• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2019

A microscope is the fundamental research and diagnostic apparatus for clinical investigation of signaling transduction, morphological changes and physiological tracking of cells and intact tissues from patients in the biomedical laboratory science. Proper use, care and maintenance of microscope with comprehensive understanding in mechanism are fully requested for reliable image data and accurate interpretation for diagnosis in the clinical laboratory. The standard operating procedure (SOP) for light microscopes includes performance procedure, brief information of all mechanical parts of microscopes with systematic troubleshooting mechanism depending on the laboratory capacity. Maintenance program encompasses cleaning objective, ocular lenses and inner optics; replacement and calibration of light source; XY sample stage management; point spread function (PSF) measurement for confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM); quality control (QC) program in fluorescent microscopy; and systematic troubleshooting. Laser safety is one of the concern for medical technologists engaged in CLSM laboratory. Laser safety guideline based on the laser classification and risk level, and advisory lab wear for CLSM users are also expatiated in this overview. Since acquired image data presents a wide range of information at the moment of acquisition, well-maintained microscopes with proper microscopic maintenance program are impulsive for its interpretation and diagnosis in the clinical laboratory.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.249-256
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• 2021

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease. There are many factors including genetic and environmental factors that influence asthma. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is involved in maintaining the T helper cells 1 and 2 (Th1/Th2) balance and plays an important role in the development of asthma. In this study, the correlation between the NDFIP2 gene that regulates the MAPK pathway and asthma was analyzed. The genetic polymorphism of the NDFIP2 gene was analyzed between 193 asthma patients and 3,228 healthy controls in Korea. As a result, 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showed a significant correlation (P<0.05) and high relative risk with asthma. Among them, rs2783122 of NDFIP2 showed a statistically significant association with asthma (P-value=9.76×10^-6, odds ratio (OR)=1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.33~2.10). In the SNP imputation on the NDFIP2, 16 SNPs were discovered, and all of them showed significant correlation with asthma and high odds ratio. The genotype-based mRNA expression analysis revealed that the group of minor alleles of rs1408049 showed increased mRNA expression. Increased NDFIP2 expression causes the activation of the MAPK pathway, and this may influence the development of asthma. In conclusion, the polymorphisms of NDFIP2 are associated with asthma development and this can provide the basis for new guidelines for the management of asthma in the Korean population.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.19-31
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• 2021

This study aimed at comparing the performance of imported LX detergent cleaning solution (LX-CS) and the self-manufactured OC cleaning solution (OC-CS), based on functional and quantitative analysis. The functional analysis was carried out using apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. For quantitative analysis, precision, linearity, and carry-over rates were measured with commercial control materials according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Using OC-Sensor PLEDIA (Eiken Chemical, Japan), the ADC value of all cuvettes satisfied the acceptance criteria. For quantitative analysis, precision was less than 5.0% for the two products, and carry-over rates were less than ±1.00%. The linearity slopes and r2 values were 1.0017 and 0.9982 in the LX-CS, and 0.9924 and 0.9996 in the OC-CS, respectively. The correlation coefficient (r) was found to be 0.9997. Also, the percent difference in correlation with 40 artificial-stool specimens was less than 10% and the p-value was less than 0.1. The result of standard deviation ratio (D: ±1 SD ratio) was similar for both products. In conclusion, the functional and quantitative analyses of the two products were compared and showed similar results. In the future, the self-manufactured OC-CS will be able to provide a much more stable and faster supply than the imported LX-CS.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.211-216
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• 2021

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of disinfection using environmental disinfectant after having assessed the extent of contamination through microbial culture testing and the Adenosine Triphosphate Bioluminescence method among the environmental management evaluation methods used for the environment in the hospital ward of patients infected by multidrug-resistant organisms. This study was conducted with the patient wards isolated due to multidrug-resistant organisms as the environmental surface. Specimens were collected from five locations including infusion pumps, IV poles, bedside cabinets, bed railings, keyboards, and blood pressure measurement cuffs. ATP and microbial culture testing were executed prior to, immediately after, and five minutes post-disinfection. According to the result contamination of the infusion pumps was statistically significantly reduced after disinfection. In addition, the bacteria before and after disinfection reduced in IV pole, bed railing, and keyboard. That is, regular environmental surface disinfection can provide safer environments to patients against infection. Therefore, it is necessary to establish guidelines including disinfection methods and intervals for environmental surfaces by evaluating the persistence of disinfectants at various institutions in the future.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2021

The recent spread of novel and highly variant pathogenic viruses, including the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), has increased the demand for diagnostic testing for rapid confirmation. This has resulted in investigating the functional capability of each space, and preparing facility guidelines to secure the safety of medical technologists. During viral evaluations, there is a requirement of negative pressure facilities along with thread separation, during pre-treatment of samples and before nucleic acid amplification. Space composition therefore needs to be planned by considering unidirectional air flow. This classification of safety management facilities is designated as biosafety level 2, and personal protective equipment is placed accordingly. In case of handling dangerous materials, they need to be carried out of the biosafety cabinet, and sterilizers are required for suitable disposal of infectious agents. A common feature of domestic laboratories is maintenance of the sample pre-treatment space at a negative pressure of -2.5 Pa or less, and arranging separate pre-treatment and reagent preparation spaces during the test process. We believe that the data generated in this study is meaningful, and offers an efficient direction and detailed flow for separation of the inspection process and space functions. Moreover, this study introduces construction of the laboratory by applying the safety management standards.

• Journal of Cadastre & Land InformatiX
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.51-72
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to explain the types and causes of errors in zoning data that occur in the topographic map notification procedure, and to prepare a data maintenance plan. In Korea, like the United States, law-based land use regulation is dominant. In other words, according to the land use regulation method in the Act, the government designates zoning for all lots in the country, and landowners check the land use regulations of their land through the Korea Land use Information System. The land use plan confirmation document is important land information that affects the results of administrative dispositions such as land transactions between individuals or permission for development activities. However, there are data errors that occur during the current topographic map notification procedure and data construction process. Therefore, four local governments that can verify data by type were selected in consideration of local government conditions. A number of errors are first, errors in data construction and management in the Korea Land use Information System, and second, errors in lack of expertise that occur while the local government officials maintain data. Third, it was analyzed as an error from the relationship between the serial cadastral map and the zoning DB. Based on the above results, it is hoped that the results of this study will be reflected in the establishment of the KLIP and the reform of the legal system, which is currently underway after the establishment of the 「3rd the Korea Land use Information System Construction Plan」.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to propose the angle-limit of the escape ramp by analyzing the frog behavior characteristics according to the inclination angle of the waterway escape ramp installed in the concrete U-bench plume pipe channel. Forthe experiment, an escape test device was manufactured with the same shape and number of materials applied in the field. And Rana coreana living in paddy wetlands were sel selected. The main behaviors of frogs on the slope were 'jumping', 'crawling' and 'slipping', and afterrecording the behavioralresults according to the inclination angle, statistical analysis was conducted using the chi-square test method. As a result of the analysis, there was no statistically significant difference between 30° and 40°. This result is an evidence for expanding the standard of inclination angle 30° suggested in the 'Guidelines for Installation and Management of Ecological Pathways' to a maximum of 40°. However, further research is required in that the escape ramp targets not only Korean frogs but also various small wild animals. However, considering that various wild animals are affected by artificial canals, additional studies using various target wild animals are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.44-58
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• 2022

Bunhwangsa Temple, Baekryulsa Temple and Sambulsa Temple are not famous cultural heritage area, but they are visited by many tourists and are located in Gyeongju National Park and Gyeongju Historic Areas, so environmental and cultural preservations are required. The purpose of this study is to manage the unique environment and landscape of cultural assets by analysing the invasive alien plant of traditional temple of Gyeongju. The whole flora were summarized as 188 taxa including 73 families, 136 genera, 154 species, 3 subspecies, 11 varieties, 4 forms, 5 hybrids and 12 cultivars., and the landscape plants were 163 taxa and 38 taxa of the invasive alien plants. The 13 taxa of invasive alien plants were planted in three temples. The ecosystem disturbance species were 3 taxa including Rumex acetosella, Lactuca seriola and Symphyotrichum pilosum. Invasive alien plants have artificial causes such as landscape planting, but there are also those that are introduced naturally from outside. The parking lot of the temple is expected to be a major propagation path for invasive alien plants due to the large amount of interference and disturbance. Based on the results of this study, the management plans are suggested as follows. First, it is necessary to use native species suitable for the natural environment and traditional landscape of Korea for landscape planting of traditional temples, and development of planting guidelines centered on cultural properties is required. Second, it is necessary to refrain from planting invasive alien plants because traditional temples are located in an important environment and historically. Third, for the preservation of the temple environment, it is necessary to promptly remove the ecosystem disturbance species. Fourth, in order to express the landscape characteristics of traditional temples, a unique planting plan should be established in consideration of the location environment and historicity.

• Korean Journal of Forensic Psychology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.223-251
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• 2021

Statement analysis is a technique that examines the credibility of a statement by scientifically analyzing problems and psychological characteristics that appear in the content of the statement. The statement analysis report is prepared, submitted, and used for legal judgments when there is a suspicion of sexual abuse for children(under 13 years of age) and persons with disabilities since it is usually difficult to secure physical evidence nor eyewitnesses. However, the criteria for evaluating the quality of a statement analysis report or testimony are not available in Korea. Although forensic experts and professional organizations in North America and Europe are providing recommendations and guidelines for preparing forensic assessment reports, qualitative analysis research studies for forensic reports revealed a number of problems such as missing or poorly described essential information and lack of logical connection between evaluation results and forensic opinions. Therefore, forensic evaluation guidelines and forensic reports submitted to the courts in the United States, as well as the Structured Quality assessment of eXpert testimony (SQX-12) developed in Sweden were examined to suggest the Korean version of quality evaluation criteria for statement analysis report and testimony. This criteria can be used to improve effectiveness of forensic reports within criminal justice system and used as a guideline to assess the quality forensic reports or expert testimony prepared by experts. However, this criteria do not guarantee the reliability of the statement itself.

• KIPS Transactions on Computer and Communication Systems
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.119-126
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• 2023

Sarcopenia is not well known enough to be classified as a disease in 2021 in Korea, but it is recognized as a social problem in developed countries that have entered an aging society. The diagnosis of sarcopenia follows the international standard guidelines presented by the European Working Group for Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) and the d Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS). Recently, it is recommended to evaluate muscle function by using physical performance evaluation, walking speed measurement, and standing test in addition to absolute muscle mass as a diagnostic method. As a representative method for measuring muscle mass, the body composition analysis method using DEXA has been formally implemented in clinical practice. In addition, various studies for measuring muscle mass using abdominal images of MRI or CT are being actively conducted. In this paper, we develop an AI image segmentation model based on abdominal images of CT with a relatively short imaging time for the diagnosis of sarcopenia and describe the multicenter validation. We developed an artificial intelligence model using U-Net that can automatically segment muscle, subcutaneous fat, and visceral fat by selecting the L3 region from the CT image. Also, to evaluate the performance of the model, internal verification was performed by calculating the intersection over union (IOU) of the partitioned area, and the results of external verification using data from other hospitals are shown. Based on the verification results, we tried to review and supplement the problems and solutions.