• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.358-380
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• 2023

The intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in determining human health, rendering it a major focus of scientific investigation. Rather than eliminating all microbes, promoting the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms within the gut has been recognized as a more effective approach to improving health. Unfavorable conditions potentially alter gut microbial populations, including a reduction in microbial diversity. However, intentionally enhancing the abundance of beneficial gut microbes can restore a state of optimal health. Polysaccharides are widely acknowledged for their potential to improve the gut microbiota. This review emphasizes the findings of recent studies examining the effects of forest product-derived polysaccharides on enhancing the gut microbiota and alleviating inflammation, diabetes symptoms, and obesity. The findings of several studies reviewed in this paper strongly suggest that forest products serve as an excellent dietary source for improving the gut microbiota and potentially offer valuable dietary interventions for chronic health problems, such as inflammation, diabetes, and obesity.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.299-319
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• 2016

The National Forest Inventory (NFI) is important for providing fundamental data for basic forest planning and the establishment of forest policies for the purpose of implementing sustainable forest management. The purpose of this study is to present the development of Korea's NFI including legal basis, sampling design, and measured variables and to review the usage of NFI data. The survey methods and forestry statistics among the Unites States, Canada, Japan, China, and European countries were briefly compared. Total 140 publications utilizing NFI data between 2008 and 2015 were categorized with 15 subjects. Korea has conducted the NFI 6 times since 1971, but only the $6^{th}$ NFI is comparable with the fifth, the previous NFI, because the permanent sampling plots have been shared between the periods. The Korean Forestry Statistics contains only half as many variables as that of advanced countries in Forestry. More researches were needed to improve consistent measurement of diverse variables through implementation of advanced technologies. Additional data for Forest Health Monitoring since the NFI $6^{th}$ must be under quality control which will be an essential part of the inventories for providing the chronological change of forest health.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.211-222
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• 2013

Objectives: A great number of people visit forests for their bountiful healing factors. We investigated the quantity of terpene and analyzed the correlations with meteorological and environmental factors at Mt. Mudeung in order to support public health. Methods: The terpene amounts were investigated along 11 main trails using stainless steel tube packed by Tenax TA (150 mg) and Carbopack B (130 mg) during March to November 2012. Terpene amounts of 20 species (${\alpha}$-pinene, camphene, etc.), and meteorological and environmental factors were investigated in the field. Results: Terpene of 16 species was released from the forest and total terpene amounts were 2,080 pptv at the site of Chamaecyparis obtusa, the highest among 11 sites, nearby the first reservoir on Mt. Mudeung. Terpene concentrations in the forest were nine to 23 times higher than found in urban areas. Total terpene amounts had positive correlations with temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide and oxygen (p<0.01) with $R^2$ of 0.345, 0.369, 0.591, 0.145, respectively, from April to July. Wind speed and solar radiation in the forest had a negative correlation with terpene amounts and showed statistical insignificance with p-values of 0.118 and 0.233, respectively. Conclusions: This study suggests that the amounts of terpene around Mt. Mudeung are indeed higher, so visitors may enjoy a therapeutic walk in the forest with a healing effect. These results showed the forest was very effective for improving human health.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.395-410
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate 199 subfertile women's interest in and needs for forest therapy programs according to their demographic characteristics in a subfertile clinic in Seoul to provide basic data. The results of this study were summarized as follows. First, the perception and experience of subfertile women about forest therapy were all low, but their intention to participate was generally positive. Second, the type of forest therapy preferred by subfertile women was a half-day small group that they can participate with their spouse during weekends. Third, subfertile women expected phytoncide (35.8%) and a high level of oxygen (29.9%) from forest therapy programs. Fourth, subfertile women expected physical and mental health such as improved blood circulation and immunity, and meditation opportunity from forest therapy. Fifth, subfertile women expected from forest therapists understanding and sympathy (62.2%). This study conducted a survey on 199 subfertile women only. Through follow-up studies that involve more subfertile subjects and a broader region, it will be possible to develop more effective forest therapy programs for promoting the physical and mental health of subfertile subjects.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the perceptions toward school forest programs related to forest welfare services in elementary schools and suggest strategies to activate new programs. Methods: A mixed method research was performed. Four teachers and one forest therapist participated in a focus group interview; 162 teachers answered a survey. Results: The teachers were aware of the effects of the forest program, but there were some barriers, including the question of whether there was an accessible forest, school forest management problems, the risk of teachers' work overload, and the lack of program diversification for elementary students. Solutions included the expansion of school forests and forest facilities available to students, development of a variety of programs, provision of appropriate information on available facilities, and cooperation with educational institutions for institutionalization and increased effectiveness of school-based forest utilization programs. In addition, a scientific basis for data accumulation is needed. Conclusion: The Ministry of Forestry is cooperating with the Ministry of Education and local education offices to activate a forest-use health promotion program for elementary school students. Additionally, to utilize the forests in regular education courses, teachers should strive to spread positive awareness of forests.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.421-424
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• 2023

This case report presents the case of a 49-year-old man who presented to our level I trauma center after sustaining injuries in an altercation with local law enforcement in which he was shot with a less lethal bean bag and tased. In a primary survey, a penetrating left supraclavicular wound was noted in addition to a taser dart lodged in his flank. No other traumatic findings were noted in a secondary survey. Given hemodynamic stability, completion imaging was obtained, revealing a foreign body in the left lung, a left open clavicle fracture, a C5 tubercle fracture, a possible grade I left vertebral injury, and a left first rib fracture. Soft tissue gas was seen around the left subclavian and axillary arteries, although no definitive arterial injury was identified. The bean bag projectile was embedded in the parenchyma of the left lung on cross-sectional imaging. The patient underwent thoracotomy for removal of the projectile and hemostasis. A thoracotomy was chosen as the operative approach due to concerns about significant bleeding upon foreign body removal. A chest tube was placed and subsequently removed on postoperative day 5. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 7. At a 2-week outpatient follow-up visit, the patient was doing well. This case report is the first to describe this outcome for a drag-stabilized bean bag. Although law enforcement officers utilize bean bag projectiles as a "less lethal" means of crowd control and protection, these ballistics pose significant risk and can result in serious injury.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze health promotion programs utilizing forests by reviewing regional healthcare program plans in Korea. Methods: We analyzed 227 regional healthcare program plans from 2011 to 2014; seven health promotion programs of the 16 major healthcare programs were prescribed by public health law. Results: Our analysis revealed that only 35 health promotion programs from 29 sites were utilizing forests. Furthermore, of 21 known categories of health promotion programs, only nine incorporated the use of forests. Atopy-asthma healthcare programs were the most common forest health promotion programs, which also included specialized disease management programs (e.g., for atopy prevention and healing, patients with metabolic syndrome or cancer) and specialized mental health management programs (e.g., for addiction or dementia prevention). Others included programs on the development of forest roads or industrial development using forest products. Conclusion: Health programs using forests in Korea are still very limited and primarily comprise atopy-asthma prevention/management, health behavioral change, and mental health programs. This study provided useful information for developing health policies and forest health promotion programs further in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.94 no.3 s.160
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• pp.183-190
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• 2005

This study was carried out to find out the possibility for developing methodologies on the index for forest sustainability and to assess sustainability indices of metropolitan and provincial districts based on conditions of their forest health and management programmes in Korea. To find out some indicators to be utilized in developing the forest sustainability indices, total 84 possible indicators were selected and combined from 69 major programmes contained in the 4th Forest Development Plan and the Forest Vision for 21st Century and other 15 indicators selected separately from other forest policies. Those candidate indicators were reviewed throughly under evaluation processes and 33 indicators were finally chosen in developing the forest sustainability indices. Those indicators were classified into 3 categories, namely indicators for pressure, state, and response. Forest health could be represented by pressure and state indicators, while forest management programmes could be assessed by response indicators. Scores of importance for each indicator were assigned through Delphi survey and analyzed to project the extra weight value by summing rankings given to each index an applied to the standardized value of each index. Forest sustainability indices of metropolitan and provincial districts were analyzed and compared, based on relevant data of the year 2002. This study was kind a preliminary one in forest sustainability index and the names of metropolitan and provincial districts were not identified in this study. The indices could be very valuable in assessing quantitatively the level of forest health and intensity of forest management programmes in each districts and comparisons could be made among them, if all self-governing districts agree unanimously on the indices of forest sustainability and relevant indicators chosen in the study.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.1
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• pp.75-84
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• 2010

For policies and actions associated promotion of social and environmental benefits of forest in Korea, various polices have been progressed based on newly established ordinances along with full progresses of subdivision of the Forest Law since reorganization of regulatory system by functions focused on the Basic Forestry Act. In these policies, water resource conserving function and national land conserving function which have little close relation to the people's daily life including formation of forest for conservation of water supply and erosion control have continued to be promoted since 1970s. Especially in recently years, the policy of biodiversity conserving function according to importance of health and recreation function and conservation management of forest ecosystem and animal and plant are being promoted actively. Among them, the health and recreation functions is featured for various policies to be promoted in spite of small budget for responding actively to various forest recreation demands after settlement of 5-day workweek system. It seems because the health and recreation function could obtain visible results of governmental investment and high responses from the peoples as a function having close relationship with the people's daily life.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a forest-based health promotion program for vulnerable school children. Methods: The specific process for program development involved establishing a program goal, assessing the needs of the participants, analyzing existing programs and constructing a forest-based program. Results: Each session of the program, which consisted of a total of 10 sessions, included 40 to 50 minutes of indoor education for children's physical and psychosocial health and 60 to 70 minutes of forest experience activities with nursing student mentors. For the application of the program, guidelines for mentor selection and prior education, physical environment check, children's safety, criteria for evaluation of the program effects and operation of the program were developed. Conclusion: This study presents the specific procedures and contents for developing a forest-based program for vulnerable school children. The results of this study will provide useful data to develop a community-based program to promote the physical and psychosocial health of vulnerable school children.