• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.112-120
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• 2015

Statistical trend analysis using the data from the National Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network (NGQMN) of Korea was conducted to establish a new groundwater quality management framework. Sen’s test, a non-parametric statistical method for trend analysis, was used to determine the linear trend of the groundwater quality data. The analysis was conducted at different confidence levels (i.e., at 70, 80, 90, 95, and 99% confidence levels) for three of groundwater quality parameters, i.e., nitrate-nitrogen, chloride, and pH, which have sufficient time series of the NGQMN data between 2007 and 2013. The results showed that different trends can be determined for different depths even for the same monitoring site and the numbers of wells having significant trends vary with different confidence levels. The wells with increasing or decreasing trends were far less than the wells with no trend. Chloride had more wells with increasing trend than other parameters. On the other hand, nitrate-nitrogen had the most wells with increasing trend and concentration exceeding 75% of the threshold values (TVs). Based on the methodology used for this study, we suggest including groundwater TVs and trend analysis to evaluate groundwater quality and to establish an advanced groundwater quality management framework.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2009

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is highly prevalent worldwide. The major challenge for current antiviral treatment is the elevated drug resistance that occurs via rapid viral mutagenesis. In this study, we developed AAV vectors to simultaneously deliver two or three shRNAs targeting different HBV-related genes. These vectors showed markedly better antiviral effects than ones that delivered a single shRNA in vitro. A dual shRNA expression vector (AAV-157i/1694i), which simultaneously expressed two shRNAs targeted the S and X genes of HBV, reduced HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA levels by $87{\pm}4$, $80.3{\pm}2.6$ and $86.2{\pm}7%$ respectively, eight days post-transduction. In a mouse model of prophylactic treatment, HBsAg and HBeAg were reduced to undetectable levels and the serum HBV DNA level was reduced by at least 100 fold. These results indicate that AAV-157i/1694i generates potent anti-HBV effects and that the strategy of constructing multi-shRNA expression vectors may lead to enhanced anti-HBV efficacy and overcome the evading mechanism of the virus and thus the development of drug resistance.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2014

This study investigated the effects of temperature on the shoot growth and flowering of potted kumquat [Fortunella margarita ( Lour.) Swingle] trees grown in subtropical conditions of I-Lan County in Taiwan. Temperature treatments included T 25-32, T 17-25, T 22, and T 18. The T 25-32 treatment trees were to the day/night temperatures of $25/18^{\circ}C$ for 2 weeks, followed by 28 weeks at $32/25^{\circ}C$. T 17-25 was exposed for 4 weeks to $17/10^{\circ}C$ followed by 26 weeks at $25/18^{\circ}C$. T 22 and T 18 were exposed at $22/18^{\circ}C$ and $18/13^{\circ}C$, respectively, for the entire duration of the experiment. Control trees were placed in a plastic greenhouse under conditions similar to the natural environment. The kumquat trees exposed to high-temperature environment of $32/25^{\circ}C$ showed more frequent and speedy sprouting of new buds, but induced the earlier termination of shoot elongation growth, resulting in decreased vegetative growth. The temperature treatments lower than $22^{\circ}C$ suppressed the new shoot production but increased the shoot growth period, resulting in increased shoot length and diameter. Temperatures higher than $25/18^{\circ}C$ readily induced flowering, with flowering being advanced under the higher temperature conditions such as $32/25^{\circ}C$. However, flowering was substantially inhibited under temperature conditions lower than $22/18^{\circ}C$, indicating the negative role of relatively lower temperatures on flowering of kumquat trees.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2018

PURPOSE. The purpose of this in vitro study is to examine the effects of a nano-structured alumina coating on the adhesion between resin cements and zirconia ceramics using a four-point bending test. MATERIALS AND METHODS. 100 pairs of zirconium bar specimens were prepared with dimensions of $25mm{\times}2mm{\times}5mm$ and cementation surfaces of $5mm{\times}2mm$. The samples were divided into 5 groups of 20 pairs each. The groups are as follows: Group I (C) - Control with no surface modification, Group II (APA) - airborne-particle-abrasion with $110{\mu}m$ high-purity aluminum oxide ($Al_2O_3$) particles, Group III (ROC) - airborne-particle-abrasion with $110{\mu}m$ silica modified aluminum oxide ($Al_2O_3+SiO_2$) particles, Group IV (TCS) - tribochemical silica coated with $Al_2O_3$ particles, and Group V (AlC) - nano alumina coating. The surface modifications were assessed on two samples selected from each group by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The samples were cemented with two different self-adhesive resin cements. The bending bond strength was evaluated by mechanical testing. RESULTS. According to the ANOVA results, surface treatments, different cement types, and their interactions were statistically significant (P<.05). The highest flexural bond strengths were obtained in nano-structured alumina coated zirconia surfaces (50.4 MPa) and the lowest values were obtained in the control group (12.00 MPa), both of which were cemented using a self-adhesive resin cement. CONCLUSION. The surface modifications tested in the current study affected the surface roughness and flexural bond strength of zirconia. The nano alumina coating method significantly increased the flexural bond strength of zirconia ceramics.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.845-853
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to predict the timing of nitrogen (N) demand through analyzing chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF), soil-plant analysis development (SPAD), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), which are positively correlated with foliar N concentration in star cluster (Pentas lanceolata). The plants were grown in potting soil under optimal conditions for 30 d, followed by weekly irrigation with five concentrations (0, 4, 8, 16, and 24 mM) of N for an additional 30 d. These five N application levels corresponded to leaf N concentrations of 2.62, 3.48, 4.00, 4.23, and 4.69%, respectively. We measured 13 morphological and physiological parameters, as well as the responses of these parameters to various N-fertilizer treatments. The general increases in Dickson's quality index (DQI), above-ground dry weight (DW), total DW, flowering rate, ${\Delta}F/Fm$', and qP in response to treatment with 0 to 8 mM N were similar to those of SPAD, NDVI, and Fv/Fm. Consistent and strong correlations ($R^2$= 0.60 to 0.85) were observed between leaf N concentration (%) and SPAD, NDVI, ${\Delta}F/Fm$', and above-ground DW. Validation of leaf S PAD, NDVI, and ${\Delta}F/Fm$' revealed that these vegetation indices are accurate predictors of leaf N concentration that can be used for non-destructive estimation of the proper timing for N-solution irrigation of P. lanceolata. Moreover, irrigation with 8 mM N-fertilizer i s recommended w hen leaf N concentration, SPAD, NVDI, and ${\Delta}F/Fm$' ratios are reduced from their saturation values of 4.00, 50.68, 0.64, and 0.137%, respectively.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

Steel-concrete composite walls have been proposed and developed for applications in various types of structures. The double-skin profiled composite walls, as a natural development of composite flooring, provide structural and architectural merits. However, adequate intermediate fasteners between profiled steel plates and concrete core are required to fully mobilize the composite action and to improve the structural behavior of the wall. In this research, two new types of fasteners (i.e., threaded rods and vertical plates) were proposed and three specimens with different fastener types or fastener arrangements were tested under axial compression. The experimental results were evaluated in terms of failure modes, axial load versus axial displacement response, strength index, ductility index, and load-strain relationship. It was found that specimen with symmetrically arranged thread rods sustained more stable axial strain than that with staggered arranged threaded rods. Meanwhile, vertical plates are more suitable for practical use since they provide stronger confinement to profiled steel plate and effectively prevent the steel plate from early local buckling, which eventually enhance the composite action and increase the axial compressive capacity of the wall. The calculation methods were then proposed and good agreement was observed between the test results and the predicted results.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.1020-1042
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• 2019

Reversible data hiding in encrypted images (RDHEI) provides some real-time cloud applications; i.e. the cloud, acting as a data-hider, automatically embeds timestamp in the encrypted image uploaded by a content owner. Many existing methods of RDHEI only satisfy user privacy in which the data-hider does not know the original image, but leaks owner privacy in which the receiver can obtains the original image by decryption and extraction. In the literature, the method of Zhang et al. is the one providing weak content-owner privacy in which the content-owner and data-hider have to share a data-hiding key. In this paper, we take care of the stronger notion, called strong content-owner privacy, and achieve it by presenting a new reversible data hiding in encrypted images. In the proposed method, image decryption and message extraction are separately controlled by different types of keys, and thus such functionalities are decoupled to solve the privacy problem. At the technique level, the original image is segmented along a Hilbert filling curve. To keep image privacy, segments are transformed into an encrypted image by using random permutation. The encrypted image does not reveal significant information about the original one. Data embedment can be realized by using pixel histogram-style hiding, since this property, can be preserved before or after encryption. The proposed method is a modular method to compile some specific reversible data hiding to those in encrypted image with content owner privacy. Finally, our experimental results show that the image quality is 50.85dB when the averaged payload is 0.12bpp.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.89-94
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigates the impact of self-myofascial release using a foam roller on the quadriceps femoris for pelvic stability. We further compare the effects of a GRID surface Foam Roller (GFR), a Non-Vibration Foam Roller (NVFR), and a Vibration Foam Roller (VFR). Methods: Thirty healthy adults (15 males, 15 females) participated in this study and were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: GFR, NVFR, or VFR. Participants walked at self-selected speeds with an arm sling before and after foam roller stretching. The analyzed gait parameters included pelvic tilt, pelvic obliquity, and pelvic rotation. Results: In the NVFR and VFR groups, there was a Significant differences were obtained in the pelvic tilt between pre-test and post-test values (p<0.05) in the NVFR and VFR groups, but no significant difference was observed in the GFR group (p>0.05). Comparing the amount of change between the three groups exhibited a significant decrease in pelvic tilt in the NVFR and VFR groups compared to the GFR group (p<0.017). No significant differences were found in pelvic obliquity and pelvic rotation (p>0.05) in all groups. Conclusion: While walking, the use of a VFR for self-myofascial release results in pelvic alteration by reducing the anterior pelvic tilt. We propose that a foam roller can be utilized to enhance pelvic stability during gait.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.640-646
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• 2023

Objective: Prospective studies on postoperative residual breast tissue (RBT) after robotic-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy (R-NSM) for breast cancer are limited. RBT presents an unknown risk of local recurrence or the development of new cancer after curative or risk-reducing mastectomies. This study investigated the technical feasibility of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate RBT after R-NSM in women with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: In this prospective pilot study, 105 patients, who underwent R-NSM for breast cancer at Changhua Christian Hospital between March 2017 and May 2022, were subjected to postoperative breast MRI to evaluate the presence and location of RBT. The postoperative MRI scans of 43 patients (age, 47.8 ± 8.5 years), with existing preoperative MRI scans, were evaluated for the presence and location of RBT. In total, 54 R-NSM procedures were performed. In parallel, we reviewed the literature on RBT after nipple-sparing mastectomy, considering its prevalence. Results: RBT was detected in 7 (13.0%) of the 54 mastectomies (6 of the 48 therapeutic mastectomies and 1 of the 6 prophylactic mastectomies). The most common location for RBT was behind the nipple-areolar complex (5 of 7 [71.4%]). Another RBT was found in the upper inner quadrant (2 of 7 [28.6%]). Among the six patients who underwent RBT after therapeutic mastectomies, one patient developed a local recurrence of the skin flap. The other five patients with RBT after therapeutic mastectomies remained disease-free. Conclusion: R-NSM, a surgical innovation, does not seem to increase the prevalence of RBT, and breast MRI showed feasibility as a noninvasive imaging tool for evaluating the presence and location of RBT.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2024

Background: E-waste workers in Hong Kong are handling an unprecedented amount of e-waste, which contains various neurotoxic chemicals. However, no study has been conducted to evaluate the neurological health status of e-waste workers in Hong Kong. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of neurobehavioral alterations and to identify the vulnerable groups among Hong Kong e-waste workers. Methods: We recruited 109 Hong Kong e-waste workers from June 2021 to September 2022. Participants completed standard questionnaires and wore a GENEActiv accelerometer for seven days. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Questionnaire 16/18 (Q16/18) were used to assess subjective neurobehavioral alterations. The GENEActiv data generated objective sleep and circadian rhythm variables. Workers were grouped based on job designation and entity type according to the presumed hazardous level. Unconditional logistic regression models measured the associations of occupational characteristics with neurobehavioral alterations after adjusting for confounders. Results: While dismantlers/repairers and the workers in entities not funded by the government were more likely to suffer from neurotoxic symptoms in Q18 (adjusted odds ratio: 3.18 [1.18-9.39] and 2.77 [1.10-7.46], respectively), the workers from self-sustained recycling facilities also have poor performances in circadian rhythm. Results also showed that the dismantlers/repairers working in entities not funded by the government had the highest risk of neurotoxic symptoms compared to the lowest-risk group (i.e., workers in government-funded companies with other job designations). Conclusion: This timely and valuable study emphasizes the importance of improving the working conditions for high-risk e-waste workers, especially the dismantlers or repairers working in facilities not funded by the government.