• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.341-349
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• 2019

Background: A self-assessment questionnaire, the GERD-Questionnaire (GERD-Q) was used to determine the prevalence of GERD in adolescents, describe the related factors, and determine the impact on quality of life (QoL). Methods: The incidence of GERD was evaluated using the GERD-Q in adolescents aged 12-18 years. The Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptom Questionnaire and Quality of Life Questionnaire (PGSQ-A) for adolescents were additionally administered. Some factors considered related to GERD were also evaluated. Results: The 520 adolescents were included. The prevalence of suspected GERD, according to a GERD-Q cutoff score of ${\geq}7$ was 32.9%, and those drinking soda were 1.7 times more likely to have GERD (95% confidence interval, 1.3-2.2; p<0.001). However, soda consumption was not a risk factor for development of GERD symptoms. Applying a cutoff score of ${\geq}8$, only 10.9% of the participants had a positive GERD score, but the association with soda consumption persisted. The median PGSQ-A score in subjects suspected of GERD was 8 (range 0-37) on weekends and 1 (range 0-17) during weekdays (p<0.001) compared to those not suspected of GERD, with a median of 2 (range 0-27) during weekends and 0 (range 0-10) during weekdays. Heartburn, regurgitation, and extraesophageal symptoms correlated significantly with QoL (p<0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of suspected GERD in adolescents was 32.9% or 10.9%, depending on the cutoff score used. There was a statistically significant difference in PGSQ-A scores between the subjects suspected or not of GERD, indicating an impaired QoL.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.221-230
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• 2017

There are two main policies to meet the national goal of reducing Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) emissions in Korea towards Paris Agreement. From 2012 to 2014, Target Management System (TMS) was operated and the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) has been established since 2015. To compare the impact of TMS and ETS on reducing GHGs, we collected annual GHGs emission reports submitted by individual business entities, and normalized them using a z-variant normalized function. In order to evaluate the impact of those policies, we calculated the amount of GHGs emissions of 73 business entities from 15 business sectors. Those entities emitted $508million\;CO_2eq$, which is 74% of total national GHGs emissions in 2014. The main results of analysis indicate that accumulated GHGs emissions during the period 2012 to 2014 affected by TMS was higher than the national goal of GHGs emission reduction, and only the GHGs emissions in 2014 were in the range of allowed GHGs emissions, set by the Government. In 2015, when ETS initiated, total GHGs emission trading was $4.84million\;tCO_2eq$, which is only 0.9% of total allowance in 2015. However, more than 50% of business entities, who got the allowance of GHGs emission given by the Government, met the goal of GHGs emissions. Particularly, 27 of 73 business entities reduced GHGs more under the ETS rather than the TMS. Even though we analyzed only 4 years' data to demonstrate the impact of TMS and ETS, it is expected to commit the national goal of GHGs reduction target by TMS and ETS.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.183-194
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• 2019

Adulteration of argan oil with some other cheaper oils with similar chemical compositions has resulted in increasing demands for authenticity assurance and quality control. Fast and simple analytical techniques are thus needed for authenticity analysis of high-priced argan oil. Raman spectroscopy is a potent technique and has been extensively used for quality control and safety determination for food products In this study, Raman spectroscopy in combination with a net analyte signal (NAS)-based methodology, i.e., hybrid linear analysis method developed by Goicoechea and Olivieri in 1999 (HLA/GO), was used to predict the different concentrations of olive oil (0 - 20%) added to argan oil. Raman spectra of 90 samples were collected in a spectral range of $400-400cm^{-1}$, and calibration and validation sets were designed to evaluate the performance of the multivariate method. The results revealed a high coefficient of determination ($R^2$) value of 0.98 and a low root-mean-square error (RMSE) value of 0.41% for the calibration set, and an $R^2$ of 0.97 and RMSE of 0.36% for the validation set. Additionally, the figures of merit such as sensitivity, selectivity, limit of detection, and limit of quantification were used for further validation. The high $R^2$ and low RMSE values validate the detection ability and accuracy of the developed method and demonstrate its potential for quantitative determination of oil adulteration.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.177-185
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• 2019

This is a methodological study to develop standards for human body coordinate clinical terminology system. The Standard was developed through four stages: Stage 1 - research plan was developed through literature review and data collection. Stage 2 - preliminary standard was created. Stage 3 - the standard was revised in accordance with the consultation of experts through seminars. Stage 4 - Final version of the standard was presented after verification of the content level. 2D human body images are expressed as x, y axes, and 3D images are expressed as x, y, z axes. Concepts and definitions of coordinates were preassembled into FSN, synonyms and preferred names of SNOMED CT. The latter combination was defined through 18 relationships. The average index was 4.01 for the content validity of the developed relationship standard. This research suggests that subsequent standards should be developed for other parts of the human body such as the brain, organs, and tissues. Also, it suggests that methodological research should be continued to increase the utilization of the standard in clinical practice.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.12
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• pp.392-396
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• 2018

Purpose: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) that causes upper airway obstruction might lead to chronic hypoxemic pulmonary vasoconstriction and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. We aimed to evaluate whether adenotonsillectomy (T&A) in children suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to severe ATH could improve RV function. Methods: Thirty-seven children (boy:girl=21:16; mean age, $9.52{\pm}2.20years$), who underwent T&A forsleep apnea due to ATH, were included. We analyzedthe mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), the presence and the maximal velocity of tricuspid regurgitation (TR), the tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and the right ventricular myocardial performance index (RVMPI) with tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) by transthoracic echocardiography pre- and post-T&A. The follow-up period was $1.78{\pm}0.27years$. Results: Only the RVMPI using TDE improved after T&A ($42.18{\pm}2.03$ vs. $40{\pm}1.86$, P=0.001). The absolute value of TAPSE increased ($21.45{\pm}0.90mm$ vs. $22.30{\pm}1.10mm$, P=0.001) but there was no change in the z score of TAPSE pre- and post-T&A ($1.19{\pm}0.34$ vs. $1.24{\pm}0.30$, P=0.194). The mPAP was within normal range in children with ATH, and there was no significant difference between pre- and post-T&A ($19.6{\pm}3.40$ vs. $18.7{\pm}2.68$, P=0.052). There was no difference in the presence and the maximal velocity of TR (P=0.058). Conclusion: RVMPI using TDE could be an early parameter of RV function in children with OSA due to ATH.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.1633-1637
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• 2019

While considering the photon attenuation coefficient (${\mu}$) and its related parameters for photons shielding, it is necessary to account for its transmitted and reflected photons energy spectra and dose contribution. Monte Carlo simulation was used to study the efficiency of clay ($1.99g\;cm^{-3}$) as a shielding material below 150 keV photon. Am-241 gamma source and an X-ray of 150 kVp were calculated. The calculated value of ${\mu}$ for Am-241 is higher within 5.61% compared to theoretical value for a single-energy photon. The calculated half-value layer (HVL) is 0.9335 cm, which is lower than that of ordinary concrete for X-ray of 150 kVp. A thickness of 2 cm clay was adequate to attenuate 90% and 85% of the incident photons from Am-241 and X-ray of 150 kVp, respectively. The same thickness of 2 cm could shield the gamma source dose rate of Am-241 (1 MBq) down to $0.0528{\mu}Sv/hr$. For X-ray of 150 kVp, photons below 60 keV were significantly decreased with 2 cm clay and a dose rate reduction by ~80%. The contribution of reflected photons and dose from the clay is negligible for both sources.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.193-200
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• 2019

Ceramide metabolism is known to be an essential etiology for various diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and Gaucher disease. Glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) is a key enzyme for the synthesis of glucosylceramide (GlcCer), which is a main ceramide metabolism pathway in mammalian cells. In this article, we developed a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to determine GCS activity using synthetic non-natural sphingolipid C8-ceramide as a substrate. The reaction products, C8-GlcCer for GCS, could be separated on a C18 column by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Quantification was conducted using the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode to monitor the precursor-to-product ion transitions of m/z $588.6{\rightarrow}264.4$ for C8-GlcCer at positive ionization mode. The calibration curve was established over the range of 0.625-160 ng/mL, and the correlation coefficient was larger than 0.999. This method was successfully applied to detect GCS in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2 cells) and mouse peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We also evaluated the inhibition degree of a known GCS inhibitor 1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP) on GCS enzymatic activity and proved that this method could be successfully applied to GCS inhibitor screening of preventive and therapeutic drugs for ceramide metabolism diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and Gaucher disease.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.139-151
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the effect of exposure parameters on image quality obtained using a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanner and the relationship between physical factors and clinical image quality depending on the diagnostic task. Materials and Methods: CBCT images of a SedentexCT IQ phantom and a real skull phantom were obtained under different combinations of tube voltage and tube current (Alphard 3030 CBCT scanner, 78-90 kVp and 2-8 mA). The images obtained using a SedentexCT IQ phantom were analyzed technically, and the physical factors of image noise, contrast resolution, spatial resolution, and metal artifacts were measured. The images obtained using a real skull phantom were evaluated for each diagnostic task by 6 oral and maxillofacial radiologists, and each setting was classified as acceptable or unacceptable based on those evaluations. A statistical analysis of the relationships of exposure parameters and physical factors with observer scores was conducted. Results: For periapical diagnosis and implant planning, the tube current of the acceptable images was significantly higher than that of the unacceptable images. Image noise, the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), the line pair chart on the Z axis, and modulation transfer function (MTF) values showed statistically significant differences between the acceptable and unacceptable image groups. The cut-off values obtained using receiver operating characteristic curves for CNR and MTF 10 were useful for determining acceptability. Conclusion: Tube current had a major influence on clinical image quality. CNR and MTF 10 were useful physical factors that showed significantly associations with clinical image quality.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.205-213
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of major satisfaction in the relationship between academic self-efficacy and academic achievement among nursing students. Methods: Data were collected from 142 nursing students from March 5 to March 9, 2018, and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 for Windows. Results: Academic self-efficacy had a significant effect on both major satisfaction (${\beta}=.31$, p<.001), and academic achievement (${\beta}=.43$, p<.001). The parameter of major satisfaction was found to have a significant effect on the dependent variable, academic achievement (${\beta}=.22$, p=.007), and the independent variable, academic self-efficacy, also had a significant effect on academic achievement (${\beta}=.39$, p<.001). Thus, major satisfaction was found to have a partial mediating effect on the relationship between academic self efficacy and academic achievement. The Sobel test showed that the path of the academic achievement and academic self efficacy variables was significantly mediated by major satisfaction (Z=2.99, p=.003). Conclusion: Academic self-efficacy was found to affect academic achievement, and major satisfaction was found to play a partial mediating role in the relationship between academic self efficacy and academic achievement.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.153-160
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the tolerability and effect of early high-dose amino acid administration in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs). Methods: This retrospective cohort study included ELBWI (birth weight <1,000 g, n=142). Biochemical, nutritional, and neurodevelopmental data were compared between infants who received conventional low amino acid (LAA; 1.5 g/kg/day) and those who received high amino acid (HAA; 3 g/kg/day) within the first 48 hours after birth. Neurodevelopmental data included weight, height, and head circumference at discharge, 12 to 14 and 18 to 24 months of corrected age and the Korean Bayley Scale of Infant Development II (K-BSID-II) score at 18 to 24 months of corrected age. Results: The HAA group demonstrated higher peak plasma albumin ($3.0{\pm}0.4$ vs. $3.2{\pm}0.5$, P<0.05) and lower serum creatinine ($1.7{\pm}0.9$ vs. $1.4{\pm}0.8$, P<0.05) during the first 14 days than the LAA group. Full enteral feeding was achieved significantly earlier in infants in the HAA group than in infants in the LAA group ($46.2{\pm}23.0days$ vs. $34.3{\pm}21days$, P<0.01). There was no difference between the two groups in the z score changes in all growth indicators from birth to discharge and at 12 to 14 and 18 to 24 months of corrected age, as well as in the K-BSID-II score at 18 to 24 months of corrected age. Conclusion: Aggressive administration of amino acids during the first 2 days of life in ELBWI was well tolerated and correlated with earlier full enteral feeding, but did not improve growth and neurodevelopment.