• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.54 no.spc1
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• pp.1053-1060
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• 2021

Current water quality monitoring systems in Korea carried based on in-situ grab sample analysis. It is difficult to improve the current water quality monitoring system, i.e. shorter sampling period or increasing sampling points, because the current systems are both cost- and labor-intensive. One possible way to improve the current water quality monitoring system is to adopt a modeling approach. In this study, a modeling technique was introduced to support the current water quality monitoring system, and an artificial neural network model, the computational tool which mimics the biological processes of human brain, was applied to predict water quality of the river. The approach tried to predict concentrations of Total coliform at the outlet of the river and this showed, somewhat, poor estimations since concentrations of Total coliform were rapidly fluctuated. The approach, however, could forecast whether concentrations of Total coliform would exceed the water quality standard or not. As results, modeling approaches is expected to assist the current water quality monitoring system if the approach is applied to judge whether water quality factors could exceed the water quality standards or not and this would help proper water resource managements.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.266-274
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• 2021

Ship officers are subject to excessive job stress, which has negative physical and psychological impacts and may adversely affect the smooth supply and demand of human resources. In this study, a mobile web application was developed as a tool for systematic job stress measurement and management of officers and verified through quality evaluation. Requirement analysis was performed by ship officers and staff in charge of human resources of shipping companies, and the results were reflected in the application configuration step. The application was designed according to the waterfall model, which is a traditional software development method, and functions were implemented using JSP and Spring Framework. Performance evaluation on the user interface, confirmed that proper input and output results were implemented, and the respondent results and the database were configured in the administrator interface. The results of evaluation questionnaires for quality evaluation of the interface based on ISO/IEC 9126-2 metric were significant 4.60 for the user interface and 4.65 for the administrator interface in a 5-point scale. In the future, it is necessary to conduct follow-up research on the development of data analysis system through utilization of the collected big-data sets.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.55-68
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• 2022

Objective : This review aimed to provide information for clinical application by confirming the principles and characteristics of the tool through a review of tongue movement and measurement tools for patients with swallowing disorders. Results : We identified 15 tools used as tongue exercises and measurement tools in the field of dysphagia. According to principle, the tools were classified as either a bulb sensor, resistive sensor sheet, mouthpiece with sensor, or other techniques. The bulb sensor was easy to use but had limitations in fixing the position when measuring tongue pressure. The resistive sensor sheet could be measured at a more stable position than the bulb sensor. A mouthpiece with a sensor could be used in an individual's oral cavity such that the position was fixed when measuring the tongue pressure. Other techniques had the advantage of being wireless and capable of sensing light. Conclusion : Based on this literature review, it is necessary to facilitate the selection of the best tool for quantitative tongue measurement in dysphagia. The review can also be used to develop a Korean tongue movement tool model that can be used in hospitals and community centers.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.719-729
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• 2022

Objective : The ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is one of the major causes of thoracic myelopathy. Surgical decompression with or without instrumented fusion is the mainstay of treatment. However, few studies have reported on the added effect of instrumented fusion. The objective of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes between surgical decompression without instrumented fusion (D-group) and that with instrumented fusion (F-group). Methods : A retrospective review was performed on 28 patients (D-group, n=17; F-group, n=11) with thoracic myelopathy due to OLF. The clinical parameters compared included scores of the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA), the Visual analogue scale of the back and leg (VAS-B and VAS-L), and the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (K-ODI). Radiological parameters included the sagittal vertical axis (SVA), the pelvic tilt (PT), the sacral slope (SS), the thoracic kyphosis angle (TKA), the segmental kyphosis angle (SKA) at the operated level, and the lumbar lordosis angle (LLA; a negative value implying lordosis). These parameters were measured preoperatively, 1 year postoperatively, and 2 years postoperatively, and were compared with a linear mixed model. Results : After surgery, all clinical parameters were significantly improved in both groups, while VAS-L was more improved in the F-group than in the D-group (-3.4±2.5 vs. -1.3±2.2, p=0.008). Radiological outcomes were significantly different in terms of changes in TKA, SKA, and LLA. Changes in TKA, SKA, and LLA were 2.3°±4.7°, -0.1°±1.4°, and -1.3°±5.6° in the F-group, which were significantly lower than 6.8°±6.1°, 3.0°±2.8°, and 2.2°±5.3° in the D-group, respectively (p=0.013, p<0.0001, and p=0.037). Symptomatic recurrence of OLF occurred in one patient of the D-group at postoperative 24 months. Conclusion : Clinical improvement was achieved after decompression surgery for OLF regardless of whether instrumented fusion was added. However, adding instrumented fusion resulted in better outcomes in terms of lessening the progression of local and regional kyphosis and improving leg pain. Decompression with instrumented fusion may be a better surgical option for thoracic OLF.

• Korean Journal of School Psychology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.379-399
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• 2020

This study examined the relative influence of the five factors of the self-determination motivation on academic hatred. A total of 938 high school seniors (female 535, 57.0%) across eight schools in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi province were surveyed a month before Soo-neng (College Scholastic Ability Test). The findings of correlation analyses and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were summarized as follows. Academic hatred showed significant correlations with all the self-determination motivation factors except for introjected regulation. For hierarchical multiple regression analyses, starting with amotivation, the motivation factors indicating low level of self-determination were entered in order. In the final model, amotivation and introjected regulation had positive influence on academic hatred, and intrinsic regulation had negative influence on academic hatred. Specifically, introjected regulation which had no significant effect on academic hatred with amotivation and external regulation showed significant effect after identified regulation was added. Identified regulation lost its significant influence after intrinsic regulation was included. This study was meaningful in that it was the first study to clarify motivational characteristics of academic hatred based on self-determination theory. The study also presented its limitations, implications for school counseling intervention, and directions for future research.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.371-385
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Soy isoflavone (SIF) and soy lecithin (SL) have beneficial effects on many chronic diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. Regretfully, there is little evidence to show the combined effects of these soy extractives on the impairment of cognition and abnormal cerebral blood flow (CBF). This study examined the optimal combination dose of SIF + SL to provide evidence for improving CBF and protecting cerebrovascular endothelial cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: In vivo study, SIF50 + SL40, SIF50 + SL80 and SIF50 + SL160 groups were obtained. Morris water maze, laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI), and hematoxylin-eosin staining were used to detect learning and memory impairment, CBF, and damage to the cerebrovascular tissue in rat. The 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and the oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were detected. The anti-oxidative damage index of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) in the serum of an animal model was also tested. In vitro study, an immortalized mouse brain endothelial cell line (bEND.3 cells) was used to confirm the cerebrovascular endothelial cell protection of SIF + SL. In this study, 50 µM of Gen were used, while the 25, 50, or 100 µM of SL for different incubation times were selected first. The intracellular levels of 8-OHdG, SOD, GSH, and GSSG were also detected in the cells. RESULTS: In vivo study, SIF + SL could increase the target crossing times significantly and shorten the total swimming distance of rats. The CBF in the rats of the SIF50 + SL40 group and SIF50 + SL160 group was enhanced. Pathological changes, such as attenuation of the endothelium in cerebral vessels were much less in the SIF50 + SL40 group and SIF50 + SL160 group. The 8-OHdG was reduced in the SIF50 + SL40 group. The GSSG showed a significant decrease in all SIF + SL pretreatment groups, but the GSH showed an opposite result. SOD was upregulated by SIF + SL pretreatment. Different combinations of Genistein (Gen)+SL, the secondary proof of health benefits found in vivo study, showed they have effective anti-oxidation and less side reaction on protecting cerebrovascular endothelial cell. SIF50 + SL40 in rats experiment and Gen50 + SL25 in cell test were the optimum joint doses on alleviating cognitive impairment and regulating CBF through protecting cerebrovascular tissue by its antioxidant activity. CONCLUSIONS: SIF+SL could significantly prevent cognitive defect induced by β-Amyloid through regulating CBF. This kind of effect might be attributed to its antioxidant activity on protecting cerebral vessels.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.600-616
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• 2022

This study contemplates spatial context of startup in manufacturing, mainly analyzing job creation effects of time lag of startups in manufacturing at different technology levels. Using DID model, we found that each region including capital, non-capital and metropolitan area shows different job creation effects of time lag. In capial region, startup cohort in high R&D intensity manufacturing was found to show short-term job creation effects, but in non-capital region, long-term job creation effects was found with the one in medium-high R&D intensity manufacturing. In case of metropolitan area, we couldn't find much evidence of job creation effects that was statistically significant. The result of analysis implied that, in capital region, startup support policies, targeting at high R&D intensity manufacturing, ought to be focused on scale-up of startups that survived for a certain period. And non-capital area and some of metropolitan areas in non-capital region that have comparatively inferior infrastructure and brain-drain problems as well should focus on fostering startups in medium-high R&D intensity manufacturing in a long-term perspective and utilize their traditional manufacturing base.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.458-468
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• 2023

Background: As a complication of Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of cognitive dysfunction are still undefined. Recent studies demonstrated that Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) has promising neuroprotective properties, but the effect and mechanism in diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD) deserve further investigation. Methods: After establishing the T2DM model with a high-fat diet and STZ intraperitoneal injection, Rg1 was given for 8 weeks. The behavior alterations and neuronal lesions were judged using the open field test (OFT) and Morris water maze (MWM), as well as HE and Nissl staining. The protein or mRNA changes of NOX2, p-PLC, TRPC6, CN, NFAT1, APP, BACE1, NCSTN, and Ab1-42 were investigated by immunoblot, immunofluorescence or qPCR. Commercial kits were used to evaluate the levels of IP3, DAG, and calcium ion (Ca²⁺) in brain tissues. Results: Rg1 therapy improved memory impairment and neuronal injury, decreased ROS, IP3, and DAG levels to revert Ca²⁺ overload, downregulated the expressions of p-PLC, TRPC6, CN, and NFAT1 nuclear translocation, and alleviated Aβ deposition in T2DM mice. In addition, Rg1 therapy elevated the expression of PSD95 and SYN in T2DM mice, which in turn improved synaptic dysfunction. Conclusions: Rg1 therapy may improve neuronal injury and DACD via mediating PLC-CN-NFAT1 signal pathway to reduce Aβ generation in T2DM mice.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2022

Glioblastoma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor and has an extremely poor prognosis. Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) contribute to tumor initiation, recurrence, and resistance to therapy, and are thus a key therapeutic target. The peel of Citrus unshiu Markovich has been used in traditional medicine in East Asia to treat various diseases. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity and molecular mechanism of the chloroform extract of this natural product (CECU) in U87MG GSCs. The results show that CECU inhibited the proliferation, tumorsphere formation, and migration of U87MG GSCs by causing cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and apoptosis. In addition, CECU downregulated key cancer stemness regulators, including CD133, Oct4, Nanog, integrin α6, ALDH1A1, and STAT3 signaling in U87MG GSCs. Furthermore, CECU significantly suppressed in vivo tumor growth of U87MG GSCs in a chorioallantoic membrane model. Therefore, CECU can be utilized as a natural medicine for the prevention and treatment of glioblastoma.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.295-308
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• 2023

Purpose: This study evaluated the validity and reliability of Shively and colleagues' self-efficacy for HIV disease management skills (HIV-SE) among Korean participants. Methods: The original HIV-SE questionnaire, comprising 34 items, was translated into Korean using a translation and back-translation process. To enhance clarity and eliminate redundancy, the author and expert committee engaged in multiple discussions and integrated two items with similar meanings into a single item. Further, four HIV nurse experts tested content validity. Survey data were collected from 227 individuals diagnosed with HIV from five Korean hospitals. Construct validity was verified through confirmatory factor analysis. Criterion validity was evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficients with the new general self-efficacy scale. Internal consistency reliability and test-retest were examined for reliability. Results: The Korean version of HIV-SE (K-HIV-SE) comprises 33 items across six domains: "managing depression/mood," "managing medications," "managing symptoms," "communicating with a healthcare provider," "getting support/help," and "managing fatigue." The fitness of the modified model was acceptable (minimum value of the discrepancy function/degree of freedom = 2.49, root mean square error of approximation = .08, goodness-of-fit index = .76, adjusted goodness-of-fit index = .71, Tucker-Lewis index = .84, and comparative fit index = .86). The internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α = .91) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = .73) were good. The criterion validity of the K-HIV-SE was .59 (p < .001). Conclusion: This study suggests that the K-HIV-SE is useful for efficiently assessing self-efficacy for HIV disease management.