• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.105-112
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• 2020

The present study aims to explore news sharers' characteristic. Specifically, it aims to look at news sharers' demographic characteristics, old media news usage and new media news usage. Besides, it also explores factors affecting news sharing behavior. The study used the second data of Korea Press Foundation. Findings from surveys suggest that first, news sharers are younger and have higher education than not news sharers. Second, news sharers use less news through old media while more news through new media. Third, political orientation, portal, SNS and online video platform new usage, messenger news reliability have positive effects on news sharing, while age and portal news reliability have negative effects on it. Based on these findings, implication, limitations, and topics for future research are discussed.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.84-92
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• 2021

Purpose: To date, no studies have been performed on staging based on the lymph node ratio (LNR) in elderly patients with gastric cancer who may require limited lymph node (LN) dissection due to morbidity and tissue fragility. We aimed to develop a new N staging system using the LNR in elderly patients with gastric cancer. Materials and Methods: The present study included patients aged over 75 years who underwent curative gastrectomy between January 1989 and December 2018. Clinicopathological data including the number of retrieved and metastatic LNs were collected and the LNR values were obtained (LNR = the number of metastatic LNs/the number of retrieved LNs). Eleven LNR groups with intervals of 0.1 were divided into four stages based on the inflection points at which the hazard ratio (HR) increased. Survival analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic value of the LNR. Results: The four LNR stages included LNR0 (n=364), LNR1 (n=128), LNR2 (n=103), and LNR3 (n=10). In the multivariate analysis, both N staging and LNR staging exhibited significant prognostic values for predicting survival outcomes. However, the incremental change in the hazard ratio (HR) between consecutive stages was greater for the LNR staging than for the N staging (HRs: 1.607, 2.758, and 3.675 for N staging; 1.583, 3.514, and 10.261 for LNR staging). Conclusions: LNR staging is more useful than N staging in predicting the prognosis in elderly patients with gastric cancer and may be used as a complement or alternative to N staging.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.321-340
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• 2021

As many changes in the future society represented by the age of artificial intelligence(AI) are expected to come, efforts are being made to draw the shape of the future education and various research methods are being employed to support the attempts. While many research studies use methods for deriving generalized results such as expert survey and trend analysis in along with a review of literature, there are attempts to apply the scenario methodology to explore ideas and information needed within a changing context. A scenario method, one of the experiential learning strategies, aims to seek various and alternative approaches by establishing a plan from the present conditions considering future changes. In this study, in-service teachers' perceptions and expectations of the interactivity between human and AI teachers were visualized by applying the role-play presentation technique that grafted the concept of role-play game to the scenario method. In addition, the mandal-art method was introduced to support in conducting productive discussion during the teachers' collaboration. This method appeared to help to depict teachers' perceptions of AI teachers in the detailed and concrete form, which may flow in the abstract otherwise. Through analyses of the teachers' role-play presentations with the implementation of the madal-art method it was suggested that most teachers would want to collaborate with an AI teacher for improved instruction and individualized student learning while they would take the instructional authority over the AI teacher in the classroom.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.251-258
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• 2021

Dental trauma is very common in children and relatively young people, with the line of treatment depending on the time elapsed, age of the child, and tooth maturity. If the fractured segment is available and there is close approximation of the segment to the remaining tooth, reattachment of the fractured segment is a feasible option. This treatment offers several advantages, including the reestablishment of function, aesthetics, shape, shine and surface texture, in addition to the original contour and alignment of the teeth. The following cases present two different complex crown fracture cases that were treated using tooth fragment reattachment with fiber-reinforced composite post.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.261-269
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• 2021

Because sows are industrially vital for swine production, monitoring for their health or disorder status is important to ensure high reproductive performance. Especially, ambient temperature changes in different season, especially during summer, are directly influenced to the reproductive performance of sows. Although the serum biochemical parameters are widely applied in the veterinary medicine with wide ranges for the physiological process, the values are also influenced by several factors such as age, breed, gender, and stress. In addition, domestic sows in Korea-specific reference interval (RI) for serum biochemistry has not been established yet. Therefore, the present study was aimed to evaluate seasonal variation of RIs in the serum biochemistry in domestic sows in Korea at different seasons and to establish normal RIs using a RI finding program (Reference Value Advisor). Significant difference (p < 0.05) on the different seasons were identified in several serum biochemical parameters including BUN, CRE, GGT, GLU, ALB, TP, LDH and Na in sows. Therefore, we further established RIs, specific in domestic sows in Korea regardless of season. The established RIs based on the serum biochemical values provide a baseline for interpreting biochemical results in the domestic sows in Korea, regardless of seasonal effect. It may contribute to develop a strategy for better reproductive performance by improving breeding management practice and evaluating health of pig herds, which facilitate to avert the economic loss in summer infertility in sows.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.587-593
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• 2021

Infertility is a key issue affecting mood and behavior in men. Microorganisms are one of the primary etiological agents that may be associated with infertility. The objective of the present study was to identify bacterial causative agents from the semen of infertile subjects and determine the effect of bacterial infection on sperm quality, as well as determine the susceptibility of these bacteria to drugs. Forty semen samples from 30 infertile patients and 10 fertile individuals were collected. The pH, volume, motility, and concentration of semen were analyzed. The samples were processed and identified by biochemical testing using API identification kits. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern was determined using the disc diffusion method. Abnormal sperm quality was observed. The mean age of the individual and their sperm morphology, concentration, progressive motility, pH level, and pus cell content were 31.9 years, 2.7%, 10.4 million/ml, 27.3%, 8.3, and 5.7, respectively. Among the tested samples, oligoasthenozoospermia was found to show the highest occurrence, at 27/30 samples, followed by teratozoospermia, at 25/30 samples, and asthenozoospermia, at 22/30 samples. Of the tested infertile patients' sperm, 19, 6, and 5 isolates were identified as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, respectively. The results also revealed multi-drug resistance in the bacteria. Compared to that shown by the other tested antibiotics, amikacin showed higher activity against all isolated bacteria. However, the bacteria exhibited maximum resistance against gentamicin, cefotaxime, levofloxacin, and ampicillin. In conclusion, leukocytospermia and bacterial infections are possibly responsible for sperm abnormalities. Multi-drug resistant bacteria were detected. Gentamicin, cefotaxime, levofloxacin and ampicillin were shown the highest resistance, while amikacin was the most effective antimicrobial agent against the isolated bacteria.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.126-134
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• 2022

Norovirus (NoV) is an important pathogen causing acute gastroenteritis worldwide. The purpose of the present study was the molecular characterization of NoV. A total of 408 stool specimens collected from hospitalized children associated with acute gastroenteritis in Chiang Rai, Thailand, 2015-2017 were investigated for the presence of NoVs by RT-PCR. NoV GII was detected in 32 samples (7.8%). Five distinct genotypes were identified, including GII.4 (13/32, 40.6%), GII.3 (11/32, 34.3%), GII.17 (4/32, 12.5%), GII.2 (2/32, 6.3%), and GII.14 (2/32, 6.3%). NoV infection occurred mostly in young children under 3 years of age (31/32, 96.9%) and showed the main peak in summer months from March to April (18/32, 56.3%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all 13 GII.4 strains clustered with GII.4 Sydney 2012 variant. Representative GII.3 strains were analyzed as a recombinant GII.3P[12] strain. Several amino acid differences were found in the antigenic epitopes and antibody binding sites of the VP1 capsid of the GII.3P[12]. Homology modeling of the P domain of the GII.3P[12] strain demonstrated that 10/13 amino acid differences were predicted to be located on the surface-exposed area of the capsid structure. These amino acid changes might affect the infectivity and the antigenicity of the recombinant GII.3P[12]. The prevalence of GII.4 Sydney 2012 and recombinant GII.3P[12] strains indicates the genetic diversity of circulating NoVs in Thailand, emphazing the importance of continuous surveillance to mornitor newly emerging NoV strains in the future.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.147-156
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• 2022

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections in different age groups, including children. Bacteria are the main etiological agents of UTIs. The aim of the present study was to isolate, identify, and determine the antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria isolated from children with UTIs from Baghdad, Iraq. Three hundred and two urine samples were collected from children aged 6 months to 12 years. The samples were cultured on blood agar and MacConkey agar. The selected colonies were subjected to biochemical tests and antibiotic susceptibility analysis using the Vitek^® 2 Compact automated microbial identification system. In this sample, 299 bacteria were identified, of which, 267 were gram-negative bacteria, and 32 were gram-positive bacteria. Escherichia coli (56%) was the most commonly isolated gram-negative bacteria, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14%), Enterobacter spp. (10.48%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.36%), Proteus spp. (7.8%), Acinetobacter baumannii (1.5%), and Morganella morganii (0.37%). Enterococcus faecalis (62.5%) was the most commonly detected gram-positive bacteria, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (37.5%). E. coli and P. aeruginosa were the most antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Among the tested antibiotics, meropenem showed 100% sensitivity, followed by imipenem (97.4%), amikacin (91.8%), and tobramycin (83.5%). In contrast, the high frequencies of resistance were observed with cefixime (93.2%), cefotaxime (78.7%), and ceftriaxone/cefotaxime (71.2%). In conclusion, carbapenems and aminoglycosides are highly recommended for the empirical treatment of UTIs, while, Quinolones, penicillins, and cephalosporins are not suggested. Frequent antibiotics susceptibility testing are warranted to determine the resistance pattern of UTI bacteria.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.93-99
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• 2022

The present study was performed to compare cranial tibial wedge osteotomy (CTWO) and tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) through radiographic evaluation. The experiment was conducted with five cadaver dogs [mean (± SD) weight, 32.9 ± 4.1 kg; mean (± SD) age, 6 ± 2 years; three males and two females] euthanized for reasons unrelated to this study. The cadaver dogs consisted of German Shepherd (n = 3), Belgian Malinois (n = 1), and mixed breed (n = 1). CTWO and TPLO were carried out by the standard surgical method. Radiographic evaluation was performed by comparing several factors, including the flexion and extension angles, the anatomical mechanical axis angle (AMA-angle), tibial length, patellar height measurement using the Labelle-Laurin method, mechanical medial proximal tibial angle (mMPTA), mechanical medial distal tibial angle (mMDTA), and frontal plane alignment (FPA). Both the CTWO and the TPLO groups showed significantly increased flexion angles after surgery. Only the CTWO group had significantly increased extension angle. Although both groups showed significant decreases in the AMA-angle, the mechanical axis moved cranially against the anatomical axis only in the CTWO group. The patellar height was significantly lowered in the CTWO group. No significant differences were found in mMPTA, mMDTA, or FPA. In conclusion, radiographic comparison revealed more changes in CTWO group than in TPLO group.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.491-498
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• 2022

Based on Goethe's color theory, this study presented concepts and classification methods through the following research methods for the purpose of defining sensory, emotional, and experiential colors as spatial colors in digital space. First, the concept of spatial color is defined through theoretical consideration and three (3) types of spatial color are classified as the surface, outline, and physical colors. Secondly, the study includes the characteristics of digital space and color sensory type. Third, based on the identified color sensory type through the previous theoretical consideration, the four (4) categorized digital spatial color were derived and presented as techno Chromatic, S.E.N.S.E, pixel, and blur colors were determined and proposed. Based on such research contents, this study is meaningful in that it systematized the meaning of Goethe's color theory in the present age through digital spatial color.