• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.306-314
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• 2022

Background: Due to the rapid aging of the South Korean population, neurological diseases such as dementia are increasing. Many studies have reported that the incidence of dementia is associated with environmental factors along with age. Objectives: This study analyzed the association between cognitive function and ten heavy metals in the body: arsenic, aluminum, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, iron, copper, zinc, and lead. Methods: From 2018 to 2019, a total of 120 participants who suffered from cognitive impairment were recruited for this study. Blood and urine samples were collected and analyzed for heavy metal concentrations using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Demographic information was obtained through face-to-face questionnaires completed by a trained investigator. Cognitive function was evaluated with the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Korean version of the Boston Name Waiting Test. The associations between cognitive function scores and heavy metal concentrations were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The average age of the 120 participants was 72.7 years, and 69.2% were female. The mean of the MMSE-K and K-BNT scores were 22.9 and 37.9, respectively. The geometric mean of aluminum (Al) was 8.42 ㎍/L. MMSE-K was associated with iron (Fe), but the significance was removed in the logistic regression based on 24 points. K-BNT was significantly associated with aluminum and the odds ratio for K-BNT above 38 decreased by 45% as the aluminum concentration increased. Conclusions: The association between aluminum and the K-BNT score indicated that aluminum is associated with language-related cognitive decline. Based on this result, further study will be conducted by considering co-exposure effects of heavy metals including aluminum.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to figure out the effect of 12 weeks pilates program for body shape improvement and lumbar stabilization of senior women with chronic back pain and to provide data for developing excercise program which is appropriate for senior women to make aging delayed and to have more physical activity domain by inquiring into their pain reducing. The subjects of this study were 16 senior women with chronic back pain which were classified into two group with experimental group(n=8) and control group(n=8) by applying simple random sampling after conducting Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). Their motion range of pain was from 3 centimeters to 5 centimeters. Pilates excercise for lumbar stabilization in this study was originated the previous literature of Lee et al(2011) and the excercise was modified in the form of pilates. The program in the study was performed under the guidance of a professional pilates trainer. The results are as follows. Firstly, the experimental group showed positive improvement in making vertebra slope but the control group showed pain increased. Secondly, the lumbar pain decreased in the experimental group but it increased in the control group. As a result, the pilates program for lumbar stabilization can be considered as a program for pain relief and body shape improvement of senior women with chronic back pain.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.204-215
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• 2023

The thermolabile haemolysin (tlh) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vptlh) from V. parahaemolyticus is a multiple-function enzyme, initially describes as a haemolytic factor activated by lecithin and phospholipase A2 enzymatic activity (Shinoda, 1991; Vazquez-Morado, 2021; Yanagase et al., 1970). Until now, the tlh structure has hypothesized including N-terminal and C-terminal domain, but what domain of the Vptlh structure does the haemolytic activity has not been refined yet. In this study, a 450-bp VpTLH nucleotide sequence of the entire Vptlh gene encoded the C-terminal domain cloned firstly to examine its responsibility in the activity of the Vptlh. The C-terminal domain fused with a 6-His-tag named the His-tag-VpC-terminal domain was expressed successfully in soluble form in the BL21 (DE3) PlysS cell. Remarkably, both expression and purification results confirmed a high agreement in the molecular weight of the His-tag-VpC-terminal domain was 47 kDa. This work showed the His-tag-VpC-terminal domain lysed the erythrocyte membranes in the blood agar and the phosphate buffered saline (0.9%) media without adding the lecithin substrate of the phospholipase enzyme. Haemolysis occurred at all tested diluted concentrations of His-tag-VpC-terminal domain (p < 0.05), providing evidence for the independent haemolytic activity of the His-tag-VpC-terminal domain. The content of 100 ㎍ of the His-tag-VpC-terminal domain brought the highest haemolytic activity of 80% compared to that in the three remaining contents. Significantly, the His-tag-VpC-terminal domain demonstrated not to involve the phospholipase activity in Luria-Bertani agar supplemented with 1% (vol/vol) egg yolk emulsion. All results proved the vital responsibility of the His-tag-VpC-terminal domain in causing the haemolytic activity without the required activation by the phospholipase enzyme. Raw extracts of Phellinus igniarus and Phellinus pipi at 10^-1 mg/mL inhibited the haemolytic activity of the His-tag-VpC-terminal domain from 67.7% to 87.42%, respectively. Hence applying the His-tag-VpC-terminal domain as a simple biological material to evaluate quickly potential derivatives against the Vptlh in vivo conditions will accessible and more advantageous than using the whole of the Vptlh.

• Asia-pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.197-208
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to verify the construct validity of self-evaluated writing scale for students with disabilities who had difficulties in writing. After interpreting the Here's How I Write scale developed by Goldstand et al. (2013), we administered Delphi survey to 40 special education professionals, calculated the content validity ratio and decided the final scale of 21 questions applicable to Korea. Additionally, we carried out the scale to 350 disabled and normal students for testing construct validity. The main results are as follows: For both students with disabilities and without disabilities, the overall internal consistency of scale are higher than .89 and the internal consistency of factors of scale are higher than .66. The confirmative factor analysis using AMOS 21.0 and SPSS 21.0 to verify construct validity showed fit index at relatively satisfactory level for students with disabilities and without disabilities. Furthermore, while there were relatively strong convergent validity and discriminant validity in the sub-factors of scale for students without disabilities, the level of convergent validity and discriminant validity were relatively lower for students with disabilities.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.87-105
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• 2018

We investigate the effects of inward foreign direct investment on innovation in Korean industries from 1998 to 2015 by first dividing FDI into greenfield and M&A (mergers and acquisitions). Furthermore, we use the number of patent applications as the proxy of innovation. Our empirical results are as follows: First, inward foreign direct investment has a significantly positive effect on the number of patent applications. This result suggests that the transfer of technology or knowledge through the inward foreign direct investment has a positive impact on innovation in Korean industries. Second, the greenfield investment has a positive impact on patent applications. This result is consistent with Liu and Zou (2008)'s assertion that greenfield investment has a positive impact on innovation by increasing facilities or plants. The M&A investment, however, has no significant effect on patent applications. This result is consistent with Stiebale and Reize (2011) who argue that the host countries do not benefit from technology transfer through M&A investments. In addition, this supports Liu and Zou (2008) and Garcia et al. (2013)'s hypothesis that foreign parent firms do not influence the innovation of host countries by employing strategies to increase market power rather than R&D activities through M&A investments. It is meaningful that this study first analyzes the impact of foreign direct investment on innovation in Korean industries and uses the number of patent applications as a proxy of innovation. Our empirical evidence provides policy implications for innovation and attraction of inward foreign direct investments.

• Information Display
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.12-21
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• 2022

반도체 기반 양자점 (QD)소재와 CsPbX3 (X=Cl, Br, I)기반 perovskite 양자점 또는 나노결정 소재(PNC)는 매우 우수한 양자효율과 좁은 발광 선폭으로 고색재현성 디스플레이 색변환 소재 또는 발광 소재로서 각광을 받고 있다. 그러나, 기존 화학적 합성법을 통해 제조되는 QD 및 PNC 소재는 취약한 열 및 화학적 안정성으로 인해 장기 내구성의 개선이 요구된다. 이들 QD 및 PNC 소재는 모두 완전 무기 소재인 산화물 기반 유리 소재내에 생성이 가능하며, 이를 통해 장기 내구성을 근본적으로 개선할 수 있다. 반도체 기반 QD 함유 유리소재 (QDEG)의 경우, 유리 내 core/shell 구조를 가진 QD의 생성으로 양자효율의 향상이 가능했으나, 콜로이드 기반 양자점 (cQD)과 달리 다중 shell의 형성이 어려워 양자효율이 제한되고, 발광 선폭이 넓어 고색재현성 디스플레이용 색변환 소재로 적용되기에는 아직 한계가 있다. 한편, Perovskite 양자점 (또는 나노결정) 함유 유리소재 (PNEG) 소재는 QDEG과 달리 콜로이드 기반의 PNC (c-PNC)가 가지는 우수한 양자효율과 20 nm 수준의 좁은 선폭을 유리 내에서도 가지며, c-PNC 대비 열적, 화학적 및 광학적 안정성이 획기적으로 향상되어 실질적인 응용 가능성을 높이고 있다. 특히, 일반적인 용융-급랭법으로 제조하여 대량생산에 용이하고, 분말 또는 판상 등 다양한 형태로의 제작이 가능한 장점이 있다. 현재까지 제조된 PNEG의 최대 PL-QY는 450 nm 여기 시 녹색 및 적색에서 약 60% 수준이며, Al₂O₃ 분말을 이용할 경우 최대 80% 수준까지 달성이 가능하다. 또한, PNEG과 blue LED를 이용하여 백색 LED를 구현할 경우 color filter를 적용하지 않을 때, NTSC 대비 최대 약 130 % 수준의 높은 색재현 영역을 보여 주고 있으며, 실제 LCD용 BLU로 적용 시 기존 상용 c-QD 소재와 동등 이상의 색재현 영역을 보이고 있어, 실질적인 응용 가능성이 매우 높음을 확인하였다. PNEG의 상업적인 응용을 위해서는 몇 가지 추가적인 연구 개발이 필요하다. 기존 c-QD 또는 c-PNC는 나노 수준 크기의 입자가 액상에 분산된 형태로 입도 제어가 용이하나, PNEG의 경우 분말 제조 시 유리 형성 후 분쇄를 통해 제조되며, 입도가 대개 수십 ㎛ 이하로 작아질 경우 PL-QY가 저하되어, 향후 잉크젯 공정 응용을 위해서는 고효율의 분말 제조공정 개발이 필요하다. 또한, 유리 소재의 경우 절연체로서 기존 QD 소재 대비 electro-luminescence(EL) 소자의 활성층으로 사용하는데 제약이 있어 PNEG을 이용한 EL 소자 제작에 대한 연구도 필요하다. 마지막으로, 기존 c-PNC 소재와 같이 Pb가 함유되지 않은 PNEG 소재의 개발이 선결되어야 할 것으로 판단된다. 이와 같은 해결 과제들에도 불구하고, PNEG 소재는 기존 c-QD 소재 대비 매우 우수한 안정성을 기반으로 고품위 고색재현 디스플레이용 색변환 소재로서 다양한 응용에 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.235-246
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• 2009

The analyses of minor and trace elements in glass debris were performed using LA-ICP-MS in order to identify manufacturers using real commercial samples. At first, a calibration curve was made using standard glass samples of NIST 610, 612, 614 and 616. $^{29}Si$ was used as an internal standard, and the ratios of metal/Si for each metal were compared with their concentrations. Based on elements in each sample and standard materials, 24 metals were quantified and the LOD in analysis, according to the blank sample, was in the range of 0.11 mg/kg (Ti)-4.91 mg/kg (Ca). Eleven samples from two manufacturers were collected and five sub-samples were taken from each sample for analysis. 15 elements (Co, Ce, Ca, Mn, Sr, Ba, Li, Rb, U, La, Th, Na, Al, Zr and Hf) were selected to identify manufacturers because some elements (Cu, Cr, Cd and Ni) were below the detection limit and some elements (Ti, Pr, Mg, Nb, Nd) were absent in the analysis of standards and others (Pb and Sn) had a problem of homogeneity. The attempts to identify manufacturers and the manufacturing period were performed through a triangular diagram. In the manufacturer discrimination by discriminant analysis, a canonical discriminant function was made based on Mn, Ce and Rb, and each sample could be identified.

• Korean small business review
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.139-160
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• 2017

Today, changes in the environments surrounding companies are so uncertain that corporate entrepreneurship should be activated to enhance the competitiveness of firms and to improve their profitability. In particular, The practice of entrepreneurship by small and medium sized enterprises (hereafter SMEs) is suggested as an important factor for the enhancement of competitiveness of firms. In this context, this study examined the effects of the organizational climates on the entrepreneurship activities of SMEs in Korea and China. The data obtained from 300 SMEs in Korea and China through questionnaire surveys were analyzed. The results demonstrate that the organizational climates have significant positive effects on SMEs in the countries belonging to emerging markets such as Korea and China. However, the practice of corporate entrepreneurship could be manifested in diverse forms, such as innovation or strategic renewal, and the effects of organizational climates were shown to sightly different effects on the corporate entrepreneurship activities. In addition, SMEs in Korea and China, which belong to common cultural areas, did not show any statistically significant difference in organizational climates in general. Furthermore, the effects of these factors did not show significant differences in general. However, SMEs in Korea with more flexible organizational structures and higher job autonomy were shown to be more advantageous in practicing corporate entrepreneurship than those in China. The results of the study provide meaningful implications for SMEs in Korea in terms of the efforts that should be made to enhance their competitiveness, implement innovation, and achieve comparative advantages over China.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.381-387
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• 2010

Both timbral features and spatial features are important in the assessment of multichannel audio coding systems. The prediction model, extending the ITU-R Rec. BS. 1387-1 to multichannel audio coding systems, with the use of spatial features such as ITDDist (Interaural Time Difference Distortion), ILDDist (Interaural Level Difference Distortion), and IACCDist (InterAural Cross-correlation Coefficient Distortion) was proposed by Choi et al. In that model, ITDDistswere only computed for low frequency bands (below 1500Hz), and ILDDists were computed only for high frequency bands (over 2500Hz) according to classical duplex theory. However, in the high frequency range, information in temporal envelope is also important in spatial perception, especially in sound localization. A new model to compute the ITD distortions of temporal envelopes in high frequency components is introduced in this paper to investigate the role of such ITD on spatial perception quantitatively. The computed ITD distortions of temporal envelopes in high frequency components were highly correlated with perceived sound quality of multichannel audio sounds.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.455-462
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• 2000

The objective of this study was to examine the physicochemical characteristics of coagulation reaction between loess and red tide organisms (RTO) and its feasibility, in developing a technology for the removal of RTO bloom in coastal sea. The physicochemical characteristics of loess were examined for a particle size distribution, surface characteristics by scanning electron microscope, zeta potential, and alkalinity and pH variations in sea water. Two kinds of RTO that were used in this study, Cylindrothen closterium and Skeietonema costatum, were sampled in Masan bay and were cultured in laboratory. Coagulation experiments were conducted using various concentrations of loess, RTO, and a jar tester. The supernatant and RTO culture solution were analyzed for pH, alkalinity, RTO cell number. A negative zeta potential of loess increased with increasing pH at $10^(-3)M$ NaCl solution and had -71.3 mV at pH 9.36. Loess had a positive zeta potential of +1,8 mV at pH 1.98, which resulted in a characteristic of material having an amphoteric surface charge. In NaCl and $CaCl_2$, solutions, loess had a decreasing negative zeta potential with increasing $Na^+\;and\;Ca^(+2)$ ion concentration and then didn't result in a charge reversal due to not occurring specific adsorption for $Na^+$ ion while resulted in a charge reversal due to occurring specific adsorption for $Ca^(+2)$ ion. In sea water, loess and RTO showed the similar zeta potential values of -112,1 and -9.2 mV, respectively and sea sand powder showed the highest zeta potential value of -25.7 mV in the clays. EDLs (electrical double-layers) of loess and RTO were extremely compressed due to high concentration of salts included in sea water, As a result, there didn't almost exist EDL repulsive force between loess and RTO approaching each other and then LVDW (London-yan der Waals) attractive force was always larger than EDL repulsive force to easily form a floe. Removal rates of RTO exponentially increased with increasing a loess concentration. The removal rates steeply increased until $800 mg/l$ of loess, and reached $100{\%}$ at 6,400 mg/l of loess. Removal rates of RTO exponentially increased with increasing a G-value. This indicated that mixing (i.e., collision among particles) was very important for a coagulation reaction. Loess showed the highest RTO removal rates in the clays.