• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.117-127
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• 2010

Background : To demonstrate the efficacy of moxibustion therapy, randomized controled trials are required. But, clinical trials of moxibustion had limitations due to the absence of a sham moxibustion model for an appropriate placebo. Objectives : To develop a new sham moxibustion model based on the thermal characteristics of commercial indirect moxibustion, especially temperature, and to evaluate whether it could be applied in clinical trials. Methods : By applying heat insulation, we created a sham moxibustion device that was indistinguishable from a real one with the naked eye. It also stimulated heat but had inert remedial value. A clinical trial was performed on subjects to test double blinding. The subjects were randomly assigned into two groups, a treatment group and a sham group. Acupoint Zusanli($ST_{36}$) was used in each group for 3 times. A sham acupuncture credibility questionnaire was modified into a moxibustion credibility questionnaire and was filled out after treatment. Results : No major difference was detected in the subjects' baseline data. Most subjects and practitioners could not distinguish the sham moxibustion device from the real one. But, subjects who had experience of moxibustion therapy more likely to distinguish the sham moxibustion device from the real one than subjects who didn't have experience of moxibustion therapy. The treatment group showed a significant difference in the VAS(Visual Analog Scale) for intensity of sensation during treatment than that of the sham group. Conclusions : The sham moxibustion device in this study is proved sufficient and credible to be applied in investigations of the effect of moxibustion. But it is more appropriate for the people who don't have experience of moxibustion therapy.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2006

Objectives : The incidence of colorectal cancer increased greatly among the elderly in Korea, but the relationship between smoking and colon cancer remains controversial. Few studies have targeted Asian elderly people. We analyzed the smoking status, the amount smoked, and the smoking duration as risk factors of colorectal cancer to determine their association and causality. Methods: The cohort members (n=14, 103) consisted of 4,694 males and 9,409 females, and they were derived from the Korea Elderly Phamacepidemilogic Cohort (KEPEC), which was a population-based dynamic cohort. They were aged 65 years or more and they lived in Busan Metropolitan City between from 1993-1998; they were beneficiaries of the Korean Medical Insurance Corporation (KMIC). The baseline information was surveyed by a self-administered mailed questionnaire; after 8.7 person-years of mean follow up period, 100 cases of colorectal cancer occurred. The adjusted relative ratio (aRR) of smoking status, the smoking amount and the smoking duration were calculated from the Cox's proportional hazard model with the never-smokers as a reference group and the Cox model controlled for age, gender, precancerous lesions of CRC, medication history of NSAIDs & antibiotics, the alcohol drinking status and BMI. Results : Compared with the never smokers, the aRRs were 2.03 (95% CI=1.02-4.03) and 1.36 (95% CI=0.80-2.32) for the ex-smokers and current smokers, respectively. Statistical significant trends were not observed for the dose-relationship among the elderly, either for the mean daily amount smoked (p for trend=0.28) or for the total amount (p for trend=0.15). Still, the aRRs were 1.51 (95% CI=0.97-2.34) for the elderly who smoked less than 40 years and 2.35 (95% CI=1.16-4.74) for the elderly who had 40 years or more of smoking (p for trend=0.06). Smokers who started smoking before the age 20 had an increased aRR of 2.15 (95% CI=1.17-3.93) compared to the never smokers. Conclusions : After controlling for age, gender, precancerous lesion of CRC, medication history of NSAIDs & antibiotics, the alcohol drinking status and BMI, smoking increases the risk of colorectal cancer among elderly people. The age when starting smoking is also important.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Effective weight reduction remains a challenge throughout the world as the prevalence of obesity and its consequences are increasing. This study aimed to determine the effects of an individualized nutrition counseling program (IC) matched with a transtheoretical model (TTM) for overweight and obese subjects. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Fifty overweight and obese subjects aged 19-60 years with a body mass index ${\geq}23kg/m^2$ were enrolled in the weight reduction study. They were randomized into two groups: Intervention group received an IC matched with a TTM; control group received an educational handbook. Body weight (BW), body fat (BF), waist circumference (WC), waist to height ratio (WHtR), stages of change (SOC), processes of change (POC), food intake, and physical activity (PA) were assessed at baseline and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after program initiation in both groups. All data were analyzed by intention-to-treat, using SPSS software for hypothesis testing. RESULTS: Forty-five female subjects were included in the 12-week trial at Ramkhamhaeng Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. The results showed significant weight loss ($1.98{\pm}1.75kg$; 3% loss of initial weight) in the intervention group at 12 weeks, compared to a $0.17{\pm}1.67kg$ loss in the control group. There were significant differences between intervention and control groups in BF mass ($-1.68{\pm}1.78$, $-0.04{\pm}1.62kg$); percentage BF ($-1.54{\pm}2.11$, $0.08{\pm}2.05$); WC ($-5.35{\pm}3.84$, $0.13{\pm}3.23cm$); WHtR ($-0.0336{\pm}0.02$, $-0.0004{\pm}0.02$), and energy consumption ($-405.09{\pm}431.31$, $-74.92{\pm}499.54kcal/day$) in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Intragroup SOC was improved in both groups. The POC for the weight management action (WMA) process was significantly different with POC scores increasing by $16.00{\pm}11.73$ and $7.74{\pm}14.97$ in the intervention and the control groups, respectively. PA level did not change in either group. CONCLUSIONS: The IC matched with a TTM resulted in reductions in BW, BF, and WC, thus reducing likely health risks by decreasing energy intake and inducing positive behavior changes while enhancing the WMA process.

• Gut and Liver
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.714-721
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Recently reported prognostic models for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) have been shown to be effective in Western populations but have not been well-validated in Asian patients. This study aimed to compare the performance of prognostic models in Korean patients and to investigate whether inflammation-based scores can further help in prognosis prediction. Methods: This study included 271 consecutive patients diagnosed with PBC in Korea. The following prognostic models were evaluated: the Barcelona model, the Paris-I/II model, the Rotterdam criteria, the GLOBE score and the UK-PBC score. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was analyzed with reference to its association with prognosis. Results: For predicting liver transplant or death at the 5-year and 10-year follow-up examinations, the UK-PBC score (areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUCs], 0.88 and 0.82) and GLOBE score (AUCs, 0.85 and 0.83) were significantly more accurate in predicting prognosis than the other scoring systems (all p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the performance of the UK-PBC and GLOBE scores. In addition to the prognostic models, a high NLR (>2.46) at baseline was an independent predictor of reduced transplant-free survival in the multivariate analysis (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.74; p<0.01). When the NLR was applied to the prognostic models, it significantly differentiated the prognosis of patients. Conclusions: The UK-PBC and GLOBE scores showed good prognostic performance in Korean patients with PBC. In addition, a high NLR was associated with a poorer prognosis. Including the NLR in prognostic models may further help to stratify patients with PBC.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.6_1
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• pp.925-939
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• 2018

Absorbed shortwave radiation at the surface is an important component of energy analysis among the atmosphere, land, and ocean. In this study, the absorbed shortwave radiation was calculated using a radiation model and surface broadband albedo data for application to Geostationary Earth Orbit Korea Multi-Purpose SATellite (GEO-KOMPSAT-2A; GK-2A). And the results (GWNU algorithm) were compared with CERES data and calculation results using pyranometer and MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data to be selected as the reference absorbed shortwave radiation. This GWNU algorithm was also compared with the physical and statistical algorithms of GOSE-R ABI and two algorithms (Li et al., 1993; Kim and Jeong, 2016) using regression equation. As a result, the absorbed shortwave radiation calculated by GWNU algorithm was more accurate than the values calculated by the other algorithms. However, if the problem about computing time and accuracy of albedo data arise when absorbed shortwave radiation is calculated by GWNU algorithm, then the empirical algorithms explained above should be used with GWNU algorithm.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.445-454
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• 2022

Ice accretion on the aircraft components, such as wings, fuselage, and empennage, can occur when the aircraft encounters a cloud zone with high humidity and low temperature. The prevention of ice accretion is important because it causes a decrease in the aerodynamic performance and flight stability, thus leading to fatal safety problems. In this study, a shape design optimization of a multi-element airfoil is performed to minimize the amount of ice accretion on the high-lift device including leading-edge slat, main element, and trailing-edge flap. The design optimization framework proposed in this paper consists of four major parts: air flow, droplet impingement and ice accretion simulations and gradient-free optimization algorithm. Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulation is used to predict the aerodynamic performance and flow field around the multi-element airfoil at the angle of attack 8°. Droplet impingement and ice accretion simulations are conducted using the multi-physics computational analysis tool. The objective function is to minimize the total mass of ice accretion and the design variables are the deflection angle, gap, and overhang of the flap and slat. Kriging surrogate model is used to construct the response surface, providing rapid approximations of time-consuming function evaluation, and genetic algorithm is employed to find the optimal solution. As a result of optimization, the total mass of ice accretion on the optimized multielement airfoil is reduced by about 8% compared to the baseline configuration.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.38 no.6_1
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• pp.1527-1539
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• 2022

As coastal erosion of the east coast is accelerating, the need for scientific and quantitative coastal erosion monitoring technology for a wide area increases. The traditional method for observing changes in the coast was precision monitoring based on field surveys, but it can only be applied to a small area. The airborne bathymetric Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) system is a technology that enables economical surveying of coastal and seabed topography in a wide area. In particular, it has the advantage of constructing topographical data for the intertidal zone, which is a major area of interest for coastal erosion monitoring. In this study, time series analysis of coastal seabed topography acquired in Aug, 2021 and Mar. 2022 on the littoral cell GW36 in Gangwon was performed using the Seahawk Airborne Bathymetric LiDAR (ABL) system. We quantitatively monitored the topographical changes by measuring the baseline length, shoreline and Digital Terrain Model (DTM) changes. Through this, the effectiveness of the ABL surveying technique was confirmed in coastal erosion monitoring.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.45-64
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• 2022

Purpose - This paper examines South Korea's potential status as a carbon leakage country, and the level of risk posed by the Korean emissions trading scheme (ETS) for Korean industries. The economic effects of border carbon adjustments (BCAs) to protect energy-intensive Korean industries in the process of achieving the carbon reduction target by 2030 through the Korean ETS are also analyzed. Design/methodology - First, using the Korean Input-Output (IO) table, this paper calculates the balance of emissions embodied in trade (BEET) and the pollution terms of trade (PTT) to determine Korean industries' carbon leakage status. Analyses of the risk level posed by carbon reduction policy implementation in international trade are conducted for some sectors by applying the EU criteria. Second, using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model, three BCA scenarios, exemption regulations (EXE), reimbursement (REB), and tariff reduction (TAR) to protect the energy-intensive industries under the Korean ETS are addressed. Compared to the baseline scenario of achieving carbon reduction targets by 2030, the effects of BCAs on welfare, carbon leakage, outputs, and trading are analyzed. Findings - As Korea's industrial structure has been transitioning from a carbon importing to a carbon leaking country. The results indicate that some industrial sectors could face the risk of losing international competitiveness due to the Korean ETS. South Korea's industries are basically exposed to risk of carbon leakage because most industries have a trade intensity higher than 30%. This could be interpreted as disproving vulnerability to carbon leakage. Although the petroleum and coal sector is not in carbon leakage, according to BEET and PTT, the Korean ETS exposes this sector to a high risk of carbon leakage. Non-metallic minerals and iron and steel sectors are also exposed to a high risk of carbon leakage due to the increased burden of carbon reduction costs embodied in the Korean ETS, despite relatively low levels of trade intensity. BCAs are demonstrated to have an influential role in protecting energy-intensive industries while achieving the carbon reduction target by 2030. The EXE scenario has the greatest impact on mitigation of welfare losses and carbon leakage, and the TAF scenario causes a disturbance in the international trade market because of the pricing adjustment system. In reality, the EXE scenario, which implies completely exempting energy-intensive industries, could be difficult to implement due to various practical constraints, such as equity and reduction targets and other industries; therefore, the REB scenario presents the most realistic approach and appears to have an effect that could compensate for the burden of economic activities and emissions regulations in these industries. Originality/value - This paper confirms the vulnerability of the Korean industrial the risk of carbon leakage, demonstrating that some industrial sectors could be exposed to losing international competitiveness by implementing carbon reduction policies such as the Korean ETS. The contribution of this paper is the identification of proposed approaches to protect Korean industries in the process of achieving the 2030 reduction target by analyzing the effects of BCA scenarios using a CGE model.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.99-132
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to propose AET (Augmented and Extended Topics), a novel method of synthesizing both LDA and BERTopic results, and to analyze the recently published LIS articles as an experimental approach. To achieve the purpose of this study, 55,442 abstracts from 85 LIS journals within the WoS database, which spans from January 2001 to October 2021, were analyzed. AET first constructs a WORD2VEC-based cosine similarity matrix between LDA and BERTopic results, extracts AT (Augmented Topics) by repeating the matrix reordering and segmentation procedures as long as their semantic relations are still valid, and finally determines ET (Extended Topics) by removing any LDA related residual subtopics from the matrix and ordering the rest of them by F₁ (BERTopic topic size rank, Inverse cosine similarity rank). AET, by comparing with the baseline LDA result, shows that AT has effectively concretized the original LDA topic model and ET has discovered new meaningful topics that LDA didn't. When it comes to the qualitative performance evaluation, AT performs better than LDA while ET shows similar performances except in a few cases.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.249-277
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to explore the potential contribution of citation metrics to improving the search performance of citation index databases. To this end, the study generated ten queries in the field of library and information science and conducted experiments based on the relevance assessment using 3,467 documents retrieved from the Web of Science and 60,734 documents published in 85 SSCI journals in the field of library and information science from 2000 to 2021. The experiments included re-ranking of the top 100 search results using citation metrics and search methods, query expansion experiments using vector space model retrieval systems, and the construction of a citation-based re-ranking system. The results are as follows: 1) Re-ranking using citation metrics differed from Web of Science's performance, acting as independent metrics. 2) Combining query term frequencies and citation counts positively affected performance. 3) Query expansion generally improved performance compared to the vector space model baseline. 4) User-based query expansion outperformed system-based. 5) Combining citation counts with suitability documents affected ranking within top suitability documents.