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This paper on language learner strategies utilizes a little used quantitative, datamining technique called cluster analysis to investigate characteristics of groups of South Korean learners of English. After 71 students in three first-year university liberal arts English conversation courses completed the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL), and the number of learning strategies was reduced from 50 to 26 based on standard deviation (SD) results, the non-hierarchical (K-means) 3-cluster procedure was applied to the self-reported data. Following statistical analysis, each of the three cluster groups could be profiled according to achievement scores. At this point, six items emerged as particularly meaningful with regard to the latter, including direct strategies (a memory one and a cognitive one) and indirect strategies (two affective and two metacognitive). These strategies and their significance with reference to the local context as well as results previously reported in the literature are discussed. Finally, limitations of the study and implications for future research using cluster analysis are reported.

The non-pharmaceutical interventions implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have affected the epidemiology of other respiratory viruses. In South Korea, Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) typically occurs from winter to the following spring; however, it was not detected for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic and re-emerged in the fall of 2022, which is a non-epidemic season. To examine the molecular genetic characteristics of HMPV before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, we analyzed 427 HMPV-positive samples collected in the Gwangju area from 2018 to 2022. Among these, 24 samples were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Compared to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence rate of HMPV in 2022 increased by 2.5-fold. Especially in the age group of 6–10 years, the incidence rate increased by more than 4.5-fold. In the phylogenetic analysis results, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the A2.2.2 lineage was predominant, while in 2022, the A2.2.1 and B2 lineage were observed. The non-pharmaceutical interventions implemented after COVID-19, such as social distancing, have reduced opportunities for exposure to HMPV, subsequently leading to decreased acquisition of immunity. As a result, HMPV occurred during non-epidemic seasons, influencing the age distribution of its occurrences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kim, H.D.; Aoki,S.; Kim, K.H.; Kim, J.; Shin, B., and Lee, K., 2020. Bathymetric survey for seabed topography using multibeam echo counder in Wando, Korea. In: Malvárez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 527–531. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Bathymetric survey measures the water depth of the ocean floors accurately. This survey helps produce a nautical chart which is used in numerical simulations, constructions, and more, as well as this project itself. This particular study was conducted to measure the water depth and map the ocean floor of Wando, Korea. With the help of various types of equipment, including multibeam echo sounder, differential GPS (DGPS), motion sensor, gyro compass, and sound velocimeter, bathymetric survey was made possible. Multibeam echo sounder was attached to the boat, emitting a total of 256 beams from a point centered directly below the boat. Water depth data was acquired from the underwater sound velocity using the return time of the beam. DGPS calculated the error value by comparing the position data of the control point at the base station where the position is already known via the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency and where the position value is measured by using the receiver of the GPS. Throughout the survey, abnormal bodies were found even after the quality control filtering. These objects were as such classified through further detailed investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]