• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.1850-1859
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• 2022

Objective: The quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is the most accurate and reliable technique for analysis of gene expression. Endogenous reference genes (RGs) have been used to normalize qPCR data, although their expression may vary in different tissues and experimental conditions. Verification of the stability of RGs in selected samples is a prerequisite for reliable results. Therefore, we attempted to identify the most stable RGs in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in sows. Methods: The cycle threshold values of nine commonly used RGs (18S, HPRT1, GAPDH, RPL4, PPIA, B2M, YWHAZ, ACTB, and SDHA) from HPG axis-related tissues in the domestic sows in the different stages of estrus cycle were analyzed using two RG-finding programs, geNorm and Normfinder, to rank the stability of the pool of RGs. In addition, the effect of the most and least stable RGs was examined by normalization of the target gene, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), in the hypothalamus. Results: PPIA, HPRT1, and YWHAZ were the most stable RGs in the HPG axis-related tissues in sows regardless of the stages of estrus cycle. In contrast, traditional RGs, including 18S and ACTB, were found to be the least stable under these experimental conditions. In particular, in the normalization of GnRH expression in the hypothalamus against several stable RGs, PPIA, HPRT1, and YWHAZ, could generate significant (p<0.05) elevation of GnRH in the preovulatory phase compared to the luteal phase, but the traditional RGs with the least stability (18S and ACTB) did not show a significant difference between groups. Conclusion: These results indicate the importance of verifying RG stability prior to commencing research and may contribute to experimental design in the field of animal reproductive physiology as reference data.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.374-384
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• 2023

Universities that previously targeted in 20s have recently diversified their operation methods, founding purposes, and target. With a significant decrease in the school-age population relative to the number of universities, universities are making their best efforts to secure new students and minimize student attrition. In this study, an online survey was conducted to empirically examine the effects of motivation for major selection and sense of belonging on learning persistence intention among students in beauty-related departments at 2-year and 4-year general universities and cyber universities. The collected data from 119 students at general universities and 113 students at cyber universities were analyzed using SPSS 28. The key findings can be summarized as follows: For general universities, motivation for major selection did not have a significant effect on learning persistence intention, but sense of belonging had a significant positive effect. Additionally, an interaction effect was observed, indicating that as the sense of belonging increased, extrinsic motivation significantly increased learning persistence intention. For cyber universities, intrinsic motivation and sense of belonging among motivations for major selection had a significant positive effect on learning persistence intention, while the moderating effect of sense of belonging in the relationship between motivation for major selection and learning persistence intention was not significant. In summary, for general universities, the factor that influenced students' learning persistence intention was a sense of belonging to the university, while for cyber universities, intrinsic motivation played a significant role. These findings are expected to provide meaningful insights and data for universities to develop effective policies for preventing student attrition.

• Korean Journal of Forensic Psychology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.349-370
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• 2020

This study was to test the effects of unanticipated questions on the number of general and verifiable details. In addition, the number of verifiable details would discriminate truth-tellers and liars more accurately than the number of general details. In a 2(Veracity: truth vs. lie) X 2(Question type: Expected questions vs. Unexpected questions) mixed-design study, truth tellers(N=40) were asked to visit a cafe on campus and liars(N=40) were told to fabricated a story as if they visited the cafe. Then, participants were interviewed about their trip to the cafe and asked four questions(two anticipated questions: 'report the trip in detail', 'describe the place'; two unanticipated questions: 'recall in reverse order', 'report verifiable details'). Each participant's statements were transcribed and coded by trained graduate students for the number of general details and verifiable details. The results showed that truth-tellers mentioned significantly more general details than liars regardless of the question type. On the contrary, there was no significant difference between liars and truth-tellers in the number of verifiable details. High percentages of truth-tellers(62.5%) and liars(80.0%) were classified correctly based on the number of general details whereas only 45.0% of truth tellers and 62.5% of liars were accurately classified by the number of verifiable details. Liars were found to speak more words when asked to provide verifiable details compared to a general open question, but the number of general details did not seem to increase accordingly. The limitations of this study and future research directions were discussed.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.3-18
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• 2023

Background: A chronic disease management program including patient education, recall and remind service, and reduction of out-of-pocket payment was implemented in Korea through a chronic care model. This study aimed to assess the effect of a community-based intervention program for improving medication adherence of patients with diabetes mellitus in rural areas of Korea. Methods: We applied a non-equivalent control group design using Korean National Health Insurance Big Data. Hongcheon County has been continuously adopting this program since 2012 as an intervention region. Hoengseong County did not adopt such program. It was used as a control region. Subjects were a cohort of patients with diabetes mellitus aged more than 65 years but less than 85 years among residents for 11 years from 2010 to 2020. After 1:1 matching, there were 368 subjects in the intervention region and 368 in the control region. Indirect indicators were analyzed using the difference-in-difference regression according to Andersen's medical use model. Results: The increasing percent point of diabetic patients who continuously received insurance benefits for more than 240 days from 2010 to 2014 and from 2010 to 2020 were 2.6%p and 2.7%p in the intervention region and 3.0%p and 3.9%p in the control region, respectively. The number of dispensations per prescription of diabetic patient in the intervention region increased by approximately 4.61% by month compared to that in the control region. Conclusion: The intervention program encouraged older people with diabetes mellitus to receive continuous care for overcoming the rule of halves in the community. More research is needed to determine whether further improvement in the continuity of comprehensive care can prevent the progression of cardiovascular diseases.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.1263-1273
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• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of crude protein (CP) levels on the physiological response, reproductive performance, blood profiles, milk composition and odor emission in gestating sows. Methods: Seventy-two multiparous sows (Yorkshire×Landrace) of average body weight (BW), backfat thickness, and parity were assigned to one of six treatments with 10 or 11 sows per treatment in a completely randomized design. Experimental diets with different CP levels were as follows: i) CP11, corn-soybean-based diet containing 11% CP; ii) CP12, corn-soybean-based diet containing 12% CP; iii) CP13, corn-soybean-based diet containing 13% CP; iv) CP14, corn-soybean-based diet containing 14% CP; v) CP15, corn-soybean-based diet containing 15% CP; and vi) CP16: corn-soybean-based diet containing 16% CP. Results: There was no significant difference in the performance of sow or piglet growth when sows were fed different dietary protein levels. Milk fat (linear, p = 0.05) and total solids (linear, p = 0.04) decreased as dietary CP levels increased. Increasing dietary CP levels in the gestation diet caused a significant increase in creatinine at days 35 and 110 of gestation (linear, p = 0.01; linear, p = 0.01). The total protein in sows also increased as dietary CP levels increased during the gestation period and 24 hours postpartum (linear, p = 0.01; linear, p = 0.01). During the whole experimental period, an increase in urea in sows was observed when sows were fed increasing levels of dietary CP (linear, p = 0.01), and increasing blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations were observed as well. In the blood parameters of piglets, there were linear improvements in creatinine (linear, p = 0.01), total protein (linear, p = 0.01), urea (linear, p = 0.01), and BUN (linear, p = 0.01) with increasing levels of dietary CP as measured 24 hours postpartum. At two measurement points (days 35 and 110) of gestation, the odor gas concentration, including amine, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide, increased linearly when sows fed diets with increasing levels of dietary CP (linear, p = 0.01). Moreover, as dietary CP levels increased to 16%, the odor gas concentration was increased with a quadratic response (quadratic, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Reducing dietary CP levels from 16% to 11% in a gestating diet did not exert detrimental effects on sow body condition or piglet performance. Moreover, a low protein diet (11% CP) may improve dietary protein utilization and metabolism to reduce odor gas emissions in manure and urine in gestating sows.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.56-75
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• 2022

Purpose - This study examines the influencing factors of China's cross-border e-commerce exports in the context of the current situation and trends of China's cross-border e-commerce development. Through an improved trade gravity model, it provides more in-depth research and constructive opinions on the development of cross-border e-commerce in China. In this paper, factors such as consumption gap, volume of trade frictions, number of tourists, Internet usage and trade openness are added to the formula of the traditional trade gravity model in the improved trade gravity model to examine the influencing factors on China's cross-border e-commerce exports. Design/methodology - According to the empirical analysis, China's cross-border e-commerce exports to ten countries are used as dependent variables, and consumption gap, trade friction volume, trade distance, trade openness and number of Internet users are taken as independent variables. Regression analysis is conducted through a modified gravity model to test whether the hypotheses hold. Findings - The analysis shows that the hypothesis that China's cross-border e-commerce exports are influenced by trade openness, trade distance, consumption gap between trade parties, and the number of Internet users in the importing country is supported by these four hypotheses, but not all independent variables have an impact on them. Specifically, the number of travelers, trade frictions do not have an impact on China's cross-border e-commerce. That is to say, trade friction between China and the United States and political issues such as China-India and China-Japan territorial disputes that emerged before do not affect the development of cross-border e-commerce in China. Originality/value - The analysis shows that the factors influencing China's cross-border e-commerce exports are the trade openness of the importing country, the trade distance, the number of Internet users in the importing country, and the consumption gap between the two sides of the trade. The trade openness and the number of Internet users positively contribute to China's cross-border e-commerce, while the consumption gap and trade distance are negatively related to them. And the analysis found that the Sino-US trade war and the Sino-Indian territorial disputes and other trade frictions to China's cross-border e-commerce exports did not have a substantial impact.

• Asia-pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology
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• v.7 no.10
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• pp.545-556
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• 2017

There are exhibit commentary media (docent, mobile device) for assisting family visitors in the museum, and the communication within family members could be affected by which media they use. When using a docent, family visitors lowered their voice or restrained talks for paying attention to a docent' explanation. When using a mobile device, family visitors mainly relied on a mobile device, so they did not pay attention to the objects. The results of the survey showed that parents reported no difference between the docent and the mobile device on some measurement items and preferred the docent to the mobile device on other measurement items. On the other hand, children showed strong preference toward the mobile deice over the docent because of their enjoyment for operating the mobile device. Regardless of which media they used, the communication among family members could be enhanced by being together. Therefore, the museum should design and operate a docent program for family visitors to enhance the communication among family members. In addition, the museum should consider how family visitors using a mobile device would pay attention to objects and enhance the communication.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.109-125
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• 2023

Disposal repository for high-level radioactive waste secures its safety by means of engineered and natural barriers. The performance of these barriers should be tested and verified through various aspects in terms of short and/or long-term. KAERI has been conducting various in-situ demonstrations in KURT (KAERI Underground Research Tunnel). After completing previous experiment, a conceptual design of an improved in-situ experiment, i.e. K-COIN (KURT experiment of THMC COupled and INteraction), was established and detailed planning for the experiment is underway. Preliminary characterizations were conducted in KURT for siting a K-COIN test site. 15 boreholes with a depth of about 20 m were drilled in three research galleries in KURT and intact rock specimens were prepared for laboratory tests. Using the specimens, physical measurements, uniaxial compression, indirect tension, and triaxial compression tests were conducted. As a result, specific gravity, porosity, elastic wave velocities, uniaxial compressive strength, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, Brazilian tensile strength, cohesion, and internal friction angle were estimated. Statistical analyses revealed that there did not exist meaningful differences in intact rock properties according to the drilled sites and the depth. Judging from the uniaxial compressive strength, which is one of the most important properties, all the specimens were classified as very strong rock so that mechanical safety was secured in all the regions.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.103-114
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• 2023

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure levels due to the use of power hand tools and to evaluate the determinants in the automobile assembly process. Methods: The exposure level to HAV was evaluated for 30 work lines in five assembly processes (body, engine, chassis, door, and design) that use air-powered tools and battery-powered tools and operate in circulation for two hours. The 2-hr equivalent energy vibration acceleration, A (2), of the task was measured. The 8-hr equivalent energy vibration acceleration, A (8), was estimated in consideration of the number of tasks that can be performed per day by each process. In addition, a survey on the working environment was conducted with workers exposed to vibration. Results: The geometric mean of the HAV exposure level, A (2), for a total of 30 tasks was 2.51 m/s², and one case was 10.30 m/s², exceeding TLV (2hr). The HAV exposure level of A (8) was evaluated from 1.03 m/s² to 5.36 m/s². A (2) showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.01) for each process, and the chassis process (GM=3.90 m/s²) was the highest. The larger the tool size and the longer the tool length, the higher was the vibration acceleration when using a battery-powered tool than an air-powered tool (P<0.01). Battery-powered tool users showed higher dissatisfaction on all items than did air-powered tool users. Conclusions: As a result of this study, it is necessary to implement a program to reduce the HAV exposure levels.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.6D
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• pp.759-766
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• 2008

Road classification system is the first step for determining the road function and design standards. Currently, roads are classified by various indices such as road location and function. In this study, we classify road using various traffic indices as well as to identify traffic characteristics for each type of road. To accomplish the objectives, mixture model was applied for classifying road and analyzing traffic characteristics using traffic data that observed at permanent traffic count stations. A total of 8 variables were applied: annual average daily traffic(AADT), $K_{30}$ coefficient, heavy vehicle proportion, day volume proportion, peak hour volume proportion, sunday coefficient, vacation coefficient, and coefficient of variation(COV). A total of 350 permanent traffic count points were categorized into three groups : Group I (Urban road), Group II (Rural road), and Group III (Recreational road). AADT were 30,000 for urban, 16,000 for rural, and 5,000 for recreational road. Group III was typical recreational road showing higher average daily traffic volume during Sunday and vacational periods. Group I showed AM peak and PM peak, while group II and group III did not show AM peak and PM peak.