• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.55-69
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the female sexual dysfunction of North Korean defector women and to identify related factors. Methods: A total of 110 North Korean defector women who married and lived in South Korean community more than 1 year participated in this study. A self-report questionnaire was used to obtain data. The dependent variable is the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Independent variables were demographic factors (age, education, residential environment, sexual experience(rape), sex knowledge and sex attitude). Data were analyzed using the SPSS for descriptive statistics, t-test, two-way ANOVA, and Multiple Hierarchical Regression. Results: The mean score of sexual function for North Korean defectors was 18.94(SD:5.88). Sexual functioning for North Korean defector women was relatively low, 18.94 in comparison to Rosen's cutoff scores of 26.6. In multiple regression analysis, the sexual function level was significantly higher in elderly, high educational level, stable residential situation, non rape, and conservative sexual attitudes. Conclusions: The results show the status and description of sexual dysfunction in North Korean Women defectors in South Korean community and can be a basic reference for study about sexual dysfunction. However, more study about North Korea Defector Women with sexual dysfunction should be interviewed and evaluated.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2015

Objective : Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common anxiety disorder characterized by excessive worries and anxiety symptoms. To distinguish between pathological and normal worries, this study compared the contents and severity of worries among patients with GAD with those of matched non-psychiatric control Methods : Thirty outpatients with GAD receiving treatment at the psychiatric department of Hanyang University Guri Hospital were recruited. As a matched control group, we selected 30 adults without psychiatric history who participated in the Anxiety Disorder Survey, during the Mental Health Exposition held in Seoul in April, 2014. Matched demographic data were age, sex, education, and household income. Self-questionnaires included demographic data, contents of worry (10 categories of worries and each severity), and the Pennsylvania State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ). Results : There was no statistical difference in the contents of worry between patient and control groups. However, the total PSWQ scores significantly higher in the GAD group. Conclusion : Our findings suggest that patients and non-patients worry about the similar contents and worries in GAD cannot be differentiated by what people worry about. Only the severity of worry was a distinguishable feature. Our finding supported inclusion of the diagnostic criterion of "excesslve wornes" in GAD.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.665-672
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• 2015

Purpose: The aims of current study were to assess the inhaler competency and medication adherence, and to identify association of inhaler competency with medication adherence in patients with obstructive lung disease. Methods: We did a secondary analysis of the Hanyang Obstructive Pulmonary Evaluation data in a single institution from June 2014 to April 2015 after an approval of Institutional Review Board. A total of 150 patients with asthma or chronic obstructive lung disease participated in the study. Inhaler competency was evaluated accuracy in each step for using metered dose inhaler. Medication adherence was calculated using actually dispensed doses based on the prescribed inhaler doses. Results: Older adults (${\geq}65$) had lower competency in using inhaler (66.7 vs 83.3, z=-4.52, p<.001) and poorer medication adherence (67.7 vs 91.8, $x^2=14.06$, p<.001) than adults (<65). Inhaler competency was associated with medication adherence (p=.26, p=.001). Surprisingly, more than 50% of patients were current smokers. Conclusion: Inhaler competency and medication adherence were lower in older adults with obstructive lung disease than those in adult-age patients. Therefore, an individual education program for older patients should be developed to improve the rates of proper use of inhalers. Nursing management for obstructive lung disease should focus on developing behavioral intervention strategies for smoking cessation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.60 no.7
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• pp.221-226
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• 2017

Purpose: Escherichia coli sequence type (ST) 131, a multidrug-resistant clone causing extraintestinal infections, has rapidly become prevalent worldwide. However, the epidemiological and clinical features of pediatric infections are poorly understood. We aimed to explore the characteristics of ST131 Escherichia coli isolated from Korean children with urinary tract infections. Methods: We examined 114 uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) isolates from children hospitalized at Chung-Ang University Hospital between 2011 and 2014. Bacterial strains were classified into STs by partial sequencing of seven housekeeping genes (adk, fumC, gyrB, icd, mdh, purA, and recA). Clinical characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility were compared between ST131 and non-ST131 UPEC isolates. Results: Sixteen UPEC isolates (14.0%) were extended-spectrum ${\beta}-lactamase$ (ESBL)-producers; 50.0% of ESBL-producers were ST131 isolates. Of all the isolates tested, 13.2% (15 of 114) were classified as ST131. There were no statistically significant associations between ST131 and age, sex, or clinical characteristics, including fever, white blood cell counts in urine and serum, C-reactive protein, radiologic abnormalities, and clinical outcome. However, ST131 isolates showed significantly lower rates of susceptibility to cefazolin (26.7%), cefotaxime (40.0%), cefepime (40.0%), and ciprofloxacin (53.3%) than non-ST131 isolates (65.7%, 91.9%, 92.9%, and 87.9%, respectively; P<0.001 for all). ESBL was more frequently produced in ST131 (53.3%) than in non-ST131 (8.1%) isolates (P<0.01). Conclusion: ST131 E. coli isolates were prevalent uropathogens in children at a single medical center in Korea between 2011 and 2014. Although ST131 isolates showed higher rates of antimicrobial resistance, clinical presentation and outcomes of patients were similar to those of patients infected with non-ST131 isolates.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2008

Vibrio vulnificus produces siderophores, low-molecular-weight iron-chelating compounds, to obtain iron under conditions of iron deprivation. To identify genes associated with the biosynthesis of siderophore in V. vulnificus MO6-24/O, we screened clones with mini-Tn5 random insertions for those showing decreased production of siderophore. Among 6,000 clones screened, nine such clones were selected. These clones contain the transposon inserted in VV2_0830 (GenBank accession number) that is a homolog of a nonribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS). There is an another NRPS module, VV2_0831, 49-bp upstream to VV2_0830. We named these two genes vvs (Vibrio vulnificus siderophore synthase) A and B, respectively. Mutation of either vvsA or vvsB showed a decreased production of siderophore. The expression of an NRPS-lux fusion was negatively modulated by the presence of iron, and the regulation was dependent on Fur (ferric uptake regulator). However, the expression of the NRPS genes was still not fully derepressed in the iron-rich condition, even in furnull mutant cells, suggesting that some other unknown factors are involved in the regulation of the genes. We also demonstrated that the NRPS genes are important for virulence of the pathogen in a mice model.

• Korean Journal of Digital Imaging in Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.23-31
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• 2008

Computed radiography(CR) has been widely used in the field of diagnostic radiography since digital X-ray image was introduced. The imaging performance of CR system was studied by analyzing the digital image data of the CR images which are the outcomes of the whole imaging system composed of image plate(IP), laser digitizer, analoge-digital convertor, and a given image processing unit. In this study, we used a conventional CR system made by Agfa. From the flat field image of 150$\times$150 image pixels, signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) was calculated. SNR of the CR image increases in proportion to logarithm value of the X-ray exposure irradiated on the IP. SNR is less than about 6 at the exposure below 0.2mR and is more than 10 at the exposure above 0.54mR. In our study, most of images obtained by the smaller exposures less than 2.0mR can not be readable. In general, the minimum value of the SNR ranges from 3 to 5. We obtained modulation transfer function(MTF) by analyzing the bar pattern image which was made under conditions as follows: X-ray tube potential was 55kVp, the IP exposure was 0.54 mR, and the distance between X-ray source to IP was 2m, where bar pattern was located on the IP. MTF is 23% at 2.5lp/mm spatial frequency. Provided that the MTF of noise equivalent modulation is 10%, the CR system has the limiting spatial resolution of 3.2lp/mm. If the image sharpness is evaluated by the spatial frequency where MTF is 50%. the corresponding spatial frequency is 0.5$\sim$0.75lp/mm. MTFA(Modulation Transfer Function Area) is 1.0lp/mm. Compared with the Fuji CR whose MTFA is 1.1lp/mm, Agfa CR in this study shows almost same MTFA performance.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.121-130
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• 2014

This paper is the second investigation on the effects of intake flow control methods on the part load performance in a spark ignition engine. In the previous work, two control methods, port throttling and masking, were compared with respect to lean misfire limit, fuel consumption and emissions. In this work, the effects of these two methods on EGR characteristics were studied and simultaneously the differences between EGR and lean combustion as a dilution method were investigated. The results show that EGR limit is expanded up to 23% and 3 ~ 5% improvement in the fuel consumption are achieved around 8 ~ 13% rates by the flow controls comparing with 10% limit and 1.5% reduction around 3% rate of non-control case. The masking method is more effective on the limit expansion than throttling as like as lean misfire limit; however there is no substantial difference in fuel consumptions improvement regardless the control methods except high load condition. Also it is observed that there exist critical EGR rates around which the combustion performance and NOx formation change remarkably and these rates generally coincide with optimum rates for the fuel consumption. In addition, dilution with fresh air is much more advantageous than that of the exhaust gas from the view point of dilution limit and fuel consumption, while utilization of the exhaust gas is more effective on NOx reduction in spite of considerably small dilution compared with the use of fresh air. Finally, the improvement of fuel consumption by massive EGR is highly dependent on the EGR limit at which the engine runs stably, therefore the stratified combustion technique might be a best solution for this purpose.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.329-337
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• 2017

A major concern regarding most auto-repair shops in residential areas is the emission of odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the local atmosphere, especially during painting operations. VOCs contribute to poor local air quality and are responsible for the perceived odor and discomfort experienced by local residents. Sixteen major VOCs (6 aromatic hydrocarbons and 10 aliphatic carbonyl compounds) were selected as potential target compounds. The site was an auto-repair shop located in a central region of Seoul, South Korea, where the air quality of the site has been a subject of residents' complaints. The sampling points were as follows: 1) in the painting booth with new (NB) or old (OB) removal system, (2) in the exhaust duct after new (ND) or old (OD) odor removal filter, and (3) 2 m below the discharge vent (4 m above the ground) (outdoor air, OA). Each sample was coded: (1) before painting (BP), (2) during painting (DP), and (3) after painting (AP). The toluene level in the duct with the new removal filter during painting (ND-DP) was 1.5 ppm (v/v), while it was 3.8 ppm (v/v) in the right duct with an old removal filter during painting (OD-DP). Accordingly, the effect of filter replacement was reflected by differences in VOC levels. Therefore, accurate monitoring of odorous VOCs is an important step to reduce odor nuisance from local sources.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.58 no.7
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• pp.27.1-27.8
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• 2016

Background: Studies on prevalence of pale, soft, exudative (PSE) condition in Sri Lankan poultry industry is minimal. Hence, the objective of present study was to determine the incidence of PSE chicken meat in a commercial meat processing plant and to find out its consequences on meat quality traits of roasted chicken breast. Method: A total of 60 breast fillets were randomly selected, evaluated based on color L* value, and placed into 1 of 2 categories; PSE (L* > 58) or normal meat ($L*{\leq}58$). A total of 20 breast fillets (10 PSE and 10 normal) were then analyzed for color, pH, and water holding capacity (WHC). After processing those into roasted chicken breast, cooking loss, color, pH, WHC, and texture values were evaluated. A sensory evaluation was conducted using 30 untrained panelists. Results: The incidence of PSE meat was 70 % in the present experiment. PSE fillets were significantly lighter and had lower pH values compared with normal fillets. Correlation between the lightness and pH was negative (P < 0.05). Although there was no significant difference in color, texture, and WHC values between the 2 groups after processing into roasted chicken breast (P > 0.05), an approximately 3 % higher cooking loss was observed in PSE group compared to its counterpart (P < 0.05). Moreover, cooking loss and lightness values showed a significant positive correlation. Nevertheless, there were no significant differences in sensory parameters between the 2 products (P > 0.05). Conclusions: These results indicated that an economical loss can be expected due to the significantly higher cooking loss observed in roasted breast processed from PSE meat.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.28-44
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• 2017

This paper deals with analyzing accreditation findings and the causes for the Weakness in the review by the EAC(Engineering Accreditation Committee) of ABEEK in 2015. As results of accreditation review by the EAC and CAC of ABEEK, Weakness findings were 697 cases which made up 56.94% of total findings. Deficiency and Weakness are considered to have been resolved only when the correction or revision has been implemented. The criterion which has the most Weakness findings in the 2015 accreditation review was the criterion 3 Curriculum. By the way the variety and quantity of the Weakness findings are so huge that the analysis of the causes for Weakness findings is focused on the Criterion 3 Curriculum. The findings on program accreditation are made on the basis of the Accreditation Actions Guide. Accordingly in view of formal logic in the accreditation review, the accreditation findings should comply with the Accreditation Actions Guide consistently. In this respect, the Weakness findings in the accreditation review can not be justified. On the other hand changeover in the accreditation policy of the ABEEK may be necessary. If the quality of the engineering education is improved continuously through the accreditation review, accreditation fulfills its purpose.