• Title/Summary/Keyword: physical functioning

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Evaluation of Environmental Factors to Determine the Distribution of Functional Feeding Groups of Benthic Macroinvertebrates Using an Artificial Neural Network

  • Park, Young-Seuk;Lek, Sovan;Chon, Tae-Soo;Verdonschot, Piet F.M.
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.31 no.3
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    • pp.233-241
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    • 2008
  • Functional feeding groups (FFGs) of benthic macroinvertebrates are guilds of invertebrate taxa that obtain food in similar ways, regardless of their taxonomic affinities. They can represent a heterogeneous assemblage of benthic fauna and may indicate disturbances of their habitats. The proportion of different groups can change in response to disturbances that affect the food base of the system, thereby offering a means of assessing disruption of ecosystem functioning. In this study, we used benthic macroinvertebrate communities collected at 650 sites of 23 different water types in the province of Overijssel, The Netherlands. Physical and chemical environmental factors were measured at each sampling site. Each taxon was assigned to its corresponding FFG based on its food resources. A multilayer perceptron (MLP) using a backpropagation algorithm, a supervised artificial neural network, was applied to evaluate the influence of environmental variables to the FFGs of benthic macroinvertebrates through a sensitivity analysis. In the evaluation of input variables, the sensitivity analysis with partial derivatives demonstrates the relative importance of influential environmental variables on the FFG, showing that different variables influence the FFG in various ways. Collector-filterers and shredders were mainly influenced by $Ca^{2+}$ and width of the streams, and scrapers were influenced mostly with $Ca^{2+}$ and depth, and predators were by depth and pH. $Ca^{2+}$ and depth displayed relatively high influence on all four FFGs, while some variables such as pH, %gravel, %silt, and %bank affected specific groups. This approach can help to characterize community structure and to ecologically assess target ecosystems.

A New Mapping Algorithm for Depth Perception in 3D Screen and Its Implementation (3차원 영상의 깊이 인식에 대한 매핑 알고리즘 구현)

  • Ham, Woon-Chul;Kim, Seung-Hwan
    • Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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    • v.45 no.6
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    • pp.95-101
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    • 2008
  • In this paper, we present a new smoothing algorithm for variable depth mapping for real time stereoscopic image for 3D display. Proposed algorithm is based on the physical concept, called Laplacian equation and we also discuss the mapping of the depth from scene to displayed image. The approach to solve the problem in stereoscopic image which we adopt in this paper is similar to multi-region algorithm which was proposed by N.Holliman. The main difference thing in our algorithm compared with the N.Holliman's multi-region algorithm is that we use the Laplacian equation by considering the distance between viewer and object. We implement the real time stereoscopic image generation method for OpenGL on the circular polarized LCD screen to demonstrate its real functioning in the visual sensory system in human brain. Even though we make and use artificial objects by using OpenGL to simulate the proposed algorithm we assure that this technology may be applied to stereoscopic camera system not only for personal computer system but also for public broad cast system.

OsATG10b, an Autophagosome Component, Is Needed for Cell Survival against Oxidative Stresses in Rice

  • Shin, Jun-Hye;Yoshimoto, Kohki;Ohsumi, Yoshinori;Jeon, Jong-seong;An, Gynheung
    • Molecules and Cells
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.67-74
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    • 2009
  • Autophagy degrades toxic materials and old organelles, and recycles nutrients in eukaryotic cells. Whereas the studies on autophagy have been reported in other eukaryotic cells, its functioning in plants has not been well elucidated. We analyzed the roles of OsATG10 genes, which are autophagy-related. Two rice ATG10 genes - OsATG10a and OsATG10b - share significant sequence homology (about 75%), and were ubiquitously expressed in all organs examined here. GUS assay indicated that OsATG10b was highly expressed in the mesophyll cells and vascular tissue of younger leaves, but its level of expression decreased in older leaves. We identified T-DNA insertional mutants in that gene. Those osatg10b mutants were sensitive to treatments with high salt and methyl viologen (MV). Monodansylcadaverine-staining experiments showed that the number of autophagosomes was significantly decreased in the mutants compared with the WT. Furthermore, the amount of oxidized proteins increased in MV-treated mutant seedlings. These results demonstrate that OsATG10b plays an important role in the survival of rice cells against oxidative stresses.

Evaluation of 8-week body weight control program including sea tangle (Laminaria japonica) supplementation in Korean female college students

  • You, Jeong-Soon;Sung, Min-Jung;Chang, Kyung-Ja
    • Nutrition Research and Practice
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    • v.3 no.4
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    • pp.307-314
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    • 2009
  • This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a body weight control program with supplementation of sea tangle (20 g/day) on 22 female college students. The contents of the program for 8 weeks contained diet therapy, exercise and behavioral modification through nutrition education. Body composition, dietary habit scores, serum lipid profiles, daily nutrient intakes and the quality of life were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the program. Average age of subjects and height were 20.8 years and 161.9 cm, respectively. After 8 weeks, there were significant reductions in body weight, body fat mass, percent body fat, waist-hip ratio and BMI. The dietary habit score such as a balanced diet, regularity of mealtime, overeating, eating while watching TV or using the computer and eating salty food were increased significantly. Serum lipid levels such as total cholesterol level, LDL-cholesterol level and triglyceride level were decreased but not significantly. There were decreases in intake of energy, protein and fat and increases in intakes of dietary fiber, folic acid, calcium and potassium from the beginning to the end of the program. There were significant improvements on subcomponents of quality of life; physical functioning, general-health and vitality. The limitation of this study was the fact that there was no control group, but an overall evaluation suggests the 8-week body weight control program consisting of diet therapy, exercise and behavioral modification with supplementation of sea tangle would be helpful to improve the body composition, dietary habits, daily nutrient intakes and quality of life in Korean female college students.

The Impact of Air Pollution, Including Asian Sand Dust, on Respiratory Symptoms and Health-related Quality of Life in Outpatients With Chronic Respiratory Disease in Korea: A Panel Study

  • Nakao, Motoyuki;Ishihara, Yoko;Kim, Cheol-Hong;Hyun, In-Gyu
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.51 no.3
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    • pp.130-139
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    • 2018
  • Objectives: Air pollution is a growing concern in Korea because of transboundary air pollution from mainland China. A panel study was conducted to clarify the effects of air pollution on respiratory symptoms and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in outpatients with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Korea. Methods: Patients filled out a questionnaire including self-reported HR-QoL in February and were followed up in May and July. The study was conducted from 2013 to 2015, with different participants each year. Air quality parameters were applied in a generalized estimating equation as independent variables to predict factors affecting HR-QoL. Results: Lower physical fitness scores were associated with Asian sand dust events. Daily activity scores were worse when there were high concentrations of particulate matter (PM) less than $10{\mu}m$ in diameter ($PM_{10}$). Lower social functioning scores were associated with high PM less than $2.5{\mu}m$ in diameter and nitrogen dioxide ($NO_2$) concentrations. High $NO_2$ concentrations also showed a significant association with mental health scores. Weather-related cough was prevalent when $PM_{10}$, $NO_2$, or ozone ($O_3$) concentrations were high, regardless of COPD severity. High $PM_{10}$ concentrations were associated with worsened wheezing, particularly in COPD patients. Conclusions: The results suggest that PM, $NO_2$, and $O_3$ cause respiratory symptoms leading to HR-QoL deterioration. While some adverse effects of air pollution appeared to occur regardless of COPD, others occurred more often and more intensely in COPD patients. The public sector, therefore, needs to consider tailoring air pollution countermeasures to people with different conditions to minimize adverse health effects.

A Study on the Development of a Postpartum Depression Scale (산후우울 사정을 위한 도구 개발 연구)

  • 배정이
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.27 no.3
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    • pp.588-600
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    • 1997
  • Postpartum depression is one of the most serious problems in maternal health because it affects not only the mother but also her family. Postpartum depression disturbs the maternal-infant interaction and attachment. However, most postpartum depression patients ignore this problem and do not seek treatment. Many clinicians and researchers realiza there is a need to develop a postpartum depression scale. Thus, this study has been designed to development of a postpartum depression scale. Data were collected through a survey over a period of three months. Subjects who participated in the study were 167 Korean mothers in their postpartum period. The author used a convenience sampling method. The analysis of the data was done with SPSS PC/sup +/ for descriptive statistics, item analysis and factor analysis. Initially 62 items were generated from the interview data of eight postpartum depression patients and from a literature review. This preliminary scale was analyzed for reliability and validity. The results of this analysis are as follows. 1. Initially 62 items were analyzed through the Index of Content Validity(CVI) and 48 items were selected. 2. Seven factors were extracted through the principal component analysis, and these contributed 61% of the variance in the total score. Finally 46 items in the scale loaded .41∼ .84 on one of seven factors. 3. Each factor was labeled. Factor 1 was labeled 'emotional phenomena-emotional upset' and included 13 items, factor 2 was labeled' cognitive phenomena-self concept disturbance' and included seven items, factor 3 was labeled 'relationship to baby-negative feeling' and included six items, factor 4 was labeled 'relationship to baby- overload' and included eight items, factor 5 was labeled 'negative maternal identity' and included five items, factor 6 was labeled 'biophysiological phenomena-disturbance of physical functioning' and included four items, and factor 7 was labeled' interpersonal relationship phenomena-blamed others' and included three items. 4. Cronbach Coefficient Alpha for internal consistency was .95 for the total 46 items. Finally, the author suggests that this scale could be adequately applied in assessing the postpartum depression of mothers during the postpartum period. The results of this study can contribute to designing an appropriate postpartum depression prevention strategy.

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Exploring the value of marine sports as a sport for all (생활체육으로서 해양스포츠의 가치 탐구)

  • Cheung, Young-Kyu;Lee, Hyung-il
    • Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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    • v.9 no.7
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    • pp.309-315
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    • 2018
  • As the participation in marine sports activities has increased according to the increased national income, changes in lifestyle, etc., this study explored various values and possibilities towards a sport for all, which are inherent in marine sports, through the literature research with respect to leisure activities, sport for all, and marine sports. As a result of study, marine sports include the functional values, such as leisure satisfaction and welfare function, as a tool to improve the quality of life, which the sport for all may have, and not only have a positive impact on individual lives, but further, can also contribute to raising the level of social well-being. Marine sports are directly experienced physical activities utilizing nature and importantly functioning in human beings' understanding nature; especially, it could be found that they have the high emotion-educational value which could make the right personality formed for the adolescents in modern society, whose unrealistic leisure activities account for the most part of their leisure time. These results suggest that marine sports contain sufficient positive values and possibilities as a sport for all, and the value as a sport for all could be realized which marine sports may have through active participation.

The Effects of Follow-Up with Peer Group Meetings after Self-Help Program for Arthritis Patients (관절염 환자 자조관리과정 후 환우모임을 통한 추후관리 효과에 대한 연구)

  • Lee, In-Ok;Suh, Moon-Ja;Lee, Kyung-Sook
    • Journal of muscle and joint health
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.109-121
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    • 2001
  • The purpose of this study was to find out the long-term effects of the self-help program through the follow-up with peer group meetings of arthritis patients. In order to fulfil the purposes, the follow-up program with peer group meetings was developed by researchers with consisting of monthly health contract, group discussion, group counseling, recreation, and exercise. This program was carried out 2-3 hours once in a month for 5 months (1999-2000) and evaluated in a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. The subjects were 34 patients of experimental group and 24 of control group. The measurement tools of this study are pain rating scale(Lee & Song), KHAQ(Bae), rating scale of fatigue, and goniometer. The results of this study revealed no significant differences on number of pain site, fatigue, physical functioning, flexibility of the shoulder joints, and level of the extension of the knee joints between experimental group and control group. Whileas pain reaction of the control group was significantly high. However, the peers expressed very much their satisfaction and appreciations with the follow-up program with Peer group meetings. Actually, they wanted to have this peer group meeting continuously. This results suggested that the follow-up program with peer group meeting could be recommended as good nursing intervention to help the arthritis patients after having the Self Help Program in the community setting.

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A Study on Psychophysiology and Psychopathology of Korean Medicine -Focus on Emotion and Thought in Huangdineijing (한의학의 정신 생리와 병리에 대한 소고 -황제내경의 오신, 칠정을 중심으로-)

  • Choi, Woo-Jin
    • Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.21-34
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    • 2018
  • Objectives: The purpose of this study is to understand the theories about the psychophysiology and psychopathology of Korean Medicine. Methods: The concepts and functions of spirit (神), soul (魂魄), five spirits (五神), and seven emotions (七情) occurring in the Huangdineijing have been interpreted, and the correlation between thought and emotion considered. Results and Conclusions: (1) Spirit (神) refers to the source and discipline of vital activity and mental activity. (2) With soul (魂魄), ethereal soul (魂) manifests itself as the mental process, and corporeal soul (魄) as the physical sensory interaction, such as the nervous system. (3) In the five spirits, ethereal soul (魂) is the recognition process of drawing out memories. Spirit (神) is the process of creative thought. Cognition (意) is the ability to recognize and integrate information. Corporeal soul (魄) is the process of selecting what is important and choosing it. Will (志) is the process of storing memories. Ethereal soul (魂) and corporeal soul (魄) of the five spirits (五神) and soul (魂魄) use the same characters, but the meaning differs. Also, spirit (神) and the spirit (神) in five spirits (五神) are the same character, but, because the meaning is different, they need to be interpreted according to the context. (4) Heart (心), Cognition (意), Will (志), Thought (思), Consideration (慮), and Wisdom(智) are all cognitive processes, like perception, recognition, and thinking. (5) Psychopathology is when excessive emotion affects the five viscera, harming the Energy (氣) and Blood (血) and eventually affecting the five spirits, which causes problems in thinking. Therefore, for healthy mental functioning, not only must the emotions be regulated so that they do not become excessive, but the five viscera also need to be kept healthy.

Nutritional education for management of osteodystrophy (NEMO) trial: Design and patient characteristics, Lebanon

  • Karavetian, Mirey;Abboud, Saade;Elzein, Hafez;Haydar, Sarah;de Vries, Nanne
    • Nutrition Research and Practice
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.103-111
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    • 2014
  • This study aims to determine the effect of a trained dedicated dietitian on clinical outcomes among Lebanese hemodialysis (HD) patients: and thus demonstrate a viable developing country model. This paper describes the study protocol and baseline data. The study was a multicenter randomized controlled trial with parallel-group design involving 12 HD units: assigned to cluster A (n = 6) or B (n = 6). A total of 570 patients met the inclusion criteria. Patients in cluster A were randomly assigned as per dialysis shift to the following: Dedicated Dietitian (DD) (n = 133) and Existing Practice (EP) (n = 138) protocols. Cluster B patients (n = 299) received Trained Hospital Dietitian (THD) protocol. Dietitians of the DD and THD groups were trained by the research team on Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative nutrition guidelines. DD protocol included: individualized nutrition education for 2 hours/month/HD patient for 6 months focusing on renal osteodystrophy and using the Trans-theoretical theory for behavioral change. EP protocol included nutrition education given to patients by hospital dietitians who were blinded to the study. The THD protocol included nutrition education to patients given by hospital dietitian as per the training received but within hospital responsibilities, with no set educational protocol or tools. Baseline data revealed that 40% of patients were hyperphosphatemics (> 5.5 mg/dl) with low dietary adherence and knowledge of dietary P restriction in addition to inadequate daily protein intake ($58.86%{\pm}33.87%$ of needs) yet adequate dietary P intake ($795.52{\pm}366.94$ mg/day). Quality of life (QOL) ranged from 48-75% of full health. Baseline differences between the 3 groups revealed significant differences in serum P, malnutrition status, adherence to diet and P chelators and in 2 factors of the QOL: physical and social functioning. The data show room for improvement in the nutritional status of the patients. The NEMO trial may be able to demonstrate a better nutritional management of HD patients.