• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.617-626
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• 2022

In Korea, annual precipitation and its variability have gradually increased since modern meteorological observations began, and the risk of disasters has also been increasing due to significant regional variations and recent abnormal climate conditions. Given that damage from storms and floods mainly occurs around rivers, it is crucial to determine the appropriate design frequency for river-related projects. This study examined existing design practices used to determine hydrological design frequencies and suggested a new method to determine appropriate design frequencies. The study collected available data pertaining to seven evaluation factors, specifically the basin areas, shape parameters, channel slopes, stream orders, backwater effect reaches, extreme rainfall frequencies, and urbanized flood inundation areasfor 413 local rivers in Chungcheongnam-do in Korea. The estimated weights for areas of extreme rainfall frequencies and urbanized flood inundation were found to be 18, having a great effect on determining the design frequency. Compared with the established design frequency in previous government reports, the estimated design frequency increased for 255 rivers and decreased for 158 rivers.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.406-421
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the blood biochemical characteristics, comorbidities, dietary intake, and other risk factors leading to poor glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) control in elderly Korean diabetes patients over 65 years of age. Methods: Data from the 4^th (2007-2009) and the 7^th (2016-2018) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) were used. Socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, region, household income, education level, marital status, nutrition education, diabetes duration and diabetes treatment), lifestyle characteristics (drinking, smoking, regular walking, and subjective health perception), anthropometric characteristics (height, weight, and waist circumference), blood biochemical characteristics (HbA1c, high- density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen, and blood creatinine), co-morbidities (obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and anemia), energy and nutrients intake, food group intake, and HbA1c control-related risk factors were compared. Results: Compared to the 4^th survey, the 7^th survey showed an increase in diabetes prevalence among men, an increase in the prevalence of diabetes in the older patients, and an increase in the duration of diabetes. The energy ratio from carbohydrate consumption in the 7^th survey was lower than in the 4^th. Compared to the 4^th survey, thiamine and riboflavin intake had improved, and the intakes of vitamin A, vitamin C, and niacin had worsened in the 7^th. A comparison of food group intakes showed that there was a decrease in the consumption of whole grains, potatoes, and milk and an increase in the intake of beverages and alcoholic beverages. The risk factors for poor control of HbA1c were the duration of diabetes and co-morbid hypertriglyceridemia in the 4^th survey, whereas subjective health perception, obesity, and hypercholesterolemia as co-morbidities were found to be risk factors in the 7^th in addition to the risk factors highlighted in the 4^th survey. Conclusions: For the future management of elderly Korean diabetes patients, greater care is indicated for men over 75 years, and those with low levels of education. It is necessary to increase the intake of milk and vegetables, and reduce the intake of beverages and alcoholic beverages. In addition, it is necessary to reduce the incidence of obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia for proper control of blood sugar.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.52-60
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• 2021

Due to the significant size of overseas construction projects, the cost overrun has enormous impacts on the financial status of construction companies. The managers' appropriate perception and identification of key risk factors in the construction phase notably affect the performance of projects. However, the actual impacts of risk factors and local manager' s perception of them could be deviated. For this reason, we aim to compare the performance of actual cases and general opinions of responsible practitioners in terms of risk factors relevant to cost overruns in order to present a practical strategy for risk management. Firstly, factors classified from literature review were used to simulate 290 cost overruns data sets from 20 cases by introducing Monte-Carlo Simulation and were ranked by standardized coefficients through multiple regression analysis. Secondly, a survey was conducted against 42 local managers to rank their perception of impact on cost overrun with identical factors by using Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA). Comparison results show that conflicts such as 'conflict with subcontractors' and 'conflict with the local community' have caused excessive cost overrun. However, managers' perception of these as less significant than the actual influences and consider other risks such as 'material price fluctuation' and 'construction quality errors', as relatively serious. Therefore, education for local managers on conflict risks needs to be presented.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.937-949
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• 2022

Health concern of dogs is the most important issue for pet owners. People who have companied the dogs long-term provide the utmost cares for their well-being and healthy life. Recently, it was revealed that the population and types of gut microbiota affect the metabolism and immunity of the host. However, there is little information on the gut microbiome of dogs. Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus; HE) is one of the well-known medicinal mushrooms and has multiple bioactive components including polyphenol, β-glucan, polysaccharides, ergothioneine, hericerin, erinacines, etc. Here we tested a pet food that contained H. erinaceus for improvement in the gut microbiota environment of aged dogs. A total of 18 dogs, each 11 years old, were utilized. For sixteen weeks, the dogs were fed with 0.4 g of H. erinaceus (HE-L), or 0.8 g (HE-H), or without H. erinaceus (CON) per body weight (kg) with daily diets (n = 6 per group). Taxonomic analysis was performed using metagenomics to investigate the difference in the gut microbiome. Resulting from principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) to confirm the distance difference between the groups, there was a significant difference between HE-H and CON due to weighted Unique fraction metric (Unifrac) distance (p = 0.047), but HE-L did not have a statistical difference compared to that of CON. Additionally, the result of Linear discriminate analysis of effect size (LEfSe) showed that phylum Bacteroidetes in HE-H and its order Bacteroidales increased, compared to that of CON, Additionally, phylum Firmicutes in HE-H, and its genera (Streptococcus, Tyzzerella) were reduced. Furthermore, at the family level, Campylobacteraceae and its genus Campylobacter in HE-H was decreased compared to that of CON. Summarily, our data demonstrated that the intake of H. erinaceus can regulate the gut microbial community in aged dogs, and an adequate supply of HE on pet diets would possibly improve immunity and anti-obesity on gut-microbiota in dogs.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.41-47
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• 2019

Objectives : A traditional herbal prescription, Kyung-Ok-Ko (KOK), has long been used in oriental medicine as an invigorant for age-related diseases, such as amnesia and stroke. However, the beneficial value of KOK for immune responses is largely unknown. Based on the above mentioned effects of KOK, other previous reports, and its use in traditional medicine, we hypothesized that KOK displays beneficial effects against methotrexate (MTX)-induced immune suppression. Methods : We investigated the effects of KOK (0.6 g/kg/day, oral (p.o.)) on deteriorated immunity caused by MTX (2 mg/kg/day, p.o.) in an immune suppression mouse model. MTX was fed to mice once a day for 7 days. After the immune responses of the mice deteriorated by MTX treatment, KOK in water was fed to the mice once a day for 14 days. We then measured the expression levels of various cytokines, such as T helper cell (Th1, Th2) cytokines, and the number of immune cells, such as spleen T cells, B cells, and macrophages. Results : The data showed that MTX decreased Th1 profiles (interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12) and the number of immune cells, and increased Th2 profiles (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), which were normalized significantly by post-administration of KOK. However, there was no significant difference in body-weight gain between MTX- and KOK-treated mice. Conclusion : These results indicate that KOK has immune-enhancing functions and reduces immunotoxicity of MTX, suggesting that supplementation with KOK will improve immune responses clinically and be useful for the prevention of immune-related diseases.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.346-351
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• 2022

Background Postmastectomy breast reconstruction (PMR) increases patient satisfaction, quality of life, and psychosocial well-being. There is scarce data regarding the safety of PMR in chronic anticoagulated patients. Perioperative complications can reduce patient satisfaction; therefore, it is important to elucidate the safety of PMR in these patients. Methods A retrospective case-control study of patients who underwent PMR with implants and were on chronic anticoagulation was performed at our institution. Inclusion criteria were women ≥ 18 years old. Exclusion criteria included autologous reconstructions, lumpectomy, and oncoplastic procedures. Two controls for every one patient on anticoagulation were matched by age, body mass index, radiotherapy, smoking history, type of reconstruction, time of reconstruction, and laterality. Results From 2009 to 2020, 37 breasts (20 patients) underwent PMR with implant-based reconstruction and were on chronic anticoagulation. A total of 74 breasts (40 patients) who had similar demographic characteristics to the cases were defined as the control group. Mean age for the case group was 53.6 years (standard deviation [SD] = 16.1), mean body mass index was 28.6 kg/m² (SD = 5.1), and 2.7% of breasts had radiotherapy before reconstruction and 5.4% after reconstruction. Nine patients were on long-term warfarin, six on apixaban, three on rivaroxaban, one on low-molecular-weight heparin, and one on dabigatran. The indications for anticoagulation were prior thromboembolic events in 50%. Anticoagulated patients had a higher risk of capsular contracture (10.8% vs. 0%, p = 0.005). There were no differences regarding incidence of hematoma (2.7% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.63), thromboembolism (5% vs. 0%, p = 0.16), reconstructive-related complications, or length of hospitalization (1.6 days [SD = 24.2] vs. 1.4 days [SD = 24.2], p = 0.85). Conclusion Postmastectomy implant-based breast reconstruction can be safely performed in patients on chronic anticoagulation with appropriate perioperative management of anticoagulation. This information can be useful for preoperative counseling on these patients.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.81-87
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• 2022

Energy consumption per unit weight of metal (kwh/kg of metal) is one of the most important economic indicators in the process of molten salt electrolysis. It is related to the heat loss of salt bath and the current efficiency of the process. The current efficiency is highly dependent on electrolysis temperature. On the other hand, the temperature of salt bath may increase significantly due to the difference (larger energy input than consumption) in heat balance at the beginning of electrolysis, which may cause different electrolysis temperature from an initially targeted value. This results in a bad effect on current efficiency. Therefore, it will be helpful to the reduction of energy consumption to compare the calculated and measured values of the temperature change of salt bath through the heat balance review at the early stage of electrolysis and to evaluate the energy loss to outside. In this study, based on the authors' experimental data, the heat balance was reviewed at the beginning of the electrolysis, and it was possible to evaluate the energy loss to the outside and the increase of the temperature of the salt bath quantitatively. Through such a method, heat loss reduction plan can be derived and current efficiency can be improved so that energy consumption can be reduced.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.690-697
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• 2022

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the ad libitum and restricted feeding regimen on fasting heat production (FHP) and body composition. Methods: Twelve Hubbard broilers breeders were selected with the same body weight and submitted in two feeding regimes: Restricted (T1) with feed intake of 150 g/bird/d and ad libitum (T2). The birds were randomly distributed on the treatments in two runs with three replications per treatment (per run). The birds were adapted to the feed regimens for ten days. After that, they were allocated in the open-circuit chambers and kept for three days for adaptation. On the last day, oxygen consumption (VO₂) and carbon dioxide production (VCO₂) were measured by 30 h under fasting. The respiratory quotient (RQ) was calculated as the VCO₂/VO₂ ratio, and the heat production (HP) was obtained using the Brower equation (1985). The FHP was estimated throughout the plateau of HP 12 hours after the feed deprivation. The body composition was analyzed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanning at the end of each period. Data were analyzed for one-way analysis of variance using the Minitab software. Results: The daily feed intake was 30 g higher to T2 (p<0.01) than the T1. Also, the birds of the T2 had significatively (p<0.05) more oxygen consumption (+3.1 L/kg^0.75/d) and CO₂ production (+2.2 L/kg^0.75/d). That resulted in a higher FHP 359±14 kJ/kg^0.75/d for T2 than T1 296±17.23 kJ/kg^0.75/d. In contrast, the RQ was not different between treatments, with an average of 0.77 for the fasting condition. In addition, protein and fat composition were not affected by the treatment, while a tendency (p<0.1) was shown to higher bone mineral content on the T1. Conclusion: The birds under ad libitum feeding had a higher maintenance energy requirement but their body composition was not affected compared to restricted feeding.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.419-429
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• 2022

Water accounts for the largest proportion of body weight and is an essential element for the physiological functioning of the human body. According to 2013-2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data, the average water intake of Koreans was 2,167.3 mL/day and 62% of them did not meet the Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) for water. However, the consumption of beverages is continuously increasing. KDRIs sets the adequate intake (AI) for water, but tolerable upper intake level (UL) and chronic disease risk reduction intake (CDRR) are not provided. Compared to 2015, the AI of total water from both food and fluids in the 2020 KDRIs slightly increased or decreased according to age. The AI for children 1-2 years old, boys 6-8 years and 9-11 years old, and girls 6-8 years old decreased by 100 mL/day, while that of boys 12-14 years old increased by 100 mL/day. The AI of total water was the sum of the water intake from food and fluids reported by the KNHANES, with an extra milk intake of 200 mL/day. Therefore, it is not appropriate to use the AI of total water intakes for the reference of beverage intakes. It is preferable to consume water or milk rather than beverages containing sugar and others including caffeine, sodium, etc. when drinking fluid water. We suggest the following improvements in the future KDRIs for water: improving the adequacy of the water content ratio of Korean conventional foods, supplementing the fluid water intake survey, reflecting the current water intake status by life cycle, setting KDRIs for water for the elderly considering the physiological changes, health status and dietary habits, and promotion of research on the relationship between water intake and health for Koreans.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.471-501
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• 2022

This study was carried out on 455 forest wetlands of south Korea for which an inventory was established through value evaluation and grade. Correlation analysis was conducted to find out the correlation between the types and grades of forest wetlands and 23 evaluation factors in four categories: vegetation and landscape, material circulation and hydraulics·hydrology, humanities and social landscape, and disturbance level. Through the improvement of types and grades of forest wetlands, it is possible to secure basic data that can be used in setting up conservation measures by preparing standards necessary for future forest wetland conservation and restoration, and to found a systematic monitoring system. First, between the type of forest wetland and size and accessibility showed a positive correlation, but the remaining items were analyzed to have negative or no correlation. In particular, it was found that there was no negative correlation or no correlation with the grades of forest wetland. Moreover, it was found that there was a very strong negative correlation with the weighted four category items. Thus, it is judged that improvement is necessary because there is an error in the weight or adjust the evaluation criteria of the value evaluation item, add an item that can increase objectivity. Especially, in the case of forest wetlands, the ecosystem service function due to biodiversity is the largest, so evaluation items should be improved in consideration of this. Therefore, it can be divided into five categories: uniqueness and rarity (15%), wildlife habitat (15%), vegetation and landscape (35%), material cycle·hydraulic hydrology (30%), and humanities and social landscape (5%). It will be possible to propose weights that can increase effectiveness.