• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.382-395
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• 2016

Purpose: Alendronate has been proposed as a local and systemic drug treatment used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) for the treatment of periodontitis. However, its effectiveness has yet to be conclusively established. The purpose of the present meta-analysis was to assess the effectiveness of SRP with alendronate on periodontitis compared to SRP alone. Methods: Five electronic databases were used by 2 independent reviewers to identify relevant articles from the earliest records up to September 2016. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing SRP with alendronate to SRP with placebo in the treatment of periodontitis were included. The outcome measures were changes in bone defect fill, probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) from baseline to 6 months. A fixed-effect or random-effect model was used to pool the extracted data, as appropriate. Mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochrane ${\chi}^2$ and $I^2$ tests. Results: After the selection process, 8 articles were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with SRP alone, the adjunctive mean benefits of locally delivered alendronate were 38.25% for bone defect fill increase (95% CI=33.05%-43.45%; P<0.001; $I^2=94.0%$), 2.29 mm for PD reduction (95% CI=2.07-2.52 mm; P<0.001; $I^2=0.0%$) and 1.92 mm for CAL gain (95% CI=1.55-2.30 mm; P<0.001; $I^2=66.0%$). In addition, systemically administered alendronate with SRP significantly reduced PD by 0.36 mm (95% CI=0.18-0.55 mm; P<0.001; $I^2=0.0%$) and increased CAL by 0.39 mm (95% CI=0.11-0.68 mm; P=0.006; $I^2=6.0%$). Conclusions: The collective evidence regarding the adjunctive use of alendronate locally and systemically with SRP indicates that the combined treatment can improve the efficacy of non-surgical periodontal therapy on increasing CAL and bone defect fill and reducing PD. However, precautions must be exercised in interpreting these results, and multicenter studies evaluating this specific application should be carried out.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.686-702
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• 2012

This study investigated the impact of grouping methods on free inquiry implementation through the use of mixed research methods. Some 113 7th graders and 2 science teachers in two middle schools participated in this study. The 113 students who participated in this study were grouped by homogeneity and heterogeneity according to scientific inquiry skills and personality types respectively, and performed free inquiry activities on the same subject for three weeks. Data were collected by means of a test on science inquiry skills and from focus group interviews with 36 students and in-depth interviews with 2 teachers. The quantitative results of this study showed that homogeneous grouping was more effective than heterogeneous grouping in improvement of scientific inquiry skills. Meanwhile, the qualitative results revealed both the students and teachers perceived that it was effective to compose a small group according to their affective quality than their cognitive quality. Particularly, most of the students preferred the method of small group from the personality types. Some students and both teachers proposed that it is necessary to collect enough information on students and to use them in mixture with the method of small group according to the affective quality.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.5761-5767
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• 2013

The potential correlation of X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) Arg399Gln polymorphism with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) susceptibility is ambiguous. Taking account of inconsistent results of previous meta-analyses and new emerging literatures, we conducted a meta-analysis covering 15 case-control datasets to evaluate the relationship. Relevant studies from Medline, Embase and CNKI were retrieved. A fixed-effect model or a random-effect model, depending on between-study heterogeneity, were applied to estimate the association between XRCC1 polymorphism Arg399Gln and HCC risk with the results presented as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). In accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, 15 studies with data for 6,556 individuals were enrolled in this systematic review. For overall HCC,thr XRCC1 polymorphism Arg399Gln was significantly associated with HCC susceptibility in a homozygote model as well as in a dominant model (G/G vs. A/A, OR=1.253, p=0.028; G/G+A/G vs. A/A, OR= 1.281, p=0.047, respectively), but not in a heterozygote model (A/G vs. A/A, OR=1.271, p=0.066) or a recessive model (G/G vs. A/G + A/A, OR= 1.049, p=0.542). Similar results were also observed on stratification analysis by ethnicity (A/G vs. A/A, OR=1.357, p=0.025; G/G vs. A/A, OR=1.310, p=0.011; G/G+A/G vs. A/A, OR= 1.371, p=0.013). However, no potential contribution of XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism to HCC susceptibility in HBV/HCV subgroups was identified. No publication bias was found in this study. In conclusion, the XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism contributes to HCC susceptibility. Due to the lack of studies in Western countries, further large-sample and rigorous studies are needed to validate the findings.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.5177-5182
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• 2012

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitormonotherapy (EFGR-TKIs: gefitinib or erlotinib) with standard second-line chemotherapy (single agent docetaxel or pemetrexed) in previously treated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We systematically searched for randomized clinical trials that compared EGFR-TKI monotherapy with standard second-line chemotherapy in previously treated advanced NSCLC. The end points were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR), 1-year survival rate (1-year SR) and grade 3 or 4 toxicities. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) or risk ratio (RR), with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated employing fixed- or random-effects models depending on the heterogeneity of the included trials. Results: Eight randomized controlled trials (totally 3218 patients) were eligible. Our meta-analysis results showed that EGFR-TKIs were comparable to standard second-line chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC in terms of overall survival (HR 1.00, 95%CI 0.92-1.10; p=0.943), progression-free survival (HR 0.90, 95%CI 0.75-1.08, P=0.258) and 1-year-survival rate (RR 0.97, 95%CI 0.87-1.08, P=0.619), and the overall response rate was higher in patients who receiving EGFR-TKIs(RR 1.50, 95%CI 1.22-1.83, P=0.000). Sub-group analysis demonstrated that EGFR-TKI monotherapy significantly improved PFS (HR 0.73, 95%CI: 0.55-0.97, p=0.03) and ORR (RR 1.96, 95%CI: 1.46-2.63, p=0.000) in East Asian patients, but it did not translate into increase in OS and 1-year SR. Furthermore, there were fewer incidences of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, febrile neutropenia and neutrotoxicity in EGFR-TKI monotherapy group, excluding grade 3 or 4 rash. Conclusion: Both interventions had comparable efficacy as second-line treatments for patients with advanced NSCLC, and EGFR-TKI monotherapy was associated with less toxicity and better tolerability. Moreover, our data also demonstrated that EGFR-TKImonotherapy tended to be more effective in East Asian patients in terms of PFS and ORR compared with standard second-line chemotherapy. These results should help inform decisions about patient management and design of future trials.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.96 no.6
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• pp.730-736
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• 2007

The heterogeneity of forest environment plays an important role in the structure and dynamics of tree population, the composition of forest community, and the maintenance of species diversity. Based upon the research data of the nine hectare permanent plot in the typical mixed broadleaved-Korean pine forest, this study was conducted to analyze the characteristics of spatial pattern of Acer tegmentosum population for seedlings, saplings, and living and dead trees so as to evaluate the effect of micro-topography on spatial pattern of the species. The results noted that A. tegmentosum preferred to gentle slopes. There was no difference in density of seedlings by the variation of aspect, but the density of saplings, and living and dead trees was high on the western and southeastern slopes. Living trees of A. tegmentosum showed the clumped pattern for all scales within 150 m and highest at the scale of 30 m. Dead stems of the species indicated the clumped pattern within 111 m, highest at the scale of 72 m, and random pattern beyond the scale of 111 m (P < 0.01 ). The similarity of occurrence by developmental stages of A. tegmentosum showed that seedlings vs. saplings, saplings vs. living trees, and living trees vs. dead stems had highly positive correlation to each other, respectively (P < 0.01 ), indicating that the occurrence of previous developmental stages was positively correlated to following stages.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.337-379
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• 2005

This choice experiments study values the non-market benefits of water quality improvements in Paldang Reservoir and Han River, located in Korea. A fractional factorial orthogonal design was used to produce four different choice sets per respondent, before employing choice examples to screen out irrational responses. The panel mixed logit model (with normal distributions for the attributes) fit the data best, indicating that allowing for both heterogeneous preferences across households and correlation between repeated choices may represent actual choice behaviors best of all the estimated models. The significant standard deviations of the random attributes suggest that the taste for each attribute may vary considerably in the population. The annual benefits to the Seoul Metropolitan area for a small (large) enhancement of the clarity of water, a gradual removal of unpleasant waters, and a gradual improvement in biodiversity, were estimated to be some 1.5 trillion (1.7 trillion) Won, 2 trillion Won, and 1.7 trillion Won, respectively, with 1.8~2.6 trillion Won for at least two of them occurring together. The study also discusses potential biases germane to choice experiments studies of this type.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.373-384
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• 2011

The objective of this was to determine how the seasonal intensive rainfall influenced the water quality, and to analyze the long-term temporal trend of water chemistry and spatial heterogeneity in the upstream watershed of Southern Han River using water quality dataset from 1997 to 2007. The largest seasonal variability in most parameters occurred during the two month July and August and there were closely associated with a large spate of summer monsoon rain. Total phosphorus (TP), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and suspended solids (SS) were greater during summer than any other seasons, and had a direct correlation with precipitation (r>0.4, p<0.01, n-120). In addition, dissolved oxygen (DO) had and inverse function with precipitation (r=-0.542, p<0.01). Overall, the data of total phosphorus (TP) and suspended solids (SS) showed that water quality was worst in Site I1, compared to the others. This was due to continuous effluents from the highlands' fields and cattle farms within the upstream area of Doam lake (Song stream). Based on the overall dataset, an efficient water quality management is required in the highlands and farms areas for better water quality with precipitation (r.0.4, p<0.01, n=120).

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.1-24
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• 2013

In spite of the increasing importance of service sector, most previous studies on schumpeterian hypotheses originated from manufacturing firms that have the needs to invest heavily in research and development (R&D). Conversely, we investigated the relationship between technological innovation activity and size of firms using panel data. Results of the analysis, the following results were obtained. First, the details depending on the industry sector was divided into active and vigorous industry technology innovation activities did not. Second, the relationship between firm size and technological innovation activity may not be, depending on the industry, some of the U-shaped model, may be. Third, showed fewer intangible assets, more debt, larger exports which further promote the technological innovation activities in industry. Finally, the relationship is responsive depend on the firm size variable.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2007

HCV is a single-stranded RNA virus and more than 1 million new cases are reported annually worldwide. The six major HCV genotypes and numerous subtypes vary in their geographic distribution. It is thought that genetic heterogeneity of HCV may account for some of the differences in disease outcome and response to treatment observed in HCV infected persons. In this study, we determined HCV genotypes among chronic Korean HCV patients and evaluated direct sequence PCR protocols developed. For the study, 232 chronic HCV patient sera were used. HCV RNA was extracted and two pairs of consensus PCR primers were selected in 5'UTR region for amplification of HCV RNA. Amplification products obtained from the HCV positive cases were subjected to automatic sequencing. Sequences were compared with those in GenBank by using the BLAST program. From this study, five HCV genotypes, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2c and 3a were found. HCV genotypes 4, 5 and 6 were not determined. HCV genotype 1b (53.9%, 125/232) and 2a (35.8%, 83/232) were most frequently found. This group was followed by 2b (3.9%, 9/232), 3a (3.4%, 8/232) and 2c (3.0%, 7/232). The data presented here suggest a complex distribution of HCV types and they were well correlated with other reports on Koreans and will be helpful for type-specific follow-up of Korean HCV patients. This study showed that 5'UTR direct sequence analysis is a sensitive and rapid method to identify HCV genotypes.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.138-149
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• 2003

Korean regional network of tower flux sites, KoFlux, has been initiated to better understand $CO_2$, water and energy exchange between ecosystems and the atmosphere, and to contribute to regional, continental, and global observation networks such as FLUXNET and CEOP. Due to heterogeneous surface characteristics, most of KoFlux towers are located in non-ideal sites. In order to quantify carbon and energy exchange and to scale them up from plot scales to a region scale, applications of various methods combining measurement and modeling are needed. In an attempt to infer regional-scale flux, four methods (i.e., tower flux, convective boundary layer (CBL) budget method, MM5 mesoscale model, and NCAR/NCEP reanalysis data) were employed to estimate sensible heat flux representing different surface areas. Our preliminary results showed that (1) sensible heat flux from the tower in Haenam farmland revealed heterogeneous surface characteristics of the site; (2) sensible heat flux from CBL method was sensitive to the estimation of advection; and (3) MM5 mesoscale model produced regional fluxes that were comparable to tower fluxes. In view of the spatial heterogeneity of the site and inherent differences in spatial scale between the methods, however, the spatial representativeness of tower flux need to be quantified based on footprint climatology, geographic information system, and the patch scale analysis of satellite images of the study site.