• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.555-565
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• 2022

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Materials and Methods: This prospective study enrolled 39 participants (14 male, 25 female; mean age, 59.5 ± 15.3 [range, 18-87] years) between September 1, 2018, and January 31, 2021. All participants had parathyroid lesions causing PHPT, proven biochemically and through imaging. The imaging features of the PHPT nodules, including the shape, margin, size, composition, and location, were evaluated before treatment. Serum intact parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorus levels; parathyroid nodule volume; and PHPT-related symptoms were recorded before and after treatment. We calculated the technical success, biochemical cure, and clinical cure rates for these patients. Complications were evaluated during and after the ablation. Results: Complete ablation was achieved in 38 of the 39 nodules in the 39 enrolled participants. All the patients were treated in one session. The technical success rate was 97.4% (38/39). The mean follow-up duration was 13.2 ± 4.6 (range, 6.0-24.9) months. At 6 and 12 months post-RFA, the biochemical cure rates were 82.1% (32/39) and 84.4% (27/32), respectively, and the clinical cure rates were 100% (39/39) and 96.9% (31/32), respectively. Only 2.6% (1/39) of the patients had recurrent PHPT. At 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after technically successful RFA, 44.7% (17/38), 34.3% (12/35), 15.8% (6/38), and 12.5% (4/32) of participants, respectively, had elevated eucalcemic parathyroid hormone levels. Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis occurred in 5.1% (2/39) of the patients, who recovered spontaneously within 1-3 months. Conclusion: US-guided RFA was effective and safe for PHPT patients. RFA may be an alternative treatment tool for patients who cannot tolerate or refuse to undergo surgery.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.974-982
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• 2023

Objective: Recent studies have highlighted the active and potential role of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in atherosclerosis and aneurysm progression, respectively. This study explored the link between PVAT attenuation and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression using computed tomography angiography (CTA). Materials and Methods: This multicenter retrospective study analyzed patients with AAA who underwent CTA at baseline and follow-up between March 2015 and July 2022. The following parameters were obtained: maximum diameter and total volume of the AAA, presence or absence of intraluminal thrombus (ILT), maximum diameter and volume of the ILT, and PVAT attenuation of the aortic aneurysm at baseline CTA. PVAT attenuation was divided into high (> -73.4 Hounsfield units [HU]) and low (≤ -73.4 HU). Patients who had or did not have AAA progression during the follow-up, defined as an increase in the aneurysm volume > 10 mL from baseline, were identified. Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to investigate the association between PVAT attenuation and AAA progression. Results: Our study included 167 participants (148 males; median age: 70.0 years; interquartile range: 63.0-76.0 years), of which 145 (86.8%) were diagnosed with AAA accompanied by ILT. Over a median period of 11.3 months (range: 6.0-85.0 months), AAA progression was observed in 67 patients (40.1%). Multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that high baseline PVAT attenuation (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-4.32; P = 0.017) was independently associated with AAA progression. This association was demonstrated within the patients of AAA with ILT subcohort, where a high baseline PVAT attenuation (aHR = 2.23; 95% CI, 1.08-4.60; P = 0.030) was consistently independently associated with AAA progression. Conclusion: Elevated PVAT attenuation is independently associated with AAA progression, including patients of AAA with ILT, suggesting the potential of PVAT attenuation as a predictive imaging marker for AAA expansion.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.87 no.1
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• pp.100-114
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• 2024

Background: Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) improves the survival of patients with hypoxemia due to chronic respiratory diseases. The clinical outcomes of LTOT are strongly associated with patient adherence. To improve the adherence of patients, physicians have focused on the efficacy of LTOT. However, poor adherence may stem from patients' perceptions of LTOT. Herein we evaluated patients' perceptions of LTOT affecting adherence. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey study using descriptive, open, and closed-ended questionnaire. Patients using oxygen therapy (OT) or requiring it but avoiding OT responded to the questionnaires at three university hospitals. Results: Seventy-nine patients responded to the questionnaires. The number of patients using home and portable OT was 69 (93%) and 37 (46.3%), respectively. Patients with good adherence were 22 (30.1%). Among patients with good adherence, 90.9% used oxygen according to physicians' prescriptions whereas only 37.3% of those with poor adherence followed physicians' prescriptions (p<0.01). The reasons for avoiding using home OT were fear of permanent use (50%), unwanted attention (40%), and lack of symptoms (40%). They avoided portable OT because of unwanted attention (39%), heaviness (31.7%), and lack of symptoms (21.6%). Conclusion: Patients on LTOT had the perception of the misunderstanding the effects of OT and of psychosocial barriers to initiate or use LTOT. Considering these findings, health professionals need to provide effective education on the purpose of LTOT to improve patient adherence to OT and provide sufficient support for the management of psychosocial barriers in patients using LTOT.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.262-275
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• 2024

In Indonesia, Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren and Cryptotermes cyanocephalus Light termite attacks can damage wood and causing losses of 8.7 trillion rupiah per year. Wood treatment and soil barrier are very important to protect structures and their components from termite infestation. The application of synthetic chemicals that pose risks to the environment and human health. The growing movement to replace these chemicals with new termiticides that are safe for the environment in place of persistent organic pollutants. Efficacy performance in entomopathogenic fungi spores such as that produce decanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, and octadecadienoic acid are potential compounds that provide for ecofriendly termite control. Entomopathogenic fungal spores from Metarhizium anisopliae, Trichoderma harzianum, and Beauveria bassiana, as the active ingredient were formulated with nanocellulose was added as an inert ingredient to which helped to deliver the active ingredients on controlling the target pest, and enhance the utility ability of the product fungi to control termites. The mortality of these termites successively entomopathogenic fungi was the main cause of death. The higher concentrations being associated with of nanocellulose used affect increased the number of termites mortality. M. anisopliae paired with 60% nanocellulose concentrate was the best percentage for yielded the greatest C. curvignathus and C. cynocephalus termite control. In the field testing, M. anisopliae provided better, it showed the finest result of termite control rather than B. bassiana and T. harzianum. The results of the research indicate that entomopathogenic fungi can be used for Pest Control Management as the subterranean termite and drywood termite control.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.6
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• pp.80-104
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• 2024

Ginseng, a representative medicinal plant of South Korea, is also highly valued in North Korea. However, due to limited access to information about North Korea, the actual cultivation, research and development trends, and related industry status of ginseng in North Korea are not well known. In this study, we aimed to understand the current status and research trends of the ginseng industry in North Korea based on limited available literature. In the North Korean pharmacopoeia, ginseng is referred to as "Koryo ginseng" and is defined as the roots of 6-year-old ginseng cultivated in the Kaesong region. The pharmacopoeia includes 22 types of ginseng preparations. In addition, 10 ginseng preparations are included in North Korea's Essential Drug List, and various health supplements, cosmetics, and toothpastes containing ginseng have been developed, distributed, and sold. Since 2014, the ginseng industry and research in North Korea have become more active overall. During this period, the ginseng cultivation area in Kaesong has been significantly expanded, and the facilities have been renovated. The Kaesong Koryo Ginseng Processing Plant has been equipped with sterilized, modernized facilities since 2016 and has been in operation. Since 2017, there has been a growing interest in quality control research, leading to the introduction of quality management regulations and certification systems in 2019. In the 1990s, there was significant research on ginseng product development, and since the 2000s, studies on the pharmacological effects and clinical research of ginseng have been reported. Additionally, research on ginseng cultivation and ginseng processing industries to increase yield has been emphasized. Ginseng, as a representative medicinal crop of Korea, holds great importance for both South and North Korea. Given its significance and the potential for synergy through mutual cooperation, ginseng serves as an ideal subject for inter-Korean exchange and collaboration.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.16-26
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• 2024

Purpose: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic condition marked by persistent elevated blood sugar levels resulting from insulin resistance. The effective management of diabetes mellitus involves strict regulation of the blood glucose levels. This study examined the effects of Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.) berry (AOB) on insulin resistance and hyperglycemia using a type 2 diabetes mellitus animal model. Methods: Eight-week-old C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups. The control group received a basal diet, while the high-fat, high-sucrose (HFHS) group was fed a HFHS diet containing 27% sucrose and 33% lard for 12 weeks. The low AOB (LAOB) and high AOB (HAOB) groups were offered a HFHS diet with a 0.5% and 1.0% AOB extract, respectively. Results: The HAOB group showed significantly lower epididymal fat pad weight than the HFHS group. The LAOB and HAOB groups showed lower serum glucose levels and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance values than the HFHS group, and the HAOB group has lower serum insulin levels than the HFHS group. Supplementation with HAOB decreased serum cholesterol levels significantly compared with the HFHS group. The consumption of LAOB and HAOB reduced the serum triglyceride and hepatic total lipids and triglyceride levels compared to the HFHS group. In addition, LAOB and HAOB consumption in mice fed a HFHS diet increased adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase protein expression. Insulin receptor substrate-2 protein expression in the HAOB group was significantly higher than the HFHS group. Conclusion: AOB can alleviate hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus partly by mitigating insulin resistance.

• Journal of Digital Policy
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

The purpose of this study was to identify the predictors of self-regulated learning strategies among nursing university students. Data were collected from 212 nursing university students in G metropolitan city and K city. The SPSS WIN 23.0 version program was used for data analysis. The data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression. There were significant correlations between media multitasking and self-regulated learning strategies(r=.45, p<.001), learning flow and self-regulated learning strategies(r=.59, p<.001), and media multitasking and learning flow(r=.32, p<.001). Friendship satisfaction, media multitasking and learning flow explained 45% of the variance for self-regulated learning strategies. To increase the self-regulated learning strategies among nursing university students, it is necessary to develop multiple interventions that enhance friendship satisfaction, media multitasking and learning flow.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.28-35
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• 2024

Corrosion inside electronic packages significantly impacts the system performance and reliability, necessitating non-destructive diagnostic techniques for system health management. This study aims to present a non-destructive method for assessing corrosion in copper interconnects using the Smith chart, a tool that integrates the magnitude and phase of complex impedance for visualization. For the experiment, specimens simulating copper transmission lines were subjected to temperature and humidity cycles according to the MIL-STD-810G standard to induce corrosion. The corrosion level of the specimen was quantitatively assessed and labeled based on color changes in the R channel. S-parameters and Smith charts with progressing corrosion stages showed unique patterns corresponding to five levels of corrosion, confirming the effectiveness of the Smith chart as a tool for corrosion assessment. Furthermore, by employing data augmentation, 4,444 Smith charts representing various corrosion levels were obtained, and artificial intelligence models were trained to output the corrosion stages of copper interconnects based on the input Smith charts. Among image classification-specialized CNN and Transformer models, the ConvNeXt model achieved the highest diagnostic performance with an accuracy of 89.4%. When diagnosing the corrosion using the Smith chart, it is possible to perform a non-destructive evaluation using electronic signals. Additionally, by integrating and visualizing signal magnitude and phase information, it is expected to perform an intuitive and noise-robust diagnosis.

• Journal of Venture Innovation
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.101-123
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• 2024

Since COVID-19 crisis, health concerns and the need for interpersonal activities have driven many people to engage in leisure activities, which has naturally led to a steady increase in the participation rate of life sports. However, the start-up rate of sports facilities is decreasing and the closure rate is steadily increasing, and to survive in the over-competitive situation, sports facility operators need to develop and provide services with competitive advantages and come up with differentiated marketing plans. The purposes of this study were to (a) identify rapport-building behaviors for bring about relationship quality, customer satisfaction and customer trust, to a service provider in the sports leisure service environment (b) examine the ways in which customer satisfaction and customer trust induces positive behavior intentions in the sports leisure service environment, and (c) empirically verify the path of rapport- building behaviors through customer quality to continuance intention and WTPP(willing to pay premium price). The proposed conceptual model was empirically tested via structural equation modeling analysis using data collected from 350 adults who enjoy sports leisure services nationwide. Based on data analysis, firstly, attentive behavior, connecting behavior, courteous behavior, and information sharing behavior, were found to have a positive effect on relationship quality ,customer satisfaction and customer trust. Second, customer satisfaction was found to have a positive effect on both continuance intention and WTPP. Third, customer trust, a subcomponent of relationship quality, was found to have a positive effect on continuance intention, but not on WTPP. The findings of this study show that, first, rapport building with customers is important for sustainable growth management in the increasingly competitive sports and leisure service environment.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.38-54
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• 2024

This paper examines how noblewomen during the Joseon Dynasty perceived incense and herbs, focusing on the 『Gyuhap Chongseo(閨閤叢書)』 a compendium edited by Yi Bingheogak(李憑虛閣, 1759~1824). The 『Gyuhap Chongseo』 is a classified collection of knowledge deemed essential for managing a noble household. By analyzing the content related to incense and herbs focused on 「Bongim Cheok」. This study reveals Yi Bingheogak's practical and realistic understanding of incense and herbs. For Yi, incense and herbs transcended mere cosmetic applications and luxury and served as indispensable tools in health and hygiene and domestic skills for traditional household management. While it may be challenging to generalize the perception of noblewomen solely based on the 『Gyuhap Chongseo』 the consistent transcription and transmission of the text suggest it resonated with the noblewomen's sentiments. With limited records left by noblewomen themselves, this study primarily explores Yi Bingheogak's perspective, who provided detailed knowledge and applications of incense and herbs across the compendium's sections. This reflects Yi's intention to broaden women's knowledge and cultural literacy, and contribute to improved quality of life through practical knowledge. This study demonstrates Yi's recognition of incense and herbs as vital commodities for the operation of domestic life, and illustrates how noblewomen of the Joseon Dynasty actively contributed to society and the household through knowledge and practical activities. The use of incense and herbs for beauty and domestic knowledge in various fields of traditional knowledge underscores a comprehensive understanding of noblewomen's perception and use of incense and herbs during the Joseon Dynasty.