• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.33-61
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• 2015

The global economy is rapidly changing by technological innovation and diffusion of knowledge across nations. Therefore it is still important issue to find a major variables for convergence and divergence of economic development. The studies up to present on the relationship between innovation and institution has limitations that they have dealt with this issue only in term of cross-sectional study or mathematical research models. This paper aims at analyzing the impact of innovation capabilities and institutional quality on the economic growth. Empirically this paper will explore the relationship among human capital capacity and FDI, R&D expenditures and innovation capabilities and institutional quality. This paper analyzes 64 countries, which were divided into 4 groups depending on the level of economic development. Based on the data from 1995 to 2011 and by using a panel model, we look at the structural implications of the research questions. According to our analysis, the weight of R&D and the innovation capabilities were identified as important determinants of economic growth, and FDI was significant factor for economic growth in the upper middle group countries. In case of the innovation capabilities of countries, the diffusion and openness of innovation were most meaningful variables for economic growth. Also, institutional quality has a significantly positive impact. However, in the low-level economic group, innovation capabilities and institutions have a negative impact on economic growth. This paper identifies an important policy implications that of national innovation and institutional factors should be properly invested in accordance with the level of a country's economic growth.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2001

A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate associations between lead biomarkers, lead-related symptoms, and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) genotype among 598 lead workers and 144 control office workers in storage battery industries, secondary smelting and litharge making industries. Lead inhibits the second enzymes, ALAD, in the heme synthesis pathway. ALAD gene, which codes for one of three isozymic proteins (termed ALAD1-1, ALAD1-2, and ALAD2-2), seems to modify the toxicokinetics of lead. The result as follows; The percents of total workers whose genotype of ALAD1-1 and ALAD1-2 were 88.4% and 11.6%, respectively. The zinc protoporphyrin in blood (ZPP) and ${\delta}$-aminolevulinic acid in urine (ALAU) of lead workers with ALAD1-2 were significantly lower than those of lead workers with ALAD1-1, but there were no significant difference between two genotype for blood lead, age, and work duration. The proportion of ALAD1-2 genotype in control office workers was 13.2%. The proportions of ALAD1-2 genotype of lead workers were 14.0%(their mean air lead level below $0.024mg/m^3$), 10.4%($0.025-0.049mg/m^3$), 11.8%($0.050-0.099mg/m^3$), and 9.4%(above $0.100mg/m^3$), respectively. In the logistic analysis of 15 lead related symptoms, 'arthralgia'(S7) symptom of ALAD1-2 was significantly lower (OR=0.481; 95% CI=0.248-0.932) than that of ALAD1-1, but 'feeling of irritation'(S11) of ALAD1-2 was significantly higher(OR=1.636; 95% CI=1.035-2.586) than that of ALAD1-1 after controlling possible confounder (blood lead, work duration, smoking and drinking habit).

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.536-546
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• 2014

Objectives: The major objective of this paper is compare the exposure work hours and experieence of ill health symptoms among under and over employment and matched group. Workers with over employment have more exposed to hazards than that with under employment because that workers with over employment work more than those with ender employment. Methods: This study as heuristics one used the third Korean Working Conditions Survey done by Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute in 2011. The sample size is 50,023 economic active persons. Over and under employment were measured by matching method of preferred and actual work hours. The exposed work hours to hazards were measured according to 13 hazardous factors and the experience of ill health symptoms were scaled by the number of experienced 14 ill health symptoms. To compare the exposure and the symptoms experience were compared by mean difference test with F test. Results: The proportion of over employment in male employees is 32.1% and that in female employees is 29.3% and under employment rate is 11.2% in mae and 13.9% in female employees. There is significant difference of the rate of over and under emplyment among age groups, industrial sectors, occupational groups and the state of employment. The difference of the exposed work hours to hazards among under, over and matched group were statistically significant in all hazards by gender. The exposed work hours to hazards in over employment were more than those in under employment. The number of experienced symptoms in over employment is statistically significantly more than that in under employment. Conclusions: Workers with over employment may be vulnerable group in the criteria of hazard exposure and health status. The results have some implications and limitations because that this study is heuristic one. The mismatch of preferred and actual working hours may be unfavorable work condition that has impact on safety and health of workers. The impact mechanism may be investigated as future study, Because that this study used cross sectional survey data, some causal relationships cannot be evaluated.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2627-2630
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• 2013

Background: Ovarian cancer continues to pose a major challenge to physicians and radiologists. It is the third most common gynecologic malignancy and estimated to be fifth leading cancer cause of death in women, constituting 23% of all gynecological malignancies. Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) appears to offer an excellent modality in diagnosing ovarian cancer based on combination of its availability, meticulous technique, efficacy and familiarity of radiologists and physicians. The aim of this study was to compute sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice MDCT in classifying ovarian masses; 95% confidence intervals were reported. Materials and Methods: We prospectively designed a cross-sectional analytical study to collect data from July 2010 to August 2011 from a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. A sample of 105 women aged between 15-80 years referred for 64-MDCT of abdomen and pelvis with clinical suspicion of malignant ovarian cancer, irrespective of stage of disease, were enrolled by non-probability purposive sampling. All patients who were already known cases of histologically proven ovarian carcinoma and having some contraindication to radiation or iodinated contrast media were excluded. Results: Our prospective study reports sensitivity, specificity; positive and negative predictive values with 95%CI and accuracy were computed. Kappa was calculated to report agreement among the two radiologists. For reader A, MDCT was found to have 92% (0.83, 0.97) sensitivity and 86.7% (0.68, 0.96) specificity, while PPV and NPV were 94.5% (0.86, 0.98) and 86.7% (0.63, 0.92), respectively. Accuracy reported by reader A was 90.5%. For reader B, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 94.6% (0.86, 0.98) 90% (0.72, 0.97) 96% (0.88, 0.99) and 87.1% (0.69, 0.95) respectively. Accuracy computed by reader B was 93.3%. Excellent agreement was found between the two radiologists with a significant kappa value of 0.887. Conclusion: Based on our study results, we conclude MDCT is a reliable imaging modality in diagnosis of ovarian masses accurately with insignificant interobserver variability.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.93-102
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• 2013

Objectives: This study aims to research character of the patients with leukorrhea including Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) and symptoms associated with leukorrhea in view of Korean medicine theory. Methods: We studied 71 patients visiting ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ Korean Hospital from April, 2012 to March, 2013. The subjects were categorized in two groups, leukorrhea group (n=40) and control group (n=31). We investigated the difference of DITI and other physical symptoms between two groups. Results: The average temperature of CV4 in leukorrhea group ($29.56{\pm}0.80^{\circ}C$) were significantly lower than that of control group ($30.12{\pm}0.54^{\circ}C$)(p<0.01). And there is no statistical difference of temperature of CV17 located in chest area between two groups. But temperature difference between CV17 and CV4 (${\Delt}T$) in leukorrhea group ($1.18{\pm}0.55^{\circ}C$) is significantly higher than control group ($0.68{\pm}0.43^{\circ}C$)(p<0.01). There is no correlation between leukorrhea and some sypmtoms, like menorrhea, irregular menstruation, fatigue, constipation and loss of appetite. But leukorrhea group is more likely to suffer from dyspepsia and insomnia than control group. Conclusions: Leukorrhea group is related to lower temperature in lower abdomen than control group. And patients with leukorrhea are more likely to appear dyspepsia and insomnia than no leukorrhea group.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2013

Purpose: This study calculated the prevalence of cataract in Korean and examined corrected eyesight with different types of opacification of crystalline lens. Methods: Using the data of the national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES), population-based and cross-sectional research were designed in this study. After dividing total 4,977 persons into different groups by age, from 40 to 95 and by sex, the prevalence of cataract with different types of opacification was investigated. The average age of the total subjects was $58.28{\pm}12.07$, and the number of men and women were 2,142(43.0%) and 2,835(57.0%), repectively. Eyesight was calculated when it was less than 0.63. Results: Among total 4,977 subjects, 40.6% (men 17.5%, women 23.1%) had cataract. Different prevalence rates were found with different types of cataract; nuclear cataract (56.3%), cortical cataract (23.4%), mixed cataract (16.2%), anterior subcapsular(3.0%), and posterior subcapsular (1.1%) in order. There was no difference among men and women by the types. And those in their 40's showed a higher prevalence of cortical cataract than those in the other age groups. Most of subjects whose corrected eyesight is less than 0.63 had anterior subcapsular cataract. Conclusions: The type of cataract having the highest prevalence was nuclear opacity. Moreover, epidemiologic investigation and prevention policy with different type of lens opacity seems to be required.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.545-551
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• 2012

Pressurization walk training (PWT) with blood flow occlusion has been investigated with regard to muscle hypertrophy and physical fitness function in athletes and healthy people. However, the cardiorespiratory and cardiovascular responses of obese people to PWT are unknown. Thus, we investigated the effects of PWT on body composition (Weight, FM, LBM, %fat, BMI), cardiovascular responses (HR, SV, CO, TVC), and cardiorespiratory responses ($VO_2max$, VEmax, HRmax) in middle-aged obese women. They participated in walk training with (n=15) blood flow occlusion and cross-sectional areas of the quadriceps on both legs. Five sets of 3-min walking (5.5 km/h at 5% grade) and 1-min resting were performed twice a day, 5 days/week for 3 weeks. The results showed that the LBM was significantly increased, and decreased body weight of reducing FM, %bodyfat in PWT ($p$<0.05). For the cardiovascular response, SBP and TPR were significantly decreased ($p$<0.05), and CO increased ($p$<0.05). In addition, the $VO_2max$ and VEmax were improved through PWT. Therefore, this study suggests that the presence of obesity in middle-aged women may result in body composition, cardiorespiratory, and cardiovascular responses caused by PWT.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.148-155
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• 2012

A cross-sectional analysis of blood pressure (BP) changes and the current prevalence and distribution of hypertension among age groups in Korea were conducted. Systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and pulse (PP) pressures were evaluated. Residents visiting a local Community Health Center for a health check-up and/or participating in the Health Promotion Program were included for the analyses. A total of 6,570 subjects (2,809 men, 3,761 women) were divided into five age groups: 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and $70\leq$ years. Comparisons were made between sex and among age groups. SBP and DBP were continuously elevated, while men showed higher levels than women until their mid-60s; then, the trend was reversed. DBP in men became elevated from their 30s, reaching the highest in the 40s then slowly decreasing. DBP in women increased up to their 40s and 50s, then reached a plateau. PP increased rapidly from the 50s in both sexes. The major contributor of age-related BP elevation may be large artery stiffness in men, particularly from their 50s, while the blood pressure elevation of women may relate to diverse factors including large artery stiffness, stroke volume, and ventricular ejection rate. The rapid elevation of PP after the 50s in both men and women could represent a risk of cardiovascular or coronary mortality, particularly with increasing age. The current data showed a higher rate of hypertension in both sexes compared to previous reports. When those with both high-normal BP and hypertension are looked at in combination, BP management of the target population should be drastically elevated.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.155-164
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• 2013

Purpose : This study was conducted to assess whether Korean medicine doctors' attire influences patients' preference (confidence, comfortability, neatness) in a university hospital. Materials and Methods : Employing a cross-sectional design, outpatients answered a questionnaire in a university hospital of Korean Medicine. Respondents were asked for completing the questionnaire to estimate their preference of doctor's attire for confidence, comfortability and neatness after watching 4 types of attire in both male and female Korean medicine doctors, including white coat, traditional attire, formal suit and casual clothes. Whether Korean medicine doctors' attire on a patients' preference is important was also asked for the respondents using a 5-point Likert scale. Results : All 175 patients were enrolled, of whom 38.9% were male respondents, 46.3% graduated from a university at least and mean age of responders was 47.1. Most had a tendency for preferring white coat followed by traditional attire and only a small portion of respondents preferred for formal suit and casual clothes. When comparing preferences in confidence between white coat and traditional attire only, male patients preferred white coat more than female patients did with statistical significance. In addition, 85.4% of respondents answered that Korean medicine doctors' attire is important to a clinical situation with higher ratio of female respondents (87.9%) than male respondents (80.9%). Conclusion : Patients preferred white coat and traditional attire mostly for the Korean Medicine doctor's attire with only small preference for formal suit and casual clothes. Also, Patients recognized that Korean medicine doctors' attire is important in the clinical situation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.367-376
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of either endurance training only or endurance and weight training on muscle morphology and oxidative enzyme activities in human skeletal muscles. Fourteen healthy males were randomly divided into one of two experimental training groups, either swim exercise training (n=7, ST) or combined exercise training (swim and resistance exercise training; n=7, SWT). The change of muscle fiber type was not significantly different between ST and SWT following 6 weeks of exercise training. Mean cross sectional areas as well as the numbers of capillary of different types of muscle fiber were not also significantly different from baseline for both exercise training groups (p>.05) although the tendency of increase were more notable in SWT. All oxidative enzyme activities (i.e., ${\beta}$-hydroxyl acyl dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, and carnitine palmitoyl transferase) were marginally higher in SWT compared to ST even though statistical power did not reach the level of significance. Based on these results, it was concluded that performing of combined (swimming and weight) exercise training could be the better modality for improving muscle morphological changes and oxidative enzyme activities than performing of only single aerobic exercise intervention in young healthy human skeletal muscles.