• International Area Studies Review
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.255-292
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• 2018

This paper evaluates the new food policy adopted by the European Union to enhance the food safety after the mad cow crisis occurred in 1990's. Newly introduced rules at the EU level are characterized by two features. Firstly, an important part of them have the form of Regulation which is a binding legislative to all member countries. Secondly, most of them are horizontally applied to the whole food industry, irrespective of their kinds of performance, hygiene or labelling. According to theoretical studies on this topic, any food safety regulation for solving adverse selection problem or reducing negative externality in food consumption should be fine-tuning depending on the concrete demand and costs conditions of the food sector concerned. In this theoretical perspective, the food safety laws introduced at EU level after mad cow crisis have been over-regulated for improving social welfare. The true motivation for the transfer of the policy competence on food safety to the Union level is political rather than economic. Our analysis with a political economic perspective shows that how the EU food regulations have been embraced not only by the governments of member countries, but also by diverse interest groups like food processor & distributors, consumers and agro-livestock groups, and that they have been used as protectionist purpose specially against non-member developing countries. Taking into account the fact that the basic aim to form the Union is to establish a single market to enhance economic efficiency at the Union level, the EU is required to adopt some policy actions to reduce negative effects of too restrictive food safety regulations.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1666-1689
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• 2021

The red line of Permanent Basic Farmland is the most important part in the "three-line" demarcation of China's national territorial development plan. The scientific and reasonable delineation of the red line is a major strategic measure being taken by China to improve its ability to safeguard the practical interests of farmers and guarantee national food security. The delineation of Permanent Basic Farmland zoning (DPBFZ) is essentially a multi-objective optimization problem. However, the traditional method of demarcation does not take into account the synergistic development goals of conservation of cultivated land utilization, ecological conservation, or urban expansion. Therefore, this research introduces the idea of artificial immune optimization and proposes a multi-objective model of DPBFZ red line delineation based on a clone selection algorithm. This research proposes an objective functional system consisting of these three sub-objectives: optimal quality of cropland, spatially concentrated distribution, and stability of cropland. It also takes into consideration constraints such as the red line of ecological protection, topography, and space for major development projects. The mathematical formal expressions for the objectives and constraints are given in the paper, and a multi-objective optimal decision model with multiple constraints for the DPBFZ problem is constructed based on the clone selection algorithm. An antibody coding scheme was designed according to the spatial pattern of DPBFZ zoning. In addition, the antibody-antigen affinity function, the clone mechanism, and mutation strategy were constructed and improved to solve the DPBFZ problem with a spatial optimization feature. Finally, Tongxu County in Henan province was selected as the study area, and a controlled experiment was set up according to different target preferences. The results show that the model proposed in this paper is operational in the work of delineating DPBFZ. It not only avoids the adverse effects of subjective factors in the delineation process but also provides multiple scenarios DPBFZ layouts for decision makers by adjusting the weighting of the objective function.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 2021

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) practitioners play a very pivotal role in establishing EIA policies, and when implementing EIA environmental conflicts can be prevented and resolved by sharing information with stakeholders and coordinating opinions. For this reason, grasping the perceptions of stakeholders including practitioners about the overall system, such as EIA policies and implementation, can be helpful in setting improvement directions and policy directions for EIA. However, there is an insufficient information on the perception and understanding of stakeholders about the EIA system and operation currently in effect in Korea. Therefore, this study diagnoses operational and procedural problems for the EIA system, which is a decision-making tool and a precautionary technique that can minimize adverse effects through the environmental information analysis method, and improvement points and systems of the EIA system in the future. We tried to find a complement of an online survey of 37 questions,responses from 95 responses from stakeholders of EIA were summarized. Stakeholders were aware of the problems of the operation of the current system and the preparation of the evaluation form, and this was reflected. Period and cost of preparation of EIS (49%), the introduction of a new method (26%) and the items of collecting opinions and conflict management (41%), which showed high negative response rates (dissatisfied and very dissatisfied), are considered to be areas that we need to supplement further in the future. As society develops rapidly, the system needs to be supplemented accordingly, and policy improvement efforts are needed for items with high negative responses as a result of the survey.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2021

Background: Post-transplant immunosuppression with calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) is associated with kidney function impairment while mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, such as everolimus, can be used for its renal-sparing effects. In this study, we compared the efficacy and safety of everolimus with low dose tacrolimus (EVR+Low TAC) and conventional dose tacrolimus (TAC) in liver transplantation recipients. Methods: Medical records of recipients who received liver transplantation at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from January 1st 2009 to December 31st 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Cohort entry date was defined as the day everolimus was initiated and tacrolimus dosage was reduced. All patients were followed up for 1 year. Indicator of efficacy was the incidence of rejection and safety was evaluated by incidence of drug adverse events including renal function. Results: Among 118 patients, there were 40 patients (33.9%) in EVR+Low TAC group. Incidence of rejection, including both biopsy proven acute rejection and clinical rejection, was similar in two groups [7.5% (n=3) vs. 6.4% (n=5), p=1.000]. Renal dysfunction was less frequent in EVR+Low TAC [17.5% (n=7) vs. 35.9% (n=28), p=0.038]. However, incidence rates of dyslipidemia, oral ulcer were more frequent in EVR+Low TAC [45.0% (n=18) vs. 21.8% (n=17), p=0.009; 15.0% (n=6) vs. 1.3% (n=1), p=0.006]. Conclusions: In terms of prevention of rejection, EVR+Low TAC was as effective as TAC and had renal-sparing effect but was associated with increased risk of dyslipidemia and oral ulcer. This study demonstrates that EVR+Low TAC could be an alternative to liver transplant recipients with nephrotoxicity after administration of conventional dose tacrolimus.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.60-66
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• 2021

As the concentration of nitrogen in the sewage flowing into the sewage treatment plant increases due to urbanization and industrialization, the degree of adverse effects such as eutrophication and toxicity to the aquatic ecosystem is also increasing. In order to treat sewage containing high concentration of nitrogen, various studies on the biological nitrogen removal process are being conducted. Existing biological nitrogen removal processes require significant costs for supplying oxygen and supplementing external carbon sources. In this respect, as a high-level nitrogen removal process with economic improvement is required, an anaerobic ammonium oxidation process (ANAMMOX), which is more efficient and economical than the existing nitrification and denitrification processes, has been proposed. The purpose of this study is to confirm the stability of the ANAMMOX process in the water treatment process and to derive the ratio of ammonia nitrogen (NH4+) to nitrite nitrogen (NO2-) for the implementation of the mainstream ANAMMOX process. A laboratory-scale Mainstream ANAMMOX reactor was operated by applying the ratio calculated based on the substrate ratio suggested in the previous study. In the initial range, the removal efficiency of NH4+ was 58~86%, and the average removal efficiency was 70%. In the advanced range, the removal efficiency of NH4+ was 94~99%, and the average removal efficiency was 95%. As a result of the study, as the NH4+/NO2- ratio increased, the stability of the mainstream ANAMMOX process was secured, and it was confirmed that the NH4+ removal efficiency and the total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency increased. As a result, the results of this study are expected to be used as basic data in the application of the ANAMMOX process in the mainstream.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.36 no.6_3
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• pp.1635-1641
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• 2020

Air pollution is one of the most severe threats to society globally due to the rapid expansion of urbanization and industrialization. Particularly, particulate matter (PM) pollution was recently designated as a social disaster by the Korean government because of increases in public concerns and the accumulation of scientific evidence that links high levels of PM2.5 (PM smaller than 2.5 ㎛ in diameter) to a long list of adverse health effects. Atmospheric PM concentrations can also affect the indoor PM levels to which people are exposed most of the time. Thus, understanding the characteristics of indoor and ambient PM pollution based on measurements, model simulations, risk assessments, and management technologies is inevitable in establishing effective policies to mitigate social, economic, and health costs incurred by PM pollution. In this special issue, we introduce several interesting studies concerning indoor and outdoor PM from the perspective of monitoring, assessment, and management being conducted by i-SEED (School of Integrated Science for Sustainable Earth & Environmental Disaster at Pukyong National University) and SPMC (School Particulate Matter Center for Energy and Environmental Harmonization). We expect that this special issue can improve our understanding of the current and future of indoor and outdoor PM pollution, integrating the results from interdisciplinary research groups from various academic fields.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.81-93
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• 2021

Objectives: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is condition of cognitive decline shown in transition from normal aging to dementia. Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture (HPP) is a treatment that combines effects of medication and acupuncture by injecting Hominis placenta into acupoints. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HPP for MCI. Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-center clinical trial. Eligible patients were randomly allocated to either the HPP group or the placebo group. HPP or saline as placebo was administered to participants for eight weeks. Changes in symptoms were observed. The primary outcome was difference in mean change of Korean Version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K) score between the HPP group and the placebo group. Cognitive function, overall status of mood and sleep, and quality of life (QoL) were also assessed. Safety assessment and economic analysis were then conducted. Results: Thirty participants were enrolled. One participant in the placebo group dropped out. The score of MoCA-K increased after treatment. Its mean change was smaller in the HPP group than in the control group. HPP ameliorated Global Deterioration Scale and Korean Dementia Rating Scale subtests for attention, organization, and memory compared to the placebo. However, none of them was significantly different between the two groups. Mood, sleep, and QoL all improved more in the HPP group than in the placebo group, although differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. There was no adverse event probably related to the drug. HPP treatment needed KRW 345,000 more than the placebo group in improving Geriatric Quality of Life scale-Dementia score by one point for one year. Conclusions: Although HPP treatment did not significantly improve cognition, it changed behavioral and psychological symptoms in MCI.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.111-122
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• 2021

Objective : The worldwide Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the level of depression and decreased the quality of life. This has caused an adverse effect of deteriorating the quality of life. As such, this study attempted to determine the effects of COVID-19 on depression and quality of life. Methods : The content was analyzed by conducting an online survey for two months, from November 2020 to December 2020, targeting 270 adults in their 20s to 60s nationwide. Results : Among the subjects', those in their 50s showed the greatest change in depression (p<.05). In terms of quality of life, there were significant changes in all age groups (p<.001). Among the subject characteristics unmarried individuals showed greater depression after COVID-19 than those who were married (p<.012). In terms of quality of life, married individuals had a higher quality of life than those who were unmarried (p<.001). Conclusion : The results confirmed that COVID-19 increased depression and lowered the quality of life in adults. The impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic, on society is constantly changing. This research needs to be updated.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2022

Objective : The purpose of this study is to present a case report with the adult patient who needed active treatment of pityriasis rosea with severe pruritus, and did not respond to steroid treatment in the preceding month. Methods : The subject is an adult patient with pityriasis rosea over the age of 40 without any other diseases. We administered Korean medicine treatment with Bangpungtongseong-san (防⾵通聖散) and acupuncture. The effects of the treatment were evaluated via scales including Pruritus score, Pityriasis Rosea Severity Score (PRSS), and picture. Results : After the treatment Pruritus score/PRSS index of the case changed from 8/20 to 0/0. No other severe adverse reactions were reported. No more recurrence or pruritus was confirmed in follow-up. Conclusions : Korean medicine treatment with Bangpungtongseong-san showed marked improvement in pruritus and skin symptoms of pityriasis rosea in need of active care. With the lack of existing clinical reports of pityriasis rosea, we found that Korean medicine treatment could be an effective way, and it is expected that Bangpungtongseong-san could be administered to pityriasis rosea patients. Randomized-controlled trial for further evaluation will be needed in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.187-193
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• 2022

In the Yeongdong region of Gangwon-do, coastal areas are important resources in terms of cultural, social and economic aspects. However, the coast of Gangwon-do is experiencing severe erosion, and it is concerned that its adverse effects will gradually increase. In this study, coastline changes of Yangyang and Gangneung in Gangwon-do were tracked and analyzed over a long period of time. In order to build time series image data, aerial photos from the 1940s to the present were mainly used, and data from CORONA satellite, which operated from the 1960s to the early 1970s, were collected and used together. Using 51cm resolution ortho image and 2m resolution Digital Elevation Model(DEM) as reference, ground control points were selected to perform geometric correction on the aerial photos and CORONA images. Subsequently, Canny edge detector applied to these images to extract the coastlines. As a result of analyzing the extracted and vectorized coastlines by overlaying them in chronological order, erosion and deposition occurring around the artificial structures and on the nearby beaches were observed. In this study, the effect of seasonal variation, tide, and various coastal management including the beach filling were not considered. Because coastal erosion is greatly affected by geographic factors, each local government must find its own solution. Continuous research and local data accumulation are required.