• Title/Summary/Keyword: Group decisions

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Impact of Smut (Sporisorium scitamineum) on Sugarcane's Above-Ground Growth and the Determinants of the Disease Intensity in the Ethiopian Sugarcane Plantations

  • Samuel Tegene;Habtamu Terefe;Esayas Tena
    • Research in Plant Disease
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    • v.30 no.1
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    • pp.34-49
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    • 2024
  • The development of sustainable smut management techniques requires an understanding of the impacts of smut on sugarcane growth and the relationships between smut intensity and meteorological variables, varieties, and crop types. Thus, assessments were made with the objectives to 1) determine the effect of smut on the above-ground growth of sugarcane, and 2) quantify the association of smut with weather variables, varieties and crop types. The effect of smut on above-ground growth was assessed in six fields planted with NCo 334 (wider coverage) having 6 months of age in Fincha and Metehara fields in 2021. Data on above-ground growth were taken from 20 randomly selected smut-affected and healthy stools from each field. Besides, 6 years' data (2015 to 2021) on the numbers of smut-affected stools and smut whips of 79 fields were collected. Furthermore, 10 years' (2011 to 2021) weather data were acquired from the sugar plantations. The results demonstrated reduction in the above-ground growth of sugarcane in the range of 18.39% and 73.42% due to smut. In addition, weather variables explained about 68.48% and 66.58% of the variability in the number of smut-affected stools and whips respectively. Smut intensity increased with crop types for susceptible varieties. The tight association between the smut epidemic and crop types, varieties, and weather, implied that these parameters must be carefully considered in management decisions. Continuous monitoring of smut disease, meteorological variables, varieties, and crop types in all the sugarcane plantations could be done as a part of integrated smut management in the future.

Factors Influent on Treatment Decision for the Need of Dental Implant (치과임플란트 대상환자의 치료결정에 영향을 미치는 요인)

  • Kim, Su-Gwan;Son, Soon-Yong;Jeong, Seon-A;Jeong, Mi-Ae
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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    • v.11 no.11
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    • pp.264-273
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    • 2011
  • This study subject is to provide appropriately basic information about annually increased implant treatment by their lost teeth base on increasing old people and also analyze factors influencing implant treatment decisions for patient. For about 3 month from July on the 2010, This survey was carried out at 13 dental clinic as target of 217 patients on categorized into implant treatment-group and non-treatment-group in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Implant treatment-group showed highest portion at 50(30.3%), non- Implant treatment-group showed highest portion at 20's(35.7%), And The patients of implant treatment-group are good oral condition, and they showed a positive attitude. Result of analysis by multiple logistic analysis(regression), Factors of influencing implant treatment decision are age, gender, period of education, monthly income, condition of periodontal tissue, regular checkup, counseling attitude, trust in hospital. Therefore, proactive management about the necessity of regular dental check-up is needed the education and promotion. And medical team should have efforts to Improving technique of medical consultations and Improving the trust of the hospital's for implant treatment decision. Also, The patient's subjective determine rather than it is important to preparing to facilitate decision of specific clinical basis. And The government's financial support and policy alternatives are certainly required in order to be implant treatment without cost burden.

Effects of stocking density on the homeostasis of uric acid and related liver and kidney functions in ducks

  • Peiyi Lin;Sui Liufu;Jinhui Wang;Zhanpeng Hou;Yu Liang;Haiyue Wang;Bingxin Li;Nan Cao;Wenjun Liu;Yunmao Huang;Yunbo Tian;Danning Xu;Xiujin Li;Xinliang Fu
    • Animal Bioscience
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    • v.37 no.5
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    • pp.952-961
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    • 2024
  • Objective: Stocking density (SD) is an important issue in the poultry industry, which is related to the production performance, intestinal health and immune status. In the present study, the effects of SD on the metabolism and homeostasis of uric acid as well as the related functions of the liver and kidney in ducks were examined. Methods: A total of 360 healthy 56-day-old Shan-ma ducks were randomly divided into the low stocking density (n = 60, density = 5 birds/m2), medium stocking density (n = 120, density = 10 birds/m2) and high stocking density groups (HSD; n = 180, density = 15 birds/m2). Samples were collected in the 3rd, 6th, and 9th weeks of the experiment for analysis. Results: The serum levels of uric acid, lipopolysaccharide and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β [IL-1β], IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]) were increased significantly in the HSD group. Serious histopathological lesions could be seen in both the livers and kidneys in the HSD group in the 9th week. The mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-8 and TNF-α) and related pathway components (toll-like receptor 4, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88, and nuclear factor-κB) were increased significantly in both the livers and kidneys in the HSD group. The mRNA expression levels of enzymes (adenosine deaminase, xanthine oxidase, phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate amidotransferase, and phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase 1) related to the synthesis of uric acid increased significantly in the livers in the HSD group. However, the mRNA expression level of solute carrier family 2 member 9, which plays an important role in the excretion of uric acid by the kidney, was decreased significantly in the kidneys in the HSD group. Conclusion: These results indicated that a higher SD could cause tissue inflammatory lesions in the liver and kidney and subsequently affect the metabolism and homeostasis of uric acid, and is helpful for guiding decisions related to the breeding and production of ducks.

The Aspects of Small Group Decision-making Process based on Reading News Reports: Focused on Climate Change related Socio-scientific Issues Activity (신문기사 읽기를 활용한 소집단 의사결정 과정 양상 -기후변화 관련 사회적 논쟁 활동을 중심으로-)

  • Kim, Jong-Uk;Gwak, Je-Yeon;Kwon, Ji-Yeon;Ha, Yoon-Hee;Lee, Jeong-A;Kim, Chan-Jong;Choe, Seung-Urn
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.38 no.2
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    • pp.203-217
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    • 2018
  • The research objective of this study is to analyze the aspects of small group decision-making process based on reading news reports in the context of the socio-scientific issues (SSI) activity related to climate change. Twenty-two high school students from Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, were asked to read two news reports on the UN climate change conferences and take a stance on joining the Paris Agreement both as an individual and as a small group. The news reports were analyzed in terms of genre, discourse, and style adapting the critical discourse analysis (CDA) and the decision-making processes of the small groups were examined on recognizing a problem and evaluating alternatives and decisions. The results from analyzing the news reports denoted that the Paris agreement is not only related to finding ideal solutions to climate change, but rather, connected to political or economic interests and power relationship. In the stage of recognizing a problem, meanwhile, different frames which students recognize the Paris agreement and discourses in the foreground of the news reports were the critical causes in terms of identifying the problem. In the stage of evaluating alternatives and decisions, the equity and fairness were the criteria for the small group discussions. This study implies the necessity of the scientific literacy instruction to develop the ability to critical reading in the context of the SSI.

Impact of Community Health Care Resources on the Place of Death of Older Persons with Dementia in South Korea Using Public Administrative Big Data (공공 빅데이터를 이용한 치매 노인 사망장소의 결정요인: 지역보건의료자원의 영향)

  • Lim, Eunok;Kim, Hongsoo
    • Health Policy and Management
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.167-176
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    • 2017
  • Background: This study aimed to analyze the impact of community health care resources on the place of death of older adults with dementia compared to those with cancer in South Korea, using public administrative big data. Methods: Based on a literature review, we selected person- and community-level variables that can affect older people's decisions about where to die. Data on place-of-death and person-level attributes were obtained from the 2013 death certification micro data from Statistics Korea. Data on the population and economic and health care resources in the community where the older deceased resided were obtained from various open public administrative big data including databases on the local tax and resident population statistics, health care resources and infrastructure statistics, and long-term care (LTC) insurance statistics. Community-level data were linked to the death certificate micro data through the town (si-gun-gu) code of the residence of the deceased. Multi-level logistic regression models were used to simultaneously estimate the impacts of community as well as individual-level factors on the place of death. Results: In both the dementia (76.1%) and cancer (87.1%) decedent groups, most older people died in the hospital. Among the older deceased with dementia, hospital death was less likely to occur when the older person resided in a community with a higher supply of LTC facility beds, but hospital death was more likely to occur in communities with a higher supply of LTC hospital beds. Similarly, among the cancer group, the likelihood of a hospital death was significantly lower in communities with a higher supply of LTC facility beds, but was higher in communities with a higher supply of acute care hospital beds. As for individual-level factors, being female and having no spouse were associated with the likelihood of hospital death among older people with dementia. Conclusion: More than three in four older people with dementia die in the hospital, while home is reported to be the place of death preferred by Koreans. To decrease this gap, an increase in the supply of end-of-life (EOL) care at home and in community-based service settings is necessary. EOL care should also be incorporated as an essential part of LTC. Changes in the perception of EOL care by older people and their families are also critical in their decisions about the place of death, and should be supported by public education and other related non-medical, social approaches.

MR Imaging of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome : The Usefulness of MRI in Treatment Decisions (수근관 증후군의 자기공명 영상 : 치료 결정의 유용성)

  • Lee, Kyu-Yong;Lee, Young Joo;Kim, Seung Hyun;Song, Hyoung Gon;Kim, Juhan
    • Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.114-118
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    • 2002
  • Backgrounds : Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition that is usually diagnosed by electrophysiologic studies. However, CTS provide limited information to determine the causes of CTS and to choose the treatment method. We evaluated diagnostic sensitivity of MR imaging and treatment decisions by MR imaging in electrodiagnosed CTS. Methods : 14 patients (26 wrists) with electrodiagnosed CTS were studied using MR imaging. In 26 wrists for which axial T1 & T2 weighted images were obtained at 1.5T with a decided wrist coil. Previously described MR imaging of CTS such as increased median nerve signal, flattening of median nerve, reticular bowing, tenosynovitis and space occupying lesions were retrospectively evaluated. Degree of improvement was evaluated by global symptom score (GSS). The GSS rated symptoms from 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (severe) in each of five categories: pain, numbness, paresthesia, weakness/clumsiness, and nocturnal awakening. Subjects' GSS was recorded at baseline, 2 weeks, 1 month, 6 months after treatment. We decided to medical treatment that showed mainly inflammatory sign such as increased median nerve signal, tenosinovitis and to surgical treatment such as space occupying lesion, high canal pressure sign. Results : MR imaging showed that increased median nerve signal were in 20 wrists (77%), flattening of median nerve were in 6 wrists (23%), reticular bowing were in 3 wrists (12%), tenosynovitis were in 8 wrists (32%), decreased canal size in 2 wrists (7.6%), space occupying lesion were in 1 wrist (4%). A good outcome was revealed in 21 wrists by medical treatment that showed mainly increased median nerve signal, tenosynovitis. The mean GSS were 27.7 at baseline, 11.2 at 2 weeks, 11.0 at 6 months in medical treatment group. Another 5 wrist had surgical treatment shown by ganglion and high canal pressure sign such as median nerve flattening, reticular bowing, decreased canal size: 3 wrists had good prognosis, but 2 wrists (one patient) had no significant improvement due to small carpal tunnel size. Conclusions : Our results are in agreement with most previously described MR imaging signs of CTS. MR imaging plays an important role in several cases and especially in the assessment of failure of surgical treatment. Knowledge of MR findings may permit more rational choice of treatment.

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Prognostic Evaluation of Categorical Platelet-based Indices Using Clustering Methods Based on the Monte Carlo Comparison for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

  • Guo, Pi;Shen, Shun-Li;Zhang, Qin;Zeng, Fang-Fang;Zhang, Wang-Jian;Hu, Xiao-Min;Zhang, Ding-Mei;Peng, Bao-Gang;Hao, Yuan-Tao
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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    • v.15 no.14
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    • pp.5721-5727
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    • 2014
  • Objectives: To evaluate the performance of clustering methods used in the prognostic assessment of categorical clinical data for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in China, and establish a predictable prognostic nomogram for clinical decisions. Materials and Methods: A total of 332 newly diagnosed HCC patients treated with hepatic resection during 2006-2009 were enrolled. Patients were regularly followed up at outpatient clinics. Clustering methods including the Average linkage, k-modes, fuzzy k-modes, PAM, CLARA, protocluster, and ROCK were compared by Monte Carlo simulation, and the optimal method was applied to investigate the clustering pattern of the indices including platelet count, platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and serum aspartate aminotransferase activity/platelet count ratio index (APRI). Then the clustering variable, age group, tumor size, number of tumor and vascular invasion were studied in a multivariable Cox regression model. A prognostic nomogram was constructed for clinical decisions. Results: The ROCK was best in both the overlapping and non-overlapping cases performed to assess the prognostic value of platelet-based indices. Patients with categorical platelet-based indices significantly split across two clusters, and those with high values, had a high risk of HCC recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 1.42, 95% CI 1.09-1.86; p<0.01). Tumor size, number of tumor and blood vessel invasion were also associated with high risk of HCC recurrence (all p< 0.01). The nomogram well predicted HCC patient survival at 3 and 5 years. Conclusions: A cluster of platelet-based indices combined with other clinical covariates could be used for prognosis evaluation in HCC.

Developing a Latent Class Model Considering Heterogeneity in Mode Choice Behavior : A Case of Commuters in Seoul (수단선택의 이질성을 고려한 잠재계층모형(Latent Class Model) 구축: 서울시 통근자를 사례로)

  • Kim, Sung Hoo;Choo, Sangho
    • The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.44-57
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    • 2019
  • It is crucial to understand how people make decisions on mode choice and to accurately predict their behaviors in transportation planning. One of avenues for advancing modeling is, in particular, taking into account for taste heterogeneity in modeling that can incorporate different decision-making processes across group. In this study, we hypothesize that how people make decisions on mode choice would differ by destination in that land use characteristics are heterogeneous by zone even if zones are all in the same area. To this end, we apply Latent Class Modeling (LCM) to commute trips in Seoul by using 2010 household travel diary survey, investigate types of latent classes with the aid of characteristics of destination, and analyze how those classes differently response to factors. The LCM identifies two classes: in the first one, modal split of auto and public transit (bus and metro) is almost half-and-half and the trip destinations are characterized by relatively more residence facilities and less business/commercial facilities; in the second one, public transit has a notably high share and trip destinations are characterized by relatively more business/commercial facilities. In addition, it turns out that demographic and socio-economic variables affect mode choice differently by class.

A Study on the revised preliminary draft convention on[Int'l] contracts concluded or evidenced by data message (2차 전자계약예비협약초안에 관한 연구)

  • Oh, Se-Chang
    • THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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    • v.20
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    • pp.387-421
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    • 2003
  • On the above, a comparison between preliminary draft conventions and comments by the Int'l Chamber of Commerce, contents of preliminary draft convention, problems and alternative are discussed. The conclusions are as follows thereof : The laws of MLEC and MLES made preparation for electronic era of CISG. But electronic circumstances are more changed than the time of regulation of them. Therefore the business world needs a stand-alone convention dealing broadly with the issues of contract formation in electronic commerce. At last, preliminary draft convention delivered a second round. But the base of the instrument was also MLEC and MLES. The revised preliminary draft convention is much amended beyond preliminary draft convention. At its forty-one sessions, the working group reviewed articles 1-11 of the revised preliminary draft convention presented by the secretariat. The remainder was pending until the time of its forty-two sessions. Therefore, on the base of deliberations and decisions of that sessions and them of thirty-six sessions of UNCITRAL, which will be held on comming november, the draft convention which will be prepared by the secretariate, be re-revised preliminary draft convention. According to review of working group on them, preliminary draft convention will officially be draft convention or revise by secretariate. Under these situations, my points of view on draft convention are as follows : As though e-UCP is used carring out side by side with UCP, after e-CISG making in order to adjust CISG to "on" transaction, it is very easy and prompt for business worked to use CISG with e-CISG. This will facilitate ratification of the CISG. For this case, I already presented contents of e-CISG. It is very important for the preliminary draft convention to deal specially with issues related to electronic contracting or to electronic transaction, because according to which way, its contents and scope of application will be different. But the revised draft convention is regretably compromising both them. Consequently, its contents are very confusing and we could not expect its success. If e-CISG will regulate, it is desirable that, if possible, working group has to make the general rule, and the making of useful, practical, affordable rule for electronic commerce, for example Uniform Customs and Practices for Electronic Commerce(e-UEC) in order to solve the specific practical problems, if any, which business currently faces regarding electronic contracting, has to entrust ICC. If working group want to make e-CISG, it is important not to hesitate and take a significant amount of time.

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Survey on the Effects of Educational Intervention in Parents' Perceptions and Decisions Regarding Influenza Vaccination for Their Children Aged 6-59 Months (6-59개월 미만 자녀를 가진 보호자에게 홍보물 교육 유무에 따른 인플루엔자 및 인플루엔자 백신접종에 관련한 인식도 조사)

  • Kim, Yoon Mo;Lim, Jung Sub;Kim, Yun Kyung;Eun, Byung Wook;Jo, Dae Sun;Kim, Dong Ho
    • Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.53-61
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    • 2020
  • Purpose: To compare differences and changes in the parents' awareness regarding influenza and influenza vaccination for their children according to educational intervention. Methods: This study involved 1,034 parents with children aged 6-59 months, who lived in five areas in northern Seoul and Gyeonggi Province in 2015; the study was conducted using the questionnaire survey method. Survey items included awareness regarding influenza and influenza vaccination for children and future intentions of influenza vaccination and the underlying reasons. The participants were divided into 3 groups and differences according to education (group A: no education, group B: provided education) and the changes before and after education (group C) were analyzed. Results: Differences according to education between groups A and B were seen in the recognition of high-risk of influenza in their children, effectiveness of influenza vaccination, and cost of the influenza vaccine. Changes before and after education in group C were seen in the recognition of high-risk of influenza in their children, safety of influenza vaccination, cost of the influenza vaccine, and negativity toward the influenza vaccine. Conclusions: Educated parents were more aware regarding influenza and influenza vaccination for their children aged 6-59 months.