• Atmosphere
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.267-277
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• 2012

The objectives of this study are to develop a real-time drought monitoring and prediction system on the East Asia domain and to evaluate the performance of the system by using past historical drought records. The system is mainly composed of two parts: drought monitoring for providing current drought indices with meteorological and hydrological conditions; drought outlooks for suggesting future drought indices and future hydrometeorological conditions. Both parts represent the drought conditions on the East Asia domain (latitude $21.15{\sim}50.15^{\circ}$, longitude $104.40{\sim}149.65^{\circ}$), Korea domain (latitude $30.40{\sim}43.15^{\circ}$, longitude $118.65{\sim}135.65^{\circ}$) and South Korea domain (latitude $30.40{\sim}43.15^{\circ}$, longitude $118.65{\sim}135.65^{\circ}$), respectively. The observed meteorological data from ASOS (Automated Surface Observing System) and AWS (Automatic Weather System) of KMA (Korean Meteorological Administration) and model-driven hydrological data from LSM (Land Surface model) are used for the real-time drought monitoring, while the monthly and seasonal weather forecast information from UM (Unified Model) of KMA are utilized for drought outlooks. For the evaluation of the system, past historical drought records occurred in Korea are surveyed and are compared with the application results of the system. The results demonstrated that the selected drought indices such as KMA drought index, SPI (3), SPI (6), PDSI, SRI and SSI are reasonable, especially, the performance of SRI and SSI provides higher accuracy that the others.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.23-28
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• 2020

Purpose: Temporomadibular disorders (TMDs) can result in chronic pain, which is often associated with psychological and sleep disturbance. Increased levels of psychological and sleep impairments are often related with poor treatment outcomes. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate clinical features, psychological profiles and the prevalence of clinical insomnia in TMD patients with chronic pain and to suggest an effective treatment approach. Methods: A total of 200 TMD patients who had visited the Pusan National University Hospital dental clinic for treatment of their pain were recruited from June 2018 through December 2019. TMD patients were classified into an acute (n=100) and chronic (n=100) group and compared the clinical symptoms. The primary diagnosis of TMD were categorized as TMD with joint pain group (TMD_J), TMD with muscle pain group (TMD_M) and TMD with joint-muscle mixed pain group (TMD_JM). Self- report measures of sleep quality and psychological profiles were evaluated via the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and the Korean Stress Response Inventory (SRI). Independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U-tests, and chisquared test were used for the statistical analysis. Results: Chronic TMD patients showed higher pain intensity, as well as higher prevalence of related symptoms (headache, musculoskeletal pain) and myogenous pain. They also had significantly higher scores in all SRI parameters and a higher percentage of clinical insomnia than acute TMD patients. Conclusions: Based on the above results, psychological profiles and sleep quality assessments are necessary to provide essential data that will allow for improved treatment of chronic TMD patients.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.63-78
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• 2018

Pagodas in Myanmar can be largely divided into Zedi and Pato. Zedi is a developed form of the early domed pagodas in India and Sri Lanka, which can be found in the introduction of Buddhism in Myanmar and the comparison of early pagodas in India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. On the other hand, Pato is where statues of Buddha were enshrined, which is why many scholars referred to it as a temple. However, this study proposes that Pato shall be referred to as a temple-style pagoda in a form unique to Myanmar, based on the origin of Pato, definition of pagodas, and Sarira Enrichment Record of Pato. Moreover, it seems more appropriate to name this type of structure Stupa Temple(塔殿) or Stupa Shrine(塔堂) rather than a Buddhist temple(佛殿) or Buddhist shrine(佛堂) for clear distinction. Pato, or temple-style pagodas, has a ${\acute{S}}ikhara-style$ structure at the center like Ananda Pato upon entering the Pagan (Bagan) kingdom period, on which Zedi-style structures are built. As a result of examining the integration of various Buddhist schools and religions focused on Theravada during the period of King Anawrahta and King Kyanzittha, the ${\acute{S}}ikhara-style$ structure is a symbolic representation of the fact that Theravada embraced Hinduism. The common features shared by pagodas in Myanmar are the centrality of place and the verticality of $y{\check{a}}ngti{\bar{a}}n$ (looking up to the sky) in terms of shape. All temples are placed at the most important and central space, and their forms represent strong religious $y{\check{a}}ngti{\bar{a}}n$ and verticality. These are the features that stand out most among various pagodas in Buddhist countries.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.280-287
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• 2016

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) has a long history in Sri Lanka and was found to be endemic in various parts of the country and constitutes a constant threat to farmers. In Sri Lanka, currently there is no regular, nationwide vaccination programme devised to control FMD. Therefore, improving farmers' knowledge regarding distinguishing FMD from other diseases and ensuring prompt reporting of any suspicion of FMD as well as restricting movement of animals are critical activities for an effective FMD response effort. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between farmers' knowledge levels and their behaviors to establish a strategy to control FMD. In our study, item count technique was applied to estimate the number of farmers that under-report and sell FMD-infected animals, although to do so is prohibited by law. The following findings were observed: about 63% of farmers have very poor knowledge of routes of FMD transmission; 'under-reporting' was found to be a sensitive behavior and nearly 23% of the farmers were reluctant to report FMD-infected animals; and 'selling FMD-infected animals' is a sensitive behavior among high-level knowledge group while it is a non-sensitive behavior among the low-level knowledge group. If farmers would understand the importance of prompt reporting, they may report any suspected cases of FMD to veterinary officials. However, even if farmers report honestly, they do not want to cull FMD-infected animals. Thus, education programs should be conducted not only on FMD introduction and transmission, but also its impact. Furthermore, consumers may criticize the farmers for culling their infected animals. Hence, not only farmers, but also consumers need to be educated on the economic impact of FMD and the importance of controlling an outbreak. If farmers have a high knowledge of FMD transmission, they consider selling FMD-infected animals as a sensitive behavior. Therefore, severe punishment should be levied for selling FMD-infected animals.

• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.55-94
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• 2010

Even Faxian(法顯)'s Gaosengfaxianchuan (『高僧法顯傳』) and Iching(義淨)'s Nanhaijiguineifachuan (『南海寄歸內法傳』) are regarded as very important and useful documents to study the southeast asian buddhist culture, it is very difficult to grasp the contemporary state of those area because their descriptions are very brief and implicit. Therefore this essay aimed an in-depth reading their documents as original texts of modern understanding of those area, and tried to make a new views to approach the southeast asian buddhist culture by some more historically and concretely. At the early 5th century when Faxian(法顯) arrived, Buddhism was flourished in Sri Lanka. Because already a long time passed since the Saṇgha was schismatized into conservative and progressive at around the dominical year, he mentioned nothing about the conflict or disharmony of two orders. And the faith of Buddha tooth relic, which had been uprisen at 50 years ago from Faxian's visiting, was concretely established as a representative religion of Sri Lanka. According to his record, the carrying ritual of this Buddha tooth was performed very magnificently as similar with recent Korean Youngsan ceremony(靈山齋). In the mean time, it looks there were many sculptures of Buddha image made of precious stone of special product from Sri Lanka. The faith of Buddha-pāda(the Buddha's foot-prints) was also generalized at that time. The most famous monk of his contemporary Sir Lanka was Buddhaghosa, the author of Visuddhi-magga, but it is not sure that Faxian had met him. It can be suspected that the funeral in which Faxian participated could be belonged to him, or the Visuddhi-magga was writing at the peak during Faxian's staying. On the way to return to China, Faxian embarked an indigenous ship around Indonesia. It means there were no chinese trade ship which he can use. So the trade between china and southeast asia was advanced by south asian ships, and the chinese ships were not yet joined at that time so activity. And at least until that time, it looks there were no any remarkable buddhist movement in the southeast asian countries by where he stopped. In contrast, the southeast asian world which be seen by Iching had already experienced a lot of changes. He was impressed by the high quality buddhist culture of those area, and insisted to accept it to china. Further, he analyzed the sects of buddhism which were prevalent around the southeast asia in his contemporary time, and tried to make a good relationship with each native monks for learning from them. It looks the center of those exchanges may be Śrīvijaya of Indonesia. He also mentioned the situation of the late 7th century's Funan(扶南) in Cambodia. At that time, the buddhist Saṇgha was oppressed by newly rising Khmer(眞臘). On the other hand, he described the points of sameness and difference in detail between Indian and southeast asian buddhist culture in the field of ritual as like the practical use of garments, buddha images, and daily recited scriptures. There must be a lot of another aspects which this essay couldn't gather up or catch from these documents. Nevertheless, I hope this essay can help the researchers of this field and will wait for any advices and comments from them.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.586-596
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• 1998

The relevance and importance of buffalo production under coconut plantations in the North Westen Province of Sri Lanka was studied in three districts (Bingiriya, Pannala, Kuliyapitiya). The objective of the study was to collect baseline information on socioeconomic and cultural aspects of buffalo production, with a view to promote and disseminate new technologies. The survey technique used consisted of a formal survey using a structured questionnaire (71 households) and rapid appraisal (55 households). The results indicate the existence of a wide stratification of dariy farmers which ranged from skilled dairy operators with high levels of production and management of efficiency to marginal subsistence farmers with low levels of productivity. The most frequent family size of households ranged from 4-5 members (58%), and the average family size was 4.7. The actual average land ownership accounts to 2.4 ha of upland and 0.5 ha of lowland, but when their accessibility to common property resources are taken into account, the land availability was assessed at 13 ha and 0.7 ha of upland and lowland, respectively. The highest average monthly income (Rs. 13,590) was received by farmers with off-farm employment (primary) who are also engaged in livestock production (secondary), and livestock contributed 43% of the total income. Livestock farmers who practised integrated crop farming as a secondary source of income received a monthly income of Rs. 10,843, and those involved in crop production as the primary source received the lowest average income (Rs. 7,295). The survey revealed a high investment cost on concentrate feeds (47%) for milk production. However some farmers obtained higher milk yields (11 litres/cow/day) at lower ration costs, and this could be attributed to the entrepreneurship skills and management efficiency. The study area had a well developed market infrastructure for fresh milk, principally due to the existence of the Nestle's company and the Coconut Triangle Milk Union. On an average the producer collected Rs. 10 per litre of milk marketed.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Clinical Electrophysiology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2005

This study aimed at examining the maximal isometric contraction caused by voluntary exercise and at comparing its aspects of decrease and restoration in their different repeated application, as to the quadriceps muscles of thigh in the subjects composed of patients with spastic hemiplegia and normal adults. Using isokinetic exercise analyser(Biodex Medical Systems Inc., Biodex System 3PRO, U.S.A.), experiment was conducted as to the normal group composed of fifteen adults and the patient group composed of fifteen patients with spastic hemiplegia. As to each group, MVIC(maximal voluntary isometric contraction) of the quadriceps muscle of thigh caused by voluntary exercise and the aspects of decrease and restoration of the isometric contraction were examined with the method to induce isometric exercise, and their SDI(strength decrement index) and SRI(strength recovery index) were also calculated. The results can be summarized as follows: 1. As for decrease of maximal isometric contraction, both groups showed slow decrease in voluntary exercise, but the normal group showed rapid decrease later phase. 2. As for SDI, no significant differences could be observed in comparison between groups. 3. As for restoration of maximal isometric contraction, both groups showed slow restoration in voluntary exercise, but the normal group showed rapid restoration early phase. 4. As for SRI, comparison between groups showed significant differences in voluntary exercise. These results lead us to the conclusions that spastic muscle is characterized by slow decrease and restoration of MVIC in comparison with normal muscle in voluntary exercise.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.2-3
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• 2003

A method for rapid propagation of mature Jack fruit was developed. Four types of explants (mature embryos, apical meristems of young seedlings, apices from mature plants and nodal segments) were used. It has been found 88% of young apical meristems produced shoots in Campbell and Durzan (CD) medium compared to 60% in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Only 1/3 of them produced multiple shoots. Shoot initiation from nodal segments was very rare. Mature apices produced callus. Although removal of the sheathing cover around mature buds enhanced the shoot initiation but success rate was low in growth regulator free medium. Embryos respond to the CD medium but not to the MS medium. Embryos from seeds soaked in water for 24 hours produced shoots after 8 weeks of incubation and the success rate was 70% while embryos from dry seeds only produced roots. There was no significant effect of cold storage (refrigeration) for 7 days on shoot initiation from mature embryos (65%) but the ability for shoot induction declines with storage time (55% after 21 days of cold storage). Mature axillary buds were established in Modified Campbell and Durzan (CD) medium supplemented with 0.5mg/1 and IBA. There was a significant difference in the growth performance of shoots according to the period of the year in which explants were collected. Highest (60%) was observed in November-January period. It was only 30% when the explants were collected in February-April or May-July and decreased to 20% in August-October. The shoots produced in November-January showed a higher vigor than those produced in other months. Since Jak fruit show seasonal changes in fruit bearing and shedding of leaves, it can be suggested that the difference in growth performances of tissues cultured in artificial culture media would have been affected by endogenous rhythms.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1615-1619
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• 2015

Background: Promoter hypermethylation mediated gene silencing of tumor suppressor genes is considered as most frequent mechanism than genetic aberrations such as mutations in the development of cancers. BRD7 is a single bromodomain containing protein that functions as a subunit of SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex to regulate transcription. It also interacts with the well know tumor suppressor protein p53 to trans-activate genes involved in cell cycle arrest. Loss of expression of BRD7 has been observed in breast cancers and nasopharyngeal carcinomas due to promoter hypermethylation. However, the genetic status of BRD7 in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) is not known, although OSCC is one of the most common among all reported cancers in the Indian population. Hence, in the present study we investigated OSCC samples to determine the occurrence of hypermethylation in the promoter region of BRD7 and understand its prevalence. Materials and Methods: Genomic DNA extracted from biopsy tissues of twenty three oral squamous cell carcinomas were digested with methylation sensitive HpaII type2 restriction enzyme that recognizes and cuts unmethylated CCGG motifs. The digested DNA samples were amplified with primers flanking the CCGG motifs in promoter region of BRD7 gene. The PCR amplified products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis along with undigested amplification control. Results: Methylation sensitive enzyme technique identified methylation of BRD7 promoter region seventeen out of twenty three (74%) well differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma samples. Conclusions: The identification of BRD7 promoter hypermethylation in 74% of well differentiated oral squamous cell carcinomas indicates that the methylation dependent silencing of BRD7 gene is a frequent event in carcinogenesis. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to report the occurrence of BRD7and its high prevalence in oral squamous cell carcinomas.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2021

Dental health care workers (DHCW) are at a risk of occupational exposure to Helicobacter pylori from the aerosolized oral biofilms and saliva of patients. We designed this study to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori in the oral biofilms of a group of dental and non-dental undergraduates from Sri Lanka. After obtaining informed consent, oral biofilms were collected from 38 dental undergraduates (19 males and 19 females) undergoing clinical training and 33 non-dental undergraduates (14 males and 19 females). The participants were in the age range of 22-27 years and had healthy periodontium. Total DNA from the oral biofilms were extracted, and H. pylori DNA was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of 16S rRNA gene of H. pylori using JW22-JW23 primers, and the results were confirmed using PCR amplification of H. pylori-urease specific HPU1-HPU2 primers. Out of 71 participants, 11 (28.95%) dental and 3 (9.09%) non-dental undergraduates had H. pylori in their oral biofilms indicating an overall prevalence rate of 19.72% (14/71). Thus, the prevalence of H. pylori in oral biofilms was significantly higher in dental undergraduates than in non-dental undergraduates (p < 0.05). An odds ratio of 4.07 indicated that dental undergraduates were four times more likely to harbor H. pylori in their oral biofilms than non-dental undergraduates. Foregoing data support the fact that there may be greater occupational risk of exposure to H. pylori for dental undergraduates during clinical training than that for non-dental undergraduates, warranting meticulous infection control practices during clinical dentistry.