• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.542-555
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• 1998

This study was conducted to assess the nutrient intake patterns among urban and rural adolescents and to investigate the effects due to parent's socioeconomic status and other factors, such as mother's job, family type and regular exercise on that pattern. 2,455 middle and high school students living in Seoul and Yangpong, Kyounffi-Do participated in a self-administered questionnaire that was used to collect data. The one-day dietary intake was surveyed through a 24-hour recall method. The factors significantly different between urban and rural adolescents according to monthly income, parent's education level, mother's job, family type and exercise. Income, the parents' education level and regular exercise were associated with the patterns of nutrient intakes as a percent of the RDA. So, when adjusted for parental income, the father's and mother's education level and regular exercise, there were no signifcant differences within the patterns of nutritional intake between urban and rural adolescents. The results provided the information regarding the determinants of nutrient status among adolescents and were expected to be helpful for planning school health promotion programs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5309-5314
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer amongst women throughout the world. Currently, there are various follow-up strategies implemented in Iran, which are usually dependent on clinic policies and agreement among the resident oncologists. Purpose: A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed to assess the cost-effectiveness of intensive follow-up versus standard models for early breast cancer patients in Iran. Materials and methods: This cross sectional study was performed with 382 patients each in the intensive and standard groups. Costs were identified and measured from a payer perspective, including direct medical outlay. To assess the effectiveness of the two follow-up models we used a decision tree along with indicators of detection of recurrence and metastasis, calculating expected costs and effectiveness for both cases; in addition, incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were determined. Results: The results of decision tree showed expected case detection rates of 0.137 and 0.018 and expected costs of US$24,494.62 and US$6,859.27, respectively, for the intensive and standard follow-up models. Tornado diagrams revealed the highest sensitivity to cost increases using the intensive follow-up model with an ICER=US$148,196.2. Conclusion: Overall, the results showed that the intensive follow-up method is not cost-effective when compared to the standard model.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Entani and Tanaka (2007) presented a new approach for obtaining interval evaluations suitable for handling uncertain data. Above all, their approach is characterized by the normalization of interval data and thus the elimination of redundant bounds. Further, interval global weights in AHP are derived by using such normalized interval data. In this paper, we present a heuristic method for finding extreme points of interval data, which basically extends the method by Entani and Tanaka (2007), and also helps to obtain normalized interval data. In the second part of this paper, we show that the solutions to the linear program for interval global weights can be obtained by a simple inspection. In the meantime, the absolute dominance proposed by the authors is extended to pairwise dominance which makes it possible to identify at least more dominated alternatives under the same information.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.379-388
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• 2022

Objectives: Throughout history, societies have been impacted by inequality. Many studies have been conducted on the topic more broadly, but only a few have investigated inequalities in out-of-pocket health payments (OHP). This study measures OHP inequality trends among the Iranian households. Methods: This study used data from the Iranian Statistics Center on Iranian household income and expenditures. The analysis included a total of 995 300 households during the 36 years from 1984 to 2019. The Gini coefficient, Atkinson index, and Theil index were calculated for Iranian OHP. Results: Average Iranian household OHP increased from 33 US dollar (USD) in 1984 to 47 USD in 2019. During this 36-year span, the average±standard deviation Gini coefficient for OHP was 0.73±0.04, and the Atkinson and Theil indexes were 0.68±0.05 and 1.14±0.29, respectively. The Gini coefficients for the subcategories of OHP of outpatient diagnostic services, medical assistant accessories, hospital inpatient services, and addiction cessation were 0.70, 0.61, 0.84, and 0.64, respectively. Conclusions: In this study, we scrutinized trends of inequality in the OHP of Iranian households. Inequality in OHP decreased slightly over the past four decades. An analysis of trends among different subgroups revealed that affluent households, such as households with insurance coverage and households in higher income deciles, experienced higher inequality. Therefore, lower inequality in health care expenditures may be related to restricted access to health care services in Iran.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.545-556
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• 2022

Through the examination of literatures, electronic commerce is a subject which is accepted in enterprises to define e-commerce adoption, trends, and issues that are assisting and obstructing its efficacy. E-commerce offers numerous advantages to consumer satisfaction in any place and helps the company to get a competitive benefit over its competitors. The Internet has expanded the scope of business. Many business information is available by the global network that supports information gathering between organizations, businesses and their clients, while various divisions of a business is increasing at an exponential rate. Meanwhile, there are a few barriers to proper e-commerce usage and adoption, such as reliable internet connections, poor e-commerce supporting infrastructures, logistics systems presenting socio-regulatory and poor transportation barriers and demonstrating the significant improvement of e-commerce reliable and affordable Internet provisions, i.e., Internet cost, intensity, and reasonable level of e-readiness. The operational and strategic significance of information-based virtual value chains for all organizations cannot be emphasized. As a consequence, this study confirms worldwide market elements of e-commerce, such as its issues, benefits, relevance, scope, facilitators and projects prospective obstacles in a developing economy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.955-961
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• 2020

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have caused many microbiological incidents in the brewing industry, resulting in severe economic loss. Meanwhile, traditional culturing method for detecting LAB are time-consuming for brewers. The present review introduces LAB as spoilage microbes in daily life, with focus on LAB in the brewing industry, targeting at the spoilage mechanism of LAB in brewing industry including the special metabolisms, the exist of the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state and the hop resistance. At the same time, this review compares the traditional and novel rapid detection methods for these microorganisms which may provide innovative control and detection strategies for preventing alcoholic beverage spoilage, such as improvement of microbiological quality control using advanced culture media or different isothermal amplification methods.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.469-481
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• 2019

Background: As South Korea is becoming an aged society very rapidly, the increase in osteoarthritis prevalence raises various public health issues in this country. This study aimed to explore the socio-demographic factors associated with osteoarthritis in the current Korean elderlies. Methods: Using the National Survey of Korean Elderly data (2014, 2017), we analyzed 20,326 elderlies (males, 8,248; females, 12,078) and conducted multivariate logistic regression analyses by sex. The dependent variable is whether a participant was diagnosed with osteoarthritis or not. Independent variables of interest is socio-demographic factors such as age, marital status, household type, residential area, household income, religion, the longest job, the number of close relatives, the number of close friends, and survey year. Control variables are various health behavioral factors and disease-related factors. Results: Prevalence of osteoarthritis was 19.2% in male elderlies and 47.0% in female elderlies. According to the results of the multivariate logistic regression adjusted for all studied control variables, the odds ratio (OR) for having osteoarthritis of under-elementary school graduates (their counterpart was college graduate group) was 1.81 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29-2.52) in males and 1.67 (95% CI, 1.12-2.47) in females. The OR of those having a job in agriculture & forestry fishery as their longest job (their counterpart was those who had never participated in labor force during their lifetime) was 5.07 (95% CI, 1.46-17.58) in males and 1.49 (95% CI, 1.27-1.74) in females. In males, the second-low quartile group in household yearly income (their counterpart was the highest quartile group) had the OR of 1.22 (95% CI, 0.98-1.53). In females, the OR of those having a religion of Buddhism (their counterpart was those having no religion) was 1.20 (95% CI, 1.07-1.35) and the OR of those who had no relatives (their counterpart was those having more than 3 close relatives) was 1.31 (95% CI, 1.10-1.56). Conclusion: This study found that in Korean elderlies, education, the longest job, household income, religion, and the number of close relatives are associated with their suffering from osteoarthritis. Further study and designing appropriate interventions are needed to alleviate current and future individual and socioeconomic burdens of osteoarthritis in an aged society like South Korea.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.389-409
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• 1999

This study was carried out to identify the differences between nursing needs and levels of satisfaction of postpartum women during the early postpartum period. The goal of this study was to obtain needed to develope the nursing quality for postpartum women. The subjects were 87 postpartum women who had vaginal delivery at 2 general hospital and 2 maternity hospital in the Ulsan City. The period for the data collection was from June 1 to 29, 1999. The data was gathered using an 98 items questionnaire which was a modified version of a questionnaire the developed by Y. J. Chun. Results found are as follows : 1. The general characteristics of the subjects : The majority of subjects were 25-29 yrs. (57.5%), high school and college graduates(96.5%), unemployed(75.9%), middle ranged economics(93.1%), had no religion(43.7%), male baby(52.9%), birth weight 3-3.5Kg(49.4%), wanted pregnancy(96.6%), no abortion history(50.6%), had antenatal care(89.7%), had prenatal education(32.2%), postnatal education(42.5%), intended breast feeding (46.0%), had resonable self confidence about self(20.7%), infant care(36.8%) and nuclear family pattern(82.3%). 2. The level of nursing needs of overall nursing care(3.93) and the levels of satisfaction(3.86) was relatively high. The nursing needs by category of nursing care, the highest need was in the emotional and psychological care(4.09), and the lowest need was in physical need(3.73). The satisfactions by category of nursing care, the highest satisfaction was in emotional and psychological care(4.11) and the lowest satisfaction was in education in self care(3.64). The significant differences between nursing needs and satisfactions were found on education in infant care(p=.005), and education in self care(p=.020). 3. Among items of physical care, 'accurate medication and treatment(4.21)', 'control of postpartum hemorrhage(4.13)', 'pain control and care of episiotomy wound (4.12)' and 'regular observation of postpartum conditions(4.09)' showed high nursing needs. 'Accurate medication and treatment(4.31)', 'regular observation of postpartum condition(4.24)', 'control of postpartum hemorrhage(4.22)' and 'pain control and care of episiotomy wound(4.12)' showed high satisfaction levels. 4. Among items of emotional and psychological care, 'personal treatment(4.32)', kind and faithful care(4.30)', 'detailed explanation on the treatment or nursing care(4.25)', 'adequate draping during the care and treatment(4.23)' and detailed explanation on a doubt(4.13)', showed high nursing needs, 'personal treatment(4.52)', 'kind and faithful care(4.45)', 'detailed explanation on a doubt(4.24)', 'detailed explanation on the treatment or nursing care(4.21)' and 'adequate draping during the care and treatment(4.18)' showed high satisfaction of nursing care. Difference between the level of nursing needs and satisfaction was significant except item of 'early contacts with their baby and breast feeding'. 5. Among items of environmental care, the highest level of need and satisfaction were on the items of 'neat bedding and clothes(4.05, 4.21)' and 'room cleansing or care of room(4.01, 4.28)'. Differences between the level of nursing care and satisfaction were 'room cleansing of care of room'. 6. Among items of educational needs on self care, 'sitz bath method(4.22)', 'high risk symptoms to immediate clinic visits(4.13)', 'the timing of tub bath(4.05)' and 'good secretion of breast milk(4.03)', showed high nursing needs, 'sitz bath method(4.22)' showed high satisfaction of nursing care. Differences between the level of nursing care and satisfaction were 'the timing of hair shampoo', 'the timing of tub bath', ' the method of pad change', 'postpartum exercise', 'good secretion of breast milk', 'maintenance of breast figure', 'contraindicated drugs in postpartum women', 'kegel exercise' and 'breast self examination'. 7. Among items of educational needs on infant care, 'immunization of infants(4.36)', 'symptoms of sickness to immediate clinic visits(4.28)'. 'safety and emergency care(4.28)', 'umbilical care(4.26)', 'feeding times and intervals(4.24)', 'normal growth and development of infant(4.24)' and 'infection control(4.22)', showed high level of nursing care, 'immunization of infants(4.21)', 'feeding times and intervals(4.17)', were high satisfaction items showed significant differences between the level of nursing care and satisfaction. 8. Relationship between nursing needs and levels of satisfaction among postpartum women were as follows : 1) Physical area : There were no significant differences in the level of nursing needs, but satisfaction levels were significantly different among 'working mothers', 'baby's weights', 'baby's sex', 'planning of feeding' and 'routes of receiving postpartum informations'. 2) Emotional and psychological area : The level of nursing needs were significantly different in the area of 'confidence in self care'. Satisfaction levels were significantly different among 'baby's sex', 'baby's weights', 'the confidence of infant care' and 'working mother'. 3) Environment area : There were on significant differences in the level of nursing needs, but satisfaction levels were significantly different among 'maternal age' and 'baby's weights'. 4) Education in self care : The level of nursing needs were significantly different among 'parity history' and 'type of family formation'. Satisfaction levels were significantly different among 'working mother', 'baby's sex', 'antenatal care', 'postpartum education', 'planning of feeding', 'routes of receiving postpartum informations'. 5) Education in infant care area : The level of nursing needs were significantly different among 'parity history'. Satisfaction levels were significantly different among 'baby's sex', 'receiving postpartum education or not' and 'working mother'.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.68-76
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• 2021

Foodborne outbreaks frequently occur worldwide and result in huge economic losses. It is the therefore important to estimate the costs associated with foodborne diseases to minimize the economic damage. At the same time, it is difficult to accurately estimate the economic loss from foodborne disease due to a wide variety of cost components. In Korea, there are a limited number of analytical studies attempting to estimate such costs. In this study we investigated the components of economic cost used in foreign countries to better estimate the cost of foodborne disease in Korea. Seven recent studies investigated the cost components used to estimate the cost of foodborne disease in humans. This study categorized the economic loss into four types of cost: direct costs, indirect costs, food business costs, and government administration costs. The healthcare costs most often included were medical (outpatient) and hospital costs (inpatient). However, these cost components should be selected according to the systems and budgets of medical services by country. For non-healthcare costs, several other studies considered transportation costs to the hospital as an exception to the cost of inpatient care. So, further discussion is needed on whether to consider inpatient care costs. Among the indirect costs, premature mortality, lost productivity, lost leisure time, and lost quality of life/pain, grief and suffering costs were considered, but the opportunity costs for hospital visits were not considered in any of the above studies. As with healthcare costs, government administration costs should also be considered appropriate cost components due to the difference in government budget systems, for example. Our findings will provide fundamental information for economic analysis associated with foodborne diseases to improve food safety policy in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.527-536
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• 2014

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess how nutrient intakes are related to risk factors for metabolic syndrome according to dietary patterns in the middle-aged adults. Methods: The subjects (n = 187; 47 men, 140 women) consisted of middle-aged adults over 30 years old in Ilsan area. The metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the data collected from each subject, including anthropometric measurements and blood analyses. The dietary patterns were derived from the average of two-day dietary intake data. Results: Factor analysis identified three major dietary patterns which were "Meats and alcohol", "Mixed grains, vegetables and fruits", and "Rice, Kimchi and fish & shellfish". The daily intakes of energy, protein, and sodium increased across quartiles of "Meats and alcohol" pattern scores (p < 0.05), whereas the intakes of carbohydrates, potassium, calcium, and fiber increased across quartiles of "Mixed grains, vegetables and fruits" pattern scores (p < 0.001). The "Meats and alcohol" pattern scores were positively correlated with protein and sodium intakes but inversely correlated with carbohydrates, fiber and potassium intakes which were adjusted for age, sex and energy (p < 0.05). The highest quartile pattern score of "Meats and alcohol" pattern had elevated odds ratio of abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome (p < 0.05). The risk of hypertriglyceridemia decreased in the highest quartile of "Mixed grains, vegetables and fruits" pattern (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.12-1.00). Conclusions: Our results suggested that reducing the consumption of meat and alcohol along with increasing fruits, vegetables and mixed grains would be helpful for preventing the metabolic syndrome and chronic diseases.