site compared to the woodlot plantation site. On the contrary, the highest species richness (n = 14), tree basal area (19.56 m² ha^-1), Margalef's index (1.96) were recorded in woodlot plantation than in the agroforestry site. We observed that at 0-15 cm depth, soil organic matter (2.39%), total nitrogen (0.14%), available phosphorous (62.67 ㎍ g^-1) and exchangeable potassium (0.36 meq/100 g) in agroforestry plots were significantly higher compared to other forest sites. At topsoil (15-30 cm depth), soil organic matter (1.67%) and available phosphorous (21.09 ㎍ g^-1) were found to be higher in agroforestry site. Conclusions: Both reforestation approaches improved soil function, although woodlot plantation had the higher species richness. Therefore, plantation activities by the sustainable implementation of these two practices are the best alternative to restore the biodiversity, richness and conserve soil fertility in the Madhupur Sal forest of Bangladesh.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.28-42
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• 2023

Seed dispersal supports community structure, maintains genetic connectivity across fragmented landscapes, and influences vegetation assemblages. In the Philippines, only two seed dispersal studies have compared different dispersal agents. We examined the seed dispersal patterns of water, wind, birds, and bats in the Caliraya Watershed, Philippines. We aimed to determine the floral species that were dispersed and how the forest characteristics influenced seed dispersal. By running seed rain traps and drift litter collection from March to June 2022, we analyzed 14,090 seeds in a privately owned study site within the watershed. Water did not exclusively disperse any species and acted as a secondary disperser. Seed density (seeds/trap) was significantly higher for bird-dispersed (n=166) and bat-dispersed (n=145) seeds than for wind-dispersed (n=79) seeds (One-way analysis of variance [ANOVA]: F_2,87=16.21, P<0.0001). Species number (species/trap) was significantly higher for bird-dispersed (n=3.7) and bat-dispersed (n=3.9) seeds than for wind-dispersed (n=0.2) seeds (One-way ANOVA: F_2,87 =16.67, P<0.0001). Birds dispersed more species because they are more diverse and access a wider variety of fruits, unlike bats. Birds and bats target different fruits and provide separate seed dispersal services. Generalized linear model analyses revealed that the number and basal area of fleshy fruit trees most strongly influenced the bird seed dispersal patterns. Therefore, we recommend a three-way approach to restoration efforts in the Caliraya Watershed: (1) ensure the presence of fleshy fruit trees in restoration zones, (2) assist the establishment of mid-successional and wind-dispersed trees, and (3) intensify the conservation efforts for both flora and faunal diversity.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 2023

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the fractal dimension, lacunarity, trabecular microarchitecture parameters, and cortical linear measurements in the mandibles of male and female individuals to identify differences between them. Materials and Methods: In total, 116 cone-beam computed tomography scans of healthy individuals of different ages (57 men and 59 women, aged between 20 and 60 years) were selected. The following bone parameters were measured: 1) buccal, lingual, and basal cortical bone thickness in 5 standard parasagittal sections (the midline, the left and right sides of the lower lateral incisors, and the left and right sides of the lower canines); 2) the bone volume fraction of 10 sequential axial sections from each patient by creating a volume of interest in the area between the lower canines; and 3) fractal dimension and lacunarity using grayscale images of the same region of the volume of interest in the anterior mandible. Spearman correlation coefficients and the Mann-Whitney test were used. Results: A significant and positive correlation was found between age and cortical thickness, especially in the region of the central incisors. Significant differences between sexes in terms of fractal dimension, lacunarity, and bone volume were found. Women revealed lower fractal dimension values and higher lacunarity and bone volume ratio values than men. Conclusion: Fractal dimension, lacunarity, trabecular bone volume, and cortical thickness were different between men and women of different ages.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.136-145
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• 2023

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a severe neuropsychiatric abnormality in patients with either acute or chronic liver failure. Typical brain magnetic resonance imaging findings of HE are bilateral basal ganglia high signal intensities due to manganese deposition in chronic liver disease and hyperintensity in T2, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, or diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) with hemispheric white matter changes including the corticospinal tract. Low values on apparent diffusion coefficient mapping of the affected area on DWI, indicating cytotoxic edema, can be observed in acute HE. However, neuropsychological impairment in HE ranges from mild deficits in psychomotor abilities affecting quality of life to stupor or coma with higher grades of hepatic dysfunction. In particular, the long-lasting compensatory mechanisms for the altered metabolism in chronic liver disease make HE imaging results variable. Therefore, the clinical relevance of imaging findings is uncertain and differentiating HE from other metabolic diseases can be difficult. The recent introduction of concepts such as "acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF)," a new clinical entity, has led to a change in the clinical view of HE. Accordingly, there is a need to establish a corresponding concept in the field of neuroimaging diagnosis. Herein, we review HE from a historical and etiological perspective to increase understanding of brain imaging and help establish an imaging approach for advanced new concepts such as ACLF. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide an understanding of HE by reviewing neuroimaging findings based on pathological and clinical concepts of HE, thereby assisting in neuroimaging interpretation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 1962

(1) The objects of this study are to observe the possibility of regenerating a young merchantable pitch pine stand by sprouts and to compare the growth trend of sprouts with that of seedlings of same age grown under the almost same circumstances. (2) A plot of 20 year old pitch pine plantation, i.e. 200 trees on 0.1 ha of average D.B.H. 14 cm was clearcut at 20 cm above ground in April, 1945. By the late spring of that year sixty per cent of the cut stumps had sprouted. (3) Fourty to eighty sprouts were found on each stump (maximum:412 sprouts) at the first, but many of them had gradually died out leaving only four to five sprouts per stump by the time of three years after cutting. At that time only one vigorous sprout was left per stump by eliminating the weaker ones. (4) The sprouts, as they grew, started to cover the old stumps with new tissues developed from lower part of sprouts;consequently forming new root systems from the base of new tissues, and they appeared to be seedlings. When the age of sprouts was thirteen years old, the old stumps were completely decayed away and the reproduced stand from sprouts was averaged at 9.7 cm in D.B.H. and at 5.5m in height. (5) When the age of sprouts was thirteen years old, the sprouts exceeded the seedlings in both of total present growth and mean annual increment in height, volume, D.B.H. and basal area, but the seedlings began to exceed the sprouts in current annual increment of height, volume, D.B.H. and basal area at about ten years of age. The rates of increment of the seedling in height, volume, ect. were larger than those of sprouts except when they were one to four years old. From above facts, the following may be concluded: (1) In regenerating a pitch pine stand by sprouts, the lower the stump height, the better the result. (2) If no light limit exists, regenerating a pitch pine stand by sprouts is well possible even at the age of 20 year. (3) Pitch pine reproduction started from sprouts exceeds the seedlings of same age in growth under the almost same circumstances until they get ten years of age.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.81 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 1992

This study was conducted to explain the characters of the structure of biomass production in the thrifty-mature Quercus mongolica stands and investigate the relationships between the leaf weight or leaf area and the sapwood area in the bole. Also we intended to identify the allocation ratio of stem, branches, and leaves or heartwood, sapwood and bark in trees and the characters of productive structure of stem and leaf biomass by the tree height. The results obtained were as follows : 1. The allocation ratio of biomass based on dry weight was 70-84% in stem, 11-25% in branches, and 3-6% in leaves. 2. In the bole, the ratios of composition of heartwood, sapwood, and bark were showed 37-43%, 38-46%, and 16-19%, respectively. 3. The volume of sapmood was exceeded more than that of heartwood in dominant and intermediate trees, while it was reversely appeared in suppressed trees. 4. The weight and area of leases significantly correlated with the sectional area of sapwood in bole (r>0.9. 1% significant level). 5. The ratio of leaf area($m^2$) to sapwood areal($cm^2$), k varied 0.35 to 2.05. 6. The basal diameter and the cross sectional area of a branch significantly correlated with the leaf weight r>0.9. 1% significant level. 7. The leaf weight in a tree is showed a normal distribution curve and the accumulative volume of bole is showed a tapering type.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 1999

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of local climatic conditions on the annual increment of Korean white pine planted in Gapyung and Yaungdong. For this, stand variables such as mean DBH, mean height, basal area per hectare, and volume per hectare by stand age were measured and summarized for each locality. Based on these statistics, annual increments for 8 years from stand age 10 to 18 were calculated for each of stand variables. A topoclimatological technique which makes use of empirical relationships between the topography and the weather in study sites was applied to produce normal estimates of monthly mean, maximum, minimum temperatures, relative humidity, precipitation, and hours of sunshine. Then, the yearly climatic variables from 1990 to 1997 for each study site were derived from the spatial interpolation procedures based on inverse- distance weighting of the observed deviation from the climatic normals at the nearest 11 standard weather stations. From these estimates, 17 weather variables such as warmth index, coldness index, index of aridity etc., which affect the tree growth, were computed on yearly base for each locality. The deviations of measured annual increments from the expected annual increments for 8 years based on yield table of Korean white pine were then correlated with and regressed on the yearly weather variables to examine effects of local climatic conditions on the growth. Gapyung area provides better conditions for the growth of Korean white pine in the early stage than Youngdong area. This indicates that the conditions such as low temperature, high relative humidity, and large amount of precipitation provide favor environment for the early growth of Korean white pine. A ccording to the correlation and regression an analysis using local climatic conditions and annual increments, the growth pattern of Gapyung area corresponds to this tendency. However, it was found that the relationship between annual increments and local climatic conditions in Youngdong area shows different tendency from Gapyung. These results mean that the yearly growth pattern could not sufficiently be explained by climatic conditions with high variance in yearly weather variables. In addition, the poor growth in Youngdong area might not only be affected by climatic conditions, but also by other environmental factors such as site quality.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.153-160
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of ecological factors affecting Pinus densiflora forest distribution associated with climate change in the future. Ecological niche is used as a method to quantify the position occupied in biological communities, space, influence and all ecological factors. Ecological niche breadth was analyzed on meteorological and growth factors of P. densiflora. Nine sites (i.e., Gangneung, Jeongseon, Pyeongchang, Hamyang, Bonghwa, Yeongyang, Uljin, Uiseong and Boseong) were selected to set $20m{\times}20m$ quadrat from September to October 2010. The height, DBH, clearlength, crown width and basal area were measured at each quadrat and used as growth factors. In addition, the measured values from the closest weather stations of each survey area of the maximum, mean and minimum temperature, humidity and precipitation were used as meteorological factors. The ecological niche breadth of the five meteorological factors except humidity was low. It is considered that precipitation could effect on the distribution of P. densiflora forest. In particular, maximum temperature showed low ecological niche breadth less than 0.4 in most of the survey areas. However, the ecological niche breadth of the five growth factors was high in all survey areas.