• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.15-25
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• 2013

In this study, two kinds of soil-based proficiency testing materials (PTMs), NICE-012L and NICE-012R were prepared and certified for Benzen, Toluene, Etylbenzene and Xylene with evaluation of uncertainties. In order to analyse BTEX (Benzen Toluene Etylbenzene Xylene) for the candidate materials, GC/MS was used after pretreatment according to methods of soil analysis by Ministry of Environment. For the homogeneity test among bottles in terms of candidate materials, ISO 13528 and IUPAC Protocol were used and according to the result, both candidate materials showed sufficient homogeneity. Also, the stability test over the candidate materials was accessed according to the ISO Guide 35 by classifying short-term and long-term stability and the result showed that both candidate materials showed decent stability. The reference values of the two candidate materials depending on BTEX components were derived from the average of the 11 samples that were used for verification of the samples' homogeneity. Uncertainty of measurement was combined by uchar that was caused by a characteristic value, $u_{bb}$ that was caused by between-bottle homogeneity, and $u_{stab}$ that was caused by stability, and then combined uncertainty ($u_{PTM}$) was multiplied to the coverage factor (k) derived from the effective degree of freedom from each factor that leads to expanded uncertainty (U) in about 95% of confidence level. The proficiency testing materials developed through this study were supplied to National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) and utilized as an external proficiency testing materials for evaluating analysis capacity of soil agencies with specialty in terms of soil analysis approved by Minister of Environment.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.411-420
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a new-nurse education program utilizing both e-learning and instructor demonstration. Methods: From August to December in 2009, the e-learning education program about insulin injection was developed. The control (C) group was educated via instructor demonstration from April 15 to October 6 in 2009, and the experimental (E) group was educated via both e-learning and instructor demonstration from January 5 to October 13 in 2010. After each education, knowledge and educational effectiveness were checked. Results: Satisfaction with the education contents in the E group was significantly higher than those of the C group (Z=-3.72, p<.001), and satisfaction with the education method in the E group was higher than those of the C group (Z=-2.98, p=.003). Usefulness (Z=-3.33, p=.001), application (Z=-2.62, p=.009), and confidence (Z=-2.61, p=.009) in the E group were all higher than those of the C group. 78.9% in the E group reused the e-learning program after the experimental education. Conclusion: Combined educational program with e-learning and instructor demonstration had both merits of online efficiency and face-to-face education. It would be useful especially for new-nurses to improve their nursing skills in accomplishing their roles.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.299-306
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to propose a fully automatic landmark identification model based on a deep learning algorithm using real clinical data and to verify its accuracy considering inter-examiner variability. Materials and Methods: In total, 950 lateral cephalometric images from Yonsei Dental Hospital were used. Two calibrated examiners manually identified the 13 most important landmarks to set as references. The proposed deep learning model has a 2-step structure-a region of interest machine and a detection machine-each consisting of 8 convolution layers, 5 pooling layers, and 2 fully connected layers. The distance errors of detection between 2 examiners were used as a clinically acceptable range for performance evaluation. Results: The 13 landmarks were automatically detected using the proposed model. Inter-examiner agreement for all landmarks indicated excellent reliability based on the 95% confidence interval. The average clinically acceptable range for all 13 landmarks was 1.24 mm. The mean radial error between the reference values assigned by 1 expert and the proposed model was 1.84 mm, exhibiting a successful detection rate of 36.1%. The A-point, the incisal tip of the maxillary and mandibular incisors, and ANS showed lower mean radial error than the calibrated expert variability. Conclusion: This experiment demonstrated that the proposed deep learning model can perform fully automatic identification of cephalometric landmarks and achieve better results than examiners for some landmarks. It is meaningful to consider between-examiner variability for clinical applicability when evaluating the performance of deep learning methods in cephalometric landmark identification.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.11
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• pp.575-581
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• 2021

Background: Toxocariasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati in humans. Various types of T. canis are important. Purpose: The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Toxocara spp. in pediatrics in the context of a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: The MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Sciences, Embase, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed studies published between January 2000 and December 2019 that report the prevalence of Toxocara spp. in pediatrics. The evaluation of articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria was performed by 2 researchers individually. Results: The results of 31 relevant studies indicated that the prevalence of Toxocara spp. was 3%-79% in 10,676 cases. The pooled estimate of global prevalence of Toxocara spp. in pediatrics was 30 (95% confidence interval, 22%-37%; I²=99.11%; P=0.00). The prevalence was higher in Asian populations than in European, American, and African populations. Conclusion: Health policymakers should be more attentive to future research and approaches to Toxocara spp. and other zoonotic diseases to improve culture and identify socioeconomically important factors.

• Perinatology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.147-152
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• 2018

Objective: This study examines whether maternal group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae, GBS) infection was associated with preterm births and premature neonatal outcomes. Methods: Maternal and neonatal outcomes were examined among singleton pregnant women with preterm birth (from $24^{+0}weeks$ to $36^{+6}weeks$) who were tested for GBS (n=203) during the pregnancy. Data were collected retrospectively from the medical records of women who delivered at our hospital from January 2015 to February 2017. We compared obstetrical factors (causes of preterm birth) and neonatal (gestational age at delivery, birth weight, Apgar score 1 min/5 min, hospitalization period, duration of mechanical ventilation, neonatal C-reactive protein within three days, and other complication [respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal deaths]) outcomes between GBS-infected and non-infected pregnant women. Results: There were 203 singleton pregnant women included in the study, 25 of whom were confirmed to have a GBS infection during the pregnancy. There was no difference in neonatal outcomes by GBS status. Preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM), as an obstetric factor, was associated with GBS infection (P=0.022). GBS infection raised the risk of pPROM by 3.6 times (odds ratio 3.648, 95% confidence interval 1.476-9.016, P=0.005). Conclusion: GBS infection in preterm birth was associated with pPROM but did not result in adverse neonatal outcomes. Continuous attention and evaluation of GBS infection, a major cause of neonatal sepsis and pneumonia, are needed.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.26.1-26.12
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• 2018

Shigella spp. constitutes some of the key pathogens responsible for the global burden of diarrhoeal disease. With over 164 million reported cases per annum, shigellosis accounts for 1.1 million deaths each year. Majority of these cases occur among the children of the developing nations and the emergence of multi-drug resistance Shigella strains in clinical isolates demands the development of better/new drugs against this pathogen. The genome of Shigella flexneri was extensively analyzed and found 4,362 proteins among which the functions of 674 proteins, termed as hypothetical proteins (HPs) had not been previously elucidated. Amino acid sequences of all these 674 HPs were studied and the functions of a total of 39 HPs have been assigned with high level of confidence. Here we have utilized a combination of the latest versions of databases to assign the precise function of HPs for which no experimental information is available. These HPs were found to belong to various classes of proteins such as enzymes, binding proteins, signal transducers, lipoprotein, transporters, virulence and other proteins. Evaluation of the performance of the various computational tools conducted using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and a resoundingly high average accuracy of 93.6% were obtained. Our comprehensive analysis will help to gain greater understanding for the development of many novel potential therapeutic interventions to defeat Shigella infection.

• Journal of Information Processing Systems
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.464-477
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• 2019

With the sustained and rapid development of new energy sources, the demand for electric energy is increasing day by day. However, China's energy distribution is not balanced, and the construction of transmission lines is in a serious lag behind the improvement of generating capacity. So there is an urgent need to increase the utilization of transmission capacity. The transmission capacity is mainly limited by the maximum allowable operating temperature of conductor. At present, the evaluation of transmission capacity mostly adopts the static thermal rating (STR) method under severe environment. Dynamic thermal rating (DTR) technique can improve the utilization of transmission capacity to a certain extent. In this paper, the meteorological parameters affecting the conductor temperature are analyzed with the IEEE standard thermal equivalent equation of overhead transmission lines, and the real load capacity of 220 kV transmission line is calculated with 7-year actual meteorological data in Weihai. Finally, the thermal load capacity of DTR relative to STR under given confidence is analyzed. By identifying the key parameters that affect the thermal rating and analyzing the relevant environmental parameters that affect the conductor temperature, this paper provides a theoretical basis for the wind power grid integration and grid intelligence. The results show that the thermal load potential of transmission lines can be effectively excavated by DTR, which provides a theoretical basis for improving the absorptive capacity of power grid.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.75-82
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is designed to apply the model of the problem-based learning in the class of Disaster Psychology and then analyze the experiences that its students felt. The participants in this research are 56 undergraduates. The class of Disaster Psychology was conducted with blended learning using lecture and PBL. The PBL problem should be solved just for 3 weeks. The data collected after the class is an analysis of the PBL problem, log on group activities, personal reflection diary, Group evaluation. Then, each data should be collected and analyzed quantitatively through the repetitive comparison, and the triangle-measurement. The findings suggest that there is a remarkable educational learning experience in seven categories: acquire expertise, confidence, practical problem-solving skill, communication ability, roles of calling, efficacy, change in perspective. This study introduces a case of PBL course development and expects subsequent applications and research.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2019

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effects of critical thinking and good communication skills on the problem-solving abilities of dental hygiene students. Methods: A total of 508 dental hygiene students were convenience-sampled from 3 universities. Results: The results revealed that critical thinking had the highest intellectual fairness score of 3.60, and systematicity was the lowest at 3.19. The values for communication skills were high in reaction, social adequacy, and concentration, with an average of 3.65. Problem-solving abilities were in the following order: clarification of the problem, seeking solutions, and decision making. According to general characteristics, more extroverted personalities possessed higher levels of critical thinking, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities (p<0.01). Critical thinking scores were high (p=0.016) in students who responded that peer relationship was difficult; however, their communication skills were the lowest (p<0.001). Additionally, problem-solving abilities were highest among students who reported a difficult peer relationship (p=0.001). The higher the satisfaction with dental hygiene academics, the higher the critical thinking, communication skill, and problem-solving ability (p<0.001). Critical thinking showed a high positive correlation with variables in the following order: clarification of the problem, performing the solutions, seeking solutions, decision making, and evaluation and reflection. The communication skills were also related to these variables listed above (p<0.01). With critical thinking, confidence, watchfulness, intellectual passion/curiosity, sound skepticism, objectivity, and systematicity all influenced the problem-solving ability. Conclusion: Communication skills were influenced by noise control, putting on the other's shoe, social tensions, and efficiency, which affected the problem-solving ability. Dental clinics require dental hygienists to have critical thinking to make analytical judgments and effective communication skills to solve human relation problems with patients and care-givers. Therefore, these skills should be developed in dental hygiene students to improve their problem-solving abilities.

• Atmosphere
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.509-520
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• 2018

The performance of the newly designed Pusan National University Coupled General Circulation Model (PNU CGCM) Ensemble Forecast System which produce 40 ensemble members for 12-month lead prediction is evaluated and analyzed in terms of boreal winter temperature over South Korea (S. Korea). The influence of ensemble size on prediction skill is examined with 40 ensemble members and the result shows that spreads of predictability are larger when the size of ensemble member is smaller. Moreover, it is suggested that more than 20 ensemble members are required for better prediction of statistically significant inter-annual variability of wintertime temperature over S. Korea. As for the ensemble average (ENS), it shows superior forecast skill compared to each ensemble member and has significant temporal correlation with Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) temperature at 99% confidence level. In addition to forecast skill for inter-annual variability of wintertime temperature over S. Korea, winter climatology around East Asia and synoptic characteristics of warm (above normal) and cold (below normal) winters are reasonably captured by PNU CGCM. For the categorical forecast with $3{\times}3$ contingency table, the deterministic forecast generally shows better performance than probabilistic forecast except for warm winter (hit rate of probabilistic forecast: 71%). It is also found that, in case of concentrated distribution of 40 ensemble members to one category out of the three, the probabilistic forecast tends to have relatively high predictability. Meanwhile, in the case when the ensemble members distribute evenly throughout the categories, the predictability becomes lower in the probabilistic forecast.