• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.9-44
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• 1993

An explorative and descriptive study in order to determine the effect of family structure and other socio-demographic variables on health behavior, belief, locus, and value and utilization of public health service was carried out. Data were collected from 1,653 subjects randomly sampled in three areas, Seoul, Kyunggi province, and Cheju province. From Seoul 849 subjects were selected, 397 subjects Kyunggi, and 407 subjects from Cheju, respectively. Self-reporting questionaires were administered during the period from March to June, 1992. The major findings were as follows: 1) The subjects visited herb-doctor's at irregular intervals mainly to have tonic medicine prepared. They preferred herb-doctor's rather than with doctors at clinics and hospitals. Statistically significant difference was found among the regions studied (p<0.05). 2) The reason for visiting hospitals was primarily for treatment of diseases. They preferred hospital because they felt that the hospitals offer much highly reliable treatment services as well as medical accessibility. For the purpose of hospital utilization, statistically significant differences existed among sex, educational level, family type and region. However, no significance was found among sex, educational level, and region (p<0.05). 3) The subjects utilized general hospitals mainly for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. They preferred general hospitals because of their much better facilities and reliability. Statistical significance was found among sex, educational level, and region (p<0.05). 4) The subjects visited dentist at irregular intervals basis. They visited once half a year or three to four months. their purpose of visit was mainly for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Statistical significance differences were found among educational level, region and economic standard (p<0.05). 5) Whenever their illnesses were mild and the pharmacies was located in nearby they visited to pharmacies. They visited once a month and patient medicines. Statistically significant differences were found among sex, educational level and region (p<0.05). 6) The subjects believed that herb medicine was quite efficacious for treatment of some diseases, particularly by information handed down through time-honored tradition and experience. However, they recognized that the efficacy of folk medicine can vary with type and severity of diseases. Statistical significance was among sex, educational level, region and economic standard (p<0.05). 7) The reason why subjects believed that pray and superstition are effective for treatment of certain type of diseases, particularly in neuropathy, was the belief in God's almighty. Statistically significant differences were found among sex, educational level, regions and economic standard (p<0.05). 8) Most of subjects under same condition preferred western medicine because they believed that it is more scientific and prompts in showing therapeutic effect. Statistical significance was not found in the choice of type of public health service among, regions. But significant differences were found among sex, educational level and region (p<0.05). 9) The subjects looked for pharmacy if they thought the symptom was mild. However, they visited hospitals for chronic disease and general hospitals for emergency treatment. Statistical significances were found among educational level, region and economic standard (p<0.05). 10) Although most of students wanted to have a healthy life as for the component of health standard and value, they think that they are not healthy (p<0.05). As for the health behavior, significant difference was found in the proportion of smoking and drinking between educational level and region (p<0.05). The health locus was affected by educational level, and health behavior was influenced by region, sex and educational level. The utilization of type of public health service was influenced by family type and region, and health belief by region and educational level, and the health values by region and economic standard respectively, most of correlation showed statistical significance. Among them, the highest correlation was seen between locus of control and external/internal locus of control, which is quite obvious. The correlation between health belief and behavior was the next highest, but still low (0.343). All the other variables are low but significant except only a few of those. These findings indicate that health education should be incorporated into the curriculum so as to develop desirable health habit, and ability of self-control in accordance with their growth stages. A systematic and scientific understanding on the herb/folk medicine is needed, and greater reliability of the utilization of public health services are is still required. Health policy for equal distribution of health service throughout the country along the hierarchical health service system and complementary mutual assistance and cooperation among various health organizations are also required.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.92-96
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• 2002

Present contamination levels of soils along the major roadsides of Seoul, Korea were investigated, and base-line data were accumulated for future use. Topsoil $(1{\sim}5$ cm) and subsoil $(20{\sim}50$ cm) from five districts (Gangdong-, Gwangjin-, Nowon-, Seodaemun- and Seongdong-gu) were sampled. The collected samples were airdried, passed through 2-mm sieves, and analyzed to determine the physicochemical properties including pH, EC, CEC, exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, K, and Na), and heavy metal contents (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn). Soil textures of topsoils and subsoils were mainly loamy sand and sandy loam, respectively. The range of pH was $4.5{\sim}10$.0 with an average of 7.5 for both topsoil and subsoil, which is much higher than that of the forest soils in Seoul. The ranges of 0.1 N HCI extractable Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn contents for both topsoils and subsoils were $0.0l{\sim}l.19$, N.D. (not $detected){\sim}228$.99, $N.D.{\sim}352$.54, and $2.97{\sim}332$.96 mg $kg^{-1}$, respectively. Most of the average heavy metal contents were lower than the concern level of the Soil Environment Conservation Act of Korea, but were much higher than those of the , forest soils in Seoul. Some sites were higher in heavy metal contents than the concern levels; in particular, the average Cu content in Seongdong-gu was much higher than the concern level, 50 mg $kg^{-1}$. Careful management of the soil to prevent the aggravation of the present contamination level and the dissemination of contamination is highly recommended.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.174-189
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to determine the weight-length relations and condition factor (K) of Zacco platypus, along the trophic gradients from oligotrophic to eutrophic state in six reservoir ecosystems ($B_aR$, $Y_yR$, $J_yR$, $G_pR$, $Y_dR$, and $M_sR$), during 2008~2010. The species was selected as a sentinel species for the study, due to its wide distribution and wide trophic gradient. The analysis of trophic state index (TSI), based on total phosphorus (TP) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), indicated that reservoirs of $Y_yR$ and $B_aR$ were classified as to be in an oligotrophic state (30~40), the $J_yR$ and $G_pR$ as mesotrophic (40~50), and the $Y_dR$ and $M_sR$ as eutrophic state (50~70). Total 47 species and 26,226 individuals were sampled from 6 reservoirs and sensitive species dominated in the oligotrophic reservoirs ($Y_yR$ and $B_aR$). In the mean time, the tolerant speciesdominated the community in the mesotrophic ($J_yR$ and $G_pR$) and eutrophic ($Y_dR$ and $M_sR$) reservoirs. Regression analysis of body weight, against the total length, indicated that the regression coefficient (b value) was lower in the oligotrophic reservoir (2.77~2.79) than the mesotrophic (3.07~3.17) and eutrophic reservoirs (3.15~ 3.21). This result suggests that the population growth rate Zacco platypus reflected the trophic gradients of the reservoirs. The analysis of condition factor (K) against the total length showed positive slopes (b>3.0) in mesotrophic and eutrophic reservoirs, and a negative slope (b<3.0) in oligotrophic reservoir. The variation of the regression slope of "b" in Z. platypus was accounted for 79.7% [$b=0.012{\times}TSI(TP)+2.395$, p=0.017] by the variation of TSI (TP) and 82.2% [$b=0.013{\times}TSI(Chl-a)+2.36$, p=0.013] by the variation of TSI (Chl-a). The proportion of DELT abnormality increased as the trophic state increases in the reservoirs. The overall data suggest that the growth of the fish populations, based on the length-weight relations and condition factor, reflected the trophic state of nutrient and phytoplankton biomass of the reservoir waters. Thus, in spite of the tolerant characteristics of Z. platypus, hypertrophic states might negatively affect the health of the population.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.188-197
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• 2008

This research was a preliminary case study to determine the levels of total mercury in the tissues of sentinel species (Zacco platypus) and ecological health in relation to habitat characteristics and chemical conditions. We collected fishes in Gap Stream during June$\sim$October 2007 and analyzed the total mercury from five types of tissues such as liver, kidney, gill, vertebrae and muscle of Zaceo platypus using Direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA-80, US EPA Method 7473). Mean concentrations of total [Hg], based on all tissues, was 67.2 and $20.7\;{\mu}g\;kg^{-1}$, in the upstream and downstream site, respectively, indicating 3 times greater level in the upstream. In other words, the levels were higher in the pristine upstream than the downstream influenced by the wastewater disposal plant. Chemical water quality, based on BOD, COD and nutrients (TN, TP) showed that severe degradation occurred in the downstreams than the upstreams. Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) using fish multi-metric model averaged 32, indicating a "good$\sim$fair" condition and varied from 42 (excellent$\sim$good) at S2 to 22 (fair$\sim$poor) at S5 depending on the sites sampled. Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) in the all sites averaged 142, which was judged as "good" habitat health, but showed a high variation (181 in Site 2 vs. 67 in Site 5). Overall data suggest that health conditions, based on IBI and QHEI, was better in the upstream sites but the mercury bioaccumulation levels in the fish tissues were opposite. We believe that measurements of various parameters are required for a diagnosis of integrative ecosystem health.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.421-430
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• 2004

Clinically, it is almost impossible for a physician to distinguish subtle changes of frequency spectrum by using a stethoscope alone especially in the early stage of thrombus formation. Considering that reliability of mechanical valve is paramount because the failure might end up with patient death, early detection of valve thrombus using noninvasive technique is important. Thus the study was designed to provide a tool for early noninvasive detection of valve thrombus by observing shift of frequency spectrum of acoustic signals with computer aid diagnosis system. A thrombus model was constructed on commercialized mechanical valves using polyurethane or silicon. Polyurethane coating was made on the valve surface, and silicon coating on the sewing ring of the valve. To simulate pannus formation, which is fibrous tissue overgrowth obstructing the valve orifice, the degree of silicone coating on the sewing ring varied from 20％, 40％, 60％ of orifice obstruction. In experiment system, acoustic signals from the valve were measured using microphone and amplifier. The microphone was attached to a coupler to remove environmental noise. Acoustic signals were sampled by an AID converter, frequency spectrum was obtained by the algorithm of spectral analysis. To quantitatively distinguish the frequency peak of the normal valve from that of the thrombosed valves, analysis using a neural network was employed. A return map was applied to evaluate continuous monitoring of valve motion cycle. The in-vivo data also obtained from animals with mechanical valves in circulatory devices as well as patients with mechanical valve replacement for 1 year or longer before. Each spectrum wave showed a primary and secondary peak. The secondary peak showed changes according to the thrombus model. In the mock as well as the animal study, both spectral analysis and 3-layer neural network could differentiate the normal valves from thrombosed valves. In the human study, one of 10 patients showed shift of frequency spectrum, however the presence of valve thrombus was yet to be determined. Conclusively, acoustic signal measurement can be of suggestive as a noninvasive diagnostic tool in early detection of mechanical valve thrombosis.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.21-36
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• 1983

It is assumed that menarche is affected not only by the biological factors such as nutrition and genetic heritage, but also it is affected by other socio-cultural environmental factors including weather, geographic location, education and level of modernization. Also recent trend of menarche in Korea indicates that a lot of discussion are being generated to the need of sex education as a part of formal school education. The purpose of this study is to develop the school health education program by determine the age of menarche, the factors relavant to time of menarche and psycho-mental state of students at the time in menarche and investigate the present state of school health education relate to menarche of adolescents. The total number of 732 girls was drown from first, second and third grades of 4 middle schools in Seoul. For the data collection the survey was conducted during the period from May 1 to May 20, 1982 by using prepared questionair. The major results are summarized as follow; 1. Mean age at menarche and the percent distribution of menarche experienced. It was observed that about 68.7% of sampled students have been experienced menarche at the time interviewed. For the each group, age at menarche is revealed that among the students about 37.8% are experienced menarche for under 12 years old group, 62.1% for 13 year-old group, 80.6％ for 14 year-old group and 95.5% for over 15 years old. In sum it was found that the mean age at menarche was 12.3 years old, ranged from age at 10 as earlist the age at 15 as latest. 2. Variables associated with age at menarche. 1) There was tendency those student who belong to upper class economic status have had menarche earlier than those student who belong to lower class. Therefore, economic status is closely related to age at menarche. 2) In time of mother's education level, it is also found that those students whose mother's education levels from high school and college are experienced menarche earlier than those students whose mother's education levels from primary school and no-education. 3) However, in connection with home discipline, there was no significant relationship between age at menarche and home disciplines which are being treated "Rigid", "Moderated ", "Indifferent". 4) Degree of communication between parents and daughter about sex matters was found to be associated each others in determination of age at menarche. 5) It was found that high association between mother's menarche age and their daughter's menarche age was observed. Mother's age at menarche earlier trend to be shown also as earlier of their daughters. 6) Those students belong to "D & E" of physical substantiality index are trend to be earlier in menarche than those students in the index "A & B". 3. Psycho-mental state at the time of menarche. Out of the total students 68.2% had at least one or more than one of subjective symptoms. Shyness was shown as most higher prevalent symptom and others are fear, emotional instability, unpleasant feeling, depression, radical behavior, inferior complex and satisfaction appeared. Very few cases are appeared be guilty and stealing feeling. 4. The present status of school health education program related to menarche. As to the source of information about menarche, teacher was a main source with average index 5.88 and the other informants were mother & family member, friends, books and magagines, movies, television, and radio. For the problem solving at menarche, mother & family members were subject to discussion with an average index 6.02 as high. The others for discuss and knowledge about menarche were books, magagine, friends, teachers, and self-learning based on own experienced. The time of learning about menarche, it was learned as highest percentage with 43.2% at a 6 grades of primary school, middle school with 34.4%, 5 grade of primary school with 18.2%, and 4 grade of primary school with 4.0% respectively.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.497-507
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• 2012

This study aims to verify how the characteristics of organizational supporting unit affect the effectiveness of company-wide HRD Education & Training program. To achieve this objective, we performed an empirical analysis, with the characteristics of organizational supporting unit comprising supervisor's support, job support, and company support as independent variables, and with the level of reaction stage, learning stage, transfer stage, and result stage as dependent variables. Empirical data was collected during the period from August 16, 2011 to September 9, 2011 by sending out questionnaires to employees of 5 securities firms listed on KOSDAQ where online and offline education & training program is running year-round with headquarter in Seoul. A total of 340 questionnaires were sent out three times for the survey, and total of 164 questionnaires were sampled for the final analysis. According to the outcome of the analysis, regarding the first hypothesis that tries to reveal how the characteristics affect the level of reaction stage, it is verified that all of supervisor's support, job support and company support have positive impact on the level of reaction stage with p value less than 0.01. In regard to the second hypothesis that tries to see how the characteristics affect the level of learning stage, it is confirmed that supervisor's support, job support and company support have significant impact on the level of learning stage with p value less than 0.05 or 0.01, respectively. Concerning the third hypothesis that aims to investigate how the characteristics affect the level of transfer stage, it is appeared that all of supervisor's support, job support and company support have positive impact on the level of transfer stage. And lastly, as for the fourth hypothesis that tries to see how the characteristics affect the level of result stage, it is analyzed that supervisor's support, job support and company support have positive impact on the level of result stage with p value less than 0.01. This study reconfirm the outcomes of previous research, which is that the effectiveness of company-wide education & training program depends not only on the contents and quality of education & training program, but also more importantly on the role of organizational supporting unit, and the working environment where what is learned in classroom can be applied to real business. Companies or experts that run education & training program in real world should recognize that the performance of training is dependent more significantly on the characteristics of organizational supporting unit rather than the design or features of education & training program.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.76 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 1987

With the purpose of pursuing the increase and decrease of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b caused by application of the simulated acid rain treatment on Pinus koraiensis seedlings and Ligustrum obtusifolium cuttings, the experimental design of randomized block arrangement with three replications was implemented in the experimental field of Yesan National Agricultural Junior College, during the growing season of 1985. Pinus koraiensis seeds stratified in cool and moist condition were sown on pots, and in case of Ligustrum obtusifolium, C1/1 cuttings were potted for experimental use in the early spring. The regime of artificial acid rain, based upon precipitation frequency and density, was simulated from the learning of climatological data averaged from 30 years records. The spray of acid water containing pH values of 4.0 and 2.0 was initiated from the 1st of May and ended on the 31st of August. As control, ground water was also treated at the same time. To analyse the chlorophyll content, those leaves looking representative and unaffected by other harmful agents were sampled on the 18th of September, and UV-visible spectrophotometer was used. With decrease in pH values of acid rain, the content of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b decreased in both species. The decrease in chlorophyll a could be confirmed through statistical significance, but not in chlorophyll b. And when we discussed the chlorophyll decrease index which was explained in detail in the paper, an attention might be given to similarly decreasing values in both chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, according as pH levels of acid rain decreased. The ratios of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b in both species were not affected by different pH leaves of acid rain.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.116-129
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the associations of social capital with suicidal thoughts and attempts in Korean communities with poor health. Methods: We used the data from community health interviews conducted at 40 administrative sections (dong, eup, or myeon) with high mortality from August to October in 2010, 2011, and 2012 as part of the Health Plus Happiness Plus Projects in Gyeongsangnam-do Province. The 8,800 study subjects composed of 220 adults systematically sampled from each administrative section were asked if they had thought about suicide or had attempted suicide within 1 year. The social participation was measured with 'participation in formal and/or informal group' and trust using responses to three questions about trust of others. Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt within 1 year were 10.4% and 0.8%, respectively. The logistic regression analysis revealed that those who participated in only informal groups, or had highest trust level reported less suicidal ideation, or attempt after adjusting for socio-demographic factors (sex, age, marital status, occupation, and food affordability), self-rated health, and health behaviors (smoking, alcohol drinking, and exercise). Conclusions: This study suggested social capital such as social participation and trust was associated with less suicide ideation and attempt. More studies are warranted for the association of social capital with suicidal behavior.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.542-550
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• 2003

Background : Synthetic glucocorticoids are widely used in many chronic inflammatory diseases because of their excellent anti-inflammatory activity. Enhancing the transcription of $I{\kappa}B$ and preventing activated NF-${\kappa}B$ from binding to ${\kappa}B$ sites are thought to be the underlying mechanisms. But these data are largely derived from in vitro studies using cell lines. In this study, after administrating a steroid to volunteers, we evaluated the effect on the NF-${\kappa}B$ system. Methods : Prednisolone(0.5mg/kg/d) was orally administered to 5 healthy volunteers for 7 days. Before and after the administration, we sampled their peripheral blood monocytes, and performed western blot analysis both with stimulation, using IL-$1{\beta}$, LPS, TNF, and without stimulation(baseline). We also performed EMSA after stimulation with LPS. Results : After ingestion of the steroid, baseline expressions of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ were increased in two of the subjects, while suppressed degradations of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ to stimulations were observed in all five. In addition, the binding capacity of NF-${\kappa}B$ after the administration was decreased. Conclusion : Steroid plays such roles as enhancing the transcription of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, suppressing the DNA binding capacity of NF-${\kappa}B$, and suppressing the degradation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$.