• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.4 s.63
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• pp.692-707
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• 1998

Aim. A neurobehavioral test for workers exposed to organic solvents in the workplace can be affected by many factors : age, education, motivation, ethnicity, etc. To apply more suitable neurobehavioral test for Korean workers, we evaluated the validity of several items of computerized and traditional neurobehavioral tests. Methods. We have applied eleven tests : four items of computerized neurobehavioral test(Swedish Performance Evaluation System) including Addition, Symbol-Digit, Dig-it Span, and Finger tapping speed, and seven items of traditional neurobehavioral test consisting of Addition, Digit-Symbol, Digit Span, Benton visual retention test, Pursuit aiming, Pegboard, and Tapping. These tests were performed on 96 workers exposed to solvents, and 100 reference workers. The concurrent and construct validities were evaluated by group difference, correlation with age, educational level, hippuric acid level, neurotoxic symptom, current exposure level, multitrait-multimethod matrix, fator analysis, and discriminant analysis. Results. Statistically significant differences were observed between the workers exposed to solvents and referents in computerized Symbol-Digit, Finger tapping speed, traditional Digit-Symbol and Pegboard. The computerized Symbol-Digit, traditional Digit-Symbol, Addition, Benton visual retention test, and Pegboard were found to be related to the age. The performance of computerized Symbol-Digit, Addition, and traditional Digit-Symbol were found to be related to the educational level significantly. The computerized Symbol-Digit, Finger tapping speed, and traditional Digit-Symbol were found to be related to hippuric acid, and neurotoxic symptom. The discriminability of Finger tapping speed, and Pegboard was better than the other tests. In discriminant analysis, the model with two variables, the computerized Symbol-Digit and Pegboard, classified almost 70 percent of the workers correctly. Conclusions. These results suggest that the computerized Symbol-Digit, Finger tapping speed, and Pegboard are more satisfactory for our purpose, and the Addition, Tapping, Benton visual retention test, and Pursuit aiming are less valid than other items. These may allow the reasonable selection of core neurobehavioral tests for workers exposed to solvents in Korea.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.101-112
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• 2009

Objectives: Cattle slaughterhouse workers are known as the high risk group for the zoonoses. We surveyed the awareness of zoonoses among cattle slaughterhouse workers to suggest direction of education and public relations. Methods: We evaluated the epidemiological characteristics of zoonoses and the process of cattle slaughtering. We designed different questionnaires for the workers involved in slaughtering, the handlers of residual products, the inspectors and their assistants, and the grading testers and their assistants respectively. We visited 73 cattle slaughterhouses and 62 residual products handle houses across the country and conducted a questionnaire survey of the general characteristics and the awareness of zoonoses. The data collected was evaluated using the SPSS 17.0 statistical package. Results: The awareness rate of brucellosis, Q fever and Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) were 83.9%, 18.5%, 62.7% among cattle slaughterhouse workers. The awareness rate of zoonoses among the workers involved in slaughtering and the handlers of residual products was lower than other workers. The awareness rate of zoonoses tended to increase as the school career. In the correct awareness rate of the transmission of zoonoses, 'transmission by tick bite', 'person to person' and 'air transmission' were lower than other transmission items. The most common reason why cattle slaughterhouse workers think that it is difficult to prevent zoonoses was the ignorance of how to prevent. Conclusions: An educational program is needed for the cattle slaughterhouse workers on zoonoses especially Q fever. And publicity activities about prevention of infection are needed for high risk groups.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2010

Purpose: According to increment of thyroid cancer recently, patients of high dose radioiodine therapy were accumulated. Taking into consideration the acceptance capability in the current facility, this study is to calculate the maximum value of high dose radioiodine therapy in patients for treatment. Materials and Methods: The amount and radioactivity of waste water discharged from high dose radioiodine therapy in patients admitted at present hospital as well as the radiation density of the air released into the atmosphere from the high dose radioiodine therapy ward were measured. When the calculated waste water's radiation and its density in the released air satisfies the standard (management standard for discharge into water supply 30 Bq/L, management standard for release into air 3 $Bq/m^3$) set by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the maximum value of treatable high dose radioiodine therapy in patients was calculated. Results: When we calculated in a conservative view, the average density of radiation of waste water discharged from treating high dose radioiodine therapy one patient was 8 MBq/L and after 117 days of diminution in the water-purifier tank, it was 29.5 Bq/L. Also, the average density of radiation of waste water discharged from treating high dose radioiodine therapy two patients was 16 MBq/L and after 70 days of diminution in the water-purifier tank, it was 29.7 Bq/L. Under the same conditions, the density of radiation released into air through RI Ventilation Filter from the radioiodine therapy ward was 0.38 $Bq/m^3$. Conclusion: The maximum value of high dose radioiodine therapy in patients that can be treated within the acceptance capability was calculated and applied to the current facility, and if double rooms are managed by improving the ward structure, it would be possible to reduce the accumulated treatment waiting period for radioiodine therapy in patients.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.218-225
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• 2006

Purpose: With a remarkable increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity, the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is assumed to be increasing. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, and glucose intolerance in normal and obese children. Methods: A total of 2,206 elementary students (boys: 1340, girls: 866) were grouped according to obesity index; normal group and obesity group (mild, moderate, severe). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST, SGOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT, SGPT) were measured with total cholesterol, triglyceride, and fasting blood glucose. Results: Compared with the 4.6% of elevated aminotransferases in normal group, obese groups showed significantly higher prevalence; 12.1% in mild obesity group, 19.4% in moderate group, and 21.6% in severe group (p<0.0001). The prevalence of hypertriglyceremia was 16.9% in normal weight group, which was significantly lower than obesity group (mild obesity group 30.3%, moderate and severe 37.6%, 38.2% each). In boys, the prevalences of elevated aminotransferases in normal weight and obese groups (mild, moderate, severe) were 6.8%, 18.0%, 23.0%, and 26.0%, respectively (p<0.0001). In girls, those were 2.1%, 5.1%, 12.0%, and 12.6%, respectively (p< 0.0001). The prevalence of hypertriglyceremia was relative to severity of obesity in boys and girls (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The prevalence of elevated serum liver enzymes increased with severity of obesity. For the prevention and treatment of fatty liver and hypertriglycemia, it is important to lower the obesity degree and enforce the education for a weight loss in the student and the parents.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.307-313
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• 2010

Purpose : Results of the Korea National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children, which was launched in November 2007, were evaluated for future research and policy development. Methods : Data from a total of 2,729,340 cases were analyzed. Five visiting ages, such as 4, 9, 18, 30, and 60 months, were included. Several parameters such as stunting, obesity, and positive rate of developmental screening were also analyzed. Telephone survey was performed in 1,035 users. For the provider survey, 262 doctors participated in our study. Results : The overall participation rate of users was 35.3%. This participation rate showed a decrement tendency to old age and low income. Only 6.9% of users participated in oral screening. Health screening was performed mainly in private clinics (82.6%). The recall rate of 4 months program users at the age of 9 months was 57.3%. The positive rate of screening was 3.1%, and was higher in the low-income group. By telephone survey, users reported that questionnaires were not difficult (94%) and overall satisfaction was good (73%). Longer duration of counseling was related with more satisfied users. Counseling and health education were helpful to users (73.2%). Doctors agreed that this program was helpful to children (98.5%). Conclusion : Korea National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children was launched successfully. Participation rate should be improved, and a quality control program needs to be developed. More intensive support following this program for children of low-income families may lead to effective interventions in controlling health inequality. Periodic update of guidelines is also needed.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.50-61
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• 2017

This study devised a user-participatory design process for users to participate directly in the design process and was implemented at Daegu Padong Elementary School. Users of the school forest were divided into four groups: the lower grades, the upper grades, local residents(parents included), and faculty. The methods of this study were image survey, preference survey, card playing, and model playing. Researchers investigated the level of user satisfaction the following year. The specific design process is as follows: First of all, the concept of the school forest was established through audio-visual education for students and image research was conducted through drawing and painting activities entitled 'The School Forest I Want'. Second, in the image survey, a survey of areas and facilities with high frequency use was conducted in the study of the lower grades, the upper grades, local residents, and the faculty. Image cards of spaces and facilities that showed high preference were produced and the cards were placed in four groups on the school lot plan to check the location of place and facilities desired. Based on this, a model and a basic idea were created through consultation with future users. Lastly, the study design was completed. After 1 year from the completion of the school forest, users were again surveyed regarding their satisfaction with use. The importance of this study is as follows: 1) Treating all potential users of a school forest as the subject of design participation, 2) Reasoning out a plan created by the users themselves through consultation and discussion throughout all steps of the design process, 3) Grasping how users utilize a school forest and the type of spaces most preferred via preference survey after completion of the school forest and showing the importance of user participation by showing that spaces preferred by users were similar to those in which experts were also highly interested.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2011

The importance of forests and plants are appreciated by all of us, but it is often overlooked because we are surrounded by it. The arboretum is one of facilities which provide users with education on the environment, knowledge about plants, and recreation, playing a role as a nature school by exhibiting and collecting plants of various ecosystems. Anyone can enjoy fresh air, a pleasant environment, and knowledge about a wide variety of plants on the condition that they aactually visit it and pay the entrance fee. However, it has not been measured whether the expense which users pay to enjoy an arboretum is a true value of arboretums. The environment that arboretums offer is extra-market goods, or public goods. A variety of ideas and methods to measure the value of public goods have been researched among economists, statisticians, and mathematicians. The Contingent Valuation Method(CVM) is most widely used a s an assessment method on environment goods and adopted as an estimation method for compensation for restoration of the environment by the American Supreme Court. The purpose of this study is to suggest a current monetary value correspondingent to the value of arboretums by applying the CVM. The survey suggested that when an arboretum provides a high educational value and when the respondents have a higher income, it is more likely that they would be willing to pay for entrance into the arboretum. The quantified value in monetary terms for the environmental value of Gyeongnam Arboretum is WTP mean \15,648; WTP median \13,648; and WTP truncated \15,449 per visitor. In annual terms, the amounts are calculated at WTP mean \8,408,265,024; WTP median \7,333,589,024; and WTP truncated \8,301,334,762. These quantified amounts can be thought to represent the value of conservation of arboretums and awaken users to the precious value of nature. Also, they are helpful to let the general public have proper knowledge about and recognize the value of arboretums and forests.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.153-165
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• 2021

With the disappearance of boundaries between online and offline, the O2O(online to offline) platform service is rapidly growing. Unlike general products, freshness is an important decision-making factor for agri-food, and there are many limiting factors for growth as an open market among O2O platforms due to the characteristics of difficult refunds and exchanges compared to other items and new transaction methods. In order to overcome these obstacles, consumer innovation must be considered. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of O2O(online to offline) platform characteristics perception on agri-food repurchase intentions. And an empirical survey of the hypothesis is made that innovation will show a moderating effect between agri-food O2O platform characteristics and repurchase intention. And an empirical survey of the hypothesis is made that innovation will show a moderating effect between agri-food O2O platform characteristics and repurchase intention. For this purpose, Using a convenience sampling technique, an online survey was conducted through Google survey from April 1 to April 15, 2021. A total of final analysis data were collected from a total of 270 purchase experienced of agri-food O2O(online to offline) platform. The SPSS program was used for analysis, and multiple regression analysis was used for hypothesis verification. The results showed that Economic, Interaction, and Playfulness had a significant positive effect on agri-food repurchase intend. Also, Interactivity × innovation, playfulness × innovation were found to have a significant positive (+) effect on repurchase intention. The results of this study show that innovation reduces the burden on consumers for new systems and mobile transactions. The results of this study suggest that convenient interface design is important for activating O2O transactions of agri-food. In addition, education and support are needed to strengthen the IT competency of farmers. The results of this study will be able to contribute to the establishment of infrastructure for agri-food open market shopping malls. In future studies, the influence of the O2O platform type on the purchase intention should be studied continuously.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.6
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• pp.1412-1423
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• 2020

Purpose Some patients with neonatal seizures show diffuse, symmetric diffusion-restricted lesions in the cerebral white matter. The aim of this study was to describe clinical and imaging findings of patients with neonatal seizures who had diffuse, symmetric diffusion-restricted lesions without any structural or metabolic etiology. Materials and Methods A total of 56 neonates aged less than 1 week underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for evaluation of seizures from November 2008 to February 2017. After excluding 43 patients, 13 patients showed diffuse white matter abnormality on diffusion-weighted imaging. Initial and follow-up clinical and MRI findings were analyzed retrospectively. Results All 13 patients were born at full term. Among the ten patients who underwent a stool test for viruses, six were positive for rotavirus and one for astrovirus. MRI revealed diffuse, symmetric diffusion-restricted lesions distributed along the cerebral white matter, thalami, and midbrain variably. Conclusion Diffuse, symmetric diffusion-restricted lesions involving the cerebral white matter can be seen in patients with neonatal seizures without any structural or metabolic etiology. Rotavirus is commonly but not exclusively detected in these patients. Nevertheless, viral infection-associated encephalopathy should be considered for patients with characteristic clinical and MRI findings.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.196-205
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current status of hospice palliative care facilities, and to identify problems and improve hospice palliative care in Korea. Methods: The questionnaire survey was implemented from October to December, 2007. It was consisted of general characteristics of organization, health manpower, facilities & equipments, service programs, and so on. Sixty two (79.5%) out of 78 hospice palliative care facilities returned the questionnaires. Results: They were 42 hospital-based hospice palliative care hospitals and 9 clinics, and most of them are located at central metropolitan areas (Seoul and Gyeonggi Province). more than 80% of hospitals met with the requirements (one doctor per 10 patients and one nurse per 1.5 patients), whereas 42.9% of clinics met the requirements. Approximately 22% of them met the requirement of sick room (4 patients for 1 room). Most of them provided various hospice palliative care programs. The proportion of giving regular education programs to hospice palliative care personnels were about half (41.9%). Thirty two (51.6%) facilities provided home visiting hospice palliative care service. Conclusion: There were lack of enough health manpower, rooms, and programmes and they varied among facilities. It is necessary to increase the number of hospice palliative care facilities with consideration of regional fair distribution and standardization of programmes.