• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.43 no.6 s.208
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• pp.113-131
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate older people's planning for estate distribution by examining the factors associated with their will-holding status. This study used data from the 1994 Assets and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) Survey, Wave One. The objectives of this study were (a) to establish profiles of older people who have a written will and to compare their financial portfolios across will-holding status; (b) to identify factors that influence the decision to make a will, and (c) to draw implications for family economists, financial educators, planners, and policy makers. The results suggested that a household's financial resources (i.e., liquid and illiquid assets, housing equity, and household income) positively influence the probability of having a will. Older people who resided in a community property state and who were in poor health were less likely to be will-holders than their counterparts, holding financial resources and other variables constant. Demographic characteristics such as age, education, and race, and behavioral characteristic also were significant determinants of the likelihood of having a will. Volunteer participation and charitable contribution, which are proxies for altruism, increased the likelihood of having a will. The probability of having a will also was higher among those who had life insurance and had gwen inter-vivos gifts of more than $\$5,000$ to their children or grandchildren in the past 10 years. On the other hand, the likelihood of having a will declined with increasing number of biological children. From the findings, implications for financial planners and educators were suggested along with directions for future research.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.277-295
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• 2016

It is undoubtedly true that national security in Korean peninsula is on the road to destabilization. The main factors are known to be North Korea's development and experiment on nuclear arms, especially the forth nuclear experiment on January 6th, ICBM launch February 7th, and encroachment upon the territory the NLL on the 8th along with the shutdown on Gaeseong Industrial Complex. Also, China's trouble with other nations over sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea and the fact that Japan's government is veering to the right side and having territorial dispute are making the case worse. Nations in Northeast Asia are striving to obtain the interest for the sake of their own country. In order to do so, they're walking the path to achieve national security. Until then, they are not so willing to participate foreign matters or economical race. Even in our perspective, these issues are many of the main problems which our country is currently facing. However, it is important for them to avoid making policies which may take away the citizen's happiness. The number one priority for the nation or any form of a group is to act in the best interest for the national security and the citizen's happiness. They are the main factors why a nation could exist. They are the symbols of a nation's sovereign authority. Countries outside are proving it by increasing their national defense budget even in this unprecedented economical crisis. If we are willing to stay the same as ever, the disparity in the military force will not be the same in the future. In conclusion, the study examines the problem which changes in Northeast Asia's defense environment could bring and the appropriate amount of national defense budget in order to support the nation's integration of its abilities to move toward South and North Korea's unification.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.4
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• pp.284-293
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• 2023

Background: Attitudes towards smoking, lung cancer screening, and perceived risk of lung cancer have not been widely studied in Malaysia. The primary objective of this study was to describe the factors affecting the willingness of high-risk current smokers and ex-smokers to undergo low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in current smokers or ex-smokers aged between 55 and 80 years at three hospitals in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. The questionnaire recorded the following parameters: perceived lung cancer risk; Prostate Lung Colon Ovarian Cancer 2012 risk prediction model excluding race and ethnicity predictor (PLCO_m2012norace); demographic characteristics; psychosocial characteristics; and attitudes towards lung cancer and lung cancer screening. Results: A vast majority of the 95 respondents (94.7%) indicated their willingness to undergo screening. Stigma of lung cancer, low levels of knowledge about lung cancer symptoms, concerns about financial constraints, and a preference for traditional medication were still prevalent among the respondents, and they may represent potential barriers to lung cancer screening uptake. A desire to have an early diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 11.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53 to 84.05; p=0.02), perceived time constraints (OR, 3.94; 95% CI, 1.32 to 11.73; p=0.01), and proximity of LDCT screening facilities (OR, 14.33; 95% CI, 1.84 to 111.4; p=0.01) had significantly higher odds of willingness to undergo screening. Conclusion: Although high-risk current smokers and ex-smokers are likely to undergo screening for lung cancer, several psychosocial barriers persist. The results of this study may guide the policymakers and clinicians regarding the need to improve lung cancer awareness in our population.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.225-237
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• 2024

In the analysis of competing risks data, some of covariates may not be fully observed for some subjects. In such cases, excluding subjects with missing covariate values from the analysis may result in biased estimates and loss of efficiency. In this paper, we studied multiple imputation and the augmented inverse probability weighting method for regression parameter estimation in the cause-specific proportional hazards model with missing covariates. The performance of estimators obtained from multiple imputation and the augmented inverse probability weighting method is evaluated by simulation studies, which show that those methods perform well. Multiple imputation and the augmented inverse probability weighting method were applied to investigate significant risk factors for the risk of death from breast cancer and from other causes for breast cancer data with missing values for tumor size obtained from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screen Trial Study. Under the cause-specific proportional hazards model, the methods show that race, marital status, stage, grade, and tumor size are significant risk factors for breast cancer mortality, and stage has the greatest effect on increasing the risk of breast cancer death. Age at diagnosis and tumor size have significant effects on increasing the risk of other-cause death.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.159-184
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• 1988

Race and ethnicity are important factors which influence the elderIy's residential adjustment behaviors, although it is unclear whether this reflects influences unrelated to race and ethnlcity. Culturally, the norm of family supportoften obseved among various minority ethnic groups is likely to provide flexible family suppof for the elderIy. Economically, the life-long hardship ofminority groups is likely to force them to maintain extended family living arrangements simply to reduce expenses via economies of scale. Thecontroversy about the economic need versus the cultural prescription forextended living arrangements remains unresoIved because it fails to articulatethe meaning of family supports among many disadvantaged groups.This study aims to test previous economic and cultural arguments, byexamining ethnic differences iu the eiderIy's responsiveness to their health andeconomic problems. Two hypotheses about cultural influences on the elderly's resideutiai adjustment are examined. First, do elderly minorities receive famiiysupporis for longer periods when they are poor if economic and health status\ulcorner Second, do elderiy minorities receive family supports more often when their health status declines\ulcorner Using the Longitudinal Suvey on Aging from 1984 to 1990. this study employs Markovian multi-state life tables, and discrete and contonuous competing hazard analyses for the transition in living arrangements. The main results provide substantial evidence against the cultural resource thesis. Elderly minorities experience more frequent transition between living alone and living with relatives than white elderly persons when group differences in the extent of mortality and insititutionalization are controlled. The shorter timf of living alone among elderly monorities stems from their greater likehood of joining relatives as well as greater mortality and attrition rates than elderly whites. Coresidence of elderly whites with their relatives is more likely to occur in response to their needs for health care than of elderly whites. it implies that instability. not flezibility. characterrizes elderly minorities living arrangements.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.4049-4054
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• 2014

Background: Race and ethnicity are significant factors in predicting survival time of breast cancer patients. In this study, we applied advanced statistical methods to predict the survival of White non-Hispanic female breast cancer patients, who were diagnosed between the years 1973 and 2009 in the United States (U.S.). Materials and Methods: Demographic data from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database were used for the purpose of this study. Nine states were randomly selected from 12 U.S. cancer registries. A stratified random sampling method was used to select 2,000 female breast cancer patients from these nine states. We compared four types of advanced statistical probability models to identify the best-fit model for the White non-Hispanic female breast cancer survival data. Three model building criterion were used to measure and compare goodness of fit of the models. These include Akaike Information Criteria (AIC), Bayesian Information Criteria (BIC), and Deviance Information Criteria (DIC). In addition, we used a novel Bayesian method and the Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique to determine the posterior density function of the parameters. After evaluating the model parameters, we selected the model having the lowest DIC value. Using this Bayesian method, we derived the predictive survival density for future survival time and its related inferences. Results: The analytical sample of White non-Hispanic women included 2,000 breast cancer cases from the SEER database (1973-2009). The majority of cases were married (55.2%), the mean age of diagnosis was 63.61 years (SD = 14.24) and the mean survival time was 84 months (SD = 35.01). After comparing the four statistical models, results suggested that the exponentiated Weibull model (DIC= 19818.220) was a better fit for White non-Hispanic females' breast cancer survival data. This model predicted the survival times (in months) for White non-Hispanic women after implementation of precise estimates of the model parameters. Conclusions: By using modern model building criteria, we determined that the data best fit the exponentiated Weibull model. We incorporated precise estimates of the parameter into the predictive model and evaluated the survival inference for the White non-Hispanic female population. This method of analysis will assist researchers in making scientific and clinical conclusions when assessing survival time of breast cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2005

We experienced the specimen that contains a hemoglobin variant known as interference from HbAS in October 2003. It was the first case of Hb variants since Samsung Medical Center began conducting glycohemoglobin College of American Pathologists surveys in 1997. The purpose of this study is to share our experience with the specimen and promote the understanding of Hb variants & derivatives. We've performed cross checks to examine HbA1c by using two pieces of equipment; the TOSHOH G7 and BIO-RAD VARIANT-T(turbo), and Automatic High Performance Liquid Chromatography(HPLC) as an analytic measurement method. HPLC provides different fractional information of hemoglobin with a two-dimensional graph as well as numeric results. We have been performing a "Systematic Checking Process". Three specimen suspicious of Hb variants & derivatives were found through this process. College of American Pathologists notified that it is important for users to be aware of the limitation of their glycohemoglobin method to avoid reporting incorrect results due to interference from hemoglobin variants or hemoglobin adducts. Therefore, laboratory findings of Hb variants & derivatives are very important. The experience of qualified technicians with professional knowledge in Hb variants is the most important aspect in finding Hb variants. Korea is homogeneous in race and is not in an area with a higher finding rate of Hb variants. While 1,024 cases of Hb variants have been found in Japan, we do not have specific data on how many cases of Hb variants have been found in Korea. Considering Hb variant cases in Japan, which is geographically close to us, it is presumed that there must be various Hb variant cases in Korea. If domestic laboratories set a systemic protocol and build a network to share our experience in Hb variants, I expect the Korean Hb variants could also be listed on the world's Hb variant list.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.96-101
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• 2009

Regional odontodysplasia(ROD) is relatively rare localized developmental anomaly of tooth formation in which hard tissue is affected. The maxilla is typically affected than the mandible, and especially the maxillary left quadrant is the most commonly involved. Females are affected twice as often as males, and there is no association with race. Its etiology remains undetermined, but local circulatory disorders, somatic mutations, virus infections, local trauma, hyperpyrexia, irradiation, metabolic disturbances, and hereditary transmission are considered as possible etiologic factors. The affected teeth are likely to be small, hypoplastic, brown, and grooved. Eruption failure or delay is frequently seen as well as abscess or fistulae formation in absence of caries. Radiographically, there is a lack of contrast between the enamel and dentin, both of which are less radiopaque than unaffected counterparts. Moreover, enamel and dentin layers are thin, giving the teeth a “ghost-like appearance”. The pulp chambers and canals are large, the roots seem like to be short and indistinct. A 2-year-3-month old boy came to the department of pediatric dentistry, Yonsei University, with the chief complaint of delayed eruption and abnormal tooth shape on the lower left quadrant. He was diagnosed as regional odontodysplasia based on the clinical and radiographic findings.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.198-203
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• 2011

Background and Objectives : Distinguishing benign from malignant lesion in thyroid noddex is important but clinically difficult. FNAB is the first investigation of choice. However, cytologic results are often indeterminable. In those cases, additional molecular biologic tests are helpful. If serologic tests are available to predict malignancy, it can be useful to fortify accurate diagnosis. We analyzed whether TSH or FreeT4 level could be used as a predictor of malignancy. Materials and Methods : From January 2008 to March 2009, 540 patients received one of thyroidectomy in a single center. We only included 167 patients from 18 to 65 years old without cardiopulmonary or renal disorders. All the patients were in euthyroid state and took no medications, which affect the thyroid function. We reviewed charts retrospectively to find out differences in TSH level and FreeT4 level between the benign and malignant groups. Results : In this study, all the patients with malignancy had the papillary cancer. In benign group, average TSH level came out to be 1.48mU/L, whereas the average TSH level of malignant group was 1.98 mU/L. Moreover, the higher the cancer stage was, the higher the TSH level was. Although we have adjusted factors that can affect TSH level(age, sex, race, goiter type), we still received the same result. The risk of malignant cancer increased in proportion with TSH level within the normal range. In free T4 level, there was no difference between benign and malignant group. Conclusion : We propose that TSH level can play a role as one of the predictors for thyroid cancer. However, there is limitation because all the patients with malignancy in this study have papillary cancer. Thus, we can apply this result only in papillary cancer, and we need more study for other types of thyroid cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Climate change is the issue that attracts the most attention in the field of environment, as well as the most challenging task faced by the human race. There are various ways to resolve this issue. South Korea has established the primary and secondary national climate change adaptation plans at the national level, and is making it compulsory for each local government (lower and municipal-level) to establish climate change adaptation plans. Climate change vulnerability assessment plays an essential role in establishing climate change adaptation action plans. However, vulnerability assessment has a difficulty performing individual assessments since the results are produced through complex calculations of multiple impact factors. Accordingly, this study developed a web-based supporting tool(VESTAP) for climate change vulnerability assesment that can be used by lower and municipal-level local governments. The VESTAP consists of impact DB and vulnerability assessment and display tool. The index DB includes total 455 impacts of future climate data simulated with RCP (Representative Concentration Pathways) 4.5 and 8.5, atmospheric environment data, other humanities and social statistics, and metadata. The display tool has maximized convenience by providing various analytical functions such as spatial distribution, bias and schematization of each vulnerability assessment result. A pilot test of health vulnerability assessment by particulate matters in Sejong Metropolitan Autonomous City was performed using the VESTAP, and Bukang-myeon showed the highest vulnerability. By using the developed tool, each local government is expected to be able to establish climate change adaptation action plans more easily and conveniently based on scientific evidence.