• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.102-107
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• 2022

South Korea will soon be a super-aged society, as more than 20.6% of its population will be 65 years and older by 2025. As of 2022, 17.5% of the total population in South Korea is 65 years and older, which exceeds the set threshold for an aged society, where more than 14% of the population is 65 years and older. The proportion of older subway construction workers has increased. Aging workers and their work stress negatively impact their workability. A previous study demonstrated that the stress index measured using the uBioMacpa measurement device (Macpa stress index) had a significant correlation with work stress in South Korea. The device tests vascular health and measures stress levels via Macpa signal analysis. In this study, the pulse waves of subway construction workers were measured using uBioMacpa to identify their stress levels. The stress levels were analyzed by age, years of service, job position, employment type, and work type. Herein, these statistics could not be easily represented by a normal distribution; therefore, the Kruskal-Wallis test, a nonparametric statistical method, was used for the analysis of data. The results showed that age, job position, employment type, and working type affected the Macpa stress index and the stress levels of workers increased with age. In terms of job position, technical engineers were more stressed than other workers because of their poor working environment. In terms of employment type, daily-wage workers were more stressed than other workers. In terms of working type, tunneling, waterproofing, and construction scored the highest Macpa stress indexes without any significant difference, whereas earthworks scored the lowest. Based on the analysis of Macpa stress index, safety and health management plans were proposed to reduce the stress levels of workers. Moreover, a manual for efficient stress management must be developed for subway construction workers.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.595-628
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• 2011

This study investigates the issues and suggests reform measures in applying CV methods to the Korea Development Institute's (KDI's) Preliminary Feasibility Test (PFT) of public projects. Most public projects on culture, science and environment evaluated under the PFT system belong to the category of "nonstandard" projects whose outputs are non-marketed, and CV is currently the main tool used for their benefit estimation. A careful discussion and investigation is recommended for the selection of target population, payment vehicle, and number of payment times. Operating expert reviews, focus group interviews, and pre-tests is highly recommended to reduce the potential bias involved in the CV studies. A single or double bounded dichotomous choice format is the most popular design of questionnaire, but we identify several undissolved issues in designing and implementing the format. Some other forms of inducing WTPs may still deserve our consideration. Various specifications of the WTP function need to be tried and tested based on their stability, in particular. Employing a nonparametric approach is also recommended. Treatments of 0 or negative WTPs and protest bids are shown to be the most serious issues that affect the estimation results significantly. We review diverse measures of handling those issues and summarize their advantages and shortcomings.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.831-839
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine dental hygiene students' image of dental hygienist and factors affecting the image of dental hygienist in an effort to provide some information useful for dental hygiene education. It's basically meant to recreate the image of dental hygienist as a professional. Methods : The subjects in this study were 310 sophomores and seniors who ere selected by convenience sampling from three different three-year-course colleges located in Gyeonggi Province, Chungcheong Province and Gwangju. After a survey was conducted, the answer sheets from 277 respondents were analyzed except for 33 incomplete ones. The collected data were analyzed with a SPSSWIN 17.0 program, and statistical data on frequency and percentage were obtained to find out the general characteristics of the subjects, and another statistical data on mean and standard deviation for each item were acquired to check their image of dental hygienist. Besides, t-test, ANOVA and Kruscal-Wallis test, one of nonparametric test, were utilized to look for connections between their general characteristics and image of dental hygienist. Results : 1. They gave a mean of 3.53 to the image of dental hygienist, which showed that the dental hygiene students took a favorable view of dental hygienists in general. 2. Their response to four items showed that they looked at the image of dental hygienist in a positive manner. The four items respectively described dental hygienists as professionals, as ones who played a crucial role in the improvement of national oral health, as ones with professional knowledge and sophisticated knowhow, and as neat and decent people. And their response to the following five items indicated that they looked at the image of dental hygienists in a negative way. One was that dental hygienists were considered to be dental nurses, and another was that the occupation of dental hygienist was a demanding and stressful job. The third was that there was no single, fixed title to call dental hygienists, and the fourth was that dental hygiene wasn't recognized as an independent area. The fifth was that the social standing of dental hygienists was sort of high. 3. In regard to the impact of the general characteristics of the dental hygiene students on their image of dental hygienist, they had a more favorable image of dental hygienist when they perceived dental hygiene in a more positive manner(p<0.001). Conclusions : In order to boost the image of dental hygienist, the working conditions of dental hygienists should be improved, and educational programs should be prepared to provided them extended continuing educational opportunities. And the kind of educational environments that could nurture dental hygienists who are convinced and have a vision should be created.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.99-108
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• 2002

Recently interests on raw-food diets are rapidly increasing in relation to chronic diseases prevention in Korea, but studies on raw-food diets have been hardly performed by nutritionists. This study was performed to investigate the effects of low-calorie diets using a raw-food formula in the form of freeze-dried powder on obesity and its complications in the obese women (body mass index (BMI) $\geq$ 25kg/㎡) for eight weeks. Forty premenopausal women (mean BMI 28.04kg/㎡, mean age 28.33years old) participated in this diet intervention, and were controlled by eating 1 regular meal, 1-2 snacks and 2 raw-food formula (140kcal/pack) meals a day within the 1500-1300kcal ranges. Anthropo-mentric measurements, body compositions, physical exercise, and obesity-related risk factors were assessed before (the initial), during (the 4th week) and after (the 8th week) the study. All the data was analyzed by paired t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, and nonparametric rank test at p<0.05 level. Obesity was significantly increased during this study, and it was decreased in weight (-4.59%, p<0.000), BMI (-4.56%, p<0.000), body fat percent (-6.18%, p<0.000), fat mass (-10.19%, p<0.000), waist and hip circumferences(-5.69%, p<0.000 and -2.55%, p<0.000) and WHR (-3.24%, p<0.000). Energy expenditure of physical exercise was increased as much as 70kca1/day during the study (p=0.000), but it did not have any correlations with weight loss and changes of body compositions. Biochemical measurements including blood triglyceride(p <0.006) and leptin(p<0.000) levels were significantly decreased, LDL cholesterol level was increased(p<0.05), but all the blood lipid levels were in the normal ranges. Fatty liver echogenicity and menstrual irregularity were improved after the diet intervention(p<0.000 and p<0.034). In conclusion, this B-week low-calorie diet intervention using raw-food formula was effective for obese premenopausal women in reducing obesity and its risk factors so as not to proceed towards comorbidities. However, the variation of blood lipid levels should be observed for a longer Period.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.109 no.2
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• pp.211-222
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• 2020

This study tried to find out whether there is a change over time in the functional classification of forests in relation to human demand for forests. The level in which the concept of ecosystem services has been considered in national forest management plans was also examined. A total of 98 current and previous national forest management plans were available for this study. The composition ratios of the six functions of forests in both the current and previous national forest management plans were surveyed. We used a parametric t-test when the mean values of two (current and previous) groups were normally distributed and used nonparametric Wilcoxon code rank test when the assumption of normality was not met. Timber production forests were shown to follow a normal distribution, while five others, including water regeneration forests, disaster prevention forests, natural environment conservation forests, recreation forests, and living environment conservation forests were not shown to follow a normal distribution. Timber production forests and natural environment forests showed significant changes in the proportion of forest area between previous and current forest management plans. The concept of 'ecosystem services' began to actively appear in the 6th Basic Forest Plan, which started in 2018. However, the level of frequency of the ecosystem services mentioned varied by Regional Forest Services.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5705-5711
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• 2013

Background: Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have the potential to form teratomas when implanted into immunodeficient mice, but data in immunocompetent mice are limited. We therefore investigated teratoma formation after implantation of three different mouse ESC (mESC) lines into immunocompetent mice. Materials and Methods: BALB/c mice were injected with three highly germline competent mESCs (129Sv, BALB/c and C57BL/6) subcutaneously or under the kidney capsule. After 4 weeks, mice were euthanized and examined histologically for teratoma development. The incidence, size and composition of teratomas were compared using Pearson Chi-square, t-test for dependent variables, one-way analysis of variance and the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance and median test. Results: Teratomas developed from all three cell lines. The incidence of formation was significantly higher under the kidney capsule compared to subcutaneous site and occurred in both allogeneic and syngeneic mice. Overall, the size of teratoma was largest with the 129Sv cell line and under the kidney capsule. Diverse embryonic stem cell-derived tissues, belonging to the three embryonic germ layers, were encountered, reflecting the pluripotency of embryonic stem cells. Most commonly represented tissues were nervous tissue, keratinizing stratified squamous epithelium (ectoderm), smooth muscle, striated muscle, cartilage, bone (mesoderm), and glandular tissue in the form of gut- and respiratory-like epithelia (endoderm). Conclusions: ESCs can form teratomas in immunocompetent mice and, therefore, removal of undifferentiated ESC is a pre-requisite for a safe use of ESC in cell-based therapies. In addition the genetic relationship of the origin of the cell lines to the ability to transplant plays a major role.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.91-99
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• 2010

Objectives: Deficit schizophrenia (DS) constitutes a disease separate from non-deficit schizophrenia (NDS). The aim of the current study was to compare the quantitative EEG and low resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) imaging between DS and NDS. Methods: This study was performed by 32 channels EEG for 42 schizophrenia patients who we categorized into DS and NDS using proxy instrument deficit syndrome (PDS). We performed the absolute power spectral analyses for delta, theta, alpha, low beta and high beta activities. We compared power spectrum between two groups using Independent t-test. Partial correlation test was performed with clinical parameters. Standardized LORETA (sLORETA) was used for comparison of cortical activity, and statistical nonparametric mapping (SnPM) was applied for the statistical analysis. Results: DS showed significantly increased delta and theta absolute power in fontal and parietal region compared with NDS (p<0.05). Power spectrum showed significant correlation with 'anergia' and 'hostility/suspiciousness' subscale of brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS)(p<0.05). sLORETA found out the source region (anterior cingulate cortex/limbic part) that delta activity was significantly increased in DS (p=0.042). Conclusions: DS showed different cortical activity compared with NDS. Our results may suggest QEEG and LORETA could be the marker in differentiating between DS and NDS.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.233-233
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• 2015

Vu Gia - Thu Bon basin is located in central Vietnam between Truong Son mountain range on the border with Lao in the west and the East Sea in the east. The basin occupies about 10,350 km2 or roughly 90% of the Quang Nam Province and includes Da Nang, a very large city with about 876,000 inhabitants. Total annual rainfall ranges from about 2,000 mm in central and downstream areas to more than 4,000 mm in southern mountainous areas. Rainfall during the monsoon season accounts for 65 to 80% of total annual rainfall. The highest amount of rainfall occurs in October and November which accounts for 40 to 50% of the annual rainfall. Rainfall in the dry season represents about 20 to 35% of the total annual rainfall. The low rainfall season usually occurs from February to April, accounting for only 3 to 5% of the total annual rainfall. The mean annual flow volume in the basin is $19.1{\times}109m 3$. Similar to the distribution of rainfall, annual flows are distinguished by two distinct seasons (the flood season and the low-flow season). The flood season commonly starts in the mid-September and ends in early January. Flows during the flood season account for 62 to 69% of the total annual water volume, while flows in the dry season comprise 22 to 38% of total annual run-off. The water volume gauged in November, the highest flow month, accounts for 26 to 31% of the total annual run-off while the driest period is April with flows of 2 to 3% of the total annual run-off. There are some hydropower projects in the Vu Gia - Thu Bon basin as the cascade of Song Bung 2, Song Bung 4, and Song Bung 5, the A Vuong project currently under construction, the Dak Mi 1 and Dak Mi 4 projects on the Khai tributary, and the Song Con project on the Con River. Both the Khai tributary and the Song Con join the Bung River downstream of SB5, although the Dak Mi 4 project involves an inter-basin diversion to Thu Bon. Much attention has recently been focused on the effects that climate variability and human activities have had on runoff. In this study, data from the Vu Gia - Thu Bon River Basin in the central of Viet Nam were analyzed to investigate changes in annual runoff during the period of 1977-2010. The nonparametric Mann-Kendall test and the Mann-Kendall-Sneyers test were used to identify trend and step change point in the annual runoff. It was found that the basin had a significant increasing trend in annual runoff. The hydrologic sensitivity analysis method was employed to evaluate the effects of climate variability and human activities on mean annual runoff for the human-induced period based on precipitation and potential evapotranspiration. This study quantitatively distinguishes the effects between climate variability and human activities on runoff, which can do duty for a reference for regional water resources assessment and management.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.165-175
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the emotional characteristics of the patients within one year after stroke using the Core Seven Emotions Inventory-Short Form. Methods: It analyzed the medical records of 39 stroke patients who had visited W University hospital and completed the Core Seven-Emotions Inventory-Short Form (CSEI-S), the K-MBI, the PWI-SF, and the HADS. Patients data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, frequency analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test, and the nonparametric test of the CSEI according to the period of stroke onset in patients and Spearman's correlation analysis using the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Science, IBM, United States of America) Version 23.0. Results: First, in the case of depression, all subjects were in the danger group, although more than half of the joy, anger, thinking, sadness and fear were included in the normal group in the shortening of the key seven-point scale. Secondly, in measuring the social and psychological stress and hospital anxiety and depression, social and psychological stress were indicated to be a potential danger group, while anxiety and depression were shown to be a healthy group. Thirdly, the emotional characteristics were explored according to the sub-factor of the shortening of the key seven-figure emotional scale after being classified within two months, between two and six months and over six months depending on the duration of the outbreak. As a result, statistically significant, Joy was the highest score over six months and the lowest score between two and six months. On the other hand, the case of depression was depicted to be significantly lower at over six months, and was highest between two and six months. Finally, the correlations on each scale were statistically significant. Conclusions: This study provided that the CSEI-S can be used to simply to measure the emotions of patients according to the period of the onset of stroke in the clinical scene.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.607-618
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• 2019

A new and interesting task in statistics is to effectively analyze functional data that frequently comes from advances in modern science and technology in areas such as meteorology and biomedical sciences. Functional linear regression with scalar response is a popular functional data analysis technique and it is often a common problem to determine a functional association if a functional predictor variable affects the scalar response in the models. Recently, Kong et al. (Journal of Nonparametric Statistics, 28, 813-838, 2016) established classical testing methods for this based on functional principal component analysis (of the functional predictor), that is, the resulting eigenfunctions (as a basis). However, the eigenbasis functions are not generally suitable for regression purpose because they are only concerned with the variability of the functional predictor, not the functional association of interest in testing problems. Additionally, eigenfunctions are to be estimated from data so that estimation errors might be involved in the performance of testing procedures. To circumvent these issues, we propose a testing method based on fixed basis such as B-splines and show that it works well via simulations. It is also illustrated via simulated and real data examples that the proposed testing method provides more effective and intuitive results due to the localization properties of B-splines.