• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.529-536
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• 2021

The forest landscape has been considered to be one of the most beneficial factors, in regard to facilitating the therapeutic effects of the forest environment. The aim of this study was to review the preceding literary works on the correlation between forest landscape and its therapeutic effects and to ponder on key factors of forest landscape that promotes therapeutic results on people's psychological and physiological responses. Literature found in domestic research databases was analyzed and examined in accordance with the 'Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses(PRISMA)' process. Six papers out of 1,890 were selected as key literature to support the connection. The quality of forest landscape was found to be an integral environmental factor in determining the healing effects of forests. In particular, several factors, including forest types, aquatic elements within the forest landscape, forest-use density and aesthetic elements of forest landscape were found to be crucial for enhancing the therapeutic effects on people's wellbeing. Despite the limited sample groups in the analyzed literature, the results offered a significant insight in supporting the healing effects of forests. Further studies on this subject are required to provide more scientific data for verifying the quality of the therapeutic effects of forests.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.539-546
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• 2010

To investigate the variation of anion concentrations in relation to forest type, forest-related factors, forest survey and anion concentrations measurement were carried out on the 52 quadrats located at the national forest areas in Yangyang-gun, Kangwon-do. The relationship between anion concentrations and forest-related factors were correlated. Total mean of anion concentration was 2,405 ea/$cm^3$, which was slightly higher than general figures 2,000ea/$cm^3$. Highly significant positive correlations were observed between anion concentrations and soil moisture contents, and also between anion concentrations and altitude. Significant positive correlations were observed between anion concentrations and topography. Anion concentrations were significantly different among soil moisture levels. Mean anion concentration were highest at 4,524.4ea/$cm^3$ in on wet sites, and followed slightly wet sites and moderate sites. Mean anion concentrations was highest on valley sites at 3,372.4ea/$cm^3$, followed by slope and ridge areas. Mean anion concentrations measured before noon was highest at 3,133.4ea/$cm^3$, and measurements during 12:00~15:00 and after 15:00, showed relatively low anion concentrations. Mean anion concentrations was highest at mixed deciduous forests at 3,503.9ea/$cm^3$, followed by oak forests, pine forests, and pine-oak forests. Results of this study are expected to be used in planning therapeutic forests.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.468-474
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• 2021

Forest healing is a natural method that utilizes various natural environmental factors of forests to enhance immunity and to heal mental and physical pathologies. The aim of this study is to suggest implications for the future development of forest healing by analyzing the characteristics of facilities and programs in 28 national and public healing forests in Korea. The concept of forest healing and programs is defined, and healing forests operating in Korea are classified by size. The facility operation and program characteristics of healing forests were analyzed according to size, and the results were used to suggest a future direction for the development of domestic forest healing. The research results are as follows. First, domestic healing forests have gradually been reduced in size since they were first opened in 2009, which is the cause of the competitive creation of local governments. Second, healing spaces, forest paths, and programs for the elderly, pregnant women and disabled should be expanded. Third, lodging programs need to be expanded, and subsidies for usage fees from local governments are required. Institutional supplementation should be provided to link program development and facilities and to clarify procedures and standards for forest healing facilities.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.4
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• pp.648-655
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• 2012

This research is aimed at suggesting the reasonable guideline for managing tree density of a therapeutic forest to enhance the therapeutic efficiency. To obtain visually preferable tree density for 4 coniferous tree species; Pinus koraiensis, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Pinus densiflora, Larix kaempferi, the simulations of tree density according to the 3 diameter classes are used. 250 people participated in questionnaire and 239 people of them were analyzed. The tree density preferences of 4 tree species are as follows; Pinus koraiensis forest; tree density for trees with Diameter (DBH=D)<25 cm about 816/ha, tree density for trees with 25=D<40 about 400/ha and tree density for trees with 40=D about 277/ha. Chamaecyparis obtusa forest; tree density for trees with D<25 about 625/ha, tree density for trees with 25=D<40 about 625/ha and tree density for trees with 40=D about 400/ha. Pinus densiflora forest; tree density for trees with D<25 about 816/ha, tree density for trees with 25=D<40 about 625/ha and tree density for trees with 40=D about 400/ha. Larix kaempferi forest; tree density for trees with D<25 about 625/ha, tree density for trees with 25=D<40 about 625/ha and tree density for trees with 40=D about 277/ha.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.23-39
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• 2022

Objective : To summarize clinical and demographic variables and machine learning uses for predicting functional outcomes of patients with stroke. Methods : We searched PubMed, CINAHL and Web of Science to identify published articles from 2010 to 2021. The search terms were "machine learning OR data mining AND stroke AND function OR prediction OR/AND rehabilitation". Articles exclusively using brain imaging techniques, deep learning method and articles without available full text were excluded in this study. Results : Nine articles were selected for this study. Support vector machines (19.05%) and random forests (19.05%) were two most frequently used machine learning models. Five articles (55.56%) demonstrated that the impact of patient initial and/or discharge assessment scores such as modified ranking scale (mRS) or functional independence measure (FIM) on stroke patients' functional outcomes was higher than their clinical characteristics. Conclusions : This study showed that patient initial and/or discharge assessment scores such as mRS or FIM could influence their functional outcomes more than their clinical characteristics. Evaluating and reviewing initial and or discharge functional outcomes of patients with stroke might be required to develop the optimal therapeutic interventions to enhance functional outcomes of patients with stroke.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.109-113
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the potentiality of urban forest roads as an environment for enhancing physical fitness. Six male university students participated in the study as subjects. The subjects walked on an urban forest road for 30 minutes. As a control experiment, they also walked on a national park trail for 30 minutes. Subjects' heart rates were monitored during the walks to calculate the ratio of the average time their heart rates were within the target range (from 60% to 80% of the maximal heart rate) for Enhancing Physical Fitness. After the walks, images of the spaces were analyzed using the semantic differential (SD) method. During the walk on the urban forest road, subjects' heart rates were within the target range 63.3% of the time, and lower than the target range 36.7% of the time. During the control experiment on the national park trail, subjects' heart rates were within the target range only 23.3% of the time, and higher than the target range 76.7% of the time. From the spatial perception evaluation using the SD method, subjects' comfortable and natural feelings when they were on the national park trail were significantly greater than when they were on the urban forest trail, but there were no differences in terms of other SD descriptors, such as friendliness and likeability. The results of our study indicate that the urban forest road provides a good environment for walking to enhance physical fitness. Although not as close to nature as national park trails, urban forest roads offer similar natural environments and have a high potentiality for serving as leisure spaces for urban residents who seek physical activities.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.97 no.6
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• pp.634-640
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to clarify the physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the atmosphere of the forest of forest bathing). The subjects were twelve male university students ($21.6{\pm}2.1$ years old). On the first day, six subjects were sent to a forest area, and the others to a city area. On the second day, the subjects were sent to the opposite areas for a cross check. The subjects were seated on chairs and viewing the landscapes of their given areas for 15 minutes. HRV (Heart Rate Variability) and diastolic blood pressure were used as physiological indices. Diastolic blood pressure and LF/(LF+HF) components of HRV in the forest area were significantly lower than in the city area. And HF power components of HRV in the forest settings were significantly enhanced than in city settings. In conclusion, the results of the physiological measurements show that Shinrin-yoku was able to effectively relax people in both mind and body.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.2
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• pp.294-299
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of a forest healing program on the level of job stress and the profile of mood states (POMS). 38 public servants who were in charge of social welfare in A city as well as 24 metal health care workers in C province participated in the forest healing programs. The data were collected by a pretest-posttest design. The data analysis showed that both job stress and POMS levels were significantly improved by the forest healing program. The therapeutic effects of forests are highly expected to be utilized for healing programs for job stress reduction and burnout prevention.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.464-472
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• 2023

Middle-aged women experience a lot of physical and mental stress during their developmental cycle. This stress reduces the quality of life because it leads to chronic pain and disease. Forest therapy is attracting attention as an alternative to this. Forest therapy refers to improving human health through the therapeutic elements of forests. Accordingly, this study was conducted to determine whether a sensory insight-based forest therapy program was effective in reducing stress in middle-aged women. For this purpose, middle-aged women who wanted to participate in the forest therapy program were recruited, 20 each were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group, and pre- and post-tests were conducted. The forest therapy program consisted of 8 sessions of 6 hours based on sense and insight. The forest therapy program was held at Saryeoni Forest in Jeju, and the measurement tools were compared by measuring perceived stress, leisure satisfaction, and stress index through pulse wave testing. The results of the study showed that the forest therapy program lowered stress and improved leisure satisfaction.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.211-222
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• 2013

Objectives: A great number of people visit forests for their bountiful healing factors. We investigated the quantity of terpene and analyzed the correlations with meteorological and environmental factors at Mt. Mudeung in order to support public health. Methods: The terpene amounts were investigated along 11 main trails using stainless steel tube packed by Tenax TA (150 mg) and Carbopack B (130 mg) during March to November 2012. Terpene amounts of 20 species (${\alpha}$-pinene, camphene, etc.), and meteorological and environmental factors were investigated in the field. Results: Terpene of 16 species was released from the forest and total terpene amounts were 2,080 pptv at the site of Chamaecyparis obtusa, the highest among 11 sites, nearby the first reservoir on Mt. Mudeung. Terpene concentrations in the forest were nine to 23 times higher than found in urban areas. Total terpene amounts had positive correlations with temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide and oxygen (p<0.01) with $R^2$ of 0.345, 0.369, 0.591, 0.145, respectively, from April to July. Wind speed and solar radiation in the forest had a negative correlation with terpene amounts and showed statistical insignificance with p-values of 0.118 and 0.233, respectively. Conclusions: This study suggests that the amounts of terpene around Mt. Mudeung are indeed higher, so visitors may enjoy a therapeutic walk in the forest with a healing effect. These results showed the forest was very effective for improving human health.