• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.219-228
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• 2020

A CubeSat platform has become a popular choice due to inexpensive commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and low launch cost. However, it requires more power-efficient and higher-data rate downlink capability for space applications related to remote sensing. In addition, the platform is limited by the size, weight and power (SWaP) constraints as well as the regulatory issue of licensing the radio frequency (RF) spectrum. The requirements and limitations have put optical communications on promising alternatives to RF communications for a CubeSat platform, owing to the power efficiency and high data rate as well as the license free spectrum. In this study, we analyzed the performance of optical downlink communications compatible with CubeSat platforms in terms of data rate, bit error rate (BER) and outage probability. Mathematical models of BER and outage probability were derived based on not only the log-normal model of atmospheric turbulence but also a transmitter with a finite extinction ratio. Given the fixed slot width, the optimal guard time and modulation orders were chosen to achieve the target data rate. And the two performance metrics, BER and outage data rate, were analyzed and discussed with respect to beam divergence angle, scintillation index and zenith angle.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.17-29
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• 2019

Purpose - This study examines the relationship between public-private partnerships and the performance of ports based on three factors: the quality of the port infrastructure, container throughput, and logistic performance in three Latin American countries, Mexico, Panama, and Brazil, for the period of 1994-2017. Design/methodology - The selected countries are top ranked in terms of container throughput in Latin America. The methodology employs secondary data from the World Bank (Quality of Port Infrastructure, Logistics Performance Index, and Private Participation in infrastructure database). Findings - Overall, the results revealed that the private investment of these countries varies significantly over the past couple decades. Panama, with the least public-private investment over the study period, performs better than Mexico and Brazil with regards to port quality infrastructure and container throughput. For ports in the selected countries to keep up with global competition, there is a need to enhance efficiency. Originality/value - Compared with ports in Asia, Latin American ports are lagging behind with respect to container throughput and efficiency. This study suggests greater collaboration from the private sector, academia, and other organizations, as well as a review of the regulatory framework to ensure better transparency and project allocation. Throwing more light on the public-private investment environment of Mexico, Brazil, and Panama, this study offers policy makers and regulators insightful information on port infrastructure.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2022

Despite the importance of the insurance business for financial and economic development, few studies have looked at the factors that influence its growth. This research adds to the body of knowledge by empirically examining the impact of numerous factors on the development of the insurance business in 15 Middle East and North African (MENA) countries from 2000 to 2017. The study looks at macroeconomic, demographic, and institutional factors as potential drivers of the insurance industry's growth, with the insurance premium as a percentage of GDP as the dependent variable. All variables are stationary at the first difference, according to the IPS panel unit root test. The Pedroni residual cointegration test, Kao residual cointegration test, and Johansen-Fisher panel cointegration tests are then used to look for long-run associations. The cointegration tests strongly suggest that the insurance premium and the various variables have long-run correlations. Findings from the Fully-Modified OLS imply that GDP per capita, gross capital formation, and the KOF economic globalization index have a positive long-term impact on the insurance business. The insurance business is also driven by combating corruption and the rule of law. The population and regulatory quality, on the other hand, have no significant impact.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.89-101
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• 2022

International remittances play a crucial role in the economic management of each country, especially in developing countries. Its functions are diverse, including procurement of foreign currency, serving as a cushion for the balance of payments and foreign exchange reserves by reducing the adverse external shocks, driving economic growth, easing the gap between the rich and the poor, and maintaining macroeconomic stability. However, previous studies on remittances have mainly focused on macro-and micro-economic aspects to analyze the determinants. Therefore, this study attempts to identify the determinants of remittances in 122 countries over the past 25 years from macroeconomic and educational aspects as well as institutional qualities. In addition, given the fact that almost all of the world's top 10 recipient countries in terms of GDP and total remittance size are developing countries, developed and developing countries are separated and analyzed for comparison, assuming that there may be a difference between the two groups. Results show that the coefficients of developed and developing countries are different in four areas: Control of Corruption (CC), Rule of Law (RL), Voice and Accountability (VA), and Regulatory Quality (RQ) among the six institutional variables of interest in this study. These results implicate that even the same institutions and policies should be applied and implemented differently depending on the circumstances of each country. In addition, as suggested by the World Bank, policymakers in all countries should double their policy efforts to lower the costs of remittance and improve access to the financial system for immigrants or dispatched workers to ensure a steady inflow of remittances.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.469-482
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• 2018

This research has developed the criteria and index for systematically and objectively assessing the quality of river water by fixing the various factors that affect Gyeongin ARA waterway's water quality through analysis with the Delphi Technique and analytic hierarchy program (AHP) Method. Based on the results, the highest criteria are, in order of importance, physical and environmental factors 28%, administrative factors 26%, natural fixed factors 26% and finally, cultural and social factors 20%. The three dimensions of the criteria show that for the internal physical and environmental factors, the most important are the loss of self-purification capacity, and the external factors are Gulpocheon and the sludge deposit due to Gyulhweon-weir the bridge. The facility factor in management was affected by the coagulation and waste water disposal facilities. The problem for the policy and institutional factors was seen in the regulatory area. The aquatic ecology/ point pollution source for the natural fixed factors show that it is due to the polluted water of Gulpo-cheon and the living environment/ non-point pollution source is shown through the inflow water from other rivers. Cultural and social factors show that the economical causes were due to the cargo and passenger flight operations and the external factors of having a lack of sewage treatment equipment have an importance effect. In order to estimate the order of priority through logical evidence and objectivity, future research must be continued on the evaluation indexes to measure the specific methodology and technique needed to improve the Gyeongin ARA Waterway.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.106-118
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• 2008

Purpose: Disturbed cell cycle regulatory proteins are key events underlying the development and/or progression of human malignancies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the protein expression status involved in G1/S cell cycle in human soft tissue sarcoma. Materials and Methods: We simultaneously evaluated the expression of Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, CDK4, CDK2, p16, p27, Rb, E2F1, p53 and Ki-67 by immunohistochemistry in 43 cases of soft tissue sarcoma Results: The Cyclin D1, Cyclin E, CDK4, CDK2, E2F1, and p53 were expressed in 25 (58.1%), 18 (41.9%), 13 (30.2%), 33 (76.7%), 20 (46.5%), and 18 cases (41.9%). The p16, p27, and Rb expressions were decreased in 26 (60.5%), 22 (51.2%) and 19 cases (44.2%). All of the cases showed alterations of more than one out of the above proteins. The increased Cyclin E expression and Ki-67 labeling index (LI) were significantly associated with histologic grade. The Cyclin E and E2F-1 expressions were increased in relapsed cases and the CDK4 expression was increased in cases of metastasis. Conclusion: Alterations of G1/S cell cycle regulatory proteins may play an important role in the tumoriogensis of soft tissue sarcomas. Our results suggest that increased expressions of Cyclin E, E2F1, and CDK4 were associated with tumor relapse or metastasis and could be considered as parameters of prognosis of soft tissue sarcoma.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1075-1086
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• 2008

In order to investigate the applicability and suitability of the industrial by-products to apply mono-layer cover system for non-sanitary landfill sites, 6 different industrial by-products, such as construction waste, bottom ash, gypsum, blast furnace and steel manufacture slags, and stone powder sludge, were evaluated. Various physicochemical and hydrodynamic properties of the industrial byproducts were investigated. The environmental safety was monitored using batch and long-term leaching tests as well. In addition, the flexibility of plants was observed by cultivating them in the industrial by-products. The results for physicochemical properties indicate that most of the materials considered appeared to be suitable for landfill cover. Particularly, the concentration levels of hazardous elements regulated by the Korean Law for Waste Management did not exceed the regulatory limits in all target materials. In addition, the concentrations of regulated elements for the Korean Soil Conservation Law were examined below the regulatory limits in most of materials considered, except for the stone powder sludge. The results of batch and long-term experiments showed bottom ash and construction waste were the most suitable materials for landfill cover among the industrial by-products considered. The results of plant studies indicate that the bottom ash among industrial by-products considered was most effective in developing vegetation on landfill site, showing fast germination and large growth index. At the final covering system made of mixture of soil and bottom ash, the optimum application rate of farmyard manure was observed to be 40-50 Mg/ha.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1066-1072
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on adipokines and inflammatory reaction in obesity and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) children. We studied obese (OG, n=9), type 1 diabetic (DG, n=9), and normal (NG, n=9) children groups. Measurement factors included body weight, % fat, body mass index (BMI), $VO_2max$, lipid profiles and adipokines. The results showed significant differences in body weight, % fat, BMI, and $VO_2max$ (ml/kg/min) among the OG, DG, and NG (p<0.05) groups. There were significant differences in LDL-C and HDL-C between the OG, DG, and NG groups (p<0.05). In addition, adiponectin and retinol binding protein (RBP)-4 were significantly changed in DG and NG after 12 weeks exercise training (p<0.05), and there were also significant differences among the OG, DG, and NG groups (p<0.05). Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 in the OG, DG, and NG groups was significantly increased after 12 weeks exercise training (p<0.05). In conclusion, regulatory aerobic exercise does not change body composition in obese children with T1DM, but exercise and decreased blood inflammatory factors in T1DM may protect obese children from metabolic syndrome.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.267-280
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• 2023

This study investigated the contents of Pb, Cd, As, and Hg for 4333 samples with 2 09 types of herbal medicines distributed in Seoul area from 2019 to 2021, and evaluated risk assessment according to medicinal part used and origin. The contents of heavy metals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and mercury analyzer. The average contents (mg/kg) of heavy metals by medicinal parts were 0.123 to 1.290 for Pb, 0.018 to 0.131 for Cd, 0.034 to 0.290 for As, and 0.003 to 0.015 for Hg. The contents of Pb were higher in Leaves and Whole Herbs (above-ground part) than underground part (Radix & Rhizoma) (ANOVA-test, p < 0.05). The contents of Cd were high in Leaves, Radix & Rhizoma, and Stems & Woods (ANOVA-test, p <0 .05), and exceeded regulatory limits in various types. Levels of Pb, Cd concentrations exceeding regulatory limits were observed in 8, 22 samples (8, 14 types). No sample exceeded regulatory limits of As and Hg. In the comparison between countries of origin, the contents of Cd, As, and Hg were high in imported herbal medicines (t-test, p < 0.05). As a result of the risk assessment, except for Thujae Orientalis Folium and Spirodelae Herba, the MOE values of Pb were all 1 or more, and most samples were safe. The Hazard Index (HI) for Cd, As, and Hg were evaluated to be less than 100 % even if the risk (%) of each heavy metal was added, and the risk from taking herbal medicines was evaluated to be safe.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.34-40
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• 2014

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to investigate the lipid and the antioxidant regulatory potential of a multigrain diet in laboratory animals with reference to lipid profiles, tissue lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status. Methods: Two types of diets, with or without addition of cholesterol, were used in the study - a commercial diet and a formulated multigrain diet (with Sorghum vulgare, Avena sativa, Pennisetum typhoideum, Oryza sativa, Eleusine coracana and Zea mays grains). After a 10-week period of feeding the diets to albino rats the plasma, liver and fecal lipid profiles and the hepatic and renal antioxidant status of the animals that were fed the commercial and the formulated diets (with and without cholesterol addition) were assessed. Results: The commercial diet supplemented with cholesterol elevated the levels of plasma total lipids, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), as well as the atherogenic index (AI). The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) content and the antioxidant profiles (total ascorbic acid, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase reduced glutathione) declined along with increases in lipid peroxidation. The formulated diet (with and without addition of cholesterol) was found to be more efficient than the commercial diet in controlling plasma, hepatic and fecal lipid profiles, as well as hepatic and renal lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status, than of the hypercholesteremic animals. Conclusion: The multigrain diet used in the present study is effective in countering the hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress caused by high cholesterol intake.