• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.183-194
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• 2021

In this study, the conversion factor for 2020 is estimated based on an outpatient and inpatient conversion factor separation model developed from SGR and AR by using actual medical expense data. In addition, a policy plan is proposed to calculate the values of single and multiple conversion factors for each type of medical expense, and to effectively use the conversion factor separation model as one of the means to establish a medical delivery system. The major results are as follows. First, at r=0.1, the rate of adjustment in the hospital single conversion index in 2020 was 2.0%, and the outpatient and hospitalization conversion rates for hospitals were 2.2% and 2.3%, respectively. In addition, a combination of outpatient and inpatient conversion factors can be used for the adjustment. Second, as a measure to establish a medical delivery system, instead of adjusting the addition rate, a method of interlocking the addition rate and the conversion factor is proposed. Third, it is necessary to develop a model that enables target management of volumes, in addition to the outpatient conversion factor, the inpatient conversion factor, and the adjustment coefficient.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.15-25
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• 2019

The study was conducted to compare the chemical properties and microbial activity of soil and the crop productivity by applying homemade liquid fertilizers (LF) used in leading cucumber farms as well as to evaluate the eco-friendly LFs to substitute for a chemical fertilizer. Three homemade LFs, EM, starfish, and native microbes, and a chemical LF were regularly fertigated per three days during the growing season. Chemical LF contained the highest pH, EC (electrical conductivity), and concentrations of T-N, $P_2O_5$, K, Ca, and Mg, while the lowest EC level was observed for EM LF. Soil EC was the highest to the 3.0 dS/m for chemical LF-plots, with lowering soil pH, OM (organic matter), and Mg concentration. Soil chemical properties mostly increased in native microbes LF-plots. However, soil microbial properties were not significantly different among the LF treatment plots. OTU (operational taxonomic units), richness estimator, and diversity index of bacteria and fungi increased in the chemical LF and EM LF based on the pyrosequencing analysis. SPAD and PS II values on the treated-cucumber leaves were seasonally decreased from 32 to 60 days after transplanting, with the rapid decline observed at 45 days after transplanting. Number of leaves and crop height increased in the treatments with EM and native microbes LF. LF treated-cucumber crops were not significantly different for total fresh weight and fruit yield.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated the necessary mechanical properties of conductive multifilament yarns for fabricating the electrodes of biosignal measurement pressure and stretch textile sensors using embroidery. When electrodes and circuits for smart wearable products are produced through the embroidery process using conductive multifilament yarns, unnecessary material loss is minimized, and complex electrode shapes or circuit designs can be produced without additional processes using a computer embroidering machine. However, because ordinary missionary threads cannot overcome the stress in the embroidery process and yarn cutting occurs, herein, we analyzed the S-S curve, thickness, and twist structure, which are three types of silver-coated multifilament yarns, and measured the stress in the thread of the embroidery simultaneously. Thus, the required mechanical properties of the yarns in the embroidery process were analyzed. In the actual sample production, cutting occurred in silver-coated multifilament rather than silver-coated polyamide/polyester, which showed the lowest S-S curve. In the embroidery process, the twist was unwound through repetitive vertical movement. Further, we fabricated a piezoresistive pressure/tension sensor to measure gauge factor, which is an index for measuring biological signals. We confirmed that the sensor can be applied to the fabrication of embroidery electrodes, which is an important process in the mass production of smart wearable products.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 1997

This experiment was conducted to identify the growth and yield differences in rice cultural types: Broadcasting on flooded paddy surface(BF), drilling on flooded paddy surface(DF), puddled-soil drill seeding(PD), drill seeding on dried paddy flat(DD), and machine transplanting of lO-day old seedling(MT) at National Honam Agricultural Experiment Station in 1995. Among the cultural types of direct seeding, the number of seedling stand showed high in order of DD>BF>DF>PD. Tillering at early growth stage was faster in MT and effective tiller showed higher in MT than in direct seeding. Growth duration from seeding to heading was longer in direct seeding than in MT for 2-13 days of Dongjinbyeo and 10-18 days of Nonganbyeo. Root distribution ratio at the surface soil revealed high in order of BF>DF>PD>DD and MT. Culm wall thickness of 4th internode was thicker in machine transplanting of 10-day old seedling than in direct seeding, and the depth of buried culm showed deep by turns of MT> DD>PD>DF and BF. The height of center gravity and moment related to lodging revealed higher in direct seeding than machine transplanting that resulted high lodging index by turns of BF>DF>DD> PD among the direct seeding cultural type. Lodging was occured seriously in the order of BF>DF>PD>DD =MT in Dongjinbyeo but wasn't significantly different in Nonganbyeo among the cultural type. The yield components and grain yield showed varietal differences but was not significantly different between in MT and in direct seeding, and among cultural types of direct seeding.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1055-1066
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• 2022

Objective: The clinical relevance of myosteatosis has not been well evaluated in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), although sarcopenia has been extensively researched. Therefore, we evaluated the prognostic value of muscle quality, including myosteatosis, in patients with resectable PDAC treated surgically. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 347 patients with resectable PDAC who underwent curative surgery (mean age ± standard deviation, 63.6 ± 9.6 years; 202 male). Automatic muscle segmentation was performed on preoperative computed tomography (CT) images using an artificial intelligence program. A single axial image of the portal phase at the inferior endplate level of the L3 vertebra was used for analysis in each patient. Sarcopenia was evaluated using the skeletal muscle index, calculated as the skeletal muscle area (SMA) divided by the height squared. The mean SMA attenuation was used to evaluate myosteatosis. Diagnostic cutoff values for sarcopenia and myosteatosis were devised using the Contal and O'Quigley methods, and patients were classified according to normal (nMT), sarcopenic (sMT), myosteatotic (mMT), or combined (cMT) muscle quality types. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were conducted to assess the effects of muscle type on the overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) after surgery. Results: Eighty-four (24.2%), 73 (21.0%), 75 (21.6%), and 115 (33.1%) patients were classified as having nMT, sMT, mMT, and cMT, respectively. Compared to nMT, mMT and cMT were significantly associated with poorer OS, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.49 (95% confidence interval, 1.00-2.22) and 1.68 (1.16-2.43), respectively, while sMT was not (HR of 1.40 [0.94-2.10]). Only mMT was significantly associated with poorer RFS, with an HR of 1.59 (1.07-2.35), while sMT and cMT were not. Conclusion: Myosteatosis was associated with poor OS and RFS in patients with resectable PDAC who underwent curative surgery.

• Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.145-149
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• 2023

BACKGROUND: ¹⁸F-sodium fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-NaF PET/CT) has been proven to be useful in identification of microcalcifications, which are stimulated by inflammation. Blood speckle imaging (BSI) is a new imaging technology used for tracking the flow of blood cells using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). We evaluated the relationship between turbulent flow identified by BSI and inflammatory activity of the aortic valve (AV) as indicated by the ¹⁸F-NaF uptake index in moderate aortic stenosis (AS) patients. METHODS: This study enrolled 18 moderate AS patients diagnosed within the past 6 months. BSI within the aortic root was acquired using long-axis view TEE. The duration of laminar flow and the turbulent flow area ratio were calculated by BSI to demonstrate the degree of turbulence. The maximum and mean standardized uptake values (SUVmax, SUVmean) and the total microcalcification burden (TMB) as measured by ¹⁸F-NaF PET/CT were used to demonstrate the degree of inflammatory activity in the AV region. RESULTS: The mean SUVmean, SUVmax, and TMB were 1.90 ± 0.79, 2.60 ± 0.98, and 4.20 ± 2.18 mL, respectively. The mean laminar flow period and the turbulent area ratio were 116.1 ± 61.5 msec and 0.48 ± 0.32. The correlation between SUVmax and turbulent flow area ratio showed the most positive and statistically significant correlation, with a Pearson's correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.658 and a p-value of 0.014. CONCLUSIONS: The high degree of trans-aortic turbulence measured by BSI was correlated with severe AV inflammation.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.30-43
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• 2024

Background and Purpose: The SoUth Korea study to PrEvent cognitive impaiRment and protect BRAIN health through lifestyle intervention (SUPERBRAIN) proved the feasibility of multidomain intervention for elderly people. One-quarter of the Korean population over 65 years of age has mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Digital health interventions may be cost-effective and have fewer spatial constraints. We aim to examine the efficacy of a multidomain intervention through both face-to-face interactions and video communication platforms using a tablet personal computer (PC) application in MCI. Methods: Three hundred participants aged 60-85 years, with MCI and at least one modifiable dementia risk factor, will be recruited from 17 centers and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the multidomain intervention and the waiting-list control groups. Participants will receive the 24-week intervention through the tablet PC SUPERBRAIN application, which encompasses the following five elements: managing metabolic and vascular risk factors, cognitive training, physical exercise, nutritional guidance, and boosting motivation. Participants will attend the interventions at a facility every 1-2 weeks. They will also engage in one or two self-administered cognitive training sessions utilizing the tablet PC application at home each week. They will participate in twice or thrice weekly online exercise sessions at home via the ZOOM platform. The primary outcome will be the change in the total scale index score of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status from baseline to study end. Conclusions: This study will inform the effectiveness of a comprehensive multidomain intervention utilizing digital technologies in MCI.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.536-543
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• 2007

This research was conducted every month from June 1994 until August 1996 with the aim to understand the ecosystem structure through the analysis of oribatid mite community structure in soil subsequent to environmental difference of its habitats located at northward & southward slopes adjacent to each other at an altitude of 1,000 meters of Mt.Jumbong, which is a natural reserved forest, remaining intact. There appeared a significant difference [t-test, p<0.06] in comparison of the number of the species and individuals of Oribatid mite species which were collected and identified at two survey areas. The mean density and the number of the species collected and identified at the northward slopes, and southward slopes were $99.2{\pm}17.6,\;234.2{\pm}62.6$ and $24.7{\pm}3.0,\;40.8{\pm}5.8$, respectively. Species diversity index(H') was higher at the southward slopes($3.09{\pm}0.11$) than at the northward slopes($2.71{\pm}0.13$). The population size of Oribatid mite species was found by the percentage of each species density as against the whole density and classified into dominant species, influent species, and recessive species according to the percentage; as a result, O. nova and Suctobelbella naginata was found to be a dominant species at both survey slopes while Trichogalumna nipponica was found to be a dominant species, at southward but it wasn't collected at the northward slopes at all. The feeding habit of the dominant species at two survey slopes was found to be microphytophagous- eating soil microbe. There appeared a conspicuous difference in compositions of the number of the species, individuals and dominant species at the southward/northward slopes adjoining each other at an attitude of 1,000 meters and less similarity between the two survey slopes. Conclusively, It was found that the heterogeneity of microhabitat has a great effect on Oribatid mite's community characteristics.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.273-280
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• 2003

Saline conditions invoke oxidative stress attributed to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Changes in quantum efficiency and antioxidative enzyme activity upon salt treatment were examined in a salt-tolerant plant, Atriplex gmelini, to test the hypothesis that salt tolerance of A. gmelini is due to the increased activity of antioxidative enzymes. A. gmelini showed optimum growth at 100 mM NaCl producing 116% of the shoot dry weight over control plants in 0 mM NaCl treatment. Healthy growth persisted up to 300 mM NaCl treatment maintaining normal internal water content and dry weight. No photochemical stress or damages on antioxidative defense system was obvious in plants of 2 and 4 day salt treatment which was indicated by increased quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm value), decreased stress index (Fo/Fm value), and increased activity of antioxidative enzymes such as SOD, APX, GR. However, the plants treated with 400 mM NaCl showed decrease in growth and in antioxidative enzyme activity although the enzyme activity was still higher than that of the 0 mM NaCl treated plants (l31%, 114%, and 134% of the SOD, APX, and GR activity, respectively). Interestingly, another important antioridative enzyme that scavenges H₂O₂ in plant cells, CAT, showed rapid decrease in its activity as salt concentration increased; 38%, 22%, 15% of the 0 mM NaCl treated plants at 200, 300, 400 mM NaCl treatments, respectively. It appears that the enzymes in ascorbate-glutathione cycle such as APX and GR play the major roles in scavenging ROS produced by salt stress in A. gmelini. After 6 days of salt treatment, the damage in photochemical and antioxidative defense system was indicated by decreased Fv/Fm value and increased Fo/Fm value. A. gmelini appears to cope with short term salt treatment by enhanced activity of the antioxidative defense system, whereas long term stress invoke oxidative stress by increased ROS due to the damages in photochemical and antioxidative system.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.342-349
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• 2018

In this study, the physicochemical properties, emulsifying capacity, moisture content and cytotoxicity of the composite material produced by transesterification reactions of the olive oil (olive oil esters) were investigated for cosmetic applications. Olive oil esters with short (S) and long (L) reaction times were studied. From the TLC-image analysis, composition ratios of the olive oil esters S were found to be 5.2, 24.1, 46.4, and 21.9% for mono-, di-, tri-glyceride, and fatty acid ethyl ester, respectively. Those of the olive oil esters L were 4.1, 24.7, 40.6, and 28.8% for mono-, di-, tri-glyceride, and fatty acid ethyl ester, respectively. The iodine value, acid value, saponification value, unsaponified matter, refractive index, and specific gravity were determined and purity tests were also carried out and normalized to establish standards and testing methods for using olive oil esters in cosmetics. To evaluate their emulsifying capacities, the O/W emulsion was prepared without surfactants and the formation of the emulsified particles were confirmed. After 5 days of applying the olive oil esters to human skin, the skin moisture retention was improved by 13.1% from the initial state. For the evaluation of toxicity on human skin cells, the olive oil esters showed 90% or more of the cell viability at $0.2-200{\mu}g/mL$. These results suggested that olive oil esters can be applied as natural/non-toxic ingredients to cosmetics industries.