• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.306-309
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• 2022

Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits onto the host when administered at adequate doses. Most widely used probiotics, such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, are known to be elements of healthy gut microflora and hence are not considered a threat to the host. However, probiotics may pose a risk in certain populations with compromised immune systems or defects in gut barrier functions. Herein, we evaluated the safety of Bifidobacterium breve BB077, according to the safety evaluation guidelines for probiotics produced by the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS). The results show that B. breve BB077 is both non-hemolytic and non-cytolytic. In contrast, B. breve BB077 exhibited higher streptomycin and tetracycline resistance than the suggested NIFDS standard cut-off values. Hence, a genetic analysis of the streptomycin and tetracycline resistance genes was performed to determine the origin of antimicrobial resistance. Streptomycin and tetracycline resistance was shown have arisen from chromosomal mutations and considered intrinsic to the taxonomic group. In conclusion, the B. breve BB077 strain might be safe for human consumption.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4847-4851
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• 2013

Objectives: To evaluate accuracy of FDG-PET CT in prediction of persistent disease in head and neck cancer cases and to determine prognostic value of metabolic tumor response. Materials and Methods: Between 2009 and 2011, 46 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck receiving PET-CT were treated with definitive radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy. There were 29 nasopharyngeal, 11 hypopharyngeal, 3 oropharyngeal and 3 laryngeal cancer patients, with a median age of 50.5 years (range 16-84), 32 males and 14 females. All patients were evaluated with PET-CT median 3-5 months (2.4-9.4) after completion of radiotherapy. Results: After a median 20 months of follow up, complete metabolic response was observed in 63% of patients. Suspicious residual uptake was present in 10.9% and residual metabolic uptake in 26.0% of patients. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of FDG-PET-CT for detection of residual disease was 91% and 81%, 64% and 96% respectively. Two year LRC was 95% in complete responders while it was 34% in non-complete responders. Conclusions: FDG PET CT is a valuable tool for assessment of treatment response, especially in patients at high risk of local recurrence, and also as an indicator of prognosis. Definitely more precise criteria are required for assessment of response, there being no clear cut uptake value indicating residual disease. Futhermore, repair processes of normal tissue may consume glucose which appear as increased uptake in control FDG PET CT.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.188-207
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• 2014

The purpose of this research was to examine the extent of deontological (values) and teleological evaluation (considering consequences) used in arriving at an ethical judgment concerning intention to purchase a fashion counterfeit. In addition, the effect of psychographic (attitudes toward counterfeiting, risk taking, self-image, value consciousness, public self-consciousness, and materialism) and product attributes (perceived fashion content, physical appearance, and image) on intention to purchase a counterfeit product were investigated. Two alternatives and possible consequences as well as the scenario were given to the participants. The first alternative is persuading a friend not to buy a counterfeit and the second alternative is purchasing a counterfeit product with a friend. Participants (n = 245) were undergraduate volunteers enrolled in courses at a Midwestern university. Data were analyzed using confirmatory factory analysis and structural equation modeling. The proposed structural models fit the data adequately in both alternatives, and all paths were significant. Participants followed the decision making steps outlined by Hunt and Vitell (1986) in both alternatives. Personal characteristics exerted no influence on behavioral intentions concerning counterfeits. Two product-related characteristics (i.e., physical appearance of a counterfeit and projected image of a counterfeit) had direct effects on the behavioral intentions. The conclusions of this research are helpful in improving our understanding of variables that influence consumers' purchasing counterfeit luxury products.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2017

This is a comparative study on the characteristics of excavated soils, which is proceeded using soil strength parameter by literature, geotechnical investigation, standard penetration test by drilling, and downhole test by borehole at six sites in urban areas. The results of these site surveys are used as basic data for the evaluation and development of prediction of ground subsidence risk. Geotechnical properties are estimated with the result of standard penetration test-N value and literature. The dynamic geotechnical characteristics are also estimated with top-down seismic exploration at borehole.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.277-288
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• 2022

'Eve 58-1', the subject of this study is a statue made of plaster and its structural stability was evaluated by utilizing the CAE program in order to prevent the risk of damage arising from impact and vibration that are generated during the packaging and transportation process given its material characteristics. CAE is an abbreviation for Computer Applied Engineering for realization by predicting changes at the time of application of virtual physical energy. It is applied by reflecting the physical property conditions and each boundary condition of plaster, and the digital images of the internal and external structure of the work were acquired through 3D scanning and CT analysis for interpretation by executing finite element modeling. When acceleration is applied to the work in the direction of its own weight, the left-right side and the front-rear side, it was possible to confirm a maximum displacement value of 15.24 mm in the head section of the front-rear side direction that has been tilted by approximately 27° from the Y-axis and the largest stress value of 12.46 MPa was at the left ankle section. The corresponding results confirmed that the left ankle section is the most vulnerable area and the section for which precautions need to be exercised and supplemented at the time of transporting the work by means of objective values.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness(ASFT) and maternal gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM) measured by ultrasound at period of pregnancy. We compared maternal age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, and weight gain during pregnancy in 286 pregnant women who were diagnosed with early pregnancy ASFT and high GDM screening test(50 g OGTT) of more than 140 mg/dL. ROC curve analysis was used to determine the cut-off value of ASFT for GDM prediction. Maternal age and weight gain during pregnancy were not related to GDM in the mid-trimester and pre-pregnancy body mass index and earely pregnancy ASFT were significantly different between normal and GDM high risk groups. The cut-off value of ASFT for GDM prediction was 2.23 cm(AUC 0.913. Sensitivity 76.19%, Specificity 93.72%). ASFT measured by ultrasound in early pregnancy was useful as an important index for predicting mid-trimester GDM prediction. Therefore, ASFT can be used as an auxiliary diagnostic index for early recognition of GDM.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 2018

This study was conducted to analyze the microbiological contamination status of raw beef distributed in Korea, and evaluate the suitability of current aerobic plate count (APC) guidelines. We analyzed five years (2010-2014) of microbiological monitoring data obtained from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and investigated the microbiological status of raw beef collected from meat packing centers and meat shops in the Seoul/Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and Chungcheong regions in August 2015. From 2010-2014, most raw beef (>94%) displayed APC levels of < $1.0{\times}10^6CFU/g$. However, raw beef samples collected from all three regions in August 2015 had comparatively higher APC levels than those reported in previous years. To evaluate the relationship between the APC level and quality, changes in beef loin were evaluated during cold storage for 15 days at $4^{\circ}C$. On day 11, the mean APC level ($4.7{\times}10^6CFU/g$) conformed to current guidelines in Korea ($1.0{\times}10^7CFU/g$) and the pH value was 5.82. However, the sensory evaluation score for color and overall acceptability was under 3.0, meaning that the beef loin was not acceptable for eating. These results suggest that current APC guideline for raw beef should be lowered to $1.0{\times}10^6CFU/g$ to improve both the microbiological safety and palatability of raw beef.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.791-802
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• 2020

Theoredoxin (TRX) transgenic soybeans were developed using the human Theoredoxin gene under the control of the ��-conglycinin promoter with a selection marker, the phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) gene. This study was done to assess the acute toxicity of a genetically modified (GM) soybean using the fresh water planktonic crustacean Daphnia magna. The acute toxicity effect of the TRX soybean and non-GM soybean (Gwangan) on D. magna was investigated at different concentrations (0, 156, 313, 625, 1,250, 2,500, and 5,000 mg·L-1). The TRX soybean used for the test was confirmed to express the TRX/PAT genes by PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). D. magna feeding tests showed no significant differences in the cumulative immobility or an abnormal response with either the TRX soybean or non-GM soybean. The feeding study showed a similar abnormal response and cumulative immobility of the D. magna between the TRX soybean and Gwangan treatments. Additionally, the 48 h-EC50 values for the TRX and Gwangan soybeans were 755.6 and 778 mg·L-1, respectively. The soybean NOEC (no observed effect concentration) value for D. magna was suggested to be 156 mg·L-1. These results suggest that there is no significant difference in toxicity to Daphnia magna between the TRX soybean and its non-GM counterpart.

• The Journal of Korean Society for Radiation Therapy
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• v.33
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• pp.89-97
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare and evaluate the dose change according to the gas volume variations in the rectum, which was not included in the treatment plan during radiation therapy for cervical cancer. Materials and methods: Static Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (S-IMRT) using a 9-field and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) using 2 full-arcs were established with treatment planning system on Computed Tomography images of a human phantom. Random gas parameters were included in the Planning Target Volume(PTV) with a maximum change of 2.0 cm in increments of 0.5 cm. Then, the Conformity Index (CI), Homogeneity Index (HI) and PTV D_max for the target volume were calculated, and the minimum dose (D_min), mean dose (D_mean) and Maximum Dose (D_max) were calculated and compared for OAR(organs at risk). For statistical analysis, T-test was performed to obtain a p-value, where the significance level was set to 0.05. Result: The HI coefficients of determination(R²) of S-IMRT and VMAT were 0.9423 and 0.8223, respectively, indicating a relatively clear correlation, and PTV D_max was found to increase up to 2.8% as the volume of a given gas parameter increased. In case of OAR evaluation, the dose in the bladder did not change with gas volume while a significant dose difference of more than D_mean 700 cGy was confirmed in rectum using both treatment plans at gas volumes of 1.0 cm or more. In all values except for D_mean of bladder, p-value was less than 0.05, confirming a statistically significant difference. Conclusion: In the case of gas generation not considered in the reference treatment plan, as the amount of gas increased, the dose difference at PTV and the dose delivered to the rectum increased. Therefore, during radiation therapy, it is necessary to make efforts to minimize the dose transmission error caused by a large amount of gas volumes in the rectum. Further studies will be necessary to evaluate dose transmission by not only varying the gas volume but also where the gas was located in the treatment field.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.863-866
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• 2016

Background: Extensive efforts have been made to investigate c-KIT expression in lung cancer specimens and its correlation with clinical outcomes, but the issue remains unresolved. Thus, this study will be conducted to clarify the prognostic value of c-KIT expression in lung cancer patients. Materials and Methods: We will search Pubmed, SCOPUS, and ISI web of sciences with no restriction of language. Studies with any design (except case reports or case series) evaluating correlations of c-KIT expression with survival or outcome in patients with lung cancer will be included. The outcome measures will include all types of survival indexes, including overall survival rate and disease free survival using Kaplan-Meier analysis and hazard ratios. Study selection and data extraction will be performed by two independent researchers. Quality assessment (assessment of risk of bias) and data synthesis will be implemented using Stata software version 11.1. Results: No ethical issues are predicted. These findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at national and international conferences. Conclusions: This systematic review protocol is registered in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, registration number = CRD42015023391.