• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.168-176
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• 2011

Objectives: Hundreds of thousands of call center workers are wearing an acoustic device for their businesses, such as telemarketing and customer counseling, and the number of the workers are increasing sharply. Because call center workers always talk to dozens of customers over the headset, they would be placed under the state of a higher risk with their hearing ability. The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that affect the hearing thresholds for the call center workers. Methods: This study investigated hearing losses of 101 workers of 5 call centers in Korea by executing puretone audiometry and self-administered questionnaires. A cross table analysis was processed to compare gender differences between male and female. Male and female hearing thresholds were compared with the Students' t-test, and one-way ANOVA was conducted to observe the difference between non-occupational and occupational characteristics in 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz hearing thresholds for the female workers. Additionally, multiple regression analysis was conducted to find the factors that affect the 4 kHz hearing thresholds. Results and Conclusions: Male hearing thresholds were higher than those of female except for 8 kHz. In the group having an ear related disease, hearing threshold of male left ear was highly affected rather than that of female in 4 kHz. There were significant differences in the variables of alcohol drinking (2 kHz) and headset volume (8 kHz) in both ears. While this study does not show any significant factors that affect the hearing thresholds in the occupational characteristics, the gender and the previous ear related diseases, non-occupational characteristics, were found as the factors in 4 kHz. It is suggested that the more detailed survey be performed to identify the occupational factors that affect the hearing thresholds in the call center workers based on the result derived from this study.

• 한국멀티미디어학회논문지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.474-481
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• 2017

In Korea, foot-and-mouth disease has not been reported for several decades, but it began to develop again in 2000. For 2010~2011, when the worst occurred, 3.5 million animals were disposed of resulting in a loss of 2.8 trillion won. In order to prevent the harmful effects of foot-and-mouth disease, vaccination and housing management are being implemented. Despite these measures, foot-and-mouth disease is infected with air through the respiratory tract and accompanies fever after latency. Therefore, it is recognized that measuring and managing the body temperature of livestock at the early stage is the first step of managing this disease. In this paper, we propose a temperature monitoring system that can measure the body temperature by incorporating temperature sensor mounted in ear-tag of cattle and collect body temperature data of each individual cattle through BLE into the control server. The proposed body temperature monitoring system has various advantages such as easy installation without the help of livestock specialists and not damaging the organs of the livestock. So, it is possible to manage the abnormal symptom of cattle in real time and it is believed that the proposed monitoring system will revolutionize the prevention of foot-and-mouth disease.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권14호
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• pp.5701-5707
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• 2014

Background: Salivary gland tumours, which account for approximately 3% of head-neck cancers, are a heterogeneous group and thus it is difficult to identify their epidemiological characteristics. The aim of this study is to determine demographic features and histopathologic distribution of parotid neoplasms in a large sample from Turkey. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted retrospectively on 136 parotidectomy materials from operations between May 2009-May 2013. Age, gender, tumor diameter, histopathological diagnosis and surgical margin status were recorded. Results: The benign cases were 112 (82.4%), while the malignancies were 24 (17.6%). The accuracy rate of FNAC was 91%. There were 46 (33.8%) male and 90 (66.2%) female patients. Female/male ratio (M/F=0.5) was two, the Warthin (WT) tumor being more apparent in males (p<0.05). Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) was detected most frequently among benign pathologies at 61.6% (69/112), while the Warthin Tumor (WT) was detected as the second most frequent tumor at 20.5% (23/112). Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (Ca ex PA) were detected at equal frequency at 20.8% (5/24) among malign tumors. These were followed by acinic cell carcinoma at 16.7% (4/24). While the surgical margin was positive in ten patients with malignant tumors (41.7%), all of the benign tumors were negative (p<0.01). No significant difference was detected in the age-gender of patients, tumor size and distribution of sites among benign and malignant groups (p>0.05). Conclusions: Pleomorphic adenoma is the most frequently reported benign tumor almost in all global literature. Yet, the distribution of malignant tumors displays geographical differences. Based on these data, we believe that our findings will provide a significant contribution to future epidemiological studies. We think that it will be beneficial to generate awareness on parotid tumors and ensure a fight against smoking as with all head-neck cancers.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.241-245
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate nuclear remodeling and developmental rate following nuclear transfer of fetal fibroblast cells, ear skin cells and oviduct epithelial cells into porcine recipient oocytes. To test par-thenogenetic activation, oocytes were treated with a 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP), a single DC-pulse (DC), calcium ionomycin (ionomycin), DC+6-DMAP and ionomycin + 6-DMAP after in vitro maturation. For nuclear transfer, in vitro matured oocytes were enucleated, and donor cells were transferred into oocytes. Cloned embryos were fused and stimulated with 6-DMAP for 4 h and cultured in vitro for 6 days. Among treatments for parthenogenesis, the activation rate of DC +6-DMAP treatment was significantly higher than that of single treatment roups (p<0.01), except for DC treatment group. However, the difference was not significant in activation rate compared to other complex treatment groups. Nuclear swelling of the cloned embryos was initiated at 60 min after stimulation and increased afterwards. Fusion rates were not different among different donor cells. Cleavage rates of DC treatment groups were significantly higher than those of DC+6-DMAP treatment groups (p<0.05) in case that fetal fibroblast and ear cells were used for nuclear donor. The cloned embryos from developed to blastocysts in oviduct epithelial cell nuclear transfer with DC+6-DMAP treatment was significantly higher compared to those with DC only treatment (p<0.05). However, no blastocyst was developed from nuclear transfer of fetal fibroblast and ear cells regardless of activation treatments. Based on these results, a proper activation stimulation may be necessary to increase the activation rate and the development to blastocyst in cloned porcine embryos.

• 한국균학회지
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.121-129
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• 2009

In 2007, a total of 77 isolates of Fusarium spp. were obtained from ear rot symptoms of corns collected from 5 locations in Gangwon Province, Korea. The fungal isolates were identified based on their morphological features. Out of the isolates, fifteen isolates were identified as Fusarium verticillioides which formed microconidia in long chains on monophialides. Four isolates were identified as F. subglutinans which formed microconida only on false heads. Six isolates were identified as F. graminearum which produced red pigment in PDA culture. Besides these Fusarium species, F. napiform, F. nygamai, and F. oxysporum were identified from the rest isolates. To assess for genetic diversity of the isolates, a random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD) technique was carried out using URP primers. The results from the RAPD analysis showed that the isolates from corn were divided into 6 groups. These RAPD groups of the Fusarium species corresponded to morphological characters of the Fusarium species. The phylogenetic analysis of most isolates by DNA sequencing of EF-1$\alpha$ gene corresponded to morphological characters of the Fusarium species. The results of pathogenicity tests by two inoculation methods revealed that F. verticillioides, F. graminearum and F. subglutinans are strongly pathogenic to corn stalks.

• 센서학회지
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.223-230
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• 2006

An FIR filter for digital voice signal processing has been designed and implemented using a microcontroller in implantable middle ear hearing devices (IMEHDs). The designed digital voice signal processing filter which has fast and accurate filtering operation and controllable filter characteristics has been implemented using a hardware multiplier and a direct memory access (DMA) in the low power microcontroller, MSP430F169. It has been confirmed that each of the implemented 6-orders Remez FIR filters with 1 channel and 2 channels can be applied to the voice signal processing module of IMEHDs based on the evaluation results of the filtering performance experiment.

• 대한지역사회영양학회지
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• 제11권6호
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• pp.808-813
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• 2006

Until now, South Korea does not have either fortification or enrichment program as intervention tools although the addition of micronutrients to foods is for the most part not regulated. The aim of this study was to determine which scenario would most effectively reduce the proportion of the population with low iron intake while not putting other population groups at risk of excessive intakes. In order to investigate potential dietary consequences of iron fortification we analyzed 2 day dietary record data (n=3,955) from the 2001 National Nutrition Surveys. The Proportion of the population consuming dietary iron less than the estimated average requirement (EAR) ranged from $12.4{\sim}87.5%$ depending upon gender and age group. Iron fortification at the level of 100% of Recommended Intake (RI) per 100g to breads and instant o. dried noodles was estimated to result in a 15% decrease of proportion of those with iron less than EAR, while putting 1.4 % of the population greater than the Upper Limit (UL). Iron fortification appeared to be the most effective for the $15{\sim}19$ year old age group, showing 39% reduction of iron intake insufficiency. The results suggest that carefully designed fortification or enrichment to staple foods may contribute to increase dietary iron intakes of Koreans, especially for the young population with a high prevalence of iron inadequacy. As the estimation in this study was based solely upon dietary intake data, iron intake from supplements should be considered in further studies.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.125-128
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• 2013

In April 2010, pruritic symptoms were recognized in 3 privately-owned Siamese cats raised in Gwangju, Korea. Examination of ear canals revealed dark brown, ceruminous otic exudates that contain numerous live mites at various developmental stages. Based on morphological characteristics of adult mites in which caruncles were present on legs 1 and 2 in adult females and on legs 1, 2, 3, and 4 in adult males while the tarsus of leg 3 in both sexes was equipped with 2 long setae, the mite was identified as Otodectes cynotis. Ten ear mite-free domestic shorthaired cats were experimentally infected with O. cynotis to evaluate the efficacy of 10% imidacloprid/1% moxidectin spot-on. Live mites were recovered from 1 of 10 treated cats on day 9 post-treatment (PT) while no live mites were observed from the ear canals of treated cats on days 16 and 30 PT. The efficacy of 10% imidacloprid/1% moxidectin spot-on on O. cynotis in cats was, therefore, 90% on day 9 and 100% on days 16 and 30 PT. This is the first report of otodectosis in 3 cats naturally infested with O. cynotis in Gwang-ju, Korea. Both natural and experimental infestations were successfully treated with 10% imidacloprid/1% moxidectin spot-on.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.48-61
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Magnesium is an essential nutrient for human health. However, inadequate intake is commonly reported worldwide. Along with reduced consumption of vegetables and fruits and increased consumption of refined or processed foods, inadequate magnesium intake is increasingly reported as a serious problem. This study aimed to assess magnesium intake, its dietary sources, and the adequacy of magnesium intake in Korean populations. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data was obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016-2019 and included individuals aged ≥1 yr who had participated in a nutrition survey (n=28,418). Dietary intake was assessed by 24-h recall, and dietary magnesium intake was estimated using a newly established magnesium database. Diet adequacy was evaluated by comparing dietary intake with the estimated average requirement (EAR) suggested in the Korean Dietary Reference Intakes 2020. RESULTS: The mean dietary magnesium intake of Koreans aged ≥1 yr was 300.4 mg/d, which was equivalent to 119.8% of the EAR. The prevalence of individuals whose magnesium intake met the EAR was 56.8%. Inadequate intake was observed more in females, adolescents and young adults aged 12-29 yrs, elders aged ≥65 yrs, and individuals with low income. About four-fifths of the daily magnesium came from plant-based foods, and the major food groups contributing to magnesium intake were grains (28.3%), vegetables (17.6%), and meats (8.4%). The top 5 individual foods that contributed to magnesium intake were rice, Baechu (Korean cabbage) kimchi, tofu, pork, and milk. However, the contribution of plant foods and individual contributing food items differed slightly by sex and age groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the mean dietary magnesium intake among Koreans was above the recommended intake, whereas nearly one in 2 Koreans had inadequate magnesium intake. To better understand the status of magnesium intake, further research is required, which includes the intake of dietary supplements.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.31-36
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• 2015

In this study, we evaluated the effects of static magnetic fields of earphones and headphones on pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators(ICDs). Five pacemakers and three ICDs were subjected to in-vitro test with three headphones which were an in-ear earphone, clip-on headphone, and closed-back headphone. Each implantable device was placed in close proximity(within 3 mm) to the ear-pad of each of the earphone and headphones for 3 min. As a result, no effects were observed on the pacemakers for the earphone and headphones during the test, but an effect was observed on one ICD for the clip-on and closed-back headphone during the test. When the ICD was placed in close proximity to the headphones, the ICD temporarily suspended functions of tachyarrhythmia detection and therapy. The effect was not observed in this study when the headphones were at least 2 cm from the ICD. Based on these findings, patients with ICDs should be advised to keep earphones and headphones at least 2 cm apart from their ICDs.