• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.320-329
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• 2023

Background: Oral frailty has garnered considerable interest following its identification as a risk factor for physical frailty. The Korean oral frailty diagnosis criteria have emphasized the need for extensive research on oral frailty diagnostic items and interventions. Our study performed an in-depth analysis of the tongue-palate pressure patterns in healthy community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Of the 217 older adults aged ≥60 years who visited a senior center in Wonju, 205 participants who completed tongue pressure measurement were included in the final analysis. Pressure changes over time were recorded by instructing the participants to press their tongue against the hard palate with for 7 seconds per cycle. The participants were divided into the normal and abnormal tongue pressure (NTP and ATP, respectively) groups based on whether they achieved the target tongue pressure at least once; tongue pressure patterns were compared between the groups. Furthermore, the average time taken to achieve the standard tongue pressure value was calculated for the participants in the NTP group and used to evaluate the decrease in tongue pressure in the ATP group. Results: Among the 205 participants, 40.5% had ATP. The tongue pressure graph revealed a gentle and consistent incline that was maintained even after achieving standard tongue pressure in the NTP group. The graph was more extreme in the ATP group, and the changes in the pressure type varied across individuals; the tongue pressure was only 48.4%, 40.7%, 31.9%, and 22.6% of the NTP in the participants in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and ≥90s, respectively (p<0.05). Conclusion: Tongue pressure weakness was observed in 40.5% of the healthy community-dwelling older adults. Furthermore, ATP graphs were observed in the patients with tongue pressure weakness. Thus, activities improving the oral function in community-dwelling older adults and systematic oral rehabilitation programs should be devised to promote normal swallowing.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2016

Tuberculosis (TB) remains an unsolved community health problem since identification of its causing microorganism called Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) by Robert Koch in 1882. Annually, eight million TB cases are newly reported and 2~3 million patients die from TB. Pulmonary TB is highly infectious and untreated pulmonary TB patients are believed to infect >10 people in a year. The conventional methods for diagnosis of TB are chest X-ray and isolation of the causing microorganisms from patient specimens. Screening of TB is conducted with smeared sputum in slides, and TB is confirmed by identification of MTB in cultured specimens. One of the fatal pitfalls of screening detection for smeared sputum is that it is impossible to distinguish MTB and other acid-fast bacilli (AFB) because they are stained equally with Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stain. Culture of MTB is the most reliable method for diagnosis of TB but it takes 4~8 weeks. In this report, we suggest a fast and highly-reliable MTB detection method that distinguishes AFB in sputum samples. Purified DNA from the AFB stained slide samples offered by The Korean Institute of Tuberculosis were used to detect infected MTB in patients. PCR, real-time PCR and reverse blot hybridization assay (REBA) methods were applied to purified DNA. Conclusively, the real-time PCR method was confirmed to produce high sensitivity and we were able to further detect drug-resistant MTB with REBA.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.245-255
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• 2020

Objectives: This study examined associations among social capital indicators (social participation and generalized trust) at the individual level and alcohol use, which was quantified using Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) scores. Methods: In total, there were 8800 participants in community health interviews, including 220 adults sampled systematically from a resident registration database of each of 40 sub-municipal administrative units of local (city or county) governments. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using polychotomous logistic regression. Results: The aORs for abstainers versus people with AUDIT scores of 0-7, based on 3 questions on generalized trust, in comparison to those with no positive responses, were 1.15 (95% CI, 0.99 to 1.34) for 1 positive response, 1.16 (95% CI, 0.98 to 1.37) for 2 positive responses; and 1.39 (95% CI, 1.20 to 1.61) for 3 positive responses. The aORs for abstainers versus people with AUDIT scores of 0-7, in comparison to participation in no organizations, were 0.61 (95% CI, 0.54 to 0.69) for participation only in informal organizations; 2.16 (95% CI, 1.57 to 2.99) for participation only in religious organizations; 2.41 (95% CI, 1.10 to 5.29) for participation only in volunteer organizations; and 0.65 (95% CI, 0.57 to 0.74) for participation in formal organizations. Participants in formal social organizations, regardless of their participation in informal organizations, were more likely to have AUDIT scores of 8-15 (aOR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.60) or ≥16 (aOR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.22 to 2.23) than to have scores of 0-7. Conclusions: Our findings may have implications for health policy to reduce alcohol problems.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.139-144
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• 2008

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology to create a ubiquitous society as a basis for the core technology-based and community-based technology, the development of technologies that go toward the new growth engines in Korea, one of the IT839 strategy is. This paper ubiquitous RFID technology to keep pace with the present management in society has developed a robot. The system is applied to the RFID cards by using the present management system to manage the personal attendance and reduce the hassle by installing a camera in a robot to prevent a proxy attendance, it added effect. In addition to the robot to determine the user's business to manage attendance, in addition to the menu over lunch with the correct time off work and out of business, and so the record companies and the lab is also possible to take full advantage of the system is introduced.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.8-14
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• 2007

Water quality in Lake Rotorua, New Zealand, deteriorated since the 1960s because of excessive phytoplankton growths due principally to increasing nitrogen and phosphorus in the lake waters. Nutrient concentrations in eight of the nine major streams feeding Lake Rotorua have increased since 1965. The groundwater system has a key role in the hydrology of the Lake Rotorua catchment and the groundwater system is probably the control on the time delay between intensification of agricultural land use and response of surface water quality. All major, and many minor streams, in the catchment are fed by springs. Two lithological units are most important to groundwater flow in the Lake Rotorua catchment: Mamaku Ignimbrite, erupted in about 200,000 years ago and Huka Formation sediments which filled the caldera left by the Mamaku Ignimbrite eruption. Rainfall recharge to groundwater in the groundwater catchment of Lake Rotorua is estimated as approximately 17300 L/s. A calibrated steady-state groundwater flow model estimates that approximately 11100 L/s of this flow discharges into streams and then into the lake and the balance travels directly to Lake Rotorua as groundwater discharge through the lake bed. Land use has impacted on groundwater quality. Median Total Nitrogen (TN) values for shallow groundwater sites are highest for the dairy land use (5.965 mg/L). Median TN values are also relatively high for shallow sites with urban-road and cropping land uses (4.710 and 3.620 mg/L, respectively). Median TN values for all other uses are in the 1.4 to 1.5 mg/L range. Policy development for Lake Rotorua includes defining regional policies on water and land management and setting an action plan for Lake Rotorua restoration. Aims in the action plan include: definition of the current nutrient budget for Lake Rotorua, identification of nutrient reduction targets and identification of actions to achieve targets. Current actions to restore Lake Rotorua water quality include: treatment of Tikitere geothermal nitrogen inputs to Lake Rotorua, upgrade of Rotorua City sewage plant, new sewage reticulation and alum dosing in selected streams to remove phosphorus.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.26.1-26.12
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• 2019

Identification of fusion gene is of prominent importance in cancer research field because of their potential as carcinogenic drivers. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) data have been the most useful source for identification of fusion transcripts. Although a number of algorithms have been developed thus far, most programs produce too many false-positives, thus making experimental confirmation almost impossible. We still lack a reliable program that achieves high precision with reasonable recall rate. Here, we present FusionScan, a highly optimized tool for predicting fusion transcripts from RNA-Seq data. We specifically search for split reads composed of intact exons at the fusion boundaries. Using 269 known fusion cases as the reference, we have implemented various mapping and filtering strategies to remove false-positives without discarding genuine fusions. In the performance test using three cell line datasets with validated fusion cases (NCI-H660, K562, and MCF-7), FusionScan outperformed other existing programs by a considerable margin, achieving the precision and recall rates of 60% and 79%, respectively. Simulation test also demonstrated that FusionScan recovered most of true positives without producing an overwhelming number of false-positives regardless of sequencing depth and read length. The computation time was comparable to other leading tools. We also provide several curative means to help users investigate the details of fusion candidates easily. We believe that FusionScan would be a reliable, efficient and convenient program for detecting fusion transcripts that meet the requirements in the clinical and experimental community. FusionScan is freely available at http://fusionscan.ewha.ac.kr/.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.85-97
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• 2007

This study aimed at analyzing the economic effect of outdoor swimming pool investment using the reservoir's amenity resources. We focused on the identification of the amenity value of reservoir in the rural area and the economic evaluation for establishing This study aimed at analyzing the economic effect of outdoor swimming pool investment using the reservoir's amenity resources. We focused on the identification of the amenity value of reservoir in the rural area and the economic evaluation for establishing infrastructure such as swimming pool based on the reservoir's landscape value. To this end, we have conducted the case study on the outdoor swimming pool in connection with Go-Bok reservoir in Yeon-Gi county, Chungnam Province and estimated its income effect on the rural community by cost-benefit analysis method. The research results are as follows; 1) Outdoor swimming pool participants, with 11,581 visitors totaled to Yeon-gi county every year, was estimated to spend the worth of 58,446 thousand won paid for the agricultural product purchase and etc. 2) Internal rate return of the outdoor swimming pool project was estimated to 16.19%, which considered to be economically feasible comparing with 10% of current capital opportunity cost. Based on the results of this study, we suggest the following strategies for development of amenity value of swimming pool in connected with the reservoir; 1) Reservoir amenities should be well preserved even after construction of swimming pool lest losing amenity values while managing the facilities. 2) Measures to increase the marketing value of intangible reservoir's amenities through promotion should be established. 3) Effective program for more visitors with longer staying and more agricultural products sales should be designed.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.21 no.5_2
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• pp.575-583
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• 1998

Physicochemical factors, microbial population size and the properties of the bacterial isolates were assessed to find out the nature of soil ecosystem of Mt. Paektu. Samples were obtained from the surface layer of soils on which specific plant community is developed. Average content of moisture, organic matter and avaiable phosphate of the soils were 21.6%, 17.3% and 2.48mg/100g, respectively. These values were similar to those of developing forest soils, but were slightly lower than those of climax ecosystem such as Piagol in Mt. Chiri. The population size of soil bacteria ranged from 2.7 to $202.5{\times}10^5$ CFU/g.dry soil, and the size is somewhat dependent on the content of moisture and oranic matter of the forest soil. A large number of bacteria was able to decompose macromolecules such as starch, elastin and gelatin. While the distribution rate of resistant bacteria to antibiotics was high, that to toxic chemicals was low. This means that the competition between microorgani는 predominate over the interference with artificial behaviour such as spread of pesticides in the surveyed region. Bacterial species composition of each soil was comparatively simple. Pseudomonas, Agrobacterium, Flavobacterium and Xanthomonas which are Gram-negative short rods were widely distributed in the forest soils. The endospore forming Bacillus species were also main constituents of the soil microflroa. any one of the strains was not identified as Azospirillum or Micrococcus which are known to be one of major constituents of the forest soil. for the correct identification of isolates chemotaxonomic studies will be proceeded, and the strains are to be stored in the Type collection Center.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.5564-5569
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• 2011

In this paper we introduced Augmented Reality (AR) on Android platform for ubiquitous learning (u-learning). Android is breaking new ground for mobile computing and open technologies. Android is versatile as it is not limited only to mobile phones, but it can be installed on various devices. Android gives developers the opportunity to leverage their development skills, while also building an exciting and active community. Augmented Reality (AR) is going to be the future of most apps; all it takes is a decent processor, a camera, a compass and a GPS, all of which are becoming increasingly common on smart phones. Through AR we can have educational tools that provide individuals with total flexibility to receive, send, and review training and detailed product information through an increasingly ubiquitous web-enabled communication device. In this paper, we proposed Augmented Reality for Species Identification using Android Smartphone with augmented reality in species determination. This study is appropriate in the field of Biology. This is useful in outdoor experimental activities of the students. Like for example while they are visiting the zoo, botanical garden and etc.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.602-620
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• 2018

Korean benthic macroinvertebrate community from 959 sites and 14 environmental factors that could affect the biological distribution were surveyed and analyzed. The 438 taxa were divided into six groups according to TWINSPAN. Based on the environmental factor values corresponding to each taxon, the average and range of environmental factors for each biological group tended to increase or decrease in eight environmental factors (altitude, slope, current velocity, fraction of fine particles in substrates, turbidity, $BOD_5$, T-N and T-P). As a result of discriminant analysis (hit ratio: 69.6 %), environmental factors that significantly influence the distribution of each biological group were $BOD_5$, altitude, catchment area, T-N, T-P and fraction of fine particles in substrates. The discriminant functions 1 and 2 classified the existing six biological groups (clustered by TWINSPAN) into five (group 1: highland highly sensitive group; group 2: lowland sensitive group, group; 3 and 4: lowland slightly tolerant group; group 5: lowland tolerant group; group 6: lowland highly tolerant group). Most of the benthic macroinvertebrates were identified in the species level. However, a few others were identified in genus or family level, too. Even the organisms belonging to the same genus or family may prefer different environmental factors in the species level, the identification of characteristic of the habitat environment preferred by organism and species level identification of these organisms are utmost. The results of this study may be used as basic information on environmental factors which can be considered in preservation and restoration research for biodiversity.