• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.220-256
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• 2022

The most important thing for conserving plant diversity in an area is to make an overall inventory of the plant species inhabiting the area. In particular, limestone areas are known for their high plant diversity and distribution of specific plants. Despite that, only a few have been designated as protected areas. This study investigated the vascular plants distributed in Goyangsan Mtn. and Munraesan Mtn., located in limestone areas of the central part of the Korean Peninsula. A field survey was conducted eight times from April to October 2021. As a result, we identified a total of 654 taxa comprising 113 families, 357 genera, 592 species, 15 subspecies, 44 varieties, and 3 formulas. They included four endangered wild plant species: Astilboides tabularis, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Cypripedium macranthos, and Epilobium hirsutum. Endemic plants in Korea were identified as 32 taxa. Floristic target plants were identified as 168 taxa, specifically 5 taxa of grade V, 41 taxa of grade IV, and 36 taxa of grade III. The red data plants included 2 taxa as "Endangered (EN)", 7 taxa as "Vulnerable (VU)", and 7 taxa as "Near threatened (NT)". A total of 41 taxa of naturalized plants were identified, and 4 of them were invasive alien plants. The surveyed vicinity of Goyangsan Mtn. and Munraesan Mtn. showed high plant diversity and contained core habitats for distribution of an endangered wild plant, Astilboides tabularis,in the limestone area. Moreover, both mountains contained a small population of Cotoneaster integerrimus. These findings confirm that the area has conservation values. Therefore, we propose to identify areas with high plant diversity and designate them as special protected areas.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.72-80
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• 2016

The market size of plant projects in overseas is so large that domestic EPC project contractors are actively seeking the overseas projects and then trying to meet completion plans since successful fulfillment of these projects can provide great opportunities for them to expand into new foreign markets. International EPC projects involve all of the uncertainties common to domestic projects as well as uncertainties specific to foreign projects including marine transportation, customs, regulations, nationality, culture and so on. When overseas project gets off-schedule, the resulting uncertainty may trigger unexpected exceptions and then critical effects to the project performance. It usually require much more time and costs to encounter these exceptions in foreign sites compared to domestic project sites. Therefore, an exception handling approach is required to manage exceptions effectively for successful project progress in foreign project sites. In this research, we proposed a methodology for prediction and evaluation of exceptions caused by risks in international EPC projects based on sensitivity analysis and Bayesian Networks. First, we identified project schedule risks and related exceptions, which may meet during the fulfillment of foreign EPC projects that is performed in a sequence of engineering, procurement, preparatory manufacture, foreign shipping, construction, inspection and modification activities, and affect project performance, using literature review and expert interviews. The impact of exceptions to the schedule delay were also identified. Second, we proposed a methodology to predict the occurrence of exceptions caused by project risks and evaluate them. Using sensitivity analysis, we can identify activities that critically affect schedule delay and need to focus by priority. Then, we use Bayesian Networks to predict and evaluate exceptions. Third, we applied the proposed methodology to an international EPC project example to validate the proposed approach. Finally, we concluded the research with the further research topics. We expect that the proposed approach can be extended to apply in exception management in project management.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.201-214
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• 2015

This study was conducted to identify forest topsoil's usefulness from July 2013 to Oct 2014. Generally, there are abundant seeds in topsoils and it can be used at restoration works. Mt. GARIWANG is famous for biodiversity in Korea. This study was aimed to find out the suitable utilization methods of natural topsoils for restoration works at sky-slopes construction sites. Test beds was made to identify suitable collecting times and suitable topsoil thickness. The main results are summarized as follows. First, Mt. GARIWANG have diverse species and in topsoils we can find lots of burried seeds which can be used at restoration works. Second, according to indoor experiment, as the depth of topsoil used thicker, the number of plants and coverage rates were increased. Also, there were no distinct differences in coverage rates between 5cm and 8cm thick topsoil plots and it can be possible to use at least 3cm thick topsoils even thou lower coverage rates. Third, as the results of research about indoor and outdoor experimental plots, there were difference in plant emergency. If we use the stabilizer to protect soil erosion, then we can get more increased results at sloped outdoor experimental plots. Fourth, based on environmental impact assessment, there was 389 species in whole region of Mt. GARIWANG. Through this seed bank experiments, we can find 23 varieties, including 4 tree varieties and 19 herbaceous varieties. We can find lots of native herbaceous species from topsoils. Fifth, this research was done at the specific area of Mt. GARIWANG and used limited topsoils. But we monitoring more longer periods, then there will be more useful outcomes. Finally by researching topsoils of Mt. GARIWANG, we can find diverse native plants. Thus, we must reuse natural topsoils of Mt. Gariwang for restoration of original vegetation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.551-566
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• 2017

As the modern society is rapidly developing and people become affluent in materials, many new chemical compounds in different forms of products (e.g., antibiotics, pesticides, detergents, personal care products and plastic goods) are produced, used, and disposed of to the environments. Some of them are persistently having a harmful impact on the environment and mimicking endocrine properties; in general they are present in the environment at low concentrations, so they are called organic pollutants. These organic micropollutants flow to sewage treatment plants via different routes. In this study, the generation characteristics, exposure pathways, detection levels, and environmental impacts of organic micropollutants were critically reviewed. In addition, currently available risk assessment methods and management systems for the compounds were reviewed. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), for example, has monitored organic micropollutants and set the monitoring and management of some of the compounds as a priority. To effectively manage organic micropollutants in sewer systems, therefore, we should first monitor organic micropollutants of potential concern and then make a watch list of specific substances systematically, as described in guidelines on listing water pollutants in industrial wastewater.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.1057-1063
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• 2014

Concerning $CO_2$ reduction from International Societies, lots of laboratories and relevant societies suggest many reports on how to reduce fuel consumption from their specific ways. Undoubtedly, cutting costs is the final desired destination for owner outcome, but many questions there are on the way yet: how is this measure working? how efficient is it? On what size of ship would it work best and be the most effective? etc. Fuel cost is one of the major cost elements for ship owners and/or operators. And by reducing fuel consumption owners and/or operators will reduce both their costs and the environmental impact from their ship. This paper is aim to address how the measures work for saving fuel consumption through improve propulsion efficiency, installation cost and benefit can be calculated easily in the return on investment for estimated one year operation, and finally their compatibility with other fuel saving measure devices.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.603-607
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• 2003

Abstract Plant lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are a class of proteins whose functions are still unknown. Some are proposed to have antimicrobial activities. To understand whether LTP110, a rice LTP that we previously identified from rice leaves, plays a role in the protection function against some serious rice pathogens, we investigated the antifungal and antibacterial properties of LTP110. A cDNA sequence, encoding the mature peptide of LTP110, was cloned into the Impact-CN prokaryotic expression system. The purified protein was used for an in vitro inhibition test against rice pathogens, Pyricularia oryzae and Xanthomonas oryzae. The results showed that LTP110 inhibited the germination of Pyricularia oryzae spores, and its inhibitory activity decreased in the presence of a divalent cation. This suggests that the antifungal activity is affected by ions in the media; LTP110 only slightly inhibited the growth of Xanthomonas oryzae. However, the addition of LTP110 to cultured Chinese hamster ovarian cells did not retard growth, suggesting that the toxicity of LTP110 is only restricted to some cell types. Its antimicrobial activity is potentially due to interactions between LTP and microbe-specific structures.

• ALGAE
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2002

Three dominant rocky intertidal macroalgae, the fucoids Fucus gardneri and Pelvetiopsis limitata (Phaeophyta) and the red alga Mazzaella cornucopiae (= Iridaea cornucopiae) on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada were used in a series of field experiments to examine interspecific interactions. These experiments showed complex patterns which included an interchange of negative (inhibition) and positive (facilitation) interactions depending on neighbor distance. Less fucoid recruitment occurred in the plots with greater percent cover of a turfforming red alga, M. cornucopiae. However, experimentally removing Mazzaella turf (the turf was considered to be "blocking" fucoid recruits or "shading" growing recruits) did not increase recruitment. This result indicated that there may be another factor(s) involved in the survivorship of juvenile fucoids in the turf-removed plots. Morphological differences in adult plants between Mazzaella and the two fucoids resulted in another type of interaction; these began when fucoids successfully settled and grew nearby or within the red algal turf. By monitoring microhabitat at the individual plant level for two years, I found that survivorship of fucoid recruits showed different species-specific patterns. The patterns also varied as the microhabitat changed from Mazzaella turf edge to open space. For F. gardneri, longevity of P.limitata at all distances tested was similar. A reason for greater longevity of F. gardneri individuals at edge microhabitats may be that these sites have one side open to light and nutrients and another site that buffers them from desiccation and wave impact. In the Mazzaella-Fucus interaction, neighbor distance was a key factor in determining whether the outcome of the interaction would be competition or facilitation (or protection). This study provides experimental evidence that detectable biological interactions occur in this upper intertidal algal community where physical conditions are usually severe, and also indicates the importance of small scale examination in understanding macroalgal interactions in intertidal habitats.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.36.1-36.14
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• 2022

Background: Since 2003, the H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype has caused massive economic losses in the poultry industry in South Korea. The role of inland water bodies in avian influenza (AI) outbreaks has not been investigated. Identifying water bodies that facilitate risk pathways leading to the incursion of the HPAI virus (HPAIV) into poultry farms is essential for implementing specific precautionary measures to prevent viral transmission. Objectives: This matched case-control study (1:4) examined whether inland waters were associated with a higher risk of AI outbreaks in the neighboring poultry farms. Methods: Rivers, irrigation canals, lakes, and ponds were considered inland water bodies. The cases and controls were chosen based on the matching criteria. The nearest possible farms located within a radius of 3 km of the case farms were chosen as the control farms. The poultry farms were selected randomly, and two HPAI epidemics (H5N8 [2014-2016] and H5N6 [2016-2017]) were studied. Conditional logistic regression analysis was applied. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that inland waters near poultry farms were significant risk factors for AI outbreaks. The study speculated that freely wandering wild waterfowl and small animals contaminate areas surrounding poultry farms. Conclusions: Pet birds and animals raised alongside poultry birds on farm premises may wander easily to nearby waters, potentially increasing the risk of AI infection in poultry farms. Mechanical transmission of the AI virus occurs when poultry farm workers or visitors come into contact with infected water bodies or their surroundings. To prevent AI outbreaks in the future, poultry farms should adopt strict precautions to avoid contact with nearby water bodies and their surroundings.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.45.1-45.7
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• 2022

Food security will be affected by climate change worldwide, particularly in the developing world, where the most important food products originate from plants. Plants are often exposed to environmental stresses that may affect their growth, development, yield, and food quality. Auxin is a hormone that plays a critical role in improving plants' tolerance of environmental conditions. Auxin controls the expression of many stress-responsive genes in plants by interacting with specific cis-regulatory elements called auxin-responsive elements (AuxREs). In this work, we performed an in silico prediction of AuxREs in promoters of five auxin-responsive genes in Zea mays. We applied a data fusion approach based on the combined use of Dempster-Shafer evidence theory and fuzzy sets. Auxin has a direct impact on cell membrane proteins. The short-term auxin response may be represented by the regulation of transmembrane gene expression. The detection of an AuxRE in the promoter of prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) in Z. mays and the 3-fold overexpression of this gene under auxin treatment for 30 min indicated the role of POP in maize auxin response. POP is regulated by auxin to perform stress adaptation. In addition, the detection of two AuxRE TGTCTC motifs in the upstream sequence of the bx1 gene suggests that bx1 can be regulated by auxin. Auxin may also be involved in the regulation of dehydration-responsive element-binding and some members of the protein kinase superfamily.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.798-809
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• 2023

In this study, we evaluated the impacts of land-based pollution sources on seawater and shellfish in the Jindongman area after 20.5 mm and 90.6 mm rainfall events. We analyzed sanitary indicator microorganisms used in survey management, such as total coliform, fecal coliform, Escherichia coli, and male-specific coliphage in Waste water treatment plant (WWTP), major inland pollution source,s seawater, and shellfish for 4 days after rainfall events. Our results showed that the range of coliform group and fecal coliform was 1.8-49 and <1.8-4.5 MPN (most probable number)/100 mL, respectively, after rainfall events in WWTP discharge water. Furthermore, the radius of the calculated impacted area of major inland pollution sources ranged from 5 to 798 m after 20.5 mm of rainfall and 30 to 1,031 m after 90.6 mm of rainfall. The fecal coliform of seawater at 30 stations in the shellfish growing area and areas adjacent to four stations was <1.8-130 and from <1.8-79 MPN/100 mL, respectively. The E. coli level of shellfish at 7 stations in the shellfish growing area was <18-220 MPN/100 g.