• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.1543-1561
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• 2020

Taxonomy of human brain activity is a complicated rather challenging procedure. Due to its multifaceted aspects, including experiment design, stimuli selection and presentation of images other than feature extraction and selection techniques, foster its challenging nature. Although, researchers have focused various methods to create taxonomy of human brain activity, however use of multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) for image recognition to catalog the human brain activities is scarce. Moreover, experiment design is a complex procedure and selection of image type, color and order is challenging too. Thus, this research bridge the gap by using MVPA to create taxonomy of human brain activity for different categories of images, both colored and gray scale. In this regard, experiment is conducted through EEG testing technique, with feature extraction, selection and classification approaches to collect data from prequalified criteria of 25 graduates of University Technology PETRONAS (UTP). These participants are shown both colored and gray scale images to record accuracy and reaction time. The results showed that colored images produces better end result in terms of accuracy and response time using wavelet transform, t-test and support vector machine. This research resulted that MVPA is a better approach for the analysis of EEG data as more useful information can be extracted from the brain using colored images. This research discusses a detail behavior of human brain based on the color and gray scale images for the specific and unique task. This research contributes to further improve the decoding of human brain with increased accuracy. Besides, such experiment settings can be implemented and contribute to other areas of medical, military, business, lie detection and many others.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.15-22
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• 2013

Objective: Evaluations of the in-vitro anti-bacterial activities of aqueous extracts of Acacia catechu (L.F.)Willd, Castanea sativa, Ephedra sinica stapf and Shilajita mumiyo against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) are reasonable since these ethnomedicinal plants have been used in Persian folk medicine for treating skin diseases, venereal diseases, respiratory problems and nervous disorders for ages. Methods: The well diffusion method (KB testing) with a concentration of $250{\mu}g/disc$ was used for evaluating the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC). Maximum synergistic effects of different combinations of components were also observed. Results: A particular combination of Acacia catechu (L.F.) Willd, Castanea sativa, Ephedra sinica stapf and shilajita mumiyo extracts possesses an outstanding anti-bacterial activity. It's inhibiting effect on microorganisms is significant when compared to the control group (P<0.05). Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive microorganism. The highest anti-bacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia) or gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) was exerted by formula number 2 (table 1). Conclusion: The results reveal the presence of anti-bacterial activities of Acacia catechu, Castanea sativa husk, Ephedra sp. and Mumiyo against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Synergistic effects in a combined formula, especially in formula number 2 (ASLAN$^{(R)}$) can lead to potential sources of new antiseptic agents for treatment of acute or chronic skin ulcers. These results considering the significant anti-bacterial effect of the present formulation, support ethnopharmacological uses against diarrheal and venereal diseases and demonstrate use of these plants to treat infectious diseases.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2011

The plant species reported here are used by traditional healers in Gabon for different ailments such as wounds, malaria, fever, gonorrhea or diarrhea. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of 7 plants (Strombosiopsis tetrandra, Tetraberlinia bifoliolata, Dichapetalum barbatum, Guibourtia demeusii, Dacryodes normandii, Manniophytum fulvum, Paropsia grewoides) against different strains of both Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Salmonella. Disc diffusion was first used to determine the antimicrobial effectiveness of the plants' ethanolic extracts. Then the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the crude extracts of either leaves or stem barks of the 7 plants were determined using broth micro-dilution. The ethanolic plant extracts showed very good activity against both MRSA and Salmonella strains where the MICs ranged from $250\;{\mu}g/ml$ to $1000\;{\mu}g/ml$. The study shows that many of the tested plants used by Gabonese traditional healers have antimicrobial activities and give support to their traditional use.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.166-171
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• 2000

Thioredoxin is a multifunctional protein that is ubiquitous in microorganisms, animals and plants. Previously, the expression of the Escherichia coli thioredoxin gene (trxA) was found to be negatively regulated by cAMP. In the present study, the effect of temperature on the expression of the E. coli trxA gene was investigated. In order to examine the temperature effect, the fusion plasmid pCL70 that harbors the E. coli trxA P1P2 promoter was used. The other two fusion plasmids, pJH3 and pMH521 that were constructed in different vectors which harbor the E. coli trxA P2 promoter, were also used. When the E. coli strain MC1061/pCL70 was grown in a rich medium at $25^{\circ}C$, $34^{\circ}C$ and $42^{\circ}C$, the cells grown at $42^{\circ}C$ gave the highest $\beta$-galactosidase activity. The E. coli MC1061/pJH3 and MC1061/pMG521 cells showed increased $\beta$-galactosidase activity after the shift of the culture temperature to $42^{\circ}C$. The wild-type trxA gene of the E. coli MC1061 cells produced much higher thioredoxin activity at the higher temperature. These results support the conclusion that the E. coli trxA gene is regulated in a temperature-dependent manner. Especially the expression from its P2 promoter appeared to be sensitive to temperature.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.508-514
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• 2018

An electroencephalogram (EEG) evaluates the electrical activity generated by brain cell interactions that occur during brain activity, and an EEG can evaluate the brain activity caused by hand movement. In this study, a 16-channel EEG was used to measure the EEG generated before and after hand movement. The measured data can be classified as a supervised learning model, a support vector machine (SVM). To shorten the learning time of the SVM, a feature extraction and vector dimension reduction by filtering is proposed that minimizes motion-related information loss and compresses EEG information. The classification results showed an average of 72.7% accuracy between the sitting position and the hand movement at the electrodes of the frontal lobe.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.829-837
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• 2014

Titania-supported chromium oxides with different loadings have been embarked in catalytic oxidation of trichloroethylene (TCE) to inquire association of the formation of crystalline $Cr_2O_3$ with catalytic performances. A better activity in the oxidative TCE decomposition at chosen temperatures was represented when chromium oxides ($CrO_x$) had been dispersed on pure anatase-type $TiO_2$ (DT51D) rather than on phase-mixed and sulfur-contained ones such as P25 and DT51. The extent of TCE oxidation at temperatures below $350^{\circ}C$ was a strong function of $CrO_x$ content in $CrO_x$/DT51D $TiO_2$, and a noticeable point was that the catalyst has two optimal $CrO_x$ loadings in which the lowest $T_{50}$ and $T_{90}$ values were measured for the TCE oxidation. This behavior in the activity with respect to $CrO_x$ amounts could be associated with the formation of crystalline $Cr_2O_3$ on the support surface, that is less active for the oxidation reaction, and an easier mobility of the surface oxygen existing in noncrystalline $CrO_x$ species with higher oxidation states, such as $Cr_2O_8$ and $CrO_3$.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.207-215
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between the prevalence of overweight and obesity and the degree of adherence to the Korean Dietary Action Guides for Children (KDAGC). In a cross-sectional study based on a child care center-based survey in Seoul, Korea, we collected parental-reported questionnaires (n = 2,038) on children's weight and height, frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption, and the quality of dietary and activity behaviors based on the 2009 KDAGC Adherence Index (KDAGCAI) which was developed as a composite measure of adherence to the KDAGC. Overweight and obesity were determined according to age- and sex-specific BMI percentile from the 2007 Korean national growth chart. Associations were assessed with generalized linear models and polytomous logistic regression models. Approximately 17.6% of Korean preschool children were classified as overweight or obese. Obese preschoolers had lower adherence to the KDAGCAI compared to those with lean/normal weight. Preschoolers with a high quality of dietary and activity behaviors had a 51% decreased odds ratio (OR) of being obese (highest vs. lowest tertile of KDAGCAI-score, 95% CI 0.31, 0.78; P = 0.001); the associations were more pronounced among those who were older (P = 0.048) and lived in lower income households (P = 0.014). A greater frequency of vegetable consumption, but not fruit, was associated with a borderline significant reduction in the prevalence of obesity. Our findings support the association between obesity prevention and high compliance with the Korean national dietary and activity guideline among preschool children.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.157-162
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was to evaluate several tasks performed at a high intensity in terms of their ability to elicit EMG activity in the serratus anterior by comparing the EMG activities of the serratus anterior, upper trapezius, and lower trapezius muscles during six tasks combined shoulder flexion with rotation. Methods: Fifteen healthy males were recruited to this study. Each subject was instructed to assume a sitting position without back support and asked to flex (90° or 120°) the right shoulder and protract the scapula in the sagittal plane with maximal external rotation; to assume a neutral position; or to internally rotate the glenohumeral joint. The EMG data were collected from the serratus anterior (SA), upper trapezius (UT), and lower trapezius (LT) muscles were normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction. The UT/LT and UT/SA muscle activity ratios in each task were assessed by calculating the surface EMG. Data were analyzed by two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance, with the level of significance set at p<0.05. Results: The results of this study, shoulder flexion with external rotation resulted in low upper trapezius/serratus anterior and upper trapezius/lower trapezius ratios and a relatively high level of serratus anterior activation. Conclusion: Shoulder flexion with external rotation used herein may be considered as important for clinical interventions aimed at selectively increasing SA strengthen and clinical selection of exercises for improving glenohumeral joint and scapulothoracic control.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.446-454
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• 2009

In this paper, we propose u-learning hub site systems which are designed and implemented based on learning activities oriented components. The proposed systems are composed of component which can process the functionalities for coming into action of learning activities through various devices. Specially, each component is broken into class units by which learning activities of users can be performed on various devices. When users try to connect u-learning system in hub site, the system explores devices of users and connection program and then selects components that are fit to the activities and combines them in realtime. Through the methodology of u-learning hub site, the system proposed in this paper provides u-learning environment so that users can use the learning activity services taking no influence on time, place, devices and programs under the consistent system. That is different to traditional e-learning system which cannot support various devices of users directly.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.104-113
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• 2008

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of five herbal medicines on cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 drug-metabolizing enzymes in human liver microsomes. Methods: By using of human liver microsomes, we extracted Cnidium officinale Makino, Rhus verniciflua Stokes, Prunus persica Batsch, Corydalis remota Fisch, Carthamus tinctorius Linne, which are called Hwalhyulgeoouhyak(活血祛瘀藥). Then they were incubated and measured for relative enzyme activity under incubation conditions compared to ketoconazole, which is known as a representative inhibitor of CYP 3A4. Results: We showed that all of five traditional herbal medicines had no inhibition effect of CYP 3A4 at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ doses in human liver microsomes, although Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) showed a little inhibition as about 95% enzyme activity of control. However, this result was not enough to prove that RVS has a CYP 3A4 inhibition effect. Moreover, we can't confirm that those rates have significant induction effect on CYP 3A4. Conclusions: The result of this study could support that those herbal medicines are more reliable than chemical drugs, even if this is a basic step to prove that result.