• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.35-47
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• 2023

Deformability of road pavements in the form of ruts represent a safety risk for road users. In the procedures for dimensioning the pavement structure, the requirement that such deformations do not occur is imperatively included, which results in the appropriate selection of elements (material, geometry) of the pavement structure. Deformability and functionality, will depend of the correct design of pavement structure during exploitation period. Nevertheless, there are many examples where deformations are observed on the pavement structure, in the form of rutting at parts of the road with relatively short length, realised in the same climatic and the same geoenvironmental conditions. The performed analysis of deformability led to the conclusion that the level of deformation is a function of the speed of traffic. This effect is observed on city roads, but also outside of urban areas at roads with speed limits are significant, due to the traffic management, traffic jams (intersections, etc.). Still, the lower speed cause greater deformations. The authors tried to describe the deformability of flexible pavement structures, from the aspects of geotechnical problems, as a function of driving speed. Outcome of the analysis is a traffic load correction coefficient, in terms of using the existing methods of flexible pavement structures design.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.231-246
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• 2023

Purpose - This study attempts to provide a new theoretical perspective on the quality signaling and its impact on a market under information asymmetry, focusing on how the accuracy and the cost of quality signaling affect sellers' and buyers' profit, suggesting appropriate designs of quality signaling methods which mitigates information asymmetry. Design/methodology/approach - In order to examine the effect of quality signaling on strategic interactions within the market, we establish an analytic model where market outcomes are determined by seller's quality claim and price, and buyers are risk-neutral. By investigating this analytic model through relevant game trees, we find the subgame perfect Nash equilibria of the market and predict related market outcomes based on sellers' quality signaling strategy. Findings - Our analytic model shows counterintuitive results that seller profit will be the lowest with inaccurate quality signaling and the highest with no quality signaling, mostly due to the certification cost. Consequently, sellers should proceed with caution if the quality signaling is less than accurate, as it may backfire. We believe that this is due to the fact that the inaccuracy of quality signaling causes some confusion and uncertainty in both sellers and buyers' decision to maximize profit, making it hard for sellers to predict buyers' behavior. Research implications or Originality - Although the sources and types of quality signaling errors have been investigated in the literature, there has not been satisfactory understanding regarding how inaccuracy of quality certification affects specific market outcomes. We expect that our theoretical model would provide important implications on how to utilize quality signaling to solve adverse selection issues in markets under information asymmetry.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.1426-1434
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• 2023

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Debaryomyces hansenii isolated from dry-aged beef on the tenderness and flavor attributes of low-grade beef during dry aging. Methods: Five D. hansenii strains were isolated from dry-aged beef samples. The rump of low-grade beef was inoculated with individual D. hansenii isolates and subjected to dry aging for 4 weeks at 5℃ and 75% relative humidity. Microbial contamination levels, meat quality attributes, and flavor attributes in the dry-aged beef were measured. Results: Of the five isolates, the shear force of dry-aged beef inoculated with SMFM201812-3 and SMFM201905-5 was lower than that of control samples. Meanwhile, all five isolates increased the total free amino acid, glutamic acid, serine, glycine, alanine, and leucine contents in dry-aged beef. In particular, the total fatty acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acid contents in samples inoculated with D. hansenii SMFM201905-5 were higher than those in control samples. Conclusion: These results indicate that D. hansenii SMFM201905-5 might be used to improve the quality of beef during dry aging.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.218-222
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• 2023

A holistic approach to diabetes considers patient preferences, emotional health, living conditions, and other contextual factors, in addition to medication selection. Human and social factors influence treatment adherence and clinical outcomes. Social issues, cost of care, out-of-pocket expenses, pill burden (number and frequency), and injectable drugs such as insulin, can affect adherence. Clinicians can ask about these contextual factors when discussing treatment options with patients. Patients' emotional health can also affect diabetes self-care. Social stressors such as family issues may impair self-care behaviors. Diabetes can also lead to emotional stress. Diabetes distress correlates with worse glycemic control and lower overall well-being. Patient-centered communication can build the foundation of a trusting relationship with the clinician. Respect for patient preferences and fears can build trust. Relevant communication skills include asking open-ended questions, expressing empathy, active listening, and exploring the patient's perspective. Glycemic goals must be personalized based on frailty, the risk of hypoglycemia, and healthy life expectancy. Lifestyle counseling requires a nonjudgmental approach and tactfulness. The art of diabetes care rests on clinicians perceiving a patient's emotional state. Tailoring the level of advice and diabetes targets based on a patient's personal and contextual factors requires mindfulness by clinicians.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2022.05a
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• pp.140-140
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• 2022

Recently an accurate quantification of streamflow under various climatological and anthropogenic factors and separation of their relative contribution remains challenging, because variation in streamflow may result in hydrological disasters. In this study, we evaluated the factors responsible for variation in streamflow in Korean watersheds, quantified separately their contribution using different Budyko-based functions, and identified hydrological breakpoint points. After detecting that the hydrological break point in 1995 and time series were divided into natural period (1966-1995), and disturbed period (1996-2014). During the natural period variation in climate tended to increase change in streamflow. However, in the disturbed period both climate variation and anthropogenic activities tended to increase streamflow variation in the watershed. Subsequently, the findings acquired from different Budyko-based functions were observed sensitive to selection of function. The variation in streamflow was observed in the response of change in climatic parameters ranging 46 to 75% (average 60%). The effects of anthropogenic activities were observed less compared to climate variation accounts 25 to 54% (average 40%). Furthermore, the relative contribution was observed to be sensitive corresponding to Budyko-based functions utilized. Moreover, relative impacts of both factors have capability to enhance uncertainty in the management of water resources. Thus, this knowledge would be essential for the implementation of water management spatial and temporal scale to reduce the risk of hydrological disasters in the watershed.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.247-253
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• 2023

Revolutionary advancements, such as the reduction in DNA sequencing costs and genome editing, have transformed biotechnology, fostering progress in manipulating biomolecules, engineering cells, and computational biology. Agriculture and food production have significantly benefited from tools like high-throughput microarrays, accelerating the selection of desired traits. Genetic engineering, especially utilizing genome editing, facilitates precise alterations in plants and animals, harnessing microbiomes and fostering lab-grown meat production to alleviate environmental pressures. The emergence of new biotechnologies, notably genome editing, underscores the necessity for regulatory frameworks governing LM (living modified) organisms. Global regulations overseeing genetically engineered or genome-edited (GE) organisms, encompassing animals, exhibit considerable diversity. Nonetheless, prevailing international regulatory trends typically exclude genomeedited plants and animals, employing novel biotechnological techniques, from GMO/ LMO classification if they lack foreign genes and originate through natural mutations or traditional breeding programs. This comprehensive review scrutinizes ongoing risk and safety assessment cases, such as genome-edited beef cattle and fish in the USA and Japan. Furthermore, it investigates the limitations of existing regulations related to genome editing in Korea and evaluates newly proposed legislation, offering insights into the future trajectory of regulatory frameworks.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.87 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 2024

Background: Tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) and parapneumonic effusion (PPE) are often difficult to differentiate owing to the overlapping clinical features. Observational studies demonstrate that the ratio of lactate dehydrogenase to adenosine deaminase (LDH/ADA) is lower in TPE compared to PPE, but integrated analysis is warranted. Methods: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the LDH/ADA ratio in differentiating TPE and PPE. We explored the PubMed and Scopus databases for studies evaluating the LDH/ADA ratio in differentiating TPE and PPE. Results: From a yield of 110 studies, five were included for systematic review. The cutoff value for the LDH/ADA ratio in TPE ranged from <14.2 to <25. The studies demonstrated high heterogeneity, precluding meta-analysis. Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies Tool 2 assessment revealed a high risk of bias in terms of patient selection and index test. Conclusion: LDH/ADA ratio is a potentially useful parameter to differentiate between TPE and PPE. Based on the limited data, we recommend an LDH/ADA ratio cutoff value of <15 in differentiating TPE and PPE. However, more rigorous studies are needed to further validate this recommendation.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.111-118
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• 2023

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 103 recommends a cost-benefit analysis method as an auxiliary tool for scientific and rational decision-making for the principle of optimization of radiological protection. In order to conduct a cost-benefit analysis, the safety improvement of nuclear power by regulation must be measured and converted into monetary terms. The improvement of nuclear safety can be measured by reducing the radiation exposure dose of the people, and it is necessary to determine the coefficient to convert the radiation exposure dose into money. The monetary coefficient is calculated as the product of the statistical life value (VSL) and the nominal risk coefficient. In order to derive the monetary coefficient, the willingness to pay (WTP) can be estimated using the contingent valuation method (CVM), which quantifies the value of non-market goods by converting them into monetary units. WTP can be estimated based on the random utility model, which is the basic model for bivariate selection type conditional value measurement data. Statistical life value can be calculated using the estimated WTP and reduction in early mortality, and a monetary coefficient can be derived.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.240-249
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• 2024

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate various research that have examined dynamic knee valgus and to pinpoint a straightforward, clinically practical 2D assessment method for dynamic knee valgus that is user-friendly. Design: A literature review Methods: This literature review was conducted in Pubmed, MEDLINE^® and Google Scholar with the following key words: Knee valgus angle, Knee valgus evaluation, Knee valgus assessment, Dynamic knee valgus. After removing duplicate studies, 53 articles were initially chosen using this method, with 17 studies ultimately meeting the selection criteria. Results: Based on the comprehensive review of various studies, the Single Leg Squat (SLS) was identified as the most popular test method, followed by the Single Leg Landing (SLL) as the next most common test method. The Frontal Plane Projection Angle (FPPA) method was the most representative method for measuring dynamic knee valgus (DKV) during these tests. SLS was found in a total of 10 studies, while SLL was found in 7 studies. Conclusions: The most commonly proposed test for assessing DKV is measuring the SLS using the FPPA method. However, when applied to individuals without knee pathology, the discriminative power of this method may be limited. This suggests the need for further research to explore alternative methods for assessing DKV in this population.

• Hip & pelvis
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2024

Intraoperative acetabular fractures (IAFs), a complication seldomly encountered in total hip arthroplasty, are typically a result of the impact of insertion of a cementless press-fit cup. Factors that contribute to the risk of these types of fractures include poor bone quality, highly sclerotic bone, and the use of a press-fit cup that is excessively large. The approach to management of these fractures is dependent on when they are identified. Immediate stabilization measures should be implemented for management of fractures detected during surgery. When fractures are detected postoperatively, the decision regarding conservative treatment is dependent on the stability of the implant and the specific fracture pattern. In the majority of cases, effective treatment of an acetabular fracture detected intraoperatively can be administered using a multi-hole revision cup along with anchoring screws in the various regions of the acetabulum. Selection of plate osteosynthesis of the posterior column is recommended when there is a large posterior wall fragment or pelvic discontinuity. In cases where anatomical dimensions allow, cup-cage reconstruction may offer a promising alternative to a combined hip procedure. The number of reports addressing the management of IAFs is limited. This review focuses on outlining the strategies that are currently available for management of this seldomly encountered complication.