• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2005

There are some critical drawbacks in the use of biomarkers for a global assessment of the toxicological impacts many chemicals and environmental pollutants have, primarily due to an individual biomarker's specificity for an explicit chemical or toxicant. In other words, the biomarker-based assessment methodology used to analyze toxicological effects lacks a high-throughput capability. Therefore, eco-toxicogenomics, or the study of toxicogenomics with organisms present within a given environmental locale, has recently been introduced with the advent of the so-called "-omics" era, which began with the creation of microarray technologies. Fish are comparable with humans in their toxicological responses and thus data from toxicogenomic studies performed with fish could be applied, with appropriate tools and implementation protocols, to the evaluation of environments where human or animal health is of concern. At present, there have been very active research streams for developing expression sequence tag (EST) databases (DBs) for zebra fish and rainbow trout. Even though few reports involve toxicogenomic studies with fish, a few groups have successfully fabricated and used cDNA microarrays or oligo DNA chips when studying the toxicological impacts of hypoxia or some toxicants with fish. Furthermore, it is strongly believed that this technology can also be implemented with non-model fish. With the standardization of DNA microarray technologies and ample progress in bioinformatics and proteomic technologies, data obtained from DNA microarray technologies offer not only multiple biomarker assays or an analysis of gene expression profiles, but also a means of elucidating gene networking, gene-gene relations, chemical-gene interactions, and chemical-chemical relationships. Accordingly, the ultimate target of eco-toxicogenomics should be to predict and map the pathways of stress propagation within an organism and to analyze stress networking.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.493-507
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• 2017

Since the late 20th century, the urbanization in Korea has been rapidly increasing, especially in major cities like Seoul, as a result of industrialization. One of the aspects of urbanization is coating the surfaces with impervious concrete or asphalt that water cannot penetrate. In addition, various urban, such as urban heat islands, which also have a great impact on the urban environment, occur within the cities. Therefore, the urban environment is gradually becoming hot and dry, and the need for more urban parks to compensate for these negative impacts is growing. Thus, several numerical studies have been conducted to assess these problems using coupled Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). In this study, an experiment was conducted to determine the accuracy of the area of the input field using Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, and applying the more accurate input field to a numerical simulation using ENVI-met, in order to investigate the effect of urban parks on the thermal comfort. The results showed that an input field with a larger area is more accurate than that with a smaller area, because the surrounding terrain and cities are considered in details in the experiment with the larger area. Subsequently, the more accurate input field was used in ENVI-met, and the results of this simulation showed that the presence of the urban park increased the thermal comfort and improved the humidity conditions.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.370-377
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• 2014

There are very few studies about soil chemical and biological properties under tropical dry evergreen forest Coromandel Coast, India. The present study was conducted in six tropical dry evergreen forests sites such as Oorani, Puthupet, Vadaagram, Kotthatai, Sendrakillai and Palvathunnan. We measured the quantity of soil chemical, biological properties and selected soil microorganisms for investigating the impacts of soil microbial populations on soil chemical and biological properties. The result showed that total N, P, Ca, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Co, exchangeable K, Olson P, extractable Ca and phosphobacterial population were higher in the soil from Kothattai forest site. Organic carbon, total Mg, extractable Na, soil respiration, ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity, bacterial population, fungi population and actinomycetes population were higher in the soil from Palvathunn forest site. Total K, $NH_4{^+}$-N, $NO_3{^-}$-N, exchangeable K, extractable Ca, extractable Na, azotobacter population, bacillus population and rhizobacteria population were higher in the soil from Sendrakillai. Beijerinckia population, rhizobacteria and soluble sodium were higher in Puthupet forest soil. Total Si, total Na and exchangeable K were higher in soil from Oorani forest site. Total Mo and exchangeable K were higher in the soil from Vadaagaram forest site. The results showed that organic carbon, total N, $NH_4{^+}$-N, $NO_3{^-}$-N, extractable P, extractable Ca, soil respiration and ${\beta}$-glucosidase were significantly correlated with soil microbial populations. Therefore soil microorganisms are important factor for maintaining soil quality in tropical dry evergreen forest.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2018

To evaluate potential impacts of shallow groundwater by the leachate from buried carcass, we investigated hydrochemical characteristics of both leachate and shallow groundwater from monitoring wells and surrounding shallow groundwater wells in an area potentially affected by pig carcass burial. The hydrochemical survey was conducted before and after the relocation of a burial pit. The leachate samples and the groundwater affected by leachate showed the hydrochemistry of $Ca-HCO_3$ type with high $NH_4{^+}$ concentrations, while unaffected groundwater was mostly the $Ca(Na)-Cl+NO_3$ type due to pervasive impacts from agrochemicals. The results of factor analysis on hydrochemical data showed the followings: 1) contamination of groundwater from agro-livestock farming and livestock burial are coexisting in the study area, 2) among ionic species, $HCO_3{^-}$, $NH_4{^+}$, $NO_3{^-}$ and Mn are very useful to differentiate the groundwater contamination from leachate, and 3) groundwater contamination by leachate has been recognized around the monitoring wells even after the relocation of a burial pit, likely due to residual contaminants in surrounding soils. Therefore, it is suggested that continued monitoring of groundwater contamination should be conducted after the relocation of carcass burial pits.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.472-486
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• 2015

More than 8M tons of coal ashes are generated from coal-fired thermal power plants every year in Korea. Excluding the recycled portion (Current recycling rate: approximately 70%), all of the generated coal ashes end up in coastal landfills. Currently, the difficulties faced in establishing new ash treatment fields are attributed to the concerns raised over the environmental impacts caused by the landfills at individual plant facilities. Given the number of coal-fired thermal power plants to be built in the future (reflected in the 7th Basic Plan for Long-term Electricity Supply and Demand), building new ash treatment fields or seeking a new treatment plan seems unavoidable. Based upon a review of coal ash and its management, this study concluded that the most effective and fundamental strategy to minimize the environmental impacts resulting from coal ash landfills is to avoid constructing new coal-fired powerplants and furthermore, suggests that the practice of beneficial use and recycling the produced coal wastes should be encouraged.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.130-141
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• 2009

The spatial range of EIA is mainly related to landscape ecological factors such as topography, geology, animals, and plants. Problems were detected involved land, soil, noise, oscillation, the atmosphere, animals, and plants in the natural-environment. First of all, the current EIA lacks explicit spatial ranges and sections in terms of scientific exactitude and objectivity for assessment. Secondly, there are overlapping influence-area problems resulting in cumulative impacts of unit developments that accumulate. Finally, some developments have no regard for ecological and conservational value in relation to determining which effect ecological stability, and which should be regarded as Regional Ecological Resources. Therefore, this study suggests that EIA should be improved in the following manner. First, the standard classification of landscape unit for analysis should be established 10 regulate each spatial range on a wide-landscape scale. Secondly, the impacts resulting from the interaction of overlapping influence-area developments between individual development should be assessed. Third, Minimization of the of the environmental effects is needed by applying the cumulative effects to the influence-area where developments occur in the same time or in a sequence. Fourth, individual characteristics of landscape elements such as roads, rivers, and green networks need to be considered separately in the analysis. Finally, regional ecological habitats should be included in the analysis in order to achieve stable ecosystems.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.147-154
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was, as a preliminary step for understanding the whole aspects of the impacts of a weir on the ecosystems in upper and lower streams, to find out the impacts of the weirs with and without a fish-way. A survey on the aquatic ecosystem of upper and lower streams of weirs in Ham-an Stream was carried out from June to October, 2006. Results of the investigation showed that some meaningful effects on the ecosystems had occurred by the weirs. The fish fauna in upper stream of the weir with a fish-way appeared to include 3 families, 8 species, and 184 individuals, while that in the lower stream of the weir appeared to include 5 families, 14 species, and 664 individuals. The fish fauna in the upper stream of the weir without a fish-way appeared to include 3 families, 9 species, 107 individuals, while that in the lower stream of the weir appeared to include 9 families, 19 species, 520 individuals, disclosing that, no matter with or without a fish-way, fish fauna species diversity and size of population were more abundant and bigger in the lower stream than in the upper stream, but that difference of fish fauna species diversities between upper and lower streams of the weirs appeared to be bigger for the weir with a fish-way than for the weir without a fish-way. Benthos species diversity and size of population were found to be more abundant and bigger in lower stream than in upper stream, and in wet season than in dry season.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.3 s.108
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• pp.304-312
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• 2004

The transient dynamics of three-trophic populations (prey, predator, and super predator) using ratio-dependent models responding to environmental impacts is analyzed. Environmental factors were divided into two parts: periodic factor (e.g., temperature) and general noise. Periodic factor was addressed as a frequency and bias, while general noise was expressed as a Gaussian distribution. Temperature bias ${\varepsilon}$, temperature frequency ${\Omega}$, and Gaussian noise amplitude ${\`{O}}$ accordingly revealed diverse status of population dynamics in three-trophic food chain, including extinction of species. The model showed stable limit cycles and strange attractors in the long-time behavior depending upon various values of the parameters. The dynamic behavior of the system appeared to be sensitive to changes in environmental input. The parameters of environmental input play an important role in determining extinction time of super predator and predator populations.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Sciences
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.587-598
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• 2018

The impacts of aerosol loading on surface precipitation from mid-latitude deep convective systems are examined using a bin microphysics model. For this, a precipitation case over north central Mongolia, which is a high-altitude inland region, on 21 August 2014 is simulated with aerosol number concentrations of 150, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, and $4800cm^{-3}$. The surface precipitation amount slightly decreases with increasing aerosol number concentration in the range of $150-600cm^{-3}$, while it notably increases in the range of $600-4800cm^{-3}$ (22% increase with eightfold aerosol loading). We attempt to explain why the surface precipitation amount increases with increasing aerosol number concentration in the range of $600-4800cm^{-3}$. A higher aerosol number concentration results in more drops of small sizes. More drops of small sizes grow through condensation while being transported upward and some of them freeze, thus increasing the mass content of ice crystals. The increased ice crystal mass content leads to an increase in the mass content of small-sized snow particles largely through deposition, and the increased mass content of small-sized snow particles leads to an increase in the mass content of large-sized snow particles largely through riming. In addition, more drops of small sizes increase the mass content of supercooled drops, which also leads to an increase in the mass content of large-sized snow particles through riming. The increased mass content of large-sized snow particles resulting from these pathways contributes to a larger surface precipitation amount through melting and collision-coalescence.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.603-612
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• 2009

This study was conducted to provide information which will be useful for establishing and implementing effective management policy for Baekdudaegan Trail and user satisfaction by investigating the characteristics of trail use and users' perceptions of the environmental impacts on the trail. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey was employed in Baekdudaegan trail by three topological types. With this classification, the characteristics of the way the trails used and users' perceptions of the impacts were analysed in terms of ecological, physical and social environments. The result showed that the Baekdudaegan trail was used mainly for mountaineering rather vacation or travel, and found no differences in the characteristics of the trail use by the types. Ecological environment showed no significant relation with user satisfaction, however changes in physical environmental factors such as a trail width functioned as a negative component to decrease use experience. In addition, the satisfaction of the users had little to do with social environment, when the level of using the trail was relatively low. To present, the levels of impacts on ecological, physical and social environments and the users' satisfaction level regarding the Baekdudaegan trail appear to be positive. However, the increase of use level is expected in the future, and therefore systematic managerial measures need to be implemented to monitor the changes of the trails and interactions of the environmental impacts.