• Journal of Science Education
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.211-224
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to suggest how to investigate the reliability of the assessment, which consists of items generated by automatic item generation using empirical example data. To achieve this, we analyzed the illustrative assessment data by applying the multivariate generalizability theory, which can reflect the design of responding to different items for each student and multiple error sources in the assessment score. The result of the G-study showed that, in most designs, the student effect corresponding to the true score of the classical test theory was relatively large after residual effects. In addition, in the design where the content domain was fixed, the ranking of students did not change depending on the item types or items. Similarly, in the design where the item format was fixed, the difficulty showed little variation depending on the content domains. The result of the D-study indicated that the original assessment data achieved a sufficient level of reliability. It was also found that higher reliability than the original assessment data could be obtained by reducing the number of items in the content domains of operation, geometry, and probability and statistics, or by assigning higher weights to the domains of letters and formulas, and function. The efficient measurement conditions presented in this study are limited to the illustrative assessment data. However, the method applied in this study can be utilized to determine the reliability and to find efficient measurement conditions for the various assessment situations using automatic item generation based on measurement traits.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.71-82
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• 2023

Objectives: The existing reductionist approach has not reached complete understanding of the cause of schizophrenia. The objective of this study was to investigate yin-yang and five-element characteristics reflected on four time pillars of birth of patients with schizophrenia through comparison with the general population in the perspective of consilience-based holistic approach. Methods: This study was conducted using a random sequential recruitment method for the general population and individuals with schizophrenia aged 18 to 64 based on the exact date and time of birth using structured questionnaires. Relative positional relations of yin-yang and five-element with day master were primarily examined. In addition, the strength of day master with a score range of 0~100 points was assessed through operational score allocation. Results: Of 591 participants, 576 (346: general population, 230: individuals with schizophrenia) were analyzed. Between-group analyses showed no significant difference in the distribution of types of day master (χ²=10.41, df=9, p=0.318). However, significant between-group differences were shown in the distribution of the strength of day master (t=2.14, p=0.032) and frequency of restraining month branch (χ²=5.23, df=1, p=0.022). In logistic regression analysis, 10-point increase on the strength of day master decreased the probability of onset of schizophrenia over the age of 30 by 29.6% (p=0.002; 95% confidence interval, 0.566~0.876). Conclusions: Findings in this study suggest that four time pillars of birth might be associated with schizophrenia through yin-yang and five-element theory and synchronicity principle, implicating the plausibility of consilience-based holistic approach in the determination of risk factors or cause of schizophrenia.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.860-870
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• 2023

Objective: The intra-parotid facial nerve (FN) can be visualized using three-dimensional double-echo steady-state water-excitation sequence magnetic resonance imaging (3D-DESS-WE-MRI). However, the clinical impact of FN imaging using 3D-DESS-WE-MRI before parotidectomy has not yet been explored. We compared the clinical outcomes of parotidectomy in patients with and without preoperative 3D-DESS-WE-MRI. Materials and Methods: This prospective, non-randomized, single-institution study included 296 adult patients who underwent parotidectomy for parotid tumors, excluding superficial and mobile tumors. Preoperative evaluation with 3D-DESS-WE-MRI was performed in 122 patients, and not performed in 174 patients. FN visibility and tumor location relative to FN on 3D-DESS-WE-MRI were evaluated in 120 patients. Rates of FN palsy (FNP) and operation times were compared between patients with and without 3D-DESS-WE-MRI; propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were used to adjust for surgical and tumor factors. Results: The main trunk, temporofacial branch, and cervicofacial branch of the intra-parotid FN were identified using 3D-DESS-WE-MRI in approximately 97.5% (117/120), 44.2% (53/120), and 25.0% (30/120) of cases, respectively. The tumor location relative to FN, as assessed on magnetic resonance imaging, concurred with surgical findings in 90.8% (109/120) of cases. Rates of temporary and permanent FNP did not vary between patients with and without 3D-DESS-WE-MRI according to PSM (odds ratio, 2.29 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.64-8.25] and 2.02 [95% CI: 0.32-12.90], respectively) and IPTW (odds ratio, 1.76 [95% CI: 0.19-16.75] and 1.94 [95% CI: 0.20-18.49], respectively). Conversely, operation time for surgical identification of FN was significantly shorter with 3D-DESS-WE-MRI (median, 25 vs. 35 min for PSM and 25 vs. 30 min for IPTW, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Preoperative FN imaging with 3D-DESS-WE-MRI facilitated anatomical identification of FN and its relationship to the tumor during parotidectomy. This modality reduced operation time for FN identification, but did not significantly affect postoperative FNP rates.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.332-337
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• 1996

Purpose : It has been known that the activity of extracellular matrix degradative enzymes such as collagenase correlate well with the metastatic potential of various tumor cells in experimental study. This study was aimed at comparing the activities of type IV collagenase with bone scan findings in patients with breast cancer. Materials and Methods : We retrospectively correlated bone scan findings with the results of immunohistochemical staining for 92kDa, 72kDa type IV collagenase in 28, and 30 patients with metastatic breast cancer, respectively, as well as 23, and 27 patients with primary breast cancer, respectively. The immunohistochemical staining was performed with tissue specimens obtained from primary or metastatic breast tumor lesions. The amounts of the enzyme were graded from 0 to 4 and scored by multiplication with the percentage of tumor cells. The confidence of bone scan interpretation for metastasis was also scored from 1 to 5 with increasing probability. Results : There was a significant difference in enzyme scores between patients with and without metastasis. In patients with primary breast cancer group, the frequency of patients with enzyme score of less than 170 were 96%(26/27) and 100%(26/26) with 92kDa and 72kDa collagenase, respectively. In contrast, in patients with metastatic breast cancer group, the frequency of patients with enzyme score of more than 200 were 93%(28/30) and 87%(26/30) with 92kDa and 72kDa collagenase, respectively. All patients with each enzyme score of less than 170 show no active bony metastasis, however, there were variable bone scan findings in patients with each enzyme score of more than 200. Conclusion : Bone scan is useful to confirm, localize or follow up of bony metastasis in patients with each enzyme scores of more than 200. Acitve metastatic lesions were hardly seen on the bone scintigraphy in patients with collagenase scores of less than 170.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.667-672
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• 2007

This report describes the use of conventional computed tomography(CT) for the diagnosis of head trauma in three canine patients. According to physical and neurologic examinations, survey radiography and computed tomography, these patients were diagnosed as traumatic brain injury. Especially, CT is the imaging modality of first choice for head trauma patients. It provides rapid acquisition of images, superior bone detail, and better visualization of acute hemorrhage than magnetic resonance imaging. It is also less expensive and more readily available. Pre-contrast computed tomography was used to image the head. Then, post-contrast CT was performed using the same technique. The Modified Glasgow Coma Scale(MGCS) score was used to predict their probability of survival rate after head trauma in these dogs. Computed tomogram showed fluid filled tympanic bulla, fracture of the left temporal bone and cerebral parenchymal hemorrhage with post contrast ring enhancement. However, in one case, computed tomographic examination didn't delineate cerebellar parenchymal hemorrhage, which was found at postmortem examination. Treatments for patients placed in intensive care were focused to maintain cerebral perfusion pressure and to normalize intracranial pressure. In these cases, diagnostic computed tomography was a useful procedure. It revealed accurate location of the hemorrhage lesion.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.1023-1032
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify nicotine dependence, smoking-related attitude, and subjective norms across the stages of change for smoking cessation among adult smokers in a rural area. Method: The subjects were 276 current smokers (male=243, female=33). There were 3 stages of change for smoking cessation: pre-contemplation, contemplation, and preparation stage. Data was collected by an interview or self-reporting from February 12th to March 5th 2004, and analyzed with frequency, percentage, $X^2-test$, Fisher's exact probability test, ANOVA, and Scheffe test using the SPSS-PC program. Result: According to the stages of change, 114(41.3%) current smokers were in pre-contemplation, 110(39.9%) in contemplation, and 52(18.8%) in the preparation stage. There was a higher percentage of males than females ($X^2-test$=8.99, p=.011) in the preparation stage. The mean score of the smoking-related attitude (F:7.43, p=.001) and subjective norm(F=27.41, p=.001) were both lowest in the pre-contemplation stage and increased positively during the stages of change for smoking cessation. Conclusion: Based on these findings, the authors recommend that community-based smoking cessation programs should be developed by considering the intention or motives of current smokers and should be initiated in the preparation stage and primarily for male groups.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.923-930
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• 2015

There exist many competition systems to determine a winner. Many sports games use the 1-in-2 tournament or its modified version to determine a winner. In this paper, we propose a competition system that can be used when there are many candidates and many random referees to evaluate the candidates. These competitions can be found in the cyber space where many users score many competing apps. We study fairness of our proposed competing system called a multi-stage random tournament in terms of equal probabilities. We also formulate the influence factor of a specific referee under some specific conditions.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.176-181
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• 2017

Objective: The timed up and go (TUG) test is method used to determine the functional mobility of persons with stroke. Its reliability, validity, reaction rate, fall prediction, and psychological characteristics concerning ambulation ability have been validated. However, the relationship between TUG performance and community ambulation ability is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the TUG performance time could indicate community ambulation levels (CAL) differentially in persons with chronic stroke. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Eighty-seven stroke patients had participated in this study. Based on the self-reporting survey results on the difficulties experienced when walking outdoors, the subjects were divided into the independent community ambulation (ICA) group (n=35) and the dependent community ambulation group (n=52). Based on the area under the curve (AUC), the discrimination validity of the TUG performance time was calculated for classifying CAL. The Binomial Logistic Regression Model was utilized to produce the likelihood ratio of selected TUG cut-off values for the distinguishing of community ambulation ability. Results: The selected TUG cut-off values and the area under the curve were <14.87 seconds (AUC=0.871, 95% confidence interval=0.797-0.945), representing a mid-level accuracy. Concerning the likelihood ratio of the selected TUG cut-off value, it was found that the group with TUG performance times shorter than 14.87 seconds showed a 2.889 times higher probability of ICA than those with a TUG score of 14.87 seconds or longer (p<0.05). Conclusions: The TUG can be viewed as an assessment tool that is capable of classifying CAL.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between job stress and metabolic syndrome among male workers. Methods: A total of 396 male workers employed in an electronic company, located in 'P' city, Gyeonggi Province, who had taken medical examination at the 'D' hospital, volunteered in this study. All the data used in this study were obtained from 'D' hospital after getting consent and permission from the workers. General and occupational characteristics, medical history, and health-related behaviors of the subjects were obtained by self-administered questionnaire. Results: The highest occupational stress by sub-sector was reported in the order of insufficient job control, organizational system, lack of reward, job demand, job insecurity, physical environment, job culture, and relationship conflict. The prevalence rate of metabolic syndrome of the participants was 19.9%. The results of the multiple logistic regression analysis on metabolic syndrome of the subjects indicated that the syndrome was significantly higher among those with family history, smoking habit and ex-smoking, working duration of 3 years and over, and with higher total score of occupational stress. It was significantly more prevalent, when the degree of stress was high in the sub-sectors of occupational stress; job autonomy, job insecurity, lack of reward, and job culture. Conclusion: In conclusion, it is necessary to implement a plan to efficiently manage the job stress of these male workers, as the probability of metabolic syndrome increased with the increase of occupational stress. Furthermore, considering the highest occupational stress was found to be job autonomy among its sub-sectors, it is necessary to prepare various measures to enhance the autonomy of such employees.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.307-314
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• 2005

Objectives : To survey college students with an Alcohol Use Disorder, and analyze the reasons for their disorder. Methods : The cross-sectional study was conducted at 60 four-year colleges within Seoul and 9 other provinces. The schools and students selected for the study provide a nationally representative sample, and the survey was conducted between May 15th and June 14th 2003. 2,385 cases were analyzed using questionnaires, which included a series of questions about students' alcohol use and associated problems, as well as an Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. Results : 42.3% of students were found to have an Alcohol Use Disorder. The probability of a student having an Alcohol Use Disorder was 1.30 times higher among male compared to female students. Those students not living with their parents or relatives were 1.40 times more likely to have an Alcohol Use Disorder. Those students where the father had a drinking problem and those who admitted that their parents drank heavily while they were growing up were 1.38 and 1.54 times more likely, respectively, to have an Alcohol Use Disorder. Those students attending a general university, joining a student club, attaining less than a B average credit score and those unsatisfied with their education were 1.60, 1.36, 1.41 and 1.27 times more likely, respectively, to have an Alcohol Use Disorder. Those students who had experience of drugs, smoking, binge drinking when they were in the last year of high school and the forceful consumption of mixed alcohol were 3.67, 1.95, 2.15 and 1.76 times more likely, respectively, to have an Alcohol Use Disorder. Conclusions : College students' with an Alcohol Use Disorder is a very severe and large problem within colleges. An Alcohol Use Disorder is determined by individual and family variables, the college environmental and life variables, as well as behavior variables.