• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.205-213
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• 2002

Objective : Whether exposure to chronic noise induces an increase in blood pressure, or the development of hypertension, has not been established. A cohort study was performed to identify the effects of chronic noise exposure on blood pressure. Methods : 530 males working at a metal manufacturing factory in Busan, Korea were enrolled for the study. They were monitored for 9 consecutive years, from 1991 to 1999, with an annual health check-up. The subjects were divided into 4 groups, which were determines by noise level categories(NLC) according to noise intensity ; NLC-I: office workers, exposed to noise a level below 60dB(A) ; NLC-II: field technical supporters or supervisors, frequently exposed to workplace noise, wearing no hearing protection device; NLC-III: workers, exposed to workplace noise below 85dB(A), wearing ear plugs or muffs; NLC-IV: workers, exposed to workplace noise over 85 dB(A), wearing both ear plugs and muffs. Results : After controlling possible confoundens, such as baseline age, smoking, alcohol intake, exercise, family history of hypertension, systolic(SBP) of diastolic blood pressure(DBP) and changes in BMI (body mass index), the pooled mean for the systolic blood pressures, over the duration of the study period, were 3.8mmHg, 2.0mmHg and 1.7mmHg higher in NLC-IV, NLC-III NLC-II groups, respectively, than in the NLC-I group. There were no significant differences in the diastolic blood pressures between the groups. Conclusion : This study suggests that chronic noise exposure increases systolic blood pressure independently, among male workers.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.291-297
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• 2008

We investigated whether 1) the combined capsaicin (75 mg), sesamin (30 mg), and L-carnitine (900 mg) (CCSC) ingestion enhances autonomic nervous system (ANS) activities including thermogenic sympathetic activity as energy metabolic modulator, 2) ${\beta}_3-AR$ polymorphism of each subject influences with ANS activity. Seven healthy males $(22.0{\pm}0.5\;yr)$ volunteered for this study. The cardiac autonomic nervous activities evaluated by means of heart rate variability of power spectral analysis were continuously measured during 5 min every 30 min for total 120 min resting condition with CCSC or placebo oral administration chosen at random. The results indicated that, there are not $Arp/Arg^{64}$ variants of the ${\beta}_3-AR$ genotypes in our subjects. There were not also significant differences in heart rate during rest between both trials. The difference of ANS activity did not reach the statistical significance between both trials. However, the significant improvement showed TOTAL power, HF component, and the indices of SNS and PNS activities before and at 30 min after CCSC ingestion (p<0.05, respectively). In conclusions, although each component of combined CCSC is associated with lipolysis and/or fat oxidation, the combined CCSC consumption is not influenced in stimulation of thermogenic sympathetic activity as modulator of energy metabolism. In rather, our results suggested that CCSC ingestion improves the balance of both SNS and PNS activities. Therefore, it will be considered many combined nutrient components for ergogenic and/or lipolysis effects as well as genetic variants affecting ANS activity in further studies.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.364-372
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• 2010

Purpose : Good adherence of caregivers is essential for successful health outcomes in the treatment of childhood asthma. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors contributing to good adherence of maintenance treatment in children with well-controlled asthma. Methods : Children with well-controlled asthma being treated with a daily controller for at least 3 months in Korea University Anam Hospital were selected. Their caregivers who had good adherence to maintenance treatment were recruited. Qualitative study through in-depth interviews was conducted with 18 caregivers who agreed to the study. Results : The 18 caregivers (mean age, 40.0 years) consisted of 15 mothers, 2 grandmothers, and 1 father. The resulting consensus were identified and grouped into 2 domains: the caregiver/patient aspect with 8 theme factors and the treatment aspect with 4 theme factors. The main theme factors in the caregiver/patient aspect were enabling participation in physical activities and exercise (77.8%), perceptions regarding asthma and the need for long-term treatment (50.0%), and perceived value of the medications outweighing the risk of side effects (38.9%). The main theme factors in the treatment aspect were trust in the physician (77.8%), general satisfaction with the manner and attitude of the physician (77.8%) and verification of the necessity of further treatment by performing tests (38.9%). Conclusion : Efforts to improve caregivers' adherence to the treatment of childhood asthma must include a range of factors related to both caregiver/patient aspects and treatment aspects. Among all of these factors, it may be most important to establish a physician-caregiver partnership.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.366-373
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• 2005

This study was carried out to investigate the self-reported health and eating habit of the elite female adolescent athletes in Incheon. The subjects were 102 elite female athletes of middle and high schools located in Inchon. A self-administered Questionnaire was used for this cross-sectional survey. Statistical analysis by two-way ANOVA was performed to discriminate between the main effects of age (as middle and high school athletes) and sports type, and their interaction. As use of nutritional supplements, 35.8% of the total subjects took vitamin and iron supplements and 62.5% of field and track athletes took vitamin and iron supplements. While mental stress related to exercise was much in fencing ＆gt; shooting ＆gt; field and track ＆gt; swimming athletes, physical burden during training was higher in swimming ＆gt; field and track ＆gt; fencing ＆gt; shooting athletes. More than half of the subjects showed irregular menstrual cycle. As the most severe problem of eating habit, they reported skipping meal ＆gt; overeating ＆gt; prejudiced meal ＆gt; preference to salty and spicy foods. More than half of the subjects skipped meal over three times per week. Fencing and shooting athletes showed very significantly higher frequency of skipping meal and more irregular breakfast time compared to those of other sport types. As for snack, they ate cookies, carbonated drink, chocolate, candy ＆gt; milk, yogurt, ice cream ＆gt; cake, bread, rice cake ＆gt; fried noodle ＆gt; hamburger, pizza. Therefore, nutritional counseling and education by sport type are necessary for health and good eating habit of these elite female adolescent athletes.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.51 no.12
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• pp.180-188
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• 2014

It is very important accurate diagnosis and quick treatment in cerebrovascular disease, i.e. stenosis or occlusion that could be caused by risk factors such as poor dietary habits, insufficient exercise, and obesity. Time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA), it is well known as diagnostic method without using contrast agent for cerebrovascular disease, is the most representative and reliable technique. Nevertheless, it still has measurement errors (also known as overestimation) for length of stenosis and area of occlusion in celebral infarction that is built by accumulation and rupture of plaques generated by hemodynamic turbulence. The purpose of this study is to show clinical trial feasibility for 3D-SPACE T2, which is improved by using signal attenuation effects of fluid velocity, in diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease. To model angiostenosis, strictures of different proportions (40%, 50%, 60%, and 70%) and virtual blood stream (normal saline) of different velocities (0.19 ml/sec, 1.5 ml/sec, 2.1 ml/sec, and 2.6 ml/sec) by using dialysis were made. Cross-examinations were performed for 3D-SPACE T2 and TOF-MRA (16 times each). The accuracy of measurement for length of stenosis was compared in all experimental conditions. 3D-SPACE 2T has superiority in terms of accuracy for measurements of the length of stenosis, compared with TOF-MRA. Also, it is robust in fast blood stream and large stenosis than TOF-MRA. 3D-SPACE 2T will be promising technique to increase diagnosis accuracy in narrow complex lesions as like two cerebral small vessels with stenosis, created by hemodynamic turbulence.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.645-653
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• 2011

The aim of this study was to develop a Pulsed Magnetic Fields(PMFs) system which can produce effects locally and simulate muscular tissues equally. To evaluate the PMFs system we caused DOMS(Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) to subjects in biceps of the arm. Then, we stimulated acupoint HT2 using PMFs(20 minutes) and TEAS(20 minutes) for 2 days. The other subjects did not stimulate. Then we checked body surface temperature in biceps of the arm. All subjects had an asymmetrical body surface temperature in biceps after exercise(Non-stimulation group=$2.00{\pm}1.16^{\circ}C$, TEAS group=$1.73{\pm}0.52^{\circ}C$, PMFs group=$1.48{\pm}0.51^{\circ}C$). After 1st stimulation all subjects had decreased temperature differences(Non-stimulation group=$1.37{\pm}0.71^{\circ}C$, TEAS group=$1.08{\pm}0.43^{\circ}C$, PMFs group=$1.23{\pm}0.15^{\circ}C$). PMFs group had a symmetry body surface temperature after 24 hours($0.05{\pm}0.06^{\circ}C$) and TEAS group had that after 48 hours($0.1{\pm}0.08^{\circ}C$). Non-stimulation group did not recovery after 48 hours($0.37{\pm}0.06^{\circ}C$). Therefore, PMFs on acupoint had an therapeutic effect in DOMS.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.325-331
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the self-perceived fatigue among 262 dental hygiene students, who have recently experienced clinical practice. In this study, a structured self-reported questionnaire was used to assess and analyze the severity of fatigue among the population. This study was performed from January to September in 2013 to effectively encompass clinical practice. The results are as follows: The self-perceived fatigue of the subjects was significantly higher in a subjective unhealthy group than a subjective healthy group (p=0.000), in a group that was unsatisfied with their program than a group that was satisfied with it (p=0.000), in a group that had dissatisfaction in clinical practice than a group that had satisfaction with it (p=0.000), in a group that had over five weekly of clinical practice than a group that didn't (p=0.000), in a group that had more than 100 patients a day than a group that didn't (p=0.000), in a group that had conflicts between fellow staff than those who didn't (p=0.000), in a group that did not exercise regularly than a group that did (p=0.016). The result of using multiple regression analysis revealed that the variable factors affecting the degree of the self-perceived fatigue were; subjective health status, satisfaction with a clinical practice, the length of clinical practice, the number of patients, and staff conflicts. These variable factors have the explanatory power of 44.5%. In conclusion, to decrease fatigue and allow students in clinical practice to perform effectively, clinical practice educators need to actively participate as a community and develop programs that will decrease the fatigue of students. In addition, in-depth research is needed on the effects of outside factors and variables affecting fatigue.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.251-268
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• 2016

The present study has the purpose of analyzing the relationship between entrepreneurial characteristics and success factors of small-scale start-up founders as well as the relationship between success factors and performances of start-up businesses. It is also aimed in this study to determine the structural effects of start-up founders' characteristic upon their performances and by thus, to provide those who prepare for and/or have been operating start-up business with suggestions for stable and successful start-up as well operation. The study resulted in the following outcomes: First, the analysis of the relationship between characteristics and success factors of start-up business found that the empirical characteristics of small-scale start-up business founders might influence every factor for their success including the financial conditions as well as management of shops, products and service. Their psychological characteristics, however, turned out to have influence upon the management of products and service only, but not upon the financial conditions and management of shops, a result implying that the higher desire and creativity small-scale start-up business founders have, the more probable the start-up businesses become successful. Second it was learned from the analysis of the relationship between success factors and performances of start-up businesses that such success factors of start-ups as financial conditions as well as management of shops, products and service could exercise impact upon their performances, signifying that the exact decision making of small-scale start-up founders might affect the performances of small-scale start-up businesses. Third, the analysis of the relationship between entrepreneurial characteristics and performances of start-up founders revealed that both empirical and psychological characteristics of start-up founders might have influence upon the performances of start-up businesses, leading to the conclusion that small-scale start-up founders could achieve higher performances in their start-up when they are highly aware of empirical and psychological characteristics for start-up as part of entrepreneurial characteristics.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.181-199
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• 2010

As rapid progress of population aging and strong interest in health, the demand for new healthcare service is increasing. Until now healthcare service has provided post treatment by face-to-face manner. But according to related researches, proactive treatment is resulted to be more effective for preventing diseases. Particularly, the existing healthcare services have limitations in preventing and managing metabolic syndrome such a lifestyle disease, because the cause of metabolic syndrome is related to life habit. As the advent of ubiquitous technology, patients with the metabolic syndrome can improve life habit such as poor eating habits and physical inactivity without the constraints of time and space through u-healthcare service. Therefore, lots of researches for u-healthcare service focus on providing the personalized healthcare service for preventing and managing metabolic syndrome. For example, Kim et al.(2010) have proposed a healthcare model for providing the customized calories and rates of nutrition factors by analyzing the user's preference in foods. Lee et al.(2010) have suggested the customized diet recommendation service considering the basic information, vital signs, family history of diseases and food preferences to prevent and manage coronary heart disease. And, Kim and Han(2004) have demonstrated that the web-based nutrition counseling has effects on food intake and lipids of patients with hyperlipidemia. However, the existing researches for u-healthcare service focus on providing the predefined one-way u-healthcare service. Thus, users have a tendency to easily lose interest in improving life habit. To solve such a problem of u-healthcare service, this research suggests a u-healthcare recommender system which is based on collaborative filtering principle and social network. This research follows the principle of collaborative filtering, but preserves local networks (consisting of small group of similar neighbors) for target users to recommend context aware healthcare services. Our research is consisted of the following five steps. In the first step, user profile is created using the usage history data for improvement in life habit. And then, a set of users known as neighbors is formed by the degree of similarity between the users, which is calculated by Pearson correlation coefficient. In the second step, the target user obtains service information from his/her neighbors. In the third step, recommendation list of top-N service is generated for the target user. Making the list, we use the multi-filtering based on user's psychological context information and body mass index (BMI) information for the detailed recommendation. In the fourth step, the personal information, which is the history of the usage service, is updated when the target user uses the recommended service. In the final step, a social network is reformed to continually provide qualified recommendation. For example, the neighbors may be excluded from the social network if the target user doesn't like the recommendation list received from them. That is, this step updates each user's neighbors locally, so maintains the updated local neighbors always to give context aware recommendation in real time. The characteristics of our research as follows. First, we develop the u-healthcare recommender system for improving life habit such as poor eating habits and physical inactivity. Second, the proposed recommender system uses autonomous collaboration, which enables users to prevent dropping and not to lose user's interest in improving life habit. Third, the reformation of the social network is automated to maintain the quality of recommendation. Finally, this research has implemented a mobile prototype system using JAVA and Microsoft Access2007 to recommend the prescribed foods and exercises for chronic disease prevention, which are provided by A university medical center. This research intends to prevent diseases such as chronic illnesses and to improve user's lifestyle through providing context aware and personalized food and exercise services with the help of similar users'experience and knowledge. We expect that the user of this system can improve their life habit with the help of handheld mobile smart phone, because it uses autonomous collaboration to arouse interest in healthcare.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.4 s.55
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• pp.801-814
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• 1996

Background: Korean people could abuse healthy foods as well as medications, which might cause serious side effects. The aim of this study was elucidating liver dysfunction due to the self-medications of hepatotonics, healthy foods and herb medications by nested case-control study. Methods: Study subjects were drawn from male members of Seoul Cohort Study who were recruited by self-administered structured questionnaire survey through mailing to the healthy men between the age of 40 and 59 years through the program of biennial health check-up offered by Korea Medical Insurance Corporation(KMIC). The liver dysfunction was defined as the level of serum AST and ALT above 40 IU/L and increased in more than one hunderd per-cent during the 2 year follow-up period. To estimate the odds ratio between self-medication and liver dysfunction after controlling for potential confounders, logistic regression was performed. Results: During the follow-up period, 30 members were identified to fit into case criteria and 2,625 members were selected as control. In logistic regression analyses, history of healthy foods intake, age under 45 years, obesity, and habit of regular exercise were significantly associated with liver dysfunction. The following factors exhibited no statistical significance: intake of hepatotonics, of herb medicine; history of disease in family, of operation, and of radiologic examination; smoking habits and drinking amounts. Conclusion: The significant association between the intake of healthy foods and the liver dysfunction illustrates that chronically optional overuse of healthy foods might bring to hazards to health. As the increasing trend of the size of purchasing healthy foods in Korea, pharmacoepidemiologic studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of the widely used healthy foods should be performed in the near future.