• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to determine the issues of supplementation and improvement to prepare for the outbreak of new infectious diseases such as new variants of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to guide work for a strategic new response to infectious disease. Public officials of Jeju Special Self-governing Province and health personnel responding to COVID-19, working at six public health centers in Jeju-do region were administered a survey about additional preparations to be made in the future, based on the period when COVID-19 was treated legally as a first-class infectious disease. Frequency analysis was conducted on the collected data. The Likert 5-point scale and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare the scores for effective response to emerging infectious diseases according to demographics. Among the important factors identified for effective response to new infectious diseases, 'facilitation of cooperation with public institutions' and 'facilitation of cooperation with private institutions' had the highest scores. In the future, when a patient presents with a new infectious disease, the step that needs to be supplemented in each phase of the public health center's response is 'immediate response team operation'. Further, public health centers responded that 'expansion of dedicated personnel related to infectious diseases' needs to be improved to respond to new infectious diseases. Along with the results of this study, considering the difficulties experienced by health personnel responding to new infectious diseases in preparation for future outbreaks of new infectious diseases, and to respond effectively, detailed and clear guidelines for responding to quarantine of patients of new infectious diseases will be needed.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of stress on psychosocial wellbeing at the time of an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome(MERS) and to investigate the effect of resilience as a mediator on the relationship between stress and psychosocial wellbeing. Methods : Perceived Stress Scale, Psychosocial Wellbeing Index Short Form, and the Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale was implemented for 156 medical persons who worked at the hospital in which exposure to MERS cases had been confirmed and 127 ordinary people. We conducted a Pearson correlation coefficient and a hierarchical multiple regression to confirm the effect of stress on psychosocial wellbeing and the mediating effect of resilience between stress and psychosocial wellbeing. Results : The higher the perceived stress, the lower the psychosocial wellbeing in both healthcare workers and the public. The higher the perceived stress, the lower the resilience and the research results showed that there was a partially mediating effect of resilience in the relationship between stress and psychosocial wellbeing. Conclusions : This study demonstrated that the degree of individual resilience can indirectly give a positive effect on the psychosocial wellbeing when people under the stress by MERS shows adverse effects on psychosocial wellbeing. This suggests that clinical intervention and psychosocial approach aiming at strengthening resilience is important to maintain mental health during crisis development.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

The community bridge node finder, based on the stochastic method of network analysis, can compute hubs spot, which would enable the use of network structures with limited information. However, applying this node finder to heterogeneity networks, which are efficient to analyze the main farm complex in fields and the spread of infectious disease, is difficult. These problems, The most connected point that is called hub is often a major role in the heterogeneity network. In this study, we therefore improved the community bridge node finder to enable it to be applied to heterogeneity networks. We attempted to calculate the bridge node quantitatively by using the modularity of cohesion analysis method and the community bridge node finder. Application of the improved method to the HPAI(Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) spread in Korea 2008 produced a quarantine coefficient that was 4 - 37% higher than the quarantine coefficient obtained with the centrality method for the first 14 days after the HPAI outbreak. We concluded that the improved method has the ability to successfully calculate the bridge node in heterogeneity networks based on network structures with scant information, such as those describing the spread of infectious disease in domestic animals. And Our method should be capable to find main farm complex in fields.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.997-1006
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• 2018

As shown during the 2009 pandemic H1N1 (A(H1N1)pdm09) outbreak, egg-based influenza vaccine production technology is insufficient to meet global demands during an influenza pandemic. Therefore, there is a need to adapt cell culture-derived vaccine technology using suspended cell lines for more rapid and larger-scale vaccine production. In this study, we attempted to generate a high-growth influenza vaccine strain in MDCK cells using an A/Puerto/8/1934 (H1N1) vaccine seed strain. Following 48 serial passages with four rounds of virus plaque purification in MDCK cells, we were able to select several MDCK-adapted plaques that could grow over $10^8PFU/ml$. Genetic characterization revealed that these viruses mainly had amino acid substitutions in internal genes and exhibited higher polymerase activities. By using a series of Rg viruses, we demonstrated the essential residues of each gene and identified a set of high-growth strains in MDCK cells ($PB1_{D153N}$, $M1_{A137T}$, and $NS1_{N176S}$). In addition, we confirmed that in the context of the high-growth A/PR/8/34 backbone, A/California/7/2009 (H1N1), A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2), and A/environment/Korea/deltaW150/2006 (H5N1) also showed significantly enhanced growth properties (more than $10^7PFU/ml$) in both attached- and suspended-MDCK cells compared with each representative virus and the original PR8 vaccine strain. Taken together, this study demonstrates the feasibility of a cell culture-derived approach to produce seed viruses for influenza vaccines that are cheap and can be grown promptly and vigorously as a substitute for egg-based vaccines. Thus, our results suggest that MDCK cell-based vaccine production is a feasible option for producing large-scale vaccines in case of pandemic outbreaks.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2019

Objective : The objective of this study is to determine the effects of fear of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) on socio-psychological health during an outbreak of MERS and the post-traumatic stress as a mediator on the relationship between stress and socio-psychological health. Methods : Visual Analog Scale, Impact of Event Scale -Revised, Psychosocial well-being index short form was implemented for 150 medical persons who worked at the hospital in which exposure to MERS cases had been confirmed and 96 ordinary people. A Pearson correlation coefficient and a hierarchical multiple regression was carried out to confirm the effect of fear of MERS and the mediating effect of post-traumatic stress between fear and socio-psychological health. Results : The higher the fear, the lower the socio-psychological health in both healthcare workers and the public (r=0.32, p<0.01) and the higher post-traumatic stress (r=0.32, p<0.01). But, the research results showed that only healthcare workers had a partially mediating effect of post-traumatic stress in the relationship between fear and socio-psychological health (${\beta}=0.45$, t=6.33 p<0.001), (${\beta}$ value : 0.39>0.26). Conclusion : This study demonstrated that the post-traumatic stress can indirectly lead to a negative effect on the socio-psychological health of healthcare workers when under the fear of MERS and shows adverse effects on psycho-social wellbeing. This suggests that clinical intervention and psycho-social approach aiming at reducing post-traumatic stress is important to maintain mental health during crisis development.

• BMB Reports
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.465-471
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• 2022

Understanding and monitoring virus-mediated infections has gained importance since the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Studies of high-throughput omics-based immune profiling of COVID-19 patients can help manage the current pandemic and future virus-mediated pandemics. Although COVID-19 is being studied since past 2 years, detailed mechanisms of the initial induction of dynamic immune responses or the molecular mechanisms that characterize disease progression remains unclear. This study involved comprehensively collected biospecimens and longitudinal multi-omics data of 300 COVID-19 patients and 120 healthy controls, including whole genome sequencing (WGS), single-cell RNA sequencing combined with T cell receptor (TCR) and B cell receptor (BCR) sequencing (scRNA(+scTCR/BCR)-seq), bulk BCR and TCR sequencing (bulk TCR/BCR-seq), and cytokine profiling. Clinical data were also collected from hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and HLA typing, laboratory characteristics, and COVID-19 viral genome sequencing were performed during the initial diagnosis. The entire set of biospecimens and multi-omics data generated in this project can be accessed by researchers from the National Biobank of Korea with prior approval. This distribution of large-scale multi-omics data of COVID-19 patients can facilitate the understanding of biological crosstalk involved in COVID-19 infection and contribute to the development of potential methodologies for its diagnosis and treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.477-490
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• 2022

Serious Accident Punishment Act(SAPA) went into effect as of Jan. 27, 2022. The subject of study was the worker of the nuclear medicine department and the investigation was aimed at identifying the present situation of their understanding on the issue in the here and now, which can be utilized as basic research for further study. The survey was conducted on 51 people of the worker in the nuclear medicine department. The general factors were classified by their gender, the scale of the hospitals, the period of career, and the detailed occupational categories. The conclusion was drawn, including 1 missing data in gender and 2 in the type of occupation. The targeted hospitals were tertiary hospital, university hospital, and general hospital which have nuclear medicine department in. The period of subjects' career was categorized by less than 3 years, 3 to 5 years, 5 to 10 years, and more than 10 years. The specific occupation was classified by in-vivo radiological technologist, radiation safety manager and others. The amount of pressure that the job entails was highest in the category of general hospital, the period of 3 to 5 years of job experience, and radiation safety manager each. The system of the code was well constructed in the category of general hospital, the period of less than 3-year career, and radiation safety manager, as they responded. The blood transmissible disease had the largest number of outbreak of accidents related to the serious industrial accident. In addition, the radiopharmaceutical dosing error had the highest number of outbreak of accidents related to the serious civil accident. Therefore, we need to improve SAPA, facility inspection, security of budget, security of professional manpower. It will help the stable use of radiation and ensure patient safety.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2013

Outbreak of animal infectious diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza are becoming prevalent worldwide. For prevent the further infection, tremendous numbers of the infected or culled stocks are buried around farm. This burial method can generate a wide range of detrimental components such as leachate, nutrient, salt, and pathogenic bacteria, consequently. In this study, for the stabilization of livestock carcasses leachate, advanced oxidation processes utilizing the Fenton reaction was investigated in lab-scale experiments for the treatment for $COD_{Cr}$ of livestock carcass leachate. $COD_{Cr}$ reduction by the Fenton oxidation was investigated response surface methodology using the Box-Begnken methods were applied to the experimental results. A central composite design was used to investigate the effects of the independent variables of pH ($x_1$), dosage of $FeCl_2{\cdot}4H_2O$ ($x_2$) and dosage of $H_2O_2$ ($x_3$) on the dependent variables $COD_{Cr}$ concentration ($y_1$). A 1 M NaOH and $H_2SO_4$ was using for pH control, $FeCl_2{\cdot}4H_2O$ was used as iron catalyst and NaOH was used for Fenton reaction. The optimal conditions for Fenton oxidation process were determined: pH, dosage of $FeCl_2{\cdot}4H_2O$ and dosage of $H_2O_2$ were 3, 0.6 g (0.0151 M) and 7 mL(0.259 M), respectively. Statistical results showed the order of significance of the independent variables to be pH > initial concentration of ferrous ion > initial concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.732-745
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• 2001

This study attempted to identify obese students' stress and coping method in middle and high schools. The data were collected from the total of 600 obese students from middle and high schools in Pusan. The author used a convenience sampling method. The data collection was done from March 2 to April 30. 2001. The analysis of the data was done with SPSS Win(10.0) for descriptive statistics. t-test. and ANOVA. The instrument used for the obese students' stress and coping method was a questionnaire developed by Kim. Yi-Soon and Kim. Young-Hae(200l). The tool was composed of 65 items (33stress items: 32coping method items) with the five-point Likert scale. The results were as follow: 1. The average score of stress was 2.49 (SD = .86) points in the male students. and 2.83(SD= .86) points in the female students. The subcategories were: (outward appearance), (boyfriend/girlfriend), (occurrence of an outbreak of a disease), (relationship within the family), (an obese appearance), (difficulty in exercise). The highest degree of stress came from 'an obese appearance' for the male students (mean=2.64. SD=0.87) and (mean=2.64. SD=0.87) for the female students. 2. The subcategories of the coping method were: (be concerned about other matters), (recreation activities), (self-violence), (relaxation), (hobby activities), (avoid a situation), (communication), (music), (negative behavior), (positive thinking). The highest degree of coping method were (recreation activities) in the male students (mean=3.07. SD=0.86) and (music) in the female students (mean=3.47. SD=1.01). 3. The results comparing stress with demographic variables were significant for gender (t=7.010. p=0.000). grades at school (F=2.918. p=0.02l), degree of obesity (F=5.205. p=0.006). grades (F=2.550. p=0.027). standard of living(F=8.277. p=0.000). the state of health (F=2.882, p=0.022), relationship with the father (F=4.790, p=0.001), relationship with the mother (F=6.080, p=0.000), and the educational level of the father (F=3.192, p=0.013). 4. The results comparing the coping method with demographic variables were significant for gender (t=4.597. p=0.000). These findings contribute to the understanding of the degree of stress and the type of coping methods of obese students in middle and high schools. Therefore, the result of this study aids in an effective nursing intervention to improve the mental health program for the obese.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.78-85
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• 2005

This study, combining geophysical and environmental approaches, was undertaken to investigate the causes of secondary salinity in the Goondoola basin, in southwestern Queensland. Airborne radiometric, electromagnetic and ground electromagnetic datasets were acquired, along with data on soils and subsurface materials and groundwater. Relationships established between radiometric, elevation data, and measured material properties allowed us to generate predictive maps of surface materials and recharge potential. Greatest recharge to the groundwater is predicted to occur on the weathered bedrock rises surrounding the basin. Electromagnetic data (airborne, ground, and downhote), used in conjunction with soil and drillhole measurements, were used to quantify regolith salt store and to define the subsurface architecture. Conductivity measurements reflect soil salt distribution. However, deeper in the regolith, where the salt content is relatively constant, the AEM signal is influenced by changes in porosity or material type. This allowed the lateral distribution of bedrock weathering zones to be mapped. Salinisation in this area occurs because of local-andintermediate-scale processes, controlled strongly by regolith architecture. The present surface outbreak is the result of evaporative concentration above shallow saline groundwater, discharging at break of slope. The integration of surficial and subsurface datasets allowed the identification of similar landscape settings that are most at risk of developing salinity with groundwater rise. This information is now being used by local land managers to refine management choices that prevent excess recharge and further salt mobilisation.