• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.81 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2018

Bronchodilator therapy is central to the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and are recommended as the preferred treatment by the Global Obstructive Lung Disease Initiative (GOLD). Long acting anti-muscarinics (LAMA) and long acting ${\beta}_2$ agonists (LABA) are both more effective than regular short-acting drugs but many patients remain symptomatic despite monotherapy with these drugs. Combination therapy with LAMA and LABA increases the therapeutic benefit while minimizing dose-dependent side effects of long-acting bronchodilator therapy. The TOviTO programme has investigated the benefits of treatment with a combination of tiotropium and olodaterol administered via a single inhaler. Tiotropium+olodaterol $5/5{\mu}g$ significantly improved forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) area under the curve from 0 to 3 hours, trough $FEV_1$ health status and breathlessness versus the mono-components and placebo. Tiotropium+olodaterol $5/5{\mu}g$ also increased endurance time and reduced dynamic hyperinflation during constant work rate cycle ergometry. On the basis of these and other studies the 2017 GOLD report recommends escalating to dual bronchodilator therapy in patients in groups B and C if they remain symptomatic or continue to have exacerbations and as initial therapy for patients in group D.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.121-127
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• 2004

The${\beta}$-glucosidases occur widely in all living organisms and has in general a tendency to form oligomers of varying numbers of subunits or aggregates, although the functional implications of such diverse oligomerization schemes remain unclear. In particular, the assembly mode of the oat ${\beta}$-glucosidase is very unique in that it multimerizes by linear stacking of a hexameric building block to form long fibrillar multimers. Some structural proteins such as actin and tubulin assemble into long fibrils in a helical fashion and several enzymes such as GroEL and Pyrodictium ATPase functional complexes, 20S proteasome of the archaebacterium Thermoplasma acidophilum, and lutamine synthetase fromblue-green algae, assemble into discrete oligomers upto 4 stacked rings to maintain their enzymatic activities. In particular, oat ${\beta}$-glucosidase exists in vivo as a discrete long fibrillar multimer assembly that is a novel structure for enzyme protein. It is assembled by linear stacking of hollow trimeric units. The fibril has a long central tunnel connecting to the outer medium via regularly distributed side fenestrations. The enzyme active sites are located within the central tunnel and multimerization increases enzyme affinity to the substrates and catalytic efficiency of the enzyme. Although it is suggested that oligomerization may contribute to the enzyme stability and catalytic efficiency of ${\beta}$-glycosidases, the functional implications of such diverse oligomerization schemes remain unclear so far.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.151-165
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• 2019

Background: Despite improvements in safety performance, the number and severity of mining-related injuries remain high and unacceptable, indicating that further reduction can be achieved. This study examines occupational accident statistics of the Ghanaian mining industry and identifies priority areas, warranting intervention measures and further investigations. Methods: A total of 202 fatal and nonfatal injury reports over a 10-year period were obtained from five mines and the Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission of Ghana, and they were analyzed. Results: Results of the analyses show that the involvement of mining equipment, the task being performed, the injury type, and the mechanism of injury remain as priorities. For instance, mining equipment was associated with 85% of all injuries and 90% of all fatalities, with mobile equipment, component/part, and hand tools being the leading equipment types. In addition, mechanics/repairmen, truck operators, and laborers were the most affected ones, and the most dangerous activities included maintenance, operating mobile equipment, and clean up/clearing. Conclusion: Results of this analysis will enable authorities of mines to develop targeted interventions to improve their safety performance. To improve the safety of the mines, further research and prevention efforts are recommended.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.48 no.11
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• pp.974-988
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• 2018

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are collectively called pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), have emerged as a promising source for regenerative medicine. Particularly, human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) have shown robust potential for regenerating injured heart. Over the past two decades, protocols to differentiate hPSCs into CMs at high efficiency have been developed, opening the door for clinical application. Studies further demonstrated therapeutic effects of hPSC-CMs in small and large animal models and the underlying mechanisms of cardiac repair. However, gaps remain in explanations of the therapeutic effects of engrafted hPSC-CMs. In addition, bioengineering technologies improved survival and therapeutic effects of hPSC-CMs in vivo. While most of the original concerns associated with the use of hPSCs have been addressed, several issues remain to be resolved such as immaturity of transplanted cells, lack of electrical integration leading to arrhythmogenic risk, and tumorigenicity. Cell therapy with hPSC-CMs has shown great potential for biological therapy of injured heart; however, more studies are needed to ensure the therapeutic effects, underlying mechanisms, and safety, before this technology can be applied clinically.

• Brain Tumor Research and Treatment
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.82-85
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• 2018

Extremely massive sellar xanthogranuloma (XG) are rare, and the surgical outcome and prognosis are not well known. XG remain unknown whether they are derived from Rathke's cleft cysts (RCCs) or craniopharyngiomas (CPs) following extensive inflammation and metaplasia, to the point that no epithelium is readily identifiable. These lesions usually tend to occur in younger patients (mean 28.3 years), have a smaller diameter, and remain primarily intrasellar region with infrequent calcification. This 36-year-old man presented our hospital with visual deterioration. At the time of visit, there were no neurological problems other than visual field defect and hormonal disorder. He visited our hospital in 2007 due to headache and decreased vision, and underwent transphenoid surgery for pituitary RCC. Since then, he has received treatment at our hospital for postoperative hormonal disorders. Through preoperative imaging study, the author suspected CP and underwent surgery. During the operation, the adhesion of the tumor to the surrounding major neurovascular structures was severe in the naked eyes, but the tumor could be removed more easily than expected. The postoperative histological findings were confirmed as XG. The postoperative course was uneventful. Compared to the previous literature, this case is a case where the size of XG is very large in a sellar region and it can be proved that it originated from the RCC. And regular follow-up is necessary to confirm the prognosis after surgery.

• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.40-60
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• 2020

Among Filipino entertainers in Japan, trans women (transgender women) or transpinay (Filipino trans woman) entertainers remain understudied compared to cisgender women. Though the number of entertainers has declined, transpinay entertainers remain relevant as transgender issues continue to be salient globally. This study explains the gendered experiences of the transpinay migrants, particularly in entertainment work and their relationships, which are different from cisgender Filipino women entertainers' experiences. Using grounded theory and drawing on concepts of performativity in interactions to analyze the narratives of transpinay entertainers, I delve into how transpinay entertainers negotiate their gender and migrant identities as they establish professional and personal relationships. Moreover, the transpinays' entertainment work is a significant contributing factor to their sense of belonging in Japan, as they form relationships with colleagues, clients, and partners who support them and, thereby, sustain their lifestyles as trans women. The transpinay entertainers' flows of migration between Japan and the Philippines reveal that they embrace various aspects of social remittances and use them to their advantage to create and enhance their transpinay identity in Japan. By examining the transpinays' migrant experiences, this study aims to elucidate the gendered experiences of transpinay entertainers, which involve significant negotiations in their migration pathways notably different from cisgender Filipino women entertainers, reveal resilience.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.9-16
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• 2020

This study focused on the Hwaho farm among Japanese farms that were at the center of rural exploitation during the Japanese colonial period. The contents of the study examined who Kumamoto, the owner of the farm, was, how he entered Chosun and Hwaho-ri, and how much land he owned. And what kind of buildings were in the Hwaho farm during the Japanese colonial period, how they were arranged, and how the space was organized according to the arrangement of buildings. Hwaho farm, the subject of the study, was the farm that managed the most land among Kumamoto's farms. Currently, farmer's housing, Japanese employee housing, warehouses, and medical examination centers remain. In addition to Kumamoto, other Japanese and related buildings remain throughout the town. However, in recent years, a number of houses of enemy property such as Daue House, Sowha Ryokan, and shops are being destroyed without any records or investigations, so this study aims to record academic records of houses of enemy property remaining in Hwaho-ri Village.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.65-82
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• 2021

For the vast majority of geostationary satellites currently in orbit, station keeping activities including orbit determination and maneuver planning and execution are ground-directed and dependent on the availability of ground-based satellite control personnel and facilities. However, a requirement linked to satellite autonomy and survivability in cases of interrupted ground support is often one of the stipulated provisions on the satellite platform design. It is especially important for a geostationary military-purposed satellite to remain within its designated orbital window, in order to provide reliable uninterrupted telecommunications services, in the absence of ground-based resources due to warfare or other disasters. In this paper we investigate factors affecting the robustness of a geostationary satellite's orbit in terms of the maximum duration the satellite's station keeping window can be maintained without ground intervention. By comparing simulations of orbit evolution, given different initial conditions and operations strategies, a variation of parameters study has been performed and we have analyzed which factors the duration is most sensitive to. This also provides valuable insights into which factors may be worth controlling by a military or civilian geostationary satellite operator. Our simulations show that the most beneficial factor for maximizing the time a satellite will remain in the station keeping window is the operational practice of pre-emptively loading East-West station keeping maneuvers for automatic execution on board the satellite should ground control capability be lost. The second most beneficial factor is using short station keeping maneuver cycle durations.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.125-129
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• 2022

Sialolithiasis is a condition in which the salivary gland excretory duct is obstructed due to the formation of calcareous deposits and is uncommon in children compared to adults. The treatment modalities range from a conservative approach involving hydration to a surgical approach. Though several studies have analyzed the sialolith micromorphology structures, studies on pediatric sialoliths remain scarce. This brief communication aims to describe the sialolith micromorphology to understand the mechanism of mineralization and growth of pediatric sialoliths. A 6-year-old Korean female presented with swelling under her tongue. The intraoral examination revealed a painless yellowish hard mass beneath the tongue near the Wharton's duct which was suspected as a sialolith. After receiving the informed consent, the sialolithotomy was performed under local anesthesia. The obtained stone was analyzed through histopathology and transmission electron microscope examinations to understand the mechanism of mineralization and growth of pediatric sialolith. The micromorphology and growth processes of pediatric sialolith remain undescribed. More comprehensive microscopic studies are needed regarding their distinctive characteristics. By expanding knowledge about sialoliths micromorphology, development of new preventive, diagnostic and patient-tailored treatment methods of pediatric sialolithiasis will be enhanced.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.5-18
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• 2017

Purpose - Although literature has established the relevance of entrepreneurial orientation(EO) in the performance of conventional firms, the constraining nature of franchise arrangement makes one wonders if the same relationship holds for companies operating under the business model. Research design, data, and methodology - Using Nigeria - a country with high potential for franchise growth - as a context, this study aims to explore the relevant entrepreneurial orientation skills exhibited by franchisees and show the extent to which these skills influence their business performance and intention to remain. 26 franchisees purposively selected from six local franchise brands in Nigeria were interviewed. Result and Conclusions - The three classic entrepreneurial orientation factors of innovativeness, proactiveness and risk-taking were found to have varying influence on franchisees' business outcomes. This study answers the calls for more in-depth understanding of the relationship between EO and firm performance generally and, franchise firm performance in particular. The value of this effort lies in the fact that it strengthens theory and updates literature on the subject. Based on the findings, specific recommendations are offered to help improve the practice of franchising in Nigeria.