• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1055-1064
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• 2009

Enteroviruses were identified and characterized from patients with aseptic meningitis and other enterovirus-related diseases in Chungnam, Korea from 2005 to 2006. Enteroviruses were isolated from 79 of 519 cases (15.2%) in 2005, and 37 of 386 cases (9.6%) in 2006. Based on partial VP1 sequencing, a total of 116 enterovirus isolates were resolved into 13 types. Prevalent among the Chungnam isolates were echovirus 18 and coxsackievirus B5 in 2005, and echoviruses 5 and 25 in 2006. This is the first time echoviruses 5 and 18 have been identified in Korea since enterovirus surveillance began there in 1993. The temporal distribution of enterovirus epidemics in Chungnam showed a remarkable seasonal pattern, with cases occurring during most of the three months of the summer from June to August. The highest rate of enterovirus-positive cases occurred in patients less than 1 year of age. The ratio of male to female enterovirus-positive patients was approximately 1.8:1. Comparison of the VP1 amino acid sequences of the 15 coxsackievirus B5 isolates with reference strains revealed that all Chungnam isolates are substituted at positions 23 (V231), 19 (S19G), 75 (Y75F), and 95 (N95S). Upon comparing the nine ECV5 isolates with foreign strains, it was found that only the Chungnam isolates, with the exception of Kor06-ECV5-239cn, have P at position 153 and F at position 146. The three ECV9 isolates from 2006 show alterations at amino acids 36, 148, and 154 outside of the BC-loop and at position 84 in the BC-loop, whereas the seven isolates from 2005 and the other ECV9 strains in the database only show the alteration at position 84 (D, I, N, S). The five ECV25 isolates have an S residue at position 134, whereas most of the foreign strains have an N residue.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 2007

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the present status of several environmental problems caused by emerging toxic substances such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and arsenic in various environmental media in Vietnam. Monitoring data reported during the 1990s demonstrated elevated contamination of DDTs in most of these compartments in Vietnam. Studies in frame of the Asia-Pacific Mussel Watch Program revealed that fish, mussels and resident birds from Vietnam contained higher concentrations of DDTs as compared to other countries in region, suggesting the role of Vietnamese environment as a significant emission source of DDT in the Southeast Asian region. The estimated dietary intakes of PCBs and DDTs for Vietnamese were relatively high among Asian developing countries, suggesting potential risk for humans posed by thesechemicals. Widespread contamination of some endocrine active compounds such as alkylphenols and phthalates was observed at various sites along the coasts of northern and middle Vietnam. The presence of significant source of bisphenol-A along Red River estuary was revealed with the concentrations comparable to those reported for developed nations. A case study on seasonal variation of alkylphenols and phthalates in surface water of river delta and estuary of north and middle Vietnam indicated the differences in distribution of these compounds between dry and rainy seasons. Higher concentrations of alkylphenols and phthalates were found in dry season in estuary; while the contrasting pattern was observed in the river delta, showing elevated residues in rainy season. This result suggests the different behavior of alkylphenols and phthalates in river delta and coastal environment. From ecotoxicological perspectives, concentrations of bis-phenol A and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalates [DEHP] in surface water from some locations in Vietnam exceeded the guideline values for Ecotoxicological Effects and the Environmental Risk Limit, respectively, suggesting potential for toxic implications on aquatic wildlife. Widespread and elevated arsenic contamination was discovered inour recent surveys in groundwater in a large area of suburban areas of Hanoi city, the capital of Vietnam. The most recent investigation in 4 villages showed about more than 50 % of groundwater samples contained As concentrations exceeding 50 g/L (the WHO and Vietnamese standard). In particular, in Son Dong villages, 58 % of samples analyzed contained As concentrations higher than 200 g/L. Good correlations were found in As concentrations in water and hair and urine of peoples in corresponding families, suggesting the chronic exposure to As by people living in As-contaminated ground water areas. In Son Dong village, As levels in hair (mean: 1.7 mg/kg dry wt) and urine (g/g creatinine) exceeding the reference values recommended by WHO, suggesting potential for human risk posed by long term accumulation of As in human body. Future studies should be focused on the time trends of POPs and EDCs in biota in Vietnam in order to predict future trend of contamination and to reveal new clues for understanding possible toxic impacts on aquatic organisms. The issues of arsenic contamination in groundwater and their chronic toxic implications on human health should be systematically investigated in the future.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.221-236
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• 1993

Economic conditions of Korean agriculture have been aggravated since farmers experienced the shortage of labor, instability of farm product price, lack of capital and pressure of opening domestic market. Nevertheless, agriculture must be maintained because structure of national economy can not be progressed without balanced growth of food industry. So the problem that we must solve is to keep agriculture competitive. In that case technology is important in terms of improving productivity, overcoming labor shortage and stabilizing price. This paper is to study the technology adoption on the farm level, focusing on the theories of technology adoption, their empirical test and effect of technology adoption on the farm household income. In this study five theories-independent model, linear model, middle class conservation model, modified middle class conservation model, basic needs and wealfare model- were introduced concerning differentiated technology adoption rate by farmers' class. Based on the survey of controlled strawberry farming in Nonsan County, Chungnam Province, who adopted six kinds of technology, modified middle class conservation model was found to explain five kinds of technology adoption pattern and linear model was useful to explain one kind of technology, that is, irrigation method, These results may mean that controlled strawbary cultivators of middle class were reluctant to accept new technology. There are many variables to effect on the technology accepting rate, that is, farmer's age, labor capacity, education level, cultivation career, size of total cultivated land, and size of strawberry farming land. LOGIT model was used to find which variable influence the technology adoption rate. Results of estimation showed that variables of cultivation career and total land size, of which coefficients were statistically significant at the 5 percent level, might be main influential factors in accepting more than three farming techniques. There was a significant income difference between farm households accepting new methods and those rejecting them. Especially in case of low class of farming group, income of farmers who was adopting new technology was examined to be much higher than that of farmers who did not adopt. This result suggests that new technology play an important role in increasing farm household income. Finally this study emphasized that there is a need to develop proper measure of technology transfer considering various socioeconomic conditions of farm households.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.125-135
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• 2000

Hypertension is a well-known degenerative disease whose prevalence rate increases with age. Management of high blood pressure is a critical concern in preventive strategies to reduce the morbidity and mortality for cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to examine the dietary characteristics of hypertensive program participants, and to establish strategies based on their nutritional needs. Hypertensive patients were enrolled in the program in a public health center or in a local elderly center, at Suwon, in 1999-2000. Trained dietitians interviewed 62 enrollees(24-hour recall) and related variables. Mean body mass index of the subjects was 25.0kg/m². 30.7% of the subjects had a family history of hypertension. The majority of them ate regularly and partook of all available side dishes. They consumed grains and vegetables regularly, but seldom ate dairy products or food prepared with oil. Male enrollees frequently consumed more processed food and animal fat than did female enrollees(p<0.05). An analysis of the percentage of RDA(Recommended Dietary Allowances of Korea 1995) showed that but for ascorbic acid, enrollees consumed nutrients below the RDA. The food group intake pattern was not diverse, thus only 8.1% of enrollees consumed all food groups in a day. An analysis of eating attitude showed that 64.5% of enrollees always added salt to beef soup. Male enrollees showed low food-related self-efficacy compared to female enrollees, especially with reference to reduction of instant food intake(p<0.01), increase in vegetable intake(p<0.01), reduction of monosodium glutamate(MSG) intake(p<0.01). and not overeating(p<0.05). Their perceived barriers for participating in hypertension nutrition programs included lack of time, program necessity non-recognition, and program comprehension difficulty. These results suggest that nutrition education program necessity non-recognition, and program comprehension difficulty. These results suggest that nutrition education programs for community hypertensive patients should focus on increasing participant consumption of foods, expecially dairy products, and desirable eating attitudes. It also suggests that the program should consider should consider encouraging self-efficacy in changing eating behavior.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.301-311
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• 2017

In this study, we observed the characteristics of students' small group discussions concerning the four friction problems. Participants in this study were 22 students of upper-level mechanics course and their small group discussions have been transcribed. As a result, we found that the phenomenon in this study is well defined by 'common context.' The process of formation of the common context was explicitly observed when students discussed about the identification of the problem situation (especially the movement of A in the second problem), the nature of friction and various forces, inertial frame, and noninertial reference frame. Meanwhile, the formation of common context was tacit when students thought they already had a common context. For example, students did not discuss about the friction rule itself because they had confidence about the knowledge. We also found that the presence of the questioner, receiver, and the other opinion were important for positive group discussions. The result of this study would be meaningful because it analyzed how the theme affects the group discussion beyond the limit of previous studies of just analyzing the form or pattern of discourse.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.75-87
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• 2000

The aims of this study are to establish a mode of housing life style that meet the demands of families living in big cities, and the contribute to the development of a better housing life style pattern by considering metropolitan residents' choice of housing and basic concepts of their behavioral patterns. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Value orientation of family life was divided into value orientation of family and value orientation of housing. Value orientation of family was constituted of four factors such as 'harmony', 'leisure and hobbies', 'individual development and its support' , 'education' . Value orientation of housing is constituted of three factors such as 'physical characteristics of house' , '\`environmental condition', 'socio-economic conditions of housing'. The comprehensive life values were constituted of six factors such as 'the importance of communal family', 'the importance of housing decoration and housing life benefits', 'the importance of security and holding environment' , 'the importance of familial harmony', 'the importance of privacy', 'the importance of convenience and natural environment'. Based on three factors, were found to be fine types of value orientation of family life which were 'pursue healthy of family', 'comfort of family', 'clean environment', 'convenient environment', and 'harmonious relationship among family members'. Variables influencing the value orientation of family life were property and price of housing. 2. Consumption propensity when buying house, furniture and durables were constituted of four factors which were propensity to 'beauty', 'fashion', 'tradition and symbol', and 'pragmatic use'. Based on these factors, there were found to be four types of consumption propensity when buying house, furniture and durables which were 'fashion', 'tradition and symbol', 'beauty', and 'pragmatic use'. Variables influencing spending habits were found to be objective social class (SES), types of residence, wife's educational background, and price of housing. 3. Propensity to using space were constituted of three factors which were 'convenience', 'politeness and social grace', and 'housekeeping'. Based on these factors, there were found to be three types of propensity to using space which were 'individuality', 'convenience', and 'politeness and housekeeping'. Variables influencing propensity to use of space were found to be objective social class (SES), wife's educational background, types of homeownership and price of housing 4. According to this study, there were found to be six patterns of housing life style: 1) family that seeks formalist life, 2) family that seeks harmonious life, 3) family that seeks active healthy life, 4) family that combine various factors, 5) family that seeks convenience, 6) family that stresses environment.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.791-801
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to examine factors affecting the intent of re-employment of inactive registered nurses. This study presents a secondary analysis of data collected in 'Nurse Turnover On-line Survey' by Korean Nurses Association and Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs in 2014. The analysis shows that 70.9% of inactive RNs has an intent to return to practice, and most of them preferred 'flexible working options' (47.8%) or 'fixed day shifts' (43.3%) as a work pattern. Main reasons for resigning from their last job have been found to be 'high work intensity' (18.8%) and 'difficulties of night shifts' (16.7%). Inactive married RNs who have working histories in a general hospital or a long-term care hospital or have preferences for traditional shift works showed a stronger intent to return to practice than their reference group. Our study shows that, for inactive RNs to return to practice, it is recommendable to adopt various non-traditional working patterns, to make a staffing distribution considering the labor intensity and to develop education programs designed to increase RNs' professional satisfaction.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.19-37
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• 1989

The purpose of this study was to investigate the development of logical thinking and scientific reasoning pattern of Korean high school students. To carry out this study subjects were selected about 2,000 Junior high school students, and about 4,100 senior high school students throughout the nation. They were identified as concrete, transitional or formal operational stage with the use of TOLT(the Test of Logical Thinking) by Tobin and Capie(1980), and TOSR(the Test of Scientific Reasoning) by W.A Farmer(1986). This study turned out that more than 76% of Junior high school students were classified as the concrete operational stage and about 44% of senior high school students were classified as the formal operational stage, while about 26% of them were still in the concrete operational level. This study showed that the main factor of the intellectual development of students is learning by the gradual advancement of their grades and especially entrance into the senior high school rather than by the physical growth. This study also showed that there are the take-off stage of the development of logical thinking between fourteen and fifteen years of their ages. Less than 25% of junior high school students were in the formal operational stages which are capable of control of variables, probabilistic, correlation and combinational logic in problem-solving situation, while 33-54% of senior high school students were in the formal operational levels. 38% of junior high school students were in the formal operational stage which is capable of proportional logic, while about 55% of senior high school students were in the formal operational stage. Less than 20% of senior high school students were classified as group of highly capable of scientific reasoning, while more than 23% of them were classified as group of poor capability. It also turned out that there are differences or no differences between male and female students of each school in problem-solving situation regarding each logic approach. These differences were proved to be fluctuating depending on the situations and their grades. The other results of this study is similar to those of other researches such as Tomlinson-Keasey 1972, Coleman 1973, Lawson 1973, Lawson and Renner 1974, Neimark 1975, Han 1982, and Kim 1989.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2018

The advent of available DNA barcoding technology has been extensively adopted to assist in the reference to differentiate the origin of various medicinal plants species. However, this technology is still far behind the curve of technological advances to be applied in a practical manner in the market to authenticate the counterfeit components or detect the contamination in the admixtures of medicinal plant species. Recently, a high resolution melting curve analysis technique was combined with the procedure of DNA barcoding (Bar-HRM) to accomplish this purpose. In this review, we tried to summarize the current development and bottleneck of processing related to the Bar-HRM technology for the practical application of medicinal plant species' differentiation in a viable global market. Although several successful results have been reported, there are still many obstacles to be resolved, such as limited number of DNA barcodes and single nucleotide polymorphisms, in particular, only one DNA barcode, internal transcribed sequence (ITS) of ribosomal DNA has been reported in the available nuclear genome. In addition, too few cases have been reported about the identification of counterfeit or contamination with processed medicinal plant products, in particular specifically the case of technology based infusion, jam and jelly products and components in which it is noted that DNA can be thereby degraded during the processing of these products and components.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.245-253
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• 1995

The effects of a simultaneous application of KCl and lime on the root uptake of $^{54}Mn,\;^{60}Co,\;^{85}Sr\;and\;^{137}Cs$ by rice, soybean, Chinese cabbage and radish were investigated through 2 years' greenhouse experiments. At their early growth stages, a mixed solution of the radionuclides was applied to the water or soil surfaces of the culture boxes filled with an acidic loamy-sandy soil for the upper 20cm and $83g/m^2$ of fertilizer KCl and $200g/m^2$ of slake lime were applied to the surfaces. Distribution of radioactivities among plant parts and change in uptake pattern with plant species were not, on the whole, significantly affected by the application. It reduced effectively soil-to-plant transfer factors of $^{85}Sr\;and\;^{137}Cs$ for rice, of all for Chinese cabbage and of $^{54}Mn,\;^{60}Co,\;and\;^{137}Cs$ for radish without their growth inhibition. In rice, $^{85}Sr$ showed the highest decrease $({\sim}60%)$ while, in Chinese cabbage and radish, $^{54}Mn$ did $({\sim}80%)$. The exprimental results can become valuable reference data to establish countermeasures against a radioactive contamination of farm-land during plant growth.