• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2013

This study is aimed to evaluate the effect of $T_{1/2}$ upon count rates in the analysis of dynamic scan using NaI (Tl) scintillation camera, and suggest a new quality control method with this effects. We producted a point source with $^{99m}TcO_4^-$ of 18.5 to 185 MBq in the 2 mL syringes, and acquired 30 frames of dynamic images with 10 to 60 seconds each using Infinia gamma camera (GE, USA). In the second experiment, 90 frames of dynamic images were acquired from 74 MBq point source by 5 gamma cameras (Infinia 2, Forte 2, Argus 1). There were not significant differences in average count rates of the sources with 18.5 to 92.5 MBq in the analysis of 10 to 60 seconds/frame with 10 seconds interval in the first experiment (p>0.05). But there were significantly low average count rates with the sources over 111 MBq activity at 60 seconds/frame (p<0.01). According to the second analysis results of linear regression by count rates of 5 gamma cameras those were acquired during 90 minutes, counting efficiency of fourth gamma camera was most low as 0.0064%, and gradient and coefficient of variation was high as 0.0042 and 0.229 each. We could not find abnormal fluctuation in $x^2$ test with count rates (p>0.02), and we could find the homogeneity of variance in Levene's F-test among the gamma cameras (p>0.05). At the correlation analysis, there was only correlation between counting efficiency and gradient as significant negative correlation (r=-0.90, p<0.05). Lastly, according to the results of calculation of $T_{1/2}$ error from change of gradient with -0.25% to +0.25%, if $T_{1/2}$ is relatively long, or gradient is high, the error increase relationally. When estimate the value of 4th camera which has highest gradient from the above mentioned result, we could not see $T_{1/2}$ error within 60 minutes at that value. In conclusion, it is necessary for the scintillation gamma camera in medical field to manage hard for the quality of radiation measurement. Especially, we found a tendency that count rate changes over time at this study, and we proved that it can effect $T_{1/2}$. And also, there is need of appropriate phantoms and the method of quality management like this study, because there are not any advice or limitation degrees for domestic medical purpose scintillation camera.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.21-32
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• 1980

Linear models, with and without site variables, have been investigated in order to develop an alternative methodology for determining optimal fertilizer levels. The resultant models are : (1) Model I is an ordinary quadratic response function formed by combining the simple response function estimated at each site in block diagonal form, and has parameters [${\gamma}^{(1)}_{m{\ell}}$], for m=1, 2, ${\cdots}$, n sites and degrees of polynomial, ${\ell}$=0, 1, 2. (2) Mode II is a multiple regression model with a set of site variables (including an intercept) repeated for each fertilizer level and the linear and quadratic terms of the fertilizer variables arranged in block diagonal form as in Model I. The parameters are equal to [${\beta}_h\;{\gamma}^{(2)}_{m{\ell}}$] for h=0, 1, 2, ${\cdots}$, k site variable, m=1, 2, ${\cdots}$ and ${\ell}$=1, 2. (3) Model III is a classical response surface model, I. e., a common quadratic polynomial model for the fertilizer variables augmented with site variables and interactions between site variables and the linear fertilizer terms. The parameters are equal to [${\beta}_h\;{\gamma}_{\ell}\;{\theta}_h$], for h=0, 1, ${\cdots}$, k, ${\ell}$=1, 2, and h'=1, 2, ${\cdots}$, k. (4) Model IV has the same basic structure as Mode I, but estimation procedure involves two stages. In stage 1, yields for each fertilizer level are regressed on the site variables and the resulting predicted yields for each site are then regressed on the fertilizer variables in stage 2. Each model has been evaluated under the assumption that Model III is the postulated true response function. Under this assumption, Models I, II and IV give biased estimators of the linear fertilizer response parameter which depend on the interaction between site variables and applied fertilizer variables. When the interaction is significant, Model III is the most efficient for calculation of optimal fertilizer level. It has been found that Model IV is always more efficient than Models I and II, with efficiency depending on the magnitude of ${\lambda}m$, the mth diagonal element of X (X' X)' X' where X is the site variable matrix. When the site variable by linear fertilizer interaction parameters are zero or when the estimated interactions are not important, it is demonstrated that Model IV can be a reasonable alternative model for calculation of optimal fertilizer level. The efficiencies of the models are compared us ing data from 256 fertilizer trials on rice conducted in Korea. Although Model III is usually preferred, the empirical results from the data analysis support the feasibility of using Model IV in practice when the estimated interaction term between measured soil organic matter and applied nitrogen is not important.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.107-135
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• 2007

This paper uses a static Gamma count model, a traditional hurdle model and an endogenous switching Poisson model, respectively for determining married women's completed fertility rates in Korea. This paper analyzes the impact of household income, women's wage and education, and women's job market participation on the number of children of married women above age 40 and on the expected number of children of women aged below 40. The paper shows that a household income significantly increases the number of children for at least women aged above 40, however, this income effect is disappearing for younger generation. The empirical model suggests that women having a job tend to have fewer children for a group 39 years old and below and find that there is an endogeneity problem between child birth and labor force participation, too. The education level of married women gives a positive effect for giving a birth, itself, while it gives a negative impact on the number of children. Based on the empirical results, it concludes that Becker's Quantity-Quality theory works for Korea, too.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.61-72
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• 2008

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of herbal medicine and other associated factors for abnormal liver function tests(especially total bilirubin, AST, ALT, and ${\gamma}$GT) levels in outpatients at an oriental medical clinic. Methods : A cross-sectional study based on clinical records was conducted on 504 patients at one Oriental medical clinic in Seoul, Korea. They were tested a liver function tests for screening and 497 patients ranging from the age of 4 to 74 were chosen for the study. Patients with basal liver disease or DM were excluded during the screening process. Patients were classified into case(abnormal) and control(normal) groups by normal liver function test references. Results and Conclusions : In this study, Significant correlations for abnormal total bilirubin levels was age, for abnormal AST was gender, for abnormal ALT were gender, smoking, marriage status, and job, for abnormal ${\gamma}$GT were age, gender, obesity, alcohol, smoking, marriage status, and job using the Chi-square test(p<0.05). There was no significant correlations for abnormal LFTs by using herbal medication history, and intake duration. After controlling other covariates, logistic regression analysis showed that the significant associated factors for abnormal total bilirubin levels were age(odds ratio[OR]=0.87, 95% confidence intervals [CI]=0.87-0.99). For abnormal AST levels was obesity(OR=2.45, CI=1.2-4.9), for abnormal ALT levels were age(OR=1.01, CI=0.99-1.03), male gender(OR=3.31, CI=1.62-6.76), and obesity(OR=3.71 CI=2.28-6.08). For abnormal ${\gamma}$GT levels were male gender(OR=4.83 CI=1.34-17.43), obesity(OR=3.29, CI=1.74-6.22), alcohol (OR=2.51, CI=1.19-5.28), and smoking(OR=2.29, CI=1.16-4.50). Herbal medication history was not as a risk factor for all abnormal liver function tests. Therefore, people who are male, obese, alcohol drinker and smoker will have higher liver function test levels. But intake of herbal medication or the duration of intake may not be the risk factor for abnormal liver function test results.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.160-165
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Korea is quickly becoming an aged society. Dementia is also becoming a vital public health problem in Korea. Cognitive impairment as a pre-stage of dementia shares most risk factors for dementia. The aim of the present study was to determine associations of serum levels of vitamins A, C, and E with the risk of cognitive impairment among elderly Koreans. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 230 participants aged 60-79 years from Yangpyeong cohort were included. Cognitive function was assessed by the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening. The logistic multivariable regression model was applied to determine the effect of serum vitamins A, C, and E on the risk of cognitive impairment. RESULTS: There was no significant association between the risk of cognitive impairment and serum levels of vitamin A and vitamin C. There was a significant odd ratio when the second tertile group of beta-gamma tocopherol level was compared to the first tertile group [odds ratio (OR) = 0.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.14-0.98, P for trend = 0.051]. In subgroup analyses, there were significant negative associations between beta-gamma tocopherol level and the risk of cognitive impairment in men (OR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.03-0.87, P for trend = 0.028), non-drinkers or former drinkers (OR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.02-0.66, P for trend = 0.025), and non-smokers or former smokers (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.09-0.82, P for trend = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Serum beta-gamma tocopherol levels tended to be inversely associated with the risk of cognitive impairment. Further prospective large-scaled studies are needed to examine this association.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.126-138
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to act nursing intervention strategies to promote quality of life (QOL) in Spinal Cord Injury patients. Therefore, the study is designed to evaluate religion, marital status, educational background economic status, level of injury, voiding pattern, transportation by driving, rehabilitation education, self-concept, sexual status, perceived barrier, powerlessness, depression, hope, social support, self-efficacy, anxiety, ADL, perceived hopelessness, personality and pain for QOL at the same time. It was gathered empirical data was collected using a self report questionnaire from 61 patients during a six month period after SCI at 5 general hospitals, at 2 rehabilitation centers and at 2 rehabilitation schools province from Jun. 18, 1999 through Sep. 28, 1999. The reliability of the 19 instruments was tested with Cronbach's alpha which ranged from .6319 to .9769. For the data analysis a SAS program was used for Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. The results were as follows; 1. The mean of total item score in the QOL scale was 2.814, which showed a much lower score than the cancer points. 2. There was a significant correlation between self concept, transportation by driving, perceived barrier, powerlessness, depression, hope, social support, self-efficacy, anxiety, ADL and QOL.(${\gamma}$= .27~-.79, p< .05) 3. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that; a) Depression was the main predictor of QOL and account for 53.7% of the variance in QOL. b) Hope, ecomic status and body satisfaction accounted for 8%, 4%, 3.4% respectively and these variables combined accounted for 69.2% of the variance in QOL. In conclusion, to begin with, it is important to reduce depression and to help for SCI points to inspire hope, economic status and body satisfaction. That will be short cut for nursing strategies to enhance QOL.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.184-189
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• 2000

This study was conducted to develop the objective evaluation method for tobacco smoke. The evaluation was carried out by using the data of cut or blended tobacco components, smoke components, electric nose system (ENS), and sensory test. By using the statistical methods, such as cluster analysis, discriminant analysis, factor analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis, the relationship among the data of tobacco, smoke, ENS, and sensory evaluation was studied. By the results of cluster analysis, the data from smoke analysis by GC and ENS were able to select the difference of tobacco leaf characteristics. As the results of discriminant analysis, grouping by the components of tobacco leaves and smoke was possible and the results of GC analysis of smoke could be used for discrimination of tobacco leaves. In the results of factor analysis, nicotine, tar, CO, puff No and pH in the smoke were the factors effecting on the tobacco leaf characteristics. From the correlation analysis, aroma, taste, irritation, and smoke volume of sensory test had high relation to tar, p-cresol threonolatone, levoglucosane, and quinic acid- ${\gamma}$ -lactone of smoke. The ENS data showed high efficiency for discriminant analysis and cluster analysis, but it was not good for factor analysis, and correlation analysis. It was possible to estimate tobacco leaves and their blending characteristics by the analytical data of tobacco leaves, smoke, ENS, and sensory test results. By the multiple regression analysis, some correlation among selected chemical components and sensory evaluation were found. This study strongly indicated that the some chemical analysis data was available for the objective evaluation of tobacco sensory attributes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.4421-4426
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• 2016

Background: Smoking is recognized as a main leading preventable cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is responsible for a considerable financial burden both on the health system and in society. This study aimed to examine the effect of smoking on cost of hospitalization and length of stay (LoS) among patients with lung cancer in Iran in 2014. Materials and Methods: A total of 415 patients were included in the study. Data on age, sex, insurance status, type of hospitals, type of insurance, geographic local, length of stay and cost of hospitalization was extracted by medical records and smoking status was obtained from a telephone survey. To compare cost of hospitalization and LoS for different smoking groups, current smokers, former smokers, and never smokers, a gamma regression model and zero-truncated poisson regression were used, respectively. Results: Compared with never smokers, current and former smokers showed a 48% and 35% increase in hospitalization costs, respectively. Also, hospital LoS for current and former smokers was 72% and 31% higher than for never smokers, respectively. Conclusions: Our study indicated that cigarette smoking imposes a significant financial burden on hospitals in Iran. It is, however, recommended that more research should be done to implement and evaluate hospital based smoking cessation interventions to better increase cessation rates in these settings.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2018

Objective: This study analyzed the national claims data of veterans to generate scientific evidence of the trends and appropriateness of their drug utilization in an outpatient setting. Methods: The claims data were provided by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment (HIRA). Through sampling and matching data, we selected two comparable groups; Veterans vs. National Health Insurance (NHI) patients and Veterans vs. Medical Aid (MAID) patients. Drug use and costs were compared between groups by using multivariate gamma regression models to account for the skewed distribution, and therapeutic duplication was analyzed by using multivariate logistic regression models. Results: In equivalent conditions, veteran patients made fewer visits to medical institutions (0.88 vs. 1), had 1.86 times more drug use, and paid 1.4 times more drug costs than NHI patients (p<0.05); similarly, veteran patients made fewer visits to medical institutions (0.96 vs. 1), had 1.11 times more drug use, and paid 0.95 times less drug costs than MAID patients (p<0.05). The risk of therapeutic duplication was 1.7 times higher (OR=1.657) in veteran patients than in NHI patients and 1.3 times higher (OR=1.311) than in MAID patients (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Similar patterns of drug use were found in veteran patients and MAID patients. There were greater concerns about the drug use behavior in veteran patients, with longer prescribing days and a higher rate of therapeutic duplication, than in MAID patients. Efforts should be made to measure if any inefficiency exists in veterans' drug use behavior.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.231-251
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• 2014

The present study examines the phosphate adsorption potential and behavior of mixture of Ground Burnt Patties (GBP), a solid waste generated from cooking fuel used in earthen stoves and Red Soil (RS), a natural substance in fixed bed column mode operation. The characterization of adsorbent was done by Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE), and Proton Induced ${\gamma}$-ray Emission (PIGE) methods. The FTIR spectroscopy of spent adsorbent reveals the presence of absorbance peak at $1127cm^{-1}$ which appears due to P = O stretching, thus confirming phosphate adsorption. The effects of bed height (10, 15 and 20 cm), flow rate (2.5, 5 and 7.5 mL/min) and initial phosphate concentration (5 and 15 mg/L) on breakthrough curves were explored. Both the breakthrough and exhaustion time increased with increase in bed depth, decrease in flow rate and influent concentration. Thomas model, Yoon-Nelson model and Modified Dose Response model were used to fit the column adsorption data using nonlinear regression analysis while Bed Depth Service Time model followed linear regression analysis under different experimental condition to evaluate model parameters that are useful in scale up of the process. The values of correlation coefficient ($R^2$) and the Sum of Square Error (SSE) revealed the Modified Dose Response model as the best fitted model to the experimental data. The adsorbent mixture responded effectively to the desorption and reusability experiment. The results of this finding advocated that mixture of GBP and RS can be used as a low cost, highly efficient adsorbent for phosphate removal from aqueous solution.