• 한국소음진동공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국소음진동공학회 2004년도 추계학술대회논문집
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• pp.810-813
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• 2004

The task of introducing sounds leads to the realization of a comfortable acoustic environment and the design of good soundscape. This paper aims to rate the preference of environmental sounds suitable to the public spaces such as park, garden, bus terminal, urban street. And aims to search for the methodology how to select the introducing sounds by subjective and objective procedures. Seventeen kinds of introducing sounds were rated by nine adjectives in the presence of visual site informations. Also adequate sound levels were calculated by adjusting the volume of introducing sounds in the presence of the background sounds and visual informations. The results of psycho-acoustic experiments are as follows. 1. Proposal of various introducing sounds were evaluated to be possible at the rather calm natural park. 2. The introducing sounds which have opposite visual image or already existing at the place were evaluated not adequate to the sound circumstances of the place. 3. By the sounds with the same meaning, the identity of the street and the improvement of sound circumstance can be obtained.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.99-107
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Competent renal dietitians are crucial for better patient compliance and clinical outcomes, specifically in critical settings. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate an evidence-based course in renal dietetics for dietitians working in health care systems where dietetic specialization is absent. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Fifteen licensed dietitians working with hemodialysis patients in Lebanon were randomly recruited to participate in the course. The latter was developed by the study's primary investigator, according to evidence-based practice guidelines, and focused on all aspects of renal nutrition. Total course duration was 28 hours spread over a 2 month period. Dietitians' knowledge in renal nutrition was tested pre- and post-training through a 23-item questionnaire; the total score was expressed in percentage (< 60% score indicated insufficient knowledge). Paired-samples t test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Overall knowledge of the dietitians significantly improved post-training and reached satisfactory levels (pre: $38.75{\pm}17.20%$, post: $62.08{\pm}21.85%$). Sub-analysis of the change in the knowledge showed significant and satisfactory improvement only in 3 topics: 1) correct body weight use in calculations, 2) energy estimation method and 3) phosphorus management. Knowledge in the fluid management significantly improved but did not achieve a satisfactory level. CONCLUSION: The course significantly improved dietitians' knowledge in renal nutrition. If adopted as part of the continuing education of dietitians in countries that lack dietetic specializations, it may serve the first step towards improving health care practice.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.598-608
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• 2017

A new radiation scale is proposed. With empathy toward the vast majority of people who are not well versed in radiation and related matters, and thus suffering from misunderstanding that breeds unnecessary fear of radiation, the aim of proposing a new radiation scale, radiation index (RAIN), is to put the general public at ease with the concept of radiation. RAIN is defined in dimensionless numbers that relate any specific radiation dose to a properly defined reference level. As RAIN is expressed in plain numbers without an attached scientific unit, the public will feel comfortable with its friendly look, which in turn should help them understand radiation dose levels easily and allay their anxieties about radiation. The expanded awareness and proper understanding of radiation will empower the public to feel that they are not hopeless victims of radiation. The correspondence between RAIN and the specific accumulated dose is established. The equivalence will allow RAIN to serve as a common language of communication for the general public with which they can converse with radiation experts to discuss matters related to radiation safety, radiation diagnosis and therapy, nuclear accidents, and other related matters. Such fruitful dialogues will ultimately enhance public acceptance of radiation and associated technologies.

• Journal of Mycology and Infection
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

Background: Scalp seborrheic dermatitis is a common disease characterized by flaking and itching of the scalp. Conventional treatment options, such as the use of topical corticosteroids and antifungal agents, may cause adverse effects and reduce user satisfaction rates; thus, it is important to explore other treatment options for scalp seborrheic dermatitis. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new-formula shampoo containing natural ingredients, including the extract of Rosa centifolia petals, epigallocatechin gallate, zinc pyrithione, and climbazole. Methods: A total of 50 patients with scalp seborrheic dermatitis were enrolled and divided into two groups: the new-formula shampoo-treated group and the 1.5% ciclopirox olamine shampoo-treated group. Clinical severity scores, sebum secretion, and inflammatory cytokines were assessed. In addition, patient satisfaction and adverse events were assessed using a questionnaire. Results: The new-formula shampoo was comparable with ciclopirox in reducing the clinical severity scores and sebum secretion. Patients' improvement scores and user satisfaction rates were higher in the new-formula shampoo group than in the 1.5% ciclopirox olamine shampoo-treated group. The inflammatory cytokine levels considerably changed in both groups during the course of the study. Conclusion: Thus, the new-formula shampoo can be considered a treatment option for patients with scalp seborrheic dermatitis.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.180-193
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a major cause of metabolic disorders; to prevent obesity, research is ongoing to develop natural and safe ingredients with few adverse effects. In this study, we determined the anti-obesity effects of Rosa multiflora root extract (KWFD-H01) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: The anti-obesity effects of KWFD-H01in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and SD rats were examined using various assays, including Oil Red O staining, gene expression analyses, protein expression analyses, and blood biochemical analyses. RESULTS: KWFD-H01 reduced intracellular lipid accumulation and inhibited the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPα), sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1 (SREBP-1c), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) in 3T3-L1 cells. KWFD-H01 also reduced body weight, weight gain, and the levels of triglycerides, total and LDL-cholesterol, glucose, and leptin, while increasing high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and adiponectin in SD rats. PPARγ, C/EBPα, SREBP-1c, ACC, and FAS protein expression was inhibited in the epididymal fat of SD rats. CONCLUSION: Overall, these results confirm the anti-obesity effects of KWFD-H01 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and SD rats, indicating their potential as baseline data for developing functional health foods or pharmaceuticals to control obesity.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.102-109
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• 2024

Background: In today's modern world, longer working hours, shift work, and working at night have become major causes of the disruption of our natural circadian rhythms. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the type of shift work (rotating vs. fixed day), duty period (on-duty vs. off-duty), and working period within each shift (nighttime vs. daytime) on the circadian rhythm characteristics of nurses who provide direct patient care. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a purposive sampling method. Cosinor analysis was applied to analyze the actigraphy data of nurses providing direct patient care for seven consecutive days. The linear mixed effects model was then used to determine any variances between shift type, duty period, and working period within each shift for the nurses. Results: The mesor value did not differ according to nurses' shift type, duty period, and working period within each shift. The amplitude was statistically higher in on-duty nurses and in daytime working hours. The acrophase was significantly delayed in nighttime working hours. As well as nurses in rotating shift had experience. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that the peak activity of nurses occurs significantly later at night while working and nurses working during nighttime hours may have a weaker or less distinct circadian rhythm. Thus, this study suggests that limits be placed on the number of rotating nighttime shifts for nurses.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.265-273
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• 2015

Background: Cancer has emerged as a major health problem globally as a consequence to the increased longevity of the population, changing the environment and life style. Chemoprevention is a new and promising strategy for reducing cancer burden. Recently, some natural products have been identified for their chemopreventive activity to reduce the cancer incidence. Ginseng is known for its potential to treat various ailments in human beings. The present study was designed to explore the anticancer and antioxidative potential of Panax ginseng against chemical-induced skin carcinogenesis in mammals. Methods: Skin tumors were induced in Swiss albino mice by a single topical application of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene ($100{\mu}g/100{\mu}L$ acetone) and, 2 wks later, promoted by repeated applications of croton oil (thrice in a wk in 1% acetone) till the end of the experiment (i.e., 16 wk). Hydroalcoholic ginseng root extract at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight/d was orally administered at the periinitiation, postinitiation, and peri-post-initiation stages. Results: Ginseng root extract treatment caused a significant reduction in tumor incidence, cumulative number of tumors, tumor yield, and tumor burden, as compared to the 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-croton oil-treated control group. Further, biochemical assays revealed a significant enhancement in the levels of reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, vitamin C, and total proteins but a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation levels in both the liver and skin with ginseng root extract treatment, as compared to carcinogen-treated control group. Conclusion: These results suggest that P. ginseng has the potential to become a pivotal chemopreventive agent that can reduce cancer in mammals.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.89-97
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• 2015

Background: We conducted this experimental study to examine whether human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are effective in achieving a recovery of damaged renal tubular epithelial cells in an animal model of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury using rats. Methods: To examine the in vitro effects of ADSCs in improving nephrotoxicity, we treated mouse renal tubular epithelial cells with both ADSCs and cisplatin mouse renal tubular epithelial cells. And we equally divided 30 male white Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats into the three groups: the control group (intraperitoneal injection of a sterile saline), the cisplatin group (intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin) and the ADSC group (intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin and the hADSC via the caudal vein). At five days after the treatment with cisplatin, serum levels of blood urine nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were measured from each SD rat. We performed histopathologic examinations of tissue samples obtained from the kidney. Results: The degree of the expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ and that of Bcl-2 were significantly higher and lower respectively, in cisplatin group (P<0.05). Serum levels of BUN (P=0.027) and creatinine (P=0.02) were significantly higher in cisplatin group. On histopathologic examinations, there was a significant difference in the ratio of the renal injury between cisplatin group and ADSC group (P=0.002). Conclusion: The ADSCs might have a beneficial effect in regenerating the damaged renal tubular epithelial cells.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.267-271
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) by the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) enzyme can cause inflammation. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is also involved in the inflammatory response through regulation of nuclear factor-kappa B $NF-{\kappa}B$(). Areca catechu is one of the known fruit plants of the Palmaceae family. It has been used for a long time as a source of herbal medicine in Indonesia. In this study, we explored the effect of Indonesian Areca catechu leaf ethanol extract (ACE) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and carrageenan-induced paw edema models. Recently, this natural extract has been in the spotlight because of its efficacy and limited or no toxic side effects. However, the mechanism underlying its anti-inflammatory effect remains to be elucidated. MATERIALS/METHODS: We measured NO production by using the Griess reagent, and determined the expression levels of inflammation-related proteins, such as iNOS, COX2, and $NF-{\kappa}B$, by western blot. To confirm the effect of ACE in vivo, we used the carrageenan-induced paw edema model. RESULTS: Compared to untreated cells, LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells treated with ACE showed reduced NO generation and reduced iNOS and COX-2 expression. We found that the acute inflammatory response was significantly reduced by ACE in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results suggest that ACE can inhibit inflammation and modulate NO generation via downregulation of iNOS levels and $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling in vitro and in vivo. ACE may have a potential medical benefit as an anti-inflammation agent.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.291-297
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effects and molecular mechanisms of the Schisandra chinensis fruit extract (SC) and its major compound gomisin A (GA), on the contractility of rabbit penile corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (PCCSM). MATERIALS/METHODS: PCCSM was exposed to SC or GA after appropriate pretreatment with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) blocker, guanylate cyclase blocker, adenylyl cyclase blocker or protein kinase A blocker. Subsequently, we evaluated the cyclic nucleotide in the perfusate by radioimmunoassay, protein expression level of neuronal NOS (nNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) by western blot, and the interaction of SC or GA with udenafil and rolipram. RESULTS: Both SC and GA induce PCCSM relaxations in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with NOS blocker, guanylate cyclase blocker, adenylyl cyclase blocker or protein kinase A blocker result in significantly decreased relaxation. SC and GA also induce the levels of cyclic nucleotide in the perfusate in a concentration-dependent manner. Perfusion with GA also showed significantly higher levels of eNOS protein. Furthermore, the udenafil and rolipram induced relaxations of PCCSM were enhanced after exposure to SC and GA. Our results indicate that SC and GA induce the relaxation of PCCSM via the nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP and cAMP signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: The SC and GA are potential alternative treatments for men who want to consume natural products to ameliorate erectile function, or who do not respond to the commercially available medicines.