This research was intended to provide a method to improve competitiveness, based on the integration of basic municipalities by assessing changes in their population and local industry Municipalities were integrated based on the addressing system 市(Shi), 町(Chome), 村(Village) of Japan. As a result, an actual increase of the population could not be seen in the new municipalities formed by the integration of the basic municipalities. It is also found that the shipping volumes, number of companies, and the number of people employed by local industry, attracted by such municipalities, has steadily decreased. However, even though the proportion of industrysharing in the local municipalities is not significant, it was found that the number of tourists has increased. Therefore, it is concluded that the strengthening of the connectivity between local industry and the tourism industry can be one of the principal methods to strengthen the competitiveness of these municipalities. In addition, it has been found that scientific research from a variety of perspectives and verification of data related to the effectiveness of integration of local municipalities is necessary.

In order to preserve the traditional garden landscape and maintain the harmony between traditional and modern gardens of Inner Mongolia, this study theoretically examined the creation and background elements of Inner Mongolia, and reviewed the nature of the people and the traditional design elements. The results of this study show that: 1) the background factor of traditional garden landscapes was nomadic life in plains, which was a lifestyle of adapting to Mother Nature and promoting mutual existence and survival; 2) Shamanism impacted the views of nature among the ancient Inner Mongolian people; 3) traditional garden landscapes could be categorized into landscapes centered around Mother Nature during the Huns era and those centered around the symbolic landscape during the Genghis Khan era; 4) aesthetic elements of traditional garden landscapes included traditional colors of red, yellow, sky-blue, milky-white, and traditional patterns of external knot, cloud, bull horn, and plain grass. These findings may provide basic data for the creation background and characteristics of traditional garden landscape of Inner Mongolia in the application of the green space design of Inner Mongolia.

This study aims to establish baseline data for sustainable monitoring by applying the green city index (GCI), which is set up to evaluate the city level, to the city of Gangneung-si, which was designated as a pilot city for the Low-carbon Green Growth City project by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transportation. The GCI was applied in the framework of European systems, while considering the social and economic status of Korea. Indicators from 7 areas—CO2, energy, building, transportation, water, waste, and quality of atmosphere were analyzed, except for qualitative indicators. Results indicate that total CO2 emissions were 30.8 tons per capita, or 2.2 tons per one million units of real GDP. The total final energy consumption was 0.231 TOE/capita, or 0.317 TOE per one million units of real GDP. The percentage of total energy derived from renewable resources was 0.41% and energy consumption by the building was 433.5 Mwh/1,000 ㎡. The total percentage of the working population travelling to work daily by public transportation (limited to bus) was 19%. Further, the total annual water consumption was 99 ㎥/capita, and the water lost in the water distribution system was 0.057 ㎥/capita/day. The total annual waste collected was 0.0077 ton per capita, The annual mean emission were 0.014 ppm/day for NO2, 0.005 ppm/day for SO2, and 0.019 ppm/day for O3. The annual mean for PM10 emissions was 39 ㎍/㎥/day.

To create urban landscapes that take human emotion into consideration, the present study verified the psychological effects of artificial waterscape facilities on users, as these facilities significantly impact their psychological comfort. Data was collected using the SD scales and POMS of 60 male and 60 female participants after they watched a video of four waterscape facilities. Participants deemed the video clip of a fountain waterscape to be artificial and linked it with changeable images that increased their vigor. The video clip of waterfall stimulated various impressions (e.g., vital, liked, active, etc.) and changed participant’ mood states by increasing their vigor and decreasing fatigue. The video clip of the pond yielded familiar impressions, produced less free images, and decreased tension among participants. Finally, the video clip of the stream stimulated quiet and comfortable images as well as reduced negative feelings of anger, confusion, and depression among participants. Furthermore, males experienced more positive effects than females, regardless of the type of waterscape facility. The study findings indicate that the four different waterscape facilities influenced participants’ mood states. Additionally, the psychological effects differed by gender. The data suggest that landscape planners need to carefully consider their choice of waterscape facility when designing green spaces to ensure that the space is psychologically comforting to users.

Given the growing attention to nature and health in modern society, this study considered the role of a waterscape facility as a key element in a landscape’s influence on users’ physiological and psychological responses. The subjects were 28 university students, and the collected data included systolic and diastolic blood pressure, salivary amylase concentration, semantic differential (SD) scales, and profile of mood states (POMS). As compared to a space without any waterscape element (Type G), relaxation in a space with a waterscape element (Type W) was found to significantly reduce of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and salivary amylase concentration. The SD scale and POMS findings showed that Type W evoked active, bright, dynamic, free, vital, interesting, and cheerful images and improved mood states by enhancing vigor while inhibiting depressive feelings. These findings indicate waterscape facilities can improves users’ mood states and may enhance their health.

The present study was performed to investigate the psychological effects of spring flowers blossoms, which is one of the elements influencing to human psychology, in order to provide scientific evidence on the psychological benefits of green plants. A self-reporting survey was conducted by using self reporting questionnaires on the impression (semantic differential method: SD method) and mood states (profile of mood states: POMS) of eighty university students in their twenties. Korean forsythia, Korean rosebay, Japanese apricot, Cherry blossom, and Magnolia were chosen as spring flowers. The results of impression evaluation and mood states changes showed that spring flower blossom had beautiful, soft, warm, moist, familiar and full impressions, and changed our mood positively by reducing depression and anger, or by increasing vigor. In addition, different psychological effects can be differently observed depending on the species; for example, Cherry blossom had a greater effect in changing the impression and feeling than others. The findings would provide support toward the active usage in green space as well as its design maximizing the psychological effects of nature.

The growth characteristics of Paeonia ostii ‘Fengdan’ seedlings roots in response to trichokonins-spray treatment were investigated in this study. One-year-old seedlings of P. ostii ‘Fengdan’ were potted in plastic cups containing garden mold and grown under field conditions. The results showed that application of trichokonins significantly promoted root growth in P. ostii ‘Fengdan’ seedlings. The total root projection area, total root surface area, total root volume, total root length, root number and root diameter of seedlings treated with 0.25 mg/L trichokonins were higher by 141.70, 116.59, 119.44, 55.97, 348.88 and 127.78%, respectively, than that of the control. Thus, the results supported the hypothesis that good growth condition for roots could directly improve their nutrient absorption and utilization efficiency, promoting plant growth and development.

FLOWERING TIME CONTROL PROTEIN, FPA gene encode RNA Recognition Motif (RRM) domain protein and plays important roles in flowering time control in Arabidopsis. Floral transition is significant for reproductive products in all flowering plants. However, little is known about the functions of Medicago autonomous pathway gene. We had cloned the FPA gene on Medicago based on the sequence similarity of Arabidopsis FPA sequence. The RT-qPCR analysis of MtFPA expression patterns showed that the MtFPA transcripts accumulated ubiquitously in roots, leaves, stems, flowers, and pods. When fused to the green fluorescence protein, MtPFA-GFP was localized in the nucleus as speckle pattern of protoplast from Arabidopsis. To examine the function of MtFPA, 35S::MtFPA transgenic plants were generated in Arabidopsis late flowering mutant background, fpa-2. Overexpression of MtFPA specifically caused early flowering under long day conditions compared with non-transgenic plants. In MtFPA transgenic lines, AtFLC expression were down-regulated whereas the floral integrators, AtFT and AtSOC1 were up-regulated as compare with control plant. As these results, MtFPA suggest that is a functional ortholog of the Arabidopsis and may play an important role in the regulation of flowering transition in Medicago.

To develop a clinically available saponin- or sapogenin complex from Oriental medicines, the EtOH extract (KPRG-A) was obtained by extracting from the four crude drugs, Kalopanacis Cortex, Platycodi Radix, Rubi Fructus and Glycyrrhizae Radis. The BuOH fraction (KPRG-B), a crude saponin complex, was prepared by fractionating KPRG-A, which were further completely hydrolyzed to afford the sapogenin complex (KPRG-D). In an attempt to find the antinoicpetive effects of the saponin complex and sapogenin complex, KPRG-C, and -D, were assayed by writhing-, hot plate-, and tail-flick tests using mice or rats. The three samples were also subjected to antiiflammatory tests using serotonin-induced and carrageenan-induced hind paw edema mice and rats, respectively. The three samples significantly reduced inflammations and pains of the experimental animal. The potency were found in the order of KPRG-D> KPRG-C> KPRG-B. The most active sample, KPRG-D, caused no death, no body increase or no anatomical pathlogic change even at 2,000 mg/kg dose. These results suggest that a sapogenin complex, KPRG-D, which was found to contain mainly hederagenin, platycodigenin, polygalacic acid, 23-hydroxytormentic acid, glycyrrhetic acid together with minor triterpene acids, could be a potential candidate for antiinflammatory therapeutics.

Surveys for visitor's awareness and on-the-spot investigations at Odae Mountain National Park were conducted for activation of nature interpretation. As a result, many problems on observation trails as the object of the nature interpretation were identified. The nature interpretation is not functioning fully for the side of environmental education. The situation and problems of nature interpretation were analyzed in depth based on the survey of the visitors. In order to improve roles of the nature observation trails and solve the present problems immediately, suggestions are as the followings. 1)Road resurfacing and space development needed to solve the problems of existing nature observation trail. 2)Public relations for nature observation trail and production of signboards promoting visitor's interest. 3)Development of nature observation trail used only for nature interpretation 4)Development of adequate Korean interpretation program based on systematic nature interpretation models from other developed countries