• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.545-551
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• 2015

Schistosomiasis is one of the important neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Tanzania, particularly in Lake Victoria zone. This baseline survey was a part of the main study of integrated control of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) aimed at describing morbidity patterns due to intestinal schistosomiasis among adults living on Kome Island, Sengerema District, Tanzania. Total 388 adults from Kome Islands (about 50 people from each village) aged between 12 and 85 years, were examined by abdominal ultrasound according to the Niamey protocol. Liver image patterns (LIPs) A and B were considered normal, and C-F as distinct periportal fibrosis (PPF). The overall prevalence of PPF was 42.2%; much higher in males than in females (47.0% in male vs 34.4% in females, P=0.007). Abnormal increase of segmental branch wall thickness (SBWT) and dilated portal vein diameter (PVD) were also more common in males than in females. Hepatosplenomegaly was frequently encountered; 68.1% had left liver lobe hepatomegaly and 55.2% had splenomegaly. Schistosoma mansoni-related morbidity is quite high among adults in this community justifying the implementation of integrated control strategies through mass drug administration, improved water supply (pumped wells), and health education that had already started in the study area.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.429-440
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• 2019

Several studies have attempted to identify factors associated with longevity and maintenance of health in centenarians. In this study, we analyzed and compared the gut microbiota of centenarians in longevity villages with the elderly and adults in the same region and urbanized towns. Fecal samples were collected from centenarians, elderly, and young adults in longevity villages, and the gut microbiota sequences of elderly and young adults in urbanized towns of Korea were obtained from public databases. The relative abundance of Firmicutes was found to be considerably higher in subjects from longevity villages than those from urbanized towns, whereas Bacteroidetes was lower. Age-related rearrangement of gut microbiota was observed in centenarians, such as reduced proportions of Faecalibacterium and Prevotella, and increased proportion of Escherichia, along with higher abundances of Akkermansia, Clostridium, Collinsella, and uncultured Christensenellaceae. Gut microbiota of centenarians in rehabilitation hospitals were also different to those residing at home. These differences could be due to differences in diet patterns and living environments. In addition, phosphatidylinositol signaling system, glycosphingolipid biosynthesis, and various types of N-glycan biosynthesis were predicted to be higher in the gut microbiota of centenarians (corrected p < 0.05). These three metabolic pathways of gut microbiota can be associated with the immune status and healthy gut environment of centenarians. Although further studies are necessary to validate the function of microbiota between groups, this study provides valuable information on centenarians' gut microbiota.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2021

In order to develop practical indicator that can diagnose the regional conditions and characteristics of fishing villages, this study reviewed domestic and foreign researches and selected the diagnostic indicator of fishing villages by spatial unit. The major categories are divided into population and society, economic conditions, and living conditions. The middle categories consists of population, household, industry, tourism, settlement, environment, safety, health and welfare, education, and culture and leisure. The indicator were selected with reference to the existence of statistical data officially provided according to the spatial range(Si/Gun, eup/myeon, village). Based on the selected indicator, the test evaluation was conducted in Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do by applying data that can be obtained from KOSIS and web GIS. It is judged that the diagnostic indicator developed through this research can be used in various ways from the planning stage to the implementation stage of the regional development project, such as grasping the current conditions, setting improvement targets, promotion and evaluation/monitoring of the project. In addition, it is expected that it will be possible to carry out regional diagnosis for each spatial unit and to plan and implement regional development projects by giving priority to areas where the level of each department is insufficient.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2021

In the process of vaccine delivery and vaccination, temperature is mostly controlled by an insulated containers containing ice. Moreover, amount of wasted vaccine is significant because the temperature of the vaccine is not properly controlled. A core challenge of vaccination is temperature data monitoring, since it is critical for managing and operating strategical vaccination by health organizations. In this research, a real-time monitoring vaccine carrier system was developed. Temperature, location, and power consumption data of the vaccine carrier were monitored and working performances of the vaccine carrier were tested in both Korea and Tanzania (Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions). For both places, Short Message Service (SMS) communication method was used to send information of the carrier's status. As a result, the monitoring system was able to transmit and receive real-time data of the vaccine carrier status while the vaccine carrier was tested. The vaccine status data can be accessed from any location through the cloud server and web-based user interface.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.451-470
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• 2022

Recently, the environment has been recognized as an important factor in increasing competitiveness in the industry. In agriculture and rural areas, the environment is becoming important in terms of the competitive advantage of agricultural products and continued regional development. This study intended to provide farmers with basic data for the continuous development of local agriculture through exploratory studies of environmental behaviors and regional development. In this study, 107 questionnaires were used for analysis of farmers in Jinan County to analyze the impact of farmers' environmental consciousness on regional development, and the research model was verified using a structural equation model. As a result of the analysis, it was analyzed that among the components of the environmental consciousness of farmers, environmental health has a statistically significant positive effect on environmental behaviors, while environmental interest and soil environment do not have an impact. The environmental behaviors of farmers have not been shown to be statistically significant to regional development. As a result of the analysis of this research, first, it is necessary to foster at the local level by establishing a customized fostering system for each village and region, such as education and technical support to vitalize the participation of young farmers and small and medium-sized farmers through the establishment of an Eco-friendly agricultural organization support system. It is necessary to raise public awareness of the public good function of agriculture and expand opportunities for sharing the value of Eco-friendly agriculture.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.185-199
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• 2023

This study aimed to predict the effects of water ecology on the supply of hydrothermal energy to model a housing complex in Eco Delta Smart Village in Busan. Based on the results, engineering measures were recommended to minimize problems due to possible temperature variations on the supply of hydrothermal energy from the river. The current distribution of fish, benthic macroinvertebrates, and phytoplankton in the Pyeonggang Stream was monitored to determine their effects on water ecology. In the research area, five species and three families of fish were observed. The dominant species was Lepomis macrochirus, and the subdominant species was Carassius auratus. Twenty-five species and 21 families of benthic macroinvertebrates were found. The distribution of aquatic insects was poor in this area. The dominant species were Chironomidae sp., Lymnaea auricularia, Appasus japonicus, and Caridina denticulata denticulata in February, May, July, and October. Dominant phytoplankton were Aulacoseira ambigua and Nitzschia palea in February and May. Microcystis sp. was dominant in July and October. The health of the ecology the Pyeonggang Stream was assessed as D (bad) according to the benthic macroinvertebrate index (BMI). Shifts in the location of the discharge point 150 m downstream from intake points and discharge through embedded rock layer after adding equal amounts of stream water as was taken at the beginning were suggested to minimize water temperature variations due to the application of hydrothermal energy. When the scenario (i.e., quantity of water intake and dilution water, 1,600 m³/d and water temp. difference ±5 ℃) was realized, variations in water temperature were assessed at -0.19 ℃ and 0.59 ℃ during cooling and heating, respectively, at a point 10 m downstream. Water temperatures recorded at -0.20 ℃ and 0.68 ℃ during cooling and heating, respectively, at a point 10 m upstream. All stream water temperatures after the application of hydrothermal energy recovered within 24 hours. Future work on the long-term monitoring of ecosystems is suggested, particularly to analyze the influence of the water environment on hydrothermal energy supply operations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2023

Although Due to industrial development and urbanization, the number of schools closing due to a decrease in the school-age population is increasing due to the phenomenon of relocation from farming and fishing villages. Closing schools are used as social and cultural facilities, or they are used to generate income by providing education and experiences. Agro-healing is an activity that promotes psychological, social, and physical health by using rural resources. By reflecting the Agro-healing in the services operated by the closed school, the perception of the provision of the Agro-healing service was investigated as a way to provide a therapeutic service to visitors and to increase the utilization of the closed school. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions, a total of 5 questions related to demographic information, a total of 5 questions related to the perception of agro-healing activities in closed school facilities. As a result, 347 people participated in the survey. The higher the awareness of agro-healing, the need for a agro-healing expert, the satisfaction with the use of rural closed school facilities, and the willingness to participate in agro-healing activities, the higher the awareness that the provision of agro-healing services was necessary by the state. Theses results are expected to be useful as basic to data to solve the diverse limitation in rural closed school and agro-healing activities.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.114-125
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• 2024

Wetlands in the living area are important ecological resources that are the basis for the daily life or farming activities of local residents, and have high ecological value such as ecosystem services and green infrastructure. This study was carried out to develop a functional evaluation methodology optimized for small-scale wetlands(RAMS). Based on on-site evaluation by experts, surveys and in-depth interviews, four functional items, including biodiversity, health, hydrophilic culture and ecology, water circulation, and carbon absorption, and 15 detailed indicators, and the evaluation grade for each detailed indicator, were developed on a 5-point scale. The evaluation methodology optimized for small-scale living areas wetlands (RAMS) proposed as a result of this study can be used as basic data for conservation and restoration and management of small-scale living areas wetlands at home and abroad.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2008

일개 농촌 마을에서 농한기를 활용하여 시행된 근골격계 질환 예방사업을 소개하고 주요 사업결과를 분석하여 농업인의 건강증진을 위한 기초자료로 활용하고자 본 연구를 수행하였다. 2006년 12월 5일부터 2007년 1월 26일까지 사곳리 마을회관을 12회 방문하여 4번의 기초교육과 5번의 심화교육 등 9번의 근력 및 유연성 강화교육을 실시하였다. 교육 전(사전평가), 기초교육과 심화교육 사이(중간평가), 교육 후(최종평가) 등 3회에 걸쳐 의사 2인에 의한 근골격계 질환 평가, 시각통증척도에 의한 근골격계 통증 평가, 생활체육 전문가 3인에 의한 좌우의 악력, 배근력, 하지근력, 몸통, 어깨, 하지, 무릎유연성 측정을 통한 근골격계 근력 및 유연성 평가, 설문지를 사용한 어깨, 허리, 무릎의 기능 평가를 실시하였다. 총 12회의 일정 중 1회 이상 참석한 농업인은 총 57명이었으며 남자가 20명(35.1%), 여자가 37명(64.9%)이었으며 평균 연령은 60.7(±8.1)세였다. 근골격계 질환 검진에서 한 번 이상의 검진을 받았던 43명중 32명(74%)이 한 가지 이상의 근골격계 질환을 가지고 있었으며, 퇴행성관절염이 26명(60.5%), 근막통 증후군이 19명(44.2%), 허리디스크가 10명(23.3%)이었다.목어깨, 허리, 무릎다리의 통증정도는 1차, 2차 평가 간, 2차, 3차 평가 간, 1차, 3차 평가 간의 비교에서 모두 감소하는 경향을 보였으며 3차 평가에서 1차 평가에 비해 목어깨, 허리, 무릎다리 모두 유의한 통증의 감소를 보였다(p<0.05). 근골격계의 기능을 1차, 2차 평가 간, 2차, 3차 평가 간, 1차, 3차 평가 간 비교한 결과 모두 기능점수가 우수하게 변화했으나 통계적으로 유의하지 않았다. 근력 및 유연성 정도는 좌우의 악력, 배근력, 하지근력, 몸통, 어깨, 하지, 무릎유연성을 측정하였으며 1차 평가에 비해 3차 평가에서 모든 항목에서 근력 및 유연성 정도가 통계적으로 유의하게 증가하였다(p<0.05).연구대상자의 수가 적었고, 농한기에 의한 근골격계 질환의 개선 효과를 배제할 수는 없었지만 이번연구를 통하여 일부 농업인에서 근골격계 질환 관리 프로그램 실시 후 근골격계 질환의 단기적인 개선효과를 볼 수 있었다. 근골격계 질환의 중장기적인 개선효과를 기대할 수 있는 추가적인 연구와 농번기를 통한 관리 프로그램에 대한 추가적인 연구가 필요하다.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2008

Statement of problem: The introduction of "The Long-term Care Insurance System" (a public nursing care insurance scheme) is scheduled from July in 2008. Lately, the importance of oral health care had increased. Introduction and establishment of the methodology (nursing care procedure) based on professional dental knowledge is inevitable. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to rouse recognition of the importance of dental care in the long term elderly care in nursing homes, with implementation of the new insurance law. Material and methods: Visited two institutions for the elderly, Yudang Village and Sungjiwon located in Suwon city to investigate the present conditions in terms of (1) the detailsof the institution, (2) the activities concerning with dental care in the institution, and (3) the consciousness and recognition regarding dental care of the staffs. Results: In two institutions, under the present conditions, oral cleaning (including the cleaning of denture) for residents was operated with no professional advices and limited professional dental care. It was found that there was very little awareness of aspiration pneumonia. The members of staff however, did recognizethe necessity of professional maintenance and management of oral care in daily nursing care, and that many residents hold dental problems. They were very eager in introducing the methodology (nursing care procedure) in dental care in nursing homes.