• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.1236-1245
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• 2024

Objective: The object of this study was to investigate the effect of replacing soybean meal with Clostridium autoethanogenum protein (CAP) in broiler diets on growth performance, blood indicators, antioxidant capacity, and immune function. Methods: A total of 180 Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into three treatments, each treatment with six replicates and 10 broilers per replicate for a 42-day feeding trial. The control group (CON) was fed corn-soybean meal based diet. The CAP-1 and CAP-2 groups were considered to use CAP to replace 25% or 50% of soybean meal in the diet, respectively. The average daily gain and average daily feed intake of broilers at 1 to 21 d, 22 to 42 d, and 1 to 42 d were measured, and the feed conversion ratio was calculated. At the 42nd day of age, two broilers with similar weights and fasted for 12 h were selected in each replicate for blood collection from the brachial wing vein. The blood routine indicators, serum biochemical indicators, serum antioxidant capacity, and immunoglobulin content of broiler chickens were measured. Results: Replacement of soybean meal with 25% (CAP-1) and 50% (CAP-2) CAP significantly increased the average daily gain of 22 to 42 d and 1 to 42 d and decreased the average daily feed intake and feed conversion rate (p<0.05). The CAP-1 group, and CAP-2 group significantly increased hemoglobulin in the blood of broilers, while the CAP-2 group increased hematocrit content (p<0.05). Compared with the control group, the contents of superoxide dismutase and immunoglobulin A in serum of the CAP-2 group were significantly increased, while the contents of malondialdehyde in CAP group were significantly decreased (p<0.05). Conclusion: Replacing soybean meal with CAP led to significant improvements in the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and immunoglobulin content of broilers.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.147-156
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• 2020

Background: Limited studies have been performed to assess readmission following hospitalization for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in an Asian population. We evaluated the rates, reasons, and risk factors for 30-day readmission following hospitalization for CAP in the general adult population of Korea. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study of 1,021 patients with CAP hospitalized at Yeungnam University from March 2012 to February 2014. The primary end point was all-cause hospital readmission within 30 days following discharge after the initial hospitalization. Hospital readmission was classified as pneumonia-related or pneumonia-unrelated readmission. Results: During the study period, 862 patients who survived to hospital discharge were eligible for inclusion and among them 72 (8.4%) were rehospitalized within 30 days. In the multivariable analysis, pneumonia-related readmission was associated with para/hemiplegia, malignancy, pneumonia severity index class ≥4 and clinical instability ≥1 at hospital discharge. Comorbidities such as chronic lung disease and chronic kidney disease, treatment failure, and decompensation of comorbidities were associated with the pneumonia-unrelated 30-day readmission rate. Conclusion: Rehospitalizations within 30 days following discharge were frequent among patients with CAP. The risk factors for pneumonia-related and -unrelated readmission were different. Aspiration prevention, discharge at the optimal time, and close monitoring of comorbidities may reduce the frequency of readmission among patients with CAP.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.159-171
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• 2019

The cap-and-trade system against the air pollutants in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA), Korea has been implemented since 2008 and will be implemented other areas in Korea on 2020. In this study, to identify the outcome and effectiveness of the cap-and-trade system in the SMA, (1) the rate of change for NOx and SOx emissions, (2) differences between the real emission and allocated amount, and (3) the status of trading are reviewed. It was found that the NOx and SOx emissions from the sources under the cap-and-trade system decreased in the SMA but the reduction was mainly due to the reduction of fuel usage not related to the system. It was found that the average percentage of annual emission in the SMA to the allocated amount between 2008 and 2018 was 66.9% for NOx and 69.3% for SOx, respectively. It suggests that there was over allocation of the emission amounts. The average trading prices in the SMA were 0.193 $/kg for NOx and 0.128 $/kg for SOx, far lower than those in RECLAIM, 131.942 $/kg and 81.677 $/kg, respectively. It was suggested that (1) the cap system for NOx and SOx emissions should be implemented only for the area with high emission ratio from large point sources, (2) the trade system is not suitable for the effective implementation of the cap system, and (3) Korean government should not allow over allocation in order to ensure sound market function without delaying the introduction of technology.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.331-336
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• 2001

This study was to develop a kerosene flame weeder. An air compressor was driven though the PTO of a tractor to provide necessary air for fuel combustion and proper pressure to supply fuel from fuel tank to the nozzle. It was found that the flame was extinguished very easily by wind and vibration of the tractor. This trouble could be solved by attaching a burner cap, which is a modified venturi tube, at the end of the nozzle. The constructed flame weeder was tested for the weeding capability in the prepared field. Weed extinction rate and weight decrease rate were analysed. Measured maximum flame temperature was 1,121$\^{C}$ when the fuel consumption was 13.41 kg/h and fuel supply pressure was 88.2 kPa. The maximum temperature occurred at 20cm from the front end the burner, and it decreased to 46$\^{C}$ as the distance increased to 110cm. The flame length of up to 70cm, where the flame temperature was higher than 372$\^{C}$, would be used for weeding purpose. Weed extinction rate and weight decreasing rate increased as the fuel consumption increased. The flame weeder was evaluated to be a practical weeder through improvement as the weed extinction rate and weight decrease rate were analysed to be 75% and 85%, respectively when the fuel consumption was 116.87kg/ha.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.19-22
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• 2017

Purpose - To control exorbitant interest rates, implementation of an interest rate ceiling is a standard practice in microfinance. However, there are pros and cons of such market intervention. Hence, the aim of this short note is to highlight issues and challenges regarding the interest rate cap in microfinance, both from the perspective of clients and institutions. Research design, data, and methodology - While the nature of this short note is explanatory and descriptive, the research methodology used relevant data from the MixMarket and Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) annual reports in Bangladesh. Results - We argue that an interest rate ceiling is detrimental both for the clients and microfinance institutions (MFIs). This market intervention substantially reduces the outreach of MFIs and clients are most likely to pay a higher price in the long-run. Additionally, an interest rate cap also puts severe pressure on new-born and high-cost MFIs to cope with the interest rate ceiling. Conclusions - Although market intervention may be necessary in the short-run, it should not be the ultimate solution to abate high interest in microfinance. Understanding the operational dynamics of MFIs, as well as promoting productivity, efficiency and competition could help to lower the interest rates.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.3
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• pp.224-234
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• 2011

Background: Little data is available regarding hospitalized patients with nursing home-acquired pneumonia (NHAP). This is unfortunate because there is an increasing number of elderly persons who are living in nursing homes in Korea. The aim of this study was to compare clinical characteristics and treatment responses of NHAP with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods: Patients with pneumonia who were admitted from eight nursing homes or from their own homes were enrolled between May 2007 and April 2009. Their clinical characteristics and treatment responses were reviewed retrospectively, and differences between the two groups were analyzed. Results: Of 110 Patients with pneumonia, 66 (60%) were from nursing homes and their median age was 84. In the NHAP group, functional performance status was significantly poorer, classical symptoms of pneumonia were less severe, and multi-lobe involvement (on chest radiographs) was more frequent than in the CAP group. Patients with NHAP more frequently showed lymphocytopenia, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypoxemia, and elevated blood urea nitrogen on admission. The mean CURB-65 score was 2.2 in the NHAP group, higher than 1.7 in the CAP group (p=0.004), and multi-drug resistant pathogens were also highly identified in NHAP group (39% vs. 10%, p=0.036). The mean duration of antibiotic therapy was greater for the NHAP (12.6 days) than for the CAP group (6.6 days) (p<0.001). The mortality rate was 23% in NHAP group, which was significantly higher than 5% in the CAP group (p=0.014). Conclusion: NHAP should be more intensively investigated because of the higher frequency of multi-drug resistant pathogens and mortality than the CAP.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.07a
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• pp.539-542
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• 2001

In SiC semiconductor device processing, it needs high temperature anneal for activation of ion implanted dopants. The macrosteps, 7~8nm in height, are formed on the surface of SiC substrates during activation anneal. We have investigated the effect of thermally-grown SiO$_2$layer on the suppression of macrostep formation during high temperature anneal. The cap oxide layer was found to be efficient for suppression of macrostep formation even though the annealing temperature is as high as the melting point of SiO$_2$. The thin cap oxide layer (10nm) was evaporated during anneal then the macrosteps were formed on SiC substrate. On the other hand the thicker cap oxide layer (50nm) remains until the anneal process ends. In that case, the surface was smoother and the macrosteps were rarely formed. The thermally-grown oxide layer is found to be a good material for the suppression of macrostep formation because of its feasibility of growing and processing. Moreover, we can choose a proper oxide thickness considering the evaporate rate of SiO$_2$at the given temperature.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.60-70
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• 2022

We evaluated the performance of in-situ capping to prevent the release of phenol, one of hazardous chemicals of concern for their impact on sediment. Sediment near the estuary of Hyeongsan River, Korea, and commercially-available sand were collected to evaluate their physical properties and phenol sorption characteristics. Biodegradation kinetics of phenol spiked into the sediment was evaluated under freshwater and estuarine salinity conditions. These experimental measurements were parameterized and used as input parameters for executing CapSim, a software predicting the performance of in-situ capping. The CapSim simulation demonstrated that capping with 50-cm sand reduced the phenol release by several orders of magnitude over 0.25- and 1-year duration for almost all simulation scenarios. The variables tested, i.e., cap thickness, pore-water movement, and biodegradation rate, showed high correlation to each other to influence the extent of phenol release from sediment to the water column. The findings and the framework employed to evaluate the performance of in-situ capping in this study can be adopted to determine whether in-situ capping is appropriate remedial approach at sediment sites impacted by hazardous chemicals due to accidental spills.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.13-28
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• 2010

Assuming a mixture distribution for credit evaluation studies, we discuss estimating threshold methods to minimize errors that default borrowers are predicted as non defaults or non defaults are regarded as defaults. A method by using statistical hypotheses tests, the most powerful test and generalized likelihood ratio test, for the probability density functions which are defined with the score random variable and the parameter space consisted of only two elements such as the default and non default states is proposed to estimate a threshold. And anther optimal thresholds to maximize classification accuracy measures of the accuracy and the true rate for ROC and CAP curves are estimated as equations related with these probability density functions. Three kinds of optimal thresholds in terms of the hypotheses testing, the accuracy and the true rate are obtained from normal random samples with various means and variances. The sums of the type I and type II errors corresponding to each optimal threshold are obtained and compared. Finally we discuss about their efficiency and derive conclusions.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.41-47
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• 2009

Column experiments were performed in this study to investigate humic acid adhesion to iron oxide-coated sand (ICS) under different experimental conditions including influent humic acid concentration, flow rate, solution pH, and ionic strength/composition. Breakthrough curves of humic acid were obtained by monitoring effluents, and then column capacity for humic acid adsorption ($C_cap$), total adsorption percent (R), and mass of humic acid adsorbed per unit mass of filter media ($q_a$) were quantified from these curves. Results showed that humic acid adhesion was about seven times higher in ICS than in quartz sand at given experimental conditions. This indicates that humic acid removal can be enhanced through the surface charge modification of quartz sand with iron oxide coating. The adhesion of humic acid in ICS was influenced by influent humic acid concentration. $C_cap$ and $q_a$ increased while R decreased with increasing influent humic acid concentration in ICS column. However, the influence of flow rate was not eminent in our experimental conditions. The humic acid adhesion was enhanced with increasing salt concentration of solution. $C_cap$, $q_a$ and R increased in ICS column with increasing salt concentration. On the adhesion of humic acid, the impact of CaCl2 was greater than that of NaCl. Also, the humic acid adhesion to ICS decreased with increasing solution pH. $C_cap$, $q_a$ and R decreased with increasing solution pH. This study demonstrates that humic acid concentration, salt concentration/composition, and solution pH should be controlled carefully in order to improve the ICS column performance for humic acid removal from water.