Association between high sensitivity C-reactive protein and dietary intake in Vietnamese young women

Ahra Ko,Hyesook Kim,Chan-Jung Han,Ji-Myung Kim,Hye-Won Chung,Namsoo Chang 한국영양학회 2014 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.8 No.4

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is a strong independent predictor of future cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We evaluated the relationship between hsCRP and dietary intake in apparently healthy young women living in southern Vietnam. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Serum hsCRP was measured and dietary intake data were obtained using the 1-day 24-hour recall method in women (n = 956; mean age, 25.0 ± 5.7 years) who participated in the International Collaboration Study for the Construction of Asian Cohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) in 2011. RESULTS: Women in the high risk group (> 3 mg/L) consumed fewer fruits and vegetables, total plant food, potassium, and folate than those in the low risk group (< 1 mg/L). A multiple regression analysis after adjusting for covariates revealed a significant negative association between hsCRP and fruit and vegetable consumption. A logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio (OR) of having a high hsCRP level in women with the highest quartiles of consumption of fruits and vegetables [OR, 0.391; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.190-0.807], potassium [OR, 0.425; 95% CI, 0.192-0.939] and folate [OR, 0.490; 95% CI, 0.249-0.964] were significantly lower than those in the lowest quartiles. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that, in young Vietnamese women, an increased consumption of fruit and vegetables might be beneficial for serum hsCRP, a risk factor for future CVD events.

Association between Urinary Bisphenol A and Waist Circumference in Korean Adults

Ahra Ko,Myung-Sil Hwang,Jae-Hong Park,Hui-Seung Kang,Hee-Seok Lee,Jin-Hwan Hong 한국독성학회 2014 Toxicological Research Vol.30 No.1

Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in the production of polycarbonate plastics, epoxy resins, and food and beverage containers. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between urinary concentrations of BPA and waist circumference in Korean adults. A total of 1,030 Korean adults (mean age, 44.3 ± 14.6 years) were enrolled in the study on the integrated exposure to hazardous materials for safety control, conducted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety from 2010 to 2012. Abdominal obesity was defined as having a waist circumference of at least 90 cm and 85 cm for men and women, respectively. The participants were divided into 4 groups according to the urinary BPA concentration quartile. Waist circumference was significantly higher among subjects with a urinary BPA concentration in the highest quartile relative to those in the lowest quartile (p = 0.0071). Linear regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between urinary BPA concentrations and body mass index, body fat, after adjusting for potential confounders. Moreover, subjects with urinary BPA concentrations in the fourth quartile were more likely to be obese compared to those with urinary BPA concentrations in the first quartile (odds ratio, 1.938; 95% CI: 1.314~2.857; p for trend = 0.0106). These findings provide evidence for a positive association between urinary BPA concentration and waist circumference in Korean adults.

The association between urinary benzophenone concentrations and personal care product use in Korean adults

Ahra Ko(고아라),Jung-Mi Lee(이정미),Hui-Seung Kang(강희승),Jae-Hong Park(박재홍),Ji-Eun Kwon(권지은),GuiIm Moon(문귀임),Myung-Sil Hwang(황명실),InGyun Hwang(황인균),Sae-Jung Suh(서세정) 환경독성보건학회 2015 한국독성학회 심포지움 및 학술발표회 Vol.2015 No.10

Association between Urinary Bisphenol A and Waist Circumference in Korean Adults

Ko, Ahra,Hwang, Myung-Sil,Park, Jae-Hong,Kang, Hui-Seung,Lee, Hee-Seok,Hong, Jin-Hwan Korean Society of ToxicologyKorea Environmental Mu 2014 Toxicological Research Vol.30 No.1

Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in the production of polycarbonate plastics, epoxy resins, and food and beverage containers. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between urinary concentrations of BPA and waist circumference in Korean adults. A total of 1,030 Korean adults (mean age, $44.3{\pm}14.6$ years) were enrolled in the study on the integrated exposure to hazardous materials for safety control, conducted by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety from 2010 to 2012. Abdominal obesity was defined as having a waist circumference of at least 90 cm and 85 cm for men and women, respectively. The participants were divided into 4 groups according to the urinary BPA concentration quartile. Waist circumference was significantly higher among subjects with a urinary BPA concentration in the highest quartile relative to those in the lowest quartile (p = 0.0071). Linear regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between urinary BPA concentrations and body mass index, body fat, after adjusting for potential confounders. Moreover, subjects with urinary BPA concentrations in the fourth quartile were more likely to be obese compared to those with urinary BPA concentrations in the first quartile (odds ratio, 1.938; 95% CI: 1.314~2.857; p for trend = 0.0106). These findings provide evidence for a positive association between urinary BPA concentration and waist circumference in Korean adults.

장이의 여행기에서 나타난 고향 의미와 작가 의식 ― 장이의 초기와 후기 여행기의 비교를 중심으로

高雅羅 ( Ko Ahra ) 중국어문연구회 2021 中國語文論叢 Vol.- No.105

Chiangyee had wandered all around the world, starting from England in 1933 and written many travel essay. Since 1930’s, he had presented his travel note titled ‘The Silent Traveller.’ England and US were his stomping grounds and it’s noteworthy that he started his literary career for the first time and bring the end in these two countries. From this perspective, this study aims to understand his literary world in other countries, especially targeting the England and US, and to discover his journey in the West and how his cosmopolitanism was embedded in his Diaspora literary works. He might have found his national identity and loved his homeland in the China Town located in the England and US. But the labyrinth of isolation, exclusion, and nostalgia always lingered on his heart. As he had to live separately in the England and US, it drove changes in his writing style and identity. The England was considered as ‘his second home’ but ‘somewhere he’s aware of limitation as an alien in the unfamiliar western world. However, the States can be interpreted as a place where guarantees writer’s freedom and provides opportunity to be a cosmopolitan. Chiangyee evaluated modern civilization of the US/the West on negative side, working on his writings but took balanced approach to harmonize the East and West. In fact, his writings had received attention from many readers in the West, rather than the East. But only few study was carried out enough for his accomplishment to pursue harmony of the East and West in the East Asia. Chiangyee, a Chinese writer in the States must be considered as an world-renowned writer to be focused not only by the literary world in the West, but also in S. Korea as well in the Diaspora, the supranational era. In this context, this study is expected to provide extensive, critical interpretation on Chiangyee in future.

환경유래 식품오염물질의 범부처 통합 저감화 플랫폼 설계

고아라(Ahra Ko),허지영(Ji-Young Heo),강영운(Young-Woon Kang*),강길진(Kil Jin Kang),정명섭(Myung-Sub Chung),이헌주(Hunjoo Lee) 한국환경보건학회 2017 한국환경보건학회지 Vol.43 No.4

Objectives: Chemicals derived from various environment media contaminates food across the food supply chain. In Korea, levels of contaminants in food have been sporadically measured by monitoring programs of different government agencies. There is difficulty with data compilation and integrated analysis across media. Therefore, the aim of this study was to propose an overall integrated database and analytical platform design for the ‘ECO-FOOD NET (Environmental COntaminant reduction platform for FOOD through an interagency collaboration NETwork)’, a tool to support the reduction of environmental contaminants in food. Methods: We developed a new data structure and standardized protocols for the compilation of integrated data. In addition, we conducted subject-oriented logical and physical relational database modeling and created the architecture design of the platform. Results: We established a standardized code system related to exposure media and route, analysis method and food matrix. In addition, we designed the seven software modules of ‘About the System’, ‘Introduction to Interagency Work’, ‘Media-Chemicals Profiles’, ‘Method Bank’, ‘Monitoring Data Base’, ‘Integrated Media Analysis’, and ‘Risk-Benefit Analysis’. Conclusions: This study will contribute to decision-making as a tool for executing risk management, such as sustainable reduction policies of contaminants in food.

Large-scale cold-start simulations for automotive fuel cells

Jo, Ahrae,Lee, Sungho,Kim, Whangi,Ko, Johan,Ju, Hyunchul Elsevier 2015 International journal of hydrogen energy Vol.40 No.2

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In this study, the three-dimensional transient cold-start model is applied to a real-scale polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) geometry, and transient cold-start simulations are carried out from subzero to normal temperatures. In order to reduce the computational turnaround time involved for a large numerical mesh with millions of grid points, the cold-start code is parallelized for parallel computing. The simulation results clearly show the evolution of ice, water content, temperature, and current density contours at different cold-start stages, characterizing freezing, melting, hydration, and dehydration processes. In addition, the model predictions emphasize the beneficial influence of vapor-phase diffusion from the cathode catalyst layer (CL) to the gas-diffusion layer (GDL) during cold starts, which can contribute to reducing ice accumulation in the cathode CL. As the effect of vapor-phase diffusion is substantial, more ice is accumulated in the cathode GDL than in the cathode CL. The total amount of ice accumulated inside a cell is therefore not always proportional to the amount of ice in the cathode CL, depending on the vapor-phase diffusion strength.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> We studied cold-start behaviors of real-scale PEFC geometry. </LI> <LI> The total cumulative ice mass was even higher in low cathode stoichiometry. </LI> <LI> As the effect of vapor phase diffusion, ice is accumulated in the cathode GDL. </LI> <LI> The total amount of ice mass in the cathode CL is always not a good indicator. </LI> </UL> </P>

사회적 고립 청년은 누구인가? - 고립청년 지원사업 참여 청년을 중심으로-

조미형(Cho, Mihyoung),고아라(Ko, Ahra) 한국사회복지학회 2022 한국사회복지학 Vol.74 No.4

본 연구는 ‘사회적 고립 청년’이라고 명명해야 하는 청년은 누구인가에 대한 연구 질문을 시작으로 사회적으로 고립된 청년에 대한 심층적인 이해를 목적으로 하였다. 이를 위해「2021년 저소득 · 구직단념 고립 청년 지원 사업」의 일환으로 수행된 “청년의 사회적 고립 측정 척도 개발 연구” 의 데이터 중 심층면접 자료(7명)와 설문조사 자료( 137명)를 결합한 혼합연구방법을 적용하였다. 분석 결과, 사업 참여 청년들의 사회적 고립이 시작된 시기, 고립된 채 지내는 현재 일상생활의 모습, 사회적 고립에 이르게 된 이유, 이들에게 일이 가지는 의미 등으로 범주화되었다. 이를 통해 고립 청년의 특징을 도출하였다. 청년의 사회적 고립은 어린 시절부터 시작되기도 하는데 학교 졸업/중퇴 이후부터 문제로 드러나게 된다. 이들은 사회(가족, 친구, 직장)의 일원으로서 소속감 없이 무기력한 일상을 보내고 있다. 사회적 관계의 어려움, 건강하지 않은 신체 · 정신, 취업 준비 부족 등은 청년 사회적 고립의 원인이자 결과이다. 일을 통해 규칙적인 일상이 생기고 경제적 자립과 함께 사회적 관계가 형성될 거라 기대한다. 이러한 고립 청년의 특징을 토대로 사회적으로 고립된 청년의 지원방안을 제안하였다. The purpose of this study is to examine the characteristics of socially isolated young adults in South Korea. For this purpose, the research question was set up. “Who are young adults that need to be classified as socially isolated?” To address the research question, “The Development of a Scale of Social Isolation among Young Adults” data derived from “2021 support program for socially isolated young adults of low-income and discouraged unemployed” were analyzed based on mixed methods combined in-depth interviews with questionnaire research. This study is concerned with young adults living in Seoul aged from 19 to 34, who participated in “Socially isolated young adults support project”. Furthermore, qualitative data of 7 participants and quantitative data of 137 people who participated in “Socially isolated young adults support project” were employed in this study. The result of this study reveals socially isolated young adults characteristics in various categories as follows: the time socially isolated, current daily life of being isolated, primary reason for being isolated, the meaning of the work to them. Social isolation often begins in childhood, but it turns out to be perceived after dropping out of school or graduation. Difficulties in building social relationships, unhealthy physical and mental illness, and preparation insufficiency for employment are both the causes and consequences of social isolation. As a member of society(family, friends, work), they are living a helplessness life without a sense of belonging. Nevertheless, by means of work, they expect to have a regular routine life and to form a social relationships along with financial independence. Based on these results, specific support plan for socially isolated young adults was suggested in this study.

Urinary Bisphenol A Levels and Exposure Assessment in the Korean Population

Jae-Hong Park,Ahra Ko,Da-Hyun Jeong,Myung-Sil Hwang,Jung-Mi Lee,In-Gyun Hwang 한국식품영양과학회 2014 한국식품영양과학회 학술대회발표집 Vol.2014 No.10

Dietary changes in Vietnamese marriage immigrant women: The KoGES follow-up study

Ji-Yun Hwang,Hakim Lee,Ahra Ko,Chan-Jung Han,Hye Won Chung,Namsoo Chang 한국영양학회 2014 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.8 No.3

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The immigrant population has grown considerably in South Korea since the early 1990s due to international marriages. Dietary changes in immigrants are an important issue, because they are related to health and disease patterns. This study was conducted to compare changes in dietary intake between baseline and follow-up periods. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Two hundreds thirty three Vietnamese female married immigrants. Baseline data were collected during 2006-2009, and the follow-up data were collected during 2008 and 2010. Food consumption was assessed using a 1-day 24-hour recall. RESULTS: The amount of the total food consumed (P < 0.001) including that of cereals (P = 0.004), vegetables (P = 0.003), and fruits (P = 0.002) decreased at follow-up compared to that at baseline, whereas consumption of milk and dairy products increased (P = 0.004). Accordingly, the overall energy and nutrient intake decreased at follow-up, including carbohydrates (P = 0.012), protein (P = 0.021), fiber (P = 0.008), iron (P = 0.009), zinc (P = 0.006), and folate (P = 0.002). Among various anthropometric and biochemical variables, mean skeletal muscle mass decreased (P = 0.012), plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol increased, (P = 0.020) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein decreased at follow-up (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A long-term follow-up study is needed to investigate the association between changes in food and nutrient intake and anthropometric and biochemical variables in these Vietnamese female marriage immigrants.