• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.145-154
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between taste perceptions and risk factors for health of Korean elderly living in rural areas. Recognition thresholds for four basic tastes, drug consumption, BMI, fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, serum triglyceride, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were assessed in 176 males and 312 females aged between 50 and 88 years. For the recognition threshold of the four basic tastes, alcohol drinking did not influence their sensitivities, but the alcohol drinking group preferred a higher pleasant concentration of NaCl than did the non-alcohol drinking group. However, smoking significantly decreased sensitivities of the four basic tastes. For the pleasant concentration of NaCl, the smoking group tended to prefer a higher concentration than the non-smoking group. Drug consumption, fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, and serum triglycerides did not have a significant correlation to the sensitivity of the four basic tastes and preference of salty solution. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure may have been positively correlated with the pleasant concentration of NaCl but did not correlate with the recognition thresholds of NaCl and sucrose. Further, systolic blood pressure was negatively correlated with the recognition thresholds of caffeine, whereas diastolic blood pressure was negatively correlated with the recognition thresholds of caffeine and citric acid. The finding that the risk factors for health correlated with taste perception has diagnostic and practical implications for health promotion for the elderly.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.150-159
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• 2008

Purpose: To assess the relationship between lifestyle and metabolic syndrome in obese children and adolescents. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and laboratory results of 109 subjects (7~15 years of age) who visited our pediatric obesity clinic between January 2004 and December 2007. They completed the parent- and self-report questionnaire developed by the Committee on Nutrition of the Korean Pediatric Society to assess lifestyle. The metabolic syndrome was defined as having 3 or more of the following metabolic risk factors: obesity, hypertension, serum triglycerides ${\geq}$110 mg/dL, HDL-cholesterol ${\leq}$40 mg/dL, fasting glucose ${\geq}$110 mg/dL, and insulin ${\geq}20{\mu}IU/mL$. Results: All subjects had at least 1 risk factor (obesity). Sixty-three percent of subjects had 2 or more risk factors, 32% of subjects had 3 or more risk factors, and 10% had 4 or more metabolic risk factors. Hypertriglyceridemia (36%), hypertension (32%), hyperinsulinemia (24%), and HDL-hypocholesterolemia (20%) were observed. Fasting blood glucose levels were normal in all subjects. Hypertension was significantly associated with an unbalanced diet and hyperinsulinemia was significantly associated with parental obesity (p<0.05). Those who ate after 8 PM were at a risk of hypertension (odds ratio, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.0~6.1). Those who did not have a preference for exercise were at a risk of hyperinsulinemia (odds ratio, 10.4; 95% CI, 2~54.1). Those who watched TV for ${\geq}$3 hours/day were at a risk of metabolic syndrome (odds ratio, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.2∼18.8). Conclusion: Lifestyle, such as eating late, no preference for exercise, and TV watching ${\geq}$3 hours/day, were related to metabolic syndrome in obese children and adolescents.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.1125-1136
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• 2012

This study examines the influence of attitudes toward cosmetic surgery, body value inclination, and sociocultural attitudes towards appearance on clothing behavior. The subjects of this study were 315 female college students in Gyeongsang province. The data obtained were analyzed by a reliability analysis, factor analysis, correlation analysis, stepwise multiple regression analysis, and t-test. The major results of this study were as follows: First, three factors of attitudes toward cosmetic surgery were identified: the desire/motive for cosmetic surgery, risk taking for cosmetic surgery, and confidentiality about cosmetic surgery. Second, two factors of body value inclination were identified: getting an attractive physical appearance and maintaining an attractive physical appearance. Third, a significant positive correlation was found for attitudes toward cosmetic surgery, body value inclination, and sociocultural attitudes towards appearance with clothing behavior. Fourth, the most important variable that affected the imitation of celebrity clothing and preference for luxury goods was the desire/motive for cosmetic surgery. In addition, the sexual attractiveness of clothing was influenced by risk taking for cosmetic surgery and sociocultural attitudes towards appearance.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.62-71
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• 1998

As stomach cancer is very prevalent in Koreans, various factors, especially dietary factors, related to stomach cancer incidence were examined in a case-control study. The study population consisted of 105 individual s diagnosed for stomach cancer in two general hospitals and 124 control subjects, matched for age and sex, in Seoul. Data for general characteristics, family history, smoking and alcohol consumption, personality , dietary habits and food preference were obtained by self-administered questionnaire and personal interview. Heredity was found to be one of the most important factors causing stomach cancer. In addition, genetic inheritance tended to differ between the sexes. The male patients showed significantly higher incidence of their father's relatives than mother's relatives but the female patients showed higher incidence of their mother's relatives that father's relatives. Smoking was significantly related to stomach cancer. It was also found that the cases drank alcohol more frequently and in much greater quantity than the controls. Personality was related to the incidence of stomach cancer. The cases tended to be more sensitive , impatient, and anxious to do things quickly. With regards to dietary habits, the male cases had meals significantly more irregularly than the male controls. The relative risk of preferencefor salty food and ramen showed to be significantly very high. The male cases consumed carbonated beverages and instant foods, low intake of green yellow vegetables, smoking of cigarettes and drinking of alcohol may contribute to the risk of stomach cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.290-299
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• 1999

This study was conducted to investigate drinking smoking exercise and environmental characteristics and it's risk factors for hypercholesterolemia (HC) in Korean. 344 adult men who took the annual health check-ups at D or J hospitals were participated in this corss-sectional study. The subjects were grouped by plasma total cholesterol level into three groups: normal cholesterolemic(n=139) borderline hyper-cholesterolemic (n=93) and hypercholesterolemic (n-112) groups. The data of plasma cholesterol level in the subjects were collected from medical records. Drinking smoking and exercise habits family and disease history personality type and stress level of subjects were investigated by using questionaries. The subjects with HC had longer drinking duration and drunk more frequently. The proportion of smok-er heavy smoker($\geq$2pack/day) and longer smoker ($\geq$30yrs) showed high in the HC but there were no significancy. The subjects with HC had preference for light exercise and exercised more frequently but there were no significant difference. The family history of cardiovascular diseases was higher in the were not different among the three groups. The relative risks on HC were 1.33 for family history, 1.22 for severe stress 1.06 for smoking and 1.04 for exercise.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.11
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• pp.1-11
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• 2020

This study aims to investigate whether Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) performance can help companies gain more bank unsecured loans. Additionally, this study analyzes the moderating effect of firm size and industry characteristics. Data was collected through the case of companies listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange or the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in China between 2009 and 2018 with 5373 firm-year observations. The results of multivariable regression analysis show that good CSR performance exhibits a strong positive impact on unsecured debt, including short-term, long-term, and total unsecured debt, which indicates that corporate with good CSR performance can borrow more unsecured debt. further research shows that this effect is more pronounced for small enterprises and firms operating in heavy-polluting industries. Additionally, research on the impact mechanism finds that good CSR performance can help mitigate information asymmetry between borrower and lender, reduce moral hazard of borrower, and obtain support from key stakeholders, and therefore reduces the risk of default. The findings of this study suggest that firms with good CSR performance exhibit a preference for unsecured debt, but decline to provide collateral for debt. Overall, we emphasize and illustrate the important role of corporate CSR in bank credit financing.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.635-642
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• 2007

Using data from 132 telephone interviewees, we examined the role of affective-cognitive ambivalence in forming overall attitude and behavior toward toxic chemical and radioactive waste issues in Marion, Ohio in the U.S. In order to compare attitudinal preference, participants were divided into four A-C groups: action-group (Affective+/Cognitive+), detached-group (A-/C+), concerned-group (A+/C-), and inaction-group (A-/C-). Affective and cognitive components interacted, producing redundant influences on overall attitudes and judgments as frequently observed and postulated in previous attitude studies. The results showed that the action-group who were feeling unsafe and believed that environmental accidents had happened or are happening in Marion were less willing to move to the area than other three groups who were feeling safe and/or doubted reports of contamination and its relation with leukemia. Affective and cognitive components were found to have redundant influences on overall attitude. It was also observed that affective-cognitive ambivalence theory has a great potential for explaining the mechanism by which people form attitudes, especially when people have moderate or positive feelings (e.g. sympathy or eagerness for resources) toward the objects and/or when uncertainty is a major feature of environmental issue under consideration (e.g. global climate change).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.699-709
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to investigate consumer shopping orientation toward foreign brands in the context of clothing involvement, ethnocentrism, country-of-origin effects and demograpic variables. Prior to this paper, shopping orientation was studied in connection with ethnocentrism and country-of-origin effects. The questionnaire was distributed to 300 female consumers over twenty years old living in Pusan area and finally 213 data serfs were used for statistical analysis. By factor analysis, 6 clothing involvement factors were identified; fashion interest, symbolism, pleasure interest, inclination to harmony, aesthetic expression and perceived risk. A result of canonical correlation analysis about shopping orientation factors and clothing involvement factors is as follows. Two shopping orientation factors (follow to foreign brands and country-of-orion consciousness) positively correlate with three clothing involvement factors (fashion interest, symbolism and pleasure interest) , and two shopping orientation factors (preference to domestics and country-of-orion consciousness) positively correlate with author clohting involvement factor (percived risk). Anocova procedure revealed that five shopping orientation factors were related to clothing involvement factors, groups according to ethnocentric disposition, country-of-origin effects and demograpics respectively, even though there are some differences. Based on the conclusions, marketing strategies were developed.

• Industrial Engineering and Management Systems
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

Supplier selection is an essential task within the purchasing function of supply chain management because it provides companies with opportunities to reduce various costs and realize stable and reliable production. However, many companies find it difficult to determine which suppliers should be targeted as each of them has varying strengths and weaknesses in performance which require careful screening by the purchaser. Moreover, information required to assess suppliers is not known precisely and typically fuzzy in nature. In this paper, therefore, fuzzy multi-objective linear programming (fuzzy MOLP) is presented under fuzzy goals: cost minimization, service level maximization and purchasing risk. To solve the problem, we introduce an enhanced two-phase approach of fuzzy linear programming for the supplier selection. In formulated problem, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to determine the weights of criteria, and Taguchi Loss Function is employed to quantify purchasing risk. Finally, we provide a set of alternative solution which enables decision maker (DM) to select the best compromise solution based on his/her preference. Numerical experiment is provided to demonstrate our approach.