• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.291-307
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• 2011

The primary purpose of this study was to report overall findings of academic English proficiency of university ESL students in an ESL program from 2003 to 2008 at a university in the U.S. Furthermore, this study proposes to explore the effectiveness of the ESL program on developing the ESL learners' academic English proficiency. In order to achieve these purposes, this study applied a quantitative research methodology which analyzed data (more than 3,000 samples) collected by the university ESL program. The data included the ESL learners' English proficiency test scores. The results indicated that the effectiveness of the ESL program was significant in improving the ESL learners' cognitive/academic language proficiency across all three groups: ESL-only, ESL + Under, and ESL + Grad. That is, after either a complete ESL program intervention only or both a partial ESL program intervention and taking academic courses, the three groups' academic English proficiency was increased to almost same degree The findings are discussed and implications for pedagogy are suggested.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.1-5
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• 2000

This paper presents a new sort of multilayer piezoelectric ceramic transformer for switching regulation power supplies. This piezoelectric transformer operate in the second thickness resonant vibration mode. Accordingly its resonant frequency is higher than 1 NHz, Because output power is low if input and output part of transformer are consisted of single layer, this research suggests a new method, which is consisted of both input and output part of transformer have 2-layered piezoelectric ceramics, The size of transformer is 20 mm in width and length, and 1.4 mm in thickness, respectively, To design a high efficient switching circuit of the transformer, internal circuit parameters were measured and then weve calculated a parameter of inductor nd capacitor to design a driving circuit, Weve used a MISFET and its driver circuit modified a calp oscillator circuit as the primary switching circuit.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1256-1264
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• 2020

Objective: Lung segmentation using volumetric quantitative computed tomography (CT) analysis may help predict outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between CT volumetric quantitative analysis and prognosis in patients with COVID-19. Materials and Methods: CT images from patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from February 18 to April 15, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. CT with a negative finding, failure of quantitative analysis, or poor image quality was excluded. CT volumetric quantitative analysis was performed by automated volumetric methods. Patients were stratified into two risk groups according to CURB-65: mild (score of 0-1) and severe (2-5) pneumonia. Outcomes were evaluated according to the critical event-free survival (CEFS). The critical events were defined as mechanical ventilator care, ICU admission, or death. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between the variables and prognosis. Results: Eighty-two patients (mean age, 63.1 ± 14.5 years; 42 females) were included. In the total cohort, male sex (hazard ratio [HR], 9.264; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.021-42.457; p = 0.004), C-reactive protein (CRP) (HR, 1.080 per mg/dL; 95% CI, 1.010-1.156; p = 0.025), and COVID-affected lung proportion (CALP) (HR, 1.067 per percentage; 95% CI, 1.033-1.101; p < 0.001) were significantly associated with CEFS. CRP (HR, 1.164 per mg/dL; 95% CI, 1.006-1.347; p = 0.041) was independently associated with CEFS in the mild pneumonia group (n = 54). Normally aerated lung proportion (NALP) (HR, 0.872 per percentage; 95% CI, 0.794-0.957; p = 0.004) and NALP volume (NALPV) (HR, 1.002 per mL; 95% CI, 1.000-1.004; p = 0.019) were associated with a lower risk of critical events in the severe pneumonia group (n = 28). Conclusion: CRP in the mild pneumonia group; NALP and NALPV in the severe pneumonia group; and sex, CRP, and CALP in the total cohort were independently associated with CEFS in patients with COVID-19.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.1621-1627
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• 2001

Steers and heifers (N=490) were produced between 1991 and 1996 by reciprocal fiillsib backcross and $F_1$ crosses from Angus and Brahman to compare characteristics of carcass and palatability traits between Bos indicus and Bos taurus inheritance. Carcasses of 3/4Angus were heavier, fatter (p<0.05), more tender and higher in other palatability attributes (p<0.01) than those of 3/4Brahman. Reciprocal effects of parental cross breeds were found on some traits. Within 3/4Brahman inheritance group, Brahman sired progeny produced heavier and fatter carcasses with better palatability (p<0.05) than progeny with Brahman as a dam breed. Estimates of heritability were intermediate to high in most carcass and palatability traits. Genetic correlations of tenderness with marbling score (MARB), sarcomere length (SARC), fragmentation index (FRAG) and calpastatin activity (CALP) were moderate to high, suggesting potential use of the tenderness-influencing factors as indirect selection criteria to improve palatability attributes. MARB and SARC that were best predictors of tenderness explained 3.07 to 5.85% and 4.32 to 8.24% of variation in tenderness, respectively. However, there was no tenderness-influencing factor to dominantly explain large portion of variation in tenderness.