• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.81-100
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• 2024

Purpose - This study investigates the direct effects of national governance quality on international logistics activities. The results provide practical insights for different stakeholders such as policymakers and offer detailed recommendations for improving national governance quality in projects aimed to enhance cross-border logistics operations. Design/methodology/approach - To test the hypotheses, a multivariate linear regression model using the ordinary least squares estimator is applied to 166 countries covering six periods: 2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. Findings - All national governance indicators have a significant positive influence on the performance of cross-border logistics operations. At the dimensional level, government effectiveness, legal systems, anti-corruption efforts and regulatory quality have a greater impact than democracy and a stable political environment on all dimensions of logistics performance. Research implications or Originality - This study sheds light on how the quality of governance directly affects trading logistics. It advises governments to enhance governance quality and nurture a supportive institutional environment to improve transnational logistics proficiency. It also provides a better understanding of the institutional backgrounds of international logistics companies in target countries before their performance plans.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.283-292
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to assess the community capacity building ability of health promotion workers of public health centers and to identify influential factors to the ability. Methods : The subjects were 43 public officers from 16 public health centers in Busan Metropolitan City. Questionnaire was developed based on 'Community Capacity Building Tool' of Public Health Agency of Canada which consists of 9 feathers. Each feather of capacity was assessed in 4 point rating scale. Univariate analysis by characteristics of subjects and multivariate analysis by multiple regression was done. Results : The mean score of the 9 features were 2.35. Among the 9 feathers, 'Obtaining resources' scored 3.0 point which was the highest but Community structure scored 2.1 which was the lowest. The mean score of the feathers was relatively lower than that of Canadian data. The significant influential factors affecting community capacity building ability were 'Service length', 'Heath promotion skill level', 'Existence of an executive department', and 'Cooperative partnership for health promotion'. According to the result of multiple linear regression, the 'Existence of an executive department' had significant influence. Conclusions : Community capacity building ability of subjects showed relatively lower scores in general. Building and activating an executive department and cooperative partnerships for health promotion may be helpful to achieve community capacity building ability.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.5
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• pp.402-408
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• 2009

Background: Pre-B-cell colony enhancing factor (PBEF) has been suggested as a novel biomarker in sepsis and acute lung injury. We measured the PBEF in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of acute critically ill patients with lung infiltrates in order to evaluate the clinical utility of measuring PBEF in BAL fluid. Methods: BAL fluid was collected by bronchoscope from 185 adult patients with lung infiltrates. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was then performed on the collected fluids to measure the PBEF. Results: Mean patient age was 59.9 ${\pm}$14.5 years and 63.8% of patients were males. The mean concentration of PBEF in BAL fluid was 17.5 ${\pm}$88.3 ng/mL, and patients with more than 9 ng/mL of PBEF concentration (n=26, 14.1%) had higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores on the BAL exam day. However, there were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between survivors and non-survivors. In patients with leukocytosis (n=93) seen on the BAL exam day, the linear regression analysis revealed a significant, positive relationship between PBEF and APACHE II ($r^2$=0.06), SOFA score ($r^2$=0.08), Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score ($r^2$=0.05), and plateau pressure in patients on ventilators ($r^2$=0.07) (p<0.05, respectively). In addition, multivariate regression analysis with PBEF as a dependent variable showed that the plateau pressure ($r^2$=0.177, p<0.05) was correlated positively with PBEF. Conclusion: The PBEF level in the BAL fluid may be a useful, new biomarker for predicting the severity of illness and ventilator-induced lung injury in critically ill patients with lung infiltates and leukocytosis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.237-246
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• 2021

Background: Pembrolizumab, an anti-cancer drug, is known to increase the activity of the immune system, leading to side effects called immune-related adverse events (irAE), including type 1 diabetes. This study analyzed the correlation between blood glucose level and pembrolizumab administration and investigated the covariates that affect those changes in cancer treatment. Methods: The information of 133 adult cancer patients was obtained from the electronic medical record (EMR) to identify the changes in random blood glucose (RBG) levels during the pembrolizumab treatment. Subjects were classified into subgroups according to their baseline RBG level, history of diabetes, and the use of steroids, and linear regression analysis was conducted. In addition, a secondary analysis was performed within the group of subjects having a strong correlation to glycemic change, which was based on the Pearson correlation coefficient being less than -0.7 or greater than +0.7. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to identify the risk factors to glycemic increase. Results: The RBG level tended to descend without significant differences in total patients during the administration period of pembrolizumab. Despite the insignificance, the logistic regression analysis presents that the odds ratios of baseline RBG less than 130 mg/dL, prophylactic steroid use, and higher dose of pembrolizumab per cycle (mg/kg/cycle) were greater than 1. Conclusions: Prophylactic administration of steroids and a higher dose of pembrolizumab per cycle may increase the blood glucose level as irAE in cancer patients with a strong tendency to glycemic change.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.219-224
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• 2019

Background: Korea has shown a rapid pace of aging and has become an aged society in a shorter period than Western countries. Therefore, it is important that middle-aged workers maintain their ability to work in the industrial field at the maximum level while maintaining their health. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting work ability and to use this data to maintain the working ability of middle-aged workers in the future. Methods: From 2015 to 2017, we surveyed 371 street cleaners who visited a health center for health promotion in a metropolitan city. The relationship between the general characteristics of the survey subjects and the Work Ability Index (WAI) was confirmed by a univariate analysis. Statistically significant (p<0.2) factors were selected and a multiple linear regression analysis was conducted with WAI scores as a dependent variable. Results: Age, body mass index, body fat percentage, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Korea (AUDIT-K) scores, the Psychosocial Well-Being Index-Short Form (PWI-SF) scores, maximal oxygen consumption ($VO_{2max}$), and hypertension showed statistically significant correlations with the WAI in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, the $VO_{2max}$, AUDIT-K scores, and PWI-SF scores were included in the regression equation. $VO_{2max}$ had the greatest effect on the standardization coefficient indicating the relative contribution of independent variables, followed by the AUDIT-K scores and the PWI-SF scores. Conclusion: Programs to increase workers' physical work ability and alleviate psychosocial stress and drinking habits should be developed and implemented in the future.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.279-289
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• 2023

Brittleness index (BI) is an important property of rocks because it is a good index to predict rockburst. Due to its importance, several empirical and soft computing (SC) models have been proposed in the literature based on the punch penetration test (PPT) results. These models are very important as there is no clear-cut experimental means for measuring BI asides the PPT which is very costly and time consuming to perform. This study used a novel Multivariate Adaptive regression spline (MARS), M5P, and white-box ANN to predict the BI of rocks using the available data in the literature for an improved BI prediction. The rock density, uniaxial compressive strength (σ_c) and tensile strength (σ_t) were used as the input parameters into the models while the BI was the targeted output. The models were implemented in the MATLAB software. The results of the proposed models were compared with those from existing multilinear regression, linear and nonlinear particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA) based models using similar datasets. The coefficient of determination (R²), adjusted R² (Adj R²), root-mean squared error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) were the indices used for the comparison. The outcomes of the comparison revealed that the proposed ANN and MARS models performed better than the other models with R² and Adj R² values above 0.9 and least error values while the M5P gave similar performance to those of the existing models. Weight partitioning method was also used to examine the percentage contribution of model predictors to the predicted BI and tensile strength was found to have the highest influence on the predicted BI.

• International Journal of Heart Failure
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2024

Background and Objectives: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a form of reversible cardiomyopathy often preceded by mental or physical stressors and predominantly affects elderly women. Several cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. We aimed to investigate the correlation of C-reactive protein (CRP) level with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and clinical outcomes in patients with TTS. Methods: The study included patients with discharge-diagnosis of Takotsubo through 2017-2022 from the cardiology department. Demographic, laboratory, echocardiographic, and clinical outcomes were retrospectively obtained. We investigated the relation between CRP and LVEF, length of stay (LOS), in-hospital complications, and recurrence. Results: A total of 86 patients (93% female, mean age 68.8±12.3 years) were included in the study. The median CRP level was 17.4 (interquartile range [IQR], 6.1-40.1) mg/L, and the mean LVEF was 41.5%, (IQR, 38-50%). Complications occurred in 24 (27.9%) of the patients, and the median LOS was 3 (IQR, 3-5) days. The level of CRP was associated with lower LVEF (r=-0.39, p<0.001), longer hospital stay (r=0.25, p=0.021), and recurrence. There was no correlation between CRP and in-hospital complications. In multivariate logistic regression, poor LVEF was associated with TTS recurrence (odds ratio, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.37; p=0.001). Using linear regression, only CRP was correlated with longer LOS and lower LVEF (p<0.001). Conclusions: Among patients hospitalized with TTS, CRP level was associated with poor LVEF and prolonged hospital stay but not with in-hospital complications. Poor LVEF was also associated with TTS recurrence.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.266-274
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety symptoms. Methods: A total of 52 patients diagnosed with adult ADHD completed self-report assessment scales. The clinical features of ADHD were assessed using the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) and Korean Adult ADHD Rating Scale (K-AARS). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to assess anxiety-related symptoms. Correlation and linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between the diagnostic scales of adult ADHD and anxiety. Results: Higher scores on the ASRS were related to higher scores on the STAI-S (r=0.482) and STAI-T (r=0.573), which assess state anxiety and trait anxiety, respectively. Subscales of inattention (STAI-S, r=0.485; STAI-T, r=0.648), impulsivity (STAI-S, r=0.404; STAI-T, r=0.491), emotional dysregulation (STAI-S, r=0.498; STAI-T, r=0.639), disorganization (STAI-S, r=0.427; STAI-T, r=0.545) on the KAARS, and the subtotal of K-AARS clinical subscales (STAI-S, r=0.517; STAI-T, r=0.540) had significant correlations with both STAI-S and STAI-T scores. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, there were significant associations between ASRS total scores (β=0.299) and STAI-S scores, and between inattention (β=0.297), impulsivity (β=0.560), emotional dysregulation (β=0.393), disorganization (β=0.817), subtotal scores on the K-AARS subscales (β=0.114), and STAI-S scores. The multivariate regression analysis also showed significant associations between ASRS total scores (β=0.409) and STAI-T scores. Associations between K-AARS subscales of inattention (β=0.468), impulsivity (β=0.817), emotional dysregulation (β=0.598), disorganization (β=1.120), subtotal scores on the K-AARS subscales (β=0.134), and STAI-T scores remained significant after adjusting demographic variables. Conclusion: Comprehensive assessment of ADHD symptoms related to anxiety would be important for the evaluation and treatment of anxiety in adult ADHD patients.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.368-378
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• 2020

Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency may cause bone loss and increased inflammation, which are well-known symptoms of periodontal disease. This study investigated whether serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels are associated with periodontal disease status and tooth loss. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 5,405 individuals aged ≥50 years (2,253 males and 3,152 females) were obtained from the 2008-2010 Dong-gu study, a prospective cohort study of risk factors for chronic diseases. Periodontal examinations were conducted to evaluate the number of remaining teeth, the periodontal probing depth (PPD), the clinical attachment level (CAL), and bleeding on probing. The percentages of sites with PPD ≥4 mm and CAL ≥4 mm were recorded for each participant. The severity of periodontitis was classified using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Periodontology case definitions. Serum 25(OH)D levels were classified as reflecting severe deficiency, deficiency, insufficiency, or sufficiency. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to assess the associations of serum 25(OH)D levels with periodontal parameters and the number of remaining teeth after adjusting for confounders including age, smoking status, alcohol consumption status, month of blood collection, and physical activity. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between serum vitamin D levels and severe periodontitis. An overall statistical analysis and a stratified analysis by sex were performed. Results: Overall, the rates of severe deficiency, deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency were 6.5%, 67.9%, 22.4%, and 3.2%, respectively. After adjustment for confounders, vitamin D levels were directly associated with the number of remaining teeth, an association that was significant in males, but not in females. Sufficient serum 25(OH)D was associated with a low frequency of severe periodontitis. Conclusions: This population-based cross-sectional study indicates that low serum 25(OH) D is significantly associated with tooth loss and severe periodontitis in Koreans aged 50 years and older.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.299-310
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• 2021

Glycerol is a non-volatile compound with no aromatic properties that contributes significantly to the quality of wine by providing sweetness and richness of taste. In addition, it is also the third most significant byproduct of alcoholic fermentation in terms of quantity after ethanol and carbon dioxide. In this study, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was employed as a fast non-destructive method in conjugation with multivariate regression analysis to build a model for the quantitative analysis of glycerol concentration in wine samples. The samples were prepared by using three varieties of red wine samples (i.e., Shiraz, Merlot, and Barbaresco) that were adulterated with glycerol in concentration ranges from 0.1 to 15% (v·v^-1), and subjected to analysis together with pure wine samples. A net analyte signal (NAS)-based methodology, called hybrid linear analysis in the literature (HLA/GO), was applied for predicting glycerol concentrations in the collected FT-IR spectral data. Calibration and validation sets were designed to evaluate the performance of the multivariate method. The obtained results exhibited a high coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.987 and a low root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.563% for the calibration set, and a R² of 0.984 and a RMSE of 0.626% for the validation set. Further, the model was validated in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and limits of detection and quantification, and the results confirmed that this model can be used in most applications, as well as for quality assurance.