• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.115-125
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• 2021

This study surveyed the population ecology of Acheilognathus chankaensis (Pisces: Acheilognathinae) in the vicinity of the Churyeongcheon (Stream) and Seomjingang (River) in Jeonbuk, Korea, from February 2006 to May 2007. The survey found the habits mainly in the slow-flowing waters having sand, mud, and gravel bottoms. Age groups estimated by the standard length-frequency distribution of the population indicated that the one-year-olds were 30-46 mm long, the two-year-olds were 47-58 mm long, the three-year-olds were 59-68 mm long, and the four-year-olds were longer than 69 mm. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) and the ratio of ovipositor length/standard length were the highest in March (♀: 12.9%, ♂: 5.0%) and in April (46.3%), respectively. The ratio of mature egg diameters that were 1.6 mm was highest in May (13.2%). The comprehensive analysis of spawning characteristics showed that the spawning season was from March to June with water temperatures in 11.5-22.5℃, and the sex ratio of female:male was 1:1.13. The fecundity in the ovaries and the number of mature eggs were 318±174.5 (50~583) and 220±139.2 (50~406), respectively. The size of the mature eggs was 2.04±0.110 mm on the long axis and 1.55±0.100 mm on the short axis for the study period. Gut contents of A. chankaensis were mainly phytoplankton such as the genera Fragilaria, Synedra, Navicular, Cymbella (Bacillariophyceae), and Cosmarium (Chlorophyceae).

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.395-411
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• 2020

Background: This study investigated the anti-obesity effect of the flavonoid rich fraction (FRF) and its constituent, rutin obtained from the leaf of Morus alba L., on the lipid accumulation mechanism in 3T3-L1 adipocyte and C57BL/6 mouse models. Methods and Results: In Oil Red O staining, FRF (1,000 ㎍/㎖) treatments showed inhibition rate of 35.39% in lipid accumulation compared to that in the control. AdipoRedTM assay indicated that the triglyceride content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with FRF (1,000 ㎍/㎖) was reduced to 23.22%, and free glycerol content was increased to 106.04% that of the control. FRF and its major constituent, rutin affected mRNA gene expression. Rutin contributed to the inhibition of Sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) gene expression, and inhibited the transcription factors SREBP-1c, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). In addition, the effect of FRF administration on obesity development in C57BL/6 mice fed high-fat diet (HFD) was investigated. FRF suppressed weight gain, and reduced liver triglyceride and leptin secretion. FRF exerted potential anti-inflammatory effects by improving insulin resistance and adiponectin levels, and could thus be used to help counteract obesity. The mRNA expressions of PPAR-γ, FAS, ACC, and CPT-1 were determined in liver tissue. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was also performed to evaluate the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in epididymal adipose tissue. Compared to the control group, mice fed the HFD showed the up-regulation in PPAR-γ, FAS, IL-6, and TNF-α genes, and down-regulation in CPT1 gene expression. FRF treatement markedly reduced the expression of PPAR-γ, FAS, IL-6, and TNF-α compared to those in HFD control, whereas increased the expression level of CPT1. Conclusions: These results suggest that the FRF and its major active constituent, rutin, can be used as effective anti-obesity agents.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.154-165
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• 2022

Humans have been breeding the mulberry silkworm for the long period of time to obtain silk fabric and nutrient-rich pupae. Currently, silkworm larvae, pupae, and silk-Fibroin hydrolysates are registered as food raw materials, while silkworm feces and Bombyx batryticatus are registered as Korean traditional medicines. Among sericulture products, individually recognized health functional food ingredients include silk-protein acid-hydrolysates for immunity enhancement, Fibroin-hydrolysates for memory improvement, and freeze-dried 5^th instar and 3^rd-day-silkworm powder for lowering-blood sugar. Recently, HongJam produced by steaming and freeze-drying mature silkworms were reported to have various health-promoting effects such as preventing the onset of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, enhancing gastro-intestinal functions, improving skin-whitening and hair growth, and extending healthspan. By consuming silkworm products with various health-promoting effects, it is possible to increase the healthspan of human beings, thereby reducing personal and national medical expenses, resulting in increasing the individual's happiness.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.38 no.6_1
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• pp.1069-1080
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• 2022

The tropospheric ozone is a pollutant that causes a great deal of damage to humans and ecosystems worldwide. In the event that ozone moves downwind from its source, a localized problem becomes a regional and global problem. To enhance ozone monitoring efficiency, geostationary satellites with continuous diurnal observations have been developed. The objective of this study is to derive the Tropospheric Ozone Movement Vector (TOMV) by employing continuous observations of tropospheric ozone from geostationary satellites for the first time in the world. In the absence of Geostationary Environmental Monitoring Satellite (GEMS) tropospheric ozone observation data, the GEOS-Chem model calculated values were used as synthetic data. Comparing TOMV with GEOS-Chem, the TOMV algorithm overestimated wind speed, but it correctly calculated wind direction represented by pollution movement. The ozone influx can also be calculated using the calculated ozone movement speed and direction multiplied by the observed ozone concentration. As an alternative to a backward trajectory method, this approach will provide better forecasting and analysis by monitoring tropospheric ozone inflow characteristics on a continuous basis. However, if the boundary of the ozone distribution is unclear, motion detection may not be accurate. In spite of this, the TOMV method may prove useful for monitoring and forecasting pollution based on geostationary environmental satellites in the future.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.39-46
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• 2021

Objectives : AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key metabolic regulator that reduces lipogenesis. AMPK is mainly activated via phosphorylation of liver kinase B (LKB) 1 under energy stress. Here, we highlighted the anti-obesity effect and underlying mechanism of Coix lacryma-jobi var. mayuen Stapf sprout water extract (CSW) sprout extract in connection with the LKB1/AMPK signaling pathway. Methods : C57BL/6 mice (20~25 g) fed HFD to induce obesity and at the same time administered CSW 100 mg/kg (CSWL; (CSWL; CSW low concentration) or CSW 200 mg/kg (CSWH; CSW high concentration) or Garcinia extract (Garcinia) 200 mg/kg orally for 6 weeks. Body weight and food intake were measured at the same time each day. After 6 weeks of CSW administration, liver tissue and serum were obtained through an autopsy. After the end of the experiment, biochemical analysis (triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol) was performed on the serum. And then, protein levels related to TG and TC synthesis were measured through western blot analysis in liver tissue. Results : As a result, serum TG, TC, and LDL-cholesterol levels were significantly increased in the control group and significantly decreased in the CSW administration group. On the other hand, the HDL-cholesterol level was increased in the CSW-administered group. And as a result of Western blot analysis, CSW significantly increased the phosphorylation of LKB1 & AMPK, and remarkably decreased the expression of factors related to TG and TC synthesis. Conclusions : Our findings suggest that CSW influences the TG and TC synthesis to positively affect HFD-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.541-563
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• 2022

This study aimed to elucidate the distribution of vascular plants in Namhansanseong (Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do), Korea. The results of 30 field surveys from June 2019 to June 2020 identified 568 total taxa, representing 513 species, 10 subspecies, 40 varieties, 3 forms, and 2 hybrids in 335 genera and 107 families. Among them, 17 taxa were endemic plants to Korea, and one taxon were endangered plant and three taxa were red list plants. The floristic target plants amounted to 63 taxa, specifically one taxon of grade V, seven taxa of grade IV, 12 taxa of grade III, 14 taxa of grade II, and 29 taxa of grade I. And 66 taxa were northern lineage plants. Alien plants were recorded a total of 61 taxa with a Naturalized Index of 10.7%, the Urbanization Index was calculated to be 9.8%. As the result of comparison with previous studies, in this study a total of 213 taxa were newly identified representing 187 species, three subspecies, 19 varieties, one form, and two hybrids in 161 genera and 66 families.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.67 no.4
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• pp.274-284
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• 2022

To use kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) as a fiber and livestock feed, a high-yielding variety needs to be identified. For this, accurate phenotyping of plant height is required for this breeding purpose due to the strong relationship between plant height and yield. Plant height can be estimated using RGB images from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV-RGB) and photogrammetry based on Structure from Motion (SfM) algorithms. In kenaf, accurate measurement of height is limited because kenaf stems have high flexibility and its height is easily affected by wind, growing up to 3 ~ 4 m. Therefore, we aimed to identify a method suitable for the accurate estimation of plant height of kenaf and investigate the feasibility of using the UAV-RGB-derived plant height map. Height estimation derived from UAV-RGB was improved using multi-point calibration against the five different wooden structures with known heights (30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 cm). Using the proposed method, we analyzed the variation in temporal height of 23 kenaf cultivars. Our results demontrated that the actual and estimated heights were reliably comparable with the coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.80 and a slope of 0.94. This method enabled the effective identification of cultivars with significantly different heights at each growth stages.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.615-630
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the flora of Mt. Seongdeok (Ganghwa-gun) in Korea. From the results of nine field surveys from March 2020 to July 2022, a total of 445 total taxa, representing 397 species, nine subspecies, 35 varieties, two forms and two hybrids were identified, which were placed in 273 genera and 93 families. The plant formation of Mt. Seongdeok is a deciduous broad-leaved and conifer mixed forest, which is common in the middle part of the Korean Peninsula. Most of the mountain is covered by a young secondary forest, which is mainly composed of Quercus ssp. and Pinus ssp. Among them, five taxa were endemic to Korea, one taxon were endangered plant and two taxa were red list plants. The floristic target plants amounted to 27 taxa, specifically one taxon of grade V, four taxa of grade III, seven taxa of grade II, and 15 taxa of grade I. And 43 taxa were northern lineage plants. A total of 46 species of alien plants were identified, with a Naturalized Index of 10.3%, an Urbanization Index of 11.7%, and six plants that disturbed the ecosystem. Our results provide basic data on vascular plants flora, and plant diversity and distributional changes.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.205-216
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to analyze the water quality improvement effect by providing the environmental flows from agricultural reservoir using QUAL2K model. The Bonghyun reservoir, located in Hai-myun, which is in the city of Gosung in the Gyeongnam province, was selected for study area. The stream monitoring was conducted 24 times from 2011 to 2013 and the water quality was monitored in 6 stations including reservoir. Reservoir operation was simulated to determine the environmental flow supply amount from March to October with the constraint that environmental flow supply was restrained when the storage of reservoir was below the one-third of effective storage. The QUAL2K model was selected for water quality simulation. Simulated water quality were compared with the observed for BOD, SS, TN, and TP. R2 were ranged 0.8508~0.9913, RMSE were 0.005~0.52 mg/L, and NSE were 0.949~0.998 for water quality items, respectively. The QUAL2K model simulation results indicated that the water quality improvement effect by providing the environmental flows(3,000 ton/day) were 9.2% for BOD, 21.0% for SS, -9.0% for TN, -2.4% for TP, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2021.06a
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• pp.403-403
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• 2021

비점오염물질은 강우에 의해 유출되며 계절적, 자연적 편차가 크게 나타나고, 오염원이 광범위하게 산재하고 있어 오염물질의 발생량과 부하량의 관리가 쉽지 않다. 따라서 비점오염원 관리지역은 오염물질이 하천에 미치는 수질 특성을 파악하는 것이 중요하다. 그러나 수질항목만으로 하천의 수질 특성을 파악하기에는 어려움이 있으며, 수질 특성을 파악하기 위해 다양한 분석방법이 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 비점오염원 관리지역 중 골지천 유역의 수질 특성을 파악하기 위해 통계분석 기법을 활용하여 수질항목간의 상관관계를 분석하고자 하였다. 2017년부터 2019년까지 골지천 유역 내 5개 지점에 대하여 비강우시 23회, 강우시 지점별 173회~196회의 모니터링 결과를 이용하였으며, EC, 탁도, BOD₅, SS, T-N, T-P, TOC의 수질항목을 이용하여 Pearson 상관관계 분석을 실시하였다. 상관관계 분석 결과 비강우시 분석 결과 EC는 -0.06~-0.32, T-N은 0.19~0.37로 낮은 상관성을 갖는 것으로 나타났으며, EC와 T-N을 제외한 탁도와 BOD₅, SS, T-P, TOC의 경우 서로 0.6 이상의 상관성을 갖는 것으로 나타났다. 특히, 탁도와 SS, T-P, T-P와 TOC는 0.9 이상의 높은 상관성을 갖는 것으로 나타났다. 강우시 분석 결과 EC는 비강우시와 유사하게 -0.07~-0.24로 낮은 상관성을 갖는 것으로 나타났으며, TOC를 제외한 탁도, BOD₅, SS, T-N, T-P의 경우 서로 0.6 이상의 상관성을 갖는 것으로 나타났다. TOC의 경우 BOD₅, SS와 0.6 이상의 상관성을 갖는 반면 탁도, T-N, T-P와는 0.45, 0.44, 0.57로 다른 항목에 비해 다소 낮은 상관성을 갖는 것으로 나타났다. 비강우시 T-N은 기저 유출에 의한 영향으로 높은 농도를 나타내 다른 항목에 비해 상관성이 낮은 것으로 나타났으며, 강우시에는 비점오염물질의 유입으로 인하여 모든 항목에서 비슷한 상관성을 보이는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구 결과 탁도와 SS, T-P의 상관성이 비강우시 0.93, 강우시 0.78로 상당히 높은 것으로 나타나, 탁도를 측정하여 SS와 T-P로 환산하여 측정하는 방법에 대한 기초자료로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 판단된다. 그러나 연구 유역의 지형적 특성이 배제되었기 때문에 추후에 이를 반영한 연구가 필요할 것으로 판단된다.