• Journal of applied mathematics & informatics
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• v.14 no.1_2
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• pp.305-317
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• 2004

We construct the empirical Bayes (EB)estimation of the parameter in two-side truncated distribution families with asymmetric Linex loss using negatively associated (NA) samples. The asymptotical optimality and convergence rate of the EB estimation is obtained. We will show that the convergence rate can be arbitrarily close to $O(n^{-q}),\;q\;=\;{\lambda}s(\delta\;-\;2)/\delta(s\;+\;2)$.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.85-103
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between fixation and brain preference. Based on the hemisphere asymmetric theory and fixation, two hypotheses were articulated. They were: 1) Right-brain preference is negatively related to divergent fixation. 2) Left-brain preference is negatively related to convergent fixation. A self-reporting scale for measuring the brain preference with 42 items were developed for the study based on functional characteritics of left and right hemisphere. Samples were collected from 579 college students in K University. Regression analysis showed that right-brain preference was negatively associated with divergent fixation. In the relationship between left-brain preference and convergent fixation, mixed results were produced. Research implication were discussed at the end of the study.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1452-1456
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• 2012

The anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) in anaerobic sewage sludge was characterized. The net methane oxidation was observed in samples amended with methane plus sulfate or with methane alone, whereas methane formation was observed in the samples without methane, indicating that methane oxidation and formation occurred simultaneously. The ratio of the net methane oxidation rate to $H_2S$ formation was 100:1, suggesting that the AOM was not closely associated with sulfate reduction in the anaerobic sludge. The net AOM was positively associated with the methane concentration and sludge dilution ratio. However, the rate of AOM was negatively correlated with organic substrate (acetate) concentration. Therefore, the production and oxidation of methane could be controlled by environmental conditions and dissolved organic compounds in the bulk solution.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2021

Purpose: We investigated whether consecutive levels of new emerging renal biomarkers, including serum cystatin C (CysC) and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL)/creatinine (Cr) ratio, were affected by postconceptional age in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. Methods: Repeatedly measured samples for each infant were divided into four groups according to postnatal age: at birth (stage I), 3 to 7 days postnatally (stage II), 8 to 28 days postnatally (stage III), and >28 days postnatally (stage IV). The association between renal biomarkers and postconceptional age was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, and the mean values of renal biomarkers in the four stages were compared using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: For samples measured at birth, serum CysC (r=-0.358, P=0.032) and urinary NGAL/Cr ratio (r=-0.522, P=0.001) were negatively correlated with gestational age, whereas serum Cr (r=0.148, P=0.390) was not. In addition, for all samples measured, serum CysC (r=-0.209, P=0.012), urinary NGAL/Cr ratio (r=-0.536, P<0.001), and serum Cr (r=-0.311, P<0.001) were negatively correlated with postconceptional age. Compared with the mean values of the postnatal age-specific stages, serum CysC showed no significant differences in any of the four stages. However, the urinary NGAL/Cr ratio in stage IV was significantly different from those in stages I to III. Conclusion: Although urinary NGAL/Cr ratio and serum CysC were negatively correlated with postconceptional age considering renal development, serum CysC showed no significant differences in any of the four postnatal age-specific stages. Urinary NGAL/Cr ratio at >28 days postnatally seems to be more affected by postconceptional age than serum CysC in VLBW infants.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.1-21
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• 2009

Using samples of working mothers with 0-to-47 month old children extracted from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY), this study investigated effects of mothers' job characteristics on parenting behaviors and young children's motor, social, and cognitive development. Date were analyzed by descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. Results indicated that (1) job dissatisfaction was negatively related to children's development. (2) Working fewer hours was positively associated with mothers' cognitively stimulating parenting behaviors. (3) Total earnings were a positive predictor of mothers' emotional support. (4) The availability of a flexible hour benefit was positively related to mothers' cognitive stimulation level but the availability of a paid sick and vacation days combined benefit was negatively related to mothers' cognitively stimulating parenting behavior.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.22.1-22.15
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• 2023

Alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) is caused by chronic alcohol overconsumption and might be linked to dysregulated immune responses in the gut-liver axis. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research on levels and functions of innate lymphocytes including mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, NKT cells, and NK (NK) cells in ALC patients. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the levels and function of these cells, evaluate their clinical relevance, and explore their immunologic roles in the pathogenesis of ALC. Peripheral blood samples from ALC patients (n = 31) and healthy controls (HCs, n = 31) were collected. MAIT cells, NKT cells, NK cells, cytokines, CD69, PD-1, and lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) levels were measured by flow cytometry. Percentages and numbers of circulating MAIT cells, NKT cells, and NK cells were significantly reduced in ALC patients than in HCs. MAIT cell exhibited increased production of IL-17 and expression levels of CD69, PD-1, and LAG-3. NKT cells displayed decreased production of IFN-γ and IL-4. NK cells showed elevated CD69 expression. Absolute MAIT cell levels were positively correlated with lymphocyte count but negatively correlated with C-reactive protein. In addition, NKT cell levels were negatively correlated with hemoglobin levels. Furthermore, log-transformed absolute MAIT cell levels were negatively correlated with the Age, Bilirubin, INR, and Creatinine score. This study demonstrates that circulating MAIT cells, NKT cells, and NK cells are numerically deficient in ALC patients, and the degree of cytokine production and activation status also changed. Besides, some of their deficiencies are related to several clinical parameters. These findings provide important information about immune responses of ALC patients.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.47-61
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• 2020

Objective : This study aim to identify the relationships among the types of physical activities included related included related work, sports, leisure, transport and sedentary behaviors and mental health in elderly person. Methods : We analyzed using the data of the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES VII-1) of 978 subjects who underwent the types of physical activities, quality of life, depression, level of stress, and sleeping hours survey. For statistical analysis, the Complex samples linear regression was used for relationships among the variables. Results : High level of physical activity and house-keeping activity associated negatively on health related quality of life. Mid-High level of leisure activities associated positively on health related quality of life. Contrasting from other studies, which show sedentary activities associated negatively on the health related quality of life, and sedentary activities associated positively on the health related quality of life and mental health. Conclusion : This study shows that physical and leisure activity of an elderly person whilst sedentary activities related positively on health related quality of life, and physical activities related to labor associated negatively on health related quality of life. Future studies should be referred when planning an occupation-focused and meaningful activity program for the elderly people.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.122-130
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• 2010

Sensory analyses of pork samples from leg muscles of female pigs raised in New Zealand (n = 17) were conducted using trained and untrained Singaporean panelists. The New Zealand pigs included three dietary groups, with one diet including animal products (NZA), and two containing plant products only (NZP & NZP+), with the NZP+ diet containing a supplement (0.614%) containing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), selenium, and vitamin E. The New Zealand pork was also compared with Indonesian pork as local reference samples (n = 6). Pork samples from the NZA group had the highest score for mutton flavour and aftertaste, and the lowest score for brothy aroma, brothy flavour, meaty flavour, lightness and juiciness by trained sensory panels. Samples from NZP and NZP+ were similar except the NZP+ group had a stronger stale flavour than the NZP group (1.34 vs. 0.57 on a 100-point scale; p<0.05). The first and second functions of a discriminant analysis based on trained-panel scores for 14 attributes accounted for 95.4% of the variance, with function 1 (83.7%) being related mainly to mutton aroma, mutton flavour and aftertaste. Based on a 20-member untrained panel, the NZA pork had the highest mutton aroma and mutton flavour intensities (p<0.01) and aroma and flavour that was less acceptable than that from the NZP group (p<0.05). The acceptability scores of Indonesian pork were not significantly different from those of New Zealand pork, but its scores for mutton aroma and mutton flavour were significantly lower than NZP. Overall acceptability was positively associated with acceptability of aroma (r = 0.906), juiciness (r = 0.888), and tenderness (r = 0.904), but negatively associated with intensities of mutton aroma (r = -0.478) and flavour (r = -0.551).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.330-339
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• 2002

Fifty one Nili-Ravi dairy buffaloes in their last two months of gestation were selected. After parturition, rectal examination of reproductive organs was carried out until the occurrence of the first oestrus (PEI). Milk samples were analyzed for milk progesterone levels (MPL). Ovulation (POI) was confirmed by rectal palpation and MPL. Feed and blood samples were collected fortnightly and analyzed. Body condition score (BCS) was recorded on a scale of 0 to 5. Crude protein (CP) intake varied among different seasons and correlated positively with serum urea levels, POI (p<0.01) and PEI (p<0.05). Excess CPI was lower in the group showing oestrus as compared to those remaining as anoestrus (p<0.05). The dietary ratio of crude protein - metabolizable energy (CP:ME) in the oestrus animals was narrow and constant, while the anoestrus animals had a widely fluctuating one. In normal breeding season (NBS) calvers, mean serum urea level (SUL) was lower than the low breeding season (LBS) calvers. SUL was positively correlated with PEI and POI (p<0.01). Up to six months postpartum, SUL were constantly higher in anoestrus than oestrus buffaloes. Mean metabolizable energy (ME) intake was lower in the NBS calvers than the LBS calvers (p<0.01). BCS and postpartum ovulation interval were correlated with ME intake (p<0.01). Prepartum ME intake was higher in oestrous as compared to anoestrous animals (p<0.05). Higher and lower ME intakes were associated with anoestrus, while a moderate energy intake was associated with a PEI of less than 75 days. Buffaloes with poor BCS belonged to the LBS calving group and most of the NBS calving buffaloes had good BCS. BCS was negatively correlated with PEI (p<0.01) and was higher in oestrous buffaloes than anestrus. It was concluded that excess intake of crude protein, associated with higher serum urea levels and low energy intake, associated with poor body condition, are the key factors for low reproductive efficiency. It may be corrected by adopting a proper feeding strategy.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.237-246
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• 2022

The concrete quality relies on general factors like preparation technique, uniformity of the compaction, amount and appropriateness of the additives. The current article investigates the impact of a well knows amino acid, L-arginine as an additive on water requirements, setting durations and characterization of various cement samples. Compressive strength tests of reference and L-arginine added cements at age of 2, 7 and 28 days were carried out according to TS-EN 196-1. Samples were blended by incorporating various amounts of L-arginine (25 ppm, 50 ppm and 75 ppm) in the cement water mixture which were tested with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) on the 28th day. Results revealed that L-arginine does not affect the setting time, volume expansion of cement and water demands negatively; rather it imparts enhanced sustainability to the samples. It was determined that the highest value belonged to the 75L mortar with an increase of 2.6% compared to the reference sample when the compressive strengths of all mortars were compared on the 28th day. Besides, it has been observed that the development of calcium silicate hydrate or C-S-H gel, calcium hydroxide or CH and other hydrated products are associated with each other. L-arginine definitely has a contribution in the consumption of CH formed in the hydration process.