• Journal of Venture Innovation
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.19-40
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to analyze and evaluate the role and merits and demerits of insurance agencies, which are the main sales channels of the domestic insurance market, from a neutral standpoint, and to present a roadmap by finding ways and tasks for the sustainable development of the insurance agency industry. Recently, criticisms and regulations on independent distribution channels have been strengthened due to deterioration in growth potential and profitability, and increase in civil complaints of insurance companies. In the 2000s, as the center of insurance sales channels shifted to GA and bancassurance, the supervisory authorities regarded the irrationality of project costs and recruitment fees as the root causes and announced a regulatory improvement plan. In view of these circumstance, the operating status, problems of domestic insurance agencies and their contribution to the insurance industry were reviewed. In addition, we tried to find a mid-to-long term development plan by analyzing the case of insurance agency operation in Japan. This study identified the operating status and contribution of insurance agencies in South Korea, and focused on the major status of the Japanese insurance agency industry, ways to improve management efficiency, and the status and role of self-regulatory organizations for insurance agencies. Based on this, it was proposed to improve the professionalism of the sales organization, introduce a company specializing in insurance sales, and to strengthen the status of the association of the insurance agency as for the development plan of the insurance agency industry in South Korea.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.53-60
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• 2023

Recently, along with the improvement of high-speed rail and road design speed, the proportion of tunnel construction work is increasing proportionally. In particular, the construction of long tunnels is rapidly increasing due to the mountainous terrain of our country. In this way, due to the trend of tunnels becoming longer, it is difficult to design and construct tunnels by avoiding fault zones. In the case of tunnel construction in mountainous areas, ground investigation is often difficult even during design due to the topographical conditions, making precise ground investigation difficult, and as a result, the upper part of the tunnel is damaged during tunnel construction. When fault zones, which are vulnerable to weathering, exist, the stability of the tunnel during excavation is directly affected by the fault zone distribution, strength characteristics, and groundwater distribution range. In particular, when a fault zone is distributed in the upper part of a tunnel, damage such as tunnel collapse and excessive displacement may occur, and in order to prevent this in advance, countermeasures must be established through analysis of similar cases. Therefore, in this study, when a large-scale fault zone exists in the upper part of a tunnel, the relationship and characteristics of damage to the tunnel structure were analyzed.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.729-736
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• 2023

Traditionally, Germany, a conservative welfare state, has pursued a male breadwinner model based on gender division of labor. For a long time, Germany tried to address low fertility through economic support centered on cash benefits, but it was not successful. In 2007, the German government began to shift the paradigm of family policy for work-life balance under the slogan of "A mix of time policy, income transfer, and infrastructure." When the issue of low birth rates emerged as a national concern in Germany, there was a growing social sentiment that not only the government but also private companies should contribute to increasing fertility by providing family-friendly personnel policies and working conditions. Private companies have been voluntarily improving family-friendly working conditions beyond legal obligations, aiming to secure personnel and prevent turnover. Germany's fertility rate is currently rising toward the European average level in 2023, which can be attributed to the government's work-life balance policies and the participation of private companies. In terms of improving work-life balance policies in Korea, it has been proposed to change the perception of the need for fathers to participate in child care, to make parental leave compulsory for men, to guarantee employment for women after childbirth, to expand child care facilities, and to revitalize family-friendly policies in companies.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.185-196
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• 2024

Objectives: Excess mortality associated with long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) has been documented. However, research on the disease burden following short-term exposure is scarce. We investigated the cause-specific mortality burden of short-term exposure to PM_2.5 by considering the potential non-linear concentration-response relationship in Korea. Methods: Daily cause-specific mortality rates and PM_2.5 exposure levels from 2010 to 2019 were collected for 8 Korean cities and 9 provinces. A generalized additive mixed model was employed to estimate the non-linear relationship between PM_2.5 exposure and cause-specific mortality levels. We assumed no detrimental health effects of PM_2.5 concentrations below 15 ㎍/m³. Overall deaths attributable to short-term PM_2.5 exposure were estimated by summing the daily numbers of excess deaths associated with ambient PM_2.5 exposure. Results: Of the 2 749 704 recorded deaths, 2 453 686 (89.2%) were non-accidental, 591 267 (21.5%) were cardiovascular, and 141 066 (5.1%) were respiratory in nature. A non-linear relationship was observed between all-cause mortality and exposure to PM_2.5 at lag0, whereas linear associations were evident for cause-specific mortalities. Overall, 10 814 all-cause, 7855 non-accidental, 1642 cardiovascular, and 708 respiratory deaths were attributed to short-term exposure to PM_2.5. The estimated number of all-cause excess deaths due to short-term PM_2.5 exposure in 2019 was 1039 (95% confidence interval, 604 to 1472). Conclusions: Our findings indicate an association between short-term PM_2.5 exposure and various mortality rates (all-cause, non-accidental, cardiovascular, and respiratory) in Korea over the period from 2010 to 2019. Consequently, action plans should be developed to reduce deaths attributable to short-term exposure to PM_2.5.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.20.1-20.15
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• 2024

Background: Avian influenza (AI) is a contagious disease that causes illness and death in poultry and humans. High pathogenicity AI (HPAI) H5N6 outbreaks commonly occur in Quang Ninh province bordering China. In June 2021, the first HPAI H5N8 outbreak occurred at a Quang Ninh chicken farm. Objectives: This study examined the risk factors associated with HPAI H5N6 and H5N8 outbreaks in Quang Ninh. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted in Quang Ninh from Nov 2021 to Jan 2022. The cases were households with susceptible poultry with two or more clinical signs and tested positive by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The controls were households in the same village as the cases but did not show clinical symptoms of the disease. Logistic regression models were constructed to assess the risk factors associated with HPAI outbreaks at the household level. Results: There were 38 cases with H5N6 clade 2.3.4.4h viruses (n = 35) and H5N8 clade 2.3.4.4b viruses (n = 3). Compared to the 112 controls, raising poultry in uncovered or partially covered ponds (odds ratio [OR], 7.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44-39.27), poultry traders visiting the farm (OR, 8.66; 95% CI, 2.7-27.69), farms with 50-2,000 birds (OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.06-8-51), and farms with ≥ 2,000 birds (OR, 11.35; 95% CI, 3.07-41.94) were significantly associated with HPAI outbreaks. Conclusions: Combining biosecurity measures, such as restricting visitor entry and vaccination in farms with more than 50 birds, can enhance the control and prevention of HPAI in Quang Ninh and its spread across borders.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.370-379
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• 2007

Short-term variations of phytoplankton community structure in the southeast coastal waters of Korea from July to September in 2006 were investigated with data set of phytoplankton, chemical and physical water properties, and meterological data. A total of 11 sampling sites of 4 different depths (surface, 5 m, 10 m, and bottom) were visited on July 11-14, July 24-26, August 7-10, August 21-24 and September 5-8. We identified 151 species in 63 genera of phytoplankton in which diatoms were the most diverse group composed of 92 species in 37 genera. Dinoflagellates were the second diverse group of 52 species in 22 genera. The other groups include 7 species in 4 genera including Raphidophytes, and Euglenophyta. After rainy season, excessive nutrients from adjacent streams to the stratified water column proliferates Chaetoceros group in July. But biomass of phytoplankton and nutrient concentrations were decreased during the period of a drought in August. However, Chaetoceros was the most dominant genera in all depths of the first, second, third and fifth cruises, except the 4th cruise on August 21-24 when dominant group were dinoflagellates including Gymnodinium spp. and Cochlodinium polykrikoides. The characteristic of phytoplankton community and environment condition during summer 2006 can be summarized as: 1) low concentration of nutrients caused by a long lasting drought in August 2) no summer outbreak of C. polykrikoides because the strength of offshore waters was weak than other years, and 3) Chaetoceros spp. was the dominant species despite short period appearance of dinoflagellates.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.25 no.3 s.50
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• pp.235-245
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• 1995

The purpose of this paper is to review two recently reported, long-term studies of several chemical methods to control gingivitis and decalcification in adolescent orthodontic patients. The first study(gingivitis study) was designed to determine whether conventional toothbrushing and twice daily use of a brush-on 0.4 per cent $SnF_2$ gel containing more than 90 per cent available $Sn^{2+}$ would be more effective for controlling plaque accumulation and gingivitis in the presence of orthodontic appliances than conventional toothbrushing alone. The second study(decalcification study) was designed to compare the effectiveness of controlling decalcification in orthodontic patients with either a II00 ppm F tooth paste used alone, this same toothpaste and a 0.05 percent NaF rinse or this toothpaste and a 0.4 percent $SnF_2$ gel. In the gingivitis study, sixty-five consecutively treated adolescents who were to receive full-mouth fixed orthodontic appliances were assigned to two groups according to age and sex criteria. In the decalcification study an additional 30 subjects(95 total) were similarly assigned to a third group. The first group(control, n=35) used only toothbrushing with a standard fluoride(1100 ppm F) toothpaste. The second group used toothbrushing with a similar dentifrice supplemented with a 0.4 percent $SnF_2$ gel($SnF_2$ gel group, n=30) used twice daily for the entire 18-month study period. The third group(in the decalcification study only) used a similar toothpaste and 0.05 percent NaF rinse(NgF rinse group, n=30). Clinical assessments of plaque accumulation using the Plaque Index, gingival inflammation using the Gingival Index, and coronal staining were completed single-blinded before appliances were placed and 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months after appliances were placed. Decalcification was assessed single blind on all labial surfaces of all erupted teeth before appliances were placed and 3 months after appliances were removed. The results of the gingivitis study indicated that the $SnF_2$ gel gorup had significantly lower scores for the Plaque Index(p<0.01) and Gingival Index(p<0.001) at all examinations during orthodontic treatment than did the control group. In the $SnF_2$ gel group, one subject developed mild coronal staining and two subjects developed moderate staining. In the decalcification study, when pre-treatment levels of decalcification were subtracted from post-treatment values, significantly lower decalcification scores(p<0.05) were found for both whole mouth and first molars in the NaF rinse and gel groups as compared with the control gorup(toothpaste alone). Although the gel group consistently had less decalcification than the rinse group, this difference only approached statistical significance.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.16-38
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• 1994

The spatial structure of Korea has been changed drastically during the second half of this century. The events such as the Korean War and the resultant division of the Korean Peninsular into two Koreas, rapid industrialization and urbanization are the major causes among others for the spatial changes of the nation. The changes in turn have spawned a number of spatial problems. It is time, we argue, to diagnose how much the nation is now ill-structured, and to discuss of which directions the long-term spatial management be reoriented. A delphi survey was conducted during the early 1993 to fulfill such research needs. Questionnaires were distributed among geographers, planners, and high governmental officials throughout the nation. These 'experts of spatial problems' were requested to evaluate the past spatial policies and strategies, and to identify spatial and environmental problems at the national, regional and local levels. The survey included questions with regard to the spatial problems in North Korea too. A complementary literature survey in the fields of spatial sciences was accomplished as well in order to identify the major research interests and issues with regard to the nations's spatial structure. The delphi survey results indicatee that the present spatial structure: in relation to consumption, housing and economic activities is satisfactory in overall, while rather poor in terms of education, leisure and community activities. Most of the experts consider infrastructural improvements are urgent in the areas of roads, waste disposal facilitles, railroads, harbors, water supply and drainage systems. The over-concentration of economic, social and political function in the Seoul Metropolitan Region is perceived to be the most serious spatial problem in Korea. The long-term solutions suggested are strategies toward a more balanced regional development as well as toward a cleaner environment. The concensus among the experts for the short-term solution is the redistribution of population and industries from the Seoul Metropolitan Region to the intermediate and small cities. The land use policies and concurrent large-scale infrastructural projects are evaluated largely pertinent and desirable in general. It is, however, suggested that development projects be conducted in a more harmonious way with environment. The survey respondents suggest that the present environmental management policies should be reexamined critically. With regard to regional and local problems, transportation and pollutions are thought to be most serious in the Seoul Metropolitan Region, while employment opportunities, and information, education and health care services are most deprived in small cities and rural areas. The majority of the experts consider a city size of 250, 000-500, 000 population is desirable to live within. Respondents beileve that North Korea's physical environment is still not aggravated much whereas its infrastructural provisions are largely pool. The co-authors of this research figure a "environmentaly sound and spatially balanced Korean Penninsular" as the ideal type of spatial structure in Korea. The basic guidelines toward this ideal prototype are suggested: the recovery of spetial integrity, progressive restructuring of the nation, land uses geared to public welfare rather than private interests, and eco-humanistic approach in spatial policies.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.285-296
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• 1995

Anatomical studies of sink tissues are required for better understanding the biological plant growth system and energy metabolism. Kinematics of root growth zones of two genotypes of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) receiving 50 or 200 ppm N were determined. Longitudinal anatomy and cell dynamics of root growth zones were studied and calculated. The root growth zone is organized similarly to the leaf growth zone which has cell division, elongation, and maturation zones, but the root growth zone is only about 3.0 mm long compared to 25 to 30 mm for the leaf growth zone. The root cap extends about 0.4 to 0.5 mm from the apical initial, while the cell elongation zone for both cortical and metaxylem cells extends about 3.3 mm from the apical initial for both genotypes and N levels. Root cap cells elongate from an initial length of about 5$\mu{m}$ long to a final length of about 40$\mu{m}$ before being sloughed. Initial lengths of cortical and metaxylem cells were about 8.5 $\mu{m}$ and 13.0 $\mu{m}$, respectively. Elongation of cortex and metaxylem cell showed sigmoidal curves with final lengths of about 120 $\mu{m}$ for cortex cells and 650 $\mu{m}$ for metaxylem cells. Initial size and final size for both types were not affected by N level, but cell fluxes and cell elongation rates of cortical and metaxylem cells were about double in low N. Cell production rates were about 5 to 6 times higher in cortical cells than in metaxylem cells. Differences in N caused a larger change in cell production rate, duration of cell elongation, and relative cell elongation rate than did the genotypes. These data indicate that N application affects root growth longitudinally by changing cell production rate and elongation rate.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.195-207
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• 2006

Stem cells are the primordial, initial cells which usually divide asymmetrically giving rise to on the one hand self-renewals and on the other hand progenitor cells with potential for differentiation. Zygote (fertilized egg), with totipotency, deserves the top-ranking stem cell - he totipotent stem cell (TSC). Both the ICM (inner cell mass) taken from the 6 days-old human blastocyst and ESC (embryonic stem cell) derived from the in vitro cultured ICM have slightly less potency for differentiation than the zygote, and are termed pluripotent stem cells. Stem cells in the tissues and organs of fetus, infant, and adult have highly reduced potency and committed to produce only progenitor cells for particular tissues. These tissue-specific stem cells are called multipotent stem cells. These tissue-specific/committed multipotent stem cells, when placed in altered environment other than their original niche, can yield cells characteristic of the altered environment. These findings are certainly of potential interest from the clinical, therapeutic perspective. The controversial terminology 'somatic stem cell plasticity' coined by the stem cell community seems to have been proved true. Followings are some of the recent knowledges related to the stem cell. Just as the tissues of our body have their own multipotent stem cells, cancerous tumor has undifferentiated cells known as cancer stem cell (CSC). Each time CSC cleaves, it makes two daughter cells with different fate. One is endowed with immortality, the remarkable ability to divide indefinitely, while the other progeny cell divides occasionally but lives forever. In the cancer tumor, CSC is minority being as few as 3-5% of the tumor mass but it is the culprit behind the tumor-malignancy, metastasis, and recurrence of cancer. CSC is like a master print. As long as the original exists, copies can be made and the disease can persist. If the CSC is destroyed, cancer tumor can't grow. In the decades-long cancer therapy, efforts were focused on the reducing of the bulk of cancerous growth. How cancer therapy is changing to destroy the origin of tumor, the CSC. The next generation of treatments should be to recognize and target the root cause of cancerous growth, the CSC, rather than the reducing of the bulk of tumor, Now the strategy is to find a way to identify and isolate the stem cells. The surfaces of normal as well as the cancer stem cells are studded with proteins. In leukaemia stem cell, for example, protein CD 34 is identified. In the new treatment of cancer disease it is needed to look for protein unique to the CSC. Blocking the stem cell's source of nutrients might be another effective strategy. The mystery of sternness of stem cells has begun to be deciphered. ESC can replicate indefinitely and yet retains the potential to turn into any kind of differentiated cells. Polycomb group protein such as Suz 12 repress most of the regulatory genes which, activated, are turned to be developmental genes. These protein molecules keep the ESC in an undifferentiated state. Many of the regulator genes silenced by polycomb proteins are also occupied by such ESC transcription factors as Oct 4, Sox 2, and Nanog. Both polycomb and transcription factor proteins seem to cooperate to keep the ESC in an undifferentiated state, pluripotent, and self-renewable. A normal prion protein (PrP) is found throughout the body from blood to the brain. Prion diseases such as mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) are caused when a normal prion protein misfolds to give rise to PrP$^{SC}$ and assault brain tissue. Why has human body kept such a deadly and enigmatic protein? Although our body has preserved the prion protein, prion diseases are of rare occurrence. Deadly prion diseases have been intensively studied, but normal prion problems are not. Very few facts on the benefit of prion proteins have been known so far. It was found that PrP was hugely expressed on the stem cell surface of bone marrow and on the cells of neural progenitor, PrP seems to have some function in cell maturation and facilitate the division of stem cells and their self-renewal. PrP also might help guide the decision of neural progenitor cell to become a neuron.