• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.38-53
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Abdominal obesity is associated with metabolic disorders, and, in recent years, its prevalence in Korea has continuously increased. The change of lifestyle, particularly diet, is critical for the reduction of abdominal obesity. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention focused on dietary self-efficacy and behaviors on the improvement of abdominal obesity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Abdominally obese adults with additional cardiovascular risk factors were recruited through 16 medical facilities in South Korea from the year 2013 to 2014. The participants were randomly divided into 2 groups: an intensive intervention group (IG) that received a multi-component intervention to reduce abdominal obesity, by mainly focusing on dietary attitude and dietary behavior change, and a minimal information intervention group (MG) that received a brief explanation of health status and a simple recommendation for a lifestyle change. The interventions were provided for 6 mon, and health examinations were conducted at baseline, 3-, 6-, and 12-mon follow-ups. A path analysis was conducted to identify the process governing the changes in abdominal obesity. RESULTS: The IG showed an improvement in self-efficacy for eating control and diet quality at 6-mon follow-up. Abdominal obesity improved in both groups. Waist circumference was observed to be decreased through the path of "improved self-efficacy for eating control in food availability-eating restriction-improved dietary quality" in IG. Most changes in follow-ups were not significantly different between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The intensive program targeting the modification of dietary behavior influenced management of abdominal obesity, and the effect occurred through a step-by-step process of change in attitude and behavior. Generally, improvements were also seen in the MG, which supports the necessity of regular health check-ups and brief consultation. The results can be used for further development and implementation of more successful interventions.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.624-630
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• 2020

This study examined the quality characteristics of Makgeolli to investigate the availability of Korean sweet potato cultivars as alcoholic beverages. The following sweet potato varieties were used: Gogunmi, Daeyumi, Shingunmi, Shinyulmi, Shincheonmi, Jinyulmi, Jinhongmi, Jeungmi and Pungwonmi; their alcohol contents ranged from 12.20% to 14.20%, with the lowest value in Makgeolli made with Jeungmi and the highest value in Makgeolli made with Jinhongmi. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was in the range of 37.51~77.02%, with the lowest value in Makgeolli made with rice (control) and the highest value in Makgeolli made with Gogunmi. As a result of analyzing the aroma component of sweet potato Makgeolli, 27 kinds of aroma components were detected, and six kinds of alcohols, 13 kinds of esters, four kinds of acids, and four kinds of other compounds were found. Regarding the number of aroma compounds, Makgeolli made with Shinyulmi showed the lowest number with 14 kinds, while Makgeolli made with Pungwonmi showed the highest number with 27 kinds.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.304-316
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• 2022

Background: As prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission in healthcare settings has become a critical component in its effective management, COVID-19 specific infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines were developed and implemented by numerous countries. Although largely based on the current evidence-base, guidelines show much heterogeneity, as they are influenced by respective health system capacities, epidemiological risk, and socioeconomic status. This study aims to analyze the variations and concurrences of these guidelines to draw policy implications for COVID-19 response and future guidelines development. Methods: The contents of the COVID-19 IPC guidelines were analyzed using the categories and codes developed based on "World Health Organization guidelines on core components." Data analysis involved reviewing, appraising and synthesizing data from guidelines, which were then arranged into categories and codes. Selection of countries was based on the country income level, availability of COVID-19 specific IPC guideline developed at a national or district level. Results: The guidelines particularly agreed on IPC measures regarding application of standard precautions and providing information to patients and visitors, monitoring and audit of IPC activities and staff illnesses, and management of built environment/equipments. The guidelines showed considerable differences in certain components, such as workplace safety measures and criteria for discontinuation of precautions. Several guidelines also contained unique features which enabled a more systematic response to COVID-19. Conclusion: The guidelines generally complied with the current evidence-based COVID-19 management but also revealed variances stemming from differences in local health system capacity. Several unique features should be considered for benchmark in future guidelines development.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.23-35
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• 2023

Korea Augmentation Satellite System (KASS) is a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) that provides approach procedure with vertical guidance-I (APV-I) level corrections and integrity information to Korea territory. KASS is used to monitor navigation performance in real-time, and this paper introduces the design, implementation, and verification process of mission monitoring (MIMO) in KASS. MIMO was developed in compliance with the Minimum Operational Performance Standards of the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics for Global Positioning System (GPS)/SBAS airborne equipment. In this study, the MIMO system was verified by comparing and analyzing the outputs of reference tools. Additionally, the definition and derivation method of accuracy, integrity, continuity, and availability subject to MIMO were examined. The internal and external interfaces and functions were then designed and implemented. The GPS data pre-processing was minimized during the implementation to evaluate the navigation performance experienced by general users. Subsequently, tests and verification methods were used to compare the obtained results based on reference tools. The test was performed using the KASS dataset, which included GPS and SBAS observations. The decoding performance of the developed MIMO was identical to that of the reference tools. Additionally, the navigation performance was verified by confirming the similarity in trends. As MIMO is a component of KASS used for real-time monitoring of the navigation performance of SBAS, the KASS operator can identify whether an abnormality exists in the navigation performance in real-time. Moreover, the preliminary identification of the abnormal point during the post-processing of data can improve operational efficiency.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.79-86
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• 2023

As we strive to mitigate the environmental impact caused by the use of fossil fuels, the exploration of alternative energy sources has gained significant attention. Solar energy, in particular, has emerged as a promising solution due to its eco-friendly nature and virtually limitless availability. Among the various types of solar cells that harness this abundant energy source, organic solar cells have garnered considerable interest. Organic solar cells feature a photo-active layer composed of organic semiconductors, offering a range of appealing advantages such as cost-effectiveness, flexibility, translucency, and the ability to produce customizable colors. However, the commercialization of organic solar cells has been impeded by certain challenges, notably their relatively low efficiency and stability. To overcome these obstacles and pave the way for wider adoption, researchers have been exploring innovative approaches, including the implementation of ternary blend organic solar cells. This strategy involves introducing a third component into the photo-active layer alongside the organic semiconductors, with the aim of enhancing the overall performance of the solar cell. In this paper, we delve into the issues associated with organic solar cells and focus on one potential solution: ternary blend organic solar cells. Specifically, we examine the application of this approach to PM6:Y6, which stands as one of the most popular combinations of organic semiconductors. By investigating the potential of ternary blends, particularly utilizing PM6:Y6, we aim to accelerate the commercialization of organic solar cells.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.51
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• pp.18.1-18.12
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• 2021

Hair, having distinct stages of growth, is a dynamic component of the integumentary system. Nonetheless, derangement in its structure and growth pattern often provides vital clues for the diagnosis of systemic diseases. Assessment of the hair structure by various microscopy techniques is, hence, a valuable tool for the diagnosis of several systemic and cutaneous disorders. Systemic illnesses like Comel-Netherton syndrome, Griscelli syndrome, Chediak Higashi syndrome, and Menkes disease display pathognomonic findings on hair microscopy which, consequently, provide crucial evidence for disease diagnosis. With minimal training, light microscopy of the hair can easily be performed even by clinicians and other health care providers which can, thus, serve as a useful tool for disease diagnosis at the patient's bedside. This is especially true for resource-constrained settings where access and availability of advanced investigations (like molecular diagnostics) is a major constraint. Despite its immense clinical utility and non-invasive nature, hair microscopy seems to be an underutilized diagnostic modality. Lack of awareness regarding the important findings on hair microscopy may be one of the crucial reasons for its underutilization. Herein, we, therefore, present a comprehensive overview of the available methods for hair microscopy and the pertinent findings that can be observed in various diseases.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.268-275
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• 2023

The demand for energy is steadily rising because of rapid population growth and improvements in living standards. Consequently, extensive research is being conducted worldwide to enhance the energy supply. Transpiration power generation technology utilizes the vast availability of water, which encompasses more than 70% of the Earth's surface, offering the unique advantage of minimal temporal and spatial constraints over other forms of power generation. Various principles are involved in water-based energy harvesting. In this study, we focused on explaining the generation of energy through the streaming potential within the generator component. The generator was fabricated using sugar cubes, PDMS, carbon black, CTAB, and DI water. In addition, a straightforward and rapid manufacturing method for the generator was proposed. The PDMS generator developed in this study exhibits high performance with a voltage of 29.6 mV and a current of 8.29 µA and can generate power for over 40h. This study contributes to the future development of generators that can achieve high performance and long-term power generation.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.42-52
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• 2024

Background: The lack of headforms that accurately reflect the head characteristics of Koreans and the demographic composition of the Korean population can lead to inadequate FFR testing and reduced effectiveness of FFRs. Method: Direct measurements of 5,110 individuals and 3D measurements of 2,044 individuals, aged between 9 and 69 years, were sampled from the data pool of Size Korea surveys based on the age and gender ratios of the Korean resident demographics. Seven head dimensions were selected based on the ISO 16976-2, availability of Size Korea measurements, and their relevance to the fit performance of FFRs. A principal component analysis (PCA) was performed using the direct measurements to extract the main factors explaining the head characteristics and then the main factors were standardized and remapped to 3D measurements, creating five size categories representing Korean head shapes. Lastly, representative 3D headforms were constructed by averaging five head shapes for each size category. Results: The study identified two main factors explaining Korean head characteristics by the PCA procedure specified in ISO 16976-2 and developed five representative headforms reflecting the anthropometric features of Korean heads: medium, small, large, short & wide, and long & narrow. Conclusion: This study developed representative headforms tailored to the Korean population for conducting total inward leakage (TIL) tests on filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). The representative headforms can be used for TIL testing by employing robotic headforms to enhance the performance of FFRs for the Korean target population.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 1979

In the first paper of the series the five soil fertility factors were evaluated by means of principal component analysis and varimax method. They are interpreted as representing, 1) skeletal available phosporus status, 2) organnic matter status, 3) salt status 4) base status, and 5) free oxide status. In order to resynthesize such fragmented information for the overall soil fertility evaluation, the method of multiple regression analysis was adopted, using the five factor scores and yield data for Korean paddy soils as independent and dependent variables respectively. As test of linear models with different combinations of independent variables the results of t-test of regression coefficient were revealed that the organic matter status (FII) has no relevance to the yield of paddy and that the free oxides and salt supply has by it self only an insignificant contribution to the yield. The multiple correlation coefficient (R) revealed its multiple regression analysis was as low as 0.43. Introduction of quadratic terms to the linear model bettered the result. Thus multiple correlation coefficient (R) was increased as 0.59. Therefore, a coefficient of determination 0.35 was obtained by a quadratic model with interaction terms among the five fertility constituents. Generally we think that the fertility factor has more contribution to raise the rice yield in paddy and that the failure of yield prediction by fertility factor scores was caused by one of follows; 1) the roughness of the yield inspection, and 2) missextraction of fertility constituents. The second step in this study, assuming that the residuals by multiple regression analysis were due to factors other than soil fertility, we can now proceed to predicting the yield from the field characters with the classified fertility groups by means of Hayashi's theory of quantification No. 1. Such variables as fertility groups (FTYG), water availability (WATER), soil drainage (DRNG), climatic zone (CLIZ), surface soil's stickiness (STCKT), surface soil's dry consistence (DCNST), and surface soil's texture (FTEXT) are taken up as the explanatory variables. The quantification appears reasonable; the well to extremely well in soil drainage, very sticky of surface soil, inefficiency in water availability, coarse texture, and very hard to extremely hard dry consistence in soil are detrimental to the rice yield. The R was as high as 0.90 for the set of variables. But the given explanatory variables in this study were not quite effective in explaining rice yield. The method developed seems to be promising only if properly collected data are available. Conditions that should be satisfied in the yield inspection obtained from common cultivator for the purpose of deriving a prediction equation were put forward.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.302-307
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• 2014

To examine the trophic ecology of the ascidian Styela clava in an aquaculture system of Korea, stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes were analyzed monthly in S. clava, coarse ($>20{\mu}m$, CPOM) and fine particulate organic matters ($0.7<<20{\mu}m$, FPOM). CPOM (means: $-18.5{\pm}1.2$‰, $9.3{\pm}0.7$‰) were significantly higher ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$ values than those ($-20.5{\pm}1.5$‰, $8.4{\pm}0.5$‰) of FPOM. S. clava had mean ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of $-18.9({\pm}1.7)$‰ and $11.6({\pm}0.7)$‰, respectively. S. clava were more similar to seasonal variations in ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$ values of FPOM than those of CPOM, suggesting that they rely largely on the FPOM as a dietary source. In addition, our results displayed that the relative importance between CPOM and FPOM as dietary source for the ascidians can be changed according to the availability of each component in ambient environment, probably reflecting their feeding plasticity due to non-selective feeding irrespective of particle size. Finally, our results suggest that dynamics of pico- and nano-size plankton (i.e., FPOM) as an available nutritional source to S. clava should be effectively assessed to maintain and manage their sustainable aquaculture production.