• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.520-526
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• 2016

This study aims to develop a distress prediction model, in order to evaluate the distress prediction power for first-class hotels and to calculate the average financial ratio in the Seoul area by using the financial ratios of hotels in 2015. The sample data was collected from 19 first-class hotels in Seoul and the financial ratios extracted from 14 of these 19 hotels. The results show firstly that the seven financial ratios, viz. the current ratio, total borrowings and bonds payable to total assets, interest coverage ratio to operating income, operating income to sales, net income to stockholders' equity, ratio of cash flows from operating activities to sales and total assets turnover, enable the top-level corporations to be discriminated from the failed corporations and, secondly, by using these seven financial ratios, a discriminant function which classifies the corporations into top-level and failed ones is estimated by linear multiple discriminant analysis. The accuracy of prediction of this discriminant capability turned out to be 87.9%. The accuracy of the estimates obtained by discriminant analysis indicates that the distress prediction model's distress prediction power is 78.95%. According to the analysis results, hotel management groups which administrate low level corporations need to focus on the classification of these seven financial ratios. Furthermore, hotel corporations have very different financial structures and failure prediction indicators from other industries. In accordance with this finding, for the development of credit evaluation systems for such hotel corporations, there is a need for systems to be developed that reflect hotel corporations' financial features.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.56-66
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Despite successes recorded in combating iodine deficiency, more than 2 billion people are still at risk of iodine deficiency disorders. Rural landlocked and mountainous areas of developing countries are the hardest hit, hence the need to explore and advance novel strategies such as biofortification. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We evaluated adoption, purchase, and consumption of iodine biofortified vegetable legumes (IBVL) using the theory of protection motivations (PMT) integrated with an economic valuation technique. A total of 1,200 participants from three land-locked locations in East Africa were recruited via multi-stage cluster sampling, and data were collected using two, slightly distinct, questionnaires incorporating PMT constructs. The survey also elicited preferences for iodine biofortified foods when offered at a premium or discount. Determinants of protection motivations and preferences for iodine biofortified foods were assessed using path analysis modelling and two-limit Tobit regression, respectively. RESULTS: Knowledge of iodine, iodine-health link, salt iodization, and biofortification was very low, albeit lower at the household level. Iodine and biofortification were not recognized as nutrient and novel approaches, respectively. On the other hand, severity, fear, occupation, knowledge, iodine status, household composition, and self-efficacy predicted the intention to consume biofortified foods at the household level; only vulnerability, self-efficacy, and location were the most crucial elements at the school level. In addition, results demonstrated a positive willingness-to-pay a premium or acceptance of a lesser discount for biofortification. Furthermore, preference towards iodine biofortified foods was a function of protection motivations, severity, vulnerability, fear, response efficacy, response cost, knowledge, iodine status, gender, age. and household head. CONCLUSIONS: Results lend support for prevention of iodine deficiency in unprotected populations through biofortification; however 'threat' appraisal and socio-economic predictors are decisive in designing nutrition interventions and stimulating uptake of biofortification. In principle, the contribution is threefold: 1) Successful application of the integrated model to guide policy formulation; 2) Offer guidance to stakeholders to identify and tap niche markets; 3) stimulation of rural economic growth around school feeding programmes.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.209-220
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• 2002

We carried out studies on SAR image intensity and interferometric phase over oyster sea farms. Strong backscattering was observed in amplitude images, and that was considered as a radar signal double bouncing from horizontal bars. These sea farming structures are not visible in satellite optical images except IKONOS image, so that it demonstrates the value of radar remote sensing as an effective tool in support of sea farm detection. The intensity of the image is sensitive to system parameters including wavelength, polarization, and look direction, but does not correlate to tide height. We found that the strongest backscattering can be obtained by L-band HH-polarization with a look direction perpendicular to the horizontal bar. We also succeeded in generating 21 coherent JERS-1 SAR interferometric pairs over the oyster farms. The general trend of the fringe rate of the interferometric phases appeared to be governed by altitude of ambiguity. The general trend was modeled by an inverse function and removed to have a residual phase. The residual phase showed a linear relation with the tide height. The results demonstrate for the first time that SAR can possibly be used to estimate sea level. However, the r.m.s. error of a regression line is 11.7 cm, and that is so far too large to make reliable assessments of sea level in practical applications. Further studies is required to improve the accuracy specifically using multi-polarization SAR data.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare Studies
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.57-83
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• 2013

There has neither been enough research on how to approach the concept of active aging through an integrated view nor an examination to verify the relationship between preparation for old age and active aging in later life. Therefore, this research aims to verify that the elderly, who have prepared for their later life, affected their active aged life. In addition, by setting up self-efficacy and social support as mediator in the research model, this paper looks into the psycho-social resource mechanism of the relationship in depth. In order to verify the correlation of two variables, the Seoul welfare panel data, a mediating model structured by psycho-social resources created by Seoul welfare foundation in 2010, was used. The total sample size was a group of 1,492 elders aged over 65. When it came to our research methods, structured equation analysis was applied to verify the mediating effect and theoretical background. The results revealed that physical preparation, financial preparation, social preparation and leisure preparation directly affected their active aging level positively, thus, psycho-social resources showed a partial mediating effect between preparation for old age of the past and active aging level. The research implications are as follows. First, this research makes an effort to approach the concept of preparation for old age with an integrated perspective through making a construct by entire preparation types. Second, it will attempt to verify the relationship between preparation for old age in the past and active aging in terms of multi-dimension is meaningful. Third, this research reveals the function of psycho-social resource, self-efficacy and social support within the relationship. As far as the partial mediating effect is concerned, preparation for old age education for the middle-aged class should be modified as a decent field to enhance of the elderly.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.272-277
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• 2006

This study was undertaken to determine whether the 9 herbal complex induces apoptosis in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and adriamycin-resistant MCF7/adR cells. Ethanol extracts of Bojungbangamtang (BBTE) and acidic polysaccharide of Red Ginseng (GIN) induced cell death in both MCF-7 and MCF7/adR cells. Ethanol extracts of Bojungbangamtang and acidic polysaccharide of Red Ginseng also induced $G_2/M$ cell cycle arrest and increased TUNEL positive cells in MCF7/adR cells. In addition, flow cytometric analysis revealed the decreased expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in ethanol extracts of Bojungbangamtang and acidic polysaccharide of Red Ginseng treated MCF7/adR cells. Similarly, decreased protein levels of P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance associated proteins-1 were also determined by immunocytometry in ethanol extracts of Bojungbangamtang treated MCF7/adR cells. Taken together these data indicate that ethanol extracts of Bojungbangamtang and acidic polysaccharide of Red Ginseng inhibit the function of ABC transporters such as multi drug resistance associated proteins (MRPs) and P-glycoprotein as well as induce apoptosis in MCF7/adR cells. Thus, these data suggest that ethanol extracts of Bojungbangamtang and polysaccharide of Red Ginseng can be candidates for the treatment of multidrug-resistant MCF7/adR cells.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.309-316
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• 2021

Sepsis is a physiological response to a source of infection that triggers mechanisms that compromise organ function, leading to death if not treated early. Biomarkers with high sensitivity, specificity, speed, and accuracy that could differentiate sepsis from non-infectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) could bring about a revolution in sepsis treatment. Given the limitations and time required for microbial verification of pathogens, the accurate diagnosis of infection before employing antibiotic therapy is important and clinically necessary. Procalcitonin (PCT), lactate, C-reactive protein (CRP), cytokines, and proadrenomedullin (ProADM) are the common biomarkers used for diagnosis. The procalcitonin (PCT)-guided antibiotic treatment in patients with acute respiratory infections effectively reduces antibiotic exposure and side effects while improving survival rates. The evidence regarding sepsis screening in hospitalized patients is limited. Clinicians, researchers, and healthcare decision-makers should consider these findings and limitations when implementing screening tools, future research, or policy on sepsis recognition in hospitalized patients. The use of biomarkers in pediatric sepsis is promising, although such use should always be correlated with clinical evaluation. Biomarkers may also improve the prediction of mortality, especially in the early phase of sepsis, when the levels of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines and proteins are elevated.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.302-310
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• 2018

CD47 (integrin-associated protein), a multi-spanning transmembrane protein expressed in all cells including red blood cells (RBCs) and leukocytes, interacts with signal regulatory protein ${\alpha}$ ($SIRP{\alpha}$) on macrophages and thereby inhibits phagocytosis of RBCs. Recently, we generated a novel C57BL/6J CD47 knockout ($CD47^{-/-}$ hereafter) mouse line by employing a CRISPR/Cas9 system at Center for Mouse Models of Human Disease, and here report their hematological phenotypes. On monitoring their birth and development, $CD47^{-/-}$ mice were born viable with a natural male-to-female sex ratio and normally developed from birth through puberty to adulthood without noticeable changes in growth, food/water intake compared to their age and sex-matched wild-type littermates up to 26 weeks. Hematological analysis revealed a mild but significant reduction of RBC counts and hemoglobin in 16 week-old male $CD47^{-/-}$ mice which were aggravated at the age of 26 weeks with increased reticulocyte counts and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), suggesting hemolytic anemia. Interestingly, anemia in female $CD47^{-/-}$ mice became evident at 26 weeks, but splenomegaly was identified in both genders of $CD47^{-/-}$ mice from the age of 16 weeks, consistent with development of hemolytic anemia. Additionally, helper and cytotoxic T cell populations were considerably reduced in the spleen, but not in thymus, of $CD47^{-/-}$ mice, suggesting a crucial role of CD47 in proliferation of T cells. Collectively, these findings indicate that our $CD47^{-/-}$ mice have progressive hemolytic anemia and splenic depletion of mature T cell populations and therefore may be useful as an in vivo model to study the function of CD47.

• 한국노년학
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2018

Everyday hearing handicap caused by presbycusis ultimately reduces quality of life in older adults. The aim of this study was to explore effects of cognitive impairment on self-reported hearing handicap in older adults with early-stage presbycusis. We compared K-HHIE scores between 40 elderly subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and age- and hearing-threshold matched 40 cognitively normal elderly (CNE) subjects. The results are as follows: 1) The MCI group scored significantly higher than the CNE group on the social/situational and emotional sections, and in total. 2) The MCI group scored significantly higher than the CNE group on all four subscales, and the most significant group difference was on the first subscale relating to interpersonal relationships and social handicaps. 3) Both groups scored highest on the item 8 (problems hearing whispering sounds) and item 15 (problems hearing TV or radio sounds). Besides those two items, the MCI group also scored high on the item 21 (problems hearing in a restaurant), item 6 (problems hearing when attending a party), item 3 (avoiding groups of people), and item 20 (personal or social restrictions). Our findings suggest that, among older adults with early-stage presbycusis, older adults with cognitive impairment tend to report greater everyday hearing handicap than their peers with normal cognitive function. Especially, they show significant problems hearing in background noise or multi-talker situations, which cause social restrictions and social/emotional loneliness.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.470-476
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• 2018

Facial motor evoked potential (FMEP) by multi-pulse transcranial electrical stimulation (mpTES) can complement free-running electromyography (EMG) and direct facial nerve stimulation to predict the functional integrity of the facial nerve during cerebello-pontine angle (CPA) tumor surgery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the standardized test methods and the usefulness of FMEP as a predictor of facial nerve function and to minimize the incidence of facial paralysis as an aftereffect of surgery. TES was delivered through electrode Mz (cathode) - M3/M4 (anode), and extracranially direct distal facial muscle excitation was excluded by the absence of single pulse response (SPR) and by longer onset latency (more than 10 ms). FMEP from the orbicularis oris (o.oris) and the mentalis muscle simultaneously can improve the accuracy and success rate compared with FMEP from the o.oris alone. Using the methods described, we can effectively predict facial nerve outcomes immediately after surgery with a reduction of more than 50% of FMEP amplitude as a warning criterion. In conclusion, along with free-running EMG and direct facial nerve stimulation, FMEP is a useful method to reduce the incidence of facial paralysis as a sequela during CPA tumor surgery.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.638-649
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of the cognitive function test tool in the clinical or multi-life environment for the elderly and high-risk demented subjects after the development of the non-clinical dementia early diagnosis test content(Co-Wis) based on the contents of the International Clinical Data Standard(CDISC TAUG-Alzheimer's v 2.0, SDTMIG v3.3) And to verify the validity and reliability of the data. To do this, after searching for dementia diagnosis process, we developed a non-clinical dementia diagnosis content(Co-Wis) that can supplement the shortcomings of the existing paper test. We selected 30 subjects from elders who were over 60 years old and verified the validity of test and the reliability of retest among cognitive domains of the Korean MMSE-K, Seoul Neuropsychological Test(SNSB-II) and non-medication dementia diagnosis content(Co-Wis). As a result, we showed high correlation and reliability in all cognitive domains. However, the limitations of insufficient subjects and regional distribution were identified. Based on the results of the study, we discussed the necessity of supplementing and expanding further studies such as various methods of verifying validity and reliability.