• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2018

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the level of distress using the distress thermometer (DT) and the factors associated with distress in postoperative breast cancer (BC) patients. Methods : DT and WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Abbreviated Version) along with sociodemographic variables were assessed in patients undergoing surgery for their first treatment of BC within one week postoperatively. The distress group consisted of participants with a DT score ${\geq}4$. The prevalence and associative factors of distress were examined by descriptive, univariable, and logistic regression analysis. Results : Three hundred seven women were recruited, and 264 subjects were finally analyzed. A total of 173 (65.5%) were classified into the distress group. The distress group showed significantly younger age (p=0.045), living without a spouse (p=0.032), and worse quality of life (QOL) as measured by overall QOL (p=0.009), general health (p=0.005), physical health domain (p<0.000), and psychological health domain (p=0.002). The logistic regression analysis showed that patients aged 40-49 years were more likely to experience distress than those aged ${\geq}60years$ (Odds ratios [OR]=2.992, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.241-7.215). Moreover, the WHOQOL-BREF physical health domain was a predictive factor of distress (OR=0.777, 95% CI 0.692-0.873). Conclusions : A substantial proportion of patients are experiencing significant distress after BC surgery. It would be expected that distress management, especially in the middle-aged patients and in the domain of physical QOL (e.g., pain, insomnia, fatigue), from the early BC treatment stage might reduce chronic distress.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2019

Purpose: Early detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae is important for appropriate antimicrobial therapy in children with pneumonia. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of a rapid antigen test kit in detecting M. pneumoniae from respiratory specimens in children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). Methods: A total of 215 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) were selected from a pool of NPAs that had been obtained from children admitted for LRTI from August 2010 to August 2018. The specimens had been tested for M. pneumoniae by culture and stored at $-70^{\circ}C$ until use. Tests with Ribotest $Mycoplasma^{(R)}$ were performed and interpreted independently by two investigators who were blinded to the culture results. Results: Among the 215 NPAs, 119 were culture positive for M. pneumoniae and 96 were culture negative. Of the culture-positive specimens, 74 (62.2%) were positive for M. pneumoniae by Ribotest $Mycoplasma^{(R)}$, and 92 of the 96 (95.8%) culture-negative specimens were negative for M. pneumoniae by Ribotest $Mycoplasma^{(R)}$. When culture was used as the standard test, the sensitivity and specificity of Ribotest $Mycoplasma^{(R)}$ were 62.2% and 95.8%, respectively. Additionally, the positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall agreement rates with Ribotest $Mycoplasma^{(R)}$ were 94.9%, 67.2%, and 77.2%, respectively. Conclusions: A positive test result of Ribotest $Mycoplasma^{(R)}$ suggests a high likelihood of culture-positive M. pneumoniae infection. However, a negative test result should be interpreted with caution because nearly one-third of negative test results reveal culture-positive M. pneumoniae infections.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.600-605
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• 2019

Background: The leaves and roots of Panax ginseng are rich in ginsenosides. However, the chemical compositions of the leaves and roots of P. ginseng differ, resulting in different medicinal functions. In recent years, the aerial parts of members of the Panax genus have received great attention from natural product chemists as producers of bioactive ginsenosides. The aim of this study was the isolation and structural elucidation of novel, minor ginsenosides in the leaves of P. ginseng and evaluation of their antiinflammatory activity in vitro. Methods: Various chromatographic techniques were applied to obtain pure individual compounds, and their structures were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution mass spectrometry, as well as chemical methods. The antiinflammatory effect of the new compounds was evaluated on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Results and conclusions: Two novel, minor triterpenoid saponins, ginsenoside $LS_1$ (1) and 5,6-didehydroginsenoside $Rg_3$ (2), were isolated from the leaves of P. ginseng. The isolated compounds 1 and 2 were assayed for their inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, and Compound 2 showed a significant inhibitory effect with $IC_{50}$ of $37.38{\mu}M$ compared with that of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine ($IC_{50}=90.76{\mu}M$). Moreover, Compound 2 significantly decreased secretion of cytokines such as prostaglandin $E_2$ and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$. In addition, Compound 2 significantly suppressed protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2. These results suggested that Compound 2 could be used as a valuable candidate for medicinal use or functional food, and the mechanism is warranted for further exploration.

• Proceedings of The Korean Society of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology Conference
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• 2013.11a
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• pp.23-24
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• 2013

Micrometeorological fluxes measured over a tall forest in a complex terrain are difficult to interpret. $CO_2$ storage often makes significant contributions to net ecosystem exchange of $CO_2$ (NEE) in early morning and during nighttime due to calm and stable conditions. We measured the above-canopy $CO_2$ flux along with its concentration profiles at eight levels within and above the canopy to evaluate $CO_2$ storage term. Our question is whether or not the $CO_2$ storage term can be estimated accurately from a single level measurement of $CO_2$ concentration in a complex terrain. Our objectives are (1) to document vertical profiles of $CO_2$ concentration and (2) to compare the diurnal and seasonal variations of $CO_2$ storages estimated from single and multi-level $CO_2$ concentration data. Seasonally averaged Diurnal variations of $CO_2$ concentration ranged from 398 to 455 ppm near the forest floor at 0.1 m whereas they ranged from 364 to 395 ppm at 40 m in the atmosphere. The diurnal variation of vertical profiles of $CO_2$ concentration shows very interesting features with season. At all eight levels, diurnal variation of $CO_2$ concentration showed little change in winter. In spring, the diurnal variations of $CO_2$ concentration at 8 levels showed three distinct groups of layers with height: the first layer: 0.1m (near surface), second layer: 1.0 m and 4.0m (below canopy) and the third layer: 7.4m to 40.7 m (near canopy and above). In summer, these three groups of layers were further separated with larger variations whereas such distinction became smaller in fall. The diurnal variation of $CO_2$ concentration in the first three layers near surface always showed higher concentration with larger variability. Typically, $CO_2$ concentration showed peaks in early morning and in the evening. After the evening peak, $CO_2$ concentration gradually increased except for those near the surface (i.e., 0.1, 1.0 and 4.0 m) where the concentrations actually decreased. We suspect that this could be attributed to the drainage flow of $CO_2$ along the hill slope from the headwater to downstream, which is not taken into account for net ecosystem $CO_2$ exchange. In comparison to the results of other studies, the distinct and different vertical structures of $CO_2$ concentrations observed at our site may be due to complex terrain and weak turbulent mixing under calm conditions at the site. The annual mean of diurnal variation of $CO_2$ storage flux from single level ranged from -0.6 to $0.9{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$ and from multi-level from -1.2 to $1.0{\mu}\;{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$. When compared against the results from the multi-level concentrations, the storage flux estimated from a single-level concentration was generally adequate except for specific hours near sunrise and sunset. Further details and their implication will be discussed in the presentation.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.388-395
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• 2020

Exotic species have been imported for economic purposes, but more recently, an increasing number of animals are imported as pets. With the increasing popularity of two species of turtles, Mauremys sinensis and Pseudemys concinna, the number of pet turtle owners has gradually increased since 2014. The number of turtles increased by 180 in 2017 and 281 in 2019. However, these turtle species have been abandoned to nature, owing to their long lifespans and the changes in conditions of pet owners. The two turtle species have been designated as invasive alien species (AIS) in Korea considering their ecological risks, and the Biological Diversity Act prohibits their release. The owners of Mauremys sinensis and Pseudemys concinna are required to submit the "Application for Approval of Breeding and Grace for AIS" document. In this study, the breeding conditions for the two turtle species were investigated by analyzing the information in the submitted applications for six months (e.g., the suitability of breeding facilities, number of turtles, breeding period, type of pet adoption, and local district of pet owner). A total of 614 cases were analyzed. Because only 58% of breeders provided suitable breeding conditions, breeding information and responsible pet ownership training should be offered to prevent abandonment in natural ecosystems. In addition, continuous monitoring is necessary to prepare for potential problems caused by the lack of information in many applications and the one-off licensing policy.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.356-363
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• 2021

This study investigated the quality characteristics of anchovy sauce fermented using Nuruk to maintain a unique flavor, reduce fishy smell, and improve the fermentation rate. Six kinds of fermented fish sauces, including the control, fermentation using traditional Nuruk; SH Koji (Fs-A), JJ Koji (Fs-B), GJ Koji (Fs-C); and fermentation with improved Nuruk; Aspergillus luchuensis (Fs-D) and Aspergillus oryzae (Fs-E), were prepared. Samples were collected at 15 days intervals with 10% Nuruk added to raw anchovy and fermented at 25o C for 60 days. The free amino acids, especially glutamic acid content and amino nitrogen, were the highest in Fs-C, reflecting the high protease activity of Nuruk C (GJ). Regarding overall sensory evaluation, the control was the lowest, whereas Fs-C was highly evaluated among the sample groups. The addition of Nuruk not only shortened the fermentation period, but also increased the overall sensory level by adding umami and reducing fishy odor.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.92-100
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• 2021

Purpose: Rapid detection of etiologic organisms is crucial for initiating appropriate therapy in patients with central nervous system (CNS) infection. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of the BioFire^® Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) panel in detecting etiologic organisms in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from febrile infants. Methods: CSF samples from infants aged <90 days who were evaluated for fever were collected between January 2016 and July 2019 at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital. We performed BioFire^® ME panel testing of CSF samples that had been used for CSF analysis and conventional tests (bacterial culture, Xpert^® enterovirus assay, and herpes simplex virus-1 and -2 polymerase chain reaction) and stored at -70℃ until further use. Results: In total, 72 (24 pathogen-identified and 48 pathogen-unidentified) CSF samples were included. Using BioFire^® ME panel testing, 41 (85.4%) of the 48 pathogen-unidentified CSF samples yielded negative results and 22 (91.7%) of the 24 pathogen-identified CSF samples yielded the same results (enterovirus in 19, Streptococcus agalactiae in 2, and Streptococcus pneumoniae in 1) as those obtained using the conventional tests, thereby resulting in an overall agreement of 87.5% (63/72). Six of the 7 pathogen-unidentified samples were positive for human parechovirus (HPeV) via BioFire^® ME panel testing. Conclusions: Compared with the currently available etiologic tests for CNS infection, BioFire^® ME panel testing demonstrated a high agreement score for pathogen-identified samples and enabled HPeV detection in young infants. The clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of BioFire^® ME panel testing in children must be evaluated for its wider application.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2022

Purpose: Tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil (S-1) and capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) are standard adjuvant chemotherapies (ACs) administered after gastrectomy to patients with stage II or III gastric cancer. However, the efficacy of AC in elderly patients remains unclear. The objective of this retrospective multicenter cohort study was to compare the efficacies of S-1 and CAPOX AC in patients aged ≥70 years. Materials and Methods: Nine hundred eighty-three patients who were treated with AC using S-1 (768 patients) or CAPOX (215 patients) were enrolled in this study. Each patient underwent AC after curative gastrectomy for stage II or III gastric cancer at one of 27 hospitals in the Republic of Korea between January 2012 and December 2013. Relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed according to AC regimen and age group. Results: Of the 983 patients, 254 (25.8%) were elderly. This group had a similar RFS (P=0.099) but significantly poorer OS (p=0.003) compared with the non-elderly group. Subgroup analysis of the non-elderly group revealed no AC-associated differences in survival. Subgroup analysis of the elderly group revealed significantly better survival in the S-1 group than in the CAPOX group (RFS, P<0.001; OS, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the CAPOX regimen was an independent poor prognostic factor for RFS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.891; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.072-3.333; P=0.028) and OS (HR, 2.970; 95% CI, 1.550-5.692; P=0.001). Conclusions: This multicenter observational cohort study found significant differences in RFS and OS between S-1 and CAPOX AC among patients with gastric cancer aged ≥70 years.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.105-120
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• 2020

This study explores the process of the actual content production and distribution, by creating a YouTube channel to promote the popular music contents produced by the researcher, which thus reflects the reality where the production of video contents rapidly increases. A YouTube channel titled "Alida Music", of which the focus was to promote indie musicians, was created on February 2019. The contents of 10 indie musicians were produced in one-take live format. The information of the indie musicians was displayed in the form of a screen business card, with their e-mail address and SNS account at the top. Therefore, this promotional design was named "Card Live". Promotional video contents marked with the QR code in the lower right on the screen were produced, along with the promotional phrase "Communicate directly with the artist through the QR code", which allows viewers to watch other contents of the indie musician when they scan the QR code. This research conducted a study on how to improve and promote "Card Live" contents of "Alida Music", which were produced through this process. A group interview targeting five indie musicians, among whom one participant deemed significant was selected to conduct a one-to-one in-depth interview. As a result of the study, the following three conclusions were drawn. First, YouTube was found to be the medium with the greatest influence and highest efficiency at the lowest cost. Second, the evaluation of the participants on "Card Live" were divided into the three categories: need for one-take live, the design elements of "Card Live", and scanning issues of the QR code. Third, there is a need for promotional methods that can effectively utilize the media aspects of YouTube: the channel management issues such as raising public awareness as well as the number of subscribers of "Alida Music" should be resolved and measures to effectively use various media including other SNS should be developed. In terms of its content, it is imperative to recruit diverse performers to make various contents, as well as to come up with ways to link "Card Live" contents with offline. Based on these results, "Card Live" contents should be further revised and complemented in order to provide interesting contents to consumers, which will further develop "Alida Music" as a platform where various musicians and companies meet, thereby inducing contracts with popular music agencies and generating advertising revenues. However, since this study was carried out only with the limited number of participants, future studies should include more participants to bring forth a variety of promotional plans and improvement measures. Also, in the era of consuming contents through smart devices, the fact that some features of "Card Live" were available only on PC, did not fully reflect the characteristics of the times. In the future research, various contents that smartphone users can access and view freely without PC should be produced.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.61-74
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• 2022

Considering that the number of cases in which a structure foundation is located on weathered rock has been increasing recently, for adequate design bearing capacity of a foundation on weathered rock, allowable bearing capacities of such foundations in geotechnical investigation reports were studied. With reference to the study results, the allowable bearing capacity of a foundation on weathered rock was approximately 400-700 kN/m², with a large variation, and was considered a conservative value. Because the allowable bearing capacity of the foundation ground is an important index in determining the foundation type in the early design stage, it can have a significant influence on the construction cost and period according to the initial decision. Thus, in this study, six large-scale plate-bearing tests were conducted on weathered rock, and the bearing capacity and settlement characteristics were analyzed. According to the test results, the bearing capacities from the six tests exceeded 1,500 kN/m², and it shows that the results are similar with the one of bearing capacity formula by Pressuremeter tests when compared with the various bearing capacity formula. In addition, the elastic modulus determined by the inverse calculation of the load-settlement behavior from the large-scale plate-bearing tests was appropriate for applying the elastic modulus of the Pressuremeter tests. With consideration of the large-scale plate-bearing tests in this study and other results of plate-bearing tests on weathered rock in Korea, the allowable bearing capacity of weathered rock is evaluated to be over 1,000 kN/m². However, because the settlement of the foundation increases as the foundation size increases, the allowable bearing capacity should be restrained by the allowable settlement criteria of an upper structure. Therefore, in this study, the anticipated foundation settlements along the foundation size and the thickness of weathered rocks have been evaluated by numerical analysis, and the foundation size and ground conditions, with an allowable bearing capacity of over 1,000 kN/m², have been proposed as a table. These findings are considered useful in determining the foundation type in the early foundation design.