• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2007

Sweat contents were investigated for using those data to forensic purpose. The experiments of identifying sweat contents were as follow: 1) measurement of amino acids (aspartic acid, serine, glycine etc) by HPLC, 2) anions ($Cl^-$, $F^-$, and $SO{_4}^{2-}$) by IC and 3) trace elements (Cu, Zn, Li, B, etc.) by ICP-MS. Amino acid contents in sweat are varied with individual samples and glycine, threonine, alanine, valine and histidine are detected as the prime one. The detected anions are $Cl^-$(2167~4073 ppm) and $F^-$(454~582 ppm) mostly. Trace elements of Rb, Zn and Cu are detected and those concentrations are relatively very high. The compositions of sweat can be influenced by various factors (diet, anthropometric, characteristics, physical fitness, age, gender and the state of the health).

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.51.1-51.17
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• 2023

Background: To date, various genotypes of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) have co-circulated and in Korea, GI-15 and GI-19 lineages were prevailing. The spike protein, particularly S1 subunit, is responsible for receptor binding, contains hypervariable regions and is also responsible for the emerging of novel variants. Objective: This study aims to investigate the putative major amino acid substitutions for the variants in GI-19. Methods: The S1 sequence data of IBV isolated from 1986 to 2021 in Korea (n = 188) were analyzed. Sequence alignments were carried out using Multiple alignment using Fast Fourier Transform of Geneious prime. The phylogenetic tree was generated using MEGA-11 (ver. 11.0.10) and Bayesian analysis was performed by BEAST v1.10.4. Selective pressure was analyzed via online server Datamonkey. Highlights and visualization of putative critical amino acid were conducted by using PyMol software (version 2.3). Results: Most (93.5%) belonged to the GI-19 lineage in Korea, and the GI-19 lineage was further divided into seven subgroups: KM91-like (Clade A and B), K40/09-like, QX-like (I-IV). Positive selection was identified at nine and six residues in S1 for KM91-like and QX-like IBVs, respectively. In addition, several positive selection sites of S1-NTD were indicated to have mutations at common locations even when new clades were generated. They were all located on the lateral surface of the quaternary structure of the S1 subunits in close proximity to the receptor-binding motif (RBM), putative RBM motif and neutralizing antigenic sites in S1. Conclusions: Our results suggest RBM surrounding sites in the S1 subunit of IBV are highly susceptible to mutation by selective pressure during evolution.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.40.1-40.18
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the influence of different obturation techniques compared to cold lateral compaction on the success rate of primary non-surgical endodontic treatments. Materials and Methods: Systematic searches were performed for studies published up to May 17^th, 2022 in MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, and Grey Literature Reports. Randomized clinical trials and nonrandomized (nonrandomized clinical trials, prospective or retrospective) studies that evaluated the success rate of primary non-surgical endodontic treatments obturated with the cold lateral compaction (control) and other obturation techniques were included. The revised Cochrane risk of bias tools for randomized trials (RoB 2) and nonrandomized studies of interventions (ROBINS-I) were used to evaluate the risk of bias. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence. Results: Eleven studies (4 randomized clinical trials (RCTs), 4 prospective, and 3 retrospectives) were included. Two RCTs were classified as having some concerns risk of bias and 2 as a low risk of bias. Two nonrandomized studies were classified as having a critical risk of bias and 5 as having a moderate risk of bias. The GRADE analysis demonstrated a very low to moderate certainty of evidence. Conclusions: This systematic review generally evidenced no differences in the success rate of primary non-surgical endodontic treatments when the cold lateral compaction technique and other obturation techniques are performed. Further well-designed studies are still necessary.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.40-48
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate safety of postpartum herbal medicine by assessing the effect of taking herbal medicine of postpartum period on liver function. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 167 mothers who underwent liver function tests (LFT) within 3 months before and after childbirth among mothers who gave birth at ○○ Hospital between January 1, 2016 and May 31, 2018. Mothers with abnormally elevated LFT during pregnancy were excluded. Among 167 women, 6 women are herbal-medicine-group took herbal medicine for 5-6 weeks during postpartum period, and 161 patients are general -group who did not take herbal medicine. LFT Variation of Subjects before and after childbirth were compared between the two groups. And subjects who had elevated liver levels above the normal range after delivery were classified separately, the characteristics and causes of changes in liver levels were analyzed, and the presence or absence of drug-induced liver damage was confirmed. Results: Among a total of 167 subjects, there were 5 women in the herbal-medicine-group and 150 women in the general-group who had changes in liver values within the normal range after childbirth. Aspartate transaminase (AST) change before and after childbirth in the herbal-medicine-group was 3.40±1.82, and AST change in the general-group was 2.92±8.59, showing no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.901). Increase of Alanine transaminase (ALT) before and after childbirth in the herbal-medicine-group was 5.60±3.65, and ALT change in the general-group was 8.01±11.81, showing no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.651). There were 12 subjects who had elevated AST, ALT above the normal range after delivery, including 1 in the herbal-medicine-group and 11 in the normal mothers group. Valuation of 1 Subject of the herbal-medicine-group before and after delivery was 17 IU/L of AST and 52 IU/L of ALT. Because results of AST, ALT is under the standard to diagnose to liver damage, she was observed without any treatment. However the cause of AST, ALT elevation was not found in the chart, she was receiving treatment for diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The general-group had an average increase of AST 35.64±22.67 IU/L and ALT 53.00±26.80 IU/L. As a result of analyzing the cause, there were direct causes such as autoimmune hepatitis, chronic hepatitis B, and acute pyelonephritis. Abnormal elevations in liver levels were also found in mothers with hypothyroidism, diabetes, and fever of unknown cause, although they were not direct causes. Conclusions: To investigate the safety of taking herbal medicines, we assess the variation in AST and ALT within 3 months before and after delivery in the herbal-medicine-group and general-group. There was no significant difference between two groups.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.289-294
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• 2023

Background: Artificial sweeteners are chemically synthesized substances used to add sweetness to foods. Representative substances include aspartame and acesulfame-K, which are 200 times sweeter than sugar. Recently, the IARC classified aspartame as class 2B, but Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of South Korea announced that it would maintain the current usage standards. Acesulfame-K, which has the potential to cause cancer, was excluded from the list of possible carcinogens, raising questions about its safety. According to a survey by the Consumers Union of Korea, 85% of makgeolli includes artificial sweeteners, but the content labelling is not indicated. It is necessary to accurately determine the intake of artificial sweeteners through makgeolli. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the safety of makgeolli consumption by identifying the content of artificial sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfam-K) and preservatives (sorbic acid). Methods: Twenty makgeolli samples were purchased from large supermarkets and convenience stores by referring to the sales ranking of makgeolli products distributed in South Korea and the purchase ranking from online sites. The sample was sonicated to remove alcohol and carbon dioxide. Nine mL of acetonitrile was mixed with 1 mL of the prepared sample, centrifuged, and the supernatant was filtered and analyzed using HPLC. Results: As a result of the analysis, aspartame was detected in 17 products and acesulfame-K was detected in ten. The ADI of aspartame (40 mg/kg·bw/day) is higher than the EDI based on the maximum concentration 126.5 ㎍/mL. The ADI of acesulfame-K (15 mg/kg·bw/day) is higher than the EDI based on the highest concentration of 82.96 ㎍/mL. Although the health risk is low, IARC has raised the possibility of aspartame causing carcinogenesis, so there is a need to reevaluate the standards and regulations for artificial sweeteners. Conclusions: Through this study, we aimed to determine the content of aspartame and acesulfame-K contained in makgeolli currently distributed in South Korea and the safety of exposure to the human body when consumed.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.95-104
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• 2022

This study aims to find out the influence of the intolerance of uncertainty on entrepreneurial intention by focusing on the start-up support system awareness. While most of existing studies focused on the positive psychological variables and individual environmental characteristics influencing on the entrepreneurial intention, this study has taken a look at the influence of the intolerance of uncertainty as the psychological variable to the entrepreneurial intention to negatively act on the entrepreneurial intention. As a result of the analysis, the intolerance of uncertainty under the control of entrepreneurship and gender is shown to have the negative (-) influence on the entrepreneurial intention and has high level of recognition on the start-up support system perception, and the start-up support system perception is confirmed to have positive (+) influence on the entrepreneurial intention. And, it also indicates that, with respect to the influence of the intolerance of uncertainty on the entrepreneurial intention, the start-up support system perception has the partial medium effect. Following this result of the study, it provides following indications: First the existing studies on the entrepreneurial intention had not covered the intolerance of uncertainty but it is confirmed as the psychological variable with negative influence on the entrepreneurial intention. Second, it is feasible for the preliminary start-up businesses may turn the fear on start-up failure into positive entrepreneurial intention with the start-up support system perception as the leading vehicle. And, third, based on the result, the government should enhance the start-up support system perception even more by seeking ways of efficient publicity to enable more preliminary start-up businesses to participate in diverse start-up support policies. Lastly, it discusses the limitations of this study as well as proposal for ensuing study plans.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.77-87
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• 2022

Previous literatures have provided growing evidence regarding the impact of leadership in enhancing follower creativity. Despite these ample evidences, a noticeable omission in this body of study is entrepreneurial leadership. The present study extends leadership·creativity research by developing a mediation-moderation model and investigating the key roles that innovation climate and psychological empowerment may play in the mechanism between entrepreneurial leadership and followers' individual creativity. Using a data of 161 SME's members, the results show that: (a) followers' psychological empowerment positively mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial leadership and individual creativity; (b) the impact of entrepreneurial leadership on followers' psychological empowerment through innovation climate is high (in other words, innovation climate positively moderates the relationship between entrepreneurial leadership and followers' psychological empowerment). This study gain more comprehensive insight of individual creativity and leader's entrepreneurial leadership, to foster more creative venture organizations. The findings of this study make several important implications to present venture·leadership·creativity knowledge. Future studies should examine a broad range of mediating or moderating processes through which context for innovation effects positively on individual creativity. Therefore, additional study is needed to test if the results of this research can be generalized across industry·firm types.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.867-879
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• 2021

Objective: To compare the screening performance of diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI and combined mammography and ultrasound (US) in detecting clinically occult contralateral breast cancer in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Between January 2017 and July 2018, 1148 women (mean age ± standard deviation, 53.2 ± 10.8 years) with unilateral breast cancer and no clinical abnormalities in the contralateral breast underwent 3T MRI, digital mammography, and radiologist-performed whole-breast US. In this retrospective study, three radiologists independently and blindly reviewed all DW MR images (b = 1000 s/mm² and apparent diffusion coefficient map) of the contralateral breast and assigned a Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System category. For combined mammography and US evaluation, prospectively assessed results were used. Using histopathology or 1-year follow-up as the reference standard, cancer detection rate and the patient percentage with cancers detected among all women recommended for tissue diagnosis (positive predictive value; PPV2) were compared. Results: Of the 30 cases of clinically occult contralateral cancers (13 invasive and 17 ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS]), DW MRI detected 23 (76.7%) cases (11 invasive and 12 DCIS), whereas combined mammography and US detected 12 (40.0%, five invasive and seven DCIS) cases. All cancers detected by combined mammography and US, except two DCIS cases, were detected by DW MRI. The cancer detection rate of DW MRI (2.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3%, 3.0%) was higher than that of combined mammography and US (1.0%; 95% CI: 0.5%, 1.8%; p = 0.009). DW MRI showed higher PPV2 (42.1%; 95% CI: 26.3%, 59.2%) than combined mammography and US (18.5%; 95% CI: 9.9%, 30.0%; p = 0.001). Conclusion: In women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, DW MRI detected significantly more contralateral breast cancers with fewer biopsy recommendations than combined mammography and US.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.97-108
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• 2024

Purpose : In this study, we aimed to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing students' adjustment to college life by focusing on their empathic ability, perceived stress, and resilience. Methods : We applied a descriptive survey research design, which included a self-report questionnaire. The participants comprised 307 nursing students in B city. The data were analyzed by calculating the percentages, means, standard deviations, t-tests, ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression using SPSS 23.0. Results : The participants' empathic ability score was 3.30±.42, perceived stress score 1.85±.49, resilience score 3.44±.64, and adjustment to college life score 3.25±.52. Adjustment to college life was positively correlated with resilience (r=.43, p<.001) but negatively correlated with perceived stress (r=.27, p<.001). Factors affecting adjustment to college life include, among general characteristics in Model 1, in descending order, major satisfaction-satisfied (β=.54, p<.001), interpersonal conflict: never (β=.26, p=.018), health status: healthy (β=.25, p=.002), character: positive (β=.21, p=.006), character: optimistic (β=.19, p=.015), parents' economic power: high (β=.15, p=.047), and gender: male (β=.11, p=.016). Model 1 was statistically significant (F=11.67, p<.001), and the explanatory power was 41 %. In Model 2, empathic ability, perceived stress, and resilience were added as independent variables. When including the dependent variables, the factors that most influenced adjustment to college life were perceived stress (β=-.37, p<.001), major satisfaction-satisfied (β=.36, p<.001), health status-healthy (β=.25, p<.001), gender-male (β=.10, p=.015), and resilience (β=.10, p=.029). Model 2 was statistically significant (F=17.65, p<.001), and the explanatory power was 56 %. Conclusion : We found that gender, major satisfaction, health status, perceived stress, and resilience affected adjustment to college life among nursing students who had experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. To increase their ability to adjust to college life, a gender-specific intervention program should be developed that can improve the students' health status, major satisfaction and resilience, and reduce their perceived stress.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.45.1-45.22
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• 2023

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) involves persistent inflammation and fibrosis, leading to respiratory failure and even death. Adult tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show potential in ILD therapeutics but obtaining an adequate quantity of cells for drug application is difficult. Daewoong Pharmaceutical's MSCs (DW-MSCs) derived from embryonic stem cells sustain a high proliferative capacity following long-term culture and expansion. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of DW-MSCs in experimental mouse models of ILD. DW-MSCs were expanded up to 12 passages for in vivo application in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and collagen-induced connective tissue disease-ILD mouse models. We assessed lung inflammation and fibrosis, lung tissue immune cells, fibrosis-related gene/protein expression, apoptosis and mitochondrial function of alveolar epithelial cells, and mitochondrial transfer ability. Intravenous administration of DWMSCs consistently improved lung fibrosis and reduced inflammatory and fibrotic markers expression in both models across various disease stages. The therapeutic effect of DW-MSCs was comparable to that following daily oral administration of nintedanib or pirfenidone. Mechanistically, DW-MSCs exhibited immunomodulatory effects by reducing the number of B cells during the early phase and increasing the ratio of Tregs to Th17 cells during the late phase of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, DW-MSCs exhibited anti-apoptotic effects, increased cell viability, and improved mitochondrial respiration in alveolar epithelial cells by transferring their mitochondria to alveolar epithelial cells. Our findings indicate the strong potential of DW-MSCs in the treatment of ILD owing to their high efficacy and immunomodulatory and anti-apoptotic effects.