• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1-27
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• 2023

Objectives : To investigate the modern research achievements of agarwood and its association with the efficacy of herbal medicine based on the in vivo and in vitro activities of volatile compounds detected in agarwood. Methods : Databases such as PubMed and ScienceOn were searched for medicinal in vivo and in vitro activity studies on agarwood. They were categorized into "medicine and pharmacy" and "others not related to medicine and pharmacy," and the studies on medicine and pharmacy were organized according to active efficacy. The efficacy and virtue of agarwood as identified in the book (or herbal medicine/herbology) corresponded to modern medical terms and diseases in reference to the . Separately, the Gas Chromatography & Mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analysis results of agarwood from a total of 5 production areas of Aquilaria crassna from Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Cambodia as identified in previous studies were consulted to search for research papers on the medicinal activity of the 13 compounds of the aromatic sesquiterpene family detected in agarwood, and they were categorized according to topic. Results : There were 123 studies on the medicinal activity of agarwood. Overall, 46 studies on single extracts of agarwood reported activities such as improving mental health, including anti-anxiety and stability, and antiallergic, antioxidant, antibacterial, and digestive system protective effects. In total, 59 papers on the activities of single compounds isolated from agarwood reported anti-inflammatory and mental health benefits. Separately, 13 compounds detected in agarwood, such as α-agarofuran and β-caryophyllene, were reported by 110 studies to have anticancer, stabilizing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. There were also papers on the cultivation methods and resin formation conditions of agarwood trees unrelated to the efficacy of herbal medicine. Conclusion : Among the pharmacological papers, a total of 57 papers corresponded to the effects of agarwood in traditional herbal medicine, including 33 papers related to agarwood extracts and 24 papers analyzing 8 types of sesquiterpenes, such as β-caryophyllene and cedrol, from previous studies. Based on the research findings of each paper, it was possible to correlate the effects of agarwood in traditional herbal medicine with the achievements of modern pharmacological research. In addition, further research is anticipated in new areas related to traditional herbal medicine, including the improvement of mental health such as anti-depression, as well as activities related to anticancer, antioxidant, and hair growth.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.96-120
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• 2023

Objectives: This study reports the findings that support the efficacy of herbal medicine (HM) for premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Methods: We conducted meta-analysis of findings from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for PMS treated with HM. The articles were published before July 2022, located using 9 databases (Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, CNKI, CiNii, SCIENCE ON, KoreaMed, OASIS). Results: We observed 2,034 studies, of which 23 RCTs met our inclusion criteria. The risk of bias in the included studies was relatively unclear or high. Meta-analysis of 3 RCTs showed that HM group had a significantly higher total effective rate than the western medicine group (RR 1.20 [95% CI 1.06, 1.36, p=0.004]). Meta-analysis of 1 RCT showed that HM group had a significantly lower symptom score (MD -3.04 [95% CI -5.36, -0.72, p=0.01]), while there was no significant difference in daily record of severity of problems scale (MD -20.52 [95% CI -49.33, 8.29, p=0.16]). Conclusions: HM significantly improved PMS symptoms than general treatment and no serious adverse events were reported. However, the evidence on the effectiveness and safety of HM for PMS was not enough to provide reliable results due to the small number and low quality of included studies. We believe that rigorous RCTs will lead to more reliable evidence of the intervention.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.23-37
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• 2023

Objective : This study systematically reviewed the collaborative team interventions of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health-Children and Youth (ICF-CY) framework to establish the professional domain of occupational therapists in Korea and their role as experts in IEP cooperative team interventions in special education. Methods : Articles were collected from the EBSCOhost, ProQuest, and PubMed databases. International search terms included "Special education," "Individualized education plan (IEP)," "IEP process," "IEP implementation," and "Occupational therapy." The study period was limited from January 2013 to February 2023, and the final 10 studies were analyzed using secondary classification. Results : Most studies were randomized experiments targeting individuals with autism, and often employed environmental improvements. The IEP collaborative team interventions using the ICF-CY framework emphasized goals related to activity (five studies), participation (four studies), and body structure/function (one study). Conclusion : Occupational therapists play a crucial role in collaborative IEP team interventions. This study established expertise in the context of special education in South Korea.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.122-144
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of herbal medicine treatment in patients with cold urticaria. Methods : We searched randomized controlled trials(RCTs) reporting the effects of herbal medicine for cold urticaria through domestic and international databases from their inception to September 2023. The results were summarized in tables. We assessed the risk of bias in included RCTs through Cochrane risk of bias tool and the data synthesis was conducted through RevMan version 5.4. Results : A total of 12 RCTs were included in this review and all trials compared herbal medicine alone treatment(treatment group) with western medicine alone treatment(control group). The total effective rate(TER) of treatment group was statistically higher than that of control group(RR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.38 to 1.62, p<0.00001, I²=65%). On the other hand, when comparing except for 1 trial with different evaluation period, the TER of treatment group was statistically higher than that of control group and heterogeneity was very low(RR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.26 to 1.47, p<0.00001, I²=0%). And when comparing 8 trials using the total symptom score(TSS) change index as an indicator of TER, the TER of treatment group was statistically higher than that of control group and heterogeneity was very low(RR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.26 to 1.51, p<0.00001, I²=0%). The treatment group showed more statistically significant decrease compared to the control group in TSS(MD: -2.51, 95% CI: -2.63 to -2.40, p<0.00001, I²=99%). The relapse rate of treatment group was statistically lower than that of control group(RR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.40, p<0.00001, I²=0%). Mild adverse events such as sleepiness, dizziness were reported in control group and gastric discomfort was reported in treatment group. In the risk of bias assessment, many cases were evaluated as 'Unclear risk'. Conclusions : This review found that herbal medicine alone treatment could more effective and safe than western medicine alone treatment for cold urticaria. But further well-designed researches are needed because of heterogeneity between trials and the quality of the included trials.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.72-78
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• 2023

Objectives : This study aims to identify various psychiatric symptoms and psychosomatic symptoms caused by COVID-19 infection and investigate their long-term impact. Methods : A systematic literature review was conducted, selecting papers from domestic and international databases using keywords such as "COVID-19" and "psychosomatic." A total of 16 papers, including those using structured measurement tools for psychosomatic symptoms, were included in the final analysis. Results : Psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms have been reported in acute COVID-19 infection, while long-term post-COVID symptoms include chest pain and fatigue. The frequency of long-term psychosomatic symptoms has been estimated to be 10%-20%. Factors contributing to these symptoms include psychological and social stress related to infectious diseases, gender, elderly age, a history of psychiatric disorders, and comorbid mental illnesses. It is suggested that systemic inflammation, autoimmune responses, and dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system may be involved. Conclusions : Psychosomatic symptoms arising after COVID-19 infection have a negative impact on quality of life and psychosocial functioning. Understanding and addressing psychiatric aspects are crucial for symptom prevention and treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.794-801
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• 2023

The high seas, covering the majority of the world's oceans, hold invaluable marine resources crucial for the growth of the marine bio-industry. The High seas bioresources program of South Korea is at the forefront of these global efforts. This study aims to gauge public awareness and quantify the project benefits, offering insights for future policy decisions. The results revealed that the estimated annual average willingness to pay (WTP) was 3,778.8 KRW, equating to approximately 81.54 billion KRW when extrapolated to the entire national population. The implications of the study are twofold: The project benefits, based on WTP, are substantial, amounting to approximately 81.5 billion KRW annually. This provides critical reference material for future policy formulation, given the considerable WTP in comparison to the current investment. Although interest in international sea marine biological resources is growing, public awareness remains relatively low. However, the project plays a crucial role in building essential databases for the marine bio-industry and securing international sea marine biological resources. Public interest and sustained support are pivotal, not only for this project but also for future policy implementation. Strategies to enhance public awareness are essential, and the study results offer valuable input for future policy decisions.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.141-148
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate on the application of the yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) lasers for acupoints irradiation. Methods : We conducted a systematic search for peer-reviewed studies published from inception to November 2023, in the following electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science in English, Science ON, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS) and Research Information Sharing Service (RISS) in Korean, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang in Chinese, and Japan Science Technology Information Aggregator, Electronic (J-STAGE) and Citation Information by NII (CiNii) in Japanese. Inclusion criteria were original articles including clinical and experimental studies related with YAG lasers for acupoints including Ashi or meridian sinews. Results : Among the 8 selected studies, there were 7 studies on human subjects and 1 study on animals, 7 studies on Nd:YAG (1,064 nm) laser, and 1 study on Er:YAG (2,940 nm) laser. A total of 16 acupoints were used, 15 of which were in the face and 1 of which was located in the foot. In addition, there were two studies using Ashi. 4 studies looked at the effect of pain relief, 2 studies looked at safety, 1 study looked at changes in blood flow, and 1 study looked at the effect of skin care. There were no reported adverse events, and the YAG laser was confirmed to be safe and effective in pain relief, beautifying the skin, and increasing blood flow. Conclusions : We suggest that high intensity YAG lasers can be applied to laser acupuncture or laser moxibustion. YAG lasers are considered to be worth using for various clinical indications of Korean medicine because of photobiomodulation effects, analgesic action, and deep penetration depth. Further scientific research and clinical evidences should be warranted.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.496-507
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• 2023

This study investigated species identification and labeling compliance of 48 shrimp products sold in the Korean online markets. Species identification was conducted using the standard DNA barcoding method, using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. The obtained sequences were compared with those deposited in the NCBI GenBank and BOLD Systems databases. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis was performed to further verify the identified shrimp species. Consequently, 16 shrimp species were identified, including Penaeus vannamei, Pandalus borealis, Palaemon gravieri, Leptochela gracilis, Penaeus monodon, Pleoticus muelleri, Metapenaeopsis dalei, Euphausia pacifica, Lebbeus groenlandicus, Trachypenaeus curvirostris, Argis lar, Metanephrops thomsoni, Metapenaeopsis barbata, Alpheus japonicus, Penaeus chinensis, and Mierspenaeopsis hardwickii. The most prevalent species was Penaeus vannamei, found in 45.8% of the analyzed products. A significant mislabeling rate of 72.9% was found; however, upon excluding generic names such as shrimp, the mislabeling rate reduced to 10.4%. The mislabeling rate was higher in highly-processed products (89.3%) compared with that in minimally-processed products (50%). No correlation was found between the country of origin and mislabeling rate. The results of this study provide crucial data for future monitoring of shrimp products and improving the labeling of shrimp species in Korea.

• The Journal of Korea Institute of Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.354-361
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• 2023

Big data analysis systems apply NoSQL databases like MongoDB to store, process, and analyze diverse forms of large-scale data. MongoDB offers scalability and fast data processing speeds through distributed processing and data replication, depending on its configuration. This paper investigates the suitable MongoDB environment configurations for implementing big data analysis systems. For performance evaluation, we configured both single-node and multi-node environments. In the multi-node setup, we expanded the number of data nodes from two to three and measured the performance in each environment. According to the analysis, the processing speeds for complex data structures with three or more dimensions are approximately 5.75% faster in the single-node environment compared to an environment with two data nodes. However, a setting with three data nodes processes data about 25.15% faster than the single-node environment. On the other hand, for simple one-dimensional data structures, the multi-node environment processes data approximately 28.63% faster than the single-node environment. Further research is needed to practically validate these findings with diverse data structures and large volumes of data.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.39 no.6_1
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• pp.1371-1388
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• 2023

Floods are becoming more severe and frequent due to global warming-induced climate change. Water disasters are rising in Korea due to severe rainfall and wet seasons. This makes preventive climate change measures and efficient water catastrophe responses crucial, and synthetic aperture radar satellite imagery can help. This research created 1,423 water body learning datasets for individual water body regions along the Han and Nakdong waterways to reflect domestic water body properties discovered by Sentinel-1 satellite radar imagery. We created a document with exact data annotation criteria for many situations. After the dataset was processed, U-Net, a deep learning model, analyzed water body detection results. The results from applying the learned model to water body locations not involved in the learning process were studied to validate soil water body monitoring on a national scale. The analysis showed that the created water body area detected water bodies accurately (F1-Score: 0.987, Intersection over Union [IoU]: 0.955). Other domestic water body regions not used for training and evaluation showed similar accuracy (F1-Score: 0.941, IoU: 0.89). Both outcomes showed that the computer accurately spotted water bodies in most areas, however tiny streams and gloomy areas had problems. This work should improve water resource change and disaster damage surveillance. Future studies will likely include more water body attribute datasets. Such databases could help manage and monitor water bodies nationwide and shed light on misclassified regions.