• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.136-140
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• 2018

Background: The Sasang constitutional analysis tool (SCAT) is an integrated Sasang constitutional analysis system developed by the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of a questionnaire for measuring personality and pathophysiological symptoms that is one of the components of the SCAT. Methods: In this study, data were collected from university students in their twenties. Tests were administered twice, with an interval of 4 weeks between tests. Test-retest data from 176 students were collected and used for analysis. Internal consistency reliability was analyzed by using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and test-retest reliability was analyzed by using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Results: Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.788 for personality, 0.511 for eating habits, 0.718 for digestion, 0.667 for heat- or cold-wise penchant, and 0.612 for water ingestion. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients, which were used to assess correlations between test and retest results, ranged from 0.444 to 0.828. Conclusion: The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the SCAT questionnaire were found to be satisfactory.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.187-193
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• 2009

For this study, the external laryngeal lengths of 9 females and 9 males with normal voices were measured together with their ages, heights, and weights, and after they read aloud sentences for 3 minutes, their habitual speaking fundamental frequencies, speaking low pitches, speaking high pitches, and vocal fold closed quotients were measured. The Spearman rank correlation analysis on these data showed a significant negative correlation between the external laryngeal length and the habitual speaking fundamental frequency for both females and males, a significant negative correlation between the external laryngeal length and the speaking high pitch for only males, a significant negative correlation between the external laryngeal length and the speaking low pitch for both females and males, and a significant positive correlation between the external laryngeal length and the vocal fold closed quotient for only males.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.2957-2980
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• 2020

Ensemble clustering commonly integrates multiple basic partitions to obtain a more accurate clustering result than a single partition. Specifically, it exists an inevitable problem that the incomplete transformation from the original space to the integrated space. In this paper, a novel ensemble clustering algorithm using a newly reconstructed mapping coefficient (ECRMC) is proposed. In the algorithm, a newly reconstructed mapping coefficient between objects and micro-clusters is designed based on the principle of increasing information entropy to enhance effective information. This can reduce the information loss in the transformation from micro-clusters to the original space. Then the correlation of the micro-clusters is creatively calculated by the Spearman coefficient. Therefore, the revised co-association graph between objects can be built more accurately because the supplementary information can well ensure the completeness of the whole conversion process. Experiment results demonstrate that the ECRMC clustering algorithm has high performance, effectiveness, and feasibility.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.31-35
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• 2013

Objectives: This study compared the cyclic fatigue resistance of nickel-titanium (NiTi) files obtained in a conventional test using a simulated canal with a newly developed method that allows the application of constant fatigue load conditions. Materials and Methods: ProFile and K3 files of #25/.06, #30/.06, and #40/.04 were selected. Two types of testing devices were built to test their fatigue performance. The first (conventional) device prescribed curvature inside a simulated canal (C-test), the second new device exerted a constant load (L-test) whilst allowing any resulting curvature. Ten new instruments of each size and brand were tested with each device. The files were rotated until fracture and the number of cycles to failure (NCF) was determined. The NCF were subjected to one-way ANOVA and Duncan's post-hoc test for each method. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was computed to examine any association between methods. Results: Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (${\rho}$ = -0.905) showed a significant negative correlation between methods. Groups with significant difference after the L-test divided into 4 clusters, whilst the C-test gave just 2 clusters. From the L-test, considering the negative correlation of NCF, K3 gave a significantly lower fatigue resistance than ProFile as in the C-test. K3 #30/.06 showed a lower fatigue resistance than K3 #25/.06, which was not found by the C-test. Variation in fatigue test methodology resulted in different cyclic fatigue resistance rankings for various NiTi files. Conclusions: The new methodology standardized the load during fatigue testing, allowing determination fatigue behavior under constant load conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.339-344
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• 2014

Background: The diagnostic criteria of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) have mainly focused on dichotomous (yes/no) categorization, which makes it difficult to compare the inter-patient's condition and to evaluate the intra-patient's subtle severity over the course of time. To overcome this limitation, many efforts have been made to create laboratory methods or scoring systems to reflect the severity of CRPS; measurement of the skin temperature asymmetry is one of the former, and the CRPS severity score (CSS) is one of the latter. However, there has been no study on the correlations among the CSS, temperature asymmetry and subjective pain score. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether there is any correlation between the CSS, skin temperature asymmetry and subjective pain score. Methods: Patients affected with CRPS in a unilateral limb were included in this study. After making a diagnosis of CRPS according to the Budapest criteria, the CSS and skin temperature difference between the affected and unaffected limb (${\Delta}T$) was measured in each patient. Finally, we conducted a correlation analysis among the CSS, ${\Delta}T$ and visual analogue scale (VAS) score of the patients. Results: A total of 42 patients were included in this study. There was no significant correlation between the ${\Delta}T$ and VAS score (Spearman's rho = 0.066, P = 0.677). Also, the CSS and VAS score showed no significant correlation (Spearman's rho = 0.163, P = 0.303). Conclusions: The ${\Delta}T$ and CSS do not seem to reflect the degree of subjective pain in CRPS patients.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.100-104
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• 2011

The purpose of this article is to examine correlation between femoral rotational angle and subjective satisfaction of high tibial osteotomy outcome of the range of motion of knee joint. The subjects were 15 patients (6 males, 9 females) with primary osteoarthritis undergoing high tibial osteotomy from June of 2004 to August of 2008. They were CT tested on the knee joint before and after high tibial osteotomy. TEA (Fig. 1) and Akagi's line (Fig. 2) are analyzed as percentages. The Kendall's and Spearman's nonparametric correlation coefficient were used for the statistical tests with 0.5 level of significance. The result reveals that femoral rotational angle correlates with not the range of motion of knee joint but subjective satisfaction of the patients. Therefore, this will enable patients and physicians to have better clinical outcome.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.135-140
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the repeatability and reproducibility of the Ryodoraku acupuncture device. For such device to be accepted as a good apparatus for clinical diagnosis, the score it provides should be stable no matter who measure it or when it is measured, assuming all other conditions equal. Materials and Methods : Three oriental medical doctors who were well trained and fully aware of the usage of the Ryodoraku acupuncture device examined ten randomly selected patients three times. Each doctor measured the Ryodoraku scores three times from each of the 10 selected patients. Three doctors were involved in this experiment to investigate the reproducibility and each of them measured the Ryodoraku scores three times from each patient to investigate the repeatability. Data was analyzed with Friedman test, Spearman correlation test, and intra-class correlation coefficient(ICC) in SPSS ver. 18. Results : 1. The Friedman test showed that there is no statistically significant difference between the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ryodoraku scores measured by the same examiner. It indicates that the Ryodoraku acupuncture device provides the repeatability. 2. Spearman correlation test confirmed the results obtained by the Fiedman test by showing that there exists a strong positive correlation between the three Ryodoraku scores measured by the same examiner. 3. A very high ICC among the three examiner assured that the Ryodoraku acupuncture device achieves the reproducibility. Conclusions : The Ryodoraku acupuncture device achieves the repeatability and reproducibility. However, we still recommend that a doctor trained to a certain level use the Device to carry out the diagnosis. Also, to improve the device in terms of Reproducibility even more, it should be considered to provide a manual for the exact usage.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.488-493
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• 2022

Background Currently, the BREAST-Q can effectively measure patient's satisfaction on the quality of life from the patient's perspective in relation to different type of breast reconstruction. However, evaluation of patient satisfaction and cosmetic outcomes in breast reconstruction may have potential to led bias. Methods To maximize the benefits of using BREAST-Q to evaluate clinical outcome, we performed comparative study focused on the correlation between postoperative BREAST-Q and cosmetic outcomes assessed by medical professionals. For the current analysis, we used three postoperative BREAST-Q scales (satisfaction with breast, psychosocial well-being, and sexual well-being). The Ten-Point Scale by Visser et al was applied to provide reproducible grading of the postoperative cosmetic outcomes of the breast. The system includes six subscales that measured overall aesthetic outcome, volume, shape, symmetry, scarring, and nipple-areolar complex. The photographic assessments were made by five medical professionals who were shown photographs on a computer screen in a random order. Obtained data were stored in Excel and evaluated by Spearman's correlations using SPSS Statistics. Results We enrolled 92 women in this study, 10 did not respond to all scales of postoperative BREAST-Q, the remaining 82 women had undergone breast reconstruction. The correlation between BREAST-Q score and aesthetic score measured by Ten-Point Scale for the three BREAST-Q scales all show positive values in Spearman's correlation coefficient. Conclusion A significant correlation without any bias observed was found between the patient's satisfaction measured by BREAST-Q after breast reconstruction and the medical expert's aesthetic evaluation.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.484-494
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• 2002

This study was conducted to validate the semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire that was developed to assess the intakes of fatty acids, as well as energy, carbohydrates, fat, protein, minerals and vitamins in Korean adults. The validity of the semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was tested on 78 subjects (31 men,47 women) aged 34 to 66 years. The semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire included 93 food items and was validated on two 3-day dietary records. The mean intakes and the Spearman Correlation Coefficients between the semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and the two 3-day dietary records were analyzed for each nutrient and food group level. The mean nutrient intakes obtained from the semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire were estimated to be greater than those of the two 3-day dietary records. The Spearman Correlation Coefficients between the energy-adjusted nutrient intakes from the semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and the two 3-day dietary records ranged from 0.24 for polyunsaturated fatty acids to 0.55 for fat in men and from 0.29 for polyunsaturated fatty acids to 0.55 for saturated fatty acids in women, respectively. The Spearman Correlation Coefficients for food intake ranged from 0.11 for teas and beverages to 0.58 for grains and their products in men,-0.04 for potatoes and starches to 0.73 for milk and dairy products in women. Foods consumed regularly had lower intra-person variation and tended to have higher observed correlation coefficients. These results indicate that the semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire is a useful tool for estimating nutrient intakes, particularly of total fat and saturated fatty acid intakes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2016

Although high mammographic density is one of the strongest predictors of breast cancer risk, X-ray based mammography cannot be performed before the recommended screening age, especially not in adolescents and young women. Therefore, new techniques for breast density measurement are of interest. In this pilot study in Guam and Hawaii, we evaluated a radiation-free, bioimpedance device called Electrical Breast Densitometer$^{TM}$ (EBD; senoSENSE Medical Systems, Inc., Ontario, Canada) for measuring breast density in 95 women aged 31-82 years and 41 girls aged 8-18 years. Percent density (PD) was estimated in the women's most recent mammogram using a computer-assisted method. Correlation coefficients and linear regression were applied for statistical analysis. In adult women, mean EBD and PD values of the left and right breasts were $230{\pm}52$ and $226{\pm}50{\Omega}$ and $23.7{\pm}15.1$ and $24.2{\pm}15.2%$, respectively. The EBD measurements were inversely correlated with PD ($r_{Spearman}=-0.52$, p<0.0001); the correlation was stronger in Caucasians ($r_{Spearman}=-0.70$, p<0.0001) than Asians ($r_{Spearman}=-0.54$, p<0.01) and Native Hawaiian/Chamorro/Pacific Islanders ($r_{Spearman}=-0.34$, p=0.06). Using 4 categories of PD (<10, 10-25, 26-50, 51-75%), the respective mean EBD values were $256{\pm}32$, $249{\pm}41$, $202{\pm}46$, and $178{\pm}43{\Omega}$ (p<0.0001). In girls, the mean EBD values in the left and right breast were $148{\pm}40$ and $155{\pm}54{\Omega}$; EBD values decreased from Tanner stages 1 to 4 ($204{\pm}14$, $154{\pm}79$, $136{\pm}43$, and $119{\pm}16{\Omega}$ for stages 1-4, respectively) but were higher at Tanner stage 5 ($165{\pm}30{\Omega}$). With further development, this bioimpedance method may allow for investigations of breast development among adolescent, as well as assessment of breast cancer risk early in life and in populations without access to mammography.