• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.170-174
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• 2018

Environmental stresses caused by climate change, such as high temperature, drought and salinity severely impact plant growth and productivity. Among these factors, high temperature stress will become more severe during summer. In this study, we examined physiological and molecular responses of maize plants to high temperature stress during summer. Highest level of $H_2O_2$ was observed in maize leaves collected July 26 compared with June 25 and July 12. Results indicated that high temperature stress triggers production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in maize leaves. In addition, photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) sharply decreased in leaves with increasing air temperatures during the day in the field. RT-PCR analysis of maize plants exposed to high temperatures of during the day in field revealed increased accumulation of mitochondrial and chloroplastic small heat shock protein (HSP) transcripts. Results demonstrate that Fv/Fm values and organelle-localized small HSP gene could be used as physiological and molecular indicators of plants impacted by environmental stresses.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.4745-4751
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• 2014

Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance in the redox status of the body. In such a state, increase of free radicals in the body can lead to tissue damage. One of the most important species of free radicals is reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by various metabolic pathways, including aerobic metabolism in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. It plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of various types of cancers. ROS affects different signaling pathways, including growth factors and mitogenic pathways, and controls many cellular processes, including cell proliferation, and thus stimulates the uncontrolled growth of cells which encourages the development of tumors and begins the process of carcinogenesis. Increased oxidative stress caused by reactive species can reduce the body's antioxidant defense against angiogenesis and metastasis in cancer cells. These processes are main factors in the development of cancer. Bimolecular reactions cause free radicals in which create such compounds as malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydroxyguanosine. These substances can be used as indicators of cancer. In this review, free radicals as oxidizing agents, antioxidants as the immune system, and the role of oxidative stress in cancer, particularly breast cancer, have been investigated in the hope that better identification of the factors involved in the occurrence and spread of cancer will improve the identification of treatment goals.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.77-83
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to assess the organizational types and the job stress factors that affect the procedure-based job performances in nuclear power plants(NPPs). We derived 24 organizational factors affecting to the job stress in NPPs from the job stress analysis models of NIOSH(1989), Cooper(1990), and Karasek(1990). onsidering the safety characteristic in operating tasks of NPPs, we individuate among the tasks in NPPs through the division of duty and the analysis of cost activity. Through the questionnaire survey, a structured interview with the responsible employees, and expert panels, we assess 70 tasks among 777 tasks managed officially under the procedures. They are the representative tasks to the duties of each division and are directly related to the safety. We utilize the OPTI(organizational personality type indicators) to characterize the personality type of each organization in NPPs.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.227-234
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• 2022

Purpose: Smoking is a way of coping with anxiety and stress. This study aimed to identify the effects of forest-thermal combined therapy on anxiety and depression in smokers who desire to quit smoking. Methods: Thirty participants were included in the study, 15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group. Those in the experimental group participated in a three-day forest-thermal combined therapy program. The program includes forest walks, meditation and thermal therapy in the charcoal kiln. Results: Before and after the program, physiological indicators such as cortisol, heart rate variability, and serotonin anxiety level using the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), and stress level using the psychosocial well-being index (PWI) were measured in both groups. The differences in STAI (p=.012) and PWI (p=.006) scores between the experimental and control groups were statistically significant. However, cortisol, heart rate variability, and serotonin were not significantly different between the two groups after the program. Conclusion: These results show that forest-thermal combination therapy effectively reduces anxiety and stress in smokers. It suggests that forest-thermal therapy can potentially increase smoking cessation rates.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.173-195
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• 2023

Objectives: To investigate and analyze the assessment indicators and tools used in clinical practice to assess Korean medicine (KM) treatment for infertility, and to establish a basis for assessment tools to diagnose and assess infertility. Methods: Relevant studies published until March 2023 were extracted from Pubmed, Research Information Sharing Service, and National Digital Science Library databases. Results: Sixty-four studies comprising 4,105 patients were included. We investigated pregnancy outcomes, and assessed pregnancy- and childbirth-related factors, overall health, reproductive health, and mental health. Pregnancy result was most common primary outcome. Ongoing pregnancy, stillbirth, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy rates were suggested as indicators of pregnancy and childbirth-related assessment. Overall health was most commonly assessed with Likert and Visual analogue scale (VAS). Among reproductive health variables, menstrual history was most frequently assessed. Moreover, indicators such as reproductive function, sexual intercourse, and gynecological disease were assessed. The Infertility Stress Scale and the Fertility Quality of Life tool (FertiQoL) were used to assess mental health. Conclusions: Subjective scales and objective assessment tools, such as the Likert scale and blood tests/ultrasonography, respectively, are used to assess KM infertility treatment. Inconsistent assessment tools make quantitative analyses more challenging. The development of a standardized mental and physical function assessment questionnaire with confirmed reliability and validity ensure the effectiveness of KM infertility treatment, and promote future studies on infertility treatment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.6
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• pp.878-884
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• 2010

Ozone sensitivity of physiological indicators and the difference of ozone tolerance on 4 families of Quercus aliena seedlings were investigated on the basis of the standardized physiological indicators. Photosynthetic parameters, photosynthetic pigment and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and antioxidative enzyme activities were measured or analyzed from the leaves of Q. aliena seedlings at the end of ozone fumigation, and ozone tolerance indices among 4 families were calculated with the standardized physiological parameters. After ozone treatment, the reduction of carboxylation efficiency was observed in the leaves of four families, and their reduction were ranged from -24.1% to -56.9% of control seedlings. Photosynthetic pigment content differed significantly among 4 families and treatments. The reduction of total chlorophyll content showed the highest in family SU4 (-40.6%) and the lowest family US2 (-18.8%). Ascorbate-peroxidase (APX) activity showed significant difference among families and treatments, and increased as compared with control in three families, except for family US2. On the basis of the physiological indices, ozone tolerance of four families was ranked in the order of US1 > SU4 > US2 > SU1. In conclusion, photosynthetic parameters, pigment content and APX activity were recommended as appropriate indicators to assess the tolerance against ozone stress of Q. aliena.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.35-38
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• 2015

Background: Organizational changes that involve healthcare hospital departments and care services of health districts, and ongoing technological innovations and developments in society increasingly expose healthcare workers (HCWs) to work-related stress (WRS). Minimizing occupational exposure to stress requires effective risk stress assessment and management programs. Methods: The authors conducted an integrated analysis of stress sentinel indicators, an integrated analysis of objective stress factors of occupational context and content areas, and an integrated analysis between nurses and physicians of hospital departments and care services of health districts in accordance with a multidimensional validated tool developed in Italy by the National Network for the Prevention of Work-Related Psychosocial Disorders. The purpose of this retrospective observational study was to detect and analyze in different work settings the level of WRS resulting from organizational changes implemented by hospital healthcare departments and care services of health districts in a sample of their employees. Results: The findings of the study showed that hospital HCWs seemed to incur a medium level risk of WRS that was principally the result of work context factors. The implementation of improvement interventions focused on team development, safety training programs, and adopting an ethics code for HCWs, and it effectively and significantly reduced the level of WRS risk in the workplace. Conclusion: In this study HCW resulted to be exposed to occupational stress factors susceptible to reduction. Stress management programs aimed to improve work context factors associated with occupational stress are required to minimize the impact of WRS on workers.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.450-460
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• 2020

The occurrence of exotic weeds and their influx into farmlands due to climate change poses many problems. Therefore, it is necessary to generate a prediction model for the occurrence pattern of these exotic weeds based on scientific evidence and devise prevention measures. The photosynthetic apparatus is known as the most temperature-sensitive component of a plant cell and its initial response to temperature stress is to inhibit the activation of photosystem II. This study investigated the potential of OJIP transients in assessing temperature stress in exotic weeds. The four exotic weeds currently flowing into Korean farmlands include Amaranthus spinosus, Conyza bonariensis, Crassocephalum crepidioides, and Amaranthus viridis. These weeds were treated at 5℃, 10℃, 15℃, 20℃, 25℃, 30℃, 35℃, and 40℃ and the OJIP curves and JIP parameters were measured and analyzed. The results showed that heat and chilling stress affected the photosystem II(PSII) electron transport of A. spinosus, whereas C. crepidioides and A. viridis were more affected by high-temperature stress than by low-temperature stress. Lastly, C. bonariensis showed resistance to both high and low-temperature stress. The results of this study suggest that OJIP transients and JIP parameters can be used to analyze damage to the photosynthetic apparatus by temperature stress and that they can serve as sensitive indicators for the occurrence pattern of exotic weeds.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.88-96
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the mental fitness, perspective taking, attitude toward the elderly, and quantitative encephalogram among caregivers. Methods: In this mixed method research, 14 female caregivers at an elderly care facility in Y city were participated from December 1st to December 31st, 2019. Structured questionnaires were applied to measure general characteristics, mental fitness, perspective taking, and attitude toward the elderly. Brain waves were measured by quantitative encephalogram in the prefrontal lobe. High frequency and high level of care tasks were analyzed using content analysis. Results: According to analysis of brain waves, caregivers experienced high level of physical strain & stress and psychological distraction & stress. Mental fitness (p<.05) and perspective taking (p<.001) were associated with attitude toward the elderly. Moreover, physical strain & stress was associated with psychological distraction & stress (p<.05, p<.001). High frequency and high level tasks were excretion and position change & movement care related tasks, respectively. Conclusion: These findings should be consider as an evidence for supporting care tasks based on concrete and objective understanding of caregivers using self-reported index as well as neurophysiological indicators including brain waves.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.1-22
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this review is to evaluate the efficacy of moxibustion for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women. Methods: For relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs), we searched the following databases from their inception to September 1, 2020: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), Koreanstudies Information Service System (KISS), Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), and National Digital Science Library (NDSL). The key search terms were 'stress urinary incontinence' and 'moxibustion'. Data extraction and assessment of risk of bias were conducted by two authors independently. Results: A total of 11 RCTs were finally included in this systematic review. In all studies, moxibustion treatment was applied as an adjuvant therapy to the conventional treatment, and the most common conventional treatment was pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). The treatment group (conventional treatment plus moxibustion) showed statistically more significant effect than the control group (conventional treatment only) in various evaluation indicators including urinary incontinence frequency, 1 hour urine pad test, quality of life, the clinical efficacy rate, and pelvic muscle strength. Conclusions: In this study, we investigated the efficacy of moxibustion as an adjuvant therapy for female SUI patients. Further studies are needed to supplement the safety of moxibustion and the evaluation of moxibustion dose.