• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2021

Purpose: Children treated for Hirschsprung disease (HD) are adversely affected by fecal incontinence and soiling. This can be detrimental to their physical, psychosocial quality of life (QoL) and impacts the normal functioning of their family. QoL studies in HD are predominantly from developed countries. We measured general quality of life, impact on family and functional bowel status using validated questionnaires in HD children in a developing country. Methods: Patients with HD, treated in a tertiary paediatric institution in India between 2010 and 2017, were identified. Patients and/or their proxy completed the Pediatric Quality of Life and Family Impact Module questionnaires. Functional outcomes were assessed using Rintala's score. Results: A 86 children and their parents participated in the study. Majority had rectosigmoid disease (67.4%) and underwent Soave's endoanal pull through (74.4%). A 21% of patients had low Rintala score indicating poor functional bowel outcomes. Only 11% of children had poor QoL scores. Family functioning outcomes were also severely affected in the same subgroup of patients. There was statistically significant correlation between Rintala score and QoL scores (p-value<0.001). Disease severity, type of surgery, and duration of follow-up did not have a statistically significant impact on the QoL. Conclusion: QoL in children with HD was comparable to the general population. Bowel dysfunction affects a notable number of children and was the most significant determinant of poor QoL.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2045-2049
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• 2014

Background: Functional status is the ability to perform daily activities. Little is known about quality of life and health status of gynaecological cancer patients. The present study therefore aimed to evaluate the functional status of women receiving treatment for gynecological oncological disease while not hospitalised. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study covered 42 patients monitored by the Gynecological Oncology Unit in 2011. Data were collected using the Functional Living Index-Cancer and analysed with the chi square test, independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, one-way ANOVA test and the Kruskal-Wallis H test. Results: Of the 42 cases, 66.7% had been diagnosed within the previous year and 90.5% were undergoing chemotherapy. The most severe symptoms experienced were pain (35.7%), fatigue-weakness (40.5%) and nausea and vomiting (56.5%). Daily activities where the most difficulty was experienced were housework (28.6%), average pace walking (31.0%), carrying more than 5 kg (28.6%). The mean Functional Living Index score was quite high ($103.5{\pm}24.1$). FLIC-C scale scores did not vary with the educational status, diagnosis duration, and family history of cancer (p>0.05). Conclusions: Evaluation of the functional status of gynecological cancer patients and how they cope with problems should indicate to healthcare professionals what help can be given to maintain quality of life.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.51-66
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• 2009

Objective : Functional dyspepsia is a prevalent disease. It impedes subjective quality of life. The purpose of this research is to examine the equivalent effect of herb drug medicine treatment(H-D)and Over the Counter(OTC) for functional dyspepsia. Method : In this controlled study, we compared herb drug medicine(H-D) with Over the Counter(OTC) of functional dyspepsia. 30 volunteers who satisfied the requirements were enrolled in study. Severity of dyspepsia was measured by Nepean Dyspepsia Index(NDI-K) before and after treatments. Result : The results are summarized as follows. 1. In Herb drug medicine and Over the Counter groups, total key symptoms score of after treatment were significantly decreased and improve rate of key symptoms was higher than before treatment, but there were no statistical significance between two groups. 2. In Herb drug medicine and Over the Counter groups, each symptoms score of after treatment were significantly decreased and improve rate of key symptoms was higher than before treatment, but there were no statistical significance between two groups. 3. In Herb drug medicine and Over the Counter groups, quality of life score of after treatment were significantly decreased and improve rate of key symptoms was higher than before treatment, but there were no statistical significance between two groups. Conclusion : Herb drug medicine treatment(H-D) is effective to improve the symptoms and quality of life in patients with functional dyspepsia.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.533-541
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was designed to test structural equation modeling of the quality of life of stroke survivors in order to provide guidelines for development of interventions and strategies to improve their quality of life. Methods: The participants in the study were patients who visited the neurology outpatient department of a tertiary hospital in Seoul between June 25 and October 15, 2009. Data collection was carried out through one-on-one interviews. Demographic factors, functional independence, social support, nutritional status, post-stroke biobehavioral changes and quality of life were investigated. Results: The final analysis included 215 patients. Fitness of the hypothetical model was appropriate (${\chi}^2$=111.5, p=.000, GFI=.926, AGFI=.880, RMSA=.068, NFI=.911, CFI=.953). Functional dependency, social support and post-stroke biobehavioral changes were found to be significant explaining variance in quality of life. Post-stroke biobehavioral changes had the strongest direct influence on quality of life. Nutritional status had an indirect effect on the quality of life. Conclusion: To improve the quality of life of stroke survivors, comprehensive interventions are necessary to manage post-stroke biobehavioral changes, and strengthening social support networks that can contribute to enhancing the quality of life of stroke survivors.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2020.06a
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• pp.29-30
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• 2020

As the modern society enters, the building becomes sealed and the public's interest in the environment increases, so the interest in indoor air pollution increases and the environmental pollution is raised as an important issue not only outdoors but also indoors. In addition, the emergence of sick house syndrome (SHS) has increased the interest in formaldehyde and is a cause of deteriorating indoor air quality. Accordingly, this study prepared a functional paint by incorporating a photocatalyst in an aqueous paint, and conducted formaldehyde adsorption experiments and functional evaluation. As a result of the experiment, as the photocatalyst was added, the formaldehyde adsorption performance tended to increase. In addition, as a result of measuring the impact resistance and alkali resistance according to the KS standard, there is no difference in residual cracks and cracks between the water-based paint without the photocatalyst and the water-based paint with the photocatalyst added. Therefore, it is considered that the water-based paint added with a photocatalyst can improve the indoor air quality by adsorbing formaldehyde and can be used as a functional paint because the functionality is not different from that of a general water-based paint.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.51-68
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• 2020

Purpose: The primary objective of this research is to develop the optimal operating conditions as well as their associated design spaces for a Cryogenic Submerged Arc Welding(SAW) process by improving its quality and productivity simultaneously. Methods: In order to investigate functional relationships among quality characteristics and their associated control factors of an SAW process, a stepwise design of experiment(DoE) method is proposed in this paper. Based on the DoE results, not only a multi-dimensional design space but also a safe operating space and normal acceptable range(NAR) by integrating statistical confidence intervals were demonstrated. In addition, the optimal operating conditions within the proposed NAR can be obtained by a robust optimal design method. Results: This study provides a customized stepwise DoE method (i.e., a sequential set of DoE such as a factorial design and a central composite design) for Cryogenic SAW process and its statistical analysis results. DoE results can then provide both the main and interaction effects of input control factors and the functional relationships between the input factors and their associated output responses. Maximizing both the product quality with high impact strength and the productivity with minimum processing times simultaneously in a case study, we proposed a design space which can provide both acceptable productivity and quality levels and NARs of input control factors. In order to confirm the optimal factor settings and the proposed NARs, validation experiments were performed. Conclusion: This research may provide significant contributions and applications to many SAW problems by preparing a standardization of the functional relationship between the input factors and their associated output response. Moreover, the proposed design space based on DoE and NAR methods can simultaneously consider a number of quality characteristics including tradeoff between productivity and quality levels.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2007

Objectives : Functional dyspepsia is a prevalent disease. It impedes subjective quality of life. The purpose of this research is to examine the effect of acupuncture treatment for functional dyspepsia. Methods : In this randomized, single blind, placebo-controlled study, we compared active acupuncture with sham acupuncture for the treatment of functional dyspepsia. Volunteers who satisfied the requirements were enrolled in study. Severity of dyspepsia was measured by Nepean Dyspepsia Index(NDI) and Functional Dyspepsia Quality fo Life(FD-QOL) before and after treatments. Results : 68 subjects finished study. There were not difference between two groups on age, sex, weight, height, severity of dyspepsia, subtype, Byeonjeung, surmise of treatment. After treatment total key symptoms score, improve rate of key symptoms were decreased than before treatment in active acupuncture group, but there were no statistical significance compared with sham acupuncture group. After treatment "pressure in upper abdomen" and " cramps in upper abdomen" were more decreased in active acupuncture group compared with sham acupuncture group(p=0.001, p=0.014). After treatment total symptom score and QOL of NDI were decreased than before treatment in active acupuncture group, but there were no statistical significance compared with sham acupuncture group. After treatment eating status of FD-QOL in active acupuncture group was significantly increased than sham acupuncture group(p=0.008). After treatment liveliness status of FD-QOL and total score of FDQOL in active acupuncture group was increased than sham acupuncture group though statistically insignificant(p=0.095, p=0.077). Conclusion : Acupuncture treatment is effective to improve the symptoms and quality of life in patients with functional dyspepsia.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.51-56
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• 2019

The quality of 'Fuji' apple was analyzed the film thickness conditions and packed with functional MA film during 24 weeks storage at $0^{\circ}C$ to weight loss, hardness, acidity and SSC, decay ratio, and vitamin C. The weight loss of apple packed functional MA film was higher than that of contro.Value of the weight loss of apple packed in the control and functional MA filmswere 8.2% and 0.4-0.5%, respectively. The change of hardness and titratable acidity was also lower than that of control. The decay ratio of apple packed with functional MA films were 2.4~4.7%, but that of control was 6.8%. The decay ratio of apple was the lowest at 0.025mm functional MA film. Changes of vitamin C also was lower than that of control. Based on the results, we suggested that the functional MA film with 0.025mm thickness is desirable for keeping the quality of the 'Fuji' apple produced at Geochang, Korea.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.43.1-43.12
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• 2021

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most prevalent organisms associated with foodborne illness across the globe causing campylobacteriosis and gastritis. Many proteins of C. jejuni are still unidentified. The purpose of this study was to determine the structure and function of a non-annotated hypothetical protein (HP) from C. jejuni. A number of properties like physiochemical characteristics, 3D structure, and functional annotation of the HP (accession No. CAG2129885.1) were predicted using various bioinformatics tools followed by further validation and quality assessment. Moreover, the protein-protein interactions and active site were obtained from the STRING and CASTp server, respectively. The hypothesized protein possesses various characteristics including an acidic pH, thermal stability, water solubility, and cytoplasmic distribution. While alpha-helix and random coil structures are the most prominent structural components of this protein, most of it is formed of helices and coils. Along with expected quality, the 3D model has been found to be novel. This study has identified the potential role of the HP in 2-methylcitric acid cycle and propionate catabolism. Furthermore, protein-protein interactions revealed several significant functional partners. The in-silico characterization of this protein will assist to understand its molecular mechanism of action better. The methodology of this study would also serve as the basis for additional research into proteomic and genomic data for functional potential identification.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.67-114
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• 2004

This study attempts to integrate causal model with competitiveness evaluation model, both of which have developed independently of each other, in connection with many studies on PMES (performance measurement and evaluation system) including the BSC (balanced scorecard) of Kaplan and Norton (1992, 1996). For this attempt, this study is composed of four analyses : First, this study develops a structural model for evaluating and diagnosing corporate ‘comprehensive’ competitiveness including quality competitiveness, derive CCI (comprehensive competitiveness index) and QCI (quality competitiveness index) ; Second, this study analyzes the determinants of quality competitiveness, the impacts of quality competitiveness, on product design and product reliability, and the impacts of product design and product reliability on quality competitiveness in the comprehensive competitiveness evaluation model of this study. Third, this study empirically identifies the positioning of product design in the quality competitiveness evaluation model of this study and the functional relationship between product design and other functions : product development, manufacturing, marketing, and marketing, and sales in the same comprehensive competitiveness evaluation model, estimate the determinants of product design and its impacts, thereby providing some empirical findings for the foundation of design management theory, and Fourth, this study identifies the positioning of product reliability in the same quality competitiveness evaluation model, estimate the reliability function and the functional relationship between product reliability and other dimensions of product quality, and tests the hypotheses on the causality of product reliability.