• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 1999

There have been many reports to date regarding the role of GnRH as a local regulatory factor of ovarian function as studies of human and rat ovaries revealed GnRH and its receptor. In recent studies it has been shown that GnRH directly causes apoptosis in the granulosa cells of the rat ovary, and such results leads to the suggestion that the use of GnRH agonist for more stable long term ovarian hyperstimulation in human IVF-ET programs causes granulosa cell apoptosis which may lead to follicular atresia. Therefore this study attempts to determine if granulosa-luteal cell apoptosis occurs in patients during IVF-ET programs in which GnRH agonist is employed for ovarian hyperstimulation. The quality of oocyte-cumulus complexes obtained during ovum pickup procedures were assessed morphologically and then the fertilization rate and developmental rate was determined. Apoptotic cells among the granulosa-luteal cells obtained during the same procedure were observed after staining with Hematoxylin-eosin. The fragmentation degree of DNA extracted from granulosa-luteal cells was determined and comparatively analyzed. There was no difference in the average age of the patients, the number of oocytes retrieved, and fertilization and developmental rates between the FSH/hMG group and GnRH-long group. There was also no difference in the apoptosis rate and pyknosis rate in the granulosa-luteal cells between the two groups. However, when the oocyte-cumulus complexes were morphoogically divided into the healthy group and atretic group without regard for the method of hyperstimulation, the results showed that the number of oocytes obtained averaged $11.09{\pm}8.75\;and\;10.33{\pm}4.53$ per cycle, respectively, showing no significant difference, but the fertilization rate (77.05%, 56.99%, respectively, p<0.01) and developmental rate (65.96%, 41.51%, respectively, p<0.01) was significantly increased in the healthy group when compared to the atretic group. The degree of apoptosis in the granulosa-luteal cells showed that in the healthy group it was 2.25% which was not significantly different from the atretic group (2.77%), but the pyknosis rate in the atretic group (27.81%) was significantly higher compared to the healthy group (11.35%, p<0.01). The quantity of DNA fragmentation in the FSH/hMG group was 32.22%, while in the GnRH-long group it was 34.27%, showing no significant difference. On the other hand the degree of DNA fragmentation was 39.05% and 11.83% in the healthy group and atretic group, respectively, showing significantly higher increase in the atretic group (p<0.01). The above results suggest that death of granulosa-luteal cells according to the state of the oocyte-cumulus complex is more related to pyknosis rather than apoptosis. Also, the GnRH agonist used in ovarian hyperstimulation does not seem to directly affect the apoptosis of retrieved oocytes and granulosa-luteal cells, and which is thought to be due to the suppression of the apoptogenic effect of GnRH agonist as a result of the high doses of FSH administered.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.143-153
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• 2008

Objective: To investigate the effects of aromatase inhibitor on reproductive hormone profiles and evaluate it's ovulation inducing capability in anovulatory infertile women. Methods: We quantified the blood levels of reproductive hormones from 30 healthy normal cycling women in natural cycle (control) and letrozole medicated cycle (study). LH, FSH, estradiol, testosterone, DHEA-S were quantified on third, 11th, 21th day in both cycles, and on 21th day, progesterone was added. Sixth anovulatory infertile women received either letrozole or clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction (n=30 in each groups). We compared the clinical parameters such as ovulation rate, pregnancy rate, the day of LH surge, number of follicles and endometrial thickness, cervical mucus amount, spinnbarkeit, mean diameter of follicles on the day of LH surge. Results: Letrozole had no effect on the LH, FSH, estradiol, DHEA-S secretion but there were significant increase in testosterone level on day 11 and progesterone level on day 21 in letrozole medicated cycle compared than control cycle ($0.40{\pm}0.16$ vs $0.28{\pm}0.11\;ng/ml$, p=0.002, $18.18{\pm}13.07$ vs $8.38{\pm}7.64\;ng/ml$, p=0.001, respectively). In comparison between letrozole and clomiphene groups, there were no significant difference in ovulation rate, pregnancy rate, number of mature follicle, mean diameter of follicles, but showed earlier LH surge, thicker endometrium, more cervical mucus, and higher spinnbarkeit in letrozole group ($12.12{\pm}2.46$ vs $14.52{\pm}3.18$ days, p=0.006, $10.48{\pm}1.23$ vs $8.52{\pm}0.93\;mm$, p=0.000, $2.04{\pm}0.61$ vs $1.57{\pm}0.59$, p=0.012, $6.00{\pm}1.12$ vs $4.95{\pm}1.61\;cm$, p=0.003, respectively). Conclusion: Letrozole may augment folliculogenesis and improve the endometrial condition for implantation in normal cycling women. Ovulation efficacy of letrozole in anovulatory women was comparable to clomiphene citrate and letrozole may be more physiological in ovulation induction.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2016

In this study, we investigated the antioxidative and cellular protective effects on HaCaT cells and erythrocytes of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) leaves extract and its fractions. All experiments were performed with 50% ethanol extract, ethyl acetate fraction and aglycone fraction of M. oleifera leaves. The free radical scavenging activity ($FSC_{50}$) of the extract and fractions of M. oleifera leaves were in the following order: 50% ethanol extract ($77.10{\mu}g/mL$) < ethyl acetate fraction ($20.63{\mu}g/mL$) < aglycone fraction ($17.00{\mu}g/mL$) by using the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. In $Fe^{3+}-EDTA/H_2O_2$ system using the luminol, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities (total antioxidant capacity, $OSC_{50}$) of aglycone fraction ($OSC_{50}=0.63{\mu}g/mL$) was the strongest among all extracts, which was much higher than L-ascorbic acid ($1.50{\mu}g/mL$). In the $^1O_2$-induced cellular damage of erythrocytes, the cellular protective effects of 50% ethanol extract (${\tau}_{50}=46.9min$) and aglycone fraction (${\tau}_{50}=122.1min$) were higher than (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol (${\tau}_{50}=37.7min$), known as a lipophilic antioxidant at $10{\mu}g/mL$. After cell damage induced by $400mJ/cm^2$ UVB irradiation, the cellular protective effects of ethyl acetate and aglycone fraction of M. oleifera leaves extract were showed on the concentration from 0.20 to $1.56{\mu}g/mL$. These results suggest that M. oleifera leaves extract and its fractions can function as a natural antioxidant agent in cosmetics on skin exposed to UV radiation by protecting cellular membrane against ROS.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2005

This research was carried out to elucidate the photosnthesis, respiration, and intercellullar $CO_2$ concentration of Kalopanax pictus leaves. The results obtained are summarized as follows; 1. The light compensation points in leaves of Kalopanax pictus seedlings were in the following order; the upper ($34{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$) middle ($29{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$) lower leaves ($24{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$). The light saturated points were at $800{\sim}1200{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$ in the upper leaves and $400{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$ in the middle and lower leaves. At the light saturated points, the net photosynthesis rate was in the following order; the upper ($11.1{\mu}mol\;CO_2\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$) middle ($5.15{\mu}mol\;CO_2\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$) lower leaves ($4.01{\mu}mol\;CO_2\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$). The light use efficiency was in the following order; the upper ($0.041{\mu}mol\;CO_2\;{\mu}mol^{-1}$) middle ($0.040{\mu}mol\;CO_2\;{\mu}mol^{-1}$) lower leaves ($0.039{\mu}mol\;CO_2\;{\mu}mol^{-1}$). 2. In the upper leaves of Kalopanax pictus seedlings, the stomatal conductance increased continuously with increasing light intensity. In the middle and lower leaves, it was saturated at $400{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$. 3. In the upper, middle and lower leaves of Kalopanax pictus seedlings, the intercellular $CO_2$ concentration/the atmospheric $CO_2$ concentration ($C_i/C_a$) ratio rapidly decreased to $600{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$, and then showed a constant values. 4. In the upper leaves of Kalopanax pictus seedlings, the photorespiration rate was $3.34{\mu}mol\;CO_2\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$ and $CO_2$ compensation point was $48.7{\mu}mol\;mol^{-1}$. Dark respiration rate increased exponentially with increasing leaf temperature, and the photorespiration rate was 2.4 times higher than dark respiration rate.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.351-354
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• 1993

Z-1-Ethyl-2-nitro-l-butenyl-(4'-methyl)-phenyl sulfone, C$_{13}$H$_{17}$NO$_4$S, Mr = 293.4, monoclinic space group P2$_1$/c, a = 12.194(7), b = 7.290(4), c = 16.532(14)${\AA}$, ${\beta}$ = 103.4(2)$^{\circ}$, V = 1429.5 ${\AA}^3$, Z = 4, D$_c$ = 1.32 gcm$^{-3}$, ${\lambda}$(Mo K${\alpha}$) = 0.71069 ${\AA}$, ${\mu}$ = 2.2 cm$^{-1}$, F(000) = 600, T = 298 K, R = 0.030 for 1762 unique observed reflections with I > 1.0${\sigma}$(I). A molecule has a cis-typed molecular structure having the form of "the substituted butene backbone, C-C(S)=C(NO$_2$)-C, connecting to a sulfur atom with the methylbenzene ring and to a nitro group. The methylbenzene ring and the substituted butene moiety are nearly planar with the maximum deviations from their own molecular planes, 0.018 ${\AA}$ for the C(1) atom of the benzene group and 0.045 ${\AA}$ for the N atom of the NO$_2$ group, respectively. The angles to the plane of the butene backbone are 88.5$^{\circ}$from the plane of the methyl-benzene and 78.6$^{\circ}$from the plane of the nitro group. Rotation of the nitro group from the butene plane seems to reduced contribution of resonance structure involving the nitro group, and resultant repulsion between the O(2) atom of SO$_2$ and the O(3) atom of NO$_2$ appears to be 2.894 ${\AA}$ longer than an expected van der Waals distance of 2.80 ${\AA}$.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 1980

This study was conducted to detect copper which is considered in the soils of orchards, since copper fungicide has been applied to fruit trees. Soil samples taken from the fields of the chief producing districts of apple (Chungju, Yesan, Daegu), pear (Yangju, Bucheon, Seonghwan) and citrus (Seogypo in Jeju island) were analysed by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results obtained were summarized as follows ; 1. In orchards of apple, the amount of copper of soils from Yesan, Chungju and Daegu were ranged 2.6-171.3ppm, 2.2-136.1ppm and 14.3-134.6ppm, respectively. Very little copper was detected from the soils in the field which has been cultivated for less than 20 years. About 100ppm and 130-170ppm of copper were detected in the field which has been cultivated for 30 years and for 50-60 years, respectively. Most of the copper was detected in the surface layer of soils (0-10cm), while very low content of copper was detected in the deeper layer of soils (10-20cm). 2. In orchards of pear, 20-30ppm of copper was detected from the surface of soils in the field which has been cultivated for more than 30 years and the highest level of copper, 36.8ppm, was detected from Yangju area. The amount of copper of soils from Yangju, Seonghwan and Bucheon were ranged 3.6-36.8ppm, 9.7-19.4ppm and 3.6-24.7ppm, respectively. 3. In orchards of citrus of Jeju island, only trace amount and 23-38ppm of copper were detected in the fields cultivated for 15 years and 20-30 years, respectively. The highest level of copper, 57ppm, was detected from the surface layer of soils in the field which has been cultivated for 35 years, but in most of the soil samples tested, only the natural background level of copper, about 20ppm, was detected. 4. The levels of copper residue in all the soil samples tested were lower than the tolerance level (125ppm of copper which is extracted in 0.1N-HCl solution), except those of copperr residue, 130-170ppm, that were detected from the orchards of apple which have been under cultivation for 50-60 years. Hence no problem for the farming could be speculated with the present concentration of copper analysed.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.182-206
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• 2003

Statement of problem : Successful osseointegration of endosseous threaded implants is dependent on many factors. These may include the surface characteristics and gross geometry of implants, the quality and quantity of bone where implants are placed, and the magnitude and direction of stress in functional occlusion. Therefore clinical quantitative measurement of primary stability at placement and functional state of implant may play a role in prediction of possible clinical symptoms and the renovation of implant geometry, types and surface characteristic according to each patients conditions. Ultimately, it may increase success rate of implants. Purpose : Many available non-invasive techniques used for the clinical measurement of implant stability and osseointegration include percussion, radiography, the $Periotest^{(R)}$, Dental Fine $Tester^{(R)}$ and so on. There is, however, relatively little research undertaken to standardize quantitative measurement of stability of implant and osseointegration due to the various clinical applications performed by each individual operator. Therefore, in order to develop non-invasive experimental method to measure stability of implant quantitatively, the resonance frequency analyzer to measure the natural frequency of specific substance was developed in the procedure of this study. Material & method : To test the stability of the resonance frequency analyzer developed in this study, following methods and materials were used : 1) In-vitro study: the implant was placed in both epoxy resin of which physical properties are similar to the bone stiffness of human and fresh cow rib bone specimen. Then the resonance frequency values of them were measured and analyzed. In an attempt to test the reliability of the data gathered with the resonance frequency analyzer, comparative analysis with the data from the Periotest was conducted. 2) In-vivo study: the implants were inserted into the tibiae of 10 New Zealand rabbits and the resonance frequency value of them with connected abutments at healing time are measured immediately after insertion and gauged every 4 weeks for 16 weeks. Results : Results from these studies were such as follows : The same length implants placed in Hot Melt showed the repetitive resonance frequency values. As the length of abutment increased, the resonance frequency value changed significantly (p<0.01). As the thickness of transducer increased in order of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mm, the resonance frequency value significantly increased (p<0.05). The implants placed in PL-2 and epoxy resin with different exposure degree resulted in the increase of resonance frequency value as the exposure degree of implants and the length of abutment decreased. In comparative experiment based on physical properties, as the thickness of transducer increased, the resonance frequency value increased significantly(p<0.01). As the stiffness of substances where implants were placed increased, and the effective length of implants decreased, the resonance frequencies value increased significantly (p<0.05). In the experiment with cow rib bone specimen, the increase of the length of abutment resulted in significant difference between the results from resonance frequency analyzer and the $Periotest^{(R)}$. There was no difference with significant meaning in the comparison based on the direction of measurement between the resonance frequency value and the $Periotest^{(R)}$ value (p<0.05). In-vivo experiment resulted in repetitive patternes of resonance frequency. As the time elapsed, the resonance frequency value increased significantly with the exception of 4th and 8th week (p<0.05). Conclusion : The development of resonance frequency analyzer is an attempt to standardize the quantitative measurement of stability of implant and osseointegration and compensate for the reliability of data from other non-invasive measuring devices It is considered that further research is needed to improve the efficiency of clinical application of resonance frequency analyzer. In addition, further investigation is warranted on the standardized quantitative analysis of the stability of implant.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.120-127
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of chromium chloride addition on coloration, mechanical property and microstructure of 3Y-TZP. Materials and methods: Chromium chloride was weighed as 0.06, 0.12, and 0.25 wt% and each measured amount was dissolved in alcohol. $ZrO_2$ powder was mixed with each of the individual slurry to prepare chromium doped zirconia specimen. The color, physical properties and microstructure were observed after the zirconia specimen were sintered at $1450^{\circ}C$. In order to evaluate the color, spectrophotometer was used to analyze the value of $L^*$, $C^*$, $a^*$ and $b^*$, after placing the specimen on a white plate, and measured according to the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) standard, Illuminant D65 and SCE system. The density was measured in the Archimedes method, while microstructures were evaluated by using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and XRD. Fracture toughness was calculated Vickers indentation method and indentation size was measured by using the optical microscope. The data were analyzed with 1-way ANOVA test (${\alpha}$ = 0.05). The Tukey multiple comparison test was used for post hocanalysis. Results: 1. Chromium chloride rendered zirconia a brownish color. While chromium chloride content was increased, the color of zirconia was changed from brownish to brownish-red. 2. Chromium chloride content was increased; density of the specimen was decreased. 3. More chromium chloride in the ratio showed increase size of grains. 4. But the addition of chromium chloride did not affect the crystal phase of zirconia, and all specimens showed tetragonal phase. 5. The chromium chloride in zirconia did not showed statistically significant difference in fracture toughness, but addition of 0.25 wt% showed a statistically significant difference (P<.05). Conclusion: Based on the above results, this study suggests that chromium chlorides can make colored zirconia while adding in a liquid form. The new colored zirconia showed a slight difference in color to that of the natural tooth, nevertheless this material can be used as an all ceramic core material.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2013

In this work, comparative study on antioxidative activities of extracts from Glycyrrhiza uralensis (G. uralensis) produced in Korea and in China and Glycyrrhiza glabra (G. glabra) produced in Uzbekistan was conducted. Among three origins, 50% ethanol extracts (21.15 ${\mu}g/mL$), ethyl acetate fraction (29.15 ${\mu}g/mL$) and aglycone fraction (3.26 ${\mu}g/mL$) of G. uralensis from Korea showed the higher free radical (1,1-phenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) scavenging activity ($FSC_{50}$) than extracts from other origins. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of extracts from three origins on ROS generated in $Fe^{3+}-EDTA/H_2O_2$ system were investigated using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay 50% ethanol extract (1.00 ${\mu}g/mL$) and ethyl acetate fraction (0.34 ${\mu}g/mL$) of G. uralensis from China showed the most prominent ROS scavenging activity. The protective effects of extract/fractions of G. uralensis and G. glabra extracts on the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were investigated. 50% ethanol extract and aglycone fraction of G. uralensis and G. glabra extracts from three origins showed cellular protective effects in a concentration dependent manner (5 ~ 50 ${\mu}g/mL$). Aglycone fraction of G. uralensis from Korea (${\tau}_{50}$ = 847.4 min)especially showed cellular protective effects four times higher than that from China (${\tau}_{50}$ = 194.3 min). These results indicate that G. uralensis and G. glabra extracts, which have been used as whitening agent, could be applicable to functional cosmetic ingredient as a natural antioxidant. Judging from the prominent cellular protecitve effects, it is concluded that G. uralensis and G. glabra extracts can protect the skin from $^1O_2$ and various ROS induced by UV.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.346-361
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• 2013

This article reviews the papers published in the Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering during 2012. It is intended to understand the status of current research in the areas of heating, cooling, ventilation, sanitation, and indoor environments of buildings and plant facilities. The conclusions are as follows : (1) The research works on thermal and fluid engineering have been reviewed as groups of fluid machinery, pipes and valves, fuel cells and power plants, ground-coupled heat pumps, and general heat and mass transfer systems. Research issues are mainly focused on new and renewable energy systems, such as fuel cells, ocean thermal energy conversion power plants, and ground-coupled heat pump systems. (2) Research works on the heat transfer area have been reviewed in the categories of heat transfer characteristics, pool boiling and condensing heat transfer, and industrial heat exchangers. Researches on heat transfer characteristics included the results for natural convection in a square enclosure with two hot circular cylinders, non-uniform grooved tube considering tube expansion, single-tube annular baffle system, broadcasting LED light with ion wind generator, mechanical property and microstructure of SA213 P92 boiler pipe steel, and flat plate using multiple tripping wires. In the area of pool boiling and condensing heat transfer, researches on the design of a micro-channel heat exchanger for a heat pump, numerical simulation of a heat pump evaporator considering the pressure drop in the distributor and capillary tubes, critical heat flux on a thermoexcel-E enhanced surface, and the performance of a fin-and-tube condenser with non-uniform air distribution and different tube types were actively carried out. In the area of industrial heat exchangers, researches on a plate heat exchanger type dehumidifier, fin-tube heat exchanger, an electric circuit transient analogy model in a vertical closed loop ground heat exchanger, heat transfer characteristics of a double skin window for plant factory, a regenerative heat exchanger depending on its porous structure, and various types of plate heat exchangers were performed. (3) In the field of refrigeration, various studies were executed to improve refrigeration system performance, and to evaluate the applicability of alternative refrigerants and new components. Various topics were presented in the area of refrigeration cycle. Research issues mainly focused on the enhancement of the system performance. In the alternative refrigerant area, studies on CO2, R32/R152a mixture, and R1234yf were performed. Studies on the design and performance analysis of various compressors and evaporator were executed. (4) In building mechanical system research fields, twenty-nine studies were conducted to achieve effective design of mechanical systems, and also to maximize the energy efficiency of buildings. The topics of the studies included heating and cooling, HVAC system, ventilation, renewable energy systems, and lighting systems in buildings. New designs and performance tests using numerical methods and experiments provide useful information and key data, which can improve the energy efficiency of buildings. (5) In the fields of the architectural environment, studies for various purposes, such as indoor environment, building energy, and renewable energy were performed. In particular, building energy-related researches and renewable energy systems have been mainly studied, reflecting interests in global climate change, and efforts to reduce building energy consumption by government and architectural specialists. In addition, many researches have been conducted regarding indoor environments.