• Title/Summary/Keyword: Improvement of Sensitivity

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Altitude training as a powerful corrective intervention in correctin insulin resistance

  • Chen, Shu-Man;Kuo, Chia-Hua
    • Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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    • v.16 no.2
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    • pp.65-71
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    • 2012
  • Oxygen is the final acceptor of electron transport from fat and carbohydrate oxidation, which is the rate-limiting factor for cellular ATP production. Under altitude hypoxia condition, energy reliance on anaerobic glycolysis increases to compensate for the shortfall caused by reduced fatty acid oxidation [1]. Therefore, training at altitude is expected to strongly influence the human metabolic system, and has the potential to be designed as a non-pharmacological or recreational intervention regimen for correcting diabetes or related metabolic problems. However, most people cannot accommodate high altitude exposure above 4500 M due to acute mountain sickness (AMS) and insulin resistance corresponding to a increased levels of the stress hormones cortisol and catecholamine [2]. Thus, less stringent conditions were evaluated to determine whether glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity could be improved by moderate altitude exposure (below 4000 M). In 2003, we and another group in Austria reported that short-term moderate altitude exposure plus endurance-related physical activity significantly improves glucose tolerance (not fasting glucose) in humans [3,4], which is associated with the improvement in the whole-body insulin sensitivity [5]. With daily hiking at an altitude of approximately 4000 M, glucose tolerance can still be improved but fasting glucose was slightly elevated. Individuals vary widely in their response to altitude challenge. In particular, the improvement in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity by prolonged altitude hiking activity is not apparent in those individuals with low baseline DHEA-S concentration [6]. In addition, hematopoietic adaptation against altitude hypoxia can also be impaired in individuals with low DHEA-S. In short-lived mammals like rodents, the DHEA-S level is barely detectable since their adrenal cortex does not appear to produce this steroid [7]. In this model, exercise training recovery under prolonged hypoxia exposure (14-15% oxygen, 8 h per day for 6 weeks) can still improve insulin sensitivity, secondary to an effective suppression of adiposity [8]. Genetically obese rats exhibit hyperinsulinemia (sign of insulin resistance) with up-regulated baseline levels of AMP-activated protein kinase and AS160 phosphorylation in skeletal muscle compared to lean rats. After prolonged hypoxia training, this abnormality can be reversed concomitant with an approximately 50% increase in GLUT4 protein expression. Additionally, prolonged moderate hypoxia training results in decreased diffusion distance of muscle fiber (reduced cross-sectional area) without affecting muscle weight. In humans, moderate hypoxia increases postprandial blood distribution towards skeletal muscle during a training recovery. This physiological response plays a role in the redistribution of fuel storage among important energy storage sites and may explain its potent effect on changing body composition. Conclusion: Prolonged moderate altitude hypoxia (rangingfrom 1700 to 2400 M), but not acute high attitude hypoxia (above 4000 M), can effectively improve insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance for humans and antagonizes the obese phenotype in animals with a genetic defect. In humans, the magnitude of the improvementvaries widely and correlates with baseline plasma DHEA-S levels. Compared to training at sea-level, training at altitude effectively decreases fat mass in parallel with increased muscle mass. This change may be associated with increased perfusion of insulin and fuel towards skeletal muscle that favors muscle competing postprandial fuel in circulation against adipose tissues.

A-GNSS Performance Test in Various Urban Environments by Using a Commercial Low Cost GNSS Receiver and Service

  • Han, Kahee;Lee, Jung-Hoon;Im, Ji-Ung;Won, Jong-Hoon
    • Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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    • v.7 no.4
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    • pp.205-215
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    • 2018
  • The recent emergence of new Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) has resulted in a gradual improvement in the performance of positioning services. This paper verifies the degree of improvement in positioning performance of Assisted-GNSS (A-GNSS) receivers using assistance information compared to standalone-GNSS receivers that do not use assistance information in various urban environments in Korea. For this purpose, field tests are performed in various urban and indoor environments in Korea. The assistance information is provided by u-blox's AssistNow Online and low-cost commercial receivers are used for mobile station receivers. Through experiments, the Time to First Fix (TTFF), acquisition sensitivity, and position accuracy performance improvement are analyzed. The results of the experiments show that using assistance data improved the performance in all experiment locations, and, in particular, a significant performance improvement in terms of TTFF.

A Study on the Feasibility analysis model for Housing Environment Improvement Project of Depressed region - Focused on the project by the public sector - (낙후지역 주거환경개선사업 타당성분석 평가모델 연구 - 공공(公共) 시행사업을 중심으로 -)

  • Choi, Jung-Min;Choi, Chan-Hwan
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.83-90
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    • 2012
  • The purpose of this study was to set and analyze the standard model for prioritizing and deciding to take part in housing environment improvement project in the perspective of the public sector. The results of this study were as follows. The location competitiveness, potential demand, marketability and competitive price, etc were selected by assessment indicators. And Various indicators, including of the size of the area, public transportation, accessibility, convenience of living and the influx of the population, were used by weights indexes. The profit of local residents and the public promoter, variability of earnings, sensitivity analysis and the ratio of money in reserve, etc were also established as detailed indexes for the profitability and business risk analysis. To analyze the cash flow of the project process and review the necessary capital in advance, the payback, total working expenses, gearing ratio and sensitivity of a risk, etc were also set as additional detailed indexes. Lastly, considering it is quasi-public projects, the measure to protect tenants, necessity need of redevelopment and local government's will were additionally used by indexes. And Points were distributed on the importance of each index and scored out of 100. It will allow for the public project promoter to decide rationally whether to come in on the project. The public project promoter like the Korea Land and Housing Corporation will be able to make use of various indexes are based on this study to make decision whether joining the housing environment improvement project in depressed region.

Optimal Imperfect-Quality Inventory Models for Continuous and Discrete Shipping with Process Improvement and Setup Reduction (프로세스 품질 개선과 셋업 절감을 고려한 연속 및 불연속 배송 환경에서의 최적 불완전 품질 재고 모형)

  • Kim, Dae-Soo;Yoo, Seung-Ho
    • Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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    • v.34 no.1
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    • pp.11-28
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    • 2009
  • Intelligent investment in setup cost reduction and process reliability improvement is crucial to an emerging integrated lean six sigma practice today. This study examines a cost-minimizing problem of jointly determining production lot size, setup cost reduction, and process reliability improvement decisions for a manufacturer with an imperfect production process. We develop models for previously untapped discrete shipping in a supply chain context as well as continuous shipping and solve them optimally using differential calculus and nonlinear programming. We also conduct analytic and numerical sensitivity analyses to provide various important managerial insights into practices.

Sensitivity of the Pyrenophora teres Population in Algeria to Quinone outside Inhibitors, Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors and Demethylation Inhibitors

  • Lammari, Hamama-Imene;Rehfus, Alexandra;Stammler, Gerd;Benslimane, Hamida
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
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    • v.36 no.3
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    • pp.218-230
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    • 2020
  • Net blotch of barley caused by Pyrenophora teres (Died.) Drechsler, is one of the most destructive diseases on barley in Algeria. It occurs in two forms: P. teres f. teres and P. teres f. maculata. A total of 212 isolates, obtained from 58 fields sampled in several barley growing areas, were assessed for fungicide sensitivity by target gene analysis. F129L and G137R mitochondrial cytochrome b substitution associated with quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs) resistance, and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) related mutations (B-H277, C-N75S, C-G79R, C-H134R, and C-S135R), were analyzed by pyrosequencing. In vitro sensitivity of 45 isolates, towards six fungicides belonging to three chemical groups (QoI, demethylase inhibitor, and SDHI) was tested by microtiter technique. Additionally, sensitivity towards three fungicides (azoxystrobin, fluxapyroxad, and epoxiconazole) was assessed in planta under glasshouse conditions. All tested isolates were QoI-sensitive and SDHI-sensitive, no mutation that confers resistance was identified. EC50 values showed that pyraclostrobin and azoxystrobin are the most efficient fungicides in vitro, whereas fluxapyroxad displayed the best disease inhibition in planta (81% inhibition at 1/9 of the full dose). The EC50 values recorded for each form of net blotch showed no significant difference in efficiency of QoI treatments and propiconazole on each form. However, in the case of fluxapyroxad, epoxiconazole and tebuconazole treatments, analysis showed significant differences in their efficiency. To our knowledge, this study is the first investigation related to mutations associated to QoI and SDHI fungicide resistance in Algerian P. teres population, as well as it is the first evaluation of the sensitivity of P. teres population towards these six fungicides.

Nanobiocatalyst-Linked Immunosorbent Assay(NBC-LISA) (나노바이오촉매 기반 효소결합면역흡착검사)

  • Lee, Inseon;Hwang, Sang Youn;Kim, Jungbae
    • Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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    • v.49 no.4
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    • pp.387-392
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    • 2011
  • Enzymes are being used in various fields due to their unique property of substrate specificity. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) has enabled the detection of various antigens by reporting the binding event of antigen and antibody via enzyme-catalyzed reaction. However, the sensitivity improvement of conventional ELISA has been limited because only one enzyme molecule is conjugated to one molecule of antibody. To overcome this limitation and further improve the sensitivity of ELISA, there have been efforts to increase the number ratio of enzymes to antibody. Recently, the nanobiocatalytic approaches, with their successful enzyme stabilization, improved the performance stability as well as sensitivity in a modified protocol of ELISA. The present paper introduces the basic principle of ELISA, and the recent efforts to improve sensitivity and performance stability of ELISA by using the nanobiocatalytic approaches.

Critical Thinking Disposition, Professional Self-Concept and Moral sensitivity in Nursing students (간호대학생의 비판적 사고 성향, 전문직 자아개념과 도덕적 민감성에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Ji-In
    • Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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    • v.16 no.9
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    • pp.6053-6060
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    • 2015
  • The aim of this study was to examine relations among critical thinking disposition, professional self-concept and moral sensitivity in nursing students. This study was conducted on 280 nursing students between March 3th 2015 and March 10th. 2015. The data was analyzed by using SPSS/WIN 18.0 program. Moral sensitivity significantly differed depending on one's experience in biomedical ethic education. Significant positive correlations were witnessed between critical thinking disposition and professional self-concept as well as between critical thinking disposition and moral sensitivity. Considering the results, the ways to develop critical thinking disposition and to ameliorate the current clinical training system are needed to firmly establish professional self-concept. Finally, I Suggest a study to develop and validate training program for the improvement of nursing students' moral sensitivity.

Development and Application of a Performance Prediction Model for Home Care Nursing Based on a Balanced Scorecard using the Bayesian Belief Network (Bayesian Belief Network 활용한 균형성과표 기반 가정간호사업 성과예측모델 구축 및 적용)

  • Noh, Wonjung;Seomun, GyeongAe
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.45 no.3
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    • pp.429-438
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    • 2015
  • Purpose: This study was conducted to develop key performance indicators (KPIs) for home care nursing (HCN) based on a balanced scorecard, and to construct a performance prediction model of strategic objectives using the Bayesian Belief Network (BBN). Methods: This methodological study included four steps: establishment of KPIs, performance prediction modeling, development of a performance prediction model using BBN, and simulation of a suggested nursing management strategy. An HCN expert group and a staff group participated. The content validity index was analyzed using STATA 13.0, and BBN was analyzed using HUGIN 8.0. Results: We generated a list of KPIs composed of 4 perspectives, 10 strategic objectives, and 31 KPIs. In the validity test of the performance prediction model, the factor with the greatest variance for increasing profit was maximum cost reduction of HCN services. The factor with the smallest variance for increasing profit was a minimum image improvement for HCN. During sensitivity analysis, the probability of the expert group did not affect the sensitivity. Furthermore, simulation of a 10% image improvement predicted the most effective way to increase profit. Conclusion: KPIs of HCN can estimate financial and non-financial performance. The performance prediction model for HCN will be useful to improve performance.