• Journal of Information Processing Systems
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.392-409
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• 2016

The aim of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of combining three popular tools used in pattern recognition, which are the Active Appearance Model (AAM), the two-dimensional discrete cosine transform (2D-DCT), and Kernel Fisher Analysis (KFA), for face recognition across age variations. For this purpose, we first used AAM to generate an AAM-based face representation; then, we applied 2D-DCT to get the descriptor of the image; and finally, we used a multiclass KFA for dimension reduction. Classification was made through a K-nearest neighbor classifier, based on Euclidean distance. Our experimental results on face images, which were obtained from the publicly available FG-NET face database, showed that the proposed descriptor worked satisfactorily for both face identification and verification across age progression.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.33-39
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• 2021

Purpose: The influence of age on time preference is not identified in the usual cross-sectional analysis. This study aims to test whether age affects time preference after controlling for the effects of individual heterogeneity including cohort effects. Research design, data and methodology: Drawing on a nationally representative panel dataset of Indonesians, we estimate the effects of age on time preference after controlling for unobserved individual heterogeneity as well as potential cohort effects. We measure time preference exploiting information on two sets of multiple price lists: one for a one-year delay, and the other for a five-year delay. Results: When we controlled for time-invariant individual characteristics, including birth cohort effects in a fixed effects model, the older men and women were more patient in a linear fashion, particularly when the delay was longer. To highlight the importance of controlling for individual fixed effects, we repeated the specification without controlling for individual fixed effects in OLS or censored maximum likelihood regression; we found no relation between age and impatience in men or women and for a one or five-year delay. Conclusions: The older men and women are more patient, and time preferences are correlated with unobserved individual heterogeneity.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.29-31
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to estimate height growth patterns and site index cuties (base index age 50 years) for Japanese red cedar trees(Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) grown in southern regions of Korea. The Chapman-Richards growth function was selected for stand height prediction using on the results of stem analysis data sets. Anamorphic base age invariant site index cuties were presented based on this height prediction equation. The resulting site index prediction equation can provide an indication of the productivity of the site quality based on Japanese red cedar trees plantation ages planted in southern regions of Korea.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.22.1-22.15
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• 2023

Alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) is caused by chronic alcohol overconsumption and might be linked to dysregulated immune responses in the gut-liver axis. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research on levels and functions of innate lymphocytes including mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, NKT cells, and NK (NK) cells in ALC patients. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the levels and function of these cells, evaluate their clinical relevance, and explore their immunologic roles in the pathogenesis of ALC. Peripheral blood samples from ALC patients (n = 31) and healthy controls (HCs, n = 31) were collected. MAIT cells, NKT cells, NK cells, cytokines, CD69, PD-1, and lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) levels were measured by flow cytometry. Percentages and numbers of circulating MAIT cells, NKT cells, and NK cells were significantly reduced in ALC patients than in HCs. MAIT cell exhibited increased production of IL-17 and expression levels of CD69, PD-1, and LAG-3. NKT cells displayed decreased production of IFN-γ and IL-4. NK cells showed elevated CD69 expression. Absolute MAIT cell levels were positively correlated with lymphocyte count but negatively correlated with C-reactive protein. In addition, NKT cell levels were negatively correlated with hemoglobin levels. Furthermore, log-transformed absolute MAIT cell levels were negatively correlated with the Age, Bilirubin, INR, and Creatinine score. This study demonstrates that circulating MAIT cells, NKT cells, and NK cells are numerically deficient in ALC patients, and the degree of cytokine production and activation status also changed. Besides, some of their deficiencies are related to several clinical parameters. These findings provide important information about immune responses of ALC patients.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.9-14
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to estimate height growth pattern and to derive site index equation for Pinus densiflora grown at Mt. Osu region, Chungnam. A total of 21 repre - sentative trees from the established temporary plots around Boryeng and Cheongyang regions were destructively sampled to measure diameter, height, volume growth per 1-year interval by using of DTRS- 2000 measurement instrument. The Schnute growth function was select ed for height growth prediction using 181 height-age paired observations and derived anamorphic base age invariant site index curves (base index age 30 years). The fitted index and the asymptotic value of Schnute model indicated both 0.96 and 10.8 meter, respectively. The results suggested in this study could be very useful to understand the height growth pattern and productivity of the site quality on Pinus densiflora grown at Mt. Osu region, Chungnam.

• Water Engineering Research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.147-158
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• 2000

In this study, we characterized the seasonal variation of rainrate fields in the Han river basin using the WGR multi-dimensional precipitation model (Waymire, Gupta, and Rodriguez-Iturbe, 1984) by estimating and comparing the parameters derived for each month and for the plain area, the mountain area and overall basin, respectively. The first-and second-order statistics derived from observed point gauge data were used to estimate the model parameters based on the Davidon-Fletcher-Powell algorithm of optimization. As a result of the study, we can find that the higher rainfall amount during summer is mainly due to the arrival rate of rain bands, mean number of cells per cluster potential center, and raincell intensity. However, other parameters controlling the mean number of rain cells per cluster, the cellular birth rate, and the mean cell age are found invariant to the rainfall amounts. In the application to the downstream plain area and upstream mountain area of the Han river basin, we found that the number of storms in the mountain area was estimated a little higher than that in the plain area, but the cell intensity in the mountain area a little lower than that in the plain area. Thus, in the mountain area more frequent but less intense storms can be expected due to the orographic effect, but the total amount of rainfall in a given period seems to remain the same.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2016

Smoking and harmful drinking dramatically increase health risks but little is known about their cooccurrence and factors that influence this co-habit, limiting development and implementation of appropriately targeted prevention interventions. This study was conducted among youth aged 10-24 years old in the Chi Linh Demographic - Epidemiological Surveillance System (CHILILAB DESS). The total numbers in the first, second and third rounds in 2006, 2009 and 2013 were 12,406, 10,211, and 7,654, respectively. A random-effects logit model controlling for both time-variant and time-invariant variables was applied to explore factors associated with current smoking, harmful drinking, and occurrence of smoking and harmful drinking together. We found dramatically increasing trends in current smoking, harmful drinking and co-occurrence among youth. Our results indicate similar health problems among youth in peri-urban areas in Vietnam. Demographic characteristics (older age, being male, being unmarried, and having informal work) appeared to be predictors for smoking and drinking behaviour. Besides, peer and family members had significant influence on smoking, whereas having a close-friend who was smoking was the most important variable. The results suggested that smoking and harmful drinking should not be solved with separate, stand-alone interventions but rather with integrated efforts.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.67-78
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• 2021

This study is an analysis of the life of Max Planck (1858-1947), the in view of engineering literacy education. Some expressions describing Planck include "the father of German science", "the namer of Quantum". Furthermore, he is the scientist who permanently engraved his name in a scientific invariant called the Planck Constant. Planck had already made remarkable scientific achievements in his mid-ages, which became the springboard of quantum mechanics, but he went on to achieve much more in his old age. Between 1910s and 1930s, he was the director of the Kaiser-Wilhelm Gesellschaft, the Berlin Academy, and the German Physics Society, which is the German core research group. In the 1910s, he endured the terrible personal suffering of losing his three children and then succeeded in rebuilding German science in the 1920s in his golden age of 70s. His achievement was great not only as a scientist but also as a science administrator. His life was contradictory in several ways. While fundamentally being a conservative, he initiated a great scientific revolution. While making efforts to preserve traditional values, he was in the center of great many upheavals and destruction. While being the incarnation of honesty, he was also given to extremely delicate political positions. In his long career, Planck lived with all his might as a leader of the German science organizations and permanently left his name on the institute representing Germany. Planck succeeded in his work for the institutional development of science, philosophical understanding of science, and as a role model of exemplary scientist. His long life was accompanied by both achievements and failures, intangible and difficult to judge. Today, as research and development management and scientific leadership have become increasingly important, Planck's life may be a good example of engineering literacy education.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.71-81
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• 2005

Objective : Dear antler (Cervus korean TEMMINCK var. mantchuricus Swinhoe) used for traditional immunosuppressive and immuno-activating action. The effect of deer antler herbal-acupuncture(DAH) solution, prepared by water extract method, on cathepsin activities in bone tissues (cartilage and synovial) cells from mouse rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model was studied. The cysteine endoprotease cathepsin mediates degradation of the MHC class II invariant chain (Ii) in human and mouse antigen-presenting cells. The studies described here examine the functional significance of cathepsin inhibition on autoantigen presentation and organ-specific autoimmune diseases in a murine model for RA. Methods : An animal model for RA in BALB/c mice thymectomized 3 days after birth (3d-Tx) was constructed All 3d-Tx BALB/c mice developed autoimmune lesions in the bone tissue cells, starting at 3 weeks of age, and the disease mediated by CD4+ T cells was chronic and progressive. Significant inhibitory effects of DAH solution on cathepsin S and L were observed in each organ in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, we confirmed that cathepsin S and L activity in each organ were clearly inhibited by DAB solution. When we examined the inhibitory effects of DAH solution against autoantigen-specific T cell responses in vitro, in regional lymph node cells, but not in spleens, from model mice, a significant inhibitory effect of DAB solution was observed in a dose-dependent manner. DAH solution do not block T cell proliferation to Con A, indicated that the dose of DAB solution 10 to $20\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ was sufficient to inactivate the autoantigen-specific T cell responses in vitro. In vivo therapeutic effects of DAB solution were examined in a murine model for RA, autoantigen-specific (C-II-specific) T cell response were significantly inhibited in LNCs from DAH solution-treated mice. Results : Iinhibition of cathepsin S and L in vivo alters autoantigen presentation and development of organ-specific autoimmunity in RA model. Conclusion : These data identify selective inhibition of cysteine protease cathepsin S and L as a potential therapeutic strategy for autoimmune disease process such RA. Thus, DAH solution will served as a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic agents for treatment of human RA.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.639-654
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• 2005

The Lee and Carter method has widely used to forecast mortality because of the simple structure of model and the stable forecasting. The Lee and Carter method, however, also has limitations. The assumption of the rate of decline in mortality at each age remaining invariant over time has been violated in several decades. And, there is no way to include covariates in the model for better forecasts. Here we introduce Park, Choi and Kim method to make up for Lee and Carter's weak points by using two random processes. We discuss structural features of two methods. furthermore, for each method, we forecast life expectancy for 2005 to 2050 using South Korea data and compare the results.