• Health Policy and Management
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.135-147
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• 2016

Background: The voluntary diagnosis-related groups (DRG)-based payment system was introduced in 2002 and the government mandated participation in the DRG for all hospitals from July 2013. The main purpose of this study is to examine the independent effect of mandatory participation in DRG on various outcomes of patients. Methods: This study collected 1,809,948 inpatient DRG data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment database which contains medical information for all patients for the period 2007 to 2014 and examined patient outcomes such as length of stay (LOS), total medical cost, spillover, and readmission rate according to hospital size. Results: LOS of patients decreased after DRGs (large hospitals: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-0.97; small hospitals: aOR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.91-0.92). The total medical cost of patients increased after DRGs (large hospitals: aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.14-1.30; small hospitals: aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.21-1.23). The results reveals that spillover of patients increased after DRGs (large hospitals: aOR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.70-2.33; small hospitals: aOR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.16-1.20). Finally, we found that readmission rates of patients decreased significantly after DRGs (large hospitals: aOR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.26-0.29; small hospitals: aOR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.56-0.63). Conclusion: The DRG payment system compared to fee-for-service payment in South Korea may be an alternative medical price policy which can reduce the LOS. However, government need to monitor inappropriate changes such as spillover increase. Since this study also is the results based on relatively simple surgery, insurer needs to compare or review bundled payment like new DRG for expansion of various inpatient-related diseases including internal medicine.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.473-480
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• 2017

Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-1 (PvMSP1) gene codes for a major malaria vaccine candidate antigen. However, its polymorphic nature represents an obstacle to the design of a protective vaccine. In this study, we analyzed the genetic polymorphism and natural selection of the C-terminal 42 kDa fragment within PvMSP1 gene ($PvMSP1_{42}$) from 77 P. vivax isolates, collected from imported cases of China-Myanmar border (CMB) areas in Yunnan province and the inland cases from Anhui, Yunnan, and Zhejiang province in China during 2009-2012. Totally, 41 haplotypes were identified and 30 of them were new haplotypes. The differences between the rates of non-synonymous and synonymous mutations suggest that $PvMSP1_{42}$ has evolved under natural selection, and a high selective pressure preferentially acted on regions identified of $PvMSP1_{33}$. Our results also demonstrated that $PvMSP1_{42}$ of P. vivax isolates collected on China-Myanmar border areas display higher genetic polymorphisms than those collected from inland of China. Such results have significant implications for understanding the dynamic of the P. vivax population and may be useful information towards China malaria elimination campaign strategies.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.138-152
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• 1995

The condition of nutrition during infancy will greatly affect infants' physical, emotional growth, especially breast feeding is important in their growth and development, and emotional stability, too. Despite such advantages of breast-feeding, its rate has continued to fall year after year in Korea : the 95% rate in 1960's has fallen to 25.4% in 1990. It is known that such a downfall of breast-feeding rate is associated with various factors. The purpose of the study is to examine mother's and nurses' in nursery perception of the impediment factors of breast-feeding : to compare those between of breast-feeding : to compare those between two groups : to provide fundamental data for developing strategies for increasing breast-feeding. The subjects were 45 new mothers from one hospital and the same number of nurses sampled from 3 university hospitals, in Seoul. The data were collected for 11 days from April 12 to April 23, 1994 and a questionnaire was developed based on the interview with 14 nurses and 10 mothers and the literature reviews. Liker's Five-Point Scale was used as measurement. The Data were analyzed using SPSS / PC and descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA. The results of study are as follows : 1) Most new mothers get the information about breast-feeding from their mothers, books or newspaper, and relatives in rank than professionals(nurses or doctors). 2) The impediment factors the breast-feeding are categorized as mothers, hospital system, medical personnels and social factors. The most frequently mentioned impediment factors from mothers are 'Difficulty by operational wounds'(3.13), 'Lack of will for breast-feeding'(3.47), 'Insufficient rest and sleep'(3.52) and 'Opposition from husband or his family members'(4.77)in rank. On the other hand those factors from nurses are 'Inadequate nipple condition'(2.37), 'Decreasing milk secretion given medicine after operation'(2.63), 'Mothers knowledge deficit by poorly prepared education'(2.79) and 'Mothers abhorance of breast-feeing'(3.87) in rank. 3) As for the hospital system, the highly perceived impediment factors by mothers are 'Seperation of baby from mother after birth'(2.78), 'Lack of space for breast-feeding in the hospital'(2.93), 'Lack of facility for informing the time for breast-feeding'(3.18) and 'Because of babys' preference artificial nipple by being accustomed to it in hospital(3.97), in rank. Meanwhile, those from nurses are "Seperation of baby from mother after birth",(1.92), "Inconsistency between hospital's nursing time and mother's breast secretion time" scretion time(2.97), "Lack of space for breast-feeding in the hospital"(3.39), and "Lack of facility for informing the time for breast-feeding"(3.74) 4) As for the medical personnels, the highestly perceived Impediment factor from mothers in "Lack of professional nurses for breast-feeding"(2.96), and the lowestly perceived one is "Doctors' reluctance"(4.75). Nurses perceived same as mothers, too. 5) As for the social factors, the highestly perceived impediment factor by mothers and nurses is "Inconvience of social activities"(2.83) and the lowestly ones are "The sense of self-sacrifice"(4.22) by mothers, and "The sense of old fashioned"(4.13) by nurses. 6) The difference of the perception of impediment factors between mothers and nurses is statistically significant only in mother factor.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.99-108
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• 1998

The present study was performed to check the viability of eggs, filariform larvae and adults of Strongvloines venezueLensis exposed to various conditions for an in vitro maintenance. The eggs in the feces remained viable for about 25 days at $4^{\circ}C$ and 15 days at room temperature. However, the isolated eggs in sterile saline lost their viability within 24 hr at $4^{\circ}C$. The eggs in morula stage were very sensitive to air drying and rapidly lost their viability (=12 hrs. Filariform larvae survived for a maximum period of 45 days in fecal suspension and 28 days in 0.12% nutrient broth in polyvinyl culture bags maintained at $20^{\circ}C$. On the other hand, those isolated from nutrient broth cultures survived for a maximum period of 32 days in tap water and 22 days in sterile saline at $20^{\circ}C$. The mature adult worms obtained from experimentally infected rats survived maximally for 9 days in serum supplemented (10% rat-serum) 0.12% nutrient broth and 4 days in serum free nutrient broth at $37^{\circ}C$ while the culture media were changed at an alternate day. The adult female worms deposited fertile eggs in serum supplemented and serum free nutrient broth cultures, however, the hatched larvae (Ll) were not able to develop to the filariform stage in the culture media and found to die within 24 hr of maintenance. The present findings on an in vitro maintenance of different stages of 5. uenezueLetis may provide useful information for biological and biochemical studies with Strongyloines species. Key words: Strongvloides venezuelensis. viability in vitro maintenance, free-living filariform larvae (L3), embryonation of eggs

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 2011

Forty nine accessions of the Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench collected from different agronomical zone of Gangwondo province, Korea were characterized morphologically on field trial. Plant length, stem diameter, tiller number, ear type, ear length, ear width, leaves length, leaves width and leaf color differed significantly in the cultivated accessions. Out of forty nine test accessions, six accessions (12.2%) showed comparatively taller height, measuring more than 300 cm, while, other ten test accessions (20.4%) were measured from 200~300 cm. There were no significant differences in the diameter of stem in the collected test accessions (2~3 cm). Of the total test accession, seven accessions showed leaf length of over 70 cm, and twenty two test accession revealed leaf length between 60-70 cm. Forty nine of the collected test accessions showed narrow and short leaves with white mid vain. These results provided additional information for the breeding programs and conservation of Sorghum bicolor as a bio-energy crop.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.145-156
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• 2012

Larval development of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum reared in an indoor tank system was examined in this study using light microscope and scanning electron microscope. To induce spawning and subsequent larval development, clams were collected from the intertidal zone at Gim-nyeong harbor in Jeju Island in August 2011. After 2 days of rearing in the tank, all Manila clams spawned in the midnight. Non-feeding trochophore larvae appeared 7hrsafter fertilization and the first D-shape larvae could be observed at 19 hrs. Twenty one days after fertilization the pediveliger larvae crawling on the bottom of the tank with well-developed foot were observed. Histology indicated that all the clams used in this study were in the ripe stage prior to spawning and the gonad-somatic index (GSI), a ratio of the egg mass to the tissue weight, of the ripe female measured by ELISA was 28.6%. The GSI of female clam declined to 17.3% after the massive spawning in the tank, suggesting that Manila clam discharged 40% of the total eggs during the first spawning event. In conclusion, spawning and subsequent larval development of Manila clam was successfully carried out in this study using an indoor tank system, and the information obtained in the present study could be useful in future Manila clam hatchery development.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.51-59
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• 2008

Incontinence is the urination disorder as the leakage of urine without her own volition and the woman's representative disease which reduce the life quality. The electromagnetic therapy has high possibility of development cause it has no needs of operant exercise, no arousing of shame and impossibility of infection. But, it has improvement points such as uniformity of the treatment protocol, patient dependance and absent of patient monitoring system. With these demands, the system which stimulate the pelvic flaw muscle with electromagnetic and monitoring the patient status during the therapy is proposed, in this study. And individually adapted electromagnetic therapy system for incontinence patient is also suggested. The proposed system consisted of electromagnetic generation device, cooling device, treating chair, patient monitoring device with pulsation and control software. The simulation for high power system and evaluation confirm was performed. With the development of control software, the convenience of using and maintenance are ensured and the patient adapted therapy protocol is applied. The developed patient adapted electromagnetic therapy system with monitoring device is regarded as the patient affinitive treating method by reducing the riskiness, improving the efficiency with patterned protocol and pre/post therapy. These results, in this study, can bring the safe and organized treatment method to incontinence patients and can lead the variable study for electromagnetic therapy in incontinence.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2010

Objectives : The $2^{nd}$ to $4^{th}$ digit length ratio(2D : 4D) is a sexually dimorphic trait regardless of ethnicity and shows sex differences. According to previous research, men usually have a relatively shorter $2^{nd}$ digit than $4^{th}$ digit. There is tendency that men with lower 2D : 4D are perceived as being more masculine and tend to perform better in some physical sports. Furthermore, 2D : 4D is negatively associated with trait aggression. In this study, we examine gender difference of 2D : 4D and compare 2D:4D of female Korean national team members to 2D : 4D of control subjects. Besides that, we also compare 2D : 4D of female Korean national team members according to their sports entries. Methods : The sample of this study is 396 people, 67 female Korean national team member, 216 control women and 113 control men. We measured $2^{nd}$ to $4^{th}$ digit length of their right hand. In addition, we collected demographic information of female Korean national team members using a self-report questionnaire. Results : The mean 2D : 4D of female Korean national team members is 0.96(SD=0.04), smaller than control women's 2D : 4D(0.97, SD=0.03) and significantly higher than control men's 2D : 4D(0.95, SD=0.03). We also found differences between control men and women. Non-martial arts related sports athletes have significant difference with control men in 2D : 4D. However, martial arts related sports athletes' 2D : 4D is not significantly different from other groups, including control men. Conclusion : These results are consistent with the findings of previous research that there is a significant difference between men and women in their 2D : 4D. Furthermore, 2D : 4D of martial arts related sports athletes have not shown any difference from the 2D : 4D of control men that 2D : 4D of non-martial arts related athletes have shown. This fact is important in consideration of masculine characteristics. For further research, it is necessary to examine 2D : 4D difference according to sport ability and gender differences.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.94-101
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• 2011

Various kinds of medical imaging devices have been studied to develop periapical radiography. However, there are some problems such as high x-ray exposure rate and pains for patients because of the problems caused by intra-oral sensor based radiography system. In this study, a new concept of periapical radiography, intra oral X-ray tube and detector system, is introduced to solve these problems. This system is made up of miniature X-ray tube based on subminiature thermal electron or cold electron, CMOS based detector, and a body including automatic position and system control devices. In order to confirm the possibility of proposed new concept to periapical radiography, miniature x-ray tube from XOFT corporation is used to develop new x-ray system, and the performance evaluation of this system is performed according to collimator. Also, dental images are compared after acquiring both images from existing system versus new concept of system. As a result, new concept of system showed excellent image. Thus, it is considered that new concept of system will have a significant effect on medical imaging technology.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.295-303
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• 2006

To provide microbial information for the safety of agricultural production, the presence of enterotoxin genes and antibiotic susceptibility of 14 isolated Staphylococcus aureus (11.7%) strains were investigated using PCR-based methods and disk diffusion method, respectively. Among enterotoxin-encoding genes, sea was detected from two isolates (14.3%), sea and sed genes were co-detected from three isolates (21.4%), and sea, sed, and see genes in seven isolates (50.0%), whereas seb, sec, and tsst were not detected in any isolate. Nine (64.3%), eight (57.1%), six (42.9%), two (14.3%), and one (7.2%) isolates were resistant to penicillin, novobiocin, amphicillin, erythromycin and oxacillin, and doxycycline and kanamycin, respectively. Methicilline-resistant S. aureus was found in roller of B farm and in hydroponic solution of D farm.