• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.493-504
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• 2020

Background: There have been many studies on the associations between body mass index (BMI) and cognitive function. However, no study has ever compared the associations across the methods of categorizing BMI. In this study, we aimed to fill the gap in the previous studies and examine whether the obesity paradox is valid in the risk of cognitive function. Methods: Of the 10,254 people aged 45 and older from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing from 2006 to 2016, 8,970 people were finalized as the study population. The dependent variable was whether a person has a normal cognitive function or not, and the independent variables of interest were BMI categorized by the World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Office (WHO-WPRO) method, the WHO method, and a 10-group method. Covariates included sociodemographic factors, health behavior factors, and health status factors. A generalized linear mixed model analysis with a logit link was used. Results: In the adjusted model with all covariates, first, in the case of BMI categories of the WHO-WPRO method, underweight (odds ratio [OR], 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-1.17), overweight (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.35-1.36), and obese (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.33-1.34) groups were more likely to have a normal cognitive function than a normal-weight group. Next, in the case of BMI categories of the WHO method, compared to a normal-weight group, underweight (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.14-1.16) and overweight (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.06-1.07) groups were more likely to have a normal cognitive function; however, obese (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.61-0.63) group was less likely to have it. Lastly, in the case of the 10-group method, as BMI increased, the likelihood to have a normal cognitive function changed like a wave, reaching a global top at group-7 (26.5 kg/㎡ ≤ BMI <28.0 kg/㎡). Conclusion: The associations between BMI and cognitive function differed according to how BMI was categorized among people aged 45 and older in Korea, which suggests that cognitive function may be positively associated with BMI in some categories of BMI but negatively in its other categories. Health policies to reduce cognitive impairment need to consider this association between BMI and cognitive function.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2021

Prior studies of physiologically active substances in grapes have focused only on the fruit, pericarp, and branches, as well as the pulp and seeds. The present study assessed the changes in quercetin-3-O-glucuronide (Q3OG) and flavonol glycoside content using grape leaves from Vitis labruscana B. and V. coignetiae at different growth stages and provided basic data for quality control. Content analysis showed that both varieties differed in Q3OG and flavonol glycoside content by growth stage, and the components were found to be high in the order of fruit, maturation, and coloration. Also, Vitis labruscana B. has a better vascular relaxation effect than Vitis coignetiae. These results suggest that in the use of grape leaves as a functional raw material, Q3OG and flavonol glycosides can be used as indicator components. In addition, if raw materials for each growth stage are mixed in a particular ratio, it will be a way to manage the specific efficacy and content of indicator components.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.295-305
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• 2021

Objective: The objectives of this study were to compare the effects of normal and low protein content (PC) of starter diet supplemented or not with blends of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) on growth performance of broilers under summer conditions and to investigate whether these effects altered some quality traits and the characteristics of gastrointestinal tract. Methods: A total of 768 mixed-sex broiler chicks (Ross 308, one-d-old) with an average initial body weight (BW) of 47.6±1.03 g were allocated into six treatments with four replications in 2×3 factorial arrangement. Factors were: PC, normal (N, 22% to d 15); and low (L, 20% to d 15); and added BCAA blends, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-valine at zero (0L:0I:0V); 1.0, 0.25, and 0.25 (4L:1I:1V); or 1.0, 0.25, 0.75 (4L:1I:3V) g/kg of diet. Hence, six dietary treatments were named as N0L:0I:0V, N4L:1I:1V, N4L:1I:3V, L0L:0I:0V, L4L:1I:1V, and L4L:1I:3V. Average indoor temperature and humidity were 32.8℃±1.7℃ and 61.1%±4.12%, respectively. Results: BW, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and carcass weight were not affected by PC, BCCA and their interaction (p>0.05). The L diets decreased the water holding capacity of the breast (p = 0.002) and thigh (p = 0.050) meats and dressing percentage (p = 0.005) compared to the N diets. The 4L:1I:1V diet decreased breast yield compared to the 0L:0I:0V diets (p = 0.041). The effect of PC on feed intake, mortality and gastrointestinal trait weight were depended on the L:I:V ratios under summer conditions due to interactions between factors (p<0.05). The FI and mortality of L4L:1I:1V broilers were lower than those of N4L:1I:1V birds (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that the blends of BCAAs used failed to improve performance and to promote breast yields, because diets with normal or with reduced protein supplemented or not with BCAAs up to d 15 produced a similar BW and FCR in broilers raised in hot-climate conditions.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.181-190
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• 2021

In this study, a large-scale levee breach experiment from lateral overflow was conducted to verify the effect of the new reinforcement method applied to the levee's surface. The new method could prevent levee failure and minimize damage caused by overflow in rivers. The levee was designed at the height of 2.5 m, a length of 12 m, and a slope of 1:2. A new material mixed with biopolymer powder, water, weathered granite, and loess in an appropriate ratio was sprayed on the levee body's surface at a thickness of about 5 cm, and vegetation recruitment was also monitored. At the Andong River Experiment Center, a flow (4 ㎥/s) was introduced from the upstream of the A3 channel to induce the lateral overflow. The change of lateral overflow was measured using an acoustic doppler current profiler in the upstream and downstream. Additionally, cameras and drones were used to analyze the process of the levee breach. Also, a new method using 3D point cloud for calculating the surface loss rate of the levee over time was suggested to evaluate the performance of the levee reinforcement method. It was compared to existing method based on image analysis and the result was reasonable. The proposed 3D point cloud methodology could be a solution for evaluating the performance of levee reinforcement methods.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.22-35
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• 2021

In order to investigate the trends in science education research using AR (Augmented Reality) and derive implications for elementary science education, we analyzed 71 research articles on AR application in science education published in both Korea and abroad from 2010 to August 2020. In quantitative aspects, the number of published articles has steadily increased. For domestic researches, the number of papers targeting for elementary school students was higher than that of middle & high school students. In the research method aspects, qualitative methods were most frequently used. In particular, papers regarding the development of AR program and verification of its effectiveness were most frequently published. The researches using mixed method in domestic field were smaller in number than that of the research in abroad. There were similar trends in research targeting elementary school students. In the aspects of the contents, more researches were performed on biology and earth science areas than others. In case of researches for elementary school students, the proportion of researches on biology and earth science was even higher. Domestically the proportion of studies on the convergence of science and non-science subjects was higher than that of foreign studies. The number of researches exploring the effectiveness on 'non-scientific attitude domain', 'cognitive domain', and 'program domain' were relatively higher than that on 'inquiry & practice domain' and 'science-related attitude domain'. For types of AR contents, 'observation manipulation type' was mostly studied, followed by 'experimental activity type', and 'learning guide type'. In case of studies on elementary school students, the ratio of 'observation manipulation type' contents was higher than that of others, whereas studies on 'field problem solving type' were relatively less reported than others. In addition, studies on 'simple interaction' were most frequently reported. Particularly, there were relatively few studies on 'linear and nonlinear interactions' in domestic field. As a result of analyzing key words, we found that the key words related to the characteristics and implementation of AR frequently occurred, and the key words related to elementary education and the merits of AR had many direct connections with other key words.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.31-37
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• 2011

Only a few studies have been conducted using reduced slag as recycled material. The reduced slag in electric furnace is produced as a by-product in making a steel and a few applications of the reduced slag as expensive additives and bonding materials or as the stabilized soils was reported. The purpose of this study is to present the feasibility of the reduced slag as recycled material, especially, in a field of civil engineering. In order to achieve the purpose experiments such as SEM and XRF analysis was conducted for the reduced slag in electric furnace. Based on the results various geotechnical experiments were conducted to know engineering properties of slag-soil mixtures. Weathered soils and clay are mixed with reduced slag for various ratios. As the ratio of reduced slag to weathered soil increases, the maximum dry unit weight of the mixture decreased with increasing optimum moisture content. The results indicates that there is no effect on a reduced slag by compaction efforts. The shear strengths of the weathered soil-slag mixtures are slightly higher or similar to those of weathered soils. The permeability of the weathered soil-slag mixtures is similar to that of silty or sandy soils. Therefore, it is possible to use the mixtures as embankment or backfill materials in the fields. The unconfined strength of the mixtures of reduced slag and clay is higher than that of clay and it tends to increase with the curing time. Therefore it can be used to improve the soft ground.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.25
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• pp.35-50
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• 2021

This study analyzed the basic properties of soil material gathered around Maegok-dong in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do Province (hereafter, "Maegok soil") and the physicochemical changes in the Maegok soil resulting from the addition of other clay materials in order to present scientific information about the properties of clay available for pottery production. Gravel, coarse sand, and fine sand account for 73% of the total mass of the Maegok soil. Therefore, it required refinement through sifting in order to serve in pottery clay. After sifting, the amount of silt and clay in the soil increased to 95% of the total mass. However, since it lacked plasticity and viscosity, buncheong soil was added. When it was mixed with bungcheong soil at a ratio of 7:3, Maegok soil improved as pottery clay as its viscosity increased, demonstrating compositional properties appropriate for ceramic clay even after firing. Further, its water-absorption rate was decreased to 0.40. This means that soil gathered from anywhere can be used for pottery-making by refining its original properties and through mixture with clay with specific components which help the pottery maintain its shape even after firing.

• Food Engineering Progress
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.283-289
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• 2019

This study was performed to determine the effect of psyllium husk addition on the physical properties of rice extrudates. Rice-based formulations mixed with psyllium husk (0, 7, 14 and 21%) were extruded at a die temperature of 140℃, screw speed of 200 rpm, and moisture content of 20%. As the content of psyllium husk increased, expansion ratio decreased, while piece density and specific length increased. Apparent elastic modulus, breaking strength, adhesiveness, and hardness augmented with an elevation in psyllium husk content. Lightness declined as psyllium husk content furthered, while redness, yellowness, and color difference intensified. Water soluble index and water absorption index increased with an increased amount of psyllium husk. In conclusion, the addition of psyllium affected the expansion of extruded rice snack possessing hard texture, small cells, and sticky texture due to higher water absorption during hydration.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

ε-Ga2O3, a metastable phase of Ga2O3, has excellent compatibility with substrates having a hexagonal structure or a quasi-hexagonal structure, so that a film having a relatively lower surface roughness and defect density than β-Ga2O3 can be obtained easily. Accordingly, we attempted to fabricate a high-quality β-Ga2O3 film with a low surface roughness and defect density using the property of phase transition to β-Ga2O3 when ε-Ga2O3 is annealed at a high temperature. For this, the growth of high-quality ε-Ga2O3 films must be preceded. In this study, the optimal flow rate was investigated by analyzing the structural and morphological characteristics of the ε-Ga2O3 film according to the supplied precursor ratio. In addition, the annealing condition and the effect of β-Ga2O3 mixed in the ε-Ga2O3 film on the crystallinity of β-Ga2O3 after phase transition were also investigated.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.479-492
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• 2020

Background: As the prevalence of hypertension is increasing in Korea, the government is seeking policy actions to manage patients with hypertension more efficiently. In this paper, we aimed to identify factors associated with the use of medical care at hospitals among outpatients with hypertension. Methods: We analyzed a total of 15,040 cases of 3,877 outpatients with hypertension obtained from the Korea Medical Panel database from 2010 to 2016. The dependent variable was whether a patient with hypertension visited a hospital or not; and independent variables were the patient's various socio-demographic, health-related, and heath-status characteristics. We conducted a generalized linear mixed model analysis with logit link for all the cases and then conducted it stratified by gender. Results: As a result of a multivariable analysis, women were less likely than to visit at a hospital (odds ratio [OR], 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-0.61) and people aged 65 years and older than those aged less than 65 years (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.57-0.89). Residents in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam were more likely than those in than Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Jeju to visit a hospital (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.05-1.86). The likelihood of visiting a hospital was high in people belonging to a group of: the highest level of annual household income (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.30-2.29); Medical care aid recipients (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.34-2.83); people having three or more complex chronic diseases (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.19-2.11); people having diabetes (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.41-2.32); or people having ischemic heart disease or cerebrovascular disease (OR, 6.80; 95% CI, 5.28-8.76). Also, we found that factors associated with the use of medical care at hospitals among outpatients with hypertension differed between genders. Conclusion: A variety of factors seem to be associated with the use of medical care at hospitals among outpatients with hypertension. Future research needs to find a way to help patients with hypertension visit an appropriate medical institution between clinics and hospitals.