• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.63-71
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• 2020

Speech recognition is one of the areas actively commercialized using deep learning and machine learning techniques. However, the majority of speech recognition systems on the market are developed on data with limited diversity of speakers and tend to perform well on typical adult speakers only. This is because most of the speech recognition models are generally learned using a speech database obtained from adult males and females. This tends to cause problems in recognizing the speech of the elderly, children and people with dialects well. To solve these problems, it may be necessary to retain big database or to collect a data for applying a speaker adaptation. However, this paper proposes that a new end-to-end speech recognition method consists of an acoustic augmented recurrent encoder and a transformer decoder with linguistic prediction. The proposed method can bring about the reliable performance of acoustic and language models in limited data conditions. The proposed method was evaluated to recognize Korean elderly and children speech with limited amount of training data and showed the better performance compared of a conventional method.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.349-357
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• 2022

Background: The most consistently identified mortality determinants for the new coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection are aging, male sex, cardiovascular/respiratory diseases, and cancer. They were determined from heterogeneous cohorts that included patients with different disease severity and previous conditions. The main goal of this study was to determine if activities of daily living (ADL) dependence measured by Barthel's index could be a predictor for COVID-19 mortality. Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed with a consecutive sample of 340 COVID-19 patients representing patients from all over the northern region of Portugal from October 2020 to March 2021. Mortality risk factors were determined after controlling for demographics, ADL dependence, admission time, comorbidities, clinical manifestations, and delay-time for diagnosis. Central tendency measures were used to analyze continuous variables and absolute numbers (proportions) for categorical variables. For univariable analysis, we used t test, chi-square test, or Fisher exact test as appropriate (α=0.05). Multivariable analysis was performed using logistic regression. IBM SPSS version 27 statistical software was used for data analysis. Results: The cohort included 340 patients (55.3% females) with a mean age of 80.6±11.0 years. The mortality rate was 19.7%. Univariate analysis revealed that aging, ADL dependence, pneumonia, and dementia were associated with mortality and that dyslipidemia and obesity were associated with survival. In multivariable analysis, dyslipidemia (odds ratio [OR], 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17-0.71) was independently associated with survival. Age ≥86 years (pooled OR, 2.239; 95% CI, 1.100-4.559), pneumonia (pooled OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.362-6.606), and ADL dependence (pooled OR, 6.296; 95% CI, 1.795-22.088) were significantly related to mortality (receiver operating characteristic area under the curve, 82.1%; p<0.001). Conclusion: ADL dependence, aging, and pneumonia are three main predictors for COVID-19 mortality in an elderly population.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.2089-2099
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• 2015

This study examined the relationships between the blood heavy metal (Pb, Hg and Cd) concentration and exposure-related factors. The subjects were 2,042 (male: 953, female: 1,089) who were recruited through a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Differences in the concentrations of mercury were observed in males, whereas females showed differences in lead and cadmium. Analyses of the blood concentrations according to body mass index and waist circumference showed significantly higher concentrations of mercury. In males, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol of dyslipidemia was higher than normal in the blood lead concentration. In females, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of dyslipidemia was higher than normal in the blood lead concentration. The blood lead and cadmium concentrations of male smokers was higher than non-smokers, and cadmium showed the same results in females. The blood lead levels were higher in male alcohol consumers than non-drinkers. The blood concentrations of mercury and cadmium showed significant differences according to household income. Blood concentrations of heavy metals were closely related to exposure-related factors, and age, smoking, drinking alcohols, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and household income were found to be relevant.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4379-4386
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• 2013

Projection of cancer incidence is essential for planning cancer control actions, health care and allocation of resources. Here we project the cancer burden at the National and State level to understand the magnitude of cancer problem for the various calendar years from 2011 to 2026 at 5-yearly intervals. The age, sex and site-wise cancer incidence data along with populations covered by the registries were obtained from the report of National Cancer Registry Programme published by Indian Council of Medical Research for the period 2001-2004. Pooled age sex specific cancer incidence rates were obtained by taking weighted averages of these seventeen registries with respective registry populations as weights. The pooled incidence rates were assumed to represent the country's incidence rates. Populations of the country according to age and sex exposed to the risk of development of cancer in different calendar years were obtained from the report of Registrar General of India providing population projections for the country for the years from 2001 to 2026. Population forecasts were combined with the pooled incidence rates to estimate the projected number of cancer cases by age, sex and site of cancer at various 5-yearly periods Viz. 2011, 2016, 2021 and 2026. The projections were carried out for the various leading sites as well as for 'all sites' of cancer. In India, in 2011, nearly 1,193,000 new cancer cases were estimated; a higher load among females (603,500) than males (589,800) was noted. It is estimated that the total number of new cases in males will increased from 0.589 million in 2011 to 0.934 million by the year 2026. In females the new cases of cancer increased from 0.603 to 0.935 million. Three top most occurring cancers namely those of tobacco related cancers in both sexes, breast and cervical cancers in women account for over 50 to 60 percent of all cancers. When adjustments for increasing tobacco habits and increasing trends in many cancers are made, the estimates may further increase. The leading sites of cancers in males are lung, oesophagus, larynx, mouth, tongue and in females breast and cervix uteri. The main factors contributing to high burden of cancer over the years are increase in the population size as well as increase in proportion of elderly population, urbanization, and globalization. The cancer incidence results show an urgent need for strengthening and augmenting the existing diagnostic/treatment facilities, which are inadequate even to tackle the present load.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.65-75
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was conducted to provide fundamental information for policy integration of the home health care system. Methods: Focused review was performed from 8 studies out of 48 literature related to home care needs. Results: Females utilized home care based on hospital and public health centers at a higher rate than males. While there had been more rate of the elderly above 60 year-old at hospital and community based home care, on the other hand below 45 year-old at public health center. The most common disease amongst users in all three types was cerebrovascular disease, the second was cancer based at hospitals, hypertension and arthritis at public health centers. There were more needs for those using artificial respiratory equipment, cancer patients, and puerpera. However, the needs for hospital and community based home care were very similar. Conclusions: Due to similar disease characteristics but varied severity at the three home care based settings, they should be managed with flexibility. Home care curriculum should be developed according to common disease type, and home care services should be strengthened for its expertise.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.851-856
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• 1995

Thymectomy has played a central role in the management of myasthenia gravis. Although both the etiology of myasthenia gravis and the reason for improvement after thymectomy remain incompletely explained, complete removal of the thymus is the logical goal of surgical treatment for this disease.From April 1989 to June 1994, maximal thymectomy was performed for 19 cases of myasthenia gravis at Chonnam National University Hospital. The results were as follows:1.Among the 19 cases, male-to-female ratio was 1:1.4, the age ranged 13 years to 71 years, and a diphasic presentation appeared with a peak in young females and a second peak in elderly males;2.Five cases were classified by modified Osserman`s classification as Group I and Group IIa and 14 cases as Group IIb and Group IIc; 3.Histologic examination of the excised thymus glands revealed normality in 5 cases [26% , thymic hyperplasia in 4 [21% , benign thymoma in 8 [42% , and malignant thymoma in 2 [11% ;4.There was no operative mortalities but two deaths occurred during the follow-up periods due to myasthenic crisis and other causes;5.The clinical improvement and the complete remission rates were 85% and 32%, respectively;6.The clinical improvement and the complete remission rates were not so good in patients with thymomas, beeing 70% and 20%, respectively; and 7.Young women with hyperplasia of the thymic tissue tended to show the best response to thymectomy.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.129-139
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to compare the hairstyles between Korean and Australian women, who have different individual hair characteristics, social backgrounds, and culture from each other. Data were collected through a survey of 208 Australian females and 392 Koreans. Frequency analysis, t-test, and two-way ANOVA were used to analyze the data. The results are as follows: Korean and Australian women maintain a hairstyle for six months or less in most of the cases. They preferred a hairstyle with bang, and the elderly especially a shorter hair length. Choosing their hairstyles depended on such factors as hair length, dyeing, form of face, harmony with clothing, and social status. There was no difference, however, in a preferred hair length. Korean women possessed brown and black hair colors in a descending order, whereas Australians light blonde and brown in a descending order as well. There was a big difference in the preference for a permanent wave. Korean women preferred to give a volume or curl to their hair, while Australians wanted to have a straight hair. According to the study on a hairstyle behavior, it was found that there were differences in fashion and individuality between two countries and also in dependency among age groups, whereas no differences existed in beauty.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.219-229
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of osteoarthritis and its risk factors among a community dwelling population age 60-74 and 75 and over (young-old vs. old-old) in Korea. Methods: A total of 1,389 of age 60-74 and 397 of age 75 and over from the 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were selected. The data analysis was performed using the complex sampling function of SPSS version 19.0. Results: The prevalence of osteoarthritis was greater for old-old people (35.50%) compared to young-old people (18.20%). Univariate logistic regression analysis shows that the difference of risk factors for osteoarthritis between young-old and old-old elderly people. The prevalence of osteoarthritis in young-old people was associated with lower education levels; performance of moderate intensity physical activity; higher waist circumference, whereas old-old people was most affected in females; depression and experience. Conclusion: The finding of differences in the prevalence of osteoarthritis and its' risk factors between young-old and old-old people is expected to promote the screening strategy for the aged at risk of osteoarthritis in the Korean community.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.289-297
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to categorize and to understand the structure of subjectivity in the gender role identity of older female adults. The perception of gender role identity is subjective and varies according to the uniqueness of individual experiences and the value of social culture. Methods: Q-methodology, a technique for extracting subjective opinions was used. In 2010, forty participants completed the Q-sort activity, rating each statement relative to the others. The Q sample has two categories, representing masculinity and femininity, and each category has 20 statements, resulting in 40 adjectives. Results: Using the Q factor analysis, three classifications were identified: 'caring-affectionate type,', 'assertive-confident type,' and 'sensitive-affectionate type.' Despite the differences among the three types in this research, elderly females are likely to have the understanding and patience to comfort others and care for the children. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed new dimensional types of gender role identity and raise the issue of why we need to develop methods for the new dimensional types. Based on the results, further research is needed to compare the findings with those of older males or with women of different age groups.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.218-227
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• 2014

In this study, we ran a collage fashion illustration program. We used in depth personal interviews to find if there are any change in self-image by psychologically analyzing the features of self-images expressed in the pieces of fashion illustration. The total number of objects were five females students majoring in fashion design in Busan. They were hoping to have a psychology consultation to resolve their concerns about the future, family affairs, appearance, and careers. Collage fashion illustration program was used as a experimental tool to find the psychological features shown in the formats and content of collage fashion illustration. We then figure out how pre and post diagnosis were different from each other in terms of ego-identity and DAP. As a result, the formats in collage fashion illustration are related to the self images such as psychological energy, incompetency, suppression, and tendency of self-centered. Also, the contents of the fashion expression are related to the self-images such as dependency, avoidance, wariness, and self-regard. All of the participants have improved self-regard and active action due to improvements in subjectivity, initiative, and goal orientation. Therefore, they could change from pessimistic self-images to optimistic ones.