• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.130-135
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• 2004

The marine dinoflagellate genus Alexandrium, which produces PSP toxins, has a global distribution. As human-assisted dispersal of the species has been suggested, it is important to develop molecular tools to trace the dispersal pathway. To screen population-specific DNA sequences that differentiate Korean and Japanese A. catenella, we targeted the area downstream of the chloroplast psbA gene using PCR with population-specific DNA primers followed by RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) analysis and sequencing. The RFLP patterns of the PCR products divided Korean and Japanese A. catenella regional isolates into three types: Korean, Japanese, and type CMC3, isolated from Korea. We sequenced the PCR products, but found no similar gene in a homology search. The molecular phylogeny inferred from the sequences separated the Korean and Japanese A. catenella strains, as did the RFLP patterns. However, the Japanese isolates included two slightly different sequences (types J and K), while the Korean sequence was the same as the Japanese K type. In addition, a unique sequence was found in the Korean strains CMC2 and CMC3. Population-specific PCR amplification with Japanese A. catenella type-specific PCR primers designed from the type J sequence yielded PCR products for Japanese strains only, showing that the unknown gene can be used for a population analysis of Korean and Japanese A. catenella.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.71-71
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• 2004

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.155-182
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• 1997

Objectives : This study was designed to compare North Korea and South Korea in measures of the quality of life (physical quality of life index and human development index) and to investigate the impact of selected medical and socioeconomic factors on PQL variables. Data and Methods : The World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, and Population Reference Bureau were the principal sources of statistical data of 121 countries. Variables included infant mortality, life expectancy at birth, literacy rate, secondary school enrollment (male and female), GNP per capita, population per doctor, daily calorie supply per capita, and a composite PQL index. The Ordinary Least Square model was employed for cross-countries analysis. Findings : Both countries under quite different political and economic systems saw big improvememts in the quality of life, reducing mortality and prolonging life expectancy during the past three decades. In recent decad, however, North Korea has experienced abrupt exacerbation in the quality of life. Significant improvements in infant mortality of the population wer attributable mainly to GNP per capita and the secondary school enrollemt of female. The principal predictors of life expectancy at birth were population per doctor, infant mortality, and literacy rate. The secondary school enrollment of female and population per doctor were significantly associated with improvements in the physical quality of life index (PQLI). Conclusion : The results of this study confirmed a point illustrated by other studies : The association between quality of life as a measure of health status and socioeconomic factors was strong and positive. The important contribution of educational attainment in general, female education level in particular to improvements in the quality of life deserves good news for building an integrated health care system in the reunified Korea, taking into account the high level of education two koreas are enjoying. Meanwhile, when a sharp drop in the quality of life has been observed in North Korea under serious economic difficulties and food shortage in recent decade, the significant contribution of economic development to improvements in the quality of life poses bad nows for reunifying Korean health care in economic terms.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.172-179
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• 2018

Background: Insufficient training in infection control and occupational health among healthcare workers (HCWs) in countries with high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) burdens requires attention. We examined the effectiveness of a 1-year Certificate Program in Occupational Health and Infection Control conducted in Free State Province, South Africa in an international partnership to empower HCWs to become change agents to promote workplace-based HIV and TB prevention. Methods: Questionnaires assessing reactions to the program and Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills, and Practices were collected pre-, mid-, and postprogram. Individual interviews, group project evaluations, and participant observation were also conducted. Quantitative data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Qualitative data were thematically coded and analyzed using the Kirkpatrick framework. Results: Participants recruited (n = 32) were mostly female (81%) and nurses (56%). Pre-to-post-program mean scores improved in knowledge (+12%, p = 0.002) and skills/practices (+14%, p = 0.002). Preprogram attitude scores were high but did not change. Participants felt empowered and demonstrated attitudinal improvements regarding HIV, TB, infection control, and occupational health. Successful projects were indeed implemented. However, participants encountered considerable difficulties in trying to sustain improvement, due largely to lack of pre-existing knowledge and experience, combined with inadequate staffing and insufficient management support. Conclusion: Training is essential to strengthen HCWs' occupational health and infection control knowledge, attitudes, skills, and practices, and workplace-based training programs such as this can yield impressive results. However, the considerable mentorship resources required for such programs and the substantial infrastructural supports needed for implementation and sustainability of improvements in settings without pre-existing experience in such endeavors should not be underestimated.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.40-41
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• 2004

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.29-31
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• 2003

It has been reported that the genetic variations in the Y chromosome has influence the blood pressure in some Caucasian male populations, but the effect in non-Caucasian population is unclear. In the present study, we examined the relationship between blood pressure and a HindIII RFLP of Y chromosome in 152 unrelated male individuals of ethnically homogeneous Korean origin. There were no significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressures between genotype groups, respectively. However, the frequency of A genotype in Korean population was much higher than those of Caucasian populations (P＜0.05). Therefore, the results of this study will con-tribute the better understanding the genetic characteristics of Y chromosome in Korean population.

• Korean System Dynamics Review
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.105-126
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• 2010

The ecology of house swallow is closely related to the humans life because their life depend on the human settlements conditions and environments. 30 years ago house swallows are very common at the country side, but recently they are very rare. Almost the number of house swallows decrease as 1 of hundredth during 20 years. Why this dramatic population decrease are happening in the ecology of house swallow? The Population size impacted by many factors such as nesting, breeding, feeding, returning. The objective of this paper is to analyse the population dynamics of the ecology of House Swallow. This paper focuses on the important ecological changes-nests, foods, and return rates from wintering area-associated with recent country side development. In this paper, we explore the feedback loops of population dynamics and simulate the policy scenario model.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.3-10
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• 1988

This study is a replication of Clemente and Sturgis' study conducted among 600 American cities in 1972. The impact of population size, physical density, social density, and age of 56 Korean cities upon the extent of their industrial diversification was analyzed. Hypotheses concerning each independent variable were generated from the theory of the development of the division of labor proposed by Durkheim and subsequently adopted by human ecologists. Zero-order correlation analysis and regression analysis were employed to test the hypotheses. The standardized partial regression coefficients indicated that social density and age of cities exert significant positive impact upon industrial diversification. On the other hand, population size showed a significant negative impact upon industrial diversification. In addition, it was discovered that the combined influence of the independent variables account for 34.6 percent of the variation in industrial diversification. The findings of this study were compared with the results of Clemente and Sturgis' study. Some suggestions for future research are presented and discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Simulation Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.20-36
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• 2001

The purpose of this paper is estimating environmental carving capacity of Seoul Metropolitan Area for a sustainable city management using system dynamics model. A sustainable development requires a society to define sustainability constraints or environmental limits, environmental carving capacity. Environmental carving capacity can be defined as the level of human activity which a region can sustain at an acceptable quality of life level. This concept of environmental carving capacity has several important application to sustainable city planning and management. If the limitation of a human activity can be supported by a scientific data on carving capacity, the resulting decision and actions could more easily win public support for a sustainable development. However, one of the key issues is how to operationalize the carving capacity. In this paper, the environmental carving capacity was operationalized as a maximum number of industry structure, population, and housing that can sustain certain level of environmental quality of Seoul Metropolitan Area. The model developed in this paper consisted off sectors: population, housing, industry, land, and environmental sector. The model limits its main focus on the NO$_2$level of ambient air of Seoul. Carving capacity Seoul Metropolitan Area was estimated by figuring out the maximum number of population, industry structure, housing at an equilibrium point that sustain a desirable NO$_2$level. Based on the model estimation, several policy implications for a sustainable city management was discussed.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is highly associated with cervical cancer. So, the modification of the risk factors of HPV infection is essential for prevention of cervical cancer. This study was performed to evaluate the risk factors of HPV infection. Methods: HPV test of 12,337 study population conducted using Hybrid-Capture II assay(HC-II) and self-administered questionnaires were collected. The study population was people who visited hospital-based medical screening center from January to December 2007 and all were female employees or employees' partner. Results: In logistic regression analysis, smoking and alcohol drinking were significant factors, with odds ratios of 1.328 (95% CI 1.010~1.746) and 1.644 (95% CI 1.309~2.066), respectively. Nutritional supplements was also significant factor, which odds ratio was 1.161 (95% CI 1.004~1.343). Oral contraceptives was positive association with HPV infection (odds ratio 2.108; 95% CI 1.217~3.652), whereas condom was negative association (odds ratio 0.851; 95% CI 0.740~0.979). Conclusion: HPV Prevalence of 12,377 study population was 11.4%. Smoking, alcohol drinking, nutritional supplements and oral contraceptives were possible risk factors of HPV infection, and condom had possible preventive effect on HPV infection. Further prospective and comprehensive studies about HPV risk factors are required.