• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.269-274
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• 2008

Consuming regular meals has been studied in relation to better health, while higher regularity of eating-out has been linked to obesity. This study examined whether acculturation was associated with regularity of meals, eating-out, and overweight in Korean Americans. Pre-tested questionnaires were mailed to a U.S. national sample with Korean American surnames, and 55% of the deliverable sample responded, producing 356 usable questionnaires. Acculturation was measured using a two-culture matrix model and Gordon's theoretical work, and showed there were three distinct groups (acculturated, bicultural, and traditional). Only 36% reported that they regularly ate three meals a day. Breakfast was the least frequent meal of the day with 43% reporting eating breakfast everyday. More than half (58%) reported that they usually eat out or get take-out food at least once a week. After controlling for age, sex, income, education, and working status, higher acculturation was related to greater regularity of eating-out, but not meal regularity. A total of 28% of men and 6% of women were overweight (BMI>25), and there were significant and positive relationships between body weight status and acculturation in men but not women. However, no significant relationships between frequency of meals and eating-out and overweight status were present. This study did not find significant relationships of meal regularity and eating-out with body weight, however, given the positive relationship between acculturation and eating-out among the subjects and the well-established relationship between eating-out and obesity, nutrition education about skipping meals and eating-for Korean Americans may be useful to prevent such relationships from developing.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.3821-3841
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• 2019

Cloud radio access networks (C-RANs) have been regarded in recent times as a promising concept in future 5G technologies where all DSP processors are moved into a central base band unit (BBU) pool in the cloud, and distributed remote radio heads (RRHs) compress and forward received radio signals from mobile users to the BBUs through radio links. In such dynamic environment, automatic decision-making approaches, such as artificial intelligence based deep reinforcement learning (DRL), become imperative in designing new solutions. In this paper, we propose a generic framework of autonomous cell activation and customized physical resource allocation schemes for energy consumption and QoS optimization in wireless networks. We formulate the problem as fractional power control with bandwidth adaptation and full power control and bandwidth allocation models and set up a Q-learning model to satisfy the QoS requirements of users and to achieve low energy consumption with the minimum number of active RRHs under varying traffic demand and network densities. Extensive simulations are conducted to show the effectiveness of our proposed solution compared to existing schemes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.65-75
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• 2022

Hypothalamus is a brain region that controls food intake and energy expenditure while sensing signals that convey information about energy status. Within the hypothalamus, molecularly and functionally distinct neurons work in concert under physiological conditions. However, under pathological conditions such as in diet-induced obesity (DIO) model, these neurons show dysfunctional firing patterns and distorted regulation by neurotransmitters and neurohormones. Concurrently, resident glial cells including astrocytes dramatically transform into reactive states. In particular, it has been reported that reactive astrogliosis is observed in the hypothalamus, along with various neuroinflammatory signals. However, how the reactive astrocytes control and modulate DIO by influencing neighboring neurons is not well understood. Recently, new lines of evidence have emerged indicating that these reactive astrocytes directly contribute to the pathology of obesity by synthesizing and tonically releasing the major inhibitory transmitter GABA. The released GABA strongly inhibits the neighboring neurons that control energy expenditure. These surprising findings shed light on the interplay between reactive astrocytes and neighboring neurons in the hypothalamus. This review summarizes recent discoveries related to the functions of hypothalamic reactive astrocytes in obesity and raises new potential therapeutic targets against obesity.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1127-1139
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• 2018

A reduced particle-unscented Kalman filter estimation method, along with a splice-equivalent circuit model, is proposed for the state-of-charge estimation of an aeronautical lithium-ion battery pack. The linearization treatment is not required in this method and only a few sigma data points are used, which reduce the computational requirement of state-of-charge estimation. This method also improves the estimation covariance properties by introducing the equilibrium parameter state of balance for the aeronautical lithium-ion battery pack. In addition, the estimation performance is validated by the experimental results. The proposed state-of-charge estimation method exhibits a root-mean-square error value of 1.42% and a mean error value of 4.96%. This method is insensitive to the parameter variation of the splice-equivalent circuit model, and thus, it plays an important role in the popularization and application of the aeronautical lithium-ion battery pack.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4401-4408
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• 2015

Background: Cancer is a primary source of concern in Thailand and other countries around the world, including the Asian-Pacific region. Evidence supports that an important contributing cause of cancer and other chronic illnesses such as stroke, diabetes, and hypertension is excessive alcohol consumption. Studies conducted in Thailand reveal a worrisome rise in the number of new and regular drinkers in communities. Therefore, actions for primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of problem drinking are necessary. In recent years nurses in North East Thailand have been developing and implementing the Khon Kaen Family Health Nursing model to embed disease prevention in communities through the actions of family health nurses and local family health leaders. Aim: The aim of this qualitative research was to better understand the experiences of the local family health leaders using this model and to synthesize lessons learned. Materials and Methods: As part of a participatory action research approach involving analysis of focus group discussions and individual interviews, the experiences of 45 family health leaders were synthesized. Results: Four main themes were identified, namely: i) Family first: role modeling beginning at the personal and family level. ii) Local leverage: using village community forums to reduce alcohol drinking. iii) Gentle growth: making the first step and treading gently; and iv) Respect, Redemption, Rehabilitation: valuing the person to re-integrate them in the village society. Conclusions: As alcohol consumption in the village declined significantly following the prevention program, these findings illuminate how low-tech integrated prevention approaches may be very useful, particularly in rural communities. The lessons learned may have relevance not only in Thailand but in other countries seeking to prevent and mitigate behavior that conduces to diseases such as cancer.

• Atmosphere
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.319-336
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to assess the meteorological capability of Korea by comparing with that of the U.S. and Japan as of 2010. The research was conducted based on various indices and surveys, and quantified the results using the Gordon's scoring model. The index assessment used 11 items derived from 9 segments - surface observation, advanced observation and observations quality in the observation field; data assimilation, numerical model and infrastructure in the data processing field; forecast accuracy in the forecast field; climate prediction and climate change in the climate field - in this research, we classified the meteorological technology into four fields. In the survey assessment, another 10 items in addition to the above 11 ones (total 21 items) were used. In the field of climate, Korea was found to lag far behind the U.S. (96.5p) and Japan (90.5p) with 77.6 points out of 100, which is 18.9 and 12.9 points lower than them respectively. On the other hand, Korea showed the narrowest gap with Japan (95.3p) and the U.S. (94.2) in the forecasting field, recording 90.3 points. Particularly, in surface observation, infrastructure and forecast accuracy segment, Korea was on a par with the U.S. and Japan, boasting 100.5 percent compared to their counterparts. However, in advanced observation, data quality and climate change segment, Korea was only at the level of 81.5 percent compared to that of the U.S. and Japan. All in all, the technological prowess of Korea, scoring 84.6 points, stood at 89.7 percent of that of the U.S. (94.3p) and 91.9 percent of Japan (92.1p).

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.648-661
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• 1996

The traditional von Thunen model has various shortcomings. Perhaps the greatest dificiency is the model's sole emphasis on the production side of the economy;that is, the agricultural markets are rarely closed for demand. In thes paoer a closed model for a three-activity, two-dimensional economy is developed. Equillibrium solutions are generated for prices, land areas, and outputs. Comparative static analysis then follows. Attention is next given to a maximum expected-return model under environmental uncertainty. Land uses for the traditional model and the closed model are then compared.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1243-1249
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• 2016

Background: Expression of p53, cyclin D1, p21 (WAF1) and Ki-67 (MIB1) was evaluated in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) to test whether levels of these markers at invasive tumour fronts (ITFs) could predict the development of local recurrence. Materials and Methods: Archived paraffin-embedded specimens from 51 patients with T1/T2 tumours were stained immunohistochemically and analysed quantitatively. Local recurrence-free survival was tested with Kaplan-Meier survival plots (log-rank test) using median values to define low and high expression groups and with a Cox's proportional hazards model in which the expression scores were entered as continuous variables. Results: The assessment of expression of all markers was highly reliable, univariate analysis showing that patients with clear surgical margins, with low cyclin D1 and high p21 expression at the ITF had the best local recurrence-free survival. Multivariate analysis showed that these three parameters were independent prognostic factors but that neither p53 nor MIB1 expression were of prognostic value. Conclusions: Assessment of p53, cyclin D1, p21 (WAF1), and Ki-67 (MIB1) at the ITF could help to predict local recurrence in early stage oral squamous cell carcinoma cases.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.159-164
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the association between dietary intake of citrus fruits and prostate cancer risk. Methods : Authors searched electronic databases and the reference lists of publications of diet and prostate cancer studies until August 2007. All of the epidemiological studies that obtained individual data on dietary intake of citrus fruits and presented risk estimates of the association between intake of citrus fruits and risk of prostate cancer were identified and included. Using general variance-based methods, study-specific odds ratios (OR)/ relative risk (RR) and associated confidence interval (CI)/ standard error (SE) for highest versus lowest intake of citrus fruits level were extracted from each paper. Results : Eleven articles including six case-control studies, one nested case-control study and four cohort studies, proved eligible. Overall summary OR using random effect model did not show an association in risk of prostate caner with intake of citrus fruits (summary OR=1.03, 95% CI=0.89-1.19) with large heterogeneity across studies that we were unable to explain ($I^2$=67.88%). The summary ORs in case-control studies and cohort studies were 1.10 (95% CI=0.97-1.22) and 1.05 (95% CI=0.96-1.14), respectively. Conclusions : Pooled results from observational studies did not show an association between intake of citrus fruits and the risk of prostate cancer, although results vary substantially across studies.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.8-14
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• 2007

Water quality in Lake Rotorua, New Zealand, deteriorated since the 1960s because of excessive phytoplankton growths due principally to increasing nitrogen and phosphorus in the lake waters. Nutrient concentrations in eight of the nine major streams feeding Lake Rotorua have increased since 1965. The groundwater system has a key role in the hydrology of the Lake Rotorua catchment and the groundwater system is probably the control on the time delay between intensification of agricultural land use and response of surface water quality. All major, and many minor streams, in the catchment are fed by springs. Two lithological units are most important to groundwater flow in the Lake Rotorua catchment: Mamaku Ignimbrite, erupted in about 200,000 years ago and Huka Formation sediments which filled the caldera left by the Mamaku Ignimbrite eruption. Rainfall recharge to groundwater in the groundwater catchment of Lake Rotorua is estimated as approximately 17300 L/s. A calibrated steady-state groundwater flow model estimates that approximately 11100 L/s of this flow discharges into streams and then into the lake and the balance travels directly to Lake Rotorua as groundwater discharge through the lake bed. Land use has impacted on groundwater quality. Median Total Nitrogen (TN) values for shallow groundwater sites are highest for the dairy land use (5.965 mg/L). Median TN values are also relatively high for shallow sites with urban-road and cropping land uses (4.710 and 3.620 mg/L, respectively). Median TN values for all other uses are in the 1.4 to 1.5 mg/L range. Policy development for Lake Rotorua includes defining regional policies on water and land management and setting an action plan for Lake Rotorua restoration. Aims in the action plan include: definition of the current nutrient budget for Lake Rotorua, identification of nutrient reduction targets and identification of actions to achieve targets. Current actions to restore Lake Rotorua water quality include: treatment of Tikitere geothermal nitrogen inputs to Lake Rotorua, upgrade of Rotorua City sewage plant, new sewage reticulation and alum dosing in selected streams to remove phosphorus.