• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.756-763
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• 2021

Agarose is a linear polysaccharide composed of ᴅ-galactose and 3,6-anhydro-ʟ-galactose (AHG). It is a major component of the red algal cell wall and is gaining attention as an abundant marine biomass. However, the inability to ferment AHG is considered an obstacle in the large-scale use of agarose and could be addressed by understanding AHG catabolism in agarolytic microorganisms. Since AHG catabolism was uniquely confirmed in Vibrio sp. EJY3, a gram-negative marine bacterial species, we investigated AHG metabolism in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), an agarolytic gram-positive soil bacterium. Based on genomic data, the SCO3486 protein (492 amino acids) and the SCO3480 protein (361 amino acids) of S. coelicolor A3(2) showed identity with H2IFE7.1 (40% identity) encoding AHG dehydrogenase and H2IFX0.1 (42% identity) encoding 3,6-anhydro-ʟ-galactonate cycloisomerase, respectively, which are involved in the initial catabolism of AHG in Vibrio sp. EJY3. Thin layer chromatography and mass spectrometry of the bioconversion products catalyzed by recombinant SCO3486 and SCO3480 proteins, revealed that SCO3486 is an AHG dehydrogenase that oxidizes AHG to 3,6-anhydro-ʟ-galactonate, and SCO3480 is a 3,6-anhydro-ʟ-galactonate cycloisomerase that converts 3,6-anhydro-ʟ-galactonate to 2-keto-3-deoxygalactonate. SCO3486 showed maximum activity at pH 6.0 at 50℃, increased activity in the presence of iron ions, and activity against various aldehyde substrates, which is quite distinct from AHG-specific H2IFE7.1 in Vibrio sp. EJY3. Therefore, the catabolic pathway of AHG seems to be similar in most agar-degrading microorganisms, but the enzymes involved appear to be very diverse.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.118-125
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• 2021

Objectives: Childhood adversity is a risk factor for anxiety symptoms, but it affects anxiety symptoms in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The current study aimed to examine the association between childhood adversity and anxiety symptoms in participants with and without ADHD. Methods: Data were obtained from a school-based epidemiological study of 1017 randomly selected children and adolescents. The ADHD and non-ADHD groups were divided using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Predictive Scale (DPS). The DPS was also used to assess comorbidities such as anxiety and mood disorders. The childhood adversities were assessed using the Early Trauma Inventory Self Report-Short Form, and the anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders. Linear and logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between childhood adversity and anxiety in the ADHD and non-ADHD groups with adjustments for age and sex. Results: This study found that the ADHD group did not show any significant association between anxiety symptoms and childhood adversities, whereas the non-ADHD group always showed a significant association. In a subgroup analysis of the non-ADHD group, the normal group without any psychiatric disorders assessed with DPS demonstrated a statistically significant association between childhood adversities and anxiety symptoms. These results were consistent with the association between childhood adversities and anxiety disorders assessed using DPS, as shown by logistic regression. Conclusion: The association between anxiety symptoms and childhood adversities statistically disappears in ADHD; ADHD may mask or block the association. Further longitudinal research is necessary to investigate this relationship.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.389-397
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• 2021

Moryang Fault is geomorphologically observed as a linear fault valley from Angang through Moryang, Duckhyun and Wondong to Gimhae, and contacts with Yangsan Fault, being obliquely away to the east, at Angang disrict. The fault valley appears a V-shape feature with a width from 100 to 300 m, and has fragmental zones of the fault along the valley on a small scale. Nine fault-outcrop localities were found along the nine-kilometers valley between Daehyun-ri, Gyeongju, and Baenaemi-gogae, Yangdong-ri, Ulsan. The fault strikes the North-North-East to the Northeast and dips to the Northwest with high angles, and reveals it had been undergone predominantly sinistral reverse fault movement sense, left-lateral and right-lateral strike-slip sense in bedrocks. However, after unconsolidated sediments, there was the top-up-to-the-east dextral reverse fault movement.

• Atmosphere
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.553-562
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• 2021

The long-term trend of surface wind speed in Korea is estimated by correcting wind measurements at 29 KMA weather stations from 1985 to 2019 with physical and statistical homogenization. The anemometer height changes at each station are first adjusted by applying physical homogenization using the power-law wind profile. The statistical homogenization is then applied to the adjusted data. A standard normal homogeneity test (SNHT) is particularly utilized. Approximately 40% of inhomogeneities detected by the SNHT match with the sea-level-height change of each station, indicating that an SNHT is an effective technique for reconciling data inhomogeneity. The long-term trends are compared with homogenized data. Statistically significant negative trends are observed along the coast, while insignificant trends are dominant inland. The mean trend, averaged over all stations, is -0.03 ± 0.07 m s^-1 decade^-1. This insignificant trend is due to a trend change across 2001. A decreasing trend of -0.10 m s^-1 decade^-1 reverses to an increasing trend of 0.03 m s^-1 decade^-1 from 2001. This trend change is consistent with mid-latitude wind change in the Northern hemisphere, indicating that the long-term trend of surface wind speed in Korea is partly determined by large-scale atmospheric circulation.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.310-318
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• 2021

Background: Transcutaneous lower eyelid approaches are associated with a risk of postoperative scarring depending on the distance between the incision line and the lower eyelid margin. The lower eyelid crease of Caucasians corresponds to a ridge-shaped fold in young Asians. However, this relationship has not been sufficiently evaluated in the latter. The authors, therefore, investigated the location of the scar and the lower eyelid crease or ridge to find the optimal location for the incision line. Methods: This study included 60 out of 139 patients who underwent inferior orbital wall reconstruction through a lower eyelid skin incision between July 2019 and June 2020. According to the location of the scar, the patients were classified into three groups: group A (≥ 2 mm above the lower eyelid crease or ridge), group B (within the lower eyelid crease or ridge to 2 mm above the lower eyelid crease or ridge), and group C (within the lower eyelid crease or ridge to 2 mm below the lower eyelid crease or ridge). At 6 or 12 months after surgery, the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) score was obtained, the distance between the lower eyelid margin and the scar (DMS) and the distance between the margins of the peripheral pupil and the lower eyelid (DMPE) were measured, and the occurrence of ectropion was evaluated. Results: Group B had the lowest POSAS score (A: 22.7 ± 8.0, B: 20.9 ± 2.4, C: 32.5 ± 4.1, p< 0.001). Linear regression analysis showed that the DMS was positively correlated with the POSAS score (p< 0.001) and that the risk of DMPE widening increased as the DMS decreased (p= 0.029). None of the patients had ectropion. Conclusion: When using the transcutaneous approach for inferior orbital wall reconstruction, the optimal incision site is within the lower eyelid crease or ridge to 2 mm above the lower eyelid crease or ridge.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2022

An improvement of computational resources with a large scale cluster service is available to the individual person, which has been limited to the original industry and research institute. Therefore, the application of powerful computational resources to the engineering design has been increased fast. In naval and marine industry, the application of Computational Fluid Dynamics, which requires a huge computational effort, to a design of ship and offshore structure has been increased. Floating bodies such as the ship or offshore structure is exposed to ocean waves, current and wind in the ocean, therefore the precise modelling of those environmental disturbances is important in Computational Fluid Dynamics. Especially, ocean waves has to be nonlinear rather than the linear model based on the superposition due to a nonlinear characteristics of Computational Fluid Dynamics. In the present study, a fast reconstruction technique is suggested and it is validated from a series of simulations by using the Computational Fluid Dynamics.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.301-310
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• 2021

Background: Trust is a key component for the good relationship between patients and healthcare professionals but trust for community pharmacists has not been studied much. Objectives: This study aimed to measure public trust in community pharmacists and to investigate variables that affect trust level in South Korea. Methods: A total of 25 questions, including 13-items for three dimensions of trust (pharmacists' behavior/attitude, technical competence, communication skills) and 1-item for overall trust were developed. The survey was conducted online and the data from 416 respondents were analyzed with a t-test, an ANOVA and a multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The average scores (mean ± standard deviation) for the three dimensions of trust in community pharmacists were 3.47±1.05 (out of 5 points) for pharmacists' behavior/attitude, 3.67 ± 0.99 for technical competence, and 3.66±0.99 for communication skills. The average of the 13 items incorporating all parameters was 3.56±1.02 and the overall trust level was 7.16±1.62 (out of 10 points). The total sum of the 13 items differed significantly by age group (p=0.02) and frequency of pharmacy visits (p=0.04). Each dimension had an independent impact on the trust level, and pharmacists' behavior/attitude had the greatest impact on trust levels. Conclusions: This study showed that pharmacists' behavior/attitude had the most significant impact on the trust level. However, the level of trust in pharmacists' behavior/attitude is not yet sufficiently satisfactory, and further improvements are required to increase trust in community pharmacists.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the influence of effort-reward imbalance and job satisfaction on turnover intention among hospital nurses. Methods: Data were collected from January 28 to February 10, 2022, from 237 nurses from five hospitals including clinics, general hospitals, and tertiary care hospitals located in B city. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, the Scheffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression analysis, using SPSS/WIN 26.0. Results: The average of the effort-reward ratio, an indicator of effort-reward imbalance, was 1.67±0.66, and 86.5% of the participants had a value of 1 or more. The mean job satisfaction and turnover intention were 3.32±0.48 and 3.69±0.89 on a 5-point scale, respectively. Multiple regression revealed that factors affecting turnover intention among hospital nurses included effort-reward imbalance (β=.30, p<.001) and job satisfaction (β=-.32, p<.001), and these variables explained 29.0% of turnover intention. Conclusion: These findings indicate that effort-reward imbalance and job satisfaction are associated with turnover intention. Therefore, to decrease the turnover intention of hospital nurses, interventions and policies should be prepared to resolve the nurse's effort-reward imbalance and increase job satisfaction at regional or national level hospitals.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.267-278
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• 2022

Pre-stressed concrete circular spun piles are widely used in various infrastructure projects around the world and offer an economical deep foundation system with consistent and superior quality compared to cast in-situ and other concrete piles. Conventional methods for measuring the lateral response of piles have been limited to conventional instrumentation, such as electrical based gauges and pressure transducers. The problem with existing technology is that the sensors are not able to assist in recording the lateral stiffness changes of the pile which varies along the length depending on the distribution of the flexural moments and appearance of tensile cracks. This paper describes a full-scale bending test of a 1-m diameter spun pile of 30 m long and instrumented using advanced fibre optic distributed sensor, known as Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis (BOTDA). Optical fibre sensors were embedded inside the concrete during the manufacturing stage and attached on the concrete surface in order to measure the pile's full-length flexural behaviour under the prescribed serviceability and ultimate limit state. The relationship between moments-deflections and bending moments-curvatures are examined with respect to the lateral forces. Tensile cracks were measured and compared with the peak strains observed from BOTDA data which corroborated very well. By analysing the moment-curvature response of the pile, the structure can be represented by two bending stiffness parameters, namely the pre-yield (EI) and post-yield (EI_cr), where the cracks reduce the stiffness property by 89%. The pile deflection profile can be attained from optical fibre data through closed-form solutions, which generally matched with the displacements recorded by Linear Voltage Displacement Transducers (LVDTs).

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.239-244
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• 2022

Purpose: Despite the proliferation of numerous morphometric and anthropometric methods for sex identification based on linear, angular, and regional measurements of various parts of the body, these methods are subject to error due to the observer's knowledge and expertise. This study aimed to explore the possibility of automated sex determination using convolutional neural networks(CNNs) based on lateral cephalometric radiographs. Materials and Methods: Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 1,476 Iranian subjects (794 women and 682 men) from 18 to 49 years of age were included. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were considered as a network input and output layer including 2 classes(male and female). Eighty percent of the data was used as a training set and the rest as a test set. Hyperparameter tuning of each network was done after preprocessing and data augmentation steps. The predictive performance of different architectures (DenseNet, ResNet, and VGG) was evaluated based on their accuracy in test sets. Results: The CNN based on the DenseNet121 architecture, with an overall accuracy of 90%, had the best predictive power in sex determination. The prediction accuracy of this model was almost equal for men and women. Furthermore, with all architectures, the use of transfer learning improved predictive performance. Conclusion: The results confirmed that a CNN could predict a person's sex with high accuracy. This prediction was independent of human bias because feature extraction was done automatically. However, for more accurate sex determination on a wider scale, further studies with larger sample sizes are desirable.