• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.245-253
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• 2019

Background: This study aimed to analyze correlations between depression, cognitive function, oral health state, ability to perform activities of daily living, oral dryness symptoms, and oral health-related quality of life, and determine factors influencing the latter. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on questionnaires completed by 260 participants with suspected dementia, residing in South Korea. Psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and dental hygienists visited clinics in the participating regions for examination and questionnaire administration. General characteristics, the geriatric depression scale, ability to perform activities of daily living, cognitive function, oral health state, and oral health-related quality of life were analyzed. Independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were conducted, identifying factors affecting oral health-related quality of life. Data analysis was performed using SPSS ver. 20.0 (IBM Corp., USA), and the significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Approximately 65.0% of participants were female, 63.5% were in their 70s, and 90.0% had health insurance. About 21.5%, 42.0%, and 36.5% were normal, slightly impaired, and had dementia, respectively. High cognitive impairment was associated with poor oral health. Sex, education levels, marital status, and living arrangements influenced oral health-related quality of life. According to the regression analysis, geriatric depression and oral dryness affected the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index scores. Conclusion: In conclusion, oral dryness and depression levels among elders influenced oral health-related quality of life. The results showed that to enhance elders' oral health-related quality of life, it is essential to not only improve their oral health state, but also relieve oral health problems, especially oral dryness, and take into consideration their psychological aspects.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.105 no.1
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• pp.122-131
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• 2016

This study was conducted to analyze the effect of climatic variables on tree-ring growth of Larix leptolepis distributed in Korea by dendroclimatological method. For this, annual tree-ring growth data of Larix leptolepis collected by the $5^{th}$ National Forest Inventory were first organized to analyze yearly growth patterns of the species. To explain the relationship between tree-ring growth of Larix leptolepis and climatic variables, monthly temperature and precipitation data from 1950 to 2010 were compared with tree-ring growth data for each county. When tree-ring growth data were analyzed through cluster analysis based on similarity of climatic conditions, six clusters were identified. In addition, index chronology of Larix leptolepis for each cluster was produced through cross-dating and standardization procedures. The adequacy of index chronologies was tested using basic statistics such as mean sensitivity, auto correlation, signal to noise ratio, and expressed population signal of annual tree-ring growth. Response function analysis was finally conducted to reveal the relationship between tree-ring growth and climatic variables for each cluster. The results of this study are expected to provide valuable information necessary for estimating local growth characteristics of Larix leptolepis and for predicting changes in tree growth patterns caused by climate change.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2015

This study was conducted to analyze the relationship between tree-ring growth of Quercus acutissima and climatic variables by dendroclimatological method. Annual tree-ring growth data of Quercus acutissima collected by the $5^{th}$ National Forest Inventory (NFI5) were organized to analyze the spatial distribution of the species growth pattern. To explain the relationship between tree-ring growth of Quercus acutissima and climatic variables, monthly temperature and precipitation data from 1950 to 2010 were compared with tree-ring growth data for each county. When tree-ring growth data were analyzed through cluster analysis based on similarity of climatic conditions, four clusters were identified. In addition, index chronology of Quercus acutissima for each cluster was produced through cross-dating and standardization procedures. The adequacy of index chronologies was tested using basic statistics such as mean sensitivity, auto correlation, signal to noise ratio, and expressed population signal of annual tree-ring growth. Response function analysis was conducted to reveal the relationship between tree-ring growth and climatic variables for each cluster. The results of this study are expected to provide valuable information necessary for estimating local growth characteristics of Quercus acutissima and for predicting changes in tree growth patterns caused by climate change.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.103-107
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• 1997

Purpose: To investigate the localization and functional lateralization of the supplementary motor area (SMA) in motor activation tests in comparison to that of the primary motor area. Materials and Methods: Seven healthy volunteers obtained echoplanar imaging blood oxygen level dependent technique. This study was carried on 1.5T Siemens Magnetom Vision system with the standard head coil. Parameters of EPI were followed as; TR/TE : 1.0/66.0msec, flip angle: $90^{\circ}$, field of view: $22cm{\times}22cm,{\;}matrix:{\;}128{\times}128$, slice number/slice thickness/gap: 1O/4mm/0.8mm with fat suppression technique. Motor task as finger opposition in each hand consisted of 3 sets of alternative rest and activation periods. Postprocessing were done on Stimulate 5.0 by using cross-correlation statistics. To compare the functional lateralization of the SMA in the right and left hand tests, each examination was evaluated for the percent change of signal intensity and the number of activated voxels both in the SMA and in the pri¬mary motor area. Hemispheric asymmetry was defined as difference of summation of the activted voxels between each hemisphere. Results: Percent change of signal intensity in the SMA (2.49 -3.06%) is lower than that of primary motor area(4.4 -7.23%). Percent change of signal intensity including activated voxels were observed almost equally in the right and left SMA. As for summation of activated voxels, primary motor area had significant difference between each hemisphere but not did the SMA. Conclusion: Preferred contralateral dominant hemisphere and hemispheric asymmetry were detected in the primary motor area but not in the SMA.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.10 s.267
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• pp.739-748
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• 2006

Background: The purpose of this study is to ascertain the neuroprotective effect of cyclosporin A on the 25-min surgical ischemia model in the spinal cords of rabbits with neuropathological correlation and histoimmunochemical analyses, Material and Method: Thirty-two New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: Rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: the control 12 group (n=8), the control 17 group (n=8), the cyclosporin Cs2 group (n=8), and the cyclosporin Cs7 group (n=8). The 12 group underwent a 25-min aortic cross- clamp without intervention and were sacrificed on the 2nd day postoperatively, while the 17 group underwent a 25- min of aortic cross-clamp without intervention and were sacrificed on the 7th day postoperatively. The Cs2 group received cyclosporin A (25 mg/kg) intravenously 15 min after the 25-min cross-clamp and were sacrificed on the End day postoperatively, while the Cs7 group received cyclosporin A (25 mg/kg) intravenously 15 min after the 25-min cross-clamp and were sacrificed on the 7th day postoperatively. The rabbits underwent 25-min surgical aortic cross-clamp. Neurologic functions were evaluated on the 2nd day and 7th postoperative day using Tarlov scoring system. After scoring neurologic function, all rabbits were sacrificed for histopathologic observation. Result: All rabbits survived the experimental procedure. The values of Tarlov score did not show any differences between the control and cyclosporin groups on the 2nd day. The scores of group Cs7 ($2.75{\pm}0.89$) were significantly higher than those of group 17 ($1.25{\pm}1.39$) on the 7th day (p<0,05). On the histologic exanminations, specimens of the spinal cord showed necrosis and apoptosis. The pathologic scores of group Cs7 ($1,0{\pm}0.53$) was less than those of group 17 ($2.13{\pm}1.36$, p<0.05). TUNEL staing showed apoptosis of the specimen in group 12 and Cs2 but there was no stastically significant difference between groups on the score. There were more overexpression of HSP70 and nNOS in cyclosporine group than in control group. Conclusion: We think that cyclosporin A may decrease neuronal cell death with induced upregulation of HSP70 against 25-min ischemia of the spiral cord in the rabbit.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.67-76
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• 2021

Objectives : The aim of this study was to compare activities of daily living (ADLs) according to degenerative changes in brain [i.e., medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA), white matter hyperintensities] and to examine the association between neurocognitive functions and ADLs in Korean patients with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods : Participants were 111 elderly subjects diagnosed with AD or MCI in this cross-sectional study. MTA in brain MRI was rated with standardized visual rating scales (Scheltens scale) and the subjects were divided into two groups according to Scheltens scale. ADLs was evaluated with the Korean version of Blessed Dementia Scale-Activity of daily living (BDS-ADL). Neurocognitive function was evaluated with the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease assessment packet (CERAD-K). Independent t-test was performed to compare ADLs with the degree of MTA. Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to analyze the relationship between ADLs and neurocognitive functions. Results : The group with high severity of the MTA showed significantly higher BDS-ADL scores (p<0.05). The BDS-ADL score showed the strongest correlation with the word list recognition test among sub-items of the CERAD-K test (r=-0.568). Findings from the hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the scores of MMSE-K and word list recognition test were factors that predict ADLs (F=44.611, p<0.001). Conclusions : ADLs of AD and MCI patients had significant association with MTA. Our study, which identifies factors correlated with ADLs can provide useful information in clinical settings. Further evaluation is needed to confirm the association between certain brain structures and ADLs.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.655-662
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• 2012

Gas leakage in an oil refinery causes damage to the environment and unsafe conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a technique that is able to detect the location of the leakage and to filter abnormal gas-leakage signals from normal background noise. In this study, the adaptation filter of the finite impulse response (FIR) least mean squares (LMS) algorithm and a cross-correlation function were used to develop a leakage-predicting program based on LABVIEW. Nitrogen gas at a high pressure of 120 kg/$cm^2$ and the assembled equipment were used to perform experiments in a reverberant chamber. Analysis of the data from the experiments performed with various hole sizes, pressures, distances, and frequencies indicated that the background noise occurred primarily at less than 1 kHz and that the leakage signal appeared in a high-frequency region of around 16 kHz. Measurement of the noise sources in an actual oil refinery revealed that the noise frequencies of pumps and compressors, which are two typical background noise sources in a petrochemical plant, were 2 kHz and 4.5 kHz, respectively. The fact that these two signals were separated clearly made it possible to distinguish leakage signals from background noises and, in addition, to detect the location of the leakage.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.31
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• pp.22.1-22.7
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• 2016

Objectives This study analyzed the associations between mobile phone call frequency and duration with non-specific symptoms. Methods This study was conducted with a population group including 532 non-patient adults established by the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. The pattern of phone call using a mobile phone was investigated through face-to-face interview. Structured methods applied to quantitatively assess health effects are Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form, Beck Depression Inventory, Korean-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and 12-item Short Form Health Survey where a higher score represents a higher greater health effect. Results The average daily phone call frequency showed a significant correlation with the PSS score in female subjects. Increases in the average duration of one phone call were significantly correlated with increases in the severity of headaches in both sexes. The mean (standard deviation) HIT-6 score in the subgroup of subjects whose average duration of one phone call was five minutes or longer was 45.98 (8.15), as compared with 42.48 (7.20) in those whose average duration of one phone call was <5 minutes. The severity of headaches was divided into three levels according to the HIT-6 score (little or no impact/moderate impact/substantial or severe impact), and a logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between an increased phone call duration and the headache severity. When the average duration of one phone call was five minutes or longer, the odds ratio (ORs) and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the moderate impact group were 2.22 and 1.18 to 4.19, respectively. The OR and 95% CI for the substantial or severe impact group were 4.44 and 2.11 to 8.90, respectively. Conclusions Mobile phone call duration was not significantly associated with stress, sleep, cognitive function, or depression, but was associated with the severity of headaches.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.160-172
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• 1989

This research was done to clarify the factors related to sexual satifaction in women who have had a hysterectomy, and to idenify which factors had statistically significant influence of sexual satisfaction of the subjacts. The objective of this study was to identify the variables related to sexual adaptation which might be changed by nursing intervention. This was a cross-sectional descriptive correlation study. There were 230 subjects in the study, and they were selected by a convenient sampling method. The tool. for this study was developed by the researcher through modification of the Dergatis Sexual Function Inventory(DSFI). A pilot study was done to determine the necessary modifications. Data collection was done between Sept. 1987 and Du. 1987 using a mailed questionnaire. The characteristics of the subjects were as follows : The mean age of the subjects was 42.3 years and 204(87.4%) of the subjects had nine or more years of education. The mean income of the subjects was 85.8870 won / month, and 179(77%) of them were housewives. The mean number of pregnancies and children were 4.9 and 2.5 respectively. Oophorectomies were included in the surgery for 66(28.7%) of the subjects. Only 12(5.2%) were planning to have more children. Only 88(38.3%) of the subjects had received information prior to the surgery regarding health problems related to the operation and less than half, 111 (48.3%), had received this kind of information before discharge. Lay persons were the source of information about the post-operation status for 196 (85.2%) of the subjects, but the content of the information did not significantly influence the sexual satisfaction score. Only 16(7.0%) of the subjects said they regretted having a hysterctomy while 102(44.3%) said they were pleased to have had a hysterectomy. Ninety (39.1 %) of the subjects reported that their husbands had “stress” and 164(71.3%) of the subjects reported “stress”. The results of this study are summarized as follows : 1. The mean score for sexual satisfaction of the subjects was 34.24 with a possible maximum score of 50.00. Eighty two(35.8%) were responded that they were satisfied with their sexual life but 61 (26.5%) were responded that they were dissatisfied with their sexual life 2. The following 15 factors extracted from the results of the data analysis were significantly related to sexual satisfaction(p＜.05) ; support of husband, body image, emotion, knowledge of sex, menopausal symptoms, sexual behavior, the feelings the subjects had about the hysterectomy, stress for both subject and husband, the number of children, health information given before operation, job, age, level of education and income. The five most important factors influencing sexual satisfaction were identified by using stepwise multiple regression analysis. The most important factor was support of husband, which explained 17.83% of the total variance. The remaining factors in order of significance were : Knowledge of sex, income, job, and emotional status. Those five factors explained 35.16% of the sexual satisfaction. In conclusion, for the care of women who are going to be discharged from hospital after having had a hysterctomy, nurses have to work with the husbands to help them to understand the importance of their support. Nurses also need to make sure that the subjects have an adequeate knowledge of sexual life after a hysterectomy. Also nursing interventions should focus on subjects who do not have a job, who are of low economic status, and the subjects who are under the unpleasant mood.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.399-407
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• 2012

To evaluate age and gender differences in the relation of cardiovascular risk factors, cognitive impairment, and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis from aged people using by a cross sectional method. Sixty-nine healthy elders living in the community who had not previously undergone carotid ultrasonography were included. We conducted life style surveys, and cognitive function tests including Korean-mini-mental state examination (K-MMSE) and clinical dementia rating-Korean. Various biomarkers from blood were assessed; fasting insulin-like growth factor-1, lipid-profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, total homocysteine, glucose, insulin, Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) for insulin resistance index, vitamin B12, and folate level. Carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT), and plaques were measured using carotid ultrasonography and aortic ultrasonography, a valid index of atherosclerosis. For the elderly subjects (aged 65-82 years), cognition impairment was more prevalent in females while subclinical atherosclerosis was more prevalentin males. Increased C-IMT has been kept in males, and C-IMT shows increasing trend and the peak at about 80 year-old in females with increasing age. The significant correlations between C-IMT and many vascular risk factors including age, triglyceride, abnormal homocysteinein male, and K-MMSE, insulin, HOMA index and abnormal aortic ultrasonography in female were different in each gender, with the exception of homocysteine (p<0.05). This data suggests that there were differences of age and gender characteristics in terms of subclinical atherosclerosis, cognitive impairment and vascular risk factors in community-living elders. Further larger and longitudinal studies across entire age are required to better understand the effects of risk factors on subclinical atherosclerosis.