• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.615-620
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• 2018

Evaluation of clinical usefulness of current perception threshold test and vibration sense perception threshold test in diagnosing the diabetic poly-neuropathy patients is one of the diagnosis methods for diabetic poly-neuropathy. Up to the present, some diagnostic methods were used for diabetic poly neuropathy patients. For example, there are neuropathy impairment score test of lower limbs, nerve conduction test, cooling detection threshold test, heat-pain threshold test and so on. However, most of the above tests require very expensive cost and take a lot of time in test. In this paper, a new apparatus estimating vibration sense ability is introduced. For this purpose, the VCM(voice coil motor) stimulating patient's peripheral nerve and current amplifier were manufactured. Also, softwares sensing and driving the vibration detection threshold test in order to measure the quantitative vibration sensory levels in diabetic poly-neuropathy patients were developed.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the ex vivo diagnostic ability of 9 different cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) settings in the detection of recurrent caries under amalgam restorations in primary teeth. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two primary teeth were used. Twenty-six teeth had dentine caries and 26 teeth did not have dentine caries. Black class II cavities were prepared and restored with amalgam. In the 26 carious teeth, recurrent caries were left under restorations. The other 26 intact teeth that did not have caries served as controls. Teeth were imaged using a $100{\times}90-mm$ field of view and a 0.2-mm voxel size with 9 different CBCT settings. Four observers assessed the images using a 5-point scale. Kappa values were calculated to assess observer agreement. CBCT settings were compared with the gold standard using a receiver operating characteristic analysis. The area under the curve (AUC) values for each setting were compared using the chi-square test, with a significance level of ${\alpha}=.05$. Results: Intraobserver kappa values ranged from 0.366 to 0.664 for observer 1, from 0.311 to 0.447 for observer 2, from 0.597 to 1.000 for observer 3, and from 0.869 to 1 for observer 4. Furthermore, interobserver kappa values among the observers ranged from 0.133 to 0.814 for the first reading and from 0.197 to 0.805 for the second reading. The highest AUC values were found for setting 5 (0.5916) and setting 3 (0.5886), and were not found to be statistically significant(P>.05). Conclusion: Variations in tube voltage and tube current did not affect the detection of recurrent caries under amalgam restorations in primary teeth.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.45 no.1 s.112
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• pp.97-104
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to extract some suggestions in developing the elementary students' abilities to solve the fundamental mathematical problems by analyzing the degree of the correlation between the fundamental mathematical capability and the reading capability of the elementary 3th graders. In order to achieve this goal, this article analyzed the correlation between the fundamental mathematical capability and the reading capability on the basis of the studying result about the diagnostic evaluation conducted on 20,556 elementary 3th graders by the KICE as a national level basic scholastic achievement evaluation. The coefficient of correlation between the fundamental mathematical capability and the reading capability was .621. As such, it shows that the reading capability plays an important role in solving the fundamental mathematical problems. Particularly, the coefficient of correlation between the corollary arguments and the problem solving ability and the reading capability was the highest among the sub-capabilities of fundamental mathematical capability. In addition, judging from the result that the coefficient of correlation between the practical understanding capability and the solving capability of the fundamental mathematical problems was .528, it informs that the practical understanding capability takes an' important part in developing the fundamental mathematical capability of the elementary students. The results of this study support the hypothesis that the understanding capability plays the very important role in solving the fundamental mathematical problems. In particular, the results suggest that it is necessary that the pupils should be simultaneously supported not only by the capability of the mathematical basis, but also by the reading capability, especially the practical understanding capability about the problems, in order to develop the capability to solve the fundamental mathematical problems.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.49-55
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• 2020

Purpose: This study investigated the association between the objective indicator of masticatory function assessment and the masseter muscle thickness (MMT) using ultrasound imaging. Methods: A total of 99 subjects (males: 24, females: 75, mean age: 76) were analyzed. The maximum bite force (MBF) was measured with a pressure-sensitive sheet and an image scanner. The mixing ability index (MAI) was calculated by image analysis after asking the subjects to chew a wax specimen. The MMT during rest and clenching were obtained with a diagnostic ultrasound system, and the difference in MMT during rest and MMT during clenching was defined as the difference in masseter muscle thickness (DMMT). Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the independent variables affecting MBF and MAI. Results: The MBF showed correlation with the number of remaining teeth (β=0.346, p=0.002) and DMMT (β=0.251, p=0.011). The MAI correlated with only the number of remaining teeth (β=0.476, p<0.001). Conclusions: The DMMT reflects the state of masseter muscle contraction, and can be used as a predictor as well as the number of teeth when assessing masticatory function.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.265-272
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• 2019

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) with that of parallel(PPA) and oblique projected periapical(OPA) radiography for the detection of different types of peri-implant bone defects. Materials and Methods: Forty implants inserted into bovine rib blocks were used. Thirty had standardized bone defects(10 each of angular, fenestration, and dehiscence defects), and 10 were defect-free controls. CBCT, PPA, and OPA images of the samples were acquired. The images were evaluated twice by each of 2 blinded observers regarding the presence or absence and the type of the defects. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were determined for each radiographic technique. The 3 modalities were compared using the Fisher exact and chi-square tests, with P<0.05 considered as statistical significance. Results: High inter-examiner reliability was observed for the 3 techniques. Angular defects were detected with high sensitivity and specificity by all 3 modalities. CBCT and OPA showed similar AUC and sensitivity in the detection of fenestration defects. In the identification of dehiscence defects, CBCT showed the highest sensitivity, followed by OPA and PPA, respectively. CBCT and OPA had a significantly greater ability than PPA to detect fenestration and dehiscence defects(P<0.05). Conclusion: The application of OPA radiography in addition to routine PPA imaging as a radiographic follow-up method for dental implantation greatly enhances the visualization of fenestration and dehiscence defects. CBCT properly depicted all defect types studied, but it involves a relatively high dose of radiation and cost.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.181-200
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• 2013

The test instrument utilized to diagnose and evaluate a trainee's ability are necessary for an effective information literacy education. Nevertheless, there is a lack of a standardized test instrument to comprehensively measure students' information literacy. The purpose of this study is to develop a standardized test instrument to evaluate the information literacy of middle school students, and to verify the reliability and validity of the test instrument. For this purpose, this study selected factors that can show the information literacy and developed an information literacy test framework that was designed based on Guilford's SOI model and Meeker's SOI-LA test. The test instrument that was developed through this study is a 30-item Web-based multiple-choice test. This study administrated tests in middle school students (794 students joined), and analyzed difficulty, reliability, discrimination index, validity of tests, and reviewed tests items to qualify the standardized test. The cutoff score was also decided when using these tests as a diagnostic information literacy assessment.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.811-830
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• 2014

A numerical study has been carried out to simulate an innovative monitoring procedure to detect and localize damage in reinforced concrete beams retrofitted with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) unidirectional laminates. The main novelty of the present simulation is its ability to conduct the electromechanical admittance monitoring technique by considerably compressing the amount of data required for damage detection and localization. A FEM simulation of electromechanical admittance-based sensing technique was employed by applying lead zirconate titanate (PZT) transducers to acquire impedance spectrum signatures. Response surface methodology (RSM) is finally adopted as a tool for solving inverse problems to estimate the location and size of damaged areas from the relationship between damage and electromechanical admittance changes computed at PZT transducer surfaces. This statistical metamodel technique allows polynomial models to be produced without requiring complicated modeling or numerous data sets after the generation of damage, leading to considerably lower cost of creating diagnostic database. Finally, a numerical example is carried out regarding a steel-reinforced concrete (RC) beam model monotonically loaded up to its failure which is also retrofitted by a CFRP laminate to verify the validity of the present metamodeling monitoring technique. The load-carrying capacity of concrete is predicted in the present paper by utilizing an Ottosen-type failure surface in order to better take into account the passive confinement behavior of retrofitted concrete material under the application of FRP laminate.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.175-199
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• 2013

The purpose of this paper is tthe first, diagnosing the effect of terminal operating strategy which Busan Port container operators established and executed by the strategy execution process (XPP) model, second, enhancing the competitiveness of Busan Port Container Terminal by presenting ways to improve the executive ability of strategies. In order to achieve the purpose, this study utilized XPP 6 steps diagnostic variables of Kaplan and Dr. Norton for problems of the strategy execution of Busan Port container operators and conducted the survey of 7-point scale targeting employees of Busan Port container operators for the variable measurement.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6983-6987
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• 2014

Background: Modified toluidine blue staining (MTBs) is a simple, inexpensive and time saving method to detect H. pylori in gastric biopsy specimens. As a metachromatic stain, it simultaneously highlights intestinal metaplasia, a gastric cancer precancerous lesion. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of MTBs compared with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) for H. pylori detection using immunoperoxidase staining as the gold standard. This technique would be beneficial for a routine diagnosis and confirmation of H. pylori eradication in developing countries where endoscopic-based approaches are dominant. Materials and Methods: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with triple site gastric biopsies was undertaken in 207 dyspeptic patients at Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand between 1997 and 1999. H&E, MTBs and immunoperoxidase staining were applied to each specimen. The presence or absence of H. pylori with each stain was interpreted separately and the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of H&E and MTBs were calculated. Results: A total of 282 specimens from 207 patients were evaluated. Using immunoperoxidase staining, organisms were positive in 117 specimens (41%). MTBs proved almost equally sensitive as immunoperoxidase (99%) and significantly more sensitive than H&E (85%). It has comparable specificity (96% vs 96%), PPV (95% vs 94%), and NPV (99% vs 90%) to H&E, using immunoperoxidase staining as gold standard. MTBs compared with immunoperoxidase staining, is cheaper (2 USD vs 12 USD) and faster (20 min vs 16 hrs) compared to immunoperoxidase staining. Conclusions: MTBs is effective, economical and easy to use in daily practice for the detection of H. pylori in gastric biopsy specimens. In addition to saving time in evaluating H. pylori associated gastritis, with a high sensitivity and ability to demonstrate intestinal metaplasia, the technique may have a role in confirmation of H. pylori eradication for gastric cancer prevention in a developing country setting.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.3043-3050
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• 2015

The tumor microenvironment (TME) includes numerous non-neoplastic cells such as leukocytes and fibroblasts that surround the neoplasm and influence its growth. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and cancerassociated fibroblasts (CAFs) are documented as key players in facilitating cancer appearance and progression. Alteration of the macrophage (CD68, CD163) and fibroblast (${\alpha}-SMA$, FSP-1) cells in Opisthorchis viverrini (Ov) -induced cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) was here assessed using liver tissues from an established hamster model and from 43 human cases using immunohistochemistry. We further investigated whether M2-activated TAMs influence CCA cell migration ability by wound healing assay and Western blot analysis. Macrophages and fibroblasts change their phenotypes to M2-TAMs (CD68+, CD163+) and CAFs (${\alpha}-SMA+$, FSP-1+), respectively in the early stages of carcinogenesis. Interestingly, a high density of the M2-TAMs CCA in patients is significantly associated with the presence of extrahepatic metastases (p=0.021). Similarly, CD163+ CCA cells are correlated with metastases (p=0.002), and they may be representative of an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) with increased metastatic activity. We further showed that M2-TAM conditioned medium can induce CCA cell migration as well as increase N-cadherin expression (mesenchymal marker). The present work revealed that significant TME changes occur at an early stage of Ov-induced carcinogenesis and that M2-TAMs are key factors contributing to CCA metastasis, possibly via EMT processes.