• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.296-307
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• 2016

Ecological restoration is an eco-technology, which heals the nature damaged by human activity by imitating organization and function of the integrate nature and thereby provide an inhabitable space for diverse organisms. Such an ecological restoration has to be carried out by applying restoration plan prepared based on the results of diagnostic evaluation discussed in the diversified respects. This study aims to prepare an ecological restoration plan of the damaged forest ecosystem in Mt. Moodeung National Park. To arrive at the goal, first of all, we diagnosed quality of forest landscape established in Mt. Moodeung National Park based on natural (topography, climate, and distribution of vegetation) and artificial (land use, linear landscape element) factors. In addition, we evaluated the integrity of each zone divided by linear landscape element quantitatively based on geometric property and land use intensity. As the result of analysis, topography of Mt. Moodeung National Park tended to be depended on weathering property of parent rock and vegetation zones were divided to three vegetation zones. Based on land use pattern, deciduous broad-leaved forest, evergreen needle-leaved forest, and mixed forest occupied about 90% of Mt. Moodeung National Park. Mean score of forest landscape quality was shown in $69.86{\pm}11.41$. As a result, forest landscape elements in Mt. Moodeung National Park were influenced greatly by human activity and the degree was depended on topographic condition. This study suggested the synthetic restoration plan to improve ecological quality of Mt. Moodeung National Park based on the results of diagnostic evaluation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.695-700
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the anti-oxidant and anti-microbial activity of syringin isolated from Cortex Fraxini to investigate their potential for use as safe natural compounds. Purified syringin was dissolved in distilled water for each concentration and used in each experiment. Syringin showed higher 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging than butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) at a concentration of 50 ㎍/ml. In 2,2'-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging, activity was similar to that of BHT at all concentrations. In antioxidant protection factor measurement, activity of syringin slightly increased as the concentration increased, as did the inhibitory effect of thiobarbutric acid reactive substances. In evaluating anti-microbial activity, the clear zones of Listeria monocytogenes KCTC 13064, Staphylococcus aureus KCTC 1916, Escherichia coli KCTC 2571, and Helicobacter pylori HPKCTC B0150 at a concentration of 200 ㎍/ml were found to be 17.8 mm, 20.45 mm, 17.05 mm, and 16.8 mm, respectively, but no clear zone was observed in the case of Candida albicans ATCC 10231. The activity against water-soluble antioxidants was therefore superior to that against lipid-soluble antioxidants. Anti-microbial activity was examined by inhibiting growth against gram-positive and -negative strains, and anti-fungal activity was not observed. Based on the results of this study, syringin has possible applications as a natural anti-oxidant and anti-microbial material.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.191-198
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• 2013

Cryptomeria japonica pollen is the most common pollen, which are scattering during each spring season in Japan. Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) pollinosis is one of seasonal allergic rhinitis that mainly occurs in Japan. In addition, long range transportation of Yellow Sand from the East Asian continent was also found during the pollen scattering seasons in Japan. Therefore, the interaction or impact between pollen and Yellow Sand should be concerned. In this study, our objective was to investigate the airborne behaviour of Cryptomeria japonica pollen grains and its size-segregated allergenic (Cry j 1) particles as the airborne tracer of Cryptomeria japonica pollen during the Yellow Sand events. Airborne Cryptomeria japonica pollen grains and its size-segregated allergenic particles were collected at roadside of urban residential zones of Saitama city during the pollination periods from February to March in two year investigation of 2009 and 2010. The overlap of Yellow Sand events and dispersal peak of pollen grains was observed. According to the Meteorological data, we found that the peaks of airborne pollen grains appeared under higher wind speed and temperature than the previous day. It was thought that Yellow Sand events and airborne pollen counts were related to wind speed. From the investigation of the airborne behavior of the size-segregated allergen particles by determining Cry j 1 with Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), the higher concentrations of the allergenic Cry j 1 were detected in particle size equal to or less than $1.1{\mu}m$($PM_{1.1}$) than other particle sizes during Yellow Sand events, especially in the rainy day. We conclude that rainwater trapping Yellow Sand is one of the important factors that affect the release of allergenic pollen species of Cry j 1. Therefore, it is very important to clarify the relationships between Cryptomeria japonica pollen allergenic species and chemical contents of the Yellow Sand particles in further studies.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.464-476
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the exposure levels of tollbooth workers to diesel particulate matter using black carbon (BC) and to find the correlations among variables associated with BC using the motor vehicle management act regulated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Methods: This study was performed over 14 days at a university in Seoul. BC levels were monitored using an aethalometer and were conducted around the breathing zones of the workers. There were three sampling locations: inside the tollbooth (front gate and rear gate) and an office as a control group. T-test, correlation, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed using SPSS. Results: The geometric mean (GM) of BC_30min concentrations in the exposure group was 2.44 ㎍/㎥, approximately 1.4 times higher than the control group (1.75 ㎍/㎥). The GM of BC_30min concentrations was 2.75 ㎍/㎥ during the heavy traffic time (9-10 am) and 2.30 ㎍/㎥ during non-heavy traffic times (p<0.001). The multiple linear regression analysis shows that the number of all types of vehicles and PM_2.5 concentrations in the atmosphere were factors increasing the GM of BC(ln(BC_30min)) concentrations (adjusted R²=0.42, p<0.001). The workers were constantly exposed to low concentrations (GM of BC_30min=2.44 ㎍/㎥), but they were exposed to peak concentrations instantly (BC_10sec=3545.04 ㎍/㎥). When the GM of BC_30min concentrations was momentarily represented as high, it was identified that a vehicle mainly using diesel fuel or an aging vehicle had passed. Conclusions: A ventilation system should be installed in the closed tollbooth or aging vehicles should be controlled so as not to pass tollbooths.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2024

Background: Honey bees play a crucial role in pollination and ecological balance. Apis mellifera L. colonies, especially those located in specific geographic regions, such as the palm garden in Eastern Thailand, are susceptible to potential threats from microbial contaminants. Understanding and detecting microbial organisms in these beehives is essential for the preservation of bee health, honey production, and the broader ecosystem. However, the problem of microbial infection and antibiotic-resistant bacteria is more severe and continuously increasing, resulting in a health, economic, and social crisis. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of microorganisms in A. mellifera beehives in palm gardens in Rayong province, Eastern Thailand. Results: Ten swabs in transport media were swabbed and obtained from different parts of each beehive (1 swab per beehive), for a total of 10 hives. Traditional microbial culture-based methods, biochemical tests, and antimicrobial susceptibility (disc-diffusion) tests were used to detect microbial organisms and antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The swab tests from nine beehives resulted in the detection of Gram-positive bacteria (63.64%), Gram-negative bacteria (27.27%), and fungi/yeast (9.09%). These microorganisms are classified as a group of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. and made up 40.91% of the bacteria discovered. Other bacteria found were Coryneform bacteria (13.64%), Pantoea spp. (13.64%), Bacillus spp. (9.09%), yeast (9.09%), glucose non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli (9.09%), and Pseudomonas spp. (4.55%). However, due to the traditional culture-based and 0biochemical tests usually used to identify the microbial organisms in clinical specimens and the limitation of identifying some environmental microbial species, the results of the antimicrobial susceptibility test cannot reveal if the organism is resistant or susceptible to the drug. Nevertheless, drug-sensitive inhibition zones were formed with each antibiotic agent. Conclusions: Overall, the study supports prevention, healthcare, and public health systems. The contamination of microorganisms in the beehives may affect the quality of honey and other bee products or even the health of the beekeeper. To avoid this kind of contamination, it is therefore necessary to wear personal protective equipment while harvesting honey and other bee products.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.18-27
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to understand the scale of temperature change following large-scale urban developments in paddy fields to present possible measures to preserve suburban area paddy fields and to lower the scale of temperature increase after developing paddy fields in urban areas. The study was conducted in Bupyeong and Bucheon of Incheon Metropolitan City. The satellite image($1989{\sim}2000$) before and after the development of old paddy fields were used to analyze the land surface temperature changes according to the land use types. Building coverage, green coverage, non-permeable pavement coverage, and floor area ratio(FAR) were selected as the factors that influence urban temperature changes and the temperature estimation model was constructed by using correlation and regression analyses. The before and after satellite images of Bupyeong and Bucheon were classified into forests, greens and plantations, paddy fields, unused lands, and urban areas. The results indicate that most of the paddy fields that existed in the center of Bupyeong and Bucheon were converted into unused lands which were undergoing construction to become new urban areas. The difference between the surface temperatures of May 17th, 1989 and May 7th, 2000 was analyzed to reveal that most land converted from paddy fields to unused lands or urban areas saw an increase in surface temperature. Han River was used as a comparison to analyze the average surface temperature changes($1989{\sim}2000$) in former paddy fields. The scale of temperature changes were: $+1.6697^{\circ}C$ in urban parks; $+2.5503^{\circ}C$ in residential zones; $+2.9479^{\circ}C$ on public lands, $+3.0385^{\circ}C$ in commercial zones, and $+3.1803^{\circ}C$ in educational zones. The correlation between building coverage, green coverage, non-permeable pavement coverage, or floor area ratio(FAR) and surface temperature increases was also analyzed. The green coverage to temperature increases, but building coverage, non-permeable pavement coverage, and floor area ratio(FAR) had no statistically significant temperature increases. The factors that influence urban temperature changes were set up as independent variables and the surface temperature changes as dependent variables to construct a surface temperature change model for the land use types of former paddy fields. As a result of regression analysis, green coverage was selected as the most significant independent variable. According to regression analysis, if farmland is converted into an urban area, a temperature increase of $+3.889^{\circ}C$ is anticipated with 0% green coverage. The temperature saw a decrease of $-0.43^{\circ}C$ with every 10% increase of green coverage.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.61-77
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• 1994

The calcium-binding proteins (CaBP), parvalbumin (PV) and calbindin-D 28K (calbindin) are particularly abundant and specific in their distribution, and present in different subsets of neurons in many brain regions. Although their physiological roles in the neurons have not been elucidated, they are valuable markers of neuronal subpopulations for anatomical and developmental studies. This study is designed to characterize dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) neurons and axon terminals in terms of differential expression of immunoreactivity (IR) for two well-known CaBPs, PV and calbindin. The experiments were carried out on 6 adult monkeys. Monkeys were perfused under deep Nembutal anesthesia with 2% paraformaldehyde and 0.2% glutaraldehyde in 0.1M phosphate buffer. After removal, the brains were postfixed for 6-8 hr in 2% paraformaldehyde at $4^{\circ}C$ and infiltrated with 30% sucrose at $4^{\circ}C$. Thereafter, they were frozen in dry ice. Serial sections of the thalamus, at $20{\mu}m$, were made in the frontal plane with a sliding microtome. The sections were stained for PV and calbindin with indirect immunocytochemical methods. For electron microscopy, after infiltration with 30% sucrose the blocks of thalamus were serially sectioned at $50{\mu}m$ with a Vibratome in the coronal plane and stained immediately by indirect ABC methods without Triton X-100 in incubation medium. Stained sections were postfixed in 0.2% osmium tetroxide, dehydrated and flat-embedded in Spurr resin. The block was then trimmed to contain only a selected lamina or interlaminar space. The dLGN proper showed strong PV IR in fibers in all laminae and interlaminar zones. Particularly dense staining was noted in layers 1 and 2 that contain many stained fibers from optic tract. Neuronal cell body stained with PV was concentrated only in the laminae. In these laminae staining was moderate in cell bodies of all large and medium-sized neurons, and was strong in cell bodies of some small neurons together with their processes. Calbindin IR was marked in the neuronal cell body and neuropil in the S layers and interlaminar zones whereas moderate in the neuropil throughout the nucleus. Regional difference in distribution of PV and calbindin IR cell is distinct; the former is only in the laminae and the latter in both the S layer and interlaminar space. The CaBP-IR elements were confined to about $10{\mu}m$ in depth of Vibratome section. The IR product for CaBP was mainly associated with synaptic vesicle, pre- and post-synaptic membrane, and outer mitochondrial membrane and along microtubule. PV-IR was noted in various neuronal elements such as neuronal soma, dendrite, RLP, F, PSD and some myelinated or unmyelinated axons, and was not seen in the RSD and glial cells. Only a few neuronal components in dLGN was IR for calbindin and its reaction product was less dense than that of PV, and scattered throughout cytoplasm of soma of some relay neurons, and was also persent in some dendrite, myelinated axons and RLP. The RSD, F, PSD and glial elements were always non-IR for calbindin. Calbindin labelled RLP were presynaptic to unlabeled dendrite or dendritic spine and PSD. Calbindin-labeled dendrite of various sizes were always postsynaptic to unlabeled RSD, RLP or F. From this study it is suggested that dLGN cells of different functional systems and their differential projection to the visual cortex can be distinguished by differential expression of PV and calbindin.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.51-61
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• 2016

This study was carried out to assess the carbon budget of two urban parks and one natural park and to prepare the plan for improving the ecological functions of the park including carbon sink. Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) of those study sites was calculated from the relationship between Net Primary Production (NPP) and soil respiration of each study site. To understand carbon budget of the whole area designated as the park, carbon budget of the urban park was analyzed by classifying the vegetated and the non-vegetated zones. NEP of the Nohae and the Sanggye parks calculated by reflecting areal size that the non-vegetated zones occupy were shown in -1.0 and $0.6\;ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$, respectively. On the other hand, NEP of Mt. Bulam natural park as a reference site was in $2.3\;ton\;C\;ha^{-1}yr^{-1}$. Based on the result, the Nohae park was assessed as carbon source rather than carbon sink. On the other hand, the Sanggye park was classified as carbon sink but the role was poor compared with natural park. The result is, first of all, due to lower NPP of the vegetation introduced for the parks compared with natural vegetation. The other reason is due to wide arrangement of non-vegetated zone. To solve those problems and thereby to create the urban park with high ecological quality, selection of plant species suitable for the ecological characteristic of the park, their arrangement imitated natural vegetation, and ecological zoning were recommended.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.21-40
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• 2023

This study analyzed the cold air characteristics of the Nakdong Jeongmaek, which is advantageous for the formation of cold air that can flow into the city, in order to suggest the wind ventilation corridor plans, which have recently been increasing interest as a way to improve the urban thermal environment. In addition, based on the watershed analysis, specific cold-air watershed areas were established and management plans were suggested to expand the cold air function of the Nakdong Jeongmaek. As a result of the analysis of cold air in the Nakdong Jeongaek, cold air was strongly generated in the northern forest of the Jeongamek, and flowed into nearby cities along the valley topography. On average, the speed of cold air was high in cities located to the east of the Jeongmaek, while the height of cold air layer was high in cities located to the west. By synthesizing these cold air characteristics and watershed analysis results, the cold-air watershed area was classified into 8 zones, And the plans were proposed to preserve and strengthen the temperature reduction of the Jeongmaek by designating the zones as 'Conservation area of Cold-air', 'Management area of Cold-air', and 'Intensive management area of Cold-air'. In addition, in order to verify the temperature reduction of cold air, the effect of night temperature reduction effect was compared with the cold air analysis using weather observation data. As a result, the temperature reduction of cold air was confirmed because the night temperature reduction was large at the observation station with strong cold air characteristics. This study is expected to be used as basic data in establishing a systematic preservation and management plan to expand the cold air function of the Nakdong Jeongmaek.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.207-215
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• 2012

Phenolic compounds of $17.9{\pm}1.0mg/g$ were extracted from Ulmus pumila with 70% ethanol. The elastase inhibitory activity related with forming wrinkle was shown an excellent wrinkle improvement effect in 70% ethanol extracts as 55.5-69.5% at phenolic concentration of $50-200{\mu}g/mL$. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity related with skin-whitening was 24% in 70% ethanol extracts at phenolic concentration of $200{\mu}g/mL$. The astringent activity of 70% ethanol extracts was shown activity of 71% at phenolic concentration of $200{\mu}g/mL$ therefore it is judged that there is a high effect on pores reduction of the skin. The hyaluronidase inhibitory activity of U. pumila extracts was confirmed anti-inflammation effect of 80% at phenolic concentration of $50{\mu}g/mL$. Antimicrobial activity of U. pumila water extracts was shown each 8.7, 10.0, 11.1 and 11.8 mm clear zones on Propionebacterium acnes at phenolic concentration of $50-200{\mu}g/mL$. The stability of the multi-functional cosmetic (lotion) added U. pumila extracts was very stable for 28 days without changing of pH and viscosity also it's stable on temperature and sun lights. As the concentration of extracts was increased, the color of lotion was getting dark, but the sensory evaluation was high at score of 8.5.