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This paper empirically examines the role of USD, EUR, and CNY as international payment currencies in Korea, China, and Japan. Our survey of business people in those countries finds that higher convertibility and stability of these currencies in the SDR enhance their acceptability and usability for international payments. However, even during times of instability, USD remains highly accepted and usable as a trade payment currency unlike the cases of EUR and CNY. Therefore, maintaining exchange rate stability is essential for improving the acceptability and usability of EUR and CNY as international payment currencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to investigate the current status of read-across approaches in the Republic of Korea, Japan, and China in terms of applications and regulatory acceptance. In the Republic of Korea, over the last 6 years, approximately 8% of safety data records used for chemical registrations were based upon read-across, and a guideline published on the use of read-across results in 2017. In Japan, read-across is generally accepted for screening hazard classification of toxicological endpoints according to the Chemical Substances Control Law (CSCL). In China, read-across data, along with data from other animal alternatives are accepted as a data source for chemical registrations, but could be only considered when testing is not technically feasible. At present, read-across is not widely used for chemical registrations and regulatory acceptance of read-across may differ among countries in Asia. With consideration of the advantages and limitations of read-across, it is expected that read-across may soon gradually be employed in Asian countries. Thus, regulatory agencies need to prepare for this progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mushroom fly, Lycoriella mali (Diptera: Sciaridae), is the primary pest in imported mushrooms. The amount of Tricholoma matsutake imported from China increases every fall when it is harvested. When importing T. matsutake, disinfestation using methyl bromide (MB) or phosphine (PH3) is performed to prevent the introduction of L. mali. However, MB will be phased out due to ozone-depletion, chronic toxicity to workers, and residual issues. PH3 fumigation in mushroom disinfestation requires a long exposure time (24 h). In this study, we used ethyl formate (EF), which can replace MB and reduce exposure time. The efficacy of EF, PH3 and EF + PH3 on L. mali was evaluated. Using 4-h EF fumigation at 5 °C, the 3rd and 4th instar was the most tolerant stage in terms of 99% killed lethal concentration × time products (LCt99%). When 4-h EF fumigation at 5 °C was applied on all stages of L. mali, the LCt99% values of EF were 73.1 g h/m3 to the 1st and 2nd instar, 112.9 g h/m3 to the 3rd and 4th instar, 68.9 g h/m3 to pupae, and 20.1 g h/m3 to adult. It was confirmed that combination treatment with EF + PH3 had a synergistic effect on L. mali. The LCt99% of EF + 0.5 g/m3 of PH3 to the 3rd and 4th instar was 48.3 g h/m3. When only 140 g/m3 of EF was applied for 4 h at > 5 °C and 35 g/m3 of EF + 0.5 g/m3 of PH3 for 4 h at > 5 °C in commercial trials containing T. matsutake, proven efficacy (100%) on L. mali was confirmed. In the case of EF treatment only, phytotoxic damage occurred due to high Ct products, and there was no phytotoxic damage in combination treatment with EF + PH3. This study provides a new guideline for EF + PH3 combination treatment within a shorter exposure time (4 h) than existing PH3 treatment (24 h) and replacement of MB use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recompiled available Ordovician conodont data from previous studies for the Taebaek Group of the Taebaeksan Basin, Korea, based on the recently revised Ordovician conodont biostratigraphic scheme for North China. The recompiled Ordovician Taebaek Group conodont data conform well with the middle Tremadocian, lower Floian, and middle Darriwilian biozones of North China. The overall conodont distribution patterns, the occurrence of endemic species found only in North China, and the presence of an Upper Ordovician hiatus reaffirms the close relationship of the Taebaeksan Basin to the North China (Sino-Korean) Block. In addition, the absence of middle Floian to lower Darriwilian conodonts in the Taebaek Group and sudden appearance of abundant middle Darriwilian conodonts raises the possibility of the presence of a hiatus in the Lower Ordovician of the Taebaek Group. The possible disconformity may be located at the uppermost contact of the massive dolostone interval (the basal member) of the Makgol Formation. Lithologic evidence for the discontinuity includes the presence of local brecciation and oversized vuggy pores immediately below the contact and that of numerous dolomitic clasts above the contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle Ordovician conodont fauna consisting of six species was recovered from the upper part of the Lower Limestone and the middle part of the overlying Haengmae Formation in the western Jeongseon area, Korea. Two conodont biozones are established for this interval, the Erraticodon tangshanensis Interval Zone for the upper part of the Lower Limestone and the Eoplacognathus suecicus Range Zone for the uppermost part of the Lower Limestone to the middle part of the Haengmae Formation. The first biozone is comparable to the Darriwilian (early Dw2) Tangshanodus tangshanensis-Histiodella holodentata Zone in North China and the Tangshanodus tangshanensis Zone in South Korea. The second biozone corresponds to the eponymous Dar-riwilian (late Dw2) zones recognized in North China and Korea. The biostratigraphy indicates that the Lower Limestone and Haengmae Formation in the western Jeongseon area is correlated only with lower and middle parts of the Jeongseon Limestone in the central and eastern Jeongseon area, and thus the Jeongseon Limestone is not a valid lithostratigraphic unit for the western Jeongseon area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nangrim and northern Gyeonggi Massif can be correlated to Jiao-Liao-Ji belt. • Southern Gyeonggi Massif may not be correlated to northern Gyeonggi Massif. • Sobaeksan Gneiss Complex cannot correlated to Nangrim Massif. Correlation of the Paleoproterozoic rocks of the Korean Peninsula and China has been considered to be important for the tectonic evolution of Northeast Asia, yet it is still unclear. Recently considerable new data have been obtained from the Korean Peninsula and China providing a better opportunity to correlate the Paleoproterozoic rocks of the Korean Peninsula and China. Intermediate–P/T metamorphism and post–collisional magmatism have been found to have occurred during ca. 1.95–1.83 Ga not only in the Jiao–Liao–Ji belt on the eastern North China Craton but also in the Nangrim and northern Gyeonggi Massifs within the Korean Peninsula representing that these Paleoproterozoic rocks can be correlated. These events occurred as a result of the collision between the Longgang Block of the eastern North China Craton and the Nangrim Massifs of the Korean Peninsula. On the other hand, the southeastern Gyeonggi Massif underwent an arc–related magmatic and metamorphic events during ca. 1.96–1.91 Ga suggesting that the Paleoproterozoic rocks in southeastern Gyeonggi Massif cannot be correlated with those in northern Gyeonggi Massif. The Yeongnam Massif is unlikely correlated to the Nangrim and northern Gyeonggi Massifs and the eastern North China Craton because arc–related igneous activity occurred during ca. 2.00–1.85 Ga in the Sobaeksan Gneiss Complex in the central to northeastern Yeongnam Massif. The Jirisan Gneiss Complex in the southwestern Yeongnam Massif underwent intermediate–P/T metamorphism that is followed by post–collisional magmatic and low–P/T metamorphic events during ca. 1.92–1.86 Ga and these events may be correlated to those in the eastern Cathaysia Block on the South China Craton. The Paleoproterozoic correlation between the Korean Peninsula and China in this study supports a tectonic model in which the Permo–Triassic Dabie–Sulu continental collision belt in China extends into the Hongseong–Odaesan collision belt in the Gyeonggi Massif within the Korean Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses a structural equation model to examine the effects of noise on self-rated job satisfaction and health in open-plan offices. A total of 334 employees from six open-plan offices in China and Korea completed a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire included questions assessing noise disturbances and speech privacy, as well as job satisfaction and health. The results indicated that noise disturbance affected self-rated health. Contrary to popular expectation, the relationship between noise disturbance and job satisfaction was not significant. Rather, job satisfaction and satisfaction with the environment were negatively correlated with lack of speech privacy. Speech privacy was found to be affected by noise sensitivity, and longer noise exposure led to decreased job satisfaction. There was also evidence that speech privacy was a stronger predictor of satisfaction with environment and job satisfaction for participants with high noise sensitivity. In addition, fit models for employees from China and Korea showed slight differences. Practitioner Summary: This study is motivated by strong evidence that noise is the key source of complaints in open-plan offices. Survey results indicate that self-rated job satisfaction of workers in open-plan offices was negatively affected by lack of speech privacy and duration of disturbing noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Imjingang belt has been considered as a suture between the North and South China Cratons without clear evidences of the Permo-Triassic collision. The lines of evidences of the Permo-Triassic collision reported by previous researchers from the Imjingang belt are found to be incorrect. Therefore, the Imjingang belt should not be referred as a suture between the North and South China Cratons. Instead of the Imjingang belt, the Hongseong-Odesan belt should be used as the collision boundary between the North and South China Cratons. The Hongseong-Odesan collision boundary can be supported by the Permo-Triassic eclogite in the Hongseong area and ca. 230 Ma post-collision igneous activities occurred regionally in the northern Gyeonggi Massif (GM). In the northern GM between the Imjingang and Hongseong-Odesan belts, no high-pressure metamorphism (e.g. eclogite, blueschist) was reported. The Paleoproterozoic tectonic evolution of the northern GM studied by Yangkhom et al. (2014) is more similar to those in the North Korea and eastern part of the North China Craton than those in the South China Craton. These data indicate that it is reasonable to consider the northern GM including the Hongcheon area, as a part of the North China Craton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The Paleoproterozoic magmatic and M2 metamorphism in the Northen Gyeonggi Massif occurred at ca. 1886–1864Ma. [•] The estimated peak P–T conditions of M2 metamorphic are 790–840°C and 7.2–8.9kbar. [•] These events occurred due to the collision along Jiao-Liao-Ji belt in North China Craton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] D1 deformation in northern Gyeonggi Massif during collision along Jiao-Liao-Ji belt. [•] The emplacement of post-collision granitoid at ca. 1867–1881Ma. [•] D2 deformation during Permo-Triassic collision between North and South China blocks. [•] Intermediate-P/T metamorphism during Permo-Triassic collision. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aquatic extract of Dendropanax morbifera (DP) is typically consumed as a beverage in Korea and China and is also used in various traditional medicines. However, the functional role of DP on diabetes-induced renal fibrosis is unclear. Here, the protective effects of DP extract against diabetes-induced renal fibrosis were evaluated. Streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally in rats to induce diabetes. After 5 days, DP extract (25 mg/kg/day) and metformin (50 mg/kg/day) were administered orally to diabetic rats for 28 days. DP administration protected both body and organ weight loss in STZ-treated diabetic rats. Significant improvements in serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and oxidative stress parameters were observed in diabetic rats by DP administration. DP extract markedly protected diabetic-induced histopathological damages in the kidney and pancreas. A significant reduction was observed in microalbumin, kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), selenium binding protein-1 (SBP1), and pyruvate kinase muscle isozyme M2 (PKM2) levels in the urinary excretion of diabetic rats after the administration of DP extract. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and fibrosis marker levels were significantly reduced in the kidney of diabetic rats. Our results strongly indicate that DP extract exhibits protective activity against diabetes-induced renal fibrosis through ameliorating oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, we suggest that DP extract can be used as a preventive agent on the progression of diabetic nephropathy and renal fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]