• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.169-181
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of follow-up care for stroke survivors on primary caregivers' quality of life. Quasi-experimental research was conducted in which an experimental group and a control group-each of 15 stroke survivors and their primary caregivers-were consecutively sampled. Data collected from July to September, 1999 by interview using a structured questionnaire with both the experimental and the control groups. After a month, the two groups were given the same questionnaire. The experimental group was also given a telephone follow-up every week for a month, as well as a home visit. The survey instruments used in this study were Saha and Cooper's "Modified Barthel Index" (11 items) for checking the stroke survivors' level of activities of daily living, and a modified form of Jeong's "Quality of life" (18 items) for primary caregivers' QOL level. The obtained data were analyzed by percentage, t-test, $X^2$-test, Kruscal-Wallis test, Spearman correlation coefficient by SAS/PC program. The results were as follows: 1. There was no significant difference in the stroke survivors' ADL level, though the level of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group. 2. There was a statistical difference in the before and after treatment of the primary caregivers' QOL level. In conclusion, the follow-up care program had a useful effect on the quality of life of primary caregivers.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.163-178
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• 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical factors affecting the longevity of fixed retainers and the influence of fixed retainers on periodontal health in periodontitis patients. Methods: In total, 52 patients with at least 2 years of follow-up after periodontal and orthodontic treatment were included in this study. After scaling and root planing, orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances or clear aligners was performed. Fixed retainers with twist-flex stainless steel wires were bonded to the palatal or lingual sides of anterior teeth. Changes in clinical parameters, including the plaque index, gingival index, calculus index (CI), probing pocket depth, and radiographic bone levels, were evaluated before bonding of fixed retainers and at a 12-month follow-up. Cumulative survival rates (CSRs) for retainer failure were evaluated according to sex, site, CI, stage of periodontitis, and the severity of the irregularity with the log-rank test and hazard ratios (HRs). Results: Twelve months after bonding of fixed retainers, improvements were observed in all clinical parameters except CI and radiographic bone gain. The overall CSR of the retainers with a CI <1 at the 12-month follow-up after bonding of fixed retainers was significantly higher than that of the retainers with a CI ≥1 at the 12-month follow-up (log-rank test; P<0.001). Patients with stage III (grade B or C) periodontitis had a higher multivariate HR for retainer failure (5.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-23.91; P=0.026) than patients with stage I (grade A or B) periodontitis. Conclusions: Although fixed retainers were bonded in periodontitis patients, periodontal health was well maintained if supportive periodontal treatment with repeated oral hygiene education was provided. Nonetheless, fixed retainer failure occurred more frequently in patients who had stage III (grade B or C) periodontitis or a CI ≥1 at 12-month follow-up after bonding of fixed retainers.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 2010

Objective : The purpose of this study was to review the safety and durability of aneurysms treated with stent-assisted coiling of ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysms with small parent vessels (< 2.0 mm). Methods : Retrospective review of all ruptured aneurysm treated with stent assisted endovascular coiling between March 2005 and March 2009 at our institution was conducted. We report 11 cases of the Neuroform stent placement into cerebral vessels measuring less than 2.0 mm in diameter (range, 1.3-1.9 mm) in anterior cerebral artery. Clinical follow-up ranged from 3 to 12 months and imaging follow-up was performed with cerebral angiography at 6 months and 12 months after discharge. Results : Complete occlusion was achieved in 10 patients, and a remnant neck was evident in one. No stent displacement or no dislodgement occurred during stent placement. There was no evidence of thromboembolic complication, arterial dissection and spasm during procedure. We performed follow-up angiography in all patients at 6 months and/or 12 months from the first procedure. The follow-up angiographic data showed successfully results except one in-stent stenosis case. All patients improved clinical performances except one patient with severe vasospasm who showed poor clinical condition initially. Conclusion : We have safely and successfully treated 11 vessels smaller than 2.0 mm in diameter with self-expanding stents with good short and intermediate term results. More clinical data with longer follow-ups are needed to establish the role of stent-assisted coiling in ruptured aneurysms with small parent vessels.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.366-375
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a community-based follow-up program on parenting stress, parenting efficacy, and coping among parents with premature infants. Methods: A non-equivalent control group pre-post quasi-experimental design was used. This program consisted of structured home visits and self-help group meetings for 6 months. The experimental group (n=29) received visits by an experienced neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse and the control group (n=27) was visited by a visiting nurse. Data were analyzed using the χ² test, t-test, and analysis of covariance. Results: Parents' coping behavior significantly differed in the experimental group compared to the control group (t=3.14, p=.003). In particular, coping subscale I, for maintaining the family situation (t=2.63, p=.011), and subscale III, for understanding the infant's medical situation (t=4.30, p<.001), showed significant differences in the experimental group. There were no significant between-group differences in parenting stress or parenting efficacy. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that home visits by an experienced NICU nurse provided through a community-based follow-up program were an effective intervention to improve coping behavior among parents with premature infants.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2011

Objectives: To analyze the association between changes in perceived physical and psychosocial working conditions and change of sickness absence days in younger and older (< 50 and ${\geq}50$ years) food industry employees. Methods: This was a follow up study of 679 employees, who completed working conditions survey questionnaires in 2005 and 2009 and for whom the requisite sickness absence data were available for the years 2004 and 2008. Results: Sickness absence increased and working conditions improved during follow-up. However, the change of increased sickness absence days were associated with the change of increased poor working postures and the change of deteriorated team spirit and reactivity (especially among < 50 years). No other changes in working conditions were associated with the changes in sickness absence. Conclusion: Sickness absence is affected by many factors other than working conditions. Nevertheless, according to this study improving team spirit and reactivity and preventing poor working postures are important in decreasing sickness absence.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

Software architecture are High-level design decisions shaping a software system's components, structure, and interactions. It can be a blueprint for development, evolution, and ongoing maintenance. This research investigates the communication practices employed by software architects and developers to ensure adherence to the designed software architecture. It explores the factors influencing the selection of follow-up methods and the impact of follow-up frequency on successful implementation. Findings reveal that formalized follow-up procedures are not yet a ubiquitous element within the software development lifecycle. While electronic communication, particularly email, appears to be the preferred method for both architects and developers, physical and online meetings are utilized less frequently. Interestingly, the study suggests a potential confidence gap, with architects expressing concerns about developers' ability to faithfully implement the architecture. This may lead to architects providing additional clarification. Conversely, while most developers reported confidence in their software knowledge, overly detailed architecture documentation may pose challenges, highlighting the need for architects to consider alternative communication strategies. A key limitation of this study is the sample size, restricting the generalizability of the conclusions. However, the research offers valuable preliminary insights into the communication practices employed for architecture implementation, paving the way for further investigation with a larger and more diverse participant pool.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.174-183
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• 2009

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to develop and examine the self-help and Tai Chi program for arthritis, and to identify the effect when combined with a supportive follow up phone-calls. Method: The design for this study was a 3*2 quasi-experimental design. Sixty-six participants were recruited in W-city, and assigned to Exp 1 group (n=21) or Exp 2 group (n=24) according to supportive follow-up phone call method, or to the control group (n=21). Fifty-two subjects (17 and 20 in Exp 1 and 2, and 15 in the control group) completed pretest and posttest. Both experimental groups participated in the self-help and Tai Chi program for arthritis once a week for 8 weeks. Exp 1 received automated follow up phone-calls made up in KT-SHUT program, and Exp 2 received follow up phone-calls made up by researchers. The control group received no education and no phone call. Measures used to examine the effect self-help and Tai Chi program for arthritis were joint flexibility, hand muscle strength, balance with closed eyes and self-efficacy. The final analysis of the post-test measures was conducted by ANCOVA with age and self efficacy as covariates. Results: Both experimental group had significantly increased right shoulder flexibility (p=.002), left shoulder flexibility (p=.000), right hand grip (p=.024), and self efficacy (p=.008) compared with the control group. But there were no significant differences between two experimental groups in any physical indicators and self efficacy. Conclusion: Automated follow up phone-call would be helpful in managing the self-help and Tai Chi program for arthritis as well as researcher's phone call. The automated follow up phone-call program which was a new method could be recommended for use to encourage home exercise practice and the program participation.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.59-78
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• 1994

In some observational studies, we have often random censoring model. However, the data available may be partially observable censored data consisting of the observed failure times and only those nonfailure times which are subject to follow up. In this paper, we present an extension of the problem of partially parametric estimation of the survival function to such partially observable censored data. The proposed estimator treats the observed failure times nonparametrically and uses a parametric model only for those nonfailure times which are subject to follow-up. We discuss the motivation and construction of the proposed estimator and investigate the limiting properties of the proposed estimator such as asymptotic normality. Also, when the assumed parametric model is exponential, the asymptotic variance of the estimator is obtained. Furthermore, an example is given to compare the proposed estimator with the modified Kaplan Meier(MKM) estimator. From the results, it is shown that the relative efficiency of the proposed estimator is higher than that of the MKM estimator in the follow-up study with increasing time.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.69.2-69.2
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• 2013

The direct detection of gravitational wave has a very important meaning as a basis for verification of the theory of relativity. Several laser interferometer detectors have attempted to detect GW directly (e.g. LIGO, VIRGO), but positional accuracy of GW detector is too wide (about 10~100sq deg) to find which objects emit GW. One of the main sources of GW is gamma-ray burst which can be detected even in electromagnetic wave. Then to verify Gamma-ray burst object as a GW source, we proceed EM follow-up observation with wide field of view. A first program initiating EM follow-ups to possible transients GW events has been developed and exercised by LIGO and VIRGO community in association with several partners. Using QUEST optical data, we tested the method of cross-convolution recommended by EM follow-up community. We will describe the results of that test.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.276-280
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• 2012

Objective : Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is the least invasive surgical option for patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN). However, the indications and long term outcomes of GKRS are still controversial. Additionally, a series with uniform long-term follow-up data for all patients has been lacking. In the present study, the authors analyzed long-term outcomes in a series of patients with TN who underwent a single GKRS treatment followed by a minimum follow-up of 60 months. Methods : From 1994 to 2009, 40 consecutive patients with typical, intractable TN received GKRS. Among these, 22 patients were followed for >60 months. The mean maximum radiation dose was 77.1 Gy (65.2-83.6 Gy), and the 4 mm collimator was used to target the radiation to the root entry zone. Results : The mean age was 61.5 years (25-84 years). The mean follow-up period was 92.2 months (60-144 months). According to the pain intensity scale in the last follow-up, 6 cases were grades I-II (pain-free with or without medication; 27.3%) and 7 cases were grade IV-V (<50% pain relief with medication or no pain relief; 31.8%). There was 1 case (facial dysesthesia) with post-operative complications (4.54%). Conclusion : The long-term results of GKRS for TN are not as satisfactory as those of microvascular decompression and other conventional modalities, but GKRS is a safe, effective and minimally invasive technique which might be considered a first-line therapy for a limited group of patients for whom a more invasive kind of treatment is unsuitable.