• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.311-318
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to assess the methodological quality of non-randomized studies published in the Journal of Korean Fundamentals of Nursing. Methods: A search of non-randomized studies assessing intervention effects was conducted among all articles published in the Journal of Korean Fundamentals of Nursing between 2011 and 2013. Articles were assessed for quality using the Methodological Index for Non Randomized Studies (MINORS). For each index item, the frequency and percentage of articles meeting the criteria were calculated, along with mean scores by research method, publication year, and research topic. Results: A total of 22 studies were included. The mean score for studies without control groups was 11.75 (range 0-16), and for those with control groups, 19.27 (range 0-24). Results show that improvement is needed on several items: "endpoints appropriate to the aim of the study," "unbiased assessment of the study endpoint," "follow-up period appropriate to the aim of the study," "loss to follow up less than 5%," and "contemporary groups." Conclusion: Although the quality of articles published in the Journal of Korean Fundamentals of Nursing has consistently increased, more emphasis should be placed on using rigorous research methods.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.245-256
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• 2021

Poor logistical infrastructure and agri-food supply chain management leads to significant food waste in logistic system. The concept of the sustainable value added agri-food chains requires defined approach to the analysis of the existing situation, possible improving strategies and also assessment of these changes impact on further development. The purpose of research is to provide scientific substantiation of theoretical and methodological principles and develop practical recommendations for the improvement of the agri-food logistics distribution system. A case study methodology is used in this article. The research framework is based on 4 steps: Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Gap and Process Analysis, Validation and Improvement Areas Definition and Imitation Modelling. This paper presents the appropriateness of LEAN logistics tools using, in particular, Value Stream Mapping (VSM) for minimizing logistic losses and Simulation Modeling of possible logistics distribution system improvement results. The algorithm of VSM analysis of the agri-food supply chain, which involves its optimization by implementing the principles of sustainable development at each stage, is proposed. The methodical approach to the analysis of possible ways for optimizing the operation of the logistics system of the agri-food distribution is developed. It involves the application of Value Stream Mapping, i.e. designing of stream maps of the creation of the added value in the agri-food supply chain for the current and future state based on the minimization of logistic losses. Simulation modeling of the investment project on time optimization in the agri-food supply chain and economic effect of proposed improvements in logistics product distribution system functioning at the level of the investigated agricultural enterprise has been determined. Improvement of logistics planning and coordination of operations in the supply chain and the innovative pre-cooling system proposed to be introduced have a 3-year payback period and almost 75-80% probability. Based on the conducted VSM analysis of losses in the agri-food supply chain, there have been determined the main points, where it is advisable to conduct optimization changes for the achievement of positive results and the significant economic effect from the proposed measures has been confirmed. In further studies, it is recommended to focus on identifying the synergistic effect of the agri-food supply chain optimization on the basis of sustainable development.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.913-922
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• 2022

The purpose of this research is to propose the measurement of improving DEM by using the water surface range of SAR image analysis for river corridors and to suggest the construction of satellite-based 3D river spatial information of inaccessible regions such as North Korea. For this research, it has been progressed from the accessible area, watershed of Namgang river, the branch of Nakdonggang river. The satellite image was collected from SAR satellite image data for a year in 2021 which was provided by ESA from Sentinel-1A/B data and extracted from the seasonal water surface area. Ground gauge water level was collected from hourly intervals data by WAMIS. The DEM was improved by analysis of the river altitude of water surface area change by the combination of the ground water level of minimum to maximum water surface area data extracted from SAR image analysis. After the improvement of DEM, the altitude of the river varied that it is defined to comprise more natural form of river DEM than the existing DEM. The correction validation of improvement DEM was necessary in field survey elevation data; however, the correction validation was not progressed due to the absence of the data. Although, the purpose of this research is to provide the improvement of DEM by using the analyzed water surface by existing DEM data and SAR image analysis. After the progression of additional correction validation research, we would plan to examine the application in other places and to progress the additional methodological research to apply in inaccessible and unmeasured area including the North Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8361-8366
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• 2014

This meta-analysis was performed to assess the implementation effects of clinical pathways in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. A comprehensive search was conducted in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (from inception to May 2014). Selection of studies, assessing risk of bias and extracting data were performed by two reviewers independently. Outcomes were analyzed by fixed-effects and random-effects model meta-analysis and reported as mean difference (MD), standardized mean difference (SMD) and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The Jadad methodological approach was used to assess the quality of included studies and the meta-analysis was conducted with RevMan 5.1 software. Nine citations (eight trials) involving 642 patients were included. The aggregate results showed that a shorter average length of stay [MD = -4.0; 95% CI (-5.1, -2.8); P < 0.00001] was observed with the clinical pathways as compared with the usual care. A reduction in inpatient expenditure [SMD = -1.5; 95% CI (-2.3, -0.7); P = 0.0001] was also associated with clinical pathways, along with higher patient satisfaction [OR = 4.9; 95% CI (2.2, 10.6); P < 0.0001]. Clinical pathways could improve the quality of care in patients with gastrointestinal cancer, as evidenced by a significant reduction in average length of stay, a decrease in inpatient expenditure and an improvement in patient satisfaction. Therefore, indicators and mechanisms within clinical pathways should be a focus in the future.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2012

Objective: This study evaluated and compared the adherence to the CONSORT for quality of reports on the randomized controlled trials (RCT) abstracts by four major Korean Science Citation Index (SCI) journals and The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Methods: A descriptive analysis of published RCT abstracts in Korean SCI journals and NEJM from 2007/01 to 2011/06 was conducted by two reviewers, independently extracting data from a PubMed search. A modification of CONSORT for abstract was used including 16 checklist items. Reporting of checklist items for individual group was conducted to compare adherence patterns between two groups. Results: We identified the potential 57 RCT abstracts from Korean SCI and 50 from NEJM meeting our inclusion criteria; among them, three abstracts from Korean SCI and one from NEJM were excluded. Among total 16 checklist items based on CONSORT statement, Korean SCI journals and NEJM were statistically equivalent in 4 items; Korean journals were better in three items and NEJM were in nine. The methodological quality domains were inadequately reported in both journals: allocation concealment about 1.9% and 4.0%, and blinding 44.4% and 40.8%. In general, The CONSORT adherence of NEJM was better than that of Korean SCI in the method and result domain (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The quality of NEJM reporting of RCT abstracts was better than that of Korean SCI, in general. This study on adherence of RCT reports from Korean SCI journals and NEJM abstracts to the CONSORT statement reveals that there is a need for improvement, especially Korean SCI. Further investigation on the quality of RCT reports and ways to improve reporting quality is required.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.257-264
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop an effective obesity management program for elementary school children, based on the motivation theory. Method: This study was a methodological study. A child obesity management program, based on the motivation theory was developed, a web site was made and children with obesity participated in the internet program. After the children finished the program, they evaluated the clinical validity of the program. The clinical validity was tested from Jun 12 to 16, 2006. The participants were 6 students. The evaluation tool was Keller's IMMS(Instructional Material Motivation Survey). Data were evaluated using $means{\pm}SD$ for four major components A,R,C,S (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, Satisfaction), based on ARCS in the motivation theory. Results: The program developed in this study was named 'ARCS children obesity escape', and the URL is 'http://www.119kid.co.kr'. Regarding the four components of ARCS, the overall reaction of participants showed that they were very highly motivated by this program. Conclusion: Utilizing the ARCS motivation strategies for solving obesity problems for children is an effective method to motivate the management of obesity, and can increase achievement motivation, attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction with the management of obesity. Thus, the program developed in this study is expected to reduce obesity in children, and become an important guide for obesity management and health improvement for children.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.23-41
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• 2007

Objective: The objectives of this preliminary study was to develop cost-effective and accessible self-intervention program and to assess the effects of music listening self intervention program for Hwa-byung patients, who had undergone conflicts with family and economical problems, in quantity and quality. Subjects: Seven middle age women who bad been diagnosed with Hwa-byung by Hwa-Byung Diagnotic interview Schedule participated in this program. Method: Participants learned music listening techniques and visited hospital three times a week during 2 weeks. Music-listening self intervention for Hwa-byung patients was consisted of three sad musics(in minor) and three sedative musics(in major) and perlO1med at home for 2 weeks. Patient's somatic symptoms and self awareness (of Hwa-byung scale), anxiety(STAD, anger(STAXD, depressive mood(BDD were evaluated before and after intervention and 6 weeks later after study completed. And various and subjective responses of Music-listening self intervention for Hwa-byung patients were collected by semi- structured interview made for this study. Results: Their Somatic symptoms(especially insomnia), self-awareness of Hwa-byung and depressive mood were improved except anxiety, anger. This improvement had maintained over a 6-week follow-up period. Patients had used constantly the music-listening program for Hwa-byung patients after the study completed. Conclusion: The music-listening program will be an effective for Hwa-byung patient's somatic symptoms and depressive mood and had been used constantly by them. But, much methodological supplementation will be needed to assess clinical effects on this program.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.16-28
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of Yukgunja-tang(YGJT, Rikkunshito, Liujunzi) on Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease(GERD). Methods: Sixteen electronic databases were used to search for studies published through March 2019, and a randomized controlled study was conducted to study the effects of YGJT or modified YGJT on GERD. Study quality was assessed using the risk bias tool provided by Cochran, and data analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3.0 software Results: Two-hundred and forty articles were initially searched, and 13 studies that satisfied the study criteria were evaluated qualitatively; 11 of the 13 were included in the meta-analysis. In the two studies, the effects of YGJT and a placebo were compared. Meta-analysis showed that YGJT significantly improved FSSG (Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of GERD) scores, but not GSRS (Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale) scores (FSSG: MD -2.40, 95% CI [-5.31, 0.51], p=0.11, GSRS: MD 0.05, 95% CI [-0.12, 0.22], p=0.55). Meta-analysis of nine studies comparing the efficacies of YGJT and conventional medicine showed that YGJT had a significant clinical effect (OR 5.72; 95% CI [3.41, 9.61]; I2 p<0.00001). Conclusion: This study suggests that YGJT effectively relieves the symptoms of GERD. Unfortunately, owing to the small sample sizes, limitations of several methodological qualities, we believe large-scale clinical studies with less bias will provide evidence of qualitative improvement.

• IE interfaces
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.338-348
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• 2004

OECD countries including Korea positively adopt performance-based budget systems which convert an input-centered system to an output-centered system to solve two baffling problems: public expense retrenchment and efficiency recovery of government management. Output management of IT project propelled in public sector becomes a prominent figure influenced by these keynote of policy. However, it is placed in difficult circumstances to develop a performance index and the methodology to cover characteristics of IT project, measuring the goal achievement of business and the customer contentment according to the phases of business progress. Existing studies of IT project accomplishment measurement have been fulfilled on the subject of business targeting on IT technology application, administrative information network business and national base of information network construction. Most of the studies have been executed using BSC or AHP to reflect synthetically business specifics of IT project from a methodological point of view. In this study, we propose a structural equation model (SEM) to develop a performance index which measures the outcome of IT project according to the phases of business progress, avoiding a simple presentation of project outcome or conceptual frame. The proposed SEM is applied to the survey results of "IT support project for Small and medium business". Based on the fitted model, we apply ACSI concept to develop an Information Technologization Success Index (ITSI). This index allows us comparison of several IT vendors as well as feedback information for further improvement.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.902-916
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• 2017

Objectives: The aim of this study was to review the clinical research on antihypertensive effects of Korean herbal medicines that function by inducing diuresis. Methods: Literature searches were performed using PubMed, Cochrane, CNKI, Wanfang, Cinii, Oasis, KISS, NDSL, RISS, DBPia, with the keywords "利水", "利尿", "高血壓", "hypertension", and "lishui." The search range included only randomized controlled trials that verified the effects of Korean herbal medicine interventions on hypertension. The selected studies were assessed by risk of bias (RoB). Results: 26 reports were selected from a total of 532 identified. For these reports, meta-analysis was performed using Revman 5.3. From this analysis, it was observed that the combined treatment of Korean medicine and antihypertensive drugs had a significantly higher total effective rate (TER) and improvement in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) than did the use of a single antihypertensive drug. The risk ratio of TER for lowering blood pressure was 1.25. The mean differences of SBP, DBP were -19.63 mm Hg (95% confidential interval (CI), -22.45 mm Hg, -16.80 mm Hg, p<0.00001), and -5.39 mm Hg (95% CI, -7.36 mm Hg, -3.42 mm Hg, p<0.00001) respectively. The use of Korean medicine only did not improve blood pressure, as compared to the use of an antihypertensive drug. Most of items of RoB were unclear, and the methodological quality was low. Conclusions: The combination of antihypertensive drugs and Korean medical treatment can effectively improve SBP, DBP, and TER. This finding could be widely utilized in clinical practice in Korean medicine.