• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.2547-2554
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• 2014

Background: To evaluate the perception of cancer patients toward treatment services and influencing factors and to inquire about the use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM). Materials and Methods: Information was obtained through pre-tested structured questionnaires completed by cancer patients during treatment at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Results: Of 242 patients, 137 (64.6%) accepted to enter this study. Most were Saudi (n=93, 68%), female (n=80, 58%), educated at university (n=71, 52%), married (n=97, 72%) and with breast cancer (n=36, 26%). One-hundred (73%) patients were satisfied with the services provided; 61% were Saudi. Ninety-four (68%) respondents were satisfied with the explanation of their cancer. Twenty-eight (21.6%) patients received CAM, of them 54.0% received herbal followed by rakia (21.0%), nutritional supplements/vitamins (7.0%) and Zamam water (18.0%), with significant differences among them (p =0.004). Seven (5%) patients believed this therapy could be used alone; 34 (25%) patients believed it could be used with other treatments, regardless of whether they themselves used this therapy. Fifty-three (53%) satisfied patients felt they received enough support; 31 (58%) patients received support from family and friends; 22 (41.6%) patients received support from the health-care team. Patients who received information about their disease from their physicians and those who felt they had enough support were more satisfied. The patients who took alternative treatment were older age, mostly female and highly educated but values did not reach significance. Conclusions: We stress enhancing the educational and supportive aspects of cancer-patient services to improve their treatment satisfaction and emphasize the need for increasing the educational and awareness programs offered to these patients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제30권5호
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• pp.749-754
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• 2017

Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of farrowing month (FM), parity and sex on the growth performance of Berkshire swine raised in alternative production systems. Methods: A total of 40 farrowing records from 27 sows and 1,258 body weight (BW) records from 274 piglets collected over a two-year period were used for the analysis. The BWs were recorded at birth, weaning (28 d), 56, 84, 112, and 140 days. Any BW not recorded on schedule was recalculated to conform the days of age among corresponding BW records, using growth curves drawn with polynomial functions whose power was determined by the number of existing observations for each individual. Results: The mean parity (${\pm}$standard deviation) of the sows was $3.42{\pm}2.14$. The sows that farrowed in June had the lowest number of total born with an average of $6.25{\pm}2.22$ piglets per sow. However, the lowest average number of piglets weaned at day 28 was found in sows that farrowed in May, as well as the highest number recorded for the stillborn piglets with an average of 2.67 piglets per sow. Moreover, the smallest increase in weight from birth to weaning occurred in piglets that were farrowed in May, which also corresponds with the average daily gain (ADG) of 0.29 kg and the last recorded weight measurement on day 140 of $41.69{\pm}1.45kg$. Contrastingly, the highest growth rate was found among pigs farrowed in June, with the largest increase in weight of 7.55 kg from birth to weaning, the highest ADG of 0.51 kg from birth to 140 day of age and the highest BW of $74.70{\pm}1.86kg$ recorded on day 140. Conclusion: Pigs farrowed in June also had the least number of piglets that died between birth and weaning. The zone of thermal comfort found in sows reared in indoor confinement systems did not improve the reproductive performance of the sows reared in an outdoor, alternative production system, while the growth performance of the piglets was improved when the ambient temperature was consistently hot or consistently cold.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.107-115
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• 2015

The study targeted Japanese employees who have visited hospital for spinal disorder. The study analyzed work environment and pain relief methods of work-related back pain patients, and the relationship between back pain and other body parts. The purpose of this study was to provide draw up measures for patients with back pain and to provide basic data for the sustainable prevention program. The study result of back pain, in other words, employees suffering from lumbago, had disparity between occupations; the highest number of patients were made up of 16-years or above long-serving employees, and below 5-years of short-serving employees. There were more patients complaining of chronic lumbago than acute lumbago, and patients recognized poor posture as the primary cause of lumbago. Furthermore, 99.5% of spinal disorder patients complain back pain, 23.2% use only alternative therapy, and 15.2% visit clinic and hospital with alternative therapy. Patients showed pain reduction and high satisfaction after using alternative therapy. The study targeted Japanese employees where complement therapy is more generalized than that of Korea, and thus there should be multilateral management programs provided in Korea as well.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.217-226
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• 2022

Background: Intraosseous anesthesia is the process by which an anesthetic solution, after penetration of the cortical bone, is directly injected into the spongiosa of the alveolar bone supporting the tooth. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the traditional inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) and computerized intraosseous anesthesia in the surgical extraction of impacted lower third molars, compare their side effects systemically by monitoring heart rate, and assess patients' a posteriori preference of one technique over the other. Methods: Thirty-nine patients with bilaterally impacted third molars participated in this study. Each patient in the sample was both a case and control, where the conventional technique was randomly assigned to one side (group 1) and the alternative method to the contralateral side (group 2). Results: The traditional technique was faster in execution than anesthesia delivered via electronic syringe, which took 3 min to be administered. However, it was necessary to wait for an average of 6 ± 4 min from the execution to achieve the onset of IANB, while the latency of intraosseous anesthesia was zero. Vincent's sign and lingual nerve anesthesia occurred in 100% of cases in group 1. In group 2, Vincent's sign was recorded in 13% of cases and lingual anesthesia in four cases. The average duration of the perceived anesthetic effect was 192 ± 68 min in group 1 and 127 ± 75 min in group 2 (P < 0.001). The difference between the heart rate of group 1 and group 2 was statistically significant. During infiltration in group 1, heartbeat frequency increased by 5 ± 13 beats per minute, while in group 2, it increased by 22 ± 10 beats per minute (P < 0.001). No postoperative complications were reported for either technique. Patients showed a preference of 67% for the alternative technique and 20% for the traditional, and 13% of patients were indifferent. Conclusion: The results identified intraosseous anesthesia as a valid alternative to conventional anesthesia in impacted lower third molar extraction.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.55-64
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• 2010

This study tried to focus on nontraditional job that has not been studied in terms of the subjects associated with MSDs(Musculoskeletal Disorders). Specifically, dental procedure was the job to be analyzed in this study. An alternative method as well as a traditional method for viewing teeth while performing simulated dental procedures. Four graduated students did both methods(direct view and indirect view) as the subjects in this study. The method based on indirect view used a video camera and monitor to view the teeth. The experiment was conducted five times for each subject. The major findings in this study were as follows; 1) Job speed was increased with the repetitions for both methods, 2) Difference of Neck flexion between direct and indirect methods was statistically siginificant(Neck flexion for indirect method was dramatically decreased), 3) Difference of job speed between direct and indirect methods was statistically significant(Job speed for direct method was faster than that of indirect method), 4) Difference of error rate between direct and indirect methods was statistically significant(error rate for direct method was lower than that of indirect method), 5) Even though indirect method did not provide better performance in terms of job speed and error rate yet, it seemed to need a trade-off between two methods in the future since indirect method provided better working postures than that of direct method.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• 제43권2호
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• pp.128-137
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was designed to elucidate the energy-utilization patterns for five methods of robo production. Methods: Robo (fried melon cake) was produced using five different methods, and the energy used for each unit operation was calculated using standard equations. The sensory attributes of the products were determined by panelists. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and analysis of variance at p < 0.05. Results: The energy demands for processing 2.84 kg of melon seed into robo (fried melon cake) using processes 1 (traditional method), 2, 3, 4, and 5 (improved methods) were 50,599.5, 21,793.6, 20,379.7, 21,842.9, and 20,429.3 kJ, respectively. These are equivalent to energy intensities of 1,7816.7, 7,673.8, 7,175.9, 7,691.2, and 7,193.4 kJ/kg, respectively. For the traditional process, the frying operation consumed the highest energy (21,412.0 kJ), and the mixing operation consumed the lowest energy (675.0 kJ). For the semi-mechanized processes, the molding operation consumed the highest energy (6,120.0 kJ), and the dry milling consumed the lowest energy (14.4 kJ). Conclusions: The energy-consumption patterns were functions of the type of unit operation, the technology involved in the operations, and the size of the equipment used in the whole processing operation. Robo produced via the milling of dried melon seed before oil expression was rated highest with regard to the aroma and taste quality, as well as the overall acceptability of the sensory evaluation, and required the lowest energy consumption. Full mechanization of the process line has potential for further reduction of the energy demand.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권12호
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• pp.4971-4975
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• 2015

Background: Several methods have been presented for the evaluation of the endometrium in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding, which include minimal invasive and invasive approaches such as diagnostic curettage or endometrial biopsy by Pipelle. Many studies have been performed in order to compare two methods; diagnostic curettage and outpatient endometrial biopsy. This investigation compared sampling adequacy, endometrial histopathology, failure rates, duration and costs between diagnostic curettage in a hospital and endometrial biopsy. Materials and Methods: This single blind clinical trial was performed on 130 patients older than 35 years who was referred to Amir training hospital in 2013 for elective diagnostic curettage because of abnormal uterine bleeding. For all patients eligible for the study, an endometrial sample by Pipelle was taken without anesthesia or dilatation. Then under general anesthesia diagnostic curettage was performed by sharp curette. Sampling duration was calculated and both samples were sent to the same pathologist. The diagnostic values of two methods in the diagnosis of normal endometrium, endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma were compared. The costs of these two methods were also compared. Data analysis was performed by SPSS (version 16.0) software. Chi-Square, Fisher, and Pearson tests were used and were considered statistically significant at P values less than 0.05. Results: Two methods were agreed upon 88% of sampling adequacy and 94% of pathological results. Specificity of 100% and sensitivity of 90% for detection of proliferative endometrium, secretory endometrium, simple hyperplasia without atypia and 100% for cancer were recorded. Pipelle diagnostic accuracy in comparison with curettage, have been reported over 97%, so the failure rate in this study was below 5%. Sensitivity of Pipelle for detection of atrophic endometrium was reported below 50%. Duration and cost was lower in Pipelle versus curettage. Conclusions: It is concluded that due to high agreement and cohesion coefficient between curettage and Pipelle on the issue of sampling adequacy, histopathology finding (except atrophic endometrium), low failure rate, duration of sampling and cost, Pipelle can be introduced as a suitable alternative of diagnostic curettage.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.3-26
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• 2002

The purpose of this paper is to Investigate the productive efficiency and competitive strength of world container ports using the DEA, Super-efficiency, and FDH methods with the raw data from previous research by Jun et al.(1993). The super-efficiency measure examines the maximal radial change In input, outputs for an observation to remain efficient. Therefore, it provides a means of distinguishing between efficient observations, which would otherwise seem identical. FDH provides a good test mechanism for examining the practical implications of the choice available among alternative efficiency measures and orientations, because of the lack of convexity of its production possibility set. Both methods are complementary to DEA. This paper follows the traditional productivity analysis method overcoming the limitation of previous studies by using the DEA, FDH and Super-efficiency methods, and proposing in measure the relative competitive strength of worldwide container ports. The main empirical results of this paper are as follows: Firstly the ports of Singapore, Hongkong, Kilrung, Busan, Tokyo. and Longbeach were found to be efficient In the CCR model. The ports of Felixstowe, Bangkok, Singapore, Hongkong, Kilung, Busan, Tokyo, and Longbeach were found to be efficient in the BCC model. Secondly, super. efficiency rankings under CRS and input-oriented model are as follows: Longbeach, Keelung, Singapore, Busan, Tokyo, and Honkong. However, it was difficult In differenciate the rankings under the VRS and input-oriented model. due to major difficulties posed by the ports of Singapore, Hongkong, and Longbeach. Thirdly, the FDH method shows that the inefficient ports are Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Le Havre, Kobe, Seattle, New York The policy Implications of this study are as follows: Firstly, when port authorities want to measure the international competitive strength of container ports and enhance their productive efficiency, they should consider the traditional method as well as introducing the Super-efficiency and FDH methods. Secondly, according to the analysis results of the super-efficiency and FDH methods, poll authorities should recommend benchmarks ports and dominated ports as reference ports in order to enhance the productive efficiency of their container ports that have an efficiency rating of less than 1. Efficient ports whose efficiency ratings are over 1 in the Input-oriented Super-efficiency model should also consider the usage of input and output elements used by more efficient ports.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.17-38
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to suggest new methods for evaluating the benefits of a preliminary feasibility study for port construction. For this purpose, this study analyzes the problem of barge loading and unloading systems, and suggests new methods such as using neighboring same kinds of ports first. The study also estimates the benefits for ports that have been evaluated by the existing theory, using the newly suggested methods. The result suggests that there is a possibility to reduce the level of economic feasibility for both general and container-exclusive ports by applying the newly suggested methods.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.99-108
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• 2003

Recently, the construction companies are forced to cut down the investment amount due to increasing financial problems caused by severe recession and restructuring in the financial market as well as the long-term depression of the construction industry. To overcome this type of problems, a great many efforts have been made. An alternative may be adopting the advanced financing methods. However, during the course of enforcing process of the financing methods, many problems are revealed without any proper solutions being proposed. Therefore, the fundamental problems need to be solved through comprehensive and systematic approach under the changing environment of construction financing. In this paper, as a result of reviewing some financing methods such as ABS, REITS, and Project Financing, multiple business strategies for construction companies to cope with the changing construction market are found in the sense of effectiveness in implementing construction projects. Further, this paper presents diversified financing methods for the effective practice of construction projects through combination of above mentioned methods, and also proposes improvement plans to strengthen the financing function for the construction industry.