• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.41-53
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• 2023

E171, a mixture of titanium dioxide, has been widely used as a food additive due to its whitening effect and low toxicity. However, it has been proven that E171 is no longer safe for public health. So far, there are insufficient studies on the toxic effects of E171 on organisms especially using standardized test methods. In this study, toxicity assessments of E171 to two aquatic species, water flea (Daphnia magna) and zebrafish (Danio rerio), were performed using modified standardized test methods based on the physicochemical properties of E171. The hydrodynamic diameter, polydispersity index, and turbiscan stability index (TSI) were measured to ensure the dispersion stability of E171 in exposure media during the test period. The EC₅₀ for immobilization of water flea was 141.7 mg L^-1 while zebrafish was not affected until 100 mg L^-1 of E171. Measurements of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant enzyme activities confirmed that E171 induced oxidative stress, leading to the activation of superoxide dismutase and catalase in both water flea and zebrafish, although the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes differed between species. These results suggested the potential risk of E171 to aquatic organisms and provided toxicological insights into the impacts of E171 on the environment.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.312-323
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• 2023

Background: Environmental concentrations of substances can be estimated by K-CHESAR based on main, industrial, and use categories (MC/IC/UC) and ECETOC TRA based on environmental or specific environmental categories (ERC or spERC). Objectives: Three different systems for estimating environmental concentrations were compared to figure out their order with possible reasons along with relationship of regional predicted environmental concentrations (PEC_regional) and final PEC_local for various uses of a substance. Methods: Typical uses of the case substance and their corresponding ERCs were selected from the webpage of the European Chemical Agency. Proper MC/IC/UC and spERC were assigned to each ERC. Emission fractions were compared for each assessment code from the available database. PECs were calculated by three estimating systems: K-CHESAR using MC/IC/UC, ECETOC TRA using ERC, and ECETOC TRA using spERC with their default values for input parameters. Percentage of PEC_regional to PEC_local were manually calculated for each use. Results: Emission factors decreased in the order of ERC > MC/IC/UC > spERC. Values of the final PEC_local derived as sum of PEC_regional and Clocal decreased in the order of calculations using ECETOC TRA-ERC>KCHESAR with MC/IC/UC>ECETOC TRA-spERC for all environmental media. Percentages of PEC_{regional,water} to PEC_local,water ranged from 0 to 10.3% in industrial uses calculated with MC/IC/UC and ERC but 96.3 to 100% in wide dispersive uses of ERC and spERC where values of C_local,water are estimated to be very low. Conclusions: ECETOC TRA generated the most refined PNEC values with spERC and the least with ERC, while K-CHESAR with MC/IC/UC generated values between the two results. The ratio of PEC_regional to PEC_local can be a good measure for performing suitable estimation of PNECs according to use.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.251-262
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• 2023

In this study, we examine other factors that may contribute to the decline in students' academic performance and educational attainment. Many media reports, as well as previous studies, have suggested that virtual learning is the main reason for the decline in students' academic performance. However, the 2020 National Student Achievement Survey, which was conducted in conjunction with the COVID-19 Distance Learning Environment Student Survey, showed that students were highly satisfied with distance learning (70-80%), and the analysis of the National Assessment of Educational Achievement showed that students' academic performance had already been declining year by year since 2017, with a general downward curve. For further confirmation, we analyzed the performance of high school students on mock exams and found that their performance was not normally distributed, but rather a right-skewed U-shaped distribution with a shrinking number of medians and severe polarization. We found that this phenomenon is not simply because of the mode or quality of the virtual classroom, but to a variety of factors, including environmental influences such as care and management at home, changes in investment in private education, increased time spent on online devices while taking virtual classes at the bottom, and increased time spent watching online content, games, and videos that are not related to learning.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.983-995
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• 2023

Objective: To compare the diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement between contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for evaluating the resectability in patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (eCCA). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included treatment-naïve patients with pathologically confirmed eCCA, who underwent both CECT and CE-MRI with MRCP using extracellular contrast media between January 2015 and December 2020. Among the 214 patients (146 males; mean age ± standard deviation, 68 ± 9 years) included, 121 (56.5%) had perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. R0 resection was achieved in 108 of the 153 (70.6%) patients who underwent curative-intent surgery. Four fellowship-trained radiologists independently reviewed the findings of both CECT and CE-MRI with MRCP to assess the local tumor extent and distant metastasis for determining resectability. The pooled area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of CECT and CE-MRI with MRCP were compared using clinical, surgical, and pathological findings as reference standards. The interobserver agreement of resectability was evaluated using Fleiss kappa (κ). Results: No significant differences were observed between CECT and CE-MRI with MRCP in the pooled AUC (0.753 vs. 0.767), sensitivity (84.7% [366/432] vs. 90.3% [390/432]), and specificity (52.6% [223/424] vs. 51.4% [218/424]) (P > 0.05 for all). The AUC for determining resectability was higher when CECT and CE-MRI with MRCP were reviewed together than when CECT was reviewed alone in patients with discrepancies between the imaging modalities or with indeterminate resectability (0.798 [0.754-0.841] vs. 0.753 [0.697-0.808], P = 0.014). The interobserver agreement for overall resectability was fair for both CECT (κ = 0.323) and CE-MRI with MRCP (κ = 0.320), without a significant difference (P = 0.884). Conclusion: CECT and CE-MRI with MRCP showed no significant differences in the diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement in determining the resectability in patients with eCCA.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.25-35
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• 2023

Background: In order to emphasize the importance of clinical dental hygienists-led dental hygiene management processes for those with systemic diseases, we tried to identify systemic diseases affecting dental implants based on clinical data. Methods: In order to identify systemic diseases affecting dental implants, literature review was conducted from March 1 to May 31, 2023, and the search period was for research papers published in domestic and foreign academic journals from January 2000 to December 2020. Domestic databases used for search use RISS, Nuri Media(DBpia), and Korea Academic Information (http://www.papersearch.net ; KISS), while overseas databases searched Pubmed for dental implant failures, implants, systemic diseases, and Dental implant and system disease. Results: The cumulative survival rate of implants averaged 94.3 percent and the failure rate was 5.7 percent. Clinical analysis of systemic diseases related to implants accounted for the highest frequency with 13 (100.0%), followed by 8 (61.5%) studies on high blood pressure and smoking, 7 (53.8%) cardiovascular diseases, and 5 (38.5%). In addition, liver disease, thyroid abnormalities, blood abnormalities, organ transplants and infectious diseases were confirmed. Conclusion: Since unregulated systemic diseases are a risk factor for implant failure, clinical dental hygienists should continue to maintain healthy oral conditions by sharing information with patients during periodic preventive dental hygiene management processes such as dental hygiene assessment.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.143-152
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• 2024

Due to COVID-19, domestic Duty-free shops have been severely impacted, and with the expansion of the untact market, the proportion of mobile shopping has increased. So far, mobile duty-free shop AR shopping is not active, and related research is scarce. Therefore, we aims to enhance Duty-free Shopping APPs with AR technology by researching the needs of foreign users. First, in the mobile duty-free shop app, the AR shopping interface must be in a prominent position to be open and easy to use. Second, there should be an explanation or help for location and function so that all users can easily recognize the AR shopping interface. Third, when wearing duty-free items in the AR shopping interface or adding them to the storage and shopping cart of interest, the interface must be simple and flexible, making it convenient to use and operate. Fourth, technical improvements must be made to prevent errors. We expect that the research will help develop AR shopping technology and domestic duty-free shop AR shopping technology and revitalize online and offline duty-free shops.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.75-90
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• 2024

Contemporary society faces increasingly diverse risks with expanding impacts. In response, the importance of science education has become more prominent. This study aims to analyze the characteristics of existing research on science-related risk education and derives implications for such education. Using detailed bibliometric analysis, we collected citation data from 83 international scholarly journals (SSCI) in the field of education indexed in the Web of Science with the keywords 'Scientific Risk.' Subsequently, using the bibliometrix package in R-Studio, we conducted a bibliometric analysis. The findings are as follows. Firstly, research on risk education covers topics such as risk literacy, the structure of risks addressed in science education, and the application and effectiveness of incorporating risk cases into educational practices. Secondly, a significant portion of research on risks related to science education has been conducted within the framework of socioscientific issues (SSI) education. Thirdly, it was observed that research on risks related to science education primarily focuses on the transmission of scientific knowledge, with many studies examining formal education settings such as curricula and school learning environments. These findings imply several key points. Firstly, to effectively address risks in contemporary society, the scope of risk education should extend beyond topics such as nuclear energy and climate change to encompass broader issues like environmental pollution, AI, and various aspects of daily life. Secondly, there is a need to reexamine and further research topics explored in the context of SSI education within the framework of risk education. Thirdly, it is necessary to analyze not only risk perception but also risk assessment and risk management. Lastly, there is a need for research on implementing risk education practices in informal educational settings, such as science museums and media.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.459-466
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• 2003

Purpose : AOM is the most common bacterial URI in children. The bacteriology and antibiotic Tx of AOM in children has been studied in many countries. But, there is few study of causative pathogens and antibiotic Tx of AOM in our country. In this aspect, we performed prospective clinical study to confirm the causative pathogens and assess the clinical responses of cefprozil in AOM patients. Methods : Thirty three AOM patients enrolled in this study. Tympanocentesis for isolation of causative pathogens were performed before Tx of cefprozil. The study patients received cefprozil with dose of 15 mg/kg/bid.po/day for 10-12 days, and initially assessed the clinical response at 4-5 days after receiving cefprozil and finally at the end visit. In vitro susceptibility tests of cefprozil to isolated pathogens were done by disc diffusion method, and in vitro susceptibility tests of cefaclor and cefixime to isolated pathogens were simultaneously performed. Results : Bacterial pathogens[S. pneumoniae(10), H. influenzae(5), S. aureus(2), M. catarrhalis(1) and Group A stretococcus(1)] were isolated from 19 patients. Clinically, all patients had history of abrupt high fever except one. Tympanic perforation was dominant in pathogens isolated cases, and otalgia was significantly developed in non-pathogens isolated cases. The ages of pathogens isolated cases were usually below 2 years. Eighty four point nine percent of the patients including two cases with isolation of intermediate resistant S. pneumoniae were clinically improved. Antimicrobial in vitro activity to S. pneumoniae of cefprozil were superior than that of cefacor and cefixime. Conclusion : We confirm that bacteria has the causative role in about 60% cases, and S. pneumoniae is the most common pathogen. Clinically, there were some differences in symptoms, signs and ages between pathogens isolated and non-pathogens isolated cases. The clinical responses of cefprozil in our patients revealed similar outcomes to other countries. And we reconfirm that cefprozil may be clinically effective in cases of AOM due to intermediate resistant S. pneumoniae.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.7
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• pp.747-753
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• 2008

Purpose : Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Early atherosclerotic changes in the arterial walls begin in adolescence and the risk factors are associated with its development. To assess the usefulness of carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), as a marker of early atherosclerosis, we evaluated the structural and functional characteristics of the carotid artery and investigated their relationshop with the metabolic and anthropometric parameters in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Methods : For this study, we enrolled 23 children with type 1 diabet and 19 age and sex-equivalent healthy children as the control group. Metabolic and anthropometric parameters such as serum lipid levels, plasma glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and body mass index were measured after a 12-h fasting period. The carotid artery IMT was measured by a high-quality ultrasound system, and compliance, and distensibility were calculated by an equation. Results : There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with regard to the sex ratio, age, blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels' however, HbA1c levels were significantly higher in the diabetic children ($8.5{\pm}1.8$ vs. $5.0{\pm}0.2$, P=0.001). Ultrasonographic findings showed that compared with the control group, the diabetic group had higher IMT ($0.45{\pm}0.06mm$ vs. $0.41{\pm}0.04mm$, P=0.04), but there were no significant differences in compliance and distensibility. The HbA1c (P=0.002) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=0.026) levels were independent IMT predictors in the diabetic group. Conclusion : Here, the carotid artery IMT was higher in the diabetic group, and it is correlated with atherosclerotic risk factor. Thus, carotid IMT could be evaluated as a marker of early atherosclerosis in diabetic children.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.57-73
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• 2008

Nitrate concentrations were measured up to 49 mg/L (as $NO_3$-N) and 22% of the samples exceeded drinking water standard in shallow and bedrock groundwater of the northern Nonsan area. Nitrate concentrations showed a significant difference among land use groups. To predict nitrate concentration in groundwater, multiple regression analysis was carried out using hydrogeologic parameters of soil media, topography and land use which were categorized as several groups, well depth and altitude, and field parameters of temperature, pH, DO and EC. Hydrogeologic parameters were quantified as area proportions of each category within circular buffers centering at wells. Regression was performed to all the combination of variables and the most relevant model was selected based on adjusted coefficient of determination (Adj. $R^2$). Regression using hydrogelogic parameters with varying buffer radii show highest Adj. $R^2$ at 50m and 300m for shallow and bedrock groundwater, respectively. Shallow groundwater has higher Adj. $R^2$ than bedrock groundwater indicating higher susceptibility to hydrogeologic properties of surface environment near the well. Land use and soil media was major explanatory variables for shallow and bedrock groundwater, respectively and residential area was a major variable in both shallow and bedrock groundwater. Regression involving hydrogeologic parameters and field parameters showed that EC, paddy and pH were major variables in shallow groundwater whereas DO, EC and natural area were in bedrock groundwater. Field parameters have much higher explanatory power over the hydrogeologic parameters suggesting field parameters which are routinely measured can provide important information on each well in assessment of nitrate contamination. The most relevant buffer radii can be applied to estimation of travel time of contaminants in surface environment to wells.