• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.48
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• pp.223-252
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• 2017

This study explores effects of two types of chatbots - voice-based and text-based - on Korean EFL learners' speaking competence and learner perception. Participants were 80 freshmen students taking an English-speaking class at a university in Korea. They were divided into two experimental groups at random. During the sixteen-week experimental period, participants engaged in 10 chat sessions with the two different types of chatbots. To take a close examination of effects on the improvement of speaking competence, they took the TOEIC speaking test as pre- and post-tests. Structured questionnaire-based surveys were conducted before and after treatment to determine if there are changes in perception. Findings reveal two chatbots effectively contribute to improvement of speaking competence among EFL learners. Particularly, the voice-based chatbot was as effective as the text-based chatbot. An analysis of survey results indicates perception of chatbot-assisted language learning changed positively over time. In particular, most participants preferred voice-based chatbot over text-based chatbot. This study provides insight on the use of chatbots in EFL learning, suggesting that EFL teachers should integrate chatbot technology in their classrooms.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of Lee Silverman Voice Treatment-BIG(LSVT-BIG) intervention which consisted of standardized exercise programs and occupation-based activities for people with Parkinson Disease(PD) on motor functions and quality of life Methods: This study applied a one group pretest-posttest design. The experiment was divided into two parts: pre intervention and post intervention period. Before and after LSVT-BIG intervention, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale(UPDRS), Time up and go(TUG), Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39(PDQ-39) were used to measure the participants' motor functions and quality of life. Based on the LSVT-BIG protocol, three participants received 16 one-hour sessions over 4 weeks by a certified occupational therapist. The results were analyzed by using SPSS. Results: There were improvements in UPDRS and TUG. Additionally, PDQ-39 scores decreased in all participants, which means that their quality of life was improved. Conclusions: The study demonstrated positive effects of LSVT-BIG intervention on motor functions and quality of life of patients with PD.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2015

This paper deals with the correlation between physical fatigue and speech signals. A treadmill task to increase fatigue and a set of subjective questionnaire for rating tiredness were designed. The results from the questionnaire and the collected bio-signals showed that the designed task imposes physical fatigue. The t-test for two-related-samples between the speech signals and fatigue showed that the parameters statistically significant to fatigue are fundamental frequency, first and second formant frequencies, long term average spectral slope, smoothed pitch perturbation quotient, relative average perturbation, pitch perturbation quotient, cepstral peak prominence, and harmonics to noise ratio. According to the experimental results, it is shown that mouth is opened small and voice is changed to be breathy as the physical fatigue accumulates.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.319-325
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• 2022

By using the Blackboard (BB) system in the education sector, the educational process for both academics and students is facilitated. Two data resources were used to evaluate the use of the BB system by students of Umm Al-Qura University: statistical reports issued by the university and an online questionnaire. A total of 989 students from all colleges and different programmes provided by the university responded to the questionnaire survey. According to our findings, most students did not use the BB before the pandemic. Therefore, the sudden conversion to the BB system required intensive training courses. After the data analysis, the relationship between the use of the BB system before the pandemic and the problems students faced during the lockdown was revealed. The most critical issues raised by the respondents were: (1) "The voice of the lecturer went on and off during BB collaborate class", (2) "internet connection of the lecturer went on and off during BB collaborate class" and (3) "High possibility of IT problems during exams".

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

1. Objectives : In Sasang constitutional medicine, it has been known that diagnosing Sasang constitution correctly is mostly important. We had developed an Integrated Sasang Constitutional Analysis Tool (SCAT) ${\beta}$-version using face, voice, body shape and questionnaire before. The purpose of this study is to suggest whether SCAT ${\beta}$-version is reliable or not. 2. Methods : We collected 371 subjects from 6 oriental medical clinics. We analyzed the Sasang constitutional diagnostic results using Kappa and coincidence rates between experts in Sasang constitution and SCAT ${\beta}$-version which was developed on the basis of face, body shape, voice and characteristics and symptom questionnaire data. 3. Results : The agreement rates between SCAT ${\beta}$-version and experts was 69.3% in total, and 73.2%, in Taeeumin, 70.8% in Soeumin, and 56.9% in Soyangin in detailed. The Kappa was 0.510 (p value<.000). There was an increasing trend of agreement rates and kappa value corresponded to increasing constitutional probability. When The constitutional probabilities were changed from below 40%, to over 40%, 50%, 60%, the agreement rates corresponded from 50.8% to 79.5%, 91.4%, 95.7% respectively. 4. Conclusions : A SCAT combined with a constitutional probability seemed to help experts to diagnose a patient's Sasang constitution correctly.

• Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.354-361
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of injection laryngoplasty (IL) with hyaluronic acid in patients with vocal fold paralysis (VFP). Methods: A total of 50 patients with VFP participated in this study. Pre- and post-IL assessments were performed, which included analyzing the sustained vowel /a/ phonation, and the patient reading 1 Korean sentence from the "Walk" passage that comprised 25 syllables in 10 words. To investigate the effect of IL on vocal fold function, acoustic analysis (acoustic voice quality index, cepstral peak prominence, maximum phonation time, speaking fundamental frequency) was conducted and auditory-perceptual (grade and overall severity), visual judgment (gap), and self-questionnaire (voice handicap index-10) assessments were performed. Results: The patients with VFP showed statistically significant differences between pre-and post-IL assessments for acoustic and auditory-perception, visual judgment, and self-questionnaire assessments. Conclusion: The patients with VFP showed positive change in vocal fold function between pre- and post-IL measurements. The findings showed that IL with hyaluronic acid is an effective method to improve vocal fold function in patients with VFP.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.660-670
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• 2021

As various people use the cafe for various purposes, it is difficult to hear conversations with the accompanying people due to the noise and background music of people around the respondents. In addition, there is a need for improvement related to the noise and sound inside the cafe, such as making it easier to hear the conversations of nearby users. 212 adult men and women participated in the questionnaire on the survey on cafe acoustics and noise conditions. As a result of the survey, about two-thirds of the respondents said that they did not prefer noisy cafes, and that the noise of cafes had a negative effect. The major source of noise in cafes is the sound of people around users, and more than 40 % of the respondents said that they could not hear well the sound of conversations with their accompanying people due to the sounds of those around them, or that they were concerned about their own conversations being transmitted to those around them. As a result of the survey on cafe sound and noise, it was found that improvements were needed to secure the voice privacy of cafe users as well as the voice intelligibility.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.77-92
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• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study was to distribute children by Sasang constitution through voice analysis, and to investigate the difference of physical and physiological characteristics in constitutions. Material and Methods : The subjects were 380 children aged between 5 and 6 who had been attending kindergartens. In April 2006, children were examined to make a diagnosis of Sasangin by PSSC-2004. Their parents responded the questionnaire on the children's characterist as eating habit, digestion, defecation, urination and perspiration. Results : Sasang constitution composed of 55.0% Soeumin, 1.8% Soyangin and 43.2% were Taeumin, and there were no significant physical and physiological differences in those groups. Conclusion : In this study, we tried to figure out some physical and physiological characteristics differences in Sasang constitution by using PSSC-2004. Statistically, however, there were no remarkable differences and we needed more specific studies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2005

Objectives: Prospective study of quality of life in patients underwent microlaryngeal surgery for dysphonia was performed. Materials and Methods : 51 patients with dysphonia took part in the study, and patients with malignancies or functional voice disorder were excluded. Patients were asked to complete the SF-36 questionnaire before surgery and within 6-12 months after surgery. Preoperative and postoperative SF-36 scores were compared with data on 46 age-matched healthy controls. Results The most of SF-36 subscale scores showed significantly improvement after surgery, except of PF (physical functioning) and MH (mental health). Preoperative scores had significantly poorer than the normal controls on 6 subscales, but there is no statistically significant differences between postoperative scores and normal controls on 5 subscales. Conclusion In the study, patients with organic voice disorder show improvement in quality of life after microlaryngeal surgery.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2024

The significance of self-reported voice assessments concerning patients' chief complaints and quality of life has increased. Therefore, readability assessments of questionnaire items are essential. In this study, readability analyses were performed based on text grade and complexity, vocabulary frequency and grade, and lexical diversity of the 11 Korean versions of self-reported voice disorder questionnaires (KVHI, KAVI, KVQOL, K-SVHI, K-VAPP, K-VPPC, TVSQ, K-VDCQ, K-VFI, K-VTDS, and K-VoiSS). Additionally, a comparative readability assessment was conducted on the original versions of these questionnaires to discern the differences between their Korean counterparts and the questionnaires for children. Consequently, it was determined that voice disorder questionnaires could be used without difficulty for populations with lower literacy levels. Evaluators should consider subjects' reading levels when conducting assessments, and future developments and revisions should consider their reading difficulties.