• 한국노년학
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.691-706
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• 2020

This study aims to explore health behavior profiles and the association between the derived profiles and living arrangement among middle-aged and older adults. Using data from wave 6 (2016) of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, latent profile analyses were applied to identify patterns of health behaviors and multinomial logistic regression models were conducted to predict profile membership using living arrangement (i.e., living alone, living with spouse only, living with family members) and sociodemographic characteristics. A sample of 7,048 respondents aged 55 and older were included in the study. Results revealed that Korean middle-aged and older adults can be grouped into four health behavior profiles: "High health-compromising" (4%), "Moderate health-compromising" (28%), "Low health-compromising" (65%), and "High physical activity" (3%). Also, living arrangement showed significant profile differences. Compared to the respondents living alone, those living with spouse only were more likely to belong to low and moderate levels of health-compromising behavior profiles than the "High physicial activity profile". Respondents living with family members were more likely to belong to the "High health-compromising profile" than the "High physical activity profile" compared to those living with spouse only. These findings indicate that living arrangement needs to be taken into consideration when developing health promoting programs and supports. Moreover, policy interventions suiting the needs of various sociodemographic subgroups are recommended.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• 제56권3호
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• pp.265-290
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• 2022

An economic evaluation was conducted using cost-benefit analysis for an integrated service platform of open access research articles. The data needed for benefit measurement were collected by conducting a series of surveys to service beneficiaries, including 1,313 academic researchers, 49 bio-industry researchers, and 102 researchers in various industries. Cost-benefit analysis and sensitivity analysis were conducted after estimating the total costs for system construction and operations, anticipated direct and indirect benefits. With respect to the cost-benefit analysis limited to direct benefits, the estimated benefit was KRW 82 billion, which is about 14 times of the total costs for eight years of the entire business period. With respect to the cost-benefit analysis for both direct and indirect benefits, BCR was estimated to be about 98.9 and NPV to be KRW 538.8 billion, indicating that economic feasibility of the project was sufficiently secured. The results of this analysis may help securing the investment to the integrated service platform for OA research products, and the benefit estimation model developed in this study would be utilized as an assessment tool during the rest of this project.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.550-560
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• 2022

Background: The effect of ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) on mast cell-mediated anaphylaxis remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the effects of G-Rh2 on OVA-induced asthmatic mice and on mast cell-mediated anaphylaxis. Methods: Asthma model was established for evaluating airway changes and ear allergy. RPMCs and RBL-2H3 were used for in vitro experiments. Calcium uptake, histamine release and degranulation were detected. ELISA and Western blot measured cytokine and protein levels, respectively. Results: G-Rh2 inhibited OVA-induced airway remodeling, the production of TNF-α, IL-4, IL-8, IL-1β and the degranulation of mast cells of asthmatic mice. G-Rh2 inhibited the activation of Syk and Lyn in lung tissue of OVA-induced asthmatic mice. G-Rh2 inhibited serum IgE production in OVA induced asthmatic mice. Furthermore, G-Rh2 reduced the ear allergy in IgE-sensitized mice. G-Rh2 decreased the ear thickness. In vitro experiments G-Rh2 significantly reduced calcium uptake and inhibited histamine release and degranulation in RPMCs. In addition, G-Rh2 reduced the production of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-4 in IgE-sensitized RBL-2H3 cells. Interestingly, G-Rh2 was involved in the FcεRI pathway activation of mast cells and the transduction of the Lyn/Syk signaling pathway. G-Rh2 inhibited PI3K activity in a dose-dependent manner. By blocking the antigen-induced phosphorylation of Lyn, Syk, LAT, PLCγ2, PI3K ERK1/2 and Raf-1 expression, G-Rh2 inhibited the NF-κB, AKT-Nrf2, and p38MAPK-Nrf2 pathways. However, G-Rh2 up-regulated Keap-1 expression. Meanwhile, G-Rh2 reduced the levels of p-AKT, p38MAPK and Nrf2 in RBL-2H3 sensitized IgE cells and inhibited NF-κB signaling pathway activation by activating the AKT-Nrf2 and p38MAPK-Nrf2 pathways. Conclusion: G-Rh2 inhibits mast cell-induced allergic inflammation, which might be mediated by the AKT-Nrf2/NF-kB and p38MAPK-Nrf2/NF-κB signaling pathways.

• Resources Recycling
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.3-11
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• 2022

Owing to the increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs), appropriate management of their waste batteries is required urgently for scrapped vehicles or for addressing battery aging. With respect to technological developments, data-driven diagnosis of waste EV batteries and management technologies have drawn increasing attention. Moreover, robot-based automatic dismantling technologies, which are seemingly interesting, require industrial verifications and linkages with future battery-related database systems. Among these, it is critical to develop and disseminate various advanced battery diagnosis and assessment techniques to improve the efficiency and safety/environment of the recirculation of waste batteries. Incorporation of lithium-related chemical substances in the public pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR) database as well as in-depth risk assessment of gas emissions in waste EV battery combustion and their relevant fire safety are some of the necessary steps. Further research and development thus are needed for optimizing the lifecycle management of waste batteries from various aspects related to data-based diagnosis/classification/disassembly processes as well as reuse/recycling and final disposal. The idea here is that the data should contribute to clean design and manufacturing to reduce the environmental burden and facilitate reuse/recycling in future production of EV batteries. Such optimization should also consider the future technological and market trends.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.303-311
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• 2022

Gadolinium, commonly used as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is discharged into aquatic environments without removal after treatment in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) because of its high stability. In this study, we collected water samples from Suyeong WWTP, Busan, to investigate the dissolved rare earth element (REE) removal capacity of each wastewater treatment process and to evaluate the discharge of anthropogenic Gd (Gd_anth) from effluents. As wastewater passed through each stage of treatment, the concentrations of light REEs (La-Eu) decreased, whereas those of heavy REEs (Tb-Lu) were relatively consistent. Negative Sm anomalies (<1) were observed in several samples, indicating that Sm can be removed by adsorption onto particles or phosphate during the biological removal process. Positive Gd anomalies (149±50, n=9) were observed in all samples. The ratios of Gd_anth concentrations to measured Gd concentrations in all wastewater treatment processes were higher than 97%. This indicates that Gd_anth was discharged to the Suyeong River without removal during the wastewater treatment process. Considering the daily treatment capacity in each process, the total flux of Gd_anth was estimated to be 259 mmol/day. Our results suggest that mid- and/or long-term monitoring of Gd is needed because Gd_anth is continuously discharged into Suyeong Bay through WWTPs.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.87-98
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to develop the Korean version of Music-Related Quality of Life (K-MRQoL) for the elderly. The K-MRQoL consisted of Musical Ability, Attitude, Activity Frequency (PART 1) and Musical Ability, Attitude, Activity Important (PART 2). Each subcategory consists of Music Perception with 11 items and Music Engagement with 7 items. The validity and reliability of K-MRQoL were measured with Pearson's and Cronbach's alpha correlation coefficients and Independent t-test in total 30 elderly with normal hearing and 30 elderly with hearing loss from local welfare Centers and nursing homes. The correlation coefficients between total scores and PART 1 and PART 2 ranged from .701 to .948 and from .598 to .926, respectively. The internal consistency between total and Part 1 and Part 2 ranged from .846 to .931 and from .838 to .918, respectively. The test-retest correlations were .979, .970, and 979 for total, PART 1, and PART 2, respectively. The correlation between K-MRQoL and Quality of Communication Life Scale was .449. There were significant differences in total, PART 1, and PART 2 between the elderly with normal hearing and hearing loss. This indicates that the K-MRQoL can be used as a useful clinical tool to evaluate Music-related Quality of Life in the elderly with normal hearing or hearing loss.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.95-105
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• 2022

Busan, where the coastal ecosystem health is deteriorating due to high development pressure and intensity of use, needs ecosystem management that considers humans and the natural environment together for sustainable use and ecosystem preservation of the coastal areas. In this study, the InVEST model was applied to assess the habitat status of the coastal land and coastal sea to manage the ecosystem based on habitats. As a result of the assessment of the coastal land, the habitat quality of Gadeok-do, Igidae, and Sinseondae, Gijang-gun are high, and Seo-gu, Jung-gu, Dong-gu, and Suyeong-gu are low. In the case of the coastal sea, the habitat risk of the Nakdong river estuary is low, and some areas of Yeongdo-gu, Saha-gu, Gangseo-gu are high. Therefore, for the sustainable use and preservation of coastal ecosystems, it is necessary to prepare ecosystem-based management measures to improve damaged habitats and reduce threats. In addition, the impact on coastal seas should be fully considered when planning coastal land development. The results of the InVEST habitat quality model in coastal land show similar tendencies to the biotope and environmental conservation value assessment map. The results of the habitat risk assessment in the coastal sea are expected to be utilized to identify habitats in the coastal sea and management of threat factors.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• 제54권spc1호
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• pp.1195-1204
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• 2021

Recently, local torrential rain have become more frequent and severe due to abnormal climate conditions, causing a surge in human and properties damage including infrastructures along the river. In this study, water surface elevation prediction algorithm was developed using the LSTM (Long Short-term Memory) technique specialized for time series data among Machine Learning to estimate and prevent flooding of the facilities. The study area is Jamsu Bridge, the study period is 6 years (2015~2020) of June, July and August and the water surface elevation of the Jamsu Bridge after 3 hours was predicted. Input data set is composed of the water surface elevation of Jamsu Bridge (EL.m), the amount of discharge from Paldang Dam (m³/s), the tide level of Ganghwa Bridge (cm) and the number of tweets in Seoul. Complementary data were constructed by using not only structured data mainly used in precedent research but also unstructured data constructed through wordcloud, and the role of unstructured data was presented through comparison and analysis of whether or not unstructured data was used. When predicting the water surface elevation of the Jamsu Bridge, the accuracy of prediction was improved and realized that complementary data could be conservative alerts to reduce casualties. In this study, it was concluded that the use of complementary data was relatively effective in providing the user's safety and convenience of riverside infrastructure. In the future, more accurate water surface elevation prediction would be expected through the addition of types of unstructured data or detailed pre-processing of input data.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• 제42권1호
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• pp.83-93
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• 2022

Recently, controversy has been a growing over senior ride-free programs that provide free rides on the subway for those aged 65 or older. In this study, we compare and analyze changes in awareness levels about senior ride-free programs over the past ten years, targeting local government officials in Busan and Gimhae. Busan and Gimhae support an operational deficit of the Busan-Gimhae light rail system, which is the only subway that does not permit senior citizens to ride for free in South Korea. This study traces changes in the level of awareness of local government officials and presents administrative and policy recommendations. We conducted surveys in September of 2011 and April of 2021, finding that the level of awareness clearly differed before and after the opening of the Busan-Gimhae light rail system. We found that positive and negative responses arrived at similar percentages as time passed. Additionally, we found that the percentage of positive statements decreased over time if respondents did not have transportation-related work experience. Also, over time, we found that examining alternatives took priority as opposed to maintaining the current senior ride-free program.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.81-109
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• 2021

This paper review about the relationship between the prohibition against medical refusal and the principle of private autonomy in medical contracts. The obligation to this Prohibition in Medical Law does not restrict the liberty of contracting a medical contract. On the other hand, the prohibition limits the freedom to terminate medical contracts. Medical contracts can be terminated if the trust between doctors and patients is vanished. However certain restrictions should be placed on termination of the medical contract, because termination of the contract should not be detrimental to patients' health. According to the current medical law the medical contract is to be enforced in principle and can be revoked only with justifiable reason. At the Civil Code on Medical Contracts the freedom to terminate the medical contract is permitted, but this paper suggests the restrictions of the revocation under certain conditions. The Criminal Punishment Regulations against medical refusal should be removed. Refusal the provide medical service should be regulated by administrative sanctions under the National Health Insurance Act's obligation.