• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.341-355
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The consumption of dietary supplements has shown an increase among young people in their 20s. We aimed to compare the use of dietary supplements and related factors between Chinese international and Korean college students living in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We conducted online surveys of 400 Chinese international students and 452 Korean college students from January to February 2021. We analyzed the factors related to the use of dietary supplements by these students using multi-group structural equation modeling and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Approximately 65% of the Chinese international students and 93% of the Korean college students consumed dietary supplements at least once in the year preceding the survey. The common types of dietary supplements consumed by both groups of students were vitamin and mineral supplements, Lactobacillus products, and red ginseng products. Structural equation modeling showed that perception of the consumption of dietary supplements by family and friends positively influenced attitude toward dietary supplements. This effect was higher for Korean college students than for Chinese international students (P < 0.01). Attitude toward dietary supplements positively influenced their use, and this effect was higher for Chinese international students than for Korean college students (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that the use of dietary supplements by Chinese international students was significantly associated with age, self-reported health status, interest in health, perception of and attitude toward dietary supplements, and length of residence in South Korea. Among Korean college students, it was associated with exercise frequency and attitude toward dietary supplements. CONCLUSION: This study showed significant differences in the use of dietary supplements and related factors between Chinese international and Korean college students. Therefore, nutrition education programs on dietary supplements need to have differentiated content for each group. Such differences also suggest that the industry should consider the relevant characteristics of college students while developing and marketing dietary supplements.

• Design Convergence Study
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.137-152
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• 2017

This research aims to develop the companion robot experience design for elderly in korea based on needs-function deploy matrix of robot and emotion expression research of robot in multimodal interaction. First, Elder users' main needs were categorized into 4 groups based on ethnographic research. Second, the functional elements and physical actuators of robot were mapped to user needs in function- needs deploy matrix. The final UX design prototype was implemented with a robot type that has a verbal non-touch multi modal interface with emotional facial expression based on Ekman's Facial Action Coding System (FACS). The proposed robot prototype was validated through a user test session to analyze the influence of the robot interaction on the cognition and emotion of users by Story Recall Test and face emotion analysis software; Emotion API when the robot changes facial expression corresponds to the emotion of the delivered information by the robot and when the robot initiated interaction cycle voluntarily. The group with emotional robot showed a relatively high recall rate in the delayed recall test and In the facial expression analysis, the facial expression and the interaction initiation of the robot affected on emotion and preference of the elderly participants.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.1519-1526
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• 2023

For the first time Aluminium-BariumeZinc oxide nanocomposite (ZABONC) was synthesized by solution combustion method where calcination was carried out at low temperatures (600℃) to study the electromagnetic (EM) (X/γ) radiation shielding properties. Further for characterization purpose standard techniques like PXRD, SEM, UV-VISIBLE, FTIR were used to find phase purity, functional groups, surface morphology, and to do structural analysis and energy band gap determination. The PXRD pattern shows (hkl) planes corresponding to spinel cubic phase of ZnAl₂O4, cubic Ba(NO₃)₂, α and γ phase of Al₂O₃ which clearly confirms the formation of complex nano composite. From SEM histogram mean size of nano particles was calculated and is in the order of 17 nm. Wood and Tauc's relation direct energy band gap calculation gives energy gap of 2.9 eV. In addition, EM (X/γ) shielding properties were measured and compared with the theoretical ones using standard procedures (NaI (Tl) detector and multi channel analyzer MCA). For energy above 356 keV the measured shielding parameters agree well with the theory, while below this value slight deviation is observed, due to the influence of atomic/crystallite size of the ZABONC. Hence synthesized ZABONC can be used as a shielding material in EM (X/γ) radiation shielding.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.406-412
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• 2011

Background: Development of thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections (TAAD) is attributed to unbearable wall tension superimposed on defective aortic wall integrity and impaired aortic repair mechanisms. Central to this repair mechanisms are well-balanced and adequately functional cellular components of the aortic wall, including endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), inflammatory cells, and adventitial fibroblasts. Adventitial fibroblasts naturally produce aortic extracellular matrix (ECM), and, when aortic wall is injured, they can be transformed into SMCs, which in turn are involved in aortic remodeling. We postulated the hypothesis that adventitial fibroblasts in patients with TAAD may have defects in ECM production and SMC transformation. Materials and Methods: Adventitial fibroblasts were procured from the adventitial layer of fresh aortic tissues of patients with TAAD (Group I) and of multi-organ donors (Group II), and 4-passage cell culture was performed prior to the experiment. To assess ECM production, cells were treated with TNF-${\alpha}$ (50 pM) and the expression of MMP-2/MMP-3 was analyzed using western blot technique. To assess SMC transformation capacity, cells were treated with TGF-${\beta}1$ and expression of SM ${\alpha}$-actin, SM-MHC, Ki-67 and SM calponin was evaluated using western blot technique. Fibroblasts were then treated with TGF-${\beta}1$ (10 pM) for up to 10 days with TGF-${\beta}1$ supplementation every 2 days, and the proportion of transformed SMC in the cell line was measured using immunofluorescence assay for fibroblast surface antigen every 2 days. Results: MMP-3 expression was significantly lower in group I than in group II. TGF-${\beta}1$-stimulated adventitial fibroblasts in group I expressed less SM ${\alpha}$-actin, SM-MHC, and Ki-67 than in group II. SM-calponin expression was not different between the two groups. Presence of fibroblast was observed on immunofluorescence assay after more than 6 days of TGF-${\beta}1$ treatment in group I, while most fibroblasts were transformed to SMC within 4 days in group II. Conclusion: ECM production and SMC transformation are compromised in adventitial fibroblasts from patients with TAAD. This result suggests that functional restoration of adventitial fibroblasts could well be a novel approach for the prevention and treatment of TAAD.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2019

Objectives : This study aimed to compare the psychosocial characteristics among patients with functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID), adults with functional gastrointestinal symptoms, and normal control group and investigate factors related to quality of life (QoL) of FGID patients. Methods : 65 patients diagnosed with FGID were selected. 79 adults were selected as normal control group based on the Rome III diagnostic criteria, and 88 adults who showed functional gastrointestinal symptoms were selected as "FGID positive group". Demographic factors were investigated. Psychosocial factors were evaluated using the Korean-Beck Depression Inventory-II, Korean-Beck Anxiety Inventory, Korean-Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and WHO Quality of Life Assessment Instrument Brief Form. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare differences among groups. Pearson correlation test was used to analyze correlations between QoL and psychosocial factors in patients with FGID. Results : There were group differences in the education level. Depression (F=29.012, p<0.001), anxiety (F=27.954, p<0.001) and Childhood trauma (F=7.748, p<0.001) were significantly higher in FGID patient group than in both FGID-positive and normal control group. Social support (F=5,123, p<0.001), Resilience (F=9.623, p<0.001) and QoL (F=35.991, p<0.001) were significantly lower in the FGID patient group than in others. QoL of FGID patients showed a positive correlation with resilience (r=0.475, p<0.01), and showed a negative correlation with depression (r=-0.641, p<0.01), anxiety (r=-0.641, p<0.01), and childhood trauma (r=-0.278, p<0.05). Conclusions : FGID patients have distinctive psychosocial factors compared to the both FGID-positive and normal control group. Therefore, the active interventions for psychosocial factors are required in the treatment of patients with FGID.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.100-105
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• 2017

Background and Objectives : Adductor type spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) is neurogenic disorder and focal laryngeal dystonia, while muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) is caused by functional voice disorder. Both ADSD and MTD may be associated with excessive supraglottic contraction and compensation, resulting in a strained voice quality with spastic voice breaks. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of spectrogram analysis in the differentiation of ADSD from MTD. Materials and Methods : From 2015 through 2017, 17 patients of ADSD and 20 of MTD, underwent acoustic recording and phonatory function studies, were enrolled. Jitter (frequency perturbation), Shimmer (amplitude perturbation) were obtained using MDVP (Multi-dimensional Voice Program) and GRBAS scale was used for perceptual evaluation. The two speech therapist evaluated a wide band (11,250 Hz) spectrogram by blind test using 4 scales (0-3 point) for four spectral findings, abrupt voice breaks, irregular wide spaced vertical striations, well defined formants and high frequency spectral noise. Results : Jitter, Shimmer and GRBAS were not found different between two groups with no significant correlation (p>0.05). Abrupt voice breaks and irregular wide spaced vertical striations of ADSD were significantly higher than those of MTD with strong correlation (p<0.01). High frequency spectral noise of MTD were higher than those of ADSD with strong correlation (p<0.01). Well defined formants were not found different between two groups. Conclusion : The wide band spectrograms provided visual perceptual information can differentiate ADSD from MTD. Spectrogram analysis is a useful diagnostic tool for differentiating ADSD from MTD where perceptual analysis and clinical evaluation alone are insufficient.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2012

It is possible to use pallet for forwarding as chinese cabbages and radishes are general large-scale trading items at the agricultural wholesale market though, however, most of these are forwarded as it have packed in net bags or in P·E bags. Thus, it is still hard for palletizing. The type of packing the product in the net bag makes it difficult for palletizing. It is not a stable shape enough and easily collapsed for pallet loading. Because of this collapsibility, the corrugated cardboard box is being used to enhance forwarding efficiency, but the existing corrugated cardboard box could be crushed easily by moist what is from the agricultural product's property and it also could be squashed by the mass of the loaded box layers on itself. In contrary, the functional waterproof corrugated cardboard box is not collapsed through palletizing and it is efficient for product management with it's ventilation function in respond to pre-cooling effect. Furthermore, because it has various functional shapes as the open type, the partition type and so on, it is effective for maintaining freshness of the product and standardizing the distribution of agricultural product. It is well-known that it is possible to introduce this box to cargo-works of agricultural product. Consequently, the recognition of main distributors about the pallet distribution of the chinese cabbage and the radish was apprehended in this study for activating mechanization of loading and unloading. The survey was conducted to the main distributors such as the forwarder, the auction dealer and the commission merchant with Garak-dong wholesale market as the center. The appropriate packing materials and problems of the existing method for loading and unloading were derived through the survey. Especially, it was focused on analyzing the difference of recognition between the subject groups for the way of using waterproof cardboard corrugated box to deal with the difficult product for packing in normal corrugated box because of the box's absorption of moist from the agricultural product like a chinese cabbage and a radish. Total In the cases of the forwarders and the commission merchants, the net was highly responded as 45%, 74% from each groups for the best packing material for mechanization of distribution and the waterproof corrugated cardboard box was responded as 20%, 22% from each groups as much preferable than multi-stage wooden box. However, for the radish, the waterproof corrugated cardboard box was the best material as 56%, and the auction trader group supported it for 80%. So, the using the waterproof corrugated cardboard box for mechanization of distribution was negative for the chinese cabbage, but it was positive for the radish. The average was 2.42, the standard deviation was 1.24. The negative response(about 55%) was prevailing more than positive response(about 23%). It could be analyzed that even there was the positive recognition for using the waterproof corrugated cardboard box for the radish though the preference for low price of net bag in the chinese cabbage forwarding procedure. Still now, it seems that is a burden for using the waterproof corrugated cardboard box with high price. In the analysis on the recognition differences about using the waterproof corrugated cardboard box for the chinese cabbages and the radish between the forwarders and the commission merchants, generally the negative recognition was prevailing, but the forwarders(2.696) were more positive for using the waterproof corrugated cardboard box than the commission merchants(2.145).

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1105-1121
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness and safety of frequently used clinical herbal medicines (Yijung-tang [Lizhong-tang, LJT], Pyeongwi-san [Pingwei-san, PWS], and Shihosogan-tang [Chaihu Shugan-tang, SST]) in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) when administered according to herbal medicine and Korean medicine pattern identification. The results of this study will be used to standardize the diagnostic instrument used in Korean medicine and to investigate biomarkers of Korean medicine pattern identification. Methods: This study will be a randomized, assessor-blind, 3-arm, parallel, open-label, multi-center clinical trial. A total of 300 FD participants will be recruited from 3 Korean medical hospitals and assigned to the LJT (n=100), PWS (n=100), and SST (n=100) groups according to FD pattern identification. The patients will take the medication for 8 weeks, 3 times a day, before or between meals. The primary outcome will be total dyspepsia symptom (TDS) and the secondary outcomes will be adequate relief (AR) for dyspepsia, overall treatment effect (OTE), visual analogue scale (VAS), functional dyspepsia-related quality of life (FD-QoL), gastrointestinal symptom score (GIS), and pattern identification questionnaires. For the exploratory outcomes, we will analyze blood and fecal metabolome profiles, microbiota from fecal and saliva samples, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and results of Korean medicine diagnosis device measurements (heart rate variability, and tongue, pulse, and abdominal diagnosis). Conclusions: The results of this study will prove objectivity for Korean medicine pattern identifications, and the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicines for the population with FD.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.300-306
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effect of functional multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) on the conventional glass ionomer cement(GIC). The MWCNT was incorporated into a commercial powder at 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 wt%. Specimens for vickers hardness(VHN) disks(Ø$10mm{\times}2mm$) each were prepared. Indention were made using a load of 200 N and 20 s dwell on four specimens for each distilled water storage time 1d, 7d, and 14days. The antibacterial effects using agar diffusion test with S. mutans and S. aureus. The diameters of the inhibition zones produced around the materials were measured. The results revealed that all the vickers hardness values were increase significantly with incubation time(p<0.05). Regarding the antibacterial effect for S. mutans, all the tested groups showed a slightly higher value not significantly with the control group(p<0.05). However S. aureus statistical analysis indicated a significant difference for antibacterial agents between control and MWCNT containing 0.25 wt%(p<0.05). These results of this study provide that the conventional GIC with containing MWCNT show good antibacterial effect against and favorable mechanical properties. Further this study on the efficient functionalization of multiwall carbon nanotube will be needed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.454-459
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• 2009

In this paper, we have performed an experimental study to simultaneously remove humic acid (RA) and heavy metals (Cu, Mn, and Zn) from the river water using potassium ferrate(VI), a multi-purpose and environment-friendly chemical. In the experiments for treating three 0.1 mM single heavy metals using 0.03${\sim}$0.7 mM (as Fe) ferrate, the removal efficiencies ranged 28${\sim}$99% for Cu, 22${\sim}$73% for Mn, and 18${\sim}$100% for Zn. In addition, humic acid and heavy metals could be very efficiently removed at the same time using 0.03${\sim}$0.7 mM (as Fe) ferrate: for example, 49${\sim}$81% (humic acid), 93${\sim}$100% (Cu), 22${\sim}$86% (Mn), and 20${\sim}$100% (Zn). The removal efficiencies of humic acid and heavy metals in the mixture of humic acid and heavy metals were higher than that in the solution of single humic acid or heavy metal. It can be explained by the fact that, before adding ferrate to the mixed solution, part of solutes were already removed by the complexation between the negatively-charged functional groups of humic acid and heavy metal cations.