• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.560-569
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• 2003

Background : A large number of pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and ozone influence on the body. These pollutants put a burden on the lung and the sequelae resulting from the oxidative stress are thought to contribute to the development of fibrotic lung disease, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and lung cancer. Also, carbon monoxide generated from the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing compounds is an important component of air pollution caused by traffic exhaust fumes and has the toxic effect of tissue hypoxia and produce various systemic and neurologic complications. The objective of this study is to compare the difference of pulmonary function and serum carboxyhemoglobin(CO-Hb) level between the traffic policemen and clerk policemen. Method : Three hundred and twenty-nine of traffic policemen, and one hundred and thirty clerk policemen were included between 2001 May and 2002 August. The policemen who took part in this study were asked to fill out a questionnaire which included questions on age, smoking, drinking, years of working, work-related symptoms and past medical history. The serum CO-Hb level was measured by using carboxyoximeter. Pulmonary function test was done by using automated spirometer. Additional tests, such as elecrocardiogram, urinalysis, chest radiography, blood chemistry, and CBC, were also done. Results : $FEV_1(%)$ was $97.1{\pm}0.85%$, and $105.7{\pm}1.21%$(p<0.05). FVC(%) was $94.6{\pm}0.67%$, and $102.1{\pm}1.09%$, respectively(p<0.05). Serum CO-Hb level was $2.4{\pm}0.06%$, and $1.8{\pm}0.08%$(p<0.05). After correction of confounding factors (age, smoking), significant variables were FVC(%), $FEV_1(%)$ and serum CO-Hb level(%)(p<0.05). Conclusion : Long exposure to air pollution may influence the pulmonary function and serum CO-Hb level. But, further prospective cohort study will be needed to elucidate detailed influences of specific pollutants on pulmonary function and serum carboxyhemoglobin level.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2009

Employing the Numata-type life form, the paper analyzed changes of plants for 4 years at the Human-made Wetlands along Boknaecheon of Juam Lake since its creation. The number of the species planted at the Human-made Wetlands along Boknaecheon of Juam Lake, which was completed in December 2002, were 15 in total including, 10 families, 13 genera, 12 species and 3 varieties. As for the three-featured life forms of the planted species, there were 6 perennial hydatophytes, recording the biggest number of species in dormancy form; species each of $R_5$, $R_3$, $R_{2-3}$ respectively in radicoid from; 20 species of geomantic dissenminule form ($D_1$) in disseminule form and erecred type(e) existed the most in growth form. With regard to the 3 features of life form identified during the final year of the monitoring that lasted 5 years after the completion of the Wetlands, the number of species and individuals was found to have increased but there was no significant change of tendency as against the composition ration(%) of life form. There were 43 species of therophytes (Th) that covered 24.29% in dormancy form, while $R_5$ was prevalent in radicoid form and $D_4$, $D_1$, and $D_{1,4}$ comprosed 77.39% of the whole disseminule form. Growth form was surveyed in the order of erected type (e), bunch type (t), temporal rosette type (pr), branch type (b) and straight rosette type (ps) and these species comprised 64.97% of the whole flora. Consequently, in case of the artificial wetlands along the Boknaecheon of Juam Lake, it turned out that the vegetation type in which pioneer species of succession, or gradually stabilized perennial vegetation favoring Wetlands because the higher dormancy form has its perennial plants' composition ratio getting, the more its succession is progressing. Even though single grained plants ($R_5$) belonging to radicoid in breeding form, succession is predicted to take place considering the fact that they actually belong to ~ plants like Phragmites japonica that form a connection on the surface of the earth. In addition, it is judged that geomantic disseminule form ($D_1$) conveyed by water and gravitational disseminule form favored by the development of waterside woody plants ($D_4$) seem to be better fit to this area in desseminule form. As for growth form, bunch type (t) is judged to become prevalent on the Wetlands while a good variety of phanerophytes will coexist on the earth due to artificial as well as natural disturbances.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.307-316
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• 2015

Beetle larvae have been used as a traditional medicine to treat various human liver diseases. To prove the liver protective function of Allomyrina dichotoma larvae (ADL), we induced liver damage by the intraperitoneal injection of a hepatotoxic reagent, diethylnitrosamine (DEN), to C3H/HeN male mice and orally administered freeze-dried ADL powder. ADL powder lessened DEN-induced hepatotoxicity considering the reduced signs of acute and chronic hepatotoxicities, such as the ALP level in the blood serum, TUNEL-positive hepatocytes, ductural reactions, steatotic hepatocytes, and collagen deposition of the Masson’s trichrome staining. In addition to hepatoprotection, the anti-cancer activity of ADL has been examined. The ADL powder was extracted with ethanol and then fractionated with hexane, ethyl acetate, and water by a solvent partition technique. The ethyl acetate fraction showed cytotoxicity to various cancer cells through induction of apoptosis and necrosis, as well as the perturbed metabolism of the cancer cell to trigger autophagy. Collectively, ADL contains bioactive substances that can protect hepatocytes from toxic chemicals and trigger cell death in cancer cells. Thus, further purification and analyses of ADL fractions could lead to the identification of novel bioactive compounds.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.310-321
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• 2014

Change in fish species composition after the Hebei Spirit oil spill in December 2007 off Taean were determined by analysis of samples collected in Mailpo beach, 10 km south from the oil spill site and polluted by the crude oil. Fish samples were collected by a beach seine in the shallow water at Malipo beach during the low tide of the new moon from February 2008 to December 2009. Five seine hauls were made during the day and the night in each sampling time. Monthly day and night samples did not show the significant differences in species composition. A total of 21 species, 1,032 individuals and 6,544 g of fish were collected in 2008, and 31 species, 4,206 individuals and 35,659 g of fish in 2009. The species collected were composed of the small-sized fish or juveniles. Abundant fishes were the resident species in coastal water, and the migrants were low in abundance. Among the fish occurred, Chelon haematochelius, Sebastes schlegelii, Takifugu niphobles and Pleuronectes yokohamae were predominated in abundance of both years. Monthly fish abundance and species diversity in 2008 were significantly lower than those in 2009. A few number of resident fish were collected from February to June 2008 showing the lowest in May 2008, and fish abundance increased from July 2008. The number of species and abundance of fish in 2009 were increased in spring as the temperature raised, showed a peak in summer and decreased in autumn. This monthly variation in fish species composition and abundance was similar to those in the non-polluted water in other temperate waters. Low fish abundance during several months after oil spill was considered to be related to the residual oil in the water and habitat disturbance due to oil cleaning activity in the beach. Monthly fish species compositions after September 2008 were similar to those of 2009 suggested that the impact on the shallow water fish by the oil residuals was not too significant at least to the fish species composition after September 2008.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.107-119
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• 1996

To understand vegetation changes along environmental gradients in the natural forests in the east side of the Cascade Range in Washington state, USA, line transects were used to sample six different forest environments in the Wenatchee National Forest in the north-facing and south-facing sites at 975, 1280 and 1700m elevation. Data were analyzed using ordination by detranded correspondence analysis. Pseudotsuga menziesii was found as one of the dominant species on all the six sites regardless of elevation or aspect, while Pinus ponderosa was dominant on south slopes only. Abies grandis and A. lasiocarpa were dominant species on north slopes at elevations of 1280 and 1700m, respectively. Moisture, as it related to aspect, was identified as one of the most important environmental gradients for explaining the variation of vegetation types. On north-facing slopes, compared to south-facing slopes, where moisture was not as limiting and canopies could grow denser, probably, elevation or competitive interaction was more important. Species diversity tended to decrease with increasing environmental severity, with south slopes having less diversity than north slopes due to extended water stress and harsher temperature extremes on south slopes. The age structure on north-facing and south-facing slopes was different. Light intensity, moisture and climate were different between these two slopes. Large scale disturbances(e.g., big fire or insects) were major causes in changing age structure. Younger trees showed a closer relationship between size and age than adult trees. DBH values of shade intolerant species in south-facing slope were bigger than those of north-facing slope, which suggested that aspect of stands be the most important factor for age and size.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 1992

The aim of this research is to obtain a basic quantitative understanding of the effect of a noncondensable gas on the absorption of water vapor by a $H_2O$ / LiBr combination with n-octanol as the surfactant. Nonflowing aqueous solutions of LiBr (40,45,50 mass％) were exposed to saturated water vapor following the addition of an n-octanol sufactant (0.01 and 0.6 mass％). A small amount of a noncondensable gas (air) was allowed into the absorber (0.03 volume％) and its effect was analyzed by measuring the amount of water vapor absorbed. This study will aid to predict the performance of heat pump and safety operating condition when the noncondensable gas is not allowed in the absorber The results indicate that, in the presence of small amounts of a noncondensable gas, vapor absorption enhancement ratios are less than half o( those obtained under the same experimental conditions when a noncondensable gas is not present (1). The presence of a noncondensable gas causes the partial vapor pressure of air to increase at the vapor / liquid interface, which results in an instability of vapor absorption rate nd. hence, in an inhibition of interfacial disturbance.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.60-78
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• 2010

To clarify the distribution of vascular plants and their usefulness in Heoninlleung, Ecological Landscape Conservation Areas of Seoul, we investigated it from April, 2006 to June, 2009. Total 313 taxa; 68 families, 191 genera, 264 species, 41 varieties and 8 forma were distributed in Heoninlleung. Among them, 37 taxa were highly abundant everywhere (3A), 16 taxa were highly abundant locally (3B), 70 taxa were moderately abundant everywhere (2A), 96 taxa were common in certain regions locally (2B), 9 taxa were rare but observed everywhere with low frequency (2A) and 85 taxa were rare and observed locally (1B). The economic plants were 293 taxa. There were 156 taxa of edible source, 223 taxa of medicinal source, 141 taxa of ornamental source, 69 taxa of pastoral source, 12 taxa of industrial, and 8 taxa of timber source. Twelve Korean endemic plants were collected. Based on the list of rare plants by the Korea National Arboretum and Ministry of Environment, 2 rare species were found. The specific species of I~V grades by phytogeography were 19 taxa. And twentyfour taxa of naturalized plant species were distributed. Naturalization Index was 7.7% and Urbanization Index was 8.4% in the investigated area.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.85-97
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• 2010

This study analyzed the distribution, structure and environmental condition of the vegetation of the Chionanthus retusus Lindly et Paxton community at the Wansanchielbong in the Jeonju city to offer basic data for sustainable conservation and ecological management system. And the results are as follows; 1. The average pH of soil at the community was pH 5.69 and it was slightly higher than the average of forest soil pH of Korea. But if the degree of pH will be down, it will be needed some more fertilization of Calcium. 2. The total average for contents of organism was 4.98%. And the nitrate - nitrogen content(mg/kg) of A, B, C, D quadrat was 20.29%, 28.87%, 7.65%, and 23.3% respectively. And there were good condition except quadrat C which was contaminated by amount of earth and sand. 3. The flora of the Chionanthus retusus Lindly et Paxton community was listed as 60 taxa; 37 families, 50 genera, 47 species, 10 varieties and 3 forms. The average appearance species of each Quadrat were A sector 30, B sector 26, C sector 19 and D 19 taxa respectively. 4. Surveyed woody plants in the community were as follows : Chionanthus retusus, Zelkova serrata, Quercus variabilis, Cornus walteri, Robinia pseudo-acacia and those were mixed status. And Chionanthus retusus, Zelkova serrata, Robinia pseudo-acacia, Albizzia julibrisin, Cudrania tricuspidata, Symplocos chinensis for. pilosa were mixed in mid layer trees. Herbaceous plants were founded such as Chionanthus retusus, Zelkova serrata, Robinia pseudo-acacia, Grewia parviflora, Rosa multiflora, Trachelospermum asiaticum was dominant with 35~64% in the ground cover, and Commelina communis, Calamagrostis arundinacea, Dryopteris bissetiana, Lilium lancifolium were founded also. 5. The importance values of Chionanthus retusus was 40.2% in the quadrat A1, 50.2% at quadrat A, 50.0% B1, 45.2% B2, 22.4% C1, 73.6% C2, 33.2% D1 and the total average of I.V. was 44.9%. 6. The average height of surveyed Chionanthus retusus was 5.7m and the average DBH was 12.4cm. The number of trees higher than 2m were 107 and the number of trees lower than 2m were 63. The total numbers of Chionanthus retusus were 170. 7. The age of surveyed Chionanthus retusus were analyzed 42 thru 87 years old and that of Zelkova serrata were 42, Quercus variabilis were 60, Quercus aliena were 48, Robinia pseudo-acacia were 40. 8. The number of trees with DBH 40 through 50cm were 6, and that of 30~39cm were 3, and that of 20~29cm were 16, so the total number that was over 20cm was 25. And there were 70 trees under 10cm of DBH and 63 seedlings. It will be very important data to conserve the habitat that the structure and environmental condition of the Chionanthus retusus Lindly et Paxton community at the Wansanchielbong was stable, and sustainable monitoring will be needed. Now that community is nurse forest of Jeonju City but more positive preservation plan will be needed and assigning monument of city or province also be necessary.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.396-418
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• 2018

This study was carried out to investigate the flora and the vegetation of Samusan mountain on Jecheon-si, located in the middle part of the Korean peninsula. The vascular plants which were collected in 9 times from June 2014 to October 2015 were identified as 502 taxa in total, including 102 families, 314 genera, 445 species, 6 subspecies, 49 varieties, 1 form and 1 hybrid. The largest families were as follows; Asteraceae (70 taxa), Poaceae (52 taxa), Rosaceae (30 taxa), Fabaceae (28 taxa), and Cyperaceae (20 taxa). Of them, Korean endemic plants numbered 10 taxa, and vascular plants listed in the red data according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) numbered 14 taxa. The floristic regional indicator plants found in this area were 61 taxa in total. Among them, 5 taxa revealed the floristic grade V, 11 for floristic grade IV, 14 for floristic grade III, 10 for floristic grade II, and 21 for floristic grade I. The alien plants were identified as 43 taxa and the percentage of naturalized index (NI) was 8.6%, and urbanization index (UI) was 13.4%, respectively. Samples of the forest vegetation on the Samusan Mt. were mainly classified as Pinus densiflora, Quercus variabilis, Q. acutissima, Q. mongolica, Zelkova serrata and Robinia pseudoacacia forest. The vertical structures of the forest were stable and the DBH-Class analyses showed that the dominant tree species would be maintained. In the surveyed areas, high plant diversity was shown, and a number of endemic, rare, calcicole plants and phytogeographically important plants were found. Nonetheless, numerous and diverse biological resources native have been consistently disturbed or damaged by human activities without some form of protection. Therefore, it is needed to set up strategies for conservation forest vegetation in this study area.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.435-448
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the changes in the nutrient intake and the prevalences of obesity and metabolic syndrome according to the eating alone behavior in middle-aged men and women. Methods: The data from the 2013 ~ 2017 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. A total of 7,728 adults (3,404 male, 4,324 female) aged 40 ~ 64 years old were included. The subjects were classified into three groups according to the number of times eating alone per day (0, 1 ~ 2, and 3 times/day). Dietary data were collected by a 1-day 24-h recall. The nutrient intakes were compared among the three groups. Survey logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association of the eating alone behavior with obesity and metabolic syndrome, adjusting for the related confounding variables. Results: In men, eating alone was associated significantly with a lower intake of potassium (p-for-trend = 0.048) and lower intake of calories from protein (p-for-trend = 0.04). In women, the proportion of subjects consuming energy less than 75% of the estimated energy requirement (p = 0.001) and less than the estimated adequate requirement of riboflavin (p < 0.001) differed significantly according to the eating alone behavior. The eating alone behavior was positively associated with an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome (p-for-trend = 0.033), increased blood pressure (p-for-trend < 0.001), and increased waist circumference (p-for-trend = 0.004). On the other hand, in women, however, the eating alone behavior was associated with a decreased risks of developing obesity (p-for-trend = 0.02). No association was found between the eating alone behavior and the risk of metabolic syndrome in women. Conclusion: These results suggest that the eating alone behavior is a risk factor for the development of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged Korean men.