• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2000

When interpreting change over time in forest ecosystems, distinguishing the effects of forest succession from the effects of environmental stress can be difficult. The result may be a simplistic interpretation. citing a specific successional or environmental cause of forest change when both types may be occurring. We present two case studies of changes in the forest floor in northern hardwoods. First, the belief that 50% of soil organic matter is lost in the first 20 years after logging was based on a study comparing northern hardwood stands of different ages. We resampled a series of 13 such stands after an interval of 15 years, and found that the young stands were not, in fact. losing organic matter as rapidly as predicted from the original chronosequence study. The pattern of higher organic matter content in the forest floors of older stands compared to young stands could be equally well explained by changes in logging practices over the last century as by the aging of the stand. The observed pattern of forest floor organic matter as a function of stand age was previously interpreted as a successional pattern, ignoring changes in treatment history. In the second case study, observed losses of base cations from the forest floor were attributed to cation depletion caused by acid rain and declining calcium deposition. We found that young stands were gaining base cations in the forest floor; losses of base cations were restricted to older stands. Differences in litter chemistry in stands of different ages may explain some of the pattern in cation gains and losses. In this case, the contribution of successional processes to cation loss had been overlooked in favor of environmental stress as the dominant mechanism behind the observed changes. Studies of environmental stress use repeated measures over time. but often don't consider stand age as a factor. Studies of successional change often assume that environmental factors remain constant. We were able to consider both forest succession and external factors because we repeatedly sampled stands of different ages.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate degree of stress level in CCU patients, and to give a baseline data in developing nursing intervention program to reduce the stress. Method: Subjects of this study were the 100 hospitalized patients of C University Hospital in Seoul City from February to December 2003. The collected data was analyzed by using the SAS program: t-test, Scheff$\acute{e}$ test, and ANOVA analysis were employed to find differences in stress level. Result: The highest stress factor was 'Concern', and next were 'Dependency & limitation', 'Uncertainty', 'Treatment procedure', 'Sleep disturbance', 'Environment' in order. The perceived stress level of CCU patients was 1.65 scores; the highest scored item was 'have to void urine and feces on the bed', next were 'have to use the toilet bowel lying on the bed' in order. The stress level according to characteristics of the subjects was significantly different with the marital status, the presence of religion, the hospitalized days, the economic status, and the admission experience. Conclusion: The stress level of patients in the coronary care unit was high in concern of a disease, family and economic state, in limitation and dependency, and in uncertainty about prognosis of a disease. Further researches are necessary to develop and apply the intervention method of reducing stress level of CCU patients. In addition studies on family members of CCU patients are also recommended.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.241-250
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• 2004

We previously found that bisphenol A (BPA) caused neurotoxic behavioral alteration. Since disturbance of calcium homeostasis is an implicated contributor in the neurotoxic mechanism of environmental toxicants, we investigated whether BPA alters calcium homeostasis. Unlike other neurotoxic agents which cause increase of intracellular calcium level, BPA decreased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ dose-dependently in PC12 cells and cortical neuronal cells regardless of the calcium existence in buffer. BPA at greater concentrations than 100 $\mu\textrm{M}$ reduced cell viability significantly in both types of cells. BPA also suppressed L-glutamate (L-type channel activator, 30 mM) and trifluoperazine (calmodulin antagonist, 30 $\mu\textrm{M}$)-induced increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. BPA further lowered caffeine (RYR activator, 100 $\mu\textrm{M}$)-decreased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, but did not alter dantrolene (RYR inhibitor, 100 $\mu\textrm{M}$), heparin (IP3 inhibitor, 200 units/ml) and xestospongin C (IP3 inhibitor, 5 $\mu\textrm{M}$)-decreased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. Cell viability was not directly related to intracellular calcium change by bisphenol A that alternation of intracellular calcium may not be a direct causal factor of BPA-induced neuronal cell death.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetics Society
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.87-93
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• 1993

Iron nitride (Fe-N) magnetic thin films were deposited using a DC magnetron sputtering system. Microstructures and magnetic properties were examined as a function of deposition power and nitrogen gas input ratio. The nitrogen content in the film was found to be the major factor determining the microstructure and the magnetic properties. The films deposited at low nitrogen input ratios have an $\alpha$-Fe structure of which the lattice is expanded due to the nitrogen atoms incorporated at the interstitial sites. As the nitrogen content in the film increases, the degree of lat-tice expansion increases and the value of saturation magnetization decreases linearly. The films with a high degree of lattice expansion give very low values of coercivity, which is attributed to the disturbance of colunmar growth and the decrease of surface roughness. Further increase in the nitrogen input ratio causes the phase transfonnation from $\alpha$-Fe to $Fe_{2-3}N$, resulting in the marked reduction in the saturation magnetization. The phase transformation occurs when, regardless of deposition conditions, the nitrogen content reaches at 15 at.% and the lattice is expanded by 5%.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.76-91
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• 2005

Stroke patients often develop post stroke sequelae when they survive. Post stroke fatigue and emotional disturbances including depression are common along with motor dysfunction. However, medical personnel have paid relatively little attention to emotional changes and the presence of fatigue following strokes. Post-stroke fatigue was common, occurring in 57% of the patients in our series. The post-stroke fatigue appears to be related to the pre-stroke fatigue, physical disability and post stroke depression (PSD) although the relation to the lesion location remains elusive. The prevalence of post-stroke emotional disturbance has been reported to range from 12% to 64%. The wide variation in the frequency of post stroke depression may be related to methodological heterogeneity in items such as the criteria for depression, the timing of assessment, and the study population. Emotional incontinence, which is characterized by inappropriate or excessive laughing or crying is also common. The incidence of and factor related to this post-stroke emotional incontinence (PSEI) also remains unclear. We reported that out-patients with single, unilateral stroke, 18% had PSD and 34% had PSEI. Although both PSD and PSEI were related to motor dysfunction and location (anterior vs. posterior cortex) of the lesion, the latter was a stronger determinant for PSD. PSEI was more closely associated with subcortical strokes than was PSD. Another manifestation of post stroke patients is the occurrence of post stroke anger proneness (PSAP). They may become easily irritated, impulsive, less generous, and prone to be angry or aggressive at others. We also have reported the PSAP which seems to be closely associated with the presence of PSEI. The lesion distribution appears to be also similar. Both PSEI and PSAP respond well to serotonin reuptake inhibitors suggesting that these symptomsmay be possibly related to the alteration of serotonin after brain injury. Likewise, PSAP also produces a great deal of frustration and embarrassment among patients and caregivers. In summary, emotional disturbances such as depression, emotional incontinence, anger-proneness and fatigue are fairly common but under-recognized sequelae of stroke. These emotional disturbances decrease the quality of life of the patients and caregivers, and may adversely affect the overall prognosis. Therefore, these problems must be appropriately recognized and alleviated. Finding strategies to relieve the symptoms is imperative by understanding the causative factors in individual patient.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2012

Discharge capacity of PBD is sensitive in proportion to thickness and ground condition, and drainage of PBD declines due to disturbance effect in surrounding ground by mandrel used for vertical drainage setting and setting machines and type. Also, deviation of discharge capacity gets larger according to ground condition, construction condition and soil properties. But cause and analysis of those problems like reduced discharge of capacity and delayed dissipation of pore water pressure for discharge capacity is lack. Thus, in this text, ground improvement and discharge capacity is investigated by implementing composite discharge capacity test for analysis of an effect factor of PBD discharge capacity with in-situ ground condition. After fixing the vertical drain on a cylindrical cylinder, put churned sample into the cylinder. After in-situ ground and reclamation of ground are dredged, load following the loading step of 30, 70 and 120kPa using a pressure device. Result of the test, The discharge capacity was SM>ML>CL>CL(dredged soil) in situ condition and more fine-grained content, the amount of discharge was greater.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.512-517
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• 2016

Objective : The pathophysiology of idiopathic Chiari malformation (CM) type 1 is disturbance of free cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow and restoration of normal CSF flow is the mainstay of treatment. Additional migration of the medulla oblongata in pediatric patients is referred to as CM type 1.5, but its significance in adult patients is unknown. This study is to compare surgical outcomes of adult idiopathic CM type 1.5 with that of type 1. Methods : Thirty-eight consecutive adult patients (M : F=11 : 27; median, 33.5; range, 18-63) with syringomyelia due to idiopathic CM type 1 were reviewed. Migration of the medulla oblongata was noted in 13 patients. The modified McCormick scale (MMS) was used to evaluate functional status before and one year after surgery. All patients underwent foramen magnum decompression and duroplasty. Factors related to radiological success (${\geq}50%$ decrease in the diameter of the syrinx) were investigated. The follow-up period was $72.7{\pm}55.6$ months. Results : Preoperative functional status were MMS I in 11 patients and MMS II in 14 of CM type 1 and MMS I in 8 and II in 5 of CM type 1.5. Of patients with MMS II, 5/14 patients in group A and 3/5 patients in group B showed improvement and there was no case of deterioration. Radiological success was achieved in 32 (84%) patients and restoration of the cisterna magna (p=0.01; OR, 46.5) was the only significant factor. Conclusion : Migration of the medulla oblongata did not make a difference in the surgical outcome when the cisterna magna was restored.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.319-331
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• 2013

Recent climate change, which is mostly ascribed to anthropogenic activities, is believed to be a major factor leading to biodiversity decreases and ecosystem service deteriorations. I have reviewed recent studies on climate change effects for many ecological processes involved with plants, in order to improve our understanding of the nature of ecological complexity. Plants in general have better growth and productivity under high levels of $CO_2$, although the long term effects of such $CO_2$ fertilizers are still controversial. Over the last 30 years, the Earth has been greening, particularly at higher latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, perhaps due to a relaxation of climatic constraints. Human appropriation of net primary productivity (NPP), which corresponds up to 1/3 of global NPP, is ultimately responsible for climate change and biodiversity decreases. Climate change causes phenological variations in plants, especially in regards to spring flowering and fall leaf coloring. Many plants migrate polewards and towards higher altitudes to seek more appropriate climates. On the other hand, tree mortality and population declines have recently been reported in many continents. Landscape disturbance not only hinders the plant migration, but also makes it difficult to predict the plants' potential habitats. Plant and animal population declines, as well as local extinctions, are largely due to the disruption of species interactions through temporal mismatching. Temperature and $CO_2$ increase rates in Korea are higher than global means. The degree of landscape disturbances is also relatively high. Furthermore, long-term data on individual species responses and species interactions are lacking or quite limited in Korea. This review emphasizes the complex nature of species responses to climate change at both global and local scales. In order to keep pace with the direction and speed of climate change, it is urgently necessary to observe and analyze the patterns of phenology, migration, and trophic interactions of plants and animals in Korea's landscape.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.83-89
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• 2015

Soil samples collected in an area of Gahak Mine were investigated for the characterization of mineralogical and physicochemical properties of contaminants in soils. It is found that soils in the study area are contaminated by lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), in which their concentrations are 595.3 mg/kg, 184.9 mg/kg, 712.8 mg/kg, and 10.64 mg/kg, respectively. All the concentrations exceed the concern criteria of Korean standard. Upon distribution patterns of metals identified by the sequential extraction procedure, our results show that more than 50% of metals are found as a residual type, and 30% are accounted for the association of Fe/Mn oxides. Interestingly, XRD results show that minium (Pb₃O₄) and cuprite (Cu₂O) are identified in the soil samples, suggesting that the sources of the contaminants for Pb and Cu are these minerals. In SEM images, tens of µm of Pb oxides and Pb silicate-minerals are observed. We, therefore, note that the contamination of metals in the study area results from the direct influx and disturbance of tailings. Our findings indicate that the characterization of physicochemical and mineralogical properties of contaminated soils is a critical factor and plays an important role in optimizing recovery treatments of soils contaminated in mine development areas.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 2014

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of thinning on ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in a forest. Ectomycorrhizal root tips were collected from forest soils in thinning and non-thinning sites and identified using morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of ITS rDNA sequences. As a result, species richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi was significantly increased and ectomycorrhizal fungal community composition was changed by thinning. These results suggest that forest management such as thinning, could be an important factor affecting mutualistic relationships and belowground microorganisms in forest ecosystems.