• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.334-348
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• 2017

Objectives: We investigated the impacts of indoor plants on indoor air quality and occupational health, focusing on allergic rhinconjunctivitis and stress among employees in new office buildings. Methods: A total of 34 employees working at new public office buildings were enrolled as subjects (n=17, with indoor plants) and as a control (n=17) group. Before and after introducing indoor plants for three months, indoor air quality measurements including VOCs and aldehydes and questionnaires on sick building syndrome, AR symptoms (ARIA based), stress (DASS 42, KOSS, and SACL), and indoor characteristics were performed and statistically analysed. Results: Among the 34 enrolled subjects, 19 were included in the probable AR subject group (subjects with indoor plants, n=8, control n=11) and completed all questionnaires. Statistical analyses were done for total, AR subject groups, and controls. As a result, it was confirmed that major indoor air pollutants decreased after the introduction of indoor plants (p<0.5). Among major symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, watery rhinorrhea, nasal stuffiness, and nasal itching indexes decreased (p<0.5, respectively). A decrease was noted in some areas of work-related stress indexes (mainly KOSS) among the subject group (total and AR) and a decrease of indoor environmental attractiveness among the control group (total and AR) (p<0.5, for all). Conclusions: Indoor plants may help reduce indoor air pollutants and decrease AR symptoms and work-related stress of employees in newly built office buildings. Various further follow-up studies on the mechanism of environmental, physical, and emotional influences and utilization of indoor plants in association with allergic diseases will be needed.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.45-53
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• 2013

Objectives Non-major depression with fewer symptoms than required for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th edition diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) has consistently been found to be associated with functional impairment. In this study, we aim to estimate the cognitive impairment and the quality of life in elderly patients with subsyndromal depression (SSD) compared with non-depressive elderly (NDE). Methods The Korean version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was administered to 194 outpatients with depression and 108 normal controls. SSD is defined as having five or more current depressive symptoms with core depressive symptoms (depressive mood or loss of interest or pleasure) during more than half a day and more than seven days over two weeks. Depression was evaluated by the Korean form of Geriatric Depression Scale of a 15-item short version. Global cognition was assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination in the Korean version of CERAD assessment packet (MMSE-KC). Subjective cognitive impairment was assessed by the Subjective Memory Complaint Questionnaire. Quality of life was evaluated by the Korean Version of Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey. Results The mean score of the MMSE-KC in the SSD group was lower than that in the NDE group with adjustment for age, gender, and education [F = 4.270, p = 0.04, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)]. If we defined those having Z-score of MMSE-KC < -1.5 as a high risk group of cognitive impairment, the odds ratio for the high risk group of cognitive impairment was 1.86 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.04-3.34] in SSD and 7.57 (95% CI 3.50-16.40) in MDD compared to NDE. The scores of physical component summary (F = 9.274, p = 0.003, ANCOVA) and mental component summary (F = 53.166, p < 0.001, ANCOVA) in the SSD group were lower than those in the NDE group with adjustment for age, gender, and education. Conclusions The subjects with SSD, as well as those with MDD, showed impairment of global cognition and also experienced low quality of life in both physical and mental aspects, compared to the NDE group.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.713-722
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association among nutrient intakes and health-related lifestyles with cardiovascular disease risk assessed by blood lipid profile according to Apolipoprotein E genotypes. Middle-aged industrial male workers who had completed their annual medical examination were recruited and data of 675 subjects who finished the nutrient survey were used in the analysis. Anthropometric parameters, dietary assessment (FFQ), health-related lifestyles and blood profiles were used for statistical analyses. Apo E genotype groups were classified into the following three genotypes: Apo E2 group (including E2/E2, E2/E3, E2/E4), Apo E3 group (including E3/E3), Apo E4 group (including E3/E4, E4/E4). The frequency of Apo E2, E3, and E4 allele were 13.3%, 75.0% and 11.7% respectively. There were no significant differences in the anthropometric parameters depending on different Apo E genotypes. Also, no significant differences in the nutrient intakes were found according to the genotype groups. The nutrient intakes of all subjects were similar to or higher than the level of KDRIs (Dietary Reference Intakes For Koreans) except for intakes of calcium (67.44% of KDRIs), vitamin A (73.83% of KDRIs) and vitamin $B_2$ (78.02% of KDRIs). Also, there were no significant differences of health-related lifestyles according to Apo E genotype groups. As for the lipid profiles, Apo E4 group had significantly higher total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations than the Apo E2 group (p < 0.05). We confirmed that plasma total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were greatly influenced by Apo E genotypes. However, nutrient intakes and health-related lifestyles were not associated with Apo E genotypes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2013

As the temperature data show a distribution pattern with a number of peaks, assumption of normal distribution will result in a serious bias in the analysis. In this study, the Gaussian Mixture Distribution (GMD), a type of bimodal distribution, is presumed as a frequency distribution for the water temperature, in order to estimate the optimal parameter and to carry out the relation analysis between the optimal parameter and the basic statistical information such as mean and variance on the data. By the way, an estimation formulae to compute the frequency distribution of the data is developed by computing the parameters of GMD (i.e. ${\alpha}_1$, ${\mu}_1$, ${\sigma}_1$, ${\alpha}_2$, ${\mu}_2$, ${\sigma}_2$) by means of the major characteristic values, such as mean, standard deviation and skewness of the data. The formulae shows an excellent coincidence with the result from the observation data, in the RMS limit accuracy of 5%.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 2005

Objectives:Hwa-byung has been studied clinically for several years and introduced as Korean Culture- Bound Syndrome. However, the definition and the diagnostic method are not yet clarified, and there has not been any sufficient comparative study on this disease entity. This study was conducted to determine the clinical symptoms and the profile of the neurocognitive functions in Hwa-byung(HB) and Major Depressive Disorder(MDD), and We wish to identify any critical factors that differentiate the disorders. Methods:A total of 102 participants were examined, including 34 participants with MDD, 34 with HB, and 34 healthy controls. The MDD and HB patients were recruited from among inpatients and outpatients at the National Medical Center for the period from May to December of 2004. As a major diagnostic tool of MDD, diagnostic reference of DSM-IV-TR was used and as HB's diagnostic tool, We used computerized neurocognitive function test. Psychiatric symptomatology was evaluated by the Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), and Symptom Checkist-90-Revision(SCL-90-R). Oneway ANOVA, Scheffe post-hoc test and Chi-Squre Tests were used for statistical analysis. Results:The participants in three groups did not differ in terms of age, sex, and education. Assessment of BDI indicated that the MDD group had significantly higher total score than the HB group. MDD and HB groups showed significantly higher total scores on the SCL-90-R in comparison to the controls. The MDD group was found to have significantly more symptoms of depression than the HB group, based on the depression subscale of the SCL-90-R. The computerized neurocognitive function test suggest several results 1) Within the memory domain, it was found that one of the two memory tests in MDD and HB groups were significantly impaired in comparison to the control group. 2) Within the attention domain, it was found that only the MDD group was significantly impaired in comparison to the control group. 3) Within the higher cortical function domain, it was found that significant impairment exist in MDD group and HB group compared to the control group; the severity of impairment was found to be more profound in the MDD group than in the HB group. Conclusion:These results suggest that both HB group and MDD group have significantly decreased neurocognitive function than the control group, and neurocognitive function of the HB group is better than that of the MDD group.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.203-212
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• 2009

The prediction of near field behavior around an underground high-level radioactive waste repository is important for the repository design as well as the safety assessment. In this study, a sensitivity analysis for seven parameters consisted of design parameters and material properties was carried out using a three-dimensional finite difference code. From the sensitivity analysis, it was found that the effects of borehole spacing, tunnel spacing, cooling time and rock thermal conductivity were more significant than the other parameters. For getting a statistical distribution of buffer and rock temperatures around the repository, an artificial neural network, backpropagation, was applied. The reliability of the trained neural network was tested with the cases with randomly chosen input parameters. When the parameter variation is within ${\pm}10%$, the prediction from the network was found to be reliable with about a 1% error. It was possible to calculate the temperature distribution for many cases quickly with the trained neural network. The buffer and rock temperatures showed a normal distribution with means of $98^{\circ}C$ and $83.9^{\circ}C$ standard deviations of $3.82^{\circ}C$ and $3.67^{\circ}C$, respectively. Using the neural network, it was also possible to estimate the required change in design parameters for reducing the buffer and rock temperatures for $1^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.4873-4880
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• 2010

This study adopted two instruments, i.e. Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14: index of patient's subjective oral health impact) and Todai Health Index (THI: index of patient's subjective systemic health) The Purpose of this study was to determine potential effects of oral health upon systemic health and quality of life (QOL) and provide required basic reference data for developing oral diseases prevention program and public oral health improvement As a result, it may contribute to improving health and quality of life in local community. Analysis on OHIP for subjective oral health conditions revealed that there were significant differences among all categories of self-aware oral health conditions on statistic basis and good oral health group showed significantly higher total OHIP points (4.33) than any other group. Analysis on THI for subjective oral health conditions showed that there were significant differences among all categories of self-aware oral health conditions on statistical basis and very good oral health group got higher total THI points (3.83) than any other group. Analysis on QOL for subjective oral health conditions suggested that there were significant differences among all categories of self-aware oral health conditions but social category and good oral health group got highest total QOL points (3.39) of all groups.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.131-146
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the correlation between Instrument on Pattern Identification for Depression and Psychological tests by Pearson Correlation Coefficient and Regression analysis.Methods: Two assessors carried out the evaluation using the instrument on pattern identification for depression. They also performed the following psychological tests: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI_Total), Self-disclosure Inventory, subjective well-being Inventory, Health perception Inventory, and Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). A total of 167 participants who got HAM-D score over 12 were targeted for the evaluation. Our research team carried out Pearson correlation coefficient analyses and regression analysis between pattern identification for depression and Psychological tests. We listed the results by descending order and interpreted the results.Results: Pearson correlation analysis revealed the following results: 1) Stagnation of Liver Gi was associated with BDI (0.60) and STAI (0.55); 2) Dual Deficiency of the Heart and Spleen was associated with BDI (0.60), ISI_Total (0.52), and STAI (0.42); 3) Relieving stagnation of Phlegm-Gi was associated with BDI (0.65), STAI (0.54), and Subjective well-being inventory (−0.52); 4) Gi-deficiency Mingled with sputum was associated with BDI (0.50), ISI_Total (0.40), and STAI (0.395); 5) Stagnant Gi transforming into fire was associated with BDI (0.56), STAI_TR (0.51), and Health perception Inventory (−0.458); 6) Yin-Deficiency with Effulgent Fire was associated with BDI (0.55), ISI_total (0.54), and STAI (0.41).Conclusions: Through correlation analysis between Instrument on Pattern Identification for Depression and Psychological tests, we could suggest a System for Oriental Medical Diagnosis for Depression.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.22 no.4 s.75
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• pp.31-42
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• 2004

This study develops Accident Modification Factors (AMF) of countermeasures with Baysian method which are newly proposed for reducing Roadway-Rail grade crossing accidents. This study proposes a new "Bayesian Analytical Framework" for countermeasure assessment which combines "Subjective" Prior Information with "Logical" based Information. The newly proposed "Bayesian Analytical Framework" consists of the following three steps: The 1st step - Countermeasure Selection, Choice of Participants, Selection of Crashes; The 2nd step-Development of Crash History Manual and Countermeasure Evaluation Manual; The 3rd step-Development of AMFs through sound statistical tests. This study used the Komogorov-Smirnov(K-S) Test to determine whether two unknown distribution functions associated with the two populations are identical. The results of the study are that individual responses did not meet the K-S test of identical distributions. while individual vs. group distributions are identical. This indicates that combining the input of several people reduces the impact of individual subjectivity and assumptions and is important for developing a repeatable distribution to develop sound AMFs of countermeasures for reducing Roadway-Rail grade crossing accidents. The procedures of the AMF development conducted in this study can be used to estimate the safety effects of countermeasures for road segments and intersections, in addition to Roadway-Rail grade crossings.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.977-987
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of sensory integration therapy (SIT) on sensory' motor development and adaptive behavior of cerebral palsy children. The design of this study was quasi experiments with a non-equivalent pre- and post-test control design. Subjects of the study were arbitrarily chosen based on predetermined selection criteria among the cerebral palsy children who were treated as out-patients at two rehabilitation hospitals one in Seoul, and the other in Kyunggi-do. The study was conducted between early April and late July in 2000. Fifteen children were in the experimental group and eleven in the control group. The allocation was done based on ease of experimental treatment. A five-step SIT program was devised from a combination of SIT programs suggested by Ayres(1985) and Finks(1989), and an author-designed SIT program for cerebral palsy children. The experimental group was subjected to 20 to 30 minutes of SIT per session. two sessions a week for ten -week period. The effects of SIT were measured with respect to 9 sub-areas that can be administered to cerebral palsy children out of a total of 17 sub-areas in the Southern California Sensory Integration Test (SCSIT) developed by Ayres (1980). In addition. the scale developed by Russell (1993) for Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). and Perception Motor Development Test developed by 中司利一 et al.(1987) were also applied. Adaptive behavior was analyzed using guidelines in two unpublished documents - School-Age Checklist for Occupational Therapy by the Wakefield Occupational Therapy Associates, and the OTA-Watertown Clinical Assessment by the Watertown Occupational Therapy Associates-, and an author-developed Adaptive Behavior Checklist. Collected data were statistically analyzed by SPSS PC for chi square test, Mann-Whitney test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and paired t-test. The results were as follows: 1. In sensory development, the experimental group exhibited a score increase compared to the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant, Although the experimental group showed improvements in all. 9 sub-areas compared to the control group, only right-left discrimination exhibited statistically significant change. 2. In gross motor development, the experimental group showed improvements in score compared to the control group, but it was not statistically significant. In fine motor development, the experimental group exhibited statistically significant improvements compared to the control group. In sub-area analysis, figure synthesis showed positive change. 3. In adaptive behavior development, post-experimental adaptive behavior scores were higher compared to pre-experimental scores with statistical significance. Furthermore, sub-areas emotional behavior, perception behavior, gross-fine motor function, oral-respiration function, motor behavior, motor planning, and adaptive response exhibited higher scores after SIT. In conclusion SIT was found to be partially effective in sensory and fine motor development, effective in all adaptive behavior areas, and not effective in gross motor development. Thus, this study has shown that SIT is an effective intervention for sensory development, fine motor development, and adaptive behavior for cerebral palsy children. But, for the effectiveness of SIT on gross motor development, further studies employing longer-time experiments are recommended.