• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.203-214
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• 2000

Health risk assessment is applied to streamlining LCA(Life Cycle Assessment) using Monte carlo simulation for probabilistic/stochastic exposure and risk distribution analysis caused by data variability and uncertainty. A case study was carried out to find benefits of this application. BTC(Benzene, Trichloroethylene, Carbon tetrachloride mixture alias) personal exposure cases were assumed as production worker(in workplace), manager(in office) and business man(outdoor). These cases were different from occupational retention time and exposure concentration for BTC consumption pattern. The result of cancer risk in these 3 scenario cases were estimated as $1.72E-4{\pm}1.2E+0$(production worker; case A), $9.62E-5{\pm}1.44E-5$(manger; case B), $6.90E-5{\pm}1.16E+0$(business man; case C), respectively. Portions of over acceptable risk 1.00E-4(assumed standard) were 99.85%, 38.89% and 0.61%, respectively. Estimated BTC risk was log-normal pattern, but some of distributions did not have any formal patterns. Except first impact factor(BTC emission quantity), sensitivity analysis showed that main effective factor was retention time in their occupational exposure sites. This case study is a good example to cover that LCA with probabilistic risk analysis tool can supply various significant information such as statistical distribution including personal/environmental exposure level, daily time activity pattern and individual susceptibility. Further research is needed for investigating real data of these input variables and personal exposure concentration and application of this study methodology.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2017

Climate change phenomenon is posing a serious threat to sustainable corn production in Ghana. This study investigated the impacts of climate change on the rain-fed corn yield in the Dangme East district, Ghana by using Aquacrop model with a daily weather data set of 22-year from 1992 to 2013. Analysis of the weather data showed that the area is facing a warming trend as the numbers of years hotter and drier than the normal seemed to be increasing. Aquacrop model was assessed using the limited observed data to verify model's sufficiency, and showed credible results of $R^2$ and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE). In order to simulate the corn yield response to climate variability four climate change scenarios were designed by varying long-term average temperature in the range of ${\pm}1^{\circ}C{\sim}{\pm}3^{\circ}C$ and average annual rainfall to ${\pm}5%{\sim}{\pm}30%$, respectively. Generally, the corn yield was negatively correlated to temperature rise and rainfall reduction. Rainfall variations showed more prominent impacts on the corn yield than that of temperature variations. The reduction in average rainfall would instantly limit the crop growth rate and the corn yield irrespective of the temperature variations.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.378-385
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• 1999

A reduced NaCl intake for the general population of the world has been recommended to reduce the overall blood pressure level and hence to reduce the overall incidence of cardiovascular disease. A high NaCl diet convincingly contributes to elevated arterial pressure in humans and animal models of hypertension. Among individuals there is considerable variability of blood pressure responsiveness to NaCl intake. In normotensive as well as hypertensive subjects, blood pressure can be judged to be salt sensitivity (SS) when observed to vary directly and substantially with the net intake of NaCl. The prevalence of SS in normotensive adults in the U.S. ranges from 15% to 42% and in hypertensive adults from 28% to 74%. SS is a risk factor for hypertension and may be an important marker in the identification of children for hypertension prevention programs. High NaCl intakes produce expansion of the extracellular fluid volume and thus increase blood pressure. Nonchloride salts of sodium does not expand the extracellular fluid volume and does not alter blood pressure. Blood pressure response to NaCl may be modified by other components of the diet. Low dietary intakes of potassium or calcium augment NaCl-induced increases of blood pressure. Conversely, high dietary intakes of potassium or calcium attenuate NaCl-induced hypertension. A greater intakes of potassium or calcium may prevent or delay the occurrence of hypertension. SS occurs when dietary potassium is even marginally deficient but is dose-dependently suppressed when dietary potassium is increased within its normal range. Orally administered KHCO$_3$, abundant in fruits and vegetates, but not KCl has a calcium-retaining effect which may contributed to its reversal of pressor effect of dietary NaCl. Since nutrients other than NaCl also affect blood pressure levels, a reduced NaCl intake should be only one component of a nutritional strategy to lower blood pressure.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.152-157
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• 2006

Background: Meralgia paresthesia (MP) is characterized by sensory impairment in the anterolateral aspect of the thigh and usually caused by a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) lesion. It is well known that several physiologic factors including age, obesity, and sex can affect nerve conduction. This study aimed to determine whether body mass index (BMI) and age can influence on the conduction velocity and action potential amplitude of the LFCN. Methods: Fifty six individuals without any previous neuromuscular disease participated in this study. LFCN was studied orthodromically, distally from the anterior superior iliac spine. The values, such as sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitude and sensory nerve conduction velocity (NCV) were obtained. SNAP of the LFCN were formed on both sides in forty three individuals. Results: No difference of demographic factors was observed between two groups divided according to the presence of SNAP formation. BMI had a significant relationship with SNAP amplitude and NCV of the LFCN. Moreover, Multiple regression analyses of nerve conduction values showed the significant correlation of body mass index and age with nerve conduction velocity. Conclusions: We may suggest that nerve conduction of the LFCN can be affected by age and BMI. Further study to obtain normal nerve conduction data and compare these data with those of meralgia paresthetica patients should be continued.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.81-97
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• 2021

Objectives This study was designed to identify the changes of autonomic nervous system (ANS) which was induced by acupuncture at the field of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. Methods 30 healthy adults were selected and classified into two groups; experimental group, control group. After providing mental stress, acupuncture was applied at external ear in experimental group and no treatment executed in control group. The evaluation of ANS function was measured by heart rate variability (HRV). We statically analyzed the difference of HRV parameters which include mean heart rate (MHRT), standard deviation of all N-N intervals (SDNN), square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent N-N intervals (RMSSD), total power (TP), low frequency power (LF), high frequency power (HF), LF/HF ratio. Results All subjects showed significant increase in SDNN, LF after stress stimulation (p<0.05). Immediately after intervention, MHRT was significantly decreased (p<0.001) and RMSSD, HF were significantly increased in experimental group (p<0.05). After the end of intervention, SDNN, HF, RMSSD, TP, LF were significantly increased in experimental group (p<0.01, p<0.05). And when comparing baseline HRV, SDNN, LF were significantly increased in control group (p<0.01) and SDNN, RMSSD, TP, LF were significantly increased in experimental group (p<0.05). In the subgroup analysis, normal balance of ANS group showed significant increase in TP, LF, SDNN, HF (p<0.01, p<0.05). Conclusions We suggested that acupuncture at external ear, region of the vagus nerve distribution could increase parasympathetic activity and cause changes and reregulation of the ANS.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.402-407
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• 2019

Background: To investigate the neurobiological evidence supporting the adaptogenic effects of Korean Red Ginseng in reducing the harmful consequences of stress using a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Method: Sixty-three subjects with high stress levels were randomized to receive an orally administered, double-blind, 6-week treatment with Korean Red Ginseng (n = 32) or placebo (n = 31). All participants underwent a comprehensive psychological evaluation using Beck Depression Inventory and Stress Response Inventory, cognitive evaluation using the continuous performance test, biological evaluation by measuring blood levels of lipids, catecholamines, inflammation markers, and heart rate variability at baseline and after 6 weeks. Results: At baseline, both groups showed no significant differences in age, sex, years of education, Beck Depression Inventory, and Stress Response Inventory. After 6 weeks, triglyceride levels were significantly increased within the normal limit in the Korean Red Ginseng group (F = 4.11, p = 0.048), and the epinephrine level was decreased in this group (F = 4,35, p = 0.043). The triglyceride increase was significantly associated with epinephrine decrease (B = 0.087, p = 0.041), suggesting that Korean Red Ginseng may stabilize the sympathetic nervous system. In addition, we detected a significant group by time effect in the visually controlled continuous performance test, suggesting positive effects of Korean Red Ginseng on cognition. Conclusion: Korean Red Ginseng might help to stabilize the sympathetic nervous system and improve cognition in individuals with high stress.

• Journal of Coastal Disaster Prevention
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.7-19
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• 2017

In this study, waves and currents observed by acoustic AWAC, VECTOR and Aquadopp Profiler in Anmok coastal waters were analysed to account for the variability of wave and current and to understand the mechanism of sediment transport generated by wave-induced current in the surf-zone. The monthly variation of wave and residual currents were analysed and processed with long-term observed AWAC data at station W1, located at the water depth of about 18m measured during from February 2015 to September 2016. Wave-induced currents were also analysed with intensive field measurements such as wave, current, suspended sediment, and bathymetry data observed at the surf-zone during in winter and summer. The statistical result of wave data shows that high waves coming from NNE and NE in winter (DEC-FEB) are dominant due to strong winds from NE. But in the other season waves coming from NE and ENE are prevalent due to the seasonal winds from E and SE. The residual currents with southeastern direction parallel to the shoreline are dominant throughout a year except in winter showing in opposite direction. The speed of ebb-dominant southeastern residual currents decreasing from surface to the bottom is strong in summer and fall but weak in winter and spring. By analysing wave-induced current, we found that cross-shore current were generated by swell waves mainly in winter with incoming wave direction about $45^{\circ}$ normal to the shoreline. Depending on the direction of incoming waves, longshore currents in the surf-zone were separated to southeastern and northwestern flows in winter and summer respectively. The variation of observed currents near crescentic bars in the surf-zone shows different direction of longshore and cross-shore currents depending on incoming waves implying to the reason of beach erosion generating the beach cusp and sandbar migration during high waves at Anmok.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.14.1-14.11
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• 2021

Background: Quantitation of urine protein is important in dogs with chronic kidney disease. Various analyzers are used to measure urine protein-to-creatinine ratios (UPCR). Objectives: This study aimed to compare the UPCR obtained by three types of analyzers (automated wet chemistry analyzer, in-house dry chemistry analyzer, and dipstick reading device) and investigate whether the differences could affect clinical decision process. Methods: Urine samples were collected from 115 dogs. UPCR values were obtained using three analyzers. Bland-Altman and Passing Bablok tests were used to analyze agreement between the UPCR values. Urine samples were classified as normal or proteinuria based on the UPCR values obtained by each analyzer and concordance in the classification evaluated with Cohen's kappa coefficient. Results: Passing and Bablok regression showed that there were proportional as well as constant difference between UPCR values obtained by a dipstick reading device and those obtained by the other analyzers. The concordance in the classification of proteinuria was very high (κ = 0.82) between the automated wet chemistry analyzer and in-house dry chemistry analyzer, while the dipstick reading device showed moderate concordance with the automated wet chemistry analyzer (κ = 0.52) and in-house dry chemistry analyzer (κ = 0.53). Conclusions: Although the urine dipstick test is simple and a widely used point-of-care test, our results indicate that UPCR values obtained by the dipstick test are not appropriate for clinical use. Inter-instrumental variability may affect clinical decision process based on UPCR values and should be emphasized in veterinary practice.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.1173-1183
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• 2021

Objectives: This study investigated the clinical characteristics of functional dyspepsia (FD) patients with food retention (FR) in regard to the parameters of cutaneous electrogastrography (EGG), Ryodoraku, and heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: This study reviewed the clinical records of 33 FD patients with FR who filled out the FR Questionnaire for FD (FRQ-FD) and underwent EGG for six months from March 1st, 2021. We summarized the clinical characteristics of FD patients with FR and analyzed the correlation between FRQ-FD score and parameters of EGG, Ryodoraku, and HRV. Results: FRQ-FD scores had a positive correlation with percentage of postprandial bradygastria and negative correlation with power ratio, detected on Channel 2, 3 of EGG. The total average (TA) Ryodoraku score was lower, and the high frequency density (HF) of HRV was higher than the normal value. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that clinicians can use EGG, Ryodoraku, and HRV to increase the accuracy of diagnosing FR in FD patients.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.223-229
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• 2023

Background: Preauricular sinus (PAS) is a common congenital anomaly, and complete excision is recommended to prevent recurrence. However, PAS has a high recurrence rate as a result of incomplete removal due to the high variability of the sinus ramifications, making its treatment challenging. In this study, we standardized the surgical procedure to reduce the complications and recurrence rate and compared the postoperative results between the non-standardized and the standardized groups. Methods: This retrospective study included 97 patients (120 ears) who had undergone PAS excision by a single surgeon between October 2014 and September 2022 and underwent at least 6 months of follow-up. After October 2018, all patients were treated using the standardized method, which comprised the use of magnifying glasses, exploration with a lacrimal probe, the use of methylene blue staining, and excision of a piece of surrounding normal tissue and related cartilage in continuity with the specimen. There were 38 patients (45 ears) in the non-standardized group and 59 patients (75 ears) in the standardized group. Results: Recurrence was observed in six of 120 ears, indicating an overall recurrence rate of 5.0%. Recurrence occurred in five ears (11.1%) in the non-standardized group and one ear (1.3%) in the standardized group. The standardized group had a significantly lower recurrence rate (p= 0.027) than the non-standardized group. Conclusion: We defined a standardized sinectomy protocol and used it for the surgical treatment of PAS. With this standardized method, we were able to reduce the rates of complications and recurrence without the use of a long incision.