• 한국노년학
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.847-867
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to observe whether the specialized quality programs of senior welfare centers actually help service users and meet their needs. In order to find out, we have utilized three different research methods. First, an in-depth interview was generated among the service users of senior welfare centers. Second, the specialized quality program in senior welfare centers was analyzed. Third, a focused group interview among the senior welfare experts was conducted. Based on the results of this study, they suggest four practical proposals. First is to enhancing programs of senior welfare centers based on the service users' rights. Second is to providing high-class services by developing and transforming the 'elderly culture.' Third is to converting the existing programs to make associations with their local communities. Last is to building a network as a hub to communicate and sharing outstanding programs within senior welfare centers.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.11
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• pp.377-389
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• 2021

This study analyzed whether depression and social support had a mediating effect between income status and life satisfaction of middle-aged and elderly people with disabilities using data from the 15th year of the Korea Welfare Panel data. As a result of the analysis, first, the income status of the middle-aged and disabled was depressed(B=.241, p<.001), social support(B=-.167, p<.001), and life satisfaction(B=-.277, p<.001) was confirmed to have a direct effect. Second, the mediating effect of depression and social support was verified on the influence between the income status of middle-aged and disabled people between life satisfaction. Third, it was confirmed that depression and social support had a multi-mediating effect between the income status and life satisfaction of middle-aged and disabled people. Therefore, an income support system that supports middle-aged and disabled people to live at an appropriate level should be prepared. In addition, in order to increase the life satisfaction of middle-aged and disabled people, it is necessary to intervene in mental health support services that can actively cope with depression and to expand the social support network.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.354-365
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Understanding the mechanism of chewing and swallowing food is important when creating a proper diet for older adults. This study investigated whether texture-modified model foods can reduce the difference in chewing and swallowing parameters between healthy community-living young and older adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In total, 35 older and 20 young adults (mean age: 75 and 25 years, respectively), matched for sex and number of teeth, were recruited and their unstimulated salivation and tongue pressure were measured. Simultaneous assessment of chewing and swallowing characteristics was conducted using surface electromyography and a videofluoroscopic swallowing study while the participants ingested 8 g of model food with one to four levels of hardness. RESULTS: The average tongue pressure and salivation among older adults were 61% and 49.7%, respectively, of the corresponding values observed in young adults. The older adult group used significantly (P < 0.05) increased muscle force with more chewing cycles (P < 0.05) than the young adult group, which was maintained even when consuming foods with the lowest hardness, although without chewing. However, the age effect on oral processing time existed only for the hardest foods. Swallowing difficulties among older adults were demonstrated by the significant increase in vallecula aggregation time. The total food intake duration was significantly (P < 0.05) longer in older adults than in young adults, regardless of food hardness. CONCLUSIONS: There were measurable differences in the process of chewing and swallowing food between young and older adults, which can be improved with food hardness control. Adjusting food hardness may help food intake in healthy older adults.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.192-199
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• 2012

This study investigated the effects of Lavandula angustifolia (L. angustifolia) aroma on the brain electrical activity evaluated by electroencephalogram (EEG) in female adults with sleep disorders. The subjects were 28 healthy female adults and their sleep disorders were classified by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. EEG electrodes were attached at the frontal (F3, F4), temporal (T3, T4), occipital (O1, O2), parietal (P3, P4), reference, and ground regions according to the International 10-20 system. Subjects were exposed to the L. angustifolia aroma for 3 min. Results showed that L. angustifolia aroma decreased the occipital and parietal alpha powers, and increased the frontal theta power and occipital beta power in subjects with good sleep quality. On the other hand, L. angustifolia aroma increased the theta power in the all cranial regions after aroma treatment in subjects with poor sleep quality. In conclusion, L. angustifolia aroma diminishes a state of wakefulness in the brain and helps individuals to fall asleep. Therefore, L. angustifolia aroma may have beneficial effect for female adults with sleep disorders.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.152-158
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• 2019

This study examined the socio-economic and clinical characteristics associated with the use of ambulance services among pregnant, childbearing, and postpartum women based on data from the 2008-2016 Korea Health Panel. The analysis revealed that among the pregnant, childbearing, and postpartum women, the proportion using all ambulance services was 18.9% whereas 12.0% used private and 119 ambulances. Moreover, among those using ambulance services, delivery was the most common reason (38.7%) followed by complications of labor and delivery (20.0%) and pregnancy with abortive outcome (17.3%). There were statistically significant differences between the users and non-users of ambulance services in terms of the average annual household income, emergency arrival time, and delayed arrival at the emergency room. As childbirth becomes more complicated due to low fertility and elderly mothers, the expansion and improvement of ambulance services as a social safety net for pregnant, childbearing, and postpartum women will become increasingly important.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.9
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• pp.215-221
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• 2020

This study intends to evaluate the balance ability of Korean adults in their 20s and create balance indicators using digital equipment(FRA 510 S). The study participants participated in 50 men and women in their 20s without musculoskeletal and nervous system diseases. For data analysis, Repeated Measures ANOVA was used. As a result of the study, it was confirmed that the movement of the body weight was higher when the eyes were closed and the test was performed than when the eyes were opened on a flat floor and a balance pad(47cm×39cm×5.5cm). And there was no difference according to the gender of men and women. In a future study, it is considered that the balance ability of normal elderly people will be evaluated, and the balance index of normal adults in Korea will be created and applied to the evaluation of patients with impaired balance ability.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.513-525
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics of local factors affecting number of tuberculosis death by urban and rural areas. Method: The Partial Least Square(PLS) Regression analysis was used to solve the problem of multicollinearity and number of samples. Result: As a result of analysis, The number of tuberculosis deaths in urban and rural areas is about three times as large. As a result of analysis about Regional Characteristics Factor, In general, children, elderly people, and economically vulnerable populations are more likely to be exposed to tuberculosis. In differential results, it shows that environmental factors such as ultrafine dust and sulfur dioxide have a significant impact on the number of tuberculosis deaths in urban areas and social factors such as depression experience rate in rural areas. Conclusion: The Tuberculosis prevention and management policies that reflect the characteristics of urban and rural areas are needed in the future.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.155-164
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to show the corelation between age-related muscular mass and the change of exercise, muscle mass and muscular strength by comparison of muscle strength. Methods : 39 volunteers of all the patients who come to Dangjin health center between May and June in 2009 were classified as group A and group B according to age. Demographic data of these two groups have been done a comparative analysis, using the t-test procedure and linear regression analysis. Results : The results and summarized as follows. 1. Demographic data of these two groups have been done a comparative analysis, using the t-test procedure. As a result the average exercise and the average pulse have a statistically significant difference according to age. 2. Each of average fat, muscle and muscular strength in these two groups have been done a omparative analysis, using the t-test procedure. As a result there is no statistically significant according to age. 3. According to the result analyzed by using linear regression analysis, age have a negative effect on muscle but there is no statistically meaningful. Exercising have a positive effect on muscle and there is statistically significant. 4. Age and Protein diet have a negative effect on Grip strength but there is no statistically significant Conclusions : From this result, it can be assumed that the amount of exercise is decreasing with age, which leads to lose some muscle mass.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.451-457
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• 2014

Background: The balance of the risks and the benefits of cardiac surgery in the elderly remains a major concern. We evaluated the early and mid-term clinical results of patients aged over 75 years who underwent major cardiovascular surgery. Methods: Two hundred and fifty-one consecutive patients, who underwent cardiac surgery at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between July 2003 and June 2011, were included in this study (mean age, $78.7{\pm}3.4$ years; male:female=130:121). Elective surgery was performed in 112 patients, urgent in 90, and emergency in 49. Results: Early mortality was 12.7% (32/251). Follow-up completion was 100%, and the mean follow-up duration was $2.8{\pm}2.2$ years. Late mortality was 24.2% (53/219). There were 283 readmissions in a total of 109 patients after discharge. However, the reason for readmission was related more to non-cardiac factors (71.3%) than to cardiac factors. The overall survival estimates were 79.2% at the 1-year follow-up and 58.4% at the 5-year follow-up. Patients who underwent elective surgery had a lower early mortality rate (elective, 4.5%; urgent, 13.3%; emergency, 30.6%) and better overall survival rate than those that underwent urgent or emergency surgery (p<0.001). Conclusion: The timing of cardiac surgery was found to be an independent risk factor for early and late mortality. Thus, earlier referral and intervention may improve operative results. Further, comprehensive coordinated postoperative care is needed for other comorbid problems in aged patients.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.124-130
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• 2008

This study investigated the age dependencies in ambient air pollution-associated asthma hospitalization from 2003 to 2005 in Seoul. For all ages and the age groups of 0-14, 15-64, and 65+years, the Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was used to estimate the relative risks of daily asthma hospitalization associated with changes in particulate matter and ozone. The time-trends, seasonal variances, day effects, temperature, humidity, and pressure at sea level were controlled in the models. Significant associations were observed between asthma hospitalization and the levels of $PM_{10}$ and $O_3$. The relative risks (RRs) of asthma hospitalization for every 10 unit increases in $PM_{10}({\mu}g/m^3)$ and $O_3$(ppb) were 1.008 (95% CI 1.005-1.012), and 1.012 (95% CI 1.003-1.020), respectively. Evaluated over $10\;{\mu}g/m^3$ increase in $PM_{10}$, we found the relative risks of asthma hospitalization to be 1.009 (95% CI 1.004-1.014) in 0-14 age group, and 1.015 (95% CI 1.008-1.022) in 65+ age group. Considering 10 ppb increase in $O_3$, those were 1.014 (95% CI 1.003-1.024) in 0-14 age group, and 1.025 (95% CI 1.009-1.041) in 65+ age group. It was concluded that current levels of ambient air pollution in Seoul make a significant contribution to the variation in daily asthma hospitalization. Further reduction in air pollution is necessary to protect the health of the community, especially that of the higher risky groups including children and elderly population.