• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.317-329
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• 2014

In vision measurement systems based on structured light, the key point of detection precision is to determine accurately the central position of the projected laser line in the image. The purpose of this research is to extract laser line centers based on a decision function generated to distinguish the real centers from candidate points with a high recognition rate. First, preprocessing of an image adopting a difference image method is conducted to realize image segmentation of the laser line. Second, the feature points in an integral pixel level are selected as the initiating light line centers by the eigenvalues of the Hessian matrix. Third, according to the light intensity distribution of a laser line obeying a Gaussian distribution in transverse section and a constant distribution in longitudinal section, a normalized model of Hessian matrix eigenvalues for the candidate centers of the laser line is presented to balance reasonably the two eigenvalues that indicate the variation tendencies of the second-order partial derivatives of the Gaussian function and constant function, respectively. The proposed model integrates a Gaussian recognition function and a sinusoidal recognition function. The Gaussian recognition function estimates the characteristic that one eigenvalue approaches zero, and enhances the sensitivity of the decision function to that characteristic, which corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the laser line. The sinusoidal recognition function evaluates the feature that the other eigenvalue is negative with a large absolute value, making the decision function more sensitive to that feature, which is related to the transverse direction of the laser line. In the proposed model the decision function is weighted for higher values to the real centers synthetically, considering the properties in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the laser line. Moreover, this method provides a decision value from 0 to 1 for arbitrary candidate centers, which yields a normalized measure for different laser lines in different images. The normalized results of pixels close to 1 are determined to be the real centers by progressive scanning of the image columns. Finally, the zero point of a second-order Taylor expansion in the eigenvector's direction is employed to refine further the extraction results of the central points at the subpixel level. The experimental results show that the method based on this normalization model accurately extracts the coordinates of laser line centers and obtains a higher recognition rate in two group experiments.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.644-658
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was to find out the status of job satisfaction and intent to leave the job for dental hygienists, and those factors affecting their intent to leave, so as to prevent dental hygienists from leaving their jobs in advance, and to strive for extending the life span of the job, contributing to improve dental care services provided by dental hygienists. Methods : The data were collected from 280 dental hygienists working in dental clinics or hospitals in Busan and Gyeongnam area by using a structured and self-administered questionnaire through mail, from February 1 to March 15, 2009, and were analyzed by using SPSS WIN 14.0 program. Results : First, It was the most prevalent for the dental hygienists surveyed to be between 100 to 149 thousand won in the level of monthly as 42.3%, and to be the assistance of dental examination and treatment for main duty as 62.5%. Leaving job was experience by 51.6% of the subjects, with work condition as the most common reason for 32.2%. Second, the degree of job satisfaction was 3.4 points overall in the score of 5 point Likert's scale on the average, showing affirmative level above the average, and significantly different according to certain characteristics such as age, education level, total years of work career, years of work career in the current job, monthly salary level, whether to provide monthly paid leave, and the number of patients treated per day. It also was significantly correlated with some structural factors and variables consisting attitude and value, including equity in pay(r=0.612), job perception as dental hygienist(r=0.573), work environment(r=0.552), self growth(r=0.531), affirmative attitude(r=0.421), and so on. Third, the mean score of intent to leave was 2.73 overall and lower than the average, showing significant relationship with some characteristics, such as age, marital status, education level, total years of work career, years of work career in the current job, monthly salary level, whether to provide monthly paid leave, and the number of patients treated per day. Intent to leave also showed the highest correlation with job satisfaction(r=-0.708), followed by equity in pay(r=-0.482), self growth (r=-0.453), job perception as dental hygienist(r=-0.392), work environment(r=-0.362), etc. Forth, job satisfaction was significantly influenced by some factors including equity in pay, followed by job perception as dental hygienist, relationship with fellow colleagues, affirmative attitude and work environment, and so on. Fifth, the intent to leave was significantly affected not only by job satisfaction but also by some structural factors including equity in pay, self growth and job perception as dental hygienist. Conclusions : The above results showed that the equity in pay was the most important factor for the intent to leave the job as well as job satisfaction among dental hygienists, thus suggesting that systematic measures should be provided to improve the job satisfaction to prevent economic loss due to leaving job frequently, and to provide pertinent reward system as a profession to enhance the motivation for accomplishment on job for dental hygienists.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.20-27
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Death Education Program which had been provided to family caregivers of disabled individuals. A single group pretest-posttest design was employed for this study, which was conducted at a community rehabilitation center located in Ulsan, South Korea. Methods: Death Education Program was conducted for 16 family caregivers of disabled individuals who agreed to participate in this study. A 2.5-hour session was conducted once a week for 10 weeks. To investigate the effects of the education program, structured questionnaires, which assessed the patients and their family member's conceptions on the meaning of life, and their resilience, burden, and attitude towards death, were administered before and after the program. Results: The subjects' conception of the meaning of life and resilience did not significantly change. The median scores for the burden of family caregivers declined, while those for the subjects' attitude towards death increased, after attending the education program. Conclusion: The findings showed that Death Education Program has an affirmative effect on the burden of family caregivers of disabled individuals and their attitude towards death.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.243-251
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate how nurses who take care of terminal patients perceive fluid therapy and how this therapy is currently being used in hospitals. Methods: This survey included 200 nurses, 87 of whom were working in the oncology units of 3 university hospitals in Seoul, Korea, and 113 were working in 18 hospice centers. The data for this study were collected by means of structured questionnaires and analyzed by using the Statistical Analysis System software. The differences in perception towards fluid therapy between nurses working in oncology units and those working in hospice centers were examined using the $x^2$ test and analysis of covariance. Results: Fluid therapy was perceived more negatively by the nurses from hospice centers than by those from oncology units. Continuous subcutaneous infusion was used in hospice centers, but not in oncology units. In addition, the average amount of fluid infused daily differed significantly between the oncology units and hospice centers. Conclusion: Our results show that there were differences in the perception towards fluid therapy between nurses in different clinical settings. Nurses caring for terminal and palliative care patients should not simply provide or withhold fluid therapy, but rather develop a wider range of views on fluid therapy, focusing on effective alternative interventions.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.259-269
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• 2014

Purpose: This preliminary study is aimed at developing standardized tools for psycho-social assessment of patients in needs for hospice/palliative care. To accomplish the purpose, investigators examined effects of perceptions of social workers on the importance of psycho-social domains of assessment in hospice/palliative care settings. Moreover, investigators paid attention to variances of perceptions of social workers' along with types of institution and credentials of those family settings. Methods: A form of questionnaire was first explored from an initial interview assessment of 10 government-certified hospice care providers and a literature review, second constructed with eight domains and 80 items, and sent by e-mail to 55 institutions and hospitals providing hospice/palliative cares in Korea. Lastly, a total of 31 agencies returned with a completed responses and consent form (56% response rate). SPSS program (version 18.0) was used for data analysis. Results: Study found that social workers perceived patients' family background (m=4.53, 5-point scale) as the most important assessment domain, whereas economic conditions (4.06 point) the least important. Social workers' perception varied by credentials (i.e., license types, training, full-time position, types of care facility). Conclusion: Based upon study findings, investigators can conclude strong needs for developing a assessment tool that measures multiple domains (i.e., psychological, social and ecological aspects) of patients. A standardized assessment tool should be structured with 2 axis (center/core and expanded/peripheral) and tailored for institution type. Second, professional trainings must be provided by strengthening legal institutionalization and fostering qualified social workers with full responsibilities of hospice and palliative care patients.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.100-110
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• 2017

Purpose: We explored Koreans' perception of the meaning of death with dignity that Korean people. Methods: A phenomenological research methodology was applied. A total of 13 participants were sampled based on their age and gender. Participants were interviewed in depth from September 2015 through February 2016. Colaizzi's phenomenological analysis method was used for data analysis. To establish the validity of the study, we evaluated its realistic value, applicability, consistency and neutrality of the qualitative evaluation criteria of Lincoln and Guba. Results: Koreans' perception of death with dignity was structured as 19 themes, nine theme clusters and four categories. The four categories were "comfortable death", "good death", "resolving problems before death", and "death with good reputation". The theme clusters were "death without pain", "death submitting to one's fate", "death that is not ugly", "leaving good memories to others", "dying in a way we want", "death after proper settling of things", "dealing with chronic resentment before death", "death after living a good life", and "death with recognition". Conclusion: For Koreans, death with dignity meant not burdening others, settling things right and leaving good memories to their families and friends. Such perceptions can be applied to hospice care for terminally ill patients.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.223-233
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• 2001

The spermiogenesis of a Korean octopus, Octopus minor, inhabiting western of Korea Sea was observed by electron microscopy . The obtained results are as follows: The spermiogenesis of Octopus miner proceeds through four stages; early- , mid- , and late-spermatid, and mature sperm. An early spermatid is a spherical cell looking light due to the low electron density. The acrosome formed from Golgi complex of the upper nucleus looks dark due to the high electron density. The extra-nuclear rod (enr) stemming from proximal centriole is transformed from round shape into oval shape, elongating to the upper nucleus. In our observation, the axoneme was being formed from distal centriole, and the manchette composed of a number of microtubules is also found around nuclear membrane. In a mid-spermatid, chromatins in the nucleus contract shaping fine threads, and the manchette is also observed around nuclear membrane. Especially, the spherical acrosome is transformed into long oval one which is tinged with a number of horizontal stripes and has the middle electron density. In a late-spermatid, chromatins in the nucleus contract thick and short. Furthermore, the mitochondrial sleeve, in which the axoneme is surrounded with mitochondria, is observed at middle piece. The axoneme has a typical structure of 9+2 and around it, 9 coarse fibers are observed. Also in the acrosome cavity of mature sperm, horizontal striation is found. However, regularly spaced processes are peculiarly observed in there. A sperm is about 390 fm long, whose head is bent a little like a banana while the acrosome region is helical. In the middle piece of sperm, $11\sim12$ mitochondria are surrounding coarse fibers that reach the main piece of tail, while nothing but 9+2 structured axoneme is found in the end piece.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.105-118
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• 2015

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of profile disturbance with different artificial accumulation history on physico-chemical properties of soil under plastic film house. The investigations included soil profile description using soil column cylinder auger F10cm x h110cm, in situ and laboratory measurements of soil properties at five sites each at the cucumber (Site Ic ~ Vc) and grape (Site Ig ~ Vg) plastic film houses with artificial soil accumulation. The sites except sites Ic, IVc, IVg and Vg, belong to ex-paddy area. The types of accumulates around root zone included sandy loam soil for 3 sites, loam soil for 1 site, saprolite for 2 sites, and multi-layer with different accumulates for 3 sites. Especially, Site IIg has mixed plow zone (Ap horizon) with original soil and saprolite, whereas disturbed soil layers of the other sites are composed of only external accumulates. The soil depth disturbed by artificial accumulation ranged from 20 cm, for Site IIg, to whole measured depth of 110 cm, for Site IVc, Vc, and Site IVg. Elapsed time from artificially accumulation to investigation time ranged from 3 months, Site IIc, to more than 20 years, Site Vg, paddy-soil covering over well-drained upland soil during land leveling in 1980s. Disturbed top layer in all sites except Site Vg had no structure, indicating low structural stability. In situ infiltration rate had no correlation with texture or organic matter content, but highest value with highest variability in Site IIIc, the shortest elapsed time since sandy loam soil accumulation. Relatively low infiltration rate was observed in sites accumulated by saprolite with coarse texture, presumably because its low structural stability in the way of weathering process could result in relatively high compaction in agro-machine work or irrigation. In all cucumber sites, there were water-transport limited zone with very low permeable or impermeability within 50 cm under soil surface, but Site IIg, IIIg, and Vg, with relatively weak disturbance or structured soil, were the reverse. We observed the big change in texture and re-increase of organic matter content, available phosphate, and exchangeable cations between disturbed layer and original soil layer. This study, therefore, suggest that the accumulation of coarse material such as saprolite for cultivating cash crop under plastic film house might not improve soil drainage and structural stability, inversely showing weaker disturbance of original soil profile with higher drainage.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.176-185
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate elementary school children's awareness on children's favorite foods and their consumption behavior of the foods. This study also focused on the association between the variables and gender/grade. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with direct interview among three hundreds and six elementary school children (188 boys and 118 girls) from 13 schools of a city of Korea, using a structured questionnaire. Among the overall proportion, more than 20% of the respondents did not know children's favorite foods and/or have no information source on the foods. More than 60% of the respondents consumed children's favorite foods more than 1 to 2 times a week. Only 16% respondents got information on children's favorite foods at home and 37% at school. There were significant correlations (p < 0.05) between gender/grades and knowledge/route of information on children's favorite foods. Boys had more knowledge than girls (p < 0.05), however they showed worse attitude on children's favorite foods and consumed more the foods. The higher grade children had more knowledge, better attitude and various routes of information on children's favorite foods (p < 0.05), but consumed more the foods. The results of this study indicate that there is a discrepancy between knowledge and attitude/behavior. This study also indicate that school food-service program and food hygiene/safety education in school and at home should be improved. Strong implementation of laws for regulation of selling adulterated food around elementary school may be another step in controlling consumption of the food by school children.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.460-468
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• 2011

We evaluated the effect of adding mechanically deboned chicken meat (MDCM) (0, 10, 20, 30 or 50%) on quality characteristics of chicken sausage. Adding MDCM decreased the protein content of chicken sausage, but ash content increased significantly. Adding MDCM had no effect on pH and water holding capacity of sausage. Adding MDCM increased cooking loss, but did not affect the shear force value of the sausage. Adding MDCM decreased the L- (lightness) and b- (yellowness) values but increased the a- (redness) value of sausage. Adding MDCM decreased the hardness and cohesiveness values, but did not affect the springiness value of chicken sausage. Adding MDCM decreased the juiciness and hardness but increased the flavor and chewiness scores of chicken sausage. Regardless of the MDCM addition level, all chicken sausage contained low residual nitrite ion (<4 ppm). During the 10 d of storage at $4^{\circ}C$, adding MDCM did not affect total microbial count or TBA values of chicken sausage, but the VBN value of the sausage increased slightly. However, all storage characteristic values in the sausage were within the safety range. Adding MDCM (0, 10 or 20%) to chicken sausage resulted in a finely structured protein matrix under scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which indicated a good meat emulsion, but adding MDCM at more than 20% resulted in a very coarse protein matrix structure.