• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of psychosocial factors related to functional dyspepsia(FD) and their effects on quality of life(QOL) in firefighters. Methods : This study examined data collected from 1,217 firefighters. We measured psychological symptoms by Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire(GAD-7), Korean Occupational Stress Scale(KOSS), Ways of Coping checklist(WCCL), Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale(RSES) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale abbreviated version(WHOQOL-BREF). Chi-square test, independent t-test, Pearson's correlation test, logistic regression analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis were used as statistical analysis methods. Results : For the group with FD, the male participants showed significantly higher frequency(p=0.006) compared to the female participants. The group with FD had higher scores for depressive symptoms(p<.001), anxiety (p<.001), and occupational stress(p<.001), and did lower scores for self-esteem(p=.008), quality of life(p<.001) than those without FD. The FD risk was higher in the following KOSS subcategories: job demand(OR 1.94, 95% CI : 1.29-2.93), lack of reward(OR 2.47, 95% CI : 1.61-3.81), and occupational climate(OR 1.51, 95% CI : 1.01-2.24). In the hierarchical regression analysis, QOL was best predicted by depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and occupational stress. Three predictive variables above accounts for 42.0% variance explained of total variance. Conclusions : The psychosocial factors showed significant effects on FD, and predictive variables for QOL were identified based on regression analysis. The results suggest that the psychiatric approach should be accompanied with medical approach in future FD assessment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.337-347
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• 2015

Since the application of roundabouts by 2010 have been started, more than 350 roundabouts were installed in Korea. Recently the types of constructed roundabouts become various, and the intersection conditions for installing roundabouts were also various. However, there were some difficulties to install roundabouts around school zone due to safety problems. In this study, appropriate distance from adjacent signal crosswalks to roundabouts were estimated for securing pedestrian safety and operation efficiency around school zone. With the analyses, the minimum distance standard was suggested to obtain operational effectiveness of roundabout according to traffic volume, traffic flow, pedestrian green time and secures pedestrian safety and convenience. In this paper, average delay of roundabout as various length of distances between an adjacent crosswalk and a roundabout as different pedestrian signal times, traffic volumes, traffic flow rates were analyzed. Through this study, it was found that about four times of delay in a roundabout was generated if there was adjacent signal crosswalk. However if there is enough distance between an adjacent crosswalk and a roundabout, the value of increasing delay on roundabouts with adjacent a signalized crosswalk can be considerably reduced. Critical value of the distance between a roundabout and a signal crosswalk in case of roundabouts within 200-500 vehicle/hour/lane entry traffic flow, 20-40% of left turn traffic, and over 15 seconds pedestrian green time was about 50 meters. In conclusion, if there is minimum 40 meter distance from roundabouts, adjacent signal crosswalks can be installed and operated for students' safety around school zone.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.400-406
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microbial contamination level of Korean traditional rice cakes (Garaetteok, Injeolmi, Gyeongdan), as well as manufacturing environment of small-sized businesses in Korea. The contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and Bacillus cereus in raw materials were 3.76-4.48, 2.21-4.14, and 1.02-1.15 log CFU/g respectively. On the other hand, Escherichia coli was not found. It has been found that the contamination level of total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and B. cereus in the raw material decreased after the washing process, but it increased again during the soaking and grinding process. However, after the steaming stage, the contamination level increased again during the molding and cooling process, suggesting the need to take cautions in managing cooling water and molded rice cakes in the process. These results suggest that the safe management of cooling water and taking cautions in the drying process after steaming of rice cakes are necessary for controlling cross-contamination. No E. coli was detected during the manufacturing process involving all tested rice cakes. The microbial contamination level of manufacturing environment such as rice grinder and rice cake forming machine was high. Therefore, in terms of food safety strategy, it is necessary to consider introducing systematic cleansing and disinfection procedure to processing equipment and environment for the sake of reducing microbiological risks.