• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1110-1119
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages could be promoted by particulate matter 2.5 (PM_2.5) stimulation. To this end, the levels of inflammatory parameters, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation-regulating genes were investigated in RAW 264.7 cells treated with PM_2.5 in the presence or absence of LPS. Our results showed that the production levels of pro-inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide and prostaglandin E₂) and cytokines (interleukin-6 and -1β) were significantly increased by PM_2.5 stimulation in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells, which was correlated with increased expression genes involved in their production. In addition, when LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells were exposed to PM_2.5, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) expression was further increased in the nucleus, and the expression of inhibitor of NF-κB as well as NF-κB in the cytoplasm was decreased. These results suggest that the co-treatment of PM_2.5 and LPS further increases the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway compared to each treatment alone, thereby contributing to the promotion of transcriptional activity of inflammatory genes. Furthermore, although the generation of ROS was greatly increased by PM_2.5 in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells, the NF-κB inhibitor did not reduce the generation of ROS. In addition, when the generation of ROS was artificially suppressed, the production of inflammatory mediators and the activation of NF-κB were both abolished. Therefore, our results suggest that the increase in the NF-κB-mediated inflammatory response induced by PM_2.5 in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages was a ROS generation-dependent phenomenon.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1010-1018
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• 2021

Although varieties of silkworms, which have recently attracted attention as a health functional food, are being produced, studies on the differences in the functionality of different silkworm varieties are insufficient. Therefore, in this study, the antioxidant activities of different silkworm breeds bred in domestic farms were analyzed, and the potential for their cultivation as specialized varieties with excellent antioxidant function was investigated. To compare antioxidant activity, four varieties of silkworms, white Bakokjam, Golden silk, Yeonokjam, and Hanseongjam, were bred; water and ethanol extracts of these silkworms were prepared on the 3rd and 5th days of the 5th instar larval stage. The highest extraction yield was seen for the water extract from the Golden silk variety on the 3rd day of the 5th instar; the highest total phenolic compound and flavonoid contents were observed for the water extract (86.11±4.04 ㎍/mg GE) and 70% (v/v) ethanol extract (46.70±2.81 ㎍/mg QE). Bakokjam and Yeonokjam exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity of up to 78% and showed the highest nitrite scavenging activity (85%) at pH 1.2. The maximum SOD-like activity of Yeonokjam was about 47%. Furthermore, 48 ㎍/ml of the Yeonokjam extract showed a reducing power of 0.7 abs, which was the best among the four varieties. Considering these results, the Yeonokjam (on the 3rd day of the 5th instar) had antioxidant activity and represents a silkworm cultivar that would be suitable for cultivation as a health food.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.279-289
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: Recently, the golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata has been used as an environmentally-friendly weed-control agent in rice farming. Although effective for this particular style of farming, P. canaliculata can be destructive to other crops. The objective of this study was to identify overwintering as well as regional and seasonal distribution characteristics of P. canaliculata. Notably, winter is typically fatal for P. canaliculata. However, owing to increasing average global temperatures, we assessed the ability of P. canaliculata to survive through uncharacteristically warm winters. METHODS AND RESULTS: To examine the distribution and overwintering regions of P. canaliculata, We conducted a survey from April 2020 to May 2021 on environmentally-friendly rice fields, agricultural waterways, and streams in 23 cities belonging to 8 provinces. In addition, because air temperature may influence the distribution density of P. canaliculata, we analyzed the winter temperature data (http://weather.rda.go.kr). CONCLUSION(S): In 2021, overwintering of P. canaliculata (1-3 individuals/m²) was observed in the Goheung and Yeongam regions in Jeonnam. Overwintering of P. canaliculata was observed in fewer regions in 2021 than in 2020; this fact may be attributed to the lower minimum temperatures measured in 2021 (approximately 8℃ lower) than those in 2020. Our results suggest that overwintering occurs as long as overnight temperatures are ≥ -15℃, but can take place if temperatures are as low as -19℃.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.136-142
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• 2022

According to media reports, the carcasses of euthanized abandoned dogs were processed at high temperature and pressure to make powder, and then used as feed materials (meat and bone meal), raising the possibility of residuals in the feed of the anesthetic ketamine and dexmedetomidine used for euthanasia. Therefore, a simultaneous analysis method using QuEChERS combined with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry was developed for rapid residue analysis. The method developed in this study exhibited linearity of 0.999 and higher. Selectivity was evaluated by analyzing blank and spiked samples at the limit of quantification. The MRM chromatograms of blank samples were compared with those of spiked samples with the analyte, and there were no interferences at the respective retention times of ketamine and dexmedetomidine. The detection and quantitation limits of the instrument were 0.6 ㎍/L and 2 ㎍/L, respectively. The limit of quantitation for the method was 10 ㎍/kg. The results of the recovery test on meat and bone meal, meat meal, and pet food showed ketamine in the range of 80.48-98.63 % with less than 5.00 % RSD, and dexmedetomidine in the range of 72.75-93.00 % with less than 4.83 % RSD. As a result of collecting and analyzing six feeds, such as meat and bone meal, prepared at the time the raw material was distributed, 10.8 ㎍/kg of ketamine was detected in one sample of meat and bone meal, while dexmedetomidine was found to have a concentration below the limit of quantitation. It was confirmed that the detected sample was distributed before the safety issue was known, and thereafter, all the meat and bone meal made with the carcasses of euthanized abandoned dogs was recalled and completely discarded. To ensure the safety of the meat and bone meal, 32 samples of the meat and bone meal as well as compound feed were collected, and additional residue investigations were conducted for ketamine and dexmedetomidine. As a result of the analysis, no component was detected. However, through this investigation, it was confirmed that some animal drugs, such as anesthetics, can remain without decomposition even at high temperature and pressure; therefore, there is a need for further investigation of other potentially hazardous substances not controlled in the feed.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.241-259
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• 2022

In general, the REE were produced by mining conventional deposits, such as the carbonatite or the clay-hosted REE deposits. However, because of the recent demand increase for REE in modern industries, unconventional REE deposits emerged as a necessary research topic. Among the unconventional REE recovery methods, the REE-bearing coal deposits are recently receiving attentions. R-types generally have detrital originations from the bauxite deposits, and show LREE enriched REE patterns. Tuffaceous-types are formed by syngenetic volcanic activities and following input of volcanic ash into the basin. This type shows specific occurrence of the detrital volcanic ash-driven minerals and the authigenic phosphorous minerals focused at narrow horizon between coal seams and tonstein layers. REE patterns of tuffaceous-types show flat shape in general. Hydrothermal-types can be formed by epigenetic inflow of REE originated from granitic intrusions. Occurrence of the authigenic halogen-bearing phosphorous minerals and the water-bearing minerals are the specific characteristics of this type. They generally show HREE enriched REE patterns. Each type of REE-bearing coal deposits may occur by independent genesis, but most of REE-bearing coal deposits with high REE concentrations have multiple genesis. For the case of the US, the rare earth oxides (REO) with high purity has been produced from REE-bearing coals and their byproducts in pilot plants from 2018. Their goal is to supply about 7% of national REE demand. For the coal deposits in Korea, lignite layers found in Gyungju-Yeongil coal fields shows coexistence of tuff layers and coal seams. They are also based in Tertiary basins, and low affection from compaction and coalification might resulted into high-REE tuffaceous-type coal deposits. Thus, detailed geologic researches and explorations for domestic coal deposits are required.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.2
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• pp.311-318
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• 2022

We conducted this study to derive the site index, which is a criterion for the planting of Robinia pseudoacacia, a honey plant, and to investigate the diameter distribution change by derived site index. We applied the Chapman-Richards equation model to estimate the site index of the Robinia pseudoacacia stand. The site index was distributed within the range of 16-22 when the base age was 30 years. The fitness index of the site index estimation model was low, but we judged that there was no problem in the application because the residual distribution of the equation had not shifted to one side. We used the Weibull diameter distribution function to determine the diameter distribution of the Robinia pseudoacacia stand by site index. We used the mean diameter and the dominant tree height as independent variables to present the diameter distribution, and our analysis procedure was to estimate and recover the parameters of the Weibull diameter distribution function. We used the mean diameter and the dominant tree height of the Robinia pseudoacacia stand to show distribution by diameter class, and the fitness index for dbh distribution estimation was about 80.5%. As a result of schematizing the diameter distribution by site indices as a 30-year-old, we found that the higher the site index, the more the curve of the diameter distribution moved to the right. This suggests that if the plantation were to be established in a high site index stand, considering the suitable trees on the site, the growth of Robinia pseudoacacia woul d become active, and not onl y the production of wood but al so the production of honey would increase. We therefore anticipate that the site index classification table and curve of this Robinia pseudoacacia stand will become the standard for decision making in the plantation and management of this tree.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.2
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• pp.201-223
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• 2022

Currently, species extinctions are increasing due to climate change and continued anthropogenic impact. We selected 300 species for conservation with emphasis on plants co-occurring in the Baekdudaegan area, which is a large ecological axis of Korea. We aimed to investigate the vegetation community and environmental characteristics of Zabelia tyaihyonii in the limestone habitat among the target plant species in the Baekdudaegan region to derive effective conservation strategies. In Danyang-gun, Yeongwol-gun, and Jecheon-si, we selected 36 investigation sites where Z. tyaihyonii was present. We investigated the vegetation, flora, soil and physical environment. We also found notable plants such as Thalictrum petaloideum, Sillaphyton podagraria, and Neillia uekii at the investigation sites. We classified forest vegetation community types into 4 vegetation units and 7 species group types. With canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of the vegetation community and habitat factors, we determined the overall explanatory power to be 75.2%, and we classified the environmental characteristics of the habitat of Z. tyaihyonii into a grouping of three. Among these, we detected a relationship between the environmental factors elevation, slope, organic matter, rock ratio, pH, potassium, and sodium. We identified numerous rare and endemic plants, including Thalictrum petaloideum, in the investigation site, and determined that these groups needed to be preserved at the habitat level. In the classification of the vegetation units analyzed based on the emerging plants and the CCA, we reaffirmed the uniqueness and specificity of the vegetation community in the habitat of Z. tyaihyonii. We anticipate that our results will be used as scientific evidence for the empirical conservation of the native habitats of Z. tyaihyonii.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.621-631
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to survey and analyze acorn production and characteristics of the Quercus acuta Thunb. according to the need for information on seed supply and seedling cultivation during the restoration of warm broad-leaved forests. For the survey, a total of 30 seed traps with a surface area of 1 m² were set up, 3 in each of 10 quadrats (8 in Wando, 1 in Haenam, and 1 in Jindo). The acorns that fell in the seed trap at the end of each month were collected from August to December each year between 2013 to 2016. The collected acorns were then classified into sound, damaged, decayed, or empty grade, and the number of acorns produced was calculated. In the case of sound acorns, acorn traits, such as length, diameter and weight of acorns without cupule, were measured. Duncan's multiple tests of acorn production and characteristics were conducted for comparative analysis of the annual average values with the values by year, stand, month, and treatment plot. The annual number of acorn dropped into the seed traps in each quadrat from 2013 to 2016 was 5-350 acorns/3 m² in 2013, 17-551 acorns/3 m² in 2014, 5-454 acorns/3 m² in 2015, and 14-705 acorns/3 m² in 2016. There was a large difference in acorn production between the quadrats, presumably attributed to the difference in the amount of light received due to the density of trees in the square. Annual acorn production per area was 335,000 acorns/ha in 2013, 932,000 acorns/ha in 2014, 556,000 acorns/ha in 2015, and 1,037,000 acorns/ha in 2016. That was a sharp variation of acorn production in the two-year cycle. As the fluctuation in the production of Q. acuta showed simultaneity between stands, it is judged that Quercus acuta Thunb. had a clear cycle of fruitfulness and fruitiness between forest objects. September showed the biggest amount of fallen acorns and largest damage from insect pests, indicating that preventing early fall of acorns could increase the fruiting period and enable mass production of sound acorns. There was no significant difference between annual average acorn length in each region. In the case of the acorn diameter and weight, the average values of acorns from Haenam were significantly higher than those from Wando and Jindo. There was no significant difference in the average annual acorn characteristics by month, and the average annual acorn length, diameter, and weight in November were 19.72mm, 12.23mm, and 1.64g, respectively, the highest between August and November.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.19-29
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• 2022

The result of a questionnaire survey conducted on fishermen using coastal fish traps shows that fall accidents during trap dropping and pulling constitute the highest proportion of accidents at 42.1 %, whereas slipping accidents on the deck or stricture accidents to the body due to the trap winding device constitute 21.1 % each. In addition, 53.2 % of all surveyed subjects responded that trap pulling is the most dangerous task, followed by fish sorting 33.8 %, and trap dropping 9.1 %. As for the main items requested by fishermen for improving the trap winding device, 36.8 % indicated a method to easily lift the trap from the water to the work deck, and 31.6 % indicated a method to overcome the rope tension and prevent slip when pulling the trap to reduce the accidents. The small trap fishing vessel winding device proposed herein can increase the winding force by strengthening the rope contact area and friction coefficient via an appropriate contact angle between the driving roller of the winding device and the rope. When the contact angles between the driving roller and the rope are 1°, 5°, 9°, 14° and 19°, the rope tension showed a difference according to each contact angle. When the contact angle is 9°, the rope tension is the highest at 392.62 kgf. Based on these experimental results, a prototype winding device is manufactured, and 25 traps are installed on a rope with a total length of 100 m at 4 m intervals in the sea, and then the rope tension is measured during trap pulling. As a result, the rope tension increases rapidly at the initial stage of trap pulling and shows the highest value of 31.89 kgf, which subsequently decreases significantly. Therefore, it is appropriate to design the winding force of a small trap fishing vessel winding device based on the maximum tension value of the rope specified at the beginning of the trap pulling operation.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.28-43
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• 2022

This study classified UAV image-based physical spatial types for parks in urban areas of Changwon City and analyzed thermal comfort characteristics according to physical spatial types by comparing them with ENVI-met thermal comfort results. Physical spatial types were classified into four types according to UAV-based NDVI and SVF characteristics. As a result of ENVI-met thermal comfort, the T_MRT difference between the tree-dense area and other areas was up to 30℃ or more, and it was 19. 6℃ at 16:00, which was the largest during the afternoon. As a result of analyzing UAV-based physical spatial types and thermal comfort characteristics by time period, it was confirmed that the physical spatial types with high NDVI and high SVF showed a similar to thermal comfort change patterns by time when using UAV, and the physical spatial types with dense trees and artificial structures showed a low correlation to thermal comfort change patterns by time when using UAV. In conclusion, the possibility of identifying the distribution of thermal comfort based on UAV images was confirmed for the spatial type consisting of open and vegetation, and the area adjacent to the trees was found to be more thermally pleasant than the open area. Therefore, in the urban planning stage, it is necessary to create an open space in consideration of natural covering materials such as grass and trees, and when using artificial covering materials, it is judged that spatial planning should be done considering the proximity to trees and buildings. In the future, it is judged that it will be possible to quickly and accurately identify urban climate phenomena and establish urban planning considering thermal comfort through ground LIDAR and In-situ measurement-based UAV image correction.