• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.3-33
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• 2014

Over the last forty years, the dominant perspective of social science on medicine has been the medicalization theory. It indicates the social process of expanding power of medical professionals by (re)defining the problems which were treated as non-medical phenomena(e.g. homosexuality, alcoholism, obesity, etc.) into "diseases" and thus the spheres of medical intervention. Meanwhile, rapid technoscientific changes in the medical field owing to the diffusion of biological sciences and information technologies since the mid-1980s and the accompanying emergence of new social arrangements such as bioeconomy and biological citizenship have led to the rise of a new social scientific perspective called the biomedicalization theory. This paper attempts to compare the two theories and assess their merits and demerits as a basic work to deepen the understandings of sociology and STS on contemporary medicine. And it also attempts to analyze their relative relevance through the case of mental disorder. The analysis on the case of mental disorder clearly shows that the medicalization in that area seems to have continuously proceeded since the early 19th centiry to the present. Furthermore, it also seems true that the five central processes of biomedicalization(except for risk surveillance technologies of mental disorder) have been observed and realized since the late 20th century. These results indicate that although medicalization has consistently proceeded, it has not been limited to the quantitative expansion of the medical field but been extended to the qualitative transformation asserted by the biomedicalization theory. Therefore, while the concept of medicalization is valid and significant even today, we can recognize that the concept of biomedicalization allow us to capture the new phenomena which cannot be properly and sufficiently captured by that of medicalization.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.3-20
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• 2018

Pharmacopunture is a new combined method of acupunture and oriental drugs. Recently, this method is widely used to treat traffic accident patients in oriental medicine. However, there is no evidences of treatment, no information of effects and side-effects of this method, and no information of drugs used. In South Korea, western medicine and oriental medicine are regulated differently. When a new technology is invented in the area of western medicine, that method should pass several stages of clinical trials. After that processes, that method can be done as a medical practice. However, in the area of oriental medicine, there is no process like that. According to in South Korea, medical practice without license are composed of two behaviors. First type is that medical practice is done by a person who has no medical license. Second type is that medical practice is done by a person who has a medical license but the area of the license is different. Because of this reason, the distinction between the western medical practices and the oriental medical practices is very important. Medical practices are protected by license mainly because they can harm human life or body. When we invented new medical practice and try to practice it to the patients, we should consider the risk of that method whether it is western medical practice or oriental medical practice. It is not clear that the pharmcopunture which has been done is satisfied the standard of medical treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.1047-1055
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• 2014

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of endogenous small non-coding RNAs of 20-25 nucleotides in length that function as negative gene regulators. MiRNAs play roles in most biological processes, as well as diverse human diseases including cancer. Recently, many studies investigated the association between SNPs in miR-146a rs2910164, miR-196a2 rs11614913, miR-149 rs229283, miR-499 rs3746444 and colorectal cancer (CRC), which results have been inconclusive. Methodology/Principal Findings: PubMed, EMBASE, CNKI databases were searched with the last search updated on November 5, 2013. For miR-196a2 rs11614913, a significantly decreased risk of CRC development was observed under three genetic models (dominant model: OR = 0.848, 95%CI: 0.735-0.979, P = 0.025; recessive model: OR = 0.838, 95%CI: 0.721-0.974, P = 0.021; homozygous model: OR = 0.754, 95%CI: 0.627-0.907, P = 0.003). In the subgroup analyses, miR-$196a2^*T$ variant was associated with a significantly decreased susceptibility of CRC (allele model: OR = 0.839, 95%CI: 0.749-0.940, P = 0.000; dominant model: OR = 0.770, 95%CI: 0.653-0.980, P = 0.002; recessive model: OR = 0.802, 95%CI: 0.685-0.939, P = 0.006; homozygous model: OR = 0.695, 95%CI: 0.570-0.847, P = 0.000). As for miR-149 rs2292832, the two genetic models (recessive model: OR = 1.199, 95% CI 1.028-1.398, P = 0.021; heterozygous model: OR = 1.226, 95% CI 1.039-1.447, P = 0.013) demonstrated increased susceptibility to CRC. On subgroup analysis, significantly increased susceptibility of CRC was found in the genetic models (recessive model: OR = 1.180, 95% CI 1.008-1.382, P = 0.040; heterozygous model: OR = 1.202, 95% CI 1.013-1.425, P = 0.013) in the Asian group. Conclusions: These findings supported that the miR-196a2 rs11614913 and miR-149 rs2292832 polymorphisms may contribute to susceptibility to CRC.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2020

Most studies defined microplastic (MP) as plastic particles less than 5 mm. The ubiquity of MP is raising awareness due to its potential risk to humans and the environment. MP can cause harmful effects to humans and living organisms. This paper review aimed to provide a better understanding of the sources, pathways, and impacts of MP in the environment. MP can be classified as primary and secondary in nature. Moreover, microplastic can also be classified as based on its physical and chemical characteristics. Stormwater and wastewater are important pathways of introducing MP in large water bodies. As compared to stormwater, the concentrations of MP in wastewater were relatively lower since wastewater treatment processes can contribute to the removal of MP. In terms of polymer distribution, wastewater contains a wider array of polymer varieties than stormwater runoff. The most common types of polymer found in wastewater and stormwater runoff were polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The continuous discharge and the increasing number of MP in the environment can pose greater hazards and harmful effects on humans and other living organisms. Despite the growing number of publications in relation to MP, further studies are needed to define concrete regulations and management strategies for mitigating the detrimental effects of MP in the environment.

• The Korean Journal of Financial Management
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.33-58
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• 2004

This paper tests Van Home's hypothesis, a negative correlation between degrees of operating leverage(DOL) and financial leverage(DFL). For an empirical analysis, we extract information from financial statements of manufacturing companies listed in the Korea Stock Exchange. Data extend from 1980 to 2001. The DOL continued to increase until 1997, but decreased dramatically after the IMF financial crisis. However, the DOL has been at a higher level than companies of other countries such as USA and Japan. The DFL has been maintained at a much higher level, as expected. The empirical results indicate a positive correlation between the DOL and the DFL, which is inconsistent with the VanHorne's hypothesis. To further investigate, we divide the whole sample into subgroups according to such management elements as asset size, level of leverages, earnings and cash flow. The results for sub-samples are different from those of whole sample. This indicates we need to incorporate specific managerial factors in order to correctly explain financial decision processes.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.188-200
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• 2014

The IPCC 5th Assessment Report (Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis) was accepted at the 36th Session of the IPCC on 26 September 2013 in Stockholm, Sweden. It consists of the full scientific and technical assessment undertaken by Working Group I. This comprehensive assessment of the physical aspects of climate change puts a focus on those elements that are relevant to understand past, document current, and project future of climate change. The assessment builds on the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report and the recent Special Report on Managing the Risk of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation. The assessment covers the current knowledge of various processes within, and interactions among, climate system components, which determine the sensitivity and response of the system to changes in forcing, and they quantify the link between the changes in atmospheric constituents, and hence radiative forcing, and the consequent detection and attribution of climate change. Projections of changes in all climate system components are based on model simulations forced by a new set of scenarios. The report also provides a comprehensive assessment of past and future sea level change in a dedicated chapter. The primary purpose of this Technical Summary is to provide the link between the complete assessment of the multiple lines of independent evidence presented in the main report and the highly condensed summary prepared as Policy makers Summary. The Technical Summary thus serves as a starting point for those readers who seek the full information on more specific topics covered by this assessment. Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, sea level has risen, and the concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased. Total radiative forcing is positive, and has led to an uptake of energy by the climate system. The largest contribution to total radiative forcing is caused by the increase in the atmospheric concentration of $CO_2$ since 1750. Human influence on the climate system is clear. This is evident from the increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, positive radiative forcing, observed warming, and understanding of the climate system. Continued emissions of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and changes in all components of the climate system. Limiting climate change will require substantial and sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. The in-depth review for past, present and future of climate change is carried out on the basis of the IPCC 5th Assessment Report.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.91-100
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• 2016

Angiogenesis is essential for the pathophysiological processes of embryogenesis, tissue growth, diabetic retinopathy, psoriasis, wound healing, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and tumor growth. Inhibition of angiogenesis represents an attractive therapeutic approach for the treatment of angiogenic diseases such as cancer. However, uncontrolled angiogenesis is also necessary for tumor development and metastasis. Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, a critical factor in the induction of angiogenesis, cause robust and rapid changes in blood vessels of tumors and therefore VEGF constitutes a target for such anti-angiogenic therapy. Recently, since natural compounds pose significantly less risk of deleterious side effects than synthetic compounds, a great many natural resources have been assessed for useful substance for anti-angiogenic treatment. Here we evaluated the anti-angiogenic effects of a hot water extract of Scutellaria baicalensis (SBHWE) using in vitro assays and ex vivo animal experiments. Our results show that SBHWE dose-dependently abrogated vascular endothelial responses by inhibiting VEGF-stimulated migration and invasion as well as tube formation in a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model, without cytotoxicity, as determined by a cell viability assay. Further study revealed that SBHWE prevented VEGF-induced neo-vascularization in a rat aortic ring sprouting model. Taken together, our findings reveal an anti-angiogenic activity of Scutellaria baicalensis and suggest that SBHWE is a novel candidate inhibitor of VEGF-induced angiogenesis.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.293-303
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• 2016

Analysis of bargaining games utilizing evolutionary computation in recent years has dealt with important issues in the field of game theory. In this paper, we investigated interaction and coevolution process among heterogeneous artificial agents using evolutionary computation in the bargaining game. We present three kinds of evolving-strategic agents participating in the bargaining games; genetic algorithms (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO) and differential evolution (DE). The co-evolutionary processes among three kinds of artificial agents which are GA-agent, PSO-agent, and DE-agent are tested to observe which EC-agent shows the best performance in the bargaining game. The simulation results show that a PSO-agent is better than a GA-agent and a DE-agent, and that a GA-agent is better than a DE-agent with respect to co-evolution in bargaining game. In order to understand why a PSO-agent is the best among three kinds of artificial agents in the bargaining game, we observed the strategies of artificial agents after completion of game. The results indicated that the PSO-agent evolves in direction of the strategy to gain as much as possible at the risk of gaining no property upon failure of the transaction, while the GA-agent and the DE-agent evolve in direction of the strategy to accomplish the transaction regardless of the quantity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1021-1032
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• 2020

Numbers of companion animals and people rearing them are increasing in developed countries. As a result, businesses related to companion animals are becoming more advanced and specialized. Dogs have been cohabiting with humans as companions (pets) for thousands of years and, as a result, eat carbohydrate-rich foods similar to humans and maintain lives similar to their owners. Tight bonds between dogs and their owners are formed by sharing similar lifestyles, including a dwelling and food. Owners are responsible for their pets and treat them with emotional stability. Pets depend on their owners, although the food situation can cause stress. Since pet dogs are carnivorous in nature, providing pet dogs with a nutritionally balanced diet and functional materials is important for a healthy gut microbiome. Recently, the gut microbiota has become a research focus because it is associated with protection from harmful pathogens and immune regulation while maintaining physiological homeostasis. An abnormal gut microbiota is related to pathogenic processes and various gut, metabolic, mental, and neurological diseases. Additionally, pet dogs at risk of disease affect the health of their owners. Therefore, this review discusses the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota of dogs and the relationships between the gut microbiota and diseases.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.383-411
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• 2010

Climate change and related policies and regulations influence the performance of the firms in various ways. Climate change influences corporate competitiveness through physical impacts, GHG regulations, changes in asset values, demand shift, etc. Therefore, corporate competitiveness could be maintained by reducing vulnerability to climate change and adapting to new circumstances. Without effective responses to the challenges, the firms would have difficulties in maintaining their competitiveness in the market and the cost of national economy will significantly increase as well. Even though it seems fairly easy to understand the meaning of competitiveness, deriving the driving forces of and measuring changes in competitiveness are complicated and disputable processes. A common way to overcome it is to develop a 'competitiveness index'. The objective of this study is to derive the main factors influencing corporate competitiveness related to climate change and develop 'competitiveness index' reflecting those factors. The index will make contribution to enhance the response capacity of the firms to climate change and increase the effectiveness of climate change policies for the industry by providing a quantitative tool to measure the changes in corporate competitiveness related to climate change.