• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.287-297
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation and agreement of physical activity (PA) between data obtained from wearable Actigraph devices and self-reporting questionnaires, and to investigate the relationship between psychological state (depression, anxiety, and fatigue) and PA. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted using physical measurements and surveys. PA was measured through both the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Actigraph GT3X+ device. The demographic characteristics of the subjects, as well as their depression, anxiety, and fatigue scores, were collected with structured questionnaires. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and the Bland-Altman plot method were employed. Results: Data from 36 healthy adults were analyzed. The overall levels of PA measured using the IPAQ and the Actigraph were 1,891.69 MET min/week and 669.96 MET/day, respectively. Total levels of PA did not show a significant correlation between the two measurement methodologies. However, the moderate-intensity PA resulting from the IPAQ scores showed a significant positive correlation with the light-intensity PA recorded by the Actigraph. The Bland-Altman plot analysis demonstrated that the levels of PA as measured by the two different methods did not match. In addition, PA measured using the Actigraph showed a significant negative correlation with depression and anxiety whereas PA measured using the IPAQ showed a significant positive correlation with fatigue. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study is that the data obtained from the subjective self-reporting questionnaire and the wearable Actigraph do not correlate or match in healthy adults. Future research should investigate the relationship between depression and PA intensity through the Actigraph, or other wearable devices equipped with smartphone apps.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2024

Purpose: Advance directives (ADs) are legal documents that outline a person's preferences or decisions regarding end-of-life care ahead of time. In Korea, there is insufficient awareness and knowledge about ADs among patients undergoing hemodialysis. This study explored the relationship between perceptions of a good death, knowledge about ADs, and attitudes toward ADs in this patient population. Methods: This cross-sectional survey enrolled 119 hemodialysis patients from a secondary hospital in 2021. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, Spearman rank correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. Results: The average score for perceptions of a good death among hemodialysis patients was 2.80 out of 4, with clinical symptoms identified as the most critical factor. The average scores for knowledge about ADs and attitudes toward ADs were 5.69 out of 9 and 2.79 out of 4, respectively. There was a positive correlation between perceptions of a good death and attitudes toward ADs (r=0.34, P<0.001), as well as between knowledge about Ads and attitudes toward ADs (r=0.19, P=0.037). Factors influencing attitudes toward Ads included employment status (β=0.22, P=0.011), education level (β=0.22, P=0.013), and perceptions of a good death (β=0.29, P=0.001), which accounted for 24.8% of the variance in attitudes toward ADs. Conclusion: A positive perception of a good death among patients undergoing hemodialysis was associated with a positive attitude toward ADs. Educational programs are needed to improve individuals' understanding of a good death and encourage the development of end-of-life care plans.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.85-89
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• 2005

Lineament maps are the important tools that may reveal points of groundwater recharge, flow and development. In particular, groundwater flows and yields in mountainous area, composed of crystalline rocks with many fractures, are governed mainly by the lineaments corresponding to fractures, joints and faults. Lineaments may give important information on the best distribution of wells and their management. For two districts; Pohang and Cheonan, the relationship between lineament and groundwater factors was analyzed. To compare groundwater productivity, storativity, and transmissivity of a well site along the distance to lineament, the distances to lineament was regrouped into five groups with an equal range, 100m, for the Pohang district and they are also divided into five groups with an equal range, 150m, for the Cheonan district. From the results of the Spearman Rank Correlation Analysis and Kendall Analysis for each group, the means of SPC and T of wells which are located near lineaments generally have large values. The means of SPC and T show a reverse linear relationship with a lineament distance, but the means of S shows a disperse distribution and no distinct linear relation. Result of the linear regression model between SPC and lineament length density shows that it will be effective to use the lineament length density map when finding the optimal well site on a regional scale.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.613-627
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• 2013

In this study, to understand the May aridity condition of each region for the year of the worst drought on record in each duration (1-, 3-, 6-, 12-, 24 months), monthly climate data recorded from 1973 to 2006 at 53 climatological stations in South Korea were used to estimate the FAO Penman-Monteith reference potential evapotranspiration (RET). Monthly precipitation and RET were used to estimate P/RET as aridity index and variation index (VI) of P/RET, and these indexes are compared with SPI (Standard Precipitation Index). Fifty three climatological stations were grouped into 20 regions, so that May aridity conditions of 20 regions were studied. Furthermore, regional trend of May aridity index was studied by applying Mann-Kendall trend analysis, Spearman rank test, and Sen's slope estimator. The study results show that variation index (VI) of P/RET and SPI have close correlation. Throughout the country, as the duration is shorter, May aridity was more severe. In case of 3-month and 6-month duration, most of region show significant or non-significant decreasing trend of aridity index. However, no region show significant decreasing trend of aridity index in case of 12-month and 24-month duration.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.32-35
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• 2008

Little evidence supports the existence of imprinted genes in chicken. Imprinted genes are thought to be intimately connected with the acquisition of parental resources in mammals; thus, the predicted lack of this type of gene in chicken is not surprising, given that they leave their offspring to their own heritance after conception. In this study, we identified several imprinted genes and their orthologs in human, mouse, and zebrafish, including 30 previously identified human and mouse imprinted genes. Next, using the HomoloGene database, we identified six orthologous genes in human, mouse, and chicken; however, no orthologs were identified for SLC22A18, and mouse Ppp1r9a was not included in the HomoloGene database. Thus, from our analysis, four candidate chicken imprinted genes (IGF2, UBE3A, PHLDA2, and GRB10) were identified. To expand our analysis, zebrafish was included, but no probe ID for UBE3A exists in this species. Thus, ultimately, three candidate imprinted genes (IGF2, PHLDA2, and GRB10) in chicken were identified. GRB10 was not significant in chicken and zebrafish based on the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, whereas a weak correlation between PHLDA2 in chicken and human was identified from the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Significant associations between human, mouse, chicken, and zebrafish were found for IGF2 and GRB10 using the Friedman's test. Based on our results, IGF2, PHLDA2, and GRB10 are candidate imprinted genes in chicken. Importantly, the strongest candidate was PHLDA2.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.348-359
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• 2010

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of Clinical Research Nurses (CRNs) and the importance of their roles at the Regional Clinical Trial Centers (RCTCs). Method: A questionnaire focused on the role of CRNs was crafted by a researcher and the content validity was verified by a panel of experts on clinical research. The subjects of this study were 91 CRNs and Clinical Research Coordinators (CRCs), who were Korean registered nurses working at nine RCTCs. 77 subjects yielded valid data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman's rank order correlation coefficient, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: The performance of CRNs and the recognition in the importance of their roles were statistically significant different in age, education, CRN careers, positions, employment status and the phase of clinical trial. The role of direct caregiver was performed most often by CRNs. The role of coordinator of care and research (pre-study) was considered the most important role but performed the least frequent. Conclusions: The role of CRNs can easily be differentiated from CRCs who are not registered nurses. The domains of CRNs should be clearly identified and established. Moreover, research should be carried out on CRN training programs to cultivate competence in CRNs.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.208-218
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• 2012

This study investigated the utilization status and awareness of adults living in Daegu and Gyeongbuk region. Frequencies, t-tests, ${\chi}^2$ tests, analysis of variance, Duncan's multiple range tests, and Spearman rank correlation were conducted by SPSS Windows V.18.0. Sixty-five percents of the respondents purchased Yaksun ingredients and cooked at home, 54% purchased cooked Yaksun at food shops of markets or department stores, and 82% purchased Yaksun at specialty stores. Many respondents answered that the main motivation for use of Yaksun was for improving health. Sixty-six percent of the respondents used Yaksun less than one time per month. Yaksun cooked with chicken was the most favorite Yaksun menu item. In addition, sanitary management of Yaksun ingredients was the most important item for distribution of Yaksun. Most respondents answered that Yaksun was more expensive than general foods. However, respondents demonstrated positive awareness regarding the function and efficacy of Yaksun for improving health.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.232-240
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• 2023

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the zygomaticotemporal suture (ZTS) maturation, analyze the age distribution patterns of ZTS maturation stages, and investigate the relationship between ZTS and cervical vertebral maturation (CVM). Methods: A total of 261 patients who underwent cone-beam computed tomography (112 males, mean age, 13.1 ± 3.3 years; 149 females, mean age, 13.7 ± 3.1 years) were examined to evaluate the ZTS stages. The ZTS stages were defined based on a modified method from previous studies on zygomaticomaxillary sutures. Differences between groups and correlations between indicators were analyzed using the Spearman correlation test, intraclass coefficient of correlation (ICC), one-way analysis of variance and rank sum test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The diagnostic value of CVM stages in identifying ZTS maturation stages was evaluated using positive likelihood ratios (LRs). Results: A positive relationship was found between the ZTS and CVM stage (r = 0.747, ICC = 0.621, p < 0.01) and between the ZTS stage and chronological age (r = 0.727, ICC = 0.330, p < 0.01). Positive LRs > 10 were found for several cervical stages (CSs), including CS1 and CS2 for the diagnosis of stage B, CS1 to CS3 for the diagnosis of stages B and C, and CS6 for the diagnosis of stages D and E. Conclusions: The ZTS maturation stage may be more relevant to the CVM stage than to the chronological age. The CVM stages can be good indicators for clinical decisions regarding maxillary protraction, except for CS4 and CS5.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.243-252
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• 2021

Objective: To compare and correlate the findings of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and arterial spin labeling (ASL) imaging in characterizing parotid gland tumors. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 56 patients with parotid gland tumors evaluated by MR imaging. The true diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D^*), and fraction of perfusion (f) values of IVIM imaging and tumor-to-parotid gland signal intensity ratio (SIR) on ASL imaging were calculated. Spearman rank correlation coefficient, chi-squared, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis tests with the post-hoc Dunn-Bonferroni method and receiver operating characteristic curve assessments were used for statistical analysis. Results: Malignant parotid gland tumors showed significantly lower D than benign tumors (p = 0.019). Within subgroup analyses, pleomorphic adenomas (PAs) showed significantly higher D than malignant tumors (MTs) and Warthin's tumors (WTs) (p < 0.001). The D^* of WTs was significantly higher than that of PAs (p = 0.031). The f and SIR on ASL imaging of WTs were significantly higher than those of MTs and PAs (p < 0.05). Significantly positive correlation was found between SIR on ASL imaging and f (r = 0.446, p = 0.001). In comparison with f, SIR on ASL imaging showed a higher area under curve (0.853 vs. 0.891) in discriminating MTs from WTs, although the difference was not significant (p = 0.720). Conclusion: IVIM and ASL imaging could help differentiate parotid gland tumors. SIR on ASL imaging showed a significantly positive correlation with f. ASL imaging might hold potential to improve the ability to discriminate MTs from WTs.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.335-351
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• 2021

Purpose: An underlying factor for the failure of several clinical trials of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapies is the lack of an effective method to identify patients who overexpress EGFR protein. The quantitative dot blot method (QDB) was used to measure EGFR protein levels objectively, absolutely, and quantitatively. Its feasibility was evaluated for the prognosis of overall survival (OS) of patients with gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: Slices of 2×5 ㎛ from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded gastric cancer specimens were used to extract total tissue lysates for QDB measurement. Absolutely quantitated EGFR protein levels were used for the Kaplan-Meier OS analysis. Results: EGFR protein levels ranged from 0 to 772.6 pmol/g (n=246) for all gastric cancer patients. A poor correlation was observed between quantitated EGFR levels and immunohistochemistry scores with ρ=0.024 and P=0.717 in Spearman's correlation analysis. EGFR was identified as an independent negative prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer patients only through absolute quantitation, with a hazard ratio of 1.92 (95% confidence interval, 1.05-3.53; P=0.034) in multivariate Cox regression OS analysis. A cutoff of 208 pmol/g was proposed to stratify patients with a 3-year survival probability of 44% for patients with EGFR levels above the cutoff versus 68% for those below the cutoff based on Kaplan-Meier OS analysis (log rank test, P=0.002). Conclusions: A QDB-based assay was developed for gastric cancer specimens to measure EGFR protein levels absolutely, quantitatively, and objectively. This assay should facilitate clinical trials aimed at evaluation of anti-EGFR therapies retrospectively and prospectively for gastric cancer.