• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 2013

This study examined the effects of phonetic complexity and articulatory severity on Percentage of Correct Consonant (PCC) and speech intelligibility in adults with dysarthria. Speech samples of thirty-two words from APAC (Assessment of Phonology and Articulation of Children) were collected from 38 dysarthric speakers with one of two different levels of articulatory severities (mild or mild-moderate). A PCC and speech intelligibility score was calculated by the 4 levels of phonetic complexity. Two-way mixed ANOVA analysis revealed: (1) the group with mild severity showed significantly higher PCC and speech intelligibility scores than the mild-moderate articulatory severity group, (2) PCC at the phonetic complexity level 4 was significantly lower than those at the other levels and (3) an interaction effect of articulatory severity and phonetic complexity was observed only on the PCC. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated the degree of correlation between PCC and speech intelligibility varied depending on the level of articulatory severity and phonetic complexity. The clinical implications of the findings were discussed.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine factors that influence overactive bladder (OAB) symptom severity in community residents. Methods: The participants of the study were 115 adults who participated in the health lectures for patients with OAB between March 1 and June 30, 2013. The overactive bladder-questionnaire (OAB-q) was used to assess the OAB symptom severity. Results: The mean score of OAB symptom severity was 35.48 out of 100. Participants showed the highest score of urgency among OAB symptoms. The significant predictors were the monthly income, operation history of urogynecology, and body mass index accounting for 23% of the variance of OAB symptom severity. The OAB symptom severity was higher in subjects who had lower monthly income, urogynecology operation history and higher BMI (>$25kg/m^2$). Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that it should be considered to recommend weight loss as a component of nursing intervention for alleviating OAB symptom severity in overweight OAB patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.102-114
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• 2018

The Railway Safety Management System is based on risk management and the basic purpose of risk management is safety management activities to prevent railway accidents and operational obstacles in advance. In order to manage risk, an acceptable risk standard must be established. This risk criterion is used to evaluate the railway risk with both frequency and severity. In the case of overseas railway or other industrial sectors, various factors are reflected in the main variables that constitute the occurrence frequency, but this is no the case in the domestic railway sector. In particular, the current risk assessment criteria in the railway sector remain at a level that exploits the incidents that have occurred in the past and the severity of the property damage and it dose not properly reflect complex and diverse environmental and situational changes in railway operations. Therefore, in this study, it is possible to calculate the potential occurrence of future events instead of occurrence frequency as a component of the risk assessment criteria, focusing on the High-Speed Railway. In addition to the property damage to the consequence, we suggest a rational methodology, development direction, and theoretical implications for constructing accurate and reasonable risk criteria including actual damage such as human injury and time loss.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2012

Objectives: Asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) have increased globally over the decades, causing an economic burden and increased health care costs. It is difficult to predict the risk of development of ARDs and of respiratory disability among workers with a history of asbestos exposure. Blood based biomarkers have been reported as promising tools for the early detection of malignant mesothelioma. This study investigated whether serum soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) would reflect severity of disablement in compensable ARDs. Methods: SMRP levels were measured in a cohort of 514 asbestos-exposed subjects. Severity of ARDs was assessed by a Medical Authority comprising four specially qualified respiratory physicians. Severity of ARDs and SMRP levels were compared. Results: Mean (standard deviation) serum SMRP level in the population with compensable ARDs (n = 150) was 0.95 (0.65) nmol/L, and was positively associated with disability assessment (p = 0.01). Mean SMRP level in healthy asbestos-exposed subjects was significantly lower than those with pleural plaques (p < 0.0001) and in subjects with ARDs who received compensation (p < 0.01). Conclusion: This study indicates that serum SMRP levels correlate with severity of compensable ARDs. Serum SMRP could potentially be applied to monitor progress of ARDs. Further prospective work is needed to confirm the relationship between SMRP and disability assessment in this population.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.141-145
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• 2013

Objectives: Assessment of dental pain severity is very challenging in dentistry. Previous studies have suggested that elevated salivary alpha amylase may contribute to increased physical stresses. There is a close association between salivary alpha amylase and plasma norepinephrine under stressful physical conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between pain severity and salivary alpha amylase levels in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six patients (20 females and 16 males) with severe tooth pain due to symptomatic irreversible pulpitis were selected. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to assess the pain severity in each patient. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected, and the level of alpha amylase activity was assessed by the spectrophotometric method. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 13. Results: The level of alpha amylase was significantly increased in the saliva in association with pain severity assessed by VAS. The salivary alpha amylase was also elevated with increased age and in males. Conclusions: There was a significant correlation between the VAS pain scale and salivary alpha amylase level, which indicates this biomarker may be a good index for the objective assessment of pain intensity.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.187-189
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• 2020

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a material that generates free radicals through the ionization of air. Despite the application in various medical fields, the efficacy and safety of CAP on post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation due to atopic dermatitis have not been reported. Herein, we report the improvement in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation of atopic dermatitis, after CAP treatment of three sessions weekly, 10 minutes per session. We examined the clinical severity indexes before and after treatment, including the Investigator's Global Assessment, modified Atopic Dermatitis Antecubital Severity, Eczema Area and Severity Index, and pruritus visual analogue scores. Our results indicate that CAP alleviates the post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and clinical severity of atopic dermatitis, and effectively improves the atopic skin lesion without severe safety issues. We believe that the previously reported anti-bacterial effects and production of interleukin-6 after CAP treatment are probably responsible for the underlying mechanisms leading to clinical improvement.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2018

The following research has focused and implemented on designing a system that classifies the severity of mass casualty situations across both normal and disaster levels. The system's algorithm has implemented requirements such as accuracy as well as user convenience. The developed e-Triage System has applied various severity classification algorithms implemented from IoT concepts. In order to overcome flaws of currently used severity classification systems, the e-Triage System used electronic elements including the NFC module. By using the mobile application's severity classification algorithm the system demonstrated quick and accurate assessment of patient. Four different LED lamps visualized the severity classification results and RTS scores were portrayed through FND(Flexible Numeric Display) after a two wave classification.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.370-379
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the mediating effect of depression on the relationship between gambling severity and cognitive distortion in Koreans with a gambling disorder. Methods: Secondary data from a comprehensive assessment of problematic gambling between 2015 and 2017 on Korea Center on Gambling Problems were used. The subjects in this study were 254 Koreans with that gambling disorder. Data were collected with self-report structured questionnaires which included individual characteristics, the Korean version of Problem Gambling Severity Index, the Center for the Epidemiologic Studies Depression, and the Gambling Related Cognitions Scale. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA with the $Scheff{\acute{e}}$ test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and a mediation analysis of the Baron and Kenny method with the SPSS 22.0 program. Results: Significant correlations emerged among the three variables, gambling severity, depression, and cognitive distortion. Depression exerted a partial mediating effect (${\beta}=.20$, p<.001) on the relationship between gambling severity and cognitive distortion (Sobel test: z=2.33, p=.012). Conclusion: Based on this study's findings, nursing intervention programs focused on managing gambling severity and decreasing depression are highly recommended to alleviate cognitive distortion in people with a gambling disorder.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.235-246
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to comprehend the real context of metabolic syndrome-related factors of Korean male blue-collar workers from small-sized companies based on the health belief model. Methods: A total of 37 workers from three companies were interviewed, and three series of focus group interviews were conducted. Data were analyzed using deductive content analysis. Results: Data were classified into four categories: knowledge, perceived susceptibility and severity, perceived barriers, and beliefs. Knowledge referred to low knowledge level; perceived susceptibility and severity referred to unawareness of susceptibility and severity; perceived barriers referred to shift work, overtime work, and a social context including having no choice but to drink; and beliefs referred to believing that health promotion behaviors do not relate to preventing metabolic syndrome, believing that one cannot prevent metabolic syndrome oneself, and believing that professional help is required. Conclusion: To prevent and reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome among Korean male blue-collar workers, interventions should focus on strategies to increase metabolic syndrome-related knowledge and perceptions, social support, and self-efficacy for practicing health behaviors. In addition, it is necessary to develop policies for establishing a healthy drinking culture in companies.

• The Journal of Health Technology Assessment
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.31-41
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• 2017

Objectives: To explore prevalently used types of medication error and the types of medication error which would be appropriate to be used in Korea. Methods: In depth literature review was performed to explore the mostly used types of medication error in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan. We intended to examine experts' view on the suitability of the types of medication error to be used in Korea. The types of medicati0on error were classified by activity criteria, severity criteria, process criteria, and responsible person criteria based on literature reviews. Results: According to the result of literature review, activity criteria was the most commonly used type of medication error. Ten experts in the area of patient-safety and medication error responded and the top two types of medication error which were appropriate and suitable to be used in Korea were severity criteria and activity criteria. Conclusion: Severity criteria and activity criteria could be recommended to be used as the standard types of medication error in Korea although there are other types of criteria such as process criteria and responsible person criteria.