• Title/Summary/Keyword: Mixed Methods Research

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Mortality Burden Due to Short-term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter in Korea

  • Jongmin Oh;Youn-Hee Lim;Changwoo Han;Dong-Wook Lee;Jisun Myung;Yun-Chul Hong;Soontae Kim;Hyun-Joo Bae
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.57 no.2
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    • pp.185-196
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    • 2024
  • Objectives: Excess mortality associated with long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been documented. However, research on the disease burden following short-term exposure is scarce. We investigated the cause-specific mortality burden of short-term exposure to PM2.5 by considering the potential non-linear concentration-response relationship in Korea. Methods: Daily cause-specific mortality rates and PM2.5 exposure levels from 2010 to 2019 were collected for 8 Korean cities and 9 provinces. A generalized additive mixed model was employed to estimate the non-linear relationship between PM2.5 exposure and cause-specific mortality levels. We assumed no detrimental health effects of PM2.5 concentrations below 15 ㎍/m3. Overall deaths attributable to short-term PM2.5 exposure were estimated by summing the daily numbers of excess deaths associated with ambient PM2.5 exposure. Results: Of the 2 749 704 recorded deaths, 2 453 686 (89.2%) were non-accidental, 591 267 (21.5%) were cardiovascular, and 141 066 (5.1%) were respiratory in nature. A non-linear relationship was observed between all-cause mortality and exposure to PM2.5 at lag0, whereas linear associations were evident for cause-specific mortalities. Overall, 10 814 all-cause, 7855 non-accidental, 1642 cardiovascular, and 708 respiratory deaths were attributed to short-term exposure to PM2.5. The estimated number of all-cause excess deaths due to short-term PM2.5 exposure in 2019 was 1039 (95% confidence interval, 604 to 1472). Conclusions: Our findings indicate an association between short-term PM2.5 exposure and various mortality rates (all-cause, non-accidental, cardiovascular, and respiratory) in Korea over the period from 2010 to 2019. Consequently, action plans should be developed to reduce deaths attributable to short-term exposure to PM2.5.

The Influence of Adjuvants on Herbicide Activity of Streptomyces scopuliridis KR-001 (토양 방선균 Streptomyces scopuliridis KR-001 균주 배양액의 살초활성을 증가시키는 Adjuvant 탐색)

  • Kim, Jae Deok;Sin, Hoon Tak;Kim, Young Sook;Ko, Young Kwan;Cho, Nam Kyu;Hwang, Ki Hwan;Koo, Suk Jin;Choi, Jung Sup;Park, Kee Woong
    • Weed & Turfgrass Science
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    • v.4 no.4
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    • pp.288-294
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    • 2015
  • This study was conducted to investigate efficient adjuvants to increase herbicidal efficacy of metabolites from Streptpmyces scopuliridis KR-001. Commonly used 21 adjuvants mixed with the metabolites were applied to eight weed species (six grass weeds and two broadleaved weeds). Based on the visual evaluation, two adjuvants, LE7 (Polyoxyethylene lauryl ether) and EP4C (Sodium bis (2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate), were selected as most efficient adjuvants to elevate herbicidal efficacy of the metabolites. Higher efficacy in the LE7 and EP4C was obtained when overall spray volume was $2,000L\;ha^{-1}(65{\mu}g\;a.i.\;ml^{-1})$ than $1,000L\;ha^{-1}(130{\mu}g\;a.i.\;ml^{-1})$. Field study demonstrated that $1,300{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$ of metabolites from KR-001 applied with EP4C at concentration of $2{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$ provided a highly effective post-emergence weed control which was almost equivalent to the glufosinate-ammonium at $540g\;a.i.\;ha^{-1}$. On the basis of these results, combination and multiple application methods could be developed to enhance herbicidal efficacy of metabolites from KR-001.

Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization Combined with Interferon-α is Safe and Effective for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Curative Resection

  • Zuo, Chaohui;Xia, Man;Liu, Jingshi;Qiu, Xiaoxin;Lei, Xiong;Xu, Ruocai;Liu, Hanchun;Li, Jianliang;Li, Yongguo;Li, Qinglong;Xiao, Hua;Hong, Yuan;Wang, Xiaohong;Zhu, Haizhen;Wu, Qunfeng;Burns, Michael;Liu, Chen
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.245-251
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    • 2015
  • Objectives: Intrahepatic recurrence is the major cause of death among patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative surgical resection. Several approaches have been reported to decrease the recurrence rate. The objective of our study was to compare the clinical effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with interferon-alpha (IFN-${\alpha}$) therapy on recurrence after hepatic resection in patients with HBV-related HCC with that of TACE chemotherapy alone. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data from 228 patients who were diagnosed with HBV-related HCC and underwent curative resection between January 2001 to December 2008. The patients were divided into TACE (n = 126) and TACE-IFN-${\alpha}$ (n = 102) groups for postoperative chemotherapy. The TACE regimen consisted of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), cisplatin (DDP), and the emulsion mixed with mitomycin C (MMC) and lipiodol. The recurrence rates, disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and risk of recurrence were evaluated. Results: The clinicopathological parameters and adverse effects were similar between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). The median OS for the TACE-IFN-${\alpha}$ group (36.3 months) was significantly longer than that of the TACE group (24.5 months, P < 0.05). The 3-and 5-year OS for the TACE-IFN-${\alpha}$ group were significantly longer than those of the TACE group (P < 0.05) and the recurrence rate was significantly lower (P < 0.05). The TACE and IFN-${\alpha}$ combination therapy, active hepatitis HBV infection, the number of tumor nodules, microvascular invasion, liver cirrhosis, and the BCLC stage were independent predictors of OS and DFS. Conclusions: The use of the TACE and IFN-${\alpha}$ combination chemotherapy after curative hepatic resection safely and effectively improves OS and decreases recurrence in patients with HBV-related HCC who are at high risk. Our findings can serve as a guide for the selection of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with HBV-related HCC who are at high risk of recurrence.

Does Home Oxygen Therapy Slow Down the Progression of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases?

  • Han, Kyu-Tae;Kim, Sun Jung;Park, Eun-Cheol;Yoo, Ki-Bong;Kwon, Jeoung A;Kim, Tae Hyun
    • Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.128-135
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    • 2015
  • Purpose: As the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) began to cover home oxygen therapy (HOT) services from 2006, it is expected that the new services have contributed to overall positive outcome of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We examined whether the usage of HOT has helped slow down the progression of COPD. Methods: We examined hospital claim data (N=10,798) of COPD inpatients who were treated in 2007~2012. We performed ${\chi}^2$ tests to analyze the differences in the changes to respiratory impairment grades. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors that are associated with the use of HOT. Finally, a generalized linear mixed model was used to examine association between the HOT treatment and changes to respiratory impairment grades. Results: A total of 2,490 patients had grade 1 respiratory impairment, and patients with grades 2 or 3 totaled 8,308. The OR for use of HOT was lower in grade 3 patients than others (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30~0.37). The maintenance/mitigation in all grades, those who used HOT had a higher OR than non-users (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.23~1.61). Conclusion: HOT was effective in maintaining or mitigating the respiratory impairment in COPD patients.

Integrated Study on the Factors Influencing Sustainable Innovation Cluster of Pangyo Techno Valley (판교테크노벨리의 지속가능한 혁신 클러스터 영향요인에 관한 통합연구)

  • Park, Jeong Sun;Park, Sang Hyeok;Hong, Sung Sin
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.71-94
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    • 2020
  • Korea's innovation cluster policy has been implemented since 2005 with the goal of balanced regional development. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting the sustainability of innovative cluster tenants by using Pangyo Techno Valley as an example. Pangyo Techno Valley was established under the leadership of the local government (Gyeonggi-do) rather than the central government and it is called "Silicon Valley of Korea" and "Asia Silicon Valley" and is becoming more representative. The growing number of companies in Pangyo Techno Valley decreased in 2017 compared to 2016. This is because Pangyo Techno Valley's business ecosystem will change from 2019. In this paper, quantitative and qualitative studies were conducted to investigate the influencing factors. Quantitative research was conducted based on the survey and qualitative research was applied through interviews. The quantitative research examined the factors affecting the sustainability of Pangyo Techno Valley, and the qualitative research examined the specific reasons and additional factors for the quantitative research results. The quantitative results showed that factors affecting sustainability in terms of changes in corporate internal conditions, human and physical infrastructure, cooperation and synergy, and occupancy patterns. The specific reason for the impact appeared in the qualitative research process. The support category of local governments did not show any significant factors in quantitative research. In addition, qualitative research suggested 'Good image of Pangyo Techno Valley' as the category that has the greatest impact on sustainability. It is shown that companies are passive and expect the role of local governments in activating cooperation network in Pangyo Techno Valley. In this paper, based on the results of the study, Pangyo Techno Valley is presented with a realistic plan based on real estate issues and an ideal plan with a long-term perspective.

Analyses of the Studies on Cancer-Related Quality of Life Published in Korea (암 환자 삶의 질에 대한 국내 연구논문 분석)

  • Lee Eun-Hyun;Park Hee Boong;Kim Myung Wook;Kang Sunghee;Lee Hye-Jin;Lee Won-Hee;Chun Mison
    • Radiation Oncology Journal
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.359-366
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    • 2002
  • Purpose : The purpose of the present study was to analyze and evaluate prior studies published in Korea on the cancer-related quality of life, in order to make recommendations for further research. Materials and Methods : A total of 31 studies were selected from three different databases. The selected studies were analyzed according to 11 criteria, such as site of cancer, domain, independent variable, research design, self/proxy rating, single/battery instrument, translation/back translation, reliability, validity, scoring, and findings. Results : Of the 31 studies, approximately half of them were conducted using a mixed cancer group of patients. Many of the studies asserted that the concept of quality of life had a multidimensional attribute. Approximately 30% were longitudinal design studies giving information about the changes in quality of life. In all studies, except one, patients directly rated their level of quality of life. With respect to the questionnaires used for measuring the quality of life, most studies did not consider whether or not their reliability and validity had been established. In addition, when using questionnaires developed in other languages, no studies employed a translation/ back-translation technique. All studies used sum or total scoring methods when calculating the level of quality of life. The types of variables tested for their influence on qualify of life were quite limited. Conclusion : It is recommended that longitudinal design studies be peformed, using methods of data collection whose validity and reliability has been confirmed, and that studies be conducted to identify new variables having an influence on the quality of life.

An Exploratory Study on Fashion Retail Borrowing in Korea (대우한국시상령수차대적연구(对于韩国时尚零售借贷的研究))

  • Lee, Mi-Young;Kim, K.P. Johnson
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.70-79
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    • 2010
  • There has been some research conducted that addressed immoral consumer behaviors in Korea; however, most of this research focused on purchasing counterfeits or shoplifting. High return rates of apparel and used apparel returns have been acknowledged as problem areas within the fashion industry. However, very few researchers have addressed this issue. Therefore, the goal of this research was to explore consumer's retail borrowing experience using a mixed methods approach. In study 1 Korean consumer's retail borrowing experiences was explored through focus group interviews. Findings informed study 2 an examination of apparel consumers' attitudes toward retail borrowing behavior via an online survey. Findings assist both researchers' and practitioners' understanding of retail borrowing behaviors and provide insight into retail borrowing issues in the apparel retail industry. For study 1, five focus-group interviews were conducted with seven panels of individuals that had retail borrowing experience within the past year. Thirty-five Korean consumers who lived in a metropolitan area participated in the focus group interviews. Most of consumers were in their 20's (n=21) and were women (n=24). Most participants purchased apparel items from a retail store and returned the worn items for either a full refund or exchanged the worn item for another item. Motives underlying retail borrowing behavior included social needs, job-related needs, fashion needs, and "smart shopping." Similar to existing research findings from other countries, social needs were the most frequently mentioned cause of retail borrowing in fashion stores. Consumers' moral values, attitude toward large corporations, and prior retail borrowing experience were mentioned as possible factors affecting consumers' retail borrowing behavior. For study 2, the questionnaire used to gather the data was developed based on the findings of part I and existing research. Questions concerning consumers' moral beliefs, sensation seeking tendencies, self-worth, past retail job experience, retail borrowing experience, and some demographic characteristics were included in the questionnaire. The data were collected via an online survey using an online panel provided by a commercial online research company located in Seoul, Korea. In order to obtain various consumers, a quota sample was (male: female=1:1, 20's:30's:40's=1:1:1, retail experience: no retail experience=1:3) obtained from the company. A total of 401 consumers who had shopped for apparel items during the prior 6 months participated in the online survey. The results indicated that 19.7% of the respondents reported they had experience borrowing fashion merchandise. Among these individuals, male borrowers (57%) outnumbered female borrowers. In terms of age distribution, x2 revealed that there was a statistical difference between respondents with and without retail borrowing experiences: 41.8% of the respondents with retail borrowing experience were in their 40's, while respondents without retail borrowing experience were evenly distributed between their 20's to 40's. There was also a significant difference between respondents with and without retail borrowing experience in terms of income: respondents with retail borrowing experience tended to have higher incomes than those without retail borrowing experience. T-tests were performed to compare respondents' fashion shopping behavior, moral beliefs, sensation-seeking tendencies, and attitudes toward retail borrowing behavior between participants with and without retail borrowing experience. As compared to those with no borrowing experience, respondents with experience tended to shop for fashion items more frequently and spent more on shopping for fashion items. Consumers with experience borrowing tended to have higher sensation-seeking tendencies than consumers without retail borrowing experience. A regression analysis revealed that attitudes toward fashion retail borrowing were negatively related to consumers' moral beliefs, but positively related to monthly fashion shopping frequency, sensation-seeking tendencies, and past fashion retail borrowing experience. Among these variables, past retail borrowing experience was the most significant predictor, followed by moral beliefs. This research serves as an initial attempt to address the motives that underlie retail borrowing behaviors and the factors affecting those behaviors. The findings of this study may facilitate an understanding of the consumer's retail borrowing, which will provide a basis for approaches that may help decrease retail borrowing and inappropriate returns at fashion retail stores. The findings may also provide materials for consumer education over the long term. In order to better understand fashion retail borrowing behavior, more research is needed in the future.

Literary Investigation and Traditional Food Cooking Methods for the Development of a Breakfast Food Substitutefood I (Analysis of Mieum, Misu, and Goeum During $1400's{\sim}1945's$) (아침대체 편의식 개발을 위한 전통음식의 조리방법과 문헌고찰 I(1400년대${\sim}$1945년대 고 조리서 속 미음과 미수, 고음류 분석))

  • Bok, Hye-Ja
    • Korean journal of food and cookery science
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    • v.23 no.6
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    • pp.987-1002
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    • 2007
  • This study examined Tthe cooking methods foroftraditional foods called such as Mieum, Misu, and Goeum from the from investigation of old cook books and ancient literatureis as follows. There We found were 7 types of Mieum that were cooked by mixing rice and cereals, while 3 types of Mieum were cooked by mixing cereals and herbal medicines to with thenuts. The Mieums that were cooked by mixing meat, fish, and shellfish, etc. to the herbal medicine ingredients like such as medical plants, etc were consisted of 8 types. Therefore, a total of 18 types of Mieum, Misu, and Goeum, etc were have been classified. Among the cooking methods of for Mieum, rice and grains were boiled for an extended longtime and filtered with a sieve to be used as the juicebroth. The Job's tears and millet, etc were mixed into water, or boiled after being made into a powder, soaked into water, and dried. The herbal medicine ingredients such as ginseng were boiled for an extended long time, and once the ingredients are were flown out cooked down, it the broth was filtered with asieve to be used the as a liquid extract. The meat, bone, and shellfish, etc were also boiled for a longn extended time, filtered with a sieve, and made into a juice broth to be used as a drinks from on occasion time to time. These drinks, called Mieum, Misu, and Goeum above, were healthy foods our ancestors used to enjoy for enjoyment drinking, and were also food for remedyies and sources of nutritionon. As Since the meal replacement foods to that replace meals that can be eaten right away while working and studying are needed, due to is required within the our busy schedules of in modern peoplesociety, thise literary investigation and the cooking methods for of Mieum, Misu, and Goeum, which that used to be are our traditional foods, can be are used as a basic research material for the development of convenient breakfast to meal replacements breakfast.

Combination Gene Therapy of Herpes Simplex Virus Thymidine Kinase and Cytokines in Lung Cancer (폐암에서의 Herpes Simplex Virus Thymidine Kinase 유전자 치료와 Cytokine 유전자 치료의 복합요법)

  • Kim, Gye-Su;Park, Kyung-Ho;Seal, Ja-Young;Yoo, Chul-Gyu;Lee, Choon-Taek;Kim, Young-Whan;Han, Sung-Koo;Shim, Young-Sao
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.51 no.2
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    • pp.135-146
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    • 2001
  • Background : One of the important mechanisms responsible for a tumor escaping the immune response is an absence of the tumor associated antigen (TAA) on the cancer cell surface. To overcome this, combination gene therapy using a herpes simplex thymidine kinase (HSTK) gene, prototype of drug sensitizing gene, was conducted to enhance T AA release by cell destruction, as well as the cytokine genes for immune cell attraction. Methods : We investigated whether or not transduction with the adenovirus-HSTK (Ad-HSTK) enhanced the sensitivity of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) to ganciclovir (GCV) and induced a bystander effect. A Tumor vaccine trial was performed using LLC with ad-HSTK$\pm$ad-GM-CSF$\pm$ad-IL-2 to determine if they exhibit some antitumor effect on established lung cancer xenografts. Results : LLC with ad-HSTK revealed a much higher sensitivity to ganciclovir (GCV). LLC transduced with ad-HSTK and/or ad-IL-2, ad-GM-CSF showed a lower in vivo tumorigenicity. In the treatment experiment, vaccination with LLC transduced with ad-HSTK, ad-IL-2, or ad-GM-CSF alone modestly suppressed the growth of an established tumor. Combined transduction with HSTK and GM-CSF induced stronger growth suppression of a established lung cancer, while HSTK and IL-2 combination transduction did not have any antitumor effect on individual transduction. Vaccination with LLC-HSTK-GM-CSF increased the infiltration of dendritic cells in the spleen. Conclusion : It was concluded that a tumor vaccine transduced with HSTK and GM-CSF induces strong antitumor immunity by activating the dendritic cells.

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Effects of Feeding Systems on Feed Intake, Weight Gain and Fawn Performance in Elk Doe(Cervus canadensis) (사양 방식이 엘크 암사슴의 건물섭취량, 증체량 및 자록의 번식성적에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Jinwook;Lee, Sung-Soo;Lee, Sang-Hoon;Choi, Bong-Hwan;Jeon, Dayeon;Kim, Chan-Lan;Kim, Dong-Kyo;Lee, Eun-Do;Kim, Kwan-Woo
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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    • v.41 no.4
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    • pp.250-258
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    • 2021
  • This study was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding systems on feed intake, weight gain, and fawn performance (Cervus canadensis) and estimation of grazing intensity in Elk doe at pasture. A sixteen Elk doe about 236.2 kg were randomly assigned to two feeding treatments. The treatment consisted of a barn feeding system (BF) and grazing at pasture (GR), and pasture was mainly composed of tall fescue, orchard grass, and Kentucky bluegrass. The moisture content of pasture was 19.51~22.61%, which was similar during experimental periods. The crude protein content was significantly higher from June to July (p<0.05). The contents of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber ranged 53.65~60.18%, and 26.08~29.10%, respectively. There were no significant differences between feeding systems on supplementary feed intake, but the roughage and total dry matter intake showed significant differences between treatment groups (p<0.05), except for May. In August, roughage intake was dramatically decreased in the GR group due to summer environmental changes. On the other hand, the higher intake of roughage in September might be related to nutrient intake for mammals. There was no difference in body weight between treatment groups, but the fawn performance was significantly higher in the GR group (p<0.05). These results might be suggested that grazing elk doe might positively affect fawn growth. However, it is considered that BF might increase the deer weaning rate during the parturition period, since the lower weaning rate in the GR group compared to the BF group. The grazing intensity of Elk doe was increased from May to July and decreased in August, which was influenced by pasture productivity. The average grazing intensity of Elk doe was found to be 15 heads/ha, which might be controlled by supplementary feeding. Further studies needed that mixed sowing methods and fertilization management in old grazing pastures for improved pasture productivity.