• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.363-386
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• 2007

Endemic element of the Russian Far East (RFE) flora includes 497 species of 150 genera and 46 families. The level of endemism in structure of regional natural flora reaches 11.1% as a whole, and in structure of its native fraction - 13.1%. As a result of chorologic and ecocenotic analysis of RFE flora endemic element it is revealed that it consists of 8 main geographical groups and 7 main floristic complexes. The largest number of endemic species is concentrated in Arctic - Alpine & Montane (140, 28.2%), Forest (107, 21.5%) and Maritime (88, 17.7%) floristic complexes as well as in Russian Far East - West-Pacific (136, 27.4%), Japan Sea (88, 17.7%) and North-East-Asian - Beringian (69, 13.9%) geographical groups. It's possible to distinguish three main areas with similar eco-geographical differentiation of endemics on RFE as follows: (1) North-East Asia sector of RFE which North-East-Asian - Beringian and Maritime Okhotia - Beringian geographical groups approximately correspond to, (2) Continental part of East Asia sector of RFE (West - Okhotian, Amur - Okhotian, Amur - Ussirian, Okhotsk Sea and Japan Sea groups) and (3) Oceanic part of East Asia sector (Russian Far East - West Pacific group). Taxonomical variety of RFE endemics on these territories makes up accordingly (1) - 99 species (19.9%), (2) - 259 (52.8%) and (3) - 136 (27.4%).

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 1960

1. Mt. Soyo is situated in the central part of Korea, approximately 37$^{\circ}$56'W. Latitude, 127$^{\circ}$4'N. Longitude. This mountain is about 530 meters above sea level, and consists mainly of granites. Above 200 meters the area is covered with oak trees (Quercus mongolica, Q. aliena) with a kind of Rhododendron (Rhododendron mucronulatum, R. schlippenbachii) as undergrowth. About 500 packets of bryophytes were collected by the writer in 1959. 2. The mosses collected in this region were of 68 species belonging to 51 genera. Those species may roughly be divided, as follows; 1) 15 species (22.1%) are distributed also in Europe and North America (Holarctic element). 2) 2 species (2.9%) occur also in Kamchatka and the Aleutians (North Pacific element). 3) 14 species (20.6%) are widely distributed every where (Cosmopolitan element). 4) 19 species (27.9%) occur also in the temperature region of the Far East (East Asiatic element). 5) 3 species (4.4%) occur also in Indomalaya and India (Tropical element). 6) 15 species (22.1%) are endemic to Japan and Korea. 3. The Hepaticae collected in this region are of 11 species belonging to 7 genera. Those may roughly be divided, as follows; 1) 4 species (36.4%) are distributed also in Europe and North America (Holarctc element). 2) 5 species (45.5%) occur also in the temperature region of the Far East (Asiatic element). 3) 1 species (9.1%) occur also in Indomlaya. 4) 1 species (9.1%) are endemic in Japan and Korea. 4. The species which are new to the flora of Korea are as follows; 1) Leucobryum glaucum (L.) Schimp. 2) Psedoleskeopsis dicurvata (Mitt.) Broth. 3) Thuidium delicatulum (Hedw.) Mitt. 4) Dolichotheca perrobustum (Broth.) Broth. 5) Brachiolejeunia sandvicensis (Gott). Evans. 6) Porella vernicosa Lindb. ssp. gracillina (Mitt.) Ando.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.187-190
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• 2012

Background: High incidence of gallbladder cancer (GBC) is reported from North India, with elevated concentrations of heavy metals in water and soil. This Indo-Japan collaborative study compared presence of heavy metals in gallbladder tissues. Methods: Heavy metal concentrations were estimated in Indian GBC and cholecystitis tissues and compared with Japanese GBC and cholecystitis tissues. Spectrophotometry was done for 13 Indian gallbladder tissues (8 GBC, 5 cholecystitis) and 9 Japanese (5 GBC, 4 cholecystitis). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) thin foil element analysis was done in 10 Indian samples (6 GBC, 4 cholecystitis). Results: Chromium, lead, arsenic and zinc were significantly high in Indian GBC compared with Japanese GBC. Chromium, lead and arsenic were significantly high in the Indian cholecystitis tissues compared to the Japanese. TEM of Indian tissues demonstrated electron dense deposits in GBC. Conclusion: Heavy metals-chromium, lead, arsenic and zinc are potential carcinogens in Indian GBC from endemic areas. This preliminary study links presence of heavy metals in gallbladder cancer tissues in endemic areas.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.107-123
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• 2004

The vascular plants of Mt. Deog-yu area in the Baekdudaegan were recorded as 411 taxa; 91 families, 243 genera, 353 species, 53 varieties and 5 forma. From the floristic point of view, the Baekdudaegan, a main mountain range of the Korean peninsula, in the region of Mt. Deog-yu, belongs to the southern province in Korea, as the species like Cephalotaxus koreana, Lindera obtusiloba, Ilex macropoda and Stewartia koreana. are ranged in this region. But the species of the Northern element such as Betula costata, Betula ermani, Heloniopsis orientalis and Disporum ovale are also recorded in the region. Above the sea level from 1,000m, many sub alpine plant species are recorded. Rare and endangered plant species which are categorized by the Office of Forestry were 10 species such as Lilium cernum, Paeonia obovata, Abies koreana, Disporum ovale, Lilium distichum, Tricyrtis dilatata, Clematis chiisanensis, Bupleurum euphorbioides, Rhododendron schonoskii and Iris ensata var. spontanea. The protected plant species which are categorized by the Ministry of Environment were recorded only Lilium cernum. The Korean endemic plant species were recorded as 22 taxa; 12 families, 21 genera, 20 species 1 varieties, and 1 forma. Among them the plant species such as Cephalotaxus koreana, Abies koreana, Hosta capitata, Polygonatum lasianthum var. coreanum and Tricyrtis dilatata are representative ones in the region.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.2963-2966
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• 2013

Infection with Opisthorchis viverrini (OV) due to eating certain traditional freshwater fish dishes is the principal risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma in Northeast Thailand where the infection is endemic and the incidence of this form of primary liver cancer has been the highest in the world. This paper is the second report of a prospective research project to monitor the impacts of a national liver fluke control programme in a rural community of Northeast Thailand. A sample of 684 villagers aged 20-65 years completed an interview questionnaire and were tested for infection using the Kato thick smear technique. The questionnaire was designed for the exploration of associations between OV infection, previous treatment with praziquantel, and knowledge and beliefs about the drug. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression. The overall prevalence of OV infection was 37.2% and was highest in the 20-35 year age group, in those with a university degree and in those employed in the government sector. As many as 91.8% reported eating fish dishes known to place them at risk of infection. In the multiple regression analysis, previous use of praziquantel and lack of knowledge about whether or not the drug has a protective effect against re-infection were the only factors related to OV infection ($OR_{adj}$= 2.31, 95%CI =1.40-3.79 and $OR_{adj}$= 1.95, 95%CI= 1.24-3.05). The findings were discussed in terms of the possibly unwise dependency on praziquantel as a primary element in a control programme.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

The Indian golden muga silkworm, Antheraea assamensis Helfer is an economically important wild silkworm endemic to Northeastern part of India. In recent years, climate change has posed a threat to muga silk production due to the requirement that larvae be reared outdoors. Since the muga silkworm larvae are exposed to the vagaries of nature, the changing climate has increased the incidence of microbial diseases in the rearing fields. Accurate diagnosis of the disease causing pathogens and its associated epidemiology are prerequisites to manage the diseases in the rearing field. Although conventional microbial culturing methods are widely used to identify pathogenic bacteria, they would not provide meaningful information on a wide variety of silkworm pathogens. The information on use of molecular diagnostic tools in detection of microbial pathogens of wild silk moths is very limited. A wide range of molecular and immunodiagnostic techniques including denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), random amplified polymorphism (RAPD), 16S rRNA/ITSA gene sequencing, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), immunofluorescence, and repetitive-element PCR (Rep-PCR), have been used for detecting and characterizing the pathogens of insects with economic significance. Nevertheless, the application of these molecular tools for detecting and typing entomopathogens in surveillance studies of muga silkworm rearing is very limited. Here, we discuss the possible application of these molecular techniques, their advantages and major limitations. These methods show promise in better management of diseases in muga ecosystem.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.181-193
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• 2018

The present study was conducted to analyze the quality of the habitats of Abies koreana WILS. by using the InVEST model based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) technique and to evaluate the economic value by estimating the carbon fixation. Abies koreana WILS., an original biological species of South Korea, may be an essential element in establishing the national biological sovereignty in the future. The subjects of the present study were the national parks in Mt. Halla, Mt. Jiri, and Mt. Sobaek, which are the habitats of Abies koreana WILS. As suggested by previous studies as a limitation of the InVEST model, the utilization of the data from relevant international publications as the input data, due to the lack of the domestic input data, may decrease the accuracy of the modeling. Therefore, the AHP technique was applied for the input data. The modeling was performed with reference to the years of 1980, 1990, and 2000 for the scenario analysis. The result of the modeling showed that the habitat quality was changed most in the national park in Mt. Halla, as the habitat quality score was decreased from 0.96 in 1980 to 0.97 in 1990 and 0.94 in 2000. In the national part of Mt. Sobeak, the habitat quality was changed most in the sub-alpine zone, as the habitat quality score was decreased from 0.98 in 1980 and 0.98 in 1990 to 0.97 in 2000. The habitat quality was best conserved in the national part in Mt. Jiri, as the habitat quality score was 0.98 in 1980, 0.99 in 1990, and 0.99 in 2000. The estimated economic loss by the change of the habitat quality was 19,280,000 USD for Mt. Halla and 8,030,000 USD for Mt. Sobeak. In the present study, the habitat quality of the Abies koreana WILS, the original species of South Korea, was evaluated and the economic value of the ecological services provided by the habitats was estimated quantitatively. The result showed that the ecosystem service model may be used to qualitatively analyze the quality of a habitat located in a specific region and to estimate the economic value quantitatively. The objective evaluation of ecosystem services demonstrated in the present study may be applied to promote sustainable utilization of natural resources and conservation of the ecosystem by predicting the changes that may be caused by external factors including the development of preservation areas.