• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.5-36
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• 1998

This study examines the change of female labor market structure during the last several decades, focusing the effects of demographic factors such as declining fertility and increasing educational attainment of women. Women of the recent cohort tend to postpone their first marriages, to attain higher levels of education, and to have smaller number of children than women of the old cohort. This demographic trend results in the change of the population compositions in a way that population subgroups with high labor force participation have been increased. In addition, women of each population subgroup supply their labor in the market with higher rate than their old cohort counterparts. The labor force participation rate of highly educated women, and of married women has been increased faster than that of women with low education and of unmarried women. Although childbirth is still one of the most critical barrier for the women's participation, more and more women with young children tend to work for pay than ever before. In spite of the demographic change which is supportive to the increasing labor force participation, the Korean labor market have lost its female participants for the last year of the economic restructuring, reflecting demand-side factors as well as demographic factors are essential to determine the labor force participation of women.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 2014

We tested for residual pesticide levels in school foodservice agricultural products in Seoul, Korea from 2010 to 2012. A total of 316 samples of 23 different types of agricultural products were analyzed via gas chromatography-nitrogen phosphate detector (GC-NPD), an electron capture detector (GC-${\mu}ECD$), a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MSD), and a high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV). We used multi-analysis methods to analyze 185 different pesticide types. Among the selected agricultural products, residual pesticides were detected in 26 samples (8.2%), of which 6 samples (1.9%) exceeded the Korea Maximum Residue limits (MRLs). We detected pesticide residue in more than 65% of the Chwinamul, while 6 among 9 analyzed samples contained pesticide residue, and 1 sample exceeded the Korea MRLs. Among the 185 kinds of pesticides that we have tested, 18 were detected, while 7 of them were detected more than twice. Data obtained were then used for estimating the potential health risks associated with the exposures to these pesticides. The most critical commodity is carbofuran in the perilla leaves, which has contributed 3.8% to the hazard index (HI). These results showed that the detected pesticides could not be considered as a serious public health problem. Nevertheless, constant supervision is recommended.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2002

The effect of gamma irradiation was investigated on the microbiological and physicochemical qualities of boiled-dried anchovies (large- and smallsized) packed in PVC film (0.06 ㎜) during storage at 15$\pm$1$\^{C}$ for 6 months. On the other hand, thermoluminescence characteristics of minerals extracted from the sample were analyzed to evaluate its possibility in detecting the irradiated anchovies. The samples were contaminated by microbial levels of 104∼106 CFU/g in total aerobic bacterial counts and negative in coliforms, which were different depending on the sample sizes. Gamma irradiation at 3 kGy was effective for improving the hygienic quality of both samples for 6 months, keeping the microbial population less than 20 CFU/g. Besides it was not detrimental to the quality attributes, such as instrumental color parameters L, a, b, ΔE), browning, TBA value, volatile basic nitrogen, trimethylamine-N and sensory properties(appearance, color, odor, tape, overall acceptability). However, storage conditions (time, temperature, packing) showed a critical factor nfluencing the quality changes of dried anchovies. Thermoluminscence analysis was prove to distinguish irradiated from non-irradiated anchovies by comparing both temperature at which glow curves appear and the curve intensity, that was possible even after 6 months at - 20$\^{C}$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.223-230
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• 2015

Regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) is an endogenous calcineurin inhibitor that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diseases related to the calcineurin-NFATc1 signaling pathway. The RCAN1-4 isoform is subject to NFATc1-dependent regulation. During receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL)-stimulated osteoclastogenesis, the calcineurin-NFATc1 pathway is critical. Because there is little information available on the role of RCAN1 in osteoclast differentiation, this study investigated whether changes in RCAN1 expression are related to the calcineurin-NFATc1 pathway and osteoclast differentiation. Mouse bone marrow monocytes (BMMs) were treated with 50 ng/ml of RANKL and M-CSF. Expression levels of NFATc1, calcineurin, and RCAN1 isoforms were determined using RT-PCR and Western blotting. Osteoclast differentiation was examined using tartrate-resistent acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. To evaluate the effect of RCAN1 overexpression on osteoclastogenesis, cells were transfected with a mouse RCAN1-4 cDNA plasmid. After RANKL stimulation of BMMs, expression of NFATc1 and RCAN1 was increased at the mRNA and protein level, while calcineurin expression was unchanged. When the RCAN1-4 gene construct was transfected, the expression of RCAN1 protein was not increased despite several-fold increases in RCAN1-4 mRNA expression. Regardless of RANKL stimulation, over-expression of RCAN1-4 tended to reduce NFATc1 expression and knock-down of RCAN1 increase it. While BMMs transfected with the RCAN1-4 vector were differentiated into distinct osteoclasts, their phenotypes did not vary from those of mock controls. These results suggest that RCAN1 has a limited effect on the calcineurin-NFATc1 pathway during RANKL-stimulated osteoclast differentiation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.388-395
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• 2010

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is generally known as an inducible enzyme, and it produces arachidonic acid to prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), which has been demonstrated to play a critical role in inflammation. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the extracts of fermented beans including soybean (FS), black agabean (FBA) and yellow agabean (FYA), on the expression of COXs and production of $PGE_2$ in U937 human promonocytic cells. Treatment of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) significantly induced pro-inflammatory mediators such as COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production, whereas the levels of COX-1 remained unchanged. However, pre-treatment with FS, FBA and FYA significantly decreased PMA-induced COX-2 protein as well as mRNA, which is associated with inhibition of $PGE_2$ production. Moreover, FS, FBA and FYA markedly prevented the increase of nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) p65 by PMA. Our data indicate that the extracts of fermented beans exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes through the NF-${\kappa}B$ signaling pathway.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.41-52
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• 2015

Purpose - Given globalization, the new niche market of medical tourism is likely to experience sustainable growth for various reasons, such as aging populations and a shift in the medical consumerism paradigm toward prevention. Importantly, understanding medical customers' behavior is necessary to benefit from a competitive advantage in this industry. The existing research primarily accessed the key factors of medical quality and costs to explain health customers' behavior but is limited in terms of enabling an understanding of the decision process. This limitation exists because, given the intangibility and greater associated risks in the highly professional industry of international medical tourism, most customers lack the knowledge and experience needed to evaluate the central factors-such as the medical competence of health care countries-before purchases. Therefore, they actively search for useful information through various distributions to reduce uncertainty and to make better choices. Interestingly, most of these information channels are associated with word-of-mouth (WOM). However, no evidence is found in the literature to estimate the effect of WOM in the medical tourism field. Thus, this study focuses on WOM to explore its interaction with key medical characteristic factors and the attractiveness of destinations referred to by sources. This study also affects customers' evaluations and, in turn, influences their intention to seek health care services abroad. Research design, data, and methodology - The literature review addressed an interesting research model for estimating the relations among WOM, medical characteristics, attractiveness, and customers' choice intention regarding international health care. In the key economic regions in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Guangdong, 2,500 survey questionnaires were distributed to potential customers of different ages, education, and income levels. A resulting 1,717 (68.68 percent of the original 2,500) usable surveys were obtained for analysis. Moderated regression analysis was used to determine the effects of WOM in the decision process regarding international health care destinations. Results - The results indicate that WOM is a good moderator of the relationships between the factors evaluated by sources and customers. More importantly, the WOM effects reflect the factors of tie strength, credibility, and vividness. The results also reveal that, given the moderating role of WOM, the intention of potential Chinese customers to seek the referred health care country varies according to the medical characteristics of medical competency and reputation as evaluated by customers. In contrast, the travel attractiveness of the attractions, facilities, accessibility, and social environment are critical determinants of destination choice intention. Conclusions - The moderating role of WOM has been confirmed through the international healthcare destination selection process. Medical tourism managers should user WOM as an effective marketing tool for industry development. Specially, marketers should consider the effects of WOM determinants, such as tie strength, credibility, and vividness, to develop an effective strategy. Furthermore, this study estimates the factors that affect customers' selection of medical tourism destinations. Health care managers or policy makers should consider a broad variety of variables that may attract more Chinese customers to international health care.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.12-24
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• 1992

The application of island biogepgraphy and habitat fragmentation theory to protected area management in Korea is discussed. The accelerating destruction and degradation of natural habitats, with the associated erosion of biodiversity, demands and urgent response and a critical review of attitudes to protected area management. The flora of Korea will continue to change in both distribution and status in response to these man induced changes. The conservation and management of ecosystems, because of the variety of threats and the varying levels of biodiversity to be conserved, requires an integrated approach. Such an approach assesses the variety of threats, prevalent and potential, and responds with a strategy combining habitat, species and population management. The application of island biogeography, habitat fragmentation and edge effects theory to conservation strategies in Korea will assist in the understanding of the dynamic relationships between the isolation. degradation and fragmentation of surviving habitat patches. The application of such approaches is discussed with recommendations made for the adoption of an increasingly scientific approach to plant conservation based upon a knowledge of the conservation status and distribution characteristics of the Korean flora. Such data combined with demographic studies on topics such as Minimum Viable Population Size will allow an integrated approach to plant and habitat conservation to progress.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.1-12
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• 2016

The purpose of this study are suggest to performance measurement model of Electronic Medical Record(EMR) and Key Performance Index(KPI). For data collection, 665 questionnaires were distributed to medical record administrators and insurance reviewers at 31 hospitals, and 580 questionnaires were collected(collection rate: 87.2%). Regarding methodology, Critical Success Factor(CSF) and index of the information system were derived based on previous studies, and these were set as performance measurement factors of EMR system. The performance measurement factors were constructed by perspective using BSC, and analysis on causal relationship between factors was conducted. A model of causal relationship was established, and performance measurement model of EMR system was proposed through model validation. Analysis on causal relationship between performance management factors revealed that utility cognition of the learning & growth perspective factor had causal relationship with job efficiency(${\beta}=0.20$) and decision support(${\beta}=0.66$) of the internal process perspective factors, and security had causal relationship with system satisfaction(${\beta}=0.31$) of the customer perspective factor. System quality had causal relationship with job efficiency(${\beta}=0.66$) and decision support(${\beta}=0.76$) of the internal process perspective factors, all of which were statistically significant(P<0.01). Job efficiency of the internal process perspective had causal relationship with system satisfaction(${\beta}=0.43$), and decision support had causal relationship with decision support satisfaction(${\beta}=0.91$) and job satisfaction (${\beta}=0.74$), all of which were statistically significant(P<0.01). System satisfaction of the customer perspective had causal relationship with job satisfaction(${\beta}=0.12$), job satisfaction had causal relationship with cost reduction(${\beta}=0.53$) of the financial perspective, and decision support satisfaction had causal relationship with productivity improvement(${\beta}=0.40$)of the financial perspective(P<0.01). Also, cost reduction of the financial perspective had causal relationship with productivity improvement(${\beta}=0.37$), all which were statistically significant(P<0.05). Suitability index verification of the performance measurement model whose causal relationship was found to be statistically significant revealed that $X^2/df=2.875$, RMR=0.036, GFI=0.831, AGFI=0.810, CFI=0.887, NFI=0.838, IFI=0.888, RMSEA=0.057, PNFI=0.781, and PCFI=0.827, all of which were in suitable levels. In conclusion, the performance measurement indices of EMR system include utility cognition, security, and system quality of the learning & growth perspective, decision support and job efficiency of the internal process perspective, system satisfaction, decision support satisfaction, and job satisfaction of the customer perspective, and productivity improvement and cost reduction of the financial perspective. In this study, it is expected that the performance measurement indices and model of EMR system which are suggested by the author, will be a measurement tool available for system performance measurement of EMR system in medical institutions.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.65-72
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• 2011

Since walking and physical activity are critical for older adults to maintain their health, it is important to provide neighborhood environments which encourage their walking in daily life. The purposes of the present study were to investigate walking activity patterns of older people in an urban setting and to identify environmental correlates with walking of older adults. This study examined spatial and temporal patterns of physical activities, environmental barriers and motivations, satisfaction levels and demands on the physical environment. In-depth interviews with older adults over age sixty residing in Seoul metropolitan areas revealed that most respondents have a positive perception on walking in daily life, and many of them walk regularly for their health. A primary purpose of walking for older adults was exercise for health rather than transportation. The study result demonstrated that parks and trails were the most preferred places for walking by older adults, and there is an association between frequency of walking participation and access or convenience to parks, traffic safety, and street lights. Most respondents were concerned about traffic safety when they walk in their neighborhoods due to traffic speeds and unsafe streets. Lack of separate sidewalks or benches, stairs and slopes were barriers to older adults' walking habits. This data suggests that the promotion of walking behavior among older adults, some level of public health action, and community support are needed to ensure safe physical environments within communities.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.753-759
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• 2011

Protected crop production has been popular in Korea as well as in other countries. Intensive and continuous monitoring and control of the environment, which is labor- and time-consuming, is critical for stable crop productivity and profitability, otherwise damage could be happened due to unfavorable ambient and soil conditions. In the study, potential utilization of smartphone and remote access application in protected crop production environment was investigated. Tested available remote access applications provided functions of mouse click (left and right buttons), zooming in and out, and screen size and color resolution control. Wi-Fi data communication speeds were affected by signal intensity and user place. Data speeds at high (> -55 dBm), medium (-70~-56 dBm), and low (< -71 dBm) signal intensity levels were statistically different (${\alpha}=0.05$). Means of data communication speed were 6.642, 4.923, and 2.906 Mbps at hot spot, home, and office, respectively, and the differences were significant at a 0.05 level. Smart phone and remote access application were applied successfully to remote monitoring (inside temperature and humidity, and outside precipitation, temperature, and humidity) and control (window and light on/off) of green house environment. Response times for monitoring and control were less than 1 s at all places for high signal intensity (> -55 dBm), but they were increased to 1 ~ 10 s at home and office and to 10 ~ 30 s at hot spot for low signal intensity (< -71 dBm) for Wi-Fi. Results of the study would provide useful information for farmers to apply these techniques for their crop production.