• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.201-208
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• 2022

Background: According to the National Family Health Survey-4, in India, 78.9% of deliveries occur in institutions, although only 42.6% of new mothers initiate breastfeeding within 1 hour of delivery. Purpose: To estimate the proportion of early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF) among new mothers at discharge from a tertiary care hospital and identify the determinants of delayed initiation of breastfeeding among them. Methods: This was a hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study of 108 new mothers. After obtaining Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent, we interviewed the new mothers on the day of discharge. Multivariate logistic regression was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 24. Results: The median breastfeeding initiation time was 90 minutes (interquartile range, 30-180 minutes). Overall, 43.5% of the mothers practiced EIBF, 77.4% practiced exclusive breastfeeding, and 43.5% were rooming in at discharge. Reasons for breastfeeding delays included extended recovery time from spinal anesthesia, maternal lassitude, and uncomfortable breastfeeding position due to post-cesarean pain. In the multivariate analysis, a birth weight less than 2,500 g (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-16.82; P=0.03), cesarean section delivery (aOR, 4.68; 95% CI, 1.57-13.92; P=0.005), and mother's poor knowledge of breastfeeding (aOR, 4.61; 95% CI, 1.44-14.72; P=0.010) were more likely to delay the initiation of breastfeeding. Conclusion: EIBF was practiced by less than half of the new mothers as determined by the cesarean section, baby's birth weight, and mothers' awareness of breastfeeding. Thus, it is vital to improve breastfeeding and nutritional counseling among mothers during the antenatal period and improve healthcare professionals' training to facilitate EIBF, even in circumstances such as cesarean section.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.365-379
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• 2023

Purpose - Our previous study (Chang & Lee, 2023) presented observations on the recent changes in the year-on-year (YoY) Consumer Price Index (CPI) of the Republic of Korea (ROK) after the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this article is to present an integrated analysis and interpretation of the recent changes in CPI and the Aggregate Import Price Index (IPI) by incorporating recent data, specifically data from September 2022 to December 2022. Design/methodology/approach - This study collected CPI (YoY) data in the ROK from January 2019 to December 2022 using e-National Indicator System provided by the ROK. Statistical analysis was employed to analyze the data. Findings - First, we confirm the extended results of the existing study by Chang and Lee (2023). Second, we demonstrate that the Aggregate IPI in ROK increased significantly in 2022 compared to 2021. We then provide an integrated interpretation on the significant increase in CPI and aggregate IPI in ROK, which complements Chang and Lee (2023) that limits their discussion to YoY CPI. Moreover, we show that the IPI of the semiconductor in ROK decreased significantly in 2022 compared to 2021. Research implications or Originality - Our results provide important insights into the recent changes in the CPI in the ROK. The results suggest that these changes can be partially attributed to various factors, such as the global supply chain disruptions resulting from the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the prolonged war between Russia and Ukraine, the side effect of quantitative easing by the US Federal Reserve, heat waves and droughts caused by climate change in ROK, a surge in demand following a gradual daily recovery, US-China trade conflict, etc. Our study shows statistically comprehensive results compared to the studies that limit their discussion to YoY average growth rate.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.167-175
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• 2024

Hospital-acquired bacterial infections, including vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection (MIC: 32 mcg/ml), are common. We describe the case of a 63-year-old female patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage and VRE infection treated with Jashin-bowon-tang and Samhuang-sashim-tang for 57 days and 22 days, respectively. The therapeutic effect was assessed weekly via culture, color and viscosity of pus from a coccyx sore, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Vital signs were checked four times a day. Seventeen days after treatment, VRE was not colonized in patient and color and viscosity of pus, CRP and vital sign were improved. This case report suggests that Jashin-bowon-tang and Samhuang-sashim-tang might be an alternative option for VRE infection patients reducing the need for extended isolation periods and speeding up recovery times.

• Hip & pelvis
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.200-205
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• 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the current status of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention in Korean patients with hip fractures. Materials and Methods: A survey using a questionnaire on the experiences and protocols of VTE prevention was conducted among 570 members of the Korean Hip Society. Results: A total of 97 surgeons responded, with a response rate of 17.0%. Of the 97 participants, 61.9% answered that they had encountered one or more cases of symptomatic VTE in the past year. Mechanical prophylaxis was applied most often (30.9%) until the point of ambulation in standard-risk patients and most often (34.0%) extended until discharge in high-risk patients. Chemical prophylaxis was most often prescribed for a particular period of time rather than for recovery of walking ability (24.7% in standard-risk patients and 26.8% in high-risk patients). Dual prophylaxis was administered in the standard-risk group by 58.8% of the participants and in the high-risk group by 83.5%. Among the participants, 73.2% answered that they had been attentive to wound complications during chemical prophylaxis. More than half of the participants (59.8%) reported that they did not perform routine screening for VTE after surgery. Conclusion: The results of our survey provided information regarding the current status of VTE prevention for patients undergoing surgery for treatment of hip fractures in Korea as well as a baseline for establishment of educational programs and guidelines in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.1120-1133
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to validate the failure attribution factors affecting emotional changes after a failed service by local restaurant users, and the relapse effects of the perceived failure of a customer's brand relationship. In this study, the implications of this study can be divided into the null theory and the homogenous theory, in which the study of the relationship between individual belief that influences the null theory and the post-gender emotional response is minimal. The independence of the crash response (angerous VS compassion) has been equally validated as building a belief-gathering-emotion three-step model. First, emotional BRQ (intimate and love) has a reduction effect on controllable geeks, and behavioral BRQ (relative existence) has an extended effect on controllable geeks. From a management perspective, restaurant managers should be less aware of the repeatability of a customer's service failure and call for customer sympathy. Integratedly, restaurant managers must control the customer's perception of service failure and restore the impact of the customer's BRQ on emotional reactions. A variety of service recovery measures should be established and the cerumen should be controlled. In addition, since BRQs have different effects on anger and sympathy (extended VS), different service failure recovery plans should be presented depending on the characteristics of the customer BRQ. For example, measures such as monetary compensation or fair dealing, emotional distribution to close and loving customers, and persuasion of reciprocal benefits to interdependent customers should be developed according to circumstances. This study explored the effectiveness of the geeks after a service failure and has limitations that do not take into account the various regulatory factors in the BRQ-return-Empression process. Thus, in further studies, the effects of adjusting service failure strength should be considered and a more complete model should be built.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.224-233
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the effect of 'Blocking Kirschner Wire (K-Wire) Technique', which has been developed to reduce protrusion of the lateral wall, in maintaining the level of reduction through clinical and radiological outcomes. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients with displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures who used the blocking K-wire to maintain reduction (group A) and 44 patients that did not use blocking K-wire and were paired in 1:2 ratio with those Group A patients (group B), between January 2015 and December 2017 were enrolled in the study. All surgical procedures were performed via the extended sinus tarsi approach, and internal fixation using cannulated screws, Steinmann pins and K-wires was performed. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot scale and postoperative recovery of exercise ability were compared for postoperative clinical outcomes. The radiological results were compared the Böhler angle, Gissane angle, calcaneal height and width, step off of posterior calcaneal joint, and the degree of protrusion of the lateral wall. Moreover, postoperative complications in both groups were compared. Results: There were no significant differences in the clinical outcomes of the two groups (p=0.924, p=0.961). The amount of Böhler angle, Gissane angle, calcaneal height and width, and step off of posterior calcaneal joint from the radiological results was not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.170, p=0.441, p=0.230, p=0.266, and p=0.400). However, the degree of protrusion of the lateral wall was 1.78 mm and 4.95 mm in group A and group B, respectively, and the difference between the two groups was significant (p=0.017). Although sural nerve entrapment and painful exostosis were more frequent in group B, they were occurred in a non-significant manner (p=0.293, p=0.655). Conclusion: Most of the clinical and radiological results as well as the complications were not significantly different between the two groups. However, the degree of protrusion of the calcaneus lateral wall in group A was promising. The 'Blocking K-Wires Technique' established by the authors may be an effective surgical option for maintaining the reduction of the lateral wall protrusion in displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.167-173
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• 2016

Compressed Sensing(CS) is the theory that can recover signals which are sampled below the Nyquist sampling rate to original analog signals. In this paper, we propose the estimation algorithm of ultrasonic attenuation coefficients in the frequency domain using CS. While most estimation algorithms transform the time-domain signals into the frequency-domain using the Fourier transform, the proposed method directly utilize the spectral information in the recovery process by the basis matrix without the completely recovered signals in the time domain. We apply three transform bases for sparsifying and estimate the attenuation coefficients using the Centroid Downshift method with Dual-reference diffraction compensation technique. The estimation accuracy and execution time are compared for each basis matrix. Computer simulation results show that the DCT basis matrix exhibits less than 0.35% estimation error for the compressive ratio of 50% and about 6% average error for the compressive ratio of 70%. The proposed method which directly extracts frequency information from the CS signals can be extended to estimating for other ultrasonic parameters in the Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS) Analysis.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2008

The goal of reconstruction following ablative therapy for intraoral cancer is the restoration of form and function to permit a return to activities of daily life. Traditional reconstruction includes split thickness skin grafts, myocutaneous flaps and, more recently, various free flaps. Free flaps provide higher level of functional recovery relative to that seen with other techniques but require the complexity of the technique and microvascular anastomosis and thus, extended surgical time and occasionally a second team for harvesting. The platysma myocutaneous cervical flap is a possible alternative for intraoral reconstruction. It is thin and pliable like the tissue provided by the radial forearm free flap. It can be harvested with enough tissue to close most head and neck ablative defects. There is virtually no donor site morbidity involved. This study evaluated 7 patients affected by intraoral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). All patients underwent the resection of intraoral SCC with neck dissection and subsequent intraoral reconstruction with the superiorly based platysma myocutaneous cervical flap. Flap-related complications occurred in 3 patients. Adjuvant radiation therapy was performed in 3 patients. Average follow-up was 24.1 months after surgery, with a range of 8 to 42 months. All patients presented self assessment of discomfort associated with intraoral recipient sites and cervical donor sites. However, the neck function measured by two-inclinometer technique was within the normal range during relatively long term follow-up period. Our study concluded that superiorly based platysma myocutaneous cervical flap is good alternative to free flaps, especially for relatively smaller defects and for the defects appropriate for the rotation arc of the flap.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.127-134
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• 1994

The aim of this study was to identify the usefulness of pelviscopy in treatment besides its diagnostic value. The advantages of pelviscopic surgery are low cost, rapid recovery, good cosmetic effect, low incidence of complication and postoperative adhesion. So most of the pelvic exploration in gynecologic patients are replaced by the pelviscopic surgery these days. Pelviscopic surgery was performed on 136 patients at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University from May 1991 to July 1993. The results obtained were as follows : The age distribution of the patients was from 19 to 55 with age of 31.2 years, and the mean parity was 0.96, the most common indication of pelviscopic surgery was tubal pregnancy(66.9%), the second most common indications was ovarian cyst(10.3%) and the other indications were endometriosis, corpus luteum cyst rupture, parovarian cyst, foreign body, tubal ligation, hydrosalpinx, uterine myoma and diagnostic procedure. The main types of surgery were salpingectomy in 58.8% and salpingoophorectomy in 16.3%. The mean duration of hospitalization was 2.1 days without specific complications. According to these results, it was postulated that the pelviscopic surgery was a useful operative tool in gynecologic treatment and its application could be extended to many other areas of gynecology with safety by the development of surgical techniques and instruments.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1254-1260
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• 2003

The purpose of this study firstly was conducted to establish a radioimmunoassay (RIA) of estrone sulfate ($E_1S$), secondly to monitor the reproductive status of dairy cows using their urine samples. Urine and blood samples were collected in series within a day from four pregnant Holstein-friesian cows to evaluate the relationship between $E_1S$ levels in blood and urine with or without urinary creatinine basis. The urine was then collected biweekly from three cows in estrous and those artificially inseminated; collection from pregnant cows was made on a monthly basis. Results indicated that sensitivity for the $E_1S$ RIA was 5 pg/tube and the recovery rate was 100%. The daily urinary creatinine concentrations fluctuated within a day, but changes were slighter in midday, whereas the changes of concentrations of $E_1S$ in urine were relatively smaller. The concentrations of serum $E_1S$ during the estrous cycle were undetectable due to the limitation of assay, but the urinary $E_1S$ level could be measured with no obvious changes during the cycle. The urinary $E_1S$ levels increased remarkably around 7.7 to 8.3 ng/ml, 80 to 100 days after pregnancy but the serum $E_1S$ levels did not elevate until 120 to 150 days. The level of $E_1S$ increased gradually during pregnancy and eventually reached its peak before parturition at around 40 ng/ml and finally decreased to its basal level 2 days postparturition. During pregnancy, $E_1S$ concentrations of urine increased earlier than those in blood. The correlation coefficients between urinary and serum $E_1S$ concentration during pregnancy and postparturm were higher than those adjusted with creatinine (creatinine ratio). The concentrations of $E_1S$ in urine could be maintained unchanged for 8 days storing the samples in room temperature, which was extended to 8 days when the samples were pretreated by boiling for 30 minutes or treated with autoclave. In conclusion urinary $E_1S$ concentrations can be used directly for monitoring the pregnant status and fetal viability of dairy cows and can assist accurate confirmation of pregnancy in cows at least 80 to 100 days after insemination much earlier than by serum $E_1S$.