• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1407-1412
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• 2012

Background & Objectives: Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both sexes in Iran. This study was designed to assess upper GI endoscopic findings among people > 50 years targeted in a mass screening program in a hot-point region. Methods: Based on the pilot results in Guilan Cancer Registry study (GCRS), one of the high point regions for GC-Lashtenesha- was selected. The target population was called mainly using two methods: in rural regions, by house-house direct referral and in urban areas using public media. Upper GI endoscopy was performed by trained endoscopists. All participants underwent biopsies for rapid urea test (RUT) from the antrum and also further biopsies from five defined points of stomach for detection of precancerous lesions. In cases of visible gross lesions, more diagnostic biopsies were taken and submitted for histopathologic evaluation. Results: Of 1,394 initial participants, finally 1,382 persons (702 women, 680 men) with a mean age of $61.7{\pm}9.0$ years (range: 50-87 years) underwent upper GI endoscopy. H. pylori infection based on the RUT was positive in 66.6%. Gastric adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus were detected in seven (0.5%) and one (0.07%) persons, respectively. A remarkable proportion of studied participants were found to have esophageal hiatal hernia (38.4%). Asymptomatic gastric masses found in 1.1% (15) of cases which were mostly located in antrum (33.3%), cardia (20.0%) and prepyloric area (20.0%). Gastric and duodenal ulcers were found in 5.9% (82) and 6.9% (96) of the screened population. Conclusion: Upper endoscopy screening is an effective technique for early detection of GC especially in high risk populations. Further studies are required to evaluate cost effectiveness, cost benefit and mortality and morbidity of this method among high and moderate risk population before recommending this method for the GC surveillance program at the national level.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.940-955
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to compare the degree nutrient intake, health status and other characteristics of females aged 65 years and over in a longevity area according to family arrangement. For analysis, 585 female elderly were recruited from the Kugoksoondam area (Kurye, Goksung, Soonchang and Damyang counties), known as the longevity-belt region in Jeonla province, Korea. The subjects were categorized into three groups according to family arrangement (living alone, living with spouse only and living with family). Demographic characteristics were collected, as well as information on physical measurements, blood tests for biochemical indicators, health status and health-related life style, dietary behavior, favorite food groups, consumption frequency of food groups, nutrient intake and mini nutrition assessment. In the group living with their spouse only, the highest education, physical activity, diverse food intake, frequency of eating meats and fish, energy and nutrients intake, and score on the mininutrient status assessment (MNA) were found to be significantly favorable factors. Taken together, these results demonstrated that the group living with their spouse only had relatively superior nutrient intake and the quality of diet. In contrast, the group living alone showed the lowest self-rated economic status, diversity of food intake, and physical activity, with the highest frequency of drinking, smoking and regular exercise for almost everyday compared with the other groups. On the other hand, those living with family demonstrated the lowest intake of supplements or functional foods, and levels of hemoglobin hematocrit MCH, but the highest HBA1c and blood sugar. Therefore, the group living with family was assumed to be at risk of anemia and diabetes. These results could be useful to plan effective strategies to increase the health-life expectancy of Korean elderly people living in rural areas, according to family arrangement.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2009

Mungbean should be harvested several times according to its physiological characteristics and weather conditions of cultivation region. In Korea, mungbean is usually sown in June and harvested three or four times, and the cultivated area is being rapidly reduced. Therefore, the author developed cultivation techniques of mechanical harvesting suitable for the weather conditions of the southern part of the Korean peninsula. The optimum sowing time of mungbean for mechanical harvesting in southern part of Korea is around July 20. When sown around July 15, mungbean should be harvested twice and then the mechanical harvesting of mungbean was not possible. Meanwhile, when sown after July 25, the mechanical harvesting was possible but the maturing period was longer and the seed yield was decreased. Therefore, it is safe to say that in Korea the mechanical harvesting of mungbean is possible for the middle part of Korea when the plant is sown before July 20 and for the southern coastal region of Korea when sown after July 20 (if July 20 is set up as the baseline for the southern part of Korea). Out of Keumseong and Owool, which are popularized cultivars in Korea most, Owool is determined to be most appropriate for mechanical harvesting. Owool is favorable for mechanical harvesting because, when compared to Keumseong, it is higher both in plant height and in pod height, and also the seed yield is better.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.273-278
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• 2008

This study set out to investigate the changes to the growth, yield, and flavonoid contents of mungbean according to different seeding times from mid May to mid July in the southern region of Korea. Days to first flowering, days to first maturing, and cultivation period were shorter at later seeding time than earlier seeding time. But later the seeding time was, days from first maturing to first harvesting, days required between harvesting increased. Number of pods at first harvesting and yield of mungbean were highest when seeded at late June, showing increase in yield 14% more than at early June as standard seeding time. However number of seeds per pod and 1,000-seed weight at first harvesting were highest when seeded at mid July. The number of harvesting was smallest at two times when seeded at June or mid July. The contents of average vitexin and isovitexin in mungbean were highest in the order of mid July, late June, and mid May. In particular, their contents reached its highest point in the seeds of the second harvest. Considering the results of the cultivation period, yield, harvesting times, vitexin and isovitexin contents, the proper seeding time of mungbeans in the southern region of Korea will be from late June to mid July.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.105-121
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• 2013

This study introduces integrated approach on detection of a leakage in a sea wall based on remote sensing, electric resistivity survey, electromagnetic survey, and borehole survey for the Seosan A-Region sea wall. The satellite temperature distribution from Landsat ETM+ data identifies water leakage distribution and period by analyzing temperature mixing patterns between sea water and fresh water. Electric resistivity survey provides both horizontal and vertical anomaly distributions over the sea wall showing below average electric resistivity. Electromagnetic survey(electrical conductivity survey) reveals the potential possible leakage areas with minimal background impact by comparing electrical conductivity values between high and low tides. Borehole image processing system confirmed the locations of anomalies identified from the other survey methods and distributions of vertical fracture zones. The integrated approach identified 41.7% of the sea wall being the most probable area vulnerable to water leakage and effectively approximated both horizontal and vertical distribution of water leakage. The integrated analysis of remote sensing, electric resistivity survey, electromagnetic survey and borehole survey is considered to be an optimal method in identifying water leakage distribution, period, and extent of fractures knowledged from the boreholes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.94-106
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• 2008

As populations inhabiting in natural ecosystem are fragmented by artificial barriers and habitats are destructed by development, extinction possibility of species is getting higher. It is necessary to design and to manage conservation areas and corridors considering animals' movement and migration for sustainable species diversity in present circumstances. 'Least-cost modeling' is one commonly employed approach in which dispersal costs are assigned to distinct habitat types and the last-costly dispersal paths among habitat patches are calculated using a geographical information system (GIS). This study aims to design ecological corridor using least-cost path method and to apply it to a regional ecological network considering movability of medium-large size mammals. This study was carried out over the metropolitan area, which has been deforested by rapid urbanization. Nevertheless there is connected with Gangwon province, Baekdudaegan mountain range and DMZ, considered where many forest species can migrate to this region. This study employs such an approach to develop least-cost path models for medium-large size mammals, have inhabited for this entire region. Considering those species, two forest areas as a source of species supply and forest areas more than 1,000ha are selected as focal forest areas. Movement and migration paths from species supply sources to focal forest areas are calculated by applying landscape permeability theory using land cover map, road density map and land slope map. Results showed least-cost paths from species supply sources to focal forest areas on two species. Wildcat and roe deer are different in some least-cost paths caused by their landscape permeability but paths show generally same specifics. The result of considering regional distribution of expected movement and migration paths to regional ecological network, low altitude mountains of western metropolitan area are evaluated important area for species connectivity. In national or regional levels ecological connectivity is essential to promote species diversity and to preserve integrated ecosystem. This study concludes that developing least-cost models from similar empirical data could significantly improve the utility of these tools.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.817-831
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• 2014

In this paper insights from studies on the middle income trap and value chains analyses are combined to investigate one particular industry in one particular region: the sugarcane industry in Northeastern Thailand. Focusing on this region enables an in-depth focus on geographical differentiation of the middle income trap. The empirical outcomes demonstrate that policymakers involved with sugar should look at the particular challenges in Northeastern Thailand: 1. The role of brokers which is unaddressed in the current regulatory environment; 2. A lack of information of the regulatory environment among growers; 3. Distrust between growers and millers; 4. Alack of implementation of R&D efforts; 5 .A lack of support from associations; 6. The labor shortage problem, and 7. No incentives for growers, brokers and millers to improve quality and embark on upgrading. Since agricultural value chains in Southeast Asia often start in relatively poor rural areas it is imperative that policymakers balance the interests of upstream, midstream and downstream actors. Unfortunately, this is rather difficult as midstream actors (millers) and wholesalers are powerful and therefore, are in the best position to defend their interests. Our insights could function as comparative material for similar studies within other Southeast Asian upstream value chains.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.385-396
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• 1998

The south-western part of Korea is situated in an unbalance of water supply and demand relating to the Keum, Mankyung, Dongjin and Youngsan River and their estuary reservoirs. For example, the Keum River estuary reservoir is discharging the larger amount of yearly runoff into the sea due to the small storage capacity, while Saemankeum estuary reservoir which is under construction, has the smaller runoff comparing with its strorage capacity. And the downstream area of the Youngsan River, such as Youngkwang, Youngam are deficient in water due to larger demand and smaller supply. In order to solve the above unbalanced water supply and demand and also to improve the water use effciency, the Hierarchical Operation Model for Multi-reservoir System(HOMMS) has been developed and applied to analyze the multi-reservoir operation assuming that the above reservoirs were linked each other. The result of this study shows that $2,148{\times}106\;\textrm{m}^3$ of annual additional water requirement for agricultural and rural water demands are required in this region at 2011 of target year, and these demands can be resolved by diverting and reusing $1,913{\times}106\;\textrm{m}^3$ of the released water from the estuary reservoirs into the sea.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.32-39
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• 2016

Coastal plant species Tetragonia tetragonoides (Pall.) Kuntze native to the Dokdo islands was sampled and then 17 endophytic fungi were purely isolated based on morphological differences. The fungal isolates were characterized by their growth properties under NaCl concentration or pH gradient. Culture filtrates of the 17 fungal isolates were treated to Waito-c rice (WR) seedlings for verifying plant growth-promoting activity. As the results, YH103 strain showed the highest plant growth-promoting activity among them. Phylogenetic analysis of the isolates was done by the maximum likelihood method based on partial internal transcribed spacer region (ITS region: contaning ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2), beta-tubulin (BenA), and calmodulin (CaM) gene sequences. Chromatographic analysis of the strain YH103 culture filtrate showed the existence of gibberellins ($GA_4$, $GA_7$, $GA_8$, and $GA_{19}$). Finally, the strain YH103 was identified as Aspergillus tubingensis by microscopic observation and molecular analysis and, to our knowledge, this is the first report of GAs producing A. tubingensis.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 2006

Objectives: Early diagnosis and treatment is the most important strategy to control malaria effectively. Microscopic examination of blood films is a traditional and standard method for diagnosing malaria, which takes a long time and needs expertise, Therefore, the alternative method, rapid diagnostic kit has been used for quick diagnosis in some counties, a highly infectious region by P. vivax. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of malaria rapid diagnostic kit in Ganghwa county. Methods: The utility was evaluated by mean diagnosis time and sensitivity and specificity. For monitoring mean diagnosis time, 942 cases which were diagnosed for P. vivax were collected between 1998 and 2005, And for calculating sensitivity and specificity, 434 whole bloods in EDTA which were presented for P. vivax by microscopy and rapid diagnostic kit were collected between 2004 and 2005. Results: After malaria rapid diagnostic kit was used in 2003, mean diagnosis time has decreased to 3.36-3.14 day. The sensitivity and specificity of the rapid diagnostic kit was 98.2% and 98,5% and comparable to that of microscopic examination. Conclusions: The malaria rapid diagnostic kit is useful tool in a highly infectious region like Ganghwa county.