• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare visiting intentions by positive and negative Word-of-Mouth (WOM) and/or information of beauty shop between female college students and adult women. Data were collected from 500 consumers (250 from female students and 250 adult women) and was analyzed by using frequencies, factor analysis, t-tests and multiple regression utilizing SPSS/PC+. The findings revealed positive experience factors to prudent service, time saving/consideration for customer's position, kindness/operating system in waiting time, added services, employees' attitudes, excellent beauty and response skill, rational price and recall system/remind for customer. The negative experiences were inconsistent service, operators' convenient service, irrational price/poor skill/non-recall, non-customer central service, inappropriate face-to-face management to customer. Also, the results showed that the positive WOM information such as prudent service, time saving/consideration for customer's position, excellent beauty and response skill and rational price had influence on the visiting intention in case of female college students. The negative WOM information like non-customer central service, had influence on the visiting intention in cases of adult women.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.713-718
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• 2015

Background: A number of association studies have been carried out to investigate the relationship between genetic polymorphisms in DNA repair genes and response to radiotherapy-based multimodality treatment of patients with rectal cancer. However, their conclusions were inconsistent. The objective of the present study was to assess the role of DNA repair gene genetic polymorphisms in predicting genetic biomarkers of the response in rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Materials and Methods: Studies were retrieved by searching the PubMed database, Cochrane Library, Embase, and ISI Web of Knowledge. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between genetic polymorphisms and the response in rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation by checking odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Data were extracted from 5 clinical studies for this meta-analysis. The results showed that XRCC1 RS25487, XRCC1 RS179978, XRCC3 RS861539, ERCC1 RS11615 and ERCC2 RS13181 were not associated with the response in the radiotherapy-based multimodality treatment of patients with rectal cancer (p>0.05). Conclusions: This study shows that DNA repair gene common genetic polymorphisms are not significantly correlated with the radiotherapy-based multimodality treatment in rectal cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.649-661
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• 2019

Objective: To systematically review the evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of pre-treatment apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and change in ADC during the intra- or post-treatment period, for the prediction of locoregional failure in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Materials and Methods: Ovid-MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched up to September 8, 2018, for studies on the use of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for the prediction of locoregional treatment response in patients with HNSCC treated with chemoradiation or radiation therapy. Risk of bias was assessed by using the Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2. Results: Twelve studies were included in the systematic review, and diagnostic accuracy assessment was performed using seven studies. High pre-treatment ADC showed inconsistent results with the tendency for locoregional failure, whereas all studies evaluating changes in ADC showed consistent results of a lower rise in ADC in patients with locoregional failure compared to those with locoregional control. The sensitivities and specificities of pre-treatment ADC and change in ADC for predicting locoregional failure were relatively high (range: 50-100% and 79-96%, 75-100% and 69-95%, respectively). Meta-analytic pooling was not performed due to the apparent heterogeneity in these values. Conclusion: High pre-treatment ADC and low rise in early intra-treatment or post-treatment ADC with chemoradiation, could be indicators of locoregional failure in patients with HNSCC. However, as the studies are few, heterogeneous, and at high risk for bias, the sensitivity and specificity of these parameters for predicting the treatment response are yet to be determined.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.69-74
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• 2015

In this paper the patterns of information system is reduced so that control rules can guarantee fast response of queries in database. Generally an information system includes many kinds of necessary and unnecessary attribute. In particular, inconsistent information system is less likely to acquire the accuracy of response. Hence we are interested in the simple and understandable rules that can represent useful patterns by means of rough entropy and Bayesian posterior probability. We propose an algorithm which can reduce control rules to a minimum without inadequate patterns such that the implication between condition attributes and decision attributes is measured through the framework of rough entropy. Subsequently the validation of the proposed algorithm is showed through test information system of new employees appointment.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.49-58
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• 2019

Purpose - Previous studies on the influence of appeal types of advertising messages on pro-social behavior have shown inconsistent results. The purpose of this study is to examine whether the appeal type of advertising affects consumer's prosocial behavior. In particular, the authors investigated whether the social exclusion moderates the relationship between the appeal type of advertising and prosocial behavior. Research design, data and Methodology - To verify the hypothesis, two experimental study were conducted. The experimental study was 2(appeal type : self-benefit vs. other-benefit) by 2(social exclusion : being ignored vs. being rejected) between-subject design. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions. The experiment was conducted using a computer. First, the participants was exposed to the advertising image used in the social campaign, and then responded to questions about social behavior. The participants completed the experiment after further responding to the item for manipulation check and demographic measure. The experiment took about 10 minutes in total. Results - In Study 1, a global warming campaign with participation intention variable, other-benefit ads rather than self-benefit ads drive consumers who feel socially rejected to be more willing and likely to participate, but consumers who feel socially ignored are more likely to participate the campaign in self-benefit ad than other-benefit ad. Study 2 replicates the findings, a child poverty relief campaign with an amount-to-donate variable: consumers who feel explicitly rejected allocate more dollars to the charity in response to other-benefit rather than self-benefit ads, but consumers who being ignored are willing to donate more money. Conclusion - This study has theoretical contribution in that it expands existing theories by explaining the existing inconsistent results of the message appeal influence on pro-social behavior through new control variables. In addition, the results have important managerial implications, suggesting marketers should tailor their marketing message to match the consumer situation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2459-2465
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• 2012

Background: Numbers of epidemiological studies assessing residential radon exposure and risk of lung cancer have yielded inconsistent results. Methods: We therefore performed a meta-analysis of relevant published case-control studies searched in the PubMed database through July 2011 to examine the association. The combined odds ratio (OR) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models. Subgroup and dose-response analyses were also performed. Results: We identified 22 case-control studies of residential radon and lung cancer risk involving 13,380 cases and 21,102 controls. The combined OR of lung cancer for the highest with the lowest exposure was 1.29 (95% CI 1.10-1.51). Dose-response analysis showed that every 100 Bq/$m^3$ increment in residential radon exposure was associated with a significant 7% increase in lung cancer risk. Subgroup analysis displayed a more pronounced association in the studies conducted in Europe. Studies restricted to female or non-smokers demonstrated weakened associations between exposure and lung cancer. Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides new evidence supporting the conclusion that residential exposure to radon can significantly increase the risk of lung cancer in a dose-response manner.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.96-102
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• 2016

Background: It is widely accepted that cervical interlaminar steroid injection (CIESI) is more effective in treating radicular pain than axial neck pain, but without direct comparison. And the differences of effect after CIESI according to MRI findings are inconsistent. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the therapeutic response of CIESI according to pain sites, durations, MRI findings, and other predictive factors altogether, unlike previous studies, which evaluated them separately. Methods: The medical records of 128 patients who received fluoroscopy guided CIESI were analyzed. We evaluated the therapeutic response (more than a 50% reduction on the visual analog scale [VAS] by their second visit) after CIESI by (1) pain site; neck pain without radicular pain/radicular pain with or without neck pain, (2) pain duration; acute/chronic (more than 6 month), and (3) findings of MRI; herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD)/spinal stenosis, respectively and altogether. Results: Eighty-eight patients (68%) responded to CIESI, and there were no significant differences in demographic data, initial VAS score, or laboratory findings. And there were no significant differences in the response rate relating to pain site, pain duration, or MRI findings, respectively. In additional analysis, acute radicular pain with HIVD patients showed significantly better response than chronic neck pain with spinal stenosis (P = 0.04). Conclusions: We cannot find any sole predictive factor of therapeutic response to the CIESI. But the patients having acute radicular pain with HIVD showed the best response, and those having other chronic neck pain showed the worst response to CIESI.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.368-373
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• 2013

Background: Bertolotti's syndrome (BS), a form of lumbago in lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, is an important cause of low back pain in young patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the etiology of low back pain and the efficacy of treatment offered to patients with BS. Methods: All patients of BS Castellvi type1a during a period of 6 months were enrolled in the study. The patients underwent interventional pain procedures for diagnosis and pain relief. Response to the therapy was assessed based on VAS and ODI scores. A 50% decrease in VAS score or a VAS score less than 3 would be considered adequate pain relief. Results: All 20 patients diagnosed with BS during the 6-month observation period had scoliosis. Common causes of back pain were the ipsilateral L5-S1 facet joint, neoarticulation, the SI joint, and disc degeneration. Responses to various interventions for pain relief were different and inconsistent from patient to patient. In particular, responses to interventions for neoarticular pain were generally poor. Conclusions: Pain in patients with BS does not usually respond to interventional pain treatment. A very dynamic treatment approach must be pursued while managing BS patients, and the treatment plan must be individualized at various stages in order to obtain satisfactory pain relief.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.241-253
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• 2016

Depending on the researcher, the effect of prestressing on the natural frequency of a PSC (prestressed concrete) structure appear to have been interpreted differently. Most laboratory tests on PSC beams available showed that the natural frequency is increased appreciably by prestressing. On the other hand, some other references based on field experience argued that the dynamic response of a PSC structure does not change regardless of the prestressing applied. Therefore, the deduced conclusions are inconsistent. Because an experiment with and without prestressing is a difficult task on a full size PSC bridge, the change in natural frequency of a PSC bridge due to prestressing may not be examined through field measurements. The study examined analytically the effects of prestressing on the natural frequency of PSC bridges. A finite element program for an undamped dynamic motion of a beam-tendon system was developed with additional geometric stiffness. The analytical results confirm that a key parameter in changing the natural frequency due to prestressing is the relative ratio of prestressing to the total weight of the structure rather than the prestressing itself.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.973-988
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• 2014

This paper presents a factor-analysis based questionnaire categorization method to improve the reliability of the evaluation of working conditions without influencing the completeness of the questionnaire both in Taiwanese and Chinese construction enterprises for structural engineering applications. The proposed approach springs from the AI application and expert systems in structural engineering. Questions with a similar response pattern are grouped into or categorized as one factor. Questions that form a single factor usually have higher reliability than the entire questionnaire, especially in the case when the questionnaire is complex and inconsistent. By classifying questions based on the meanings of the words used in them and the responded scores, reliability could be increased. The principle for classification was that 90% of the questions in the same classified group must satisfy the proposed classification rule and consequently the lowest one was 92%. The results show that the question classification method could improve the reliability of the questionnaires for at least 0.7. Compared to the question deletion method using SPSS, 75% of the questions left were verified the same as the results obtained by applying the classification method.