• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.63-84
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-perceived benefits from singing and the quality of life of older adults aged 75 years and older. A total of 231 older adults participated in this study with 141 of them living alone and 90 of them living with others. Each participant was instructed to complete the investigator-constructed questionnaire and the Quality of Life scale. The questionnaire consisted of 49 items on demographic information, involvement in leisure activities and singing-related experiences, and perceived benefits from singing. The results showed that the amount of involvement in leisure activities and the measured quality of life were found to differ between the two subgroups of older adults living with and without others. The number of older adults who had singing-related experiences was also differed between the groups. A positive correlation was found between the amount of self-perceived benefit from singing and quality of life. These results indicate that self-perceived benefits from singing could be an important factor for the quality of life of older adults. This study supports the potential benefits of incorporating singing as an active leisure activity into interventions for older adults, expanding the research that has been extensively based on listening-based interventions. Also, it presents clinical implications for how singing interventions and programs could be designed and suggested to support this population to better cope with their life issues and enhance the quality of life.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.139-149
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to propose a preliminary norm for 'Korean-Test of Articulation for Children(K-TAC)'. The K-TAC was designed to test 19 Korean consonants in various phonetic contexts through 37 words. We collected the data of 220 normally developing children aged 2;6(years;months) to 6;5. We analyzed the mean percentage of consonants correct and the age of acquisition for K-TAC. The results were as follows: first, The mean percentage was over 60% at late 2 years of age, over 80% at th age of 3, and over 90% after the age of 4. There were significant differences among age groups. Second, based on the criterion of correct production by 75% of children, Korean children acquired stops and nasals except for SF velars, glottal fricative, SF liquid and affricates by late 2 or 3 years of age. After that they acquired SF velars at the age of 4 and SI liquid at the age of 5. However, they could not acquire alveolar fricatives by the age of late 6. Third, if the distorted sounds were scored as correct, they acquired SI liquid at 4 years of age and alveolar fricatives at 5 years of age.

• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.151-171
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to analyze middle-aged female householders' reasons behind becoming female householders, process of adapting to female householders' life, and experiences in preparation for old age using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. The participants were 9 middle-aged women (aged from 40-59) having professions. We interviewed each participants twice, for 60 to 90 minutes at a time from September to December of 2014. The result of this study showed following 6 emergent themes: , , , , and . Regarding the result we suggest the necessity of political support such as providing information and education for female householders' successful old age.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.35
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• pp.38.1-38.10
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• 2023

Background: Hearing loss (HL) is linked to an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The pathogeneses of HL and CVD commonly involve inflammatory responses. Previous studies investigated elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers in subjects with HL, however, their findings did not demonstrate statistical significance. In our cross-sectional and longitudinal study, we investigated the correlation between HL and increased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels to determine how HL is associated with CVDs. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with workers aged over 18 years who underwent health check-ups at our institution between 2012 and 2018 (n = 566,507), followed by conducting a longitudinal study of workers aged > 18 who underwent health checkups at least twice at our institution between 2012 and 2018 (n = 173,794). The definition of HL was as an average threshold of ≥ 20 dB in pure-tone air conduction at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 kHz in both ears. The incidence of increased hsCRP levels throughout the follow-up period was defined as a level exceeding 3 mg/L. Logistic regression and generalized estimating equations were performed to estimate the risk of increased hsCRP levels according to the occurrence of HL in groups stratified by age. Results: In the cross-sectional study, the multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.34); the OR was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.80-1.22) in those under 40 and 1.28 (1.08-1.53) in those over 40. In the longitudinal study, the multivariable-adjusted OR was 1.05 (95% CI: 0.92-1.19); the OR was 1.10 (95% CI: 0.90-1.35) in those under 40 and 1.20 (1.01-1.43) in those over 40. Conclusions: This cross-sectional and longitudinal study identified an association between HL and increased hsCRP levels in workers aged over 40 years.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2003

Three different types of chitosan were prepared from red crab shells to study anti-microbial activity of chitosan on pathogenic bacteria, MRSA(Methicillin-resistant. Staphylococcus aureus), Water-insoluble chitosan, whose degree of deacetylation is kept over 90% and molecular weights are 20,000, 500,000, 150,000, 80,000, and 40,000, respectively. Water-soluble chitosan, whose degree of deacetylation is about 48% and molecular weights are 200,000 and 80,000. Water-soluble chitosan, whose degree of deacetylation is 82% and molecular weight is 3,900. The anti-microbial activities of three types of chitosan were investigated by Tube Dilution Technique(TDT) and Agar Plate Smear Method(APSM). And the following conclusions are made ; Chitosan having 5 different types of M.W chitosan (over 90% deacetylation) showed similar anti-microbial activities at over 0.05% concentration. Especially, chitosan having M.W 40,000 150,000 showed the excellent anti-microbial activity. The anti-microbial activity of chitosan was enhanced when the chitosan/acetic add solution was aged for 7days. The anti-microbial activity of chitosan was only shown at chitosan/acetic acid solution. The anti-microbial activity was not detected in chitosan solution dissolved in neutral pH water. Therefore, it can be concluded that the anti-microbial activity was due to NH3+ cationic ion of chitosan in acidic aqueous solution.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2016

Background: This study examined patient and hospital factors related to long-stay admissions in long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) among older people in Korea. Methods: We analyzed health insurance claims data, entitlement data, and institutional administrative data from the National Health Insurance Service databases between 2010 and 2012. At the patient level, we compared characteristics of patients staying in LTCHs for over 180 days (the long-stay group) with those staying in LTCHs for less than 90 days during a calendar year. At the hospital level, we examined the general characteristics and staffing levels of the top 10% of hospitals with the highest proportion of patients whose length of stay (LOS) was 180+ days (the hospitals with long-stay patients) and compared them with the top 10% of hospitals with the highest proportions of patients whose LOS was less than 90 days (hospitals with shorter-stay patients). Results: The long-stay group accounted for about 40% of all LTCH patients. People in the group were more likely to be women, aged 80+, living alone, and experiencing more than two health conditions. Compared to the hospitals with shorter-stay patients, those with long-stay patients were more likely to be occupied by patients with behavior problems and/or impaired cognition, owned by corporate or local governments, have more beds and a longer period of operation, and deliver services with lower staffing levels. Conclusion: This study found long-stay older people in LTCHs and those in LTCHs with high proportions of long-stay older patients had several distinct characteristics compared to their counterparts designated in this study. Patient and hospital characteristics need to be considered in policies aiming to resolve long-stay admissions problems in LTCHs.

• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
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• v.36 no.1 s.67
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• pp.155-166
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• 2005

Since 1980's, fishery household population have been continuously in a down slope with a 5$\%$ annual decreasing rate in Korea. With a particular situation that the scale of over 60s population has been soaring compared with that of under 16 aged population plunging, some difficulties have been raised with the respect of labor supply into fishery communities. This study is aimed at analyzing the tendency of fisheries population with the change of economic development rates and prospect a future fisheries population with the consideration of present decreasing rate. Model results indicate that the tendency of future fishery household population would be decreased by 4.96$\%$ annually through a decade from 2000. Interestingly, it is predicted that the decreasing rate of male fishery household population would be faster than that of female. Consequently, women would hold a greater part in Fishery household population in 2010. In addition, the fishery household population of 40s and 50s would increase from 36$\%$ to 49$\%$, that of over 60s from 21$\%$ to 37$\%$. In conclusion, as a population over 40's encompass almost 90$\%$ in the total population, the fishing communities have a difficulty in shortage of the young workforce.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.249-259
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the foot-reflexology massage on sleep, depression and constipation in community-dwelling elders. Methods: A nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was conducted. Participants were 46 old adults, aged >65 years who were recruited from two senior welfare centers in D metropolitan city (experimental group=24, control group=22). The intervention was conducted in 10 sessions over 2 weeks, taking 20 min per session. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2-test$, independent t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient with the SPSS 22.0 Windows program. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvements in sleep (t=-5.60, p<.001), depression (t=3.93, p<.001), and constipation (t=4.90, p<.001) after 2 weeks of the foot-reflexology massage. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the foot-reflexology massage is an effective intervention program for improving sleep, depression and constipation of old adults.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.311-327
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• 2009

This study was performed to determine the health and nutritional risk factors associated with hypertension in Koreans over the age of 50 in a high-income class (more than twice as much family income as the 2005 Korean minimum cost of living, 668,540 Won). A total of 505 subjects aged over 50 from the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were divided into two groups: A hypertension group (HG) (N=151, Systolic Blood Pressure ${\geq}$140 mmHg or Diastolic Blood Pressure ${\geq}$90 mmHg) and normal group (NG) (N=354). Subjects who took hypertension medicines or underwent diet therapy were excluded. In HG, mean daily alcohol intake and the amount of alcohol consumption per one occasion were significantly higher than in NG, respectively. A greater number of hypertension subjects answered that they drank alcohol to reduce stress as compared to normal subjects. HG also took fewer dietary supplements than NG. Mean body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, fasting blood sugar level, and 2 hour postprandial blood sugar following a glucose load were significantly higher in HG than in NG, respectively. Also, iron, thiamin, and niacin intakes and the consumption frequency of seaweeds were significantly lower in HG than in NG, respectively. Finally, obesity (BMI ${\geq}$25 $kg/m^2$), abdominal obesity (waist circumference ${\geq}$90 cm for males, ${\geq}$ 80 cm for females), high blood sugar level 2 hours after an oral glucose load (${\geq}$140~200 mg/dl), and hypertriglyceridemia (serum TG ${\geq}$200 mg/dl) were related to a significantly higher risk of hypertension in the subjects (odds ratio: 1.884~3.040). In conclusion, dietary factors such as higher alcohol consumption; lower intakes of iron, thiamin, and niacin; lower consumption frequency of seaweeds; and metabolic syndrome were associated with hypertension in the study subjects.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.427-446
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• 2018

Korea will have a super-aged society within only 30 years according to the United Nations' definition of an aging society and the statistics on Korea's Population projections (2016), indicates that Korea has the fastest ageing speed in the world. There is a lack of data on long-term time-series data on death as related to pension and welfare policies compared to the rapid rate of aging. This paper estimates life expectancy over 245 years (from 1955 to 2200) through past and future forecasts as well as compares the expected life expectancy of the synthetic cohort and the real cohort. In addition, an international comparisons were made to understand the level of aging in Korea. Estimates of the back-projection period were compared with previous studies and the LC model to improve accuracy and objectivity. In addition, the predictions after 2016 reflected the declined mortality rate effect of Korea using the LC-ER model. The results showed an increase in life expectancy of about 30 years over 60 years (1955-2015) with an expected life expectancy of the real cohort over the second century (1955-2155) higher than the synthetic cohort. The comparative advantage of life expectancy of real cohorts was confirmed to be a common trend among comparative countries. In addition, Japan and Korea have a higher life expectancy and starting from 85 to 90 years old, all comparative countries show that the growth rate for the life expectancy of synthetic and real cohorts is less than previous years.