• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.507-528
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• 2009

Coping and defense are similar psychological mechanisms to reduce stress response, but they are regarded as distinct from each other. Defense involved distortions of reality, but coping was used for strategies associated with accepting the true nature of the situation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the coping and defense features of the North Korean Defectors in the Rorschach test. The subjects were then categorized into four groups based on their birth place and gender: Male North Korean defectors( N=16), female North Korean defectors(N=28), male South Koreans(N=17), and female South Koreans(N=25). All subjects were individually administered the Rorschach test, and protocols were scored according to the Exner(2003)'s Rorschach Comprehensive systems. Coping or defense-related Rorschach variables were selected for analysis: EA, CDI, Adj D, EB style, Lamda, Zd, X-%, Xu%, W:Dd:D, P, reaction time, and other behavior characteristics during the testing. Compared with other groups, female North Korean defectors were more likely to show poor coping resources(low EA), adjustment difficulties(Adj D), and distortions of reality(high X-%). They also demonstrated more 'don't know' responses and more delayed responses than other groups. These findings suggest that poor coping resources make female North Korean defectors more vulnerable to stress, and psychological intervention such as social skills training may help them settle successfully in south Korea. Limitations of the current study and implications for future research were discussed.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.123-140
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• 2023

Maritime transportation is one of the oldest means of transportation utilized by mankind, and it has significantly contributed to the advancement of civilization by efficiently transporting bulk cargo at a low cost. The study aim to identify the factors influencing the selection of shipping companies in the bulk shipping market and provide insights for improving the competitiveness of shipping-related companies. To achieve this goal, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was employed. For the empirical analysis, previous research, interviews, and a pilot test were conducted to identify five top-level factors such as companies, vessels, operations, services, and transaction factors. Each top-level factor has four sub-factors. The results of the analysis, based on 80 valid questionnaires, are as follows: Firstly, in the selection of shipping companies, the priority of factors influencing the choice of shipping companies was as follows: vessel factors were the most important, followed by company, operations, relationship, and service factors. Secondly, when investigating the priority of sub-factors, the availability/appropriateness of vessels was the most crucial factor, followed by company characteristics, financial soundness, and the company's reputation in order. The implications of these findings suggest that shipowners should focus on securing more suitable vessels and enhancing their reputation in response to shippers' demand. Shippers, on the other hand, should consider maintaining a healthy financial structure as a crucial task in securing competitive shipping service providers.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.864-873
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• 2022

The subjective health status of adolescence reflects one's overall socio-emotional function and is an important factor in determining the health-related quality of life during this period. This study was to identify the correlation between subjective health status and health equity of adolescents. Data from the 16th online survey of youth health behavior (2020) was used to analyze 39,987 adolescents. Health equity was used as indicator for residential areas, economic conditions perceived by students, household abundance, family type, and parental education. Subjective health status was classified as a healthy group("very healthy", "healthy") and unhealthy group("normal", "unhealthy", and "very unhealthy") in response to the question "how do you think your health is usually?" The data were analyzed using complex sample analysis by using SPSS/Win 22.0. Significant factors related to the subjective health status of subjects were the area of residence (OR=0.86, p=.031), economic level (OR=1.33-2.09, p<.001), and family type (OR=1.24, p=.033). The economic level perceived by adolescents was the most important variable related to the subjective health status of adolescents, and adolescents from multicultural families often perceived their health as unhealthy compared to adolescents from general families. Therefore, there is a need for continuous interest in adolescents with low economic levels and adolescents from multicultural families and specific strategies to improve their health status.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.56 no.11
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• pp.815-822
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• 2023

Organic pollution is one of the most common forms of water contamination. Under the Water Quality Conservation Act, indicators for measuring organic substances include BOD, COD, and TOC. Analysis of BOD and COD is labor-intensive, and in the case of organic substances where biological decomposition is not feasible or toxic substances are present, the accuracy is often low. Therefore, the Ministry of Environment is shifting towards TOC-centric management. With advancements in sensor technology today, various parameters can be monitored using sensors. In this study, digital monitoring of river TOC using a spectrophotometer called Spectro::lyser V3 was conducted. Initially, experiments were carried out at the Andong River Experiment Center to assess the applicability of the measurement equipment. Subsequently, data collected at the confluence of the Nakdong River was analyzed for the spatial distribution of TOC using the Kriging technique. This research proposes the utilization of sensors for river TOC monitoring and spatial distribution analysis. Real-time monitoring of changes in river TOC concentration can serve as fundamental data for pollution monitoring and response. Sensor-based river monitoring offers advantages in terms of temporal resolution and real-time data acquisition. When various spatial information interpretation methods are applied, it is expected to contribute to diverse studies such as aquatic ecological health, river water source selection, and stratification analysis in the future.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.338-347
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• 2023

Objectives: Ilex paraguariensis (Aquifoleaceae) is cultivated to produce "yerba mate". Due to its nutritional, energizing, hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects, it is used in the elaboration of food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The oxidative stress related to protein glycation and production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) leads to the development of several diseases. The objective of this work was to compare the antioxidant and anti-AGEs activity of a decoction of fruits (F) and leaves (L). Methods: The antioxidant activity was assayed by the DPPH assay and the inhibition of egg yolk lipid peroxidation (ILP), and anti-AGEs activity, through the inhibition of the formation of fructosamine (IF), β-amyloid (Iβ), protein carbonylation (IC) and AGEs (IA). Polyphenols were quantified by HPLC. Results: Maximum response ± SEM: For F 0.01 ㎍/mL: IF = 42 ± 4%, IC = 17 ± 2% and for 10 ㎍/mL: IA = 38 ± 4%, Iβ = 67 ± 7%. For L 0.1 ㎍/mL: IF = 35 ± 2%, IC = 19 ± 2% and for 100 ㎍/mL: IA = 26 ± 3%, Iβ = 63.04 ± 2%. The DPPH IC₅₀ = 134.8 ± 14 ㎍/mL for F and 34.67 ± 3 ㎍/mL for L. The ILP IC₅₀ = 512.86 ± 50 ㎍/mL for F and 154.8 ± 15 ㎍/mL for L. By HPLC L presented the highest amounts of flavonoids and caffeoylquinic acids. F and L showed strong anti-AGEs activity, affecting the early stages of glycation at low concentrations and the late stages of glycation at high concentrations. The highest activity for both F and L was seen in the IF and Iβ. F presented the highest anti-AGEs potency. L presented the highest antioxidant potency, which was related to the highest content of polyphenols. Conclusion: The fruits of I. paraguariensis could be a source of antioxidant and anti-AGEs compounds to be used with medicinal purposes or as functional food.

• Informatization Policy
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.3-28
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• 2023

This study aims to analyze the usage behavior of e-government service users based on the e-government maturity model and provide suggestions for advancement of the e-government services. The changes in Korea's e-government services were analyzed as follows; 1) Proportion of use of e-government services in Korean public services, 2) E-government service types/stages use, 3) Service use by platform 4) User response to e-government service 5) Users' requests for future e-government service usage methods. For the analysis, this study used data from Korea's 2012-2020 e-government usage behavior survey data. As a result of the analysis, first, the proportion of e-government service has been continuously increasing, and second, the use of the e-participation stage is relatively low compared to the presenting information, interaction, and transaction stages. Third, by platform, e-government service has been expanded to various access platforms such as mobile, kiosk, and SNS centering on the web. Fourth, users' satisfaction with e-government service is very high. However, to vitalize e-government services, users requested improvements such as providing one-stop integrated services and simplifying authentication procedures. Based on the analysis results, this study 1) reflects the user's point of view in the maturity model of e-government, 2) considers access to various platforms according to the development of digital technology, 3) improves the e-government maturity model through data-based analysis such as user usage behavior suggested the need.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.70-77
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• 2023

In response to climate change, each country is proposing a goal to reduce greenhouse gases in its energy supply and demand plan, and the use of hydrogen gas is a topic that is always prioritized as an energy resource for implementation. A popular way to use this hydrogen gas is the use of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and expansion of hydrogen charging stations is essential for using these hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. However, there are several limitations to the expansion of hydrogen refueling stations, the most representative of which is resident acceptance. Most of the hydrogen charging stations currently built in Korea are located in the outskirts with low population density, so the inconvenience to hydrogen fuel cell vehicle users has not been resolved, and as a result, there has been no progress in the spread of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. In this paper, we analyzed the consequences of accident damage to determine the risks of constructing a hydrogen charging station on a railroad site frequently used by citizens. The target hydrogen charging station site was a railroad depot in Busan, and there are trains, national highways, and commercial facilities around this site. Assuming the worst-case scenario, we would like to consider the safety of the hydrogen refueling station site by analyzing the area affected by the accident and its consequence.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.952-961
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• 2024

Objective: Stocking density (SD) is an important issue in the poultry industry, which is related to the production performance, intestinal health and immune status. In the present study, the effects of SD on the metabolism and homeostasis of uric acid as well as the related functions of the liver and kidney in ducks were examined. Methods: A total of 360 healthy 56-day-old Shan-ma ducks were randomly divided into the low stocking density (n = 60, density = 5 birds/m²), medium stocking density (n = 120, density = 10 birds/m²) and high stocking density groups (HSD; n = 180, density = 15 birds/m²). Samples were collected in the 3rd, 6th, and 9th weeks of the experiment for analysis. Results: The serum levels of uric acid, lipopolysaccharide and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β [IL-1β], IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]) were increased significantly in the HSD group. Serious histopathological lesions could be seen in both the livers and kidneys in the HSD group in the 9th week. The mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-8 and TNF-α) and related pathway components (toll-like receptor 4, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88, and nuclear factor-κB) were increased significantly in both the livers and kidneys in the HSD group. The mRNA expression levels of enzymes (adenosine deaminase, xanthine oxidase, phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate amidotransferase, and phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase 1) related to the synthesis of uric acid increased significantly in the livers in the HSD group. However, the mRNA expression level of solute carrier family 2 member 9, which plays an important role in the excretion of uric acid by the kidney, was decreased significantly in the kidneys in the HSD group. Conclusion: These results indicated that a higher SD could cause tissue inflammatory lesions in the liver and kidney and subsequently affect the metabolism and homeostasis of uric acid, and is helpful for guiding decisions related to the breeding and production of ducks.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1021-1030
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• 2024

Objective: R-loops are DNA:RNA triplex hybrids, and their metabolism is tightly regulated by transcriptional regulation, DNA damage response, and chromatin structure dynamics. R-loop homeostasis is dynamically regulated and closely associated with gene transcription in mouse zygotes. However, the factors responsible for regulating these dynamic changes in the R-loops of fertilized mouse eggs have not yet been investigated. This study examined the functions of candidate factors that interact with R-loops during zygotic gene activation. Methods: In this study, we used publicly available next-generation sequencing datasets, including low-input ribosome profiling analysis and polymerase II chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq), to identify potential regulators of R-loop dynamics in zygotes. These datasets were downloaded, reanalyzed, and compared with mass spectrometry data to identify candidate factors involved in regulating R-loop dynamics. To validate the functions of these candidate factors, we treated mouse zygotes with chemical inhibitors using in vitro fertilization. Immunofluorescence with an anti-R-loop antibody was then performed to quantify changes in R-loop metabolism. Results: We identified DEAD-box-5 (DDX5) and histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC2) as candidates that potentially regulate R-loop metabolism in oocytes, zygotes and two-cell embryos based on change of their gene translation. Our analysis revealed that the DDX5 inhibition of activity led to decreased R-loop accumulation in pronuclei, indicating its involvement in regulating R-loop dynamics. However, the inhibition of histone deacetylase-2 activity did not significantly affect R-loop levels in pronuclei. Conclusion: These findings suggest that dynamic changes in R-loops during mouse zygote development are likely regulated by RNA helicases, particularly DDX5, in conjunction with transcriptional processes. Our study provides compelling evidence for the involvement of these factors in regulating R-loop dynamics during early embryonic development.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

This study proposes a multi-scale template matching technique with image pyramids (TMI) to measure structural dynamic displacement using a vision sensor under atmospheric turbulence conditions and evaluates its displacement measurement performance. To evaluate displacement measurement performance according to distance, the three-story shear structure was designed, and an FHD camera was prepared to measure structural response. The initial measurement distance was set at 10m, and increased with an increment of 10m up to 40m. The atmospheric disturbance was generated using a heating plate under indoor illuminance condition, and the image was distorted by the optical turbulence. Through preliminary experiments, the feasibility of displacement measurement of the feature point-based displacement measurement method and the proposed method during atmospheric disturbances were compared and verified, and the verification results showed a low measurement error rate of the proposed method. As a result of evaluating displacement measurement performance in an atmospheric disturbance environment, there was no significant difference in displacement measurement performance for TMI using an artificial target depending on the presence or absence of atmospheric disturbance. However, when natural targets were used, RMSE increased significantly at shooting distances of 20 m or more, showing the operating limitations of the proposed technique. This indicates that the resolution of the natural target decreases as the shooting distance increases, and image distortion due to atmospheric disturbance causes errors in template image estimation, resulting in a high displacement measurement error.