• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.313-322
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• 2021

Purpose: To find diagnostic image features, to compare diagnostic performance of multiphase CT versus gadoxetic acid disodium-enhanced MRI (GAD-MRI), and to evaluate the impact of analyzing Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) imaging features, for distinguishing combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (CHC) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: Ninety-six patients with pathologically proven CHC (n = 48) or HCC (n = 48), diagnosed June 2008 to May 2018 were retrospectively analyzed in random order by three radiologists with different experience levels. In the first analysis, the readers independently determined the probability of CHC based on their own knowledge and experiences. In the second analysis, they evaluated imaging features defined in LI-RADS 2018. Area under the curve (AUC) values for CHC diagnosis were compared between CT and MRI, and between the first and second analyses. Interobserver agreement was assessed using Cohen's weighted κ values. Results: Targetoid LR-M image features showed better specificities and positive predictive values (PPV) than the others. Among them, rim arterial phase hyperenhancement had the highest specificity and PPV. Average sensitivity, specificity, and AUC values were higher for MRI than for CT in both the first (P = 0.008, 0.005, 0.002, respectively) and second (P = 0.017, 0.026, 0.036) analyses. Interobserver agreements were higher for MRI in both analyses (κ = 0.307 for CT, κ = 0.332 for MRI in the first analysis; κ = 0.467 for CT, κ = 0.531 for MRI in the second analysis), with greater agreement in the second analysis for both CT (P = 0.001) and MRI (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Rim arterial phase hyperenhancement on GAD-MRI can be a good indicator suggesting CHC more than HCC. GAD-MRI may provide greater accuracy than CT for distinguishing CHC from HCC. Interobserver agreement can be improved for both CT and MRI by analyzing LI-RADS imaging features.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.27-46
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of novelty space among pre-service elementary and secondary earth science teachers. We conducted a survey to explore the perceptions of 38 pre-service elementary school teachers at the National University of Education and 31 pre-service secondary earth science teachers at the Department of Earth Science Education at B University. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants, including three pre-service elementary teachers and nine pre-service secondary science teachers. In addition to the elements of novelty space, prior knowledge (cognition), prior outdoor learning experience (psychology), familiarity (geography) with outdoor field learning, and social and technical elements were added. When classified based on elementary and secondary levels, there were statistically significant differences in cognitive, psychological, geographic, and social areas for the elements of novelty space. Statistical differences indicated that the experience or capital related to outdoor learning may have resulted from more pre-service secondary earth science teachers than pre-service elementary teachers. In additional interviews, both elementary and secondary pre-service teachers reported that competencies in the technical domain would be emphasized in the future owing to the necessity and the technical development of virtual-reality-based outdoor field learning programs. This study emphasizes the academic significance of novelty space that should be considered to conduct geological field learning for elementary and secondary earth science pre-service teachers while considering the current post-pandemic educational context.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.834-840
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• 2022

Objective : C-reactive protein (CRP) level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and white blood cell (WBC) count are inflammatory markers used to evaluate postoperative infections. Although these markers are non-specific, understanding their normal kinetics after surgery may be helpful in the early detection of postoperative infections. To compliment the recent trend of reducing the duration of antibiotic use, this retrospective study investigated the inflammatory markers of patients who had received antibiotics within 24 hours after surgery according to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service guidelines and compared them with those of patients who had received antibiotics for 5 days, which was proven to be non-infectious. Methods : We enrolled 74 patients, divided into two groups. Patients underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) at a single institution between 2019 and 2020. Group A included 37 patients who received antibiotics within 24 hours after the PLIF procedure, and group B comprised 37 patients who had used antibiotics for 5 days. A 1 : 1 nearest-neighbor propensity-matched analysis was used. The clinical variables included age, sex, medical history, body mass index, estimated blood loss, and operation time. Laboratory data included CRP, ESR, and WBC, which were measured preoperatively and on postoperative days (POD) 1, 3, 5, and 7. Results : CRP dynamics tended to decrease after peaking on POD 3, with a similar trend in both groups. The average CRP level in group B was slightly higher than that in group A; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed operation time, number of fused levels, and estimated blood loss as significant predictors of a greater CRP peak value (r²=0.473, p<0.001) in patients. No trend (a tendency to decrease from the peak value) could be determined for ESR and WBC count on POD 7. Conclusion : Although slight differences were observed in numerical values and kinetics, sequential changes in inflammatory markers according to the duration of antibiotic administration showed similar patterns. Knowledge of CRP kinetics allows the assessment of the degree of difference between the clinical and expected values.

• Korean Association of Arts Management
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• no.58
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• pp.49-88
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• 2021

Contemporary literary writers engage in multiple jobs and activities in the changing industrial and institutional environments to manage careers and produce literary value. The notion of art entrepreneurship envisages writers as the actors pursuing optimal rewards at both literary and economic levels by applying creative knowledge and skills to the management of career. In contrast, the notion of creative labor argues that writers go through career insecurity as they pursue self-fulfillment through work. This paper critically reviews two notions and suggests the notion of cultural intermediaries to better understand their production of literary value within the variety of relational contexts where they are situated. This paper analyzes the structures and characteristics of a wide range of intermediary practices by literary writers. Based on the analysis, I argue that the autonomy of literary value the writers construct and their status of entrepreneur-labourer are contingent upon the relational contexts within which they practice the intermediary work. I also suggest that literary writers by utilizing a variety of tactics cope with the changes that shape the autonomy of literature and invent new roles and identities as cultural intermediaries. Furthermore, literary writers develop not only self-management skills to adapt to the changing environments but also the collective capacity to cope with the constraints derived from the structural change of literary production and circulation. Finally, I argue that the art management discipline can reflect upon and support the creative endeavors of literary writers by embracing the critical understanding of structural changes suggested by the disciplines of humanities and social sciences.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.87-91
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• 2022

Aurora kinase is a family of serine/threonine kinases intimately associated with mitotic progression and the development of human cancers. Studies have shown that aurora kinases are important for the protein kinase C (PKC)-induced invasion of colon cancer cells. Recent studies have shown that aurora kinase A promotes distant metastasis by inducing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in colon cancer cells. However, the role of aurora kinase A in colon cancer metastasis remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of aurora kinase A on PKC-induced cell invasion, migration, and EMT in human SW480 colon cancer cells. Treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) changed the expression levels of EMT markers, increasing α-SMA, vimentin, and MMP-9 expression and decreasing E-cadherin expression, with changes in cell morphology. TPA treatment induced EMT in a PKC-dependent manner. Moreover, the inhibition of aurora kinase A by siRNAs and inhibitors (reversine and VX-680) suppressed TPA-induced cell invasion, migration, and EMT in SW480 human colon cells. Inhibition of aurora kinase A blocked TPA-induced vimentin and MMP-9 expression, and decreased E-cadherin expression. Furthermore, the knockdown of aurora kinase A decreased the transcriptional activity of NF-κB and AP-1 in PKC-stimulated SW480 cells. These findings indicate that aurora kinase A induces migration and invasion by inducing EMT in SW480 colon cancer cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that showed aurora kinase A is a key molecule in PKC-induced metastasis in colon cancer cells.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.267-282
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• 2022

This study aims to analyze the continuity and sequence between the intelligent life curriculum for grades 1-2 and the science curriculum for grades 3-4 with a focus on knowledge and inquiry process skills. The results demonstrate that contents related to science in the intelligent life curriculum consisted of only 10 out of 32 elements. Five elements were related to the science curriculum for grades 3-4 and limited to the 'life sciences' area. Particularly, the intelligent life curriculum did not address topics related to 'matter' and 'motion and energy'. Developmental connection was established in the 'life sciences' area and dramatic changes were noted for the topics related to 'earth and space' area. In terms of inquiry process skills, the levels of observation, measurement, inference, and communication naturally increased, whereas a developmental connection was noted between the intelligent life and science curricula. Classification can be viewed as a developmental link; however, viewing the classification as scientific from the epistemic perspectives was insufficient. In the case of expectation, a gap was observed in both curricula due to the absence of expectation activities in the intelligent life curricula. The study discussed the implications for securing the connection between the intelligent life and science curricula on the basis of these results.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.593-615
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• 2022

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the observation ability and scientific creativity of elementary students through observation learning of outdoor plants and to identify the factors that influence the two constructs. The study recruited 21 fifth-graders in Seoul. After evaluating observation ability and scientific creativity through observation tasks, qualitative data were obtained through interviews with students about their observation of the plants. Additionally, the study collected various materials, such as the observation records and worksheets of the students to verify the validity of research. The main results of this study are as follows. First, the students were first classified into four groups according to levels of observation ability and scientific creativity. The result demonstrated that the higher the level of observation ability, the higher the level of scientific creativity. Second, observation ability and scientific creativity pointed to a positive correlation. Furthermore, originality, which is one of the components of scientific creativity, indicated a weak positive correlation with observation ability. Third, the factors that influenced observation ability were frequency of plant observation and interest and cooperation in observation learning, and those of scientific creativity were observation ability and the level of plant-related knowledge. Lastly, the study discussed educational methods for improving observation ability and scientific creativity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.136-153
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• 2022

Objectives: The aim of this study was to find out whether east asian herbal medicine (EAHM) treatment alone is effective in improving pregnancy-related indicators compared to conventional medicine in women with Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR). Methods: We searched eligible studies from PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, CiNii, Korean Medical Database, Korean Studies Information Service System, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, ScienceOn. GRADE pro was used to evaluate the current evidence of the study. Result: A total of 5 studies, 325 women with DOR were included. EAHM showed a significant effect on improvement of pregnancy rate (n=270, RR 2.13 [95% CI 1.44 to 3.15], Z=3.78, p=0.0002, I2=0%) and Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) level (n=211, SMD 0.82 [95% CI 0.40 to 1.25], Z=3.80, p=0.0001) compared to conventional medicine. In ovulation rate (n=156, RR 0.86 [95% CI 0.70 to 1.06], Z=1.43, p=0.15, I2=0%), Antral Follicle Count (n=245, SMD 0.27 [95% CI -0.25 to 0.79], Z=1.01, p=0.31), and follicle stimulating hormone (n=245, SMD 0.29 [95% CI -0.13 to 0.70], Z=1.36, p=0.17) level, EAHM showed similar effects to conventional medicine. In this study, the most frequently used herbal medicines were Cuscutae Semen, Dipsaci Radix, and Angelicae Gigantis Radix. Conclusion: This meta-analysis showed that EAHM could improve pregnancy rates and AMH levels in women with DOR. However, more well-designed RCTs will have to be performed further in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Earth Science Education
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to investigate earth science pre-service teachers' perceptions and educational utilization of geoparks. It is intended to provide implications of geopark education in the current curriculum and effective geopark education. Education using geoparks has the effect of helping students cultivate inquiry and learning skills, enhancing students' participation in classes. To provide education with these results, it is necessary to deliver meanings of the geopark education to of earth science pre-service teachers who will educate future generations. However, despite the advantages and needs of geopark education, earth science pre-service teachers lack an understanding of geoparks. In this study, 56 pre-service teachers enrolled in earth science education at a university in Gyeongsangbuk-do were investigated for: their perception levels of geoparks, experience, necessity, and learning method of geopark education. As a result, earth science pre-service teachers were well aware of the geoparks, but they lacked knowledge of domestic and global geoparks, confirming the need for geopark education. Currently, the degree of geopark education in the secondary curriculum is insufficient, and earth science pre-service teachers feel the need for it. However, since the understanding of geopark is lacking, support for geopark education is needed. Earth science pre-service teachers being positive about the need for geopark education, it is expected that geopark education will be active in the field of earth science, social, and comparison education when they become teachers in the future.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.327-340
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• 2023

The value that students consider important in math learning may vary depending on the student's socio-cultural background and personal experience. Although socio-cultural backgrounds are very diverse, I considered overseas vs domestic Koreans, and secondary school levels as variables in terms of students' educational experiences. Overseas students had a lower perception of the value in mathematics than domestic students, especially about understanding mathematics knowledge and the value of the latest teaching and learning methods. Middle school students perceived the value of mathematics as an activity higher than that of high school students, and high school students perceived student agency as a higher value than middle school students. In addition, I considered meta-affect as one of the individual students' experiences, finally meta-affect was a variable that could explain value perception in math learning, and in particular, affective awareness of achievement, affective evaluation of value, and affective using were significant. From the results, I suggested that research on ways to improve the value and the meta-affect in math learning, test to measure the value of students in math learning, the expansion of research subjects to investigate the value in math learning, and a teacher who teaches overseas Koreans are needed.