• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.194-201
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose was to compare the marginal fidelity and the fracture resistance of the zirconia crowns according to the various coping designs with different thicknesses and cement types. Materials and methods: Zirconia copings were designed and fabricated with various thicknesses using the CAD/CAM system (Everest, KaVo Dental GmbH, Biberach., Germany). Eighty zirconia copings were divided into 4 groups (Group I: even 0.3 mm thickness, Group II: 0.3 mm thickness on the buccal surface and the buccal half of occlusal surface and the 0.6 mm thickness on the lingual surface and the lingual half of occlusal surface, Group III: even 0.6 mm thickness, Group IV: 0.6 mm thickness on the buccal surface and the buccal half of occlusal surface and the 1.0 mm thickness on the lingual surface and the lingual half of occlusal surface) of 20. By using a putty index, zirconia crowns with the same size and contour were fabricated. Each group was divided into two subgroups by type of cement: Cavitec$^{(R)}$ (Kerr Co, USA) and Panavia-$F^{(R)}$ (Kuraray Medical Inc, Japan). After the cementation of the crowns with a static load compressor, the marginal fidelity of the zirconia crowns were measured at margins on the buccal, lingual, mesial and distal surfaces, using a microscope of microhardness tester (Matsuzawa, MXT-70, Japan, ${\times}100$). The fracture resistance of each crown was measured using a universal testing machine (Z020, Zwick, Germany) at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. The results were analyzed statistically by the two-way ANOVA and oneway ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test at $\alpha$=.05. Results: Group I and III showed the smallest marginal fidelity, while group II demonstrated the largest value in Cavitec$^{(R)}$ subgroup (P<.05). For fracture resistance, group III and IV were significantly higher than group I and II in Cavitec$^{(R)}$ subgroup (P<.05). The fracture resistances of Panavia-$F^{(R)}$ subgroup were not significantly different among the groups (P>.05). Panavia-$F^{(R)}$ subgroup showed significantly higher fracture resistance than Cavitec$^{(R)}$ subgroup in group I and II (P<.05). Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, considering fracture resistance or marginal fidelity and esthetics, a functional ceramic substructure design of the coping with slim visible surface can be used for esthetic purposes, or a thick invisible surface to support the veneering ceramic can be used depending on the priority.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-31
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• 2009

This paper empirically examines factors that potentially influence the success of a Web-based semantic search engine. A research model has been proposed that shows the impact of quality-related factors upon the effectiveness of a semantic search engine, based on DeLone and McLean's(2003) information systems success model. An empirical study has been conducted to test hypotheses formulated around the research model, and statistical methods were applied to analyze gathered data and draw conclusions. Implications for academics and practitioners are offered based on the findings of the study. The proposed model includes three quality dimensions of a Web-based semantic search engine-namely, information quality, system quality and service quality. These three dimensions each have measures designed to collectively assess the respective dimension. The model is intended to examine the relationship between measures of these quality dimensions and measures of two dependent constructs, including individuals' net benefit and user satisfaction. Individuals' net benefit was measured by the extent to which the user's information needs were adequately met, whereas user satisfaction was measured by a combination of the perceived satisfaction with search results and the perceived satisfaction with the overall system. A total of 23 hypotheses have been formulated around the model, and a questionnaire survey has been conducted using a functional semantic search website created by KT and Hakia, so as to collect data to validate the model. Copies of a questionnaire form were handed out in person to 160 research associates and employees working in the area of designing and developing semantic search engines. Those who received the form, 148 respondents returned valid responses. The survey form asked respondents to use the given website to answer questions concerning the system. The results of the empirical study have indicated that, of the three quality dimensions, information quality was found to have the strongest association with the effectiveness of a Web-based semantic search engine. This finding is consistent with the observation in the literature that the aspects of the information quality should serve as a basis for evaluating the search outcomes from a semantic search engine. Measures under the information quality dimension that have a positive effect on informational gratification and user satisfaction were found to be recall and currency. Under the system quality dimension, response time and interactivity, were positively related to informational gratification. On the other hand, only one measure under the service quality dimension, reliability was found to have a positive relationship with user satisfaction. The results were based on the seven hypotheses that have been accepted. One may wonder why 15 out of the 23 hypotheses have been rejected and question the theoretical soundness of the model. However, the correlations between independent variables and dependent variables came out to be fairly high. This suggests that the structural equation model yielded results inconsistent with those of coefficient analysis, because the structural equation model intends to examine the relationship among independent variables as well as the relationship between independent variables and dependent variables. The findings offer some useful implications for owners of a semantic search engine, as far as the design and maintenance of the website is concerned. First, the system should be designed to respond to the user's query as fast as possible. Also it should be designed to support the search process by recommending, revising, and choosing a search query, so as to maximize users' interactions with the system. Second, the system should present search results with maximum recall and currency to effectively meet the users' expectations. Third, it should be capable of providing online services in a reliable and trustworthy manner. Finally, effective increase in user satisfaction requires the improvement of quality factors associated with a semantic search engine, which would in turn help increase the informational gratification for users. The proposed model can serve as a useful framework for measuring the success of a Web-based semantic search engine. Applying the search engine success framework to the measurement of search engine effectiveness has the potential to provide an outline of what areas of a semantic search engine needs improvement, in order to better meet information needs of users. Further research will be needed to make this idea a reality.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.196-204
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the in vivo and in vitro inhibitory effect of a traditional herbal complex (HC) extract prepared from a mixture of four oriental herbs (Dioscorea Rhizoma, Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc, Bombycis corpus, Fermented Glycine soja) that have been widely used for the treatment and prevention of diabetes mellitus on hyperglycemia. The water extract of HC showed potent inhibitory effect on $\alpha$-glucosidase with $IC_{50}$ value of 1.24 mg/mL. Additionally, the ethanol extract of HC was also found to exhibit significant inhibitory effect against protein tyrosine phosphatase $1{\beta}$ ($PTP1{\beta}$), which is known as a major regulator of both insulin and leptin signaling. In the $PTP1{\beta}$ inhibitory assay, the most active n-hexane fraction obtained from the ethanol extract of HC, was identified as a mixture of fatty acid derivatives by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In high-fat diet-low dose streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat, the water extract of HC improved the oral glucose intolerance as compared with rosiglitazone. HC also caused a marked decrease of body weight and fasting blood glucose and a significant improvement on glucose tolerance in metabolic syndrome mice model. These findings support that this traditional HC may be useful in the control of blood glucose in diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.216-224
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a community-based cancer patient management program (CBPCMP) which was collaborated between a hospice center and public health centers. Methods: The CBPCMP proceeded on four steps; 1) Signing agreements with three public health centers, 2) Enrolling the domiciliary terminal cancer patients, 3) Providing home hospice service, and 4) Inquiring patient's level of satisfaction. From February 1 to December 31 in 2009, 43 terminal cancer patients were referred and provided with home hospice service. The hospice team made a total of 605 visits. Medical records for each visit and data from satisfaction surveys were analyzed. Results: 76.7% of patients were older than 60 years, and 90.7% of the patients were alert. The level of functional status for 76.7% of patients rated as lower than ECOG grade 1. 62.8% of the patients or their caregivers signed hospice service agreements. On the initial evaluation, the most frequent reasons for referral were general weakness (86.0%), followed by anorexia (72.1%). Nurses visited the patients' most frequently (371 visits), followed by volunteers (216 visits). Nurses provided emotional support and health promotion counseling on 95.1% and 22.9% of visits, respectively. The mean satisfaction score rated by patients and their family was 4.45 out of 5. Conclusion: This study tested CBPCMP in collaboration with hospice centers and public health centers. CBPCMP showed a possibility to improve the quality of end of life care. To insure the quality care, however, the guidelines for home hospice service should be developed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.239-255
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to explore the care needs of family-caregivers caring for patients with a CVA and the level of self care of the patients. The subjects for the study were 112 patients with a CVA and their caregivers. These patients were seen in a hospital or out-patient-department(OPD) at two oriental medical hospital in Jeonbuk province. The survey instruments used in this study were Kang's ADL checklist for self care of patients and Kim's Likert-style checklist for care needs of family-caregivers to patient with CVA. The survey was conducted from July 4 to August 30, 1999. Internal validity by calculation of Cronbach's alpha was 0.95, which was regarded as high. The survey results were analyzed using the SPSS program, with percentages, means, t-test, ANOVA and Pearson's correlation coefficients. The results of this study are as follows : 1. The level of self care for patients with a CVA was : 1) complete dependence(M=14.9, 13.1%), 2) complete independence(M=23.6, 20.9%), 3) incomplete independence(M=23.9, 21.0%), 4) incomplete dependence(M=26.6, 25.0%), 5) dependence and independence(M=23.0, 20.0%). The items for which there was a high level of self care were : 1) drinking(M=3.62), 2) eating (M=3.25), 3) position returning(M=3.18) : and the items for which there was a low level of self care were : 1) ascending and descending stairs(M=2.08), 2) walking(M=2.47). 3) putting on and taking off trousers(M=2.55). 2. The mean score of the sum of the care needs of the family-caregivers was : 1) need for immediate care and help: 2) need of the way to communicate with patient: 3) need for education and assistance related to physical functional level: 4) need to be informed about the disease, treatment and care: 5) need for social support and consultation: 6) need for appreciation: 7) need for management of nursing problems related to immobility. The highest meed factor was the need for immediate care and help(M=3.47): and lowest need factor was the need for management of nursing problems related to immobility(M=2.80). 3. There were significant differences between the level of care need and general characteristic of the caregivers, there were family-caregivers age(P=0.001), marital status (P=0.276), occupation (P=0.006), monthly income(P=0.000), Patient's relationship to caregivers(P=0.004) and health(P=0.000). 4. There were significant differences between the level of self care and general characteristic of the patients, there were patient paralytic condition(P=0.01), blood pressure(P=0.01), and length of suffering(P=0.03). 5 There were significant differences between the level of care need and the general characteristic factors, which were CVA patient's blood pressure (P=0.05), problem of medical fee (P=0.05). 6. There was significantly correlation with the family-caregivers care need and the level of self care in the CVA patient(r=0.300, P=0.000). As a result, need to promote the level of self care in patients and to meet the care need of family-caregivers for more efficient nursing of CVA patients, is emphasized. Therefore more study is needed on an efficient way to provide rehabilitation and quality nursing interventions for family-caregivers and patients with CVA.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8607-8612
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• 2014

Background: Breast cancer patients experience a variety of altered appearance - such as loss or disfigurement of breasts, discolored skin, and hair loss - which result in psychological distress that affect their quality of life. This study aims to evaluate the impact of socioeconomic status on the altered appearance distress, body image, and quality of life among Korean breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at advocacy events held at 16 different hospitals in Korea. Subjects were eligible to participate if they were 18 years of age or older, had a histologically confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer, had no evidence of recurrence or metastasis, and had no psychological problems at the time of the survey. Employment status, marital status, education, and income were assessed for patient socioeconomic status. Altered appearance distress was measured using the NCI's cancer treatment side effects scale; body image and quality of life were measured by the EORTC QLC-C30 and BR23. Means and standard deviations of each outcome were compared by socioeconomic status and multivariate linear regression models for evaluating the association between socioeconomic status and altered appearance distress, body image, and quality of life. Results: A total of 126 breast cancer patients participated in the study; the mean age of participants was 47.7 (SD=8.4). Of the total, 83.2% were married, 85.6% received more than high school education, 35.2% were employed, and 41% had more than $3000 in monthly household income. About 46% had mastectomy, and over 30% were receiving either chemotherapy or radiation therapy at the time of the survey. With fully adjusted models, the employed patients had significantly higher altered appearance distress (1.80 vs 1.48; p<0.05) and poorer body image (36.63 vs 51.69; p<0.05) compared to the patients who were unemployed. Higher education (10.58, standard error (SE)=7.63) and family income (12.88, SE=5.08) was positively associated with better body image after adjusting for age, disease stage at diagnosis, current treatment status, and breast surgery type. Similarly, patients who were married and who had higher education had better quality of life were statistically significant in the multivariate models. Conclusions: Socioeconomic status is significantly associated with altered appearance distress, body image, and quality of life in Korean women with breast cancer. Patients who suffer from altered appearance distress or lower body image are much more likely to experience psychosocial, physical, and functional problems than women who do not, therefore health care providers should be aware of the changes and distresses that these breast cancer patients go through and provide specific information and psychosocial support to socioeconomically more vulnerable patients.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.133-144
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• 1986

This study was undertaken to assess the effect of ginseng administration on T lymphocyte induced local xenogenic graft-versus-host(GVM) reactions which were induced with thymocyte, spleen cell and lymph node cell of ICR mice. Mice received daily 10mg of 70% alcohol ginseng extract oral1y for 100days and control mice remained untreated for the same period of time. The cells from donor mice were injected intradermally into the closely shaven abdominal skin of Sprague-Dawley rats for GVH tests. The thymocyte from control(ginseng-untreated) mice showed a negative local GVH reaction, whereas thymocyte from experimental(ginseng-treated) mice showed a positive reaction with the rate of 17.4%. When spleen cells were injected, the incidence of positive local GVH reaction was 66.7% among ginseng-treated mice, as opposed to incidence of 45.5% of positive local GVH reaction among control mice. The incidence of positive local GVH reaction of the lymph node cells when injected into a recipient was 71.4% among ginseng-treated mice as compared with that of 18.9% among control mice. The relationship between spleen cell inoculum and intensity of the local GVH reaction was assessed in ginseng-untreated mice. The intensity of GVH reaction clearly appears to be dose related. In ginseng-treated mice, a minimum of $1{\times}10^7$ spleen cell was required for production of positive local GVH reaction with almost linear relationship up to an inoculum of $5{\times}10^8$ cells. In control mice, however, a minimum of $1{\times}10^8$ spleen cells was required for positive GVH reaction. These results strongly suggest that the ginseng administration augments significantly the local xenogenic GVH reaction which was used to assess T lymphocyte function and immunocompetence of mice and in addition to this, these results appear to support previous suggestions that the local GVH reaction consitutes a qualitative test of the functional activity of T lymphocytes. These results may be the first to induce local GVH reaction, employing rats as recipient and mice as donor. This study was also desingned to investigate some of the effects of ginseng extract on lymphocyte-macrophage interactions. This was accomplished by in vitro quantification of 1) migratory inhibitory factor(MIF) synthetic capacity of splenic lymphocytes in mice previously primed with ginseng 2) MIF responsiveness of mouse peritoneal macrophages or chicken peripheral leucocytes under the presence of ginseng extract 3) migration ability of chicken peripheral leucocytes by direct stimulation of ginseng extract or ginseng saponin and 4) immunosuppressive effects of immunosuppressants such as cyclophosphamide, cyclosporin A or dexamethasone. Mice divided equally into the ginseng and the saline groups, which received intraperitoneally daily 0.2ml of ginseng absolute alcohol-extract(5mg/ml) and same amount of saline for 15 days, respectively. The cellular immune responsiveness of these mice was assayed 15 days after ginseng pretreatment. Splenic lymphocytes of mice treated with ginseng, when stimulated with sensitized specific-antigen such as sheep red blood cells or toxoplasmin, or with polyclonal activator concanavalin A, produced significantly more MIF than those of control saline group. MIF responsiveness of normal mouse macrophages was significantly augmented when assayed under the presence of ginseng extract (1mg/ml). The migratory ability of normal chicken leucocytes in the absence of MIF was significantly decreased by the stimulation of ginseng extract alone. MIF response was significantly decreased by immunosuppressants and this impaired response was not restored by ginseng pretreatment. This study was additionally performed to evaluate the effect of ginseng on the expulsion of adult Trichinella spiralis in mice. ICR mice were infected experimentally by esophageal incubation of 300 T. spiralis infective muscle larvae prepared by acid-pepsin digestion of infected mice. and received oral administration of 70% alcohol ginseng extract(10mg/mouse/day) for the indicated days plus 4 days before infection. At various times after infection, the number of adult T. spiralis worms in small intestines was determined. Interestingly, ginseng-treatment was accompanied by accelerated expulson of T. spiralis. These results led to the conclusion that Panax ginseng caused some enhancing effect on GVH reaction, macrophage migration inhibition reaction and expulsion of T. spiralis. In addition these results suggested that the mechanisms responsible for this enhancement of ginseng may be chiefly or partially due to nonspecific stimulation of cell-mediated immune response.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2016

Black chokeberries (scientific name Aronia melanocarpa) have been reported to have major effects due to anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer capabilities. In this study, we investigated the anti- wrinkle effects of A. melanocarpa, including collagenase inhibition effects and their molecular biological mechanisms, such as oxidative stress-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, and activator protein (AP)-1 expression and/or phosphorylation. In collagenase inhibition activity, the ethyl acetate fraction of black chokeberry (AE) was 77.2% at a concentration of 500 μg/ml, which was a significant result compared to that of Epigallocatechin gallate (positive control, 83.9% in 500 μg/ml). In the reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, the AE produced 78% of ROS in 10 μg/ml and 70% of ROS in 75 μg/ml, which was a much lower percentage than the ROS production of H₂O₂-induced CCRF S-180II cells. In the MTT assay, cell viability was increased dose-dependently with AE in H₂O₂-induced cells. In protein expression by western blot assay, the AE suppressed the expression and phosphorylation of MMPs (MMP-1, -3, -9), MAPK (ERK, JNK, and p38), and AP-1 (c-Fos and c-Jun), and expressed the pro-collagen type I in H₂O₂-induced cells. These results suggest that black chokeberries have anti-wrinkle and collagen-production effects, and they may be used in applications for material development in the functional food and cosmetic industries.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.1304-1308
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• 2006

The present study describes the preliminary evaluation of the antioxidant activity and the cytotoxic effect of Ceramium kondoi. The antioxidant activities and cytotoxic effect of the water extracts were evaluated by total phenolic contents (TPC), DPPH radical scavenging activity (RSA), reducing power (RP), comet assay, and MTT reduction assay. TPC, DPPH RSA, and RP of the extract at the concentration of $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ was $659.2{\mu}M$, 86.0%, and 1.084, respectively, and those were concentration dependent. The $200{\mu}M\;H_2O_2-induced$DNA damage was inhibited by C. kondoi water extract in a dose dependent manner in human leukocytes. The inhibition was by 62.3, 39.8, 24.8% and 16.4% at the concentration of 5, 10, $25{\mu}g/mL$ and $50{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Cytotoxic activity on HT-29 cells and MCF-7 cells of the C. kondoi water extract at the concentration of $10{\mu}g/mL$ was 49% and 60%, respectively. These results strongly support the possibility of C. kondoi as a source of natural functional materials.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.500-508
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• 2011

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of jujube extracts on intestinal microflora, along with their antioxidant activities, according to extraction method. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts were measured using the agar diffusion method with a jujube extract concentration of 50 mg/mL. Neither the first nor second jujube extracts were inhibitory against the tested intestinal bacteria. However, water extracts of jujube significantly enhanced the growth of lactic acid bacteria, especially Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium adolescentis. Total phenol compounds and flavonoid compounds were higher in the 1st than in the 2nd water extracts. The EDA values of both water and ethanol extracts increased in proportion to the extract concentration. The 1st water extract showed the highest value among all the others, which was 85.60% at the concentration of 0.05 mg/mL. Furthermore, the 1st water extract showed stronger antioxidant activity than the other samples with an activity of 679.91 mg AA eq/g. These results support the potential use of jujube water extracts as a functional food component and a valuable resource for the development of nutraceutical foods, to increase the growth of Bifidobacterium spp. in the human intestine.