• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.122-142
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• 2012

The importance of rainfed areas and animal agriculture on productivity enhancement and food security for economic rural growth in Asia is discussed in the context of opportunities for increasing potential contribution from them. The extent of the rainfed area of about 223 million hectares and the biophysical attributes are described. They have been variously referred to inter alia as fragile, marginal, dry, waste, problem, threatened, range, less favoured, low potential lands, forests and woodlands, including lowlands and uplands. Of these, the terms less favoured areas (LFAs), and low or high potential are quite widely used. The LFAs are characterised by four key features: i) very variable biophysical elements, notably poor soil quality, rainfall, length of growing season and dry periods, ii) extreme poverty and very poor people who continuously face hunger and vulnerability, iii) presence of large populations of ruminant animals (buffaloes, cattle, goats and sheep), and iv) have had minimum development attention and an unfinished wanting agenda. The rainfed humid/sub-humid areas found mainly in South East Asia (99 million ha), and arid/semi-arid tropical systems found in South Asia (116 million ha) are priority agro-ecological zones (AEZs). In India for example, the ecosystem occupies 68% of the total cultivated area and supports 40% of the human and 65% of the livestock populations. The area also produces 4% of food requirements. The biophysical and typical household characteristics, agricultural diversification, patterns of mixed farming and cropping systems are also described. Concerning animals, their role and economic importance, relevance of ownership, nomadic movements, and more importantly their potential value as the entry point for the development of LFAs is discussed. Two examples of demonstrated success concern increasing buffalo production for milk and their expanded use in semi-arid AEZs in India, and the integration of cattle and goats with oil palm in Malaysia. Revitalised development of the LFAs is justified by the demand for agricultural land to meet human needs e.g. housing, recreation and industrialisation; use of arable land to expand crop production to ceiling levels; increasing and very high animal densities; increased urbanisation and pressure on the use of available land; growing environmental concerns of very intensive crop production e.g. acidification and salinisation with rice cultivation; and human health risks due to expanding peri-urban poultry and pig production. The strategies for promoting productivity growth will require concerted R and D on improved use of LFAs, application of systems perspectives for technology delivery, increased investments, a policy framework and improved farmer-researcher-extension linkages. These challenges and their resolution in rainfed areas can forcefully impact on increased productivity, improved livelihoods and human welfare, and environmental sustainability in the future.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.23-43
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• 1995

This paper is the first part of a research which looks into the regional development process and the quality of life of Youngnam area, and which suggests a prospect and tasks for the future development of the region. Youngnam region has grown rapidly on the basis of labor-intensive light industries and standardized Fordist lage-scale heavy industries through the industrialization and urbanization of South Korea from the 1960s; but recently it has shown a relatively downward trend. The recent economic stagnation of Youngnam region can be seen as a result of uneven regional development in the national scale, which has brought out the increasing subcontracting relation within the region, the geographically excessive concentration of firms, the lack of growth potentiality of high-tech industries, the weakness of producer service, and the shortage of financial activities for capital flows. In addition, construction of physical and social infrastructures and management of urban central functions could not meet properly the rapid economic and urban growth of the region. Because of these problematics inherent in the economy of Yougnam region, the occupational status of regional dwellers is more or less unstable, and the wage level of employee as a whole in Youngnam region is lower than those of Seoul, although the wage level of labourers in manufacturing is relatively high. Moreover, the quality of life of dwellers in the region has some difficulties in the use of resources and ecological environment as well as the unequal provision of means of living and welfare facilities, even though it has been improved materially.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.489-498
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• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the distribution status and urbanization index of the naturalized plants. For this purpose, 7 cities and counties in the eastern area of Jeollanamdo were selected and investigations were conducted on a total of 14 sites, during the period of March 2006 to November 2008. The naturalized plants were identified as 123; 22 families, 75 genera, 118 species, and 5 varieties. As for the urbanization index, Suncheon city had the highest level of urbanization (33.45%) and Gurye county the lowest level of urbanization (20.21%). Classification families were as follows: Compositae 40 kinds (30.1%) Gramineae 17 kinds (12.8%) and Leguminosae 14 kinds (10.5%). Major communities of naturalized plants consisted of 20 communities including Erigeron annuus community, Erigeron canadensis community, Alnus firma community, Amorpha fruticosa community, Oenothera odorata community, Bidens frondosa community, Coreopsis tinctoria community, Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior community etc. Invasive naturalized plants consisted of 5 taxa: Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior, Ambrosia trifida, Eupatorium rugosum, Paspalum distichum var. indutum and Paspalum distichum. The distributional characteristics of naturalized plants were divided on the basis of six areas associated with ecological characteristics of a habitat.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.259-269
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• 2014

Purpose: This preliminary study is aimed at developing standardized tools for psycho-social assessment of patients in needs for hospice/palliative care. To accomplish the purpose, investigators examined effects of perceptions of social workers on the importance of psycho-social domains of assessment in hospice/palliative care settings. Moreover, investigators paid attention to variances of perceptions of social workers' along with types of institution and credentials of those family settings. Methods: A form of questionnaire was first explored from an initial interview assessment of 10 government-certified hospice care providers and a literature review, second constructed with eight domains and 80 items, and sent by e-mail to 55 institutions and hospitals providing hospice/palliative cares in Korea. Lastly, a total of 31 agencies returned with a completed responses and consent form (56% response rate). SPSS program (version 18.0) was used for data analysis. Results: Study found that social workers perceived patients' family background (m=4.53, 5-point scale) as the most important assessment domain, whereas economic conditions (4.06 point) the least important. Social workers' perception varied by credentials (i.e., license types, training, full-time position, types of care facility). Conclusion: Based upon study findings, investigators can conclude strong needs for developing a assessment tool that measures multiple domains (i.e., psychological, social and ecological aspects) of patients. A standardized assessment tool should be structured with 2 axis (center/core and expanded/peripheral) and tailored for institution type. Second, professional trainings must be provided by strengthening legal institutionalization and fostering qualified social workers with full responsibilities of hospice and palliative care patients.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.6
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• pp.681-689
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• 2009

We investigated the effect of Rhus verniciflua Stokes extract ingestion with exercise training on plasma lipids and insulin resistance for 8 weeks. Forty SD (Sprague-Dawley) male rats were used as the experimental animals that were divided into CON (control), RVS (Rhus verniciflua Stokes), EXE (exercise training), and RVS-EXE (Rhus verniciflua Stokes with exercise training), respectively. Body weight gain in EXE (202%) and RVS-EXE (203%) was significantly lower than CON (253%) and RVS (239). Stored fats were significantly lower with RVS and/or exercise training. Blood lipids were enhanced in RVS and RVS-EXE compared to CON. Blood glucose was significantly high in CON compared to the other groups. Insulin and HOMA index has the same tendencies with glucose, however, the synergic effect was found in RVS-EXE. In conclusion, Rhus verniciflua Stokes extract ingestion with exercise training has the effect of lowering amount of stored fats, reducing blood lipids, and enhancing insulin resistance, therefore, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity, and hyperlipidemia might be prevented.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.112 no.1
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• pp.105-116
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• 2023

As forest fires' scale has increased, they have become disasters that destroy not only forests but also property, human psychological balance, and even human lives. As a result, governmental support has become a crucial part of the forest fire restoration process. Quickly restoring victims' quality of life (QOL) from not only an ecological perspective but also from their human perspective has become an important goal. Therefore, through structural equation modeling, this study analyzed effects of government support, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and resilience on 195 Uljin and Samcheok forest fire victims' QOL. In the final research model, the total standardized effect on QOL of government support to PTSD and resilience was found to have significant effect (0.417). By path, the effect of government support on QOL through resilience was verified as 0.172. Examination of the path between latent variables revealed that resilience had the greatest influence on QOL, and government support had a significant effect, thus confirming that they were the main factors affecting QOL.

• 한국노년학
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.767-793
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• 2011

This study aims to explore how older adults construct their life-world in their ecological and socio-cultural context of rural communities and to understand what meanings they give to the life experiences they have had within their life-world. Two rural villages in Sunchang County in North Jeolla Province, South Korea were selected for this study and ethnographic fieldwork was conducted for about 2 months to gather the data. Despite the fact that rural communities face restructuring and economic decline, older adults in this study gave positive meanings to their life experiences. Doing agricultural labor particularly in later life let them maintain independence and continuity in life, and provided them with plenty of opportunity to interact with nature. Also, they had a sense of control over their physical and social environments where they had been familiar with for a long period of time. Furthermore, older adults had various memories of contributions to families and communities have been created. This research shows older adults in rural communities are active agents of their life-world, dismantling stereotypical notions of older adults as dependent, isolated, and marginalized. Implications of the study are discussed in detail.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.24 no.1 s.76
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• pp.56-66
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• 1996

Ecological variations of Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi were determined from the soils collected from different sites of the polluted and unpolluted areas related to the soil pollutions. Average 24.5 spores $(per\;20g)^{-1}$ soil of AM fungal spore were counted from the 32 sites of soils collected from On-san (polluted), whereas average 4.1 spores $(per\;20g)^{-1}$ soil from the 18 sites of those from Mt. Kwanak (polluted); Average 23.6 spores $(per\;20g)^{-1}$ soil of AM fungal spore were also counted from the 30 sites of soils collected from Chung-mu (unpolluted), whereas average 15.8 spores $(per\;20g)^{-1}$ soil from the 14 sites of those from Mt. Chungwang (unpolluted).The spores of AM fungi were the species of Glomus, Gigaspora, Acaulospora and Scutellospora. Among the above four genera, the species of Glomus were observed to be more abundant than the other genera in the soils collected from On-san, Chung-mu and Mt. Chungwang whereas the species of Gigaspora in those from Mt. Kwan-ak. The parameters of soils measured showed some variations between the polluted and unpolluted areas; 12.9 to 16.4% in the soil moisture, 5.6 to 8.3% in the organic matter and 4.3 to 5.7 at soil pH (polluted to unpolluted areas, respectively). The soils collected, thereby, appeared to be more strongly acidic and also lower in the contents of soil moisture or organic matter at the polluted area than unpolluted area. Based on the ecological criteria, the species richness or species diversity had significant differences (p<0.05) between polluted and unpolluted area. The spore density of genus Glomus or Gigaspora was significantly different (p<0.05) among the soils of three different plant vegetations (conifer plants, broad leaf plants, and grass plants). Also, there were significant differences (p<0.05) in the species evenness or species diversity among the soils referring to three different plant vegetations. There was a direct relationship $(r^2=0.38)$ between soil moisture and organic matter measured from 94 soil samples. Since there was a direct relationship $(r^2=0.22)$ between organic matter and total spores, it seems to be likely to presume that mycorrhizal spores can be increased in proportion to enhanced organic matters in soils. The species richness or species diversity was inclined to increase in proportion to enhanced soil pH and total spores in soils.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.107-119
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to examine the current status of vascular plants and naturalized plants growing in the Seongeup Folk Village in Jeju and to consider and compare their distribution patterns and the characteristics of emergence of naturalized plants in other folk villages and all parts of Jeju, thereby exploring measures to well manage naturalized plants. The result of this study is as follows.11) The total number of vascular plants growing in Seongeup Folk Village is identified to be 354 taxa which include 93 families, 260 genus, 298 species, 44 varieties and 12 breeds. Among them, the number of naturalized plants is 55 taxa in total including 22 families, 46 genus, 53 species, and 2 varieties, which accounts for 21.7% of the total of 254 taxa identified all over the region of Jeju. The rate of naturalization in Seongeup Folk Village is 15.5%, which is far higher than the rates of plant naturalization in Hahoi Village in Andong, Yangdong Village in Gyeongju, Hangae Village in Seongju, Wanggok Village in Goseong, and Oeam Village in Asan. Among the naturalized plants identified within the targeted villages, the number of those growing in Jeju is 9 taxa including Silene gallica, Modiola caroliniana, Oenothera laciniata, Oenothera stricta, Apium leptophyllum, Gnaphalium purpureum, Gnaphalium calviceps, Paspalum dilatatum and Sisyrinchium angustifolium. It is suggested that appropriate management measures that consider the characteristics of the gateway to import and the birthplace of the naturalized plants are necessary. In the meantime, 3 more taxa that have not been included in the reference list of Jeju have been identified for the first time in Seongeup Folk Village, which include Bromus sterilis, Cannabis sativa and Veronica hederaefolia. The number of naturalized plants identified within the gardens of unit-based cultural properties is 20 taxa, among which the rate of prevalence of Cerastium glomeratum is the highest at 62.5%. On the other hand, the communities of plants that require landscape management are Brassica napus and other naturalized plants, including Cosmos bipinnatus, Trifolium repens, Medicago lupulina, Oenothera stricta, O. laciniata, Lotus corniculatus, Lolium perenne, Silene gallica, Hypochaeris radicata, Plantago virginica, Bromus catharticus and Cerastium glomeratum. As a short-term measure to manage naturalized plants growing in Seongeup Folk Village, it is important to identify the current status of Cosmos bipinnatus and Brassica napus that have been planted for landscape agriculture, and explore how to use flowers during the blooming season. It is suggested that Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Hypochaeris radicata, designated as invasive alien plants by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, should be eradicated initially, followed by regular monitoring in case of further invasion, spread or expansion. As for Hypochaeris radicata, in particular, some physical prevention measures need to be explored, such as for example, identifying the habitat density and eradication of the plant. In addition, it is urgent to remove plants, such as Sonchus oleraceus, Houttuynia cordata, Crassocephalum crepidioides, Erigeron annuus and Lamium purpureum with high index of greenness visually, growing wild at around high Jeongyi town walls. At the same time, as the distribution and dominance value of the naturalized plants growing in deserted or empty houses are high, it is necessary to find measures to preserve and manage them and to use the houses as lodging places.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.15-59
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• 1992

After world war II Japanese life expectancy has been improved remarkably, and reached the highest level in the world around late 1970's. The life expectancy of Korean has also shown tremendous improvement in recent years with about 20 year's gap from the Japanese. The reason of rapid improvement of life expectancy can be explained by changes in the structure of cause of death due to health system, living standard, social welfare, health behavior of individuals and so on. Korean in Japan is placed under different situations from both Korean in Korea and Japanese in these regards, and expected to show different picture of cause of death pattern. The objective of this study is the comparision of changing patterns of cause of death of three population groups, Korean in Japan, Korean in Korea and Japanese, and to investigate the reasons which effect to the structural difference of mortality cause with special emphasis on health ecological aspects. One of the major limitations of the Korean causes of death statistics is the under-registration which ranges about 10% of the total events, and inaccuracy of the exact cause of death. Some 20% of registered deaths were unable to classify by ICD. However, it is concluded that the Korean data are evaluated as sufficient to stand for over-viewing of trends of cause of death pattern. The evaluation is done by comparing data from registration and field survey over the same population sample. Population data of Korean in Japan differ between two sources of data; census and foreigner's registration. Correction is done by life table method under the assumption that age-specific mortality pattern would accord with that of the Japanese. The crude death rate was lowest among Korean in Japan, 5.7 deaths per 1,000 population in 1965. The crude death rates of Korean in Japan and Japanese are increasing recently influenced by age structure while Korean in Korea still shows decreasing tendency. The adjusted death rate is lowest among Japanese, followed by Korean in Japan, and Korean in Korea. The leading causes of death of Korean in Korea until 1960's was infectious diseases including pneumonia and tuberculosis. The causes of death structure changed gradually to accidents, neoplasm, hypertensive disease, cerebro-vascular disease in order. The main difference in cause of death between Korean and Japanese if high rate of liver diseases and diabetes for both Korean in Japan and Korea. A special feature of cause of death among Korean in Korea is remakably high rate of hypertensive disease, which is assumed to be caused by physicians tendency in choosing diagnostic categories. The low ischemic heart disease and high vasculo-cerebral disease are the distinctive characteristic of the three population groups compared to western countries. Specific causes of death were selected for detailed sex, age and ethnic group comparisons based on their high death rates. Cancer is the cause of death which showed most dramatical increase in all three population groups. In Korea 20.1% of all death were caused by cancer in 1990 compared with 10.5% in 1981. Cancer of the liver is the leading cause of cancer death among Korean in Japan for both sexes, followed by cancer of the lung and cancer of the stomach, while that of Korean in Korea is cancer of the stomach, followed by cancer of the liver and cancer of the lung for male. Causes of infant mortality were examined among the three population groups since 1980 on yearly bases. For both Japanese and Korean in Japan, leading cause of death ranks as conditions originating in the perinatal period, congenital anomalies, accidents and other violent causes. Trends since 1980 for these two population groups in the leading cause of infant mortality showed no changes. On the contrary, significant changes in leading cause of death structure in Korea were observed : the ranking of leading cause of death in 1981 were congenital asnomalies, pneumonia bronchitis, infectious disease, heart disease, conditions originating in the perinatal period, accident and other violent causes ; in 1990 the ranking shifted to congenital anomalies, accident, pneumonia bronchities, conditions originating in the perinatal period, infectious disease. The mortality rate by congenital anomalies in Korea continuously grew than any other causes. Larger increase ocurred during the 1990's