• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.349-357
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• 2022

Background: The most consistently identified mortality determinants for the new coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection are aging, male sex, cardiovascular/respiratory diseases, and cancer. They were determined from heterogeneous cohorts that included patients with different disease severity and previous conditions. The main goal of this study was to determine if activities of daily living (ADL) dependence measured by Barthel's index could be a predictor for COVID-19 mortality. Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed with a consecutive sample of 340 COVID-19 patients representing patients from all over the northern region of Portugal from October 2020 to March 2021. Mortality risk factors were determined after controlling for demographics, ADL dependence, admission time, comorbidities, clinical manifestations, and delay-time for diagnosis. Central tendency measures were used to analyze continuous variables and absolute numbers (proportions) for categorical variables. For univariable analysis, we used t test, chi-square test, or Fisher exact test as appropriate (α=0.05). Multivariable analysis was performed using logistic regression. IBM SPSS version 27 statistical software was used for data analysis. Results: The cohort included 340 patients (55.3% females) with a mean age of 80.6±11.0 years. The mortality rate was 19.7%. Univariate analysis revealed that aging, ADL dependence, pneumonia, and dementia were associated with mortality and that dyslipidemia and obesity were associated with survival. In multivariable analysis, dyslipidemia (odds ratio [OR], 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17-0.71) was independently associated with survival. Age ≥86 years (pooled OR, 2.239; 95% CI, 1.100-4.559), pneumonia (pooled OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.362-6.606), and ADL dependence (pooled OR, 6.296; 95% CI, 1.795-22.088) were significantly related to mortality (receiver operating characteristic area under the curve, 82.1%; p<0.001). Conclusion: ADL dependence, aging, and pneumonia are three main predictors for COVID-19 mortality in an elderly population.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.210-222
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was conducted to develop and test the effects of a nursing information literacy competency education program for undergraduate nursing students. Methods: A non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design was used. The subjects consisted of 42 sophomore undergraduate nursing students who had completed a fundamental nursing course (experimental group: n=21, control group n=21). The nursing information literacy competency education program consisted of 8 steps in 8 sessions, taught over 4 weeks, which was 20 hours in total. Data were collected between January 23 and March 14, 2019 and were analyzed using Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, paired t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA with SPSS/WIN 23.0. Results: Significant differences were shown between the experimental and control groups regarding nursing information literacy competency (F=91.74, p<.001), problem-solving ability (F=52.43, p<.001), self-directed learning ability (F=36.61, p<.001), and evidence-based practice competency (F=59.66, p<.001). Conclusion: The nursing information literacy competency education program was effective in improving the nursing information literacy competency, problem-solving ability, self-directed learning ability, and evidence-based practice competency of nursing students. Hence, we recommend the nursing information literacy education program will be included as an independent course in the nursing curriculum for undergraduate nursing students to promote a needed proficiency in nursing information literacy competency.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.211-222
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the effects of preparedness towards delegation, critical thinking disposition, and communicative competence on job satisfaction among comprehensive nursing care service ward nurses and general ward nurses. Methods: The participants in this study were 218 nurses from two university hospitals. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and were analyzed using SPSS Statistics/WIN 21.0, including descriptive statistics, x² test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffeé test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: For comprehensive nursing care service ward nurses, the significant influencing factors on job satisfaction were age (β=-.37, p=.041), marital status (β=.35, p=.001), critical thinking disposition (β=.29, p=.003), and communicative competence (β=.28, p=.002) with the explanatory power was 39.0% (F=12.00, p<.001). On the other hand, for general ward nurses, the significant influencing factors on job satisfaction were advanced degree (β=.29, p=.047), critical thinking disposition (β=.23, p=.040), and communicative competence (β=.42, p<.001) with the explanatory power was 33.0% (F=11.78, p<.001). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the importance of developing and applying education programs to improve critical thinking disposition and communicative competence of nurses. This would enhance the comprehensive nursing service and increase overall nursing manpower resources. In addition, further studies are needed to improve nursing work environments and to develop strategies for enhancing preparedness towards delegation, which would increase the job satisfaction of nurses in the comprehensive nursing care service wards.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.789-800
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed in Korea for breast cancer survivors. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Ninety-nine breast cancer survivors who completed an FFQ twice and three 3-day dietary records (DRs) between 2016-2017 were included. Energy and 14 nutrient intakes were calculated from FFQs and DRs. To determine the validity of the FFQ, energy-adjusted de-attenuated Pearson correlations between two FFQ assessments and the average of the three 3-day DRs were calculated, and to determine reproducibility, energy-adjusted Pearson correlations and degrees of agreement were calculated between the first and second FFQ assessments. RESULTS: Correlation coefficients of validity ranged from 0.29 (protein) to 0.47 (fat) (median value = 0.36) for the FFQ assessment and from 0.20 (riboflavin) to 0.53 (calcium) (median value = 0.37) for the second. Correlation coefficients of reproducibility ranged from 0.22 (sodium) to 0.62 (carbohydrate) (median value = 0.36). Regarding FFQ reproducibilities, percentage classifications of exact agreements for energy-adjusted nutrients ranged from 27.3% (sodium) and 45.5% (fat). A median 76.8% of participants were classified into the same or adjacent quartiles, while a median of 5.6% of participants were classified in extreme quartiles. Bland-Atman plots for the majority of data points of three macronutrients, calcium and vitamins A and C fell within limits of agreement. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that the newly developed FFQ for Korean breast cancer survivors has acceptable validity and reproducibility as compared with three 3-day DRs collected over a one-year period.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.137-147
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• 2022

Various geophysical exploration methods are used to determine the exact location of underground utilities, and many studies have been performed to improve the accuracy. This study analyzed the feasibility of exploring underground utilities through a new exploration method using cosmic ray muon. A prototype of a portable muon detector was manufactured by combining a scintillator and a silicon photomultiplier. Further, a calibration operation was performed on the muon count rate. The ground thickness of the ground model was measured using the muon detector prototype, where the value could be estimated with an error of about 3%, close to the actual. In addition, the theoretical basis for tomography analysis technology was analyzed to utilize the muon detector for exploring underground utilities, and a zenith angle correction method was presented. This study revealed that the technology of exploration using muon can analyze density with high resolution and will be used for exploring underground utilities.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2013

Objectives : As Daily Dose of Zizyphi Fructus was designated by the numbers in Treatise on Cold Damage Disease, estimation of Daily Dose was all different among researchers. The purpose of this study was to estimate exact Daily Dose of Zizyphi Fructus. Methods : We fixed the errors in various copy of Treatise on Cold Damage Disease and considered the meaning of the Bee Zizyphi Fructus(肥大棗) and general rules of Daily Dose in Treatise on Cold Damage Disease. So we reduced Daily Dose of Zizyphi Fructus, and compared this with the standard of Zizyphy Fructus in Pharmacopoeia of several Nation and Korean Forest Service. Results : Daily Dose of Zizyphi Fructus was generally 12 pieces; less was for prescriptions which scaled down the amount of ingredients prescribed in the originals; 15, 25, and 30 pieces were used when more was required. The medicinal part was the pulp of fructus, and the dosage of 12 pieces was respectively equivalent to 3 Ryang(兩), and 19.5 g. As defined in the Korean Pharmacopoeia Ninth Edition and standards of forest products by Korea Forest Service, Zizyphi Fructus was medium-sized, and weighs about 1.625 g if properly dehydrated. Conclusions : In short, the proper Daily Dose of Zizyphi Fructus in Treatise on Cold damage Disease was 12 pieces of Zizyphi Fructus and 19.5 g of its pulp, weighing three Ryang(兩). The pulp was estimated to be 1.625 g; it was medium-sized according to the present standard.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.45-53
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of the study is to determine the neuroprotective effects of the water and 80% EtOH extract of some herbal medicine plant on ischemia reperfusion-induced cell death in SK-N-SH human brain neuronal cells. Methods : SK-N-SH cells were treated with 3mM sodium azide and 10 mM 2-deoxy-D-glucose for 45 min, ptior to the addition of different concentrations of herbal medicine plant extract (0, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 ${\mu}g/ml$) for 2 hr and then reperfused with growth medium, incubated for 24 h. Cell viability was determined by WST-1 assay, and ATP/ADP levels were measured by ADP/ATP ratio assay kit. Results : Herbal medicine plant extract significantly inhibited decreasing the cell viability in ischemia-induced SK-N-SH cells. Also increased the ratio of ADP/ATP in ischemia-induced neuronal cells. Conclusions : Our results suggest that herbal medicine plant extract has a neuroprotective property via increasing the energy levels in neuronal cells, suggesting that extract may has a therapeutic potential in the treatment of ischemic brain injury. The exact component and mechanism remains for the future study.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.35-41
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• 2018

Objectives : Hyeonggaeyeongyotang Gagambang (HYT) is a herbal medicine prescribed for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, but it is necessary to study the exact therapeutic efficacy. This study aims to investigate the antibacterial and anti-inflmmatory activities of HYT. Methods : Antibacterial activity of HYT was confirmed by staining Escherichia coli, a gram negative strain, and Staphylococcus aureus, a gram positive strain, on solid Lysogeny Broth (LB) medium containing HYT. Antioxidant activity of HYT was confirmed by 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) assay. The phosphorylation of nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha ($I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$) after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment with HYT-treated RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages cells was confirmed by immunoblot analysis and the level of interleukin 1 beta (IL-$1{\beta}$) mRNA expression level was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. Results : HYT showed a concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and also showed excellent antioxidant activity. HYT treatment attenuated the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$induced by LPS treatment in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages cells. The phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$is crucial for the regulation of the expression of various pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA expression level of RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages cells stimulated by LPS treatment was also inhibited by HYT treatment. Conclusions : Through experimental demonstration of the antioxidative, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects of HYT, we demonstrated that HYT is a herbal medicine effective for the treatment of inflammatory diseases caused by various bacterial infections.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.13-26
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• 2022

Objectives The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in allergic reactions by type of Sasang constitution using multiple allergen simultaneous test(MAST). Methods This study was conducted using the big data of Korean medical health checkups. Subjects with a history of allergic disease, Sasang constitution type information, and MAST results were included. Subjects who had taken drugs before MAST that affected allergic reactions were excluded. We compared total immunoglobulin E(IgE) concentrations, and the number of positive antigens by Sasang constitution using analysis of variance. The presence or absence of a positive reaction and specific IgE concentration classes of 92 antigens in MAST were analyzed by Fisher's exact test or Chi-squared test. Results The distribution of Sasang constitutional types of Tae-Yang, Tae-Eum, So-Yang, and So-Eum among 147 subjects was 2.7%, 42.9%, 38.1%, and 16.3%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the total IgE concentration, the number of positive antigens, and specific IgE concentration classes for each antigen. There was a statistically significant difference in MAST-positive reaction for alder and pine antigens by type of Sasang constitution, and Tae-Eum had the most. Conclusions Tae-Eum showed a relatively strong positive reaction to a large number of antigens compared to the other types, but no statistically significant difference was observed. It is necessary to continuously investigate allergic reactions to provide evidence for the treatment of allergic diseases by Sasang constitution.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.105-111
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• 2022

Multiple-choice survey types have been mainly performed to analyze students' needs for online classes. However, in order to analyze the exact needs of students, unstructured data analysis by answer for essay question is required. Big data is applied in various fields because it is possible to analyze unstructured data. This study aims to investigate and analyze what students want subjects or topics for software lecture in general education that process on non-face-to-face online teaching methods. As for the experimental method, keyword analysis and association analysis of big data were performed with unstructured data by giving a subjective questionnaire to students. By the result, we are able to know the keyword what the students want for software lecture, so it will be an important data for planning and designing software lecture of liberal arts in the future as students can grasp the topics they want to learn.