• SUVANNABHUMI
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.85-106
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• 2014

Protests are not new in Malaysia, though it is restricted by the ruling government. The trend of street protests and demonstrations since the emergence of Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih), Malaysia's first people movement on electoral reform, has triggered a sentiment of people power among Malaysian citizens. With protests and popular mobilization becoming pronounced in Malaysian politics, political activism becomes for Malaysians a channel of discontent and expression of political preferences. Using information obtained from interviews with individuals linked to the movement, this paper articulates that protests are no longer exclusive to Malaysians. This paper illustrates the emergence of the Bersih movement and explores the three Bersih mass rallies that took place in 2007, 2011, and 2012. This paper further links the protests with the electoral reform initiatives. It argues that the Bersih movement has managed to lobby fundamental changes in the Malaysian political culture.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.296-301
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• 2023

This study was conducted to induce muscle loss using dexametasone and then use the extract to determine its effectiveness in a muscle loss animal model. Animal experimental groups were divided by five groups. Changes in the weight of the animals were measured for a total of 5 weeks. After animal sacrifice, muscle mass was measured, and animal behavior evaluation was conducted using grip strength test and pole test. The expression levels of MAFbx protein was measured using muscle samples. Oral administration of Fomes fomentarius extract was effective in suppressing muscle atropy and increasing muscle, which was confirmed through animal behavior evaluation and muscle-related protein expression.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.352-363
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• 2023

Sarcopenia is a condition in which muscle mass and strength are decreased and muscle function is impaired. It is an indicator of frailty and loss of independence in older adults. It is also associated with increased physical disability, which increases the risk of falls. As a multifactorial disease, sarcopenia is caused by a combination of factors including aging, hormonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, and physical inactivity. Understanding the underlying pathophysiology of sarcopenia and identifying its different causes is critical to developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. This review summarizes the pathophysiology, consequences, diagnostic methods, and multidisciplinary approaches to sarcopenia.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.69-78
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• 2024

Cloud computing technology based on centralized high-performance computing has brought about major changes across the information technology industry and led to new paradigms. However, with the rapid development of the industry and increasing need for mass generation and real-time processing of data across various fields, centralized cloud computing is lagging behind the demand. This is particularly critical in emerging technologies such as autonomous driving, the metaverse, and augmented/virtual reality that require the provision of services with ultralow latency for real-time performance. To address existing limitations, distributed and edge cloud computing technologies have recently gained attention. These technologies allow for data to be processed and analyzed closer to their point of generation, substantially reducing the response times and optimizing the network bandwidth usage. We describe distributed and edge cloud computing technologies and explore the latest trends in their standardization.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.253-261
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• 2024

The impact of temperature on electrode reactions in 100 cm² molten carbonate cells operating as Fuel Cells (FC) and Electrolysis Cells (EC) was examined using the Reactant Gas Addition (RA) method across a temperature range of 823 to 973 K. The RA findings revealed that introduction of H₂ and CO₂, reduced the overpotential at Hydrogen Electrode (HE) in both the modes. However, no explicit temperature dependencies were observed. Conversely, adding O₂ and CO₂ to the Oxygen Electrode (OE) displayed considerable temperature dependencies in FC mode which can be attributed to increased gas solubility due to the electrolyte melting at higher temperatures. In EC mode, there was no observed temperature dependence for overpotential. Furthermore, the addition of O₂ led to a decrease in overpotential, while CO₂ addition resulted in an increased overpotential, primarily due to changes in the concentration of O₂ species.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.271-284
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the usage of CAD/CAM, which is one of dental technologist duties, in an effort to look for any possible changes in the usage of CAD/CAM. It's specifically meant to compare the results of this study with those of Lee Jong-do, Park Kwang-Sig(2011)'s study in March, 2011, to determine if there were any changes over the past four years. The selected variables that were investigated were the ownership of CAD/CAM, awareness of it, the route of acquiring the first information on it, the merits and demerits of its usage, usage experience and educational experience about it. Methods: An online survey was conducted on the dental technologists who worked in urban communities including metropolitan cities to find out the usage of CAD/CAM in 2015 from July 15 to 31, 2015, after existing questionnaire items were modified. The collected data were analyzed by IBM SPSS statistics 22.0, and statistical data on frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation for each item were obtained. To figure out the characteristics of the subjects and the relationship between their occupational characteristics and the usage of CAD/CAM, crosstabs, independent-samples t-test and one-way ANOVA were utilized. As for the usage of CAD/CAM in 2011, the results of Lee Jong-do, Park Kwang-Sig(2011)'s study were selected, and then a comparative analysis was made. The level of significance was all set at .05. Total 250 questionnaires were distributed to them, and 190(76.0%) were returned. After excluding 23 whose answers were uncertain or seemed to lack reliability, total 167(66.8%) were used in final analysis. Results: As a result of analyzing the usage of CAD/CAM that was one of dental technologist duties, there was a great increase in the ownership of CAD/CAM in their workplaces from 2.4 percent in 2011 to 71.7 percent in 2015, and there was an improvement in awareness about it and the necessity of its usage as well. In 2011, the Internet and mass media were the most common route that they got to know about it. They had a strong tendency to acquire related knowledge through education in 2015, and there were some changes in the products that they used or preferred. In both years, the great merit of CAD/CAM was the simplified manufacturing process of restoration, and it had another great advantages in 2015 such as the improved quality of restoration or improved environments for dental technology. Concerning disadvantages, high price was a big problem in 2011. In 2015, not only price but the burden of material costs, frequent breakdown, poor demand among dental clinics and a lack of CAD/CAM professionals were pointed out a lot. In the future, this researcher intends to make research to seek ways of improving CAD/CAM professionals. Conclusion: There was more awareness of CAD/CAM in 2015 than in 2011 when the changes in awareness of it were analyzed, and the finding suggest the necessity of sustained education and concern.

• Journal of Science Education
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.230-239
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• 2011

This study developed examination test tools for concepts of weather changes of middle school students, analyzed the hierarchy of concepts associated with weather changes by means of knowledge state analysis method, and examined the knowledge state and lesson effects of each individual learner. The hierarchy of the knowledge state of concepts of middle school students associated with weather changes followed the steps of 'humidity ${\rightarrow}$ air mass ${\rightarrow}$ cloud ${\rightarrow}$ precipitation ${\rightarrow}$ front ${\rightarrow}$ weather'. Cases were identified where the knowledge state of students that was thought to be similar to each other among the group of students who have scored almost the same points and thus were thought to have almost the same learning ability, have turned out different in the knowledge state from each other. Namely, the level of knowledge state structuralized differed, suggesting that differing prescriptions should be made according to the knowledge state of each student concerned. Analysis of the knowledge state of learners helps prepare learning prescriptions for each student and appraise prior learning. To examine effects of teaching-learning that has taken into consideration the hierarchy of knowledge state and concepts, lessons were conducted in comparison with the order in which syllabuses are presented in the textbooks, with the result that when knowledge state of learners have been taken into consideration, students made scores significantly higher (p < .05) than otherwise. This indicates that in introducing the unit of weather changes better teaching and learning can be achieved by reordering the contents of subject matters of the textbook by grasping the knowledge state of learners.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2013

Quantities as well as distributions of adipose tissue (AT) are significantly related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and can be altered with caloric restriction. This study investigated which cross-sectional slice location of AT is most strongly correlated with changes in CVD risk factors after caloric restriction in obese Korean women. Thirty-three obese pre-menopausal Korean women ($32.4{\pm}8.5$ yrs, BMI $27.1{\pm}2.3\;kg/m^2$) participated in a 12 weeks caloric restriction program. Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were measured using computed tomography (CT) scans at the sites of L2-L3, L3-L4, and L4-L5. Fasting serum levels of glucose, insulin, triglyceride, total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), leptin and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were observed. Pearson's partial correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between AT measurement sites and changes in CVD risk factors after calorie restriction. When calories were reduced by 350 kcal/day for 12 weeks, body weight (-2.7%), body fat mass (-8.2%), and waist circumference (-5.8%) all decreased (P < 0.05). In addition, following caloric restriction, serum levels of glucose (-4.6%), TC (-6.2%), LDL-C (-5.3%), leptin (-17.6%) and HOMA-IR (-18.2%) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) as well. Changes in VAT at the level of L3-L4 were significantly greater than those at other abdominal sites, and these changes were correlated with changes in TC (P < 0.05), LDL-C (P < 0.001), SBP (P < 0.001) and HOMA-IR (P < 0.01). These results show that VAT at L3-L4 had a stronger correlation with CVD risk factors than with other AT measurement sites after caloric restriction.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1288-1294
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• 2013

Knowledge of morphological changes in eel larvae is very important for artificial rearing of eel larvae. In this study, we investigated the morphological structure of the head region and histological changes of the eye retina in artificially reared larvae at various stages and in glass eel just after metamorphosis. Structural changes were observed in the upper jaw (maxilla) and the lower jaw (mandible) after 100 dah (day after hatchery) and after metamorphosis. Teeth had degenerated by the time of completion of metamorphosis. Major histological changes observed in the eye retina were the formation of the outer plexiform layer and the outer nuclear layer from 100 dah larva and a change in the rod cell layer after metamorphosis. The cornea was not observed at 10 dah in the eel larva. More information is needed on the early developmental stages of eel larvae to enable mass production of glass eels. The results obtained in the present research will be useful when developing novel rearing programs for eel larvae.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.410-417
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• 2013

Caloric restriction is recognized as one of the best treatment options for obesity, and is associated with changes in body composition. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of age in caloric restriction in overweight and obese women. In this caloric restriction study, nutrient intake of 61 women was evaluated using food records written by subjects for three days. Body composition and metabolic risk factors were assessed before and after caloric restriction. Blood levels of lipids, glucose, leptin, and adiponectin were measured. Visceral fat and subcutaneous fat were evaluated using bioimpedance analysis. General linear models (GLM) identified the independent effects of age after co-varying baseline weight and difference of energy intake. Weight, fat mass, visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, and blood pressure showed a significant decrease by caloric restriction of 452 kcal/day. The percent changes in weight, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat were -4.5%, -12.0%, and -8.2%, respectively, after caloric restriction. The percent changes of weight, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat showed an independent association with age co-varying baseline weight and difference of energy intake. Decreased change in percent of leptin by caloric restriction also showed an association with age. Changes in body composition and leptin by caloric restriction showed an independent association with age. This may indicate greater difficulty in achievement of change of body composition as well as greater obesity-related metabolic risk with aging. Therefore, caloric restriction considering age should be recommended for effective dietary treatment in overweight or obese women.