• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.198-203
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: We sought to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of measurable parameters of internal auditory canal (IAC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). Subjects and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the patients with ISSNHL who underwent IAC MRI from January 2008 to March 2019. Measurable parameters of IAC MRI, such as the diameter of the IAC, bony cochlear nerve canal, and cross-sectional area of the cochlear nerve, were measured by a single examiner. These parameters were then compared between the affected and healthy sides. Inner-ear abnormalities such as intralabyrinthine hemorrhage or labyrinthitis were also evaluated. The relationship between the surveyed parameters and the diagnosis of ISSNHL was assessed. Results: A total of 208 patients with ISSNHL were included. The measured parameters of IAC MRI were not different between the affected and healthy sides and were also not associated with the diagnosis of ISSNHL. However, inner-ear abnormalities of IAC MRI in ISSNHL displayed a significant association with worse hearing before and after treatment. An age that was older than 40 years also correlated with poorer outcomes. Further, inner-ear abnormalities were more frequently detected when IAC MRI was performed early after ISSNHL onset. Conclusions: Patients with ISSNHL and inner ear abnormalities such as intralabyrinthine hemorrhage or labyrinthitis identified via IAC MRI may experience poorer hearing outcomes. To detect such abnormal findings, it is recommended to perform IAC MRI early after the onset of ISSNHL.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.175-185
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• 2021

Purpose: Influenza immunization among health personnel is of particular importance given their elevated risk of influenza infection, role in transmission and influence on patients' immunization status. The purpose of this study is to identify factors associated with the influenza vaccination intention among health personnel based on the theory of planned behavior. Methods: The research was a cross-sectional, descriptive design using questionnaires. The participants were 131 health personnel in five general hospitals in two cities in South Korea. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA and multiple regression with the SPSS 26.0 program. Results: There were statistically significant differences in influenza vaccination intention according to the high-risk group in the family, occupation, length of employment, and influenza vaccination status within a year. The influenza vaccination intention of these health personnel showed significant positive correlations with attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control towards influenza vaccination. Multiple regression analysis for influenza vaccination intention revealed that the significant predictors were attitude, subjective norms, influenza vaccination within a year and physician in occupation. These factors explained 41.4% of the variance. Conclusion: The results suggest a need to strengthen attitude and subjective norms. The findings also suggest that their characteristics through influenza vaccination status within a year and occupation should be considered for tailored interventions related to the intention. Furthermore, it is necessary to develop programs strengthening attitude and subjective norms to enhance influenza vaccination intention among health personnel.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.142-160
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• 2021

The Internet and digital devices have become an important part of life among the youth (age 17-24) of today. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, Internet use in youth increased by 19.3%, with an average usage of 11.6 hours per day. Youths gain a lot of opportunities from the Internet, but, it also exposes them to various risks. Therefore, there is a need for measures to make the Internet a safe place for youth, in a balanced way that addresses opportunities alongside risks, through digital literacy. It is expected that through digital literacy, youths can take advantage of online opportunities, without being subjected to any dangers. This study aims to examine the relationship between the digital literacy, online opportunities, and online risks of young people, while at the same time examining the influence of digital literacy on those online risks and opportunities. This study employed the quantitative study approach (explanatory study). Cross-sectional surveys and structured questionnaires were used for data collection. The results showed that youth's (age 17-24) monthly expenses, age, and education levels were important factors for digital literacy and online opportunity; also, the digital literacy variable plays an important role and affects online risk and opportunity positively. Digital literacy has a greater influence on online opportunities than it has on online risks. As youths spend more time online, they become more digitally literate, which can enable them to benefit more from new technology. Unfortunately, those with greater digital literacy cannot find a way to avoid risks while seeking opportunities.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.200-208
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• 2021

Background: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an increasingly recognized form of diffuse parenchymal lung disease. Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) is now classified as a human MUC1 mucin protein, and regenerating type II pneumocytes are the primary cellular source of KL-6/MUC1 in the affected lungs of patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD). Serum KL-6/MUC1 levels have been demonstrated to be useful for the evaluation of various ILD. To determine the role of circulating KL-6 in evaluating the disease activity and management of HP. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted on 51 patients with HP and 20 healthy controls. Serum KL-6 levels were measured in both groups. Patients were further assessed based on chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), pulmonary function test, 6-minute walk test, echocardiography, bronchioalveolar lavage, and/or transbronchial biopsy. Patients were divided into the fibrotic and non-fibrotic groups according to the HRCT findings. Results: The median serum KL-6 levels were significantly higher in HP patients as compared to the control group. The median serum KL-6 levels were found to be higher in the non-fibrotic HP group (1,900 IU/mL) as compared to the fibrotic group (1,200 IU/mL). There was a significant inverse correlation between serum KL-6 serum level and the dose of steroids as well as the duration of steroid therapy. Conclusion: The presence of higher KL-6 levels in the non-fibrotic HP group implies its enhanced production by regenerating pneumocytes in response to alveolar injury. The significant association between serum KL-6 levels and the dose and the duration of steroid therapy emphasizes the significant role of steroids in the stabilization of the disease.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.70-77
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• 2021

Purpose: The purposes of this study are to examine the relationship between sexual knowledge and sexual attitudes and identify factors that influence sexual attitudes among Mongolian university students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was used. Participants include 200 students from 23 universities in U city in Mongolia. Data were collected from 1 December to 30 December of 2019. A self-report questionnaire through Google survey was used. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analyse with SPSS 26.0 for Window Program. Results: We found the differences between sexual knowledge and sexual attitudes according to participants' general characteristics, sex education, and sexual knowledge (t=5.43, p<.001) and sexual attitudes (t=2.21, p=.028), sexual experience and sexual knowledge. There was no correlation with marriage thought among sexual knowledge, sexual health and pregnancy and childbirth, and sexual attitudes. The correlations between the remaining variables were high. Sexual knowledge was the most influential factor on sexual attitudes followed by the sexual act (β=.30, p<.001), reproductive organs (β=.29, p<.001), solving sexual desire (β=-.25, p<.001), sexual experience (β=-.16, p=.021), and sex education (β=-.16, p=.028) with an explanatory power of 20.0%. Conclusion: The findings of this study may provide a basic data and help to understanding of sexual attitudes among Mongolia university students.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.87-94
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• 2021

While the shielding substances of radiation shields in medical institutions are beginning to be replaced by environmentally friendly materials, radiation protection according to the shielding properties of environmentally friendly substances is becoming an important factor rather than the existing lead shielding properties. Tungsten and barium sulfate are representative shielding materials similar to lead, and are made in sheets or fiber form with eco-friendly materials. Ytterbium is an impermeable material used as a fluorine compound in the dental radiation field. This study aims to evaluate the shielding performance in the x-ray shielding area by comparing the shielding properties of ytterbium by energy band and that of existing eco-friendly materials. When three types of shielding sheets were fabricated and tested under the same process conditions, the shielding performance of the medical radiation area was about 5 % difference from tungsten. Furthermore, shielding performance was superior to barium sulfate. In the cross-sectional structure of the shielding sheet, there was a disadvantage that the arrangement of particles was not uniform. Ytterbium oxide showed sufficient potential as a medical radiation shielding material, and it is thought that it can improve the shielding performance by controlling the particle arrangement structure and particle size.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.287-294
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• 2020

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of an ultrasound-based bar graph proportional to the quadriceps muscle thickness as a real-time visual feedback training tool in the elderly. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty-four elderly persons participated in this study and were randomly divided into three groups: oral training group (n=8, group 1), ultrasound imaging group (n=8, group 2), and graph group (n=8, group 3). In the pre condition, all participants performed maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of the quadriceps with knee extension three times with oral training. In the post condition, group 1 performed MVIC of the quadriceps with oral training, group 2 performed MVIC of the quadriceps with real-time visual feedback using ultrasound imaging, and group 3 performed MVIC of the quadriceps with real-time visual feedback using a bar graph proportional to the quadriceps muscle thickness, three times for all groups. Muscle thickness, activity (mean, peak), tone, stiffness, logarithmic decrement, relaxation, and creep were measured in both conditions in all participants. Results: Visual feedback with a bar graph showed significant effects on muscle thickness, mean muscle activity, and peak muscle activity compared with oral training and visual feedback with ultrasound imaging (p<0.05). Conclusions: Isometric training of the quadriceps with real-time visual feedback using a bar graph proportional to the quadriceps muscle thickness may be more effective than other methods in improving muscle thickness and muscle activity. This study presented a tool that can help increase muscle thickness in the elderly.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.433-445
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• 2021

Artificial ground freezing (AGF) is a commonly used geotechnical support technique that can be applied in any soil type and has low environmental impact. Experimental and numerical investigations have been conducted to optimize AGF for application in diverse scenarios. Precise simulation of groundwater flow is crucial to improving the reliability these investigations' results. Previous experimental research has mostly considered horizontal seepage flow, which does not allow accurate calculation of the groundwater flow velocity due to spatial variation of the piezometric head. This study adopted vertical seepage flow-which can maintain a constant cross-sectional area-to eliminate the limitations of using horizontal seepage flow. The closure time is a measure of the time taken for an impermeable layer to begin to form, this being the time for a frozen soil-ice wall to start forming adjacent to the freeze pipes; this is of great importance to applied AGF. This study reports verification of the reliability of our experimental apparatus and measurement system using only water, because temperature data could be measured while freezing was observed visually. Subsequent experimental AFG tests with saturated sandy soil were also performed. From the experimental results, a method of estimating closure time is proposed using the inflection point in the thermal conductivity difference between pore water and pore ice. It is expected that this estimation method will be highly applicable in the field. A further parametric study assessed factors influencing the closure time using a two-dimensional coupled thermo-hydraulic numerical analysis model that can simulate the AGF of saturated sandy soil considering groundwater flow. It shows that the closure time is affected by factors such as hydraulic gradient, unfrozen permeability, particle thermal conductivity, and freezing temperature. Among these factors, changes in the unfrozen permeability and particle thermal conductivity have less effect on the formation of frozen soil-ice walls when the freezing temperature is sufficiently low.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.187-194
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• 2020

This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study to identify the perception of post-operative pain management by nursing college students. The study involved 171 nursing college students with clinical practice experience. The data collection was made using structured questionnaires from March to June 2019. The results showed 65.1 percent general knowledge, 58.0 percent knowledge of analgesics and 81.9 percent attitude toward pain management. Pain knowledge and attitude were higher for pain training and men. The general knowledge score for pain showed a positive correlation between knowledge of analgesics, attitudes to pain management. We hope that the results of this study will be used to develop a postoperative pain management program by showing the need for systematic training programs for nursing college students and continuous training for postoperative pain management.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.457-462
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• 2021

Objective: This study analyzed the correlation between uni-standing balance ability, jumping ability, and anaerobic lower extremity power of high school Taekwondo players. Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: Two high schools recruited 36 taekwondo players, but 5 were dropped due to personal circumstances and preparations for the tournament, so the number was counted as 31. In order to test uni-standing balance ability, the Romberg test was performed using Biorescue to measure the sway area. In order to test jumping ability, standing long jump and standing highjump were measured. For anaerobic lower extremity muscle power test, the peak power and average power were measured through 30-second pedaling using a Wingate system bicycle. Results: Participants did not show any correlation with other measures in the uni-standing balance ability test (p>0.05). Looking at the correlation in the standing long jump, standing high jump (r=0.892, p<0.05), anaerobic peak power (r=0.698, p<0.05), anaerobic average leg power (r=0.662, p<0.05) showed a positive correlation. Looking at the correlations in the standing high jump, anaerobic peak power (r=0.663, p<0.05), anaerobic average power (r=0.697, p<0.05) showed a positive correlation. Looking at the correlation in the anaerobic peak power, average power (r=0.785, p<0.05) showed a positive correlation. Conclusions: This study shows that balance ability and anaerobic leg strength are independent of each other. The results of this study can be used as basic data for the training plan of high school taekwondo players in the future.