• The Korean Journal of Coaching Psychology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.81-107
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to identify psychological factors that influence psychological well-being in middle-aged adults(40-65 years old). In particular, we aimed to determine whether mentalization, the ability to clarify one's internal experiences, and adaptive cognitive emotional regulation have a dual mediating effect on the relationship between insecure adult attachment(anxious, avoidant) and psychological well-being in middle-aged adults. To address the research questions, structural equation modeling was conducted using Jamovi 2.2.5 statistical program to analyze survey responses from 317 middle-aged adults (117 males and 200 females) who voluntarily participated through mobile and offline surveys. The results of the study are as follows. First, in the structural equation model, the simple mediating effect of mentalization on the relationship between insecure adult attachment(anxious and avoidant) and psychological well-being in middle-aged adults was not significant. Second, the simple mediating effect of adaptive cognitive emotion regulation on the relationship between insecure adult attachment and psychological well-being was significant only for anxious attachment. Third, the relationship between insecure adult attachment and psychological well-being was fully mediated by mentalization and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation for anxious attachment, but partially mediated for avoidant attachment. These findings help provide a theoretical framework for developing programs to increase psychological well-being among middle-aged adults, a growing segment of society.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.185-196
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• 2024

Objectives: Excess mortality associated with long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) has been documented. However, research on the disease burden following short-term exposure is scarce. We investigated the cause-specific mortality burden of short-term exposure to PM_2.5 by considering the potential non-linear concentration-response relationship in Korea. Methods: Daily cause-specific mortality rates and PM_2.5 exposure levels from 2010 to 2019 were collected for 8 Korean cities and 9 provinces. A generalized additive mixed model was employed to estimate the non-linear relationship between PM_2.5 exposure and cause-specific mortality levels. We assumed no detrimental health effects of PM_2.5 concentrations below 15 ㎍/m³. Overall deaths attributable to short-term PM_2.5 exposure were estimated by summing the daily numbers of excess deaths associated with ambient PM_2.5 exposure. Results: Of the 2 749 704 recorded deaths, 2 453 686 (89.2%) were non-accidental, 591 267 (21.5%) were cardiovascular, and 141 066 (5.1%) were respiratory in nature. A non-linear relationship was observed between all-cause mortality and exposure to PM_2.5 at lag0, whereas linear associations were evident for cause-specific mortalities. Overall, 10 814 all-cause, 7855 non-accidental, 1642 cardiovascular, and 708 respiratory deaths were attributed to short-term exposure to PM_2.5. The estimated number of all-cause excess deaths due to short-term PM_2.5 exposure in 2019 was 1039 (95% confidence interval, 604 to 1472). Conclusions: Our findings indicate an association between short-term PM_2.5 exposure and various mortality rates (all-cause, non-accidental, cardiovascular, and respiratory) in Korea over the period from 2010 to 2019. Consequently, action plans should be developed to reduce deaths attributable to short-term exposure to PM_2.5.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.111-128
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• 2023

Chungcheongnam-do has various emission sources, including large-scale facilities such as power plants, steel and petrochemical industry complexes, which can lead to the severe PM pollution. Here, we measured concentrations of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and its metallic elements at a suburban site in Taean, Chungcheongnam-do from September 2017 to June 2022. During the measurement period, the average concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were 58.6 ㎍/m³ (9.6~379.0 ㎍/m³) and 35.0 ㎍/m³ (6.1~132.2 ㎍/m³), respectively. The concentration of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 showed typical seasonal variation, with higher concentration in winter and lower concentration in summer. When high concentrations of PM_2.5 occurred, particulary in winter, the fraction of Zn and Pb components considerably increased, indicating a significant contribution of Zn and Pb to high-PM_2.5 concentration. In addition, Zn and Pb exhibited the highest correlation coefficient among all other metallic elements of PM_2.5. A backward trajectory cluster analysis and CPF model were performed to examine the origin of PM_2.5. The high concentration of PM_2.5 was primarily influenced by emissions from industrial complexes located in the northeast and northwest areas.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.113-133
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• 2024

Variable renewable energy (VRE) such as solar and wind power is the main sources of achieving carbon net zero, but it undermines the stability of power supply due to high variability and uncertainty. Energy storage system (ESS) can not only reduce the curtailment of VRE by load shifting but also contribute to stable power system operation by providing ancillary services. This study analyzes how the allocation of ESS resources between load shifting and ancillary service can contribute to maximizing the efficiency of power supply in a situation where the problems caused by VRE are becoming more and more serious. A stochastic power system optimization model that can realistically simulate the variability and uncertainty of VRE was applied. The analysis time point was set to 2023 and 2036, and the optimal resource allocation strategy and benefits of ESS by varying VRE penetration levels were analyzed. The analysis results can be largely summarized into the following three. First, ESS provides excellent functions for both load shifting and ancillary service, and it was confirmed that the higher the reserve price, the more limited the load shifting and focused on providing reserve. Second, the curtailment of VRE can be a effective substitute for the required reserve, and the higher the reserve price level, the higher the curtailment of VRE and the lower the required amount of reserve. Third, if a reasonable reserve offer price reflecting the opportunity cost is applied, ESS can secure economic feasibility in the near future, and the higher the proportion of VRE, the greater the economic feasibility of ESS. This study suggests that cost-effective low-carbon transition in the power system is possible when the price signal is correctly designed so that power supply resources can be efficiently utilized.

• Journal of Platform Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2024

The K-POP market has become influential not only in culture but also in society as a whole, including diplomacy and environmental movements. As a result, various papers have been conducted based on machine learning to identify the success factors of idols by utilizing traditional data such as music and recordings. However, there is a limitation that previous studies have not reflected the influence of new media platforms such as Instagram releases, YouTube shorts, TikTok, Twitter, etc. on the popularity of idols. Therefore, it is difficult to clarify the causal relationship of recent idol success factors because the existing studies do not consider the daily changing media trends. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a data collection system and analysis methodology for idol-related data. By developing a container-based real-time data collection automation system that reflects the specificity of idol data, we secure the stability and scalability of idol data collection and compare and analyze the clusters of successful idols through a K-Means clustering-based outlier detection model. As a result, we were able to identify commonalities among successful idols such as gender, time of success after album release, and association with new media. Through this, it is expected that we can finally plan optimal comeback promotions for each idol, album type, and comeback period to improve the chances of idol success.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.147-161
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• 2022

Background and Purpose: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) refers to the self-perception of cognitive decline with normal performance on objective neuropsychological tests. SCD, which is the first help-seeking stage and the last stage before the clinical disease stage, can be considered to be the most appropriate time for prevention and treatment. This study aimed to compare characteristics between the amyloid positive and amyloid negative groups of SCD patients. Methods: A cohort study to identify predictors for the clinical progression to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia from subjective cognitive decline (CoSCo) study is a multicenter, prospective observational study conducted in the Republic of Korea. In total, 120 people aged 60 years or above who presented with a complaint of persistent cognitive decline were selected, and various risk factors were measured among these participants. Continuous variables were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and categorical variables were analyzed using the χ² test or Fisher's exact test. Logistic regression models were used to assess the predictors of amyloid positivity. Results: The multivariate logistic regression model indicated that amyloid positivity on PET was related to a lack of hypertension, atrophy of the left temporal lateral and entorhinal cortex, low body mass index, low waist circumference, less body and visceral fat, fast gait speed, and the presence of the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele in amnestic SCD patients. Conclusions: The CoSCo study is still in progress, and the authors aim to identify the risk factors that are related to the progression of MCI or dementia in amnestic SCD patients through a two-year follow-up longitudinal study.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.27-38
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to identify issues in the family support center evaluation project by analyzing the differences in perception between evaluators and the family Support center using a meta-evaluation analysis model and seeking improvement alternatives. The results revealed a significant difference in group average: the evaluator group scored 4.21 out of 5 points, and the family center group scored 3.20 points. The improvement alternatives for each meta-evaluation item are as follows. In the evaluation environment, it is necessary to specify the purpose and utilization of evaluation within the guidelines of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Evaluation input required the establishment of an evaluation support organization within the Korean Institute for Healthy Family. During the evaluation process, it was necessary to improve the use of the integrated family support information system and diversify communication channels. The evaluation results required the strengthening of follow-up education for family centers. In terms of evaluation utilization, it was necessary to strengthen support for various incentives and subcenters. This study provides implications for improving the evaluation system for various policy service delivery systems.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.15.1-15.18
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• 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) involves cartilage degeneration, thereby causing inflammation and pain. Cardiovascular diseases, such as dyslipidemia, are risk factors for OA; however, the mechanism is unclear. We investigated the effect of dyslipidemia on the development of OA. Treatment of cartilage cells with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) enhanced abnormal autophagy but suppressed normal autophagy and reduced the activity of transcription factor EB (TFEB), which is important for the function of lysosomes. Treatment of LDL-exposed chondrocytes with rapamycin, which activates TFEB, restored normal autophagy. Also, LDL enhanced the inflammatory death of chondrocytes, an effect reversed by rapamycin. In an animal model of hyperlipidemia-associated OA, dyslipidemia accelerated the development of OA, an effect reversed by treatment with a statin, an anti-dyslipidemia drug, or rapamycin, which activates TFEB. Dyslipidemia reduced the autophagic flux and induced necroptosis in the cartilage tissue of patients with OA. The levels of triglycerides, LDL, and total cholesterol were increased in patients with OA compared to those without OA. The C-reactive protein level of patients with dyslipidemia was higher than that of those without dyslipidemia after total knee replacement arthroplasty. In conclusion, oxidized LDL, an important risk factor of dyslipidemia, inhibited the activity of TFEB and reduced the autophagic flux, thereby inducing necroptosis in chondrocytes.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.446-458
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• 2024

The study aims to compare the action of Pleurotus cornucopiae and glibenclamide on alloxan-induced diabetes and ascertain how an aqueous extract of the edible mushroom regulates the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), oxidative stress biomarkers and renal toxicity in a diabetic male Wistar rat model. Twenty-five adult male Wistar rats were randomly grouped into five groups with five rats per. Group 1 and those in the treatment groups received normal feed and water ad libitum. Group 2 received intraperitoneal administration of alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/kg body weight). Group 3 received alloxan monohydrate and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg body weight bwt), group 4 received alloxan monohydrate plus the extract (250 mg/kg bwt) and group 5 received alloxan monohydrate plus the extract (500 mg/kg bwt). The administration of glibenclamide plus the extract was oral for 14 days. Glibenclamide and the extract lowered blood glucose level, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities, increased the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in rats with alloxan induced diabetes. The extract at 500 mg/kg bwt reduced the plasma urea and sodium concentration in the treated rats. The extract and glibenclamide could detoxify alloxan and restore its induced renal degeneration and glomeruli atrophy, intra renal hemorrhage and inflammation and oxidative biomarkers through activation of Nrf2 expression. The drug glibenclamide and P. cornucopiae have appreciable hypoglycemic activity and potential to restore the normal renal architecture in the rats, hence they offer similar curative effects. Additionally, the extract at 500 mg/kg bwt activated SOD and Nrf2 expression more than glibenclamide in rats with alloxan-induced diabetes.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.248-256
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to identify the household air pollutants most significantly impacting hearing loss, using data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Of the 1,980 participants, those with missing data were excluded from the study population, resulting in the final inclusion of 298 participants. Mild hearing loss is defined as a unilateral or bilateral pure-tone threshold average (PTA) of 26~40 dB, and moderate hearing loss is defined as a unilateral or bilateral PTA of 41 dB or higher. The mean of the PTAs for both ears is defined as the sum of the PTAs of the left and the right ears divided by 2. Complex samples multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that formaldehyde exposure independently significantly increased the risk of moderate hearing loss (odds ratio=1.050, P<0.001). Additionally, in the complex samples general linear model, toluene exposure (B=0.026, P<0.001) was found to be independently significantly associated with an increase in the mean of PTAs for both ears, where a higher mean of the PTAs for both ears indicates a decrease in hearing ability. These results suggest a strong association between hearing loss and the presence of toluene or formaldehyde in indoor air.