• Title/Summary/Keyword: Objective indicators

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Assessment of Green Spaces and Direction of Master Plan for Urban Parks Considering Functional Characteristics - Focused on Donjibong Park in Daegu - (도시공원의 기능적 특성을 고려한 녹지평가 및 계획방향 - 대구광역시 돈지봉공원을 대상으로 -)

  • LEE, Woo-Sung;JANG, Gab-Sue
    • Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.17-31
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    • 2017
  • The purpose of this study was to carry out a comprehensive assessment of Donjibong Park in Daegu and establish a master plan for green space considering the functional characteristics of the park. For this purpose, green space in the park was assessed based on 13 indicators using three functions. A comprehensive green master plan was then proposed. Green spaces with high scores for the natural-ecological and environmental-control functions were found in the central area of the park, whereas green spaces with low scores were found near the park boundary and paved areas. Green spaces in the southeast were found to have a high score for usage functions due to their proximity to a residential area. In the master plan based on the comprehensive assessment, the plan space was divided into a conservation area, restoration area, buffer area, environmental monitoring area, observatory/trail/facility area, and waterside green space area. Also, concrete plan directions were proposed based on each plan space. These results can be utilized for establishing objective plans in the future construction of new parks.

Influence of the Business Portfolio Diversification on Construction Companies' Financial Stability (건설업체 사업 포트폴리오 다각화에 따른 건설업체 안정성 분석)

  • Jang, Sewoong
    • Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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    • v.15 no.6
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    • pp.105-112
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    • 2014
  • The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between the degree of business diversification of a construction company and two of the indicators that represent financial stability, namely, a current ratio and a debt ratio, in order to draw policy implications. The current ratio and the debt ratio were used as variables that represent financial stability of a construction company. Berry-Herfindahl Index was used to measure the degree of business portfolio diversification of a construction company. For the analysis, quarterly time series data were retrieved from the financial information disclosure system of Korea's Financial Supervisory Service for the period between the first quarter of 2001 and the third quarter of 2013. The analysis results showed that a higher current ratio and a debt ratio led to a greater extent of business diversification. A higher level of business diversification led to a higher current ratio and a lower debt ratio. It was also shown that the impact of business diversification on the current ratio and the debt ratio outweighed the impact of changes in the current ratio and the debt ratio on business diversification. Meanwhile, an increase in the level of business diversification showed a quite positive effect as it raised the current ratio and lowered the debt ratio of a construction company. These findings suggest that diversification of business portfolio is essential for construction companies to strengthen their financial stability.

Comparison of Sperm Morphology Evaluation Using Strict Criteria, Acrosome Reaction Following Ionophore Challenge and Zona-free Hamster Ova Sperm Penetration Assay as Prognostic Factors in Diagnosis of Male Infertility and In Vitro Fertilization (남성 불임의 진단 및 체외수정의 예후인자로서 정자 형태의 정밀 분석과 정자 첨체반응 및 햄스터 난자 침투 분석의 비교 연구)

  • Moon, Shin-Yong;Ryu, Buom-Yong;Pang, Myung-Geol;Oh, Sun-Kyung;Lee, Jae-Hoon;Suh, Chang-Suk;Kim, Seok-Hyun;Choi, Young-Min;Kim, Jung-Gu;Lee, Jin-Yong
    • Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.57-66
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    • 2002
  • Objective : This study was designed to investigate the interrelationship and clinical usefulness of sperm morphology by strict criteria (SM), acrosome reaction following ionophore challenge test (ARIC) and sperm penetration assay (SPA) using zona-free hamster ova as prognostic factors in in vitro fertilization. Materials and Methods: Semen samples were provided by 83 patients undergoing IVF. We first evaluated the differences between normal fertilization group and poor fertilization group on three andrologic tests. Secondly, we analyzed the relationship between the three andrologic tests and in vitro fertilization on IVF settings. Finally, we evaluated the effectiveness of the three andrologic tests as the prognostic indicators for fertilizing ability. Results: The fertilization rate of all men in the poor fertilization group was less than 30%; but there was no evidence that this poor fertilization was due to oocyte defects. The results of three andrologic tests were significatly higher in normal fertilization group. Fertilization rate (%) in vitro was highly correlated (p<0.001) with % normal sperm by SM, ARIC value (%), and SPA result. By using Receiver-Operator-Characteristic curve (ROC), we evaluated the effectiveness of these three tests. The sensitivity and specificity of SM, ARIC test and SPA in predicting fertilization potential in IVF setting were 76% and 75%, 84% and 90%, and 76% and 95%, respectively. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the three andrologic tests can be reliable tools as prognostic factors of sperm fertilizing ability. Among these test, ARIC test and SPA gave more accurate information on fertilizing capacity. ARIC test was shown to have a predictive value for fertilizing ability comparable to that of SPA that appears to be a simple and cost-effective addition to current andrology laboratory. Combined application of these three tests may give more information on predicting sperm fertilizing capacity.

Effect of stress during slaughter on carcass characteristics and meat quality in tropical beef cattle

  • Carrasco-Garcia, Apolo A.;Pardio-Sedas, Violeta T.;Leon-Banda, Gloria G.;Ahuja-Aguirre, Concepcion;Paredes-Ramos, Pedro;Hernandez-Cruz, Bertha C.;Murillo, Vicente Vega
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.33 no.10
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    • pp.1656-1665
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    • 2020
  • Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of stress during slaughter of beef cattle on physiological parameters, carcass, and meat quality at a Federal Inspection Type slaughterhouse located in the southeast of Mexico. Methods: A total of 448 carcasses of male Zebu×European steers with an average age of 36 months were included. Carcass assessment of presence of bruises and bruise characteristics was carried out on each half-carcass. Blood variable indicators of stress (packed cell volume, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, glucose, cortisol concentration) and meat quality parameters (pH, color, shear force, drip loss) were evaluated. Results: Of the 448 carcasses evaluated, 81% of the carcasses showed at least one bruise; one bruise was detected in 36.6% and two bruises in 27.0% of animals. Of the 775 bruises found, 69.2% of the bruises were grade 1 in region 3. Of the 448 carcasses studied, 69.6% showed hyperglycemia (6.91 mmol/L); 44.3% and 22.7% showed high (74.7 ng/mL) and extremely high (108.8 ng/mL) cortisol levels, respectively, indicative of inadequate handling of animals during preslaughter and slaughter. Of the carcasses evaluated, 90.4% had a pH ≥5.8 with an average of pH 6.3. In both pH groups, meat samples showed L values >37.0 (81.6%) and a shear force >54.3 N; meat pH≥5.8 group showed a drip loss of 2.5%. These findings were indicative of dark, firm, and dry (DFD) meat. According to principal component analysis, grades 1 and 2 bruises in region 3 and grade 1 bruises in region 5 were highly associated with cortisol, drip loss, and color parameters b and h and were negatively associated with L, a, and C. Conclusion: The bruises probably caused by stress-inducing situations triggered DFD meat. Appropriate changes in handling routines in operating conditions should be made to minimize stress to animals during the slaughter process to improve animal welfare and meat quality.

Behaviour of twin- and triplet-born lambs and their dam 3 to 18 hours after birth is not a useful predictor of lamb survival to weaning

  • Gronqvist, G.V.;Hickson, R.E.;Kenyon, P.R.;Morris, S.T.;Stafford, K.J.;Corner-Thomas, R.A.
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.33 no.11
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    • pp.1848-1857
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    • 2020
  • Objective: An experiment was designed to determine if behaviour traits expressed by twin- and triplet-bearing lambs and their dams at 3 to 18 hours of age (after the immediate ewe-lamb bonding had occurred) were associated with lamb survival to weaning. Methods: The behaviour of twin and triplet lambs and their dams was assessed in the paddock at 3 to 18 hours after birth. Observations were made of the number of high- and low-pitched bleats, time to stand, make contact with dam, suck from dam and follow dam were recorded for each lamb. The maternal behaviour score of each dam was assessed. A random sub-sample of lambs were assessed during a maternal-recognition test at 12 or 24 hours of age. Traits included time spent standing, sitting, walking, time taken to reach the ewes and time spent with the ewes as well as the number of high- and low-pitched bleats emitted by the lamb. Results: In the paddock, for each additional second required for twin-born lambs to follow their dam, lambs were 1.004 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.000 to 1.008) times more likely to survive to weaning (p<0.05). The opposite relationship, however, was seen in triplet lambs. For each additional second required for triplet-born lambs to follow their dam, lambs were 0.996 (95% CI 0.993 to 0.999) times as likely to survive to weaning (p<0.05). During the maternal recognition test, twin-born lambs were 0.989 (95% CI 0.979 to 1.000) times as likely to survive to weaning for every additional second they took to reach the contact zone (p<0.05). Similarly, triplet-born lambs were 0.994 (95% CI 0.989 to 0.999) as likely to survive for every additional second they took to reach their dam (p<0.05). Conclusion: All ewe behaviours and the majority of lamb paddock and test behaviours were not associated with the survival of twin- or triplet-born lambs and, therefore, are of little use as indicators of lamb survival to weaning.

Serum adipokines play different roles in type I and II ketosis

  • Shen, Liuhong;Zhu, Yingkun;Xiao, Jinbang;Qian, Bolin;You, Liuchao;Zhang, Yue;Yu, Shumin;Zong, Xiaolan;Cao, Suizhong
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.33 no.12
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    • pp.1930-1939
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    • 2020
  • Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the differences in several serum adipokines in perinatal dairy cows with type I and II ketosis, and the correlations between these adipokines and the two types of ketosis. Methods: Serum adiponectin (ADP), leptin (LEP), resistin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and energy balance indicators related to ketosis were measured. Type I and II ketosis were distinguished by serum glucose (Glu) and Y values and the correlations between adipokines in the two types of ketosis were analyzed. Results: β-Hydroxybutyric acid of type I ketosis cows was significantly negatively correlated with insulin (INS) and LEP and had a significant positive correlation with serum ADP. In type II ketosis cows, ADP and LEP were significantly negatively correlated, and INS and resistin were significantly positively correlated. Revised quantitative INS sensitivity check index (RQUICKI) values had a significantly positive correlation with ADP and had a very significant and significant negative correlation with resistin, TNF-α, and IL-6. ADP was significantly negatively correlated with resistin and TNF-α, LEP had a significantly positive correlation with TNF-α, and a significantly positive correlation was shown among resistin, IL-6, and TNF-α. There was also a significant positive correlation between IL-6 and TNF-α. Conclusion: INS, ADP, and LEP might exert biological influences to help the body recover from negative energy balance, whereas resistin, TNF-α, and IL-6 in type II ketosis cows exacerbated INS resistance and inhibited the production and secretion of ADP, weakened INS sensitivity, and liver protection function, and aggravated ketosis.

Performance of the R-way Colposcopic Evaluation System in Cervical Cancer Screening

  • Zhao, Jian;Zhang, Xi;Chen, Rui;Zhao, Yu-Qian;Wang, Ting-Ting;He, Shan;Qiao, You-Lin
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.16 no.10
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    • pp.4223-4228
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    • 2015
  • Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of the R-way colposcopic evaluation system (R-way system) in cervical cancer screening. Materials and Methods: Between August 2013 and August 2014, a total of 1,059 cases referred to colposcopy in Peking University First Hospital were studied using both the R-way system and conventional colposcopy. Our study evaluated and compared the diagnostic ability of the two methods in detecting high-grade lesions and cervical cancer (hereinafter called CIN2+). Evaluation indicators including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), Youden index and the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were calculated. Results: The R-way system had a slightly lower specificity (94.5%) than conventional colposcopy (96.0%) for CIN2+ detection (P=0.181). However, the sensitivity (77.8%) was significantly higher than with the conventional colposcopic method (46.6%) (${\chi}^2=64.351$, P<0.001). In addition, the AUC of the ROC for CIN2+ detection using the R-way system (0.839) was larger than that with conventional colposcopy (0.731) (Z=4.348, P<0.001). If preliminary result had been drawn from cervical exfoliated cytology before colposcopy referral, combination of the R-way system with cytology could increase the sensitivity to 93.9% for CIN2+ detection (excluding ASCUS\LSIL), confirmed by multipoint biopsy or ECC. Conclusions: The diagnostic value of the R-way evaluation system is higher than that of conventional colposcopic evaluation in cervical cancer screening. Moreover, taking the ease of use and standardized quality control management into account, the R-way system is highly preferable.

Development of objective indicators for quantitative analysis of sodium intake: the sodium to potassium ratio of second-void urine is correlated with 24-hour urinary sodium excretion

  • Kim, Jung Gon;Han, Sang-Woong;Yi, Joo Hark;Park, Hyeong Cheon;Han, Sang Youb
    • Nutrition Research and Practice
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    • v.14 no.1
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    • pp.25-31
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    • 2020
  • BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To date, sodium intake has been evaluated based on spot urine instead of 24-hour (hr) urine collection. Nevertheless, the optimal method for assessing daily sodium intake remains unclear. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Fifteen male (age 32.7 ± 6.5 years) participants were offered 3 meals with a total of 9-10 g salt over 24 hours, and 24-hr urine was collected from the second-void urine of the first day to the first-void urine of the second day. Twenty-four-hr urinary sodium (24UNa) was estimated using Tanaka's equation and the Korean formula, and spot urine Na, potassium (K), chloride (Cl), urea nitrogen (UN), creatinine (Cr), specific gravity (SG) and osmolality (Osm) were measured. The ratios of urinary Na to other parameters were calculated, and correlations with total measured 24UNa were identified. RESULTS: Average 24-hr urine volume was 1,403 ± 475 mL, and measured 24UNa was 143.9 ± 42.1 mEq (range, 87.1-239.4 mEq). Measured 24UNa was significantly correlated with urinary Na/UN (r = 0.560, P < 0.01), urinary Na/Osm (r = 0.510, P < 0.01), urinary Na/Cr (r = 0.392, P < 0.01), urinary Na/K (r = 0.290, P < 0.01), 24UNa estimated using Tanaka's equation (r = 0.452, P < 0.01) and the Korean formula (r = 0.414, P < 0.01), age (r = 0.548, P < 0.01), weight (r = 0.497, P < 0.01), and height (r = 0.393, P < 0.01) in all spot urine samples. Estimated 24UNa based on the second-void spot urine of the first day tended to be more closely correlated with measured 24UNa than were estimates from the other spot urine samples. The significant parameters correlated with the second-void urine of the first day were urinary Na/K (r = 0.647, P < 0.01), urinary Na/Cr (r = 0.558, P < 0.05), and estimated 24UNa using Tanaka's equation (r = 0.616, P < 0.05) and the Korean formula (r = 0.588, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Second-void urine is more reliable than first-void urine for estimating 24UNa. Urinary Na/K in the second-void urine on the first day is significantly correlated with 24UNa. Further studies are needed to establish the most reliable index and the optimal time of urine sampling for predicting 24UNa.

Analyses of Forest Road Construction Policy Using LISREL Approach (리즈렐모형을 이용한 임도사업의 계량적 분석)

  • Choi, Kwan
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.97 no.1
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    • pp.22-29
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    • 2008
  • The objective of this study is to provide useful information for the establishment of efficient policy implementation strategies of forest road construction policy in South Korea. Data needed for the analysis was collected by a questionnaire survey. For the analysis, policy evaluation model was constructed based on theories of public policy. Evaluation model contains three independent variables (policy initiative factor, policy content, policy environment) and two dependent variables (policy result, policy impact). Since, these variables are unobservable latent variables, observable indicators are needed as proxy measures. LISREL (Linear Structural Relationships) was employed for the analysis since it is a useful measure for analysing linear structural model which consists of structural and measurement equations. It was confirmed that forest road construction is an effective policy mean for the development of rural region and activating forest resources management. The policy outcome, however, was not satisfactory. To improve the effectiveness of forest road construction policy some modification of policy contents are needed such as increased construction budget, allowing more flexibility and participation to the implementation personal and providing technical support.

Exterior egg quality as affected by enrichment resources layout in furnished laying-hen cages

  • Li, Xiang;Chen, Donghua;Meng, Fanyu;Su, Yingying;Wang, Lisha;Zhang, Runxiang;Li, Jianhong;Bao, Jun
    • Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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    • v.30 no.10
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    • pp.1495-1499
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    • 2017
  • Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of enrichment resources (a perch, dustbath, and nest) layout in furnished laying-hen cages (FC) on exterior quality of eggs. Methods: One hundred and sixty-eight (168) Hy-Line Brown laying hens at 16 weeks of age were randomly distributed to four treatments: small furnished cages (SFC), medium furnished cages type I (MFC-I), medium furnished cages type II (MFC-II), and medium furnished cages type III (MFC-III). Each treatment had 4 replicates or cages with 6 hens for SFC (24 birds for each SFC) and 12 hen/cage for MFC-I, -II, and -III (48 birds for each MFC-I, -II and -III). Following a 2-week acclimation, data collection started at 18 weeks of age and continued till 52 weeks of age. Dirtiness of egg surface or cracked shell as indicators of the exterior egg quality were recorded each week. Results: The results showed that the proportion of cracked or dirty eggs was significantly affected by the FC type (p<0.01) in that the highest proportion of cracked or dirty eggs was found in MFC-I and the lowest proportion of dirty eggs in SFC. The results of this showed that furnished cage types affected both dirty eggs and cracked eggs (p<0.01). The results also indicated that not nest but dustbath lead to more dirty eggs. Only MFC-I had higher dirty eggs at nest than other FC (p<0.01). The results of dirty eggs in MFC-I and MFC-II compared with SFC and MFC-III seemed suggest that a low position of dustbath led to more dirty eggs. Conclusion: SFC design affected exterior egg quality and the low position of dustbath in FC resulted in higher proportion of dirty eggs.