• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.573-584
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• 2021

Background and objective: This study was conducted with 10 men and women in their 50s-60s to investigate the effect of agro-healing activities on the improvement of mental health. Methods: The experimental group participated in total 8 sessions of agro-healing activities, once a week for 2 hours each, at a care farm in Wanju-gun. Physiological measurements were taken with an electroencephalogram (EEG), Salivettes samples, and blood pressure before and after the activities. Results: As a result of analyzing the changes in brainwaves of the experimental group before and after agro-healing activities, relative slow alpha (RSA), relative fast alpha (RFA), and ratio of alpha to high beta (RAHB), the indices of stability and relaxation, increased after the program with statistical significance. Also, the ratio of SMR to theta (RST) of the attention index increased on the right frontal lobes, temporal lobes, and left occipital lobes, and relative low beta (RLB) increasd on the frontal lobes, temporal lobes, and occipital lobes after the program with statistical significance. The sympathetic nervous system activity, which is a stress index, decreased after the program, whereas the parasympathetic nervous system activity, which is a relaxation index, increased, showing statistical significance (p < .05). As a result of analyzing the changes in blood pressure after the program, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure decreased from prehypertension to normal blood pressure, showing statistical significance. SThese results indicate that participating in agro-healing activities at a care farm for the 50-60s helps reduce stress and improve stability and relaxation as well as attention. Conclusion: Thus, developing and applying customized agro-healing programs for participants will have a positive effect on brain activity and psychophysiological improvement by relieving tension and stress. However, there are limitations in generalizing the results of this study since most of agro-healing farms have low accessibility that leads to a low level of participants.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.313-322
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• 2018

Objectives: Wild ginseng pharmacopuncture is widely used in oriental medicine. However, there is no standard method for efficiently extracting the active ingredient. In this study, in order to determine an efficient extraction method, wild ginseng was extracted by the distillation and 70% ethanol reflux methods, respectively. In comparing each extract, the index compounds were analyzed, and antioxidant activity was measured. Methods: The index compounds, ginsenoside Rg1 and ginsenoside Rb1, were detected using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Antioxidative activities of total phenolic compounds, DPPH (${\alpha}$, ${\alpha}$-diphenyl-${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) were measured to compare their bioactivities. Since saponin is known to be hemolytic, the hemolytic activity of each extract was compared. Results: The index compounds were analyzed. Nothing was detected in the wild ginseng distilled extracts (WGDE). In the wild ginseng 70% ethanol reflux extracts (WGEE), ginsenoside Rg1 was 3.66 mg/g, and ginsenoside Rb1 was 16.70 mg/g. WGEE showed higher levels than WGDE in all antioxidative activities. In the hemolytic test, the extracts showed almost no toxicity, but WGEE showed lower toxicity than WGDE. Conclusions: In this study, it was concluded that WGEE is more advantageous than WGDE in the detection of index compounds and bioactivity. However, additional studies of additional extraction methods and other bioactivity tests are needed.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1424-1433
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• 2018

This paper presents a novel space vector pulse-width modulation (SVPWM) to synthesize an arbitrary non-sinusoidal phase voltage. The key of the proposed method is that the switching vectors used to comprise the reference vectors in the ${\alpha}_1-{\beta}_1$ frame and the ${\alpha}_3-{\beta}_3$ frame are decoupled. In the ${\alpha}_1-{\beta}_1$ frame, the reference vector is comprised by near two large vectors. The corresponding vector comprised by the two vectors in the ${\alpha}_3-{\beta}_3$ frame is considered as a disturbance, which is restrained by close-loop control. In the ${\alpha}_3-{\beta}_3$ frame, there are two methods to comprise the reference vector. Method I is a near two middle vectors method. Method II uses near four vectors (two middle and two little vectors). The proposed SVPWM using decoupled switching vectors can guarantee a maximum modulation index in the ${\alpha}_1-{\beta}_1$ frame. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by simulated and experimental results under various operation conditions.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.1-9
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• 2001

In the present study, the correlation between subjective assessment and EEG for essential odors were investigated quantitatively. EEG signals were measured from 19 electrodes according to the International 10-20 system (Fp1, Fp2, F3/4, F7/8, Fz, C3/4, Cz, P3/4, Pz, T3/4, T5/6, O1/2) from 8 healthy males subjects for four odor(Rose oil bulgarian, Lemon oil misitano, jasmin abs, Laverder oil france (KIMEX co. Ltd) conditions. The result of the subjective assessment shows the most pleasant odor for each subject. and the power spectrum of ${\alpha}/({\alpha}+{\beta})$ of EEG signals from the most pleasant odor was compared with those from the control condition, which has no odor at all. Power spectrum of ${\alpha}/({\alpha}+{\beta})$ of EEG from the most pleasant odor was increased significantly at T4, T6 compared to the control condition. This result implies that the parameter, power spectrum of ${\alpha}/({\alpha}+{\beta})$, could be an important index for signifying the levels of pleasantness for odors.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.25-39
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• 2021

This purpose of this study is to investigate the association among mutual funds (MFs) risk measures and return parameters, evaluate mutual fund performance and also explore the best appropriate mutual fund performance measure for investment in Pakistan. Therefore, thirty-five mutual funds have been selected for the period 2007-2015. The Sharpe, Treynor, Jensen Alpha, Information ratio and Fama's Net Selectivity measures has been used to analyze MF performance. Our study findings show significant positive relation exist between Sharpe and Jenson alpha & information ratio (IR); Treynor ratio is negatively correlated to Jenson alpha and Jenson alpha is positively allied with IR. Moreover, association among performance measures, Fama's net selectivity is a major driver in leading to other measures but Sharpe and IR lead to Treynor ratio as well. Furthermore, performance measures are ranked in accordance standard deviation with the arrangement of Fama's net selectivity at top, Jenson Alpha at second, Sharpe ratio at third, IR at fourth and Treynor ratio at fifth position according to risk parameters in Pakistan. Overall, Jensen Alpha measure appears to be the best suitable mutual fund performance measure in Pakistan due to its practical nature. Finally, the Pakistani stock market index KSE100 (as benchmark) performs better than MF industry of Pakistan.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.597-603
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• 2008

Purpose : Obesity is associated with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance and the presence of pro-inflammatory mediators are thought to cause a state of vascular endothelial dysfunction, an abnormal lipid profile, hypertension, and vascular inflammation. These chronic inflammatory responses, which are characterized by abnormal cytokine production, lead to activation of a pro-inflammatory signaling pathway. Leptin is an important mediator of inflammatory processes and immune-mediated diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between leptin and various cytokines associated with obesity in adolescents. Methods : Sixty-six obese adolescents (between 16-17 years of age, obesity index >130%) and 26 normal controls were included in this study. Obesity index and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Serum lipid profile, AST and ALT were tested after 10 hours of fasting. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured by ELISA. Insulin, adiponectin, and leptin levels were estimated by radioimmunoassay. Results : Leptin was significantly higher in the obese adolescents compared to the control adolescents ($12.0{\pm}6.8ng/mL$ vs $6.3{\pm}1.0ng/mL$). TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and insulin were significantly higher in the obese adolescents. Adiponectin was significantly lower in the obese group than the control group ($3.3{\pm}1.9{\mu}g/mL$ vs $5.0{\pm}1.4{\mu}g/mL$). Leptin had positive correlations with obesity index, BMI, and IL-6. Conclusion : In obese adolescents, leptin, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and insulin might be important mediators of obesity. Further clinical research is necessary to ascertain leptin as a predictor of cardiovascular diseases and to develop a guideline for clinical intervention.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.4077-4082
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• 2016

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a dreadful complication of end stage liver disease with high morbidity and mortality. Aim: The aim was to assess the role of serum talin-1 and non-invasive fibrosis in patients with HCC. Materials and Methods: A total of eighty seven subjects were enrolled, with 22 two healthy individuals as a control group (n=22), 22 patients in the cirrhosis group and finally 43 in the group with HCC diagnosed with positive triphasic CT abdomen criteria. Serum talin-1 and noninvasive fibrosis parameters were assessed in all subjects. Results: Compared to the cirrhosis group, patients with HCC had higher serum talin-1 ($32.9{\pm}12.6$ vs. $11.1{\pm}2.79ng/ml$), FIB4 ($9.96{\pm}15.3$ vs. $2.90{\pm}1.87$) and $fibro-{\alpha}$ ($10.9{\pm}18.1$ vs. $1.55{\pm}0.28$) but not fibrosis index scores ($4.47{\pm}0.95$ vs. $4.98{\pm}0.96$; p=0.046). Patients with large focal lesions (${\geq}5cm$) had different ALBI scores ($-1.02{\pm}0.63$ vs. $-1.72{\pm}0.59$; p=0.001) serum talin-1 ($9.72{\pm}13.81$ vs. $28.6{\pm}38.89ng/ml$; p=0.007) and fibrosis index scores ($0.85{\pm}0.99$ vs. $4.20{\pm}4.85$; p=0.026). No statistical differences were noted between patients with and without portal vein thrombosis. For detection of HCC, serum talin-1 had 97.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity with a 17.2 ng/ml cutoff. AFP at a 13.7 ng/ml cutoff had 72.1% sensitivity and 6.3.6% specificity. The cutoff for the $fibro-{\alpha}$ score was 1.61 with 81.4% sensitivity and 77.3% specificity. Serum talin-1 (odds=1.08; C.I=1.016-1.150; p=0.014), fibrosis index score (odds=2.35; C.I=1.055-5.217; p=0.037) and the ALBI score (odds=6.9; C.I=1.924-24.708; p=0.003) were predictors of large focal lesions. Conclusions: Serum talin-1, AST/ALT ratio, $fibro-{\alpha}$ score are useful for the assessment of HCC patients.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.366-371
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• 2008

The controlled/living cationic polymerization of $\alpha$-methylstyrene (${\alpha}MeSt$) and sequential block copolymerization of isobutylene (IB) with ${\alpha}MeSt$ were achieved using 2-chloro-2,4,4-trimethylpentane (TMPCl)/titanium tetrachloride ($TiCl_4$)/titanium isopropoxide ($Ti(OiPr)_4$)/2,6-ditert-butylpyridine (DtBP) initiating system in $CH_3Cl$/hexane(50/50 v/v) solvent mixture at $-80^{\circ}C$. The polymerization rate decreased with increasing $[Ti(OiPr)_4]/[TiCl_4]$ ratio in the homopolymerization of ${\alpha}MeSt$. The effects of $[Ti(OiPr)_4]/[TiCl_4]$ ratios and $PIB^+$ molecular weight on the polymerization rate and blocking efficiency were also investigated. Well-defined poly(isobutylene-b-$\alpha$-methylstyrene)s were demonstrated by $^1H$-NMR and triple detection SEC; refractive index (RI), multiangle laser light scattering (MALLS) and ultraviolet (UV) detectors. Blocking efficiencies for the poly(isobutylene-b-$\alpha$-methylstyrene)s of almost 100% were obtained when ${\alpha}MeSt$ was induced by PIB's of $M_n\;{\geq}\;41000$ at $[Ti(OiPr)_4]/[TiCl_4]=1$. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of the block copolymers showed two glass transition temperatures, thereby demonstrating microphase separation.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.641-645
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• 2019

Experimental equipment for studying the sorption properties of iodine sorbents using radioactive methyliodide has been developed. The sorption capacity index ${\alpha}$ is proposed as a criterion parameter for assessing the quality of impregnated activated charcoals. It was found that this parameter does not depend on the dynamic conditions during the sorbent test. It was shown that values of the sorption capacity index allow to recommend iodine sorbents for industrial gas cleaning processes.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.200.1-200.1
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to examine whether an brain to blood efflux system for taurine is present on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) or not and this efflux transport system is regulated by CNS cell damage with oxidative stress agent such as diethyl maleate (DEM) or tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-${\alpha}$), by using the brain efflux index (BEI) method. The brain efflux index value is defined as the relative amount of test compound efflux from cerebrum compared with that of a reference compound, [$\^$14/C] carboxyinulin, which has limited BBB permeability. (omitted)