• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.57-66
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• 2016

Background: For the treatment of forward head posture (FHP) and forward shoulder posture, methods for strengthening scapular retractors and deep cervical flexors and stretching pectoralis and upper cervical extensors are generally used. No study has yet assessed whether suboccipital release (SR) followed by cranio-cervical flexion exercise (CCFE) (SR-CCFE) will result in a positive change in the shoulders and neck, showing a "downstream" effect. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of SR-CCFE on craniovertebral angle (CVA), shoulder abduction range of motion (ROM), shoulder pain, and muscle activities of upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA) and LT/UT and SA/UT muscle activity ratios during maximal shoulder abduction in subjects with FHP. Methods: In total, 19 subjects (7 males, 12 females) with FHP were recruited. The subject performed the fifth phase of CCFE immediately after receiving SR. CVA, shoulder abduction ROM, shoulder pain, muscle activities of UT, LT, and SA, and LT/UT and SA/UT muscle activity ratios during maximal shoulder abduction were measured immediately after SR-CCFE. A paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to determine the significance of differences in scores between pre- and post-intervention in the same group. Results: The CVA (p<.001) and shoulder abduction ROM (p<.001) were increased significantly post-versus pre-intervention. Shoulder pain was decreased significantly (p<.001), and LT (p<.05) and SA (p<.05) muscle activities were increased significantly post- versus pre-intervention. The LT/UT muscle activity ratio was increased significantly post- versus pre-intervention (p<.05). However, there was no significant change in UT muscle activity and SA/UT muscle activity ratio between pre- and post-intervention (p>.05). Conclusion: SR-CCFE was an effective intervention to improve FHP and induce downstream effect from the neck to the trunk and shoulders in subjects with FHP.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.71-81
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• 2017

Purpose: To compare three, motion-resistant, T1-weighted MR sequences on the hepatobiliary phase for gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging of the liver. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, 79 patients underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced, 3T liver MR imaging. Fifty-nine were examined using a standard protocol, and 20 were examined using a motion-resistant protocol. During the hepatocyte-specific phase, three MR sequences were acquired: 1) gradient recalled echo (GRE) with controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA); 2) radial GRE with the interleaved angle-bisection scheme (ILAB); and 3) radial GRE with golden-angle scheme (GA). Two readers independently assessed images with motion artifacts, streaking artifacts, liver-edge sharpness, hepatic vessel clarity, lesion conspicuity, and overall image quality, using a 5-point scale. The images were assessed by measurement of liver signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and tumor-to-liver contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The results were compared, using repeated post-hoc, paired t-tests with Bonferroni correction and the Wilcoxon signed rank test with Bonferroni correction. Results: In the qualitative analysis of cooperative patients, the results for CAIPIRINHA had significantly higher ratings for streak artifacts, liver-edge sharpness, hepatic vessel clarity, and overall image quality as compared to, radial GRE, (P < 0.016). In the imaging of uncooperative patients, higher scores were recorded for ILAB and GA with respect to all of the qualitative assessments, except for streak artifact, compared with CAIPIRINHA (P < 0.016). However, no significant differences were found between ILAB and GA. For quantitative analysis in uncooperative patients, the mean liver SNR and lesion-to-liver CNR with radial GRE were significantly higher than those of CAIPIRINHA (P < 0.016). Conclusion: In uncooperative patients, the use of the radial GRE sequence can improve the image quality compared to GRE imaging with CAIPIRINHA, despite the data acquisition methods used. The GRE imaging with CAIPIRINHA is applicable for patients without breath-holding difficulties.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.20 no.4 s.51
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• pp.311-325
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• 2005

A chemical ranking and scoring system, CRS - Korea, has recently been developed and proposed to use to prioritize on a screening level the toxic chemicals for monitoring and risk assessment. As CRS-Korea requires rigorous assessments prior to its wide application, an assessment was conducted in this study by examining the contribution of individual parameter score to the final chemical score or ranking. The sensitivity of the system to the default values for various parameters of missing data was also tested. The chemical ranking/score was round to depend primarily on the score of a single parameter, i. e., the chemical release, while toxicity scores show little correlation with the priority Further analysis indicated that the dominating effect of the chemical release results from i) its multiplicative relationship with the other two exposure parameters (biodegradation and persistent) and ii) the fact that a maximum score of 10 was assigned to the chemical release parameter while 5 was assigned for all others. AE the fraction of the data that are missing exceeded $70\%$ for various toxicity parameters at compared to less than $10\%$ for exposure parameters, the sensitivity of the ranking to the default value was not significant (rank correlation coefficient = 0.98) for toxicity parameters. Bated on this assessment, an improved CRS system (CRS - Korea II) was proposed in which the impact of the chemical release was properly adjusted by changing the multiplicative relationship to additive one and the maximum score to 5. Chemical priority was derived for each of 16 provinces by using CRS-Korea II. The chemical priority was found to significantly vary among the provinces. It was concluded that not only the national chemical priority but the local chemical priority should be taken into account in setting the nationwide chemical monitoring and risk assessment strategy.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.293-301
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• 2018

This study examined the effects of a multifaceted intervention program on the psychological condition, empowerment, work readiness, and functional capacity for job performance of industrially injured workers. Twelve injured workers in C hospital were included in this study. The subjects participated in a social rehabilitation program 2 hours a day, twice a week, for 8 weeks in total, as well as a work hardening program 3 to 4 hours a day, 5 times a week, for 8 weeks in total. The study was conducted from March to September, 2017. A multi-dimensional psychological examination, empowerment scale, work readiness interview and functional capacity evaluation were conducted and the test scores compared before and after the program with the Wilcoxon signed rank test. In the multi-dimensional psychological examination, there were significant differences in the levels of anxiety, depression, lack of social support, and somatization symptoms (p<.05) except anger. The participants also showed significant differences in the empowerment scale, work readiness scale, and functional capacity evaluation. This study suggests that a multifaceted intervention program can be effective in improving the psychologic condition, empowerment, work readiness, and functional capacity of industrially injured workers and, in turn, may improve their rate of returning to work.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1229-1243
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• 1997

The purpose of this study were to :(a) investigate meal costs, plate waste costs, and advantages/disadvantages of conventional /commissary foodservices and (b) compare the effectiveness of commissary foodservice systems with that of conventional systems. Questionnaires were developed and mailed to 136 schools in Kyonggi-do. A total of 106 questionnaires were usable, resulting in a 77.9% response rate. Teacher's teaching of good food habits and students satisfaction with school foodservices were surveyed in three schools from each system. Moreover, plate waste was measured to express cost and benefit in currency. Data were analyzed using the SAS package for description analysis, t-test, $\chi$$^2$ test, ANOVA, and the Vilcoxon rank sum test. Approximately seventy percent of 294schools in Kyonggi-do were operating commissary systems and most of them were of the rural (reduced paid) type. The number of meals served varied significantly between types of foodservice. The results of this study indicated that average food , labor utility , and supply costs were saved in the commissary system and that the total meal cost/person for a day was 1218.7 won compared to 1452.4 won in the conventional system. Though total meal costs were saved in the commissary system, dietitians had difficulties cooperating with school foodservice committees and supporters associations, especially in satellites of the commissary system. In addition, dietitians and teachers in the commissary system did not carry out teaching activities on good food habits to students as often as in the conventional system. Other problems that dietitians recognized in the commissary system were difficulties in training employees and parents for portion control and serving relatively simple menus. Students, as customers of school foodservices, are very important for system evaluation . Students in the commissary system scored of food itself , cleanliness of tableware, waiting time, quantity of meal and food temperature significantly lower than students in the conventional system. Moreover , the rate of plate waste was 20.5% in the commissary system as compared to 3.3% in the conventional system. Cost-effectiveness (saving 233.7won/person/day) is the main benefit of the commissary system. However , because of lower satisfaction scores and a highest plate waste rate, 201.9won/ person were wasted in the commissary system. The results of this study suggest that increasing the number of meals served within a commissary system might maximize the efficiency of the system, but increasing the number of satellites is not recommended because it might be out of dietitians control in many aspects.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.307-332
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• 2009

This study is about the development and effectiveness of the 'Empowerment Program' for the persons with disabilities caused by industrial accidents. The program was developed on the basis of the analysis of focus group interviews for the rehabilitation counselors who work with the persons with disabilities caused by industrial accidents. Also, it was based on Miley et al's empowerment model and the group social work practice. The goal of the program was to strengthen the level of empowerment and decrease emotional frustration for the persons with disabilities caused by industrial accidents. The program consisted of two different types: one for the hospitalized person and the other for the discharged person. The program practiced once a week for 6 weeks and 8 weeks by the choice of the rehabilitation counselors. In order to verify the effectiveness of the program, the participants included 11 persons for the experimental group and 10 persons for the control group. The empowerment scores of the two groups were estimated at the point of pre-test and post-test and were analysed through the Wilcoxon signed rank test and Mann-Whitney U test. As the results of the analyses showed, there were significant differences in the increases in the areas of total empowerment and self-image as a sub-scale between the two groups. In conclusion, the effectiveness of the program was confirmed. Also, it has been verified that the program can be an important social work practice tool for strengthening the empowerment level of the persons with disabilities caused by industrial accidents.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.39-49
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• 1978

The present research set out to further validate the results that Stromborg (1976) obtained in which a correlation (r= .22, p < .001) was found between the femininity of woman nursing students and their image of nursing. In addition the experimenter set out to elucidate any possible differences in the image of nursing according to (a) religion, (b) the motivation for choosing nursing as well as, (c) the particular area in which the students hoped to work after graduating. The research was conducted by presenting questionnaire type scales including a femininity scale and a nursing image scale, to 301 graduating students attending 4 Three-year nursing schools located within Seoul from November 21st, 1978 to November 30th. The results: 1. There was clearly no relation between femininity and the image of nursing as such (r= .01, p > .43). But upon analyzing the results along five subdimensions of the nursing image variable it was discovered that : (a) if femininity is low, the nursing student tend to view the educational preparation for becoming a nurse in a more positive light (r= -.10, p < .05), and (b) if femininity is high, the students tend to perceive their social role with a positive frame of mind (r= .15, p < .005). 2. There was a significant difference found in the image of nursing as related to the religion of the nursing students, The means ranked as follows (high scores indicate a positive image of the nursing profession). Catholic > Protestant > no religion > Buddhist 3, The difference in the nursing image according to motivation for sellecting the profession emerged as quite significant (F=6.92, p < .001). The rank of the means when the subject group is divided along the dimension of motive is as follows (ranking begins with the most positive nursing image): (a) The profession itself seemed good; (b) after marriage one can do a social type of activity; (c) significant others’advice: (d) the profession matches their high school grade record; (e) it matches the economic situation of the student; (f）no particular reason for their choice: (g) it's easy to get a nursing job after graduation. 4. The particular area of nursing one intended to go into after graduation varied significantly in terms of the image of nursing (F=3.03, p < .005). The means when ranked starting with those having the most positive image of the profession: (a) nurses helping deliveries; (b) hospital nurses: (c) nursing education; (d) school nurses: (e) government nurse supervisors: (f）public health nurses: (g) (students not going into any profession); (h) (students not going into the nursing profession but into some other area).

• Journal of Broadcast Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.818-826
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• 2015

Recently, objective image quality assessment (IQA) methods that elaborately reflect the visual quality perception characteristics of human visual system (HVS) have actively been studied. Among those characteristics of HVS, luminance adaptation (LA) effect, indicating that HVS has different sensitivities depending on background luminance values to distortions, has widely been reflected into many existing IQA methods via Weber's law model. In this paper, we firstly reveal that the LA effect based on Weber's law model has inaccurately been reflected into the conventional IQA methods. To solve this problem, we firstly derive a new LA effect-based Local weight Function (LALF) that can elaborately reflect LA effect into IQA methods. We validate the effectiveness of our proposed LALF by applying LALF into SSIM (Structural SIMilarity) and PSNR methods. Experimental results show that the SSIM based on LALF yields remarkable performance improvement of 5% points compared to the original SSIM in terms of Spear rank order correlation coefficient between estimated visual quality values and measured subjective visual quality scores. Moreover, the PSNR (Peak to Signal Noise Ratio) based on LALF yields performance improvement of 2.5% points compared to the original PSNR.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6293-6299
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• 2013

Background: A number of clinicopathologic factors have been found to be associated with pathological lymph node metastasis (pLNM) in rectal cancer; however, most of them can only be identified by expensive high resolution imaging or obtained after surgical treatment. Just like the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores which have been widely used in clinical practice, our study was designed to assess the pre-operative factors which could be obtained easily to predict intra-operative pLNM in rectal cancer. Methods: A cohort of 469 patients who were treated at our hospital in the period from January 2003 to June 2011, and with a pathologically hospital discharge diagnosis of rectal cancer, were included. Clinical, laboratory and pathologic parameters were analyzed. A multivariate unconditional logistic regression model, areas under the curve (AUC), the Kaplan-Meier method (log-rank test) and the Cox regression model were used. Results: Of the 469 patients, 231 were diagnosed with pLNM (49.3%). Four variables were associated with pLNM by multivariate logistic analysis, age<60 yr (OR=1.819; 95% CI, 1.231-2.687; P=0.003), presence of abdominal pain or discomfort (OR=1.637; 95% CI, 1.052-2.547; P=0.029), absence of allergic history (OR=1.879; 95% CI, 1.041-3.392; P=0.036), and direct $bilirubin{\geq}2.60{\mu}mol/L$ (OR=1.540; 95% CI, 1.054-2.250; P=0.026). The combination of all 4 variables had the highest sensitivity (98.7%) for diagnostic performance. In addition, age<60 yr and direct $bilirubin{\geq}2.60{\mu}mol/L$ were found to be associated with prognosis. Conclusion: Age, abdominal pain or discomfort, allergic history and direct bilirubin were associated with pLNM, which may be helpful for preoperative selection.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Sensory Integration
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 2009

Objective : The purpose of the study is to find out how group sensory integrative (SI) intervention enhances play skill and social interaction of the children with sensory integration disorders. Method : Three children who were showing problems related in sensory integration received 12 SI intervention sessions. The Sensory Profile (SP) and The Social Maturity Scale (SMS) were accomplished by the subject's primary caregiver. Test of Playfulness (ToP) and Peer Social Interactions Rating Scale (PSIRS) were utilized to investigate the children's play skills and social interactions with their friends. Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) is applied to assess the children's play skill, social interactions with peer, and sensory processing at each session. Data was collected before- and after the intervention and analyzed by the Wilcoxon matched-pair signed rank test with SPSS/WIN version 10.0 and Microsoft Excel. Results : The average scores of ToP, PSIRS, and SMS were increased after the sensory integrative intervention. However, there is no significant difference in the play skills and social interactions between data of pre-intervention and the one of post-intervention. The score of the GAS was frequently increased in terms of the play skills and sensory processing throughout the whole sessions. Conclusions : This study reveals a possibility of that the group sensory integrative intervention may affect not only sensory processing ability, but also play skills and social interactions of children experiencing difficulties of sensory processing. Future research should supplement limitations of this study regarding insufficient number of the subject and the short period of the experiment.