• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.983-993
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• 2021

Objective: To investigate the image quality of ultralow-dose CT (ULDCT) of the chest reconstructed using a cycle-consistent generative adversarial network (CycleGAN)-based deep learning method in the evaluation of pulmonary tuberculosis. Materials and Methods: Between June 2019 and November 2019, 103 patients (mean age, 40.8 ± 13.6 years; 61 men and 42 women) with pulmonary tuberculosis were prospectively enrolled to undergo standard-dose CT (120 kVp with automated exposure control), followed immediately by ULDCT (80 kVp and 10 mAs). The images of the two successive scans were used to train the CycleGAN framework for image-to-image translation. The denoising efficacy of the CycleGAN algorithm was compared with that of hybrid and model-based iterative reconstruction. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were performed to compare the objective measurements and the subjective image quality scores, respectively. Results: With the optimized CycleGAN denoising model, using the ULDCT images as input, the peak signal-to-noise ratio and structural similarity index improved by 2.0 dB and 0.21, respectively. The CycleGAN-generated denoised ULDCT images typically provided satisfactory image quality for optimal visibility of anatomic structures and pathological findings, with a lower level of image noise (mean ± standard deviation [SD], 19.5 ± 3.0 Hounsfield unit [HU]) than that of the hybrid (66.3 ± 10.5 HU, p < 0.001) and a similar noise level to model-based iterative reconstruction (19.6 ± 2.6 HU, p > 0.908). The CycleGAN-generated images showed the highest contrast-to-noise ratios for the pulmonary lesions, followed by the model-based and hybrid iterative reconstruction. The mean effective radiation dose of ULDCT was 0.12 mSv with a mean 93.9% reduction compared to standard-dose CT. Conclusion: The optimized CycleGAN technique may allow the synthesis of diagnostically acceptable images from ULDCT of the chest for the evaluation of pulmonary tuberculosis.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.691-702
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• 2006

The purposes of the study are to portray Korean beginning secondary science teachers' ways of arranging science content, sense-making strategy, and factors contributing to the tensions between teachers' intentions and actual practice. Six beginning secondary science teachers participated in this study. Science classes taught by the participating teachers were observed and videotaped. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for science teachers participated in this study after science classes were observed. Instructional materials were also collected for each science class. Video- and audio-taped data were transcribed and analyzed using conceptual framework developed by the Michigan State University. The findings of this study produce the following conclusions: (1) beginning teachers' science classes are arranged in ways compatible to traditional school science, (2) frequently used sense-making strategies are procedural display and narrative reasoning, (3) tensions between beginning teachers' intentions and practice arise from two factors such as assessment and differences in educational views with peer teachers, and (4) learning experiences, lack of perceptions and preparations on reform science teaching, and the absence of systematic program for professional development programs for beginning science teachers are major obstacles to reform science teaching for beginning teachers.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.423-436
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• 2009

This study aims to develop an analytic framework that can be used to classify scientific models in science textbooks according to modes and attributes of representation and to investigate types of scientific models presented in the biology section of science textbooks for the $7^{th}$ to $10^{th}$ grades. The results showed that modes of representation of scientific models are related to the nature of sub-areas of biology sections. Generally, the iconic model and symbolic model were in dominant use, including drawings of organs and explanations of working of systems. However, the chapters on 'The Organization of Life' and 'The Continuity of Life' showed a relatively high frequency in use of the actual model. The theoretical model was presented in a part of 'The Continuity of Life', due to its highly abstract characteristics. Moreover, the gestural model and analogical model showed very low frequency. From the perspective of attributes of representation, frequency of the static model was very high, while one of the dynamic models was very low. Therefore, efforts to recognize the properties of scientific concepts more clearly and to develop diverse types of models that can represent the concepts adequately are required. Analysis of these types of scientific models can offer recognition of the usefulness and limitations of models in representing the concepts or phenomena, and can help us to design adequate models depicting particular properties of given concepts. Also, this type of analysis may motivate researchers to strive to reveal correct methods for and limits of using the scientific models that are presented in existing science textbooks, as well as to provide useful information to organize the science textbooks according to the revised $7^{th}$ national science curriculum.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.379-393
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• 2007

The purpose of this article is to analyze the conceptual change of nine 11th graders after implementing the model-based instruction of blood circulation by multidimensional framework, and to find some implications about teaching strategies for improving conceptual understanding. The model-based instruction consisted of 4 periods: (1) introduction for inducing students' interests using an episode in the science history of blood circulation, (2) vivisectional experiment on rats, (3) visual-linguistic model instruction using the videotape of heartbeat, and (4) modeling activity on the path of blood flow. Based on the data from pre-test, post-test and interviews, we classified students' models on the path of blood flow, and investigated their ontological features and the conceptual status of blood circulation. Most students could describe the path of blood flow and the changes of substances in blood precisely after the instructions. However, the modeling activity were not sufficient to improve students' understanding of the mechanisms of the blood distribution throughout various organs and the material exchanges between blood and tissues. From the interview of 9 students, we acquired informative results about conceptual status elements that were helpful to, preventing from, or not used for students' understanding. It was also found that conceptual status of students depended on the ontological categories into which students' conceptions of blood circulation fell. The results of this study can help design the effective teaching strategy for the understanding of concept of the equilibrium category.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.547-558
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to compare inquiry activities in science textbooks' physics contents for Korean secondary schools with those of Singapore in order to provide a reference for further improvement of inquiry activities in Korean science textbooks. We analyzed inquiry activities using the framework of Millar et al.(1998) and Chinn & Malhotra (2002). The results of this study are as follows: There are differences between Korean and Singaporean inquiry activities in the area of 'learning objectives', 'students' thinking activities' and 'degree of openness'. In the area of 'learning objectives', the Korean textbooks have more activities associated with the learning of science content than those in Singaporean, whereas the Singaporean textbooks have more activities associated with the processes of scientific inquiry than in Korean textbooks. In the area of 'students' thinking activities', the Singaporean textbooks have activities like 'test a prediction', which Korean textbooks lack. The 'degree of openness' is higher in Singaporean textbooks than in Korean textbooks. And some differences in the area of 'authentic scientific inquiry' between Korean and Singaporean textbooks were also found. While the Korean textbooks do not have any activities associated with 'generating research questions', the Singaporean ones feature such activities. In the area of 'designing studies', the Singaporean textbooks have activities corresponding to 'selecting variables' and 'controlling variables', while the Korean ones never have such activities. The results of this study imply that it is necessary to balance inquiry activities in the area of 'learning objectives', 'students' thinking activities' and 'degree of openness', and to present activities close to authentic scientific inquiry in inquiry activities in textbooks.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.70-83
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• 2007

Reflection in teacher education is one reform effort that has taken hold in many teacher preparation programs. However, how to define it and how to foster it in a teacher's education are problematic issues. In this study, on the basis of literature review, science teachers' reflective thinking is defined as a process of thinking that deliberates on alternatives to solve conflict between one's previous knowledge/belief/practice and internal/external factors in science teaching context. Based on this definition, three types of science teachers' reflective thinking (i.e. technical reflection, professional reflection and critical reflection) were proposed. In addition, a framework of classifying the reflective thinking's types was also developed. To investigate science teachers' reflective thinking, two pre-service science teachers who majored in physics education participated in this study. The participants presented the monthly report on reflective practice, pre/post questionnaire, and education practicum journals. Individual interviews with them were conducted before and after their teaching activities. From the analysis of the data, it was possible to categorize the reflective thinking of the participants into three types. The major type of their reflective thinking was the technical reflection. However, it was difficult to find examples of the critical reflection.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.132-145
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• 2024

Objectives: This study compares cases of Dalgubeol Health Care Project, 301 Network Project, and 3 for 1 Project based on program logic models to derive measures for promoting integrated healthcare and welfare services centered around medical institutions. Methods: From January to December 2021, information on the implementation systems and performance of each institution was collected. Data sources included prior academic research, project reports, operational guidelines, official press releases, media articles, and written surveys from project managers. A program logic model analysis framework was applied, structuring the information based on four elements: situation, input, activity, and output. Results: All three projects aimed to address the fragmentation of health and welfare services and medical blind spots. Despite similar multidisciplinary team compositions, differences existed in specific fields, recruitment scale, and employment types. Variations in funding sources led to differences in community collaboration, support methods, and future directions. There were discrepancies in the number of beneficiaries and medical treatments, with different results observed when comparing the actual number of people to input manpower and project cost per beneficiary. Conclusions: To design an integrated health and welfare service provision system centered on medical institutions, securing a stable funding mechanism and establishing an appropriate target population and service delivery system are crucial. Additionally, installing a dedicated department within the medical institution to link activities across various sectors, rather than outsourcing, is necessary. Ensuring appropriate recruitment and stable employment systems is needed. A comprehensive provision system offering services from mild to severe cases through public-private cooperation is suggested.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.53-63
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• 2024

Biodiversity holds significant importance within the framework of environmental impact assessment, being utilized in site selection for development, understanding the surrounding environment, and assessing the impact on species due to disturbances. The field of environmental impact assessment has seen substantial research exploring new technologies and models to evaluate and predict biodiversity more accurately. While current assessments rely on data from fieldwork and literature surveys to gauge species richness indices, limitations in spatial and temporal coverage underscore the need for high-resolution biodiversity assessments through species richness mapping. In this study, leveraging data from the 4th National Ecosystem Survey and environmental variables, we developed a species distribution model using Random Forest. This model yielded mapping results of 24 mammalian species' distribution, utilizing the species richness index to generate a 100-meter resolution map of species richness. The research findings exhibited a notably high predictive accuracy, with the species distribution model demonstrating an average AUC value of 0.82. In addition, the comparison with National Ecosystem Survey data reveals that the species richness distribution in the high-resolution species richness mapping results conforms to a normal distribution. Hence, it stands as highly reliable foundational data for environmental impact assessment. Such research and analytical outcomes could serve as pivotal new reference materials for future urban development projects, offering insights for biodiversity assessment and habitat preservation endeavors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.1-16
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• 2024

To achieve carbon neutrality and restore the national environment, there is growing interest in policies to transform national land areas into green space, such as expanding nature-based solutions, increasing biodiversity, and improving ecosystem service functions. In addition to complying with international agreements such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity, it is necessary to expand green spaces to achieve the 2050 Carbon Neutrality goal, which can be achieved by restoring the damaged land in an ecological way. However, it is challenging to implement green restoration in a systematic and active way due to conflicts of interest among landowners and lack of institutional support and advanced technology. Therefore, this study aims to develop a strategy to expand green restoration and implement it smoothly and systematically. This study examined the current status of green restoration in South Korea by investigating green restoration laws and systems and overseas trends, and by surveying the perceptions of 1,000 people selected from a pool of the public. The results of this study show that it is difficult to implement the green restoration efficiently because the laws related to restoration are scattered. According to the relevant legal plans, the perception and direction of restoration is to pursue a sustainable national land environment, allow people to benefit from nature, improve the quality of life, and nurture related industries and human resources. In the international community, it is mentioned that green restoration contributes to achieving the 2050 Carbon Neutrality goal, revitalizing green industries, developing and applying advanced technologies, maintaining consistency in restoration-related policies, expanding citizens' access to green spaces, and adopting nature-based solutions. Both experts and the public are aware of the seriousness of the damage to the natural environment and prefer restoration with human use rather than focusing on natural recovery. It is expected that this study will contribute to the future direction of green restoration and the implementation of tasks for the sustainable restoration of the national land environment and the zero-carbon era.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.271-280
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• 2024

This study examines the European Union (EU)'s policies on managing nitrate contamination in groundwater and provides implications for the future groundwater management in South Korea. Initiated by the 1991 Nitrate Directive, the EU has pursued a multifaceted approach to reduce agricultural nitrate pollution through sustainable ('good') farming practices, regular nitrate level monitoring, and designating Nitrate Vulnerable Zones. Further policy integrations, like the Water Framework Directive and Groundwater Directive, have established comprehensive protection strategies, including the use of pollutant threshold values. Recently, the 2019 Green Deal escalated efforts against nitrates, aligning with broader environmental and climate objectives. This review aims to explore these developments, highlighting key mitigation strategies against nitrate pollution, and providing valuable insights for the future sustainable groundwater nitrate management in South Korea, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures and collaborative efforts to restore and improve groundwater quality.