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Parents' beliefs about the nature of ability are communicated to their children through parent-child interactions. Parental mindsets are one of the parental beliefs that have received increasing attention over recent years. However, their role in children's motivation and achievement outcomes remains relatively underexplored. Moreover, most existing studies have measured parental mindsets as either reported by parents themselves or perceived by children only, making it difficult to develop a comprehensive understanding of their role. Yet, parents' mindsets and children's perceptions of their parents' mindsets may not be identical, and one may be more important than the other in shaping children's motivation and achievement. Using the data from 507 third- and fourth-graders and their parents in Korea, we examined how parents' growth and fixed mindsets, both self-reported and child-perceived, predicted children's achievement goals, persistence, and achievement in mathematics. Whereas the growth and fixed mindsets of parents correlated negatively with each other, there was no significant relationship between self-reported and child-perceived parental mindsets. Parents' growth mindset positively predicted children's mastery goals. In contrast, parents' fixed mindset negatively predicted children's mastery goals and positively predicted children's ability-focused and normative performance goals. Children's mastery goals in turn positively predicted their persistence and achievement. The indirect paths from parental mindsets to children's persistence and achievement through children's mastery goals were also significant. In general, the child-perceived mindsets of parents demonstrated a stronger predictive power than the self-reported mindsets of parents. The underexplored role of parental mindsets is discussed concerning children's achievement goal adoption and learning.

This paper concerns the 'education fever' that marked the early Korean immigrant community's private schooling initiatives in territorial Hawai'i (1898-1959). Drawing on the cases of two Korean private schools -- the Korean Central School and the Korean Christian Institute -- the paper examines the tensions and conflicts between white American missionary educators and Korean immigrant educators surrounding both the operation of the schools and the pedagogical practices deemed appropriate to the education of 'Oriental' students in the US imperial space. These two cases demonstrate that Korean immigrants in territorial Hawai'i were persistent and innovative in their efforts to appropriate Americanisation for their own national, communal and individual interests. Moreover, educators and parents challenged colonial educational practices by foregrounding how the Christian pedagogy of their private schools served to differentiate them from other (non-Christian) Asian immigrants, thereby legitimising their presence in white Protestant America.

The effects of two interventions, one for parents (Intervention-P) and the other for students (Intervention-S), on children's math motivation were examined. Intervention-P involved the sending of six letters to parents over 3 weeks to promote their growth mindset, gender-fair beliefs, and expectations for their child's success in math. Intervention-S comprised five classroom sessions delivered over 2 months to strengthen students' growth mindset and gender-fair beliefs in math. Using a cluster-randomized design, 467 third- and fourth-graders and their parents were randomly assigned in class units to the intervention (11 classes) and control conditions (9 classes). Repeated-measures multivariate analyses of covariance were conducted and, when significant, followed by repeated-measures univariate analyses of covariance to test the direct effects of each intervention. Neither intervention produced significant direct effects on student outcomes. However, the significant Group × Time interactions after Intervention-P demonstrated that the parents in the intervention group expressed weaker gender stereotypes and higher expectations for their child, whereas those in the control group reported stronger gender stereotypes. Structural equation modeling showed that Intervention-P had indirect effects on students' fixed mindset, gender stereotypes, and self-efficacy in math via changes in their parents' gender stereotypes and expectations. A latent moderated structured approach revealed that students' perceptions of math importance moderated the effects of Intervention-S. For students who rated math to be more important, their math self-efficacy became stronger after Intervention-S, which then related to higher math achievement. The findings highlight the need to involve parents and take children's values into account for successful interventions.

AbstractWith development of Chinese Naval forces and deepening strategic competition, 60% of US naval forces are in the Indo-Pacific. As the region is rising as the strategic theater for geopolitical competition with many stakeholders with modernized military capabilities, Seoul is investing heavily in building a comprehensive, all-domain defense system. Recently it established a strategic command to oversee AI defense systems in support of its 3K policy of Kill Chain, Korea Air and Missile Defense, and Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation and announced its Defense Innovation 4.0. This paper examines the unmanned systems’ effect on deterrence strategy and the development of Seoul’s naval strategy under the evolving maritime security environment in the Indo-Pacific theater. Under the overarching theoretical examination of deterrence and fleet-in-being strategy, this paper seeks to understand Seoul’s pursuit of Unmanned Maritime Systems (UMSs) under defense innovations plans and draw implications for South Korea’s naval strategy, US-ROK alliance and emerging maritime threats in the Indo-Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent study conducted in South Korea examined the incidence of autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) after COVID-19 infection. The study found that COVID-19 infection increased the risk of developing certain AIRDs, such as rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis, but did not significantly increase the risk of other AIRDs like systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis. However, the study acknowledges limitations in the accuracy of diagnoses based on insurance claims data and the possibility of missing data. Further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of AIRDs. [Extracted from the article]

In this retrospective study spanning from 2002 to 2019, we analyzed data from 355,277 Korean patients diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (AD) through the National Health Insurance System. Our objective was to comprehensively analyze the trends in prevalence, severity profiles, and treatment approaches for AD in Korea over this 18-year period. Initially, AD prevalence stood at 3.88% in 2002 but notably rose to 5.03% by 2019. During the same period, while AD prevalence decreased in the 0–1-year-old group (from 34.52% to 24.83%), it remained relatively stable in the 1–11-year-old group. Conversely, the 12–19-year-old and 20 years or older age groups witnessed substantial increases in AD prevalence, climbing from 2.55 to 6.02% and 1.44% to 3.53%, respectively. Moreover, the proportion of patients classified as having moderate to severe AD grew from 30.96 to 39.78%. Surprisingly, the prescription pattern, predominantly based on corticosteroid administration, exhibited minimal change despite the rising prevalence of moderate and severe AD cases. These findings underline a persistent reliance on corticosteroid-based treatments for AD, even as the condition's severity escalates among Korean adolescents and adults. Consequently, there is a pressing need to develop novel treatment guidelines emphasizing biologics that offer enhanced safety and efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dictyopteris divaricata (DD) has been reported to exert diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anticancer potential of the ethanolic extract of DD (EDD) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and to explore the underlying mechanism. EDD significantly suppressed cell proliferation in H1299, PC9, and H1975 NSCLC cells. EDD treatment increased the proportion of Annexin V-positive cells and cells in sub-G1 phase, indicating the induction of apoptosis. This observation was further supported by the presence of fragmented nuclei and increased expression of cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-3 in NSCLC cells following EDD treatment. Mechanistically, EDD decreased the phosphorylation levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and Src. Transfection of constitutively activated STAT3 into H1975 cells partially attenuated EDD-induced apoptosis, highlighting the contribution of STAT3 inhibition to the anticancer activity of EDD. In addition, we identified fucosterol as a major constituent of EDD that exhibited similar anticancer potential in NSCLC cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate that EDD induces apoptosis in NSCLC cells by inhibiting STAT3 activity. We propose EDD as a potential candidate for the development of therapies targeting NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Since 2019, the Korean government has implemented a pilot project for integrated care to encourage healthy aging of older adults. This study investigated the changes in hospitalization rates among older adults who participated in the integrated care pilot project. Methods: Administrative survey data collected from 13 local governments and the National Health Insurance Database were used in present study. The participants comprised 17,801 older adults who participated in the pilot project between August 01, 2019 and April 30, 2022 and 68,145 matched controls. A propensity score matching method was employed to select the control group, and this study employed difference-in-differences (DID) approach to examine variations in the hospitalization rate. Results: The DID analysis revealed that the odds ratio for rates of hospitalization among older adults who participated in the pilot project was 0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.84, 0.91) in comparison to control group. In specifically, as compared to the control group, the odds ratio for hospitalization rates among the pilot project's discharged patients was 0.17 (95% CI 0.15, 0.20). Although not statistically significant, the odds ratio of older adults who utilized LTCI services was 0.93 (95% CI 0.83, 1.05), and the odds ratio of older adults who applied for LTCI but were rejected or were intensive social care was 1.09 (95% CI 0.95, 1.26) compared to the comparison group. Discussion: The findings imply that the discharged patient group had greater medical demands than the other types, and it can be claimed that this is the group that may anticipate greater efficacy while using health services. In addition, the integrated care services provided by the pilot project have the effect of reducing unnecessary hospitalization such as social hospitalization. Conclusion: Participants in the integrated care pilot project showed a lower hospitalization rate than the older adults who did not participate in the project but had similar characteristics. In particular, the admission rate of discharged patients showed a sharp decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As research on the role of the Th17/IL-23 pathway gains importance, the relationship between atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis is becoming elucidated. Objective: The objective of this study wasto evaluate whether AD and its severity affect the risk for psoriasis. Methods: This retrospective population-based study used the database from the 2009 National Health Insurance Services-Health Screening Cohort in Korea. A total of 3,957,922 adult subjects were included and observed until 2018. The primary outcome was newly diagnosed psoriasis. Results: After adjusting for possible confounding factors, the moderate-to-severe AD group had the highest hazard ratio (HR) for psoriasis (HR = 2.50; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.40–2.61), followed by the mild AD group (HR = 2.31; 95% CI: 2.19–2.44) compared with the non-AD group during a median 8.11 ± 1.19 years of follow-up. Limitations: It is difficult to define AD, which is not standardized, using a claims database and exclude patients who were misdiagnosed with AD. Conclusion: Patients with severe AD showed an increased risk for psoriasis compared to controls, and the risk for psoriasis was increased according to AD severity. This suggests that psoriasis and AD could share inflammatory, immune, and genetic features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the frequency of Ureaplasma-positive gastric fluid (GF) cultures based on the cause and mode of delivery in preterm newborns. This retrospective cohort study included women with a singleton pregnancy who delivered prematurely (between 23+0 and 32+0 weeks of gestation, n=464) at a single university hospital in South Korea. The newborns' GF was obtained on the day of birth via nasogastric intubation. The frequency of Ureaplasma spp. in GF cultures was measured and compared according to the cause and mode of delivery. Ureaplasma spp. was detected in 20.3 % of the GF samples. The presence of Ureaplasma spp. was significantly higher in the spontaneous preterm birth group than in the indicated preterm birth group (30.2 vs. 3.0 %; p<0.001). Additionally, Ureaplasma spp. was more frequently found in the vaginal delivery group than in the cesarean delivery group, irrespective of the cause of preterm delivery [indicated preterm birth group (22.2 vs. 1.9 %, p=0.023); spontaneous preterm birth group (37.7 vs. 24.2 %, p=0.015)]. Ureaplasma spp. were found in 20.3 % of the GFs. However, only 1.9 % of newborns in the indicated preterm birth group with cesarean delivery had a Ureaplasma-positive GF culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the connection between lifestyle choices and the likelihood of developing psoriasis in young adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in South Korea. The study analyzed data from health exams conducted by the Korean National Health Insurance Corporation, including 5,356 IBD patients and 6,648,818 non-IBD controls. The research discovered that smoking and heavy alcohol consumption were linked to a significantly higher risk of psoriasis in young adults with IBD, with smoking having a particularly strong impact on patients in their 20s. The article emphasizes the importance of lifestyle modifications, such as quitting smoking and moderating alcohol intake, in reducing the risk of psoriasis in individuals with IBD, and highlights the need for healthcare professionals to educate their patients, especially young adults with IBD, about the potential benefits of these changes. [Extracted from the article]

The roots of Trichosanthes kirilowii (TK) have been used in traditional oriental medicine for the treatment of respiratory diseases. In this study, we investigated whether an ethanolic root extract of TK (ETK) can regulate the metastatic potency of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant human lung cancer cells. The relative migration and invasion abilities of erlotinib-resistant PC9 (PC9/ER) and gefitinib-resistant PC9 (PC9/GR) cells were higher than those of parental PC9 cells. Mesenchymal markers were overexpressed, whereas epithelial markers were downregulated in resistant cells, suggesting that resistant cells acquired the EMT phenotype. ETK reduced migration and invasion of resistant cells. The expression levels of N-cadherin and Twist were downregulated, whereas Claudin-1 was upregulated by ETK, demonstrating that ETK suppresses EMT. As a molecular mechanism, Src was dephosphorylated by ETK. The anti-metastatic effect of ETK was reduced by transfecting PC9/ER cells with a constitutively active form of c-Src. Dasatinib downregulated N-cadherin, Twist, and vimentin, suggesting that Src regulates EMT in resistant cells. Notably, CuB played a key role in mediating the anti-metastatic activity of ETK. Collectively, our results demonstrate that ETK can attenuate the metastatic ability of EGFR-TKI-resistant lung cancer cells by inhibiting Src-mediated EMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This review encompasses three primary Mg research topics in South Korea, as follows. • High-speed-extrudable Mg–Bi-based alloys for high productivity and strength. • Innovative techniques utilizing {10–12} twinning for improved mechanical properties. • Alloying and processing methods for enhanced corrosion resistance. This review highlights the recent advancements in Mg research in South Korea with a prime focus on high-speed-extrudable Mg–Bi-based alloys for high productivity and strength, innovative techniques utilizing {10–12} twinning for improved mechanical properties, and alloying and processing methods for enhanced corrosion resistance. High-alloyed Mg–Bi-based alloys possess thermally stable α -Mg matrix and secondary phase, which ensures high-speed extrusion of these alloys at elevated temperatures without hot cracking. Consequently, they exhibit outstanding extrudability with a maximum extrusion speed of up to 70 m/min. Furthermore, their high alloying contents offer excellent strength even after high-speed extrusion through strong solid solution hardening and particle hardening effects, making them suitable for high-performance extruded Mg products. The pre-twinning process utilizing {10–12} twinning and the combined process of pre-twinning and subsequent annealing have shown promise in controlling microstructure and texture of wrought Mg alloys and thus enhancing their mechanical properties. The pre-twinning process enhances tensile strength, fatigue properties, and age-hardening rate of Mg alloys. Furthermore, the combined processes of pre-twinning and subsequent annealing considerably improve their ductility, stretch formability, bending formability, and damping capacity. Efforts have been made to improve the corrosion resistance of Mg alloys through alloying additions, process treatments, and surface coatings. Alloying elements like Ca, Sc, and Sm alter the microstructural features (such as secondary phases and grain size) that affect the corrosion phenomenon. Process treatments such as multidirectional forging, screw rolling, and pulse electron beam can also improve the corrosion resistance by refining the microstructure. Furthermore, advanced surface coating technologies can create durable and corrosion-resistant layers for effectively protecting the Mg alloys. All these research activities conducted in South Korea have considerably contributed to the widespread utilization of Mg alloys in diverse applications by overcoming the inherent limitations of Mg alloys such as low extrudability, formability, and corrosion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the subjective opinions of Korean college students about good death. Q methodology was used to analyze 34 Q-statements from 37 respondents who majored in social work, nursing, or education at a university in South Korea. With the use of a PC-QUANL software package, 4 types of perceptions about good death were identified. They are a resolute acceptance type; a reasonable, natural lifespan type; a relational, sentimental type; and an altruistic, satisfied type. Results of this study indicate that approaches to death education need to be differentiated to take into account this typology and the characteristics of the students that fall into each category. (Contains 2 tables.)

Background: The tumor, nodes and metastasis (TNM) classification and stage grouping have been updated in the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) melanoma staging manual. However, restaging all the previous cases are not recommended.Aims: The aims of the study were to investigate the necessity of restaging Korean melanoma patients staged by the previous edition of the AJCC manual.Methods: Differences in the staging criteria of the 7th and 8th editions of the AJCC manual were identified. The staging of 276 primary melanomas from January 2011 to December 2018 was classified by both 7th and 8th editions of the manual and their differences were compared.Results: Staging by 7th and 8th edition of the AJCC manual differed in 64 cases (23.2%). The pathological prognostic staging changed in 35 (12.7%), and 29 (10.5%) had changes in only TNM classification but not the pathological staging. None of the patients needed additional sentinel lymph node biopsy or systemic treatment as a result of restaging. Additional counseling was needed for the patients, because melanoma-specific survival was increased in the 8th edition.Limitations: This is a retrospective study with relatively small number of patients at a single tertiary center in Korea.Conclusion: Assessment of the need for additional sentinel lymph node biopsy or systemic treatment is recommended because of the latest changes in the AJCC melanoma staging manual. Although the restaging of previously staged melanomas is not significantly needed in our patients, still the differences in TNM classification and/or pathological prognostic staging suggest the need to separately recognize the patients previously staged by 7th edition and recently staged by 8th edition. Careful counseling about melanoma-specific survival is needed for Asian patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Shoulder pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder. Treatment can be surgical or non-surgical. Korean Medicine, including acupuncture and pharmacopuncture, is a part of conservative treatment. Pharmacopuncture, combining acupuncture with herbal medicine, has been used for musculoskeletal disorders since the 1960s, but clinical evidence on its effectiveness is lacking. Objectives: This study aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of pharmacopuncture for rotator cuff disease Methods: A two-group, parallel, single-center, pragmatic, randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded trial will be conducted. A total of 40 patients will be recruited, starting in July 2022. All patients will be received acupuncture treatment, and pharmacopuncture will be applied to intervention group additionally. After eight treatments are delivered over four weeks, follow-up assessments will be performed. Results: Assessments will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of these treatments at baseline and at weeks 2 (2 W), 4 (4 W), and 8 (8 W). The primary outcome will be a visual analog scale (VAS) evaluation of shoulder pain levels. Assessments will include shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI), shoulder range of motion (ROM), EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L), patient global impression of change (PGIC), 'no worse than mild pain', and drug consumption rates. Conclusion: This study may offer a rationale for a future full-scale trial on the effectiveness and safety of pharmacopuncture treatment for rotator cuff disease and provide data on non-surgical treatment for the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The stigma associated with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is relatively neglected in policies for handling the disease. Stigmatization occurs only within specific social contexts in local societies. Objective: This study aims to examine COVID-19 survivors' experiences of social stigma and discrimination in South Korea in the first 2 years of the pandemic. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Results: Of 52 participants, 45 reported that they had to cope with stigma and discrimination in their intimate social relationships, workplaces, and children's schools, ranging from subtle actions to job loss. Sexual minorities who were involved in mass disease transmission in the early part of the pandemic experienced a higher level of stigmatization. The stigmatization dealt with in this study was related to two themes: survivors' sense of causing trouble and possibility of transmission. Conclusion: By intertwining this stigma with the experiences of public health measures through the voices of survivors, this study reveals the local context of East Asia in terms of culture-specific aspects of COVID-19-related stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atopic dermatitis is a chronically relapsing inflammatory skin condition that has profound impacts on quality of life of patients and their family. The aim of this study is to investigate the psychological stress in parents of children with atopic dermatitis in Korea, using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). This cross-sectional study included parents of participants under 19 years of age (970 with atopic dermatitis and 5,733 without atopic dermatitis after excluding those who meet the exclusion criteria) from the 2009 to 2012 KNHANES. The psychological stress state was evaluated with the following four questionnaire items: self-perception of stress, depressed mood, suicidal ideation, and diagnosis of depression by a physician. After adjusting for age, gender, education level, occupation, and marital status, logistic regression analyses indicated that mothers of children with atopic dermatitis had a higher frequency of stress perception (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.46 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.22– 1.74), p<0.01) and suicidal ideation (aOR 1.40 (95% CI 1.1–1.79), p<0.01) than those without atopic dermatitis. In contrast, fathers of children with atopic dermatitis did not show a significant difference in all items compared with those of children without atopic dermatitis. Understanding the psychological stress in parents of children with atopic dermatitis is important for clinicians, since evaluation, management and support for parents, especially mothers, of children with atopic dermatitis are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Depending on the amount of immunosuppressants used and the transplant period, they may have an immunological disadvantage and are unlikely to produce robust humoral immune responses to SARS-CoV-2. • An additional booster is needed to achieve optimal protective effect against SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. • No major safety events were reported, and adverse symptoms were mild and consistent with those of the general population. There are insufficient reports on the immunogenicity and safety of the COVID-19 vaccination after lung transplantation in Korea. Between April and September 2021, lung transplant recipients (n = 52) and healthy controls (n = 22) underwent vaccination. The levels of antibodies were assessed prospectively at 4 weeks after priming and second dose. Of a total of 52 lung transplant recipients, there were 84.6% nonresponders, 15.4% second-dose responders, and 0% primary dose responders. Among healthy controls, 63.6% were priming responders, and 18.2% were second-dose responders, and 18.2% were nonresponders. Compared with the control group, lung recipients were less likely to develop antibodies (P <.001). Antibody formation tended to be higher in recipients more than 1 year after transplantation (0 vs 20.5%, P =. 076). No major safety events were reported, and the adverse symptoms were mild and consistent with those of the general population. In a multivariate regression analysis, mycophenolic acid levels (µg/mL) (odds ratio 0.25, P =. 005) and tacrolimus level (ng/mL) (odds ratio 0.65, P =. 035) were significantly associated with antibody formation. The immunogenicity of the second dose of COVID-19 vaccination with various combinations was substantially low in lung transplants. A booster of the COVID-19 vaccine is warranted in lung transplants, especially a year later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the national flower of Korea, the Hibiscus syriacus L. (Rose of Sharon) is symbolic in its abundance and is a prominent feature of Korean culture. H. syriacus has played an important role in Korea, not only as an ornamental plant but also as an essential ingredient in folk remedies through its various parts. This study aimed to characterize the nutritional and biochemical composition of each plant unit of H. syriacus "Wonhwa." The units are namely: the petals, leaves, roots, and sprouts from its seeds. According to the results each unit produced, the sprouts had the highest content of amino acids and fatty acids which adhere to the requirements of nutritionally excellent food ingredients. The petals produced high quantities of glucose, sucrose, and fumaric acid, with the highest antioxidant activity among the four units. The main bioactive compounds detected in H. syriacus extracts in the four units were o‐coumaric acid, p‐coumaric acid, schaftoside, isoschaftoside, apigenin‐6‐C‐glucoside‐7‐o‐glucoside, and kaempferol‐3‐O‐galactoside‐7‐O‐rhamnoside. Overall, the highest number of bioactive compounds, 2 phenolic acids and 22 flavonoids, were identified in the petals. These results suggest the possibility of excellent pharmacological activity in the petals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migratory birds disperse ticks and associated tick-borne pathogens along their migratory routes. Four selected pathogens of medical importance (Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia spp., Francisella tularensis, and Toxoplasma gondii) were targeted for detection in 804 ticks (365 pools) collected from migratory birds at Hong and Heuksan Islands in the Republic of Korea (ROK) from 2010 to 2011 and 2016. Toxoplasma gondii and Rickettsia spp., were detected in 1/365 (0.27%) and 34/365 (9.32%) pools of ticks, respectively. T. gondii and five rickettsial species were recorded in ticks collected from migratory birds for the first time in ROK. The five rickettsial species (R. monacensis, Candidatus Rickettsia longicornii, R. japonica, R. raoultii, and R. tamurae) were identified using sequence and phylogenetic analysis using ompA and gltA gene fragments. Rickettsia spp. are important pathogens that cause rickettsiosis in humans, with cases recorded in the ROK. These results provide important evidence for the potential role of migratory birds in the introduction and dispersal of T. gondii and Rickettsia spp. along their migratory routes and raise awareness of potential transmission of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens associated with migratory birds in the ROK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the striking similarities in strategic environment of Japan and South Korea, US deterrence through nonproliferation policy toward the two allies varied in terms of its measures applied: reward-based deterrence and threat-based deterrence. Using the critical junctures framework, this paper argues that 1) domestic structural circumstances of divided with idealist bias or unified with realist bias in two allies led to different local responses to US policy that signalled the level of credibility of US security guarantee; 2) intermediaries that played a critical role in promoting mutual trust and confidence have influenced the credibility and confidence on intra-alliance level; 3) this credibility and confidence had shaped the direction of the US deterrence strategy of reward-based deterrence for Japan and threat-based deterrence for South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida Murray, is a parasite of honey bee colonies and causes the fermentation of honey as well as colony collapse. Outbreaks have been confirmed in Africa, America, Europe as well as Asia, where an outbreak was reported in the Philippines and South Korea in 2014 and 2017, respectively. In South Korea, in September 2016, this honey bee parasite was first identified in apiaries in Miryang, Gyeongnam Province. However, the invasion pathway of SHB has not been identified, and honey bee pathogens harbored by SHB have not been well characterized. Therefore, phylogenetic analysis of SHB with the use of COI gene and detection of fourteen common honey bee pathogens were conducted in this study. The confirmation of the fourteen honey bee pathogens in SHB showed that this beetle carries black queen cell virus and deformed wing virus. Therefore, SHB could have a role in the spread of these viruses. The way of entry of the SHB to South Korea remains undetermined, but the phylogenetic analysis of the COI gene revealed that it was most similar to species found in the USA. There is an urgent need for national-level monitoring and quarantine measures for preventing the spread of SHB infestation in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With increasing number of migrants in Korea, there is an increasing need for blood products with rare blood antigens. Accordingly, the role of blood donors among migrants has been acknowledged. We investigated migrants' experiences and perceptions of blood donation along with their sociodemographic status and identified the effects on selfreported blood donation status. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a self-developed, structured questionnaire was conducted on 479 migrants. The questionnaire included items about experiences, knowledge, and perceptions on blood donation and sociodemographic factors of respondents. Results: Most migrants in this study were from Southeast Asia (54.7%) or China (39.9%). Among them, 28.6% (N=137) had donated blood previously, and 2.7% (N=13) had previously donated blood in Korea. All previous blood donors were volunteers, and the two major deterrents of blood donation for non-donors were the fear of pain and lack of knowledge about blood donation. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, the country of birth (odds ratio [OR]=2.65, P<0.001 [China]; OR=4.85, P=0.001 [countries other than China and Southeast Asian countries]) and employment status (OR=2.80, P=0.034) were independently associated with blood donation. Conclusions: This is the first Korean study to analyze migrants' experiences and perceptions of blood donation in relation to their sociodemographic status. Our findings can help establish blood donation policies for migrants, devise campaigns to enhance blood donation awareness, and ultimately create a pool of rare blood resources in a multicultural society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with psoriasis, but it remains unclear whether risk of psoriasis remains in patients whose MetS diagnosis changes. To assess the relationship between risk of psoriasis and changes in MetS components. We obtained data from the National Health Insurance Service of Korea and divided the participants into four groups: individuals without MetS (control); individuals with MetS in 2009, but without MetS in 2012 (pre-MetS); individuals without MetS in 2009, but with newly diagnosed MetS in 2012 (post-MetS); and individuals with MetS during the 2009–2012, period (continuous-MetS). We calculated the risk of psoriasis for each group. Risk of psoriasis was similar in the control and pre-MetS groups but was significantly higher in the post-MetS group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.12) and in the continuous-MetS group (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.07–1.15) than in the control group. Among MetS components, waist circumference showed the strongest association with psoriasis, followed by high-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels. Risk of psoriasis was higher in patients with continuous- or post-MetS than in those with pre-MetS (regardless of prior MetS status). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is caused by Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infection. We investigated antigen and antibody of EP in horses in the Republic of Korea during 2016- 2017. Antigen and antibody of T. equi was detected 0.06% (1/1,650). Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA revealed that the T. equi was highly homologous with the strains from China, Mongolia, and Spain. Two Theileria spp. were also detected and highly homologous with T. buffeli, T. luwenshuni, and T. orientalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extended distribution and potential introduction of exotic ticks and associated tick-borne pathogens along the northern and southern routes of migratory birds pose zoonotic tick-borne disease risks to wild and domestic animals and incidentally to humans. A knowledge of bird migratory patterns, species of attached ticks, and associated pathogens during their migrations to and from their feeding and nesting grounds is central to understanding associated tick-borne disease risks. Tick-borne disease surveillance was conducted from 2010 to 2011 and 2016 at Hong-do (do = island), Heuksan-do, and Nan-do, major stopovers for migratory birds in Republic of Korea (ROK), as part of the Migratory Birds Research Center bird-banding program for studying bird migration patterns in the ROK. A total of 877 ticks belonging to three genera and nine species were collected, Ixodes turdus (576, 65.7%), Haemaphysalis flava (134, 15.3%), H. longicornis (91, 10.4%), I. nipponensis (56, 6.4%), H. formosensis (7, 0.8%), H. ornithophila (6, 0.7%), H. phasiana (5, 0.6%), H. concinna (1, 0.1%), and Amblyomma testudinarium (1, 0.1%) were collected from 274 birds belonging to 20 genera and 41 species. A total of 15/380 pools (3.95%) were positive for Borrelia species (14 pools of I. turdus and 1 pool of H. flava), while only 1/380 pools (0.26%) was positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (1 pool of I. nipponensis). Our findings support the role of migratory birds as possible vectors for the introduction of tick-borne pathogens, which requires continuous monitoring for the potential introduction of ticks and their associated tick-borne pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationships between stress, depression, body mass index, and food addiction in South Korean nursing students. Data from 323 nursing students in Seoul, Gangwon-do, Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Jeju-do were collected via self-report questionnaires and analyzed using chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, logistic regression analyses, and the receiver operating characteristic curve using SPSS 21.0. Overall, 7.1% of students were classified as having a food addiction. Stress and depression affected food addiction, and food addiction influenced obesity. Depression and stress combined were predictors of food addiction. These findings suggest that effective stress management and interventions for depression prevention may be beneficial to prevent food addiction in nursing students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of human toxoplasmosis can be attributed to ingestion of food contaminated with Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasmosis recently increased in domestic and stray dogs and cats. It prompted studies on the zoonotic infectious diseases transmitted via these animals. Sero- and antigen prevalences of T. gondii in dogs and cats were surveyed using ELISA and PCR, and B1 gene phylogeny was analyzed in this study. Toxoplasmosis antibodies were measured on sera of 403 stray cats, 947 stray dogs, 909 domestic cats, and 2,412 domestic dogs collected at nationwide regions, Korea from 2017 to 2019. In addition, whole blood, feces, and tissue samples were also collected from stray cats (1,392), stray dogs (686), domestic cats (3,040), and domestic dogs (1,974), and T. gondii-specific B1 gene PCR was performed. Antibody prevalence of stray cats, stray dogs, domestic cats, and domestic dogs were 14.1%, 5.6%, 2.3%, and 0.04%, respectively. Antigen prevalence of these animals was 0.5%, 0.2%, 0.1%, and 0.4%, respectively. Stray cats revealed the highest infection rate of toxoplasmosis, followed by stray dogs, domestic cats, and domestic dogs. B1 gene positives were 5 of stray cats, and identified to high/moderate pathogenic Type I/III group. These findings enforce that preventive hygienic measure should be strengthened at One Health level in dogs and cats, domestic and stray, to minimize human toxoplasmosis infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Innate T helper type 2 (Th2) immune responses mediated by interleukin (IL)-33, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and IL-25 have been shown to play an important role in pulmonary fibrosis of animal models; however, their clinical implications remain poorly understood.Methods: TSLP, IL-25, and IL-33 concentrations were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids obtained from normal controls (NCs; n = 40) and from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF; n = 100), non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP; n = 22), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP; n = 20), and sarcoidosis (n = 19).Results: The TSLP and IL-33 levels were significantly higher in patients with IPF relative to the NCs (p = 0.01 and p = 0.0001, respectively), NSIP (p = 4.95E - 7 and p = 0.0002, respectively), HP (p = 0.00003 and p = 0.000005, respectively), and sarcoidosis groups (p = 0.003 and p = 0.0001, respectively). However, the IL-25 levels were not significantly different between NC and IPF group (p = 0.432). Receiver operating characteristic curves of the TSLP and IL-33 levels revealed clear differences between the IPF and NC groups (AUC = 0.655 and 0.706, respectively), as well as between the IPF and the other lung disease groups (AUC = 0.786 and 0.781, respectively). Cut-off values of 3.52 pg/μg TSLP and 3.77 pg/μg IL-33 were shown to differentiate between the IPF and NC groups with 99.2 and 94.3% accuracy. Cut-off values of 4.66 pg/μg TSLP and 2.52 pg/μg IL-33 possessed 99.4 and 93.2% accuracy for differentiating among the IPF and other interstitial lung disease groups.Conclusions: Innate immune responses may be associated with the development of IPF. Furthermore, the IL-33 and TSLP levels in BAL fluids may be useful for differentiating IPF from other chronic interstitial lung diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) can be fatal to humans as well as to animals causing severe economic losses globally to livestock industries. Many countries conduct regular surveillance of TBDs in livestock. Serological and molecular surveillance of TBDs in livestock and humans was carried out in the Republic of Korea. However, there are not a lot of data on analyses of anaplasmosis in Korean native goats and the correlation with rearing methods and seasons. Methods: In this study, goats in Ulsan city were tested for anaplasmosis by PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing. A total of 452 goat blood samples were collected from 20 farms in 2016. The goat farms in Ulsan city had three different types of rearing methods: conventional, confined, and mixed grazing-confined. Results: Forty-nine of the 452 goats (10.8%) were anaplasmosis positive. Sequence analysis of the PCR products from these 49 goats revealed that 39 of 452 goats (8.6%) were Anaplasma bovis positive, and 10 of 452 goats (2.2%) were infected with Anaplasma capra. The highest outbreaks of anaplasmosis occurred in mixed grazing-confined type of farms (27.1%, 33/122) (χ2 = 60.72, df = 2, p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the occurrence of anaplasmosis between spring, summer, and fall seasons. Conclusions: This study was the first detection of A. bovis in Korean native goats and its relationship with rearing methods and seasons. These findings suggested that Korean native goats were highly exposed to Anaplasma spp. during summers when the tick population is the highest and in farms employing mixed grazing-confined rearing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Hyperbilirubinemia, which is a sign of hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), can irreversibly damage the central nervous system. Objectives To determine the etiology of HDN in affected patients and characterize the changing pattern of bilirubin using direct antiglobulin testing (DAT). Methods We collected clinical data from newborns who underwent perinatal DAT and from their mothers, between August 2008 and July 2017. Results Among 303 neonates, 37 (12.2%) showed positive DAT results. The positive predictive values (PPVs) and negative predictive values (NPVs) based on DAT results were 75.7% and 28.9%, respectively, for starting phototherapy. Bilirubin levels increased more rapidly in the DAT-positive group, compared with the DAT-negative group. The initial bilirubin level differed significantly according to the etiology of hyperbilirubinemia. Further, neonates with anti-D showed higher delta bilirubin per day than neonates with other antibodies. Conclusion Our results may help to determine the measurement period for bilirubin according to DAT results and etiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequencies of red blood cell (RBC) blood group antigens differ by ethnicity. Since the number of immigrants is increasing in Korea, RBC antigens should be assessed in children/ youths with parents of different ethnicities to ensure safe transfusions. We investigated the frequency of RBC antigens, except for ABO and RhD, in 382 children and youths with parents having Korean and non-Korean ethnicities. Subjects were divided into those with ethnically Korean parents (Korean group; N=252) and those with at least one parent of non-Korean ethnicity (non-Korean group; N=130). The 37 RBC antigens were genotyped using the ID CORE XT system (Progenika Biopharma-Grifols, Bizkaia, Spain). The frequencies of the Rh (E, C, e, hrS, and hrB), Duffy (Fya), MNS (Mia), and Cartwright (Ytb) antigens differed significantly between the two groups. Eight and 11 subjects in the Korean and non-Korean groups, respectively, exhibited negative expression of high-frequency antigens, whereas 14 subjects in the non-Korean group showed positive expression of low-frequency antigens. The frequency of RBC antigens has altered alongside demographic changes in Korea and might lead to changes in distribution of RBC antibodies that cause acute or delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim A pen and paper Token Test utilizing binary scoring of accuracy-inaccuracy in responses evaluates linguistic functions including verbal comprehension. However, the test might not be sensitive enough to detect the aging effect on performance in normal older adults unless the test utilizes a multidimensional scoring system. We hypothesized that the measurement of response time ( RT) instead of accuracy would be a feasible way to measure deterioration of verbal comprehension as a function of age in this linguistically vulnerable population. Methods Data were acquired from 174 community-dwelling normal older adults (147 females and 27 males, mean age 75.9 ± 6.13 years, range 65-94 years). In order to automatically quantify accuracies and RT, we developed an iOS app-based Token Test, comprising of four subtests (24 items, 6 items in each subtest), and administered it to each participant. Results RT of the second, third and fourth subtests ( P < 0.001, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively) and the average RT across all four subtests ( P < 0.01) had significant partial correlation coefficients with age. The results of the multiple linear regression analyses showed that the models for RT and average RT analyses of the three subtests (2, 3 and 4) included the age variable. Conclusion RT measurement of the iOS app-based Token Test could be highly useful and convenient to better detect abnormalities in linguistic efficiency. RT measurement in the Token Test could be used as a screening tool for linguistic slowing in the elderly population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 14: 969-974. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a mosquito-borne zoonotic pathogen, is one of the major causes of viral encephalitis. To reduce the impact of Japanese encephalitis among children in the Republic of Korea (ROK), the government established a mandatory vaccination program in 1967. Through the efforts of this program only 0–7 (mean 2.1) cases of Japanese encephalitis were reported annually in the ROK during the period of 1984–2009. However, in 2010 there was an outbreak of 26 confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis, including 7 deaths. This represented a >12-fold increase in the number of confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis in the ROK as compared to the mean number reported over the last 26 years and a 3.7-fold increase over the highest annual number of cases during this same period (7 cases). Surveillance of adult mosquitoes was conducted during the 2010 outbreak of Japanese encephalitis in the ROK. A total of 6,328 culicine mosquitoes belonging to 12 species from 5 genera were collected at 6 survey sites from June through October 2010 and assayed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the presence of JEV. A total of 34/371 pooled samples tested positive for JEV (29/121 Culex tritaeniorhynchus, 4/64 Cx. pipiens, and 1/26 Cx. bitaeniorhynchus) as confirmed by sequencing of the pre-membrane and envelope protein coding genes. The maximum likelihood estimates of JEV positive individuals per 1,000 culicine vectors for Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Cx. pipiens, and Cx. bitaeniorhynchus were 11.8, 5.6, and 2.8, respectively. Sequences of the JEV pre-membrane and envelope protein coding genes amplified from the culicine mosquitoes by RT-PCR were compared with those of JEV genotypes I-V. Phylogenetic analyses support the detection of a single genotype (I) among samples collected from the ROK in 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Recently, serious concerns about extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), which shows resistance to second-line anti-TB drugs in addition to isoniazid and rifampicin, have been raised. The aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of extensive drug resistance on treatment outcomes in non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Methods. Patients who received the diagnosis of and treatment as having MDR-TB at Seoul National University Hospital (Seoul, Republic of Korea) between January 1996 and December 2005 were included. The definition of XDR-TB was TB caused by bacilli showing resistance to both isoniazid and rifampicin and also showing resistance to any fluoroquinolone and to at least 1 of the following 3 injectable anti-TB drugs: capreomycin, kanamycin, and amikacin. To identify the impact of extensive drug resistance on treatment outcomes, univariate comparison and multiple logistic regression were performed. Results. A total of 211 non-HIV-infected patients with MDR-TB were included in the final analysis. Among them, 43 patients (20.4%) had XDR-TB. Treatment failure was observed in 19 patients (44.2%) with XDR-TB, whereas treatment of 46 patients (27.4%) with non-XDR-TB failed (P = .057 ). The presence of extensive drug Pp.057 resistance (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 4.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35–14.74) and underlying comorbidity (adjusted OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.00–6.87) were independent risk factors for treatment failure. However, a higher level of albumin was inversely associated with treatment failure (adjusted OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.77–0.97). Conclusion. The presence of extensive drug resistance, the presence of comorbidity, and hypoalbuminemia were independent poor prognostic factors in non-HIV-infected patients with MDR-TB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As climates change around the world, concern regarding environmental pollutants emitted into the atmosphere is increasing. The cement industry consistently produces more than 4000 million metric tons of cement per year. However, the problem of air pollutants being emitted from the calcination process is becoming more critical because their amount increases proportionally with cement production. Each country has established regulatory standards for pollutant emission. Accordingly, the cement industry is equipped with facilities to reduce air pollutants, one of which is the NOx removal process. NOx reduction processes under combustion conditions are modified to minimize NOx generation, and the generated NOx is removed through post-treatment. In terms of NOx removal efficiency, the post-treatment process effectively changes the combustion conditions during calcination. Selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) processes are post-treatment environmental facilities for NOx reduction. Accordingly, considering the stringent NOx emission standards in the cement industry, SNCR is essential, and SCR is selectively applied. Therefore, this paper introduces nitrogen oxide among air pollutants emitted from the South Korean cement industry and summarizes the technologies adapted to mitigate the emission of NOx by cement companies in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The horse industry has grown rapidly as a leisure industry in the Republic of Korea (ROK) in parallel with an increased demand for equestrian activities. As a result, there has been an increase in horse breeding and equestrian population and potential exposure to ticks and their associated pathogens. To provide a better understanding of the potential disease risks of veterinary and medical importance, a study was conducted to determine the geographical distribution and diversity of ticks collected from horses and vegetation associated with horse racetracks/ranches throughout the ROK. This included a survey of five associated common pathogens, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Borrelia spp., Babesia caballi, and Theileria equi. A total 9220 ticks were collected from horses and associated pastures. Ticks were identified to species, stage of development, and sex. Two species of ticks, Haemaphysalis longicornis (99.9%) and Ixodes nipponensis (0.1%) were identified. Two of the target pathogens, A. phagocytophilum and Borrelia spp., were detected in 5/1409 tick pools (0.35%) and 4/1409 pools (0.28%) of H. longicornis, respectively, both of which are zoonotic pathogens of medical importance. The results of 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis of A. phagocytophilum showed a close relationship to strains distributed in China, USA, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Poland. Borrelia spp. showed a close relationship, based on 16S rRNA gene, to the strains reported from the USA (B. burgdorferi and B. americana) and Japan (B. tanukii and B. garinii). These results provide information about the potential risks of veterinary and medical importance and the development of mitigation strategies for disease prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid increase in international trade volume has caused frequent fluctuation of the vessels' arrival time in container terminals. In order to solve this problem, this study proposes a methodology for rescheduling berth and quay cranes caused by updated information on the arrival time of vessels. A mixed-integer linear programming model was formulated for the berth allocation and crane assignment problem, and we solved the problem using a rolling-horizon approach. Numerical experiments were conducted under three scenarios with empirical data from a container terminal located in Busan, Korea. The experiments revealed that the proposed model reduces penalty costs and overall delayed departure time compared to the results of the terminal planner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ticks are important vectors of various pathogens that result in clinical illnesses in humans and domestic and wild animals. Information regarding tick infestations and pathogens transmitted by ticks is important for the identification and prevention of disease. This study was a large-scale investigation of ticks collected from dogs and their associated environments in the Republic of Korea (ROK). It included detecting six prevalent tick-borne pathogens (Anaplasma spp., A. platys, Borrelia spp., Babesia gibsoni, Ehrlichia canis, and E. chaffeensis). A total of 2293 ticks (1110 pools) were collected. Haemaphysalis longicornis (98.60%) was the most frequently collected tick species, followed by Ixodes nipponensis (0.96%) and H. flava (0.44%). Anaplasma spp. (24/1110 tick pools; 2.16%) and Borrelia spp. (4/1110 tick pools; 0.36%) were detected. The phylogenetic analyses using 16S rRNA genes revealed that the Anaplasma spp. detected in this study were closely associated with A. phagocytophilum reported in humans and rodents in the ROK. Borrelia spp. showed phylogenetic relationships with B. theileri and B. miyamotoi in ticks and humans in Mali and Russia. These results demonstrate the importance of tick-borne disease surveillance and control in dogs in the ROK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Berchemia floribunda (Wall.) Brongn. (BF), which belongs to Rhamnaceae, is a special plant of Anmyeon Island in Korea. BF has been reported to have antioxidant and whitening effects. However, the anti-inflammatory activity of BR has not been elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of leaves (BR-L), branches (BR-B) and fruit (BR-F) extracted with 70% ethanol of BR and elucidated the potential signaling pathway in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. BR-L showed a strong anti-inflammatory activity through the inhibition of NO production. BR-L significantly suppressed the production of the pro-inflammatory mediators such as iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. BR-L suppressed the degradation and phosphorylation of IκB-α, which contributed to the inhibition of p65 nuclear accumulation and NF-κB activation. BR-L obstructed the phosphorylation of MAPKs (ERK1/2, p38 and JNK) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Consequently, these results suggest that BR-L may have great potential for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs to treat acute and chronic inflammatory disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted using the database of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to determine whether age-related eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR), and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), are related to hearing loss. 12,899 participants ≥ 40 years of age were included. The weighted prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was not significantly different between the normal hearing group and hearing-impaired group, but the weighted prevalences of cataract, glaucoma, early AMD, and late AMD were significantly different in the two groups. The odds ratio for cataract in the hearing-impaired group was 1.373 (1.118–1.687). The odds ratios of glaucoma, DR, early AMD, and late AMD were not significantly different in the hearing-impaired group. Age was significantly associated with the presence of concurrent cataract and hearing impairment by 6.574-fold per decade. Significant factors that increased the risk of concurrent glaucoma and hearing impairment were age, male gender, and triglyceride. Age, ex-smoker, systolic BP elevation, BMI decline, and fasting blood sugar significantly predicted the presence of concurrent DR and hearing loss. In early AMD, age and triglyceride, and in late AMD, age and systolic BP elevations increased the risk of concurrent AMD and hearing impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This survey study explored perceived role identity, value, and quality of life and their relationships among parent caregivers of children with and without disabilities in Korea. From this in-depth examination, the study attempted to capture aspects of disability cultures within a frame of family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lemon detox program is a very low-calorie diet which consists of a mixture of organic maple and palm syrups, and lemon juice for abstinence period of 7 days. We hypothesized that the lemon detox program would reduce body weight, body fat mass, thus lowering insulin resistance and known risk factors of cardiovascular disease. We investigated anthropometric indices, insulin sensitivity, levels of serum adipokines, and inflammatory markers in overweight Korean women before and after clinical intervention trial. Eighty-four premenopausal women were randomly divided into 3 groups: a control group without diet restriction (Normal-C), a pair-fed placebo diet group (Positive-C), and a lemon detox diet group (Lemon-D). The intervention period was 11 days total: 7 days with the lemon detox juice or the placebo juice, and then 4 days with transitioning food. Changes in body weight, body mass index, percentage body fat, and waist-hip ratio were significantly greater in the Lemon-D and Positive-C groups compared to the Normal-C group. Serum insulin level, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance scores, leptin, and adiponectin levels decreased in the Lemon-D and Positive-C groups. Serum high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were also reduced only in the Lemon-D group. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels remained stable in the Lemon-D group while they decreased in the Positive-C and Normal-C groups. Therefore, we suppose that the lemon detox program reduces body fat and insulin resistance through caloric restriction and might have a potential beneficial effect on risk factors for cardiovascular disease related to circulating hs-CRP reduction without hematological changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 150,805 culicine female mosquitoes were captured by Mosquito Magnet, black light, and New Jersey light traps, and at resting collections in the Republic of Korea from 2008 to 2010 as part of the U.S. Forces Korea malaria and Japanese surveillance programs. Mosquitoes were identified and culicine mosquitoes placed in pools of up to 30 mosquitoes each, by species and date of collection, and screened for flaviviruses using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay. A total of 98/6,845 (1.4%) pools were positive by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). A total of 92/2,031 (4.5%) pools of Culex tritaeniorhynchus were positive for JEV and accounted for 93.9% (92/98) of all JEV positive pools. A total of 4/804 (0.5%) and 2/175 (1.1%) pools of C. pipiens and C. bitaeniorhynchus, respectively, were positive for JEV. The JEV maximum likelihood estimations (estimated number of viral RNA positive mosquitoes per 1,000) for C. tritaeniorhynchus, C. bitaeniorhynchus, and C. pipiens were 1.71, 1.02, and 0.36 respectively. JEV is a severe health threat for local populations and of significant concern for nonimmune (unvaccinated) U.S. soldiers, civilians, and family members deployed to the Republic of Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A critical environmental issue in carbon capture and storage (CCS) is potential CO 2 leakage, which accompanies geochemical reactions with aquifer materials. To investigate the hydrogeochemical effects of CO 2 leakage on shallow groundwater at the early stage of CO 2 leakage and to evaluate a hydrochemical or isotopic tracer for CO 2 migration, a controlled CO 2 release experiment was performed in a siliciclastic aquifer at the Environmental Impact Evaluation Test (EIT) site, South Korea. After the baseline survey of hydrochemical and carbon isotope (δ13C DIC) compositions, CO 2 -infused water was injected at a rate of 5.5 m3/day for 26 days at ∼22 m below ground level in the ∼40 m thick heterogeneous aquifer whose pressure gradient was increased to approximately 10 times the natural gradient to make a flow path along monitoring wells. The arrival of CO 2 plume was determined at each monitoring well by the decrease in pH and the increase in the partial pressure of CO 2 (P CO2) and EC. δ13C DIC decreased at the arrival of CO 2 plume and showed high correlations with log P CO2 since the δ13C DIC of injected CO 2 (−24.7‰) was distinct from that of ambient groundwater (−16.7‰) and little carbon sources existed in the aquifer. The spatial and temporal evolution of hydrochemical and isotopic compositions observed using a monitoring well network indicated that the CO 2 plume migrated along a preferential pathway overwhelming induced pressure gradient due to water table mounding at injection and that the plume sank to some degree probably due to its large density. Concentrations of hydrochemical elements displayed three types of behavior: (1) pulse-like with rapid increases at the arrival of CO 2 plume and decreases despite the continuous injection of CO 2 similar to EC (HCO 3 , Ca, Mg, Na, K, Sr, and Ba), (2) pH dependent with relatively slow increases and decreases in concentrations (SiO 2 and Mn), and (3) rapid increases but slow decreases (Li). The hydrochemical variations indicated the dissolution of a limited amount of reactive minerals such as calcite, followed by cation exchange at the early stage of CO 2 leakage in siliciclastic aquifers. Based on the study result, Li was an effective hydrogeochemical tracer to monitor the migration of CO 2 in siliciclastic aquifers as well as pH, EC, and δ13C DIC. [Display omitted] • Hydrogeochemical and isotopic responses to CO 2 injection was studied in a siliciclastic aquifer. • The arrival of CO 2 plume was determined at monitoring wells by pH, EC, P CO2 , and δ13C DIC. • Transport along preferential pathways was observed despite induced pressure gradient. • Calcite dissolution and Ca-driven ion exchange were dominant at the early stage of leakage. • Li was an effective tracer to monitor the migration of CO 2 in siliciclastic aquifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child maltreatment recurrence has a significant negative impact on child well-being and may indicate low effectiveness of child protection services (CPS). In South Korea, 10.4% of child maltreatment cases in 2016 had previous CPS involvement. Identifying and understanding significant predictors of child maltreatment re-reports and recurrence has been a critical task in maltreatment research. However, this task has rarely been attempted in South Korea. This study aimed to examine child maltreatment re-reports and recurrence among children involved in CPS in Korea, identify correlates of child maltreatment re-reports and recurrence with predictors, and explore the consistency or inconsistency of correlates between re-reports and recurrence. The present study analyzed 5349 case records from the National Child Maltreatment Data System, which included information collected by Korean CPS regarding maltreatment, child, parent or perpetrator, and service characteristics. Results showed that the recurrence rate was 5.9% over the two-year period. In contrast to previous studies, neglect was not found to be a significant predictor of recurrence. Perpetrators' problem-solving skills and survival stress, as well as children's disability status, were significant predictors of recurrence. Receiving welfare assistance was a significant predictor of re-reports (AOL = 1.42, p < 0.01) but not a significant predictor of recurrence. Compared to other empirical studies conducted in several countries, we found similarities and differences regarding predictors of child maltreatment re-reports and recurrences. The results reiterate the importance of family intervention to prevent maltreatment recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• N isotopic compositions of nitrate indicate a shift of nitrate sources in groundwater. • Intensive livestock farming is currently a major N source via manure discharge. • Manure accounts for 33.5~81.8% of the nitrate contamination as of 2015–2018. • Based on the legacy effect, the contribution of manure will increase in the future. • Groundwater ages suggest the need of long-term (> 25yrs) management practices. Time lags between anthropogenic nitrogen inputs and their impacts to nitrate levels cause a misunderstanding for sources and subsequently misguide the groundwater management.We investigated the hydrochemical data of groundwater samples (n = 172 from 49 wells) with chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)-based groundwater age dating and stable N (δ15N) and O isotopes (δ18O) of nitrate to assess the legacy effect of livestock farming to groundwater in an agricultural area where intensive livestock farming started in the 1970s and illegal dumping of manure wastewater in a lava cave was revealed in 2015. Approximately 90% of the groundwater samples had nitrate concentrations exceeding the natural threshold (5.5 mg/L NO 3 −) for nitrate contamination and 34% exceeded the World Health Organization's guideline for drinking water quality (44.3 mg/L), indicating severe nitrate contamination. The δ15N NO3 values (5.5 to 24.3‰) in groundwater exceeding the threshold of nitrate showed that livestock manure was a major nitrate source, while ammonium fertilizer also seemed influential given the δ15N NO3 values in the overlapping fields of N sources. Factor analysis of hydrochemical data also supported nitrate contamination by manure as well as by plant farming in the study area. Based on the spatial distribution of nitrate levels and δ15N NO3 , livestock farming affected nitrate contamination by illegal manure dumping in the leakage cave. According to a Bayesian mixing model, the contribution of manure wastewater was 33.5 to 81.8% as of 2015–2018, with the rest from fertilizers. Meanwhile, the groundwater ages showed negative correlations with both nitrate levels (r = –0.90) and δ15N NO3 values (r = –0.74) on a log scale, consistent with the increasing N release from livestock farming since the 1960s. In particular, the median value of δ15N NO3 rapidly increased to 9.2‰ in groundwater recharged between the late 1970s and early 1990s when N production exponentially increased, implying a significant effect of livestock farming after the 1980s. Groundwater quality is expected to deteriorate over the next several decades based on the groundwater ages (> 23.5 years), the increased N production from livestock farming, and the legacy effect of N. Long-term groundwater management plans (> 25 years) are required to decrease N loads in the study area, because it takes time for management practices to take effect. The study results are a good reference for groundwater management in regions with a source shift to livestock farming under intensive livestock production systems. Moreover, the chronological study using historical N production, groundwater age data, and dual nitrate isotopes can be applied to other regions with multiple N sources and their shifting for identifying sources and estimating time lags. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]