• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.619-624
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• 2013

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) exists in a more common sporadic form and less common hereditary forms, associated with the Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and other rare syndromes. Sporadic CRC is believed to arise as a result of close interaction between environmental factors, including dietary and lifestyle habits, and genetic predisposition factors. In contrast, hereditary forms such as those related to the Lynch syndrome result from inheritance of germline mutations of mismatch repair (MMR) genes. However, in certain cases, the influence of low penetrance alleles in familial colorectal cancer susceptibility is also undeniable. Aim: To investigate the genotype frequencies of MLH1 promoter polymorphism -93G>A and to determine whether it could play any role in modulating familial and sporadic CRC susceptibility risk. Methods: A case-control study comprising of 104 histopathologically confirmed CRC patients as cases (52 sporadic CRC and 52 Lynch syndrome patients) and 104 normal healthy individuals as controls was undertaken. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and the polymorphism was genotyped employing PCR-RFLP methods. The genotypes were categorized into homozygous wild type, heterozygous and homozygous variants. The risk association between these polymorphisms and CRC susceptibility risk was calculated using binary logistic regression analysis and deriving odds ratios (ORs). Results: When risk association was investigated for all CRC patients as a single group, the heterozygous (G/A) genotype showed a significantly higher risk for CRC susceptibility with an OR of 2.273, (95%CI: 1.133-4.558 and p-value=0.021). When analyzed specifically for the 2 types of CRC, the heterozygous (G/A) genotype showed significantly higher risk for sporadic CRC susceptibility with and OR of 3.714, (95%CI: 1.416-9.740 and p-value=0.008). Despite high OR value was observed for Lynch syndrome (OR: 1.600, 95%CI: 0.715-3.581), the risk was not statistically significant (P=0.253). Conclusion: Our results suggest an influence of MLH1 promoter polymorphism -93G>A in modulating susceptibility risk in Malaysian CRC patients, especially those with sporadic disease.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.4899-4906
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• 2016

Aim: To assess the diagnostic utility of serum and salivary interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in the differential diagnosis of potentially malignant lesions and conditions (PMLs/PMCs) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in a high oral cancer prevalence region. Methods: After appropriate ethical clearance and informed consent, salivary and blood samples were collected from 100 participants in each group (OSCC, PMLs, and healthy controls). Serum and salivary IL-6 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and data were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis. Results: Significant differences in IL-6 concentration were noted between OSCC and PML/C patients in both serum and saliva, with salivary levels being 2 to 3 fold higher than serum values in all the groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated 96% specificity and 99% sensitivity for salivary IL-6 in differentiating PML from OSCC. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-6, is elevated in the saliva of patients with OSSC compared to PMD and controls, and thus may prove to have diagnostic and/or prognostic significance.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutrient intake, eating behaviors and health-related lifestyles of Korean non-nutrition major college students after they took a nutrition course. The subjects were 40 male and 147 female students at a university in Inchon. The results are summarized as follows: Average height of male and female students was 176.2 and 162.0 cm, respectively. Average weight was 66.2 and 52.3 kg, respectively. Average intake of calories, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, niacin, and Ca was lower than Korean RDA. Fe intake of female students was lower than Korean RDA. Most students have had dietary problems such as overeating, eating unbalanced meals, and skipping meals. More than 60% of the students skipped breakfast. The main reason for skipping meals was lack of time. Most students didnt exercise regularly. About 40% of the students took vitamin or mineral supplements. As for smoking and alcohol use, 11.3% of the students drank alcohol and smoked, and 74.2% of them only drank alcohol. More than 30% of the students drank alcohol once a week. Most students ate out twice a week, and chose their based on taste rather than nutritional value. The main reason for eating out was simply to enjoy a meal. More than 60% of the students ate at places in or around campus. After taking the nutrition course, intake of milk and other dairy products, vegetables, fruits and protein-rich foods increased in female students. For both male and female students, intake of fat, sugar, processed foods, soft drinks, fried foods and spices decreased. Therefore, nutrition education had effect on non-nutrition major students, suggesting that proper nutrition education encouraged healthy eating habits on the part of college students.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 2012

Concrete sleepers are essential components of the conventional railway. As support elements, sleepers are always subjective to a variety of time-dependent loads attributable to the train operations, either wheel or rail abnormalities. It has been observed that the sleepers may deteriorate due to these loads, inducing the formation of hairline cracks. There are two areas along the sleepers that are more prone to crack: the central and the rail seat sections. Several non-destructive methods have been developed to identify failures in structures. Health monitoring techniques are based on vibration responses measurements, which help engineers to identify the vibration-based damage or remotely monitor the sleeper health. In the present paper, the dynamic effects of the cracks in the vibration signatures of the railway pre-stressed concrete sleepers are investigated. The experimental modal analysis has been used to evaluate the modal bending changes in the vibration characteristics of the sleepers, differentiating between the central and the rail seat locations of the cracks. Modal parameters changes of the 'healthy' and cracked sleepers have been highlighted in terms of natural frequencies and modal damping. The paper concludes with a discussion of the most suitable failure indicator and it defines the vibration signatures of intact, central cracked and rail seat cracked sleepers.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.883-892
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• 2018

Probiotics, including Enterococcus faecium, confer a health benefit on the host. An Enterococcus strain was isolated from healthy chicken cecum, identified as E. faecium by 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis, and designated as E. faecium L11. To evaluate the potential of E. faecium L11 as a probiotic, the gastrointestinal tolerance, immunomodulatory activity, and lifespan extension properties of the strain were assayed. E. faecium L11 showed >66% and >62% survival in artificial gastric juice (0.3% pepsin, pH 2.5) and simulated small intestinal juice (0.5% bile salt and 0.1% pancreatin), respectively. Heat-killed E. faecium L11 significantly (p < 0.05) increased immune cell proliferation compared with controls, and stimulated the production of cytokines (IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$) by activated macrophages obtained from ICR mice. In addition, E. faecium L11 showed a protective effect against Salmonella Typhimurium infection in Caenorhabditis elegans. In addition, feeding E. faecium L11 significantly (p < 0.05) extended the lifespan of C. elegans compared with the control. Furthermore, genes related to aging and host defense were upregulated in E. faecium L11-fed worms. In conclusion, E. faecium L11, which prolongs the lifespan of C. elegans, may be a potent probiotic supplement for livestock.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.301-309
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between academic stress and e-learning intentions of university students, and to determine the moderating effect on the attractiveness of alternatives. Data collection was conducted from 18 May to 22 May 2020 using 317 questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using SmartPLS. As a result of the study, among the academic stresses of university students, stress due to class, grades, and interpersonal relationships has a relationship with the intention to use e-learning. However, the test stress did not have a significant effect on the intention to use e-learning, and the modulating effect on the attractiveness of the alternative was also not significant. This study suggests that various and attractive e-learning can be provided within the university by highlighting the importance of healthy university life and e-learning for university students.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.1414-1420
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• 2022

High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy treatment planning usually involves optimization methods to deliver uniform dose to the target volume and minimize dose to the healthy tissues. Four optimizations were used to evaluate the high-risk clinical target volume (HRCTV) coverage and organ at risk (OAR). Dose-volume histogram (DVH) and dosimetric parameters were analyzed and evaluated. Better coverage was achieved with PGO (mean CI = 0.95), but there were no significant mean CI differences than GrO (p = 0.03322). Mean EQD₂ doses to HRCTV (D₉₀) were also superior for PGO with no significant mean EQD₂ doses than GrO (p = 0.9410). The mean EQD₂ doses to bladder, rectum, and sigmoid were significantly higher for NO plan than PO, GrO, and PGO. PO significantly reduced the mean EQD₂ doses to bladder, rectum, and sigmoid but compromising the conformity index to HRCTV. PGO was superior in conformity index (CI) and mean EQD₂ doses to HRCTV compared with the GrO plan but not statistically significant. The mean EQD₂ doses to the rectum by PGO plan slightly exceeded the limit from ABS recommendation (mean EQD₂ dose = 78.08 Gy EQD₂). However, PGO can shorten the treatment planning process without compromising the CI and keeping the OARs dose below the tolerance limit.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2023

Recently, interest in the environment and well-being is increasing due to changes in people's level of consciousness. Accordingly, it is trying to reduce disposable products, and interest in "water diet" is increasing as a way to maintain a healthy body. Many people use portable tumblers to drink water or drinks, and in particular, recently, they have evolved into a smarter form that provides various functions to increase user convenience. Existing studies have limited drinks to "water," so there is a limit to monitoring various drinks. To solve this problem, this paper produced a smart tumbler that can judge drinks using IoT technology and monitor the intake of drinks. In addition, it became possible to measure the intake more accurately by judging the case of throwing away the beverage without drinking it. Based on the data of various IoT-based sensors, the user can identify the intake amount of each drink in a dedicated application and receive various conveniences.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.563-578
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• 2022

Society's emphasis on a thin body ideal may intensify an individual's negative perceptions of fatness. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between sociocultural attitudes toward appearance (awareness and internalization of the female ideal) and anti-fat attitudes among middle-aged Korean women. In addition, the aim was to examine whether the body internalization of female ideals was a mediator in the proposed model. Participants included a sample of 264 middle-aged Korean women who completed a series of measures online. The following information was collected through online questionnaires: awareness and internalization of the female ideal, attitudes toward fat, body weight perception, and demographics. Data were analyzed using correlation analysis, descriptive analysis, factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. The measurement model and the structural model testing provided an acceptable fit to the data, and all proposed pathways in the research model were statistically significant. Awareness of the female ideal was significantly and positively associated with internalization, and it significantly and positively predicted both constructs of anti-fat attitudes. Additionally, awareness of the female ideal was significantly and positively indirectly associated with attitudes toward fat people-dislike and willpower mediated by internalization. Overall, these findings suggest that society's emphasis on female appearance and a thin body can ultimately result in significant stigmatization of overweight/obese individuals. This study emphasizes the importance of establishing a healthy appearance standard to reduce anti-fat prejudice.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.125-134
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• 2024

The novel coronavirus 2019 is called COVID-19 has outspread swiftly worldwide. An early diagnosis is more important to control its quick spread. Medical imaging mechanics, chest calculated tomography or chest X-ray, are playing a vital character in the identification and testing of COVID-19 in this present epidemic. Chest X-ray is cost effective method for Covid-19 detection however the manual process of x-ray analysis is time consuming given that the number of infected individuals keep growing rapidly. For this reason, it is very important to develop an automated COVID-19 detection process to control this pandemic. In this study, we address the task of automatic detection of Covid-19 by using a popular deep learning model namely the VGG19 model. We used 1300 healthy and 1300 confirmed COVID-19 chest X-ray images in this experiment. We performed three experiments by freezing different blocks and layers of VGG19 and finally, we used a machine learning classifier SVM for detecting COVID-19. In every experiment, we used a five-fold cross-validation method to train and validated the model and finally achieved 98.1% overall classification accuracy. Experimental results show that our proposed method using the deep learning-based VGG19 model can be used as a tool to aid radiologists and play a crucial role in the timely diagnosis of Covid-19.