• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2985-2990
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• 2012

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the main malignant tumor of the liver, is very common and highly lethal. The aim of this study was to determine its clinicopathologic characteristics and risk factors in Turkey. Materials and methods: In this study, patients who were diagnosed as suffering from HCC in the period between August 2004 and December 2011 were evaluated retrospectively. Results: A total of 98 patients were included, with a median age 61 (range: 16 to 82). Seventy nine (80.6%) were male 59 (60.2%) were infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 15 (15.3%) with HCV, another 15 (15.3%) being alcohol abusers. Seventy two (73.5%) were at advanced stage and 54 (55.1%) had elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Surgery, chemoembolization, systemic chemotherapy and application of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib were the major treatment options. Conclusions: According to our findings HCC is mostly diagnosed in advanced stage and age, being five times more common in males than females. Main risk factors of HCC are HBV infection, HCV infection and alcohol abuse. Elevation in AFP may facilitate early diagnosis of HCC in high risk groups.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2013

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the patterns of energy drink consumption and associated factors in a group of college students in South Korea. Methods: Cross-sectional, self-report survey data were collected from 231 college students in November of 2012 and were analyzed by logistic regression. Results: Students consuming energy drinks accounted for 81.8% of the entire sample and 40.3% of the sample reported that they mixed with alcoholic drink. The most common reason for drinking an energy drink was "To stay awake", followed by "To relieve fatigue". In logistic regression analysis, statistically significant predictors of energy drink consumption was alcohol drinking behavior. Conclusions: Consumption of energy drinks has been quite common in college students. Awareness of college students regarding potential health effects of energy drinks, in particular, those of mixing alcoholic beverage, should be increased through health education.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.53-61
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• 2013

Voice disorders are most common in female teachers due to work-related vocal demands; however, only a few studies tried to evaluate individual risk factors with work-related risk factors to diagnose voice disorders. This study evaluated sixty-seven female elementary teachers (36 with voice disorders and 31 without voice disorders) to compare their vocal misuse, overuse, and vocal hygiene behaviors. Total Voice Handicap Index scores and VHI subscale (P, E, F) scores were not significantly different between two groups (p>0.05) and there was no relationship between VHI and acoustic measures (p>0.05). Loud talking, talking in noisy situations, and excessive speaking were significantly more frequent in female teachers with voice disorders (p<0.05) and thereby these overuse and misuse behavioral patterns were identified as risk factors to develop voice disorders in female teachers. Also, hydration was the most common behavior for vocal hygiene when experiencing vocal fatigue; however, hydration with hot green tea or coffee and throat clearing were often misused for vocal hygiene. This study found that female teachers from both groups presented higher voice handicap regardless of voice disorders. This study suggests a multidimensional voice assessment protocol is required to reflect voice problems in teachers and a vocal education program may be important to improve vocal hygiene knowledge and behavioral changes in female teachers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.65 no.7
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• pp.1-18
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• 2015

The purpose of this paper is to compare the body types of Korean-Chinese and Han-Chinese women in their 60's dwelling in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture. In addition, a survey was conducted to analyze the social and environmental factors that would decide the body types of these two groups of individuals. 1) The comparison of 74 items in physical measurements between the Korean-chinese and Han-chinese showed differences in 36 items. 2) As for the body measurements of women, difference was found between the Han-Chinese and Korean-Chinese in all height items except bust height, circumference, depth, length, and weight. The values of Korean-Chinese were lower than those of Han-Chinese. 3) Cluster analysis shows that Korean- Chinese women appear thinner in regards to common weight, while Han-Chinese women appear to be thicker in regards to with common thinness. 4) Korean-Chinese women dwelling in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture maintained unique traditional customs and eating habits of Korea and were in constant contact with Korean cultures, which seems to make them care more about body management for health and beauty.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.655-664
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• 2006

This study aims to examine the gender characteristics depending on golfers' criteria of choosing golf-wear and to identify the differences in consumption propensity. The research methodology was through the use of questionnaires, completed by golfers in Gyeongnam. As a result of examining the gender differences in the criteria of choosing golf-wear, it has been found that female golfers give more considerations to suitability to body, care convenience, and functionality than male golfers do when choosing golf-wear. As a result of analyzing the factors regarding the consumption propensity of golf-wear, they are categorized into ostentaion, fashion, aesthetic appreciation and practicality. According to the consumption propensity, male golfers were classified into three groups: ostentatious perfection, practical, common group. Female golfer were classified into three groups: practical, common, ostentatious perfection group. Groups of men golfers showed significant differences in the factors of ostentation, fashion and aesthetic appreciation of the consumption propensity. Groups of women golfers, however, showed significant differences in the factors of ostentation and practicality of the consumption propensity. It is considered that marketers need to develop golf-wear according to the gender characteristics by referring to the fact that choice criteria differ according to gender and consumption propensity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5087-5090
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• 2012

Oral cancer is a common site of head and neck cancer, and is relatively frequent in Northeast Thailand. The objective of this hospital-based, case-control study was to determine associations with risk factors. A total of 104 oral cancer cases diagnosed between July 2010 and April 2011 in 3 hospitals were matched with control subjects by age, sex and hospital. Data were collected by personal interview. There were significant associations between oral cancer and tobacco smoking (OR=4.47; 95%CI=2.00 to 9.99), alcohol use among women (OR=4.16; 95%CI=1.70 to 10.69), and betel chewing (OR=9.01; 95%CI=3.83 to 21.22), and all three showed dose-response effects. Smoking is rare among Thai women (none of the control women were smokers), but betel chewing, especially among older women, is relatively common. We did not find any association between practicing oral sex and oral cancer.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2001

Among the numerous factors contributing to implant failure, the most common are infection, failure of proper healing and overload. These factors may occur combined. Implant fractures are one of the complications resulting from overload. Implant fracture is not a common feature, but once it occurs it causes very unpleasant circumstances for the patient as well as for the practitioner. Only few studies have been reported regarding this subject. Thus, little is known about its solutions. It is important that analyzing reasons for implant fracture and finding appropriate solutions. Factors leading to implant fracture are design, material defects, nonpassive fit of prosthetic framework and biomechanical overload. Previous studies have reported that implant fractures ares associated with marginal bone loss and occur mostly in the posterior regions and that most patients showing parafunctional habits also have implant fracture. Abutment and gold screw loosening or fracture were also observed in some of the cases previous to implant fracture. Similar observations were seen in our hospital as well. The following cases will present implant fracture cases which have been successfully treated regarding function and biomechanics. This was achieved by means of using increased number of futures, increasing fixture diameter and establishing proper occlusion.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.65-88
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• 2011

A new method for the seismic design of plane steel moment resisting frames is developed. This method determines the design base shear of a plane steel frame through modal synthesis and spectrum analysis utilizing different values of the strength reduction (behavior) factor for the modes considered instead of a single common value of that factor for all these modes as it is the case with current seismic codes. The values of these modal strength reduction factors are derived with the aid of a) design equations that provide equivalent linear modal damping ratios for steel moment resisting frames as functions of period, allowable interstorey drift and damage levels and b) the damping reduction factor that modifies elastic acceleration spectra for high levels of damping. Thus, a new performance-based design method is established. The direct dependence of the modal strength reduction factor on desired interstorey drift and damage levels permits the control of deformations without their determination and secures that deformations will not exceed these levels. By means of certain seismic design examples presented herein, it is demonstrated that the use of different values for the strength reduction factor per mode instead of a single common value for all modes, leads to more accurate results in a more rational way than the code-based ones.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.7 no.4 s.32
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• pp.164-176
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• 2006

Conflict may occur during teamwork activities. Conflict is the incompatibility of interest of participants; hence, it is more common in a wide varied activities involved construction field. Goals and values involve positive or negative features and are therefore common sources of conflict in construction field. Excessive conflict is a major hindrance to the effective operation of a team. If the conflict is not managed timely and properly, it could be transformed into a big dispute, thus to avoid these situation, it is necessary to augment working together culture. This paper aims to identify project team working factors and to uncover underlying relationships between these factors. A questionnaire survey was used to collect data from professionals. Factor analysis was employed to categorize twenty-one teamwork items evaluated by 169 respondents working in three major construction parties namely, owners, consultants and contractors. Factor analysis uncover that these team work factors can be grouped under three categories titled as: integrative working culture, relationship building and trust building. Multiple regression analysis however, showed that relationship building factor does not influence job satisfaction of project participants. Results of this study can be used as a tool to strengthening relationship between project participants in the construction industry.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.142-149
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• 2010

In recent years, genome-wide association (GWA) studies have successfully led to many discoveries of genetic variants affecting common complex traits, including height, blood pressure, and diabetes. Although GWA studies have made much progress in finding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with many complex traits, such SNPs have been shown to explain only a very small proportion of the underlying genetic variance of complex traits. This is partly due to that fact that most current GWA studies have relied on single-marker approaches that identify single genetic factors individually and have limitations in considering the joint effects of multiple genetic factors on complex traits. Joint identification of multiple genetic factors would be more powerful and provide a better prediction of complex traits, since it utilizes combined information across variants. Recently, a new statistical method for joint identification of genetic variants for common complex traits via the elastic-net regularization method was proposed. In this study, we applied this joint identification approach to a large-scale GWA dataset (i.e., 8842 samples and 327,872 SNPs) in order to identify genetic variants of obesity for the Korean population. In addition, in order to test for the biological significance of the jointly identified SNPs, gene ontology and pathway enrichment analyses were further conducted.