• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.127-134
• /
• 1994

Background : Diffuse panbronchiolitis(DPB) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease of unknown etiology which has characteristic clinical, radiological and pathological features, and is distinguished from bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, bronchiectasis, or alveolitis. Clinically, patients with DPB have chronic cough, purulent sputum, exertional dyspnea, and finally respiratory failure. Until a few years ago, the prognosis of DPB had been thought to be very grave, because there had been no effective treatment for the disease. But recent1y, low-dose long-term erythromycin was found to be very effective on DPB. Even though DPB is prevalent in Japan, and is known to be rare outside of Japan, we have a1ready reported the clinical features of 16 DPB cases in Korea. We tried low-dose long-term erythromycin on DPB patients and analyzed the clinical effect of erythromycin. Methods : We analyzed the changes of subjective symptoms, physical signs, pulmonary function tests and chest X-rays on 14 DPB patients with more than 6 months erythromycin treatment during the period from September 1989 to August 1992 in Seoul National University Hospital. Results : 1) Subjective symptoms improved in all patients within 2-3 months, and 54.5% of the patients showed no symptom after one year of treatment. 2) Crackles and wheezing decreased in 92.9% of the patients after 3 months and completely disapppeared in 63.5% of the patients after one year of treatment. 3) FVC and FEV1 increased remarkably during the first 3 months, and slowly increased thereafter, reaching normal level after one year of treatment. 4) Small nodular lesions on chest X-ray decreased in all patients, and chest PA was normal in 36.4% of the patients after one year of treatment. 5) There was side effect in one patient, stopping medication because of dyspepsia. One patient stopped medication because of no symptom after 16 months of treatment, but her symptom recurring after one month, improving again after retreatment. Conclusion: Low-dose long-term erythromycin showed ramarkable effectiveness on DPB. Further studies are needed on the mechanism of the drug and the duration of the treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2012

Purpose: To evaluate clinical and radiologic outcomes of transphyseal anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in patients with open physes who were selected with authors' new operative indications. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 15 patients with open physes who underwent a transtibial ACL reconstruction and were followed up for 4~6 years after surgery. Our operative indications involved 1) choronologic age of ${\geq}$ 16 in male and ${\geq}$ 14 in female, 2) open physes of ${\leq}$ 2 mm width, and 3) Risser sign and Tanner stage of ${\geq}$ 3. Tibialis anterior tendon allograft was used in all patients, and endobutton and bioscrew were used for femoral and tibial fixations, respectively. Functional outcomes were evaluated using Lysholm Knee Scoring scale, Tegner activity scale, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) 2000 subjective score. Physical examinations to evaluate stability involved Lachman and pivot shift tests. For radiographic results, we evaluated side to side differences of anterior displacement in stress views. In addition, with use of scannograms taken at last follow-up, we examined side to side differences of femorotibial angles, anatomical and mechanical lateral distal femoral angles, mechanical medial proximal tibial angles and leg lengths. Results: The mean Lysholm Knee score was 51(40-61) points preoperatively and 97(94-100) points at last follow up. The mean Tegner activity score was 2.6 points preoperatively and 7.1 points at last follow up. The mean IKDC score was 32.6 points preoperatively and 88.3 points at last follow up. The mean anterior displacement of the tibia was improved from 6.7(${\pm}1.0$) mm to 1.9(${\pm}0.9$) mm. There were no leg length discrepancies over 5 mm and no statistically significant differences in all the radiographic variables representing growth disturbance. Conclusion: This study suggests that patients with open physes who selected by authors' new indication would safely undergo transphyseal ACL reconstruction with successful outcomes.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.500-506
• /
• 1994

For comparison of beef quality, four kinds of beef (Korean native cattle beef, dairy cattle beef, imported beef, cross-bred beef) were investigated through tenderness, juiciness and flavor related components measurement and organoleptic tests. Flavor related chemical components such as NPN, IMP, free fatty acid and free amino acids were analyzed, water holding capacity, contents of hydroxyproline and intramuscular fat were measured for evaluation of beef tenderness. Instron was also used for measuring beef tenderness as an objective method. Triangle test and descriptive analysis test were conducted for comparison and evaluation of preference of various beef samples. In hardness analysis using Instron, imported and cross-bred beefs had higher value than that of Korean native cattle or dairy cattle beef. Water holding capacity and pH of Korean cattle beef was higher than that of others. The intramuscular fat content of Korean cattle beef was highest, so it was expected juicier than other beef. In flavor related compound analysis, NPN content of Korean native cattle beef was the lowest, which shows it spent the least time among sample meats after slaughter. IMP, hypoxantine and inosine were most abundant in Korean native cattle beef. In free amino acids analysis showed that the proportion of basic acid and aromatic acid content of Korean native cattle beef was highest, whereas that of sulfur containing amino acid of imported beef was highest. TBA value of Korean native cattle beef was the lowest, and analysis of fatty acid composition revealed that the proportion of unsaturated fatty acid of Korean native cattle beef was higher than imported and dairy cattle beef, but similar to cross-bred beef. Organoleptic test was performed by triangle test and descriptive analysis. In triangle test, most panelist could distinguish Korea native cattle beef from imported beef and cross-bred beef, imported beef from cross-bred beef. In descriptive analysis which relys on subjective standards of panelists, there was no difference among beef in aroma, flavor and tenderness except juiciness. Even though contents of non volatile flavor compounds in Korean native cattle beef were higher than those of other beef samples, there were no significant differences in subjective panel test. The results showed that Korean consumers do not have common standards for beef quality evaluation.

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2012

Research on subjective well-being (SWB) has flourished in recent years. As SWB determines cognitive and motivational processes, including social comparison and cognitive dissonance, it determines how consumers make decisions, including the comparison and evaluation of alternatives. Considering that the comparison and evaluation of alternatives is related to social comparison and cognitive dissonance, the influence of SWB on the comparison and evaluation of alternatives needs to be investigated. This research aims to examine the effect of SWB on the comparison and evaluation of alternatives, especially when people acquire additional information about their chosen or non-chosen alternatives, leading to a change of absolute/relative value of alternatives. The reasonable price of an alternative as evaluated by individuals is used as a measure reflecting the perceived value of an alternative. Putting all of this together, the current study intended to investigate the influence of absolute and relative value on the reasonable price of an alternative depending on SWB. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two experiment groups (deterioration of non-chosen alternative vs. improvement of non-chosen alternative). After reading consumer report ratings of alternatives shown on monitor screens, participants chose one of the alternatives, followed by the change of the consumer report ratings (deterioration of non-chosen alternative vs. improvement of non-chosen alternative). Participants evaluated the reasonable price of their chosen alternative based on the provided price of the non-chosen alternative. Two weeks after the experiment, they were asked to answer survey questionnaire on SWB measures. A regression was performed on the reasonable price with experiment groups, mean-centered SWB, and their interaction. There was a significant simple effect of groups and SWB. More importantly, these effects were qualified by the predicted interaction of groups and SWB. To interpret this interaction further, simple slope tests were performed on the price when SWB was centered at one standard deviation above (i.e., happy people) and below (i.e., unhappy people) the mean. As predicted, happy people rated the reasonable price of the chosen alternative higher in the improvement of non-chosen alternative group than in the deterioration of non-chosen alternative group. Conversely, unhappy people showed no price difference between groups. These results show that happy people pay attention to the absolute value of the alternative, whereas unhappy people give more weight to the relative value as well as to the absolute value of a chosen alternative, indicating that unhappy people are more sensitive to the negative information of a non-chosen alternative compared to happy people. The present research expanded the existing research stream on SWB by showing the influence of SWB on the consumers' evaluation of alternatives. Furthermore, this study adds to previous research on SWB and social comparison by suggesting that unhappy people tend to be more sensitive to negative social comparison information of alternatives even when a target of social comparison is not explicitly present. Moreover, these results yield some managerial implications on how to provide product information based on SWB in order to make products more attractive among the alternatives available to consumers.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.89-97
• /
• 2012

In this paper, we propose a novel approach to noise power estimation for speech enhancement in noisy environments. The method based on IMCRA (improved minima controlled recursive averaging) which is widely used in speech enhancement utilizes a rough VAD (voice activity detection) algorithm which excludes speech components during speech periods in order to improves the performance of the noise power estimation by reducing the speech distortion caused by the conventional algorithm based on the minimum power spectrum derived from the noisy speech. However, since the VAD algorithm is not sufficient to distinguish speech from noise at non-stationary noise and low SNRs (signal-to-noise ratios), the speech distortion resulted from the minimum tracking during speech periods still remained. In the proposed method, minimum power estimate obtained by IMCRA is modified by SMT (spectral minima tracking) to reduce the speech distortion derived from the bias of the estimated minimum power. In addition, in order to effectively estimate minimum power by considering the distribution characteristic of the speech and noise spectrum, the presented method combines the minimum estimates provided by IMCRA and SMT depending on the weighting factor based on the subband. Performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated by subjective and objective quality tests under various environments and better results compared with the conventional method are obtained.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.197-206
• /
• 2011

In this paper, we proposes the virtual sound source panning algorithm in the multichannel system. Recently, High-definition (HD) and Ultrahigh-definition (UHD) video formats are accepted for the multimedia applications and they provide the high-quality resolution pixels and the wider view angle. The audio format also needs to generate the wider sound field and more immersive sound effects. However, the conventional stereo system cannot satisfy the desired sound quality in the latest multimedia system. Therefore, the various multichannel systems that can make more improved sound field generation are proposed. In the mutichannel system, the conventional panning algorithms have acoustic problems about directivity and timbre of the virtual sound source. To solve these problems in the arbitrary positioned multichannel loudspeaker system, we proposed the virtual sound source panning algorithm using multiple vectors base nonnegative amplitude panning gains. The proposed algorithm can be easily controlled by the gain control function to generate an accurate localization of the virtual sound source and also it is available for the both symmetric and asymmetric loudspeakers format. Its performance of sound localization is evaluated by subjective tests comparing with conventional amplitude panning algorithms, e.g. VBAP and MDAP, in the symmetric and asymmetric formats.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
• /
• v.22 no.4 s.75
• /
• pp.31-42
• /
• 2004

This study develops Accident Modification Factors (AMF) of countermeasures with Baysian method which are newly proposed for reducing Roadway-Rail grade crossing accidents. This study proposes a new "Bayesian Analytical Framework" for countermeasure assessment which combines "Subjective" Prior Information with "Logical" based Information. The newly proposed "Bayesian Analytical Framework" consists of the following three steps: The 1st step - Countermeasure Selection, Choice of Participants, Selection of Crashes; The 2nd step-Development of Crash History Manual and Countermeasure Evaluation Manual; The 3rd step-Development of AMFs through sound statistical tests. This study used the Komogorov-Smirnov(K-S) Test to determine whether two unknown distribution functions associated with the two populations are identical. The results of the study are that individual responses did not meet the K-S test of identical distributions. while individual vs. group distributions are identical. This indicates that combining the input of several people reduces the impact of individual subjectivity and assumptions and is important for developing a repeatable distribution to develop sound AMFs of countermeasures for reducing Roadway-Rail grade crossing accidents. The procedures of the AMF development conducted in this study can be used to estimate the safety effects of countermeasures for road segments and intersections, in addition to Roadway-Rail grade crossings.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.7-15
• /
• 1975

The maximum breathing capacity (MBC) and the maximum mid-expiratory flow rate (MMF) are widely used in evaluation of the ventilatory function, among various parameters of pulmonary function. The MBC volume is the amount of gas which can be exchanged per unit time during maximal voluntary hyperventilation. Performance of this test, unlike that of single breath maneuvers, is affected by the integrity of the respiratory bellows as a whole including such factors are respiratory muscle blood supply, fatigue, and progressive trapping of air. Because of this, the MBC and its relation to ventilatory requirement correlates more closely with subjective dyspnea than does any other test. The MMF is the average flow rate during expiration of the middle 50% of the vital capacity. The MMF is a measurement of a fast vital capacity related to the time required for the maneuver and the MMF relates much better to other dynamic tests of ventilatory function and to dyspnea than total vital capacity, because the MMF reflects the effective volume, or gas per unit of time. Therefore, it is important to have a prediction formula with one can compute the normal value for the subject and the compare with the measured value. However, the formulas for prediction of both MBC and MMF of the Korean children and adolescents are not yet available in the present. Hence, present investigation was attempt to derive the formulas for prediction of both MBC and MMF of the Korean children and adolescents. MBC and MMF were measured in 1,037 healthy Korean children and adolescents (1,035 male and 1,002 female) whose ages ranged from 8 to 18 years. A spirometer (9L, Collins) was used for the measurement of MBC and MMF. Both MBC and MMF were measured 3times in a standing position and the highest values were used. For measurement, the $CO_2$ absorber and sadd valve were removed from the spirometer in order to reduce the resistance in the breathing circuit and the subject was asked to breathe as fast and deeply as possible for 12 seconds in MBC and to exhale completely as fast as possible after maximum inspiration for MMF. During the measurement, investigator stood by the subject to give a constant encouragement. All the measured values were subsequently converted to values at BTPS. The formulas for MBC and MMF were derived by a manner similar to those for Baldwin et al (1949) and Im (1965) as function of age and BSA or age and height. The prediction formulas for MBC (L/min, BTPS) and MMF (L/min, BTPS) of the Korean children and adolescents as derived in this investigation are as follows: For male, MBC=[41.70+{$2.69{\times}Age(years)$}]${\times}BSA$ $(m^{2})$ MBC=[0.083+{$0.045{\times}Age(years)$}]${\times}Ht$ (cm) For female, MBC=[45.53+{$1.55{\times}Age(years)$}]${\times}BSA$ $(m^2)$ MBC=[0.189+{$0.029{\times}Age(years)$}]${\times}Ht$ (cm) For male, MMF= [0.544+{$0.066{\times}Age(years)$}]${\times}Ht$ (cm) For female, MMF=[0.416+{$0.064{\times}Age(years)$}]${\times}Ht$ (cm)

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.32-40
• /
• 2005

Objectives : This study looked at the symptoms of alexithymia in schizophrenia and their association with clinical variables and schizophrenic symptomatology. Methods Consecutive fifty eight inpatients with DSM-IV diagnoses of schizophrenia completed 26item version of Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), Symptom Checklist-90-Revised(SCL-90-R), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS). Results : Authors did not find any correlation between scores of PANSS and TAS. However, all the subscale scores of SCL-90-R were significantly correlated with total score of TAS. Also, 'difficulty identifying and deistinguishing between feelings and bodily sensations' and 'difficulty describing feelings' significantly correlated with SCL-90-R subscale scores. 'Reduced daydreaming' had mixed findings and 'externally oriented thinking' did not correlate. Multiple regression model included Global Severity Index of SCL-90-R accounting 28.2% of variance for TAS scores. Conclusion : These findings together with discrepancy in results between objective and subjective tests suggest that alexithymia in schizophrenia may have two constructs, 'difficulty to describe and communicate feelings(state)' and 'externally oriented thinking(trait)' Authors suggest further study needs to confirm construct validity of TAS in this population.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.301-310
• /
• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between physical function (ADL, IADL) and mental function (depression, cognitive dysfunction) and quality of life in the elderly. The subjects of this study were 524 elderly people aged 65 or older who were admitted to 15 care facilities located in D metropolitan city. Data were collected through a personal interview conducted by interviewers that visited each care facility from November 2015 to January 2016. T-tests and ANOVA were used to compare the quality of life score for each independent variable, while multiple regression was used to determine the explanatory power of independent variables that affected quality of life. Quality of life was significantly lower among those of older age, lower educational level, living alone, with lower relationships with children, lower subjective health status, disability, lower ability for mastication, without regular eating habits, without regular exercise, and without regular health checkups. In addition, quality of life was significantly lower in the ADL and IADL, as well as among those with a higher depression level and lower cognitive impairment scores than their respective counterparts. The results of this study suggest that the quality of life among elderly that have been admitted to care facilities is significantly related to physical and mental functions as well as demographic characteristics, health status and health related behavioral characteristics.