• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.111-125
• /
• 2012

The total fertility rate of our nation has been in the world's lowest level with constant falling since it reached an all-time low in 1983. The increase in economic participation of women, difficulties to balance work and family life, and traditional gender role and family norms in our society have been blamed for causing low birth rates. In addition, the current economic recession and increased polarization of wealth make it more difficult for working families to balance work and family life, resulting in lowering fertility rates. The Korean government has recently prepared the second five-year basic plan(2011-2015) to deal with low fertility and population ageing. The basic plan aims at providing support for working families in balancing work and family life and helping people ease the burden of marriage, childbirth, and raising their children. The work-family balance policies based on gender equality will do much to increase fertility rates in the future. In this context, this study examined current status and problems of balancing work and family life in our society, the Korean government and corporate policies for work-family balance, and the effects of policies on childbirth. Suggestions for future directions are presented.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.339-357
• /
• 2009

As quickly becoming an ageing society in Korea, this study aims to investigate how family caregivers' burden with demented patients and social supports are related to their health and quality of life, and the interaction of caregiving burden and social supports on caregivers' health and quality of life. The participants were 207 family caregivers (106 females) of demented patients lived in Seoul, Kyunggi, and Chungcheong areas, whose average of age were 51.62 ( SD=9.25). The psychological tests used in this research included the following: Multidimensional Caregiver Burden Inventory, Chon's Physical Symptom Questionnaire, Hahn & Jang's Perceived Health Inventory, Negative Affect Self-Statement Questionnaire, and the Korean Version of Cambell's Subjective Well-being Scale, Social Support Survey in Medical Outcomes Study, and Kwon's Questionnaire for Maladjusted Problems of Demented. Results indicated that caregivers' burden with demented patient related to physical symptoms and depression positively, and perceived health and subjective well-being negatively. Social supports showed moderate effects on influences of caregiving burden in perceived health, depression, and subjective well-being of family caregivers with demented patients. It was identified the possibility of their buffering effect on negative results of caregiving burden with demented patients. Since caregiving burden accounted for the 34% of the variances for family caregivers' physical symptoms and depression, researchers discussed the promotion and intervention of their health and quality of life. Beside of different effects of social supports with level of caregiving burden, with previous studies it was discussed some saliant findings such as family caregivers with patients who showed severe dementia symptoms were perceiving even less supports from others.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.126-133
• /
• 2023

In this study, electromyography was obtained in the six muscle areas that move the joints of the two legs, and by analyzing it, an exercise robot system capable of gait rehabilitation was proposed in consideration of the individual's muscle state. Through this, the system was constructed to prevent the effect of exercise from decreasing because the patient's will was not reflected when walking exercise was simply provided automatically. As a result of the evaluation of the developed system, it was confirmed that the pedestrian rehabilitation robot system manufactured through this study had performance suitable for the design requirements, and it was also confirmed that the usability evaluation was comprehensively satisfactory. The results of this study are thought to be of great help to patients who are having difficulty in gait rehabilitation, and are believed to be helpful in the development of electromyography signal-based gait robot systems.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.34.1-34.19
• /
• 2022

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis associated with ageing. Vitamin D has diverse biological effect on bone and cartilage, and observational studies have suggested it potential benefit in OA progression and inflammation process. However, the effect of vitamin D on OA is still contradictory. Here, we investigated the therapeutic potential of vitamin D in OA. Six-week-old male Wistar rats were injected with monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) to induce OA. Pain severity, cartilage destruction, and inflammation were measured in MIA-induced OA rats. Autophagy activity and mitochondrial function were also measured. Vitamin-D (1,25(OH)₂D3) and celecoxib were used to treat MIA-induced OA rats and OA chondrocytes. Oral supplementation of vitamin D resulted in significant attenuations in OA pain, inflammation, and cartilage destruction. Interestingly, the expressions of MMP-13, IL-1β, and MCP-1 in synovial tissues were remarkably attenuated by vitamin D treatment, suggesting its potential to attenuate synovitis in OA. Vitamin D treatment in OA chondrocytes resulted in autophagy induction in human OA chondrocytes and increased expression of TFEB, but not LC3B, caspase-1 and -3, in inflamed synovium. Vitamin D and celecoxib showed a synergistic effect on antinociceptive and chondroprotective properties in vivo. Vitamin D showed the chondroprotective and antinociceptive property in OA rats. Autophagy induction by vitamin D treatment may be a promising treatment strategy in OA patients especially presenting vitamin D deficiency. Autophagy promoting strategy may attenuate OA progression through protecting cells from damage and inflammatory cell death.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.467-475
• /
• 2014

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is a well-known and rich source of biologically active compounds, such as flavonoids, carotenoids, steroids, vitamins, tannins, and oleic acid. The effects of sea buckthorn fruit extract (SBFE) on ultraviolet (UV)-induced cell death was investigated in SK-MEL-2 cells cotreated with UV and a low concentration (LoC), medium concentration (MeC), or high concentration (HiC) of SBFE. Cell viability gradually decreased in accordance with an increase in the UV dose. The cell viability of the UV+SBFE cotreated cells increased significantly compared to that of UV+vehicle-treated cells during the application of an appropriate UV radiation dose (400 mJ). In addition, the number of 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), propidium iodine (PI)-, and annexin V-stained apoptotic cells was higher in the UV+vehicle-treated cells than in the UV untreated cells. The decrease of apoptotic cell numbers varied in each treated group, but it was most significant in the SBFE-treated group. The number of PI-stained cells dramatically decreased in accordance with the concentration of SBFE, and the maximum decrease was detected in the UV+HiC-treated group. In addition, Bax expression increased and Bcl-2 expression decreased in the SBFE-treated group compared with the UV-only treated group. The level of caspase-3 remained constant in all the groups. These results suggest that SBFE may contribute to a recovery from UV-induced cell death through the regulation of apoptotic protein expression and that it may have potential therapeutic utility in ameliorating UV-induced skin ageing.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.427-436
• /
• 2004

The current study was conducted to determine the effect of suspension method on satisfaction level of Korean consumers and objective meat quality traits in Hanwoo longissimus dorsi(LD), triceps brachii(TB) and semimembranosus(SM) muscles. Eighteen Hanwoo steers were slaughtered and alternative sides were hung either by pelvic bone(TS) or Achilles tendon(Al). Sensory characteristics, WB-shear force, sarcomere length, water-holding capacity, saroomere length and cooking loss were determined after a 7-d chiller ageing. Higher carcass quality grade received significantly(p < 0.05) greater eating quality for LD, but the grade did not affect eating quality for both TB and SM. TS did not influence objective and subjective meat quality for TB, but that significantly(P < 0.05) improved eating quality for LD and SM. The most noticeable result was that when SM was tenderstretehed, eating quality was equivalent to that of nonna1ly hung LD. In relationship between objective and subjective meat quality assessments, eating qualty for LD had a significant(P < 0.05) relationship with intramuscular fat content, while that for SM was greatly(P < 0.05) related to saroomere length. The current study indicated that pelvic hanging was an effective way to improve eating quality both LD and SM, and carcass quality grades did not greatly reflect eating quality of SM and TB. The data also implied that instnunental measurements poorly estimated the satisfaction level of Korean conswners.

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.53-67
• /
• 1996

A total health state evaluation of Korean female elderlies was made by using the questionary scheme measuring the physical, mental and social functions of the elderlies, in order to investigate the critical factors for the health maintenance of female elderlies and to develop their preventive nursing program. A total of 280 subjects over 65 years old living in Seoul and the suburban area were selected and interviewed during the period of September and October in 1995. The materials collected were analyzed statistically by using SAS data processing program, and the results and recommendations are summarized as follows. 1. The physical health state of Korean elderly women was evaluated to be satisfactory by showing an average score of 3.722 in 5.0 full-score scale. But this score was lower than those evaluated for the elderlies combined both sexes(4.054). The mental health state of the subjects was also evaluated as high scoring 3.484, possibly due to the fact that 78% of the subjects lived together with their children's family. On the other hand, the social health state of the subjects was relatively low scoring 2.585, mainly due to that 80% of them was widows which was resulted by the 6-7 years longer life-expectancy of Korean women. 2. A significant differences in the physical health state scores between different age groups was observed, indicating the rapid ageing process occurring in this age group. The family structure was appeared to be an important factor influencing the physical health state of the female elderlies ; the physical health score of the women with her husband only was higher than that of those living with children's families, and the lowest score was obtained from those living alone. 3. The age was the most important factor determining the mental health state of the subjects, while the religion, educational status, marriage state and family structure did not significantly influenced the mental health state of the aged women. 4. The social health state of the subject was deeply influenced by the marriage state and family structure, showing significantly lower scores with widowers compared to the married couples. Those living with their married spouse only obtained the highest social health score, while those living along showed the lowest score. The parent and grandparentship of those living with their children and the religion, especially Catholic and Protestant, had positive influence on the social health state of the aged women. 5. The mental health state of aged women showed significant correlation with the factors determining the physical health, except for digestive system related ability and sexual ability and the highest extra home ability. 6. The mental health state of aged women showed significant correlation with the factors determining social health, especially with the parent and grandparentship and the family relative's role. From these results, the following recommendations are made. 1. Since the physical, mental and social health states of aged people are deeply influenced by the sex and the average values of the both sex can create misleading figures, the health evaluation of the elderlies should be made separately by sex. 2. Since the health state of aged women is highly influenced by their family structure, the spouse's role and living with married couple only should be emphasized in respect of preventive health care. 3. The social activity programs and grandparentship teaching programs should be prepared in the nursing care program for aged people.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.229-246
• /
• 1988

These studies were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary protein and metabolizable energy(ME) levels on layer performance during summer period. Total 480 ISA Brown egg-type layers ageing 49 weeks housed 2 birds per cage with 4 replictes of 20 birds were employed in this study. Mean environmental temperature over experimental period ranged from 22.3$^{\circ}$to 29.5$^{\circ}C$. The treatments consisted of dietary ME levels of 2500, 2700, 2900kcal/kg of diet containing 15% and 17% protein, respectively, to provide $3{\times}2$factorial design. As metabolizable energy level increased form 2500 to 2900 kcal/kg of diet, daily feed and protein intake, egg production. egg weight, egg mass decreased, but the reverse was true for the daily energy intake, energy requirement and feed costs per kg egg. Feed conversion(kg feed/kg egg) and viability were not affected by the dietary energy levels. However, there were no significant difference in egg production, protein requirement per kg egg, and egg weight between those hens fed 2500 kcal ME/kg diets and those fed 2700 kcal ME/kg diets, and no difference was found in egg weight between those fed 2700 kcal ME/kg and those fed 2900 kcal ME/kg, either. In addition, no specific trend was observed in protein requirement per egg by the different level of metabolizable energy in diets. On the other hand, as dietary protein level increased from 15 to 17%, daily protein in-take, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, and protein requirement and feed costs per kg egg increased, but feed and energy requirement per kg egg decreased, and no significant difference in the daily feed and energy intake and viability were observed among dietary protein levels. It was concluded that metabolizable energy level of 2500 kcal/kg of diet and 17% dietary protein level were considered to be adequate to support the optimum productivity of layers during summer period.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.145-156
• /
• 1996

The effects of priming with different polyethylene glycol (PEG 6, 000) solutions on the germination, emergence characteristics and early plant growth in rice, barley and wheat were investigated. Rice, barley and wheat seeds were subjected to various priming conditions of osmotic potentials (-0. 75, -1.00 and -1.50 MPa) of PEG, and incubation period were 5 days at 25, 20, 2$0^{\circ}C$, respectively. The percentage of water absorption was highest in barely, and lowest in rice, and all the treatments enhanced water absorption in barley, but showed no significant effects in rice and wheat. Respiration quotient was lower than none PEG treatment seeds, and those of barley and wheat were higher than rice regardless of PEG concentration, and that of rice increased with high PEG concentration. Total germination percentage of osmoconditioning seeds with PEG was higher than that of none treatment seed, and those of barley and wheat were significant. The artificially deteriorated seeds with PEG treatment seeds after ageing treatment could recover to nearly the same germination level as that of the control seeds. The effects of coating polymer were higher than osmoconditioning with PEG, and germination characteristics in rice showed varietal difference at PVP and waterlock at recoated seeds after PEG treatment. Osmoconditioning with PEG reduced mean germination and emergence time, but there was no difference among PEG concentrations. The plant height of PEG treaed seed in rice was taller and those of barely and wheat showed varietal difference, and those of polymer-coated seed after PEG treatment were different among the polymers. The dry weight of PEG treatment were different among the crops, and those were increased with the high PEG concentration. The emergence percentage of PEG-treated seed were higher than none-treated seed, and those were decreased with the increased PEG concentration, and the highest emergence percentage of rice, barley and wheat were 90, 50 and 50% soil moisture content, respectively. The time to emergence in rice was longer than barley and wheat, and those in rice was shortened in high soil moisture content, and barley and wheat were shortened in low soil moisture content.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.131-139
• /
• 2011

This study was carried out to examine the stability of $Na_2CO_3-H_2O_2$ carbonate solution with aging time in the dissolving solution after oxidative dissolution of U by a carbonate solution, the Cs/Re filtrate after selective precipitation of Cs and Re (as a surrogate for Tc), and the acidification filtrate after precipitation of U by acidification, respectively. The compositions of dissolving solution were not changed with ageing time, and the selective precipitation of Re and Cs was also not affected without regard to the aging time of dissolving solution. The successive removal of Cs and Re from a carbonate dissolving solution was possible. However, the recovery yield of U by acidification was decreased with increasing the aging time of the dissolving solution and the Cs/Re-filtrate, respectively, because U was converted from the uranyl peroxocarbonato complex to the uranyltricarbonate in the solution aged for a long time. Accordingly, it is effective that a dissolving solution and a Cs/Re filtrate are treated within the aging of 7 days, respectively, in order to recover U more than 99%. On the other hand, the recovery of U was carried out in order of the oxidative dissolution of U selective precipitation of Re and Cs precipitation of U by acidification. Almost all of U and a part of FP were co-dissolved in oxidative dissolution step. Over 99% of Re and Cs from the FP co-dissolved with U could be removed by a TPPCl (tetraphenylphosphonium chloride) and a NaTPB (sodium tetraphenylborate), respectively. U was precipitated nearly 100% by acidification to pH 4. Therefore, it was confirmed that the validity of recovery of U by precipitation methods from a SF (spent fuel) in the $Na_2CO_3-H_2O_2$ solution.