• PNF and Movement
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.377-385
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics and grip strength of people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Methods: This was a retrospective study that analyzed raw data from the first year of the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019). The study population was 780 people in total, ranging in age from their teens to their 80s. These were people who had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and the presence of arthritis in and grip strength of these subjects were determined using the average value of three measurements. Results: According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the prevalence of arthritis in Korea was 2.5% in men, 10.7% in women, and 13.1% overall. More women than men had osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and the number of people with osteoarthritis increased with age. In this study, of those with osteoarthritis, 13.5% were men and 88% were women of those with rheumatoid arthritis, 19.3% were men and 56.3% were women. The number of patients with osteoarthritis increased with age, and rheumatoid arthritis was more common in older people. Subjects with osteoarthritis had lower grip strength than those without the disease, and the older the age at which rheumatoid arthritis was first diagnosed, the lower the grip strength. Conclusion: Grip strength is lower in patients with osteoarthritis than in those without osteoarthritis, and it is possible to estimate the degree to which muscle strength decreases.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2023

This investigation delves into the adverse repercussions stemming from the impact of arsenic on steel pipes concealed within soil designated for rice cultivation. Simultaneously, the study aims to ascertain effective techniques for detecting arsenic in the soil and to provide strategies for mitigating the corrosion of steel pipes. The realm of nanotechnology presents promising avenues for addressing the intricate intersection of renewable energy, oil, and environmental pollution from a novel perspective. Nanostructured materials, characterized by distinct chemical and physical attributes, unveil novel pathways for pioneering materials that exert a substantial impact across diverse realms of food production, storage, packaging, and quality control. Within the scope of the food industry, the scope of nanotechnology encompasses processes, storage methodologies, packaging paradigms, and safeguards to ensure the safety of consumables. Of particular note, silver nanoparticles, in addition to their commendable antibacterial efficacy, boast anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory prowess, environmental compatibility, minimal irritability and allergenicity, resilience to microbial antagonism, thermal stability, and robustness. Confronting the pressing issue of arsenic contamination within both environmental settings and the food supply is of paramount importance to preserve public health and ecological equilibrium. In response, this study introduces detection kits predicated upon silver nanoparticles, providing an expeditious and economically feasible avenue for identifying arsenic concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 3 ppm within rice. Subsequent quantification employs Hydride Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (HG-AAS), which features a detection threshold of 0.05 ㎍/l. A salient advantage inherent in the HG-AAS methodology lies in its capacity to segregate analytes from the sample matrix, thereby significantly reducing instances of spectral interference. Importantly, the presence of arsenic in the soil beneath rice cultivation establishes a causative link to steel pipe corrosion, with potential consequences extending to food contamination-an intricate facet embedded within the broader tapestry of renewable energy, oil, and environmental pollution.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2008

Weak target detection and localization in the presence of loud surface ship noise is a critical problem for matched field processing (MFP) in shallow water. For stationary sources, each signal component of received signal can be separated and interference can be suppressed using eigen space analysis schemes. However, source motion, in realistic cases, causes spreading of signal energies in their subspace. In this case, eigenvalues of target and interfere signal components are mixed and hard to be separated with usual phone space eigenvector decomposition (EVD) approaches. Our technique is based on mode space and utilizes the difference in their physical characteristics of surface and submerged sources. Performing EVD for modal cross spectral density matrix, interference components in the mode amplitude subspace can be classified and eliminated. This technique is demonstrated with synthetic data, and results are discussed.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.19-30
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• 2019

To prevent the musculoskeletal diseases from repeated dental treatment, the health status and subjective symptom according to the working environment of dental hygienists were examined in 185 Gyeongnam dental hygienists from October 01, 2017 to October 30. The health status of the study subjects (χ²=40.21, p<.001), the physical burden of work (χ²=47.68, p<.001) and the mental fatigue of work (χ²=66.98, p<.001) were significantly different according to working experience. The level of mental fatigue depended on the number of dental hygienists in the clinics (p=0.032). 94.1% of the subjects knew musculoskeletal diseases and there were significant differences according to working experience (χ²=77.85, p<.001), the numbers of patients in a day (χ²=41.08, p<.001) and daily standing time (χ²=6.96, p=.008). Currently, 73.0% of the dental hygienists have musculoskeletal diseases. There was a significant difference according to the number of patients (χ²=51.01, p<.001) and daily standing time (χ²=25.15, p<.001). The presence of injured parts due to musculoskeletal disorders showed a significant difference according to the numbers of patients (χ²=18.98, p<.001) and daily standing hours (χ²=33.20, p<.001). The musculoskeletal diseases examination of dental hygienists is needed based on subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal diseases and prevention and management of measures musculoskeletal diseases are required.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.297-308
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• 2024

This study presents a novel approach for evaluating fire-induced damage depth in concrete. The methodology leverages the principle that exposure to high temperatures causes internal expansion within concrete, leading to increased voids and microcracks in the damaged zones. This heightened porosity results in greater absorption rates compared to undamaged areas. By immersing fire-damaged concrete samples in water and subsequently monitoring the drying process, the depth of damage can be assessed. Differences in drying rates and color variations between damaged and undamaged areas serve as visual indicators for determining the extent of the damage. Experimental results from this water immersion method revealed damage depths of 38.7mm and 37.5mm for two different concrete mixtures. These measurements notably surpass the damage depths estimated using traditional phenolphthalein-based methods. This discrepancy suggests that utilizing the absorption rate principle, which is directly linked to the physical changes caused by thermal expansion, offers a more accurate and sensitive assessment of fire damage depth compared to methods relying solely on the presence of Portlandite for colorimetric indication.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.228-243
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the distinctions in dietary and health-related behaviors among Indonesian women who marry Koreans or into multicultural families (MF) and those who marry Indonesians living in Korea (IK) and in Indonesia (II). Methods: The study was performed with 192 subjects using an online questionnaire regarding food choice, dietary and health behavior, and nutrition quotient (NQ). The analysis used Pearson's chi-squared test, the Fisher's exact test, multinomial logistic regression, and the general linear model. Results: The MF group consumed Korean food more than once a day and Indonesian food 1-2 times monthly (p < 0.001). The main challenge for the IK and II groups in consuming Korean food was the presence of pork and the different food flavors (p < 0.001). The MF group tended to have normal body mass index, consumed more vitamin and mineral supplements (p = 0.014), and exercised regularly ≥150 min/week compared to the IK and II groups (p < 0.001). However, the MF group had the highest rate of skipping breakfast (p = 0.040). When evaluating the NQ of the participants, the MF group consumed more vegetables (p = 0.026), mixed grains (p = 0.031), and spicy and salt soups (p = 0.006). The II group consumed more fish (p = 0.005), beans (p = 0.009), and nuts (p = 0.003). The IK group checked the nutrition labels the most (p = 0.005), while their consumption of vegetables, fish, beans, and nuts was lowest. The MF group had a higher balance score, which resulted in a substantially more nutritious food intake compared to the other two groups (p = 0.037). Conclusion: The MF group consumed more vegetables and mixed grains, adequate fish, beans, and nuts, and engaged in longer daily physical activity. However, the IK group had a relatively low-quality diet and nutritional intake status compared to the other two groups, and this needs to be improved in the future.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.505-513
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• 2004

Background : In lung cancer patients, the presence of metastatic neck nodes is a crucial indicator of inoperabilty. So thorough physical examination of neck is always mandatory, but sometimes those are hardly palpable even by the skillful hand. Ultrasonography is a useful diagnostic method in detection of small impalpable lymph nodes and in guidance of fine needle aspiration biopsy. In this study we evaluated the clinical usefulness of ultrasonography(USG) and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology(US-FNA) in lung cancer patients without palpable neck nodes. Methods and Materials : From Sep 2002 to Sep 2003, 36 non-small cell lung cancer patients (20 adenocarcinoma, 16 squamous cell cancer) and 10 small cell lung cancer patients without palpable neck nodes on physical examiation were enrolled. patients who had contralateral mediastinal nodal enlargement(>1cm) on chest CT were excluded. After the routine check of USG on the neck, US-FNA was done in cases with enlarged neck nodes (${\geq}5mm$ in the short axis). The presence of enlarged lymph node on USG, and of malignant cells on cytology were evaluated by the histological type and the patients' clinical stage of lung cancer. Results : Among 36 non-small lung cell cancer patients, 14 (38.8%) had enlarged neck nodes on USG, and 5 of 10 small cell lung carcinoma patients. The mean diameter of the neck nodes was 9.8 mm (range, 7-12 mm). US-FNA of 14 non-small cell lung cancer patients revealed tumor cells in eight patients (57.1%). In 5 small cell lung cancer pateints, tumor cells were found in all cases. By the result of US-FNA, the clinical stage of 8 out of 36 (22.2%) non-small cell lung cancer patients had changed, including two cases of shift from the operable IIIa to the inoperable IIIb. In small cell lung cancer patients their clinical stage was not changed after US-FNA, but their pathological diagnosis was easily done in two cases, in whom endobronchial lesions were not found on bronchoscopy. Conclusions : USG and US-FNA of neck node seem to be safe, sensitive and cost-effective diagnostic tools in the evaluation of lung cancer patients without palpable neck nodes.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.97-107
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• 2015

Wetlands constitute a transitional zone between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and have unique characteristics such as frequent inundation, inflow of nutrients from terrestrial ecosystems, presence of plants adapted to grow in water, and soil that is occasionally oxygen deficient due to saturation. These characteristics and the presence of vegetation determine physical and chemical properties that affect decomposition rates of organic matter (OM). Decomposition of OM is associated with activities of various extracellular enzymes (EE) produced by bacteria and fungi. Extracellular enzymes convert macromolecules to simple compounds such as labile organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) that can be easily taken up by microbes and plants. Therefore, the enzymatic approach is helpful to understand the decomposition rates of OM and nutrient cycling in wetland soils. This paper reviews the physical and biogeochemical factors that regulate extracellular enzyme activities (EEa) in wetland soils, including those of ${\beta}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-N-acetylglucosaminidase, phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and phenol oxidase that decompose organic matter and release C, N, P, and S nutrients for microbial and plant growths. Effects of pH, water table, and particle size of OM on EEa were not significantly different among sites, whereas the influence of temperature on EEa varied depending on microbial acclimation to extreme temperatures. Addition of C, N, or P affected EEa differently depending on the nutrient state, C:N ratio, limiting factors, and types of enzymes of wetland soils. Substrate quality influenced EEa more significantly than did other factors. Also, drainage of wetland and increased temperature due to global climate change can stimulate phenol oxidase activity, and anthropogenic N deposition can enhance the hydrolytic EEa; these effects increase OM decomposition rates and emissions of $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ from wetland systems. The researches on the relationship between microbial structures and EE functions, and environmental factors controlling EEa can be helpful to manipulate wetland ecosystems for treating pollutants and to monitor wetland ecosystem services.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 1983

$PGE_2$ and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ are known to act similarly in a number of animal tissues. They both facilitate regression of corpus luteum(Poyser, 1972; Fuch et al, 1974; Coudert et at, 1974) and stimulate contraction of uterine muscle (Laudanski et al, 1977; Porter et al, 1979; Hollingsworth et al, 1980). It is, however, not known whether these two prostaglandins exert similar actions in osmotic fragility of erythrocytes (Rasmussen et al, 1975) and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ alters conformation of membrane proteins (Meyers aud Swislocki, 1974). The former effect may not be mediated through changes in c- AMP concentration in the cell, since the adenylate cyclase activity in human erythrocyte is extremely low (Rodan et al, 1976; Sutherland et al, 1962) and the latter effect implies that physical state (or fluidity) of the membrane is altered by $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$. The present study was undertaken to elucidate mechanisms of action of $PGE_2$ and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ on the human erythocyte membrane by examining their effects on osmotic fragility and $Ca^{++}$ binding to the membrane fragments. The results are summarized as follows: 1) $PGE_2$ and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ increased osmotic fragility at concentrations above $10^{11}\;M$, the effect being similar for both hormones. The concentration of NaCl for 100% hemolysis was $1/16{\sim}1/17\;M$ in the presence of $10^{11}\;M\;PGE_2$ or $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ and 1/18 M in the absence of the hormone (control). 2) When erythrocytes were suspended in 1/15 M NaCl solution, $44.2{\pm}4.3%$ of cells were hemolyzed. Addition of $10^{12}\;M\;PGE_2$ or $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ did not increase hemolysis. When the concentration of the hormones was increased to $10^{11}\;M$, however the degree of hemolysis increased markealy to about 80%. No further increase in hemolysis was observed at concentration of the hormones above $10^{11}\;M$. 3) The additional hemolysis due to $10^{11}\;M\;PGE_2$ and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ appeared to he identical regardless of absence or presence of $Ca^{++}\;(0.5{\sim}10\;mM)$ in the suspending medium. 4) In the absence of prostaglandin, the binding of $Ca^{++}$ to the erythrocyte membrane increased curvilinearly as the $Ca^{++}$ concentration increased up to 5 mM above which it leveled off. A similar dependence of $Ca^{++}$ binding on the $Ca^{++}$ concentration was observed in the presence of $10^{11}\;M\;PGE_2$ or $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$, however, the amount of $Ca^{++}$ bound at a given $Ca^{++}$ concentration was significantly higher than in the absence of the hormones. 5) As in the hemolysis, $PGE_2$ and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ did not affect the $Ca^{++}$ binding at a concentration of $10^{12}\;M$, but increased it by about 100% at concentration above $10^{11}\;M$. These result indicate that both tile osmotic fragility of erythrocyte and the $Ca^{++}$ binding to the erythrocyte membrane are similarly enhanced by $PGE_2$ and $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$, but these two effects are not causally related. It is, therefore, concluded that the prostaglandin-induced hemolysis is not directly associated with alterations of the $Ca^{++}$ content in the membrane.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8311-8317
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• 2014

Background: Evidence supporting an association between the 8q24 rs4242382-A polymorphism and prostate cancer (PCa) risk has been reported in North American and Europe populations, though data from Asian populations remain limited. We therefore investigated this association by clinical detection in China, and meta-analysis in Asian, Caucasian and African-American populations. Materials and Methods: Blood samples and clinical information were collected from ethnically Chinese men from Northern China with histologically-confirmed PCa (n=335) and from age-matched normal controls (n=347). The 8q24 (rs4242382) gene polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-high-resolution melting analysis. We initially analyzed the associations between the risk allele and PCa and clinical covariates. A meta-analysis was then performed using genotyping data from a total of 1,793 PCa cases and 1,864 controls from our study and previously published studies in American and European populations, to determine the association between PCa and risk genotype. Results: The incidence of the risk allele was higher in PCa cases than controls (0.222 vs 0.140, $P=7.3{\times}10^{-5}$), suggesting that the 8q24 rs4242382-A polymorphism was associated with PCa risk in Chinese men. The genotypes in subjects were in accordance with a dominant genetic model (ORadj=2.03, 95%CI: 1.42-2.91, $Padj=1.1{\times}10^{-4}$). Presence of the risk allele rs4242382-A at 8q24 was also associated with clinical covariates including age at diagnosis ${\geq}65$ years, prostate specific antigen >10 ng/ml, Gleason score <8, tumor stage and aggressive PCa, compared with the non-risk genotype ($P=4.6{\times}10^{-5}-3.0{\times}10^{-2}$). Meta-analysis confirmed the association between 8q24 rs4242382-A polymorphism and PCa risk (OR=1.62, 95%CI: 1.39-1.88, $P=1.0{\times}10^{-5}$) across Asian, Caucasian and African American populations. Conclusions: The replicated data suggest that the 8q24 rs4242382-A variation might be associated with increased PCa susceptibility in Asian, Caucasian and African American populations. These results imply that this polymorphism may be a useful risk biomarker for PCa in multi-ethnic populations.