• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.604-621
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• 1999

We analyze the admission test problems used in 1998 at the Science Education Center for Gifted Youth at Kyungpook National University (SECGY, KNU). The test consists of two parts, an evaluation of the scientific thinking skills and an evaluation of the achievement for Mathematics and Sciences, the former of which includes evaluations of scientific process skills and logical thinking skills. The problems for the test of scientific thinking skills were developed and standardized by the Korea Education Development Center, while those of the achievement for Mathematics and Sciences were made at SECGY. We calculate the indices of the difficulty and discrimination for each problem to determine whether or not the test is appropriate to apply for selecting number of gifted students among the recommended students from 389 middle schools in Taegu-city and Kyungsang-pook-do Province. We find that both indices of most problems for the test of scientific thinking skills were out range of the appropriate level and. moreover, even those problems which fall into the appropriate range showed very low efficiencies for distractors. We, thus, conclude that the problems of the test of scientific thinking skills are inappropriate to use as a test for admission to SECGY. On the other hand, the problems of the achievement test showed extreme results; the Mathematics problems appeared to be too difficult, whereas the Physics problems appeared too easy. However, overall scores showed a normal distribution, indicating that those problems played crucial role in selecting gifted students. We finally propose several suggestions in developing the test problems and in selecting students at the SECGY.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.775-788
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• 2012

This study was done at a scientific camp sponsored by Nara Women's University Secondary School, Japan. In this school, $10^{th}$ grade students from 4 East Asian countries: Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore, participated. We made a research on students' perceptions about nuclear energy. Sample populations include 77 students in total, with 12 Korean, 46 Japanese, 9 Taiwanese and 10 Singaporean students. Overall perceptions comparison about nuclear energy shows average values from the order of highest Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and to lowest, Japan. We implemented a T-test to identify perception differences about nuclear energy, with one group that include 3 countries (Korea, Taiwan and Singapore) and another group that includes all the Japanese students. T-test results of perceptions about nuclear energy shows students from the 3 countries of Korea, Taiwan and Singapore having higher average than Japanese students. (p<.05). Korean average scores regarding overall perceptions about nuclear energy show as the highest in all 4 East Asian countries and also highest in all subcategories. On the contrary in Japan, they have lower and negative perceptions of nuclear energy. In spite of these facts, perceptions of Japanese students about nuclear energy seem lowest and negative mainly because of the recent Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster, caused by the tsunami and its subsequent damages and fears of radiation leaks, etc. This shows that negative information about future disasters and its resulting damages like the Chernobyl nuclear accident could influence more on people's risk perception than general information like nuclear energy-related technologies or the news that the plant is operating normally, etc. Even if the possibility of this kind of accident is very low, just one accident could bring abnormal risks to technology itself. This strong signal makes negative image and strengthens its perceptions to the people. This could bring a stigma about nuclear energy. This study shows that Government's policy about the highest priority for nuclear energy safety is most important. As long as such perception and decision are fixed, we found that it might not be easy to get changed again because they were already fortified and maintained.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.298-306
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• 2010

This study was conducted to develop soybean paste sauce with walnuts and sesame seeds and apply it to cooked spinach to examine the applicability of the sauce. Two factors of soybean paste sauce, soybean paste and glutinous rice paste, were need to decide the quantity of the ingredients. Nine soybean paste sauces were produced with various compounding ratio of soybean paste and glutinous rice paste, and color, viscosity and sensory evaluations were performed. Sensory evaluations were measured by 7-point Likert scale. Color($4.08{\pm}1.22$), taste($4.72{\pm}1.24$), viscosity($4.96{\pm}1.39$) and overall quality($4.24{\pm}1.51$) of the sample(soybean paste 400 g, glutinous rice paste 400 g) got the highest scores. Therefore, the sample(soybean paste 400 g, glutinous rice paste 400 g) was applied to cooked spinach. Cooked spinach using developed sauce and cooked spinach using general soybean paste were prepared and performed sensory evaluation. As a result, all sensory items score of cooked spinach using developed sauce were higher than that using general soybean paste. Especially, taste($4.96{\pm}1.15$) and overall quality($0{\pm}1.16$) of cooked spinach using developed sauce were significantly higher than taste($4.38{\pm}1.53$) and overall quality($3.56{\pm}1.53$) of cooked spinach using commercial soybean paste(p<0.05). Consequently, the applicability of soybean paste sauce using natural seeds was confirmed.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2005

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the difference of subjective daytime sleepiness level between primary insomnia patients and healthy control subjects. We also investigated the relationship between subjective daytime sleepiness level and variables of nocturnal polysomnograghic sleep architecture of insomnia patients. Method: Total subjects were 87 patients with primary insomnia diagnosed with polysomnography and 88 normal controls. The daytime sleepiness level in each group was measured by Korean version of Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The correlations of ESS score and nocturnal polysomnographic variables were calculated in the patient group. Results: Patients with insomnia had the lower ESS scores than the control group. In patients group, the ESS score showed significant negative correlations with total sleep time, sleep efficiency%, and stage 2 sleep time%. The ESS score also showed significant positive correlations with number of awakenings, number of awakenings more than 2 minutes, and wake after sleep onset time. Conclusions: Insomnia patients showed lower level of subjective daytime sleepiness that may indicate their higher alertness comparing to control subjects. Daytime sleepiness of patients with insomnia was associated with polysomnographic variables including total sleep time, sleep efficiency%, stage 2 sleep time% and disrupted continuity of nocturnal sleep.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.916-925
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to compare dietary and lifestyle habits in middle-aged women based on their self-perceived health-related physical fitness (SPF) level as well as investigate the effects of dietary and lifestyle habits on SPF. The study subjects were divided into two groups, 'High' group (${\geq}3.2$, n=64) and 'Low' group (<3.2, n=69), based on average SPF value (3.2). Women in the 'High' group showed a greater lean mass (P<0.05), whereas women in the 'Low' group had higher triglycerides (P<0.05). In analyzing characteristics of lifestyle habits, it was found that the 'High' group showed significantly higher scores for 'vitality level (P<0.001)', 'self-rated health status (P<0.001)', 'regular medical checkups (P<0.05)', and 'regular exercise (P<0.05)'. The average score for dietary habits was significantly high in the 'High' group (P<0.05). Furthermore, ordinary dietary habits showed a significant positive correlation (P<0.001) with SPF in the regression analysis after adjusting for disturbance factors. From these results, ordinary desirable dietary habits were shown to be an important factors having positive effects SPF. Therefore, healthy dietary and lifestyle habits should be practiced to improve the SPF of middle-aged women. For this purpose, related educational programs should be developed for the middle-aged women to take interest in their dietary habits.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.868-876
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• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the effects of lactic-fermented rice flour on the quality characteristics of pan-fried food (Jeon). Pan-frying flour containing 5~20% lactic fermentation rice flour mixture was prepared. In rapid visco analyzer examination, peak viscosity, trough, final viscosity, breakdown, and setback of the lactic-fermented rice flour mixture were lower than those of rice flour or wheat flour. The L-value (lightness) of Jeon decreased with increasing the ratio of lactic-fermented rice flour. On the other hand, a-value (redness) and b-value (yellowness) increased with increasing ratio of lactic-fermented rice flour. Texture profiles showed that Jeon prepared with lactic-fermented rice flour mixture had higher springiness and gumminess than 100% rice flour. The oil absorptions of Jeon prepared with 100% rice flour and 20% lactic-fermented rice flour were 7.5% and 6.33%, respectively. For digestive properties, Jeon prepared with lactic-fermented rice mixture showed a greater amount of rapidly digestible starch and lower amount of slowly digestible starch. In the sensory evaluation, Jeon prepared with lactic-fermented rice mixture showed higher scores for appearance, flavor, and taste than others (rice flour and wheat flour). Especially, Jeon prepared with 10% lactic-fermented rice mixture showed the highest overall preference. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that lactic-fermented rice flour may prove quite useful as a pan-frying flour with desirable qualities properties.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.877-884
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• 2013

This study investigated the optimal composition of sugar and artificial sweeteners in oatmeal cookies. Modified cookies were examined for their quality characteristics and glycemic index in humans. Oatmeal cookies with various amounts of sugar (20, 30, or 40%) were made to the equivalent sweetness of 100% sugar cookies (the control) with sucralose and stevioside. The density and acidity of cookie dough were not significantly different between the different cookie groups. However, baking loss and the spread index were significantly lower in the 100% sugar cookie group compared to cookies supplemented with artificial sweeteners. The color lightness (L value) and redness (a value) were highest in 30% and 100% sugar cookies, respectively. The strength of the cookies was negatively correlated with sugar content. In sensory evaluations, scores for taste, color and texture were higher in 30% and 40% sugar cookies, respectively, but the overall preference was higher in 30% sugar cookies. We therefore tested 30% and 100% sugar cookies for their glycemic index in college students. After overnight-fasted students consumed either 30% or 100% sugar cookies (containing 50 g of carbohydrate in dough weight), blood glucose levels increased 27.8 and 15.7 mg/dL, respectively, at 1 hour from the baseline. However, at 2 hours from the baseline, students who consumed 100% sugar cookies had a remarkably lowered blood glucose levels. Students who consumed 30% sugar cookies did not have as much of a change in blood glucose levels. In conclusion, 30% sugar oatmeal cookies made with sucralose and stevioside can be used to make a low-sugar cookie with a low glycemic index.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.1242-1248
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• 2013

This study was performed to determine the effects of pretreatment (NT: non-treatment, BTS: boiling treatment with 3% sodium chloride, DTG: dipping treatment in glycerol) and drying methods (sun drying, hot air drying, and cold air drying) on the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of dried jujube (Zizyphus jujuba Mill.) fruits. Our results show that moisture content is lower (P<0.05) with DTG, and that moisture content is lower with hot air drying compared to other drying methods. The bulk density was highest with BTS. The soluble solids content was highest with DTG. Additionally, the soluble solids content were highest in the following order: hot air drying> cold air drying> sun drying. The titratable acidity of hot air drying was highest of all the drying methods. The titratable acidity was higher with NT and DTG, and the brix and acid ratio of sun drying was higher than other drying methods. Among the drying methods, BTS showed the best browning-retarding effect, whereas boiling treatment affected quality and color. The total polyphenol content from hot air drying and NT or DTG treatment was relatively higher than the content from BTS. The flavonoid content was highest with BTS, and all dried jujube showed relatively high antioxidant activities. The sensory evaluation results indicated that the organoleptic scores for overall preference were higher in the NT and DTG treatment groups. These results suggest that pretreatment and drying methods affect the quality of dried jujube fruit, and show that glycerol treatment with hot air drying can be applied to the production of high quality dried jujube.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.1183-1189
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• 2013

We investigated the effects of oyster shell extract (OSE) on papain-induced osteoarthritis in C57BL/6J mice. Osteoarthritis was induced in mice by a papain injection into the knee joint. The mice were divided into a total of five groups (n=8). The normal group was untreated, whereas the papain group (negative control) was induced with osteoarthritis and treated with water daily. The papain+DS group (positive control) was treated with diclofenac sodium. Papain+OSE groups were treated with OSE concentrations of 100 and 200 mg/kg/bw for 20 days. Proteoglycan content in articular cartilage was analyzed through safranine-O fast green staining and H&E staining. The histopathological changes in cartilage were measured by the Rudolphi score approach. The contents of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 in plasma were analyzed by the ELISA method. After experiments, body weights of the treated groups were not significantly different compared with the normal group. Cartilage loss and joint instability significantly improved in a dose-dependent manner in the OSE-treated group compared with the papain group (P<0.05). Proteoglycan content was significantly higher in the OSE-treated group than the papain group (P<0.05). Osteoarthritis scores of the OSE-treated group were significantly decreased compared with the papain group (P<0.05). TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 content in the plasma of the papain+OSE treated groups significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner compared with the papain group (P<0.05). These results suggest that OSE treatment might have anti-arthritic effects on papain-induced osteoarthritis in C57BL/6J mice.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.88-96
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• 2007

Purpose: The only curative treatment for gastric carcinoma is surgery and it is still under debate which reconstruction method is better after performing gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. The typical reconstruction methods after distal gastrectomy are Billroth I, Billroth II and Roux-en Y reconstruction. Yet it is difficult to compare these methods and not so much is known about which reconstruction is better in terms of the physiologic and nutritional function. With this background, we compared two reconstruction methods after distal gastrectomy (Billroth I versus Roux-en Y reconstruction) in terms of the long term physiologic function and nutritional status to create a reference for selecting reconstruction methods after distal gastrectomy. Materials and Methods: Between 1999 and 2002, 663 patients who underwent distal gastrectomy for early gastric carcinoma filled out questionnaires every six months after operation, and these questionnaires evaluated the physiologic function. To evaluate their nutritional status, blood tests were performed every six months to check their albumin, protein and hemoglobin levels, and we checked the body weight every 6 months as well. Results: The total score of the 15 questions on the questionnaire concerned with the physiologic function showed no difference between the two groups at every evaluation time, and both groups showed very low total scores, indicating tolerable physiologic function after operation. When comparing each question between two the groups, only symptoms of regurgitation and food passage showed a difference between the two groups, showing that the Roux-en Y group had better function in terms of these two symptoms. The Billroth I group showed a better nutrition status, indicating that the level of albumin, protein and hemoglobin were higher in the Billroth I group, with statistical significance. Body weight loss was severe in the Roux-en Y group. Conclusion: The physiologic function is slightly better in the Roux-en Y group in terms of some symptoms such as regurgitation and food passage. However, the nutritional status is better in the Billroth I group. In conclusion, because we cannot definitely ascertain which reconstruction is better when we consider both the physiologic and nutritional functions, it is reasonable that surgeon should choose reconstruction methods according to their experience and preference.