• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.231-236
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• 2021

Background: Sarcopenia is a skeletal muscle disorder that involves the loss of muscle mass and function. Handgrip strength (HGS) is the most commonly used tool to assess muscle strength to diagnose sarcopenia. HGS is also associated with various diseases and health outcomes. Thus, we aimed this study to examine the HGS status in Korean adults and relevant factors of HGS. Methods: Data was obtained from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), a population-based nationwide survey. The estimated mean value of HGS was calculated in each age group. The mean HGS in men and women aged over 40 was compared according to the household income level, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities. Results: A total of 16,708 participants were included in this study. The mean HGS showed a maximum value in the 30s for both men and women, and then tended to decrease with increasing age. When analyzed for people aged 40 or older, the mean HGS was significantly higher in the current or past smoker, drinker, and aerobic exercise groups in both men and women. The mean HGS was lower in the group with comorbidities such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, and bone diseases. Conclusion: Our study found that the mean HGS was significantly different between those with and without underlying chronic diseases. In groups with relevant comorbidities, close monitoring for the development of sarcopenia and taking preventive measures such as exercise and nutritional support may be recommended.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.364-373
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• 2021

Background: This study aims to examine the regressiveness of national health insurance (NHI) premium burdens for local subscribers. The government has established a restructuring of health insurance contributions in 2017. Therefore, insurance premium reform began in 2018 and the second national health insurance premium reform will be carried out in 2022. We will analyze local subscribers before and after the policy reform of 2018. Methods: This study used data from 'local premium imposition elements' in the health insurance statistics annual reports (2017-2019) on National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). This study was calculated contribution rates according to levels of income and property for local insured by the method of comparing. Simulations of primary and secondary reforms were conducted in the study to determine regressiveness. Results: Insurance premiums for local subscribers were analyzed separately by income and property insurance premiums. In the income premium analysis, the higher the income, the lower the premium rate, and then the fixed rate was maintained from a certain section. The regressiveness of income insurance premiums has been eased in part. On the other hand, the property insurance premium burden was found to be regressive still by income class. Conclusion: Regressiveness analysis showed that a decrease in income contributions was achieved to local insured in the first phase of reform. But in the second phase of reform, more consideration should be given to reductions of property premium portions of local subscribers. Based on the results, the author suggested policy discussions to reorganizing the new systems of NHI contribution of local Insured.

• Korea Real Estate Review
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.65-77
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• 2018

This paper analyzes the redemption risk of renters by estimating the LTV and CoLTV with finance market big data (individual credit information) and housing market big data (actual housing transaction data). The analysis showed that when using LTV, the redemption risk was higher in the case of the monthly renter than of the chonsei renter. On the other hand, when using CoLTV, the chonsei renter had a higher redemption risk than the monthly renter. This implies that there is a need to activate a guarantee system, such as risk management using the CoLTV index and the chonsei deposit return guarantee because it is possible for renters to experience losses on their chonsei deposits due to the higher redemption risk. Another implication is that the risk manager should consider the individual characteristics of renters because of the different effects of the redemption risk stemming from the characteristics of the rental contract and the personal characteristics of the renters. CoLTV was just a concept until this study calculated it using housing big data and actual housing transaction information. It helps identify the redemption risk through the characteristics of renters and their contracts.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2019

This study aimed to assess the skeletal age of skeletal maturational indicator (SMI) and middle phalanx of the middle finger (MP3) stages and to predict the SMI and MP3 stages corresponding to pubertal growth spurt in boys and girls respectively. The skeletal age was assessed from hand-wrist radiographs of 363 children (182 boys, 181 girls) aged 7 to 16 years by radiologists using the Korean standard bone age chart. Also, SMI and MP3 stages were evaluated from the radiographs. From these records, the mean skeletal age of SMI and MP3 stages was calculated. The stages including pubertal growth spurt were SMI 4 - 5, MP3 FG - G stages in boys and SMI 3 - 4, MP3 F - FG stages in girls.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical features, strength, function, and upper extremity musculoskeletal pain during rehabilitation of manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The degree and frequency of upper extremity musculoskeletal pain were measured in persons with spinal cord injuries using manual wheelchairs with the use of questionnaires. The pain scores of the hand, wrist, and shoulder joints were calculated by multiplying the seriousness and frequency of pain. We collected data on the manual muscle test, Spinal Cord Independent Measure-III, and the Body Mass Index. Statistical analysis was performed by descriptive analysis and Pearson's correlation analysis. Results: A total of 47 patients participated in this study and the neurological level of the injuries ranged from C2 to S5. Pain in the shoulder joints was the most common in persons with tetraplegia and paraplegia. Pain was experienced as mild to moderate, and occurred one or more times a week. Of the 32 persons with paraplegia, the most common area of complaint was the shoulder. Of the 15 persons with paraplegia, the shoulder joints were the most common site of pain. The independence levels of the persons with spinal cord injuries were highly correlated to muscle strength levels (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study investigated upper extremity musculoskeletal pain during rehabilitation of manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries and the relationship between physical features, strength, and function. In most persons with spinal cord injuries, pain and frequency of shoulder joints were high and pain levels were also related to functional levels.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.190-195
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• 2019

Hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations and hematocrit (Hct) values can be changed by factors such as erythrocyte production, destruction, and bleeding. In addition, variants in the protein expression involved in the amount of red blood cells that determine Hb metabolism or Hct value can increase susceptibility to complex blood diseases. Previous studies have reported significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by applying a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on Hb levels and Hct values in European population. In this study, we confirmed whether the significant SNPs are replicated in Koreans. In previous studies, 26 and 18 SNPs with a significant correlation Hb and Hct were identified in Korean genotype data, and 21 and 12 SNPs were selected, respectively. The SNPs of PRKCE (rs10495928), TMPRSS6 (rs2235321, rs5756505, rs855791) were significantly associated with Hb (P<0.05). In the association analysis of Hct, the SNPs of HBS1L (rs6920211, rs9389268, rs9483788), PRKCE (rs4953318), SCGN (rs9348689) and TMPRSS6 (rs2413450) genes showed a significant correlation (P<0.05). Replicated SNPs and not replicated SNPs showed the difference of genetic distance calculated by Fst. The replicated SNPs with a significant correlation showed similar allele frequencies, whereas the not replicated SNPs showed a large difference in allele frequency. All replicated SNPs with significant correlations had Fst values less than 0.05, indicating that the genetic distance between the groups was close. On the other hand, the not replicated SNPs showed that the Fst value was 0.05 or more and the genetic distance was relatively large.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.30-43
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• 2019

This study compared the predictive models for the growth kinetics of Staphylococcus aureus in ham rice balls. In addition, a semi-quantitative risk assessment of S. aureus on ham rice balls was conducted using FDA-iRISK 4.0. The rice was rounded with chopped ham, which was mixed with mayonnaise (SHM), soy sauce (SHS), or gochujang (SHG), and was contaminated artificially with approximately $2.5{\log}\;CFU{\cdot}g^{-1}$ of S. aureus. The inoculated rice balls were then stored at $7^{\circ}C$, $15^{\circ}C$, and $25^{\circ}C$, and the number of viable S. aureus was counted. The lag phases duration (LPD) and maximum specific growth rate (SGR) were calculated using a Baranyi model as a primary model. The growth parameters were analyzed using the polynomial equation as a function of temperature. The LPD values of S. aureus decreased with increasing temperature in SHS and SHG. On the other hand, those in SHM did not show any trend with increasing temperature. The SGR positively correlated with temperature. Equations for LPD and SGR were developed and validated using $R^2$ values, which ranged from 0.9929 to 0.9999. In addition, the total DALYs (disability adjusted life years) per year in the ham rice balls with soy sauce and gochujang was greater than mayonnaise. These results could be used to calculate the expected number of illnesses, and set the hazard management method taking the DALY value for public health into account.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.397-405
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• 2016

For better understand of the soil respiration characteristic in ecosystem, it is necessary to accurately determine the daily, monthly and seasonal $CO_2$ flux related to various environmental factors. In general, soil respiration is being measured on a sunny day. But soil respiration is known to be affected by soil temperature and soil moisture content. In case of forestry, changes in soil moisture content are entirely dependent on rainfall. If we calculated the monthly soil respiration measured based on sunny days data only, it could be a factor that loses credibility soil respiration. On this study, we measured soil respiration on Pinus koraiensis plantation at Mt. Taehwa of Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do on sunny and rainy days in 2012, using Automatic Open-Closed Chamber system (AOCC) and portable $CO_2$ analyzer (GMP343). Then we computed the regression equations using sunny days data, precipitation less than 10 mm data, and precipitation over 10 mm data. At first, there were no significant differences in observed data and computed data. But less than 10 mm precipitation, computed data was 26.5% lower than observed data. Precipitation over 10 mm, on the other hand, the former was 29.3% higher than the latter. In each case, it showed significant differences between observed and computed data (p<0.05). So if we computed regression equation using soil respiration measured sunny days only, about 30% of annual soil respiration could be overestimated. Through further study, we suggest the subdivision and computation of regression equation on the basis of the rainfall intensity.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.347-355
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• 2017

Methane and nitrous oxide are main greenhouse gases from agricultural system and their global warming potential are 25 and 258 times stronger than that of $CO_2$, respectively. In 2016, the emission was $21,290Gg\;tone\;CO_2-eq$. which was emitted from agriculture sector and about 3.1% of total GHG emission of Korea. Those guidelines that were published by IPCC have methodology for GHGs emission calculation as well as emission factor and so on. For recent 5 years, GHGs emissions in Korea have calculated by MRV which has been improved every year based on IPCC guidelines. Analysis as estimating method improvement showed that the methane emissions from rice cultivation were the lowest on 2012 methodology, and the highest on 2014 methodology. On the other hand, the emissions of agricultural soils were the lowest on 2015 methodology and the highest on 2012 methodology. Total emissions from agriculture sector were the lowest on 2015 methodology and the highest on 2012 methodology. Compared with 2016 methodology, the GHGs emitted as few as $-1,865Gg\;tone\;CO_2-eq$ and as many as $2,717Gg\;tone\;CO_2-eq$. GHGs emissions can vary greatly, depending on how to use the emission factor and activity data. Therefore, it need constantly a detailed analysis for methodology and GHGs emission in the future.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2019

A wall-frame structure resists horizontal load by the interaction between the flexural mode of the shear wall and the shear mode of the frame, which implies that the frame deflects only by reverse bending of the columns and girders, and that the columns are axially rigid. However, as the height of frame increases the shear mode of frame changes to flexural mode, which is due to the extension and shortening of the columns. An approximate hand method for estimating horizontal deflection and member forces in high-rise shear wall-frame structures subjected to horizontal loading is presented. The method is developed from the continuous medium theory for coupled walls and expressed in non-dimensional structural parameters. It accounts for bending deformations in all individual members as well as axial deformations in the columns. The deformations calculated from the presented approximate method and matrix analysis by computer program are compared. The presented approximate method is more accurate for the taller structures.