• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.419-430
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• 2023

In response to the periodic occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms in Korean freshwaters, various types of cyanobacteria removal technologies are being developed and implemented. Due to the differing principles behind these technologies, it is difficult to compare and evaluate their removal efficiencies. In this study, a standardized method for evaluating cyanobacteria removal efficiency was proposed by utilizing the results of removal operations using a mobile cyanobacteria removal device in the Seohwacheon area of Daechung Reservoir. During removal operations, the decrease in chlorophyll-a (chl-a) concentration (ΔChl-a) in the working area was calculated based on the amount of collected sludge, the efficiency rate, and the concentration of chl-a. Additionally, the required working days (WD) to reduce the chl-a concentration to 1 mg/m³ in the target area was calculated based on the area of the target zone, the maximum daily working area, and the efficiency rate. A method for calculating the cyanobacteria removal capacity was proposed based on the reduction rate of chl-a concentration in the water before and after the operation, the treatment capacity of the removal technology, and the water volume of the target area. The cyanobacteria removal capacity of the mobile cyanobacteria removal device used in this study was 6.64%/day (targeting the Seohwacheon area of Daechung Reservoir, approximately 500,000 m²), which was higher compared to other physical or physicochemical cyanobacteria removal technologies (0.02~4.72%/day). Utilizing the evaluation method of cyanobacteria removal efficiency presented in this study, it will be possible to compare and evaluate the cyanobacteria removal technologies currently being applied in Korea. This method could also be used to assess the performance and efficiency of physical or physicochemical combined cyanobacteria removal techniques in the "Guidelines for the Installation and Operation of Algae Removal Facilities and the Use of Algae Removal Agents" operated by the National Institute of Environmental Research.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.74-82
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• 2011

Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between sustained attention deficits in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) children and short-term Heart Rate Variability(HRV) parameters. In addition, we evaluate the relationship between The ADHD rating scale(ARS), the computerized ADHD diagnostic system(ADS) and Parenting stress index- short form(PSI-SF). Methods:This study was performed in the department of children and Adolescent psychiatry, Korea university Guro hospital from august 2008 to January 2009. We evaluated HRV parameters by short-term recordings of 5 minutes. K-ARS and ADS are used for screening and identifying ADHD children. Intelligence was measured using Korean educational Developmental Institute-wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. The caregivers Complete Parenting Stress Index scale for evaluation parent stress. Results:The low frequency(LF) was significantly correlated with response variability of ADS. However, the other variables of ARS and ADS were not significantly correlated with LF. Hyperactivity subscale of ARS was significantly correlated with parental distress subscale and difficult child subscale of PSI-SF and inattention subscale of ARS was also significantly correlated with dysfunctional interaction and difficult child subscale of PSI-SF. Conclusion:The LF, 0.10-Hz component of HRV is known to measure effort allocation. This study shows that the LF component of HRV is significantly correlated with the response variability of ADS. This means that more severe symptoms of ADHD were correlated with the increase in the LF that means decreased effort allocation. These results also support the clinical usability of HRV in the assessment of ADHD. Furthermore, PSI-SF is correlated with hyperactivity and inattention variables of ARS.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.5-17
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• 2018

The standardized eddy covariance flux data processing in KoFlux has been updated, and its database has been amended accordingly. KoFlux data users have not been informed properly regarding these changes and the likely impacts on their analyses. In this paper, we have documented how the current structure of data processing in KoFlux has been established through the changes and improvements to ensure transparency, reliability and usability of the KoFlux database. Due to increasing diversity and complexity of flux site instrumentation and organization, we have re-implemented the previously ignored or simplified procedures in data processing (e.g., frequency response correction, stationarity test), and added new methods for $CH_4$ flux gap-filling and $CO_2$ flux correction and partitioning. To evaluate the effects of the changes, we processed the data measured at a flat and homogeneous paddy field (i.e., HPK) and a deciduous forest in complex and heterogeneous topography (i.e., GDK), and quantified the differences. Based on the results from our overall assessment, it is confirmed that (1) the frequency response correction (HPK: 11~18% of biases for annually integrated values, GDK: 6~10%) and the stationarity test (HPK: 4~19% of biases for annually integrated values, GDK: 9~23%) are important for quality control and (2) the minimization of the missing data and the choice of the appropriate driver (rather than the choice of the gap-filling method) are important to reduce the uncertainty in gap-filled fluxes. These results suggest the future directions for the data processing technology development to ensure the continuity of the long-term KoFlux database.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2016

Background: For the accurate dose assessment in radiation therapy, energy spectrum of the photon beam generated from the linac head is essential. The aim of this study is to develop the technique to accurately unfolding the energy spectrum with the transmission analysis method. Materials and Methods: Clinical linear accelerator and Monet Carlo method was employed to evaluate the transmission signals according to the thickness of the observer material, and then the response function of the ion chamber response was determined with the mono energy beam. Finally the energy spectrum was unfolded with HEPROW program. Elekta Synergy Flatform and Geant4 tool kits was used in this study. Results and Discussion: In the comparison between calculated and measured transmission signals using aluminum alloy as an attenuator, root mean squared error was 0.43%. In the comparison between unfolded spectrum using HEPROW program and calculated spectrum using Geant4, the difference of peak and mean energy were 0.066 and 0.03 MeV, respectively. However, for the accurate prediction of the energy spectrum, additional experiment with various type of material and improvement of the unfolding program is required. Conclusion: In this research, it is demonstrated that unfolding spectra technique could be used in megavoltage photon beam with aluminum alloy and HEPROW program.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.334-350
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• 2003

The purpose of this descriptive study was to evaluate the clinical validity of QSCCII (Questionnaire for the Sasang Constitution Classification), whose high accuracy as a constitutional diagnostic tool has been recognized by medical professionals. The subjects of this study were 568 clients from an A university hospital in Suwon. Of the subjects, 259 were health center visitors and 292 were ambulatory clinic visitors. Data were collected using self-reported questionnaire and were analyzed by $X^2$-test and one-way ANOVA. The results of this study as follows: 1. In 4 types of constitution, Soeumin type was found in 41.5% of the subjects. Taeumin type in 39.2%.,and Soyangin type in 19.2%, respectively. There was no Tayangin type found in this study. There were no significant differences on types of constitution by demographic characteristics such as age, sex, marital status, education, religion, and economic status. 2. As for 15 item-selective questionnaire, there were statistically significant differences on the response rate of the 12 items, except items such as A4, A11 and A14, by the types of constitution. When the subjects' own criteria on their constitution were compared to the given constitutional criteria on each item, 4 items such as A6, A11, A13 and A14 were advisable to be excluded from the questionnaire or to be reunited to the other criteria. In the meanwhile, 3 items such as A7, A18 and A15 were desirable to be re-categorized to the other constitutional types and reconstructed to the QSCC II questionnaire. 3. In terms of 106 true-false questionnaire, there were statistically significant differences on the response rate of 46 items by the types of constitution. The 46 items include 15 items (32.6%) of the domain of 'handling something/strength and weakness', 4 items (8.7%) of the domain of 'interpersonal relationship', 9 items (19.6%) of the domain of 'state of mind at ordinary times', 2 items (4.3%) of the domain of 'distinctive emotional characteristics' area, 11 items (23.9%) of the domain of 'specific behavioral trait' and 5 items (10.9%) of the domain of 'physical characteristics'. Therefore, the areas of 'handling something/strength and weakness' and' specific behavioral trait' mainly contributed to the classification of constitutional type. 4. When the 106 true-false items were simplified to the 46 items, statistically significant differences were found on the rate of items allocated to the 3 types of constitution. The rate of selection assigned to the 3 constitutional types of the simplified 46-item questionnaire was higher than that of the original 106-item questionnaire. Conclusions; It was concluded that the rate of selection of each lay person about his own constitutional type would be still higher even though the simplified items of QSCC II questionnaire were applied. If more replicated studies are conducted on the diverse population using the simplifying QSCC II questionnaire in the future, a more simplified standardized Sasang Constitution Questionnaire that is available to the public rather than to medical staffs in the clinical settings could be developed. Moreover, the simplified scale will help nurses deliver more efficient nursing care by providing a more rapid way of health assessment.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1114-1119
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• 2012

This study was conducted to assess the microbial toxicity of ionic silver solution ($Ag^+N$) and silver nanoparticle suspension ($Ag^0NP$) based on the Microtox bioassay. In this test, the light inhibition of luminescent bacteria was measured after 15 and 30 min exposure to aqueous solutions and soils spiked with a dilution series of $Ag^+N$ and $Ag^0NP$. The resulting dose-response curves were used to derive effective concentration (EC25, $EC_{50}$, EC75) and effective dose ($ED_{25}$, $ED_{50}$, $ED_{75}$) that caused a 25, 50 and 75% inhibition of luminescence. In aqueous solutions, $EC_{50}$ value of $Ag^+N$ after 15 min exposure was determined to be < $2mg\;L^{-1}$ and remarkably lower than $EC_{50}$ value of $Ag^0NP$ with $251mg\;L^{-1}$. This revealed that $Ag^+N$ was more toxic to luminescent bacteria than $Ag^0NP$. In soil extracts, however, $ED_{50}$ value of $Ag^+N$ with 196 mg kg-1 was higher than $ED_{50}$ value of $Ag^0NP$ with $104mg\;kg^{-1}$, indicating less toxicity of $Ag^+N$ in soils. The reduced toxicity of $Ag^+N$ in soils can be attributed to a partial adsorption of ionic $Ag^+$ on soil colloids and humic acid as well as a partial formation of insoluble AgCl with NaCl of Microtox diluent. This resulted in lower concentration of active Ag in soil extracts obtained after 1 hour shaking with $Ag^+N$ than that spiked with $Ag^0NP$. With longer exposure time, EC and ED values of both $Ag^+N$ and $Ag^0NP$ decreased, so their toxicity increased. The toxic characteristics of silver nanomaterials were different depending on existing form of Ag ($Ag^+$, $Ag^0$), reaction medium (aqueous solution, soil), and exposure time.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2012

Helicobacter pylori is an important factor of chronic gastritis, digestive ulcer, and stomach cancer. CagL, a virulence factor of H. pylori, is well-known as a pilus protein which acts as adhesion to host cell and a component of Type 4 secretion system. In this study, we evaluated the protective response of recombinant CagL protein (rCagL) using Mongolian gerbil animal model for H. pylori infection. The cagL gene was cloned from 26695 H. pylori followed by over-expression and purification of the protein in E. coli. Mongolian gerbils were immunized with rCagL protein mixed with aluminum adjuvant via intramuscular injections once a week during 4 weeks. At a week after the last immunization, the Mongolian gerbils were administrated with H. pylori 7.13 strain into the stomach and sacrificed to measure antibody titer on rCagL by ELISA and bacterial colonization in the stomach, and to examine the histopathological changes and cytokine expression at 6 week after challenge. Antibody titers on recombinant protein were significantly increased from a week after the first immunization. There was no significant change of the number of bacterial colony between control group and immunized group. The relative stomach weight was significantly decreased in immunized group, but the significant change of histopathological assessment was not observed in the stomach. Cytokine expression such as IL-$1{\beta}$ and KC also was not significantly different between control and immunized groups. These results indicate that rCagL could effectively induce the formation of the specific IgG antibodies. However, bacterial colonization and histopathological lesions could not be inhibited by the immunization in the stomach, indicating not enough protection against H. pylori infection. We consider that along with CagL other adequate antigens could be needed stimulating immune response and inducing protective effects against gastric disease, and also a better adjuvant could be considered.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.178-184
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• 2004

Objectives : This study was conducted to investigate the association of the COMT polymorphism with the TD in Korean sample of families with TD probands. The relationship between risk alleles and specific clinical features (tic severity, comorbidity, drug response) was also explored. Method : Patients were recruited from the Tic Disorder clinic at the Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Division of Seoul National University Hospital and assessed through 2 stage evaluation. Firstly, all the patients and parents received semistructured interview using Korean version of K-SADS-PL. Secondly all the patients received clinical interview and tic severity assessment with Korean version of YGTSS. The subjects in control group were recruited from the health promotion center in out hospital and were evaluated by SCL-90 and SCID-IV. Through these process, total of 42 children and adolescents with TD, their 84 parents and 86 control subjects were finally recruited. Genotyping for The Val158Met polymorphism of the COMT gene was done by standardized method. After collection of genetic data of all the patients, parents and control subjects, case-control comparison and tranmission dysequilibrium test was executed by SPSS version 11. Result : From the case-control comparison, the frequency of L-allele and LL genotype was significantly higher in TD group. However, no differences were found from the TDT. No significant differences were found in in family history of tic, ADHD, OCD, drug response and comorbid conditions among the three different genotypes in patients with TD. Conclusion : Though this study results should be interpreted cautiously due to small sample size and negative finding in TDT test, this study is the first report that there is positive association between the functional polymorphism of COMT gene the TD.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2010

Purpose : We aimed to evaluate predictive parameters for non-response to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) before IVIG use using two controls. Methods : We evaluated 229 consecutive KD patients who were treated with 2 g/kg of IVIG at a single center. Those who had persistent fever >24 hours after IVIG infusion made up the 23 IVIG non-responders; the first control included a total 206 defervesced cases and the second control included 46 cases that were matched for age and pre-treatment fever duration to non-responders. Results : Demographic and clinical characteristics were similar in IVIG non-responders and responders at presentation. As for laboratory findings, the neutrophil differential, CRP, AST, ALT, and LDH were higher, and lymphocyte differential, total protein, albumin, platelet count, and total cholesterol were significantly lower in IVIG non-responders compared to responders by univariate analysis in both study designs. However in multivariate analysis, non-responders showed a significantly higher neutrophil differential (cutoff value, >77%, sensitivity 68.4% and specificity 79.5%) and lower cholesterol (<124 mg/dL, sensitivity 79% and specificity 70.5%). Whereas plasma albumin (<3.6 g/dL, sensitivity 73.7% and specificity 60%) was the sole laboratory parameter of non-responders in the second study design. Conclusion : Severity of inflammation in KD was reflected by higher or lower laboratory values at presentation. Because the multivariate analysis for these indices may be influenced by some confounding factors, including the numbers of patients of different ages and fever duration, other assessment modalities are needed for KD patients with the greatest risk of coronary artery lesions.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2010

Most pesticides are poorly soluble in water and must be dissolved in a solvent carrier before being added to the test medium on aquatic toxicity test. The concentration of solvent is critical to the success of a test. This study were conducted to recommend possible organic solvents which have good solubility for pesticides and low toxicity to Korean native water flea to establish new standard toxicity test methods using Korean native water flea for ecological risk assessment of pesticide. Four Korean freshwater cladocerans, Daphnia obtusa, Daphnia sp., Moina macrocopa and Simocephalus vetulus were exposed to 10 different organic solvents during 48 hours to evaluate their toxic response to solvents. Ethyl acetate was the most toxic to cladocerans tested. Although ethyl ether was the least toxic to cladocerans tested, it may not adequate as possible solvent in aquatic toxicity test due to high volatility and low water solubility. In conclusion, acetone, methanol, ethanol and acetonitrile which has low toxicity as well as good water solubility are recommended as optimal organic solvent to use in aquatic toxicity tests with Korean native cladocerans tested.