• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.313-322
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• 2024

Plasmodium vivax variant interspersed repeats (vir) refer to the key protein used for escaping the host immune system. Knowledge in the genetic variation of vir genes can be used for the development of vaccines or diagnostic methods. Therefore, we evaluated the genetic diversity of the vir genes of P. vivax populations of several Asian countries, including Pakistan, which is a malaria-endemic country experiencing a significant rise in malaria cases in recent years. We analyzed the genetic diversity and population structure of 4 vir genes (vir 4, vir 12, vir 21, and vir 27) in the Pakistan P. vivax population and compared these features to those of the corresponding vir genes in other Asian countries. In Pakistan, vir 4 (S=198, H=9, Hd=0.889, Tajima's D value=1.12321) was the most genetically heterogenous, while the features of vir 21 (S=8, H=7, Hd=0.664, Tajima's D value =-0.63763) and vir 27 (S =25, H =11, Hd =0.682, Tajima's D value=-2.10836) were relatively conserved. Additionally, vir 4 was the most genetically diverse among Asian P. vivax populations, although within population diversity was low. Meanwhile, vir 21 and vir 27 among all Asian populations were closely related genetically. Our findings on the genetic diversity of vir genes and its relationships between populations in diverse geographical locations contribute toward a better understanding of the genetic characteristics of vir. The high level of genetic diversity of vir 4 suggests that this gene can be a useful genetic marker for understanding the P. vivax population structure. Longitudinal genetic diversity studies of vir genes in P. vivax isolates obtained from more diverse geographical areas are needed to better understand the function of vir genes and their use for the development of malaria control measures, such as vaccines.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.824-832
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• 2024

Objective: To determine the preventive effect of changing gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) to reduce the recurrence of GBCA-associated acute adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Materials and Methods: This retrospective, observational, single-center study-conducted between January 2016 and December 2021-included 238743 consecutive GBCA-enhanced MRI examinations. We focused on a subgroup of patients who experienced acute GBCA-associated ADRs during any of these examinations and subsequently underwent follow-up GBCA-enhanced MRI examinations up until July 2023. The follow-up examinations involved either the same (non-change group) or different (change group) GBCAs compared to the ones that initially caused the acute ADR. Baseline participant characteristics, generic profile of the GBCAs, administration of premedication, history of prior ADR to iodinated contrast media, and symptoms of GBCA-associated acute ADRs were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations and propensity score matching were used. Results: A total of 1042 instances of acute ADRs (0.44%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.41%-0.46%) were reported. Three-hundred and seventy-three patients underwent GBCA-enhanced MRI examinations after experiencing GBCA-associated acute ADRs within the study period; 31.9% (119/373) reexperienced acute ADRs at any of the follow-up examinations. The ADR recurrence was significantly lower in the GBCA change group than in the non-change group according to multivariable logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.13-0.90; P = 0.03) and analysis with propensity score matching (14.3% [6/42] vs. 36.9% [31/84], respectively; OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.11-0.94; P = 0.04). A history of an ADR to iodinated contrast media (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.68-1.90; P = 0.62) and premedication (adjusted OR: 2.09, 95% CI: 0.93-4.68; P = 0.07) were not significantly associated with GBCA-associated acute ADR recurrence. A separate analysis for recurrent allergic-like hypersensitivity reactions demonstrated similar results (adjusted OR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.06-0.65; P < 0.01). Conclusion: Changing GBCAs may reduce the risk of GBCA-associated acute ADR recurrence.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.389-396
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• 2024

This is a descriptive study to investigate the association between types of menstrual sanitary products used and menstrual discomfort. The participants included 1,484 women who used either disposable sanitary pads or tampons, out of a total of 1,571 women aged 19-40 years and data collection was conducted from September 2020 to August 2021. The survey was conducted through an online and mobile survey platform, with participants proceeding to take part after clicking the 'agree' button. Data analysis involved 1:4 propensity score matching, descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, and hierarchical regression analysis. The results indicated that among the participants, 94.1% used disposable sanitary pads, while 5.9% used tampons. In the final model, significant influencing factors identified were age 30 or older (β=-.157, p=.043), standing for 1-4 hours at work (β=-.131, p=.040), experiencing sleep disorders (β=.337, p<.001), and tampon use (β=.130, p=.005). Therefore, it is essential for nurses to incorporate information about various menstrual sanitary products' characteristics into their menstrual education for women of reproductive age.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.14-28
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• 2017

Mt. Seunghak's Miscanthus sinensis community is not only a landscape resource in terms of cultural services within the Ecosystem Services but also a site that is visited by many mountaineers in autumn. As the current Miscanthus sinensis community has been experiencing a rapid decline due to Korean forest succession characteristics, ongoing artificial management is thought to be needed for landscape resource use. The purpose of this study was to determine growth environment characteristics and the cause of the rapid decline of the Miscanthus sinensis community in Mt. Seunghak, which is located inside a large city with a large scale and outstanding accessibility. As the Miscanthus sinensis community is the representative early vegetation that appears temporarily in dry, barren soil, the Miscanthus sinensis community in Korean forest succession tends to be unsustainable. As the current soil on Mt. Seunghak is inappropriately fertile for the Miscanthus sinensis community, other wetland woody plant communities are anticipated to succeed it. If Miscanthus sinensis community maintenance is needed for Miscanthus sinensis landscape scenery, various alternatives apart from overall Miscanthus sinensis community maintenance should be determined for cost-effective management. For example, while many byways toward the inside of the Miscanthus sinensis community have affected the Miscanthus sinensis community growth environment, the installation of wooden fences and ropes has been a control in approach. As a result of this positive effect, many byways toward the inside of Miscanthus sinensis community have been restored naturally. Through viewable range analysis, as good scenery sites on the observatory have a good viewable range on the main trail as well, if these scenery sites are intensively managed, effective Miscanthus sinensis ccommunity management will be done despite maintenance budget cutbacks. This study is expected to be used as a basic material regarding the alternatives for a sustained Miscanthus sinensis community and the possibility of cultivating other growth in poor soils of fallow fields and unused land.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.49-63
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• 2021

The Forest Visitor Centers for Little Children who means preschoolers is an educational facility that achieves holistic growth by experiencing forests, and it should not be completed by installing specific facilities in the forest environment, but should be a space where preschoolers can play freely in the forest environment themselves. This study comprehensively evaluated the current status of Seoul Forest Visitor Centers for Little Children and suggested space improvement measures to enhance the effectiveness of forest experience. Through the theoretical review, seven spatial elements that enhance the effect of forest experience and six areas composing outdoor play areas were derived to prepare an analysis table for current status evaluation, and field survey studies were conducted on 24 centers in Seoul. Through expert interviews, the physical status was examined from the perspective of childhood education and the experiences of the users were summarized. As a result of the study, the Seoul Forest Visitor Center for Little Children is classified into six types according to the location characteristics and spatial structure, and has the characteristics of each type. The effectiveness of forest experience can be enhanced by identifying and revealing the environmental strengths of individual centers. In the case of outdoor experience learning zones, the proportion of exercise play areas was very large. By evenly organizing the forest experience space for each area, it will be possible to provide more diverse experiences to preschoolers. However, the status of uniform facility-oriented cannot be viewed as a fragmentary factor that lowers the effect of forest experience. The key to increasing the effect of forest experience by inducing creative activities is the spatial composition that considers the surrounding natural environment. Facilities should be a medium to help preschoolers' interest move into the forest. This study prepared data to understand the average physical status of the Seoul Forest Visitor Center for Little Children and suggested space improvement measures to increase the effectiveness of forest experience. This can be used as basic data for research to improve the quality level of the Seoul Forest Visitor Center for Little Children about 10 years after the project was implemented.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.137-166
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• 2020

While South Koreans overseas travelling rate has been increased every year, domestic travelling rate has been at a standstill for several years. The purpose of this study is to analyze domestic traveling styles of Koreans according to their generations in order to provide generation-specific traveling services. For this purpose, we categorized the survey respondents into four different generations, which are Millennium (age 19~34), X generation (35~54), Baby Boomer (55~64) and senior by following the criterions of the Korea National Tourism Organization. After then, we analyze factors related to travel preparation process, the actual traveling activities and satisfaction after the travel. In this study, 16,713 data collected by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism are used. The results of this study show that Korean people tends to acquire domestic traveling information from their own or acquaintances past experiences. Also, they do not prefer the organized trip for domestic travels, thus do not buy package products a lot. In addition, natural scenery, rich in cultural heritage, and convenient accommodation are the most important determinant factors affecting the overall travel satisfaction of level for all generations. The traveling characteristics for each generation are as follows. Millennium get traveling information from the internet a lot, and more specifically, they refer portal sites and social network services (SNS) in many cases. Also, they tend to travel in summer peak season to popular destinations and pursues active traveling experiences. Generation X has similar traveling patterns with Millennium, however they major transportation method is using their own car. Also, transportation convenience and satisfactory leisure activity are important factors affecting the overall satisfaction level to Generation X. On the other hand, Baby boomer generation has a greater emphasis on appreciation of nature, visiting famous restaurants, and relaxation, rather than actively participating experiencing programs. They travel evenly in summer and spring/fall season to many different areas instead of focusing on popular tourist spots. In addition, shopping and eating delicious food are the important factors affecting the overall satisfaction level for them. Lastly, Senior generation has similar characteristics with Baby boomer in many ways, however, they travel a lot on the same day using public transportations or car rental service. They prefer spring and autumn trips rather than summer peak season, and tend to buy packaged travel products a lot compared with other generations. If these different traveling characteristics of each generation are considered for organizing and customizing tourism services, it is expected that domestic tourism satisfaction level will be ultimately increased.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2009

Fine-grained peridotite xenoliths are rarely trapped in the basaltic rocks from the southeastern part of Jeju Island. Based on textural characteristics of the constituent phases showing uniform-sized, fine-grained tabular to mosaic grains with rare porphyroclastic relics, the studied samples can be defined as fine-grained, foliated porphyroclastic peridotites (FPP). Almost no significant difference among the FPPs in textures and major element compositions implies that the FPPs were derived from a structural domain, experiencing similar deformation events and deformation patterns. Moreover, the bimodal distribution with kink-banded porphyroclasts ($2{\sim}3mm$) and stain-free neoblasts ($200{\sim}300{\mu}m$), straight to gently curved grain boundaries with triple junctions, interstitial melt pockets, and microstructures for migrating grain boundary suggest that the studied samples went through dynamic recrystallization (${\pm}$ static recrystallization) in the presence of melt/fluid movement along foliation planes. No notable difference between the FPP and common protogranular xenoliths in major element compositions and geochemical evolution also implies that the FPP and protogranular xenoliths were from a similar horizon. Thus, the textural and geochemical characteristics of the FPPs reflects deformation events occurred at a localized and narrow zone within the lithospheric mantle beneath the Jeju Island. Although further detailed studies are necessary to define deformation events, the most possible process which could trigger deformation in the FPP in the rigid upper mantle was the ascending basaltic magma forming high-stress deformation zones. The suggested high-stress deformation zones in the lithosphere beneath the Jeju Island may be produced by paleo-faulting events related to the ascent of basalt magma before Jeju Island was formed.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.97-118
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to compare the nurses' perceptions with the women's about the women's needs in premature labor and to find out how to accomplish effective nursing intervention for the women to cope with their crises in premature labor. The objects of this study consisted of 33 hospitalized mothers in post partum because of premature labor, who were delivered of new born, in four university hospitals, a general hospital and a lower general hospital which has a neonatal intensive care unit in Seoul during 17 days(Oct. 4, 1994 to Oct. 20, 1994) and 32 nurses who have worked at delivery rooms in the hospitals above for 6 months or more, accomplishing nursing intervention. The results of this investigation were as follows : 1) General characteristics of women : Their mean age was 29.4 years(SD 4.37) and the mean of their gestational periods 3 days over 34 weeks(SD 2.48). Most of them were the married(93.9%) and held high school degree or more(93.9%). And some of them were the deligious(68.7%), multiparae(59.4%) and had their jobs(21.2%). The also had hospitalized experience due to premature labor(51.5%), experienced in premature delivery(33.3%), the prental care(78.6%), cesearean section(63.6%), and pregnancies less than twice(62.5%). The most mothers were included in 34 weeks and a day to 37 weeks(60.6%). It was also confirmed that most of the sustaining presences in labor were their husbands(81.2%). 2) General characteristics of nurses : Their mean age was 27.6 years(SD 4.50), and their carrier with the service on the average 6 months over 3 years long(SD 3.63). Numbers of them were staff nurses(84.4%), maiden ladies(71.9%), graduated from junior colleges of nursing(71.9%), and had no experiences in delivery(78.1%).Besides, none of them had experiences in premature labor. 3) The whole mean of needs perceived by pregnant women was identified as 3.086 points and the degree of their perception was given much weight in order of interdependence need(3.14), self concept need(3.11), physical physiologic need(3.09), and role function need(2.74). So it was proved that they regarded interdependence need as being the most important need in crises caused premature labor. 4) The whole mean of needs felt by the nurses was 3.092 points and the degree of their feelings was given much weigh in order of physical physiologic need(3.22), self concept need(3.15), interdependence need(3.06) and role function need(2.75). So it was ascertained that they felt physical physiologic need the most important, differing from the women in it. 5) There were few differences on the degrees of the perceptions that the nurses and the women showed on each of the four parts. 6) On each part of the questionnaires, it was examined that the women felt the need for the fetus to be the most important generally while the nurses perceived the need with the women to be more important than that. 7) The primiparae(40.6%) felt role function need be more important than multiparae(59.4%) (p<0.05), and the women from universities and above(39.4%) perceived self concept need to be more important than those holding the high school degrees and below(60.6%). (p<0.05) 8) The nurses having experience in delivery(21.9%) perceived interdependence need and role function need to be more important than important than those having no experiences(78.1%). (p<0.05) So far most of the nurses have concentrated their efforts on nursing for safety for the women in premature labor hospitalized in delivery rooms. But the women are not satisfied with just it because of having perceived the need for the fetus more important above all. In nursing for the future, therefore, every nurse caring for the women should offer them all the informations that they will want for their fetuses to adapt them to the crises effectively, understanding such their needs and making most of honest and simple terms for them, I insist. Through this study, I'm sure that inquiring into the need of women in premature labor minetely will show the way of more effective nursing interventions in clinic. And I suggest that the various kinds of studies about the more objects be done for the generalization of the results of this study in the future.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.619-637
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to develop a new program for elementary math-gifted students by using 'Girih Tililng' and apply it to the elementary students to improve their math-ability. Girih Tililng is well known for 'the secrets of mathematics hidden in Mosque decoration' with lots of recent attention from the world. The process of this study is as follows; (1) Reference research has been done for various tiling theories and the theories have been utilized for making this study applicable. (2) The characteristic features of Mosque tiles and their basic structures have been analyzed. After logical examination of the patterns, their mathematic attributes have been found out. (3) After development of Girih tiling program, the program has been applied to math-gifted students and the program has been modified and complemented. This program which has been developed for math-gifted students is called 'Exploring the Secrets of Girih Hidden in Mosque Patterns'. The program was based on the Renzulli's three-part in-depth learning. The first part of the in-depth learning activity, as a research stage, is designed to examine Islamic patterns in various ways and get the gifted students to understand and have them motivated to learn the concept of the tiling, understanding the characteristics of Islamic patterns, investigating Islamic design, and experiencing the Girih tiles. The second part of the in-depth learning activity, as a discovery stage, is focused on investigating the mathematical features of the Girih tile, comparing Girih tiled patterns with non-Girih tiled ones, investigating the mathematical characteristics of the five Girih tiles, and filling out the blank of Islamic patterns. The third part of the in-depth learning activity, as an inquiry or a creative stage, is planned to show the students' mathematical creativity by thinking over different types of Girih tiling, making the students' own tile patterns, presenting artifacts and reflecting over production process. This program was applied to 6 students who were enrolled in an unified(math and science) gifted class of D elementary school in Daejeon. After analyzing the results produced by its application, the program was modified and complemented repeatedly. It is expected that this program and its materials used in this study will guide a direction of how to develop methodical materials for math-gifted education in elementary schools. This program is originally developed for gifted education in elementary schools, but for further study, it is hoped that this study and the program will be also utilized in the field of math-gifted or unified gifted education in secondary schools in connection with 'Penrose Tiling' or material of 'quasi-crystal'.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.266-283
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• 2013

The goal of this study is to explore the characteristics of perceptual change among students majoring in arts on the nature of science and apply the results to science education. According to the study, it is important to consider the results of interaction between learners' aptitude and teaching method. Teaching the nature of science to first grade students explicitly, experimental inquiry strategy was applied to fine arts students, and teaching strategy of scientific history to music students. To find out which elements of the nature of science have come into view on modern philosophy of science, pre and post tests on the nature of science (VNOS-C) were conducted on the students. To find out specifically why views on the nature of science have changed, a case study was conducted focusing on students who showed changes in their views on the elements of the nature of science. In conclusion, this study suggests that by using experimental inquiry strategy and strategy of scientific history properly, it is possible to change students' viewpoints on the elements of the nature of science and on modern philosophy of science. Through explicit instruction, we were able to find some positive conceptual changes on the nature of science and the modern philosophy of science in terms of both quantity and quality. This shows that the students studying arts are experiencing a constructivist conceptual change on the nature of science, and that conceptual ecology and learning strategy are involved in this process. Therefore, it is thought that this study offers an important implication in organizing science education on the nature of science.