• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.54-59
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• 2006

Background: Although there have been several studies regarding the clinical value of an automated TB-PCR study using sputum, bronchial washing, and other body fluid samples for the detection of pulmonary tuberculosis, there are only a few reports on the use of fresh tissue samples. Materials and methods: The acid-fast bacilli stain(AFB), tuberculosis culture, automated TB-PCR study, and histopathology examination were performed in 42 fresh tissue samples. Results: Among the 42 cases, 18 cases were diagnosed with tuberculosis based on the clinical findings. Sixteen of the 18 cases were TB-PCR positive and of these 16 cases, only 2 cases were positive in the AFB stain or culture study. However, all 18 cases showed the histopathology findings of chronic granulomatous inflammation that was compatible with tuberculosis. Based on the clinical findings, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictability, and negative predictability of the automated TB-PCR study were 88.9%, 100%, 100%, and 92.3% respectively. Conclusion: An automated TB-PCR assay is an important diagnostic tool for diagnosing tuberculosis in fresh tissue samples.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 2018

Objectives : The aims of this study were to investigate the psychopathology in adolescents with internalizing disorder using the self-report version of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-SR) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory for adolescents (MMPI-A), and to explore the complementarity between these two inventories for diagnostic assessment. Methods : Ninety-one patients aged 13-17 were divided into two groups by clinical diagnosis, 44 with internalizing disorder and 47 comparison group with other disorders. The data of SDQ-SR and MMPI-A completed by them were analyzed for the ability to predict internalizing disorder. Results : The logistic regression analysis revealed that diagnostic predictability increased by 2.27 times with every 1 point of SDQ-SR emotional symptom score increment. Comparison of ROC curves for internalizing disorders showed that the SE and SP of SDQ-SR emotional symptom with score over 4 was 88.94 and 78.72, respectively. For A-anx of MMPI-A with score over 56, SE and SP was 77.27 and 74.47, respectively. However, combination of these scales could not enhance the predictability of diagnostic classification more than that of SDQ-SR emotional symptom alone. Conclusions : Emotional symptom scale of SDQ-SR and A-anx, A-aln, A and INTR of MMPI-A should be important subscales for diagnosing the internalizing disorder of adolescents, however, which needs to be examined further with a larger sample size including normal control group.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2019

Objectives Suicide is a complex phenomenon not only caused by the individual's mental illness and economic situation, but also occurred in sociocultural contexts and relationships around the individual. Therefore, the attitudes, which include collective norms, thoughts and feelings of a population, toward suicide play a fundamental role in the prevention of suicide. Factor structure of Attitudes Toward Suicide (ATTS), developed by Renberg, is also various in different sociocultural contexts. This is the first study to investigate factor structure of ATTS along with nationwide sample of Korean adults. Methods This study analyzed the factor structure and reliability of ATTS in 1500 regionally stratified Korean adults. Exploratory factor analysis was performed by using principal axis factoring and varimax rotation. Results The selection of 33 ATTS items based on internal consistency and communality was conducted. Five factors were analyzed, which were named 'Good reason,' 'Negative gaze,' 'Predictability,' 'Means of escape,' and 'Common secret,' respectively. Explained total variance was 41.94%, and the internal consistency ranged from 0.516 to 0.740. Conclusions Each of the five factors contains different semantic dimensions. Consistent with previous studies, factors containing permissive attitude toward suicide was high in those with history of suicidal thought and of suicide attempt. It is notable that the 'Good reason' showed higher score in elderly. This may be related to socioeconomic or physical adversities which have been considered the major cause of suicide in elderly.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2021

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of semen parameters in samples used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with fertilization and pregnancy rates in infertile couples. Methods: In this prospective study of Infertile couples with male factor infertility that had undergone ICSI, fractions of the same semen samples obtained for microinjection (to ensure the best predictability) were evaluated to determine the semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) on the day of oocyte recovery. Results: In total, 120 couples completed the study and were subdivided into fertilized (n=87) and non-fertilized couples (n=33). The fertilized couples were further classified into pregnant (n=48) and non-pregnant (n=39) couples. Compared to non-fertilized and non-pregnant couples, fertilized and pregnant couples showed statistically significantly higher sperm viability and percentage of normal sperm morphology, as well as significantly lower sperm DFI values. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of data from the 120 ICSI cycles showed that sperm viability, normal sperm morphology percentages, and sperm DFI were significant prognostic indicators of fertilization at cutoff values of 40%, 7%, and 46%, respectively. A sperm DFI of 46% showed sensitivity and specificity of 95% and 90%, respectively, for predicting fertilization, and no clinical pregnancies occurred in couples with a sperm DFI above 46%. Conclusion: Semen parameters from the ICSI day sample, especially sperm viability, normal morphology, and DFI, had an impact on fertilization and pregnancy outcomes in ICSI cycles.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2012

The increased brightness and focused X-ray beams now available from laboratory X-ray sources facilitates a variety of powder diffraction experiments not practical using conventional in-house sources. Furthermore, the increased availability of 2-dimensional area detectors, along with implementation of improved software and customized sample environmental cells, makes possible new classes of in-situ and time-resolved diffraction experiments. These include phase transitions under variable pressure- and temperature conditions and ion-exchange reactions. Examples of in-situ and time-resolved studies which are presented here include: (1) time-resolved data to evaluate the kinetics and mechanism of ion exchange in mineral natrolite; (2) in-situ dehydration and thermal expansion behaviors of ion-exchanged natrolite; and (3) observations of the phases forming under controlled hydrostatic pressure conditions in ion-exchanged natrolite. Both the quantity and quality of the in-situ diffraction data are such to allow evaluation of the reaction pathway and Rietveld analysis on selected dataset. These laboratory-based in-situ studies will increase the predictability of the follow-up experiments at more specialized beamlines at the synchrotron.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.173-178
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• 2012

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to investigate bone thickness on the buccal and palatal aspects of the maxillary canine and premolars using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The differences between left- and right-side measurements and between males and females were also analyzed. Methods: The sample consisted of 20 subjects (9 males and 11 females; mean age, $21.9{\pm}3.0$) selected from the normal occlusion sample data in the Department of Orthodontics, The Catholic University of Korea. The thickness of the buccal and palatal bone walls, perpendicular to the long axis of the root were evaluated at 3 mm and 5 mm apical to cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and at root apex. Results: At the canines and first premolars regions, mean buccal bone thickness of at 3 mm and 5 mm apical to CEJ were less than 2 mm. In contrast, at the second premolar region, mean buccal bone thickness at 3 mm and 5 mm apical from CEJ were greater than 2 mm. Frequency of thick bone wall (${\geq}2mm$) increased from the canine to the second premolar. Conclusions: This result should be considered before tooth extraction and planning of rehabilitation in the canine and premolar area of maxilla. Careful preoperative analysis with CBCT may be beneficial to assess local risk factors and to achieve high predictability of success in implant therapy.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2000

Hyperlipemia is the most leading risk factor of cardiovascular disease which is the main cause of death in Korea. However, there is a tendency to neglect the prevention and treatment since it has no specific symptoms. It has been reported that the level of serum-lipid can be lowered by the improvement of eating habits. Therefore, it is highly likely that the development of programs on the improvement of eating habits through behavioral theory is required to the community nursing practice. The theory of planned behavior, which assumes that human behaviors are determined by one's intention to carry out the behavior, can be characterized by the point that behaviors are not only individual factors but also social behaviors relating to subjective norms. It is widely recognized that this theory has a high predictability on health behavior due to it's simplicity clearness, and measurability as well as high quality of being general. Thus, the theory of planned behavior could be useful in developing a model of a health promotion program to the change of behaviors of the risk group of cardiovascular disease. Consequently, based on the theory of planned behavior, the purpose of this study is to develop an intention promotion program of the diet, and then to testify the effects. The sample of this study consisted of 26 industrial workers who had proved hyperlipemia from a medical examination in 1996 (experimental group 13, control group 13). The intention promotion program, which includes education, monitoring, pressure, counselling on the level of individuals, families and organizations, was conducted for 10 weeks The purpose of this program was to promoting intention of the diet through changes of the prerequisite factors of intention such as behavioral belief, outcome evaluation, normative belief and control belief. When it came to data analysis, the ${\chi}^2$-test and Fisher's Exact test were used to compare the general characteristics between the experimental and the control group, an independent t-test for the other variables. ANOVA was used to the test hypothesis, and the Pearson correlation test for variable's correlation. The results of this study can be summarized as follows ; 1) There was a significant increase in the intention(F=18.51, p=.00) of diet in the experimental group. 2) Diets(F=32.51, p=.001) in the experimental group were better carried out than in the control group. 5) There was a moderate correlation between the intention of diet and performance (r=.587. p=.003). From the results, it can be concluded that the intention promotion program is very effective, leading to the change of health promotion behavior. Above all, it is really valuable that the intention promotion program in this study regards health promotion behavior as a social behavior and that intervention was done on the level of family and organization. Consequently, when performing a health promotion program, social approach elevating the intention should go hand in hand in order to make the program effective.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.786-794
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to establish an association between the consumption of ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC), milk, and calcium within the context of the most current population dietary practice in Korea. Inadequate calcium intake among Korean children and adults is one of the important public health concern. Milk is one of the best calcium sources because or its bioavailability, and RTEC is one or the foods commonly consumed with milk. The most recent Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey, 2001 dataset was used as the source of data for this research. Subjects excluding pregnant women, were categorized according to gender and age ($1{\sim}5,\;6{\sim}11,\;12{\sim}19,\;20{\sim}49,\;50+$ years) and then by consumption of RTEC and milk. SAS and SUDAAN were used for statistical analyses. Sample weighted means, standard errors, and population percentages were calculated, and multiple regression model with adjustment for covariates were used to determine the predictability of total daily calcium intake from inclusion of RTEC and milk compared to the meal without RTEC and milk. RTEC was consumed by 2.4% or Korean people. Average calcium intake was 17 times greater when RTEC was consumed with milk than when RTEC was consumed without milk. Respondents who consumed RTEC with milk had significantly higher mean daily calcium and other nutrient intakes than respondents who consumed neither. in the multiple regression analysis, milk consumption with or without RTEC predicted total daily calcium intake after adjusting for age, income, and alcohol consumption (p<0.0001). The percentage of respondents below the estimated average requirement (EAR) level for calcium was lower for RTEC consumers than for RTEC non-consumers in all age-gender groups, especially significant differences were in children aged $1{\sim}5$, boys and girls aged $12{\sim}19$, men aged $20{\sim}49$, and women older than 50 years of age. RTEC consumption was not associated with intake in excess of the tolerable upper intake level (UL) for calcium. In conclusion, RTEC consumption was positively associated with both milk and calcium intakes in all age and gender groups in Korean population.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.17-37
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the global spillover effects through the existence of linear and nonlinear causal relationships between the US, European and BRIC financial markets after the period from the introduction of the Euro, the financial crisis and the subsequent EU debt crisis in 2007~2010. Although the global spillover effects of the financial crisis are well described, the nature of the volatility effects and the spread mechanisms between the US, Europe and BRIC stock markets have not been systematically examined. A stepwise filtering methodology was introduced to investigate the dynamic linear and nonlinear causality, which included a vector autoregressive regression model and a multivariate GARCH model. The sample in this paper includes the post-Euro period, and also includes the financial crisis and the Eurozone financial and sovereign crisis. The empirical results can have many implications for the efficiency of the BRIC stock market. These results not only affect the predictability of this market, but can also be useful in future research to quantify the process of financial integration in the market. The interdependence between the United States, Europe and the BRIC can reveal significant implications for financial market regulation, hedging and trading strategies. And the findings show that the BRIC has been integrated internationally since the sub-prime and financial crisis erupted in the United States, and the spillover effects have become more specific and remarkable. Furthermore, there is no consistent evidence supporting the decoupling phenomenon. Some nonlinear causality persists even after filtering during the investigation period. Although the tail distribution dependence and higher moments may be significant factors for the remaining interdependencies, this can be largely explained by the simple volatility spillover effects in nonlinear causality.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.560-565
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• 2016

In this study, we empirically scrutinize the relationship between short selling transactions and stock price behaviors using the stock market data in Korea during the period from January 2005 to March 2016. We chose the short selling volume ratio (SVR), stock lending volume ratio (LVR), and stock lending open interest ratio (LIR) as variables of the short selling trading activities. We construct portfolios based on the percentile of the short selling volume ratio during the sample period; upper-10%-SVR portfolio, upper-25%-SVR portfolio, upper-50%-SVR portfolio. We estimate the monthly firm-specific return and monthly skewness of the daily firm-specific returns of each portfolio. The firm-specific return or skewness is specified as a dependent variable and the short selling activities as explanatory variables. The results show that all of the statistically significant estimates of the short selling activities for the firm-specific returns are negative and that all of the statistically significant estimates of the skewness of the short selling activities are positive. These results support the hypothesis that short selling activities cause the stock price to decrease.