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Malfunctions in relay protection devices are predominantly caused by current transformer (CT) saturation which produces distortion in current measurements and disturbances in power system protection. The development of deep learning in power system protection is on the rise recently because of its robustness. This study presents a CT saturation detection where the secondary current becomes distorted. The proposed scheme offers a wide range of saturation detection and consists of a moving-window technique and stacked denoising autoencoders. Moreover, Bayesian optimization was used to minimize the difficulty of determining neural network structure for the proposed approach. The performance of the algorithm was evaluated for a-g faults on 154 kV and 345 kV overhead transmission line in South Korea. The waveform variation has been generated by PSCAD for different scenarios that heavily influence CT saturation. Moreover, a comparative analysis with other methods demonstrated the superiority of the proposed DNN method. With the proposed algorithm to detect CT saturation, it significantly yielded high accuracy and precision for CT saturation detection which were approximately 99.71% and 99.32%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 144-week tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) therapy in treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Korean.Methods: In total, 579 treatment-naïve CHB patients at 11 medical centers were enrolled retrospective and prospective from September 2015 to January 2016 by design (NCT02533544). We evaluated the complete virologic response (CVR) rate and the renal safety of TDF.Results: The overall CVR rate was 69.4%, 87.0%, and 89.7% at weeks 48, 96, and 144, respectively. In the HBeAg-positive CHB patients, the CVR rate at weeks 48, 96, and 144 was 61.4%, 83.1%, and 89.6%, respectively. The rates of HBeAg loss and seroconversion at weeks 48, 96, and 144 were 16.6%, 23.5%, 34.1%, and 7.6%, 8.9%, 13.3%, respectively. In HBeAg-negative CHB patients, the CVR rate at weeks 48, 96, and 144 was 82.5%, 93.2%, and 90.0%, respectively. The rate of alanine aminotransferase normalization was 36.9%, 45.4%, and 46.8% at weeks 48, 96, and 144, respectively. Of the CHB patients, 0.9% showed an elevated creatinine (> 0.5 mg/dL from baseline). Age (≥ 60 years) was significantly associated with a decline in renal function at week 144 (P < 0.0001). Comorbidities (diabetes or hypertension) showed the tendency to reduce renal function (P = 0.0624). Hepatocellular carcinoma developed in 10 (1.7%) patients and was related to cirrhosis.Conclusions: TDF therapy induced sustained viral suppression and had a favorable safety profile over a 3-year period. However, close monitoring of renal function should be mandatory in treating CHB patients receiving TDF, particularly older patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have uncovered the genetic backgrounds of various diseases. Type 1 sialidosis (OMIM#256550) is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease caused by a mutation in the NEU1 (OMIM * 608272) gene. In this study, we aimed to review the previous reports of type 1 sialidosis and compare those with the first case of type 1 sialidosis in Korea. A 36-year-old woman presented with progressive ataxia, myoclonus, and seizure since the age of 12. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a pathogenic missense variant c.928G > A (p.D310N) and novel c.15_16del (p.P6Qfs*21) of the NEU1 gene as final causal candidate as compound heterozygotes. We reviewed the literature and selected the clinical reports of genetically confirmed type 1 sialidosis patients. A total of 45 patients in 17 reports were identified. Cherry-red spot, myoclonus, ataxia, and seizure were reported in 51.2%, 100.0%, 87.8%, and 73.7% of patients, respectively. Abnormalities of cognitive function, EEG, and brain MRI and visual symptoms were reported in 22.2%, 40.7%, 66.7%, and 70.2% of patients, respectively. Overall, our patient showed similar clinical features to previous type 1 sialidosis patients, but she did not complain of visual symptoms despite having cherry-red spots. We summarize the clinical features of type 1 sialidosis and report the first case of type 1 sialidosis with novel deletion variant in the NEU1 gene in the Korean population. Our study suggests the importance of ophthalmologic examinations in patients with myoclonus, ataxia, and seizure who do not complain of visual symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To estimate the prevalence of dysphonia and the effect of several risk factors on vocal quality in a representative population of older adults. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Korea. Participants Individuals aged 65 and older who underwent laryngoscopy from 2008 to 2010 (N = 3,759). Measurements The prevalence of dysphonia and the effect of potential risk factors on voice quality in elderly adults were measured. Results The mean age of participants was 72.4. The prevalence of dysphonia was 8.5% (95% confidence interval ( CI) = 7.4-9.8). There was no significant difference in prevalence according to age. Multivariable analysis after adjusting for age, sex, vocal fold disease, and all variables that were identified in the univariate analysis revealed that urban residence (odds ratio ( OR) = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.11-3.04), underweight ( OR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.45-5.38) or normal weight ( OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.03-2.59), poor ( OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.19-3.34) or intermediate ( OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.15-3.78) subjective health status, asthma ( OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.12-3.86), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( OR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.10-5.62), thyroid disease ( OR = 3.08, 95% CI = 1.50-6.34), and vocal fold disease ( OR = 3.72, 95% CI = 2.16-6.42) were independently associated with dysphonia in elderly adults. Conclusion This study provides valuable information regarding the prevalence of dysphonia and the risk factors that contribute to vocal quality in older adults. These factors are mostly associated with social, behavioral, and underlying health status variables. Multidisciplinary treatment should be considered to improve voice conditions in elderly adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This study aimed to investigate the effect of metformin on progression of head and neck cancers, occurrence of second primary cancers, and cause-specific survival. Methods. This study analyzed a retrospective cohort of 1,151 consecutive patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who were treated at our hospital. Patients were divided into three groups: nondiabetic, nonmetformin, and metformin. Clinical characteristics, recurrence of index head and neck cancer, occurrence of second primary cancer, and survival were compared among the different groups. Results. Of 1,151 patients, 99 (8.6%) were included in the metformin group, 79 (6.8%) were in the nonmetformin group, and 973 (84.5%) were in the nondiabetic group. Diabetic status and metformin exposure had no significant impact on index head and neck cancer recurrence or second primary cancer development (p > .2). The nonmetformin group showed relatively lower overall (p = .017) and cancer-specific (p = .054) survival rates than the other groups in univariate analyses, but these results were not confirmed in multivariate analyses. Conclusion. Metformin use did not show beneficial effects on index tumor progression, second primary cancer occurrence, and cause-specific survival in patients with head and neck cancer compared with nonmetformin users and nondiabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) was established to provide cancer screening services for low-income Medicaid recipients in 1999. Since then, the NCSP has expanded its target population to include National Health Insurance beneficiaries. Currently, the program targets the five most common types of cancer in Korea: stomach, liver, colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer . The National Cancer Center has been involved in developing and revising the practice guidelines for the NCSP in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and related academic societies. The main methodological principles of development were determined as follows: an evidence-based approach to the development of recommendations on cancer screening was used, that the recommendation could be drawn by an adaptation process if evidence-based current reliable clinical practice guidelines were available, and that the level of evidence was assessed by methodologies. The process of recommendation development was divided into planning, development, and finalization steps. Planning tasks consisted of selection of clinical practice guideline topics, organization of a clinical practice guideline development group, reviewing the existing clinical practice guidelines, establishment of development plans, and definition of key questions. Development tasks consisted of steps including searching the literature evidence base, assessment of the quality of evidence, integration of evidence, and formulation of recommendations and deciding on the recommendation grade. The finalization tasks included external review, up-dating of the plan, and publication of the clinical practice guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers have been exposed to burnout. Our findings showed that personal and work-related factors affect burnout, while organizational support was associated with lower burnout among healthcare workers. Ensuring support measures are essential to reduce burnout and guarantee well-being among healthcare workers. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of burnout experiences and factors associated with burnout among Korean health care workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: A nationwide survey was conducted in 2021, and the sample comprised 1000 public health center employees. Multivariate linear regression was used to examine the factors associated with burnout among the participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Perceived factors contributing to burnout were also analyzed using an open-ended question. Results: Personal (e.g., age, gender, and self-rated health) and work-related factors (e.g., type of job tasks and COVID-19–related discrimination experience) affected burnout among health care workers. However, organizational support, including emotional support and sufficient financial compensation, was associated with lower burnout. Conclusions: Ensuring sufficient support and rewards for health care workers is essential to guaranteeing their well-being during the current public health crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Currently, it is difficult to predict the reversibility of renal function and to discriminate renal parenchymal injury in cirrhotic patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this study is to evaluate whether urine N-acetyl-β-d-Glucosaminidase (NAG) can predict the survival and response to terlipressin in cirrhotic patients with AKI. Methods: Two hundred sixty-two cirrhotic consecutive patients who developed AKI were prospectively enrolled from 11 tertiary medical centers in Korea between 2016 to 2019. AKI was defined as an increase in serum Cr (SCr) of 0.3 mg/dL or a 50% increase in baseline SCr. Patients diagnosed with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS-AKI) were treated with terlipressin plus albumin. Results: The patients were 58.8 ± 12.9 years old on average and were predominantly male (72.5%). The mean MELD score was 25.3 ± 9.1. When classified according to the AKI phenotype, there were 119 pre-renal, 52 acute tubular necrosis, 18 miscellaneous, and 73 HRS-AKI patients. However, the urine NAG was not effective at discriminating AKI phenotypes, except for HRS-AKI. The baseline urine NAG increased as the baseline AKI stage increased (p < 0.001). In addition, within the same AKI stage, the urine NAG values were significantly lower in the AKI-resolved group than in the unresolved group. The urine NAG level was significantly lower in living patients compared with those who died or who underwent a liver transplant within 3 months (p = 0.005). In the multivariate analysis, the increased urine NAG was a significant risk factor for the 3-month transplant-free survival (TFS) rate, especially in patients with Child–Pugh class ≤ B or MELD < 24. The urine NAG did not predict the response to terlipressin treatment in patients with HRS. Conclusions: Urine NAG is strongly associated with the severity of AKI in patients with liver cirrhosis and is useful for predicting the 3-month TFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on concerns in the child welfare field in regard to the growing number of inter-country, trans-racial adoptions. The article explains this in the context of the adoption of South Korean children. Thirty adoptive families, including their 40 Korean children, agreed to participate in the study. Data from both parents and adoptees were used to trace the processes of the adoptees' identity formation. Respondents were asked to recall events concerning developmental processes that had occurred before the child's current age. Questions about their ethnicity and teasing from other children frequently made the children aware they were different. Most children said that they experienced a great deal of teasing at this stage. While teasing was hard for all the children, the way they coped with it varied. Some children had negative feelings about themselves, whereas other children felt angry towards the teaser. These kinds of external factors pushed the children to develop certain attitudes towards their Korean identity. At this point the role of the parents seemed to be especially important. Since Korean adoptees did not have an immediate reference group, adoptive parents took a primary role in helping their children develop a positive attitude towards their ethnicity.

Discusses feminist theology in Asia focusing on Korea. Particularities and diversities of experience among Asian women; Perception of patriarchy as natural; Influence of Confucian tradition on contemporary Korea; Resistance to oppresive aspects of society, the institutional church and theology; Connection of religious exclusivism to denominational exclusivism.

Introduction: Recent advances in next generation sequencing technologies have uncovered the genetic background of various diseases. The mutations in the SYNE1 gene was previously identified as a potential cause of pure cerebellar ataxia. Although autosomal recessive ataxias are slightly more frequent than autosomal dominant forms worldwide, autosomal recessive forms are extremely rare in Korea. In this study, we aimed to identify SYNE1-associated ataxia by whole exome sequencing in a Korean sample, and to review the prevalence of SYNE1 in non-French-Canadians.Methods: Patients with suspected cerebellar ataxia who visited movement disorders clinic from March 2014 to December 2017 were clinically screened. After excluding cases with acquired causes and common genetic causes in Korea, including spinocerebellar ataxia and dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy, 63 undiagnosed subjects were screened for SYNE1 mutations by next generation sequencing methods.Results: We identified four novel mutations (one splicing, one truncating, and two missense mutations) distributed throughout the SYNE1 gene in two patients. The phenotype was mainly pure cerebellar ataxia in both cases. However, axonal neuropathy, mild frontal dysfunction, and autonomic dysfunction were also revealed. The age of disease onset was relatively late and the disease course was only mildly progressive.Conclusion: Our results indicate that SYNE1 mutations are not an uncommon cause of recessive ataxia with additional clinical features in the Korean population. The results of this study should alert neurologists to request SYNE1 testing to aid the diagnosis of undetermined adult-onset ataxia in Korean patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Intimate partner violence (IPV) has only attracted limited attention in Korea despite numerous studies in Western countries that indicate IPV is associated with depressive symptoms. This study examined the association of IPV with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation as moderated by the perceived gender roles of married women in South Korea. Study design We analyzed a data set of 4659 married females from the 8th wave of the Korea Welfare Panel Study. Participants were categorized into three groups of non-IPV, non-physical IPV, and physical IPV. The presence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation was then used to predict mental health outcomes. Methods Logistic regression helped to investigate the association of IPV and mental health. Furthermore, an interactive regression of IPV and perceived gender roles was also done. Results Each type of IPV (non-physical and physical) was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (Odds ratios [ORs]: 1.65 and 4.34; 95% confidence interval [CIs]: 1.28–2.13 and 2.71–7.28, respectively) and suicidal ideation (ORs: 1.40 and 3.84; 95% CIs: 1.06–1.85 and 2.32–6.36, respectively) after adjusting for covariates. In addition, women who experienced IPV and reported having traditional gender roles were also more likely to report depressive symptoms (OR: 4.59; 95% CI: 2.90–7.28) and suicidal ideation (OR: 7.28; 95% CI: 3.56–14.87). Conclusions Research findings indicate an increasingly marked pattern of work-family conflict in regard to the relationship between traditional gender roles and the effect of IPV on the mental health of women. Policy efforts are needed to reduce IPV as a mental health risk factor and address paternalistic traditions deeply rooted in Korean society that place women in an inferior family status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: To examine whether continuous antidepressant treatment during the first 6month reduces the risk of relapse/recurrence of depression in South Korea. Methods: We used National Health Insurance Data covering the period from 2001 through 2004. The study population consisted of 117,087 adult patients who received antidepressants after being diagnosed with depression. The continuous antidepressant was defined as evidence of antidepressant prescriptions for 75% of the first 6months of treatment. Relapse or recurrence during the next 18-month period was defined by evidence of a new episode requiring antidepressant treatment, psychiatric hospitalization, electroconvulsive therapy, emergency department visit or attempted suicide. We compared the relapse/recurrence rate during the 18-month follow-up period in patients receiving continuous treatment and those who discontinued early using a Cox''s proportional hazard model. Results: Patients receiving continuous antidepressant treatment experienced a lower risk of relapse/recurrence (Hazard ratio: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.40–0.44). Three or more follow-up visits in the first 3months also reduced the risk of relapse/recurrence. Factors associated with a significant increase of relapse/recurrence were comorbid medical illness, anxiety disorder, and alcohol abuse. The small benefit of SSRIs was appeared only in the early discontinued treatment subgroup, not in the continuous treatment subgroup. Limitations: We were not able to consider the antidepressant utilization pattern. Conclusions: Continuous antidepressant treatment and frequent follow-up visits during the acute phase were associated with a significant reduction in the likelihood of relapse or recurrence of depression. Our results provide important evidence on the effectiveness of antidepressant treatment in South Korea. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]