• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.115-124
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This is the first study to identify common genetic factors associated with the basal metabolic rate (BMR) and body mass index (BMI) in obese Korean women including overweight. This will be a basic study for future research of obese gene-BMR interaction. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The experimental design was 2 by 2 with variables of BMR and BMI. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was conducted in the overweight and obesity (BMI > $23kg/m^2$) compared to the normality, and in women with low BMR (< 1426.3 kcal/day) compared to high BMR. A total of 140 SNPs reached formal genome-wide statistical significance in this study (P < $1{\times}10^{-4}$). Surveys to estimate energy intake using 24-h recall method for three days and questionnaires for family history, a medical examination, and physical activities were conducted. RESULTS: We found that two NRG3 gene SNPs in the 10q23.1 chromosomal region were highly associated with BMR (rs10786764; $P=8.0{\times}10^{-7}$, rs1040675; $2.3{\times}10^{-6}$) and BMI (rs10786764; $P=2.5{\times}10^{-5}$, rs10786764; $6.57{\times}10^{-5}$). The other genes related to BMI (HSD52, TMA16, MARCH1, NRG1, NRXN3, and STK4) yielded P < $10{\times}10^{-4}$. Five new loci associated with BMR and BMI, including NRG3, OR8U8, BCL2L2-PABPN1, PABPN1, and SLC22A17 were identified in obese Korean women (P < $1{\times}10^{-4}$). In the questionnaire investigation, significant differences were found in the number of starvation periods per week, family history of stomach cancer, coffee intake, and trial of weight control in each group. CONCLUSION: We discovered several common BMR- and BMI-related genes using GWAS. Although most of these newly established loci were not previously associated with obesity, they may provide new insights into body weight regulation. Our findings of five common genes associated with BMR and BMI in Koreans will serve as a reference for replication and validation of future studies on the metabolic rate.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5287-5294
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is a worldwide public health concern and is the most prevalent type of cancer in women in the United States. This study concerned the best fit of statistical probability models on the basis of survival times for nine state cancer registries: California, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington. Materials and Methods: A probability random sampling method was applied to select and extract records of 2,000 breast cancer patients from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database for each of the nine state cancer registries used in this study. EasyFit software was utilized to identify the best probability models by using goodness of fit tests, and to estimate parameters for various statistical probability distributions that fit survival data. Results: Statistical analysis for the summary of statistics is reported for each of the states for the years 1973 to 2012. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Anderson-Darling, and Chi-squared goodness of fit test values were used for survival data, the highest values of goodness of fit statistics being considered indicative of the best fit survival model for each state. Conclusions: It was found that California, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, New Mexico, and Washington followed the Burr probability distribution, while the Dagum probability distribution gave the best fit for Michigan and Utah, and Hawaii followed the Gamma probability distribution. These findings highlight differences between states through selected sociodemographic variables and also demonstrate probability modeling differences in breast cancer survival times. The results of this study can be used to guide healthcare providers and researchers for further investigations into social and environmental factors in order to reduce the occurrence of and mortality due to breast cancer.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.85-93
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• 2001

Background: The number of glomerulus has been considered one of the etiologic factors especially for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. However, glomeruli are too many to calculate them correctly. Although the fractionator method has became convinced, in which they used selected sections, not whole kidney sections, with same intervals, it is also very hard to get good results. Because it is still very time-consuming and laborous work which leads to make big observers' biases. Methods and Materials: We designed the index for glomerular number to estimate the tendency of increase or decrease of the number of it in different kidneys and which was evaluated by other conventional methods including fractionator method. Index was based upon the theory by Nyengaard; "the number of glomerulus correlates with the weight of kidney, which is positively correlated with body weight". Calculating formula is the number of glomeruli/surface areas of cortices, which contain calculated glomeruli multiplies by kidney weight/body weight. Results: We applied this index to kidneys of FGS/Kist mouse and those of RFM/Nga mouse. The former is spontaneous glomerulosclerosis model with heavy protein uria and renal failure and the latter is the mother side of FGS/Kist mouse but has no glomerular disease or protein uria. The number of glomerulus of FGS/Kist mouse was decreased by 30% to those of RFM/Nga mouse. Conclusion: This index was useful and reliable for estimating the relative glomerular number between two groups.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.322-329
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• 2019

Background: Studies have suggested that the northern provinces of Gangwon-do are good sites for licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) cultivation in Korea, as they have similar temperatures to its original locations in northern China. However, poor growth and freezing injury are often reported in Korea. Therefore, it is necessary to reassess the domestic cultivation site of licorice. Methods and Results: To determine the optimum temperature for cultivating licorice, the growth, yield, and pharmacological characteristics of G. uralensis were assessed in a temperature gradient tunnel at Eumseong, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea in 2017. Plant height increased until the temperature rose to $5.9^{\circ}C$ above the local external temperature. Yield (㎏/10a) increased by 46.9% when the growing temperature was $1.5^{\circ}C$ to $3.0^{\circ}C$ (T2) above the external temperature and by 72.6% when the growing temperature was $3.0^{\circ}C-4.5^{\circ}C$ (T3) above the external temperature. However, a difference of $4.5^{\circ}C-5.9^{\circ}C$ (T4) above the external temperature, decreased the yield by 9.8% compared to that at T2. The glycyrrhizin content of G. uralensis roots in each temperature band was 0.72%, 0.53%, 0.91%, and 0.84% (T1, T2, T3, T4), these differences appear to result form individual plant variation rather than growth temperature. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, we estimate that the temperature-based optimum cultivation site for G. uralensis in Korea is the south central region, rather than the northern province of Gangwon-do. Improvement in growth and yield maybe observed if the plantations in the central Jecheon (Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea) are expanded into the south central region.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.451-458
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• 2018

The coast of Incheon reaches Incheon itself, Gimpo, Siheung, and Ansan of Gyunggi-do. Because this area has been seriously polluted, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has established the Incheon Special Area Management Plan (SAMP) to preserve sea water quality as a marine environment asset. However, there is concern that actions taken in this area may change the surrounding marine ecology, being effected by farms, via a river that flows from waste lands, abandoned fishing activities and fishing nets, etc. Given this background, this study estimates the value of SAMP sea water quality using a choice experiment (CE). A CE survey of 1,000 households was undertaken, investigating trade-offs involving price and four attributes for selecting a preferred alternative to obtain a marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) estimate for each attribute. The estimation results showed that MWTP for a 1 %p improvement in sea water quality, the diversity of fauna species, the diversity of flora species, and a 1 %p reduction in marine litter as a result of conserving Incheon coastal sea water quality are estimated to be KRW 75, 135, 309 and 72 per household per year, respectively. All estimation results were statistically significant at the 1 % level. These findings can provide policy makers with useful information for evaluating and planning marine environmental management policies.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.166-171
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Nitrogen leaching depends on the drainage pattern and nitrate content, and those are influenced by soil hydraulic properties and fertility. The purpose of this study was to confirm how soil texture contributed to leaching and balance of nitrogen, as well as to drainage. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was performed using undisturbed weighing lysimeters which were piled up with clay loam (Songjung series) and sandy loam (Sanju series) soils in National Institute of Agricultural Science experimental field. Chinese cabbage was cultivated from August 30 to October 31, 2017. The application rates of N, $P_2O_5$, and $K_2O$ were 21.5, 7.8, and $15.0kg\;10a^{-1}$, respectively, and irrigation was supplied at -33 kPa in 30 cm soil depth. Drainage in clay loam was not noticeable, although it was increased by rainfall in early September. By contrast, the trend of drainage in sandy loam was strongly dependent upon rainfall pattern. Owing to different drainage patterns between both soil textures, nitrogen leaching was 5-fold higher in sandy loam than in clay loam. Nitrogen use efficiencies in clay loam and sandy loam were represented as 43% and 52%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The pattern of drainage and nitrogen leaching were greatly depended on clay content in soil. From this study, we carefully suggest that soil texture should be considered as an incidental factor to estimate nitrogen balance.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.237-244
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• 2019

Background: Street vendors spend relatively more time near roadways and are vulnerable to air pollution related health disorders. However, there is limited information on the quality of the air they breathe. The objectives of this present study were to calculate the mass concentration of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) in eight size fractions ($PM_{0.4-0.7}$, $PM_{0.7-1.1}$, $PM_{1.1-2.1}$, $PM_{2.1-3.3}$, $PM_{3.3-4.7}$, $PM_{4.7-5.8}$, $PM_{5.8-9.0}$, and $PM_{9.0--0{\mu}m}$) at commercial (CML) and residential site (RSL) in Dehradun city from November 2015 to May 2016. To estimate the corresponding respiratory deposition dose (RDDs) in alveolar (AL), tracheobronchial (TB), and head airway (HD) region on street vendors working at CML and RSL. To find the association of atmospheric PM with RDDs and the incidence of respiratory related disorders among street vendors. Methods: Andersen cascade impactor was employed for calculating the PM mass concentration. Questionnaire based health survey among street vendors were carried out through personal interview. Results: A significant difference (p < 0.05; t-test) between the mean $PM_{0.4-10{\mu}m}$ mass concentration at CML and RSL was observed with ($mean{\pm}SD$) $84.05{\pm}14.5$ and $77.23{\pm}11.7{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$, respectively. RDDs in AL, TB and HD region at CML was observed to be 9.9, 7.8, and 7.3% higher than at RSL, respectively. Health survey revealed 1.62, 0.96, 0.04, and 0.57 times higher incidence of cold, cough, breathlessness, and chest pain, respectively with street vendors at CML compared to RSL. Conclusion: The site characteristics plays a major role in the respiratory health status of street vendors at Dehradun.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.48-57
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• 2014

More than 30 lead beads have been excavated from buddhist temples and sites but the production times are unknown the origin. The aim of this study is to estimate manufacturing technique and provenance of 11 beads through the chemical composition and isotope analysis. Results shows that the lead beads are composed of high-purity lead and cast using for 2 semicircle moulds. Furthermore, 11 lead beads are similar in size, chemical composition and casting methods. Lead isotope analysis data suggest that the provenance of lead beads are not Korea peninsula. Also it is estimated that 11 lead beads were divided in 2 groups considering the time and places of production. The future works will be executed additional scientific analysis and historical background due to confirm the manufacturing system and provenance.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2021

Background: For radiological protection and control, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) provides the nominal risk coefficients related to radiation exposure, which can be extrapolated using the excess relative risk and excess absolute risk obtained from the Life Span Study of atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki with the dose and dose-rate effectiveness factor (DDREF). Materials and Methods: Since it is impossible to directly estimate the radiation risk at doses less than approximately 100 mSv only from epidemiological knowledge and data, support from radiation biology is absolutely imperative, and thus, several national and international bodies have advocated the importance of bridging knowledge between biology and epidemiology. Because of the accident at the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO)'s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in 2011, the exposure of the public to radiation has become a major concern and it was considered that the estimation of radiation risk should be more realistic to cope with the prevailing radiation exposure situation. Results and Discussion: To discuss the issues from wide aspects related to radiological protection, and to realize bridging knowledge between biology and epidemiology, we have established a research group to develop low-dose and low-dose-rate radiation risk estimation methodology, with the permission of the Japan Health Physics Society. Conclusion: The aim of the research group was to clarify the current situation and issues related to the risk estimation of low-dose and low-dose-rate radiation exposure from the viewpoints of different research fields, such as epidemiology, biology, modeling, and dosimetry, to identify a future strategy and roadmap to elucidate a more realistic estimation of risk against low-dose and low-dose-rate radiation exposure.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.460-466
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• 2020

Background: The purpose of this study is to analyze whether there is a change in patterns of medical use among those likely to be converted their health insurance qualifications when the family support rule is alleviated. There is no empirical analysis that converting health insurance qualification will affect the increase in medical use. Methods: For analysis, data were extracted from the national health insurance eligibility and medical care database. To identify analysis targets similar to that of medical aids' characteristics among health insurance coverage, we compared income, property level, and medical use patterns through basic statistical analysis and used a difference-in-difference (DID) analysis to estimate the net effect of changes in medical use following the change of qualifications. Results: The main results are as follows. The results show that those who are under the 5% income group (1st income group) of health insurance coverage are the most similar to the medical aids group. DID analysis shows that changes in the medical use of people who maintain their national insurance qualification and who are not. As a results, the number of hospitalized days of converting group was reduced by 3.5 days while outpatient days were increased by 1.8 days. Conclusion: As a result, there was not much difference in the patterns of medical use for the under 5% income group who are likely to be eligible for expanded medical aids when the family support rule is alleviated. In addition, more than 30% of them are in arrears with their health insurance premiums, causing inconvenience in using medical services. These findings suggest the need of abolishing the criteria obligated to support family, and great efforts should be made to contribute to non-paid poor and remove their medical blind spot.