• Nonlinear Functional Analysis and Applications
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.497-520
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• 2023

Numerous problems in science and engineering defined by nonlinear functional equations can be solved by reducing them to an equivalent fixed point problem. Fixed point theory provides essential tools for solving problems arising in various branches of mathematical analysis, such as split feasibility problems, variational inequality problems, nonlinear optimization problems, equilibrium problems, complementarity problems, selection and matching problems, and problems of proving the existence of solution of integral and differential equations.The theory of fixed is known to find its applications in many fields of science and technology. For instance, the whole world has been profoundly impacted by the novel Coronavirus since 2019 and it is imperative to depict the spread of the coronavirus. Panda et al. [24] applied fractional derivatives to improve the 2019-nCoV/SARS-CoV-2 models, and by means of fixed point theory, existence and uniqueness of solutions of the models were proved. For more information on applications of fixed point theory to real life problems, authors should (see [6, 13, 24] and the references contained in).

• The Journal of the Korea institute of electronic communication sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.707-714
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• 2012

After a single-stage, second-order, multiple-feedback ${\Delta}-{\Sigma}$ modulator and a two-stage, second-order MASH ${\Delta}-{\Sigma}$ modulator were analyzed and simulated using Simulink and Matlab and their characteristics were compared, the following result was obtained: 1) The two ${\Delta}-{\Sigma}$ modulators do not have group delay distortion. 2) The characteristics of the noise shaping are nearly identical. As a result of the noise shaping, the power spectral densities have slope of 40 dB/dec. 3) There was no spurious tone. 4) The input range of the two modulators is from -1 to +1 in common. 5) Because the output of the two-stage MASH modulator is 2-bits (4-levels), design of frequency dividers and charge pumps of PLL are more demanding.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.354-360
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• 2002

The purposes of this study were (1) to understand how customers trade off one attribute against another when they choose a pizza restaurant, (2) to compare the importance of individual attributes with their relative importance and (3) to compare customers'brand choice patterns with the prediction of pizza restaurant operators. Empirical data for this study were collected from the customers (n=307) and operators (n=273) of flour famous pizza franchise restaurants in Korea, Pizza Hut, Mister Pizza, Domino's Pizza and Pizza Mall. The attributes and attribute levels for the hypothetical profiles were decided from the focus group discussion. A total of 16 profiles was selected from fractional factorial designs. The SPSS conjoint procedure was used to calculate utility scores and simulate profiles. The overall group statistics showed the relative importance of all attributes compared with one other. Taste was the most important attribute (32.48%) in choosing a pizza restaurant, followed by service (21.87%) , atmosphere (17.23%), price (15.17%) and speed of delivery (13.26%). There was a difference between the customers'ratings of the importance of the individual attributes and the ranking of the same attributes'relative importance as derived from the conjoint analysis. The operators rated service (26.54%) as also being important, as well as taste (27.76%), in choosing a pizza restaurant. The rankings of relative importance for pizza taste, service and price were statistically different in the customers'and operators'data (p < 0.001, p < 0.1, p < 0.5). Operators who want to differentiate themselves from their competitors should make decisions based on an increased understanding of their customers'brand choice decision process and measure the hidden needs of their customers.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.31-45
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• 2020

Objectives In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of a 70% ethanol extract of Maneung-hwan (MEH), which is prescribed by practitioners of oriental medicine for use against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Methods The antibacterial activity of MEH against MRSA strains was evaluated using the disc diffusion method, broth microdilution method (minimal inhibitory concentration, MIC), checkerboard dilution test, and time-kill test. The mechanism of action of MEH was investigated by bacteriolysis using detergents or ATPase inhibitors Additionally, mRNA and protein expression were investigated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot assay, respectively. Results The MIC of MEH was 25~1,600 ㎍/mL against all the tested bacterial strains. We showed that MEH extract exerts strong antibacterial activity. In the checkerboard dilution test, the fractional inhibitory concentration index of MEH in combination with antibiotics indicated synergism or partial synergism against S. aureus. The time-kill study indicated that the growth of the tested bacteria was considerably inhibited after a 24-h treatment with MEH and selected antibiotics. To measure the cell membrane permeability, MEH (3.9 ㎍/mL) was combined with Triton X-100 (TX) at various concentrations N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodimide (DCCD) was also tested as an ATPase inhibitor. TX and DCCD cooperation against S. aureus exhibited synergistic action. Accordingly, the antimicrobial activity of MEH in the context of cell membrane rupture and ATPase inhibition was assessed. Additionally, the expression of genes and proteins associated with resistance was reduced after exposing MRSA to MEH. Conclusions These results suggest that MEH possesses antibacterial activity and acts as a potential natural antibiotic against MRSA.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.159-165
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• 2019

Pimobendan is an inodilator used to treat canine heart failure, and pentoxifylline is reported to be beneficial for microcirculation and heart disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of a novel pimobendan-pentoxifylline liquid mixture after oral administration to dogs. Eight healthy Beagle dogs were included in the study. The dogs were divided into the control group (orally administered water; n = 4) and experimental group (orally administered pimobendan-pentoxifylline liquid mixture [pimobendan 0.25 mg/kg, pentoxifylline 15 mg/kg]; n = 4). Plasma samples were obtained and echocardiographic indices were measured for 24 hours after administration. The concentrations of pimobendan and pentoxifylline were quantified by using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS). The elimination half-life ($T_{1/2}$) was $32.96{\pm}9.80mins$ for pimobendan and $29.49{\pm}6.67mins$ for pentoxifylline. The time to reach maximum concentration ($T_{max}$) were $52.50{\pm}31.22mins$ for pimobendan and $41.25{\pm}18.87mins$ for pentoxifylline. The maximum blood concentration ($C_{max}$) was $96.92{\pm}75.64ng/mL$ for pimobendan and $7074.07{\pm}3261.1ng/mL$ for pentoxifylline. Of the echocardiographic indices, fractional shortening (FS) and left ventricular internal diameter at end systole (LVIDs) were significantly altered at 1-3 hours after the administration of pimobendan-pentoxifylline liquid mixture. The pimobendan-pentoxifylline liquid mixture was well tolerated by the dogs, with no adverse effects observed during the study.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.153-165
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• 2017

Objectives : Recent neuroimaging studies focus on dysfunctions in connectivity between cognitive circuits and emotional circuits: anterior cingulate cortex that connects dorsolateral orbitofrontal cortex and prefrontal cortex to limbic system. Previous studies on pediatric depression using DTI have reported decreased neural connectivity in several brain regions, including the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, superior longitudinal fasciculus. We compared the neural connectivity of psychotropic drug naïve adolescent patients with a first onset of major depressive episode with healthy controls using DTI. Methods : Adolescent psychotropic drug naïve patients(n=26, 10 men, 16 women; age range, 13-18 years) who visited the Korea University Guro Hospital and were diagnosed with first onset major depressive disorder were registered. Healthy controls(n=27, 5 males, 22 females; age range, 12-17 years) were recruited. Psychiatric interviews, complete psychometrics including IQ and HAM-D, MRI including diffusion weighted image acquisition were conducted prior to antidepressant administration to the patients. Fractional anisotropy(FA), radial, mean, and axial diffusivity were estimated using DTI. FMRIB Software Library-Tract Based Spatial Statistics was used for statistical analysis. Results : We did not observe any significant difference in whole brain analysis. However, ROI analysis on right superior longitudinal fasciculus resulted in 3 clusters with significant decrease of FA in patients group. Conclusions : The patients with adolescent major depressive disorder showed statistically significant FA decrease in the DTI-based structure compared with healthy control. Therefore we suppose DTI can be used as a bio-marker in psychotropic drug-naïve adolescent patients with first onset major depressive disorder.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.217-271
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• 1991

We have observed dense core around young stellar objects, DR21, S140, Orion-KL, and L1551 using four millimeter-wave transitions of $HC_3N\;J$=4-3, J=5-4, J=10-9, and J=12-11. The spatial distribution of $HC_3N$ emission closely resembles the morphology of the previous CS observations that trace high density gas. These observations reveal the existence of $HC_3N$ dense cores around central IR source, elliptical in shape and almost perpendicular to the CO bipolar outflow axis. Small differences can be explained by that $HC_3N$ molecular line is more optically thin and is seen to be more detailed structure in the neighborhood of central IR sources. In S140 and Orion-KL, massive(${\sim}10\;M_{\odot}$), slowly rotating dense cores lie near at the central IR sources of bipolar outflows. The velocity channel maps of DR21 show that the bipolar outflow gas may have a correlation with the dense core of DR21. We analyzed intensities of the four lines to derive physical conditions in dense core from two methods, LTE and LVG. The column density of $HC_3N$, $N(HC_3N)$, between LTE and LVG calculations agree well with each other. The abundances of $HC_3N$ in each observing source have been estimated using the average values of $n(H_2)$ and $N(HC_3N)$ and assuming the size of dense core. The fractional $HC_3N$ abundances in massive dense cores of DR21, S140, and Orion-KL have a range of $(2-7){\times}10^{-10}$, while that of low mass dense core, L1551, has one order of magnitude greater value of $2{\times}10^{-9}$. This should be considered good agreement with the result by Morris et al.(1976). It may be considered that dense cores of DR21, S140, and Orion-KL may have almost same stage of chemical evolution, and their abundances have a small values relative to that of L1551. The column density $N(HC_3N)$ decreases with increasing distance from the densest part of the cloud, the central infrared source, and have the relation of $N(HC_3N){\varpropto}R^{\alpha}$, where a has a range of 0.65 to 0.89. The values of $n(H_2)$ are not varied with increasing distance from the dense core, and have almost same values. Therefore, it is considered that the dense cores in these regions probably consist of dense clumps in diffuse molecular gas medium, and $n(H_2)$ of each clump is ${\sim}10^5\;cm^{-3}$. Levels in the $T_{ex}$ increases with $n(H_2)$. It is considered that the $HC_3N$ dense cores are not completely thermalized. We examine the relationships between the luminosity of central infrared sources versus mass of the dense cores, and the luminosity of central infrared sources versus molecular hydrogen column density. Luminosities of the central IR sources show good correlation with mass and hydrogen column density of the dense core. Same has been found from CS observations. However, mass and size derived from $HC_3N$ observations are one order of magnitude smaller than those from CS. It can be interpreted that we see more central part of the cloud cores in $NC_3N$ lines than CS lines.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.439-445
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• 2004

Diffusion tensor image(DTI) exploits the random diffusional motion of water molecules. This method is useful for the characterization of the architecture of tissues. In some tissues, such as muscle or cerebral white matter, cellular arrangement shows a strongly preferred direction of water diffusion, i.e., the diffusion is anisotropic. The degree of anisotropy is often represented using diffusion anisotropy indices (relative anisotropy(RA), fractional anisotropy(FA), volume ratio(VR)). In this study, FA images were obtained using different gradient schemes(N=6, 11, 23, 35. 47). Mean values and the standard deviations of FA were then measured at several anatomic locations for each scheme. The results showed that both mean values and the standard deviations of FA were decreased as the number of gradient directions were increased. Also, the standard error of ADC measurement decreased as the number of diffusion gradient directions increased. In conclusion, different gradient schemes showed a significantly different noise performance and the schem with more gradient directions clearly improved the quality of the FA images. But considering acquisition time of image and standard deviation of FA, 23 gradient directions is clinically optimal.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1558-1564
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• 2015

Cutaneous evaporative heat loss in Bos indicus and Bos taurus has been well documented. Nonetheless, how crossbreds with different fractional genetic proportions respond to such circumstances is of interest. A study to examine the physiological responses to cutaneous evaporative heat loss, also lactation period and milk yield, were conducted in Sahiwal (Bos indicus, n = 10, $444{\pm}64.8kg$, $9{\pm}2.9years$), Holstein Friesian (Bos taurus, HF100% (n = 10, $488{\pm}97.9kg$, $6{\pm}2.8years$)) and the following crossbreds: HF50% (n = 10, $355{\pm}40.7kg$, $2{\pm}0years$) and HF87.5% (n = 10, $489{\pm}76.8kg$, $7{\pm}1.8years$). They were allocated so as to determine the physiological responses of sweating rate (SR), respiration rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), and skin temperature (ST) with and without hair from 06:00 h am to 15:00 h pm. And milk yield during 180 days were collected at days from 30 to 180. The ambient temperature-humidity-index (THI) increased from less than 80 in the early morning to more than 90 in the late afternoon. The interaction of THI and breed were highly affected on SR, RR, RT, and ST (p<0.01). The SR was highest in Sahiwal ($595g/m^2/h$) compared to HF100% ($227g/m^2/h$), and their crossbreds both HF50% ($335g/m^2/h$) and HF87.5% ($299g/m^2/h$). On the other hand, RR was higher in HF87.5% (54 bpm) and both HF100% (48 bpm) and HF50% (42 bpm) than Sahiwal (25 bpm) (p<0.01). The RT showed no significant differences as a result of breed (p>0.05) but did change over time. The ST with and without hair were similar, and was higher in HF100% ($37.4^{\circ}C$; $38.0^{\circ}C$) and their crossbred HF50% ($35.5^{\circ}C$; $35.5^{\circ}C$) and HF87.5% ($37.1^{\circ}C$; $37.9^{\circ}C$) than Sahiwal ($34.8^{\circ}C$; $34.8^{\circ}C$) (p<0.01). Moreover, the early lactation were higher at HF100% (25 kg) and 87.5% (25 kg) than HF50% (23 kg) which were higher than Sahiwal (18 kg) while the peak period of lactation was higher at HF100% (35 kg) than crossbreds both HF87.5% and HF50% (32 kg) which was higher than Sahiwal (26 kg) (p<0.05). In conclusion, sweating and respiration were the main vehicle for dissipating excess body heat for Sahiwal, HF and crossbreds, respectively. The THI at 76 to 80 were the critical points where the physiological responses to elevated temperature displayed change.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.9
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• pp.1220-1225
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• 2012

Ligularia stenocephala leaves were subjected to extraction by using several solvents with different polarities, which were then investigated for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Extraction yield of ethanol extract of Ligularia stenocephala was 21.36%. The water fraction showed the highest extraction yield of 60.35%, followed by the n-butanol, n-hexane, and ethyl acetate fractions. Total polyphenolic content was the highest (254.00 mg/g GAE) in the ethyl acetate fraction of Ligularia stenocephala extract. The ethyl acetate fraction had $IC_{50}$ values of 0.28 mg/mL for DPPH radical scavenging, and 96.$67{\pm}0.09%$ for ABTS radical scavenging activity. Further, FRAP value was significantly higher in the ethyl acetate fraction. The ethyl acetate fraction showed antimicrobial activities against B. cereus, and the diameter of the zone of inhibition was 10.2 mm at 5 mg/disc. These results suggest that the ethyl acetate fraction of Ligularia stenocephala possesses the antimicrobial activities against B. cereus, and its high antioxidant activity could be applicable to food additives and as a natural cosmetic ingredient.