• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.137-152
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• 1996

The goal of this study was to investigate how daily experiences of schoolwork and leisure activities explained cultural differences in levels of adolescent depression. A combined sample of 58 high school seniors in Korea and 62 high school seniors in the United States reported time use patterns and affect states in daily activities and levels of depression. The time use pattern in daily independent study during class hours and in active leisure activities significantly explained cultural differences in levels of depression. Affect states in all schoolwork activities and passive leisure activities also significantly explained cultural differences in levels of depression. These findings suggest that Korean adolescents' experience of 'exam hell', particularly the lack of active leisure activities and more negative emotional experiences of daily activities are partly responsible for their higher depression relative to American counterparts.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.737-742
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• 2002

To evaluate the effect of obesity on serum leptin and insulin levels in 80 elementary school children (aged 10.8 yr, 47 boys, 33 girls), we collected the anthropometric data and measured serum leptin and insulin levels. Serum leptin level and insulin resistance are known as factors which are associated with obesity and obesity related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension. The results were as follows. The serum levels of insulin (p＜0.001), leptin (p＜0.001) and HOM $A_{IR}$ (p＜0.001) in obese group were significantly higher than those of other groups. The obesity indices correlated significantly to serum levels of insulin and leptin, but not to fasting glucose level. These results suggested that circulating leptin and insulin concentrations may act as a humoral signal indicator to adiposity-associated metabolic disorder in elementary school children.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.1-24
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• 2022

We investigate how reforestation contributed to stabilization of riverine water levels in South Korea. For the purpose, we estimate an equation capturing dynamic relationships among rainfall, upstream-area tree stock, and downstream water levels in three river systems of Hongcheon, Mangyeong, and Hyeongsan, using daily observations of precipitation and water levels for the period from 1985 to 2005. Simulation based on estimation results shows that increase in the tree stock in a river basin leads to a significantly suppressed peaking in riverine water levels in response to an abrupt and concentrated rain in the upstream area. For instance, an hour-long concentration of 100mm rain results in 0.7m rise in water level if the volume of growing stock is 1 million m³, whereas the rise in water level stays below 0.27m with 5 million m³ in the growing-stock volume.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.96-101
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• 2015

Purpose: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory relapsing skin disorder. Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in the development of AD, and interleukin (IL) 31 is known to be related to pruritus in AD. The aim of our study was to determine whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels are related to IL-31 levels or to the severity of AD. Methods: We enrolled 91 children with AD and 32 control subjects without history or symptoms of allergic diseases. Blood was drawn to evaluate complete blood cell count, total eosinophil count (TEC), and total IgE, specific IgE to common allergens, 25(OH)D, and IL-31 levels. Serum 25(OH)D and IL-31 levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index was used to evaluate the severity of AD. Results: The mean 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in the AD group than in the control group; 25(OH)D decreased greatly in the moderate and severe AD groups compared with the mild AD group. Children with atopic sensitization showed significantly lower 25(OH)D levels than nonatopic children. However, serum IL-31 levels were not related to AD group, SCORAD index, or 25(OH)D levels. The SCORAD index was inversely correlated with serum 25(OH)D level and positively correlated with TECs and total IgE levels. Children with moderate and severe AD had significantly higher TECs than children with mild AD. Conclusion: Vitamin D is related to the severity of AD independently of IL-31.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.45-49
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• 2017

Purpose: Serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) is considered as the most appropriate marker of vitamin D status. However, only a few studies have investigated the relationship between 25-OHD and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in children. To this end, this study was aimed at evaluating the lowest 25-OHD level that suppresses the production of parathyroid hormone in children. Methods: A retrospective record review was performed for children aged 0.2 to 18 years (n=193; 106 boys and 87 girls) who underwent simultaneous measurements of serum 25-OHD and PTH levels between January 2010 and June 2014. Results: The inflection point of serum 25-OHD level for maximal suppression of PTH was at 18.0 ng/mL (95% confidence interval, 14.3-21.7 ng/mL). The median PTH level of the children with 25-OHD levels of <18.0 ng/mL was higher than that of children with 25-OHD levels ${\geq}$ 18.0 ng/mL (P<0.0001). The median calcium level of children with 25-OHD levels<18.0 ng/mL was lower than that of children with 25-OHD levels${\geq}18.0ng/mL$ (P=0.0001). The frequency of hyperparathyroidism was higher in the children with 25-OHD levels<18.0 ng/mL than in the children with 25-OHD levels${\geq}18.0ng/mL$ (P<0.0001). Hypocalcemia was more prevalent in the children with 25-OHD levels<18.0 ng/mL than in the children with 25-OHD levels${\geq}18.0ng/mL$ (P<0.0001). Conclusion: These data suggest that a vitamin D level of 18.0 ng/mL could be the criterion for 25-OHD deficiency in children at the inflection point of the maximal suppression of PTH.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.286-296
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• 2008

This study aims to examine the relationship between teachers' parcitipation levels in the decision making process and the organizational effectiveness in the middle schools. To achieve this objectives, 559 teachers of 18 middle schools in Busan were involved through a questionaire. The results are as follows: First, teachers consider their participation in decision-making to be low. Second, teachers view the effectiveness of school systems higher than average. Third, the correlation between teachers' participation and the system effectiveness (including job satisfaction, organization adaptability and job achievement) was positively high. When teachers' participation levels were divided into 3 groups - low, middle, and high-, the system effectiveness appeared highest with the high- level participation group. These results suggest the need for teacher participation in decision making to enhance the effectiveness of school systems.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.143-151
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• 2007

The effects of job stress factors on psychological job stress and job satisfaction levels of school dietitians were evaluated. Questionnaires were distributed to 163 elementary school foodservice dietitians in the Seoul and Incheon area. Statistical data analysis was completed using the SPSS program. The highest stress factor was the importance of the job followed by role ambiguity, autonomy and identity, communication and participation. When dealing with job stress, the subjects showed improved and positive behaviors when communicating and participating with each other. The analysis of the relationships between job stress factors and job satisfaction revealed that the importance of the job had a negative effect on jog satisfaction. while role conflict and overload, personal relationships, and experience accumulation had positive effects. Ample occupational experience and background had highly positive effects on school dietitians' job satisfaction level whereas negative results were shown concerning circulated appointments(p<0.01). Based on these results, we suggest that role conflict and overload should be reduced in order to lower job stress levels and enhance job satisfaction levels.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.254.1-254.1
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• 2003

CCl4 has been known as typical chemical which induce acute hepatitis accompanying increase in the levels of acute phase proteins in serum. In this study, after acute liver damage was induced by CCl4 in Sprague-Dawley rats, the levels of serum acute phase proteins were examined using 2-dimensional electrophoresis and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in blood were also examined at 1, 2, 3 days after the induction to confirm acute hepatitis. (omitted)

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.74 no.5
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• pp.207-214
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• 2013

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the leading causes of death among the elderly. Several studies have reported the clinical usefulness of serum procalcitonin, a biomarker of bacterial infection. However, the association between the levels of procalcitonin and the severity in the elderly with CAP has not yet been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate usefulness of procalcitonin as a predictor of severity and mortality in the elderly with CAP. Methods: This study covers 155 CAP cases admitted to Pusan National University Hospital between January 2010 and December 2010. Patients were divided into two groups (${\geq}65$ years, n=99; <65 years, n=56) and were measured for procalcitonin, C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell, confusion, uremia, respiratory rate, blood pressure, 65 years or older (CURB-65) and pneumonia severity of index (PSI). Results: The levels of procalcitonin were significantly correlated with the CURB-65, PSI in totals. Especially stronger correlation was observed between the levels of procalcitonin and CURB-65 in the elderly (procalcitonin and CURB-65, ${\rho}$=0.408 with p<0.001; procalcitonin and PSI, ${\rho}$=0.293 with p=0.003; procalcitonin and mortality, ${\rho}$=0.229 with p=0.023). The correlation between the levels of CRP or WBC and CAP severity was low. The existing cut-off value of procalcitonin was correlated with mortality rate, however, it was not correlated with mortality within the elderly. Conclusion: The levels of procalcitonin are more useful than the levels of CRP or WBC to predict the severity of CAP. However, there was no association between the levels of procalcitonin and mortality in the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.19-34
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• 2012

This study investigated the differences in time use patterns and psychological states across daily activity contexts and interpersonal contexts, depending on the levels of school maladjustment among elementary school students. Using the Experience Sampling Method (ESM), 107 elementary school 6th grade students' daily time use patterns and psychological states across daily contexts were measured six times a day over a period of 4 days. Using the school maladjustment scale, an internal problem based school maladjusted group and an external problem based school maladjusted group were identified and selected. The daily time use patterns and psychological states of both school maladjusted groups were compared to those of the adjusted groups. The principle findings are as follows: first, the school maladjusted group students' daily time use patterns across daily activity contexts or interpersonal contexts did not differ from those of the students from the school adjusted group. Second, the school maladjusted group students experienced more negative emotions, lower concentration levels, and lower motivation levels across daily contexts than the school adjusted group students. These differences in motivation between the external problem school maladjusted group and adjusted group, however, were greater in the schoolwork context compared to the other daily activity contexts. The findings were discussed in the contexts of the daily experiences of child school maladjustment.