• Title/Summary/Keyword: Two-point correlation

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Contrast-Enhanced High-Resolution Intracranial Vessel Wall MRI with Compressed Sensing: Comparison with Conventional T1 Volumetric Isotropic Turbo Spin Echo Acquisition Sequence

  • Chae Jung Park;Jihoon Cha;Sung Soo Ahn;Hyun Seok Choi;Young Dae Kim;Hyo Suk Nam;Ji Hoe Heo;Seung-Koo Lee
    • Korean Journal of Radiology
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    • v.21 no.12
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    • pp.1334-1344
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    • 2020
  • Objective: Compressed sensing (CS) has gained wide interest since it accelerates MRI acquisition. We aimed to compare the 3D post-contrast T1-weighted volumetric isotropic turbo spin echo acquisition (VISTA) with CS (VISTA-CS) and without CS (VISTA-nonCS) in intracranial vessel wall MRIs (VW-MRI). Materials and Methods: From April 2017 to July 2018, 72 patients who underwent VW-MRI, including both VISTA-CS and VISTA-nonCS, were retrospectively enrolled. Wall and lumen volumes, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were measured from normal and lesion sites. Two neuroradiologists independently evaluated overall image quality and degree of normal and lesion wall delineation with a four-point scale (scores ≥ 3 defined as acceptable). Results: Scan coverage was increased in VISTA-CS to cover both anterior and posterior circulations with a slightly shorter scan time compared to VISTA-nonCS (approximately 7 minutes vs. 8 minutes). Wall and lumen volumes were not significantly different with VISTA-CS or VISTA-nonCS (interclass correlation coefficient = 0.964-0.997). SNR was or trended towards significantly higher values in VISTA-CS than in VISTA-nonCS. At normal sites, CNR was not significantly different between two sequences (p = 0.907), whereas VISTA-CS provided lower CNR in lesion sites compared with VISTA-nonCS (p = 0.003). Subjective wall delineation was superior with VISTA-nonCS than with VISTA-CS (p = 0.019), although overall image quality did not differ (p = 0.297). The proportions of images with acceptable quality were not significantly different between VISTA-CS (83.3-97.8%) and VISTA-nonCS (75-100%). Conclusion: CS may be useful for intracranial VW-MRI as it allows for larger scan coverage with slightly shorter scan time without compromising image quality.

Determine the hazards of radioactive elements and radon gas manufacturing processes in an Egyptian fertilizer factory

  • Soad Saad Fares
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.56 no.5
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    • pp.1781-1795
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    • 2024
  • This study investigated the levels of radioactivity in soil surrounding a phosphate fertilizer factory in Egypt, aiming to assess potential risks to the population exposed to radiation. Concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were measured in soil samples collected from two subsites: one near the factory (subsite 1) and another further away (subsite 2). Two different systems were used for measuring radioactivity, a high-purity gamma ray spectroscopy system with an HPGe detector for gamma-emitting isotopes and a CR-39 solid nuclear track detector for alpha-emitting radon gas. Subsite 1, located close to the factory, displayed significantly elevated levels of 226Ra compared to global background levels (514 and 456 Bq/kg vs. 35 Bq/kg). Additionally, the concentrations of 238U (241.06 Bq/kg vs. global average 35 Bq/kg), 232Th (16.15 Bq/kg vs. global average 30 Bq/kg), and 40K (146.36 Bq/kg vs. global average 400 Bq/kg) were all above global averages. Furthermore, a high concentration of radon gas (337.06 μSv/y) was measured at subsite 1. The strong positive correlation observed between 226Ra and 238U (0.96256) provides further evidence of potentially elevated radioactivity levels near the factory. In contrast, subsite 2, situated farther from the factory, exhibited natural radioactive background levels within international limits. Quantitative analysis revealed that gamma ray absorbed doses for 226Ra and 232Th exceeded global averages in some samples. Specifically, 226Ra doses ranged from 7.8 to 46.26 ppm (exceeding the 20 ppm global average in some cases), and 232Th doses ranged from 1.98 to 9.14 ppm (exceeding the 10 ppm global average in some cases). The concentration of 40K, however, remained within the global range (0.07%-0.69 %). The observed imbalances in the ratios of Th/U (0.17-0.24 Bq/kg and 0.73-0.24 ppm) and U/Ra (0.81-0.73 Bq/kg and 0.73-0.17 ppm), both of which are significantly lower than their respective global averages of 4 and 2.4, point towards the presence of fertilizer-derived contamination. This conclusion is further supported by the high phosphate concentrations detected in the samples. Overall, this study suggests that radioactive contamination near the phosphate fertilizer factory significantly exceeds global background levels and international limits in some cases. This raises concerns about potential risks posed to surrounding agricultural land and crops.

The relationships between lead exposure indicies and urinary δ-ALA by HPLC and colorimetric method in lead exposure workers (연노출근로자에 있어서 흡광광도법과 HPLC법에 의한 요중 δ-ALA 배설량과 연노출지표들 간의 관련성)

  • Ahn, Kyu-Dong;Lee, Sung-Soo;Hwangbo, Young;Lee, Gab-Soo;Yeon, You-Yong;Kim, Yong-Bae;Lee, Byung-Kook
    • Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.77-87
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    • 1996
  • In order to compare the difference of the measurement of delta aminolevulinic acid(${\delta}$-ALA) in urine between HPLC method(HALA) and colorimetric method(CALA), and also to provide useful information for the new diagnostic criteria of ${\delta}$-ALA in urine in lead poisoning, if at all possible in the future, authors studied 234 male lead workers who were selected from 7 storage battery factories, 3 secondary smelting industries, and 2 litharge making industries. Study subjects were selected on the basis of blood Zinc protoporphyrin(ZPP) level from low to high concentration to cover wide range of lead exposure. Study variables for this study were ${\delta}$-ALA measured by two different methods, blood lead(PbB), and blood ZPP. The results were as follows: 1. There was very high correlation between ${\delta}$-ALA measured by two method(r = 0.989 : HALA = -0.8194 + 0.8110 ${\times}$ CALA), but the value of CALA was measured about 2mg/L greater than HALA. 2. While the correlations of ${\delta}$-ALA by two method with blood lead and blood ZPP were 0.46 and 0.37 respectively, they were increased to 0.63 and 0.57 if ${\delta}$-ALA values were log-transformed. 3. Simple linear regression of ${\delta}$-ALA measured by two method on ZPP were as follows: CALA = 2.0421 + 0.0341 ${\times}$ ZPP ($R^2=0.1385$ p = 0.0001) HALA = 0.8006 + 0.0280 ${\times}$ ZPP ($R^2=0.1389$ p = 0.0001) 4. Simple linear regression of ${\delta}$-ALA measured by two method on PbB were as follows: CALA = - 0.4134 + 0.1545 ${\times}$ PbB ($R^2=0.2085$ p = 0.0001) HALA = -1.2893 + 0.1287 PbB ($R^2=0.2154$ p = 0.0001), 5. Simple linear regression of log-transformed ${\delta}$-ALA by two method on ZPP and PbB were as follows: logHALA = 0.3078 + 0.0060 ZPP ($R^2=0.3329$ p = 0.0001) logCALA = 1.0189 + 0.0044 ZPP ($R^2=0.3290$ p = 0.0001) logHALA = -0.0221 + 0.0246 PbB ($R^2=0.4046$ p = 0.0001) logCALA = 0.7662 + 0.0184 PbB ($R^2=0.4108$ p = 0.0001) 6. The cumulative percent of colorimetric method to detect lead workers whose value of PbS and ZPP were over screening level such as $40{\mu}/dl$ and $100{\mu}/dl$ respectively was higher than HPLC method if cut-off level of ${\delta}$-ALA for screening of lead poisoning was 5 mg/L. But if cut-off level of ${\delta}$-ALA measured by HPLC was reduced to 3 mg/L which is compatible to 5 mg/L of ${\delta}$-ALA measured by colorimetric method, there were good agreement between two methods and showed dose-response relationship with other lead exposure indices such as PbB and ZPP.

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In Vitro Imaging of MRI and Ultrasound for Gastric Carcinoma (위암 조직의 자기공명영상과 초음파 소견에 대한 비교 연구)

  • Kil, Sung-Won;Jee, Keum-Nahn
    • Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.178-187
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    • 2008
  • Purpose : To evaluate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of MRI and ultrasound(US) for estimation of invasion depth of gastric carcinoma by correlation with histopathologic findings in vitro and to find out the best MR pulse sequence for detection and accurate delineation of tumor. Materials and Methods : Resected specimen of total or subtotal gastrectomy from 53 patients with gastric carcinoma were done of imaging studies of MRI and US. And US was examined by using high frequency linear transducer for tumor invasion depth by a radiologist. In each case, both imaging findings of MRI and US were evaluated independently for tumor detection and invasion depth by consensus of two radiologists and were compared the diagnostic accuracy between two imaging modalities according to the histopathologic findings. MR imaging with five MR pulse sequences, spin echo T1 and in- and out-of phase gradient echo T1 weighted images, FSE and SSFSE T2 weighted images, were performed. Five MR pulse sequences were evaluated and compared on the point of detection and accurate distinction of tumor from surrounding normal tissue. Results : In EGC, diagnostic accuracy of US(77%) was superior than that of MRI(59%) but no statistically significant difference was noted between two imaging modalities(p=0.096). In AGC, both imaging modalities of MRI and US showed relatively high diagnostic accuracy as 97% and 84% respectively. Diagnostic accuracy of MRI was statistically better than that of US at the significant level(p<0.001). The best MR pulse sequence among five in each specimen was FSE T2WI(75.5%, 40/53) in both EGC and AGC. In AGC, FSE T2WI showed excellent imaging quality by showing very high ratio (93.5%, 29/31) of accurate delineation of tumor. Conclusion : MRI and US show relatively high diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of tumor invasion depth of resected specimen in AGC. The most excellent pulse sequence of MRI for the evaluation of tumor invasion depth is FSE T2WI on the point of detection and accurate delineation of tumor in both EGC and AGC.

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Evaluating Cultivation Environment and Rice Productivity under Different Types of Agrivoltaics (유형이 다른 영농형 태양광발전시설 하부 재배 환경 및 벼 생산성 평가)

  • Ban, Ho-Young;Jeong, Jae-Hyeok;Hwang, Woon-Ha;Lee, Hyeon-Seok;Yang, Seo-Yeong;Choi, Myoung-Goo;Lee, Chung-Keun
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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    • v.22 no.4
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    • pp.258-267
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    • 2020
  • The agrivoltaic can produce electricity and grow crops on fields at the same time. It is necessary to analyze the cultivation environment and evaluate the crop productivity under agrivoltaic because the shading point changes according to structure of agrivoltaic and sun's position. Two types of "fixing" and "tracing" agrivoltaic were installed, and a rice cultivation experiment was conducted in the fields under each agrivoltaic and without shading (control). "Hyunpoombyeo" was transplanted on June 7, 2019, and grown with fertilization of 9.0-4.5-5.7 kg/10a (N-P-K). Fifteen weather stations were installed under each agrivoltaic to measure solar radiation and temperature, and yield and yield-related elements were investigated by points. The accumulated solar radiation during the rice growing season in fixing was no much difference between points, and that in tracing was much difference between points. However, the average solar radiations of two agrivoltaics were similar. The mean temperature, yield, and yield-related elements showed a significant difference for the shading rate, and decreased with increasing the shading rate except ripening grain rate and 1000 grain weight of fixing agrivoltaic. In the relationship between shading rate and yield, fixing and tracing were fitted to a logistic equation and a simple linear equation, respectively, and showed a high correlation (tracing: R2 = 0.62, fixing: R2 = 0.73). The shading rate variation by point for two types was large despite similar yield variation. Thus, it needs to be more closely examined the relationship of the shading rate for a specific period rather than the shading rate during the whole growing season.

The Relationship between Perceived Stress and the Ways of Coping in the Elderly (노인의 지각된 스트레스와 대처방법과의 관계)

  • Hong, Min-Ju;Lee, Myung-Hwa
    • The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.26-39
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    • 2003
  • The elderly can experience a lot of stressful events and the stress acts as a various fluent that affects a well-being level, the self-contentment of lives, and the achievements by themselves. Also, the elderly are different from the young in many unexpressed stress and have diverse copings for perceived stress. Moreover, they mainly seem to use a problem-focused coping and an emotion-focused coping. To use whatever copings is to improve the quality of life in the old period and very important fact to achieve their ends. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between Perceived Stress and the Ways of Coping in the Elderly and to gain the baseline data for development of nursing intervention program for improve to the quality of life in the elderly. The design of this study was a correlational study. The subjects of this study consisted of 230 of the elderly living in Pusan. The data was collected from 1st July. to 1st September, 2002. The instruments used for this study were 'Perceived Stress Scale(20items, 5point. scale)' developed by Kang In(1990) and translated by Lee young-ja(1999), and its reliability is Cronbach's ${\alpha}=.89$. 'Coping Scale(30items, 4point. scale, 14 items about a problem-focused coping, 16 items about an emotion-focused coping, 4 points scale) developed by Lazarus & Folkman(1984) and translated by Yang Young-hee(1998). The reliability of this study is Cronbach's ${\alpha}=.90$. The data was analyzed by the SPSS WIN 10.0 program using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA & Scheffe test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The results of this study were as follows; 1. The mean score of perceived stress was $31.75{\pm}10.23$(Min 20, Max 100), which the item mean score was $1.59{\pm}.51$(Min 1, Max 5). 2. The number of subjects in a problem-focused coping was 72(31.3%), the number of subjects in an emotion-focused coping was 158(68.7%) 3. There were statistically significant positive correlation between perceived stress and problem-focused coping method and the more emotion-focoused coping method.(r=.180, r= .209, P< .05). It means the more stress, the more problem-focused coping method and the more emotion-focused coping method. 4. There was significant difference the score of perceived stress according to sex (F=-5.057, P=.000)marital status, (F=-2.909, P=.004), economic level, (F=10.243, P=.000), paticipated meeting, (F=9.346, P=.000), perceived health status(F=5.117, P=.007). 5. There was significant difference the score of problem-focused coping method according to age(F=14.200, P=.000), marital status (F=2.432, P=.0160), economic level (F=14.410, P=.000), monthly income, (F=8.300. P=.000), income resource (F=10.235, P=.000), educational level (F=15.222, P=.000), occupation (F=1.544, P=.041), paticipated meeting (F=4.936, P=.008), perceived health status(F=5.655, P=.004). And there was significant difference the score of emotion-focused coping method according to monthly income(F=4.781, P=.009), income resource(F=2.930, P=.035), educational level(F=6.101, P=.003), religionF=2.698, P=.032), paticipated meetings(F=7.285, P=.001). As a result of the study, the elderly had a bit less stress and the two-thirds of the elderly used the emotion-focused coping. Thus, the more perceived stress, the more problem-focused coping method and the more emotion-focused coping method. Accordingly, to improve the quality of life of the elderly, there needs and applies a nursing intervention program that relieves the stress and use effective coping method.

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A Study of the Degree of Duty Satisfaction According to the Nurses's Characteristics (간호사의 특성이 직무만족도에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Hei-Jin;Kim, Sook-Nyung;Sohn, In-Soon;Han, Sang-Suk
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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    • v.6 no.1
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    • pp.5-18
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    • 2000
  • This study was conducted to analyze the degree of department satisfaction and correlation accordng to nurses's clinical characteristics. Data fors tudy were selected August, 1999. The sample coisted of 512 nurses working in K university hosptal in Seoul. The collected materials have been alyzed by percentage, average, t-test, ANOVA, arson Correlation Coefficiency using SPSS window 8.0 program. The result were as the follows ; 1. Fifty-one percent answered to be satisfactory in current department of work, and nurses who had been experienced the transfer are fifty percent, and nurse specialist is eight point two percent. 2. The order of the degree of department duty satisfaction was mutual action, professinal position, autonomy, assignment desire, relation between the doctor and nurses, wage, administration. 3. The result of the degree of department duty satisfaction according to the age has shown significant differences in administration and assignment desire, and the result of the degree of department duty satisfaction according to the education and religion has shown significant differences in administration, and the result of the degree of department duty satisfaction according to marital status has shown significant differences in wage and administration. 4. The result of the degree of department duty satisfaction according La the position has shown significant differences in administration, assignment desire and the sum of duty satisfaction, and the result of the degree of department duty satisfaction according to the nurse specialist has shown no significant differences in total areas, and the result of the degree of department duty satisfaction according to the transfer has shown significant differences in relation between the doctor and nurses, administration, autonomy and the sum of duty satisfaction. 5. The result of the degree of department duty satisfaction according to the nursing career and present assignment career has shown no significant differences in total areas, and the result of degree of department duty satisfaction according to the present assignment has shown significant differences in relation between doctor and nurses, administration, assignment desire and the sum of duty satisfaction. 6. The result of the degree of department duty satisfaction according to the request and experiences of trasfer has shown significant differences in wage, administration, assignment desire and the sum of duty satisfaction 7. The result of the degree of department duty satisfaction according to the degree of satisfaction of present assignment has shown no significant difference in professional position 8. The result of relation of nurses'a clinical characteristics and the degree of department duty satisfaction and the sum of duty satisfaction has shown no significant differences in age, present assignment career, but the result of nursing career has shown significant differences in relation between doctor and nurse, administration, autonomy, assignment desire and the sum of duty satisfaction. and the satisfaction of present assignment which was very effective on duty satisfaction was as significant correlation with wage, professinal position, relation between doctor and nurses, administration, autonomy assignment desire, mutual action and the sum of duty satisfaction. The above result show us that the degree of wage is effected on marital status, experience of transfer, degree of satisfaction of present assignment, request of transfef and the relation between doctor and nurses is effected on experience of transfer, present assignment, degree of satisfaction of present assignment and the administration is effected on age, education, marital status position, experiences of transfer, request of transfer, degree of satisfaction of present assignment and the autonomy is effected on experience of transfer, degree of satisfaction of present assignment and the assignment desire is effected on position, pre sent assignment, degree of satisfaction of present assignment, request of transfer and the mutual action is effected on present assignment. and the sum of duty satisfaction is effected on marital status, position, experience of transfer, request of transfer, present assignment, degree of satisfaction of present assignment.

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A Study on the Knowledge and Attitude about Tuberculosis on Elementary School student in Seoul (서울 시내 일부 국민학교 6학년 학생들의 결핵에 대한 지식 및 실태에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Eun-Hee
    • Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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    • v.5 no.2
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    • pp.181-202
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    • 1994
  • This study was conducted in order to grasp the condition of the student's knowledge and attitude about tuberculosis. And to offer the basic materials for the prevent tuberculosis in elementary school. The objects were comprised 395 of volunteered 6th grade students who study in two elementary schools. The material of this study was the questionaire(chronbach $\alpha=.9016$) suited to the purposed of this research which has been made through studying references. All the questionaire were collected immediately without explanation. The data was collected from 13rd to 25th of May on 1994. Analysis of the data was done utilizing SPSS for percentage, mean, ANOVA and pearson-Correlation Coefficient. The Result are as follows; 1. General features of the objects of study. Sex distribution was similar. Salary of 1000-1500 thousand won were highest (40.2%), nuclear family was highest (87.1%), fathers of graduated high school were the highest(44.0%), mothers of graduated high school were the highest(56.8%). And there was nobody about tuberculosis patient in one's close relatives were highest(95.4%). 2. The conditions of attitude about tuberculosis. Having experience of tuberculin test were highest(59.0%). Less than 9mm indulation among the tuberculin tested group were 85.1%, more than indulation were 14.9%. Have a B. C. G. injection among the less than 9mm indulation were 83.2%. Leave alone among the more than 10mm indulation were 56.0%. Think it too much trouble to do not tuberculine test were 63.0%. Do not take a chest X-ray in the past were 60.3%. And take a chest X-ray in the past were 39.7%. Health educated group was 74.3%. If tuberculosis sign was developed, notified to parent was 73.8%. 3. The condition of knowledge about tuberculosis. When 5 points was given to 'very affiming' and 1 point was given to 'very deny', the total average was 3.54. And symptom of tuberculosis secion was 3.67, vaccination of tuberculosis section was 3.66, tuberculine test section was 3.56, epidemiology of tuberculosis section was 3.54, infection of tuberculosis section was 3.38. And every section showed affirmative correlation(P<.001). 4. Correlation between the general features and attitude variables. High incomed group may have more attitude on tuberculin test than low incomed group($x^2=16.$ 190, P<.01). High educated group may have more attitude on tuberculin test than low educated group(Father : $x^2=28.530$, P<.001, Mother: $x^2=26.060$, P<.001). High educated group may have more attitude on health education than low educated group(Father: $x^2=20.$ 767, P<.000, Mother: $x^2=10.639$, P<.05). Nuclear family may have more attitude on notify to parent than others($x^2=51.45$, P<.000). Tuberculosis patient in one's close associates have more attitude on notify to parent than others($x^2=51.$ 45, P<.000). 5. Difference between the general features and knowledge of tuberculosis. High incomed group were highest score in knowledge (F=3.99, P<.01). High educated group were highest score in knowledge(Father : F=8.81, P<.000, Mother: F=9.09, P<.000). 6. Difference between the attitude and knowledge of tuberculosis. Tuberculin tested group were highest score in knowledge(t=9.88, P<.000). Taken chest X-ray group were highest score in knowledge (t=2.07, P<.05). Received health education group were highest score in knowledge(t=6.83, P<.000). Notified symptoms to teachers and parent group were highest score in knowledge(F=3.89, P<.01).

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The effects of self-perception of halitosis on oral health behaviors of college students (서비스직 유무에 따른 아르바이트 종사자 대학생의 자가구취인식도가 구강보건관리실천도에 미치는 영향)

  • Jeong, Hye-Min;Cho, Han-A;Chung, Sung-Kyun;Kim, Ah-Yeong;Kim, Ye-Lin;Kim, You-Rim;Lee, Ye-Jin;Lee, Eun-A;Jung, Min-Ju;Lim, Do-Seon
    • Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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    • v.2 no.2
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    • pp.31-39
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    • 2019
  • Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of self-perception of halitosis on oral health behaviors of college students according to whether they worked in a non-service or service-related job. Methods: A self-reporting questionnaire of 150 university students working in service jobs and 150 university students working in non-service jobs in the metropolitan area was conducted from 26th April to 5th May 2018. The survey tool consisted of 3 general topic areas. There were 5 questions on oral health awareness behavior, 3 questions related to their self-perception of halitosis, and 8 questions on their oral health care practice. All were measured on the Likert 5-point scale. The frequency of their oral health behaviors and their self-perception of halitosis were analyzed according to the subjects' occupation. Pearson's correlation analysis and a linear regression analysis were conducted to confirm the influence of the two. The significance level for the statistical significance test was set to α = 0.05 (two-tailed). Results: In both the service and non-service groups, a coated tongue and food debris were found to influence halitosis(x2=10.95, p=0.027). According to the t-test, taking into account the self-perception of halitosis and oral health behaviors, both were higher in those that had a service job. Self-perception of halitosis and oral health behaviors were found to have a negative correlation(γ=-0.11, p<0.05). As the self-perception of halitosis increased, oral health care practices also increased(Beta=-0.185, p=0.020). Conclusions: Systematic interventions such as oral health programs and health promotion are needed to improve the oral health of service workers.

Influences of Firm Characteristics and the Host Country Environment on the Degree of Foreign Market Involvement (기업특성과 호스트국가 환경이 해외시장 관여도에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구)

  • Maktoba, Omar;Nwankwo, Sonny
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.19 no.2
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    • pp.5-16
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    • 2009
  • Against the backdrop of the increasing trend towards economic globalisation, many international firms are indicating that decisions on how to enter foreign markets remains one of the key strategic challenges confronting them. Despite the rich body of literature on the topic, the fact that these challenges have continued to dominate global marketing strategy discourses point to someevident lacunae. Accordingly, this paper considers the variables, categorised in terms of firm contexts (standardisation, market research, competition, structure, competitive advantage) and host country-contexts (economic development, cultural differences, regulation and political risk), which influence the degree of involvement of UK companies in overseas markets. Following hypotheses were drawn from literature review: H1: The greater the level of competition, the higher the degree of involvement in the overseas market. H2: The more centralised the firm's organisation structure, the higher the degree of involvement in the overseas market. H3a: The adoption of a low cost-approach to competitive advantage will lead to a higher degree of involvement. H3b: The adoption of an innovation-approach to competitive advantage will lead to a higher degree of involvement. H3c: The adoption of a market research approach to competitive advantages will lead to a higher degree of involvement. H3d: The adoption of a breadth of strategic target-approach to competitive advantage will lead to a lower degree of involvement. H4: The higher the degree of standardisation of the international marketing mix the higher the degree of involvement. H5: The greater the degree of economic development in the host market, the higher the degree of involvement. H6: The greater the cultural differences between home and host countries, the lower the degree of involvement. H7: The greater the difference in regulations between the home country and the host country, the lower the degree of involvement. H8: The higher the political risk in the host country, the lower the degree of involvement. A questionnaire instrument was constructed using, wherever possible, validated measures of the concepts to serve the aims of this study. Following two sets of mailings, 112 usable completed questionnaires were returned. Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze data. Statistically, the paper suggests that factors relating to the level of competition, competitive advantages and economic development are strong in influencing foreign market involvements. On the other hand, unexpectedly, cultural factors (especially individualism/collectivism and low and high power distance dimensions) proved to have weak moderating effects. The reason for this, in part, is due to the pervading forces of globalisation and the attendant effect on global marketing. This paper has contributed to the general literature in a way that point to two mainimplications. First, with respect to research on national systems, the study may hold out some important lessons especially for developing nations. Most of these nations are known to be actively seeking to understand what it takes to attract foreign direct investment, expand domestic market and move their economies from the margin to the mainstream global economy. Second, it should be realised that competitive conditions remain in constant flux (even in mature industries and mature economies). This implies that a range of home country factors may be as important as host country factors in explaining firms' strategic moves and the degree of foreign market involvement. Further research can consider the impact of the home country environment on foreign market involvement decisions. Such an investigation will potentially provide further perspectives not only on the influence of national origin but also how home country effects are confounded with industry effects.

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